Everyone has a best friend. Mine just happens to be Dr. Christian Gallagher— the gorgeous, green-eyed heart surgeon who wants to have a baby with me.Yes, you read that correctly.When my mother approached me on my thirty-third birthday with a brochure for egg freezing, it was a glaring reminder that my biological clock is ticking toward its expiration date. I’ve always dreamed of being a mom and … dreamed of being a mom and had a plan — one that was destroyed when I caught my professional hockey player husband in bed with another woman.
Despite my broken heart I still believe in love. I want the happily ever after, but I also want a child desperately and won’t settle in order to make it happen.
That’s why when I decided to take my mother’s advice, Christian came up with his own plan: Let’s have a baby together.
It’s a bad idea. A really, really bad idea. And yet…I can’t stop thinking about how great it could be.
There’s just one condition. Before we have sex (oh, yes, we’re doing this the old fashioned way!) Christian is adamant we go on three dates.
Sounds easy, but it’s not.I thought sex would be the hard part, but the dates are only making me fall for the man I’ve known almost my entire life.
Whoever said sex doesn’t change things never went to bed with their best friend.
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I’ve had Jeannine Collette on my radar for a year now and I have systematically bought each of her releases and not been able to blog them. But when I caught wind of A Really Bad Idea, I jumped onboard the best friends-to-lovers romance with all of my considerable zeal for romance reads. And I was in no way disappointed. This book is everything that’s necessary for this particular trope—it’s sweet, sexy, heartwarming, and lightly angsty.
There were many things I wholeheartedly loved about A Really Bad Idea. The storyline? Perfection! The characters? Fantastic and well developed! The writing? Beautiful! I found A Really Bad Idea to be incredibly entertaining with a realistic flair. Jeannine Colette did an excellent job of painting a picture of a truly remarkable, lifelong friendship between Christian and Meadow. In fact, it was reminiscent of the relationship I share with my own best friend, who happens to be male. Only in my case, there’s never been a romance and instead, he’s as close as my own brother. While written primarily from Meadow’s POV, the story captivated me from the first line, and I couldn’t read through it fast enough. The concept was simple, one best friend helping another conceive a child… For Christian to fulfill Meadow’s lifelong dream after the utter devastation of the end of her eight-year marriage. Only he has conditions of his own in place and they muck up all Meadows plans while bringing her long felt feelings for Christian back to the surface. The story is set to a slightly slower pace and is definitely a slow burn romance. The romance between the pair is swoon-worthy and I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the way it unfolded. I also greatly appreciated the care with which Jeannine went to establish that the decisions made to conceive a child together were both the easiest and hardest choice the pair could make. Easy because they knew how the other would treat their offspring, and hard because the stakes were remarkably high. Making a decision to have a child with your best friend wouldn’t be easy if the stakes included the future of your friendship, to say nothing of the importance of bringing a child into the world. A Really Bad Idea will captivate readers and leave you anxious to read more of Jeannine’s storytelling, much as it did me. Five STARS!
Quotes:
Christian Gallagher can take a life on the brink of destruction and make it whole again.
He made me whole again.
Whoever says sex doesn’t change things has never gone to bed with their best friend.
“I had this perfect life planned, and suddenly, it was swept out from under me. That future I envisioned is now a memory of what I hoped it would be. And I’m okay with it,”
I’m wondering why the idea of having Christian’s baby doesn’t scare me in the least. The only thing I’m scared of is him regretting it.
“Let’s save the ten grand and have fun while we try to make a baby.”
Heart? Racing like a freight train.
Brain? Swizzled like a Twizzler.
Nerves? Running rampant, straight down to my core.
I place my hand to the spot where his lips just kissed me. It wasn’t even a real kiss, yet it did more to ignite my body than any kiss I’d ever had in my life.
My heart is skipping. If what we felt was an earthquake, the tingles running over my skin are from the aftershock.
Once I had her, I knew there would be no accolade, no amount of success in the world that would triumph over being with Meadow. I was in love with her. Body and soul.
*eyes glazed over*
Hi.
Hi.
Hi…
*shakes head*
Umm…
*blushes*
Whoops! Apologies, but I’ve been in a temporary romantic fugue state. Where symptoms may include (but are not limited to):
Glazed expression
Sappy smile
Dramatic sighs
Heart palpitations
Exploding ovaries
I had all this, and a few more. However, I would definitely be heading into TMI territory *snorts* And, trust me, no one wants inside my head *smirks*
Normal service shall resume momentarily…
*whispers*
I’m going to let you into a (not so secret) secret – I am the least romantic person you will find in RL. My gag reflex is alive and well, peeps! *points finger* That was you this time, not me. Anyway, we’re going off on a tangent (couldn’t resist). What I mean is, for a person ‘who doesn’t do romance’, I love nothing more than reading about it. And, I undoubtedly got my fix in this story.
Meadow is surrounded by the love of family and friends, but for all this, they can’t give her the one thing she wants above all else; a baby. Or can they?
Her BFF, Christian, sorry Dr. Christian, may have a solution. Totally swoon-worthy (lickable – whaaa?) and a nice guy to boot. I mean, this is the stuff dreams are made of. Now, don’t get me wrong, he is not without his faults, but I don’t think there would be many females who wouldn’t want him for themselves. Why yes *nods*, I am talking about myself *snorts*
As they get *coughs* down to business, I vacillated between, “This is a really, really bad idea!” to (and yes, I was wailing at the time) “Aren’t these two the best couple ever!” Sheesh *palms face*, my hormones have a lot to answer for.
This story was a winner for me from start to finish. As a relatively new reader to this author’s books (having only read her co-written work before), I fell in love – end of.
Lastly, for some reason, I keep humming Love, *whistles* and Magic by Ciara ft. Justin Timberlake.
*shrugs*
Ahhhh, someone send help – stat!
My first Jeannine Colette book and she sure made me swoon with this sweet and sexy story.
Meadow and Christian work in the medical field, she’s a physician assistant and he’s a doctor, a sexy doctor at that. They’ve known each other forever and have been best of friends forever. They have such a great dynamic going on, that they don’t realize how they really feel about each other.
When Meadow’s biological clock starts ticking Christian comes up with a plan and has suggested that they have a child together the conventional way. At first Meadow thought that was a crazy idea but then she figured, who better to father her child right!
What these two couldn’t figure out for the last two decades finally comes to fruition after all these years. Their flirty banter should have been the first clue that these two actually liked each other more than just “friends”. But they were so clueless up until their romantic and sweet dates started, did they start realizing how they really felt for each other.
The romanticizing was a little slow, but their banter is what kept me going. Just the fact that they had such a strong chemistry and even though it took them time to figure out how they really felt about each other, I still felt a pull with these characters.
I will definitely keep reading more from this author because of her sweet writing.
A Really Bad Idea is an amazing friends to lovers romance that you absolutely have to read! These characters have such a great friendship that is laced with so much chemistry, I couldn’t put it down.
Meadow is a strong, independent woman who knows exactly what she wants and even after has been through; she isn’t afraid to go for it. She never expected all of the feelings she once buried to uncovered though..
Christian is wildly smart, brilliant actually, sweet and downright swoon worthy. I fell for him right away. He was the very best of friend and also a knight in shining armor.
This story gave me all of the warm and fuzzy and definitely a book worth reading. I can not recommend this book enough!!
If you had a choice to have a baby with your Best Friend, what would you do?
Meadow thought she had everything figured out in that department, but when her Best Friend is the son of her boss and The Hottest Heart Doctor in all of history of Romance books. ( Christian )
Well obviously she missed out on the importance of making wishes in fountains and that she wasn’t the only one with a wish.
This is another Fun story filled with wonderful characters and steamy scenes!
Never give up a chance to read anything from this talented Author!
A Really Bad Idea was the best idea!!! Meadow and Christian were funny and sassy. And exploding with so much chemistry ,that they tried deny like crazy! The story line was brilliant! And this friends to Lovers story was absolutely perfect!
A Really Bad Idea by Jeannine Colette Meadow is getting ready to turn 33 years old. She loved where she works. It is her dream job and she gets to work with her best friend Christian. At her birthday party her mother gives her a pamphlet about freezing her eggs. Meadow thought she would have had children by now but once she found her ex husband in bed with his side chick that dreamed died. Now her biological clock is ticking and freezing her eggs is a choice. Meadow decides to discuss her thoughts with her best friend. Christian decides instead of her using a donor he will do it. However they will do it the old fashion way, sex. First he wants to take her on 3 dates. Loved the story. Have read other stories by this author and love her style of telling a story. Fell in love with Christian. Loved their journey from friends to more. The side stories were also interesting. Very emotional! 5 stars for me.
A Really Bad Idea is a really perfect best friends romance! I loved everything about Meadow and Christian as they move from best friends to more.
I often find it tricky to enjoy a best friends/relationship pact trope without it feeling forced. But the deal these two make to have a baby together, and how their friendship progresses to a full-blown romance after that, felt natural. Maybe it’s because the characters are so genuinely likable and relatable, which is a testament to Jeannine Colette’s writing style.
Christian’s a doctor, Meadow is a nurse. But before they have this baby (the old fashioned way!), he insists on taking her out on three dates. What a gentleman! It’s not long before they both realize that they’ve caught some serious feelings for the other.
This was just a perfect romcom, from start to finish! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review
A Really Bad Idea was a great read. I loved it. I loved Christian and Meadow. I loved their friendship. They had amazing chemistry and were perfect together!
By the end of the first chapter, I knew Ms. Colette had a winner on her hands. The heroine is strong yet vulnerable, and the hero—whose name (Dr. Christian Gallagher) is as delicious as his description—is swoony AF. Colette’s Wild Abandon is one of my all-time favorites, and this one just might top it. It’s sweet, funny, sexy, friends-to-lovers perfection that delivers the feels!
Look down, and you reveal your fears. Look up, and you overthink your obstacles m. The trick is to look forward.
I enjoyed and loved Christian and Meadow’s sweet tale. From the time you meet them, you know they love each other—but, of course, they are blindsided by their friendship and the consequences of giving in to their feelings. But when Meadow decided to have a baby, Christian realizes it’s time to stop playing the friend card and be the man she needs, but that’s when things get a little bit messy.
All the funny bits I got watching them plan for a baby, plus all the sexy times, made of A Really Bad Idea an adorable, feel-good friends to lovers romance with so many scenes and characters that will make you smile, swoon, and fall in love.
Fans of swoony heroes, and cute but steamy friends to lovers romance, this one is for you!
What just happened? This sweet slow burn, fun, romantic read turned into a book full of insight and inspiration. This book has it all. Wow what am emotional journey. Ugh you can cancel your therapy appointment after this book.
Meadow and Christian have been lifelong friends which includes both of their families. Meadow is experiencing life after divorce and Christian is trying to fulfill his dreams as a heart surgeon. They both devise this plan to have a baby together… (someone’s biological clock is ticking) OMG the story only gets funnier and crazier, peppered with an extra helping of heart and sexy (wink).
I love Meadow and Christian as a couple but the shining stars for me wound up being both of their families. SO FLIPPING FUNNY when you experience Meadow’s helicopter mom. Her meddlesome but never mean ways kept me laughing. Umm I need this woman in my life. Her words of wisdom really resonated. She made me miss my momma. Christian’s dad is this salt of the earth and a beautiful soul. His words of wisdom did their job when the time came (wink). Yikes both of these characters made me well up. WHAT THE HEY?! I was glad my husband wasn’t around to give a ration of you know what. I also will admit to highlighting the crap out of this book when family interactions occurred. SOOO AMAZINGLY GOOD!
Ok I am going to stop now cause I hate oversharing about about a book aka spoilers. It is MEAN. Eek. Boo hoo I don’t want too though (said in a whiny voice). Where is a good book group when you need one? Ok I am done. Sigh. One last thing. BRAVO and this story deserves all five stars. Happy Reading!
Meadow Duvane is starting to hear the ticking of her biological clock. When she looks into freezing her eggs, her best friend, heart surgeon Christian Gallagher comes up with a better idea. Let’s have a baby together…. what could possibly go wrong????
“You don’t have baggage.”
I stop what I’m doing to swivel toward her, lower my forehead, and give her a deadpan look. “I can load an airplane with the amount of bags I have packed.”
This story has a super fun premise that could easily turn predictable and trite but does not! Full of both emotion and funny banter, the author keeps the story moving with interesting twists and turns.
“We make love with our eyes open.
We make love with our bodies tight.
We make love, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to do anything but make love to this man for the rest of my life.”
I loved every secondary character in this story! Meadow’s mom, sister and nephews really brought the story to another level!!
-4.5 Stars!-
A fantastic best friends to lovers romance. Little on the long side, but it gave extremely great back story and held your interest. Gave enough that you become invested in the characters and the romance you want to bloom between them. I truly loved this story. A new twist to best friends to lovers as well. Loved it!
A REALLY BAD IDEA is now my favorite book by Jeannine Colette. One of the beautiful places in the story is Bethesda Fountain in Central Park. With its bronze angel statue at the top with her outstretched arms, the iconic fountain has for a longtime beckoned to Meadow Duvane. For years, she has tossed a coin in the water and made countless wishes. She puts a lot of hope into her wishes, and never takes off her lucky wishbone necklace. Meadow and Christian Gallagher have many romantic moments by this fountain. Maybe, one day, her greatest wish will come true.
Meadow and Christian have been best-friends for over twenty years. Their parents, on both sides, have been playing matchmaker with them since they were only ten. While they were never able to get them to date, they did help them forge this close friendship. Meadow is a nurse practitioner, that works for Christian’s father, Dr. Thomas Gallagher a cardiologist. Christian is a cardiothoracic surgeon, hoping to become the greatest heart valve replacement surgeon in the world. There is no one who knows this couple, that can’t see they would be perfect together. Or wonder how two people with such insane chemistry, and an outstanding friendship, stay away from each other sexually their entire lives?? All this changes when Meadow decides she wants to have a baby, and Christian decides he is the only one that should be the baby’s father. They make a plan to have a baby the natural way, and “Wish” they won’t wake up one day and find this was A REALLY BAD IDEA.
My favorite kind of love story. They were friends since they were ten. The best of friends. But they were destined to be so much more. A friends-to-lovers romance with lots of emotion and a forever kind of love.
Meadow has always relied on Christian. He is her person. The one who picks her up after a failed marriage, the one that holds her while she cries or feeds her when he knows she needs to eat. But they are JUST FRIENDS.
Now in their 30’s, both are successful in their respective careers. Christian is married to his job and has clearly defined goals. A wife and kids just isn’t in his immediate future. Meadow thought she would have had it all by now, but with a failed marriage she lost that dream. Now she just wants to have a baby. Who better to have as the daddy than her best friend? Christian only requirement is three dates.
Falling in love with Christian was effortless for me. More than once I wanted to grab Meadow and shake her! GET ON THAT GIRL! HE WAS PERFECT!!!
I loved both characters and the journey that they took to finally be together. This story made me cry more than once, but also made me incredibly happy and I felt the love. I totally enjoyed this story and look forward to more from this author.
I was introduced to Ms. Colette’s writing when I was reading her stories she wrote with another author. So when the opportunity came to read a solo book by Ms. Colette, I jumped at the chance!
A Really Bad Idea is a really fantastic story.
Lifelong friends who’s timing was never right. Meadow and Christian have always been there for each other.
Through relationships and marriages, Meadow and Christian have been there for each other.
When Meadow comes to making a huge decision about her future, Christian is once again there for her.
I wanted to shake Meadow and tell her to open her eyes!!! All of the things that Christian is doing for her, with her and to her was so crystal clear to everyone but Meadow! The way he “woos” her is epic and the things he says and does is romantic to another whole level! Meadow says she knows her worth, but when it comes to Christian she is feels like she’s less than, even when Christian is proving otherwise.
The passages and quotes in this book are phenomenal and so meaningful. If I knew it wouldn’t take away from the story, I would be list them all here. But I won’t, you will just have to read this story and see for yourself.
Dear Reader, do yourself a favor and get this story! You won’t be sorry!