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Southern Heart and Humor #1
The Babe Magnet
When crisis management consultant Holt Landen discovers that he is the father of a six-month-old daughter, he seeks help from a sexy parenting expert, who teaches him to be a good father and a great lover.
374 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
6 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
Robin Wells
22 books185 followers Robin Wells is the USA TODAY best-selling author of nineteen critically-acclaimed novels that have been translated into nineteen languages. Her books have won RWA's Golden Heart Award, two National Readers’ Choice Awards, the Award of Excellence, the Golden Quill, and the Holt Medallion. Her next novel, She Gets That From Me, will be published by Berkley/Penguin/Random House September 22 2020.
She holds a B.A. in liberal arts from the University of Oklahoma, lived in Louisiana for 27 years and now resides in Houston, Texas. She and her husband are proud parents of two daughters and a very spoiled maltipoo. Before becoming a full-time writer, Robin worked as an advertising and public relations executive for a major hotel chain.
She holds a B.A. in liberal arts from the University of Oklahoma, lived in Louisiana for 27 years and now resides in Houston, Texas. She and her husband are proud parents of two daughters and a very spoiled maltipoo. Before becoming a full-time writer, Robin worked as an advertising and public relations executive for a major hotel chain.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 27, 2022
Holt Landen was a confirmed bachelor who swore he would never marry after seeing his parent's messy divorce. He is shocked when the police contact him about a woman he has a one-night-stand with over a year ago. They inform him that she was recently killed in an accident and has left behind a six-month-old daughter. Holt's name is on the birth certificate. A quick DNA test proves that he is the father. Holt quickly makes arrangements to bring baby Isabelle home; but is isn't going to be easy. Isabelle has Attachment Disorder and is not thriving. She is under weight, cries constantly, and doesn't like to be touched. The doctor says in order to get over this, she needs a loving home where both mom and dad will not abandon her.
Holt is listening to a parenting expert when Isabelle suddenly stops crying. Radio host Stevie Stedquest's voice seems to sooth Isabelle. Holt approaches Stevie with a request. He wants her to help him parent baby Isabelle and proposes a temporary marriage. Stevie quickly falls in love with the baby. Now if she can put up with daddy for a year or two.
Ok, the plot of this book is a bit crazy, but it still worked. This is a humorous contemporary romance with a marriage of convenience theme. I liked the characters, loved baby Isabelle, and enjoyed watching this story play out. There was even a secondary romance thrown in. My rating: 4 Stars.
Holt is listening to a parenting expert when Isabelle suddenly stops crying. Radio host Stevie Stedquest's voice seems to sooth Isabelle. Holt approaches Stevie with a request. He wants her to help him parent baby Isabelle and proposes a temporary marriage. Stevie quickly falls in love with the baby. Now if she can put up with daddy for a year or two.
Ok, the plot of this book is a bit crazy, but it still worked. This is a humorous contemporary romance with a marriage of convenience theme. I liked the characters, loved baby Isabelle, and enjoyed watching this story play out. There was even a secondary romance thrown in. My rating: 4 Stars.
August 13, 2016
1 + 1 + 1 = The Babe Magnet
Holt Landon had a one night stand with a woman while on vacation. He used protection but found out later on, from the police, that the mother had passed away in a car accident and he was named as the father of a six-month-old girl. Up to that point, he wasn't aware of what occurred. He took a paternity test and, sure enough, he was the baby's parent. Never one to shirk responsibility, he travelled to Texas to collect his 'new' daughter, Isabelle. While there, he was told that his screaming little girl had been diagnosed with attachment disorder amongst other health issues.
Stevie Stedquest had her share of burnt relationships with men. Though never a mother, she supervised a parenting center. And, part-time one night a week, was a radio host who offered advice on raising children. Her experience came from research, studies and her full-time day job. Until she was called down by an angry father for never having experienced the ups and downs of motherhood first hand. She thought she was long past finding a stable man, commitment, love and her own children.
I had a fun time watching how this story played out. Holt had commitment issues because his parents performed a number on him when he was young. It followed him into adulthood. Stevie not only had a few choice relationship blunders but she had struggled with her weight for most of her life. High school had been sheer torment and only until the last few years was she able to finally shed the extra pounds. Unfortunately, she still had low self-esteem at given times.
But this story wasn't just about Holt, Stevie and Isabelle. It flowered into three different partnerships and how the simple issue of trust affected them. It concerned both sets of parents: Stevie's, who had been married for 37 years and Holt's mother and father who had loved and lost, married other people and divorced again. Communication, aging and wisdom factored into the plot.
I loved Holt's and Stevie's upfront honesty, the goofy moments and how much Isabelle was an active part of their lives. The depth of this contemporary romance surprised me. And if not for two characters taking a tad too long smartening up, I would have awarded it a straight five stars.
4.5 Stars
Holt Landon had a one night stand with a woman while on vacation. He used protection but found out later on, from the police, that the mother had passed away in a car accident and he was named as the father of a six-month-old girl. Up to that point, he wasn't aware of what occurred. He took a paternity test and, sure enough, he was the baby's parent. Never one to shirk responsibility, he travelled to Texas to collect his 'new' daughter, Isabelle. While there, he was told that his screaming little girl had been diagnosed with attachment disorder amongst other health issues.
Stevie Stedquest had her share of burnt relationships with men. Though never a mother, she supervised a parenting center. And, part-time one night a week, was a radio host who offered advice on raising children. Her experience came from research, studies and her full-time day job. Until she was called down by an angry father for never having experienced the ups and downs of motherhood first hand. She thought she was long past finding a stable man, commitment, love and her own children.
I had a fun time watching how this story played out. Holt had commitment issues because his parents performed a number on him when he was young. It followed him into adulthood. Stevie not only had a few choice relationship blunders but she had struggled with her weight for most of her life. High school had been sheer torment and only until the last few years was she able to finally shed the extra pounds. Unfortunately, she still had low self-esteem at given times.
But this story wasn't just about Holt, Stevie and Isabelle. It flowered into three different partnerships and how the simple issue of trust affected them. It concerned both sets of parents: Stevie's, who had been married for 37 years and Holt's mother and father who had loved and lost, married other people and divorced again. Communication, aging and wisdom factored into the plot.
I loved Holt's and Stevie's upfront honesty, the goofy moments and how much Isabelle was an active part of their lives. The depth of this contemporary romance surprised me. And if not for two characters taking a tad too long smartening up, I would have awarded it a straight five stars.
4.5 Stars
February 7, 2014
Where do I start? Ok, with Holt. He's a self-confirmed permanent bachelor, whose parents went through an ugly divorce when he was seven, remarried and divorced again. Holt doesn't believe in love and he's definitely not looking for Miss Right when there are so many Miss Right-nows around. And when a Miss Right-now starts thinking she could be Miss Right, he disabuses her of that notion quickly and moves on to the next Miss Right-now. And then he gets a call from Texas – one of his Miss Right-nows has died in a car accident, leaving behind a six month old baby with a birth certificate naming him as the father. Despite not wanting children and having no idea what to do with one, Holt mans up, goes to Texas and takes custody of his daughter.
Baby Isabelle's mother provided for her financially but not emotionally, leaving her with nannies who never stayed long. Now she's a skinny little waif baby with Attachment Disorder who doesn't like to be touched and cries all the time. When Holt is about at the end of his rope, Stevie's radio program comes on and her voice has a miraculously soothing effect on Isabelle. Holt's solution becomes clear – get this Stevie woman to marry him, become Isabelle's legal mother through a step-parent adoption, then divorce amicably and co-parent Isabelle while living in houses across the street from each other. What could possibly go wrong?
Stevie, of course, is resistant, and I like that it took her awhile to come around to the idea of marriage with Holt. I like the marriage of convenience trope, but I especially like it when the reasons for the marriage are compelling and believable. Holt is everything Stevie avoids in a man, but Isabelle eventually wins her heart, convincing her to agree. It's no spoiler to say that of course Holt and Stevie will end up loving each other and having a satisfying HEA, and the journey to that point is a fun ride.
Robin Wells has a wonderful sense of humor without taking her characters over the top, and her descriptions of Isabelle when she first comes into Holt's and Stevie's lives made my heart ache for her sad little life. The characters of Holt and Stevie are fully fleshed out, and the supporting characters and their side stories are also given substance without interrupting the flow of the book.
Stevie has struggled with weight issues, and is still very self-conscious about her body. At one point, Holt drags her to a mirror and tells her he wants her to see herself the way he sees her, then proceeds to describe her body to her in great complimentary detail. It's a very well written sweet romantic scene that quickly turns scorching hot. In a later scene Holt and Stevie indulge in a little role playing that had me laughing out loud. Actually, I laughed out loud several times throughout the book.
I'm very pleased to have discovered this new to me author, and I'm eager to track down the rest of her backlist.
Baby Isabelle's mother provided for her financially but not emotionally, leaving her with nannies who never stayed long. Now she's a skinny little waif baby with Attachment Disorder who doesn't like to be touched and cries all the time. When Holt is about at the end of his rope, Stevie's radio program comes on and her voice has a miraculously soothing effect on Isabelle. Holt's solution becomes clear – get this Stevie woman to marry him, become Isabelle's legal mother through a step-parent adoption, then divorce amicably and co-parent Isabelle while living in houses across the street from each other. What could possibly go wrong?
Stevie, of course, is resistant, and I like that it took her awhile to come around to the idea of marriage with Holt. I like the marriage of convenience trope, but I especially like it when the reasons for the marriage are compelling and believable. Holt is everything Stevie avoids in a man, but Isabelle eventually wins her heart, convincing her to agree. It's no spoiler to say that of course Holt and Stevie will end up loving each other and having a satisfying HEA, and the journey to that point is a fun ride.
Robin Wells has a wonderful sense of humor without taking her characters over the top, and her descriptions of Isabelle when she first comes into Holt's and Stevie's lives made my heart ache for her sad little life. The characters of Holt and Stevie are fully fleshed out, and the supporting characters and their side stories are also given substance without interrupting the flow of the book.
Stevie has struggled with weight issues, and is still very self-conscious about her body. At one point, Holt drags her to a mirror and tells her he wants her to see herself the way he sees her, then proceeds to describe her body to her in great complimentary detail. It's a very well written sweet romantic scene that quickly turns scorching hot. In a later scene Holt and Stevie indulge in a little role playing that had me laughing out loud. Actually, I laughed out loud several times throughout the book.
I'm very pleased to have discovered this new to me author, and I'm eager to track down the rest of her backlist.
July 18, 2024
I've read Babe Magnet once before and I believe I loved it. Unfortunately it doesn't have a logged goodreads review, so a re-read was in order.
I totally forgot Stevie was a parenting expert with no kids. In all honesty, I hate those people. How can you be a parenting expert and the only claim to parenting kids you have is a piece of paper that says you know what your doing? Pfft...
By page 73, I realised this is a very 2000s coded story. The fat shame and female celebrity comparisons (specifically towards the woman who were considered fat in the early 2000s, even though realistically they were healthy weight).
I feel like a lot of people who like the "one page and in love" stories, this would be for you.
The female character's name is Stevie, yet when reading her vows she's called "Stephanie." Where'd Stephanie come from Stevie?
Babe Magnet is a simple read. Using ick words to describe "throb" and "core" .
Unfortunately the synopsis says it follows Holt, his daughter; Isabella, and Stevie. But what it doesn't tell you is your jumping between Holt, Stevie, Marie, Robert, Vince and Caroline. So you better like all their POVs and storylines, otherwise your screwed.
It's not the five stars I remember it as but it's definitely a book you need to just pass time.
#babemagnet #robinwells #bookreview
I totally forgot Stevie was a parenting expert with no kids. In all honesty, I hate those people. How can you be a parenting expert and the only claim to parenting kids you have is a piece of paper that says you know what your doing? Pfft...
By page 73, I realised this is a very 2000s coded story. The fat shame and female celebrity comparisons (specifically towards the woman who were considered fat in the early 2000s, even though realistically they were healthy weight).
I feel like a lot of people who like the "one page and in love" stories, this would be for you.
The female character's name is Stevie, yet when reading her vows she's called "Stephanie." Where'd Stephanie come from Stevie?
Babe Magnet is a simple read. Using ick words to describe "throb" and "core" .
Unfortunately the synopsis says it follows Holt, his daughter; Isabella, and Stevie. But what it doesn't tell you is your jumping between Holt, Stevie, Marie, Robert, Vince and Caroline. So you better like all their POVs and storylines, otherwise your screwed.
It's not the five stars I remember it as but it's definitely a book you need to just pass time.
#babemagnet #robinwells #bookreview
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2010
I found this book for $1 on a sale table at The Bay (Hudson Bay Company) ... I didn't even know that they sold books. And, actually, maybe they don't anymore and that's why all those books were so cheap.
Anyway - I took a risk. I had never heard of Robin Wells, I can't get Goodreads on my phone to check (i dunno why it doesn't really work on my Nokia E71, or why I just didn't get an iPhone when I went to buy of phone - these are just some of the mysteries of my life!). So I look at the front cover, read the back, and thought I might like this book.
And I was right. It was a really enjoyable, mindless read.
I think I am going to go find some more Robin Wells to read.
Anyway - I took a risk. I had never heard of Robin Wells, I can't get Goodreads on my phone to check (i dunno why it doesn't really work on my Nokia E71, or why I just didn't get an iPhone when I went to buy of phone - these are just some of the mysteries of my life!). So I look at the front cover, read the back, and thought I might like this book.
And I was right. It was a really enjoyable, mindless read.
I think I am going to go find some more Robin Wells to read.
December 4, 2008
This is one of the best books i have ever read. It was a very light hearted romance. I read it in just a few hours, b/c i could not put it down. The h/h are very likeable and i found myself rooting for them.
August 11, 2009
This is a good story that has two characters living in a "fake" marriage and emphasizes how hard the tough times can be. If you pull through it, you end up far better off and much stronger as a couple, and in this case, they truly fall in love.
March 25, 2010
I didn't think it was quite as good as Baby, Oh Baby! I still enjoy the mix of poignancy and humor.
August 4, 2010
I enjoy from beginning to ending.
October 20, 2012
Loved it.
April 30, 2013
Dollar store book. Loved it! A new story I haven't read. Funny, light hearted... Couldn't put it down.
January 16, 2013
After everything that had happened the girl always gets the guy. Happy family.
October 12, 2019
Stevie Stedquest loves kids and has the degrees and job in child development to prove it. She also has a radio show on raising kids that may have problems now that her listeners know she has no kids. Holt Landen is bachelor of the year type stuff in New Orleans when he discovers he has a 6-month-old baby girl, thanks to a one night stand with a TX poor little rich girl. When she's killed in a car accident, he becomes dad to Isabelle who suffers from Attachment Disorder thanks to a major series of caregivers. Consequently, she's failing to thrive, screams constantly, and hates being touched. Holt is at wits end until Stevie's voice on the radio calms her. He goes to the radio station and proposes on the spot. Stevie's a soft touch for the baby and Holt, but wants a real marriage. Holt's not sure about that after seeing his own parents marry and divorce regularly. Eventually everyone works out their problems including both sets of parents, and all marry. Fun book, some sex.
August 23, 2019
Super cute epilogue. :)
May 14, 2019
Loved this book, it is worth the read !!!
May 22, 2012
light hearted and fun, though about a not so light hearted subject (attachment disorder). doesn't get into the disorder much, so it says light chick lit. it isn't one of those "wacky hijinks" stories either, which is good. the cover sucks, and the back description doesn't match the book at all. just based on those I never would have picked this up if it hadn't been mixed in with my bag of random romances and I hadn't been desperate for a book.
the main male is a rich business consultant who discovers he's a father when his one night stand (a year ago) dies and names him father. the baby turns out to have attachment disorder and he can't handle her. the main female is a parenting expert who has the ability to calm the troubled baby.
from the back you'd think it was one of those weird books where the infant has some diabolical plot and manipulates the poor hapless adults. thankfully, it isn't.
the main male is a rich business consultant who discovers he's a father when his one night stand (a year ago) dies and names him father. the baby turns out to have attachment disorder and he can't handle her. the main female is a parenting expert who has the ability to calm the troubled baby.
from the back you'd think it was one of those weird books where the infant has some diabolical plot and manipulates the poor hapless adults. thankfully, it isn't.
April 11, 2022
This is going to be a rather short review, there is just something I have to get off my chest. I enjoyed the book over all, but whenever the issue of weight loss and how impossible it was for the protagonist to feel good about herself, because she was heavier in the past ( and still is not very confident about her body) occured, it struck a nerve with me.
Look, I am sure it wasn`t ment that way but I am so tired of this cliché and (it is also kinda hurtful if you think about it).
Look, I am sure it wasn`t ment that way but I am so tired of this cliché and (it is also kinda hurtful if you think about it).
June 23, 2009
Very bad book. Enjoyed it.
September 25, 2009
Modern
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