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The Nine-Month Bride
The Nine-Month Bride by Judy Christenberry released on Aug 25, 1998 is available now for purchase.
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1998
13 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Judy Christenberry
248 books70 followersJudy Russell Christenberry was born in Dallas, Texas, USA, where she raised in a family of four children with a stay-at-home mom who was a terrific cook and an excellent teacher, where family tradition was concerned. As a child, Judy was surrounded by animals. Her father raised a few head of cattle to keep meat on the table. At one time or another, there were sheep, Thanksgiving turkeys, ducks and dogs, and there were always chickens.
Judy learned the importance of family at an early age. But, Judith's marriage ended in divorce. Yet, with support from her mother and siblings, she and her two daughters discovered their own definition of family. The family comes in all shapes and flavors. What's important isn't the two parents and the 2.5 children, it's love and support. She raised her children, taught during the day, wrote at night, and pursued her dream.
Judy, hasn't always been a writer, but she's always been a dreamer. As a child, for entertainment while doing chores, she told herself stories-she was always the heroine. However, she didn't start writing until she turned thirty-eight, just one year after her father's unexpected death. After this, she realized life promised no guarantees about how much time you have. Why wait to pursue your dreams? She had begun reading Harlequin Romance novels about ten years earlier, so romance writing came naturally. She signs her novels as Judy Christenberry, Judith Christenberry and Judith Stafford.
Over time, Judy realized two central themes dominating her writing: family and small town/country life. Many of her books have cowboy heroes, partly because she read all Zane Grey's romantic versions of the Old West as a teenager, and partly because her parents grew up on farms. The last element that frequently appears in Judy's stories is a dash of humor, just enough to bring a smile to your face. She believes laughter is good medicine and it definitely makes a six-foot hunk even more attractive!
Now, with her daughters pursuing their own dreams, Judy writes full-time and is wrapped up in her storytelling. She lives each new adventure with the vigor of a young girl, still dreaming up tales while washing dishes. She hopes to entertain her readers as much as she entertains herself!
Judy learned the importance of family at an early age. But, Judith's marriage ended in divorce. Yet, with support from her mother and siblings, she and her two daughters discovered their own definition of family. The family comes in all shapes and flavors. What's important isn't the two parents and the 2.5 children, it's love and support. She raised her children, taught during the day, wrote at night, and pursued her dream.
Judy, hasn't always been a writer, but she's always been a dreamer. As a child, for entertainment while doing chores, she told herself stories-she was always the heroine. However, she didn't start writing until she turned thirty-eight, just one year after her father's unexpected death. After this, she realized life promised no guarantees about how much time you have. Why wait to pursue your dreams? She had begun reading Harlequin Romance novels about ten years earlier, so romance writing came naturally. She signs her novels as Judy Christenberry, Judith Christenberry and Judith Stafford.
Over time, Judy realized two central themes dominating her writing: family and small town/country life. Many of her books have cowboy heroes, partly because she read all Zane Grey's romantic versions of the Old West as a teenager, and partly because her parents grew up on farms. The last element that frequently appears in Judy's stories is a dash of humor, just enough to bring a smile to your face. She believes laughter is good medicine and it definitely makes a six-foot hunk even more attractive!
Now, with her daughters pursuing their own dreams, Judy writes full-time and is wrapped up in her storytelling. She lives each new adventure with the vigor of a young girl, still dreaming up tales while washing dishes. She hopes to entertain her readers as much as she entertains herself!
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 15, 2016
Our hero Lucas lost his wife and baby son. Susannah's fiance left her cause he thought she was frigid. Both Lucas and Susannah want desperately to have a child of their own. They enter a marriage of convenience just because they both want a baby but they soon lose their hearts to each other and they don't know how to deal with it. Sweet angst and loving characters. Loved it!
January 16, 2022
3-4 ⭐️ read! I rated it a 3 because it is doubtful I would read it again, but I enjoyed reading it this first time and read it one straight shot. It is the pleasure one might get from watching a Hallmark movie. It has a purpose, it delivers, but it isn’t going to grace your dvd(streaming) collection with other love stories like While you were Sleeping etc….
🛑There are spoilers throughout this review. However, it is one of those stories where spoilers probably won’t ruin it much as the book follows a pretty predictable path. However, if you hate any spoiler then don’t read anymore 🛑
Our heroine Susannah is a 32 year old librarian who has come to a momentous decision in her life. She wants a baby….not a husband. Her previous engagement ended with her fiance in bed with her best friend. He accused her of being frigid as she was not willing to be bedded before wedded. However, she really couldn’t summon the desire for him….her fiance….?
Anyhoo, she is now alone in the world. She moves to the small town of Caliente, Colorado where everyone knows everyone else’s business.
She visits the local doctor to approach the subject of artificial insemination. He says if she has a donor he can perform the procedure. She doesn’t. Then he tells her he may have a prospect. So he sends her to Lucas, a local wealthy cowboy rancher and the hero of our story. In the meantime, the Doctor calls the hero and tells him he is sending him a potential prospect as well…..the 33 year old hero wants a baby, no wife.
The h shows up at the ranch. The H’s first impression of the h is not favorable. She is dressed head to toe in a conservative outfit. Hair severely secured in a bun. She is tall, and a brunette. Basically, she is the complete opposite of his beautiful dead wife who was a blonde pocket size Venus that was perfect in every way. She was barely 20, when she died giving birth to their stillborn son. Hence, he wants an heir to take over the running of the ranch.
Of course fireworks ensue upon meeting. She thinks he is willing to donate sperm and he thinks she is willing to donate a baby. Basically, the story continues where these two continue to circle each other and strike sparks off each other. Although, neither one of them is going to succumb to it. Eventually, the H convinces the h that she should marry him. Basically, a MOC to procreate. Although, he has come to realize that she is much more attractive than he first thought. The wedding takes place and the hero guesses by the h’s actions that she is a virgin. They make love and it is volcanic. The h realizes there is no way in hell she is frigid, and the H can’t believe that sex is this good. However, the h maintains a separate bedroom because she is sure that the H would prefer it this way as she is under no illusion that she is there as a brood mare.
On the flip side, the H respects the h’s need for a separate bedroom, as he understands she only wants him for stud purposes.
It doesn’t take long, and the h is pregnant. However, she isn’t willing to give up sexy times with the H so she is quiet. The H hears her wrenching in the toilet one morning, he suspects she is pregnant but he doesn’t say anything because he doesn’t want to give up sexy times with the h.
She tells him on Christmas, and neither one of them can communicate what they really want because she doesn’t want to be hurt and he doesn’t want to admit that he has moved on from his wife.
When the baby’s first movements occur, she takes the H’s hand to her stomach. Overwhelmed with emotion he whisks her up to the bedroom for some afternoon loving only to pull away after the loving. He leaves. The h is hurt. She ends up packing a bag to get away for a few days. She leaves him a note. He, meanwhile visits his wife’s grave to ask forgiveness/permission/ acceptance to move on with the h who he now loves.
The H is distraught to find her gone thinking she has left for good. When she comes back after a few days, they have a little more misunderstanding which explodes into finally talking to each other. There is a little epilogue of a healthy boy and the h talking about a girl the next time.(our H will give her anything she wants, although he still worries over the whole birth thing. )
Let’s talk about Beth, the first wife because when one reads a story like this one needs to believe in the HEA and that the 2nd wife will outshine the first wife in the Hero’s affections. I do believe this occurs, however, I am not sure even the hero realizes at this point how better suited the h is compared to his first wife. .SPOILERS!!! This is the part I would skip if you are not interested in knowing about the first wife I plan on comparing the attributes of each wife..
SPOILERS NOW!
Beth- blonde, small, young She must have been all of 19 when she married the H who would have been 29. She likes that the H is rich. She is very biddable. She doesn’t argue with him and only gives him cute little pouts when she is disagreeable. She planned an ott wedding, because when you are 18/19 you really want the 10 bridesmaids etc…She wasn’t into sex. Oh she would perform her wifely duties, but once she was pregnant, she locked up shop. However, I am sure she flattered the H and for all outward appearances she probably seemed like the perfect wife. The H thought she was perfect. However, I have a feeling her appeal would have grown tiresome after few years. Don’t get me wrong, I think the H and her would have stayed married, but I think the marriage would enter a comfortable stage that is more out of companionship, convenience, and child raising. Who knows if they would have even had more children. The little snippets we learn about Beth are interwoven in the story. The reader has to come to some conclusions on their own by reading between the lines. We aren’t meant to dislike Beth, she wasn’t unlikable. I just don’t think she was the H’s soulmate, and I have a feeling as his marriage progresses it will hit him one day that the h was the best thing to ever happen(he is more than 3/4 way there already)
So what did the h offer that the first wife didn’t. Well, the most obvious of all is she is very attracted to the H and sex is not a chore with the H, but a craving want and a life sustaining need. Then there is her personality. She isn’t a yes man. She can challenge the H intellectually, and she isn’t afraid to put her foot down and call him out when he is being a male chauvinist. The H probably didn’t realize he needed a challenge, but his first wife’s willingness to do his bidding would have gotten boring after awhile and even the duty bound sex would have lost some appeal. She isn’t cheerleader cutesy attractive, but she had no shortage of men wanting to dance with her at the local shindig. She is tall, and has the curves that separates her from the men. There are times she shows how feminine she can be(nuzzling into the H’s neck, seeking comfort) She is not lazy. I have a feeling she will embrace the ranching life as the marriage continues. Whereas, the first wife liked to sleep in and was probably more of the shopping belonging to committees type of wife. I also think the first wife liked being waited on whereas our h has no issue with pitching in. She doesn’t expect the staff to treat her as mistress of the domain. She is a first name basis type of gal who buys gifts for all the cowhands. Not only that, but she seems to know them well enough to know what they may appreciate. Again, reading between the lines with just a few glances and comments, I have a feeling the first wife, although sweet and kind, would have had invisible barriers between herself and the staff. Lastly, the h has done what the previous wife could not. She gave the H a much beloved heir. Children bring a whole new dimension/ connection to a marriage. I find it difficult to believe that even people who separate or divorce can ever forget that connection(although one does hear stories) For most people, I do believe that connection is pretty powerful.
Anyhoo, this was pretty vanilla as romances go, but since vanilla is most people’s choice for ice cream, it will be enjoyed. On another note, although the story was lacking descriptions of the Colorado Ranch, I am coming off a two week marathon of Yellowstone seasons 1-4. So, the images of big ranching was in my brain as I read.
🛑There are spoilers throughout this review. However, it is one of those stories where spoilers probably won’t ruin it much as the book follows a pretty predictable path. However, if you hate any spoiler then don’t read anymore 🛑
Our heroine Susannah is a 32 year old librarian who has come to a momentous decision in her life. She wants a baby….not a husband. Her previous engagement ended with her fiance in bed with her best friend. He accused her of being frigid as she was not willing to be bedded before wedded. However, she really couldn’t summon the desire for him….her fiance….?
Anyhoo, she is now alone in the world. She moves to the small town of Caliente, Colorado where everyone knows everyone else’s business.
She visits the local doctor to approach the subject of artificial insemination. He says if she has a donor he can perform the procedure. She doesn’t. Then he tells her he may have a prospect. So he sends her to Lucas, a local wealthy cowboy rancher and the hero of our story. In the meantime, the Doctor calls the hero and tells him he is sending him a potential prospect as well…..the 33 year old hero wants a baby, no wife.
The h shows up at the ranch. The H’s first impression of the h is not favorable. She is dressed head to toe in a conservative outfit. Hair severely secured in a bun. She is tall, and a brunette. Basically, she is the complete opposite of his beautiful dead wife who was a blonde pocket size Venus that was perfect in every way. She was barely 20, when she died giving birth to their stillborn son. Hence, he wants an heir to take over the running of the ranch.
Of course fireworks ensue upon meeting. She thinks he is willing to donate sperm and he thinks she is willing to donate a baby. Basically, the story continues where these two continue to circle each other and strike sparks off each other. Although, neither one of them is going to succumb to it. Eventually, the H convinces the h that she should marry him. Basically, a MOC to procreate. Although, he has come to realize that she is much more attractive than he first thought. The wedding takes place and the hero guesses by the h’s actions that she is a virgin. They make love and it is volcanic. The h realizes there is no way in hell she is frigid, and the H can’t believe that sex is this good. However, the h maintains a separate bedroom because she is sure that the H would prefer it this way as she is under no illusion that she is there as a brood mare.
On the flip side, the H respects the h’s need for a separate bedroom, as he understands she only wants him for stud purposes.
It doesn’t take long, and the h is pregnant. However, she isn’t willing to give up sexy times with the H so she is quiet. The H hears her wrenching in the toilet one morning, he suspects she is pregnant but he doesn’t say anything because he doesn’t want to give up sexy times with the h.
She tells him on Christmas, and neither one of them can communicate what they really want because she doesn’t want to be hurt and he doesn’t want to admit that he has moved on from his wife.
When the baby’s first movements occur, she takes the H’s hand to her stomach. Overwhelmed with emotion he whisks her up to the bedroom for some afternoon loving only to pull away after the loving. He leaves. The h is hurt. She ends up packing a bag to get away for a few days. She leaves him a note. He, meanwhile visits his wife’s grave to ask forgiveness/permission/ acceptance to move on with the h who he now loves.
The H is distraught to find her gone thinking she has left for good. When she comes back after a few days, they have a little more misunderstanding which explodes into finally talking to each other. There is a little epilogue of a healthy boy and the h talking about a girl the next time.(our H will give her anything she wants, although he still worries over the whole birth thing. )
Let’s talk about Beth, the first wife because when one reads a story like this one needs to believe in the HEA and that the 2nd wife will outshine the first wife in the Hero’s affections. I do believe this occurs, however, I am not sure even the hero realizes at this point how better suited the h is compared to his first wife. .SPOILERS!!! This is the part I would skip if you are not interested in knowing about the first wife I plan on comparing the attributes of each wife..
SPOILERS NOW!
Beth- blonde, small, young She must have been all of 19 when she married the H who would have been 29. She likes that the H is rich. She is very biddable. She doesn’t argue with him and only gives him cute little pouts when she is disagreeable. She planned an ott wedding, because when you are 18/19 you really want the 10 bridesmaids etc…She wasn’t into sex. Oh she would perform her wifely duties, but once she was pregnant, she locked up shop. However, I am sure she flattered the H and for all outward appearances she probably seemed like the perfect wife. The H thought she was perfect. However, I have a feeling her appeal would have grown tiresome after few years. Don’t get me wrong, I think the H and her would have stayed married, but I think the marriage would enter a comfortable stage that is more out of companionship, convenience, and child raising. Who knows if they would have even had more children. The little snippets we learn about Beth are interwoven in the story. The reader has to come to some conclusions on their own by reading between the lines. We aren’t meant to dislike Beth, she wasn’t unlikable. I just don’t think she was the H’s soulmate, and I have a feeling as his marriage progresses it will hit him one day that the h was the best thing to ever happen(he is more than 3/4 way there already)
So what did the h offer that the first wife didn’t. Well, the most obvious of all is she is very attracted to the H and sex is not a chore with the H, but a craving want and a life sustaining need. Then there is her personality. She isn’t a yes man. She can challenge the H intellectually, and she isn’t afraid to put her foot down and call him out when he is being a male chauvinist. The H probably didn’t realize he needed a challenge, but his first wife’s willingness to do his bidding would have gotten boring after awhile and even the duty bound sex would have lost some appeal. She isn’t cheerleader cutesy attractive, but she had no shortage of men wanting to dance with her at the local shindig. She is tall, and has the curves that separates her from the men. There are times she shows how feminine she can be(nuzzling into the H’s neck, seeking comfort) She is not lazy. I have a feeling she will embrace the ranching life as the marriage continues. Whereas, the first wife liked to sleep in and was probably more of the shopping belonging to committees type of wife. I also think the first wife liked being waited on whereas our h has no issue with pitching in. She doesn’t expect the staff to treat her as mistress of the domain. She is a first name basis type of gal who buys gifts for all the cowhands. Not only that, but she seems to know them well enough to know what they may appreciate. Again, reading between the lines with just a few glances and comments, I have a feeling the first wife, although sweet and kind, would have had invisible barriers between herself and the staff. Lastly, the h has done what the previous wife could not. She gave the H a much beloved heir. Children bring a whole new dimension/ connection to a marriage. I find it difficult to believe that even people who separate or divorce can ever forget that connection(although one does hear stories) For most people, I do believe that connection is pretty powerful.
Anyhoo, this was pretty vanilla as romances go, but since vanilla is most people’s choice for ice cream, it will be enjoyed. On another note, although the story was lacking descriptions of the Colorado Ranch, I am coming off a two week marathon of Yellowstone seasons 1-4. So, the images of big ranching was in my brain as I read.
March 3, 2014
amazingly enough i came across a treasure! i mean noone recommended the book 2 me nor was i particularly interested as i din no the author. i just opened it 2 get a peek n i was hooked !! lucas boyd was such a darling ! every woman's dream man !! he's really sweet! he's very macho as well but no ass. this book was abt 2 people finding each other, a second chance at love after they had been unlucky. lucas had lost his wife n son in childbirth while susana's fiance cheated wid her best friend. so when they found each other, they were both not looking 4 love nor commitment but they WERE looking 4 a BABY !lol! this was the funny part n i laughed a lot. good one, however it lost 2 stars 4me bcoz it lacked the presents usual angst. i mean i prefer presents books.
February 15, 2016
What an awesome story about two people who both wanted a baby and how they got together to get it. It was sweet and the poor heroine even offered to have in vitro instead of sex so they would not be embarrassed by it. So clueless Virgin of her for sure and he really lusted for her it was sweet how they finally got together. Loved it.
March 4, 2012
3 ½ Stars! ~ Our hero, Lucas is in over his head with reluctant bride Susannah. He wants a son. She wants a baby. Neither want to fall in love. Their chemistry bodes well for a marriage, but both worry about losing their hearts. And of course they do! This is a charming fun read, with our hero putting his foot in his mouth a few times, and our heroine determined to hide her true feelings. True love wins!
May 1, 2018
Enjoyable
I enjoyed this story and the characters. My complaint is I wish I was able to correct the formatting of paragraphs. Sentence with different characters voices should have been a new paragraph or something. I found it frustrating and wished my Kindle could correct it for my copy.
I had to make myself look passed this problem to enjoy the book. Don't know if it was an early book by author :(
I enjoyed this story and the characters. My complaint is I wish I was able to correct the formatting of paragraphs. Sentence with different characters voices should have been a new paragraph or something. I found it frustrating and wished my Kindle could correct it for my copy.
I had to make myself look passed this problem to enjoy the book. Don't know if it was an early book by author :(
July 28, 2016
Sama sama keras kepala ih
May 15, 2019
I do not know why I made myself finish this book. I’m also surprised it was written in 1998. Were gender roles still so grossly screwed in 1998? Because the “hero” of this book is pretty much an asshole misogynist the whole way, and the “heroine” was just flat annoying. And both of them were flat absurd in their determination to willfully misinterpret everything the other did or said. It was seriously ridiculous.
June 12, 2017
Leído el 10/09/2012
June 10, 2018
In the 90's, somewhat contemporary
Annoying how they didn't communicate their feelings after they changed/grew!
Annoying how they didn't communicate their feelings after they changed/grew!
December 16, 2018
es lo más cute que hay ❣️
January 22, 2022
This was sweet! It needed more plot turns and angst in my opinion. I liked that h was a librarian.
September 11, 2025
Aw lovely.
April 19, 2011
This story was a cute and light read and even though the misunderstand could've been cleared up if they would have just stopped and spoken to each other I felt that it worked with the way the two characters had been set up.
July 31, 2011
Loved it!
December 24, 2012
lucas es tan lindo, todo tierno, impulsivo y sexoso, sus es linda y amo su trabajo ^^, linda historia.
April 1, 2016
Joy
As always judy delivers excellent story with great characters.you fall in love with the town and its people.
Two people who needed love in worst way and found it and a family.
As always judy delivers excellent story with great characters.you fall in love with the town and its people.
Two people who needed love in worst way and found it and a family.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews