Love, Accidentally

by Sarah Pekkanen

From the author of The Opposite of Me and Skipping a Beat, an original eBook short story that shows whom we fall in love with may be the biggest—and happiest—accident of all.

Ilsa Brown wasn’t expecting a little, injured dog to lead her to the love of her life. But within months of their first meeting on a street corner in L.A., she and Grif, the dog’s owner, are engaged. Things between them are so blissful that Ilsa is stunned by the tension that erupts during their visit to Chicago to meet his parents, where she discovers that Grif’s old girlfriend, Elise, is still woven into his family. What Ilsa needs to know before she can walk down the aisle is whether Elise is still in Grif’s heart, too.

Featuring a character from Sarah Pekkanen’s original eBook short story All Is Bright, Love, Accidentally is surprising and heartfelt. It’s a story about taking chances and choosing hope, and discovering what it means to love someone—and to let go of someone you love.

Genres: Romance, Short Stories, Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Novella, Womens Fiction

60 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 13, 2011

About the author

I'm a #1 New York Times bestselling author of 15 solo and coauthored books, including HOUSE OF GLASS, which is a Goodreads Choice award nominee and Amazon best book of the year and THE LOCKED WARD, which is hailed by Lee Child as "psychological suspense at its very best."

My upcoming novel is THE WOMEN IN WHITE.

I'm also the author or coauthor of these bestselling thrillers: GONE TONIGHT, THE GOLDEN COUPLE, THE WIFE BETWEEN US, AN ANONYMOUS GIRL, and YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

I've written eight novels that are contemporary fiction, not thrillers: THE EVER AFTER, THE PERFECT NEIGHBORS, THINGS YOU WON'T SAY, CATCHING AIR, THE BEST OF US, THE OPPOSITE OF ME, SKIPPING A BEAT, and THESE GIRLS. My linked free short estories, published by Simon&Schuster exclusively for ereaders, are titled "All is Bright," and "Love, Accidentally."

When I'm not writing or spending time with my three kids, I'm a passionate advocate for rescue animals. I serve as Ambassador of RRSA India, a shelter and sanctuary for abused and injured street dogs and other animals in Anand, India. And I'm the founder of the nonprofit charity IndiaStreetPaws.com.

I also serve on the board of the International Thriller Writers. Readers and writers - come join us at Thrillerfest in NYC every spring!

Please find me on Insta and Facebook for more!

My website is www.sarahpekkanen.com

(Here on Goodreads, my policy is to only review books I really like. If I don't enjoy the book, I won't write about it - it's just my personal policy.)

Reviews

[Elyse Walters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Freebie short story that stops at 48%. I’m just playing around with Paul today ... I’m his tag along - read this while he ran into the bank - in the car... goofing OFF!!!

There’s a dog in the story ... that got a boo-boo on his foot - he got better ... and his cute veterinarian started dating the guy!

MUST READ!!!!!! HA HA!!!!!!

[Amanda B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice short story that follows on from All is Bright.

[Shirley Revill]

A short story that is a continuation of All is bright but from a different viewpoint.
I love short stories because it gives you a good idea of the author's style of writing.
The book was very well written and both books where free on Kobo.
It's a story of love and trusting enough to move forward together through life.
Really enjoyed. Recommended.

[Silvia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm scratching my head here. This is supposed to be a short story, but reads like a first chapter of a novel. And it ends at the 48% mark on kindle, then there's a sample of one of her novels. If this was supposed to be a teaser, I wish amazon had told me. Glad it was free.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slightly longer than All is Bright and told from Ilsa instead of Elise. I liked this one more because Grif appeared like a great guy given the circumstances and the girls weren't catty.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second short story in a three part series - really cute! It can be downloaded for free on Amazon.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling,full.bodied novella h ,a vet bumped into her future hubs and his injured dog.Having just left his relationship ow whom was childhood friend,h needs to be certain he is over her.Success!

[Colleen Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This spinoff to the short story All Is Bright was just as enjoyable as its predecessor. In this story we hear from Ilsa, the woman who takes over the space in Griffin's heart now that Elisa (the heroine in All Is Bright) has vacated. She instantly feels an electric chemistry with Griffin from the moment they meet. Their relationship is a whirlwind and it doesn't seem strange, at first, that Griffin proposes to her just six weeks after they started dating. That is until she starts wondering how much Griffin might still feel for Elise.

When Griffin and Ilsa go home to meet his parents a few weeks after becoming engaged, she realizes just how engrained in their family dynamic Griffin's ex girlfriend truly is. She is already a part of the family and the way they purposely try not to discuss her makes Ilsa feel like an outsider. She cannot help the jealousy that surfaces or her ultimate need to meet this woman and see for herself what Griffin had given up.

I think most people can relate to the feeling that they are treading on already covered ground when dating someone who has either recently broken up with someone else or has had a long term relationship before them. How Ilsa handles these feelings and her ultimate meeting with Elise show her as a vulnerable yet enigmatic character and one I hope Sarah Pekkanen writes more of in the future.

[justwant2read · Rating 3 out of 5]

Argh! Another too short story, I wish this had been just a little bit longer. It was short and sweet.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a continuation to All Is Bright but told by a different character. These are really short but I like the author. I look forward to reading some of her full length books like The Wife Between Us and An Anonymous Girl.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute novella.

[LiteraryMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author's previous story ALL IS BRIGHT continues in the new short story LOVE, ACCIDENTALLY. But this story is told from Griffin's new fiance Ilsa's point of view. It begins with Isla and Griffin meeting by chance when his dog is injured. Within months, the couple grow close and are engaged. During a visit home to Chicago, Isla meets Griffin's parents and discover his ex-girlfriend Elise is still close with the family. Now Isla wonders whether she's the rebound girl or whether falling in love was an accident after all.

Women can connect with Ilsa's points of view on love, loss, family and relationships of the past. Sarah Pekkanen has a knack for writing that draws you into the character's lives. I would love for the author to either continue this short story series or write a full novel with these characters.

As a bonus, this eBook includes excerpts from Sarah Pekkanen's other novels. Download for a quick, heartwarming read for the holidays. It will only cost you $.99!

[Marla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed both of these short stories All Is Bright and Love Accidentally . It is amazing how Pekkanen can develop characters in such a short amount of time. It is rare that you feel like you know a character with such few words, but Pekkanen has this power.

I would love to see these characters explored further. Are there more short stories? I want Elise to be a happy too! What about Corrine and Bruce?

[Shelly♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the characters in this little story. But I wasn't ready for it to end! lol. I saw a lot more potential for tension and drama and fun. Nice little fun read. Also has excerpts from the author's other books - including her not yet released novel.

Thanks to Sarah for a sweet little story!

[JD · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it! I loved getting to see the other side of the love triangle BUT PLEASE NEXT CHRISTMAS CAN WE GET A SHORT STORY WHERE I DON'T FEEL HEARTBROKEN FOR ELISE?!?! I need her to meet someone that makes her forget about Griffin. I NEED it!

[Mya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really felt for her and her struggles.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2****
From the author of The Opposite of Me and Skipping a Beat, an original eBook short story that shows whom we fall in love with may be the biggest - and happiest - accident of all.

Ilsa Brown wasn't expecting a little, injured dog to lead her to the love of her life. But within months of their first meeting on a street corner in L.A., she and Grif, the dog's owner, are engaged. Things between them are so blissful that Ilsa is stunned by the tension that erupts during their visit to Chicago to meet his parents, where she discovers that Grif's old girlfriend, Elise, is still woven into his family. What Ilsa needs to know before she can walk down the aisle is whether Elise is still in Grif's heart, too.

Featuring a character from Sarah Pekkanen's original eBook short story All Is Bright, Love, Accidentally is surprising and heartfelt. It's a story about taking chances and choosing hope, and discovering what it means to love someone - and to let go of someone you love

[buzy_reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Griffin recently moved to Los Angeles. Taking the dog her fostered for a walk the dog was injured. Ilsa a veterinarian happened to be nearby.
They began dating and the relationship moves quickly. Griffin was in a fifteen year relationship with his ex. The recent break has Ilsa questioning him. Then her sister has problems in her marriage and she wonders how do couples know when they want to spend the rest of there life with someone?
The story is a bit wordy for a short story. Everything is explained in detailed not leaving much to the imagination of the reader. If this is any indication to her writing style I can say with confidence I’m going to be skim reading her books if I choose to invest in a standalone.

[SOMDReigel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of Ilse dealing with the knowledge that an old girlfriend has years of history and memories in her new fiancée life and family. Overcoming those visions and realizing that she and Grif have memories to make ahead of them. I thought the meeting of the two women was done very well. A very short but complete read.
NOTE: The other side of the story begins in All Is Bright ; the old girlfriends Elise’s point of view.

[Xylene Qien · Rating 3 out of 5]

i gotta admit, pulling the readers in and telling the different characters and their interactions lively in just tens of pages, is truly amazing.

but what's with that ending tho.

whatever happened to corrine and bruce

da hell man

i like all is bright better than this even though the closure made in live accidentally is a real knot maker

[H. Dorner · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the short story, All is Bright, gave Elise's view of the story, Love, Accidentally, gives the new girlfriend, Ilsa's view of the same story. New fiancee meets old girlfriend. How does that work out?

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this along with its companion, All Is Bright. I preferred that short story to this one as I felt it had more depth of characters but it was nice getting to know Grif and Ilse. The story of her sister, however, felt unnecessary.

[Amanda Wilcox · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was alright for such a short story. I think if the author had really taken some time she could have made this a great full length novel. She's got great writing style but I wanted more from the story, more detail.

[Omnia Atef · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ilsa is the most frustrating character hated her she went to her boyfriend's family visit when her sister's marriage is ruining she tried to met her boyfriend's ex to know the reality of their relation without any minding for the other girl feeling hated

[Reaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually enjoy this author, but this is a VERY short story (probably about 45 pages). It was a reasonably enjoyable time sink. Save it for a train ride.

[anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

still kind of wish there was more to the story, where did elise go from there?

[Kayla Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love these short stores and wish they were longer! Fun to read a continuation from a different character’s perspective.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah’s short stories are so damn good! I hate that they aren’t full length novels. Adorable and relatable.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the second in a three part series. I liked reading the other woman’s point of view. Cute short stories.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Viewpoint

Enjoyed the difference in the two ladies. It was fun to see two viewpoints! Give it a try, it is a short read.