The Baby Plan

by Emma Bennet

Please note this is a completely revised edition of Her Sister’s Baby.

Sometimes life doesn’t go exactly to plan . . .

London accountant Sophie unexpectedly becomes the stand-in mum for her estranged sister’s eight-month-old baby, Alana. She didn’t even know she had a niece! She’s wildly out of her depth.

Then her life is turned upside down all over again by the appearance of a Thor lookalike on her doorstep. Apparently, six-foot surfer Samson is Alana’s father. And he also just discovered the existence of this adorable baby.

Sophie is not prepared to hand over her niece to an equally clueless stranger, so they come up with a plan: Sophie and Alana will move into Samson’s spare bedroom in Brighton until they work out what to do.

As they settle into changing nappies and nighttime feeds, Sophie finds it hard to ignore the way her heart somersaults whenever Samson looks at her. But he already has a girlfriend, who’s made it very clear that Sophie and Alana are in the way.

The more Samson and Sophie bond with little Alana, they can’t ignore the obvious attraction between them. But can they put their feelings aside and stick to the plan?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Fiction, Contemporary Romance

170 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2021

About the author

Emma grew up and lived in London, before falling in love and moving to Wales to marry her own hero. Emma now lives with her husband, 4 children, and many animals a few miles outside of a small Welsh market town. She can often be found in rivers attempting to control two overexcited chocolate labradors.

Seven charming romances are currently available from the Amazon bestselling authoress:

Number 1 Australian kindle bestseller, 'His Secret Daughter', is the heart-rending story of Iris, a woman falling in love with the father of her child. The only problem is she never told him they had a daughter.

The beautiful landscape around her home gave Emma the inspiration for 'The Green Hills of Home', a tale of love and duty in which country girl Gwen struggles to save her family home and avoid her feelings for her handsome, suave new boss. Is he quite all he seems?

'Snowed in for her Wedding Day' is a novella picking up Gwen's story as her wedding day approaches, but with terrible weather, and an absent groom, will she have the happy ending she so deserves?

'Just Desserts' is a novella about confused chef Leah, who's falling for her handsome French co-worker Jean-Claude, but meant to be marrying to Dan in just a few weeks! Who will she choose?

'Her Perfect Hero' was released in July 2015 as 'I Need a Hero', it's a lovely comic romantic read for anyone who's ever searched for Mr Right (and failed to find him!). Despair of Bronte, a romance writer, incapable of spotting when the perfect man is right next door! Full of horses, country houses and dentists, just beware of the foul-tempered cat Mr Darcy!

'Starstruck', proves that falling in love with a rock star is harder than you'd think! When newly divorced Kate finds school friend, now super famous rock star Joseph Wild, on her doorstep, her whole quiet, ordinary life is thrown into disarray. Is the attraction between them enough to make up for all the hurdles they have to cross if they want to be together?

Latest release, 'Her Sister's Baby' is a beautiful and emotional story about grief, the promises we make and finding love in the most unexpected of places.

Emma likes (in no particular order): cake, books, Cary Grant films, prosecco, chocolate, guinea pigs, knitting, quilting and happily ever afters!

Reviews

[zoë ˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Baby Plan was an excellently written romantic comedy. Samson; a Thor-like architect by day, surfer/cook/everything else under the sun by night finds out he’s a father. The only issue? The babies mother passes away and the baby is left in the custody of an aunt who also has just found out she’s an aunt. Attempting to please the other person and the baby of course; they find themselves living in the same house attempting to raise this darling little girl. We all know what happens when forced proximity comes into play. This was a great book, going to give it 3.5/5 stars simply because it is a little short and the background of the characters doesn’t come into play until very late in the story. Personally, I think this would make a great movie or novella.

[Dom Reeves · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The Baby Plan” by Emma Bennet is a cute book with a heartwarming plot and a sweet romance. I did find myself rooting for Sophie and Samson characters as their story unfolded. 

However, I do think some character development could have strengthened the emotional impact. Giving the characters greater depth and complexity would've drawn the reader in deeper and made the story even more engaging.

Despite that, the plot itself is enjoyable and easy to follow. The book's length is perfect for a quick and simple read, making it ideal for curling up with when you want something light and heartwarming. 

Overall, with more character development and a deeper exploration into the world within the pages, this could have been a 5⭐️ read. But even as it is, it's a charming and sweet read that leaves you feeling good.

eARC review:- I was kindly given this ebook advance review by Joffe Books via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

[Wendy W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an emotional journey about a woman, Sophie, who was woken up in the middle of the night to find out her sister has died in a car accident. With no other family, Sophie takes over custody of her sister’s baby, Alana.

Sadie, dealing with the grief of losing her sister and overwhelmed by caring for a newborn baby struggles with the decisions of caring for the baby. She must also figure out how to juggle her demanding career with the needs of her sister’s baby.

Then Samson shows up and learns tells Sophie he’s the father of the baby, Sophie feels immediately threatened as he wants to spend time with his daughter, Alana.

I enjoyed this fast-paced read. It immediately grabs you and takes you on this journey with Sadie, as she has to figure out how to be a mother and learn to handle Alana’s father as well. These characters are well developed and I cared for all of them.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a book about families, however they are made.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Susan Kasza · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t know why I finished this. Probably because I’m a sucker for books with cute babies. But it’s basically a recitation of “they went here, they went there, they did this, they did that”.

[Tish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emma Bennett’s The Baby Plan is a touching entry into women’s fiction with a hint of romance. The story centers on an aunt who unexpectedly finds herself caring for her sister’s baby following a tragic event. This premise sets the stage for a narrative that explores themes of family, loss, and the challenges of stepping into a new role under difficult circumstances.

The novel is endearing and provides a comforting read, especially when enjoyed with a cup of tea. Bennett’s writing is warm and approachable, capturing the emotional nuances of the protagonist’s journey as she adapts to her new responsibilities. However, despite its heartwarming elements, the book falls short in delivering a deeper emotional impact or a more dynamic plot.

While the story is certainly sweet, it unfolds in a somewhat predictable manner, and the characters could have benefited from more depth to fully resonate with readers. The novel remains enjoyable but doesn’t quite push the boundaries of its genre.

In summary, The Baby Plan is a solid three-star read—pleasant and comforting, yet lacking in the intensity and innovation that might make it truly memorable. It’s ideal for a light, soothing escape but doesn’t offer much in terms of groundbreaking storytelling.

[Loredana Mariana Bublitchi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Natasha dies in a car accident, leaving her 8-month-old daughter in the care of her sister, Sophie, with whom she has distanced herself over time. Caught off guard, Sophie must reorganize her life and options to provide Alana with the family and home the baby needs. However, she did not expect the biological father of the girl to appear on the scene, who wants to be involved in raising his daughter. As things unfold between Sophie and Samson, and whether they manage to reach a common ground, remains to be seen.

It's a short, light, and charming story, sometimes touching, that brings together two completely unknown people, connected by a baby. When Forced proximity and Under one roof collide, you can kind of get an idea of what's coming 🙈.

I would have liked the story to be more developed, to have a bit of back story of the characters, and for events not to happen in such a rushed manner, the characters' feelings to be deeper, they seemed somewhat superficially treated, and I think that's why I couldn't connect with Sophie or Samson. Also, the ending felt very abrupt to me, I would have preferred it to be more drawn out, so that things could "settle" properly.

Thank you, NetGalley and Joffe Books for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Haley Huckabay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: The Baby Plan
Author: Emma Bennet
Genre: Romance
Media: ebook
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Favorite quote: N/A
Sum of this book in 5 words or less: N/A

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Themes: family, all of a sudden parents, romance, hospital trip

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Thoughts:

I received a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Short summary - Sophie gets a call that her sister was in a car accident and when she gets to the hospital she has passed away. She is then going to pick up her sister’s baby, Alana, from a sitter. Her life's turned upside down even more when Samson, Alana’s father, shows up. They move into his spare bedroom.

This couldn’t be an easy book where the guy didn’t have a girlfriend, could it? That would have made it too easy without a little bit of stress for sure. The stress in question? Helena. I was so annoyed with Samson when he didn’t immediately believe Sophie about the events when Alana was left alone with Helena. Like buddy… why are you so dense? Could he really not see how she was acting towards the baby?

This was a short, coming in just at 198 pages, and so very sweet. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it if you want a short read.

[Donna Morfett · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS IS A VERY SHORT BOOK, JUST 12 CHAPTERS. iT DOESNT TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM THE STORY OR THE QUALITY OF THE BOOK.
iN SHORT, SOPHIE GETS CALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, TO FIND OUT HER ESTRANGED SISTER HAS BEEN KILLED IN A HORRIBLE CAR ACCIDENT. WHEN SHE ANSWERS HER SISTERS PHONE THAT HAS BEEN RINGING ALL NIGHT, SHE ALSO FINDS OUT HER SISTER HAS A DAUGHTER.
SOPHIE DECIDES TO TAKE OVER THE CARE FOR THIS LITTLE GIRL UNTIL THE FATHER TURNS UP AND THROWS A SPANNER IN THE WORKS.
IT IS A REALLY LOVELY BOOK AS A SINGLE WOMAN WORKING A HIGH-DEMAND, HIGH-PAYING JOB IN LONDON IS WILLING TO DROP EVERYTHING AND RELOCATE TO BRIGHTON FOR A SISTER SHE HADN'T SPOKEN TO FOR YEARS TO BRING UP A TINY BABY, FOR WHICH SHE HAS NO EXPERIENCE WHATSOEVER. iTS LOVELY TO SEE HER OVERCOME HER FEAR OF NOT DOING IT RIGHT, SHARED BY ALL NEW MUMS, AND FALLING IN LOVE WITH HER NIECE. sHE ALSO REALISES THAT THE MAN SHE THINKS IS TRYING TO TAKE HER AWAY IS ACTUALLY FIRSTLY HOT, AND SECONDLY NOTHING LIKE THE MAN SHE FIRST THOUGHT HE WAS. iT WAS A REALLY LOVELY WAY TO GET LOST FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS, AND WONDER WHETHER THE COUPLE WILL REALISE THEIR FEELINGS FOR EACH OTHER, WHETHER THE PARENTAGE OF ALANA WILL EVER BE SORTED OUT. IT MADE ME RATHER ENVIOUS OF THE HAPPY AND FULL LIFE THAT SAMSON HAS WITH HIS FAMILY. ID QUITE LIKE TO SIT AROUND THAT LARGE TABLE FOR SUNDAY DINNER. tHE BRIGHTON SETTING WITH THE BEACH AND LITTLE BACKSTREET RESTAURANTS ADDS ANOTHER LEVEL OF ROMANCE AND I WOULD QUITE LIKE A FOLLOW UP TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM.

[Julia Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Sophie's estranged sister dies in a terrible car accident she is devastated. Then she finds out she is aunt to her sister's 8 month old baby Alana. A heartbroken Sophie decides to take over the care of Alana and with the approval of social services, alters her life accordingly.
Then Alana's father Samson arrives on the scene, wanting to play a role in Alana's life too. Sophie and Samson become friends with a mutual desire to give Alana the best care possible, but as feelings grow between them their relationship becomes complicated and Sophie is left wondering if Samson is really who he appears to be.
This is a beautiful story of family ties and unexpected love. It is a riveting read which held my interest throughout. I was eager to keep reading to see what would happen. It is a well written slow burn romance. I warmed to the characters and thoroughly enjoyed this delightful tale. Five shiny stars.

[Miranda Hohn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Premise was cute and would make a better hallmark movie than book. There was not a lot of character development, and mostly felt like a relationship of convenience because of that. The writing felt long winded at times, with many instances not actually adding anything to the plot.

[Zelda FeatzReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seem to have ventured away from the mystery, thriller genre lately. Her Sister’s Baby is miles away from my comfort zone. This book delves into open, honest communication and how when we keep from telling the truth it can affect our relationships. Her Sister’s Baby is full of grief, the importance of family and unexpected love.
The author tells her story mainly from Sophie’s perspective, allowing the reader to experience her feelings first hand. You fall in love with baby Alana right along with the character and understand her need to keep the little girl in her life. I found her writing flowed easily off the page allowing me to work my way through her story in one day as I escaped into Sophie world and forgot all that was happening around me.
Sophie receives a phone call in the early hours of the morning telling her that her estranged sister has been in an accident. Rushing to the hospital only to find that her sister has passed away leaves Sophie filled with regret about not making more of an effort to be part of her sister life. Consumed with sadness she turns on her sister’s phone and discovers that her sister has a baby that needs to be collected from a babysitter. A baby Sophie knew nothing about.
With the baby wrapped in her arm, Sophie feels like she has a second chance. The baby is a piece of her sister and she promises the little girl she will always be there for her, protecting her.
Thrown into unfamiliar territory with a baby she has no idea how to take care of Sophie’s world is turned upside down. Only to have a man knock on the door announcing that he is Alana’s dad and that he wants to be a part of his daughter’s life. Immediately Sophie mistrusts Samson and is determined to do whatever she can to ensure that she does not lose Alana to him.
Can they reach a compromise? Is there a way for Sophie to remain a part of Alana’s life, her only living relative?
Opening this book I found myself quickly wrapped up in Sophie’s world and falling in love with baby Alana as Sophie did. I rooted for Sophie to keep Alana in her life, not trusting Samson either. I could not put it down and finished the story in one day.
The author made it easy to like Sophie while you could not help but dislike just about everyone else in the book. She painted Samson in a way that you were convinced he was up to something. He appeared to be hiding something behind his “too good to be true” front. I loved how she turns that around at the end.
I do not spend a lot of time with this genre and romance books are something I tend to steer clear of. Yet, I found this story engrossing and the romance side of the book was extremely light making it easy to focus on the other side of the story. Her Sister’s Baby proved to be an entertaining read.
Romance and Women’s Fiction fans will love this story. It is a gripping, moving story with a happy ending.
Visit the blog for more: https://featzreviews.com

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a relatively short book, "Her Sister's Baby" packs an awful lot of emotion into a simple (but highly effective) plot. This is a gripping story that plays tug-of-war with your heart strings and I flew through it. I thoroughly enjoyed Emma Bennet's writing and her characters are realistic and solid. I dare you to read this without saying "Oh, Sophie" just once!

This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion. My thanks to zooloobookblog

[Ritu Bhathal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Sister's Baby is a short book but boy, does it pack a punch.
The essence is a romance, but one that blossoms out of a huge tragedy.
Sophie is pootling along in her life in London, when she gets horrifying news about her sister, in Brighton.
Finding herself literally holding the baby, when she arrives to extremely sad news, Sophie has to navigate her own life, now entwined with that of a baby, and try to unravel the mysteries of her estranged sister, not least who the father is.
Samson had a shock one night when an old fling of his arrived on his doorstep with a baby who she claimed was his. After absorbing the news, he attempts to meet her, only to find her no longer alive, and a prickly sister holding a child who supposedly is his.
I loved both of the main characters, and though there was a teeny bit of a conflict, it was minor. Instead, we were able to concentrate on the emotions of the journey they both travel.
The way Bennet navigates through the twelve chapters to a very satisfactory conclusion was perfect, and I was happy to read a book which was easy to read, but filled with strong feelings, too.

[Sara Dillingham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for my copy of this book. Positives first: The opening chapter- I was hooked right away. The fact that the novel is based in England, which is why I gave this 2 stars.
The negatives: everything else. After the first chapter the book went wildly downhill. I have more depth in my pinky toe than these characters. There was minimal character development throughout the book and given the premise of the book, there should have been a lot of psychological trauma and overcoming hardships discussed. The monologue between the two main characters read as flat and forced.

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute no-angst book that was uncomplicated reading. The main character was well developed who showed a determination while being thrown at the deep end of life; her analytical brain was well depicted period.
Overall it was a cute read at around 150 pages

[Siobhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a light fast paced read. I wish it was a little bit longer so there could be more character development but overall I enjoyed this one as a shorter read than others I had been reading previously.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this ebook.

[☆ jess ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this arc in exchange for an honest review. 🤍

this was such an adorable read! the romance was slow burn but the pace of the book was quite fast overall. it’s a short book so a very easy read!

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually 3.25⭐️

Overall I enjoyed this book, but it felt a little rushed to me. I felt like the story was good, but could have been a little more developed.

[Rebecca]

Free on Kindle

[Kate Horrocks · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐ An enjoyable, quick romance but by no means a literary sensation

[Anabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

Short and sweet, THE BABY PLAN has everything you want and nothing you don’t. This was a good, mindless, clean romance story that provided just the right amount of the feel goods ◡̈

[bayls☁️✨ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think the plot of the book and the general idea of the book sounds good, but following the story line I just couldn’t find myself connecting to the characters, there was no character development especially with Sophie and there was no depth considering the story has different types of grief, I feel like it wasn’t delved into or respected as it could’ve been.
What really threw me off is the I love you at the end of the book as we saw next to no romantic connection between them, it wasn’t built up and it was said in a random sentence that they “fancied” each other.
Normally you can sense the chemistry between characters but there was nothing between them too and then following to an engagement when all we have seen is them try and navigate parenthood granted that is what the book was about but I was disappointed, this could’ve been such a good read if there was more attention to detail to the characters life.

[Dee Groocock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie is called to the hospital in the middle of the night as her sister, Natasha has been involved in a car accident. When she gets there, she finds out that she was too late, her estranged sister has died.

Soon after, she finds out that Natasha had a daughter called Alanna and Sophie quickly takes her on. However, Sophie hasn’t counted on Samson, Alanna’s father wanting to be with his daughter.

A fantastic short story that kept me guessing where it was heading. The love Sophie has for her niece is evident straight away, as is the love that Samson has for his daughter. Complicated relationships and misunderstandings are common in this story but that doesn’t take anything away from it at all. I loved it!

[Maureen Truesdale · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly can’t believe I even finished this

If this book had been over 200 pages, I wouldn’t have wasted my time. Characters were endearing, sure, but also so boring and predictable. Some romances these days are cliche and predictable but at least have something to keep the reader involved. This one did not.

[Eilidh Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Baby Plan By Emma Bennet follows Sophie who has just found out that her sister has died in a car accident and now needs to look after her sister's baby, Alana, whom she has never met before when Samson, Alana's father, turns up. They agree to have Sophie and Alana move in with Samson and they slowly but surely settle into a routine together.

I enjoyed this story and had a good time reading it, it was short, sweet and full of emotions. I enjoyed reading from Sophie's perspective and understanding how she felt throughout the story as well as seeing her feelings towards Alana and Samson develop and how much they most meant to her by the end of the story.

During the story, I would say the only characters that we see frequently throughout are Sophie, Samson and Alana, but we do see some of the friendships that are developed and Samson's family members which I really liked. I really liked it as we saw both Sophie and Samson develop as characters throughout the story, both as we learned more about them and as they grew and changed due to the situation they were in. The characters felt built up in the book, with flaws and made mistakes, they were not perfect people which makes them feel accurate to real life and that they could be actual people. They realise when they've done something wrong and try to fix it as best they can. I liked both characters and occasionally got annoyed at them but overall they were both people that I wanted to read more about.

I also liked seeing the support that they had around them, including the friend Sophie found in Julia and the couple of scenes we got with Samson's family who were just so wonderfully supportive. You can also see why many of their relationships are no longer as strong as they were due to having a baby in their lives now and how this is both a positive and negative thing but nobody is at fault.

As I have previously mentioned I really enjoyed this story and had a fun time reading it. I read it in one day was hooked and wanted to know how it was going to end. I liked seeing the relationship build, how Sophie and Samson interacted and Alana as a character on her own. It is an engaging story that packs an emotional punch no matter how short it is, and being 12 chapters and under 200 pages does not take anything away from the story in any way whatsoever.

On the other hand, it did take me a while to get hooked and comfortable in Sophie's head, at the start I wasn't her biggest fan but that quickly changed as I have shown already in my review.

This felt like a fun 3 star read that I enjoyed and would probably recommend but it definitely wasn't a new favourite book and I don't know if I will read any more Emma Bennet, but enjoyed this story overall.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophie Perring receives a late night call from a hospital saying her sister, Natasha has been in a car accident. When she arrives at the hospital, she learns that Natasha has passed away from her injuries. Heading to her sister’s home in Brighton, she learns that she has a baby daughter named Alana. As the sisters have not talked in quite a while, she is shocked to learn this news. Now, she must learn how to take care of Alana and be her mother.

A knock on the door announces a man named Samson who said that Natasha just let him know a day ago that he is the father of Alana and he wants to step in and be her father. Mistrusting, Sophie is unsure of him.

Sophie has a job as an accountant in London. When she asks to work remotely to be with Alana, she is turned down so she quits her job. She hopes to get some freelance jobs and stay in Brighton with Alana.

Samson is an architect and says he has a large house and suggests that Sophie and Alana move into his spare room. Reluctant at first, she agrees so both can raise Alana. This places them both is close proximity to one another but they soon find a schedule where they can both have duties with Alana and still carry on with their work. Of course, being together all the time means that a spark has developed between them. Could this lead to something more permanent together?

This is a sweet and at times heartbreaking story of two very determined and caring people who love Alana and want the best for her. The problems they face are something many parents can relate to. I found the story honest and fun. Enjoy!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[riss · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm back at it with my first Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) review of 2024. I received this book as an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I was initially drawn to this book because of the title. I'm a sucker for romcoms with single parents/secret babies and lots of potential for fun and drama. Since letting go of my teenage angst, I've learned to enjoy a Happy Ever After. When I want to escape into a romance, I need that HEA.


After finishing this book, I was mildly underwhelmed. The HEA was cute, but I didn't feel like I cared much for the characters. The twists in the plot were similarly disappointing and just fell flat. I could predict what would happen most of the time. Sophie came off as really judgmental. She herself acknowledges it several times and she does improve over the course of the book. It felt a little odd for the characters to end up together so quickly after judging each other so harshly at first.


The formatting of the ebook I received was awful and difficult to read. It lacked paragraph breaks and each page was a wall of text. It definitely detracted from my enjoyment of the book. It was incredibly hard to focus on the plot because I kept losing my place and having to reread the same page. I thought I didn't love the author's writing style, but I would give it another try if the formatting was fixed.


That being said, I probably wouldn't reread this, but I would recommend it if you're just looking for a short and fun read to bulk up your reading stats. 3 stars.

[Kat Robbins · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love single dad romances, and although this isn't a pregnancy trope (which I've grown to love), this is kind of as close as you can get without 100% qualifying. unfortunately, I had many issues with this book that lead me to ultimately DNF. see below:

1) the love interest is blonde. no, just kidding. I mean I don't prefer blonde love interests, but I can get over it I promise. I'm really just joking (mostly).

2) the author did not pull of the emotional depth that this type of story requires. the heroine's sister tragically and suddenly dies, and although she had a complicated relationship with her sister, she remains completely apathetic towards her death. I don't think we needed her such an emotional reaction as breaking down crying, but I wanted some internal dialogue portraying some complex emotions nonetheless. on a similar note, she all of a sudden finds herself fin charge of an infant. her entire life was turned upside down, and although she was up for the task, we got nothing from the heroine in terms of grieving the life she previously had.

3) the heroine comes off as very unlikable right off the bat. the father shows up after only just learning he had a daughter 24 hours earlier, and she acts offended that he would even want to fight for custody of his own daughter. sorry sweetie, but as an aunt I really do believe you are LESS entitled to guardianship of a baby in comparison to the baby's father, who wants to be involved!

thank you to joffe for the arc in exchange for an honest review

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first experience reading something by this author and I enjoyed it. The story is heartwarming and emotional and the romance was very sweet. After the sudden and tragic death of her sister, Sophie becomes custodian to her baby girl, Alana. A baby she didn't even know her sister had. She becomes overwhelmed, learning to care for a baby and balancing her career. To top things off, a strange man, Samson, shows up at her door claiming to be Alana's father. She initially feels threatened and protective of Alana, but Sophie and Samson eventually work out a plan for her and Alana to stay with him. As they spend more time together caring for and bonding with Alana, their attraction to each other grows stronger and as the story unfolds, things become more complicated.
The story was short but sweet. I would have liked to see a bit more backstory and development of the characters, as it would've given the story more depth. Nevertheless, it was entertaining and the characters were relatable and likable and it was easy to root for them as the story progressed.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy. This is my honest review.

[Barbara Deeprose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved It!

Sophie loved her life and job in London but when she received a phone call to say her sister, whom she hadn’t seen for a long time, was in hospital after crashing her car, Sophie rushed to be with her, but it was too late. Her sister had died. Even more heartache was to come. Her sister, Natasha, had a baby girl, seven months old, that Sophie knew nothing about. With no other relatives, Sophie took charge of the baby wondering how she would cope. A ring at the door comes as Sophie is trying to copy with Alana, who is crying her eyes out, and there stands a sun bronzed handsome man, who claims he is Alana’s father. With no proof he is the father, and with Sophie wanting to raise the child herself, how are they going to resolve custody? I loved this book, and although I guessed what would happen, I was gripped.