REVIEW: Bachelor Doc, Unexpected Dad by Dianne Drake

In Bachelor Doc, Unexpected Dad by Dianne Drake, Matt McClain and Ellie Sanders spent an incredible night together and then went their separate ways. However, when Ellie discovers she’s pregnant, she knows she needs to tell Matt, especially since there’s no way she’ll ever be able to take care of a child the way a child needs when she’s so focused on her career. Yet, with big decisions to make, will Ellie and Matt give each other a chance or will they walk away from their chance at happy ever after because their careers are more important?

”I’m determined, Matt. There’s a difference. What I do has a purpose. Being a royal pain is simply for fun and pleasure.”
He chuckled. “So, this is how it’s going to be?”
She smiled back at him. “How about I work on my bedside manner, too. Although you didn’t complain about it in Reno, did you?”

The way this story started drew me in immediately, as Matt has a big decision to make. However, the more I read, the more I found myself frustrated by the main characters since both come off as incredibly selfish and care more about their careers than anything else. Yet, in saying that, the further I got into this book, the more I could understand why Matt and Ellie are the way they are because neither have had the easiest of upbringings and wouldn’t know the first thing about babies, love, family or happiness. Will Ellie and Matt do the right thing by their baby?

As for the dialogue, it was intense due to the main characters back stories, as Matt feels such guilt over decisions he made years ago and how he let down someone he cared about. Will he do what’s right now when he couldn’t years ago? Will Matt and Ellie be able to let down their guards to let the other in? Furthermore, I really liked both the main characters in the end, but it took me a while to warm up to the pair, as — like I said — both come off as selfish because of the decisions they’re thinking of making. How could the hero be willing to give up the only tie he has left to his immediate family? Will the heroine be able to go through with her plans once she realizes how much she has to lose?

”Who we are is who we want to be.”
“Who we are, Matt, is a woman who will be returning to the corporate world shortly, and a man who’ll be returning to the battlefield. How do you make something like that work?”

With the heroine, she’s very independent, knows what she wants, goes through a lot because of her pregnancy and I liked how she handled everything she does go through because it makes Ellie realize that she doesn’t want to end up like her mother and grandmother. In other words, non-caring and cold. While the hero, he’s a good guy who has done well for himself considering his tough upbringing. He’s also confident, determined to do what’s right by someone he cares about and I liked that he took a chance on Ellie because they change each other for the better. Really, Ellie make him realize how much he’s missing out on, especially once something big happens for Matt that changes all his plans for his future.

“Definitely happily-ever-after,” he said, stretching out on the hospital bed next to he when she scooted over and patted the spot where she wanted him. “And would that begin with a kiss?”
“Or maybe a kick to the belly,” she said, placing his hand on her belly.
“And a kiss,” he said, leaning over but kissing her belly, as their son was still kicking inside her. “I think he knows he’s the one who brought us back together, where we belong,” Matt said when baby Matthew finally calmed down.=

Overall, Ms. Drake has delivered a good read in this book where the characters progressed brilliantly and had me really enjoying their journey to happy ever after, especially after I hit the halfway mark of the book; the chemistry between this couple was strong; the romance was delightful and had me cheering for this couple’s happy ever after, especially with what happens towards the end that left me worried for the main characters. Will everything work out for the best? I would recommend Bachelor Doc, Unexpected Dad by Dianne Drake, if you enjoy medical romances, the second chance romance trope or books by authors Sue Mackay, Marion Lennox, Caroline Anderson and Ann McIntosh.
 

Book Info:

Publication: July 17th, 2018 | Harlequin Medical |

From confirmed bachelor…To committed dad!

Army doc Matt McClain and career woman Ellie Landers share one unforgettable night, never expecting to meet again. Until Ellie arrives on Matt’s doorstep–pregnant! Matt has just become guardian to his orphaned nephew, and the nomadic medic isn’t ready to be a father of two! But faced with losing Ellie and their baby, Matt might just realize that he has what it takes to make them a family.