The Baby Whisperer

Outback Babies #3

by Fiona McArthur

The last man she needs is another hero…

After losing her father, brother, and now her husband to their work in the fire service, midwife and mothercraft nurse Stephanie Lee leaves Perth for Wirralong to move near a midwife friend from university. She buys her first house along with the Wirralong Creche, where she’ll be able to immerse herself in looking after new mothers. Stevie’s not looking for romance, but when she meets her home builder, who’s everything she doesn’t want, she can’t resist.

When he’s not remodeling homes with his young crew of at-risk young adults, Eli Grayson is a volunteer for the rural fire service and international disaster relief. Eli’s never tried to resist the lure of a beautiful woman until he meets Stephanie. It’s love at first sight and captivated Eli is determined to win her trust and heart, no matter how long it takes.

She’s afraid to love and lose, but he’s convinced they can both win. Stevie has to answer the question, is Eli—the most compelling man she’s ever met—worth the risk?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Australia

186 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 9, 2022

About the author

Fiona McArthur has worked as a midwife for thirty years. She is the clinical midwifery educator inner rural maternity unit and teaches emergency obstetric strategies while working with midwives and doctors from remote and isolated areas.

Fiona has written more than thirty romances, which have sold over two million copies in twelve languages. She has been a midwifery expert for Mother and Baby magazine and is the author of Aussie Midwives. She has also written the novels Red Sand Sunrise, The Homestead Girls and Heart of the Sky. She lives on a farm in northern New South Wales.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Stephanie Lee arrived in Wirralong after her long journey from Perth, she had recently lost her father and brother, and now her husband, all to the vagaries of bushfires. All volunteers, Stevie was devastated when the men she’d loved had been lost – she wanted nothing to do with men who put their lives at risk, in her future. Wirralong would be her safe haven, with her friends Maeve and Lacey already here with their families. Stevie was known as the baby whisperer, with her ability to calm a fractious baby, and allow the new mother to sleep. Maeve and Stevie had trained as midwives together, now Maeve needed Stevie’s gentle touch with her own always awake and crying baby.

Stevie had bought an old cottage, sorely in need of renovation and Maeve put her onto a friend whose renovation abilities were his trademark. That was how Stevie met Eli Grayson – and he was a clever and innovative renovator, leaving Stevie thrilled with his ideas. But Eli was also a volunteer fire fighter as well as international disaster relief volunteer. Although the attraction and spark was there between them, Stevie was firm – she wouldn’t put her heart at risk again…

The Baby Whisperer is 3rd in the Outback Babies series by Aussie author Fiona McArthur and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I haven’t read #1 or #2 – both written by different authors – but this one easily stands alone, as I suspect the others do as well. With well crafted characters, toddlers, babies as well as the Creche Stevie takes over in Wirralong, The Baby Whisperer is a lovely feel-good story that I recommend.

With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to move to Wirralong and be with all of these amazing people, small towns mean friendship, caring and happiness to me and this is just what Fiona McArthur has shown in this next episode of this series, this time we meet Eli Grayson and Stephanie Lee, come along and see if these two beautiful people find the love and happiness they deserve and meet the baby whisperer.

Stevie has lost three people that she loves to fighting fires and it is time now to move on and that means moving to Wirralong to be near her best friends Maeve and Lacey she is not looking for love just peace and her work as the new owner of the towns crèche, Stevie is a midwife and mother craft nurse so running the crèche should keep her very busy and happy but things change when she meets the builder who is renovating her house.

Eli moved to Wirralong with his sister to start a fresh he is a builder and home renovator who has a young crew of workers who have not had the best start in life and he is also a rural fire fighter and volunteer for international disasters, he is foot loose and fancy free but when he meets his new customer the beautiful Stevie he loses his heart instantly but convincing Stevie that they are perfect for each other is going to be a bit harder than he thought.

Stevie feels an instant pull to this tall and rugged Eli but she is not going to love and lose again, the more time she spends with Eli the more the walls are breaking down, maybe it is time she puts the past behind her and shows the courage and strength that is there and Eli what a hero he had me smiling from start to finish, he is one of the best heroes I have gotten to know, caring, loving, sigh worthy.

I loved this story it is a wonderfully beautiful romance filled with emotion and love and a must read one I highly recommend, this one left me smiling and it will stay with me for a long time to come, Fiona McArthur another keeper thank you.

My thanks to the publisher for my digital copy to read and review.

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find more reviews at: https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp...
The baby Whisper is a sweet, closed door 'new to the area' romance.
Stephanie moves to Wirralong to help her friend Maeve with her new baby and to start a new life. Her husband died fighting a fire and she is hoping to find a new happy place away from the memories.

I loved re-connecting with characters I have grown to love from Fiona's previous books.
Stephanie is embarking on a house renovation and she hires Eli Grayson to do the work. I loved all the cute flirting between Stevie and Eli. A house renovation interspersed with a sweet romance.
The baby Whisperer is a moving story about the importance of volunteer fire fighters and having your house ready if you live in remote bushy areas.
And it wouldn't be a Fiona McArthur romance without a birth scene.
A lovely story that made me smile!

[Claire Louisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come

[Shelagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warm, inviting and gentle with a touch of angst to balance the joy and happiness that is peppered throughout, The Baby Whisperer has been an absolute delight to read. This story is third in the Outback Babies series set in the fictional town of Wirralong. While Stevie/Stephanie and Eli are new characters, there are plenty of familiar faces to make readers of other books in this or the previous Wirralong series feel right at home. That said, and while reconnecting with familiar faces is always good, this book does stand alone well. I love Fiona McArthur’s light, quirky writing style, which made this story so easy to read and brought me regular smiles and the occasional chuckle. The story is strong on family, togetherness and belonging, trust, responsibility and the importance of making safe choices, yet it is not a lecture. Filled with beautiful imagery—think of baby Toby snuggled in Eli’s arms like a possum—t’s an effortlessly easy story to read.

[Debbie Caswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book and another series set in the wonderful outback town of Wirralong and this is a town that absorbs people with heartbreak and makes them part of the structure of the town. Stephanie (Stevie) Lee is a person that has more than her fair share of heartbreak she has lost her husband, father and brother to bushfires during their work with the rural fire service and she needs a place to lick her wounds So she head's to Wirralong where her friends Maeve and Lacey live What she doesn't expect is Eli Grayson another transplant to Wirralong who is employing local young boys who need a start in life to in his renovation business One look at his latest client and he knows she is the one for him But he is also a member of the local fire crew Can she get over her fear of another loss or will life with Eli be to hard You will have to read to see

[Malvina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this is like enjoying one big, long warm fuzzy. A move, a home reno, two lovely people meeting - all just lovely. Thanks Fiona!

[Paula Pugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love is in the air and has captured Eli, the no-strings bachelor of Wirralong. It has also wrapped around Stephanie. She has said, “No,” to any relationships, especially with a volunteer fireman.
The wiles of Wirralong encircle Stephanie and Eli as sweetness and determination take over.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Donnajo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily read a advanced reader's copy of this book for a honest opinion.

A great addition to the Outback Babies series. The Baby Whisperer by Fiona McArthur.
Great characters development, dialogue, setting and storyline. Can't wait to read the
next book in series.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this arc of The Baby Whisperer by Fiona McArthur from Tule Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This is the third book in the Outback Babies series. The series has four books, each one written by a different author. It is a fun format and has been done a few times by this group of authors. I enjoyed the book very much. It was also great how Fiona included her main characters from the prior Outback series. It was fun to catch up with them again.

The Baby Whisperer introduced us to Stephanie aka Stevie Lee. Stevie left her home in Perth after losing her father, brother and husband in their line of work as fire fighters. She has decided she wants to start over and eventually find a man to create a life with. The new guy cannot be another fire fighter or risk taker. Stevie is a midwife and mother craft nurse and she has bought the crèche in Wirralong to take over the childcare business. She went to school with Maeve and Lacey, who we met in earlier series, and has moved to be close to them. She has also bought a fixer up house and Maeve has recommended Eli Grayson to handle the remodeling.

Eli moved to Wirralong with his sister who was pregnant and trying to escape a bad ex. He has a remodeling business with a keen attention to details. He does special touches to her home to make it everything she could want. Stevie and Eli have a lot of chemistry. However she learns that he is a volunteer with the fire department and other organizations. She decides it is a deal breaker, she can’t fall for another person she could lose. Eli has always been a player but he sees himself settling down with Stevie and making a forever. He is all in to making a relationship work with Stevie and vows to convince her. Stevie goes through some soul searching where she has to decide what is important to her and why she feels the way she does.

This is a lovely romance between Eli and Stevie. There are lots of interactions with their friends, co-workers and family to make an interesting story. Fiona has created very likable characters that fit in well in Wirralong as well as a compelling storyline. I gave it 5 stars and highly recommend it.

[Char (1RadReader59) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maeve Bronson has just had her son Tobias Bronson, and she can’t seem to soothe him into a sleeping pattern. Making them each overly excited to the point of wanting to cry. Stephanie Rose Lee, Stevie to her friends, smiled and thought again how much she loved being a midwife's nurse. And how much it had spared her sanity to soothe others. She savored and soaked it in silently. You see she had lost three important men in her life who were in emergency services as firefighters. Her father, her brother, and her husband.

Her father and brother had done it for the right reasons whereas her husband was in it for the glory leaving her alone and mourning what they could have and not so much him now that time had passed, and she was able to have the perspective needed to see the truth for what it was. She promised herself never to be with another man who took unnecessary risks in their lives because she couldn't handle it. When she moved into town she bought a fixer-upper upper. She needed someone to help on it that knew about older homes and Eli Grayson was the man.

However, he was also a volunteer firefighter and international disaster relief volunteer. This left her feeling instant grief because she had felt an instant connection with Eli and he with her. But she had to weigh her own fears with actual logic. This book is filled with love, tears, and romance. As well as laughter and friendships.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Baby Whisper ~ Outback Babies ~ Book 3 by Fiona McArthur tells the story of Stephanie Lee when she moves from Perth to Wirralong for a new start close to her best friend and to help her friend with her grumpy baby, Toby.

She also is purchasing the local baby center and a small house located right behind the center. Her friend finds a contractor to fix up and repair the house she bought and Eli Grayson does a fantastic job for her as he abandons his nor relationship ideas and falls hard for Stephine.

The road to a happy ever after is a difficult one for this couple that both want each other, a forever relationship with a family. Stephanie has lost her father, her brother and her husband to the wild fires of Australia and has sworn to not become involved with another fire fighter. Eli is a volunteer witht he local fire group as the driver of a fire truck.

The plot is interesting in showing Australian ways of how their fire service works and also how small communities handle taking care of child birth, child care and supporting each other as their way of life. This makes it weel worth reading!

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Baby Whisperer is an enjoyable story in the Outback Babies Series. Written by Fiona McArthur it is the perfect starting over story with just the perfect amount of humor, cute babes, wonderful main characters, and adventure to keep any reader completely engaged.

Eli and Stephane (Stevie) are both fairly newcomers to Wirralong having come to star over. Eli with his sister and her young daughter they have been there only around a year. Stephanie has just moved so renovation builder helps to make her new home livable. As they get to know each other the instant attraction becomes friendship and more. However, Stephanie has hurts and losses from the past that she must move past. Such an enjoyable story except for Stephanie moving too fast through the process of her healing. Other than that it is a perfect story especially the last line which was a surprise but should have been seen by me earlier.

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.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Baby Whisperer by Fiona McArthur, book three in the Outback Babies series is a beautiful and heart-warming story set in Wirralong, an outback Australian town where people get an unexpected second chance in life and find the love that they thought they would never get. Stephanie, “Stevie”, Lee, is a midwife and mother craft nurse who lost three people she loved, her father and brother, and then her husband, to fighting fires and feels it is time to move on. Stevie decides to move to Wirralong to be near her best friends Maeve and Lacey. She is not looking for love and running the town crèche should keep her very busy and happy, but things change when she meets the builder who is renovating her house. Eli Grayson moved to Wirralong with his sister for a fresh start. He is a builder and home renovator with a young crew of workers who have not had the best start in life, and he is also a rural fire fighter and volunteer for international disasters. Eli has a reputation of being foot loose and fancy free until he meets his new customer, the beautiful Stevie; he loses his heart instantly. Convincing Stevie that they are perfect for each other is going to be a bit harder than he thought. Stevie feels an instant attraction and spark to the handsome and rugged Eli, but she is not willing to love and lose again; she refused to put her heart at risk again. The more time Stevie spends with Eli the more her walls are cracking as she begins to heal and learn to trust her heart. It might be the right time to puts the past behind her and shows the courage and strength that is there.

Ms McArthur wrote a wonderful sweet story that is definitely not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with friendship, magnetic attraction, chemistry, a supportive community, and charming characters giving Eli and Stephanie a chance to discover they are perfect for each as they find the love and happiness they deserve. I highly recommend The Baby Whisperer to other readers and look forward to the next book in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Patricia A]

A Wholesome LoveAffair

This is a lovely peek into the Australian outback. I've no idea how accurate it is but I found it really heartwarming. The baby whisperer is Eli, the male protagonist whose hold quiets cranky babies. He's the hunky, gentle, uber male of construction fame in the small town, a civic-minded fellow who volunteers with the rural fire service and in rebuilding communities after natural disasters. His love interest is Stephanie, a new to town arrival and a midwife who just bought out the local infant daycare. She moved in because she lost her whole family, father and brother, in a wildfire. Within a very short period time, her husband followed, also from a fire. A sticky situation for a woman who falls for another rural firefighter. They eventually get their HEA, but not before both gain fresh insights into their motivations. Really enjoyable read with great personalities brisk pacing and finely drawn characters. I highly recommend.

[Alyson Buxey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful sweet story with a lot of feels. Eli has always been a ladies man but he falls hard and fast for Stevie, with a protector street a mile wide. Normally I avoid the moves to a coastal town to fix up a home/hotel to its former glory but this home renovation feels like romance and foreplay rolled into one. Stevie has loved and lost badly so her reluctance makes sense but it doesn’t change the fact that their instant connection goes both ways. A really lovely story

[Sherri Babb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very wonderful addition to this series. It is set in a lovely small town with a great mix of towns people. For me this book was sweet, heartwarming, and so much more. The story line was beautiful. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Baby Whisper is a beautiful story about shedding fears and embracing love again. It links beautifully with the author's previous books in Wirralong. I enjoyed watching the renovations of Stevie's new house, thanks to builder hottie Eli. Great characters, good story, spunky writing. Fun, fun, fun!

[Mari Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although much less spicy than I love my romances, I really enjoyed this book. There's always something about hot firefighters. When a hero has a dangerous job, you can't help gritting your teeth throughout the book!

[Joy Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mid-wife Stephanie lost her dad, bro & hubby as firefighters; moves to new town & meets Eli, a baby whisperer, but also involved with fire fighting. Her fears to get involved yet again with a firefighter are very strong. Interesting to see the struggles involved with this scenario.

[Lovely V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Nicely Done!

This book was very nicely thought out and quite a page turner! Honest love and true communication are rare these days. This book has them in spades! Thoroughly enjoyed every page!

[Louise Bird · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful read.

[May Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story keeps you wanting more.

Another good story line with plenty of suspense and laughter. I loved the characters that make up the small community.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first time reading this Author. I loved it! Will definitely be looking for more of Ms. McArthur’s books.

[Helen Cosgrove]

I really enjoyed the book. It was a lovely story and easy reading.

[Reader Robynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Light easy to read feel good book

[MEF · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good wholesome romance with an equally strong, capable couple.
No angst or false leads, just open communication sharing doubts and fears.
Just what I needed for a grey November day 😊

[Christine Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The baby whisperer

A very pleasant read. I enjoyed the story which was easy to read and Australian based. My first book by Fiona McArthur

[JEAN ROBINSON · Rating 5 out of 5]

love prevails

Such a wonderful story or resilience, trust and love prevailing… the characters are totally relatable and the story very real…

[Flo Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love solved the issue

A great story about A midwife who was also a fire fighter. Due to the deaths of he father, brother and husband, Stephanie was afraid to trust anyone connected to the fire services. Therefore when she initially met Eli, she would not allow herself to become involved with him. Once Stephanie realised that she was in love with Eli, they were then able to find their happily ever after.