Baby Kisses

Romance on the Ranch #3

by Verna Clay

Romance on the Ranch Series: Dream Kisses, Honey Kisses, Baby Kisses, Candy Kisses, Christmas Kisses, Rock Star Kisses, Forever Kisses, Forgotten Kisses, Angel Kisses

Tooty Townsend bore a child at the age of sixteen. Now, four years later, she has her hands full raising Harris and trying to make a living. Reclusive author, Maxwell Henry, real name, Miles Brightman, is looking to hire a personal assistant while he's in Colorado finishing up his latest suspense thriller. Sarah Tanner, stepmother to Tooty's best friend, Julie, and a friend of Miles, recommended her to the author. Unfortunately, Harris climbed onto the guy's lap at Julie and Jacob's wedding reception and asked him to take him for a ride in his wheelchair. Then he asked him to marry his mommy and become his daddy! Tooty needs a job and she's swallowing her pride to apply for this one.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Westerns, Western Romance, Fiction

139 pages, ebook

First published April 7, 2012

About the author

I love a book that makes me forget everything except what I'm reading. As a preteen, I devoured Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys' Mysteries. When I reached my teens, romance novels became my favorite genre. Many years later, I decided to try my hand at writing and I've been doing so with a passion ever since. I have released over twenty-five romance novels, including a contemporary western series titled "Romance on the Ranch." The initial story, "Dream Kisses," started out as a single novella, but turned into an ongoing saga when secondary characters cried out for their own stories. The series was completed with book 10 and its one of my proudest accomplishments. As for historical romance, I ventured into that genre with a four book series titled "Unconventional," and enjoyed it so much that I wrote another collection titled "Finding Home." After that I returned to contemporary romance with the unlikely setting of a trailer park in the Arizona Desert, and, believe it or not, romance abounds at Desert Princess Trailer and RV Park in the middle of nowhere. There are three books in the "Oasis" series. Of course, I couldn't overlook writing in the paranormal/fantasy genre and released "The Shapeling Trilogy" about shapeshifters. In that series, my shifters travel the world, solve mysteries, and fall in love.

Using the pen name of Colleen Clay, I published a YA novel titled, "Fragile Hearts."

Now that I've been writing for so many years, I can't imagine doing anything else.

Reviews

[Anna Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow, I haven't read anything so lousy in a really, REALLY long time. If it were possible to give it NO stars, I probably would've.

First we have a leading lady named 'Tootie' who is twenty going on nine. She can't keep a job, has peanut butter legs (spread easy), got knocked up by Lucky Larry who wouldn't have been able to have found her after five years, hello, and then she inherits a 20-acre spread from a relative she doesn't know who for some reason thinks she's worth investing in. She writes crap poetry and has to be taught how to check e-mail. (PS, author: It's a high school DIPLOMA, and a college DEGREE.)

Then we have the hero, a guy with two names (?!) who wants to be Nicholas Sparks ((I. HATE.)) and write gunky romance only because Tootie told him to. (?!?!) He's in a wheelchair, but yet again our hero is paralyzed with full feeling in his genitals - will SOMEONE hand these writers a clue phone? Google SCI levels, hello!!!!!!!!

Moving on, he's got the snobby cliched upscale mother, the sultry cliched bitchy mistress, is naturally rich of his hiney, and while spending all this time with Tootie, is a derisive CRANK at her all of the time. He doesn't want her because she's EIGHTEEN years younger than him and says 'like' in her sentences. I don't like her either, so I can't blame him.

There's also this really stOopid (<< intentional) three year gap in the middle of the book so that we can deal with a bad plot line that I'm not even going to touch on. It's so badly done, it's not WORTH it.

The writing in this book is juvenile and tawdry, on top of the rest of this mess. Please... don't waste your time or money on this.

[Sarah Maker · Rating 1 out of 5]

Crapola on a sandwich of crap. I don't think there was an original statement in the entire book. The author frequently contradicted herself in the same breath, and it was like she used a corpus to find the most common collocations and slapped them together regardless of what they meant. Cliches on cliches. I kept reading in sick fascination that something this bad could actually be written and read by people. I will say this for the author: she did write the requisite large quantity of pages to make a book, which is hard work. Now if she could get some talent to accompany her work ethic.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never listened to Verna Clay and I am glad to have taken the chance! This is the story of Tooty, a 20 year old woman with a 4 year old son. She is determined to make the best of it, and when she is looking for a job meets Miles, an author that she admires. As his assistant, she is able to work and spend time with her son. Miles is 38 years old, so there is no chance of a romance....or is there? found the story an easy listen and the underlying theme of love no matter the circumstance is beautiful. The inclusion of Annabelle's diary makes this romance all the sweeter. Hearing Eli and Annabelle's story is a bonus! I will now go back and listen to the first two in the series, I have to hear the other couples who find their romance on the ranch!

This is my first narration by Jennier Jill Araya and I found her voice appealing. She is talented, keeping her pacing and her voices are easily identifiable. I hope to see more from her in the future.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so happy I ignored some of the lower ratings and read this novel anyways. A story within a story and both beautifully told. My eyes are still damp. Saving in my reference library for re-reading sections that moved and inspired me.

Cheers

[Presly Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

THIS WAS MUCH BETTER THAN HONEY KISSES.

[Nicky · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have liked a bit more with this story.. There seemed to be a few things that were introduced but they weren't completed.As much as I liked the secondary romance I think it took center stage. First off we get one flashback or a sort-of flashback to how the H was injured but I would have liked more backstory with that. Then while they are in NY, did Miles sleep with Monica?! Seemed like they were all set to get it on but by this time he is fighting his feelings for the heroine and she hasn't really acknowledged her feelings for him but he has been fighting his for awhile. I just wish we knew whether or not he did. (Hoping not) Third- this isnt even in order but whatever happened to Monica? It's never said.. Was the H celibate the years they were apart? I know that Miles was fighting his feelings because I was told he was fighting his feelings but I didn't really feel him fighting or even acknowledging his borderline love. Why did Miles never mention his ex-fiance? I also felt like Miles dealt (sp?) with Harris or indulged him but when he comes back he really doesn't seem interested in him, only Eli but then we are to believe he loves him just as much as Eli. Where did Miles' parents get to? Did they ever come around?

Like I said a lot of unanswered questions but I did enjoy the read. I read it in less than a day..

[Charlotte Everett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a very entertaining but also a very interesting read. I've not read another love story with one of the leads having a disability like Miles, so it was a refreshing idea instead of a the big strapping man who are in most novels.

I would have liked to have seen a little more development of the couple towards the end as it seemed like he didn't show any affection at all until the last minute.

That being said, I really enjoyed the book throughout and enjoyed the diary and following Annabelle and Eli's story too.

This series of books has really got me excited to get to the next one.

[Donna Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute shorter story of Miles and Tooty and how they met. I read these out of order, but they still are a good read

[Janey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah so sweet!!, enjoyable read.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series, a romance with a strong community feel. Short enough to keep me interested but long enough to satisfy.

[Jo-Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the way this story started with 4-year-old Harris climbing on Miles’ lap, asking for a ride in his wheelchair. Then asking him to marry his mom and become his daddy. Later, when Miles needed an assistant, Tooty (Harris’ mother) was referred to him and he hired her. Both of them had traumatic things happen in their lives but have made the best of things. Miles by becoming a famous writer and Tooty by being a good mother. I liked that there was another story being told in the diary Tooty found. Especially the way she found it and that it took place in the 1800s.

Harris was the cutest little boy. You just had to love him. I admired that Tooty tried hard to be a good mother, provider and assistant. I liked that she stuck up for herself at times. I had mixed feelings for Miles. I liked him most of the time but didn't like his "you should be with someone better" attitude.

This was an enjoyable story but there were a lot of unbelievable things that happened in it, like why would Miles hire her if she didn’t have any experience? I understand that they fell for each other but why was there such a big age difference between them? Even if he had been five years younger, it would have made it more realistic. Since Tooty got pregnant at 16, why wasn’t she more careful when she had sex again? Tooty was not very mature and her name doesn’t help make her look any better.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book 3 in the series but it's the first one that I've listened to. I didn't feel like I was missing anything so this can be listened to as a standalone.

It was a bit cliche at times. The whole relationship seemed a bit forced, they really didn't interact much with each other. I didn't like how Tootsie and Miles came together in the end. While the very end is sweet the rest of the book isn't and the ending feels like it was just shoved on to the end it didn't evolve from the rest of the story.

We didn't learn much about the characters, there was no real development, and there was little to no growth during the book.

The blurb shows a lot of potential but none of it was realised. The book is OK if you're prepared to ignore the glaring plot holes.

The narrator did a good job with the character voices, the delivery was well-paced and nice to listen to

I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baby Kisses
: Verna Clay

A sappy sweet story of two people that probably should never even consider a relationship, or it could be that opposites really do attract.



The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed by Jennifer Jill Araya.



I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[chelseaerinreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

**2.5**

I didn’t enjoy this one unfortunately. I liked the premise and was looking forward to some cute moments with her child but they weren’t a huge feature. I didn’t feel any connection between the mc’s.

- work place romance
- forced proximity
- single parent

[amanda chittenden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story

[Tamara]

♿️

[M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the characters and Tooty and Maxwell's story. But would've preferred the reason behind his last decision had been different. Didn't like that he only came back because he found out about his son. It made it look that both Tooty and Harris were not that important all by themselves. Maybe if the story had dwelled a bit longer on his suffering when away from them, or perhaps showed him considering contacting her before that (even if he never actually did it). And their first time together was… let’s say, um, surprising.
Also loved the bonus: Annabelle and Eli's love story.

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked the first two in this series so was excited to get to the third installment only to be grossed out. Miles is twice the age of Tooty and they have less than nothing in common. This kid with a child invites a virtual stranger to live with her after knowing him for only a few weeks. In the entire book they never bond - he works in his room & she plays with her child. We never see them discuss how she met her child's father, how he ended up in a wheelchair, not even how she got her ridiculous name! There is no connection at all then boom they're in love. It was all pitiful.

[Char (1RadReader59) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me just say the little boy on this cover is just beyond cute. Now for this wonderful two for one story. Yes, two for one. Miles & Tooty (present times) Then Eli & Annabelle (Civil war time). Both deal with men confined to wheel chairs but learning from two young strong loving women that their lives, thoughts, & loves do not have to be confined to a chair. This was a free pleasure to read.

[Poonam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story. Much better than the first one in this series. Love the emotional relationship between Tooty and Miles. I also like the other story about Annabelle and Eli. So emotional. Loved the ending. Very sweet love story. Love Tooty's sons. They are so cute. :)

[Donna Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the way this was almost like reading two romances at once. The way the diary and the present day ran parallel to each other was wonderful. I always love a romance with a slightly flawed hero/heroine and the way they overcome it to find love.

[Keysha Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this book. the story within the story was refreshing and creative. I love how everything came full circle just as real life does. I would read this book and recommend it for others to read.

[Vikki Vaught · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute story filled with heartfelt emotion. I am surprised I liked this as much as I did, but I just fell in love with Miles and Tooty and her adorable little son. Can't wait to read the last book in the series!

[AlohaMyPikachu · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This is my first book by this author and I'll start off by saying that I liked the writing and I loved the characters. My only issue is with the love scene. If you can call it that. It was so lukewarm it was practically oold.

Other than that, I'm going to continue with the author.

[Viktoriya · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many happy tears

...Then he said something that I will forever cherish and carry with me when I pass on to whatever lies beyond this life. He said, "I would do it all over again just to be with you and our children. I love you more than life, my sweet Annabelle."...

[Brandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very sweet, cliched story about a country girl/city man and unrequited love. But I love clichd romance. A very enjoyable interlude.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story. I enjoyed it very much.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was my favorite of the series - liked the main characters and their quirks, just wish there was more of the book!

[Julianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was a cute story, but not my favorite. I did like the fact that Miles was not perfect and had his own hang ups about his disability.

[Cici · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another of the series. Very enjoyable. I love how they are all woven.