Triplets Under the Tree - Kat Cantrell (HD #2414 - Dec 2015)

Series: Billionaires and Babies (Book 64)

This Christmas, he'll meet his three babies for the first time…and desire their mother in a whole new way!

After a plane crash robs him of his memory, billionaire fighter Antonio Cavallari comes home for the holidays to find triplets -- and their "mother" -- waiting. Antonio doesn't remember surrogate Caitlyn Hopewell, but he has triplets depending upon him. Who else can he turn to except the woman raising his children…and making him burn with desire?

Caitlyn has longed for Antonio secretly for years. Now she's living in his home, loving his babies…living the life with him she's always wanted. But then Antonio's memory returns. And the secrets he's forgotten will change everything…

Good book about a man who gets a second chance at life and love. The book opens with Antonio, going by the name Falco, on an island in Indonesia. He has no idea how he got there, and no memory of life before he was dragged from the ocean. All he knows is that he can fight, so that's what he does, until a blow to the head knocks one memory loose, sending him to the address he sees in his mind.

Caitlyn is living in the home of her sister and brother-in-law, taking care of the three babies she bore for them. She considers them her children now and is doing her best to raise them while protecting their inheritance. She is stunned to answer the door one day to find an Antonio she barely recognizes on the other side. She can't give up her children, and it's obvious that he needs her help.

Caitlyn has always had feelings for Antonio. She had met him first, but it was her starlet sister that he married, so she kept her feelings to herself. Those feelings give her an extra sensitivity toward him, and she steps in to help him adjust to being back. Antonio often feels like Caitlyn is the only thing keeping him sane. Neither of them had expected the desire that burned between them. Antonio is fully prepared to pursue it, but Caitlyn experiences some guilty feelings over having a chance at what she always wanted only because her sister is dead.

Antonio struggles with the frustration of not being able to remember his former life. He begins to get some of his memories back in small chunks, but not the ones he really wants. He feels that there is something important about his marriage that is just out of reach. There are also times he that he seems to be fighting his memories of himself.

I liked seeing the relationship that built between Caitlyn and Antonio as she tried to help him adjust to his life. I loved the way that she supported him, helping to keep others from realizing his memory loss. She was wary of getting involved with him, but Antonio wasn't going to give up once he'd made up his mind. He did show a fair amount of patience while he waited for her to make up her mind. Things were going along pretty well for them as they built a nice little family together, until one particular memory returned. That memory creates a rift between them, as Caitlyn discovers that Antonio is the perfect man she had thought he was. A second blow comes with the discovery of her sister's journal, and Caitlyn isn't sure how to deal with the knowledge.

While I was a little disturbed by Antonio's past actions, it is pretty obvious that his accident and amnesia has allowed him to make some major changes in his life. I thought that Caitlyn was a bit hypocritical in her attitude toward his transgressions considering her envy and jealousy of her sister. Fortunately, both of them were able to overcome their more negative traits to build a better future together.

Stranded with the Boss - Elizabeth Lane (HD #2402 - Oct 2015)

Series: Billionaires and Babies (Book 62)

A single mom -- and her twin babies! -- are snowbound with the boss. Can they melt his frozen heart?

When Tessa Randall sues CEO Dragan Markovic's company for unfair termination, he insists on hearing her side of the story. But the billionaire known as The Dragon gets more than he bargained for when he's stranded at his snowy Alaskan lodge with Tessa and her twin toddlers. Now the flame-haired beauty wants to uncover his story. How can he tell her that her children remind him of his harrowing past and all that he lost? Or that the sweet family of three is slowly melting The Dragon's frozen heart…

Good book. When Tessa's pregnancy resulted in the loss of her job, she was left with no income and no insurance. With a mountain of bills resulting from her high risk pregnancy and the certainty that her firing had been unfair at the least, Tessa felt she had no option but to sue the company. Her lawyer wants more than just a quiet settlement, she thinks the company should be made an example of, so the case will be going to trial.

Dragan has worked hard to build the company and prides himself on running a good business. He wants to know if this is a case of someone out for all she can get, or if she really was wronged. Since their lawyers won't let him talk to her directly he comes up with a plan to get her to himself for a few hours so that he can get her side of the story. He doesn't expect her to have her twin girls with her, or that a malfunction with his plane will strand them for several days at his remote Alaskan lodge. 

Overall, I liked Dragan. He really just wants a chance to get at the truth without a bunch of legal wrangling. He's a little cynical about peoples' motives, but that's not too surprising considering the world the way that it is. He does have a reputation of being cold and emotionless, and that's easy to see in his first reactions to the twins, though he certainly isn't cold when it comes to Tessa. He's attracted to her from the moment he sees her, even though he knows it would be a bad idea to act on it.

I liked Tessa also. She hasn't had an easy time of it, and all she really wants is justice. When she's offered a lift in the good looking stranger's plane, she's cautious but she needs to make it to her destination in time for the trial. She's attracted to him, but his less than pleasant attitude about her children puts her off. It isn't until partway through the flight that she recognizes her "savior" and then she's furious. She believes that he's kidnapped her to keep her away from the trial.

When the plane trouble happens, they call a truce. Tessa knows that their lives depend on his skills. Once they are safely down, they have to find a way to coexist until they are rescued. I really liked seeing the way that their close proximity slowly brought down their barriers. The attraction and passion between them was great, but even more I liked the way that they were able to share their pasts. My favorite thing was seeing Dragan become more comfortable around the children. He had been a teen growing up in Sarajevo during the war, and the things that he experienced had caused him to avoid getting close to anyone ever since. It was fun to see the way that the little girls started to melt the ice around his heart. I also liked seeing how Tessa's attitude toward him softened the more she learned about him. She still had a few instances of questioning his motives, but for the most part she really came to trust him. When one of the girls gets sick, Dragan's fear of history repeating itself is hard to see, but he handles it all well. It isn't until rescue comes and they have to part that he realizes just how big a change they have brought to his life. The question becomes if there is anything he can do to make that change permanent.

I loved the conclusion and how Dragan took what he knew about Tessa and looked into what really happened. I was not surprised by what he found out. I had my doubts about Tessa's lawyer until the very end, but what she did really redeemed her in my eyes. I loved his big moment at the end and how he convinced Tessa of his feelings. The epilogue was fantastic.

The Baby Contract - Barbara Dunlop (HD #2396 - Sept 2015)

Series: Billionaires and Babies (Book 61)

Troy Keiser won't hire a woman, no matter how skilled -- or beautiful -- for the dangerous work of his elite security firm. Plus, there's no way he could keep his hands off Mila Stern! But when his sister and infant nephew need protection, Troy offers Mila a job…as a caretaker for them both.

Mila doesn't know much about kids, but she'll learn if it means Troy hiring her for more than this assignment. But as she falls for the baby -- and her sexy boss! -- she uncovers a secret about the boy in her care that could change everything… 

Good book. Mila is a very determined woman and she wants a job at Troy's security firm. Troy is equally insistent that he will hire no women. Mila has just managed to get a face to face meeting with Troy when his sister and her infant charge appear. She is being stalked and wants to stay with Troy for awhile. Seeing her opportunity, Mila talks Troy into letting her protect Kassidy and Drake on a temporary basis, hoping to show him what she can do.

I loved Mila. She was smart, she was determined, and she wasn't going to give up. I loved the way that she took on everything that Troy threw at her. He kept telling her that she didn't have what it takes to work for him and would give her the same tests he gave the male applicants. And she kept passing them. The only one she had trouble with was the obstacle course, and she refused to give up on it. In the meantime, she was doing everything she could to find out who Kassidy's stalker was. I loved seeing the way she earned the respect of the other security guys.

Troy was a rather frustrating man. Because he had lost a woman agent early on in the business, he has refused to hire another one. He won't accept that it wasn't his fault, and that it could just as easily been one of the men. The problem that he is running into is that she is earning his respect, but he can't get past his fears that something could happen to her.

Mila and Troy were also fighting an irresistible attraction to each other. Nearly every time they got close to each other they ended up in each other's arms. Both knew that sex would be a bad idea because it would blur the lines between boss and employee, but they ended up giving in several times. For Troy especially, it just made him more determined to protect her. Mila knows that she is falling for him, and still has hope that she can overcome his protectiveness and show him that she can do the job. But in the end, Troy refuses to take the chance, and Mila won't accept anything less that what she deserves. I loved the ending, with Mila still determined to conquer the obstacle course, the rest of the guys invested in helping her do it, and the way they all stood up to Troy to show him that he was wrong. Seeing him finally get it was very satisfying.

I really enjoyed the stalker story line, something that is very different for the Desire line. I liked the way it brought Kassidy and Troy back together, after years of not getting along well at all. It was interesting to see how Troy's opinion of his sister changed throughout the book, from believing that she was like a kid playing at being a rock star and mother, to actually seeing the talented young woman that she was. I also loved seeing him go from being very wary around little Drake to comfortable and loving with the little boy. The only thing I found hard to believe was that he didn't take the stalker thing seriously from the start. He was convinced that it was simply an overzealous fan, while Mila was certain that there was something truly creepy going on. Even once Troy was convinced, he was certain it had to do with him (conceited much?) and not Kassidy. I loved the way it was Mila that really had a handle on the whole thing. When the final confrontation came, it was Mila and being a woman that gave them the advantage, which was really satisfying. There was also a twist that I really didn't see coming when it came to Drake's true parents. I'd like to see Kassidy get her own story - maybe with Vegas?

Demanding His Brother's Heirs - Michelle Celmer (HD #2389 - Aug 2015)

Series: Billionaires and Babies (Book 60)

Is Holly Shay seeing a ghost? The man on her doorstep is the spitting image of her baby twins' late father, but when he explains who he is, she feels relief and attraction…not necessarily in that order.

When he hears that his troubled twin brother has died, Jason Cavanaugh rushes in to help his nephews. And if staking his claim on the kids means claiming Holly as his own, he's game -- up to a point. Because there's a time bomb ticking inside Jason that could blow his chances with Holly right out of the water…

Very good book. Holly has been dealing with a whole host of problems. She is the mother of twin boys, whose father is dead. She had married him because she was pregnant, not knowing that he had drug problems. With his death, she discovered that he had left massive debts, which she currently has no way to pay. Without income, she will also soon be homeless. When her doorbell rings one night, she is stunned to find a man that looks just like her husband standing there, a man who turns out to be her husband's twin brother.

Holly finds out that her husband had told her a bunch of lies about who he was and where he had come from. When Jason explains who he is, and that he wants to help, she is relieved, but also cautious. Having been deceived once, she doesn't want to risk it again. It doesn't take too long for her to realize that Jason is the real thing, which creates a different kind of problem. She is very attracted to him.

Jason was stunned to find out that his brother had not only married, but fathered twin boys. He is determined to do whatever is necessary to take care of them. Making Holly part of the package is no hardship. In spite of her frazzled appearance, he was attracted to her from the moment he met her. He'd like to get closer to her, but he's got his own secret that is keeping him at a distance.

I really liked Jason. He is a wonderful  man who really cares about the people around him. He had done everything he could to help his brother, and felt guilty that nothing had worked. It was really sweet to see how quickly he took to the boys. The attraction he feels for Holly is really strong, and his feelings for her grow rapidly, but he has health issues that make him reluctant to marry and have a family of his own. I liked the way that he was honest with her about it, even though he was being terribly pessimistic. He tries very hard to keep their relationship to just friends, but it is a losing battle.

I loved Holly's independence. She really wants to be able to handle everything herself, but she has to admit that she needs help. She also sees Jason's need to take care of the twins, since they are the only family he has left. She's also just as attracted to him as he is to her and is willing to see where it goes, until he explains his issues to her. She starts out agreeing with him that they should stick to being friends, but the more she gets to know him the more she wants him.

I loved seeing the relationship develop between Holly and Jason.  I loved seeing them give in to the passion that went along with their friendship. It grew rapidly into love, but neither would admit it to the other. Jason had begun to realize that his fears were a bit extreme, but he wasn't sure how to tell Holly that he had changed. Holly had also realized that she would rather have whatever time she could with Jason, rather than deny them both the life that they wanted. There was a very interesting twist at the end that surprised both Holly and Jason. I loved seeing them finally have the courage to share their feelings and look forward to a future together. I would have liked an epilogue to see the results of that surprise, but maybe they'll show up in a later book.

I also liked the secondary characters of Lewis and Miranda and the struggles they were going through. It was nice to see Holly and Miranda develop such a wonderful friendship, and the support they gave each other. I loved seeing Holly be there for Miranda during her troubles, and how Miranda repaid her. The bathing suit scene was pretty funny, especially with the resulting discovery.

Royal Heirs Required - Cat Schield (HD #2359 - Mar 2015)

Series: Billionaires and Babies (Book 55)
           Sherdana Royals (Book 1)

A prince's surprise twins may turn his royal marriage into something more…

Prince Gabriel Alessandro's top priority is continuing the family line, and he's found the perfect bride-to-be in Lady Olivia Darcy. While their royal marriage is not based on love, he desires her. Making a baby together will be pure pleasure. Then Gabriel learns he is already a father…to twins.

Olivia surprises Gabriel with her acceptance of his motherless girls, making him believe their loveless union could blossom into something more. But Olivia's agreement conceals a devastating secret. In danger of losing the dynasty he so desires, will he risk choosing love over duty?

Very good book. As crown prince, it was time for Gabriel to marry and provide some heirs for the royal family. He selected Lady Olivia for two reasons. First, she has the pedigree, the sophistication, and also the kindness of heart to be the next queen. Second, her father is willing to open one of his factories in Sherdana, providing badly needed jobs. He's a little bitter about having to marry a stranger, but accepts it as necessary. Thanks to a failed relationship in his past, he isn't willing to fall in love, but the zing of attraction he feels for her gives him hope that there will be some pleasure to be found. 

Then Gabriel is hit with a surprise. His ex-girlfriend has died and left him with custody of twin daughters he knew nothing about. He is somewhat concerned about the scandal, but more worried about how Olivia will react. He's amazed at how quickly and completely she accepts the little girls, which adds fuel to his hope for a successful marriage.

As a child Olivia had dreams of growing up to be a princess, but as a teen gave them up for the more realistic ones of simply having a husband and children of her own, and working with the children's charities that she loved. Marrying Gabriel is a combination of those dreams, but they haven't really spent any time together to get to know each other. I loved seeing her confront him and more or less force him to see her as the woman she was. It was great to see him start to realize that there was more to her than he had expected.

When she accidentally stumbles on the little girls, she takes to them immediately. I loved her first encounter with them and the protectiveness that she felt for them. I really liked the way that she supported Gabriel's intent to make their existence public. I really enjoyed the way the girls brought them closer together. 

As they spent more time together, the attraction that they felt for each other grew stronger. Gabriel continued to try to convince himself that what he felt was only physical, but it was getting harder to do so. Olivia was also falling in love with him, but she has a health crisis that could end her dreams completely. A confrontation with Gabriel has them both exchanging harsh words, and their future looks impossible. I loved seeing both of them face their issues and decide what was more important to them. Gabriel's big moment was sweet and romantic and just what Olivia needed. 

I liked the realism of the way Olivia's problem was portrayed and dealt with. I am looking forward to the other books in this series and hope that they will include updates on how she and Gabriel are doing. I also liked the two little girls, who were quite adorable. Their behavior was also pretty true to their age.

The Missing Heir - Barbara Dunlop (HD #2343 - Dec 2014)

Series: Billionaires and Babies (Book 52)

When tragedy strikes, Cole Henderson must claim his true legacy and provide for his baby half brother. Luckily, the innocent infant is in the very capable hands of Amber Welsley, a woman Cole soon finds impossible to resist. But a bitter custody battle and rumors of financial double-dealing force Cole to claim the fortune he never wanted -- and the child Amber considers her own. Will his secrets destroy Amber's faith in him? Or can Cole win her back and create a family of his own?

Very good book. Cole is the legitimate oldest son of Sam Henderson, owner of an Atlanta based airline. His parents had married young and impulsively, with Sam knowing that his parents wouldn't approve. They didn't, and eventually talked Sam into divorcing his wife. She never told him that she was pregnant, fearing that his rich family would take her child. Though their lives hadn't been easy, Cole and his mother had been happy, and now Cole owns his own growing airline in Alaska. It means nothing to him when he hears that his father and others from the company have died in a crash, until he learns of the existence of his nine month old half brother. He still hesitates to get involved until his friend and business partner points out that the little boy is vulnerable if his guardians turn out to be unscrupulous.

Cole goes to Atlanta to check things out, but doesn't tell anyone who he is. He meets Amber, who is Zachary's aunt and guardian, and sees that he is in very good hands. Cole is attracted to Amber, but with his own life being back in Alaska, he knows he shouldn't get involved. He sees that Amber loves Zach and is willing to do anything for him. But there is a custody battle brewing from another member of the company, because whoever has guardianship of Zach also has the power to run the company. Cole wants to protect Amber and Zach, but he'll have to confess about who he really is.

I really liked Cole. He accepted his life long ago, and has no real bitterness toward his father. I liked the way that he saw his friend's reasoning and decided to go to Atlanta to check on his brother. It was fun to see the way the little boy immediately connected with him. For a bachelor who had never been around children, it was pretty sweet to see Cole with him. He is also quite protective of Zach and Amber, especially when he finds out about the custody suit. I loved the support that he gave Amber as he showed her what she needed to do regarding the company and Zach. I also liked the way that he stepped up when it became obvious that things weren't going well with the suit, even though it got him into trouble with Amber. 

I liked Amber also, but she did frustrate me at times. She is wonderful with Zach, and is determined that she be the one to raise him. Having to deal with the running of the company scares her. She's been a company accountant for years, but anything more than that is beyond what she's comfortable with. She's attracted to Cole, but overwhelmed with everything else that is going on. She's impressed, and maybe a little jealous, of his quick connection with Zachary. Her attraction to him is unexpected, and she finds herself leaning on him more and more. With him backing her up, she has a little more confidence in her abilities, but it's shaky at best.

Cole and Amber get closer as they take care of Zach and Cole helps Amber with the business side of her new responsibilities. I loved the part where he takes her shopping, and later when he is there to support her during a company crisis. Their feelings are changing, but neither wants to admit it. Amber feels like he's betrayed her trust when he interferes at the first custody hearing, even though he does it to protect Zach. Cole has to find a way to prove to Amber how he feels about her. There are some interesting twists and turns, and a few missteps by both Cole and Amber, but the ending turns out fantastic. I did enjoy seeing Cole do a little groveling to make up for his mistakes.

I also liked the secondary characters of Cole's friend and partner Luca, and Amber's friend Destiny. I enjoyed seeing how they developed their own relationship as well as helping their friends. I found it interesting that Luca had Cole's proof of identity with him without Cole's knowledge - would have love to know how that happened. I also liked seeing Destiny help Amber see the truth at the end of the book. 

What the Prince Wants - Jules Bennett (HD #2377 - June 2015)

Series: Billionaires and Babies (Book 58)

What happens when a royal daddy falls for his child's live-in nanny?

Widowed Prince Mikos Colin Alexander wants to raise his little girl out of the spotlight. Granted a six-month leave from his royal duties, he escapes to Los Angeles, posing as a regular guy, one in need of a live-in nanny. Colin reluctantly hires Darcy Cooper, the curvy beauty who easily wins over his baby duchess. But soon the lush, love-shy American wins him over, too. Now he's torn between duty to the crown and what feels like his newfound family. But when Darcy discovers her emotionally distant boss is royalty, will all bets be off?

Good story about two people trying to protect their hearts and finding love instead. Colin (aka Prince Mikos) recently lost his wife and is still recovering from a climbing accident that he nearly didn't survive. At home in Galini the paparazzi give him no peace, so he takes a leave of absence from his royal duties and moves to Los Angeles. As his injuries are still causing him problems, he needs a live in nanny to help him care for his daughter.

Darcy needs this job badly. Her nanny agency has fallen on hard times because she trusted the wrong person. The handsome and charming man she loved and married embezzled from her business and used the money to buy gifts for his girlfriend. Not only did he ruin her business, he ended her hopes of having the money to adopt a child. She needs this job for the money to pay the last of the debts and get the business started again.

The initial meeting between Colin and Darcy did not go well. Colin expected an older woman, not a young and beautiful one. Even though his daughter takes to Darcy right away, Colin's immediate attraction to her is a distraction he feels he can't afford, so he tries to send her away. Darcy can't give up this job, so she talks him into a trial period. Darcy is just as attracted to Colin, but having been burned once, isn't willing to take a chance again.

I loved seeing the relationship build between Colin and Darcy. It starts with simple attraction that both of them try to fight. They try to keep things professional, and a friendship starts to build between them as they care for baby Iris. Darcy is truly impressed by Colin's insistence on being a hands on father, and Colin by Darcy's care for his daughter. Colin soon tires of resisting his attraction to Darcy, and wants her to give in to him, but she is not happy with the idea of a fling. Though she wants him just as much, she is determined to resist and insists that they not give in to temptation. That doesn't last long until she decides that she might as well enjoy what time they have. She knows that whatever they do will not last forever, 

I loved how what Colin considered was just a case of desire grew into love, even though he tried to resist it. He found himself thinking more about Darcy becoming a permanent part of his life. Unfortunately, he has never told her who he really is and is afraid of her reaction when she does. Those fears are well founded when she finds out before he gets a chance to tell her himself. Darcy feels betrayed by his deception, and thinks that she has just had history repeat itself. She has to look at what she has with Colin and decide if she is willing to take a chance on him. I loved the ending and Colin's big moment.

I also enjoyed catching up with Colin's brother Stefan and his wife Victoria from Behind Palace Doors. Victoria said some things to Darcy that helped her with her decision on what to do.

Triple the Fun - Maureen Child (HD #2371 - May 2015)

Series: Kings of California (Book 16)
           Billionaires and Babies (Book 57)

Baby, baby…baby?! 

He's a captain of industry, a brooding billionaire and -- a daddy? When Connor King learns he has fathered triplets, he feels double-crossed. Now nothing will stand in the way of claiming his heirs, not even their alluring legal guardian, Dina Cortez.

With the babies' mother gone, Dina has vowed to protect Sage, Sam and Sadie. But who will protect Dina from her feelings for the dark and defiant Mr. King? Because once she and the children are moved into Connor's California seaside mansion, his stately bed is just a heartbeat away…

Very good story. Connor gets the surprise of his life when he discovers he is the father of triplets. He had been sperm donor for a friend, but was told that the insemination didn't take. His friend moved away and didn't tell him about the babies. The first he knew about it was after the couple had died, and the babies' aunt and guardian asked for financial help.

Connor is furious that he'd been lied to, and feels betrayed by one of the few people he trusted. As part of the King family, he has experience with people, especially women, wanting to use him or his money to get what they want. He's certain that Dina has an agenda of her own, and he'll do whatever is necessary to claim his babies.

Dina is a successful caterer whose life was turned upside down by her sister's death and becoming guardian of her niece and nephews. She had always been under the impression that their father wasn't interested in them, so Connor's appearance surprised her, as did his determination to take custody of the kids. 

There are sparks between Dina and Connor from the moment they met. Dina fights them hard because she can see herself falling for him. She doesn't trust men, especially rich ones, because she so often saw her mother constantly changing who she was to meet their expectations. She is afraid that she would do the same thing. Of course, the sparks burst into flame pretty quickly and she and Connor grow closer. As she feared, she falls in love with him, but knows that her love isn't returned.

I loved seeing Connor fall for the babies so quickly. Thanks to the multitude of children in the King family, he's not entirely inexperienced and I enjoyed seeing how he surprised Dina with his ability to take care of the kids. Because of who he is, Connor is used to getting what he wants, and he wants the kids. He pushes Dina into moving into his house with the children. 

Connor also wants Dina. Having her and the kids living with him has given him something he didn't know he was missing, and he wants to make it permanent. Once he has what he wants, he realizes that what he feels is love, but he can't overcome his fear of trusting her. When those fears cause him to act like a complete fool, he nearly loses everything. I loved the conversation with his brother Colt (Double the Trouble) as Colt reminds him of what he went through. Dina also has to let go of her fears and learn to trust as well. The ending was pretty sweet.

The Nanny Plan - Sarah M. Anderson (HD #2366 - Apr 2015)

Series: Billionaires and Babies (Book 56)

This billionaire bachelor has a baby challenge…

Being a father to his orphaned infant niece is out of this tech billionaire's comfort zone. Lucky for Nate Longmire, Trish Hunter is a natural at motherhood, and she's agreed to be his temporary nanny. But long glances, slow kisses and not-so-innocent touches are strictly off-limits…

Trish's goal is to help Nate in exchange for a big donation to her charity for Lakota kids. Falling for her bachelor boss -- and his adorable baby girl -- is not part of the plan. But when the month is up, will she be able to walk away?

Very good story with a bit of a Cinderella theme. Trish is a young woman,just finishing up her Master's degree. She runs a small charity that she started to help the children on the Lakota reservation where she grew up. Her current goal is to raise some more money by asking billionaire Nate Longmire, in public, for a donation. She's successful in getting his attention and is invited to come to his office in a couple weeks to make a presentation to him.

When that day comes, she's sent to his home instead because of a mistaken identity. There she discovers a totally stressed out Nate, who has just been made guardian of his infant niece. Nate is totally clueless on what to do and hasn't been able to hire a nanny yet. When Trish steps in and brings order out of chaos, he offers her a large donation for her charity if she will be nanny for the month.

I loved Nate and was slightly less fond of Trish. I understood her issues, I just thought she went a little overboard with them. Trish is the oldest of nine children. She grew up on the reservation with a mother who was always looking for love. She would get immersed in a new relationship, have a couple babies, then the man would have enough and leave. Trish was the one who took care of the family. The living conditions were terrible and there never seemed to be enough to eat. She swore she would get off the reservation and get an education and do whatever she could to help other children. She was also determined that she would not get involved with a man so deeply that she would lose sight of who she is and what her goals are. When she meets Nate, she is attracted to him, but refuses to allow herself to succumb to it. She impulsively gives in to his pleas for help, but lays down ground rules to try to protect herself. 

Nate was simply adorable. One of the sweetest things is the way he actually blushes when he's embarrassed. He is the stereotypical geek, somewhat awkward socially and has been burned in the past by a woman he thought he loved. He guards his privacy zealously. When he meets Trish he is impressed by her straightforward attempt to gain his support for her charity. He's also quite attracted to her, but before he can do anything about it, he gets word about his brother's death and his own need to care for his niece. I loved the first sight of him as he's trying to get Janie to stop crying and his utter relief when Trish shows up to save the day. The businessman in him will do whatever it takes to get her to help him, and he won't take no for an answer. I loved his awkwardness with the baby, but how he wanted to do things right. 

I loved the growth of the relationship. They started by becoming friends, drawn together by the need to care for Janie. I really liked Nate's determination to keep to the requirements of their deal and how his word and promises are so important to him. I loved seeing them getting to know each other. Trish has been afraid that she would fall in love with Nate and forget about her dreams, so she just kept trying to push him away. Even when she finally admitted her feelings she wouldn't look for ways for them to be together or trust that he wouldn't ask her to be less than she is. Nate was much more open to the possibilities. I loved seeing him overcome his own fears and takes a chance on telling her how he feels. I loved his big moment and how he showed her just how much he cares. The only thing that might have made it better would have been an epilogue. I'd like to see how things are going for them a year or two down the road.

The Child They Didn't Expect - Yvonne Lindsay (HD #2330 - Oct 2014)

Series: Billionaires and Babies (Book 50)

Surprise -- it's a baby!

After their steamy vacation fling, Alison Carter knows Ronin Marshall is a skilled lover and a billionaire businessman. But a father…who hires her New Zealand baby-planning service? This divorcée has already been deceived once; Ronin's now the last man she wants to see.

But he must have Ali. Only she can rescue Ronin from the upheaval of caring for his orphaned nephew…and give Ronin more of what he shared with her during the best night of his life. But something is holding her back. And Ronin will stop at nothing to find out what secrets she's keeping!

This was a very emotional story. Both Ali and Ronin have businesses that consume their lives. They encounter each other while on vacation and have an instant connection. They have one hot night together, but Ronin is gone without a word the next morning, leaving Ali hurt and wondering what's wrong with her.

Ronin had received the devastating news that his sister had been killed in an accident along with her husband, leaving him as guardian for his newborn nephew. He left for home immediately, so dazed with grief that he forgot to leave word for Ali. Overwhelmed when he gets home, with the baby still in the hospital, he contacts a baby-planning service to come help him get his home prepared. He stunned when Ali arrives.

Ali is furious when she sees it's him, thinking that he had been cheating on a pregnant wife while on vacation. She had been married to a man who had cheated on her, and for a terrible reason, leaving her devastated and feeling less than a woman. It takes awhile for her to calm down enough to listen, but once she does she is ready to help him.

I liked both Ali and Ronin. He's a high-powered businessman who has quite the way with the ladies, but when his family needs him he drops everything to be there. I loved seeing the way that even as overwhelmed as he was, Ronin was determined to make the best life possible for Josh. It was so sweet seeing him deal with feedings, diapers and crying fits. Having Ali around also makes him realize how much had been missing in his life. He feels such a deep connection with her, and is sure that she feels the same, but can sense that there's something holding her back. 

Ali has slowly put her life back together after the devastating end of her marriage. She has put all of her heart into creating the perfect setups for other peoples' babies. She is determined that she will never again risk her heart on a man that will treat her that way. Her encounter with Ronin on vacation was unlike anything she'd ever done before, and seeing him again puts her intentions at risk. She finds herself being sucked into their lives and her heart getting involved anyway. A devastating revelation about Josh, added to her own insecurities, sends her running, certain that there's no future for her with Ronin.

I loved Ronin's determination to show Ali how much he cares. It takes a giant gamble to get her to understand and believe that she can have the life she wants.