Book Review: Baby Bonanza

[m31andy]

Baby Bonanza by Maureen Child.

The blurb:

Twins? The startling revelation that his affair with Jenna Baker had produced two little boys was almost impossible to grasp. Tycoon Nick Falco had never considered himself the settling-down type, yet now that fatherhood had been thrust upon him, he was determined to give his sons his name. But their mother wasn't about to let him back into her life ... at least not without those three little words Nick had never, ever said.

One of the Silhouette Desire titles, I'm not quite sure where this fits in on the spectrum of modern romance writing. It's not particularly steamy (unlike Harlequin Blaze titles), but there is sex. So that's okay then?

Jenna, our heroine, had an affair with her boss a year before the books start, but was kicked out of her job (and his life) when he discovered that she wasn't a guest on his cruise liner, as she had claimed, but his employee. Now she's back to go after child support from him. Why on earth did she think the best way to achieve this would be by getting a berth on his new cruise liner and stalking him, rather than siccing the lawyers onto him, I don't know. (Of course, this might be an American thing, so I'd be very pleased to be enlightened!) Bizarrely, though, Nick didn't get to see any of the letters or emails she sent before, but he gets the one she sends on board ship. Proximity obviously counts for more than getting pregnant…

Nick, the aforementioned playboy, tycoon, boss (not the sort of usual husband material, definitely) is shocked, but is happy to check paternity, rather than just throwing Jenna off the ship and ignoring her. While they wait for the results to come through, he decides to get reacquainted with her. (Read: Have Sex)

This is rather a pedestrian affair (in more than one way); in fact I was quite surprised when the book ended. Though relieved, I have to say. Saccharine sweetness, all ineptly disguised as a "will he, won't he" suspense. Jenna gets her just desserts (even though she lied to her boss): twins, a rich husband and a lovely house on the sea, complete with a dog. Nick gets… Well, a wife, twins and the chance to settle down, regardless of whether or not he wants to. Lovely. I'd also love to know what these characters are taking, that they cannot keep their hands off each other at all…

Quote most likely to make it into the next fiandyfic challenge:

He stroked, he delved, he rubbed. His fingers moved over her skin as a concert pianist would touch a grand piano. Her body was his instrument and she felt his expert's touch with a grateful heart.

A two-fer today. It's been a long weekend (C and I were up in Darlington for a friend's wedding. I came back with cowboy boots and C came back with a guitar. We're obviously attempting to become Shania Twain...) But I'm back at work now, worse luck. I just have to get my writing head on. 11,000 words due in four weeks and I've still not started...

Comments

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

I have never lived obviously as I've never compared myself to a grand piano. The line of dialogue that immediately springs to mind is "tickle my ivories." *gets coat*

[m31andy.livejournal.com]

Well, as I was going down the "tinkle on my ivories" route, I think you're definitely still more classy than me...

(And I've been compared to a grand piano - I've been told what nice ... candlestick holders I have!

[jantalaimon.livejournal.com]

Well obviously, but that just makes me think of the possibilities of dental instruments, nitrous oxide, and sex.

Which then makes me think of Steve Martin in Little Shop of Horrors...

*is right behind you getting her coat*

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

I have been known to perform "Son be a dentist" in the corridors where I work... complete with a rendtion of Martin's dance routine. Ahem...

[jantalaimon.livejournal.com]

*sings along*

[clanwilliam.livejournal.com]

Well, no. We all know you're a cabinet upright.

Wasn't that why you had to emigrate?

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

Well... that's the reason we put on the forms when I claimed political asylum.

[jantalaimon.livejournal.com]

That icon, BTW, is far more disturbing than any of these reviews! XD

[not-here.livejournal.com]

Did you really just suggest that Americans would eschew a litigation opportunity in favour of a different approach? Unless said approach was to contact Oprah I don't think so!

[jantalaimon.livejournal.com]

It's true. I'm an anomaly, and a bad example overall, but I hear that a couple trying to combine their inherent American tendency toward being angry and litigious with their desire to be on Oprah is what actually brought about the genesis of the Jerry Springer Show. There was also sex thrown in for good measure, to ensure all bases were covered.