The Secret Father

The Calvert Cousins #1

by Anna Adams

Zach Calvert has no memory of his last three years as a Navy pilot. And for the most part, he's resigned himself to that. He's content with his new life as the sheriff of his hometown, happy that his small daughter lives close by.

But everything changes when he discovers he has a five-year-old son and a lover he can't remember.

Genres: Romance

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 2003

About the author

Anna Adams was in the US Navy, also working on a business degree full-time, when her first child was born. That little guy changed her life--created priorities. She wanted her children to grow up, believing they could do the most unlikely things.

Like writing--which she'd done since she was old enough to force someone to listen to stories and then old enough to pick up a pencil and a piece of paper.

She switched to an English degree--and ignored her husband when he asked if she planned to "open an English store," and eventually found jobs doing any kind of writing. And she learned to write books.

Twenty-something books later, she's a USA Today Bestseller, and she's still believes in unlikely things. Like true love that everyone can believe in.

Reviews

[Melinda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't make much sense to me. What man, or woman for that matter, would not try to find out what happened during those two missing years. Why would he get involved in an affair with his nurse when he had that blank space and did not know if he had left someone behind. His lack of curiosity about what transpired during those years baffled me.

[Lu Bielefeld · Rating 2 out of 5]

ok

[Ginny Rodenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olivia met Zach when he was training for a secret mission. He left on assignment and she finds she's pregnant. Before she can get hold of him, he's in an accident and she believes he died. Six years later she finds out he's alive. Very good read, not your usual secret baby story.

[Anne Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice, quick read.

Quite the departure from typical "secret baby" romances, this one contains some very likeable, admirable characters, and a real romance.

Not without its flaws, of course - the "paparazzi threat" seemed pretty tacked on (likely to add some whipped-up conflict to a relatively drama-free and simple story), and there were some scattered bits that seemed unrealistic, as well as some pretty glaring "series-related crap" (I'm not interested in series set-up or references to other books; doesn't anyone write stand-alone books any more?) - but, overall, a fine little novel.

I'm glad I didn't just throw it back when I discovered it was a "secret baby" tale. Simple, sweet, non-angering - a solid genre entry; worth the read for contemporary romance fans.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite Harlequin books, and when I saw it was only $1.99 on Amazon, I couldn't resist getting it. Yes, I still have my old paperback of it, but I'm definitely a kindle person now, so I don't enjoy reading paperbacks the way I one did.

I still love Zach and Olivia's story. I love their connection and how even though he couldn't remember her, he felt like her knew her and felt like she belonged with him. I loved how there wasn't any games between them. She sought him out to tell him about their son as soon as she realized he was alive. She didn't try to keep him and Evan apart, she just wanted what was best for her son.

This was definitely an easy read, but even after read this multiple times over the years, it still gives me the feels.

[Colleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was very average and simple. Everything just ended up too tidy too easy. The characters reformed for not much reason, the press issue vanished into thin air - it just felt too convenient but for all the wrong reasons.
Still, had the issue with the woman he'd supposedly failed been handled better, I'd have given this 3 stars, so maybe I'll read Sophie's story.