The Billionaire's Baby Arrangement

Bad Boys and Babies #2

by Krista Lakes

From New York Times bestselling author Krista Lakes comes a sexy standalone novel about a billionaire and the indecent proposal he gives the local barista.

Billionaire CEO Jackson Weathers needs a family for a PR boost, and I've signed a contract agreeing to give him one. A doting girlfriend in public. A wedding ceremony to invite all the socialites to. And finally, a baby for him to parade around, to show he's really a wholesome, down-to-Earth man.

I've tried to remain cynical about it. He's going to make all my dreams come true. So what if it's supposed to be a loveless marriage?

Only, his tenderness in private has me hooked. The way he kisses me drives me wild. When we make love, I lose myself to him. His body feels like it was meant to be on top of mine, like we fit together like two puzzle pieces. I can't help but begin to fall for him.

I can't tell him, or I risk losing everything. And nobody else can find out about our little "arrangement" or it will destroy his reputation. Still, I feel like I have to know how he feels, before the marriage, before the baby, before I give my entire life over to him.

Is it still just pretend?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Adult

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 11, 2018

About the author

Krista Lakes is a writer of romances that leave you feeling good and always have a happily ever after. She has two boys and a husband that keep her busy, not to mention two cats and a dog.

Reviews

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Billionaire Jackson Weathers, CEO of W&W BabyCo., is notoriously known for being a playboy. But, when his credibility tanks and mothers start buying baby products from the competition, Jackson begins to realize that the only option left to save his reputation and company is finding a wife and having a baby. It all seems so simple, present a contract to the local barista, Emma Sheridan, and pray she takes him up on his offer. Although Jackson feels a connection with Emma, he knows that love will never factor in to the equation. He is a playboy after all and a leopard can not change it’s spots. But, spending day after day with Emma is proving harder than it looks. Will love sneak its way in and turn a marriage based on lies into the real thing?

Everyone who knows me knows that I love the fake romance/marriage trope in books. So, when I saw that The Billionaire’s Baby Arrangement centers around a fake marriage, I just knew I had to read it. I am so glad I did because this story was so sweet and cute and I could not help but fall in love with Jackson and Emma’s story.

Jackson Weathers is very much a playboy with a different woman on his arm and in his bed almost every single night. He can never imagine being tied down to one woman for the rest of his life. Emma is different from all the women he meets. She is sweet, caring and loves children. He can see she is the perfect woman to become his wife and mother his child. Jackson does not want to hurt her, but he does respect her and while he will try not to cheat, he can make no guarantees. Jackson really is an interesting character. I can see how much he loves his company and how he will do everything in his power to save it. He really is a good guy deep down inside and I can see how caring he is especially with Emma, whom he does feel an attraction to.

Emma Sheridan is the local barista in Jackson’s building. She has known the playboy for a year and they flirt while he is ordering his morning coffee. Although Emma is attracted to him, she knows he would never date a nobody like her. She is heavily in debt with student loans hence her job at the local coffee shop. So, when he proposes a contract she can not pass up, she takes him up on his offer. Jackson will give her everything she has ever wanted, except for love. But can she really marry someone without the possibility of love? Emma really is the perfect heroine. She really is a good person deep down inside. I can see how she really wants the marriage to work, but is afraid to really let Jackson know how she feels about him. Emma knows this is only a publicity stunt, but she wants it to be so much more. Jackson makes her feel wanted and needed when they are alone together. Can she get her happily ever after with Jackson?

The pacing of the story starts off really strong and I found myself really connecting with both characters almost instantly. I really rooted for their HEA and hoped Jackson would realize sooner than later that Emma was the perfect woman for him. There is a bit of suspense thrown into the mix which was quite a surprise. I found it really worked well in the story and kept me engaged throughout. The heat level for this story is smoking hot! Grab a tall glass of water with lots of ice because when Jackson and Emma come together its explosive. I do have one little quibble with the author’s descriptive use of metaphors during sex scenes. I will say 99% of it was perfect, but then a sentence would be thrown in that seemed to throw of the scene off. Honestly, it is just a small little thing that I picked up on, but in no way did it take away from my enjoyment reading the story.

The Billionaire’s Baby Arrangement by Krista Lakes is a sweet and endearing love story that I devoured in just a few hours. If you enjoy a marriage of convenience trope like I do, then you will love Jackson and Emma’s story.

[April Symes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one hot and steamy romance. Emma worked in a coffee shop in a building and is working towards paying back her college loans when the sexiest billionaire playboy was CEO of a baby product company. They had this flirtation going everytime when he fetched his coffee in the morning. Jackson was attracted to little Ms. Barista and had asked her out a couple of times but she did turn him down. Jackson loved nothing more than changing his women all the time and acting like a "bad boy" but the company was paying for his bad boy ways by losing tons of money. 

Jackson's rep has caused one to many problems for the company and his family so he was given an ultimatum to fix his rep or he is out of the family company that his grandfather and father worked extremely hard to get off the ground. Jackson suggests marriage and a baby as a good PR move but the only one who he sees in that role is Emma. Jackson cant get Emma off his mind. Jackson had asked Emma out and had been turned down until one day he asks again she says yes. He strikes a deal with her to help pay off her student loans and she will help him to fix his rep. Can these two amazing characters find love or will outside forces prevent them from their HEA ? This awesome story was an enjoyable story that had me glued from start to finish to see if all the pieces could work out for the main characters.

My rating: 4.5 stars *****

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's a billionaire to do when his bad reputation is threatening the family business? Find a respectable wife and have a baby of course! Even though the arranged marriage trope is a common plot in romances, they are still fun to read and this one fits the bill. Emma is the barrista in Jackson's building when she finds herself presented with an unusual proposal, become a billionaire's wife and have a baby. It wasn't supposed to be a love match, just a business transaction. But the best laid plans often fall by the wayside when feelings come into play.
This was an enjoyable and fun romance and I look forward to more by this author.

[Emily (Mrs B's Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

**My thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

This book follows the same rules as other books in this trope and the characters soon find that actually they get along well together and things quickly go from a like of the other person to more, especially as from the first time they make love their is no condom.

Jackson is only ever a lovely guy to Emma from the beginning and is only ever honest, he just forgets once to let her know something that ends up hurting her.

Emma has great friend that helps her when it is needed and Jackson has a great PR lady who kicks his butt when he needs it too.

Enjoyed this story and look forward to more of the authors work.

[Krista Lakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh marriage of convenience trope, you never let me down :D

I had a blast writing this one. I wanted to up the stakes on the traditional marriage of convenience trope, and what better way to do that than by having a baby!

I loved writing the bad guys in this book. They were so delightfully scummy that I literally cackled as I wrote them. It reminded me of writing the stepmother in "American Cinderella" because it is was wonderful to be bad :D

[Tami Talbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma is a college graduate with a mountain of school loans working as a barista at the local coffeehouse just to pay the bills. Jackson Weathers is a gorgeous billionaire playboy who owns a successful diaper company whose only interest in women is seducing them for one night of pleasure but never anything more. Every morning on Jackson’s way to the office he can’t resist stopping in to pick up coffee and flirt with Emma. Fully aware of his philandering ways, Emma matches his wit and flirtations with her own knowing that that is a far as their “relationship” would ever go.

But when Jackson’s reputation begins to affect the success of his business, he realizes that he needs to change his ways…at least as far as the public is concerned. So when Jackson offers Emma a contract to marry him and start a family simply to help his company with no emotional attachments, his sincerity convinces her to agree. But as the time they spend together increases and she begins to see his gentle and tender side, Emma begins to feel a connection with Jackson she cannot deny despite trying to hang on to her heart and keep it in one piece. Can Emma keep her emotions safe from Jackson? Will Jackson ever realize the perfect match for his heart that Emma truly is?

Once again, Krista Lakes has penned two fabulous characters for me to fall in love with. Despite Jackson’s womanizing ways, he experiences a connection with Emma he has never before had and Emma is completely drawn in by his charm and the tender care he gives her. I loved the connection they both felt for each other and the way Jackson watched out for and protected her. This story made my heart flutter with love over and over again.

The Billionaire’s Baby Arrangement is Krista Lakes’ second release in her new series, Bad Boys and Babies but can be read as a standalone.

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore Krista Lakes as an author, she just nails it every time and this is no exception! The story has been told before by others, billionaire playboy needs a wife and baby to save his reputation and business, quiet girl who needs some money and is secretly in love with the billionaire, but what I loved about this story was the little twists and turns that made it unique and different to other books. Loved the chemistry between Jackson and Emma, loved reading the issues and dramas that arose and loved the ending of course!
Happy to recommend any of Ms Lakes books anytime.
I was lucky to receive a ARC and my opinions are all honest, my own and voluntarily given.

[☆☆Hannah☆☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely like this one better than the last one. Emma was a wonderful person and I loved how Jackson was so good to her from the start. Of course they had to have some drama. Luckily they were able to get it all worked out in the end.

[Melanie S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Expect more than ordinary

There are billionaire/fake marriage/contract baby romances aplenty out there. The trope has several variations, but the gist of it is that he needs a fiancee/wife/baby for business reasons, and love ain't got nuttin' ta do wit' it. She's broke/in debt/in hiding from something and agrees, more or less cynically, to the scam. It turns out to be the real deal, and on to HEA. They're all pretty much the same, so why should you read THIS one? After reading the ARC (Thanks, Booksprout) it is my voluntary, independent, and uncompensated opinion that Krista Lakes has perfected the plot. I thought there would be a naive young thing for the billionaire to wolf on, but Emma is innocent, not naive. She's surprisingly 3-dimensional, rational and perceptive. She's emotionally wise, and mature, and optimistic, and I adored her as the heroine. Jackson is not the alpha-hole hero you might expect. He's rich as sin, and a serial womanizer, but there's an inherent self-awareness and a nascent wisdom in him, which Emma brings out. He's confused about the nature of love, but he's sincere, a quick learner, and possessed of more integrity than most heroes in this trope. He and Emma together are a quirky blend of real and magical, and I found their story so enchanting I couldn't put it down. I had tears in my eyes at the end. YES, it's THAT good.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I own many of this authors books going back to the Kisses series and I'm a fan. I had a little trouble with this one. It's a Hallmark tale with plenty of sexy times. I'm stumbling over continuity issues. The cover guy is handsome, but Jackson has blonde hair and green eyes, harrumph. Emma went to college to be a marine biologist but doesn't know that she gets very seasick. She lives in an NYC apartment with no roommate working as a barista because she's so in debt with college loans. My brain hurts.

I enjoyed the story and liked the getting to know you and dating phase of their relationship. There was plenty of cute banter. Emma was easily to like with her sweet manner and love of kids. Jackson took more getting warmed up to for me but I did like him. The contracted relationship isn't my favorite but it seemed to be working for them until feelings got mixed into it and then no communication blew up everything. Jackson is good at doing sweet things that get maximum exposure, and that's the deal. I would have liked to see Emma do something toward that job she really wanted, her time mostly stopped being accounted for once she moved in with him. There are outside influences making trouble. I love a slimy villain and Lakes gives us a good one to hate. I'm a sucker for the grand gesture! I got my HEA!

[BP34 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story and found it hard to put down once I started. The billionaire and the barista will make you smile and you'll love their back and forth banter. Jackson, serial playboy and heir to the family business needed a PR makeover. What better solution than a wife and a baby since the family business is baby products. A deal with Emma for an arranged marriage and a baby is struck. What happens does fake become real? Chemistry that's off the charts and compatibility play into the picture. A great read that I read as a reader copy and voluntarily chose to review.

[Isha Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plans are made. Hearts are broken and love is found. Jackson and Emma approached love backwards, but eventually got it right. He needs a family, she needs cash. What began as a business deal becomes more than they ever thought possible. Love is surprisingly on the horizon. Until secrets get in the way. Although theirs is a relationship of convenience, it turns out to be anything but. The Billionaire's Baby Arrangement is a fistful of romance with a flavorful sprinkle of heart.

[Tish · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sweet story. I haven't read many marriage of convenience books but I'm thinking I'm gonna have to change that after reading this one. Jackson & Emma are a perfect match and the chemistry between them is strong. Things always get complicated once the heart gets involved.

This book was given to me at my request and I provided this review voluntarily.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Emma & Jackson's story. Good characters & felt they had a lot of chemistry. Was a fun read for me. I'm voluntarily leaving an honest review for a copy of the book via booksprout.

[Debora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely fantastic story. I was not thinking it was going to be so good. You know the usually boy see girl and can’t have her but still try and get her type of story... nope!! Not this one. It was about self preservation at first then it became a lot more about survival and keeping what his parents had worked so hard to built. Then just when you think things are nothing but a contract. Someone falls in love. I absolutely love Emma Sheridan she is the girl next door type of person, but with wits, compassion, and the knowledge to know when something is good for her or not. Well sometimes!!

Now Jackson Weathers is a different story. He’s a billionaire playboy that has since and a great smile. Knows what he wants and uses women for what he needs and move on to the next one. Until his womanizing ways threatens him to loose his company that his parents worked so hard for. Then he comes up with this plan to save it. His PR manager Jane can’t save him if he don’t change his ways and Emma is going to be his solution.

The only other thing that threatens his success is a ex employee that he fired for his under handed ways from his company. Max Singleton is a devious and underhanded serpent that is out to Ruin Jackson. He works for a compactor company called Innocence Company. Max will stop at nothing to ruin Jackson. You have to read this story it will keep you on your toes and make you cry at the end. I’m so happy that I ran upon this story by mistake. I do not regret buying this one at all. 🤗🤗🤗

[Luv 2 Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful love story!

Jackson, has a playboy reputation that is about to threaten his company.
He needs a fix to turn his reputation and company sales around.

Emma, has dreams to be a marine biologist, but with all the student loans she needs to pay back, she's forced to work as a barista in a coffee shop. The same coffee shop, that just happens to be in the building that Jackson owns and works in.

When his p.r. rep suggests, that in order to turn his image around, he must find a wife and have a baby with her, he thinks of the barista that he likes to flirt with, but always turns him down for a date.

When Emma, agrees to the arrangement, she knows it is to turn his reputation around, not for love, but she starts to fall for him anyway.

Jackson, has never been in love. He's a love them and leave them, one night stand, kind of guy. Soon he starts to realize that Emma, may be the one for him.

I love how these two come to the realization that the contract is only worth the paper that it is written on, once their hearts get involved.

A great story, with a happy ever after, by Krista Lakes.

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Krista Lakes books but admit that I was not prepared to like this one. When I read the blurb, I rolled my eyes a little and thought "business man forced to hire a bride. I've read that before."

Late at night, I decided to just take a quick peek at it to decide where I'd put it on my reading priority list. And that was that. I got sucked in. Somehow, as unlikely as the plot might be, I believed in the fairy tale. The H wasnt a jerk. The h wasnt a doormat. and I honestly shed a tear during the 'real' proposal.

Maybe I was just tired or feeling sappy but I felt like I fell in love right along with Jackson and Emma. So, I waited to write the review. This book couldnt have been THAT good right? Nope- I reread it over the weekend and I still loved it.

This was the 156th book I've read this year and it is most definitely in the top 5!

I received and voluntarily read an ARC of this book

[CharmaineW · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
Well, now I can put the tissues away. Sometimes people don’t realise when love stares back at them in the face. If you loved book 1, well you definitely will love this one too.
Billionaire Jackson Weathers needs to change his image...NOW. So find a wife, have a baby, easy right!!!!!! Wrong. Meeting barista Emma is just what he needs except what really matters, someone to love and love him back.
A story of a man on a mission but it becomes so much more. Emma is so down to earth and she changes Jackson, well they both change each other. At one point it made me tear up (hence the tissues) but absolutely loved it.
Roll on book 3 in this series

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I like this one even better than book 1! This is a really fun marriage of convenience romance with a bit of a Cinderella theme. Emma is such an engaging and relatable character. She works as a barista at the coffee shop that Jackson frequents, and they have engage in some fun daily banter. When Jackson needs a wife that is sweet, bubbly, and fun that the public will love, he knows exactly who to ask. For her part, I appreciated Emma's approach to his proposal. Their dates are fun, and their chemistry is electric. It was amazing to watch them fall in love with each other and see Jackson change his womanizing ways. The drama made sense and didn't feel forced, and I just adored the ending! 5 stars!

*I received an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

[Tarah Didley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a cute loving story

Hannah wants to be a Marine Biologist but when you have student loans to pay off it keeps you from continuing on in that field.

Jackson runs a multi billion dollar company but feels he can’t do anything he wants without any repercussions and it will soon back fire on him and his company unless he changes his ways.

These two have an easy going relationship and as soon as the heart gets involved it changes everything for the both of them.

I really enjoyed and thought it was entertaining.

[Chanda Norman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars This was just an OK read for me. Emma and Jackson's romance was cute, but I did not personally connect with the characters. Others that are familiar with Krista Lakes books have left more favorable reviews so it just might be me. All readers are different so if you enjoy this kind of story be sure to read and see what you think.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy provide by Hidden Gem.

[Katy Dospoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh

3rd person writing always makes it difficult to get through for me. I just can't connect to a romance story in 3rd person. I guess the characters were fine. But I felt so disconnected everything about the book bored me. It was also fairly predictable and somewhat anticlimactic. I think it would've been a much better read in 1st person and if it was shortened and tightened up some.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was alright but not my cup of tea. I was having high hopes but the writing style didn’t deliver, at least for me.

Nothing big happened. This book was uneventful overall and predictable. The story began with the hero being friends with the heroine and flirting with her to being friends, flirting with her and having sex her. Then, he realised he loved her. But again, the development wasn’t anything much. It was one note.

[Rina's Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading this after enjoying the first book so much - and I wasn't disappointed.
It had drama, sweetness and some hot as hell sex scenes.
The characters were fascinating and their chemistry was off the charts.
I'm a sucker for a good HEA and this book delivered that perfectly.
Jackson is my new BBF, so hands off ladies!

[Karen Kearns · Rating 5 out of 5]

TAMING THE PLAYBOY

What is the first thing a billionaire CEO thinks of as a solution to save a floundering company? Hire a publicist, draw up a contract, get a non-disclosure agreement signed, and hire someone to marry him and have his baby. What could possibly go wrong??? EVERYTHING!!!!! But cheer up, there is a Happily Ever After ending in here.

[MaD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet romance that takes flirting with a billionaire to a whole other level! Emma and Jackson have a great rapport over the counter at the coffee shop where Emma works, but the chemistry does not stop when they move their relationship out of the work building. There is laughter, drama, hot and steamy scenes. But is it enough to turn this "friendly contract" into love? Read on....

[Clémence · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually prefer to read in a first person POV, but the third person didn't feel as impersonal in this book. The no communication aspect bothered me a bit, but it was expected in a fake relationship romance. The only thing that really bothered me was how Emma completely abandoned her career ambitions. The rest was steamy and romantic and cute.

[Dia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I accidentally stumbled upon this and I regret nothing. The story was on point, the characters are just enjoyable to read and to get to know into. There was nothing too overly dramatic and more realistic in a way that it pleases you when you read how the story unfolds. A fun read and I enjoyed everything.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really liked this book better than the first one. I love the Cinderella vibe but also how she wants "real" not the contract. I love how even though she fulfills thr contract she does not allow him to leave the REAL without consequences.

[Cheryl Graham-Petit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has it all! A great storyline that keeps you turning the pages, wonderful characters, drama, angst, heartache, off-the-charts chemistry, love, oh, and some hot and sizzling scenes.

I volunteered to review an advance reader copy of this book.