What do you think?
Rate this book
Made for Each Other
Single Mother Doesn’t Seek Love
Raising a teenager kept widow Aimee Blake too busy for a relationship. Or so she said. Her daughter was trying—with all her rebellious might—to cut the apron strings. So Aimee took some “me time.” She attended a singles group and met a handsome counselor as not interested in romance as she was. With his painful family past and a failed engagement, Jacob Mallory was a one-date kind of man. These days he committed only to his work. Problem was, Aimee had discovered that she and Jacob were made for each other...
Raising a teenager kept widow Aimee Blake too busy for a relationship. Or so she said. Her daughter was trying—with all her rebellious might—to cut the apron strings. So Aimee took some “me time.” She attended a singles group and met a handsome counselor as not interested in romance as she was. With his painful family past and a failed engagement, Jacob Mallory was a one-date kind of man. These days he committed only to his work. Problem was, Aimee had discovered that she and Jacob were made for each other...
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
2 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Irene Brand
58 books39 followersIn a writing career spanning three decades, Irene has won numerous awards and published 45 books that have sold more than two million copies. Irene primarily writes inspirational romances, but she has also published nonfiction books, devotional materials, and magazine articles. Before she became a full-time writer, Irene taught for 23 years in public schools. Her other passions include traveling (she has visited all 50 states and 35 foreign countries) and history (she holds a Master’s Degree in the subject). Her published titles include Where Morning Dawns, Listen to Your Heart, and the Kentucky Brides collection. Irene is an active member of her church and is affiliated with several writing organizations. She is a lifelong resident of West Virginia, where she lives with her husband, Rod.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 17, 2008
i could relate, on too many levels, to both of the main characters of this book a little too well!
i think i STILL have some major work to do on myself in some areas i THOUGHT i'd already cleaned up!
amazing how a "simple" book for pleasure can affect your life, huh?! wasn't just a simple, easy, quick, lite summer read, but, a "thinker"
i think i STILL have some major work to do on myself in some areas i THOUGHT i'd already cleaned up!
amazing how a "simple" book for pleasure can affect your life, huh?! wasn't just a simple, easy, quick, lite summer read, but, a "thinker"
May 17, 2022
So Aimee's the heroine. She's awful, through and through. First, she's got guilt, because she had a horrible pregnancy (no sex for hubbie), then a horrible delivery with a complication (no sex for hubbie), and then went home and bled like all women do for a week and a half (no sex for hubbie)... and he drops dead of an aneurysm and she figures she sucks as a human because she withheld during her unclean time. ?!?!?! SERIOUSLY????
She has the one daughter, a spoiled brat named Samantha who is crapping all over her in only-child fashion. Not asking for permission before driving off with a friend to school instead of taking the bus, not asking permission to sleep over, demanding her mother make snacks instead of asking, being a general beeeotch. Question: Samantha is fourteen. Driver's licenses aren't given to kids until they're sixteen. Wouldn't Samantha be hanging with a girl from her classes, not some upperclassmen she doesn't see during the school hours? This makes NO sense.
And what does Aimee do while Samantha does her brat thing? She *CRIES*. Repeatedly. Then she rationalizes the bad behavior to herself. Then she plays 'friend' to her daughter instead of mother. Then she frets and worries, and then she gets mad, but is too weak to act on anything... but she insists to everyone that parenting is her main job.
SHE. HASN'T. PARENTED. YET.
GAHHHH!!!
Then she sees a super-hottie daddy at the school she (ironically) started working for AT THE SAME TIME that her daughter started going to school there (((sigh....))), and she's surprised that she's never seen him, because she knows all the parents. Um... There are almost a hundred new students every year, and I can *GUARANTEE* she has *NEVER* met all of the parents of every student. BAD, bad-bad-badbadbadbad writing.
She only has a half workday on this particular day, because teacher in-service. Which... doesn't make *ANY* sense. Just because kids are off doesn't mean there isn't administrative work to be done. The teachers are there, the staff is there... why would she be off, again...?????
I'm at a loss as to how Aimee's hair is black, and her daughter's is naturally blonde. I have naturally blonde hair, my husband's is black, and NOT ONE of our kids have blonde hair - it's a recessive trait. My mom's bestie had black hair, her husband blonde, and even the lighter haired daughter was brunette. It seemed weird and wrong.
When Samantha comes home from school to pack for the un-asked-for sleepover, does Aimee talk to her daughter about asking, or set limitations or point out rudeness? All of which would be PARENTING? Nooooo... she just bows and caters and then *CRIES* when the girl leaves. NOT. PARENTING.
End chapter one... and I hate this book.
Chapter two. Jacob has lived in town all his life, and never met Aimee before. ??? She's lived there FIVE YEARS and knows everyone - she says so - so... how does that work? She tells him at the meeting that her 'main job' is mothering Samantha. Okay, bear with me: Samantha is at school five days a week, eight hours a day, and Aimee is at work for that same time. That leaves five hours at the end of the day, tops... not including extra-curriculars, play dates, events, etc. before bed. So WHAT is her main job, again? It sure isn't parenting! My friend Ellen worked from home odd-hours so that she could homeschool and single parent her child up close and personal. THAT's making parenting your main job. Aimee is delusional at best.
Then the singles meeting is called to order, and Aimee indicates that it's enjoyable - the entertainment is "a band playing popular praise and worship songs". First, she doesn't go to church, so why would she like worship? Second, how does she know the songs are popular, if she doesn't go to church?
I. Can't. Even.
Done now - DNF @ PG 29.
This story isn't good. At all. In any way.
And the example set here is *ANYTHING* but inspirational.
She has the one daughter, a spoiled brat named Samantha who is crapping all over her in only-child fashion. Not asking for permission before driving off with a friend to school instead of taking the bus, not asking permission to sleep over, demanding her mother make snacks instead of asking, being a general beeeotch. Question: Samantha is fourteen. Driver's licenses aren't given to kids until they're sixteen. Wouldn't Samantha be hanging with a girl from her classes, not some upperclassmen she doesn't see during the school hours? This makes NO sense.
And what does Aimee do while Samantha does her brat thing? She *CRIES*. Repeatedly. Then she rationalizes the bad behavior to herself. Then she plays 'friend' to her daughter instead of mother. Then she frets and worries, and then she gets mad, but is too weak to act on anything... but she insists to everyone that parenting is her main job.
SHE. HASN'T. PARENTED. YET.
GAHHHH!!!
Then she sees a super-hottie daddy at the school she (ironically) started working for AT THE SAME TIME that her daughter started going to school there (((sigh....))), and she's surprised that she's never seen him, because she knows all the parents. Um... There are almost a hundred new students every year, and I can *GUARANTEE* she has *NEVER* met all of the parents of every student. BAD, bad-bad-badbadbadbad writing.
She only has a half workday on this particular day, because teacher in-service. Which... doesn't make *ANY* sense. Just because kids are off doesn't mean there isn't administrative work to be done. The teachers are there, the staff is there... why would she be off, again...?????
I'm at a loss as to how Aimee's hair is black, and her daughter's is naturally blonde. I have naturally blonde hair, my husband's is black, and NOT ONE of our kids have blonde hair - it's a recessive trait. My mom's bestie had black hair, her husband blonde, and even the lighter haired daughter was brunette. It seemed weird and wrong.
When Samantha comes home from school to pack for the un-asked-for sleepover, does Aimee talk to her daughter about asking, or set limitations or point out rudeness? All of which would be PARENTING? Nooooo... she just bows and caters and then *CRIES* when the girl leaves. NOT. PARENTING.
End chapter one... and I hate this book.
Chapter two. Jacob has lived in town all his life, and never met Aimee before. ??? She's lived there FIVE YEARS and knows everyone - she says so - so... how does that work? She tells him at the meeting that her 'main job' is mothering Samantha. Okay, bear with me: Samantha is at school five days a week, eight hours a day, and Aimee is at work for that same time. That leaves five hours at the end of the day, tops... not including extra-curriculars, play dates, events, etc. before bed. So WHAT is her main job, again? It sure isn't parenting! My friend Ellen worked from home odd-hours so that she could homeschool and single parent her child up close and personal. THAT's making parenting your main job. Aimee is delusional at best.
Then the singles meeting is called to order, and Aimee indicates that it's enjoyable - the entertainment is "a band playing popular praise and worship songs". First, she doesn't go to church, so why would she like worship? Second, how does she know the songs are popular, if she doesn't go to church?
I. Can't. Even.
Done now - DNF @ PG 29.
This story isn't good. At all. In any way.
And the example set here is *ANYTHING* but inspirational.
April 16, 2013
Widowed Aimee Blake, a school secretary, has her hands full raising a somewhat spoiled 14-year-old, Samantha. While she doesn't pine for a mate, she meets handsome Jacob Mallory, who's slowly working himself to death and mourning a failed engagement in his teens.
The book's plot is saccharine, not sweet, and there's little action. It's mostly dialogues from one character to another. The frumpy mother, Aimee, gets a makeover; her daughter, Samantha, goes from spoiled to considerate in a rather unbelievable fashion, and Jacob's deep dark secret isn't all that bad. It's not bad, but I've definitely read better romances from this author.
The book's plot is saccharine, not sweet, and there's little action. It's mostly dialogues from one character to another. The frumpy mother, Aimee, gets a makeover; her daughter, Samantha, goes from spoiled to considerate in a rather unbelievable fashion, and Jacob's deep dark secret isn't all that bad. It's not bad, but I've definitely read better romances from this author.
January 3, 2016
Aimee and her daughter Samantha are struggling with their relationship. At 14, Amiee's daughter will be leaving for college in 4 short years. Jacob is new in Amiee's life. Can they trust each other and get past the past
June 27, 2016
Sweet and loving, another good one about forgiveness. My fourteen year old is NOT like the one in the book, but I do homeschool so she's different from typical teens, she wants plenty of mommy time.
Read
September 25, 2011,.,.one of the most beautiful novels
June 30, 2013
had a good message but just kinda of blah story wise.
October 4, 2020
good thought provoking book
July 18, 2016
It was well thought out... Maybe too well thought out anything the characters did was detailed in planning. The relationship went really fast it seemed from almost a dead stand still.
August 20, 2016
a little preachy and not very romantic. But not a bad read.
December 28, 2020
Christian Romance.
February 10, 2009
Another cute Love Inspired. :)
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews