REVIEW: The Surgeon’s Baby Surprise by Charlotte Hawkes

In The Surgeon’s Baby Surprise by Charlotte Hawkes, Max Van Berg is a man that loves his career. Never had he ever thought he’d want anything more until he learns he has a daughter. With the child’s mother battling illness, Max figures he has no choice but to take advantage of the situation by inviting Evangeline ‘Evie’ Parker and their daughter to come stay with him. Will she give him a chance or will the secret she’s keeping from him ruin their chance at happy ever after?

“Is that what you think?”
“That you were attracted to me?” Evie was confused.
“No,” he actually clicked his tongue at her. “—that I don’t find you desirable.”
She barked out a humourless laugh. “I think the fact you walked out on me the other day, whilst I was naked on the bed, is pretty much all the evidence I need.”
“Because I thought I was taking advantage of you,” he exclaimed in a low voice. “You’re only a week post-op. A major op, I should add, and you needed my help to even wash your hair in the shower. And there I was, reacting to you. I thought you felt somehow…obligated to me.”

Ms. Hawkes is a new author for me, and this medical romance by her was fast-paced and a story that entertained me from start to finish due to what the heroine is going through as well as the two main characters back stories. The hero doesn’t know the love of family never having received much from his parents. So, being with Evie is an eye-opening experience for him because she’s so kind, caring and will do anything for those she loves, which is proven by how much she loves her daughter. Although the choice she made about Max soon after the delivery of her baby was perhaps her worst decision ever.

The dialogue was intense and emotional due to the heroine’s illness and the hero’s back story. Before meeting Evie, Max was a robot; a man that never let his emotions get the best of him and was all work and no play. Even when it came to his job as a surgeon, he could separate himself from what was happening with his patients. It was a little unnerving, yet at the same time, understandable because surgery doesn’t always go the way a surgeon would like it to. However, when it comes to Evie and everything she’s going through, he finds he can’t separate himself. He needs her just as much as she needs him, and I liked how determined Max was to prove to Evie he could be a good dad to their daughter. Certainly, he has a few problems bonding with her at first, but all in all I enjoyed the growing bond between the hero and his daughter.

”Pretty good.” He nodded his head to Imogen. “We did a good job there, little lady.”
Imogen gurgled as if in agreement, then, reaching out her chubby fingers, grabbed his hair and pulled him in, giggling in anticipation of another raspberry.
“There’s a rugby game on TV tonight,” he told her brightly. ”I haven’t had a chance to watch a game in years. What say you grab a bottle and I’ll grab a pizza, and we can watch it together?”

While Evie, she’s strong and brave when it comes to everything she goes through. Being a good mother to Imogen is all she ever wants, but there’s a chance she might not be able to be that because of her illness. Moreover, it isn’t easy for her to give Max a chance because of the secret she’s keeping, but I loved that he proved her wrong. He is a good dad; a man that needs the kind of love and happiness Evie and their daughter bring to his life. How could she have been so wrong about him? Will he forgive her when he learns her secret?

Overall, this was a really good story where the romance proved just how right these two are for each other and that love can overcome any obstacle. The way this story ended was delightful, as the hero needed the advice from someone Evie once helped and the way he helped this secondary character in return healed them both. However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up nicely, because I discovered whether Evie was still healthy and living life to the max or not (no pun intended, because of course, the hero’s name is Max.) But what I liked most about the epilogue was how the last few words tie in with when Max and Evie first came face-to-face at the beginning of this story. I would recommend The Surgeon’s Baby Surprise by Charlotte Hawkes, if you enjoy the friends to lovers or surprise pregnancy tropes.
 

Book Info:

Publication: December 20th, 2016 | Harlequin Medical |

Discovering his secret child!

For committed surgeon Max Van Berg, career has always come first. He’s only ever risked distraction once—during his whirlwind affair with stunning psychiatrist Evangeline Parker…

But now Evie’s unexpected reappearance has turned Max’s world upside down. Not only is Evie battling illness, but she’s been forced to keep an even bigger secret from the surgeon! Against all odds Max is a father, and suddenly his sole focus is fighting for Evie, for baby Imogen and for the family he never knew he wanted until now…