The Baby on Marco Island

Scott Sisters Series #2

by Rose Ryan, Amy Rafferty

He’d had this nagging feeling she’d been keeping something from him...

After suffering through a traumatic pregnancy with her twins, Stephanie Victor is eager to leave those memories behind her.

But after fourteen years, she’s pregnant again. And she’s not thrilled.

The emotional turmoil of carrying another high-risk pregnancy weighs on her shoulders and her anxiety puts a fracture between her and her husband, Mark. Mark has supported her all the way, but a certain decision could ruin their relationship forever.

Stephanie grapples with an impossible risk her life and that of her unborn child or seek an alternative that may shatter her marriage.

Against the backdrop of Marco Island’s serene beaches and close-knit community, this novel explores the enduring power of love, resilience, and the strength to make life-altering choices for the sake of family.

For the best experience, read the books in order. This is the second book in the six-book series!

Genres: Fiction

223 pages, Paperback

Published February 2, 2024

Reviews

[Vickie Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

A great series.

[Vickie Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great series.

[Mary Ann Speel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephanie and Max have twin boys who are 14 years old. They have had a loving marriage but after Max was injured in a fire he became more withdrawn. He had left his position as a firefighter and now works at marine conservation center. Eight weeks earlier he had surprised Steph with a vacation to the Bahamas which they enjoyed very much, experiencing the intimacy they had in the past. Now she finds herself pregnant again. She experiences fear due her traumatic birth of their twins. She is afraid to tell Max about the pregnancy for fear of his reaction. Enter another problem, Max had previously, before he was injured in the fire, helped a woman who was stranded alongside the road. He thought nothing about it, telling Steph about it when he came home. This woman believed he cared about her and began to stalk him. She sees him out running and decides to set a fire in a house so he will come and save her, which he does. In the process he is severely injured. It results in Max leaving the fire department. She continues to stalk him unknowingly to Max. When Steph sees her kiss Max, which she does on purpose because she knows that Steph will see it, Steph believes Max is in love with her. In the end Max realizes who she is and she is arrested. When the stalker gets away from the police she attacks Steph believing that then she can get Max. But she is not successful in her attack. Steph and Max have twin girls and the birth although early doesn’t in danger her life, she was at the doctors office in new state of the ark hospital. HEA is had by Steph and Max.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This contemporary romance is page-turning with exceptional world-building and characters that are captivating and realistic. This is a heartwarming journey that is about enduring the power of love, resilience and the strength to make life-altering choices for the sake of family, the baby on Marco Island, the nagging feeling that she'd been keeping something from him...a baby after fourteen years and Stephanie Victor being eager to leave memories of suffering through a traumatic pregnancy with her twins behind her, emotional turmoil of carrying another high-risk pregnancy that could have serious ramifications, such as, a shattered marriage, the setting is Marco Island with magnificent sunrises and sunsets painted across the sky with serene, tranquil beaches, heartfelt emotions that will have readers needing Kleenex or Puffs to wipe the tears that are threatening to spill down their cheeks, adventure, love, action, and more. I recommend reading this book by an extraordinary author who knows how to captivate her readers' hearts and attention with the baby on Marco Island and clean, sweet romance that is sure to take readers on an exhilarating emotional and unforgettable roller coaster ride.

I received this book via BookFunnel and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

“My grandmother always says that you never walk away from your loved ones angry or on bad terms as you never know what the next second will bring.”

Stephanie Scott and Max Victor have been married a long time. They have twin teenagers and live on Marco Island where Max was the fire chief and Stephanie helped run the family Hotel.

Two years before, Max helped a woman in distress with car troubles. Soon after, he saved someone else from a fire while going for a run,almost dying saving her. That fire and it's remaining scars, both physical and psychological changes Max as he and Steph grew farther apart.

A surprise trip to the Bahamas rekindled feelings, and gave them some hope that their marriage might be salvaged.... so when Steph finds out she's expecting, fear and hope intermingle with memories of the difficult birth of their sons. Was she going to have to face this alone?

This second (third?) book in the Scott Sisters story is very different than the first and I congratulate Rose Ryan for keeping the sisters together but the singular stories more focused. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series! Highly Recommended 5/5
.[ Disclaimer: I received this book from the author and voluntarily read and reviewed it]

[Glenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second of the stories of the Scott sisters. This one features Stephanie. She and her husband Max have had an amazing marriage but a couple of years ago Max was badly burned in the line of duty rescuing a woman from a house fire. Everyone thinks they have an ideal relationship but they can’t see the cracks. Max plans a surprise get away for them and for that week it is like it used to be but when they return hime it seems the tension and no communication are right back. To top it all off there is a woman Max works with that is not what she seems. Steph has a health scare and discovers that the surprise getaway has resulted in her being pregnant, 14 years after tge birth of their twins! There is so much more to this story that you need to read it for yourself! I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a review..

[Roslyn Simonin Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steph is having lunch with her sister Hannah, as they discuss Hannah (The Runaway Brides) relationship with her surgeon fiancé. After lunch , as they are returning to the car , Steph gets dizzy and collapses , only to wake up at the clinic and find out she is 8 weeks pregnant. She is frightened to death as her first pregnancy 14 years ago almost took the lives of her twin boys and hers as well.
Her marriage is falling apart at the seams as her husband has never recovered from his own near death experience in a house that nearly killed him.
She has to keep this a secret until she can figure out her life.
I received this ARC from Rose Ryan and am leaving my honest review.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steph already had a set of twin boys, age 15, which came through a very difficult birth, since she nearly died. Their marriage had become more stressful a few years ago as her husband, Max, had a terrible incident of being burned in a fire, leaving severe scarring. Life had become very stressful for both due to a stalker, and the withdrawal of Max because of his appearance from the scars. They took a week in the Bahamas and their marriage was full of happiness, until they returned home. As Steph would find out a couple of months later, they would have long lasting memories of their time away.
This is a very moving and emotional tale of love rebuilt out of ashes.

[Pam Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephanie finds out the cause of her faint ting spells. Her and her husband Max, have been going through a rough patch following Max’s injury in a fire, when he saved a woman in a house fire. Cheating accusations are made both both of the couple.

Add in a jealous coworker, Kendal who has been threatening and stalking Stephanie and Max. Family and friends come to the support of the couple several times to help the pair navigate their trouble.

Will Stephenie and Max be able to overcome their marital difficulties? What will the shocking medical news mean for the family?

Thank you to the author for this ARC. This review is my honest opinion.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this was my favorite book of the series. (This was my last one to read)
I felt like I could relate to being in a marriage you know you want to stay in but also realize that something just isn't right.
You know your partner would never do anything you are thinking but the distance makes you jump to conclusion.
I like Steph and Max. From all the books you know they have been each other's soul mate forever, but even soulmates can doubt sometimes. And that if everyone thinks you've got a perfect marriage they don't see the flaws either.
Like all the books there is a secondary story within the love story. This one is a stalker.

[Jeannine Wickliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great continuation of the series

I love the fact that Amy Rafferty's books can be read as stand alone. Each book is a complete story but ties in to the other books. In this book Steph and her husband, Max, are drifting apart and neither is sure of what to do. There are so many instances of misunderstandings and outside influences, that stop them from connecting. Then Steph finds out she is pregnant, and fear returns about her first pregnancy with their twin boys. Can Steph and Max overcome their fears and hurt, to put their marriage to what it was?

[Linda Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another story in the Scott family saga. This is the second full book, but there’s a prequel too. They really do need to be read in order. They are not stand-alones. Each book is about a particular one of the six sisters. The story progresses in chronological order across the whole series. In this story secrets are revealed & truths come out. Some difficult topics are covered. Beware triggers
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the author.
I am writing a voluntary honest review.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steph and Max have a wonderful marriage, until they don’t.

Who is this Kendal woman anyway and what does she really want? Why is Max so insecure in his 16-year marriage? What is Steph dreading to tell Max?

Another of the Scott sisters’ lives is revealed in this second novel of the series. It is full of drama and some unexpected twists. A quick and fun read.

Disclaimer:
I am part of the ARC team. I received this book from the author, voluntarily read and reviewed it.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amy Rafferty and Rose Ryan have kept the story flowing with Stephanie and Max’s story. This is a story supporting my theory that the most important thing in a marriage, any marriage, is communication. This has definitely been lacking in their marriage and it takes a near tragedy for them to realize this. Again we get romance, humor, problems, solutions and family. I am hooked on this family.

[DeeDeeWReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are back in Marco Island. This time we are meeting Steph and her family. This story will pull at your heartstrings and then some. We have it all tho, pregnany, marital issues, stalking, and the need for communication. I wanted to smack a couple of the characters in the head, but I loved the story. Good message in it. I will definitely be coming back again and again to read the stories as they come along.

[Jan Tomalis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story of Steph and Max has all the feels! They are a married couple who now can’t figure out how to relate to each other anymore. Everything changed with a major trauma in Max’s life. Now, Steph has left Marco Island to figure out her next steps. A fantastic, twisty story that will keep you turning the pages! Interesting series!
I received an advance copy of this book from the author, however, I voluntarily wrote an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.

[Dianne Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love overcomes challenges.

A beautiful, rewarding story of overcoming marital challenges and misunderstandings. I love that Stephanie and Max are surrounded by loving family and friends who help them cope with their challenges. A very pleasant and enjoyable story.

I read this book as part of an advance reader team and am providing my honest opinion.

[Marilyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story has a couple that have been married for several years and going great. But she gets pregnant and isn’t happy as it high risk especially to her. But there are other things happening that makes them having trust is with each other! Will they talk or have problems? I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Suze82 · Rating 5 out of 5]

threat of happy
My heart broke for Mark and Stephanie: they love and support each other but fear and constant stress put a strain on their relationship, so a pregnancy that usually is a happy incident threatens to tear the family apart. I liked how the authors reminded us that every coin has two sides. I received this book as a review copy.

[Sharmani Jayaram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephine has a difficult time throughout her pregnancy. Her husband Mark had supported her throughout but now she has the difficult decision to make that will change their lives . A heart-warming story about family. I received this ARC copy and leave a honest review. I recommend this book to other readers.

[Diane Jewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is amazing, and I'm so glad I get to read all about the Scott sisters. Book 2, The Baby on Marco Island is about Steph's family. Her husband Max and her 2sons. When the past comes back to test their marriage. Can they overcome the hurt and heartache? Continue following me on this journey to find out what's next. I can't wait for book 3.

[Jacqueline Johnston Cotton]

I love the charming beach setting of Marco Island. There was excellent character development and the story was twisty and pulled me in to where I felt like I was part of it all. Stephanie and Mark had communication issues. This one will keep you wondering to the end with plenty of drama and emotion to keep you entertained and engaged. Another great read!

[Debbie Odachowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

These people never have a normal day!

Love on Marco Island is never quite got the Scott family. With family secrets constantly coming to a head these characters lives change in an instant. Ms Rafferty seems to throw a curve just when you think you know where things are headed.Enjoy!

[Margarita Bienko · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Babies on Marco Island

I loved the strong bond between Steph and Max that in spite of adversity they remained true to each other. The Babies came earlier than expected but the complications of the first pregnancy were not repeated, happy ending to the story.
I wonder why the author chose the title as a singular baby? Perhaps a tight deadline among other things?

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as arc reader.

Steph & Max have been having communication issues for a couple years. They both love each other but aren’t sure how to fix their marriage. Everything comes to a head and they are forced to talk about things. In the end it works out perfectly.

[Danette Fowlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying this series. The hardships and tests of true love that Max and Steph go through totally tugs at your heart. I am so excited to continue the adventures of these Scott sisters.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sally K Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never assume

This book had plenty unexpected twists and turns.
I enjoyed it .. Good for those who like a good clean written story line.
I did find some discrepancies but other than that a good story line.

[Carol Gil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read

Max and Steph have had a rough couple years but held it very close so no one knew. This book takes you on many ups and downs but was very good. It is a must read! I recommend the series as every book has been great!

[Joan mooney · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book

Once again this is. Simple, easy to read charming story. There’s a bit of drama, a little intrigue, but mostly it’s a story of family love. How it always holds on even throthe rough spots. Good story. Good writer.

[Sue Bilyeu · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Baby on Marco Island

Once again Amy has done a great job providing a Story that deals with problems life throws our way. This story has a pregnancy that is unexpected but the answer comes in a totally unexpected way. A good clean read.