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The Real Thing: A sweet & clean opposites-attract disabled hero romance in Scotland (The Macleans) Paperback – February 8, 2022

by Autumn Macarthur (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 165 ratings
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He's an embittered cynic. She's a perpetually cheerful Pollyanna. They both need to learn what trusting God really means.

Disabled since birth, bullied as a child, Edinburgh author Brodie Maclean has no faith in God, or in human nature. He learned young that his best weapons are his sharp tongue and his biting honesty, and he doesn’t hesitate to use them. When he’s forced to employ Flynn Ferguson as his housekeeper, it’s instant dislike. She’s too cheerful, she’s too loud, she’s too everything. Including distracting. How is he supposed to write with her around?

Even always-look-on-the-bright-side Flynn finds it hard to be glad about her new boss, apart from the little fact the generous salary he pays means she can give her daughter a wonderful birthday. As soon as she can (“Tomorrow, please Lord?”), she’ll quit.

Neither intends to deceive the other, but only when they meet online in an unintentional deception, safe behind names that aren’t their names and photos that aren’t their photos, are they able to be their real selves and fall in love. Can they recognise the truth behind their false impressions before it’s too late?

You’ve Got Mail meets As Good As It Gets meets a mischievous ferret in this faith-filled Scottish enemies-to-love opposites-attract romance.

LARGER PRINT EDITION (15 point font) FOR EASIER READING

The Macleans
Travel to Edinburgh with three Scottish brothers and their sister as they discover their lifetime loves! Wounded war photographer Mac, dedicated nurse Catriona, high school sports teacher Fraser, and acid-tongued disabled author Brodie, God has a chosen match for each of them, though love doesn’t always come easily. This series uses British spelling and grammar, which may appear unusual to US readers.
Book 1: A Model Bride - Mac’s story
Book 2: More than Friends - Cat’s story
Book 3: A Lesson in Love - Fraser’s story
Book 4: The Real Thing - Finally, Brodie's story completes the series!
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Previous page
  1. Book 4 of 4
    The Macleans
  2. Print length
    305 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    February 8, 2022
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.77 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-13
    979-8414103295
  7. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09S1MHWM2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (February 8, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 305 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8414103295
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.17 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.77 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 165 ratings

About the author

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Autumn Macarthur

Autumn Macarthur

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Hello, I'm so glad to meet you here!

I'm a USA Today bestselling author of Christian inspirational romance. Originally from Australia, I now live near London with my very English husband plus a varying number of cats and other critters, after a one-year working holiday to the UK turned into twenty-five years! How did that time go so fast?

I love writing deeply emotional stories to leave you with a happy smile and remind you how big and wide and deep God's love and forgiveness can be. When I'm not writing or being a cat slave, I read, do my best to grow food in our tiny garden, and play at all sorts of crafting. I'm not much good at any of the arty and crafty things I try, but that's okay!

If you sign up for my email newsletter at my website, you'll get a gift ebook as well as news of new releases, special offers, and exclusive subscriber-only contests. I'd love to hear from you!

Autumn x

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
165 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Bernadette Cinkoske
5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet, heartwarming, uplifting romance
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2022
Verified Purchase
The Real Thing is a sweet, heartwarming, uplifting romance. I love Flynn, Logan, Rascal and Brodie. Despite Brodie's grumpy, disabled, OCD personality and Flynn's struggles to pay the rent and care for sickly, spunky Logan, this well written book is a lighthearted read. Flynn's Pollyanna personality, along with some help from Rascal, the stowaway ferret, while irritating Brodie, also brings him out of his self imposed hibernation. I loved that they were their true selves when emailing as other people. I just sat down and read straight through this wonderful romance.
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Lorel Kline
5.0 out of 5 stars Second chance at love and a heart healed
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2022
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A beautiful story of a changed and healed heart and faith restored thanks to an old family friend who brought two lonely hearts together. He needed a temporary cleaner since his disability kept him from being able to take care of himself and his usual cleaning lady need to go help a family member in need. She needed the money to pay the rent and help take care of her disabled daughter. A very unlikely pair but God could see how they could help each other and be better together. Come along on the journey of self discovery as they each let go of past hurts and resentments. They are able to find forgiveness, healing and new possibilities as God helps heal their heart. An amazing book by an amazing author, Autumn Macarthur. I highly recommend this book and his entire series as you read and fall in love with the Macleans.
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Pepper
4.0 out of 5 stars sweet modern Scottish romance -- finishes Maclean stories
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2022
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There were a lot of parts to this book that I really liked. Brodie is disabled (with cerebral palsy), and heroine Flynn's daughter Logan is disabled as well. It's not that I just adore reading about people struggling with bitterness and pain -- but I love that realism. I like the way Brodie, DESPITE himself, is attracted to this "Pollyanna-ish" young woman. I enjoyed some of the conversation between Brodie and Flynn, and Logan is sweet. (But she isn't perfect. She can have tantrums.)

I was NOT crazy about the way everything was "resolved" so very quickly. I also thought the two main characters got engaged stunningly fast. I was also stunned by the way Brodie's mother was so outspokenly pushy, obnoxious, and frankly rude -- and she just got away with it because she's "aging well" and is presumably adorable. I have been a mother-in-law four times over, and I found their relationship unrealistic -- to put it mildly.

I also thought that Brodie and Flynn might have MAJOR adjustment issues -- such as sex, or just having to do with his disability and associated health problems -- and that is not just glossed over, but completely ignored. I SUPPOSE that is what is "supposed" to happen with "Christian romance." I AM a Christian, and I enjoy romance, but I hate that. I was also puzzled that the assumption seems to have been that they would have NO CHILDREN TOGETHER, even though Flynn is something like 28 and Brodie is early 30s. WITHOUT EVEN A WORD?? I also found that weird and kind of problematic.

But for what you're offered (a pleasant Christian romance that pays attention to real issues but doesn't dig too deep), this is quite a nice book.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars sweet story about the curmudgeon of the MacLeans
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2024
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The perspective of each character showed some of the cares of someone living as a differently abled person and some one parenting a child with chronic issue from premature birth. For such heavy subjects being addressed, this book was a delightful glimpse at just how like any of us they are.
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LGS
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Addition to the Macleans series!
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2022
Verified Purchase
Autumn Macarthur has achieved something that I'd not seen before. She made a physically weak man the hero of a romance book. I had wondered if it could be done and got my answer after reading this book. Not only could it be done, but it could be done very well.
The characters are believable and likable and total opposites in many ways. Flynn is like a ray of sunshine to Brodie's dark and brooding world. I could empathize with Brodie's lack of faith and enjoyed reading about his return to it.
The start of the story is very clever, and I absolutely loved the supporting character, Mary Mackay. Every church needs at least one Mary. She added humor as did the Flynn's friend's pet.
I truly enjoyed reading The Real Thing and recommend it to clean/wholesome romance readers, Christian romance readers, and lovers of all things Scottish.
I got a copy through Kindle Unlimited.
One person found this helpful
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ELMorehead
5.0 out of 5 stars How does God bring Brodie & Flynn (female) to their Lifetime 💞?
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2022
Verified Purchase
Autumn Macarthur has Sensitively Crafted a Beautiful, Poignant, Page-Turning, Realistic, Christian Romance, in "The Real Thing (The Macleans Book 4)".

I was really able to identify with the 4 MacLean siblings, because their Dad was also their Pastor; just like my Dad was mine! The first 3 Books in the Macleans Series can be 📖 in any order. But you'll understand this one best, if you 📖 it last.

Everyone has some kind of Disability (Physical/Mental-Emotional/Spiritual); some people have more than one. I ❤️ that this Deeply Relevant 📗, explores how Disabled People deserved to be defined by "what they Can Do, not by what they Can't Do"! Flynn's determined, young daughter, Logan, defines herself by what she Will Do eventually.

I Highly Recommend You 📖 this Outstanding, Inspirational 📗, to see how God takes Brodie from a grumpy recluse, to a beloved Daddy & Husband! ❤️📖 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding in all respects
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2022
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I have waited several years for this book to be written after having read the first three books in the series. Sometimes I would impatiently wonder if it was ever going to appear, and I was overjoyed when I saw it was now available - and the best news is that it surpassed my hope for an outstanding story! Thank you so much, Autumn, for writing this fantastic book that celebrates God’s faithfulness and His unfailing love.
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Betty A.
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful finale to the Maclean family series!
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2022
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This long-awaited final chapter of the Maclean family series does not disappoint! All the books in the series can be read as stand-alones, and all are well worth reading, but I was so glad to finally read Brodie's story. I appreciate that Flynn, though she has learned to "look on the bright side", had some growing to do too. Autumn Macarthur does an excellent job of showing "real" characters dealing with real problems and overcoming them with faith and love!
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Top reviews from other countries

jacksdavie
5.0 out of 5 stars Best book in the series
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2022
Verified Purchase
The wait for this final book was worth it. Thank you, Autumn for writing about Brodie's challenges in a way that's true to life. Especially for someone with multiple diagnoses along with CP. Thank you for including things that aren't as well known. The fatigue, not 'just' extra tiredness, changes in symptoms as we
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Love found a way to be nutured.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 15, 2022
Verified Purchase
I loved Brodie's story. What a great story of love and forgiveness that brought Brodie and Flynn together. There was chemistry between them from the beginning. It just goes to show that all people are equal in God's eyes and they both found their happily ever after.
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