Their Christmas Baby Contract
by Shannon Stacey
Release Date: October 27, 2020
Publisher: Harlequin Special Edition
Book #2 in the Blackberry Bay series
Number of Pages: 224
Paperback
Source: Warren Public Library
Contemporary Romance
Ages 16 and up
Striking the deal was the easy part.
He’ll help her make a beautiful baby.
Brady Nash is handsome and anti marriage. And with IVF completely out of her financial reach, Reyna Bishop is running out of time to have the child she so very much wants. Theirs is a practical baby-making deal: no emotion, no expectation, no ever-after. They’ll even “date” through Christmas to silence their hometown gossips. It’s foolproof…till the time she spends with Brady and his warm, loving family leaves Reyna wanting more than a baby…
It was far too long of a gap between me reading the first book in this series, More Than Neighbors, and this story. Not because I had any issues with getting back into the series, but because I really love the mood and feel of these books.
Brady and Reyna have an interesting relationship. Childhood friends who crushed on one another without the other knowing. Which meant that when, years ago, they fell into bed together after reconnecting at a local bar they each had high expectations and were overly excited…without the other knowing that either. So things didn’t go to plan, it wasn’t a great experience, there was embarrassment all around, and they’ve barely talked let alone looked at each other since. Yet the chemistry still lingered.
Now they are both sick and tired of waiting to live their lives. They’ve both been holding themselves back even though both Reyna and Brady would love the whole white picket fence lifestyle. They’ve somewhat given up on ever having that traditional dream and, for Reyna’s part, have started thinking outside the box. And that’s when things get real.
This story really tugged at my heartstrings. Reyna and Brady are both very confident, independent, and unflappable people. That is, at least outwardly. They both hide their fears and insecurities very well, which makes it even harder to open up to one another about their true feelings when they decide to help each other out in their hopes for expanding their lives. There was no denying their chemistry, and they both knew chemistry alone couldn’t sustain a relationship. Plus, they had never agreed to have a relationship. Those pesky feelings kept getting shoved further and further down.
The good thing about them dragging things out and not clearing the air is that they are both forced to face their past demons, or what they perceive to be demons. They come out the other end stronger and with more self confidence to go along with their outward confidence.
This author always has such great pacing and rhythm with her writing. Her stories are perfect for when you want to curl up with a fluffy blanket and a warm drink. In this case, there is also the added bonus of a wonderfully done fake relationship. Something I’m a sucker for every single time.
4 stars
All In Good Time 