Can a near-tragedy help two best friends realize they’re meant to be so much more?Best friends since grade school, high-powered Chicago attorney, Sean Flaherty, and small-town mayor Megan Mackenzie have always shared a special bond. When Sean is shot by a client’s angry ex, Megan rushes to his side, terrified she’s about to lose her long-time confidant.Upon his return to River’s Edge to … River’s Edge to recuperate, Sean discovers that his feelings for his pal have taken an undeniable turn for the romantic. While Megan struggles with an unfamiliar longing for Sean, she worries that he may be mistaking a safe place to land for love.
Can Sean help her realize that they are truly meant to be so much more than friends?
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Meant to Be is the second book in Nan Reinhardt’s Four Irish Brother’s Winery series and focuses on the oldest brother, Sean, who is a Chicago attorney. Having read the first, A Small Town Christmas, I was looking forward to more of Reinhardt’s wonderful writing and character development, and I wasn’t disappointed.
Sean Flaherty and Megan Mackenzie have been best friends since grade school, but Sean moved to Chicago when he became an attorney while Megan became mayor of their hometown of River’s Edge. They each went on with their lives and thought everything was fine.
Sean gets shot by the wife of his client and Megan rushes to his side. This is a catalyst for both, in life as well as love. Sam recuperates at home and comes to some big decisions about his future. Megan realizes what she really feels for Sam but doesn’t want to act on it and lose her best friend if he doesn’t feel the same.
The road to HEA is not without a few bumps, namely a friend of Sean’s known as “Vinnie da cop”. Megan is attracted to Vinnie, but Sean is wary as he knows his reputation with women. Their interaction has a bit of a “When Harry Met Sally” vibe to it, particularly when they double date and their respective dates, Vinnie and Gia, find each other more interesting than Megan and Sean.
Reinhardt updates us on Samantha and Conor and the rest of the Flaherty family. You will love the interaction between Megan’s father and Samantha’s snooty mother. I’m definitely looking forward to the rest of the series!!
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book of friends to lovers. Sean and Megan have been best friends since childhood and took it for granted until tragedy strikes and Sean returns home to River’s Edge. Sean soon discovers his feelings go further than friendship and now to win over his best friend, Megan.
Loved these characters, I always believe a good relationship starts with a friendship. This story brought me in from the beginning. This is the second book in the series but can be read as a stand alone. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Wine, books, and great storytelling, Meant to Be has them all. Reinhardt combines them perfectly with a deft hand. I recommend this with a fun summer rose, and lots of time to savor.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.
After reading book 1 of this series (about Conor and Sam), I was looking forward to Sean and Megan’s story. Although I loved book 1 the most, this book was very enjoyable also! I very much enjoyed going back to River’s Edge and reacquainting myself with the characters there! It was especially fun to catch up with Conor and Sam and Ali (Conor’s daughter)….their wedding was a highlight for me!
When Sean gets shot on the courthouse steps by a client’s ex, he needs to come home to rest and recuperate. His best friend, Megan, has always been there for him throughout his life. I liked seeing how the two of them, Sean and Megan, gradually worked their “best friend” status into a romantic relationship. They didn’t plan it, it just happened over time! It’s always a fun trope!
I also loved the “second stories” of the other characters going on. It was just a fun book and I loved reading it! I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
If you are in the mood for a friends to lovers romance, then Meant to Be by Nan Reinhart is the book for you. The plot is set in the small town of River’s Edge, Indiana, where everyone knows and respects one another. The characters are easy to get to know and identify with. This story is replete with discovery, longing and love.
Local mayor Megan Mackenzie, and Chicago attorney Sean Flaherty, have been the best of friends since childhood. Both have successful careers and believe family is of the utmost importance. Along with Sean’s three brothers, Megan is by Sean’s side after he survives an almost fatal incident. Sean is happy to be recuperating in his hometown, surrounded by the people that care about him the most. In addition, he is able to help with his family’s winery as begins to feel better. With Megan a constant in his world once again, Sean realizes that she is what has been missing from his life. Megan has begun to see Sean in a non-platonic way, however, she finds her new feelings hard to believe.
I truly enjoyed this fast-paced book. Although this is a clean read, the desire between Megan and Sean was tangible. The secondary characters were quite engaging, and they added a lot of personality to the story. This is the second book from the Four Irish Brothers Winery series, and it can read as a standalone.
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
It took years and a tragedy for them to realize what everyone else had been seeing all along. They were made for each other.
Megan and Sean had been best friends since they were kids. Their friendship remained as adults even though they live miles apart. Sean became a lawyer and moved to Chicago and Megan was the mayor of their home town. After Sean gets shot outside the courthouse trying to protect his client, he returned to River’s Edge to recover with his family and do a little work at the family winery. Spending more time with Megan made him realize how much he missed her and wanted her in his life permanently. Megan was feeling the pull too, but she feared what might happen if they gave into their feelings and it didn’t work out. She didn’t want to lose her best friend. When Megan and Sean finally decide to give love a shot, they realized they were meant to be together.
I enjoyed how the author told this story. She had me hooked from the start. Of course, this is a romance book, but there is so much more too. I enjoyed catching up with the characters from the previous book and learning more about the Flaherty brothers and the rest of the residents of River’s Edge. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
“We’re two halves of a whole, we always have been. We’re just late discovering it, that’s all.”
Meant to Be is a well written friends to lovers’ story. The childhood friends who one day realize they’re in love. Very descriptive, likeable characters, and entertaining story. I loved the dialogue between the Flaherty brothers and their brotherly bond. The special author/character mock conversation talking wine and food pairings was an added special touch at the end of the book. Can’t wait for the next brother!
ARC provided by Tule Publishing via Netgalley
Reviewed by Comfy Chair Books/Lisa Reigel (July 2, 2019)
I thoroughly enjoyed Sam’s and Conor story in book one of this series, and was looking forward to this one. This story belongs to Megan and Sean, another of the Flaherty brothers.
Megan Mackenzie and Sean Flaherty have been best friends since their childhood. Megan is now an accountant and mayor of River’s Edge and Sean is a hotshot lawyer in Chicago. When he’s shot in front of a courthouse in Chicago, he returns home to recuperate.
I have to confess I found it dragging a bit and It wasn’t until I had read 40% of the book that I got into it.
That said, it was a sweet , clean romance perfect for an afternoon of leisure.
The best part is the relationship between the four brothers and the townspeople.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Friends to lovers
Part of a series: Four Irish Brothers Winery
Standalone
HEA
I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC from NetGalley.
I loved this book! After reading the first in the series, I just knew I’d already read about my favorite Flaherty brother, but I like Sean’s story every bit as well as I did Conor’s. Nan Reinhardt captures so well the feel of the Southern Indiana Wine Trail. Megan is a strong and likable heroine. Seeing the protagonists’ discovery (and horror) that their best-buddyship has a whole new thing going on is both funny and touching. I am excited about the next Flaherty Brothers book, but first I want to read this one again.
There is a lot of build up and hinting towards their relationship and feelings. But it ends up being them separate most the book. Then it ends. Not thrilled with it.
Good story and series.
Great story.
A longstanding, solid friendship is a perfect foundation for a loving relationship, if Megan and Sean are prepared to take the risk.
I had read Sam’s story (she is Sean’s employee and ends up with his brother), and really enjoyed it. So, I was ready to like this story and I was not disappointed. Will look forward to the other 2 brother’s stories.
Sean had big city lawyer dreams til he was victim of a big city client’s wife’s angry gun. He gets to rethink his life as he recovers at home reconnecting with family and deepening his friendship with the lady mayor.
A very good mystery and clean I appreciate stories like this.
A long time friendship became more
Sweet story.
Sometimes it takes getting shot to recognize what’s right in front of your face. But what if it’s too late? What if the other has moved on with someone else!
Excellent book about love and family coming together.