Kind of a Bad Idea

The McGuire Brothers #7

by Lili Valente

Return to Bad Dog for Binx McGuire's story, an older man, single father romance featuring all the laughs (and steam) you've come to expect from the McGuires.

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers, Audiobook, Contemporary, Forced Proximity, Contemporary Romance, Slow Burn

278 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 8, 2024

About the author

Visit Lili at www.lilivalente.com

Author of over forty novels, USA Today Bestseller Lili Valente writes everything from steamy suspense to laugh-out-loud romantic comedies. She can't resist a story where love wins big. Because love should always win. She lives in Vermont with her two big-hearted boy children and a dog named Pippa Jane.

*Lili rarely visits this site as it is a site intended for readers, not authors. If you have questions, the best way to reach Lili is through her website contact form. Happy reading!

Reviews

[BookAddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

We're back with the McGuires in small-town Bad Dog, MN, where the locals are quirky, the family is in each other’s business, and the animals have a personality all their own. In this light-hearted read we get Binx McGuire's story.

Binx has been good friends with Seven Trevino for a while now. She adores his eight-year-old daughter and would do anything for Sprout. Binx has always let her family's opinions influence her, but it’s time she lives life on her own terms. If that means quitting her perfectly respectable job at the bank to pursue a career as a tattoo artist, so be it. And if it means finally telling her much older “friend" what her true feelings are for him, well, she may need some time to work up the courage for that.

Except Binx unwittingly gets some help from her younger sister and Seven's daughter, Sprout. When Seven and Binx realize they've been tricked and are now stranded at Seven's very deserted off-grid camp fifty miles outside of town, maybe they can finally get everything out in the open.

I adore this Bad Dog world and have really enjoyed getting to know all of the McGuire clan. The previous romances have been such fun reading. Maybe I’m having an off week, but this story took more effort. I found myself skimming a lot and had to push myself to keep reading.

There are some really fun elements in this one that definitely kept my attention. Sprout is a laugh and a half, the whole Parent Trap set-up is well-executed, and a furry, friendly Tater Tot kept things lively. I loved seeing Binx stand up for herself and watching Seven finally overcome his arguments against love. Low-angst, fun, and smexy, this one will be a great to read between your heavier, darker romances.

[Bookomaniac · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, slow-burn romance that takes place over a few weeks, but has a long backstory. Characters are well-written and interesting; this is a couple that you ship hard. I only wish there was more of their actual relationship - the book has a long lead-up to the sexy times, then a quick leap to their wedding. I think people who have read the entire series first will have more investment in the couple. However, it was a good story about two decent people who struggle to reach past their friendship into romance - actually, it was the MC who struggled, but with good reason. Then, her sister and his young daughter (who loves the FC) Parent-Trap them into a wilderness expedition to force them to talk it out. It works. Sexy times! Finally!

Tropes:

* MF Contemporary
* small town
* slow burn
* age gap
* grumpy/ sunshine
* single dad MC, a 40-something wilderness guide/ ex-con/ tattooed/ grumpy alpha cinnamon roll
* 8 yr old daughter struggles with hearing loss and speech development
* wife died in car accident years before
* 27ish tattoo artist from large family and meddling mother
* best friends for years
* she and his daughter love each other already
* she chases him
* he resists 70% of the book cause, reasons
* they get Parent-Trapped by her sister and his daughter out in the wilderness for days to force them to talk it out
* finally, sexy times
* he tries to valiantly reject her (cause, reasons) but she refuses to be rejected, so...
* relationship/ wedding
* HEA

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
This is the seventh book in the series. The next McGuire is up, Binx. I've been waiting for her book. I had a black cat named that so he popped in my head a lot while reading, which brought a smile to my face. Man do I miss him! Oh my gosh I just loved Sprout to pieces. She is fierce and spirited. Sprout and Binx just fit, but Seven needs a little bit more convincing on the family picture. I get it his past has an influence, but he could let the best thing slip through his fingers. Enter a little matchmaker. This wouldn't be a book in this series without an adorable animal with personality. I loved Tater Tot! This was a very enjoyable read that I gobbled up. It gave me all the laughs I look forward to in a Lili Valente romcom. It also delivers on the feels and heat. Seven and Binx don't lack in the chemistry department that's for sure. This friends to lovers situation is going to reach it's boiling point. One thing I loved about Seven is he appreciates Binx for who she is and makes her feel like enough. That right there is worth everything. This book had me with single dad and the characters kept me hooked. I can't believe there is only one more McGuire sibling left to fall. I can't wait for the next and final book!

[Rachel Nahabedian · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I seem to be in my Age Gap era and I'm freaking loving it right now. I also adore a single dad romance when they fall for someone other than the nanny.

Binx and Seven were so much fun to read about. The banter was in full effect and the friendship was already top-notch. The whole sexy parent trap set into motion by Binx' sister and Seven's daughter Sprout thawed my cold, dead heart.

I get the reasons why Seven was not wanting to get involved with Binx and they're valid, legit reasons and i wish there was more delving into them between him and Binx. I feel there was a missed opportunity there, but between Tater Tot the groundhog and the spicy baths, there might not have been time for that (even if the entire book I was upset that it wasn't longer cause I wasn't ready for it to end).

I also love the fact that Sprout was hearing impaired and still the star of the show here. I love her so very much!

Jason Clarke (as always) and Lili herself do such a wonderful job narrating. The emotion and the random thoughts and banter just made me smile (and shift in my seat at times).

This is my 2nd Lili Valente book and I already have my 3rd queued up (all different series) and I'm loving this journey.

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook. Cute romance with a single dad, his best friend, a parent trap kind of style. So cute and the little girl was also adorable.

[Elsa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like it but it was a little cringey for me

[Tammy Moldovan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love, friendship and scheming relatives

I loved this friends to lovers, single dad, age gap, parent trap, forced proximity, stranded romance. The story had a good mix of sweet love, spice, humor, deep emotions, painful pasts, and real life issues as shown through the eyes of two relatable, intense and passionate characters. Binx is 27 and the black sheep of her large family. She has tattoos, rides a motorcycle and just quit her stable bank job to be a tattoo artist full time. Seven is 42 year old ex-con and single dad to 8 year old Sprout, who has a hearing impairment. He and Binx are best friends. Seven is as equally determined to stay away from a relationship with Binx as Binx is to get into a relationship with him. Enter Sprout, Seven’s mother, Bettie, and Wendy Ann, Binx’s sister, who decide to “parent trap” Binx and Seven by sending them on a non-existent group rock climbing trip thereby stranding them in the woods without a cell phone for three days. Seven is determined they’ll get out of there without crossing a line and Binx believes she just needs to convince him to choose forever. Their chemistry sizzled off the page and it pulled them together no matter how hard Seven tried to resist. What follows the matchmaking set up is a wonderful journey of deep emotions, baggage unpacking, inner voice finding, leaps of faith, and life course correction. This heartwarming story was well written and included engaging dialogue, three dimensional characters, and a swoony and heartwarming storyline. I love this series about the messy and wonderful McGuire family and the town of Bad Dog.

[Trish- Late Knight Luna Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me it’s been a small town summer and I’m so excited to be back in Bad Dog with McGuires. “Kind of a Bad Idea” is a flirty, steamy and emotional single Dad romance with a parent trapping daughter and sister working together.

Binx McGuire has always tried to make her mom happy with her career choices but corporate life isn’t for her. She’s now an aspiring tattoo artist and she happens to have a big crush on Seven. Seven Trevino is her friend who’s older than her and despite the age difference, he’s had a crush on her too. His 8 year old daughter, Sprout, knows this and with the help from Binx’s sister, the two come up with a parent trap scheme to help bring these two together.

This was such a fun twist on a parent trap scheme and I loved Binx and Seven so much. Binx is a great woman. I loved her finding herself in this story. She was over trying to make her mom happy and focused on making herself happy. Becoming a tattoo apprentice is an amazing career choice and I think it’s great she was going after her dream. Seven is closed off and doesn’t think he deserves to be happy in a relationship despite his daughter fully supporting him. But the way he longed after Binx was so sweet and I was cheering for them to get together. Them being forced to spend a weekend together in a cabin in the woods was genius. And when they finally gave in to the attraction, the steam was steamy. I loved the ending and can’t wait for Wendy’s book.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I’m not in love with Binx. I’m obsessed with Binx.”

Kind of A Bad Idea was a fun, fast-paced story with a best friends to lovers combined with the parent trap vibe. Binx and Seven were a delight and I was at the end before I knew it.

“Binx isn’t one of the humans I want to escape from. She’s one of the few who make a moment shared with her better than time spent alone.”

Both Binx and Seven have more than friendly feelings toward one another, but Seven is determined not to act on them. His feelings of not being good enough overshadow any thoughts he has about Binx and him being together for real. But when his daughter and Binx’s sister decide to trap these two together in a remote location, will he finally let down his guard and give into his attraction?

“When I look at Seven, when our eyes meet, I know this is where I belong—with him, by his side, taking on the world together.”

The flirty banter and heartfelt emotion between Binx and Seven is electric. Once the walls came down, their chemistry was fire. I loved how Seven saw the real Binx and accepted her for who she was without trying to change her and that Binx did the same for him. These two were a match made in heaven and understood each other like no one else. Kind Of A Bad Idea was steamy, emotional, and so much fun.

[Payton Box · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book, and the perfect book to come back to romance after a few non-romance books. I haven’t read a book where the adults are parent trapped and I loved the extremism of this one, like trapping them in the woods for three days is a crazy but efficient and I loved it! Seven and Binx definitely aren’t a fan of Seven’s daughter’s schemes with Binx’s sister, but I sure was.

This book has a good amount of emotional drama, some great funny scenes to help relieve the tension, and these two have some amazing chemistry. Seven’s biggest hang up is straddling Binx with a 20 year age gap when she’s older and he’s elderly, and I completely understand how a 40 year old man might think that when falling for a girl in her twenties, but these two’s relationship and friendship will definitely survive anything put towards them.

I can’t wait for Wendy Ann’s book to complete the series I know it’ll go out with a bang!

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so excited to go back to Bad Dog! Where the bra brigade is alive and well, all the unusual pets are still as crazy as ever and the McGuire siblings are still a strong, loving family!

Binx is 27 and in love with Seven who is much older than her. She knows it's a bad idea, but she's best friends with him and absolutely loves is daughter, Sprout. Seven feels the electricity between them, but he can't act on those feeling since she's so much younger. But, what happens when her meddling sister and Sprout team together to pull off the ultimate parent trap to get these two to admit they have feelings and they need to be together....it's a great idea!

I love Single dad-age gap stories! Especially when the characters are so amazing like Binx and Seven are! They make the perfect family! I love that the author included all the pets with personalities that essentially made past stories in this series so much fun!

[Favey_Listens · Rating 5 out of 5]

~*~ Audiobook Review ~*~ Seven McGuire is one seriously hawt single dad with an absolutely adorable child! Seven and Binx are best friends with a smoldering secret attraction. They are both afraid of ruining their beautiful friendship, but there I no escape when they are “parent trapped” in a cabin in the woods with a single bed situation. This age gap, friends to lovers, single dad romance ticks all of the cute, adorable, frustratingly-forbidden boxes we know and love in the world of wonderful RomComs and Lili Valente is one of the best.

Narration by Jason Clarke with Lili makes this a no-brainer for me. I loved the story, but their performances take it up even more with the absolutely perfect comedic timing, the steamy perfection, the emotional delivery of all the feels. It just doesn’t get better!

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this one, but it ended up being one of my least favorite. Honestly, Seven's 'woe is me' attitude was just too much for me to overlook. He had one foot out the door until the very end of the book and that doesn't make for a good romance for me. We know that he loved Binx, he told us so in his inner musings, but then he goes and does something that completely negates that. I wanted to like him, but I didn't really. He was a great father though, so he wasn't all bad. He just sucked at loving those outside his family.

Binx was a great character. I liked her boldness and take charge attitude. I like that she didn't run away when things got tough, she just stuck it out.

The ending was sweet though and I'm really looking forward to the last book in the series.

[Tami Talbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kind of a Bad Idea is the newest release from Lili Valente takes us back to Bad Dog and the McGuire family and tells the beautiful, hot and steamy story of Seven and Binx and Sprout.

Seven has always kept his heart blockaded from falling for Binx. Although they have spent a lot of time together which generally included his daughter, Sprout, Seven continued to keep love off the table where Binx was concerned. But Binx, being a strong willed woman who knows her own mind and heart, continues to fight to win his heart and make Seven realize that they belong together as a family. So when they end up stranded in the woods together, Binx decides to do all she can to open Seven’s soul and break down the walls he erected around his heart. But is her love strong enough to finally convince Seven that they are truly meant to be together?

I absolutely adored Kind of A Bad Idea. Seven and Binx are such a fantastic couple, and when Ms Lili adds Seven’s sweet little girl and a furry critter into the mix, this story left my heart full. Seven and Binx’s chemistry is amazing and off the charts. I have always loved romance tales that include a single parent, and Kind of A Bad Idea is an absolutely perfect mix of family and romance, as well as hot and steamy escapades that will make anyone’s heart soar.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entire series in audio. Good author and narrator! I recently reviewed something with a comment that it would have been better with more attention to the animals. Well, this series delivers that, plus. It's full of offbeat pets, support animals, and crazy wildlife antics.

Bad Dog, the name of the small town, is a clue to the craziness that ensues. There are so many cousins and in-laws in this community that people say they can't date without knowing who someone is connected to.

A fun Rom Com series I found in Hoopla. I'll be looking for more by this author. Same review added to each book in the series.

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kind of a Bad Idea is a friends-to-lovers, parent trap set up romance that brings the heat and the heart.

I love how Binx didn't give up on Seven. They really do belong together. You can tell from page one how much they care for one another. Seven may seem gruff but it just hides his enormous heart. And his daughter is so adorable! We get to see Binx finally stand up to her mother and fight for the life she truly wants! When Seven finally gets out of his own way, sparks fly. I loved this sweet and sexy book!

ARC review.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seven and Binx are best friends and she's got a crush on him but he thinks he's too old for her. They're such good friends to each other and I love that even his daughter adores Binx. This book is everything I come to expect drom Lili's books. It's funny and sweet but also deliciously steamy. Seven and Binx have such a deep connection and it just makes it so much more meaningful when they finally realize their feelings for each other.
I have received an early copy of this book to review.

[Lauren Lascola-Lesczynski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really loving Bad Dog...I wish I could visit...LOL.
Seven is a hot AF single dad who is NOT and I repeat NOT looking to start anything with Binx.
Binx is single AF and definitely looking and I repeat definitely looking to start something with Seven.
These two have amazing chemistry that is off the charts. I love how much they respect each other. I love the push/pull between them. This series is a great one so make sure you grab it!
#sprout #parenttrapclub #tatertot #jerry #mrpickles

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seven and Binx

This seventh book in the McGuire Brothers series featured one of the sisters, Binx McGuire this time. She has been in love with Seven Trevino for years but he keeps her firmly in the friend zone for all sorts of misguided reasons. There is plenty of single dad and funny daughter scenes and a small amount of angst in this short book which also leads into the next title nicely. I'm already looking forward to reading it!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!

I loved this story of Seven and Binx!! They have been friends for a while and the attraction is there. Binx wants to move the friendship forward to dating, but Seven insists she is too young for him. It's going to take an intervention for them to get together. Which is exactly what Sprout, Wendy Ann and Bettie do for Seven and Binx. Will it work? You'll need to read it to find out! I love this book and series. I highly recommend!

[Cheriwinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Jason Clarke and Lili Valente. (Excellently, as always!) I loved Binx and Seven’s story. Nice to see a guy concerned about the age difference as much as a n older woman usually is! And Prickly’s thoughts were so well written…well done, Lili! (And we did end up with another unusual pet in the end!) Oh! And ‘cat’s anus’ was absolutely the BEST description ever!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars.

I really liked this book. It was an easy and quick read, just a simple no-brainer. The story was kind of original (daughter parent-trapping her dad) and had so many funny moments in it. I really liked the characters and how flawed and realistic they were. I definitely recommend this one!

[Gail Stroker · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT!

This story doesn’t disappoint it’s a great addition to this fun & HOT series. Great characters! I love the chemistry between Seven & Binx! OMG! Sprout is a hoot! Who couldn’t fall in love with that child. I think Seven is my favorite McGuire partner. This man is sweet & HOT & an amazing Dad. Definitely see how Binx would fall hard & fast.

[Shannon Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cuteness a plenty

I want a potato rodent!! This relationship was definitely worth reading. The girl gets the guys shes had a crush on and the love she deserves. Glad Seven, Binx & Sprout got their happily ever after.
I’m excited for the last of the McGuires.
Thanks for the escape.❤️

[Erin Molta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kind of an awesome story

Age gap books don’t usually do anything for me, but Seven and Binx transcend that silly barrier. Fiesty Binx and damaged Seven pull at your heartstrings and pull you into their heartwarming yet sexy story of finding your person and fighting for him, against all odds.

[Vi]

oh my fucking GOD i could baaaaarely hear the super long super self indulgent supersuper pathetic inner monolog of the mmc over the screeching sound of the world's tiniest violin but unfortunately it came on through and now it's time for the good ol' bleach ear bath to blast the pitiful memory out of here

[Jamie Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

kind of a bad idea by lili valente. I just feel in love with binx' character. I loved how she was unapologetically herself, and she rocked it. then throw in the best friends to lovers troupe. and we are all sighing. then the MMC has a 9yo daughter who parent traps them into spending time together. and it just ended in blood, lol

[KS · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fun!

I love these Bad Dog/McGuire siblings SO HARD! Binx and Seven did not disappoint and neither did sweet Sprout!

This story had laughs, heartfelt feelings, fun, an annoying mom (oh my!) and sibling cahoots...and even a fur potato!

Binx - "a stubborn burrito of a woman stuffed with recalcitrant beans and topped with obstinate sauce...and I absolutely adored her and already did in the previous books too!

Seven was older, sexy, dreamy, and almost as stubborn as Binx.

This was such a fun and entertaining read! I loved it throughout - even the annoying mom parts made me love Binx even more!

I voluntarily requested and read an advance reader copy.

[Sammye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the seventh book in The McGuire Brothers series. It’s a steamy, friends to lovers, age gap, single Dad romance. Seven and Binx are wonderful characters. I really enjoyed this emotional, and sometimes funny, love story.

[erin.reads.the.things · Rating 5 out of 5]

LV never disappoints. I loved Seven, but got so frustrated with him. I wanted to somehow shake him


but Binx is a bad ass and could show young girls how how.to stand up for themselves. solid book! highly recommend