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Maitland Maternity #1
Dad by Choice
Scandal confronts Dr. Abby Maitland and the renowned maternity clinic, Maitland Maternity, as she finds an abandoned baby on the doorstep and is forced to deal with a pregnant teenager and her patient's angry older brother and guardian, Kyle McDermott. Original.
245 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 2000
13 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
About the author
Marie Ferrarella
1,231 books276 followersMarie Rydzynski-Ferrarella
aka Marie Charles, Marie Michael, Marie Nicole, Marie Ferrarella
Marie Rydzynski was born on March 28 in West Germany to Polish parents. She moved to America at the age of four. For an entire year, Marie and her family explored the eastern half of the country before finally settling in New York.
Marie swears she was born writing, "which must have made the delivery especially hard for my mother." From an early age, Marie's parents would find her watching television or tucked away in some private place, writing at a furious pace. "Initially, I began writing myself into my favourite shows. I was a detective on '77 Sunset Strip,' the missing Cartwright sibling they never talked about on 'Bonanza' and the 'Girl from U.N.C.L.E.' before there was a 'Girl from U.N.C.L.E.,' not to mention an active participant in the serialized stories of 'The Mickey Mouse Club.'" Marie began to write her first romance novel when she was 11 years old, although she claims that, at the time, she didn't even realize it was a romance! She scribbled off and on, while dreaming of a career as an actress.
Marie was only 14 when she first laid eyes on the man she would marry, truly her first love, Charles Ferrarella. During her days at Queens College, New York, acting started to lose its glamour as Marie spent more and more time writing. After receiving her English degree, specialising in Shakespearean comedy, Marie and her family moved to Southern California, where she still resides today.
After an interminable seven weeks apart, Charles decided he couldn't live without her and came out to California to marry his childhood sweetheart. Ever practical, Marie was married in a wash-and-wear wedding dress that she sewed herself, appliqués and all. "'Be prepared' has always been my motto,"the author jokes. This motto has been stretched considerably by her two children, Nikky and Jessi, "but basically, it still applies," she says.
In November of 1981, she sold her first novel for Harlequin. Marie, who now has written over 150 novels, has one goal: to entertain, to make people laugh and feel good. "That's what makes me happy," she confesses. "That, and a really good romantic evening with my husband." She's keeping her fingers crossed that her reader's enjoy reading her books as much as she enjoyed writing them.
aka Marie Charles, Marie Michael, Marie Nicole, Marie Ferrarella
Marie Rydzynski was born on March 28 in West Germany to Polish parents. She moved to America at the age of four. For an entire year, Marie and her family explored the eastern half of the country before finally settling in New York.
Marie swears she was born writing, "which must have made the delivery especially hard for my mother." From an early age, Marie's parents would find her watching television or tucked away in some private place, writing at a furious pace. "Initially, I began writing myself into my favourite shows. I was a detective on '77 Sunset Strip,' the missing Cartwright sibling they never talked about on 'Bonanza' and the 'Girl from U.N.C.L.E.' before there was a 'Girl from U.N.C.L.E.,' not to mention an active participant in the serialized stories of 'The Mickey Mouse Club.'" Marie began to write her first romance novel when she was 11 years old, although she claims that, at the time, she didn't even realize it was a romance! She scribbled off and on, while dreaming of a career as an actress.
Marie was only 14 when she first laid eyes on the man she would marry, truly her first love, Charles Ferrarella. During her days at Queens College, New York, acting started to lose its glamour as Marie spent more and more time writing. After receiving her English degree, specialising in Shakespearean comedy, Marie and her family moved to Southern California, where she still resides today.
After an interminable seven weeks apart, Charles decided he couldn't live without her and came out to California to marry his childhood sweetheart. Ever practical, Marie was married in a wash-and-wear wedding dress that she sewed herself, appliqués and all. "'Be prepared' has always been my motto,"the author jokes. This motto has been stretched considerably by her two children, Nikky and Jessi, "but basically, it still applies," she says.
In November of 1981, she sold her first novel for Harlequin. Marie, who now has written over 150 novels, has one goal: to entertain, to make people laugh and feel good. "That's what makes me happy," she confesses. "That, and a really good romantic evening with my husband." She's keeping her fingers crossed that her reader's enjoy reading her books as much as she enjoyed writing them.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 4, 2017
That was cute. I liked how both the characters got under each other's skin. I also like the fact that the mystery baby situation did not get wrapped up neatly with a bow in the timeframe of this book. If it had, it would have been so over the top unrealistic. I am anxious to see where that storyline goes, as the characters you briefly meet in this book, are totally scuzzy and creepy. I do have to say, though, the title of this book is so off. The main male character has nothing to do with becoming a father.
May 2, 2020
This book was disappointing. It presents a wonderful love story between the main characters, but it presents a side story about one of the characters that was presented in the beginning of the book but was was left unresolved. Maybe the story will be continued in the next book of the series. I don't think I will be moving on with the series. I just read this paperback to get it off of my shelf.
May 18, 2020
This is the first of the Maitland Maternity books and introduces you to Abby Maitland first. She is an obstetric doctor and loves bringing babies into the world. Enter Kyle McDermott who is not happy that his young sister is pregnant and refuses to marry the baby daddy. Then add a mysterious baby left on the clinics steps. Now the fireworks begin. This is a great starter to the series and the mystery of the baby who is a Maitland will carry on into the other books
December 20, 2020
LOVELY AND CHARMING STORY, FAMILY SAGA, A LITTLE BIT OF SUSPENSE
August 14, 2025
Not worth the read. Very slow book. Not going to read the others Maitland books.
June 21, 2012
I bought this because it reminded me of spending time visiting my sister and reading her books when she was in grad school. She had some of the Maitland Maternity series. I was really enjoying this until about 89% when the heroine totally lost her backbone and
SPOILER
let the hero stop his attempt at groveling and apologizing after being an asshat because he was distracted by the fact that she was wearing a robe. He had interrupted her bath posing as a fake flower delivery boy who wouldn't leave. So they have smexytimes and he never FINISHES his apology/grovel. Shortly thereafter we have HEA :(
I almost gave this 2 stars because I was do disappointed in what I mentioned above but I had enjoyed most of the book so I gave it the additional star.
SPOILER
let the hero stop his attempt at groveling and apologizing after being an asshat because he was distracted by the fact that she was wearing a robe. He had interrupted her bath posing as a fake flower delivery boy who wouldn't leave. So they have smexytimes and he never FINISHES his apology/grovel. Shortly thereafter we have HEA :(
I almost gave this 2 stars because I was do disappointed in what I mentioned above but I had enjoyed most of the book so I gave it the additional star.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2012
If I had a brother as tough and always seeking to be right liek Kyle in this story I am sure I would flip just as much as his sister Marcie does.
The relationship that is formed between Kyle and his sister's doctor-Abby is good. It's sad however that in reading I wished Marie would have focused more on the baby that was left at the Maitland Maternity doorstep. She doesn't dwell as much on the child, even though it's the child that sparks controversy in the story and gets you asking who dumped him there and why.
It is all in all a book you could surely read.
The relationship that is formed between Kyle and his sister's doctor-Abby is good. It's sad however that in reading I wished Marie would have focused more on the baby that was left at the Maitland Maternity doorstep. She doesn't dwell as much on the child, even though it's the child that sparks controversy in the story and gets you asking who dumped him there and why.
It is all in all a book you could surely read.
November 3, 2012
Strange title for the book - didn't really fit the story which I did enjoy. I look forward to reading other books in the series. Liked the characters we were introduced to. Many twists and turns and some expected scenes. Liked the ending but hope we find out more in other books in the series for better closure.
October 30, 2010
I don't like romance novels and this one was borrowed to me. However I felt like there were parts of the story that were missing. There were a couple things that I felt weren't ever addressed after the book was over. I felt very confused after I finished it.
June 23, 2016
I'm glad I finally got to read the first book in this series. I started out of order, but now have a few things make more sense. I like how each one has a separate story about one of the family members, but also has a continuation of things in the books before it.
March 31, 2009
I am not into romance novels & this one was not really holding my interest.
November 15, 2011
This series is so good cant wait to finish it!!!!!!
Keeps getting better and better everytime.
Keeps getting better and better everytime.
July 12, 2013
I enjoyed it
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews