REVIEW: Pregnant by the Maverick Millionaire by Joss Wood

Pregnant by the Maverick Millionaire is the second book in Joss Wood’s From Mavericks to Married series. While pregnancy stories aren’t usually my thing, I really enjoyed the first book I read in this series, Trapped with the Maverick Millionaire and so I was on the lookout for the next one. And the title makes it clear there will be a baby on the way, so it wasn’t a surprise. I went into this story with high hopes for another entertaining read and was very pleased with the result.

Kade is one of three buddies who are all avowed bachelors – well, except that Mac found true love with Rory, and now thinks he and Quinn should be next in line. Kade has no plans in this regard however. When he meets Brodie while running in the park, he almost has a fling with her until she backs away with apologies but no explanation. Fast forward to a few months later and Brodie’s matchmaking business has put up an auction prize for their services at the Maverick’s hockey charity gala . Though she never intended to personally attend knowing Kade would be there, her business partner leaves her in the lurch and so she turns up and this time around, Kade is much more persuasive. A sexy one night stand with a clear ending is all they want – until the fates conspire and Brodie ends up pregnant. And not only that, but Rory had the top bid for the matchmaking prize at the auction, and sets it up publicly for Kade! He can’t refuse as the team’s publicity director thinks it’s a great stunt to get the team some new fans. Now Brodie’s got to set him up on three dates, all while carrying his child and trying to keep it a secret. But Kade has no interest in dating other women, unless it will give him an excuse to be around Brodie with whom he might finally be willing to stick around for a relationship. And when he finds out she’s carrying his child? Well, he’s ready to do his part. But will Brodie believe that Kade intends to leave his player ways behind for a future with her and their child? And having lost loved ones before, will she be willing to risk her heart again?

This was a really enjoyable story. Brodie and Kade individually are very likable characters and as a couple they are passionate and well matched. Kade might be a player sure, but he’s smart and fun and definitely husband and father material (even if he doesn’t think so). His reasons for not wanting to be in a committed relationship stem from a poor upbringing with an itinerant artist father who dragged him from stop to stop but never showed him love and affection. He cares for his teammates, but won’t risk any more emotional attachment than that. Brodie has her own commitment problems. She lost her parents, best friend and boyfriend in a devastating multi-vehicle car accident that she survived, on route to her twentieth birthday party. It taught her that while love might be okay for other people (and she takes pride in the matches she makes with her company), it’s not for her. She’s not going to risk her heart again. It’s no surprise then that these two are on the same page when it comes to having an affair while protecting their hearts. They share some very steamy scenes together and though they both struggle to keep themselves emotionally uninvolved, the truth is that they can’t. And when Brodie ends up pregnant, she realizes that she’s no longer going to be on her own, which scares her yet gives her some hope for the future too. I loved seeing Brodie finally open herself up to a chance at a relationship with Kade, and vice versa.

Of course things are little complicated, what with Brodie having to find dates for Kade as part of the matchmaking prize all while pretending to not be jealous. And Kade has to fulfill his part of the bargain even though he really just wants to spend time with Brodie. No worries, there is no cheating, and that all gets sorted out pretty quickly, but it still makes for an interesting situation they find themselves in. Plus, Kade’s friendship with the now married Mac and the still eternally single Quinn (for the moment anyway!) make for some fun scenes as these three find themselves transitioning from single hockey players to the next step on their retirement paths. I found this story to have everything in it that I was looking for with its emotional components, sexy scenes and genuine characters. I’m looking forward to Quinn and the woman who will knock his socks off!
 

Book Info:

Publication: Aug 9, 2016 | Harlequin Desire | From Mavericks to Married #2

When a one-night stand leads to a life-altering little surprise…

Her profession might be matchmaking, but businesswoman Brodie Stewart isn’t interested in finding a husband. What she wants is sexy Mavericks CEO Kade Webb. Happily, the former hockey player is all in for a no-strings night of fun. Yet a few weeks later when Brodie realizes her flu is actually morning sickness, Kade is adamant that they raise their baby together. Brodie barely survived heartbreak before. Falling in love can’t be part of their deal. But she has a sneaking suspicion her Mavericks baby daddy is forming a plan of his own…