Life, Love and Babies Series by Samantha Chase

I loved each of the novellas in Samantha Chase’s Life, Love and Baby series. Each story has a sweet couple, an engaging story and can be finished in one sitting.

The Baby Arrangement
Kayleigh Mitchell agrees to help her boss Derek Sloan care for a baby that was dropped off at his office. I am not a huge fan of the office romance trope but this sweet story is quite heartwarming. The characters are likeable and the plot moves along at a good pace. Kayleigh and Derek bond as they care for baby Emery and learn what the word ‘family” truly means.

Baby, I’m Yours
Nikki and Josh’s story was my favorite of the three novellas. Nikki celebrates the end of her college education by going out to a bar with friends. She meets a handsome man named Tyler and has a one night stand with him. The fast paced story takes place three years later and the characters are well written. Samantha Chase has the knack for taking an often used storyline (in this case the “surprise baby’ dilemma) and making it her own by creating wonderful characters who are challenged to work through every day issues. I appreciated that the author portrayed Nikki as an independent woman and loving mother. I enjoyed reading the scenes when Josh (aka Tyler) recognizes Nikki and realizes that her daughter maybe his child. I wish this novella had been a full length story as both the main and secondary characters were well developed and the storyline touched each character.

Baby, Be Mine

Olivia had a huge crush on her brother’s best friend Jake in high school. She returns to her hometown for a month long vacation. Her brother Mike convinces her to help Jake care for his new born twins. Olivia’s vacation plans didn’t include babysitting but she agrees to help. Jake  and Olivia disagreed about everything at first and then learned to talk things through and work together. The story's ending surprised me and was perfect for this couple.

It's Valentines week and......

If you are in the mood for three sweet contemporary novellas—pick up these stories!

Reviewed By Susan Gorman 

ARC provided by Sourcebooks

Graphic from Samantha Chase

Second Chance Summer by Jill Shalvis- Audio Version

Second Chance Summer

by Jill Shalvis

Cedar Ridge, Book 1

Audio Version

Lily Danville is a hot mess. Her professional life is

a disaster at the moment. She struggles every day

dealing with the loss of her sister and her father.

 Now she has been let go from her job.
She is being pulled to a new job. Tugged kicking and

fighting to her hometown for this job. That she knows

she needs. She knows it. But it doesn't really help

knowing that. It doesn't help when she pulls into town

with almost no money and right off the bat comes

face to face with the guy that her sister had feelings for.

The same guy Lily has been crushing on forever.

Aidan Kincaid is a rescue worker & firefighter. He comes

with a hodge podge family of tough determined people.

They love each other no matter what.
Funny thing is, Aidan has been crushing on Lily forever.

Neither of them knows the other is feeling it.  

Aidan's mother is just as tough as the rest and she wont

let them forget it. She wont let any of them forget

that life is to be lived. Full out, head on. She is nothing

if not determined to get herself some grandchildren.

And so, she is a very busy woman.

It's Jill Shalvis, so you know you are in for lots of feels.

Some laughs. And some great images in your

imagination. I always like a Shalvis story. Even when

they aren't her best, they are always good. That is not true

for very many authors.  

Karen White is the narrator. She has done a lot of Jill's stories.

Review by Lisa Hutson

I bought my audio copy from

Audible.com





Anything For You by Kristan Higgins - Audio Version

Anything For You

by Kristan Higgins

Anything For You is from the Blue Heron series.

Connor O'Rourke has been in love with Jessica Dunn

since they were 12 years old.
Connor has not had the easiest life. But really, he always

had his twin sister, Colleen. Their parents broke up.
Their mother did not take it well. Their dad started a

new family for himself.
Meanwhile, Jessica has been trying to survive. Taking care

 of her parents, herself and her little brother, Davey.

Davey suffers from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Only Jessica

can take care of him. At least, that's what she thinks.  

She never asks for help from anyone. Never.

That is hard for Connor to accept. He is the guy that takes

care of the people around him. Especially the women.

Its always been his fondest wish to take care of Jessica.

But Jessica is determined to take care of herself and Davey.

She struggles and strives to reach her goals.

With her own personal life being her last concern.

The story runs over a long span of time. The way its written

draws you in. Closer to the characters. Into their relationships.

You will find yourself cheering when the good things happen for

everyone. Then, of course, crying when the bad things happen.

The Holland clan. The O'Rourkes. Everyone from Manningsport

is in this story. Oh gosh, just thinking about this story makes

me smile and tear up a little bit.

I have to add, I have read quite a few Kristan Higgins stories.

I have always liked them. I feel like her writing style is

changing. The last two stories of hers have felt different.

More and deeper emotion. The characters are interesting

and real. Even the ones that aren't so likable are important

and you want to know about them.

Amy Rubinate is a wonderful narrator for Kristans books.

I have not listened to her for a while and as soon as she

started talking, it reminded me how great she does.

Review by Lisa Hutson

I bought my audio copy from Audible.com