Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
Published in 1997
What I Loved: Jane is a brilliant and independent lead character who is rocking the book smarts but is so clueless about other things. I love her journey to love, acceptance, and family. Great Grandma Annie is the best character in the book and she is stubborn as all get-out. Plus she loves her some Harry Connick Jr so you know this shotgun toting grandma is smart. She really did understand and see everything going on. She was also brilliant in letting everyone figure it out in their own time without letting things go on to long.
What I Liked: Cal was a great lead for Jane. She needed someone stubborn enough to finally see through to her core even if he didn't realize what he was doing. Also Kevin, I loved that boy and how it became clear that he and Cal could be friends! The guys definitely had a strong line in this story and it was great to read. The whole family aspect of this book was great and very important to the story.
Complaints: I wanted a little more time of them together after realizing they loved each other (that isn't a spoiler--it is a romance with a happy ending). I always want a little more time with the happy couple :)
Why I gave it a 4: The book made me grin, giggle, and get a little teary-eyed. In other words, it delivered the way romances should.
Who would I recommend it too: Romance readers who like a little old school romance writing.
Author Website: http://www.susanephillips.com/
Books in this series (not sure about the order):
IT HAD TO BE YOU
HEAVEN, TEXAS
NOBODY'S BABY BUT MINE
NATURAL BORN CHARMER
MATCH ME IF YOU CAN
THIS HEART OF MINE
DREAM A LITTLE DREAM
What I Loved: Jane is a brilliant and independent lead character who is rocking the book smarts but is so clueless about other things. I love her journey to love, acceptance, and family. Great Grandma Annie is the best character in the book and she is stubborn as all get-out. Plus she loves her some Harry Connick Jr so you know this shotgun toting grandma is smart. She really did understand and see everything going on. She was also brilliant in letting everyone figure it out in their own time without letting things go on to long.
What I Liked: Cal was a great lead for Jane. She needed someone stubborn enough to finally see through to her core even if he didn't realize what he was doing. Also Kevin, I loved that boy and how it became clear that he and Cal could be friends! The guys definitely had a strong line in this story and it was great to read. The whole family aspect of this book was great and very important to the story.
Complaints: I wanted a little more time of them together after realizing they loved each other (that isn't a spoiler--it is a romance with a happy ending). I always want a little more time with the happy couple :)
Why I gave it a 4: The book made me grin, giggle, and get a little teary-eyed. In other words, it delivered the way romances should.
Who would I recommend it too: Romance readers who like a little old school romance writing.
Author Website: http://www.susanephillips.com/
Books in this series (not sure about the order):
IT HAD TO BE YOU
HEAVEN, TEXAS
NOBODY'S BABY BUT MINE
NATURAL BORN CHARMER
MATCH ME IF YOU CAN
THIS HEART OF MINE
DREAM A LITTLE DREAM
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
Book Evaluation:
Plot: ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ
World Building:πππππ
Cover:ππππ
Hero: π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»
Heroine:π¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈ
Intimacy Level: π₯π₯π₯.5
Relationship Building: πππππ
Heart & Feels:πππππ
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: πππππ
Page Turner Level:πππππ
Narration:π§π§π§π§
Ending:π§§π§§π§§π§§π§§
Overall View: β¨β¨β¨β¨β¨
First Impressions
Nobody's Baby But Mine was a book that I was originally nervous about. I mean you look at that title and you just know its going to be a bananas book but the author really made this work just right. And I really enjoyed everything about this book, its the type of rom com that had so much depth and heart to it and this is what I am coming to realize about this author and I am really loving it. I was so easily swept away by this book and I did it in audio, which if you enjoy audio, I highly recommend it and this series is in Hoopla. I will say that the setup of the romance is completely wild but trust this author to take you on a journey worth risking on. Because what we see in this book was brilliantly executed and I am at the point with this author where I would trust her with just about anything.
First Line
"Let me get this straight," Jodie Pulanski Said. "You want to give Cal Bonner a Woman for a birthday present."
The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Cal Bonner
Professional football quarterback, broody, Strict and serious-minded.
The Heroine: Jane Darlington
STEM heroine, lonely, wants children more than anything, very career minded and more reserved.
Summary
Jane has always wanted a baby. She has never been able to find a relationship that she connected with another man. She has always felt that she has been more undesirable. She is as smart as a tack, and career minded, but any man that appealed to her, had been disgusted with her brains and considered her too wacky. Then she comes up with a plan to find a dumb masculine man to get pregnant with. She hatches a plan to pose as a hooker, and get into Cal Bonner's bed. What she doesn't plan on though, is that he would learn the truth very quickly, and make her deal with the fallout. They end up getting into a marriage of convenience that will end up in divorce while Cal forces his revenge out on her. But can Cal and Jane find love despite how opposite they are from each other and the tension to dislike each other grows?
What I Loved
There is so much to love about this book. I absolutely adored what SEP delivers in this book. I was nervous about it, but it turns out she can make just about anything work for this reader because this book turned out brilliant and even though I really should have rated this book lower....I loved so much about it than I couldn't lower it than a 4.5, and it definitely is a true gem that I think for this situation was well thought out as far as the plot and the way the relationship develops.
This book isn't going to be easy for some readers, but give it till chapter 7 and you will be hooked and won't be able to put this one down. I truly enjoyed the ways in which we see this relationship grow. It starts out with some heavy angsty, but there is superb banter and the humor is on point so it really balances out the level of angst. Cal is completely in his right to be furious. And honestly, I didn't feel bad for the heroine at all. She has to prove herself in this one and she does. The slow built chemistry was right on for the development of their relationship. Its definitely more slow burn, so keep that in mind. And there is a strong level of angst. I am not sure I would strictly call this enemies to lovers though, but there is strong tension between these two. Cal is not going to be an easy hero for some readers. He treats Jane pretty badly in here, but remember how he feels betrayed and its not like he is a pansy. He is a true alpha male, and lashes out. Now do I feel like he should have toned it down just a bit? Sure but at the same time the way that the tension and bantering is written between them, the author made it really work for me.
Now as far as the third act. Listen....both Jane and Cal make mistakes on both sides. This is not a situation of he does everything bad. Quite frankly, I am not sure why Jane was so surprised here or why she intitated the breakup because he apologized sincerely and explained the situation with her. I get why she felt so hurt and exhausted from the tension between them, but I feel like she should have realized his sincerity and not drag out the groveling. I absolutely adored Cal's family though especially in the third act. And seeing the side story with his parents reconnecting as a couple was so endearing.
What I Struggled With
So there is only one aspect to the story I truly struggled with ....the heroine. She takes some actions in the beginning of the book that are awful. I mean she purposely tricks the hero to get pregnant and had zero plans to tell him the truth. Yes eventually she realizes what she does is wrong, but Cal had to force her to take accountability for the wrongs she committed. But the story is so well written and the way the author writes this book....it just worked for me eventually.
Narration
I am having a blast with this narrator. She is doing just a superb job with these characters and the accents is just the right touch and the way that she brings out the humor just right is *chef's kiss* perfection
Overall View
Nobody's Baby But Mine is a sensual, laugh out loud, tension filled romance that will knock your socks off with layers of emotion and heart!
Favorite Quote(s)
βJust because youβre rivals doesnβt mean you have to be enemies.β
βYouβre the most important thing in the world to me. I know you donβt believe it, but Iβm going to prove it to you.β
Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comoedy
Character Types: Alpha Male, Jerk Hero, Athlete, STEM
Themes: Angst, Lots of heart, Laughs/Giggles, Slow Burn, Football
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Marriage of Convenience, Secret Baby, Opposites Attract, Revenge
Book Perspective
3rd POV
Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Relationship Conflict
Song This Book Inspires
No Running From Me by Toulouse
Recommendation For Reading Order
You can read as standalones if needed
Steam/Spice Explanations
Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Narrators
Anna Fields
Book Evaluation:
Plot: ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ
World Building:πππππ
Cover:ππππ
Hero: π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»
Heroine:π¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈ
Intimacy Level: π₯π₯π₯.5
Relationship Building: πππππ
Heart & Feels:πππππ
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: πππππ
Page Turner Level:πππππ
Narration:π§π§π§π§
Ending:π§§π§§π§§π§§π§§
Overall View: β¨β¨β¨β¨β¨
First Impressions
Nobody's Baby But Mine was a book that I was originally nervous about. I mean you look at that title and you just know its going to be a bananas book but the author really made this work just right. And I really enjoyed everything about this book, its the type of rom com that had so much depth and heart to it and this is what I am coming to realize about this author and I am really loving it. I was so easily swept away by this book and I did it in audio, which if you enjoy audio, I highly recommend it and this series is in Hoopla. I will say that the setup of the romance is completely wild but trust this author to take you on a journey worth risking on. Because what we see in this book was brilliantly executed and I am at the point with this author where I would trust her with just about anything.
First Line
"Let me get this straight," Jodie Pulanski Said. "You want to give Cal Bonner a Woman for a birthday present."
The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Cal Bonner
Professional football quarterback, broody, Strict and serious-minded.
The Heroine: Jane Darlington
STEM heroine, lonely, wants children more than anything, very career minded and more reserved.
Summary
Jane has always wanted a baby. She has never been able to find a relationship that she connected with another man. She has always felt that she has been more undesirable. She is as smart as a tack, and career minded, but any man that appealed to her, had been disgusted with her brains and considered her too wacky. Then she comes up with a plan to find a dumb masculine man to get pregnant with. She hatches a plan to pose as a hooker, and get into Cal Bonner's bed. What she doesn't plan on though, is that he would learn the truth very quickly, and make her deal with the fallout. They end up getting into a marriage of convenience that will end up in divorce while Cal forces his revenge out on her. But can Cal and Jane find love despite how opposite they are from each other and the tension to dislike each other grows?
What I Loved
There is so much to love about this book. I absolutely adored what SEP delivers in this book. I was nervous about it, but it turns out she can make just about anything work for this reader because this book turned out brilliant and even though I really should have rated this book lower....I loved so much about it than I couldn't lower it than a 4.5, and it definitely is a true gem that I think for this situation was well thought out as far as the plot and the way the relationship develops.
This book isn't going to be easy for some readers, but give it till chapter 7 and you will be hooked and won't be able to put this one down. I truly enjoyed the ways in which we see this relationship grow. It starts out with some heavy angsty, but there is superb banter and the humor is on point so it really balances out the level of angst. Cal is completely in his right to be furious. And honestly, I didn't feel bad for the heroine at all. She has to prove herself in this one and she does. The slow built chemistry was right on for the development of their relationship. Its definitely more slow burn, so keep that in mind. And there is a strong level of angst. I am not sure I would strictly call this enemies to lovers though, but there is strong tension between these two. Cal is not going to be an easy hero for some readers. He treats Jane pretty badly in here, but remember how he feels betrayed and its not like he is a pansy. He is a true alpha male, and lashes out. Now do I feel like he should have toned it down just a bit? Sure but at the same time the way that the tension and bantering is written between them, the author made it really work for me.
Now as far as the third act. Listen....both Jane and Cal make mistakes on both sides. This is not a situation of he does everything bad. Quite frankly, I am not sure why Jane was so surprised here or why she intitated the breakup because he apologized sincerely and explained the situation with her. I get why she felt so hurt and exhausted from the tension between them, but I feel like she should have realized his sincerity and not drag out the groveling. I absolutely adored Cal's family though especially in the third act. And seeing the side story with his parents reconnecting as a couple was so endearing.
What I Struggled With
So there is only one aspect to the story I truly struggled with ....the heroine. She takes some actions in the beginning of the book that are awful. I mean she purposely tricks the hero to get pregnant and had zero plans to tell him the truth. Yes eventually she realizes what she does is wrong, but Cal had to force her to take accountability for the wrongs she committed. But the story is so well written and the way the author writes this book....it just worked for me eventually.
Narration
I am having a blast with this narrator. She is doing just a superb job with these characters and the accents is just the right touch and the way that she brings out the humor just right is *chef's kiss* perfection
Overall View
Nobody's Baby But Mine is a sensual, laugh out loud, tension filled romance that will knock your socks off with layers of emotion and heart!
Favorite Quote(s)
βJust because youβre rivals doesnβt mean you have to be enemies.β
βYouβre the most important thing in the world to me. I know you donβt believe it, but Iβm going to prove it to you.β
Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comoedy
Character Types: Alpha Male, Jerk Hero, Athlete, STEM
Themes: Angst, Lots of heart, Laughs/Giggles, Slow Burn, Football
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Marriage of Convenience, Secret Baby, Opposites Attract, Revenge
Book Perspective
3rd POV
Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Relationship Conflict
Song This Book Inspires
No Running From Me by Toulouse
Recommendation For Reading Order
You can read as standalones if needed
Steam/Spice Explanations
Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Narrators
Anna Fields
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
I was prepared to hate this one thanks to some reviews, but to read the next book I thought I should read this one and get over with it, but what I didn't expect was liking this book so much, I couldn't put it down, I loved the main protagonists , they both were so kind hearted, I couldn't hate any of them even though they both made things that I usually don't like, but you can justify their behavior, and actually sympathies them.
I really enjoyed this, but I can't give it 5 stars because of how the heroine went about trying to get pregnant. The key word here is consent--in this instance, the lack of it. That just made me so uncomfortable and left a bad taste in mouth.
She did feel tremendous guilt over it, and is the reason why she let Cal get away with some of the stuff he did. And what she did was one of the big the humps they had to work out in their relationship.
Besides that though the book was fantastic! One of my top favorites out of the books I've read by SEP so far. So many laugh out loud moments (I literally laughed out loud). And I was also in tears because the hero's mom's story just about broke my heart (the cookies scene flashback just about killed me).
She did feel tremendous guilt over it, and is the reason why she let Cal get away with some of the stuff he did. And what she did was one of the big the humps they had to work out in their relationship.
Besides that though the book was fantastic! One of my top favorites out of the books I've read by SEP so far. So many laugh out loud moments (I literally laughed out loud). And I was also in tears because the hero's mom's story just about broke my heart (the cookies scene flashback just about killed me).
Loved this book, except for the reproductive coercion.
Jane wants a baby, tricks Calvin into having sex with her and then they get married. I liked the supporting cast and the family stuff, it was all very interesting and moving. And married first and falling in love after is one of my favorite tropes. But REALLY don't like tricking someone into having a baby.
Jane wants a baby, tricks Calvin into having sex with her and then they get married. I liked the supporting cast and the family stuff, it was all very interesting and moving. And married first and falling in love after is one of my favorite tropes. But REALLY don't like tricking someone into having a baby.