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The Hartwell Women #4
Baby Talk
Readers of the Hartwell Women Series asked for more. I listened. Baby Talk is Book 4.
When Marissa Crawford and her husband Brad decide to start a family, Marissa has serious doubts about her ability to be a good mother--she was raised by one of the worst. Torn between telling Brad the truth and hoping she doesn’t get pregnant, Marissa’s life is completely upended when a baby girl is left in a basket on the front porch of her large home in Maine. Caring for the baby given specifically to Brad and her, Marissa must decide what her role in life is all about. Attempting to overcome her past, she’s faced with agonizing decisions. As she opens her heart to those who need her, she is challenged in unexpected ways and discovers a joy greater than she’s ever known.
When Marissa Crawford and her husband Brad decide to start a family, Marissa has serious doubts about her ability to be a good mother--she was raised by one of the worst. Torn between telling Brad the truth and hoping she doesn’t get pregnant, Marissa’s life is completely upended when a baby girl is left in a basket on the front porch of her large home in Maine. Caring for the baby given specifically to Brad and her, Marissa must decide what her role in life is all about. Attempting to overcome her past, she’s faced with agonizing decisions. As she opens her heart to those who need her, she is challenged in unexpected ways and discovers a joy greater than she’s ever known.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2020
311 people are currently reading
314 people want to read
About the author
Judith Keim
129 books966 followers Judith Keim, A USA Today Best Selling Author, is a hybrid author who both has a publisher and self-publishes. Ms. Keim writes heart-warming novels about women who face unexpected challenges, meet them with strength, and find love and happiness along the way, stories with heart. Her best-selling books are based, in part, on many of the places she's lived or visited and on the interesting people that she's met, creating believable characters and realistic settings her many loyal readers love.
She enjoyed her childhood and young-adult years in Elmira, New York, and now makes her home in Boise, Idaho, with her husband and their two dachshunds, Kacy and Wally, and other members of her family.
While growing up, she was drawn to the idea of writing stories from a young age. Books were always present, being read, ready to go back to the library, or about to be discovered. All in her family shared information from the books in general conversation, giving them a wealth of knowledge and vivid imaginations.
Ms. Keim loves to hear from her readers and appreciates their enthusiasm for her stories.
To sign up for her newsletter, go here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/oeiwdp1vkc
Her website: https://judithkeim.com/
Follow her on Book Bub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/judit...
She enjoyed her childhood and young-adult years in Elmira, New York, and now makes her home in Boise, Idaho, with her husband and their two dachshunds, Kacy and Wally, and other members of her family.
While growing up, she was drawn to the idea of writing stories from a young age. Books were always present, being read, ready to go back to the library, or about to be discovered. All in her family shared information from the books in general conversation, giving them a wealth of knowledge and vivid imaginations.
Ms. Keim loves to hear from her readers and appreciates their enthusiasm for her stories.
To sign up for her newsletter, go here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/oeiwdp1vkc
Her website: https://judithkeim.com/
Follow her on Book Bub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/judit...
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 22, 2025
Book #4
I liked the characters and learning about foster care .
Marissa's attitude about adopting and accepting foster care children just warmed my heart.
A good ending to a series.
I liked the characters and learning about foster care .
Marissa's attitude about adopting and accepting foster care children just warmed my heart.
A good ending to a series.
May 21, 2025
Baby Talk
A wholesome family story. I really enjoyed this book and the topic of foster care is something near and dear to my family that changes the lives in a positive way. This was a fantastic wholesome family series with relatable issues and topics. The characters were very supportive, loyal and one big extended family. I highly recommend this series, it might be your next favorite. Enjoy.
A wholesome family story. I really enjoyed this book and the topic of foster care is something near and dear to my family that changes the lives in a positive way. This was a fantastic wholesome family series with relatable issues and topics. The characters were very supportive, loyal and one big extended family. I highly recommend this series, it might be your next favorite. Enjoy.
May 17, 2024
Wonderful
I have to say this was a very good ending to the series. When I originally read Marissa's book I really didn't like her at all. I almost stopped reading this book when I realized it was going to be about her. A couple books later she is not the whiny irritating person she was in the other book. This is about motherhood, foster parents and adoption . Great book.
I have to say this was a very good ending to the series. When I originally read Marissa's book I really didn't like her at all. I almost stopped reading this book when I realized it was going to be about her. A couple books later she is not the whiny irritating person she was in the other book. This is about motherhood, foster parents and adoption . Great book.
January 29, 2021
Enjoyed this whole series
The strong love of a mother for her children, either biological and adopted, warms my heart.
Strong characters and great writing makes this book one of my favorite!
The strong love of a mother for her children, either biological and adopted, warms my heart.
Strong characters and great writing makes this book one of my favorite!
January 24, 2024
Baby Talk - how sweet
What a wonderful story! I loved the example of how important foster families are in a child's life due to no fault of their own. Of course the overall story was so moving & keep the tissues close.
What a wonderful story! I loved the example of how important foster families are in a child's life due to no fault of their own. Of course the overall story was so moving & keep the tissues close.
July 31, 2025
An Amazing Book
The characters were fun and so interesting. The love between family and friends was very nice. This book 📖 had so much good information. There were some good twists and turns. The surprise drama was great. I really enjoyed this book from start to finish.
The characters were fun and so interesting. The love between family and friends was very nice. This book 📖 had so much good information. There were some good twists and turns. The surprise drama was great. I really enjoyed this book from start to finish.
May 18, 2017
excellent!
August 21, 2017
Completed the 4 book series on the Hartwell Women. Liked some of her other series better but this one was very readable and all four were available so not having to wait til the next book comes out.
December 8, 2018
Completely predictable bit of enjoyable fluff. Would be a good summer read along with the other novels in this series.
October 25, 2020
Great series. Loved the story.
May 21, 2021
Different take on what a family can be with loving parents.
June 6, 2021
Enjoyed this series so well that I couldn’t put them down. Had to read the last 3 all in a row in a couple of days.
September 3, 2021
Another great book by Judith S Keim!!!!
January 28, 2023
Family Love
This is the frosting on the Cake! This series is so wonderful. Have love following this. Family. Thru. Ugly. and Beautiful times. So like life! !
This is the frosting on the Cake! This series is so wonderful. Have love following this. Family. Thru. Ugly. and Beautiful times. So like life! !
July 8, 2023
fab book
I’ve really enjoyed this series of books, they have been an easy read and delightful company in the evenings when I’ve been relaxing
I’ve really enjoyed this series of books, they have been an easy read and delightful company in the evenings when I’ve been relaxing
November 7, 2024
This is a well written story of love and insecurity of being a mom when a baby is left on your doorstep. Enjoyable read.
July 18, 2025
Interesting story, but not my type of book.
August 2, 2025
it was a good series, a little show at first
October 31, 2025
Baby Talk
Another well written story. This was about Marissa and her quest to become a mother. First she ends up as a foster mom then finds out she will have a baby herswlf.
Another well written story. This was about Marissa and her quest to become a mother. First she ends up as a foster mom then finds out she will have a baby herswlf.
July 5, 2023
Baby Talk by Judith Keim is Book 4 in the Hartwell Women series and in my opinion, the author knocked it out of the park with this heartwarming story. When an abandoned baby is left on the porch of Marissa and her husband Brad, Marissa is forced to face painful aspects of the past and her whole life is turned upside down as she learns to open her heart and meets the challenges facing her head on. This was well written and the author did a great job in creating and crafting the characters. I rated it a five.
February 24, 2017
Very good series. Different and interesting each book
Really good series. Holds your interest, each book different. Totally different story line, good twists and turns. Reading more by this author!
Really good series. Holds your interest, each book different. Totally different story line, good twists and turns. Reading more by this author!
January 7, 2016
I appreciate receiving this book as a giveaway from Goodreads. I read a lot and a great variety of books and and I found this light reading, interesting and very predictable. It's a happy ever after story. Brad and Marissa did have hurdles to overcome but easily done with stability, money and lots of help paid. To me everything was too perfect. Perfect marriage, good looking couple, beautiful babies, secure lives, beautiful , large home and plenty of help.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2016
Baby Talk
Though entertaining, I don't feel that this sequel was as well written as the previous books. It seemed to lack the detail that made the other stories so engaging. The transitions were awkward and it seemed that the author tried to use sexual experiences to hold the story together. As I said, I was entertained, but a little disappointed,not in the plot, but in the elaboration traveling give the characters depth.
Though entertaining, I don't feel that this sequel was as well written as the previous books. It seemed to lack the detail that made the other stories so engaging. The transitions were awkward and it seemed that the author tried to use sexual experiences to hold the story together. As I said, I was entertained, but a little disappointed,not in the plot, but in the elaboration traveling give the characters depth.
September 4, 2019
A wonderful ending to the series.
April 14, 2017
I loved the entire series.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews