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Silver Creek #1
Unexpected
A mix-up leads to an unexpected connection in this small town, Silver Creek romance.
After spending another family wedding fielding questions about her non-existent love life, Kelsey Noble decides she’s tired of waiting around for things she could go out and get herself. What Kelsey wants is a baby, and she doesn’t see any point waiting for a husband she’s not even sure she wants. But a mix-up at the fertility clinic lands her with a hassle she didn’t count on. A big, muscular hassle in a Stetson and cowboy boots.
Cole Mitchell is shocked to discover that a grand gesture from years past has come back to haunt him. Now, thanks to a clerical error, a woman he’s never met is having his baby—and there’s no way he’s going to walk away and forget he has a child.
Trying to make nice with the unexpected father of her baby lands Kelsey in Silver Creek, Oregon, dealing with the kind of small town life she left behind years ago. Even worse is dealing with the burning attraction she feels for Cole. She knows adding romance to the mix is a very bad idea, but she’s not sure how long she can resist falling for the last man she ever expected....
After spending another family wedding fielding questions about her non-existent love life, Kelsey Noble decides she’s tired of waiting around for things she could go out and get herself. What Kelsey wants is a baby, and she doesn’t see any point waiting for a husband she’s not even sure she wants. But a mix-up at the fertility clinic lands her with a hassle she didn’t count on. A big, muscular hassle in a Stetson and cowboy boots.
Cole Mitchell is shocked to discover that a grand gesture from years past has come back to haunt him. Now, thanks to a clerical error, a woman he’s never met is having his baby—and there’s no way he’s going to walk away and forget he has a child.
Trying to make nice with the unexpected father of her baby lands Kelsey in Silver Creek, Oregon, dealing with the kind of small town life she left behind years ago. Even worse is dealing with the burning attraction she feels for Cole. She knows adding romance to the mix is a very bad idea, but she’s not sure how long she can resist falling for the last man she ever expected....
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 2013
221 people are currently reading
924 people want to read
About the author
Maisey Yates
1,175 books3,004 followersNew York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book.
Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.
She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.
Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.
She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
May 31, 2023
3.5 Stars.
It was a slow-burn sweet story loaded with a lot of family crap. I liked the hero and he was the sort of gentleman you want in your life. But the hero has flaws too, he is control-frick and possessiveness runs in his blood.
The heroine is a sweet girl with a stark of independence. She has gone to college and is now a successful column writer but due to cheating ex-shock is unable to move on with her life (not because she still loves the cheater but because she doesn't want to feel that again). And her biological clock is clicking and she wants a baby for herself.
Her clinic messed up and she got pregnant with the hero's baby (like always) the story progress.
It is an easy read, I liked the honorable respected hero, so it was a yes for me.
There was a short sub-romance plot (Story of Alexa and Tyler) with another couple and I feel like they can have a short book also.
It was a slow-burn sweet story loaded with a lot of family crap. I liked the hero and he was the sort of gentleman you want in your life. But the hero has flaws too, he is control-frick and possessiveness runs in his blood.
The heroine is a sweet girl with a stark of independence. She has gone to college and is now a successful column writer but due to cheating ex-shock is unable to move on with her life (not because she still loves the cheater but because she doesn't want to feel that again). And her biological clock is clicking and she wants a baby for herself.
Her clinic messed up and she got pregnant with the hero's baby (like always) the story progress.
It is an easy read, I liked the honorable respected hero, so it was a yes for me.
There was a short sub-romance plot (Story of Alexa and Tyler) with another couple and I feel like they can have a short book also.
September 10, 2013
What an enjoyable small town romance, full of emotion and heart. This is the first book from this author I have read and I love her voice and will continue with the next book in the series.
Kelsey Nobel is ready to start a family; she is 30 years old plus has the added pressure from her parents and married sisters. Unfortunately she has had bad luck with men so she decides to go it alone with the help of a sperm bank. Cole Mitchell had a short unhappy marriage, his wife wanted him to bank some sperm so they could have children later, but they divorced soon after, when he went to the bank to dispose of the sample, he was told someone had used it. Needless to say he was livid; he strong arms the information from the clerk to find out who it is so he can visit.
When Cole appears on her doorstep, Kelsey is sick, unwelcoming and a bit skeptical of this man. They discuss what to do but don’t really have a solution yet so she takes him up on his offer to stay at his ranch to make some decisions and rest. She takes Alexa, her best friend with her even though she complains the whole time that she wants to go back to New York.
We meet Cole’s brother Cade and sister Lark who both work on the ranch with him, as well as other’s that help run things, including Tyler that seems to have caught the eye of Alexa. As they work through all the issues of a baby, life gets in the way and they must make some hard decisions.
I like the premise of this story, Kelsey decides she does not need anyone to help her start a family, she wants a baby, something of her own. I like Kelsey; she has a lot of heart and determination and goes after what she wants. I also like how she will not settle for just anyone, this time around. Cole is a tough guy to know, he was in an unhealthy marriage and although was glad to get out, swears he is unable to love and blaming it mostly on his father. I thought that Kelsey and Cole were good for each other but it took awhile for the chemistry to work in my opinion. He wanted the relationship with Kelsey and their child but it was hard to get him to admit to anything, he pulled back several times and it was a bit frustrating.
I really enjoyed Cole’s brother and sister, Cade and Lark and I am looking forward to reading about them again. Although Cade is portrayed to be this lazy ex-rodeo pro, I thought he was more insightful and grounded than Cole at times. I did have a problem with Alexa however, Kelsey’s best friend grated on me, I did not mind that she was citified and hated being out in the west but I did not like how she treated several people including Tyler and Cole. All in all a well written romance with some heat, angst and true love.
Copy from publisher through NetGalley for an honest review
Kelsey Nobel is ready to start a family; she is 30 years old plus has the added pressure from her parents and married sisters. Unfortunately she has had bad luck with men so she decides to go it alone with the help of a sperm bank. Cole Mitchell had a short unhappy marriage, his wife wanted him to bank some sperm so they could have children later, but they divorced soon after, when he went to the bank to dispose of the sample, he was told someone had used it. Needless to say he was livid; he strong arms the information from the clerk to find out who it is so he can visit.
When Cole appears on her doorstep, Kelsey is sick, unwelcoming and a bit skeptical of this man. They discuss what to do but don’t really have a solution yet so she takes him up on his offer to stay at his ranch to make some decisions and rest. She takes Alexa, her best friend with her even though she complains the whole time that she wants to go back to New York.
We meet Cole’s brother Cade and sister Lark who both work on the ranch with him, as well as other’s that help run things, including Tyler that seems to have caught the eye of Alexa. As they work through all the issues of a baby, life gets in the way and they must make some hard decisions.
I like the premise of this story, Kelsey decides she does not need anyone to help her start a family, she wants a baby, something of her own. I like Kelsey; she has a lot of heart and determination and goes after what she wants. I also like how she will not settle for just anyone, this time around. Cole is a tough guy to know, he was in an unhealthy marriage and although was glad to get out, swears he is unable to love and blaming it mostly on his father. I thought that Kelsey and Cole were good for each other but it took awhile for the chemistry to work in my opinion. He wanted the relationship with Kelsey and their child but it was hard to get him to admit to anything, he pulled back several times and it was a bit frustrating.
I really enjoyed Cole’s brother and sister, Cade and Lark and I am looking forward to reading about them again. Although Cade is portrayed to be this lazy ex-rodeo pro, I thought he was more insightful and grounded than Cole at times. I did have a problem with Alexa however, Kelsey’s best friend grated on me, I did not mind that she was citified and hated being out in the west but I did not like how she treated several people including Tyler and Cole. All in all a well written romance with some heat, angst and true love.
Copy from publisher through NetGalley for an honest review
April 28, 2015
This was a disaster. I really can't help but think the author doesn't think very highly of women in general. Because she wrote some ridiculous female characters. And not in an amusing-ridiculous way, but in an embarrassingly-shameful-ridiculous kinda way.
I only finished reading because I wanted to know how Kelsey revealed her in vitro decision to everyone, but she never did so that was a fucking waste of time
Don't bother with this one unless you enjoy reading about people that actively choose to be miserable out of contrariness.
I only finished reading because I wanted to know how Kelsey revealed her in vitro decision to everyone, but she never did so that was a fucking waste of time
Don't bother with this one unless you enjoy reading about people that actively choose to be miserable out of contrariness.
February 16, 2017
Unexpected
This is the first true novel in The Silver Creek Series. Oddly the H/h Carly and Lucas from the novella Unbuttoned that kicks off the series never make even a cameo appearance or were even mentioned? One of the things I enjoy about reading a series is the reappearance of familiar characters from previous books in the series. Otherwise what’s the point in calling it a series? I so wanted to love this short book. Until the very end I was ready to give it a solid 4 stars maybe even a 5. I like Ms. Yates writing that much. Okay, you have to be willing to accept the premise that two young adults in their early thirties have already both determined they’d never fall in love again because they were burned in early relationships. But that sort of acceptance is necessary if you’re going to enjoy any romance novel or Hallmark movie or rom-com. As a man I have to accept that because romance novels are written primarily by women for women the male characters tend to be barely more than two dimensional. Over six foot, check. Wavy, slightly too long hair, check. Piercing eyes, check. Broad shoulders check. Wide moderately hairy chest, check. Six pack abs, check. Bulging Biceps, muscular forearms, big hands check. Narrow waist, tight ass, thick thighs, check, check and check. And of course he must be at his core caring, honorable, intelligent and involved in a manly profession or a doctor or a vet. Cole Mitchell our male protagonist a studly rancher meets all of these requirements. Fortunately, the female characters are far more complex and this is where Ms. Yates excels at her craft giving her heroines a voice that makes them feel like real people. The female hero in this story Kelsey Noble is no exception. Beautiful, intelligent, strong but vulnerable, you can’t help but love her from the opening of the story.
Something I found different and liked about this book was that Ms. Yates subtly introduces the idea that perhaps people should wait to know each other, to form some sort of emotional bond before jumping into bed to satisfy an undeniable physical attraction to each other. Our main heroine Kelsey’s best friend Alexa is shocked that ranch hand Taylor although obviously attracted to her isn’t ready to jump into the casual hook up she was imagining she’d share with him. First, get to really know someone before you jump between the sheets with them. What a unique concept for a modern romance novel!
So why with a lovable heroine and good story line and even a unique take on sexual relationships and some pretty steamy sex did my 4-5 star rating drop to a 3? Spoiler alert! In order to give the book a more dramatic ending the author writes a scene where Kelsey agrees to marry Cole and offers him her unconditional love. Cole still living in fear of having his heart broken again, tells her that love wasn’t part of the deal. They were supposed to marry, live together, have great mind blowing sex and do their best to raise their child together. But love each other, no way! In fact, he can never love her because he’s been hurt so much, by the loss of his mother, by his shrewish ex-wife, by discovering his father whom he idolized was a lothario. He goes so far as to tell her he will never be able to love her. First of all, Kelsey is a strong intelligent woman. Too intelligent to consider marrying a man who doesn’t love her even if she loves him and carries his child. It wouldn’t require Cole’s outright profession of his inability to love her or a heart to heart with her BFF to come to that conclusion. Secondly, Cole deep down inside knows he loves Kelsey. When she accepts his marriage proposal and declares her unconditional love for him there’s no way he doesn’t break through the emotional walls he’s built around his heart to so ruthlessly reject her offer of love and callously throw it back in her face. This is the point where Cole should have manned up and told Kelsey how much he loved her to bring us to the HEA. Not after a night of drinking, talking with his brother and then waking up with a hangover to realize Kelsey was in fact ready to leave having realized that what he had offered her wasn’t enough. This whole scenario went so against the grain of both characters it darn near ruined the story for me and left a sour taste in my mouth. The fact that Cole miraculously wakes up the next morning to realize and accept his love for her, and tell Kelsey all the things he should have said to her the night before just didn’t salvage the ending of the story for me much as I love a good HEA as much as the next romance novel reader.
This is the first true novel in The Silver Creek Series. Oddly the H/h Carly and Lucas from the novella Unbuttoned that kicks off the series never make even a cameo appearance or were even mentioned? One of the things I enjoy about reading a series is the reappearance of familiar characters from previous books in the series. Otherwise what’s the point in calling it a series? I so wanted to love this short book. Until the very end I was ready to give it a solid 4 stars maybe even a 5. I like Ms. Yates writing that much. Okay, you have to be willing to accept the premise that two young adults in their early thirties have already both determined they’d never fall in love again because they were burned in early relationships. But that sort of acceptance is necessary if you’re going to enjoy any romance novel or Hallmark movie or rom-com. As a man I have to accept that because romance novels are written primarily by women for women the male characters tend to be barely more than two dimensional. Over six foot, check. Wavy, slightly too long hair, check. Piercing eyes, check. Broad shoulders check. Wide moderately hairy chest, check. Six pack abs, check. Bulging Biceps, muscular forearms, big hands check. Narrow waist, tight ass, thick thighs, check, check and check. And of course he must be at his core caring, honorable, intelligent and involved in a manly profession or a doctor or a vet. Cole Mitchell our male protagonist a studly rancher meets all of these requirements. Fortunately, the female characters are far more complex and this is where Ms. Yates excels at her craft giving her heroines a voice that makes them feel like real people. The female hero in this story Kelsey Noble is no exception. Beautiful, intelligent, strong but vulnerable, you can’t help but love her from the opening of the story.
Something I found different and liked about this book was that Ms. Yates subtly introduces the idea that perhaps people should wait to know each other, to form some sort of emotional bond before jumping into bed to satisfy an undeniable physical attraction to each other. Our main heroine Kelsey’s best friend Alexa is shocked that ranch hand Taylor although obviously attracted to her isn’t ready to jump into the casual hook up she was imagining she’d share with him. First, get to really know someone before you jump between the sheets with them. What a unique concept for a modern romance novel!
So why with a lovable heroine and good story line and even a unique take on sexual relationships and some pretty steamy sex did my 4-5 star rating drop to a 3? Spoiler alert! In order to give the book a more dramatic ending the author writes a scene where Kelsey agrees to marry Cole and offers him her unconditional love. Cole still living in fear of having his heart broken again, tells her that love wasn’t part of the deal. They were supposed to marry, live together, have great mind blowing sex and do their best to raise their child together. But love each other, no way! In fact, he can never love her because he’s been hurt so much, by the loss of his mother, by his shrewish ex-wife, by discovering his father whom he idolized was a lothario. He goes so far as to tell her he will never be able to love her. First of all, Kelsey is a strong intelligent woman. Too intelligent to consider marrying a man who doesn’t love her even if she loves him and carries his child. It wouldn’t require Cole’s outright profession of his inability to love her or a heart to heart with her BFF to come to that conclusion. Secondly, Cole deep down inside knows he loves Kelsey. When she accepts his marriage proposal and declares her unconditional love for him there’s no way he doesn’t break through the emotional walls he’s built around his heart to so ruthlessly reject her offer of love and callously throw it back in her face. This is the point where Cole should have manned up and told Kelsey how much he loved her to bring us to the HEA. Not after a night of drinking, talking with his brother and then waking up with a hangover to realize Kelsey was in fact ready to leave having realized that what he had offered her wasn’t enough. This whole scenario went so against the grain of both characters it darn near ruined the story for me and left a sour taste in my mouth. The fact that Cole miraculously wakes up the next morning to realize and accept his love for her, and tell Kelsey all the things he should have said to her the night before just didn’t salvage the ending of the story for me much as I love a good HEA as much as the next romance novel reader.
October 29, 2013
FTC Disclaimer: I do not know this author, nor was I paid for this review. This ARC was provided through the publisher for an honest review.
I actually follow the author on twitter so, when I knew she was writing a cowboy, I put it on my to-read list. Then it appeared on NetGalley so I immediately requested it. This is a very cute and easy read. It had enough heat to keep me interested and I enjoyed both of the characters immensely.
The premise for these two meeting was quite cute, if not quite extreme. Cole had donated sperm to the sperm bank as his ex-wife was a complete nutter and only wanted children from his young-man sperm, and not his old-man sperm, but wanted them at a later date. Then the sperm bank messed up and hey presto we have a story. His reaction to the news of his impending fatherhood was noble; he wanted to be a part of the baby’s life even though he hadn’t actually thought about having children then. It was good guy behaviour and he continued to prove his worth over the course of the book. He invites Kelsey to his ranch so they can get to know each other, he pushes her into becoming part of his family and he is resolved to being part of the baby’s life, even when he did nothing to bring it into the world. The only issues arise when the sexual attraction flares between them because he truly doesn’t want to complicate their relationship.
“There was no chance of no-strings sex with him, because she and Cole had nothing but strings”
Kelsey was a nice character to read about too. She went to the IVF place as she decided that she didn’t need to wait for some man to come and impregnate her when she had alternative options. She could have told Cole to take a hike when he arrived on her doorstep, but instead she allowed him in and played along. I liked that she was open to a relationship with him as she saw him as a victim in this situation. She was so attracted to him (and why wouldn’t she be? He was hot and nice) but she tried so hard to play by all the rules he kept making. It was all very sweet. They were fabulous characters to read about and their love story was so sweet. I really enjoyed that these two were adult enough to talk through their feelings and problems; the fears they had for their future child’s happiness was a genuine barrier rather than a silly one.
This book is a nice, easy read. It is definitely a book that will make you smile and give you a case of the warm and fuzzies. With a genuinely lovely cowboy, who just wants to do the right thing, there is no way I wasn’t going to like it.
I actually follow the author on twitter so, when I knew she was writing a cowboy, I put it on my to-read list. Then it appeared on NetGalley so I immediately requested it. This is a very cute and easy read. It had enough heat to keep me interested and I enjoyed both of the characters immensely.
The premise for these two meeting was quite cute, if not quite extreme. Cole had donated sperm to the sperm bank as his ex-wife was a complete nutter and only wanted children from his young-man sperm, and not his old-man sperm, but wanted them at a later date. Then the sperm bank messed up and hey presto we have a story. His reaction to the news of his impending fatherhood was noble; he wanted to be a part of the baby’s life even though he hadn’t actually thought about having children then. It was good guy behaviour and he continued to prove his worth over the course of the book. He invites Kelsey to his ranch so they can get to know each other, he pushes her into becoming part of his family and he is resolved to being part of the baby’s life, even when he did nothing to bring it into the world. The only issues arise when the sexual attraction flares between them because he truly doesn’t want to complicate their relationship.
“There was no chance of no-strings sex with him, because she and Cole had nothing but strings”
Kelsey was a nice character to read about too. She went to the IVF place as she decided that she didn’t need to wait for some man to come and impregnate her when she had alternative options. She could have told Cole to take a hike when he arrived on her doorstep, but instead she allowed him in and played along. I liked that she was open to a relationship with him as she saw him as a victim in this situation. She was so attracted to him (and why wouldn’t she be? He was hot and nice) but she tried so hard to play by all the rules he kept making. It was all very sweet. They were fabulous characters to read about and their love story was so sweet. I really enjoyed that these two were adult enough to talk through their feelings and problems; the fears they had for their future child’s happiness was a genuine barrier rather than a silly one.
This book is a nice, easy read. It is definitely a book that will make you smile and give you a case of the warm and fuzzies. With a genuinely lovely cowboy, who just wants to do the right thing, there is no way I wasn’t going to like it.
September 6, 2013
Really, REALLY enjoyed this one!!! Cole was just so FRACKING HOT and I LOVED how SPUNKY Kelsey was!! CAN'T WAIT for Lark's story in Untouched next!!!
April 21, 2015
The book started out good. After a while I lost interest, and it was hard to keep reading. It was too much dialogue for me. I did finish the book, and it was a sweet, sappy story.
May 2, 2015
Well damn... this was too cute and hot to handle! Really! There was fire between Cole and Kelsey.
I really liked Kelsey and felt connected to her. It didn't hurt that Cole was REALLY REALLY HOT and also kind of cute. Yeah, there were also times (lots of times) when I just wanted to hit him hard in the head and made him see reason. He clearly was afraid and didn't want to have feelings. But he just didn't get that it was already too late.
I really liked the storyline and I thought it was fate that brought Cole and Kelsey together after all. Really sweet!
I didn't like Alexa much, but in the end she got better. Tyler was cute. A real keeper. Liked him!
I'm so glad I picked this book up. Recommended.
I really liked Kelsey and felt connected to her. It didn't hurt that Cole was REALLY REALLY HOT and also kind of cute. Yeah, there were also times (lots of times) when I just wanted to hit him hard in the head and made him see reason. He clearly was afraid and didn't want to have feelings. But he just didn't get that it was already too late.
I really liked the storyline and I thought it was fate that brought Cole and Kelsey together after all. Really sweet!
I didn't like Alexa much, but in the end she got better. Tyler was cute. A real keeper. Liked him!
I'm so glad I picked this book up. Recommended.
July 18, 2015
I had a lot of fun reading this book. I enjoyed the banter between Kelsey and Cole. The storyline was a bit far-fetched, with Cole's sample getting mixed up at a fertility clinic and Kelsey ending up pregnant with his baby. But they worked as a couple and I liked how they resolved their concerns regarding parenthood. They were also mature characters with realistic worries. The pacing of the romance worked well too.
February 21, 2016
Loved it! So cute and what an interesting way to meet! I don't think I'll try it though. Great characters give us the start of what should be a great series. Can't wait to dive into the next one.
March 28, 2021
My first Maisey Yates and boy didn't it just knock my socks off😂Once I started this book I absolutely couldn't put it down because a)Cole is just swoon-worthy and Kelsey is just the cutest and that ranch*sighhh*.
June 3, 2024
I have always enjoyed Maisey Yates' books and expected to like this one, too. In general, I did like it, but the constant thoughts they had of having sex with each other, were irritating after a while. And Kelsey's persistent thoughts of getting her hands on Cole's body were over the top.
The premise of this novel was good. A single girl wanted a baby so had IVF. She planned to raise the child on her own and was very surprised when the sperm donor tracked her down, wanting to be part of his baby's life.
They had both had bad relationships in the past, which we heard about a lot. I was not fond of the characters very much. Kelsey was stubborn and never wanted help with anything. When Cole asked Kelsey to marry him, it felt like he did it because he wanted to do the right thing, rather than because he loved her.
Basically, this was an average read: some parts were very good and some were not.
The premise of this novel was good. A single girl wanted a baby so had IVF. She planned to raise the child on her own and was very surprised when the sperm donor tracked her down, wanting to be part of his baby's life.
They had both had bad relationships in the past, which we heard about a lot. I was not fond of the characters very much. Kelsey was stubborn and never wanted help with anything. When Cole asked Kelsey to marry him, it felt like he did it because he wanted to do the right thing, rather than because he loved her.
Basically, this was an average read: some parts were very good and some were not.
March 19, 2024
#1 in the Silver Creek romance series
This book was surprisingly good, with some great characters and an interesting twist on a romance. When Kelsey decides to become a single mother, she attends a fertility clinic and is successful. However, the "donation" they have given her turns out to be a mistake--someone who hadn't authorized it to be used. He's irate and contacts her personally. And, of course, they decide to get to know each other better for the sake of the baby, they travel to Silver Creek together (his family's guest ranch), and the rest is history. I loved the witty banter between them, with some extra entertainment from Cole's brother and sister, as well as Kelsey's best (snarky) friend. I've read Yates before, but I particularly enjoyed this one because of the humor...and the setting, I suppose. Fun, with a HEA. I definitely plan to continue with this series.
This book was surprisingly good, with some great characters and an interesting twist on a romance. When Kelsey decides to become a single mother, she attends a fertility clinic and is successful. However, the "donation" they have given her turns out to be a mistake--someone who hadn't authorized it to be used. He's irate and contacts her personally. And, of course, they decide to get to know each other better for the sake of the baby, they travel to Silver Creek together (his family's guest ranch), and the rest is history. I loved the witty banter between them, with some extra entertainment from Cole's brother and sister, as well as Kelsey's best (snarky) friend. I've read Yates before, but I particularly enjoyed this one because of the humor...and the setting, I suppose. Fun, with a HEA. I definitely plan to continue with this series.
October 18, 2013
Review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2013/09/19/...
Publisher: Berkley Intermix
Publish Date: Out now
How I got this book: ARC from the publisher via Netgalley
After spending another family wedding fielding questions about her non-existent love life, Kelsey Noble decides she’s tired of waiting around for things she could go out and get herself. What Kelsey wants is a baby, and she doesn’t see any point waiting for a husband she’s not even sure she wants. But a mix-up at the fertility clinic lands her with a hassle she didn’t count on. A big, muscular hassle in a Stetson and cowboy boots.
Cole Mitchell is shocked to discover that a grand gesture from years past has come back to haunt him. Now, thanks to a clerical error, a woman he’s never met is having his baby—and there’s no way he’s going to walk away and forget he has a child.
Trying to make nice with the unexpected father of her baby lands Kelsey in Silver Creek, Oregon, dealing with the kind of small town life she left behind years ago. Even worse is dealing with the burning attraction she feels for Cole. She knows adding sex to the mix is a very bad idea, but she’s not sure how long she can resist falling for the last man she ever expected…
This blurb came from the author’s website.
After reading and enjoying, Unbuttoned, the initial novella in Yates’ Silver Creek series I knew that I wanted more. So I made sure to grab a copy of Unexpected when I saw that it was available. The only thing that connected the two stories was that they were both set in Silver Creek even though Unexpected spent more time outside the town than inside. I also thought that some of the issues addressed in this story, while still serious and touching, were significantly different than ones I have seen in other small town romances. I found the twists that Yates used in the tropes she selected fascinating and certainly a way to continue to keep my interest.
Kelsey wanted a family of her own so she underwent artificial insemination without telling anyone in her family or her best friend. During the early stages of pregnancy when she was having serious issues keeping, any food down there was a knock at her door and she met the father of her unborn child. I really enjoyed Kelsey because she had issues and knew it but she also went after what she wanted in life. She wasn’t content to conform to what her family expected as much as she would have preferred to openly receive their approval. I also liked her because even though the donor was never supposed to find out, once he did she was open-minded and fair enough to take the time to both get to know him and to mutually decide on his involvement. She really didn’t have to do that so her decision made me like her that much more.
Cole, the poor tough guy. He really was having a series of rough years that seemed to culminate with the discovery that his banked sperm had been used instead of stored. I am not exactly sure why, and I don’t think he really knew why, he decided to meet the recipient and future mother of his biological child. I enjoyed how he insisted that he had some sort of responsibility and wasn’t quite sure to what degree but he wanted to find out. I thought his gesture of inviting Kelsey out to his family’s ranch as a guest so they could start to get to know each other and work through how they were going to handle parenting and to what extent was pretty incredible. Even more so given it wasn’t his intention to ever have a child, let alone with someone he didn’t know. Cole tried so hard to do the right thing and live up to his ideal even after he became forcibly disillusioned about that same ideal. He had a very hard time expressing his feelings or even admitting that he had feelings because of the multitude of severe disappointments in his life yet it was evident that he was both a nurturer and a protector as much as he tried to deny it. He was so much fun to get to know.
I really enjoyed not just the interactions between Kelsey and Cole as their romance slowly grew as they became more familiar with each other and with the situation but also the supporting cast and their interactions. Cole’s family dynamic, Kelsey’s best friend and her “thing” with Cole’s employee, and their cross interaction provided a great sense of completeness to the setting and characters. I also thought the stark contrast between the atmosphere and interaction on the ranch compared to the interaction with Kelsey’s family was a deft touch that emphasized how different she felt from the rest of her family. I also enjoyed the arguments because they signified an emotional investment and an attempt to change things, not just a misunderstanding that could have been solved through communication. Both Kelsey and Cole had to make some changes in their point of view with the help of tough love from those they trusted before a HEA looked feasible.
Unexpected provided me with some food for thought along with an enjoyable romance. As I mentioned earlier I really appreciated the twists that Yates took with her particular tropes because her story stayed fresh while I was reading. I also want to thank Yates for not taking what looked like the easy way during a particular scene but forcing the two characters to continue to grow and develop. That technique certainly increased my overall enjoyment. I have high hopes that she will provide a story for several of the characters that I met in this installment because the depth and complexity they showed as supporting characters really made me curious about the rest of their stories.
I give Unexpected a B+
Publisher: Berkley Intermix
Publish Date: Out now
How I got this book: ARC from the publisher via Netgalley
After spending another family wedding fielding questions about her non-existent love life, Kelsey Noble decides she’s tired of waiting around for things she could go out and get herself. What Kelsey wants is a baby, and she doesn’t see any point waiting for a husband she’s not even sure she wants. But a mix-up at the fertility clinic lands her with a hassle she didn’t count on. A big, muscular hassle in a Stetson and cowboy boots.
Cole Mitchell is shocked to discover that a grand gesture from years past has come back to haunt him. Now, thanks to a clerical error, a woman he’s never met is having his baby—and there’s no way he’s going to walk away and forget he has a child.
Trying to make nice with the unexpected father of her baby lands Kelsey in Silver Creek, Oregon, dealing with the kind of small town life she left behind years ago. Even worse is dealing with the burning attraction she feels for Cole. She knows adding sex to the mix is a very bad idea, but she’s not sure how long she can resist falling for the last man she ever expected…
This blurb came from the author’s website.
After reading and enjoying, Unbuttoned, the initial novella in Yates’ Silver Creek series I knew that I wanted more. So I made sure to grab a copy of Unexpected when I saw that it was available. The only thing that connected the two stories was that they were both set in Silver Creek even though Unexpected spent more time outside the town than inside. I also thought that some of the issues addressed in this story, while still serious and touching, were significantly different than ones I have seen in other small town romances. I found the twists that Yates used in the tropes she selected fascinating and certainly a way to continue to keep my interest.
Kelsey wanted a family of her own so she underwent artificial insemination without telling anyone in her family or her best friend. During the early stages of pregnancy when she was having serious issues keeping, any food down there was a knock at her door and she met the father of her unborn child. I really enjoyed Kelsey because she had issues and knew it but she also went after what she wanted in life. She wasn’t content to conform to what her family expected as much as she would have preferred to openly receive their approval. I also liked her because even though the donor was never supposed to find out, once he did she was open-minded and fair enough to take the time to both get to know him and to mutually decide on his involvement. She really didn’t have to do that so her decision made me like her that much more.
Cole, the poor tough guy. He really was having a series of rough years that seemed to culminate with the discovery that his banked sperm had been used instead of stored. I am not exactly sure why, and I don’t think he really knew why, he decided to meet the recipient and future mother of his biological child. I enjoyed how he insisted that he had some sort of responsibility and wasn’t quite sure to what degree but he wanted to find out. I thought his gesture of inviting Kelsey out to his family’s ranch as a guest so they could start to get to know each other and work through how they were going to handle parenting and to what extent was pretty incredible. Even more so given it wasn’t his intention to ever have a child, let alone with someone he didn’t know. Cole tried so hard to do the right thing and live up to his ideal even after he became forcibly disillusioned about that same ideal. He had a very hard time expressing his feelings or even admitting that he had feelings because of the multitude of severe disappointments in his life yet it was evident that he was both a nurturer and a protector as much as he tried to deny it. He was so much fun to get to know.
I really enjoyed not just the interactions between Kelsey and Cole as their romance slowly grew as they became more familiar with each other and with the situation but also the supporting cast and their interactions. Cole’s family dynamic, Kelsey’s best friend and her “thing” with Cole’s employee, and their cross interaction provided a great sense of completeness to the setting and characters. I also thought the stark contrast between the atmosphere and interaction on the ranch compared to the interaction with Kelsey’s family was a deft touch that emphasized how different she felt from the rest of her family. I also enjoyed the arguments because they signified an emotional investment and an attempt to change things, not just a misunderstanding that could have been solved through communication. Both Kelsey and Cole had to make some changes in their point of view with the help of tough love from those they trusted before a HEA looked feasible.
Unexpected provided me with some food for thought along with an enjoyable romance. As I mentioned earlier I really appreciated the twists that Yates took with her particular tropes because her story stayed fresh while I was reading. I also want to thank Yates for not taking what looked like the easy way during a particular scene but forcing the two characters to continue to grow and develop. That technique certainly increased my overall enjoyment. I have high hopes that she will provide a story for several of the characters that I met in this installment because the depth and complexity they showed as supporting characters really made me curious about the rest of their stories.
I give Unexpected a B+
February 19, 2024
Kelsey doesn't feel appreciated or loved by her family. While at a sisters wedding she decides to take the bull by the horns for what she wants.
She gets inseminated so she can have her own chikd.
While suffering morning sickness a knock st the door and it is the baby daddy Cole. He found her when he went to get rid of his speech m.
Cole has really been hurt by his ex and dad so he is not looking for love. Kelsey was hurt by her ex and her family.
Can these two grow and learn from each other to make it work?
This story was so very good. I had a hard time putting it down.
She gets inseminated so she can have her own chikd.
While suffering morning sickness a knock st the door and it is the baby daddy Cole. He found her when he went to get rid of his speech m.
Cole has really been hurt by his ex and dad so he is not looking for love. Kelsey was hurt by her ex and her family.
Can these two grow and learn from each other to make it work?
This story was so very good. I had a hard time putting it down.
April 21, 2025
This was a light, fun, and easy read.
I liked the story and it was entertaining enough. I do wish it was written in first person rather than third because I always feel a bit disconnected when reading.
But overall it was not bad. Small town, slow burn cowboy romance with a low drama setup, which I actually liked in the moment. It was a slow burn but not heavy on the angst. I did wish for a bit more chemistry though.
I liked the story and it was entertaining enough. I do wish it was written in first person rather than third because I always feel a bit disconnected when reading.
But overall it was not bad. Small town, slow burn cowboy romance with a low drama setup, which I actually liked in the moment. It was a slow burn but not heavy on the angst. I did wish for a bit more chemistry though.
July 7, 2025
Sweet
Found out about this series on Tik Tok by watching the author Maisey Yates, for sure enjoyed the story of Cole and Kelsey. A cowboy romance with a different twist, imagine using a sperm bank because you wanted a child, then the father showing up on your door step. Silver Creek is a family with their own stories, can't wait to read the next.
Found out about this series on Tik Tok by watching the author Maisey Yates, for sure enjoyed the story of Cole and Kelsey. A cowboy romance with a different twist, imagine using a sperm bank because you wanted a child, then the father showing up on your door step. Silver Creek is a family with their own stories, can't wait to read the next.
January 24, 2019
Wow
This one grabbed from the very first page to the last.Maisey Yates didn't disappoint with this story,and I'll be looking forward to reading her next book as soon as it comes out.
This one grabbed from the very first page to the last.Maisey Yates didn't disappoint with this story,and I'll be looking forward to reading her next book as soon as it comes out.
January 27, 2019
A slow burn
This story wasn’t half bad. The characters were fun and the storyline well paced. I liked that Kelsey didn’t give in so easily. Cole was a fun cowboy. I would recommend.
This story wasn’t half bad. The characters were fun and the storyline well paced. I liked that Kelsey didn’t give in so easily. Cole was a fun cowboy. I would recommend.
July 31, 2022
What happens when a fertility clinic gives sperm that is only for safe keeping and the woman becomes pregnant? The sperm donor comes to retrieve his sperm and is very angry and finds the woman’s name and address. What do these two people do now that they have met? Great story.
November 7, 2023
Part of a book
Since when you just get part of the story? I hate these books you buy in parts to get one story. I won't be paying the the next chapter... I like Maiden Yates books, but don't go for this bs
Since when you just get part of the story? I hate these books you buy in parts to get one story. I won't be paying the the next chapter... I like Maiden Yates books, but don't go for this bs
January 28, 2024
So glad they finally put this book in print. I’ve been wanting to read this for awhile and it did not disappoint. I absolutely loved this book. I loved Cole and Kelsey. Give this book a read you won’t regret it .
September 23, 2024
Excellent read. Looking forward to the next book in the series
Unexpected plot, realistic characters and feelings, love that it takes place in my favorite state of Oregon!!!
Makes it a pull you quickly through the excellent writing
Unexpected plot, realistic characters and feelings, love that it takes place in my favorite state of Oregon!!!
Makes it a pull you quickly through the excellent writing
January 30, 2019
I really enjoyed this sperm bank mix-up baby story. Good story and great characters. I liked the slow burn between Kelsey and Cole as their attraction grew.
March 2, 2019
Love and unexpected surprises
November 22, 2020
Best mix up ever
Who knew that the mix up would lead to such an amazing outcome? Cole and Kelsey’s love story had the craziest start with an amazing ending.
Who knew that the mix up would lead to such an amazing outcome? Cole and Kelsey’s love story had the craziest start with an amazing ending.
May 9, 2024
3.5 stars
December 31, 2024
Very slow to start. Not one of the best books by Maisey Yates.
June 18, 2025
3.5 stars. This was a good solid read and I love reading favorite authors early work. This was surprise baby with a twist I've never read!! Sooo cute!
October 31, 2015
Well, to be honest, I didn’t even read the synopsis before downloading this book from my local library. I went searching for more books by authors whose work I love, saw some by Maisey Yates, and hit the button. Best blind pick ever!
I’ve read a couple of books in which there’s a mix-up at the fertility clinic, but this just might be the freshest take on it I’ve seen. Instead of following the romance novel formula, the characters in Unexpected acted very much like I might expect from real people simply trying to deal with a very messed up situation, and as soon as I caught on that these fictional characters weren’t acting terribly… well, fictional, I was all in!
Kelsey’s like a lot of women whose biological clock is ticking with no man in sight. But thanks to her successful career, she’s got the means to do something about it. With months of careful planning behind her, she sets off to conceive a child via artificial insemination. The last thing she expects is for some cowboy to show up at her door, claiming to be the father of her unborn child.
When Cole finds out the sperm he banked has been inadvertently given to some random woman hoping to conceive a child, he’s confused and furious. But unlike what I expected from him, he didn’t lay into Kelsey about it. His conflicting feelings didn’t override his compassion for the woman who was, like him, a victim of circumstance, and it showed in the way he approached her and his gentle determination to be in his child’s life.
Having read enough romance novels to predict a lot of plot turns, I was surprised (pleasantly so!) that Cole reacted the way he did. It was obvious that he had no idea how to handle what life had now thrown at him, but he didn’t go all “I’m gonna call my lawyer!” the way I thought he would. In fact, he never once threatened to fight for custody or throw any more of a wrench in Kelsey’s plans than the mix-up already had. He also didn’t immediately fall in love with her or begin demanding that she change her plans to include him. He simply worried about her and asked for a chance to be a part of his kid’s life.
Kelsey’s reaction to Cole is both sad and comical. She’s suffering through morning/noon/night sickness, and she reacts almost robotically to his sudden presence. She’s sick, looks like death warmed over, and has virtually no interest at all in anything past keeping some food down. That introduction set the tone for Kelsey and Cole for the rest of the story.
Of course, these two had to spend some time together if they were ever to fall in love, so Cole invites Kelsey to his family’s sprawling ranch. It’s the perfect solution, since it’s a tourist destination, giving Kelsey some privacy in a guest cabin while putting them within walking distance of each other. Neither is really willing to give love a shot, though, despite the fact that they begin to get along great and have some pretty strong chemistry.
It always bothers me a bit when a potential couple simply writes each other off because someone long ago screwed them over. For Cole, it was his ex-wife, the same one he initially banked the sperm for in an effort to keep her happy. For Kelsey, it was a cheating ex. I can certainly understand their both wanting to be cautious rather than dive in with blinders on, but they both allowed single past experiences to get in the way of a great chance at a new relationship. Fortunately, their friendship bloomed, and it was clear that these two belonged together.
I loved the way Cole, even though the news of a child was not welcome, didn’t fly off the handle or try to make things difficult for Kelsey. In fact, short of promising his eternal love (till the end, at least), he was only interested in Kelsey’s comfort and happiness. He wasn’t willing to put his heart on the line, but he also wasn’t going to walk away from Kelsey when she clearly needed someone. I also liked the way things played out with respect to her parents. Coming from a very traditional family, Kelsey knew her parents would give her grief upon learning of her decision to be a single mother, and while I can’t understand any parents who act that way, it lent another bit of realism to the story. Parental approval is huge in just about anyone’s life.
Unexpected was exactly that — unexpected. It was unexpectedly funny, sweet, and even steamy without going over the top. The plot, while not original, have the author plenty of room to play with originality, and she created two awesome characters (and a host of awesome secondary characters) who were incredibly intriguing. If you like your romance with a side of Stetson and Wranglers, Unexpected is the book for you.
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