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Outback Babies #1
His Best Friend's Baby
She needs a little favour…
Polly Martin has given up on love, but not on becoming a mother. She returns briefly to her hometown of Wirralong to proposition her childhood best friend, Seth Ramsay, confident he’ll agree to be her IVF donor.
Seth walks out of their reunion dinner date after Polly’s clinical and unemotional proposal. How could she think he was the type of man who wouldn’t take an ongoing interest in his child? A year later, still haunted by Polly’s question, he seeks her out in Melbourne and finds her heavily pregnant, unemployed, and barely making ends meet. Seth invites Polly back to Wirralong for a weekend only to end up delivering her baby girl early and finding himself more charmed than he could have imagined.
As Polly and her newborn recover at Seth’s house, their friendship is back on, but Seth wants more. He feels like he’s finally within reach of his dream when the town gossips send Polly fleeing home. And now Polly must ask herself searching questions, including where her new future lies.
Polly Martin has given up on love, but not on becoming a mother. She returns briefly to her hometown of Wirralong to proposition her childhood best friend, Seth Ramsay, confident he’ll agree to be her IVF donor.
Seth walks out of their reunion dinner date after Polly’s clinical and unemotional proposal. How could she think he was the type of man who wouldn’t take an ongoing interest in his child? A year later, still haunted by Polly’s question, he seeks her out in Melbourne and finds her heavily pregnant, unemployed, and barely making ends meet. Seth invites Polly back to Wirralong for a weekend only to end up delivering her baby girl early and finding himself more charmed than he could have imagined.
As Polly and her newborn recover at Seth’s house, their friendship is back on, but Seth wants more. He feels like he’s finally within reach of his dream when the town gossips send Polly fleeing home. And now Polly must ask herself searching questions, including where her new future lies.
182 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 19, 2022
630 people are currently reading
361 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Hannay
410 books295 followersMulti award winning author, Barbara Hannay, is a city bred girl with a yen for country life. Most of her 50 plus books are set in rural and outback Australia and they've been enjoyed by readers around the world.
Barbara has been nominated five times for Romance Writers of America's RITA Award which she won in 2007 and she has twice won Australia's Romantic Book of the Year award.
In her own version of life imitating art, Barbara and her husband currently live on a misty hillside in beautiful Far North Queensland where they keep heritage pigs, hens, ducks, turkeys and an untidy but productive garden.
Visit Barbara's website at www.barbarahannay.com
Follow her on Facebook and Twitter
Barbara has been nominated five times for Romance Writers of America's RITA Award which she won in 2007 and she has twice won Australia's Romantic Book of the Year award.
In her own version of life imitating art, Barbara and her husband currently live on a misty hillside in beautiful Far North Queensland where they keep heritage pigs, hens, ducks, turkeys and an untidy but productive garden.
Visit Barbara's website at www.barbarahannay.com
Follow her on Facebook and Twitter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
April 5, 2024
Polly Martin had grown up without a mum, with only her dad to care for her. And she'd been happy, very happy, until her dad had remarried. Then he'd passed away, and his new wife wanted nothing to do with Polly. Polly worked in IT, able to work from her home in Melbourne, and when she decided she wanted to be a mum, she returned to country Wirralong where she'd grown up, to her best friend, Seth Ramsay, asking him to donate for the IVF procedure. Seth was shocked and angry. Polly returned to Melbourne, knowing she'd done the wrong thing.
One year after that fateful dinner, Seth went to Melbourne to find Polly. He was worried about her, wondered if she was happy. But when he discovered the business had folded and Polly lived in a rental - not a nice one - plus she was hugely pregnant, he instinctively invited Polly to Wirralong for the weekend, to get away from all the things that had gone wrong for her. Polly was excited about the invitation and happily joined Seth in the two hour trip into country Victoria. Neither Seth nor Polly had any idea that their lives and their futures were about to change dramatically...
His Best Friend's Baby is the 1st in the Outback Babies series by Aussie author Barbara Hannay and I enjoyed it very much. The author writes great characters, which is why Polly and Seth - best friends since school days - were perfect. The series is written by different authors and I've already read #3 by Fiona McArthur so need to get on to the others :) Recommended.
One year after that fateful dinner, Seth went to Melbourne to find Polly. He was worried about her, wondered if she was happy. But when he discovered the business had folded and Polly lived in a rental - not a nice one - plus she was hugely pregnant, he instinctively invited Polly to Wirralong for the weekend, to get away from all the things that had gone wrong for her. Polly was excited about the invitation and happily joined Seth in the two hour trip into country Victoria. Neither Seth nor Polly had any idea that their lives and their futures were about to change dramatically...
His Best Friend's Baby is the 1st in the Outback Babies series by Aussie author Barbara Hannay and I enjoyed it very much. The author writes great characters, which is why Polly and Seth - best friends since school days - were perfect. The series is written by different authors and I've already read #3 by Fiona McArthur so need to get on to the others :) Recommended.
October 9, 2022
I absolutely love this endearing story of two types of love. The first type of love, is love of a child and the second type of love, is that's not-quite-there-but-will-it-be-kind-of-love. Yes, first Seth and Polly are school friends, then who knows and both of them don't know either!
Well apart from the I don't know where we are going type of love, I'm going to draw to your attention to what I loved.
My love of casseroles!!
I absolutely love my casseroles and still make them today.
So we have Chicken and Lamb casseroles.
My love of soups!!
I absolutely love my soups!! and guess what? in this story they are frozen too, just like mine
So apart from the food and the mystery of love, what else do we have? We do have a baby!! The mystery of how and the what now, is completely laid out in the book, along with cloth nappies, baby burbing, inquisitive mothers and a growth of a young born.
.
Loved the quote
"the swings and roundabouts of their totally separate relationships."
.
I want to thank from the bottom of my heart,
Barbara Hannay
for asking me to read the ARC of
His Best Friend's Baby, (via Tule Publishing)
➡️ RELEASE DATE - 19 May 2022 ⬅️
This is superbly written with a very understandable and empathetic storyline that will no doubt grip many women. Definitely a 5 star rating/recommendation and highly recommended by me. Set in Australia, this is a feel good easy read and I would put this under the genres,
Contemporary Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Australian Fiction, Womens Fiction.
.
Leaving you all now with an excerpt that I just couldn't leave out, as a bit of teaser.
.
"The next day she’d made him haul the branch into her backyard and stake it up next to the flowering melaleucas that the bees apparently loved. The bees had flourished and so had the garden and they’d even harvested some of the honey."
Well apart from the I don't know where we are going type of love, I'm going to draw to your attention to what I loved.
My love of casseroles!!
I absolutely love my casseroles and still make them today.
So we have Chicken and Lamb casseroles.
My love of soups!!
I absolutely love my soups!! and guess what? in this story they are frozen too, just like mine
So apart from the food and the mystery of love, what else do we have? We do have a baby!! The mystery of how and the what now, is completely laid out in the book, along with cloth nappies, baby burbing, inquisitive mothers and a growth of a young born.
.
Loved the quote
"the swings and roundabouts of their totally separate relationships."
.
I want to thank from the bottom of my heart,
Barbara Hannay
for asking me to read the ARC of
His Best Friend's Baby, (via Tule Publishing)
➡️ RELEASE DATE - 19 May 2022 ⬅️
This is superbly written with a very understandable and empathetic storyline that will no doubt grip many women. Definitely a 5 star rating/recommendation and highly recommended by me. Set in Australia, this is a feel good easy read and I would put this under the genres,
Contemporary Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Australian Fiction, Womens Fiction.
.
Leaving you all now with an excerpt that I just couldn't leave out, as a bit of teaser.
.
"The next day she’d made him haul the branch into her backyard and stake it up next to the flowering melaleucas that the bees apparently loved. The bees had flourished and so had the garden and they’d even harvested some of the honey."
May 10, 2022
I know when I pick up a Barbara Hannay book that I am going to be taken on a beautiful journey to a gorgeous HEA and this one is no exception, we are back in Wirralong a happy country town in Victoria and this time we meet Seth, longtime resident as he re-connects with his best friend Polly. The smiles and joy that come with this story make it a must read.
Polly Martin, IT geek moved away from Wirralong many years ago to Melbourne, leaving behind her best friend but got on with life but found no happiness with any man she went out with, but the years are ticking away and Polly wants to be a mother. Maybe a trip back to catch up with Seth Ramsey will help her get her wish. If he will agree to be her IVF donor.
Seth Ramsey is shocked at Polly’s request to be her IVF donor and walks out on their dinner, what was she thinking that he would not become involved in the baby’s life that was not who he is, but he doesn’t stop thinking about Polly and his reaction to her question and seeks her out in Melbourne only to find her very pregnant and not living in the best of conditions. They had been friends through school and he wants to help, he asks her back to Wirralong for a weekend, which changes everything again when he delivers the most gorgeous of little girls.
This is a beautiful and heart-warming story, filled with emotion as Seth and Polly re-ignite their friendship, but Seth wants more for them but Polly has always been scared of changing their relationship and scared of losing their friendship and she goes back to Melbourne. But emails keep them in close contact and for Summer’s first birthday Polly visits Wirralong again and this time the sensual pull between them finds them falling in love in the most beautiful of ways. I loved this story so much it has left me feeling very happy. Seth is a sigh worthy hero and Polly deserves love so much. I look forward to book two in this series. I do highly recommend this story.
My thanks to the author and Tule Publishing for my copy to read and review.
Polly Martin, IT geek moved away from Wirralong many years ago to Melbourne, leaving behind her best friend but got on with life but found no happiness with any man she went out with, but the years are ticking away and Polly wants to be a mother. Maybe a trip back to catch up with Seth Ramsey will help her get her wish. If he will agree to be her IVF donor.
Seth Ramsey is shocked at Polly’s request to be her IVF donor and walks out on their dinner, what was she thinking that he would not become involved in the baby’s life that was not who he is, but he doesn’t stop thinking about Polly and his reaction to her question and seeks her out in Melbourne only to find her very pregnant and not living in the best of conditions. They had been friends through school and he wants to help, he asks her back to Wirralong for a weekend, which changes everything again when he delivers the most gorgeous of little girls.
This is a beautiful and heart-warming story, filled with emotion as Seth and Polly re-ignite their friendship, but Seth wants more for them but Polly has always been scared of changing their relationship and scared of losing their friendship and she goes back to Melbourne. But emails keep them in close contact and for Summer’s first birthday Polly visits Wirralong again and this time the sensual pull between them finds them falling in love in the most beautiful of ways. I loved this story so much it has left me feeling very happy. Seth is a sigh worthy hero and Polly deserves love so much. I look forward to book two in this series. I do highly recommend this story.
My thanks to the author and Tule Publishing for my copy to read and review.
April 7, 2024
Just not my cup of tea. Very beige and simple. There are other authors out there who would take the same premise and write a sterling novel around it. I know I’m in the minority though here, so this review is just for me when I come along later and debate another book in this series 🙈
April 24, 2022
I enjoyed this Wirralong addition. I have loved spending hours reading all the wedding novels and now we get the pleasure of reading more on the lives of the people in this fictional town. Polly and Seth were very believable characters and I was instantly drawn to Seth. I found Polly to be super frustrating and initially and had to put the book down for a break but I'm really glad I continued to read it as she certainly won me over by the end. I'd recommend this to anyone who loves a good romance novel or wants to sink back into the Wirralong lifestyle yet again.
April 11, 2022
I voluntarily read a advanced reader's copy of this book for an honest opinion
His Best Friend's Baby by Barbara Hannay. A story of old friends.
Could there be more. What will happen when she comes back to town and asks
him to be her IVF donor what will be his answer. A great story, great character development and storyline. Can't wait to read the next in the Outback Babies series.
His Best Friend's Baby by Barbara Hannay. A story of old friends.
Could there be more. What will happen when she comes back to town and asks
him to be her IVF donor what will be his answer. A great story, great character development and storyline. Can't wait to read the next in the Outback Babies series.
April 15, 2022
This was a fantastic read. I was drawn to this book not only because it has Barbara's name on it, but because Seth said no. I'm so glad because he is right, he has feelings too and to just offer up his sperm and never see the child? How could Polly ask that? But Polly's intentions make sense based on her history and the characters both handle the situation very well. Polly continues on with her plan to have a baby on her own with an anonymous donor and is very happy.
But she got Seth's mind whirring. Seth hadn't seen his childhood bestie for years before she suddenly arrived in Wirralong with her outrageous proposal. A year later, he is curious to see how she is and manages to reconnect with her in Melbourne. Polly's eight months pregnant and not doing so well living and job wise, so he invites her back to Wirralong for the weekend for a relaxing break. However, that doesn't go to plan either and the weekend is anything but relaxing. It also changes their lives forever.
Honestly, this book was just magical. It helps that I have the softest spot ever for friends-to-lovers and this story gave me all the shivers. It was the perfect friends falling in love story. Polly achieves her goal of becoming a single mum in a fantastic way and Seth is the ultimate adorable hero. So easy to fall in love with with his kindness, patience, and love for Polly and her little girl. It was also nice to catch up with the townfolk of Wirralong and see how they were getting along and this book continues a fantastic series while beginning another.
Thank you Barbara and Tule for the ARC and opportunity to review this book. My opinions are my own.
But she got Seth's mind whirring. Seth hadn't seen his childhood bestie for years before she suddenly arrived in Wirralong with her outrageous proposal. A year later, he is curious to see how she is and manages to reconnect with her in Melbourne. Polly's eight months pregnant and not doing so well living and job wise, so he invites her back to Wirralong for the weekend for a relaxing break. However, that doesn't go to plan either and the weekend is anything but relaxing. It also changes their lives forever.
Honestly, this book was just magical. It helps that I have the softest spot ever for friends-to-lovers and this story gave me all the shivers. It was the perfect friends falling in love story. Polly achieves her goal of becoming a single mum in a fantastic way and Seth is the ultimate adorable hero. So easy to fall in love with with his kindness, patience, and love for Polly and her little girl. It was also nice to catch up with the townfolk of Wirralong and see how they were getting along and this book continues a fantastic series while beginning another.
Thank you Barbara and Tule for the ARC and opportunity to review this book. My opinions are my own.
May 28, 2022
His Best Friend's Baby
Totally delightful Barbara Hannay, great to be back in Wirralong again.
Seth and Polly had always been best friends. Polly arrives back in Wirralong with a proposition for Seth. Will they remain friends after this?
This is the third series of Wirralong stories, country stories about both country and city people. Having read all the stories in the other two series, I look forward to the rest of this current series. Loved this one.
Totally delightful Barbara Hannay, great to be back in Wirralong again.
Seth and Polly had always been best friends. Polly arrives back in Wirralong with a proposition for Seth. Will they remain friends after this?
This is the third series of Wirralong stories, country stories about both country and city people. Having read all the stories in the other two series, I look forward to the rest of this current series. Loved this one.
April 19, 2022
Wow this is a great start to a new series,I will be watching for the next one.
I loved this gentle love story, it’s thyme and way it was written left me with the warm fuzzies.
I was gifted an early copy and I chose to read and review it.
I loved this gentle love story, it’s thyme and way it was written left me with the warm fuzzies.
I was gifted an early copy and I chose to read and review it.
June 22, 2022
I always enjoy the time I spend in Wirralong and this was no exception. Perfect comfort reading!
May 23, 2022
A sweet heart wrenching story of schoolyard friendship and 15 years of separation culminating in a tender realisation of love Combine this with an IVF baby so loved and cute too, making for an enchanting story and HEA conclusion. Definitely a one session read.
May 19, 2022
What a great start to this new series. The story was so beautifully written. It is a story of best friends who become so much more. Their journey from one to the other was heartwarming, magical, and just so much more. I loved Polly and Seth's story and I cannot wait to see where this series goes next. I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 23, 2022
His Best Friend’s Baby is a great start to a new series, Outback Babies. Seth and Polly were best friends for years until she moved from Wirralong to Melbourne. Time apart has not dulled the meaning of their friendship. When she approaches Seth with a critical question, he is flabbergasted and turns her down. Not being able to forget her, he visits her in Melbourne where life isn’t rosy and Polly is eight months pregnant. From this point on, all things take off and create a wonderful story of friends, of love, and of memories.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 24, 2022
I was so pleased to read an ARC of Barbara Hannay’s latest book. I loved it.
As usual Barbara did not disappoint with this lovely story which starts off a with a platonic, life long friendship between Seth and Polly which develops into so much more. It’s a story of friendship, love, loss grief but it becomes a story of hope and community. Barbara’s books are like a big warm hug and I’m looking forward to the next instalment after His Best Friend’s Baby.
As usual Barbara did not disappoint with this lovely story which starts off a with a platonic, life long friendship between Seth and Polly which develops into so much more. It’s a story of friendship, love, loss grief but it becomes a story of hope and community. Barbara’s books are like a big warm hug and I’m looking forward to the next instalment after His Best Friend’s Baby.
April 27, 2022
I read my ARC copy for a review. I’m drawn to anything Barbara Hannay writes. Barbara never fails to provide interesting characters, great descriptions of the settings and storylines that make you want to keep on reading. Best friends who have their own plans for their lives then realise they are meant to be together. I was a bit annoyed with Polly for thinking her life as a child was the best life for own child. Then she realised her life was meant to be with Seth in Wirralong. I love a good romance story and would recommend this one to anyone who wants to brighten their life.
December 16, 2022
Dull….
This book is so dull, I couldn’t believe I had to finish it. I don’t like unfinished business so, I had to. There were some good threads the author could have pulled to spice things up. One of those was the greedy step mother. Also, there were some gaps that we just got a tepid explanation for. I didn’t see any romance, or relationship, between Seth and Polly either. Such a disappointment.
This book is so dull, I couldn’t believe I had to finish it. I don’t like unfinished business so, I had to. There were some good threads the author could have pulled to spice things up. One of those was the greedy step mother. Also, there were some gaps that we just got a tepid explanation for. I didn’t see any romance, or relationship, between Seth and Polly either. Such a disappointment.
August 4, 2025
Not for me
I would really like it if I would read it when I was 15. I stopped at chapter 7 and skipped to the epilogue. It just felt so sugarcoated to my liking.
Old friends, she asked him to be a spe.rm donor, didn’t work out and she had it from somewhere else. A year later he came to visit her, she is already pregnant. He took her to his house and she gave birth there….jumped to the epilogue, she’s pregnant with baby number 2.
I would really like it if I would read it when I was 15. I stopped at chapter 7 and skipped to the epilogue. It just felt so sugarcoated to my liking.
Old friends, she asked him to be a spe.rm donor, didn’t work out and she had it from somewhere else. A year later he came to visit her, she is already pregnant. He took her to his house and she gave birth there….jumped to the epilogue, she’s pregnant with baby number 2.
December 6, 2022
heartwarming
A lovely story about a couple of childhood friends that grew apart. Interesting circumstances bring them back together, but not in a good way. Their story takes a few twists, but grab a cuppa and settle in for a good tale.
A lovely story about a couple of childhood friends that grew apart. Interesting circumstances bring them back together, but not in a good way. Their story takes a few twists, but grab a cuppa and settle in for a good tale.
March 28, 2023
It was a light book! I don’t think the title has anything to do with it so that was a bit out of place. I wasn’t a fan of the ‘ used to dialogues. I did love the characters and the mom circle they had going on. The birth of summer was also a very heart warming thing to read.
May 8, 2022
This story starts a series about Outback babies. In this first one, we are introduced to Polly Martin and Seth Ramsay.
These two were childhood friends, and even after Polly and her dad moved to Melbourne, the friendship continued.
She’s been hurt one too many times and doesn’t believe in love. But that doesn’t stop her from wanting a baby. When she meets up with Seth asking him for his sperm, he is insulted and leaves their dinner. For a long time he’s had feelings for Polly .
A year after the proposal , he still feels guilty about the way things end and goes to Melbourne to visit. What he didn’t expect was finding her pregnant.
From that moment on, the friendship develops. But will Polly runaway once more and leave Seth heartbroken, or will they both realize they have a future together?
Seth was a very likable character and Polly took a little longer to appeal to this reader. That said, is was an entertaining story.
It’s a story about friendship, and taking a chance at life and love.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Tule Publishing. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
These two were childhood friends, and even after Polly and her dad moved to Melbourne, the friendship continued.
She’s been hurt one too many times and doesn’t believe in love. But that doesn’t stop her from wanting a baby. When she meets up with Seth asking him for his sperm, he is insulted and leaves their dinner. For a long time he’s had feelings for Polly .
A year after the proposal , he still feels guilty about the way things end and goes to Melbourne to visit. What he didn’t expect was finding her pregnant.
From that moment on, the friendship develops. But will Polly runaway once more and leave Seth heartbroken, or will they both realize they have a future together?
Seth was a very likable character and Polly took a little longer to appeal to this reader. That said, is was an entertaining story.
It’s a story about friendship, and taking a chance at life and love.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Tule Publishing. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
October 16, 2024
Nice little story
May 11, 2022
I loved this friends to lovers story. I loved seeing Seth and Polly fall in love and become a family. A true romance novel, set in small town Australia and the start of a series. A terrific book, and a terrific way to spend the day. I love a happy ending and I love reading the storyline weaving through and all the twists and turns it takes to get to the finish line. Ten out of ten.
May 2, 2022
An absolutely delightful book from one of my favourite authors, Barbara Hannay. I loved the different take on the best-friends-to-lovers trope: not what you'd think, really, and a rocky path to love, but sweet and lovely.
May 21, 2022
I received this arc of Barbara Hannay’s His Best Friend’s Baby from Tule Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This is the first book in the Outback Babies Series. Like a couple of the previous series, this one has books from 4 different authors. I loved the format in the past, getting to read books by other authors. Also, the books tend to come out closer together so the reader doesn’t have to wait as long for the next book. Each author can include characters from the books in the prior series that they or the other authors wrote. It’s fun to see them again. This series so far is wonderful.
In Barbara’s book, we meet Polly Martin, formerly of Wirralong, who now lives in Melbourne. She grew up with her best friend Seth Ramsay but hasn’t been back to her home town for many years. Suddenly, she returns and sets up a dinner with Seth. She asks him to be a sperm donor so she can have a baby. When he mentions having it the old fashioned way and being part of the baby’s life, she turns him down and leaves. Polly has been working for a tech company and Seth has taken over his dad’s garage.
Seth worries about Polly and what has happened to her. She was never in the popular crowd as he had been so he decides to head to the city to check on her. When he arrives and locates her, he sees she is very pregnant and living in a less than desirable apartment. He discovers she lost her job when her company went bankrupt. He convinces her to come to Wirralong for the weekend and get away from her problems. In a twist of fate, she goes into early labor and Seth ends up delivering her baby. As the baby is early, they have to stay in the hospital for a week. He then convinces her to stay at his house until the baby is able to travel back to Melbourne. During the stay, he becomes attached to both of them. Unfortunately Wirralong is a small town with many gossiping citizens. This makes Polly uncomfortable and she decides to go back to Melbourne and find a new job and a better place to live.
As time goes on, both Polly and Seth miss the other. They realize they had strong feelings for each other. Back in school days they shared one kiss and Polly was afraid they would ruin their friendship if they went down that road. So she made sure they didn’t pursue it further. As a result, neither was aware of how the other felt about their relationship. There is quite a bit of angst and soul searching for both the characters. The reader is pulling for them to decide to try out a romantic relationship. It is a great story with delightful characters and some romance and suspense. I look forward to reading book 2 and highly recommend this story.
In Barbara’s book, we meet Polly Martin, formerly of Wirralong, who now lives in Melbourne. She grew up with her best friend Seth Ramsay but hasn’t been back to her home town for many years. Suddenly, she returns and sets up a dinner with Seth. She asks him to be a sperm donor so she can have a baby. When he mentions having it the old fashioned way and being part of the baby’s life, she turns him down and leaves. Polly has been working for a tech company and Seth has taken over his dad’s garage.
Seth worries about Polly and what has happened to her. She was never in the popular crowd as he had been so he decides to head to the city to check on her. When he arrives and locates her, he sees she is very pregnant and living in a less than desirable apartment. He discovers she lost her job when her company went bankrupt. He convinces her to come to Wirralong for the weekend and get away from her problems. In a twist of fate, she goes into early labor and Seth ends up delivering her baby. As the baby is early, they have to stay in the hospital for a week. He then convinces her to stay at his house until the baby is able to travel back to Melbourne. During the stay, he becomes attached to both of them. Unfortunately Wirralong is a small town with many gossiping citizens. This makes Polly uncomfortable and she decides to go back to Melbourne and find a new job and a better place to live.
As time goes on, both Polly and Seth miss the other. They realize they had strong feelings for each other. Back in school days they shared one kiss and Polly was afraid they would ruin their friendship if they went down that road. So she made sure they didn’t pursue it further. As a result, neither was aware of how the other felt about their relationship. There is quite a bit of angst and soul searching for both the characters. The reader is pulling for them to decide to try out a romantic relationship. It is a great story with delightful characters and some romance and suspense. I look forward to reading book 2 and highly recommend this story.
November 26, 2023
Polly Martin and, Seth Ramsay have remained childhood friends even after, she and her father moved to, Melbourne. Polly’s been hurt, one too many times, in the love department, and has given up on it. But, not the idea of having a child. That's when she comes up with her perfect plan to ask, Seth to provide a specimen, for her child. She travels to, Wirralong her hometown, where Seth still lives. She decides to talk to him, face to face. To keep it more in line, with a business transaction. When she explains why she is there he is appalled.
I always thought you were smart, Polly. But sorry, kiddo, you might be clever with computers and stats or whatever, but when it comes to the real world, you’re still totally clueless.’ He was glaring at her now. ‘How the hell can you turn up here after all this time, ask me to father your child, and then have the gall to suggest I’d want no further contact?’ Before Polly could even try to answer, Seth launched to his feet, almost knocking over his chair in his haste. ‘In case you haven’t guessed, my answer is a big fat no.’
He leaves her there in the restaurant, alone. His words echoed in her ears, she had gone about it all wrong. She’d always been a bit ‘different’, a bit prickly, and not a great mixer. He knew she wasn't great at conversation or being able to express herself. Like he was hurt for her asking and thinking he could just walk away.
She was hurt by the way he just walked out without talking through it. He knows she’s very clinical or manual in her thoughts and actions. Social cues, events, and conversations were not things she was taught. She was raised by a father, who found a problem, and, then set out to fix or conquer it. Her ability to attach the correct emotions to things is not correct either.
Polly was utterly distraught. But she did not detour from her mission to be a mother. A year later, Seth was sitting on the back step of his almost finished renovated home that had taken three years. All around the demanding schedule of running his service station and garage in town. He was thinking of getting away for a few days to go to, Melbourne. He had this overwhelming calling to check in on, Polly. He had a feeling she needed him if only, to give her a cheering-up.
First, he had to find her. Walking out caused a break in their relationship. His leaving that day had hurt not only him but her too. Now, upon finding her last work address, he knows she is out of a job. Find out what happens to the two people, where outsiders and opposites attract. A very good story with well meaning friends. The mom’s group scares her with kindness, and in the end, becomes the family she never had.
I always thought you were smart, Polly. But sorry, kiddo, you might be clever with computers and stats or whatever, but when it comes to the real world, you’re still totally clueless.’ He was glaring at her now. ‘How the hell can you turn up here after all this time, ask me to father your child, and then have the gall to suggest I’d want no further contact?’ Before Polly could even try to answer, Seth launched to his feet, almost knocking over his chair in his haste. ‘In case you haven’t guessed, my answer is a big fat no.’
He leaves her there in the restaurant, alone. His words echoed in her ears, she had gone about it all wrong. She’d always been a bit ‘different’, a bit prickly, and not a great mixer. He knew she wasn't great at conversation or being able to express herself. Like he was hurt for her asking and thinking he could just walk away.
She was hurt by the way he just walked out without talking through it. He knows she’s very clinical or manual in her thoughts and actions. Social cues, events, and conversations were not things she was taught. She was raised by a father, who found a problem, and, then set out to fix or conquer it. Her ability to attach the correct emotions to things is not correct either.
Polly was utterly distraught. But she did not detour from her mission to be a mother. A year later, Seth was sitting on the back step of his almost finished renovated home that had taken three years. All around the demanding schedule of running his service station and garage in town. He was thinking of getting away for a few days to go to, Melbourne. He had this overwhelming calling to check in on, Polly. He had a feeling she needed him if only, to give her a cheering-up.
First, he had to find her. Walking out caused a break in their relationship. His leaving that day had hurt not only him but her too. Now, upon finding her last work address, he knows she is out of a job. Find out what happens to the two people, where outsiders and opposites attract. A very good story with well meaning friends. The mom’s group scares her with kindness, and in the end, becomes the family she never had.
May 30, 2022
His Best Friend’s Baby by Barbara Hannay, book one in the Outback Babies series is a beautiful and heart-warming story, filled with emotion as old friends Seth and Polly renew their friendship. Polly decided to become a single mother through IVF and returns to Wirralong to ask her best friend Seth if he would help her. Seth wants more for them than to be used like that. Realizing she has overstepped and afraid of losing their friendship, Polly returns to Melbourne; becoming pregnant through an agency. Not willing to lose their friendship again, emails keep them in close contact. As her daughter, Summer, approaches her first birthday, Polly returns again to Wirralong to visits with Seth. This time the magnetic attraction and chemistry between them has them falling in love in the most beautiful of ways.
Ms Hannay wrote a wonderful sweet story that is definitely not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with friendship, attraction, chemistry, supportive community, and charming characters giving Polly and Seth a chance to discover they are perfect for each other and creating a family for Summer. I highly recommend His Best Friend’s Baby to other readers and look forward to the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Ms Hannay wrote a wonderful sweet story that is definitely not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with friendship, attraction, chemistry, supportive community, and charming characters giving Polly and Seth a chance to discover they are perfect for each other and creating a family for Summer. I highly recommend His Best Friend’s Baby to other readers and look forward to the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
May 20, 2022
While this is the first book in this series we are back at Wirralong where we have been before and I love these books set in a small town in the outback. Yes everyone may no everyone else's business but they also care
Polly Martin can't seem to find true love but the one thing she would love is to be a mother so she heads to Wirralong hoping to convince her schoolyard friend Seth Ramsay to be her donor so she can have that child she is longing for. She alienates Seth with her clinical approach and her believe that he would walk away from his child and she leaves. A year later Seth still can't forget what she proposed so he heads to Melbourne to check on her finding her close to delivery and struggling to maker ends meet He steps in and takes back to Wirralong originally for a weekend but that all changes when he has to deliver her baby girl Can these two admit that they are more than friends and that they want more You will have to read to see
Polly Martin can't seem to find true love but the one thing she would love is to be a mother so she heads to Wirralong hoping to convince her schoolyard friend Seth Ramsay to be her donor so she can have that child she is longing for. She alienates Seth with her clinical approach and her believe that he would walk away from his child and she leaves. A year later Seth still can't forget what she proposed so he heads to Melbourne to check on her finding her close to delivery and struggling to maker ends meet He steps in and takes back to Wirralong originally for a weekend but that all changes when he has to deliver her baby girl Can these two admit that they are more than friends and that they want more You will have to read to see
May 20, 2022
His Best Friend's Baby is the first in the Outback Babies Series. By Barbara Hannay this is a unique take on the title. I am not sure what I thought the title inferred but this is a sweet romance where a woman has decided to have a child on her own though IVF. Off to a rocky start because of the donor she wanted turned into a wonderful romance. Certainly something Polly Martin had never imagined. That served to only make this even more of an enjoyable read.
Seth Ramsay had my vote for man of the year from the beginning. As the story progressed he also won my heart. A stubborn intelligent woman, a true white knight hero and one sweet baby that decides to come early makes for an outstanding cast of characters within a lovely story.
An ARC of the book was given to me by Tule Publishing which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Seth Ramsay had my vote for man of the year from the beginning. As the story progressed he also won my heart. A stubborn intelligent woman, a true white knight hero and one sweet baby that decides to come early makes for an outstanding cast of characters within a lovely story.
An ARC of the book was given to me by Tule Publishing which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 20, 2022
This sweet, tender, gentle feel-good Australian rural romance is a lovely start to the latest multi-author series set in the fictitious town of Wirralong. This is a best friends to lovers story that stretches over a couple of years and features a nice twist in that heroine Polly Martin has chosen to have a baby by IVF and raise it as a single mother. What ensues, apart from her baby’s arrival, is a lengthy process of realisation by both Polly and Seth that their friendship is morphing into love. While this is a slow-burn romance, it has enough twists to keep readers interested and finishes with a satisfying conclusion.
May 22, 2022
Polly is tired of waiting for Mr Right to come along. She is not getting any younger and she wants a baby now. She returns to her hometown in search of her hs bestie, Seth. He is still single and she is just positive that he will help her out and be a donor. When he gets insulted and tell her no she heads home and onto plan B. She picks a donor off a list and becomes pregnant. Later Seth feels bad and seeks Polly out to find her very pregnant. He convinces her to come back with him for a long relaxing weekend. Things go crazy and he ends up delivering her baby. Now he can't help but feel a bond with Polly and her baby. He wants more with Polly but can he convince her he is the real deal?
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