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Billionaires and Babies #2
Baby Bonanza
Daddy…Times Two!
Twins? The startling revelation that his affair with Jenna Baker had produced two little boys was almost impossible to grasp. Tycoon Nick Falco had never considered himself the settling-down type, yet now that fatherhood had been thrust upon him, he was determined to give his sons his name. But their mother wasn’t about to let him back into her life…at least not without those three little words Nick had never, ever said.
Twins? The startling revelation that his affair with Jenna Baker had produced two little boys was almost impossible to grasp. Tycoon Nick Falco had never considered himself the settling-down type, yet now that fatherhood had been thrust upon him, he was determined to give his sons his name. But their mother wasn’t about to let him back into her life…at least not without those three little words Nick had never, ever said.
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 2008
378 people are currently reading
1495 people want to read
About the author
Maureen Child
1,137Ìýbooks548ÌýfollowersUSA Today best selling author Maureen Child is the author of more than ninety romance novels and novellas. Maureen is a five time nominee for the prestigious Rita award from Romance Writers of America.
One of her novels, A Pocketful Of Paradise, was made into a CBS-TV movie called The Soul Collector, starring Melissa Gilbert, Bruce Greenwood and Ossie Davis.
Over the years, she’s written under lots of different names and she prefers the term ‘pseudonym� to ‘alias�. As Ann Carberry, she wrote western historical romances. As Kathleen Kane, she wrote not only Americana romances, but western paranormal romances as well. As Sarah Hart, she wrote one really spectacular western paranormal that is still one of her favorites. And once, Ann Carberry even wrote a Victorian historical which she absolutely loved doing.
Under her own name, Maureen writes short contemporary novels for Silhouette Desire—books she loves to write because of their fast pace and condensed story telling. Maureen is also writing funny, contemporary paranormal romances for NAL and darker paranormal stories for Silhouette Nocturne.
Maureen writes paranormal romance novels under the pesudonym of Regan Hastings
One of her novels, A Pocketful Of Paradise, was made into a CBS-TV movie called The Soul Collector, starring Melissa Gilbert, Bruce Greenwood and Ossie Davis.
Over the years, she’s written under lots of different names and she prefers the term ‘pseudonym� to ‘alias�. As Ann Carberry, she wrote western historical romances. As Kathleen Kane, she wrote not only Americana romances, but western paranormal romances as well. As Sarah Hart, she wrote one really spectacular western paranormal that is still one of her favorites. And once, Ann Carberry even wrote a Victorian historical which she absolutely loved doing.
Under her own name, Maureen writes short contemporary novels for Silhouette Desire—books she loves to write because of their fast pace and condensed story telling. Maureen is also writing funny, contemporary paranormal romances for NAL and darker paranormal stories for Silhouette Nocturne.
Maureen writes paranormal romance novels under the pesudonym of Regan Hastings
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 306 reviews
March 15, 2015
Hero is a pig...every cliche in the book, from "I'm not a monk" to repeated reference to how he has the right to bang a different "willing woman" whenever he feels like it, to his discarding of heroine like trash even though he was sleeping her for a week because she didn't tell him she was an employee, to his plan to use and discard her again, to his plan to take his kids away from a loving mother just so he can have what he wants. Basically, he's a giant ID...a whiny brat who always gets what he wants.
What a creeper....inexplicable that heroine loves him. She knows he has women coming and going, that after he slept with her and threw her away, refusing to answer a constant stream of email from her because he didn't care (even though he knew they had unprotected sex), busing himself with a constant parade of "willing women" in and out of his bed. What's to love? He's got no redeeming qualities except looks and money. And his plan was to divide the kids and each take one...like puppies? What a moron. And then in the last page, to con her into marrying him, he tells he he loves her madly and desperately...all this while he froze her out and slept with a constant stream of women. This selfish creep will make a great, faithful husband.
I would have gone to court with evidence of his immoral lifestyle and failure to respond and gotten sole custody and support...and found a real man.
What a creeper....inexplicable that heroine loves him. She knows he has women coming and going, that after he slept with her and threw her away, refusing to answer a constant stream of email from her because he didn't care (even though he knew they had unprotected sex), busing himself with a constant parade of "willing women" in and out of his bed. What's to love? He's got no redeeming qualities except looks and money. And his plan was to divide the kids and each take one...like puppies? What a moron. And then in the last page, to con her into marrying him, he tells he he loves her madly and desperately...all this while he froze her out and slept with a constant stream of women. This selfish creep will make a great, faithful husband.
I would have gone to court with evidence of his immoral lifestyle and failure to respond and gotten sole custody and support...and found a real man.
March 1, 2010
When I saw this was one of the harelquin freebies, I just had to get it. I mean really, have you taken a good look at that cover? It cracks me up! I don't know if I should start with the two fat, oblivious babies... or the way he's holding them like two wiggling footballs he scooped up off the ground while gazing optimistically into the horizon... or the strange jaw buldge that suggets a jaw tumor. I mean it looks like some oddball in a suit picked up some kids at the supermarket and brought them home to his wife. "Hey honey, I'm home. And look what I brought with me- two pudge identical tots! Now I can go one and fufill my dream of being the best baby collector in America..."
Ok, I'm done, but you still got to admit it's a truly snark worthy cover. As a book it was better than I expected, which isn't saying much since I expected it to be similar to the cover. It read more like a Harelquin Presents than a Silhouette Desire. That's were the most the secret baby and I-must-punish-you-for-lying-to-me plots come out. However, Nick Falco wasn't nearly as much as an asshat than Harlequin usually makes there hero's, so that was a pleasant surprise. Jenna, however, really got on my nerves. She was intent on martyring herself for her children, because her life could never be complete without them! To say the least, no depth.
Despite all it's shortcomings, this book was a freebie, so there's no harm in downloading it, if only to look at the cover some more.
Ok, I'm done, but you still got to admit it's a truly snark worthy cover. As a book it was better than I expected, which isn't saying much since I expected it to be similar to the cover. It read more like a Harelquin Presents than a Silhouette Desire. That's were the most the secret baby and I-must-punish-you-for-lying-to-me plots come out. However, Nick Falco wasn't nearly as much as an asshat than Harlequin usually makes there hero's, so that was a pleasant surprise. Jenna, however, really got on my nerves. She was intent on martyring herself for her children, because her life could never be complete without them! To say the least, no depth.
Despite all it's shortcomings, this book was a freebie, so there's no harm in downloading it, if only to look at the cover some more.
February 4, 2012
Others have listed my reasons for hating this book. I'll just say: The hero, as a millionaire, was in the power position. Yet, he constantly remained powerful and overboding. He was overtly manipulative and unnecessarily angry before this book even started, so he SHOULD have had his ass handed to him by the heroine. He should've been taken down a notch. For this book to be acceptable for me, he should've been on his knees, giving power to the person who had none: the heroine.
October 29, 2014
This is the first book I read on an ereader. Interesting experience - terrible book.
This review will contain spoilers.
Baby Bonanza is the lame story of a couple whose romance got interrupted due to some blatant miscommunication. Despite knowing he's her boss, Jenna decides to flirt and eventually sleep with Nick. Upon discovering who she is, he fires her and refuses to hear her side of the story. Shortly after that wondrous event, Jenna realizes she's pregnant with Nick's twin baby boys.
Shocker!
She spends her entire pregnancy sending him emails only to be ignored. After she gives birth, she realizes that her business isn't thriving as she'd hoped (lol) and needs him to cough up some cash. The only way to get close to him is to get a cabin aboard his luxury ship.
Oh, yes, you guessed it: Nick just so happens to be a billionaire!
Aboard the ship, Nick has no place to run and when confronted by the evidence of the babies and his possible paternity, he immediately sets out to hurt the chick - a girl he didn't know before he slept with her and kicked to the curb upon discovering her occupation. He maybe knew her for twelve hours?
Anyway, after a bizarre twist (the cabin Jenna rented never should have been rented out and thus, she had to be upgraded - to Nick's room!), Jenna gets the chance to speak her mind. They fight, their convoluted meeting is briefly discussed, he claims he wants to know the children and will fight her for custody, they bone, and she leaves the ship.
Don't worry, he eventually goes back to her.
From the stupid plot to the boring, undeveloped characters, this whole story was just a mess.
Jenna was a whiny complainer who acted like a lovesick idiot. She slept with her boss, got fired, and suddenly manages to make a business for herself while taking care of twin boys alone? Yet, regardless of being wonder woman, she's unable to handle the finances so she goes to Nick.
Jenna, it's called child support. He's legally required to pay it. Given you have proof through your email account how many times you attempted to contact him, I'm fairly sure the courts would help you in the endeavor to let him know his paternity. Furthermore, they would have him pay up or he'd go to jail.
Also, the chick claims to be in love with this man. Dude, he slept with you and then fired you. He didn't even give you the chance to defend yourself and subsequently ignored your attempt to contact him. You're not in love, you're in lust - and with an idiot!
Then we have Nick, the douchebag. From the start he had a chip on his shoulder and never properly explained why he was angry with her. She lied? Okay, she omitted the fact that she worked for you, but how big of an ass are you to not know all your 'close' employees? Plus, I don't buy him wanting the boys the second he laid eyes on him. A guy like him would have been quick to pay up and run.
I don't mind romance books, but this one sucked.
This review will contain spoilers.
Baby Bonanza is the lame story of a couple whose romance got interrupted due to some blatant miscommunication. Despite knowing he's her boss, Jenna decides to flirt and eventually sleep with Nick. Upon discovering who she is, he fires her and refuses to hear her side of the story. Shortly after that wondrous event, Jenna realizes she's pregnant with Nick's twin baby boys.
Shocker!
She spends her entire pregnancy sending him emails only to be ignored. After she gives birth, she realizes that her business isn't thriving as she'd hoped (lol) and needs him to cough up some cash. The only way to get close to him is to get a cabin aboard his luxury ship.
Oh, yes, you guessed it: Nick just so happens to be a billionaire!
Aboard the ship, Nick has no place to run and when confronted by the evidence of the babies and his possible paternity, he immediately sets out to hurt the chick - a girl he didn't know before he slept with her and kicked to the curb upon discovering her occupation. He maybe knew her for twelve hours?
Anyway, after a bizarre twist (the cabin Jenna rented never should have been rented out and thus, she had to be upgraded - to Nick's room!), Jenna gets the chance to speak her mind. They fight, their convoluted meeting is briefly discussed, he claims he wants to know the children and will fight her for custody, they bone, and she leaves the ship.
Don't worry, he eventually goes back to her.
From the stupid plot to the boring, undeveloped characters, this whole story was just a mess.
Jenna was a whiny complainer who acted like a lovesick idiot. She slept with her boss, got fired, and suddenly manages to make a business for herself while taking care of twin boys alone? Yet, regardless of being wonder woman, she's unable to handle the finances so she goes to Nick.
Jenna, it's called child support. He's legally required to pay it. Given you have proof through your email account how many times you attempted to contact him, I'm fairly sure the courts would help you in the endeavor to let him know his paternity. Furthermore, they would have him pay up or he'd go to jail.
Also, the chick claims to be in love with this man. Dude, he slept with you and then fired you. He didn't even give you the chance to defend yourself and subsequently ignored your attempt to contact him. You're not in love, you're in lust - and with an idiot!
Then we have Nick, the douchebag. From the start he had a chip on his shoulder and never properly explained why he was angry with her. She lied? Okay, she omitted the fact that she worked for you, but how big of an ass are you to not know all your 'close' employees? Plus, I don't buy him wanting the boys the second he laid eyes on him. A guy like him would have been quick to pay up and run.
I don't mind romance books, but this one sucked.
March 16, 2021
There have been a few books where I wanted the heroine to run off with somebody � anybody � other than the so-called “Hero.�
This was one of them.
He was a conniving, self-important, worthless tramp... can’t think of one redeeming characteristic. One of the biggest male sluts I’ve ever read about. (It’s not cheating because he dumped her before reopening his revolving bedroom door.) He only wanted “to have� a multitude of interchangeable women. (“He’d had her already. He didn’t want her again.�) The idea he’d be a decent husband isn’t even believable in a fiction novel. :)
She spent the year apart from him having his twins. He spent the year apart on a cruise ship having every woman he could run a quick background check on. His attitudes in his own thoughts were degrading about women, and arrogant and inflated about himself.
I liked that she kept copies of her communication efforts; that was a nice change of pace. But that info should've gone to a lawyer because she became a brain dead idiot in his presence. I hope her prenup is airtight because he’ll be back to his slut life before the twins are in preschool.
He also offered a “secret baby� solution I’ve never seen in a romance novel, suggesting they each take one of the twins. (The Parent Trap this was not.)
BTW on the so-called happy ending... him buying a house and dog with ZERO input from her isn’t romantic, it’s controlling and manipulative. He’ll walk all over her till he walks out.
This was one of them.
He was a conniving, self-important, worthless tramp... can’t think of one redeeming characteristic. One of the biggest male sluts I’ve ever read about. (It’s not cheating because he dumped her before reopening his revolving bedroom door.) He only wanted “to have� a multitude of interchangeable women. (“He’d had her already. He didn’t want her again.�) The idea he’d be a decent husband isn’t even believable in a fiction novel. :)
She spent the year apart from him having his twins. He spent the year apart on a cruise ship having every woman he could run a quick background check on. His attitudes in his own thoughts were degrading about women, and arrogant and inflated about himself.
I liked that she kept copies of her communication efforts; that was a nice change of pace. But that info should've gone to a lawyer because she became a brain dead idiot in his presence. I hope her prenup is airtight because he’ll be back to his slut life before the twins are in preschool.
He also offered a “secret baby� solution I’ve never seen in a romance novel, suggesting they each take one of the twins. (The Parent Trap this was not.)
BTW on the so-called happy ending... him buying a house and dog with ZERO input from her isn’t romantic, it’s controlling and manipulative. He’ll walk all over her till he walks out.
November 23, 2022
3.5 stars
Cute story with adorable twins.
Cute story with adorable twins.
February 3, 2009
My research into What's New and Hot in Category Romance continues. This is my second free e-Harlequin.
Premise: One week of romantic bliss, which screechs to a halt when Tycoon Hero discovers that Poor but Honest Hardworking Heroine is in fact one of his employees, and not a guest on the cruise ship. He fires her and, assuming that she's after his money, refuses to countenance any explanation from her, either then or over the course of the next several months, when she calls, writes, and emails, to no avail. Poor but Honest Hardworking Heroine (PbHHH) intrudes herself on him a year later to inform him of his double-fatherhood and request child support, as raising twins on the income from a mail-order gift basket business is proving to be a difficult thing.
The setting was (mostly) the flagship of the Tycoon Hero's (TH) cruise line, but the story could really have been set anywhere; it's not like the TH was a sailor at all, or that it was essential that they be at sea for any reasons of plot, except perhaps to keep the TH and the PbHHH at a physical remove from their offspring for most of the story, so that they could get up to the hijinks that had made the babies in the first place, and thus rediscover their Twu Wuv (which, of course, they must first vehemently deny, then give into, then deny again, rinse and repeat).
Tycoon Hero is (we are often told but not often shown) a ladies' man, recipient of dozens of invitations and propositions from his single female passengers on every cruise, no matter how brief, few of which he ever accepts. When the transcendent but failed affair with PbHHH comes to mind, he quickly reminds himself that she was no different from the rest of them, etc. He hangs onto this unsatisfying belief a good deal longer, and a good deal more stubbornly, than seems realistic; his reluctance to confess to really loving PbHHH, even after she's admitted hers to him, seemed kind of pointless except as a generator of word count.
Neither of the two leads was particularly three-dimensional - we learn in only the last couple of chapters that they're both orphans, for instance - and seem to have little else going on in their lives than being thrown together again. Secondary characters are as cardboard as the book's covers. The romance (and in this line, at least, the sex and the examination of the emotional status of every moment) takes precedence over character development, and there's not much room for subplot at only 55-60K.
The Secret Baby is not my favourite motif in romance novels, I think I'll have to say. Not only because it feeds the myth that 'having a baby will bring us closer together', but because the importance of keeping parents and child separate so that the adult relationship can blossom means that it's often necessary to resort to artificiality (e.g., tycoon cruise line owner who lives on his own flagship, and heroine who has a sister who's willing to babysit 4 month old twins so her sister can go beard the tycoon in his den) to make that possible.
Which shall I read next, I wonder; there are 14 more ebooks to read, in a variety of imprints.
Premise: One week of romantic bliss, which screechs to a halt when Tycoon Hero discovers that Poor but Honest Hardworking Heroine is in fact one of his employees, and not a guest on the cruise ship. He fires her and, assuming that she's after his money, refuses to countenance any explanation from her, either then or over the course of the next several months, when she calls, writes, and emails, to no avail. Poor but Honest Hardworking Heroine (PbHHH) intrudes herself on him a year later to inform him of his double-fatherhood and request child support, as raising twins on the income from a mail-order gift basket business is proving to be a difficult thing.
The setting was (mostly) the flagship of the Tycoon Hero's (TH) cruise line, but the story could really have been set anywhere; it's not like the TH was a sailor at all, or that it was essential that they be at sea for any reasons of plot, except perhaps to keep the TH and the PbHHH at a physical remove from their offspring for most of the story, so that they could get up to the hijinks that had made the babies in the first place, and thus rediscover their Twu Wuv (which, of course, they must first vehemently deny, then give into, then deny again, rinse and repeat).
Tycoon Hero is (we are often told but not often shown) a ladies' man, recipient of dozens of invitations and propositions from his single female passengers on every cruise, no matter how brief, few of which he ever accepts. When the transcendent but failed affair with PbHHH comes to mind, he quickly reminds himself that she was no different from the rest of them, etc. He hangs onto this unsatisfying belief a good deal longer, and a good deal more stubbornly, than seems realistic; his reluctance to confess to really loving PbHHH, even after she's admitted hers to him, seemed kind of pointless except as a generator of word count.
Neither of the two leads was particularly three-dimensional - we learn in only the last couple of chapters that they're both orphans, for instance - and seem to have little else going on in their lives than being thrown together again. Secondary characters are as cardboard as the book's covers. The romance (and in this line, at least, the sex and the examination of the emotional status of every moment) takes precedence over character development, and there's not much room for subplot at only 55-60K.
The Secret Baby is not my favourite motif in romance novels, I think I'll have to say. Not only because it feeds the myth that 'having a baby will bring us closer together', but because the importance of keeping parents and child separate so that the adult relationship can blossom means that it's often necessary to resort to artificiality (e.g., tycoon cruise line owner who lives on his own flagship, and heroine who has a sister who's willing to babysit 4 month old twins so her sister can go beard the tycoon in his den) to make that possible.
Which shall I read next, I wonder; there are 14 more ebooks to read, in a variety of imprints.
July 1, 2009
The premise of this book is OK. Heroine has affair with hero, doesn't tell him she's his employee, he finds out anyway and fires her because he feels betrayed. The book starts when she runs him to earth on his cruise ship and tells him he's a father and would he please pay child support? And that's where the author lost me.
For one thing, the whole situation felt irreal. The hero is living on his cruise ship. Why would he do that? Isn't he losing money if he's living in the best cabin instead of renting it out? The heroine has given birth to twins just four months ago, yet here she is, serene and utterly desirable. She's left the kids at home with her sister and is NOT turning into a nervous wreck unless she calls them every half hour. Those are all minor issues, but taken together, they made the story conflict feel a bit lightweight.
What put me off this book completely was the hero. For much of the book, he's seething with resentment. He's even making some vague plans of taking revenge on the heroine. BUT: he's a rich and powerful man who's already had his revenge. This continuing resentment makes him look small-minded and selfish. And there are several scenes where he seems rather arrogant and very much used to always getting his own way. When the heroine contradicts him, he's stunned at the sheer nerve of it. Either you like that kind of thing or you don't, that's all there is to it. I don't. He reminds me of a sulking preschooler. Not appealing in a hero.
For one thing, the whole situation felt irreal. The hero is living on his cruise ship. Why would he do that? Isn't he losing money if he's living in the best cabin instead of renting it out? The heroine has given birth to twins just four months ago, yet here she is, serene and utterly desirable. She's left the kids at home with her sister and is NOT turning into a nervous wreck unless she calls them every half hour. Those are all minor issues, but taken together, they made the story conflict feel a bit lightweight.
What put me off this book completely was the hero. For much of the book, he's seething with resentment. He's even making some vague plans of taking revenge on the heroine. BUT: he's a rich and powerful man who's already had his revenge. This continuing resentment makes him look small-minded and selfish. And there are several scenes where he seems rather arrogant and very much used to always getting his own way. When the heroine contradicts him, he's stunned at the sheer nerve of it. Either you like that kind of thing or you don't, that's all there is to it. I don't. He reminds me of a sulking preschooler. Not appealing in a hero.
May 15, 2017
Thank God it's still early in the year, I still have my temper in control.
Bad books, bad characters, bad storyline
Bad books, bad characters, bad storyline
March 15, 2009
Jenna Baker worked for Nick Falco on one of his cruiseships, but after a week long affair together, Nick fired her because she didn't tell him she was his employee. Jenna got pregnant, but Nick ignored all her emails, phonecalls and messages for months and has no idea that he's a father. Jenna just wants Nick to know and to ask for child support for the twins, so she buys a ticket on his newest cruise to approach him in person.
Overall: OK, but I ended up not really liking this one. I thought Falco sounded like a big jerk. For example: "His plan to seduce Jenna and then lose her was backfiring [...:] Time to take her to bed. Before they got the results of the DNA test." He thought she was a liar but he didn't mind sleeping with her - and then discarding her. When his assistant tells him she thinks Jenna is being straight with him - "He shifted uncomfortably because he didn't want her to be right. It was much easier on him to think of Jenna as a liar and a manipulator. Those kind of women he know how to deal with". Um.. Ok so what is Nick's view of most women? Liars? After this I was somewhat disappointed at how easily Jenna jumped back into bed with Nick. His player persona was off-putting, and I had a hard time buying the transformation into a family guy - it seemed superficially done. The sex to romance ratio was more on sex, little on romance. At one point they were doing something in what I think was in the same room as their sleeping babies! Ack. Page 159 by the way. At least his trying to get back into her good graces was alright, but after what he put her through I think Nick should have had to work a little harder than he did.
Overall: OK, but I ended up not really liking this one. I thought Falco sounded like a big jerk. For example: "His plan to seduce Jenna and then lose her was backfiring [...:] Time to take her to bed. Before they got the results of the DNA test." He thought she was a liar but he didn't mind sleeping with her - and then discarding her. When his assistant tells him she thinks Jenna is being straight with him - "He shifted uncomfortably because he didn't want her to be right. It was much easier on him to think of Jenna as a liar and a manipulator. Those kind of women he know how to deal with". Um.. Ok so what is Nick's view of most women? Liars? After this I was somewhat disappointed at how easily Jenna jumped back into bed with Nick. His player persona was off-putting, and I had a hard time buying the transformation into a family guy - it seemed superficially done. The sex to romance ratio was more on sex, little on romance. At one point they were doing something in what I think was in the same room as their sleeping babies! Ack. Page 159 by the way. At least his trying to get back into her good graces was alright, but after what he put her through I think Nick should have had to work a little harder than he did.
February 24, 2013
Nick Falco is your typical Harlequin hero. He's filthy rich, handsome, has no personality and has women constantly throwing themselves at him. Jenna Baker is your typical Harlequin heroine. She's poor, beautiful, has no personality and a magic hoo-ha that makes her stand out from the rest of the women the hero has ever slept with.
After a whirlwind affair, Nick quickly dumps Jenna. She's unable to contact him via phone, text or email to tell him she's pregnant. (I guess it never occurred to her to have her lawyer contact his lawyer.) Therefore Jenna must go to the extreme measure of booking a cheap passage on one of Nick's cruise ships so she can gain access to him and tell him the news. And demand child support. The moment Nick meets his sons he instantly and magically becomes the best loving daddy ever. And even though he hasn't seen or heard or thought of Jenna in over a year, Nick instantly and magically realizes he's in love with her and wants to settle down with his surprise family.
Am I the only one who fears these kinds of books simply promote the old (and mistaken) belief that if the woman has a baby the man will automatically stay? Cause the real world doesn't work that way.
After a whirlwind affair, Nick quickly dumps Jenna. She's unable to contact him via phone, text or email to tell him she's pregnant. (I guess it never occurred to her to have her lawyer contact his lawyer.) Therefore Jenna must go to the extreme measure of booking a cheap passage on one of Nick's cruise ships so she can gain access to him and tell him the news. And demand child support. The moment Nick meets his sons he instantly and magically becomes the best loving daddy ever. And even though he hasn't seen or heard or thought of Jenna in over a year, Nick instantly and magically realizes he's in love with her and wants to settle down with his surprise family.
Am I the only one who fears these kinds of books simply promote the old (and mistaken) belief that if the woman has a baby the man will automatically stay? Cause the real world doesn't work that way.
January 7, 2019
I think I discovered Baby Bonanza when Amazon had it's romance forums. I believe readers were annoyed by the hero. Imo, the hero and heroine were both flawed people. The heroine more flawed because she lied, judged the hero wrongly and reacted like a girlfriend when she acknowledges she had a 2 week hookup with the hero not a deep relationship.
In spite of the annoying heroine and the tepid romantic chemistry I eventually liked everyone in the end. The most memorable moment was when the hero offered to hold the heroine's purse and she let him; him walking her through the house and finally declaring his love. That was so sweet. I'm glad I stayed with this book...the heroine kept annoying me with her judgemental attitude about the hero.
In spite of the annoying heroine and the tepid romantic chemistry I eventually liked everyone in the end. The most memorable moment was when the hero offered to hold the heroine's purse and she let him; him walking her through the house and finally declaring his love. That was so sweet. I'm glad I stayed with this book...the heroine kept annoying me with her judgemental attitude about the hero.
February 11, 2009
Harlequin/Silhouette books are like an addiction to me, so easy to get into... :)
This one was very entertaining, but nothing out of the ordinary. I can´t see myself buying Harlequin/Silhouette books anymore, but this one was free and, hey, it was good.
This one was very entertaining, but nothing out of the ordinary. I can´t see myself buying Harlequin/Silhouette books anymore, but this one was free and, hey, it was good.
July 29, 2012
Free book on Kobo, I'm so thankful I didn't have to pay for it.
The basic premise was good but the execution was dreadful. It had potential but kept going downhill until the end, that's when it went over the cliff head first. Angry, manipulative, playboy walks all over single mother of his twins. He threatens to take them away or split them up with 1 kid going to each parent because he is pissed she didn't tell him about them, and needs child support. Despite the fact she spent a year trying to get a hold of him, he blames her for him being in the dark.
After a couple days he decides he loves the children and needs to marry the woman so they can be a family. He decided they are getting married, snuck out in the morning, bought a house & told her how it was going to be. He loves her but he didn't want to tell her & was never planning on telling her until she turned down his marriage demand? Once he said that, she quickly agreed & began planning future babies. That's love?
I'm all for the hero having to come to terms with his feelings but this, ugh I don't have the words.
The only plus is it's a quick read so I didn't waste a lot of time reading it.
The basic premise was good but the execution was dreadful. It had potential but kept going downhill until the end, that's when it went over the cliff head first. Angry, manipulative, playboy walks all over single mother of his twins. He threatens to take them away or split them up with 1 kid going to each parent because he is pissed she didn't tell him about them, and needs child support. Despite the fact she spent a year trying to get a hold of him, he blames her for him being in the dark.
After a couple days he decides he loves the children and needs to marry the woman so they can be a family. He decided they are getting married, snuck out in the morning, bought a house & told her how it was going to be. He loves her but he didn't want to tell her & was never planning on telling her until she turned down his marriage demand? Once he said that, she quickly agreed & began planning future babies. That's love?
I'm all for the hero having to come to terms with his feelings but this, ugh I don't have the words.
The only plus is it's a quick read so I didn't waste a lot of time reading it.
March 21, 2011
What a CUTE book,I really enjoyed the ease of reading this book and it kept me on the edge of wanting to keep reading and not putting it down. I finished it within less than 24 hours. I thought it was a fun book although the ending was expected to be as it was. I still loved reading it.
Absolutely adored Jenna,how she fights for her children's rights and is ever prepared for any accusation that Nick can hurl at her,she ready with all documents,proofs and words and when Nick is tongue tied when all his attempts fail and when he does realise that those twins are his children and he is a father,way he lands at Jenna's house excellent scenes,few humourous scenes where Nick tries to change diapers and feed them,Jenna enjoys herself thoroughly
A nice easy weekend read
Do read it
Recommend it
Absolutely adored Jenna,how she fights for her children's rights and is ever prepared for any accusation that Nick can hurl at her,she ready with all documents,proofs and words and when Nick is tongue tied when all his attempts fail and when he does realise that those twins are his children and he is a father,way he lands at Jenna's house excellent scenes,few humourous scenes where Nick tries to change diapers and feed them,Jenna enjoys herself thoroughly
A nice easy weekend read
Do read it
Recommend it
October 20, 2009
Poorly written story, completely unlikable hero (he sleeps with a different woman every other night but suddenly he wants to be a father and loyal husband), silly heroine who 4 months after giving birth to twins doesn't wear bra and is more desirable than ever and can't keep her hands off the man she fell in love after spending one week with him a year ago!
June 5, 2019
Jenna Baker is on board Falcon's Pride, one of Nick Falco's cruise liners, to tell him something important. She used to work as an assistant cruise director for Nick before she fell for him and spent one glorious week in his arms. On coming to know about her being his employee, he was quick to fire her.
When Jenna couldn't reach him with the news that she gave birth to his twins, what an interesting way she found out to finally get it across. In spite of operating her own business, she needs child support for the babies.
Nick's reaction to the babies picture was funny. But the dampener was the missing babies. Missing, as in, they don't make an appearance till almost the very end. In fact, the story being carried out on the ship for most of the time made it a little boring. And add to it little of Jenna and Nick's past as well as a hurried ending, it just was a little too bland. And Nick behaved like a prick most of the times, his conscience was good but his dialogues - always on the negative.
P.S. The cover is really funny, as many reviewers have already mentioned. There seems to be a story in the making though. Jenna's sister Maxie and Darius Stone.
I have read four books by till now and among them, has stood out.
When Jenna couldn't reach him with the news that she gave birth to his twins, what an interesting way she found out to finally get it across. In spite of operating her own business, she needs child support for the babies.
Nick's reaction to the babies picture was funny. But the dampener was the missing babies. Missing, as in, they don't make an appearance till almost the very end. In fact, the story being carried out on the ship for most of the time made it a little boring. And add to it little of Jenna and Nick's past as well as a hurried ending, it just was a little too bland. And Nick behaved like a prick most of the times, his conscience was good but his dialogues - always on the negative.
P.S. The cover is really funny, as many reviewers have already mentioned. There seems to be a story in the making though. Jenna's sister Maxie and Darius Stone.
I have read four books by till now and among them, has stood out.
October 15, 2022
I read this book in 2009. I have always liked Ms Child's writing style/prose. She is an exceptional story teller in the realm of Nora Roberts. I have read a number of her Harlequin published books prior to becoming a member of goodreads; so they aren't listed in my "books" lists.
This was a beautifully written story about trying "to do the right thing" and the H hitting a brick wall because the mother of his twins doesn't want him, if he doesn't want her... see the conundrum? I loved watching each of the characters grow and come to understand the other.
A heart-warming conclusion and well written book.
This was a beautifully written story about trying "to do the right thing" and the H hitting a brick wall because the mother of his twins doesn't want him, if he doesn't want her... see the conundrum? I loved watching each of the characters grow and come to understand the other.
A heart-warming conclusion and well written book.
October 18, 2014
I downloaded this one for free from the Harlequin website a few weeks ago and started reading it earlier this week as a brain break from reading that I needed to do for my class. I typically don't find romances to be very realistic, but it usually doesn't bother me because I just consider them to be a different form of fantasy, but this book was even more unrealistic than the typical romance.
First, there is a heroine who has twins and yet has a perfect body only four months later. She's managed to start up a successful gift basket business during that time and is apparently making enough money to be able to pay all of her bills, a mortgage, and support two babies all one her own. She must have some miraculous marketing skills to have garnered that much clientele, plus the tremendous amount of time she would need to spend to personally make all of those gift baskets.
Then we have a hero who dumped her after only a week a little over a year ago, and yet they both can't stop thinking of each other to this day. The hero considers her to be a routine liar, continuously plots against the heroine, is angry with her most of the time, and to top it all off, threatens to take custody of her children if she doesn't do what he wants.
Is this guy in *any* way likable at all? Then at the end they are in "love" and getting married? Er...where was all the love again? Sure, plenty of lust all the way through, but there was practically never a moment the whole way through that expressed any amount of love from either of them.
Sure, I get the whole alpha male thing, but in other alpha male romances, the guy still has some redeeming qualities. It tends to be more of a surface cruelty. This guy has nothing redeeming about him the whole way through and only "admits" to love at the very end, and then only because he feels coerced into it. Just not believable at all.
It was still fun to read, and it was free, so I gave it a couple of stars, but it was definitely not one of the better romances I've read.
First, there is a heroine who has twins and yet has a perfect body only four months later. She's managed to start up a successful gift basket business during that time and is apparently making enough money to be able to pay all of her bills, a mortgage, and support two babies all one her own. She must have some miraculous marketing skills to have garnered that much clientele, plus the tremendous amount of time she would need to spend to personally make all of those gift baskets.
Then we have a hero who dumped her after only a week a little over a year ago, and yet they both can't stop thinking of each other to this day. The hero considers her to be a routine liar, continuously plots against the heroine, is angry with her most of the time, and to top it all off, threatens to take custody of her children if she doesn't do what he wants.
Is this guy in *any* way likable at all? Then at the end they are in "love" and getting married? Er...where was all the love again? Sure, plenty of lust all the way through, but there was practically never a moment the whole way through that expressed any amount of love from either of them.
Sure, I get the whole alpha male thing, but in other alpha male romances, the guy still has some redeeming qualities. It tends to be more of a surface cruelty. This guy has nothing redeeming about him the whole way through and only "admits" to love at the very end, and then only because he feels coerced into it. Just not believable at all.
It was still fun to read, and it was free, so I gave it a couple of stars, but it was definitely not one of the better romances I've read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2011
I didn't like it! There, I've said it!
I got this as a free e-book on Harlequin's site and thought it was about time I read one of Harlequin's books. Well, I am not sorry for reading it and will probably read more of their books in the future, but this particular book just wasn't for me.
The first thing that caught my eye was the cover!
I love the babies, but the picture of that macho guy holding them seems a bit silly, to be frank. But ok..it's a story about a Macho guy who just finds out he's become a dad and has twins, so I guess the cover tells a lot of the book's story.
Nick Falco is rich, don't-ever-want-to-settle Tycoon. I might as well use this picture to describe him
Yes..that's perfect!
All he is after is money, women and party.
Jenna is one of the many women in his life, one he dumped when he found out she works for him, and that's the CEO's rule number one - NEVER DATE AN EMPLOYEE!
A year later she is back in his life claiming he's the father of her babies.
Ok I must admit I liked the beginning, but later on the story got way too "sweet". It is an easy read though..maybe could've enjoyed it more if I read it during the summer.
I got this as a free e-book on Harlequin's site and thought it was about time I read one of Harlequin's books. Well, I am not sorry for reading it and will probably read more of their books in the future, but this particular book just wasn't for me.
The first thing that caught my eye was the cover!
I love the babies, but the picture of that macho guy holding them seems a bit silly, to be frank. But ok..it's a story about a Macho guy who just finds out he's become a dad and has twins, so I guess the cover tells a lot of the book's story.
Nick Falco is rich, don't-ever-want-to-settle Tycoon. I might as well use this picture to describe him
Yes..that's perfect!
All he is after is money, women and party.
Jenna is one of the many women in his life, one he dumped when he found out she works for him, and that's the CEO's rule number one - NEVER DATE AN EMPLOYEE!
A year later she is back in his life claiming he's the father of her babies.
Ok I must admit I liked the beginning, but later on the story got way too "sweet". It is an easy read though..maybe could've enjoyed it more if I read it during the summer.
March 23, 2009
I only read this book because it was available for free download from eHarlequin.com (along with 15 other books).
The book has a promising beginning: a bone of contention (babies, as you can tell from the title!) between two ex-lovers, who pretend to dislike each other, but still have chemistry between them.
But I thought the pacing of this novel wasn't right. The situation is resolved incredibly quickly, and has a unrealistic happily-ever-after ending that completely ignores the original character portrayals given by the author.
The characters are incredibly superficial; both of them independent, outgoing, stubborn people, who deep down just want love and a family. A little more conflict between their personalities would have been more realistic. Furthermore, you hardly see any sign of them actually loving each other; it seems like more a case of being in lust with each other!
Perhaps I wouldn't have been so critical if it was set in Victorian times (as it would have the 'corset' funny factor which makes me forgive a lot of sins), but being set in the modern world just highlights the worst aspects of this novel.
Yes, okay, I know it's just a silly romance novel, but there is silly, and there is bad.
The book has a promising beginning: a bone of contention (babies, as you can tell from the title!) between two ex-lovers, who pretend to dislike each other, but still have chemistry between them.
But I thought the pacing of this novel wasn't right. The situation is resolved incredibly quickly, and has a unrealistic happily-ever-after ending that completely ignores the original character portrayals given by the author.
The characters are incredibly superficial; both of them independent, outgoing, stubborn people, who deep down just want love and a family. A little more conflict between their personalities would have been more realistic. Furthermore, you hardly see any sign of them actually loving each other; it seems like more a case of being in lust with each other!
Perhaps I wouldn't have been so critical if it was set in Victorian times (as it would have the 'corset' funny factor which makes me forgive a lot of sins), but being set in the modern world just highlights the worst aspects of this novel.
Yes, okay, I know it's just a silly romance novel, but there is silly, and there is bad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2018
The heroine was completely unrealistic and the hero was such an a$$, I don't know why she wanted him for long term.
What I enjoyed:
* the twins were cute the small amount they were in the book
What could have been better:
* Jenna. So not only is she supporting herself and 4 month old twins making gift baskets while they nap but she left said twins with her sister for a week to track down the baby daddy on a cruise ship and only called home once. And she expects to just tell him he is a father and be glad to pay child support and never interact with them. And that is pretty much all we know about her and it is all unrealistic.
* Nick. He travels the world in the best cabin in his cruise ship banging women whenever, as long as they don't work for him. That is why he broke up with Jenna after a week because he found out she lied about being his employee and he holds that against her most of the book. But of course he is secretly in love and as such won't read any of her attempts to contact him which leads to the cruise and them banging.
What I enjoyed:
* the twins were cute the small amount they were in the book
What could have been better:
* Jenna. So not only is she supporting herself and 4 month old twins making gift baskets while they nap but she left said twins with her sister for a week to track down the baby daddy on a cruise ship and only called home once. And she expects to just tell him he is a father and be glad to pay child support and never interact with them. And that is pretty much all we know about her and it is all unrealistic.
* Nick. He travels the world in the best cabin in his cruise ship banging women whenever, as long as they don't work for him. That is why he broke up with Jenna after a week because he found out she lied about being his employee and he holds that against her most of the book. But of course he is secretly in love and as such won't read any of her attempts to contact him which leads to the cruise and them banging.
September 10, 2009
This was the first time I've read any books by this author and after a string of bad luck with not enjoying the stories from the Desire line, I was hesitant to dive in and read. But I'd made a promise to myself to get through my TBR pile here before getting any new books. :-) So I started reading it. I loved it! I couldn't put it down--just ask my hubby. :-) Due to the story plot I expected bitterness. And yes there is some. There has to be some. But it didn't dominate as I'd expected. And things were actually said. You know what I mean. An issue wasn't built up and then left just before one of them actually said what would solve the entire thing. The problems were deeper than a word or sentence that simply wasn't shared between them. And I loved that. The tension wasn't about anger but about learning to love, to accept their love. I loved that as well. Maureen, you sold me on the Desire line again. Thanks! And of course in wanting more of your books. :-)
March 31, 2011
Don't judge me. It was free on my e-book, and I was intrigued by the ridiculous cover and title. Seriously, look at it. Some clueless doofus juggling two chunky babies in front of a city-at-sunset backdrop. Ah-MAZ-ing.
I'm going to have to call shenanigans on the title though. The babies weren't even in the book for at least 80% of it. What kind of poor excuse for a bonanza is that? And what kind of mother leaves her newborn babies to go off on a cruise, estranged father of her children or not?
Anyway, romance novels are so not my thing, but this was good for a laugh. I think I'll keep it, just so I can pull up the cover image now and then and giggle.
I'm going to have to call shenanigans on the title though. The babies weren't even in the book for at least 80% of it. What kind of poor excuse for a bonanza is that? And what kind of mother leaves her newborn babies to go off on a cruise, estranged father of her children or not?
Anyway, romance novels are so not my thing, but this was good for a laugh. I think I'll keep it, just so I can pull up the cover image now and then and giggle.
March 1, 2015
O meu problema com romances de banca é que ele tem uma problemática que assim que é resolvida o livro acaba.
Isso me frustra porque enquanto há livros que realmente não tem mais o que tirar, têm livros - como esse - que eu poderia pensar em diversas possibilidades.
Eu gostei dele, mas perdeu uma estrelinha por ser extremamente direto ao ponto.
Isso me frustra porque enquanto há livros que realmente não tem mais o que tirar, têm livros - como esse - que eu poderia pensar em diversas possibilidades.
Eu gostei dele, mas perdeu uma estrelinha por ser extremamente direto ao ponto.
September 13, 2021
Yikes! The hero was not hero material, and the heroine had too many tstl moments. I bet they'll divorce after one year, and the hero will not going to be faithful.
July 23, 2024
So, this was on my kindle from...like 15 years ago? Maybe not quite 15, but definitely at least...14? Anyway, I was looking at my oldest unread and a friend and I were having a good giggle at the cover of this one (which. um. they tell you many many many many times that the babies and the guy have black hair, and the cover is VERY golden hour light, but also, I'm pretty sure those cover models are blond, anyway.) So, I decided to read it and pepper her with commentary about it. And there's just not THERE there. There's no real substance, or plot, or character building, or world building, and there's no reason as to why the two are attracted to each other, and then...I always think of the old school romance novels as being quite smutty and...there wasn't even any real smutty in here either. Low volume of sex scenes, and also, nary a mention of even a slang term for genitalia. Oh, there's insinuations, and things fist around other things and pulse and climax, but it's...shockingly sterile? Anyway, was good for the laughing that we did while I read it, but...It's definitely an example of why I think a lot of people look down on romance novels as they do, despite a vast segment of contemporary romance novels being absolutely nothing like this.
March 29, 2017
Sappy but cute
Sappy but cute. Its nice to have an easy read and good flow. Cute ending as well maybe a tear or two
Sappy but cute. Its nice to have an easy read and good flow. Cute ending as well maybe a tear or two
June 20, 2012
This was a really fun read. I loved that it jumped right in to the story but did not make me feel like I was missing information. Ms. Child did a very good job of quickly providing the background needed to pull the reader in to the story and then hit the ground running. Nick is a billionaire who earned his money through luxury cruise ships. Jenna is a former employee who after a brief affair becomes pregnant with his twins. After multiple failed attempts to gain Nick’s attention and introduce him to his children, Jenna hops on his cruise ship where she knows he can corner him on the open seas. While determining the truth behind Jenna’s words, these two stick close together and it’s not too long before the sparks fly again. But while Jenna is looking for the ever after with the father of her children, Nick’s not ready for settling down. When faced with life as a father, will Nick pull it together and become the man Jenna dreams of? Really enjoyable, quick read. I loved Nick’s growth and found Jenna to be great mother who fights for her children. Maureen Child is a fun author and I look forward to reading more from her.
January 2, 2013
I had expected this to be a cheesy love story because the title and cover were really riding that edge. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the characters and the writing. Both were really good and I'm now intrigued enough to want to know more.
Jenna met Nick aboard one of his cruise ships and they had a week-long flaming affair. Once he learned she worked for him he dumped her and fired her immediately. Now that a year has passed by without a word between them she's aboard one of his ships again. This time to tell him he's the father of her four-month old twins.
Though the plot of the surprise babies isn't a new one for Harlequin, especially with a Billionaire daddy, I was pleasantly surprised by the characters. The dialogue was well written and felt realistic. My only complaint would be Jenna slight leaning towards doormat where Nick was concerned, but she had her moments of strength to make for it.
Jenna met Nick aboard one of his cruise ships and they had a week-long flaming affair. Once he learned she worked for him he dumped her and fired her immediately. Now that a year has passed by without a word between them she's aboard one of his ships again. This time to tell him he's the father of her four-month old twins.
Though the plot of the surprise babies isn't a new one for Harlequin, especially with a Billionaire daddy, I was pleasantly surprised by the characters. The dialogue was well written and felt realistic. My only complaint would be Jenna slight leaning towards doormat where Nick was concerned, but she had her moments of strength to make for it.
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