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9 Months Later #2
Baby Business
Saving her child means having his baby.
She needs money, a lot of it, to pay for her daughter's operation. Macy McKinney will do anything for five-year-old Haley.
Businessman Thad Winters, a widower, wants a child without the complications of a relationship. He s willing to pay for that. He interviews applicants - and hires Macy to have his baby.
Once Macy's pregnant, they decide that a temporary marriage will simplify the situation - but it does exactly the opposite!
A deeply emotional story about what it means to love a child - and what happens when you marry the right man...for the wrong reasons.
She needs money, a lot of it, to pay for her daughter's operation. Macy McKinney will do anything for five-year-old Haley.
Businessman Thad Winters, a widower, wants a child without the complications of a relationship. He s willing to pay for that. He interviews applicants - and hires Macy to have his baby.
Once Macy's pregnant, they decide that a temporary marriage will simplify the situation - but it does exactly the opposite!
A deeply emotional story about what it means to love a child - and what happens when you marry the right man...for the wrong reasons.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 2000
94 people are currently reading
609 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Novak
240 books7,010 followersIt was a shocking experience that jump-started Brenda Novak’s bestselling author career.
“I caught my day-care provider drugging my children with cough syrup and Tylenol to get them to sleep while I was away,” Brenda says. “It was then that I decided that I needed to do something from home.”
However, writing was the last profession she expected to undertake. In fact, Brenda swears she didn’t have a creative bone in her body. In school, math and science were her best subjects, and when it came time to pick a major in college, she chose business.
Abandoning her academic scholarship to Brigham Young University at the age of 20 in order to get married and start a family, Brenda dabbled in commercial real estate, then became a loan officer.
“When I first got the idea to become a novelist, it took me five years to teach myself the craft and finish my first book,” Brenda admits. “I learned how to write by reading what others have written. The best advice for any would-be author: read, read, read….”
Brenda sold her first book, and the rest is history. Now a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, she continues to publish two or three novels a year, in a variety of genres.
Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are the proud parents of five children—three girls and two boys. Now that they are empty-nesters, she spends her free time babysitting her two grandchildren.
When she’s not with her family or writing, Brenda is usually raising money for diabetes research. To date, she's raised almost $2.6 million. Her youngest son, Thad, has diabetes, and Brenda is determined to help him and others like him. She also enjoys traveling, watching sporting events and biking--she rides an amazing 20 miles every day!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-...
“I caught my day-care provider drugging my children with cough syrup and Tylenol to get them to sleep while I was away,” Brenda says. “It was then that I decided that I needed to do something from home.”
However, writing was the last profession she expected to undertake. In fact, Brenda swears she didn’t have a creative bone in her body. In school, math and science were her best subjects, and when it came time to pick a major in college, she chose business.
Abandoning her academic scholarship to Brigham Young University at the age of 20 in order to get married and start a family, Brenda dabbled in commercial real estate, then became a loan officer.
“When I first got the idea to become a novelist, it took me five years to teach myself the craft and finish my first book,” Brenda admits. “I learned how to write by reading what others have written. The best advice for any would-be author: read, read, read….”
Brenda sold her first book, and the rest is history. Now a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, she continues to publish two or three novels a year, in a variety of genres.
Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are the proud parents of five children—three girls and two boys. Now that they are empty-nesters, she spends her free time babysitting her two grandchildren.
When she’s not with her family or writing, Brenda is usually raising money for diabetes research. To date, she's raised almost $2.6 million. Her youngest son, Thad, has diabetes, and Brenda is determined to help him and others like him. She also enjoys traveling, watching sporting events and biking--she rides an amazing 20 miles every day!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
November 21, 2016
I could not stay interested.
This is for lovers of Harlequin books who want to read about babies and children with romance. I kept stopping and not wanting to continue. Finally I stopped at 48% and jumped to the end to finish. I am imagining that Harlequin said we want a book about such and such, then the author filled in the spaces. I feel like the author wasn’t inspired. There was nothing different or special. Conversations were ordinary. Everything was too predictable. Most conflicts were Macy assuming he wouldn’t want her or like her. Macy felt Thad’s former wife was too perfect and beautiful so Thad could never want anyone like Macy.
STORY BRIEF:
Thad’s wife was pregnant and killed in an auto accident. 18 months later he advertizes for a woman to have his baby as a surrogate. He would pay $100,000 and expect the woman to turn the baby over to him at birth for adoption. Macy needs the money for cancer treatment/transplant for her five-year-old daughter. So she agrees.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 251 pages. Swearing language: mild with the s*** word used once. Sexual content: There might have been a couple scenes in the last half. Setting: current day Salt Lake, Utah. Copyright: 2000. Genre: contemporary romance, baby.
This is for lovers of Harlequin books who want to read about babies and children with romance. I kept stopping and not wanting to continue. Finally I stopped at 48% and jumped to the end to finish. I am imagining that Harlequin said we want a book about such and such, then the author filled in the spaces. I feel like the author wasn’t inspired. There was nothing different or special. Conversations were ordinary. Everything was too predictable. Most conflicts were Macy assuming he wouldn’t want her or like her. Macy felt Thad’s former wife was too perfect and beautiful so Thad could never want anyone like Macy.
STORY BRIEF:
Thad’s wife was pregnant and killed in an auto accident. 18 months later he advertizes for a woman to have his baby as a surrogate. He would pay $100,000 and expect the woman to turn the baby over to him at birth for adoption. Macy needs the money for cancer treatment/transplant for her five-year-old daughter. So she agrees.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 251 pages. Swearing language: mild with the s*** word used once. Sexual content: There might have been a couple scenes in the last half. Setting: current day Salt Lake, Utah. Copyright: 2000. Genre: contemporary romance, baby.
August 27, 2025
Falling into Forever
4✨
4✨
June 1, 2011
Just finished and must say such a heart wrenching and heart warming story,absolutely terrific,do not want to give away any spoilers so won't say much but Thad-Macy both are just so special in their won ways,absolutely adored them both and Haley is such a cutie
Loved the secondary characters also,Thad's family,Lisa,Edna all of them loved how each one is bonded to each other and have big hearts who welcome and give love to everyone around them
Few scenes are such awww n some made me cry like the one in hospital when Macy had to make the decision n Thad comes around and he gives support to Macy n helps her in making the decision and they sleep in same cot this scene was both aww n heart wrenching also when Haley suddenly had an blood infection and she holds on to Thad and asks him not leave her he stays by and then sleeps with her in his arms this was also an awwww scene for me
There's another one when Macy's mother drops in after marriage n they have to sleep in same bed god i was laughing like anything imagining Thad in Macy's night gown hehe and all Haley
This is one awesome read but make sure you have a box of tissues
Recommend it
Loved the secondary characters also,Thad's family,Lisa,Edna all of them loved how each one is bonded to each other and have big hearts who welcome and give love to everyone around them
Few scenes are such awww n some made me cry like the one in hospital when Macy had to make the decision n Thad comes around and he gives support to Macy n helps her in making the decision and they sleep in same cot this scene was both aww n heart wrenching also when Haley suddenly had an blood infection and she holds on to Thad and asks him not leave her he stays by and then sleeps with her in his arms this was also an awwww scene for me
There's another one when Macy's mother drops in after marriage n they have to sleep in same bed god i was laughing like anything imagining Thad in Macy's night gown hehe and all Haley
This is one awesome read but make sure you have a box of tissues
Recommend it
Read
March 10, 2017Oops, read this a couple of days ago and did not remember it AT ALL when going through my list. That's not good.
June 3, 2020
Family
Thad has lived and lost. He thought he could never love again so he made a deal with Mazy to give him a baby. Mazy comes with Haley who is battling cancer. Mazy makes the deal to have Thad’s baby for him saving Haley. Neither expect love to enter into the equation. This book is so touching and is a beautiful love story proving love wins every time. Thank you Brenda Novak for a wonderful story.
Thad has lived and lost. He thought he could never love again so he made a deal with Mazy to give him a baby. Mazy comes with Haley who is battling cancer. Mazy makes the deal to have Thad’s baby for him saving Haley. Neither expect love to enter into the equation. This book is so touching and is a beautiful love story proving love wins every time. Thank you Brenda Novak for a wonderful story.
November 4, 2007
Thad Winters is a widower whose looking for a woman to be his "oven mother" for his future baby and held alot of interviews with women to achieve his dream, but he settled for Macy McKinney, a med student divorcee with a 5 year old daughter, Haley, who's in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant. Macy had reached to a point where she would do anything so she could pay for her daughter's transplant, so she's even willing to go through an artificial insemination, carry to full term where she could just hand the baby to him and they be off with their own life.
Both are survivors of their own dark past. Losing his pregnant wife to an accident was devastating for Thad and for Macy's husband left her for a jailbait, leaving a huge wound to heal and unknowingly they fill each other's void. As the contract progressed, they ended up getting married and things got too messy as both sides of the family gets involved with each other, weaving emotional intrude as time passes by.
I never thought after a long while I be picking up a Harlequin book after all of these years, but I did and I'm glad I did pick this one for my first read. This is page turning and fast pace with emotional turmoil, though ina couple of pages she lost me at where a character was at the moment but it was interesting read still.
Both are survivors of their own dark past. Losing his pregnant wife to an accident was devastating for Thad and for Macy's husband left her for a jailbait, leaving a huge wound to heal and unknowingly they fill each other's void. As the contract progressed, they ended up getting married and things got too messy as both sides of the family gets involved with each other, weaving emotional intrude as time passes by.
I never thought after a long while I be picking up a Harlequin book after all of these years, but I did and I'm glad I did pick this one for my first read. This is page turning and fast pace with emotional turmoil, though ina couple of pages she lost me at where a character was at the moment but it was interesting read still.
September 17, 2017
I liked this book well enough to have bought, read and kept it years ago. My tastes have changed a bit though. I liked it well enough to get halfway through it before I lost interest which is better than to stop reading because it's so annoyingly trite, corny, etc.
I don't plan to keep the book. I recommend it to those that like a quick, easy, undemanding read and those that like romance novels especially ones with kids.
***I'm amending my review. I put the book down intending to never finish but the next day on a pretty, peaceful, sunny, summer Sunday morning I was wanting a marshmallow book i.e. easy, warm, happy ending, etc. Guess what fit the bill... yep, this book so I picked it up and read it until I was done.
I liked reading about the growing relationship between Macy and Thad, it was done well and I think it had more depth, warmth, believability than the usual romance novel.
My rating went from two to three stars. I'm now debating on if to keep it or not. There will likely be other Sundays like this one where I'll want a feel good read.
I don't plan to keep the book. I recommend it to those that like a quick, easy, undemanding read and those that like romance novels especially ones with kids.
***I'm amending my review. I put the book down intending to never finish but the next day on a pretty, peaceful, sunny, summer Sunday morning I was wanting a marshmallow book i.e. easy, warm, happy ending, etc. Guess what fit the bill... yep, this book so I picked it up and read it until I was done.
I liked reading about the growing relationship between Macy and Thad, it was done well and I think it had more depth, warmth, believability than the usual romance novel.
My rating went from two to three stars. I'm now debating on if to keep it or not. There will likely be other Sundays like this one where I'll want a feel good read.
July 7, 2017
3.5, actually. This is one of Brenda Novak's early novel. I've read many of her more recent novels, which are more layered and complex, but this one still has just about everything you'd expect from Ms Novak. The characters have depth and you become easily caught up in the emotions of the story. Macy became a bit tedious, but really? Her reticence to become involved with Thad was understandable, especially considering the circumstances surrounding them. Is the story a little far-fetched? Yeah, but it's fiction, it's allowed to be a little far-fetched. The story is heartbreaking and sweet at the same time.
January 11, 2017
Nice contemporary romance! Very Light and nice second chance romance
The story is well written at a slow pace but not too much
The story is well written at a slow pace but not too much
January 22, 2025
I enjoyed this book so much! Macy interviewed for a very unusual job. Something she would never have considered if she didn’t need the money. She already had a child but her daughter is very sick, and without the money, the much needed surgery wouldn’t happen. Businessman Thad, lost so much, but still held onto the love that he lost. This business deal, would give them both what they wanted. She would have the money to save her daughter, and he would have the baby that he longed for to fill the void. What they both got was much more than they anticipated. Fake marriage, single parent, second chances. This book was so heartwarming with a lot of anticipation. 9 months can change lives forever
July 18, 2017
Sweet read about finding love a second time. Thad winters has been heartbroken for the last eighteen months since his pregnant wife died in a car accident. Macy is divorced and dealing with her five year old daughter having cancer and coping with it. She meets Thad through weird circumstances in which he has hired her to be a mother to his child. As with these novels first it begins like a business proposition but as time go by they start to fall for each other and he begins to love her daughter.
March 22, 2023
4.5/5🥹⭐️
I just discovered that Brenda Novak wrote This Heart of Mine as well and it makes sooo much sense. She has a great talent you can't help but fall in love with her writing style and the characters she writes about. They could have 102930 flaws but that's what makes them real.
I'm simply IN.LOVE.
To anyone interested here’s my review of her other book😇 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I just discovered that Brenda Novak wrote This Heart of Mine as well and it makes sooo much sense. She has a great talent you can't help but fall in love with her writing style and the characters she writes about. They could have 102930 flaws but that's what makes them real.
I'm simply IN.LOVE.
To anyone interested here’s my review of her other book😇 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
September 6, 2025
I loved this!
Thad is looking for a surrogate to carry his baby. Macy applies in order to afford a potentially life saving surgery for her daughter, Haley. I loved the characters and did not want the story to end.
I listened to the audiobook version and the narration was perfect.
I laughed and cried. Haley was so cute, my heart was breaking learning how sick she was.
I saw there were mixed reviews but I truly enjoy Brenda's writing style, I honestly do not understand why some readers struggle with her books. I know that not every book/author is for everyone though.
Thad is looking for a surrogate to carry his baby. Macy applies in order to afford a potentially life saving surgery for her daughter, Haley. I loved the characters and did not want the story to end.
I listened to the audiobook version and the narration was perfect.
I laughed and cried. Haley was so cute, my heart was breaking learning how sick she was.
I saw there were mixed reviews but I truly enjoy Brenda's writing style, I honestly do not understand why some readers struggle with her books. I know that not every book/author is for everyone though.
May 30, 2017
I just can't go wrong with a Brenda Novak book. This is one of her earlier ones somewhat predictable but very cute. Thad wants a baby, he is still reeling from losing his wife and unborn son 18 months ago. He is interviewing for the position and meets Macy, a medical student, divorced with a 5 year old charming little girl, Haley, who is battling cancer. The problem is Thad is still in love with his dead wife and that does not appear to be changing any time soon.
April 8, 2018
Another great read from Brenda Novak. This is one of her older books. It was heart breaking and heartwarming at times. My favorite character was Haley. She is a 5 year old going through so much. She is dying from cancer and needs a bone marrow transplant.
Macy and Thad are great characters. Both had moments where I wanted to tell them to open their eyes and listen to their hearts.
This is a quick read!
Macy and Thad are great characters. Both had moments where I wanted to tell them to open their eyes and listen to their hearts.
This is a quick read!
April 22, 2018
These characters were great. I loved that they both had agendas and their own selfish reasons that they use to guide them but some how they are able to help each other reach their goals.
This book tugged at the heart strings because their were so many feelings attached to the past, present and future of these characters all at once.
Great read. I didn't want to stop once I started and I didn't want the book to end.
This book tugged at the heart strings because their were so many feelings attached to the past, present and future of these characters all at once.
Great read. I didn't want to stop once I started and I didn't want the book to end.
January 17, 2018
Was not sure I was going to be able to read this one after I discovered sick child may not survive but I has to see how it turned out. I am very glad I did--- Little Haley has Thad wrapped tight from first meeting. So proud of Macy for doing everything she could to save her baby girl and Thad for finally letting his first wife rest in peace and making a family with Macy,Haley and Joshua.
March 21, 2018
Wow what can I say about this novel? This was supposed to be a Super Romance and well maybe I don't know what that clearing is. I do know that this was a very wonderful book full of doubts, fears, love, romance, life and death, emotions oh my gosh the EMOTIONS!!! Super Romance maybe yes maybe no but a definite solid great book. Well done Brenda Novak, well done!
August 28, 2018
Heartwarming and charming
I loved the different storyline of this book. Wonderfully written and incredibly lovely story of love found in the strangest of situations. The characters are well developed and the story flows seamlessly as if it is an event being recounted by a friend. Definitely worth the read.
I loved the different storyline of this book. Wonderfully written and incredibly lovely story of love found in the strangest of situations. The characters are well developed and the story flows seamlessly as if it is an event being recounted by a friend. Definitely worth the read.
November 6, 2018
Thad wants a baby, no strings attached. Macy wants to save her baby from the big C. Can Thad and Macy both get what they want? Interesting read! A little cheesy in parts, but believable with the goals these two have in mind.
May 4, 2019
The book pills at your heartstrings
Beautiful book aboit how love will always win and get you threw life's hurdles. Beautifully written. Leaves you with a feeling all is well in the world.
Beautiful book aboit how love will always win and get you threw life's hurdles. Beautifully written. Leaves you with a feeling all is well in the world.
April 1, 2020
Definite Pager Turner
This book started out hilarious, and got better. I loved the main characters, but I did not care for Macy's mother. I loved everything about Brenda's writing. Please Read!
This book started out hilarious, and got better. I loved the main characters, but I did not care for Macy's mother. I loved everything about Brenda's writing. Please Read!
June 7, 2020
Macy's little girl is sick. Thad is still grieving his late wife & unborn son. Macy and Thad enter an agreement. She is resisting him because she knows he can never love her. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." or Maybe understanding. Tear jerker.
May 29, 2019
Awesome
This book had twists and turns but knowing Brenda i knew it would be a happy ending! Love all of her books!
This book had twists and turns but knowing Brenda i knew it would be a happy ending! Love all of her books!
January 16, 2018
It was very emotional book but very well written.
March 19, 2018
A very emotional story that shows just how much a parent will go through for their child. This book is going on my keeper shelf to be read again. I highly recommend this book.
August 18, 2018
Brenda Novak scored again. I loved this book.
June 12, 2019
It was a Wonderful book.
I liked everything about this book,it made me laugh and it made me cry and had a very wonderful ending I would recommend it to everyone.
I liked everything about this book,it made me laugh and it made me cry and had a very wonderful ending I would recommend it to everyone.
September 15, 2019
A story of a parent's desperation to save their child and a man willing to help for a price, not realizing that second chances for love happens in strange situations.
September 22, 2019
I read this book a long time ago... Just recently read it to update my goodreads.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews