A Mutual Favor

Rating:
Summary: Warm emotions with hot, hot sex--a must-read!
Review: A marriage of convenience with a twist! Workaholic surgeon Kurt Silverman needs a stable home for his son to visit; his good friend Shelly Ware wants a baby before her clock runs out. Can friendship--and the lust that flares between them once they decide to join forces--grow into a love that lasts a lifetime?

Ann Jacobs' contemporary romantica combines steam heat with heartwarming romance and characters to die for. A MUTUAL FAVOR's a keeper!

Rating:
Summary: Timeless Tales review
Review: By TT reviewer Patricia McGrew

Orthopedic surgeon Kurt Silverman and Physical therapist Shelly Ware had been best friends since Kurt moved to San Antonio to start a new life. Ever since his bitter divorce his ex-wife has been fighting him for his son's visitation. This time she wants to stop visits because he didn't have a stability home life. With his job he worked long hours and needed someone to be there with his son while he was working. He needs a wife that will understand his dedication to his job. The problem, he just didn't want to fall in love again.

Shelly had always thought of Kurt as the perfect man. She has been secretly in love with him, but realizes that if he knew it would destroy their friendship. When Shelly's sister is diagnosed with cervical cancer, she starts reviewing her life. She feels her biological clock is running out. She wants a baby before it's too late. Having no boyfriend, she decides to ask Kurt to be a sperm donator.

After Kurt gets over the shock, he decides that this might be the answer to both of their problems. This could be the perfect Mutual Favor. Kurt would have a wife, so he could get his son back and he wouldn't have to worry about emotional entanglements. Shelly would get a child, and experience the passion of conception instead of clinical application.

Throw two best friends and one rebellious teenage boy together, then try to make a happy family. Only time will tell if they will both get what they want. Will being best friends be enough or will love come their way? Will the lies the ex-wife told their son stop him from giving Shelly a chance?

A Mutual Favor is a modern marriage of convenience story. It's a delightful well written story that will pull at her emotions. I loved the growth of their relationship, it was handled in such a way that the reader is involved with Kurt and Shelly each step of the way. I like the fact that Shelly's character was strong enough to help Kurt when he needs it. I recommend this truly great story and look forward to reading more from Ms. Jacobs.

Rating:
Summary: A truly touching love story.
Review: She wants a baby. He needs to prove he has a stable home so that he can have joint custody of his son. A MUTUAL FAVOR is a story of two best friends who realize that they can each do something amazing for each other.

Shelly Ware begins to realize, at age 32, that her biological clock is running out. Then, after discovering that her sister has cervical cancer, she decides she wants to have a baby. Who else would she ask to father that baby other than her best friend, Dr. Kurt Silverman. Add to the fact that Shelly's been in love with Kurt almost since they met, and he is the perfect candidate.

Kurt is shocked when his best friend Shelly asks him to father her child. He doesn't give it a second thought. In the meantime, Kurt has been battling his ex-wife Adrianna for shared custody of their son, Jason. The judge deems Kurt's hectic surgical schedule, and the lack of a stable home reason enough to cut Jason's visitation severely. When Kurt hears this, he realizes that he can make Shelly happy by giving her a baby, if she'll return the 'favor' and marry him, so that he will be able to spend more time with his son.

Shelly agrees with the mutual favor, as Kurt's the only man she's ever wanted, but she secretly wishes he could come to love her as much as she loves him. Kurt is just glad his best friend didn't laugh in his face and agreed to become his wife.

A MUTUAL FAVOR gives us real characters that we can identify with. Shelly is considered 'too good to be true' by Kurt, as she goes above and beyond to provide the home Kurt needs for his son. She is completely selfless, and endures what she thinks is a one-sided abiding love for Kurt. Kurt is a caring, sensitive man, whose love for his son shines brightly in A MUTUAL FAVOR. But, what Kurt can't figure out is why he is so attracted to his best friend all of a sudden. The passion and ecstasy they share is beyond anything he could have ever dreamed. The feelings of friendship, attraction and lust keep escalating. Jason is a typical pre-teen. He's been poisoned by his mother against his father, and resents his father's busy schedule. His character was done well in a story that is just as hot as we expect most Ellora's Cave stories to be.

A MUTUAL FAVOR was an excellent read. I was caught up by the passion and the emotions this story evoked. It was impossible to not be affected by Shelly's deepening emotions, especially while watching Kurt's fear of becoming too deeply involved, which causes him to draw further away. Jason affected me deeply as well. Ms. Jacobs delivered again. I look forward to reading more and more of her books.

Robin Taylor
In the Library Reviews