Bundle of Joy

Rocky Hill #2

by Barbara Bretton

One man
One woman
One night
One big surprise

Everyone in town knew Caroline and Charlie just weren't meant for each other. Like oil and water or chalk and cheese, the ex-Navy cook and the beautiful shop owner were a bad match, and although the small New Jersey town was filled with inveterate matchmakers, even the most determined of the lot had to admit this was one match that would never happen.

But nobody had figured on Caroline and Charlie getting locked in a storage vault with an automatic timer set for the next morning . . .

And Caroline and Charlie definitely hadn't figured on the little surprise they got a few months later when they discovered there was a baby on the way!

Caroline is sure she can handle everything alone but Charlie has other ideas: a modern marriage of convenience!

At first there isn't anything convenient about living with the all-male Charlie Donohue but before long Caroline's defenses are down and her husband-in-name-only is sharing her bed.

Is there even the slightest chance this marriage of inconvenience could turn into the real thing?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Christmas, Harlequin, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Ebooks

241 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 1991

About the author

Barbara Bretton is the USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of more than 40 books. She currently has over ten million copies in print around the world. Her works have been translated into twelve languages in over twenty countries.

Barbara has been featured in articles in The New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Romantic Times, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Herald News, Home News, Somerset Gazette,among others, and has been interviewed by Independent Network News Television, appeared on the Susan Stamberg Show on NPR, and been featured in an interview with Charles Osgood of WCBS, among others.

Her awards include both Reviewer's Choice and Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times; Gold and Silver certificates from Affaire de Coeur; the RWA Region 1 Golden Leaf; and several sales awards from Bookrak. Ms. Bretton was included in a recent edition of Contemporary Authors.

Barbara loves to spend as much time as possible in Maine with her husband, walking the rocky beaches and dreaming up plots for upcoming books.

Reviews

[Saly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars
Standard category with MOC but the heroine was really annoying with her need to pretend that her past didn't exist. I found her behaviour really snotty and she annoyed me a bit. All in all a forgettable read.

[Ang C · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute and corny story.....

[linda d bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart warming

This book was a quick read. I loved how it ended. I was praying for such a heart warming ending. It made me think of family and what it means

[Susannah Carleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story about finding love when you least expect it, and with someone who seems a very unlikely candidate.

[Peni · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story about 2 people who are running away from themselves coming together after an unplanned pregnancy.

[AF Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just what the doctor ordered!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - too tired and crappy feeling as I spent days fighting bronchitis - except to set my butt on the couch and under a blanket- drinking endless cups of tea and chicken broth and fall into a book. It’s now the holiday season and so I chose the book with a Santa hat on a baby.

It’s odd- but as the book started, it felt as though it was a book I had read before. But by chapter 4, I found myself liking the characters. I wanted to see what would happen. Pregnancy happened. I don’t want to give away anything for you my fellow bibliophiles- so I will leave you with this- the ride to an ending that might surprise you is heartbreaking, uphill battles, and nail biting. Everyone has their own idea of what constitutes a happy ending. Read this and see if this fits your idea.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie and Caroline went together like oil and water, but one night trapped in her fancy store's fur vault and they created a Bundle of Joy. Charlie believed that a baby needed both a mother and father and insisted on a temporary marriage for their baby.

The romance was a series of slow realizations of what they meant to each other, pretending to be a happily newly married couple and getting to know one another. The courtship was sweet and came after the marriage for this stubborn couple. Nothing was easy for them and still they found what each needed and their own special happy ending with a beautiful baby daughter, Erin.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another sweet romance by Ms. Bretton. Charlie and Caroline have a ton of baggage from their childhoods. Charlie's was one of privilege and being a forgotten lonely child, but as a grown man he gave off the persona of just a working man of modest means. Caroline's was one of poverty, neglect and abandonment, but as a grown woman she'd achieved all her dreams and gave off the air of sophistication and privilege. One terrific night changed their lives. I enjoyed reading their journey to HEA.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book from the early 90s and it proved to be dated. Additionally, Charlie and Caroline don't ever talk about substantial things throughout the book. Even while married and living together they barely spoke or did much together. I found their relationship very superficial and I didn't really care whether they stayed together or not.

[Vikki Vaught · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Musings

This book started out well. I particularly liked the hero. I struggled with Caroline for a good bit of the story. I would have liked to see less angst on her part. Nonetheless, it did have a satisfying happy ending. Happy reading!

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reinventing our selves

Two people, inconvenient door lock and a story is born. Our main characters have reinvented themselves to be what they want to be, not who they were born to be. An interesting concept when a relationship is based on misconceptions. I enjoyed the story.

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the plot being similar to most of the harlequin novels, the characters are uniquely the authors. There is realism, awkwardness, the longing, the connections and truly there isn't unnecessary plot twists that would never happen but just ones that are plausible.

[Nancy Luebke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this romance. I voluntarily chose to review this story and I've given it a 4* rating. These two seemed so much like opposites but didn't know how much they had in common. And let the sparks fly! Lots to enjoy in this story.

[Sandi Bedell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but typical oops pregnancy; however, the quality of the writing elevates their story above the typical start. The interplay between the main characters is clever and fun. Good weekend read.

[Astrid Johanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow a story, with a lot of unexpected twists

[Palabasalibro · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a lot of factors I liked in this book. We had two characters who were opposites with a very obvious tension between them. Then, one night changed everything between them – one night with a very permanent consequence.

And I love reading stories with a baby in the mix. They are usually adorable, and full of twists and surprises, and one character usually ends up doing all the groveling.

In this book, it started out well enough. However, towards the middle to the end, it felt a bit rushed. There were also a lot of issues presented wherein we didn’t get much of a conclusion or like an explanation of some sort why it was said in the first place. It also didn’t feel romantic enough. As much as I love stories like this, this one just fell a bit short.

3 stars

[Silverana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was definitely a fun story to read. The two main characters, Charlie and Caroline, have such an amusing exchange of words whenever they met, that I kept forgetting that he had a mustache (Just one of my pet peeves. Must have a beard, goatee, or something to go with the mustache. I just can’t stand a mustache by itself). They both put on a great show of how they hate each other, but even everyone around them can tell they have feelings for each other. The town people have always tried to get them together, which is one the reasons they end up stuck together in a cold, dark fur vault for several hours; leading to pregnancy.

Charlie and Caroline are complete opposites of each other. Caroline always has clothes, glamour, and the opinion of society on mind, though it is not for the reasons that it seems. Still, her thinking and behavior got on my nerves in the beginning. I would not be able to stand that character of Caroline if I met her in real life. She becomes much better during her pregnancy. Her feelings and thoughts towards life change as the ninth month approaches. I loved how Charlie took the time to learn about pregnancy, perhaps even more than Caroline. He took very good care for her. His surprise for her and their child at the end was wonderful!

Charlie and Caroline share very playful and exciting moments together. It was cute and heartbreaking at the same time, what they ended up saying or doing during fights. In the middle of the story, things did get a little boring when Charlie and Caroline barely saw each other despite living in the same house.

It was very nicely written and although the general plot was of a common sort, I loved reading it!

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story, one of the classics themes done just right. Who can resist opposites attracting and an unexpected pregnancy? Not me!

I love a mixed narrative, getting POV from both leads is key. You get a fuller picture and a more enriching read. This book needed those glimpses of insight to help you feel the story.

Caroline and Charlie have a very interesting dynamic. They each have a wrong idea of who the other is, it makes them fight the attraction. Once they do get together it is delightful to see them fall in love. Sometimes it is the little things that make a romance.

The bedroom door is closed-ish. You have hints of detail, and that is enough to warm a gal up.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Christa G. Lewis, who is wonderful. She always does a great job with bringing the emotions to life throughout the read. I loved her tone and appreciated the swift pace. She knows how deliver a sweet romance!

Overall, I enjoyed this book, I just wish I had read the first book in the series before picking this up. Lots of references were made to that romance and how that couple got together. Now i need to find it to really appreciate the events.

Disclosure - I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions and ratings are my own.

[Tonileg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oops baby after only one sexy time scenario is so common it makes me want to pull some of my hair out!
This was a sweet holiday read (it ends during the holiday season) although it starts nine months earlier... when high end dress rental boutique owner Miss Caroline Bradley and short-order cook Charlie Donohue in her secured and air conditioned fur vault. Caroline and Charlie did what they had to do to survive in the cold fur vault, although there were hints that they were physically attracted to each other (they are two hot and sexy thirty somethings after all!).
I did like reading about the journey from almost strangers with lots of in common acquaintances to lovers to friends and then true committed married couple. I don't think that either would have ever married or had children if not for their accidental pregnancy, but sometimes people need a little push to go outside of their comfort zone.
This was a light (mentioned sex, but no detailed vulgar descriptions) and emotional healing story of two people that open their walled closed up hearts to find a healthy relationship and family.
253 pages and kindle freebie Nov. 20, 2012
2 and half stars

[JigsawGirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Misconceptions

This story was a tale full of misconceptions. It was much more of a sad story than I expected. Two people who spent almost the entire book with preconceived notions about each other. You do ultimately end up with your HEA.

It felt to me like this story ended abruptly. I would have appreciated it more if Charles and Caroline's story had been a little longer.

[Ruby Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could have been, should have been, but just wasn't...

There were some good things and some not so good. The story was about two people both of whom lacked attention and love in their childhoods. One was poor and the other was rich. Charlie grew up in boarding school and went into the Navy and became a cook. Caroline was poor and did everything to put that behind her. They get locked up in cold storage in her shop and two months later Caroline is pregnant. The rest of the story is predictable. They marry and adjust. The author uses a lot of backstory to convey the characters history. They never communicate are all. Also the author interjected a lot of telling into the story and it became distracting. It's not a bad book but I felt I missed something because the characters could have been great.

[Alexis-Morgan Roark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute predictable read that began as an Audible purchase. I must admit to some folks needing a good smacking every now and then but that's par for the course with the genre. There was some dragging, in parts, but in retrospect...well, I think it might have been necessary because we, as readers, needed to know and experience the passage of time and the painfully slow process that eventually brought our couple together. Of course, that could all just be wishful thinking, too.

What makes this story so darn good are the characters: they have flesh and blood and feelings and dreams and pain and have had real lives that were messy and so incredibly relate-able. :-)

My only regret? Not knowing it was part of a SERIES until I was well into the book.

[Jo Notary]

587kb, Everyone in town knew Caroline and Charlie just weren't meant for each other. the ex-Navy cook and the beautiful shop owner were a bad match, But nobody had figured on Caroline and Charlie getting locked in a storage vault with an automatic timer set for the next morning . . .And Caroline and Charlie definitely hadn't figured on the little surprise they got a few months later when they discovered there was a baby on the way! Caroline is sure she can handle everything alone but Charlie has other ideas: a modern marriage of convenience!
At first there isn't anything convenient about living with the all-male Charlie Donohue but before long Caroline's defenses are down and her husband-in-name-only is sharing her bed.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many errors

I enjoyed the style of writing, the charcters, and concept but someone needs to do some serious proofreading. Both Labor Day and Thanksgiving come twice in this book. Its Thanksgiving, then 2 weeks before Christmas, then Thanksgiving again. I understand that books don't necessarily get written chronologically, but when you put the pieces together it needs to make sense. This book is the product of sloppy proofreading and editing. I would have given it 5 stars otherwise. Since this is an ebook I hope the mistakes are corrected. It is a delightful book. . . or could be.

[Just - The romance reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a good many books and I have to say this is the best one I've read in several weeks. The characters are great, very likable with strong personalities and a good sense of humor. The overall story is a good one, that has kept my interest all the way through. The one thing I will say, and this is not a complaint - based on the cover photo I was expected a Christmas story, and although certain evens take place on and around Christmas the overall theme is not what I would consider a Christmas theme.

[Sarah Jump · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy reading and not something that is going to keep you guessing to the end. You know what's going to happen from the start so it is very predictable. Or it was for me. Not sure I'd read her stuff again if this is the quality the author puts out.

[Carolyn L Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Book!!!

I laughed. I cried (something I never do.) And I couldn't put it down. A truly, truly wonderful book. I'm new to this author, but she is now on my favorites list. Read it! You won't be disappointed!

[Lindsay]

Amazon Freebie 11/19/2012

[Tracy Oliphant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this book alot.. It was a quick read..

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty cute contemporary romance