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The McKinnon Brothers #3
Marrying His Best Friend
Single mom Maura Callahan never anticipated that at age 29 she’d be living with her mom in the suburbs, raising her young daughter, Chloe, and working a job that pays the bills but not much else. Her daughter is worth the struggle—and she still has her best friend Aidan, who makes her laugh, keeps her on her toes, and provides the oh-so-toned shoulder to cry on when necessary.
Aidan McKinnon, exec at a high profile social media company in the heart of Dublin, has longed to change his bestie status with Maura for years, but it seems Maura’s relegated him permanently to the friend zone. Still, she and Chloe are his world. But when Chloe’s father shows up out of the blue and demands shared custody when he’s never once met the little girl, Aidan sees a way to finally have what he secretly wants most while ensuring Maura and Chloe’s safety… and the diamond ring is just the beginning.
Will Aidan’s fiercely protective, knight in shining armor proposal of convenience end up starting the love of a lifetime?
Aidan McKinnon, exec at a high profile social media company in the heart of Dublin, has longed to change his bestie status with Maura for years, but it seems Maura’s relegated him permanently to the friend zone. Still, she and Chloe are his world. But when Chloe’s father shows up out of the blue and demands shared custody when he’s never once met the little girl, Aidan sees a way to finally have what he secretly wants most while ensuring Maura and Chloe’s safety… and the diamond ring is just the beginning.
Will Aidan’s fiercely protective, knight in shining armor proposal of convenience end up starting the love of a lifetime?
218 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 16, 2016
1474 people are currently reading
899 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Gracen
21 books257 followersJennifer Gracen was born, raised, and still lives on Long Island, New York, and is a proud mom of two grown sons. She loves to write for readers who look for authentic characters, some humor, some passion, and warmth. A medical copy editor by day, Jennifer also does copy editing and proofreading for novelists. She's also been known to give lively concerts in her car (she's an alto).
The Harrisons Series:
Book 1: More Than You Know
Book 2: Someone Like You
Book 3: 'Tis The Season
Book 3.5: Happily Ever After (novella)
Book 4: Between You And Me
Book 5: It Might Be You
The McKinnon Brothers Series:
Book 1: All I Want For Christmas
Book 2: The Doctor's Love
Book 3: Marrying His Best Friend
Book 4: Love In Dublin
Her short story A DOSE OF GELT was featured in a Chanukah anthology, BURNING BRIGHT: Four Chanukah Love Stories, published by Avon Impulse/HarperCollins in December 2015.
The Seasons Of Love Series:
Book 1: Autumn Getaway
Book 2: Winter Hopes
Book 3: Spring Shadows
Book 4: Summer Champagne
More to come...
The Harrisons Series:
Book 1: More Than You Know
Book 2: Someone Like You
Book 3: 'Tis The Season
Book 3.5: Happily Ever After (novella)
Book 4: Between You And Me
Book 5: It Might Be You
The McKinnon Brothers Series:
Book 1: All I Want For Christmas
Book 2: The Doctor's Love
Book 3: Marrying His Best Friend
Book 4: Love In Dublin
Her short story A DOSE OF GELT was featured in a Chanukah anthology, BURNING BRIGHT: Four Chanukah Love Stories, published by Avon Impulse/HarperCollins in December 2015.
The Seasons Of Love Series:
Book 1: Autumn Getaway
Book 2: Winter Hopes
Book 3: Spring Shadows
Book 4: Summer Champagne
More to come...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
March 22, 2017
This is a delightful, heart-warming friends to lovers romance featuring the Irish couple, single Mum, Maura Callahan, and her best friend, Aidan McKinnon. For more than a decade Maura has regarded Aidan as her go to friend in times of trouble, the godfather to her daughter and she doesn’t seem to have ever had any romantic notions about him. Desperate to keep near her, he’s never indicated that he loves her until her ex, the man who hit her whilst she was pregnant with his child and then disappeared from their lives, reappears to demand shared custody of their daughter who he has never even seen before. Aidan discovers that if Maura marries him, he can then become the adoptive father, preventing any further custodial demands and cutting the ex from their lives. It will also mean Maura might, at last, start seeing him as a man she could love as more than a friend . . . .
Whilst this is the third novel in the series, it works well as a standalone. I loved this sweet Irish romance that really tugs at the heart strings. The abusive, threatening ex, the beloved cheerful and delightful daughter are also well portrayed but it is the angst and turmoil of Maura and Aidan, the secrets they keep and their changing attitudes to each other that make this a great read.
Many thanks to the publishers for gifting me a copy of this novel, via NetGalley, with no obligation. This is my honest review.
Whilst this is the third novel in the series, it works well as a standalone. I loved this sweet Irish romance that really tugs at the heart strings. The abusive, threatening ex, the beloved cheerful and delightful daughter are also well portrayed but it is the angst and turmoil of Maura and Aidan, the secrets they keep and their changing attitudes to each other that make this a great read.
Many thanks to the publishers for gifting me a copy of this novel, via NetGalley, with no obligation. This is my honest review.
April 11, 2017
A very cute Friends-to-More/Marriage of Convenience story. I loved, loved Aiden. He was so sweet. This was well on it's way to being a 4 star read for me, but then Maura started acting like an idiot and I couldn't stand her for awhile so it definitely brought my overall feelings about the book down. It was still, cute, though. This was a free Nookbook (and is probably on Kindle too?) and I'm glad I actually read it instead of letting it sit for years untouched on my Nook, like most other free downloads do.
October 5, 2016
This mini-review is featured as part of a blog post at All About Romance: http://allaboutromance.com/midweek-mi...
In love with his best friend Maura for years, Aidan McKinnon worried about ruining their friendship if he ever came clean about his true feelings and kept them well hidden. Maura met and dated another man, who dumped her while she was pregnant. Now raising her four year old daughter as a single mother, living with her own mom again and working to support herself, Maura relies on her friendship with Aidan to keep her grounded. When Niall – her ex – suddenly shows up interested in gaining custody of their daughter, Maura turns to Aidan and he offers her a surefire way to negate Niall’s claims. If she marries Aidan, he can adopt Maura’s daughter legally and Niall will have no chance at hurting Maura again. Has Aidan’s time finally come to admit the depth of his feelings? And will Maura in turn realize her own?
This is a fairly predictable but enjoyable contemporary romance. Niall is clearly the bad guy, with his stalkerish tendencies creating the external conflict to the story. Not only did he dump Maura, but it’s made clear (repeatably) that he hit her when he was drunk and she was pregnant, so he’s definitely a louse all around. Aidan is the good guy hero, the best friend, always supportive of Maura since they met in university. When Aidan suggests that Maura marry him to fend off Niall the author mentions several times that she never thought of him ‘that way’ before. In fact there are several instances where portions of the story are a bit repetitious either in conversation or internal monologue. It could probably have been cut short by several thousand words and you wouldn’t notice anything missing. Being set in Ireland, the conversation is ripe with ‘Irish-isms’ but not always consistently – words like ‘Aye’ and ‘ya (for you)’ and ‘Jaysus’ cropping up occasionally, almost as a reminder to the reader that yes, it’s set in Ireland and this is how people (presumably) talk there. Besides the conflict with Niall, the adjustment of Aidan and Maura from friends to lovers accompanied by the reality of Aidan’s strong feelings for Maura make for some tension even as they make plans for their arranged marriage. It all works out in the end though and we’re left with a ready made family unit with a bright future ahead of them. Sweet, with some sensual scenes, it’s an easy afternoon read.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher for review.
In love with his best friend Maura for years, Aidan McKinnon worried about ruining their friendship if he ever came clean about his true feelings and kept them well hidden. Maura met and dated another man, who dumped her while she was pregnant. Now raising her four year old daughter as a single mother, living with her own mom again and working to support herself, Maura relies on her friendship with Aidan to keep her grounded. When Niall – her ex – suddenly shows up interested in gaining custody of their daughter, Maura turns to Aidan and he offers her a surefire way to negate Niall’s claims. If she marries Aidan, he can adopt Maura’s daughter legally and Niall will have no chance at hurting Maura again. Has Aidan’s time finally come to admit the depth of his feelings? And will Maura in turn realize her own?
This is a fairly predictable but enjoyable contemporary romance. Niall is clearly the bad guy, with his stalkerish tendencies creating the external conflict to the story. Not only did he dump Maura, but it’s made clear (repeatably) that he hit her when he was drunk and she was pregnant, so he’s definitely a louse all around. Aidan is the good guy hero, the best friend, always supportive of Maura since they met in university. When Aidan suggests that Maura marry him to fend off Niall the author mentions several times that she never thought of him ‘that way’ before. In fact there are several instances where portions of the story are a bit repetitious either in conversation or internal monologue. It could probably have been cut short by several thousand words and you wouldn’t notice anything missing. Being set in Ireland, the conversation is ripe with ‘Irish-isms’ but not always consistently – words like ‘Aye’ and ‘ya (for you)’ and ‘Jaysus’ cropping up occasionally, almost as a reminder to the reader that yes, it’s set in Ireland and this is how people (presumably) talk there. Besides the conflict with Niall, the adjustment of Aidan and Maura from friends to lovers accompanied by the reality of Aidan’s strong feelings for Maura make for some tension even as they make plans for their arranged marriage. It all works out in the end though and we’re left with a ready made family unit with a bright future ahead of them. Sweet, with some sensual scenes, it’s an easy afternoon read.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher for review.
nope
January 22, 2020This author threatened to contact my employer because she didn't like something I said on Twitter. Needless to say, I'll never read one of her books.
May 25, 2017
Childish characters, silly story, angst when there wasn't a need or an explanation for it. All of a sudden the drama with Niall throughout the whole book is puff resolved. Maura was not a good main h, very unlikable and Aiden was a love sick puppy following Maura around and being her go to guy best friend for 10 years! Yes 10 years he kept his love a secret!! Crazy neither characters or storyline great only plus set in Dublin.
Do not recommend, free on Amazon at time of purchase.
Do not recommend, free on Amazon at time of purchase.
May 25, 2018
This was a quick, easy, light, solid average read. What I wanted at the time, but it's so short, that there isn't time to build the story or the characters as much as necessary to be a great book.
May 22, 2017
Good
Good book to share with your notebook book book and book book to share with your family with your own family fun
Good book to share with your notebook book book and book book to share with your family with your own family fun
April 11, 2017
Just wasn't my cup of tea. 😕
April 23, 2017
2.5 stars. I rarely ever rate so low... but i found this one very, very boring. I felt disconnected through out the book with the exception of a few scenes here and there. For such a short book... i sure took forever to finish it... i liked chloe, the other 2 characters seemed too juvenile and they simply seemed to stretch out- what seemed like no plot at all.
September 17, 2016
In this friends to lovers story, Maura is a single mother living with her mother and doing her best to give her young daughter Chloe the life she deserves. She never told Chloe who her father is because he was abusive while she was pregnant and she fears what he might do if they ever met.
When Maura’s ex shows up after five years and wants a relationship with his daughter, Maura’s best friend Aiden comes up with a plan where they can marry and Chloe will be protected once she is adopted by him. Aiden has always loved Maura, but he kept his feelings to himself.
When Maura’s ex starts stalking her and Chloe and she keeps it a secret from Aiden, it could threaten the relationship that Maura and Aiden have. Aiden takes things in his own hands at this point and it worries Maura. How will their friendship and newly found romance survive?
This book was well written and you couldn’t help but feel sad for what Maura was going through. All of the changes at one time would be more than I could handle. But Maura is a strong woman and takes care of herself and her family. Aiden has his job cut out for him trying to get Maura to trust him and I enjoyed seeing how he earned Maura’s trust. I enjoyed this book a lot. The characters felt real and so did the issues they faced. The story moved along quickly with no down spots.
When Maura’s ex shows up after five years and wants a relationship with his daughter, Maura’s best friend Aiden comes up with a plan where they can marry and Chloe will be protected once she is adopted by him. Aiden has always loved Maura, but he kept his feelings to himself.
When Maura’s ex starts stalking her and Chloe and she keeps it a secret from Aiden, it could threaten the relationship that Maura and Aiden have. Aiden takes things in his own hands at this point and it worries Maura. How will their friendship and newly found romance survive?
This book was well written and you couldn’t help but feel sad for what Maura was going through. All of the changes at one time would be more than I could handle. But Maura is a strong woman and takes care of herself and her family. Aiden has his job cut out for him trying to get Maura to trust him and I enjoyed seeing how he earned Maura’s trust. I enjoyed this book a lot. The characters felt real and so did the issues they faced. The story moved along quickly with no down spots.
March 26, 2018
This book could have been SO much better than it was. It was a good premise and had lots of built in drama but... ugh really?? Come on. Maura was working my EVERY nerve!! What was her problem? She kept talking about how strong she was but really? She was annoyingly weak and whiny. She was all "I'm going to pout and whine about this and that over and over, but then I'm going to be mad if someone wants to help?" Yeah, Aidan was good. I would have left that chick AGES ago.
I really have no interest in reading any other books in this series either. An editor was needed and definitely someone to check grammar. I had to re-read bits all over the place to make sure I understood who was speaking or what they were trying to say. Not a fan!
I really have no interest in reading any other books in this series either. An editor was needed and definitely someone to check grammar. I had to re-read bits all over the place to make sure I understood who was speaking or what they were trying to say. Not a fan!
June 15, 2020
I got this for free as an Ebook. I thought I would give this one a chance. This is my first time reading anything by this author. This was a very cute love story. This was a delightful and heart-warming read. I loved Maura and Aidan. I loved Aidan a lot. He was sooo sweet. I loved as well Maura. She is such a strong woman. She is an amazing woman that gives and does everything to provide for her daughter. But honestly for me, it was Chloe that made this book sooo entertaining. She is so delightful and cheerful. She is soo cute that you can’t help but love her. I am a sucker for romance novels and this one was definitely a romantic read.
July 26, 2022
Es gibt viele Geschichten auf dem Markt, in denen Freunde zu Geliebten werden über eine „Schein-Beziehung“. Dabei spielt regelmäßig die Art der Umsetzung eine große Rolle. Kann sie den Leser überzeugen und in ihren Bann ziehen? Oder fällt das Konzept wie ein Kartenhaus in sich zusammen?
Bei Jennifer Gracens „Marrying His Best Friend“ steht das Konzept auf wackeligen Beinen und hält sich bis zum Schluss dennoch wacker. Das liegt an den sympathischen Charakteren statt an dem Konzept der Story.
Die Hauptfiguren sind Aiden und Maura. Die beiden sind seit über 10 Jahren beste Freunde und haben nie den Kontakt zueinander verloren. Im Gegenteil, Aiden ist sogar der Patenonkel von Mauras 5-jähriger Tochter. Die Beziehung bzw. Freundschaft der beiden ist recht eng.
Maura ist eine selbstständige, alleinerziehende Mutter. Sie arbeitet hart, wohnt mit ihrer Tochter im Hause ihrer Mutter. Sie ist ein Familienmensch und sehr ehrlich sowie herzlich. Für sie ist Aiden zwar ein attraktiver Mann, aber sie sieht ihn nicht als potenziellen Geliebten. Er ist für sie einfach nur ein Freund. Seit ihrer Beziehung mit Niall, dem Vater ihrer kleinen Tochter, hatte sie auch keinen Mann mehr. Niall ist ihr Ex-Verlobter und hat sie, nachdem er sie während der Schwangerschaft misshandelt hatte, einfach sitzengelassen. Danach war für Maura eine Welt zusammengebrochen. Doch ihre Familie und Aiden haben sie unterstützt und wieder aufgebaut.
Aiden ist ebenfalls ein sehr liebenswerter Charakter. Er ist seit dem Tag, an dem er Maura das erste Mal begegnet ist, in sie verliebt. Seine Gefühle für sie hat er bisher immer verdrängt, weil ihm bewusst war, dass Maura nicht so für ihn empfindet. Er ist schlau, loyal, ebenfalls ein Familienmensch und sehr großzügig. Er liebt nicht nur Maura, sondern auch ihre kleine Tochter. Er ist es auch, der Maura die Sache mit der Scheinehe schmackhaft macht. Doch nur um das zu schützen, was beiden sehr wichtig ist.
Sara, die kleine Tochter von Maura, scheint ein fröhlicher und behüteter Sonnenschein zu sein, der von den Problemen ihrer Mutter nichts ahnt. Die Kleine taucht mir persönlich viel zu wenig auf, und dass, obwohl sie der zentrale Punkt der Handlung ist.
Die Geschichte wird abwechselnd aus der Perspektive von Maura und Aiden geschildert. Dadurch bekommt man einen Einblick in die Gedanken- und Gefühlswelt der beiden. Man sieht aber auch die Probleme. Maura fällt hier besonders negativ auf. Sie sagt zwar immer, dass Aiden ihr bester Freund ist, aber das System Kommunikation beherrscht sie nicht. Sie erzählt ihm nicht von ihren Problemen und schluckt es nur mehr oder weniger hinunter. Viel schlimmer finde ich aber ihre Passivität. Sie unternimmt aktiv nichts gegen ihr/e Problem/e. Dabei ist es nicht nur ein Problem, sondern eine Bedrohung für sie und Sara. Absolut traurig!
Sprachlich ist die Geschichte sehr gut umgesetzt. Sie hat sich flüssig und gut lesen lassen. Die Charaktere waren zwar gut durchdacht, blieben mir aber leider etwas zu oberflächlich. Hier hätte man zumindest den drei zentralen Figuren etwas mehr Tiefe verleihen können. Dennoch habe ich mich gut unterhalten gefühlt.
Die Endlösung des Problems kam und das Zusammenfinden der einzelnen Puzzleteile war mir persönlich zu überhastet. Da hätte ich mir ebenfalls gewünscht, dass sich die Autorin mehr Zeit nimmt.
Dennoch ein gutes und unterhaltsames Buch, das ich genossen habe.
Bei Jennifer Gracens „Marrying His Best Friend“ steht das Konzept auf wackeligen Beinen und hält sich bis zum Schluss dennoch wacker. Das liegt an den sympathischen Charakteren statt an dem Konzept der Story.
Die Hauptfiguren sind Aiden und Maura. Die beiden sind seit über 10 Jahren beste Freunde und haben nie den Kontakt zueinander verloren. Im Gegenteil, Aiden ist sogar der Patenonkel von Mauras 5-jähriger Tochter. Die Beziehung bzw. Freundschaft der beiden ist recht eng.
Maura ist eine selbstständige, alleinerziehende Mutter. Sie arbeitet hart, wohnt mit ihrer Tochter im Hause ihrer Mutter. Sie ist ein Familienmensch und sehr ehrlich sowie herzlich. Für sie ist Aiden zwar ein attraktiver Mann, aber sie sieht ihn nicht als potenziellen Geliebten. Er ist für sie einfach nur ein Freund. Seit ihrer Beziehung mit Niall, dem Vater ihrer kleinen Tochter, hatte sie auch keinen Mann mehr. Niall ist ihr Ex-Verlobter und hat sie, nachdem er sie während der Schwangerschaft misshandelt hatte, einfach sitzengelassen. Danach war für Maura eine Welt zusammengebrochen. Doch ihre Familie und Aiden haben sie unterstützt und wieder aufgebaut.
Aiden ist ebenfalls ein sehr liebenswerter Charakter. Er ist seit dem Tag, an dem er Maura das erste Mal begegnet ist, in sie verliebt. Seine Gefühle für sie hat er bisher immer verdrängt, weil ihm bewusst war, dass Maura nicht so für ihn empfindet. Er ist schlau, loyal, ebenfalls ein Familienmensch und sehr großzügig. Er liebt nicht nur Maura, sondern auch ihre kleine Tochter. Er ist es auch, der Maura die Sache mit der Scheinehe schmackhaft macht. Doch nur um das zu schützen, was beiden sehr wichtig ist.
Sara, die kleine Tochter von Maura, scheint ein fröhlicher und behüteter Sonnenschein zu sein, der von den Problemen ihrer Mutter nichts ahnt. Die Kleine taucht mir persönlich viel zu wenig auf, und dass, obwohl sie der zentrale Punkt der Handlung ist.
Die Geschichte wird abwechselnd aus der Perspektive von Maura und Aiden geschildert. Dadurch bekommt man einen Einblick in die Gedanken- und Gefühlswelt der beiden. Man sieht aber auch die Probleme. Maura fällt hier besonders negativ auf. Sie sagt zwar immer, dass Aiden ihr bester Freund ist, aber das System Kommunikation beherrscht sie nicht. Sie erzählt ihm nicht von ihren Problemen und schluckt es nur mehr oder weniger hinunter. Viel schlimmer finde ich aber ihre Passivität. Sie unternimmt aktiv nichts gegen ihr/e Problem/e. Dabei ist es nicht nur ein Problem, sondern eine Bedrohung für sie und Sara. Absolut traurig!
Sprachlich ist die Geschichte sehr gut umgesetzt. Sie hat sich flüssig und gut lesen lassen. Die Charaktere waren zwar gut durchdacht, blieben mir aber leider etwas zu oberflächlich. Hier hätte man zumindest den drei zentralen Figuren etwas mehr Tiefe verleihen können. Dennoch habe ich mich gut unterhalten gefühlt.
Die Endlösung des Problems kam und das Zusammenfinden der einzelnen Puzzleteile war mir persönlich zu überhastet. Da hätte ich mir ebenfalls gewünscht, dass sich die Autorin mehr Zeit nimmt.
Dennoch ein gutes und unterhaltsames Buch, das ich genossen habe.
March 26, 2018
Marrying His Best Friend is a heartwarming friends-to-lovers story, which is a trope I usually stay away from - because the crux of the story line is usually “I don’t want to ruin our friendship” or some such other malarkey that just doesn’t ever seem to ring true to me. (Don’t you want to be best friends with your significant other?) However, this was on sale for free (one of my favorite words!), and I really liked the couple of other Jennifer Gracen books I’ve read. So I decided to give it a chance.
Aidan has been best friends with Maura for the past ten years. They’ve stayed close through other relationships, moves out of the country, and Maura’s unplanned pregnancy and subsequent abandonment by her fiancé. Aidan has been by Maura’s side through all of it, and now that her daughter Chloe’s dad has reappeared, threatening to get joint custody, he’s determined to protect the woman he’s always loved and the little girl he loves as his own.
Another trope I don’t usually like is the fake marriage/marriage of convenience plot, which is also thrown in here when Aidan proposes that he and Maura get married to keep Chloe away from her jerk of a father. (Apparently in Ireland, where this story takes place, there are some very different parental rights and custody laws from here in the US.). So in addition to the “I don’t want to ruin our friendship, I’m afraid of losing her if she doesn’t feel the same way,” we’ve also got the whole “she’ll never love me the way I love her” dialogue going in Aidan’s head, and “he’s tying himself to someone he doesn’t love” in Maura’s. The plot could have gotten bogged down with all the lamenting about what couldn’t/shouldn’t be, but Ms. Gracen has her characters do what most don’t: they actually talk! Yes, there was plenty of internal monologue by both the hero and heroine, but it wasn’t excessive.
What I love about this author’s stories is that the characters make mistakes. Big ones. They keep secrets and lie because they are afraid. And the offended party? They get angry. They get pissed. They express how angry and pissed off they are. But then they calmly walk away and ask for some time to cool off. There’s no stomping out of the room, no slamming the door, no declarations of “we’re through” shouted over the shoulder as they leave. They have completely realistic, mature reactions to their betrayal. There’s no trumped-up angst created between the characters, and I thoroughly appreciate that!
Was this an amazing book? For me, not really. But it contained two tropes I usually dislike, and I still enjoyed the story. Ms. Gracen is quickly becoming an author whose books I will actively seek out because her writing is excellent and I love her characters - the heroes are kind and thoughtful, and the heroines are strong and relatable. Throw in good dialogue, and even if the story line is less than appealing to me, I’m probably still going to like Ms. Gracen’s books!
Aidan has been best friends with Maura for the past ten years. They’ve stayed close through other relationships, moves out of the country, and Maura’s unplanned pregnancy and subsequent abandonment by her fiancé. Aidan has been by Maura’s side through all of it, and now that her daughter Chloe’s dad has reappeared, threatening to get joint custody, he’s determined to protect the woman he’s always loved and the little girl he loves as his own.
Another trope I don’t usually like is the fake marriage/marriage of convenience plot, which is also thrown in here when Aidan proposes that he and Maura get married to keep Chloe away from her jerk of a father. (Apparently in Ireland, where this story takes place, there are some very different parental rights and custody laws from here in the US.). So in addition to the “I don’t want to ruin our friendship, I’m afraid of losing her if she doesn’t feel the same way,” we’ve also got the whole “she’ll never love me the way I love her” dialogue going in Aidan’s head, and “he’s tying himself to someone he doesn’t love” in Maura’s. The plot could have gotten bogged down with all the lamenting about what couldn’t/shouldn’t be, but Ms. Gracen has her characters do what most don’t: they actually talk! Yes, there was plenty of internal monologue by both the hero and heroine, but it wasn’t excessive.
What I love about this author’s stories is that the characters make mistakes. Big ones. They keep secrets and lie because they are afraid. And the offended party? They get angry. They get pissed. They express how angry and pissed off they are. But then they calmly walk away and ask for some time to cool off. There’s no stomping out of the room, no slamming the door, no declarations of “we’re through” shouted over the shoulder as they leave. They have completely realistic, mature reactions to their betrayal. There’s no trumped-up angst created between the characters, and I thoroughly appreciate that!
Was this an amazing book? For me, not really. But it contained two tropes I usually dislike, and I still enjoyed the story. Ms. Gracen is quickly becoming an author whose books I will actively seek out because her writing is excellent and I love her characters - the heroes are kind and thoughtful, and the heroines are strong and relatable. Throw in good dialogue, and even if the story line is less than appealing to me, I’m probably still going to like Ms. Gracen’s books!
May 8, 2017
I was looking forward to this - a light-hearted romance with an arranged marriage. It had all the right ingredients: Maura Callahan , a single mother living in the suburbs of Dublin with her daughter Chloe, and Aidan McKinnon, exec at a high profile social media company in the heart of Dublin.
Maura and Aiden have been best friends for years, though there is no ‘romance’ between the couple.
However, within the first couple of pages I began to wonder what I was reading:
And then it struck me. Great swathes of the dialogue were in what I can only describe as cod Irish. ;)
“Aren’t you dressed up tonight? Looking sharp, there.”
***
“I looked after ya some,” she said off-handedly.
***
“Ya got a beer for me, love?”
***
“Ya gonna hit her too?” Aiden asked in a low voice. “Because I still didn’t put your face into the ground for when you raised a hand to Maura. I owe ya for that.”
“You always hated me,” Niall said to him. “Didn’t ya? Couldn’t stand I was bangin’ your best girl.”
At times it seems as if the author was simply throwing in Irish phrases and words to make this an ‘Irish’ story.
shite, hen, Jaysus, fecking, sweet Jesus, Holy mother of God, Jesus Christ
A whole gamut of unpleasant and ill-fitting words that served no purpose other than to shout to the reader - Look! These people are Irish!! It was unnecessary and to my mind, offensive.
The swearing was too much (and I have no problems at all with swearing - IN the right context) Here, it was just another ‘sop’ to the Irish theme.
It would have been totally different if ALL the dialogue had been like that, but there were moments like this:
“It’s good to hear I mean so much to you. So now, please recall you mean the same to me. You and Chloe are like family to me already, which is why I want to do this. I want to help you both.” He stared into her eyes, still glassy and wide. “So. Decide, now. Once and for all.” He took a step back. “We can’t keep doing this back and forth. Either we’re doing this, and we have to start planning, or we’re not and that’s that. It’s your call. Call it.”
That was Aiden. No swearing, no ‘ya’ or ‘shite’ etc. And that dialogue bore no resemblance to the way he spoke at other times.
I found it impossible to ‘read’ any dialogue without wondering what accent it was suppose dot be, or wondering if there was going to be a ‘fecking’ or ‘shite’ or ‘b’jaysus’ thrown into the conversation. There was no consistency at all. Everyone vacillated between Standard English and what came across as cod Irish and in the end I gave up.
Maura and Aiden have been best friends for years, though there is no ‘romance’ between the couple.
However, within the first couple of pages I began to wonder what I was reading:
And then it struck me. Great swathes of the dialogue were in what I can only describe as cod Irish. ;)
“Aren’t you dressed up tonight? Looking sharp, there.”
***
“I looked after ya some,” she said off-handedly.
***
“Ya got a beer for me, love?”
***
“Ya gonna hit her too?” Aiden asked in a low voice. “Because I still didn’t put your face into the ground for when you raised a hand to Maura. I owe ya for that.”
“You always hated me,” Niall said to him. “Didn’t ya? Couldn’t stand I was bangin’ your best girl.”
At times it seems as if the author was simply throwing in Irish phrases and words to make this an ‘Irish’ story.
shite, hen, Jaysus, fecking, sweet Jesus, Holy mother of God, Jesus Christ
A whole gamut of unpleasant and ill-fitting words that served no purpose other than to shout to the reader - Look! These people are Irish!! It was unnecessary and to my mind, offensive.
The swearing was too much (and I have no problems at all with swearing - IN the right context) Here, it was just another ‘sop’ to the Irish theme.
It would have been totally different if ALL the dialogue had been like that, but there were moments like this:
“It’s good to hear I mean so much to you. So now, please recall you mean the same to me. You and Chloe are like family to me already, which is why I want to do this. I want to help you both.” He stared into her eyes, still glassy and wide. “So. Decide, now. Once and for all.” He took a step back. “We can’t keep doing this back and forth. Either we’re doing this, and we have to start planning, or we’re not and that’s that. It’s your call. Call it.”
That was Aiden. No swearing, no ‘ya’ or ‘shite’ etc. And that dialogue bore no resemblance to the way he spoke at other times.
I found it impossible to ‘read’ any dialogue without wondering what accent it was suppose dot be, or wondering if there was going to be a ‘fecking’ or ‘shite’ or ‘b’jaysus’ thrown into the conversation. There was no consistency at all. Everyone vacillated between Standard English and what came across as cod Irish and in the end I gave up.
June 12, 2018
Overall I really liked this book, I'm a sucker for romance books and this one was definitely romantic. After the first couple of chapters I couldn't put it down, especially when all the drama was happening between the two main characters, Aidan and Maura. The relationship between Maura and her ex was very scary and it made Aidan more protective of Maura, which was very sweet to read. The only problem I have with the book is the ending, it just kind of ends with no explanation. I mean yes it does say where they are in a year but what happened to Niall? (Maura's ex), the last thing the book says about him is he was still stalking the family! Also how does the wedding go, how is Chloe doing, there are so many questions I still have at the end of reading the book that it does make me unsatisfied. I feel if the book didn't just skip to a year later while being in the middle of Maura and Aidan's trip in New York then a lot of my questions would be answered. If the one year skip would have been after the New York trip I feel it would have made more sense.
This book was well written and you couldn’t help but feel sad for what Maura was going through. Aiden has his job cut out for him trying to get Maura to trust him and I enjoyed seeing how he earned Maura’s trust. Because of Maura’s past she felt like she could never trust again so I was very happy to find that she could have a healthy and safe romantic relationship. The characters felt real and so did the issues they faced and that's why I felt I really enjoyed this book.
This book was well written and you couldn’t help but feel sad for what Maura was going through. Aiden has his job cut out for him trying to get Maura to trust him and I enjoyed seeing how he earned Maura’s trust. Because of Maura’s past she felt like she could never trust again so I was very happy to find that she could have a healthy and safe romantic relationship. The characters felt real and so did the issues they faced and that's why I felt I really enjoyed this book.
May 31, 2017
What an interesting friend to lover’s love story this was. A quick romance that took a decade to form. You see Maura Callahan and Aiden McKinnon met in College. But she was already spoken for by a friend. He became friends with her although he’s positive his heart fell in love that day. Who knows where that ex is.
All the relationships after just never seemed to work for her putting a hole in his heart after helping her mend hers because he knew he could love and treat her better. He just either never found the right moment to tell her or the nerve. Either way, ten years has now passed.
It’s not like the last four and a half to five years have been carefree for Maura. You see, the last ex she was with, Niall, she had a baby by. Chloe is the apple of her eye as well as Aiden’s for he is her godfather. The thing is she needed help and moved home. Her mother helped with the day to day with Chloe, so she could work. Aiden tried as much as he could to come twice a week to help out. Niall, walked out one night after raging and he’s not been heard from. Until…
You see Aiden was about to declare when there was knock on Maura’s door so his talk of a trip with her to N.Y. from their home in Dublin had to wait. You see Maura’s worst nightmare came knocking. Totally enjoyed the emotion and passion that these characters evoked as I read it. I give this: 5 stars. Provided by netgalley.com.
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All the relationships after just never seemed to work for her putting a hole in his heart after helping her mend hers because he knew he could love and treat her better. He just either never found the right moment to tell her or the nerve. Either way, ten years has now passed.
It’s not like the last four and a half to five years have been carefree for Maura. You see, the last ex she was with, Niall, she had a baby by. Chloe is the apple of her eye as well as Aiden’s for he is her godfather. The thing is she needed help and moved home. Her mother helped with the day to day with Chloe, so she could work. Aiden tried as much as he could to come twice a week to help out. Niall, walked out one night after raging and he’s not been heard from. Until…
You see Aiden was about to declare when there was knock on Maura’s door so his talk of a trip with her to N.Y. from their home in Dublin had to wait. You see Maura’s worst nightmare came knocking. Totally enjoyed the emotion and passion that these characters evoked as I read it. I give this: 5 stars. Provided by netgalley.com.
Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com.
July 10, 2017
I enjoyed the book very much. Very well written. I think a lot of what was written about happens in real life to real people. They both appear to have feelings for one another they seem to be afraid to share. They hold back things due to preconceived notions about how it will be accepted by the other party. And, then when they actually share those things often they end up being accepted better than imagined.
Both Aiden and Maura were guilty of holding back feelings and had preconceived notions about how the other would handle things.
Also the abuse that Maura experienced is very real and the damage it does to a woman or to anyone that has experienced is very real. And, it is very tough to deal with. It takes a lot of time, work, and love to overcome it.
Also an important thing to learn some things can't be done alone. At least ways there are some things that are done we have someone else in your corner.
I definitely recommend this book and this author and look forward to reading more of her works.
Both Aiden and Maura were guilty of holding back feelings and had preconceived notions about how the other would handle things.
Also the abuse that Maura experienced is very real and the damage it does to a woman or to anyone that has experienced is very real. And, it is very tough to deal with. It takes a lot of time, work, and love to overcome it.
Also an important thing to learn some things can't be done alone. At least ways there are some things that are done we have someone else in your corner.
I definitely recommend this book and this author and look forward to reading more of her works.
April 10, 2018
A great love story
This was the first time I have read anything by this author. I loved the story. In fact I look forward to buying the two book before this book, since this was book 3. I felt the bond between the characters.
Overview. Maura was a young single mom. Her 4 year old daughter Chloe has never met her biological father. While Maura was pregnant, her ex abused her and left her 7 months pregnant. Her best friend Aidan has been by her side. Twice a week he drives to the suburbs to visit them. But one night while they were watching movies, her ex showed up at the door. He wanted to meet his daughter. Maura refused to allow it since he was the one to leave plus he was abusive and she would never put her kid through that. Aidan comes to her rescue again and offered to marry her and adopt Chloe, since Ireland's parent laws were on the moms side. This would allow her to keep her ex from the kid. But how do the two go from being friends to lovers and becoming a family?
This was the first time I have read anything by this author. I loved the story. In fact I look forward to buying the two book before this book, since this was book 3. I felt the bond between the characters.
Overview. Maura was a young single mom. Her 4 year old daughter Chloe has never met her biological father. While Maura was pregnant, her ex abused her and left her 7 months pregnant. Her best friend Aidan has been by her side. Twice a week he drives to the suburbs to visit them. But one night while they were watching movies, her ex showed up at the door. He wanted to meet his daughter. Maura refused to allow it since he was the one to leave plus he was abusive and she would never put her kid through that. Aidan comes to her rescue again and offered to marry her and adopt Chloe, since Ireland's parent laws were on the moms side. This would allow her to keep her ex from the kid. But how do the two go from being friends to lovers and becoming a family?
June 22, 2018
It has some saving graces
This book needed a good editor. It got very repetitive and dragged endlessly in some portions where the main characters just repeated themselves over and over. That said:
Good parts:
1- Cute Irish lingo
2- A likable Hero. Though not necessarily believable in his sentimentality at times, Aidan was nice, and not fully cliche-y (at least he wasn't a billionaire playboy or bad boy)
3- The first kiss scene was very well written and full of nice, sensual descriptions. I liked it more that the one explicit sex scene. That scene alone raised the book one star.
Bad parts:
1-Cringe worthy and not believable syrupy sentimentality, mixed with eye-roll worthy obliviousness in the cliche trope. Can she really be THAT clueless not to notice he's been into her for a decade? Come on!
2-Cliche despicable villain, too unidimensional to be realistic.
3- Repetitiveness and wordiness dragged the story making it too slow.
Conclusion? Not the worst I've read, but still ways to go. Editor needed urgently.
This book needed a good editor. It got very repetitive and dragged endlessly in some portions where the main characters just repeated themselves over and over. That said:
Good parts:
1- Cute Irish lingo
2- A likable Hero. Though not necessarily believable in his sentimentality at times, Aidan was nice, and not fully cliche-y (at least he wasn't a billionaire playboy or bad boy)
3- The first kiss scene was very well written and full of nice, sensual descriptions. I liked it more that the one explicit sex scene. That scene alone raised the book one star.
Bad parts:
1-Cringe worthy and not believable syrupy sentimentality, mixed with eye-roll worthy obliviousness in the cliche trope. Can she really be THAT clueless not to notice he's been into her for a decade? Come on!
2-Cliche despicable villain, too unidimensional to be realistic.
3- Repetitiveness and wordiness dragged the story making it too slow.
Conclusion? Not the worst I've read, but still ways to go. Editor needed urgently.
January 23, 2019
When Maura's ex came back and wants custody of her daughter, things started to become scary. Good thing her best friend, Aidan, was there for her. Then Aidan found out that marrying Maura would mean her ex leaving her and her daughter alone, he jumped into the opportunity to get the girl she's been in love with for years.
That plot got me! I thought it was really cute and sweet and very kind. And I have to admit, I am a sucker for best friends falling in love. And I love the take they did on this. How being a romantic couple may change their friendship for the better or the worse.
The characters are very well written. they're very realistic and I love that their emotions are on point. Like they are just not this one thing. I also love Maura's daughter, Chloe. She's so cute and such a precious kid!
Though I like the book, I didn't like the way it concluded. Don't get me wrong, happily-ever-after all the way, but I thought the way they concluded the problem took a short-cut. And I wasn't a fan of that.
In the end though, still a good read.
That plot got me! I thought it was really cute and sweet and very kind. And I have to admit, I am a sucker for best friends falling in love. And I love the take they did on this. How being a romantic couple may change their friendship for the better or the worse.
The characters are very well written. they're very realistic and I love that their emotions are on point. Like they are just not this one thing. I also love Maura's daughter, Chloe. She's so cute and such a precious kid!
Though I like the book, I didn't like the way it concluded. Don't get me wrong, happily-ever-after all the way, but I thought the way they concluded the problem took a short-cut. And I wasn't a fan of that.
In the end though, still a good read.
June 28, 2020
Mixed emotions
SPOILERS! Although I love friends to lovers and fake relationships, this one didn’t sit well with me. I understand that there’s guilt and shame involved with a victim of abuse, but Adrian sometimes seemed as bad as Niall. Not that he was physically abusive but he yelled, got angry and stormed off, even when he was supposedly telling Maura he loved her. Knowing how Niall treated her, he was too hot headed.
Also, even though at the end, Adrian beat Niall, I don’t see someone that devious just slinking off, never to be heard from again. I don’t see someone like that stopping until they’re dead or in jail.
Lastly, I didn’t like what Maura said when she told him they were expecting. This baby shouldn’t be more special to him than Chloe. He adopted her, so she’s his daughter, period. If she feels it should be different, than shame on her.
Even though when things were going right, I enjoyed them together, and I thought Chloe was delightful, I didn’t feel that there was enough going for it for me to recommend it.
SPOILERS! Although I love friends to lovers and fake relationships, this one didn’t sit well with me. I understand that there’s guilt and shame involved with a victim of abuse, but Adrian sometimes seemed as bad as Niall. Not that he was physically abusive but he yelled, got angry and stormed off, even when he was supposedly telling Maura he loved her. Knowing how Niall treated her, he was too hot headed.
Also, even though at the end, Adrian beat Niall, I don’t see someone that devious just slinking off, never to be heard from again. I don’t see someone like that stopping until they’re dead or in jail.
Lastly, I didn’t like what Maura said when she told him they were expecting. This baby shouldn’t be more special to him than Chloe. He adopted her, so she’s his daughter, period. If she feels it should be different, than shame on her.
Even though when things were going right, I enjoyed them together, and I thought Chloe was delightful, I didn’t feel that there was enough going for it for me to recommend it.
June 6, 2025
This is the third book in the McKinnon Brothers series by Jennifer Gracen. Maura Callahan is a single mom living with her mother while raising her young daughter, Chloe. Her best friend, Aidan McKinnon is Maura’s friend and has secretly loved her for years. Aidan is an executive at a high profile social media company in Dublin. Chloe's father Niall who is Maura's ex never wanted custody of Chloe and is now demanding shared custody of Chloe. Aidan makes a proposal offering to marry Maura and adopt Chloe. What begins as a practical solution soon turns into something deeper, as Aidan and Maura discover whether their friendship can blossom into lasting love. This captivating romance offers a heartfelt journey filled with deep emotion, irresistible tension, and a fiercely protective hero, making it an unforgettable read for fans of love stories. I really enjoyed this wonderful friends-to-lovers romance novel.
March 23, 2017
Marrying his Best Friend by Jennifer Gracen is a marriage of convenience and friend to lover story all rolled into one. It is not a long with a fairly predictable plot. No matter, the characters and story-line make it an enjoyable afternoon read. Besides the wonderful, long-time friends Aiden and Maura there is one cute four-year-old and one abusive ex you love to loath. Now free of her ex, Maura’s life is not quite the way she had thought it would go when she was younger. Many of us can identify with that but like her, we go with it and make the best of what we have.
This is the third of the McKinnon brothers’ stories. It has been a while since I read the first two but if my memory serves me right, those brothers lived in New York. Since Aden’s work in in Dublin this has a much more Irish feel to it. As for the characters, they are likable and believable. Overall, it is a story of good people who made a good life which made for a good read.
An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley.
This is the third of the McKinnon brothers’ stories. It has been a while since I read the first two but if my memory serves me right, those brothers lived in New York. Since Aden’s work in in Dublin this has a much more Irish feel to it. As for the characters, they are likable and believable. Overall, it is a story of good people who made a good life which made for a good read.
An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley.
April 3, 2018
DNF.
I got through the first 6 pages and couldn't go on. Way too much telling, not enough showing. Why do we have to check him out quite so obviously just to prove he's hot? I don't know. It was as if the author wanted to throw every trope possible in there...he's hot in a suit. She's never seen him in one before, despite being friends with him forever. He's an angel with her daughter, but he dates ALL THE TIME (man-whore?). She's stuck at home and he visits her as much as possible...
I just couldn't do it. I think I've read fanfic with fewer tropes in the first 6 pages. This could have been a trope drinking game.
I got through the first 6 pages and couldn't go on. Way too much telling, not enough showing. Why do we have to check him out quite so obviously just to prove he's hot? I don't know. It was as if the author wanted to throw every trope possible in there...he's hot in a suit. She's never seen him in one before, despite being friends with him forever. He's an angel with her daughter, but he dates ALL THE TIME (man-whore?). She's stuck at home and he visits her as much as possible...
I just couldn't do it. I think I've read fanfic with fewer tropes in the first 6 pages. This could have been a trope drinking game.
March 27, 2018
This seemed a little on the tortured side of the genre and the main reason why the two main characters couldn’t be together rather contrived. If the characters were really that upset of miscommunication than they are both terrible people, horribly immature, or extremely melodramatic. I think pacing was an issue as several pages begged to be flipped instead of read just to finish the book. A little editing (tightening up of passages!) and perhaps a better reason for the delay in denouement would have been appreciated.
February 22, 2019
Maura her joy is her daughter, and laughter with her best friend Aiden.
Living with her mom and a job barely paying bills want idle. Her life was boring and now suggesting to go to NY for a week, he would pay for it all.
They would be going for the friends wedding at the beach. When her ex after five years wants to see his daughter. This gives Aiden the chance to secure a love for her he always has had, with a diamond on her finger.
Cute story, of a love, and he waited till she was ready to say yes.
Living with her mom and a job barely paying bills want idle. Her life was boring and now suggesting to go to NY for a week, he would pay for it all.
They would be going for the friends wedding at the beach. When her ex after five years wants to see his daughter. This gives Aiden the chance to secure a love for her he always has had, with a diamond on her finger.
Cute story, of a love, and he waited till she was ready to say yes.
August 26, 2020
I really enjoyed this book and the storyline but I couldn't give it any more than 3 stars because it's language inconsistencies drove me insane!!!
If you are an American writer setting a book in the UK or Ireland stick to British spelling and words OR American spelling and words not a slapdash of both!!! We don't live in City Centre we live in the city centre and we have pavements not sidewalks to name just 2 things. If you can manage arse instead of ass you should be able to manage the rest!!!
If you are an American writer setting a book in the UK or Ireland stick to British spelling and words OR American spelling and words not a slapdash of both!!! We don't live in City Centre we live in the city centre and we have pavements not sidewalks to name just 2 things. If you can manage arse instead of ass you should be able to manage the rest!!!
September 18, 2017
A very sweet story about true love and friendship. Aidan is I love with Maura, his best friend from day one and it's been ten years now. Maura is rising her five years old daughter alone after Nial, her fiancé left her while been seven months pregnant after beating her. Can they have a chance to be happy and form a family when Nial is back to threaten Maura and her daughter Chloe? You will fall in love with the McKinnons
January 9, 2020
Predictable, but cute
He has been in love with his best friend for many years and now has an excuse to marry her. He seems like a great guy and I loved his character. They had a sweet relationship.
Unfortunately, some things just didn’t seem realistic enough to me. Why would they wait that long before going to the police? Why would they tell Naill their plans?
There is a sex scene, but they rest are closed door scenes. I’m not sure why the first one needed to be detailed.
He has been in love with his best friend for many years and now has an excuse to marry her. He seems like a great guy and I loved his character. They had a sweet relationship.
Unfortunately, some things just didn’t seem realistic enough to me. Why would they wait that long before going to the police? Why would they tell Naill their plans?
There is a sex scene, but they rest are closed door scenes. I’m not sure why the first one needed to be detailed.
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