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Texas Cattleman's Club: After the Storm #3
Pregnant by the Texan
Someone has a pregnancy secret in this Texas Cattleman's After the Storm story from USA TODAY bestselling author Sara Orwig.When folks think of Stella Daniels they think unassuming, even plain. But after a devastating tornado hits Royal, Texas, Stella steps up and leads the recovery effort. That's when she attracts the attention of construction magnate Aaron Nichols—and a surprising night of passion ensues.Aaron sees something special in the no-nonsense admin, and he's more than happy to bring her out of her shell. But when he discovers Stella's expecting his child, can he overcome his demons to be the hero this hometown heroine really needs?Be sure to read other scandalous stories from the Texas Cattleman's After the Storm series, only from Harlequin® Desire!STRANDED WITH THE RANCHER by USA TODAY bestseller Janice MaynardSHELTERED BY THE MILLIONAIRE by USA TODAY bestseller Catherine MannBECAUSE OF THE BABY… by Cat SchieldHIS LOST AND FOUND FAMILY by Sarah M. AndersonMORE THAN A CONVENIENT BRIDE by USA TODAY Michelle CelmerFOR HIS BROTHER'S WIFE by USA TODAY bestseller Kathie DeNosky
188 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 21, 2014
47 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Sara Orwig
488 books112 followersUSA Today bestselling romance author, Sara Orwig, has over sixteen million copies of her books in print. Internationally her books have 200 translations of her novels into 26 languages. She has written 97 books and was one of the first 6 inductees into the Oklahoma Professional Writers Hall of Fame and 2-time winner of Oklahoma Writers Federation awards for Best Oklahoma Novel. Sara is winner of eight ROMANTIC TIMES awards which include the Award for Best Western Historical Romance Writer and the Award for Best Contemporary Fiction Writer. aka Daisy Logan.
Sara currently is writing books that are a published by Harlequin Desire.
Sara currently is writing books that are a published by Harlequin Desire.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 14, 2015
Very good book. Stella has been in the background of the previous books, quietly going about the business of tornado recovery. She is the mayor's administrative assistant and while he has been critically injured she has stepped up to do what needs to be done. She doesn't see herself as doing anything special. During the early cleanup efforts she met Aaron and something sparked between them, resulting in a memorable night together, something that she doesn't usually do. She doesn't see a future in it, and lets him know that she'd rather forget about it. Six weeks later she discovers that she won't be able to.
Aaron was drawn to Stella from the beginning. He sees beauty under the plain clothes she wears, and a giving heart that encompasses everyone. He'd like a chance to experience more of the passion they had the last time they were together. But before he can make his interest known, he finds out about her pregnancy. Being an honorable man, he proposes right away, wanting to give Stella and the baby everything they deserve. He's surprised when Stella turns him down, but she wants love along with marriage and feels that love is not in the equation.
I liked that Stella had the fortitude to stick to her desire to marry for love. Her parents hadn't loved each other and it made for a miserable childhood for her and her sister. She sensed from the beginning that there was something holding him back. Since she knows that they will be connected forever thanks to the baby, getting to know him better is important to her and she hopes that eventually he will open up to her. Meanwhile, Aaron hopes that he can convince Stella that passion and compatibility will be enough for a good marriage. Seven years earlier he had lost his wife and son in a car crash and the pain he still feels has him certain he will never love again.
One of the things I loved about Aaron was that he saw so much more in Stella than she did in herself. She doesn't see the work she's doing for Royal's recovery as anything special, but he can see how much she gives of herself. He is determined to make her see just how wonderful she is. Though at the beginning he seems very pushy about forcing her outside her comfort zone, it's not long before she is doing everything he knew she could. I loved the way that he supported and encouraged her, and the pleasure he took in her success.
With as much time as they were spending together, the passion between them only grew. Stella found that, as she expected, her feelings for Aaron only got stronger. But without him returning her love, she can't bring herself to commit to a marriage between them. Aaron discovered that when he was with Stella, the pain of his losses wasn't as great, but couldn't see that he was in love with her too. It wasn't until she started to withdraw, to protect her own heart, that he realized the depth of his feelings. I loved seeing what he did to show her just how special she was.
Aaron was drawn to Stella from the beginning. He sees beauty under the plain clothes she wears, and a giving heart that encompasses everyone. He'd like a chance to experience more of the passion they had the last time they were together. But before he can make his interest known, he finds out about her pregnancy. Being an honorable man, he proposes right away, wanting to give Stella and the baby everything they deserve. He's surprised when Stella turns him down, but she wants love along with marriage and feels that love is not in the equation.
I liked that Stella had the fortitude to stick to her desire to marry for love. Her parents hadn't loved each other and it made for a miserable childhood for her and her sister. She sensed from the beginning that there was something holding him back. Since she knows that they will be connected forever thanks to the baby, getting to know him better is important to her and she hopes that eventually he will open up to her. Meanwhile, Aaron hopes that he can convince Stella that passion and compatibility will be enough for a good marriage. Seven years earlier he had lost his wife and son in a car crash and the pain he still feels has him certain he will never love again.
One of the things I loved about Aaron was that he saw so much more in Stella than she did in herself. She doesn't see the work she's doing for Royal's recovery as anything special, but he can see how much she gives of herself. He is determined to make her see just how wonderful she is. Though at the beginning he seems very pushy about forcing her outside her comfort zone, it's not long before she is doing everything he knew she could. I loved the way that he supported and encouraged her, and the pleasure he took in her success.
With as much time as they were spending together, the passion between them only grew. Stella found that, as she expected, her feelings for Aaron only got stronger. But without him returning her love, she can't bring herself to commit to a marriage between them. Aaron discovered that when he was with Stella, the pain of his losses wasn't as great, but couldn't see that he was in love with her too. It wasn't until she started to withdraw, to protect her own heart, that he realized the depth of his feelings. I loved seeing what he did to show her just how special she was.
July 21, 2025
Im reading through Gramy's books now so if you see these harlequin covers all over my page mind ur own business... or join me🫴🏼
April 19, 2018
I’ve been having a hard time figuring out just who this book is for. I guess the short answer is, “all the people who gave it 5 star reviews,” but I’m still a little mystified. The tone of the story is that of a cozy or even Christian romance. All the characters are super swell people who bend over backwards to help each other and rush to assure one another that they’re all the most awesome and amazing people and everyone just loves them so much. The town is entirely filled with these nicer-than-nice folks who would give you the shirt off their backs and who spend all their time thinking of new ways to do even more favors for each other. And our hero and heroine are the swellest, most helpful, self-sacrificing people of the bunch and have multiple “you’re so wonderful,” “No, YOU’RE so wonderful” conversations while never even coming close to having a single fight. So yeah, that’s cozy romance wrapped up in Christian and raised to the Amish power…..but there’s also a bunch of on-page, fully described, out-of-wedlock sex resulting in a pregnancy. So yeah. Who exactly is the target audience for this?
Unfortunately the answer in my case is, “not you” because I was bored out of my mind with this one and only kept listening because I couldn’t get back to the library for a new book. There really is nothing to sink your teeth into here. Stella and Aaron are Mr. and Mrs. Pollyanna and are fully canonized by the end of the book, which is super boring. And the repetitive “you’re doing such amazing things for this town,” “oh thanks, but I’m no big deal. YOU’RE the one who’s really helping the town.” “No, really, it’s YOU who’s doing the most for this town, let me list all the ways for you, again.” “Well thanks, I’m just doing what I can but it’s really people like YOU who are helping the most,” conversations had me gagging so much that I lost a few pounds by the time I was done reading. There’s this one scene in the beginning where Aaron helps Stella search for a little old lady’s lost dog and Stella thanks him for doing it like eight times. To which he of course replies that he’s happy to help and really, Stella’s the one who does so much for the town….I’m starting to gag again just writing this review. It was really overpowering.
This is a series book and the backstory is that the town of Royal was hit by an F-4 tornado. Aaron owns a big construction firm in Houston and flew in to help out. He and Stella met and apparently were so taken with each other that they had a one-night stand. This was very uncharacteristic for Stella so afterward she was embarrassed and asked Aaron to back off, which he did without much protest. The book picks up 6 weeks later and Stella suspects she’s pregnant. Aaron comes back to town to continue helping with the relief effort and wants to pick up where he left off with Stella too.
I really didn’t buy the back story on this one. Stella is described as being a terrible dresser, with her hair in a tight bun at all times and no makeup. Aaron is a gorgeous, rich, hunk of a man. I just didn’t buy that they hopped into bed on their first meeting. Not on Aaron’s part or Stella’s. That’s the kind of hookup that needs time to build so that he can see her “inner beauty” ...or else a lot of alcohol.
A lot, and I do mean A LOT of emphasis was put on Stella’s poor looks in the first 2/3 of the book. Every single one of her dowdy outfits was described and even though Aaron seemed to like her well enough to want to sleep with her, he pushed her very hard to get a makeover, against her protests. And when she’d been through her Cinderella moment, he went on and on and ON about how beautiful she looked now and how he didn’t even recognize her as being the same Stella. It was really getting crass. I liked that Stella noticed his obsession with her transformation and wondered if he’d still be interested in her if she went back to her old ways, but the author never really pays that off. All he has to do is say "I love you" at the end and she's totally won over, all her doubts forgotten. There isn't even a hint of insecurity in her about the fact that he just HAPPENED to fall in love once she was a made-over knockout that was attracting other men, not when she was the homely little mouse she'd been her whole life.
The central conflict, such as it is, is about Stella being pregnant but refusing to enter into a marriage without love because her parents had a loveless marriage and the whole family was miserable because of it. Aaron, on the other hand, already had a wife he was wildly in love with but she and his baby son were killed in a car crash 7 years ago. He doesn't think he can ever love anyone again, but likes Stella and the sex is good and there's the baby to consider so he wants to get married.
And that's pretty much the whole book. They're both ultra-nice people who spend all their time complimenting and thanking one another while dreaming up new ways to help the town. They have a lot of sex (which for me was squicky to listen to because these two had zero sex appeal and it was like listening to my parents doing it) and eventually Stella realizes she's in love so she pulls back to protect her heart. Like five minutes after this pull back, Aaron realizes he's in love too and proposes. It was all very, very tame. No hurt feelings, no harsh words, no good grovels.
Outside of the very tame relationship there was tons and tons of time spent on Stella's activities to help the town. Several people were introduced, presumably so they can have their own books later on. Aaron sets up a bunch of speaking engagements for Stella, without asking her first, so that she can get donations for the town. I didn't like this aspect any more than I liked the makeover stuff. He was just taking over her life and reshaping her into who HE wanted her to be. Not who she wanted to be herself. It would have been one thing if Stella had initiated these things and he'd just helped facilitate, but she didn't. She was perfectly happy with who she was prior to meeting Aaron and he completely changed her. She even says the words "you're changing my whole life" during the book. That's not romantic, it's creepy.
By the end, he's gotten her appointed as the acting mayor - a job she's REPEATEDLY said she doesn't want. But we're supposed to see all this as a positive thing in Stella's life. Like she's the ugly duckling who's grown into a swan. Rather than her having been perfectly fine the way she was and staying true to herself. Nope, you don't get to have a happily ever after if you're plain so get in there and put on some damn lipstick! Like I said, if Stella had always wished she was better at dressing and doing her makeup etc. and jumped at the chance for a makeover, that would have been fine, but she didn't. Aaron forced her into it. And that makes the whole thing very sordid.
Unfortunately the answer in my case is, “not you” because I was bored out of my mind with this one and only kept listening because I couldn’t get back to the library for a new book. There really is nothing to sink your teeth into here. Stella and Aaron are Mr. and Mrs. Pollyanna and are fully canonized by the end of the book, which is super boring. And the repetitive “you’re doing such amazing things for this town,” “oh thanks, but I’m no big deal. YOU’RE the one who’s really helping the town.” “No, really, it’s YOU who’s doing the most for this town, let me list all the ways for you, again.” “Well thanks, I’m just doing what I can but it’s really people like YOU who are helping the most,” conversations had me gagging so much that I lost a few pounds by the time I was done reading. There’s this one scene in the beginning where Aaron helps Stella search for a little old lady’s lost dog and Stella thanks him for doing it like eight times. To which he of course replies that he’s happy to help and really, Stella’s the one who does so much for the town….I’m starting to gag again just writing this review. It was really overpowering.
This is a series book and the backstory is that the town of Royal was hit by an F-4 tornado. Aaron owns a big construction firm in Houston and flew in to help out. He and Stella met and apparently were so taken with each other that they had a one-night stand. This was very uncharacteristic for Stella so afterward she was embarrassed and asked Aaron to back off, which he did without much protest. The book picks up 6 weeks later and Stella suspects she’s pregnant. Aaron comes back to town to continue helping with the relief effort and wants to pick up where he left off with Stella too.
I really didn’t buy the back story on this one. Stella is described as being a terrible dresser, with her hair in a tight bun at all times and no makeup. Aaron is a gorgeous, rich, hunk of a man. I just didn’t buy that they hopped into bed on their first meeting. Not on Aaron’s part or Stella’s. That’s the kind of hookup that needs time to build so that he can see her “inner beauty” ...or else a lot of alcohol.
A lot, and I do mean A LOT of emphasis was put on Stella’s poor looks in the first 2/3 of the book. Every single one of her dowdy outfits was described and even though Aaron seemed to like her well enough to want to sleep with her, he pushed her very hard to get a makeover, against her protests. And when she’d been through her Cinderella moment, he went on and on and ON about how beautiful she looked now and how he didn’t even recognize her as being the same Stella. It was really getting crass. I liked that Stella noticed his obsession with her transformation and wondered if he’d still be interested in her if she went back to her old ways, but the author never really pays that off. All he has to do is say "I love you" at the end and she's totally won over, all her doubts forgotten. There isn't even a hint of insecurity in her about the fact that he just HAPPENED to fall in love once she was a made-over knockout that was attracting other men, not when she was the homely little mouse she'd been her whole life.
The central conflict, such as it is, is about Stella being pregnant but refusing to enter into a marriage without love because her parents had a loveless marriage and the whole family was miserable because of it. Aaron, on the other hand, already had a wife he was wildly in love with but she and his baby son were killed in a car crash 7 years ago. He doesn't think he can ever love anyone again, but likes Stella and the sex is good and there's the baby to consider so he wants to get married.
And that's pretty much the whole book. They're both ultra-nice people who spend all their time complimenting and thanking one another while dreaming up new ways to help the town. They have a lot of sex (which for me was squicky to listen to because these two had zero sex appeal and it was like listening to my parents doing it) and eventually Stella realizes she's in love so she pulls back to protect her heart. Like five minutes after this pull back, Aaron realizes he's in love too and proposes. It was all very, very tame. No hurt feelings, no harsh words, no good grovels.
Outside of the very tame relationship there was tons and tons of time spent on Stella's activities to help the town. Several people were introduced, presumably so they can have their own books later on. Aaron sets up a bunch of speaking engagements for Stella, without asking her first, so that she can get donations for the town. I didn't like this aspect any more than I liked the makeover stuff. He was just taking over her life and reshaping her into who HE wanted her to be. Not who she wanted to be herself. It would have been one thing if Stella had initiated these things and he'd just helped facilitate, but she didn't. She was perfectly happy with who she was prior to meeting Aaron and he completely changed her. She even says the words "you're changing my whole life" during the book. That's not romantic, it's creepy.
By the end, he's gotten her appointed as the acting mayor - a job she's REPEATEDLY said she doesn't want. But we're supposed to see all this as a positive thing in Stella's life. Like she's the ugly duckling who's grown into a swan. Rather than her having been perfectly fine the way she was and staying true to herself. Nope, you don't get to have a happily ever after if you're plain so get in there and put on some damn lipstick! Like I said, if Stella had always wished she was better at dressing and doing her makeup etc. and jumped at the chance for a makeover, that would have been fine, but she didn't. Aaron forced her into it. And that makes the whole thing very sordid.
February 13, 2018
Stella Daniels' description is most commonly known as plain and unassuming but when a tornado hurls itself through Royal, Texas, she steps up to lead the clean-up and rebuilding campaign.
Aaron Nichols is a contractor who has been spending time in Royal lending a hand. He is drawn to Stella and she to him and after one explosive night of unbridled passion, Stella learns she is pregnant.
.
I am not in agreement with the 5-star reviews. I found this story to be shallow and dull forcing myself to finish. It was simply not appealing to me. There was one troubling issue and that was Aaron wanted to change Stella's appearance. He set up a complete makeover at a salon and purchased more sensual clothing for her...saying it was to make her more physically appealing to the businessmen they were meeting with to seek donations for the rebuilding of their town of Royal. He was quite certain the donations would be more forthcoming if she had a sexier appeal as opposed to her mid-calf length skirts, buttoned to the neck blouses, and pulled-back-into-a-severe-bun hair. She was not thrilled about those changes but she went along with it to help Royal. I would have to say that I would have been greatly offended if someone I cared about insisted I have a head to toe makeover, changing everything about my outward appearance. I do understand about looking your best but I felt as though his insistence on her change was way out of line and I would have been demoralized. Aaron was like: I really like you and you turn me on so let's go change everything about your outward appearance....right, good one, Aaron.
In my opinion, the storyline wrapped up much too quickly with a rush towards an HEA. It was not something I enjoyed but you may feel differently. I cannot recommend this book.
Aaron Nichols is a contractor who has been spending time in Royal lending a hand. He is drawn to Stella and she to him and after one explosive night of unbridled passion, Stella learns she is pregnant.
.
I am not in agreement with the 5-star reviews. I found this story to be shallow and dull forcing myself to finish. It was simply not appealing to me. There was one troubling issue and that was Aaron wanted to change Stella's appearance. He set up a complete makeover at a salon and purchased more sensual clothing for her...saying it was to make her more physically appealing to the businessmen they were meeting with to seek donations for the rebuilding of their town of Royal. He was quite certain the donations would be more forthcoming if she had a sexier appeal as opposed to her mid-calf length skirts, buttoned to the neck blouses, and pulled-back-into-a-severe-bun hair. She was not thrilled about those changes but she went along with it to help Royal. I would have to say that I would have been greatly offended if someone I cared about insisted I have a head to toe makeover, changing everything about my outward appearance. I do understand about looking your best but I felt as though his insistence on her change was way out of line and I would have been demoralized. Aaron was like: I really like you and you turn me on so let's go change everything about your outward appearance....right, good one, Aaron.
In my opinion, the storyline wrapped up much too quickly with a rush towards an HEA. It was not something I enjoyed but you may feel differently. I cannot recommend this book.
December 11, 2014
This series has been enjoyable until this story. So boring and I struggled not to skip ahead.
January 13, 2015
I am really enjoy reading the Texas Cattleman's Club: After the Storm series. I am always intrigued by series that are written by different authors. Can't wait for the next book.
January 31, 2015
Too slow for me and repetitive in regards to the whole tragedy in Royal. I found myself bored and skimming in sections. I didn't really feel any chemistry between our hero/heroine.
April 19, 2015
couldn't really get into this story
January 8, 2019
It actually had a better story than I expected. I enjoyed the characters. It was a quick, easy read - good for escaping reality.
August 12, 2019
2.5 stars
June 29, 2020
Was ok, I just don't love to read books that has hero having a loss of wife and child in the past. P.
February 18, 2015
Unassuming and plain.. I hate that Stella thinks of herself like this. Everyone has someone that finds them attractive but being told that she's plain makes a woman sure that no one can find her sexy or attractive. Now she knows that Aaron is a guy that finds her all of those things. She knows he doesn't live in Royal so a fling would be safe. Now she's found out that she's pregnant despite being careful. She's fully prepared to raise this baby by herself. What they had was just a fling but now that Aaron knows about the baby he's trying to convince her to marry him and that he wants to be involved in the babies life. She is hesitant.
Aaron's past is always just in reach for him to remember the pain. When he finds out that Stella is pregnant with his child he knows that its something he never let himself want but he does desperately. Convincing Stella that he is sincere in his quest is another thing all together. So he helps her raise money for the tornado relief. Pushing her to put herself out there in the spotlight and showing her that everything he saw in her was hidden beneath her shy exterior.
I really enjoyed Stella and Aaron's story. While Stella was shy and quiet she never really lacked the confidence to be her own person. She didn't need Aaron to be happy, she just had problems being in the public eye. She was competent in her job and her life, Aaron just added to it. He enhanced her and she helped him that the past doesn't always dictate the future. He could have a family and the past wouldn't be forgotten.
Aaron's past is always just in reach for him to remember the pain. When he finds out that Stella is pregnant with his child he knows that its something he never let himself want but he does desperately. Convincing Stella that he is sincere in his quest is another thing all together. So he helps her raise money for the tornado relief. Pushing her to put herself out there in the spotlight and showing her that everything he saw in her was hidden beneath her shy exterior.
I really enjoyed Stella and Aaron's story. While Stella was shy and quiet she never really lacked the confidence to be her own person. She didn't need Aaron to be happy, she just had problems being in the public eye. She was competent in her job and her life, Aaron just added to it. He enhanced her and she helped him that the past doesn't always dictate the future. He could have a family and the past wouldn't be forgotten.
April 16, 2018
I rated this one star because there was no zero star! It was just AWFUL. The series so far has been so good. This story had so much potential. The previous authors laid the foundation for these two intricate adorable characters and in one fell swoop Ms. Orwig swept all of that away. The dialogue was a special brand of terrible. Then there was the ridiculously repetitive bits about the recovery effort after the tornado. "You're doing such a great job Stella." "No. You are doing a great job Aaron." "No, you're doing such a great job Stella." "Oh Aaron, you're doing a great job." "Oh Stella, you're the one doing the great job". How many times did we really have to read that back and forth before the author expected us to get that they were both doing a great job in the recovery effort?
There was zero chemistry between the characters, there really was no plot, no real angst. As Dorothy Parker once said, this is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly, it should be thrown with great force!
There was zero chemistry between the characters, there really was no plot, no real angst. As Dorothy Parker once said, this is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly, it should be thrown with great force!
December 22, 2014
Stella Daniels might appear quiet and plain, but after the tornado that left death and destruction across Royal, Texas she takes a leading role in helping to rebuild.
Aaron Nichols is attracted to the quiet admin and works to draw her out of her reserve and let her hair down. Finding out their brief encounter has resulted in a pregnancy, he has to work thru whether he can risk his heart again after all he lost.
Overall, I found the story was bland and repetitive.
Aaron Nichols is attracted to the quiet admin and works to draw her out of her reserve and let her hair down. Finding out their brief encounter has resulted in a pregnancy, he has to work thru whether he can risk his heart again after all he lost.
Overall, I found the story was bland and repetitive.
February 25, 2016
D2342 Dec14 Texas Cattleman's Club: After the Storm Stella Daniels has stepped up and taken the lead in getting Royal, TX on the road to recovery after a tornado destroyed much of the town. Aaron Nichols sees beyond her plain practical exterior, he is still morning the deaths of his wife and son, love in his life is not an option. A makeover of Stella pushes him, but she is not willing to marry after the disastrous marriage her parents had.
Read
January 12, 2016"This beautifully written romance showcases the best qualities and emotions of falling in love with a wonderful courtship and an even happier outcome" (RT Book Reviews, 4 stars).
Miniseries: Texas Cattleman's Club: After the Storm
Miniseries: Texas Cattleman's Club: After the Storm
February 14, 2015
This is a very good book.I love the TCC series of books.They are all great but I thought this one was especially good.I love Stella and Aaron's love story.It was very sweet.I wanted to read more.I was hoping they would get married in the book.I recommend this book to everyone.
June 14, 2016
Stella is an extraordinary women. I liked Aaron and his caring attitude. The Texas Cattleman are wonderful. Could do more with the future instead of ending with assumptions
January 1, 2025
I really found the lead character of Stella so relatable. She worked to help out the town after the toronado and after meeting her prince she got to discover her own worth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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