A Mutual Favor

San Antonio Connection #2

by Ann Jacobs

Two good friends, two thorny problems. Kurt needs a wife to convince a judge he can provide a stable home for his son. Shelly wants a baby to love.

She's had a crush on him for years. He's never thought of her as anything more than his best buddy. So when she offers him a solution to both their problems, he's not sure. But knowing she wants him changes everything, and pretty soon he can't keep his mind or his hands off her.

Genres: Friends To Lovers, Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, Erotica, Marriage Of Convenience

181 pages, Paperback

First published July 30, 2002

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

First published in 1996, Jacobs has sold close to fifty books and novellas. SANDSTORMS was a 2007 nominee for the prestigious ROMANTIC TIMES Reviewers' Choice award for best erotic romance. Her books have earned awards including the Passionate Plume (best novella, 2006, second place contemporary, 2008), the Desert Rose (best hot and spicy romance, 2004) and More Than Magic (best erotic romance, 2004). She has been a double finalist in separate categories of the EPPIES and From the Heart RWA Chapter’s contest. Three of her books have been translated and sold in several European countries.

A CPA and former hospital financial manager, Jacobs now writes full-time, with the help of Mr. Blue, the family cat who sometimes likes to perch on the back of her desk chair and lend his sage advice. He sometimes even contributes a few random letters when he decides he wants to try out the keyboard. (Most of the time Blue just curls up, hides his eyes with his paws...and sleeps!)

Reviews

[Rhapsody · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one was all right. Shelly has been in love with her best friend and coworker, Kurt, for a few years. She wants a baby and asks him, but he turns her down. When his ex-wife tries to prevent him from seeing his son though, he asks Shelly to marry him so that he'll look like a better parent to the judge deciding the case. She agrees and they turn out to be very compatible.

It really was OK reading, but there were some things I really didn't like. The first is that when Shelly originally asked Kurt for the baby, he turned her down cold. Which I think was his right, and he did comfort her subsequently and do his best to cheer her up, promising her that she'd meet the right guy eventually. However, then when custody for his kid comes up, he immediately figures out that marrying Shelly will make perfect sense and he reasons that he'll be willing to swap favors. That kind of made him seem really selfish to me. Also, when he said no that first time, he really seemed to have an attitude that Shelly would be better off never having kids than being a single mom. What's wrong with single moms exactly? She was an educated, financially stable thirty-two year old woman. His platitudes "you'll find the right man and thank me later for this" really seemed cheap and unrealistic. And his quick turnaround made me feel like, "Oh, so making a baby isn't a big deal to you then, as long as you get something out of it."

The next thing I disliked was that when Shelly agreed to marry him, they agreed to meet the next day to talk things over and at that meeting, he simply says, "You'll be turning in your notice on Wednesday." Kurt is a surgeon and Shelly is a physical trainer. He's a bit of a workaholic and has a crazy schedule because he has to rush in a lot of the times when there's been an accident. It pissed me off that on the one hand, his job meant so much to him and he made clear from the start that his hours were crazy and that she would have to be accommodating, but then on the other hand, he totally disregards her own job. Shelly puts up a half-hearted, "Well I'll keep it part-time," and then later realizes that he was right to demand she cut down on her hours because decorating the house was taking SO MUCH of her time. Heaven forbid his house shouldn't be decorated. She went from a physical therapist to a woman who was spent her whole day cooking her husband's meals, doing housework, and catering to his spoiled, unhappy son's needs whenever the kid's visiting. In a book that was published recently, that's just not palatable for me. At least until she got pregnant, she should have kept the job full-time.

Sorry if I seem like a rabid feminist. Things like this will really ruin a romance novel for me though.

[Daisiemae · Rating 4 out of 5]

One thing I really liked about this book is I like the best friends turn lovers storyline. Honestly, I really liked both the hero and heroine, too. They were people I could easily be friends with. I like reading about people I can identify with...it makes it more interesting to me sometimes.
Shelly and Kurt have been friends ever since Kurt moved to San Antonio to start a new life for himself. Both have successful careers in the medical field and have come to rely on one another as each other's rock. When Kurt finds out that his ex-wife is trying to stop his son's visitation with him because of an unstable home environment, he is generally scared he will lose his son. Shelly is having baby fever. She is wanting a child badly, and since she feels like her clock is ticking...and it's not in her favor she starts becoming more desperate to have a child of her own.
When Kurt comes up with the idea of them marrying to solve their problems, Shelly is stunned. She has been in love with Kurt since she has known him, and she can't believe her luck when she realizes that she may have the man of her dreams, a wonderful step-son, and the baby she has always wanted.
The only problem is Shelly not only wants the marriage and children she wants Kurts love too.
I really enjoyed this book. Watching the relationship between Kurt and Shelly evolve from best friends to lovers and more was wonderful to watch. I highly recommend this book if you want a really sweet love story with a well-used plot, but with great characters that kept it fresh and interesting.
If you are offended by hot sex and dirty words this book is not for you.

[Julie (jjmachshev) · Rating 4 out of 5]

For all of us who enjoy books about friends who become lovers and make it work, "A Mutual Favor" by Ann Jacobs would be a worthy additional to your reading list. She does a great job of depicting the growth of love and how it's the constant little things that mean so much more than a rare big gesture. I would, however, categorize this as more romantica (really really sexy romance) vice erotica.

She wants a baby, he needs a wife. When Shelly asks Kurt to father the child she desperately wants, he freaks! But the more he thinks about it, the more he realizes the 'act' would be no chore. And in order for Kurt to be granted more visitation with his son, his lawyer has recommended he marry. Since he's certainly not going to fall in love, what could be better than marrying his best friend?

Very enjoyable, if sometimes typical, romance.

[Nisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for a friends turn lovers book so I stumbled on this. Unfortunately, it was not exactly what I was looking for. the concept was great, Shelly wanting a baby, Kurt needing to marry to have a stable home for his son. It falls at the actual relationship. Shelly was a wet noodle when it came to Kurt. She bent to everything and if Kurt did not miraculously fall in love with her, she would have spent the rest of her life miserable and in love with her husband.

The other problem was actually in the sex. Considering that I thought that I was reading erotica, I was pretty cold for this one. To the point that I was just happy that the story was decent enough to enjoy. I call this false advertising. Maybe I'm just jaded.

[Diana~ (Kiss Me Books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest, this was an okay read for me at best. I did look forward to reading this but... there were some things that I didn't like so much about this story. First, I did not like Kurt because of his freaking male ego and how he never made time for Shelly when she was pregrant. Okay what? That's right, even a person my age should know that a "doting" husband SHOULD take care of his wife and be there for her. Second, I did not like how Shelly was a pushover and she had absolutely no growth as a character. And finally, the author never gave us a reason as to why Kurt hated his ex-wife so much. We know that she's a witch when it comes to parenting, and being a wife in general but...? That was just it. No explanation whatsoever, yada.

Anyway, the story was medoicre at best, plus the "love sessions" had absolutely no spark. Yep, it was cold as a fish. I hated how Shelly did everything to make Kurt happy but he never really returned the favor? What was up with that! Maybe she should have loved someone else because his own reason for not falling in love with her was stupid. Overall, I give this book a two out five stars.

[Fedora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one--it's a friends-to-lovers via marriage of convenience story :)

Shelly (a physical therapist) has kind of been hung up on Kurt (a trauma surgeon) for a couple years now, but they're good friends, and she's not about to rock the boat, especially since he's got a nasty divorce and custody situation that's made him leery about relationships. Plus he doesn't see her "that way."

Then she gets hit hard by her ticking biological clock and he gets hit hard by his ex's custody machinations. Getting married seems the perfect solution to both their concerns.

I really enjoyed Shelly and Kurt, and loved that their changed relationship realistically solved some of their problems and of course, created new wrinkles to be overcome. It definitely wasn't all hearts and roses, especially with Kurt's son to win over.

A very enjoyable read--looking forward to catching up with others from Ms. Jacobs's backlist!

[Julianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for THC Reviews
"4.5 stars" Ann Jacobs is well-known for her erotic romances, but A Mutual Favor is one of her sensual mainstream romance titles. It's the story of two best friends (one of my favorite romance tropes) entering into a marriage of convenience (another favorite theme) as a favor for each other. He needs a wife in order to convince a judge that he should have joint custody of his twelve-year-old son. She feels her biological clock ticking and wants to have a baby ASAP, but has no other relationship prospects in her life other than her best friend who she's loved from afar for a long time. By embarking on this journey together, they learn things about themselves and each other, including that best friends truly can make the best marriage partners.

Kurt is a top-notch, workaholic orthopedic surgeon whose patients are his top priority. His first marriage ended in divorce, because his ex-wife didn't understand this or his ambitions. Not to mention, she seemed like a pretty spoiled débutante who was used to getting her own way. After the divorce, Kurt moved from Atlanta to San Antonio for a change of pace and to pursue his career, which makes it very difficult for him to see his twelve-year-old son, Jason. He's been petitioning the courts for joint custody, but on the rare occasions that Jason has been able to visit, Kurt was often tied up in surgery and unable to spend much time with him. This has left Jason bitter toward his dad, which is only exacerbated by his mom's lies and manipulations. In order for the judge to see him as a fit parent who cares about his child, Kurt needs to prove that Jason will have full-time supervision on his visits, and his attorney believes the best way to do that is for him to get married so that his wife can look after Jason.

I had slightly mixed feelings about Kurt, at least at first. I fully understand that the life of a surgeon, especially one as talented and in-demand as he is, can be extremely hectic. No one could predict when an emergency case would be brought into the hospital, needing his immediate attention, but I couldn't help wondering if he might not have been able to find other ways to cut back on the amount of time spent at the hospital. However, oftentimes, control of his schedule seemed to be out of his hands with people who were above him insisting that he had to do certain things even if he didn't really want to. I did like that Kurt gradually comes to realize how much he's been neglecting his family and starts to make some changes to ensure that he's spending more time with them, and more importantly, placing them higher on his priority list. Even before this, I at least felt that during the time he spent with Shelly and Jason, he was in the moment with them and not distracted by his work. He just couldn't seem to get away from it long enough to be with them often. With regards to his relationship with Shelly, Kurt fights his burgeoning feelings for her. After having his heart trampled by his ex-wife, he has no desire to love someone again and thinks that marriage to his best friend is a pretty appealing option. Love has a way of sneaking into one's heart unexpectedly though, and Kurt was not immune. Even though he keeps trying to tell himself that they're just friends who happen to be married, it doesn't take long for him to start loving her in a more romantic way and gradually coming to accept those feelings.

Shelly has worked as a physical therapist in Kurt's practice for quite a while and developed a deep friendship with him. For her, those feelings have turned to love, so when she suddenly feels her biological clock ticking, it's Kurt she asks to father her baby. Although he initially isn't particularly open to her suggestion of being a sperm donor, he eventually returns with the proposition of a mutual favor, which she's pretty eager to accept. Shelly is a kind, caring, and compassionate person. I'm sure some readers will view her as a doormat, especially when she gives up her job to become a homemaker, but I saw her as simply being easy-going. Having worked with Kurt prior to marrying him, she understands his devotion to his patients and willingly accepts his crazy schedule without complaint, even though it sometimes means dealing with his surly son alone. She gradually wins Jason over with a combination of kindness, understanding, and her exceptional culinary skills. Having been a homemaker for many years, I could appreciate and admire Shelly for her ability to create an environment that was a pleasant place for Kurt to come home to, as well as for her unwavering support of her husband. I admittedly haven't always been particularly good at either one, but in some ways, I wish I could be more like Shelly. I think it was in large part her laid-back attitude and gentleness that eventually won Kurt's heart and made him realize that he needed to follow her example by being more devoted to her like she was to him.

Some reviewers didn't seem to like this story very much, but overall, it worked quite well for me. I have a feeling that some readers probably didn't relate to the characters, but I felt I understood them pretty well. I thought the love scenes could have used a little better emotional connection, but at the same time, I couldn't help wondering if it was a deliberate decision on the part of the author to write them that way. After all, immediately following their marriage, Kurt is turned on by Shelly but still viewing her as nothing more than a friend, so for him to keep a little emotional distance made sense. Not that he isn't a considerate lover no matter what, but I think he was even more so after his little epiphany. So in general, A Mutual Favor was an enjoyable read for me. With a number of romance themes that I enjoy and a hero and heroine that I found to be fairly likable, I couldn't help but give it keeper status.

Note: With regards to content, length, and frequency, the love scenes in this book are definitely on par with most mainstream romances, however, they do contain some explicit language that is typically reserved for erotic romances.

A Mutual Favor was recently updated and re-released by the author under the new title, A Very Special Favor.

[Splage · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the story's premise, but it could have been a lot better. It was like it was two different books that didn't go together- cute and dirty. I enjoy good erotica, which it tried to be, but the language just didn't fit the sweet story. I couldn't see the characters saying some of the things they did. I also never really felt the love connection either. She was a virgin at 32, come on! She was a modern day professional not a sheltered lady. It was a quick read though, at least it had that going for it.

[Vallsykes · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was so much potential for sharper development with the purpose of the plot. Then the characters would have been more likable.

[Catsalive · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought it would be a light-hearted sexy romp, but the relationship banalities sucked the fun out of it. The characters weren't particularly likable or believable - unless you find a modern-day, psychologically-robust, attractive, 32-year-old career woman being a virgin on her marriage-of-mutual-convenience-wedding night believable. I'm assuming this book was written with women in mind which makes that even weirder. Kurt's ex certainly sounds like a delightful woman & mother. Ah, well, true love will have it's day in the end, no doubt.

[Adensanti · Rating 4 out of 5]

this love-between friends genre is fine. no complicated problem aside from how they build their own life. i mean, beside the unrequited love from the girl, obviously. no bitchy ow, jealousy, or angst
i love how this was all about the difficulties from the guy's side about his demanded job, which unlike other profession in a business world, he is a bones trauma doctor, who has an extremely high risk patient who came and go unscheduled, this busy work hour is also one of the reason of his failed marriage before, and it drifted him away from his son.so, he goes to another city, and met shelly, whom he become closed friend for 2 years since he moved. shelly then want to have a kid, and who else is better than having a kid from the handsome-i hv a crush on you- doctor friend of her? and since he also need a wife to make a stable life and a normal-family environment, so he can be granted to spend more time for his son from the court, he accept to marry her. and so it bbegan, their marriage life. which is sweet and smooth. both are an adult and they act like a calm adult try to solve their problem, and searching for their peace. i like this kind of story. i like the plot where it concentrated on their life, how they slowly but sure building their own happiness, getting more attache one and another, he realize that he found peace in shelly, on how she can calm his nerves, understand of how important his skill to help his bone-broken patient, understant of how he work to save a life, and she accepting his son and put a lines on what she supposed to do and not, and let him do the control to his own son. i just love it.

[Sherin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Mutual Favor was the first book I read written by Ann Jacobs. Needless to say, it wouldn't be my last!

This is the journey of Kurt and Shelly, who've been friends for long. But Shelly has been in love in with Kurt, who is currently going through custody battle with his ex. Shelly on the other hand decides Kurt would never look at her with love and they'll just be friends, decides to ask him for a favor - help her conceive. But Kurt thinks it will spoil their friendship and also, since they work together it can get awkward and consoles her ... telling her to wait for the right one.

But then, Kurt's custody battle gets tricky and he needs a wife! Who is better than his best friend Shelly, right? So, he talks with her again and tells her they can get married, a win-win - she can get a kid, and he can get his son's custody.

It is a friends - lovers story and for a short book, the characters were fairly developed and it had a good storyline. What happens after their talk and if or not Shelly agrees after Kurt turned her down brutally and if they clinch their HEA is the crux of the story. Interested in a short and steamy read with friends - lovers troupe? You got that with A Mutual Favor!

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I am a sucker for friends to lover stories. Ann Jacobs did a great job making me believe the chemistry was really there. Unfortunately what happens with a lot of friends to lovers stories is that authors take advantage of the characters already being familiar with one another and they do not develop the story enough. I was so pleased this book does NOT fall in that category. She took the time to build each character and to show their friendship. Not only did she then show their marriage, but she also showed them growing into a couple and their individual struggles with it.

[Carolyn Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great emotional read.

What happens when you are a physically therapist who's biological click is winding down?
What happens when you are one of the best orthopedic surgeons and get a divorce from an evil women whose goal is to keep your son away from you and lie to him to make him hate you?
What happens when the only option to spend more time with your son is to get married and have someone who can be at home with him since your career doesn't give you much time for a personal life?
Can a marriage of convenience work?
This is a well written story and I can't wait for book two

[Yolanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a short read but i got into it as soon as i started reading it. Its something to do someething like this I dont know if it would work in real life. Shelly knew she loved him before he could even realize he could love someone again. As Shelly said better late then never. They didnt really have any problems in their relationship except he really couldnt communicate well unless someone brought it to his attention.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friends-turned-lovers story with a sweet heroine and a desperate to get his son back hero. Shelly and Kurt were perfect together, their chemistry was amazing and the sex scenes erotic and passionate. I loved how Shelly wormed her way into Kurt's heart in spite of his determination not to let her in but he needed a kick in the ass for not realizing his feelings for her until he thought he might lose her.

Beautiful love story and the ending, omg, I adored it so much!

4.5 Stars!

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will always have a special place in my heart as it was the first erotic romance that I purchased and read. Oh, how far I and the industry have come! This is a story of a man who has been burned by love and his best friend, who loves him anyway. When they marry each other so that they can each get something they need, things heat up! A sweet story of the redeeming power of love.

[Netanella · Rating 2 out of 5]

A friends-turned-lovers story with a great premise of a mutual favor - he needs a wife to fight a custody battle, she needs a baby - that somehow didn't live up to expectations. For an Ann Jacobs book, the sex was pretty bland. As were the characters. Truthfully, I was glad when the book was over.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't mind this book. Only I thought that Kurt really was very selfish and poor Shelly was having to cope and deal with a lot on her own. The agreement they decided would mean Kurt had more time with his son but made no real changes to spend time with him when he was there. I glad Shelly got what she wanted in end but I think she could do better.

[Megha · Rating 3 out of 5]

could have been more but its okay...cannot expect every story to be outta the world.

the plot's old school romance so its kinda sweet.the writing is rushed is what I felt.would have liked a little more exploration of emotions. currently feels like its shoved under the carpet in order to move on.

detailing of the situations n background is good.
can read once.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful Friendship

I received an ARC for an honest review.

Shelley & Kurt are best pals. She was wants a baby, he thinks she's crazy. Then things change when he is going thru custody battle with his Ex-wife. Will marrying my friend help with the custody case?? What will happen? I really enjoyed reading and I highly recommend.

[Ann Lorz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy a good book by Ann Jacobs. A Mutual Favor is a quick read. It's not for the faint of heart but then again its not really over the top either for and Ellora's Cave. The story between Kurt and Shelly goes from a friend to lovers to light of each others lives. Enjoy.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this story.... the characters, the connection and the romance of the story, what I loved about this story wasn't just about sex but about love and how beautiful it is to be loved and adored....

[Danielle Fulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ann Jacobs told a great love story of two friends who finally realize they are in love. It is a great story of personal growth with many stories along the way. Loved seeing how the story developed and the characters grew as separate people and together.

[Lady Aeval]

Sweet and sexy

Another great read by Ann Jacobs. The characters were a little flat but overall it was a sweet love story about friends realizing they are more in a marriage of convenience.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

It probably would have been a 4 star review if not for the last 15% of the book!!
Which were highly emotional and super fantastic!!!
I loved Shelley
I also loved Kurt even with all his faults (that just made him seem more human, more real!)
Loved the ending of the book!!

[Kathrynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was not much too this book. Uncomplicated with good characters. Nice read though. HOT!

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short book so a quick read, but it gets down to the nitty gritty pretty quickly. Hot, steamy sex and a nice story to go along with it. It's actually quite realistic!

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was sweet and don't let the cover fool you, it's not crazy erotica.

[clio teixeira · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK book, not too bad, not great.