A Daddy by Christmas - Teri Wilson (HSE #2663 - Dec 2018)

Series: Wilde Hearts (Book 4) 

A dog isn’t only man’s best friend…

It could bring Anders the love of his life.

Without a bride by his side, billionaire Anders Kent will lose his chance to be a father to his five-year-old niece. So when a gorgeous down-on-her-luck dancer is claiming the same puppy as him, she might be the answer to his problems! Chloe Wilde’s not looking for a marriage of convenience, even to someone as captivating as Anders. But sometimes Christmas gifts come in unusual packages…

Good story about two people brought together by their desire to help a little girl. Anders is a billionaire businessman who is fighting for custody of his orphaned niece. If he isn't married, he will lose her to the other set of relatives. He doesn't want to marry anyone, but he'll do it for his niece. The problem was finding someone willing to enter into a short-term marriage of convenience. During a clash with a woman at an animal shelter, he impulsively proposed marriage to her.

Chloe was a dancer with the Rockettes, but had a run of bad luck during a performance, causing them to demote her. She was relegated to passing out performance flyers on the street. Dance has been her life, and Chloe was feeling lost without it. She also lost her boyfriend over it because she was no longer useful to his plans. Her pride wouldn't let her confess her problems to her family. The only thing that made her feel better was the puppy she was in the process of adopting until even that was threatened.

The confrontation between Chloe and Anders at the shelter was intense. Both wanted that puppy - Chloe for herself, Anders for his niece. Underneath the antagonism of the argument the sparks of attraction flew. It was interesting to see that Chloe rattled Anders to the point where he looked at her as a possible solution to his problem, even though she was the opposite of everything he wanted. Chloe was a bit off-center herself, with her mind drifting to daydreams about him rather than concentrating on getting the dog. Anders's sudden proposal, backtracking, and abandonment of his claim showed just how confused he was.

Fate wasn't done with them yet and tossed them together yet again when Anders brought Lolly to her ballet class - the same one that Chloe has just taken over the teaching of. The sparks were still there, and I had fun seeing Chloe jerk his chain about the proposal. But she felt a little guilty when she learned the story behind Anders and Lolly being together and decided to do something about it. Meanwhile, Anders was still trying to solve his wife problem and getting nowhere. Desperate, he made a proposition to Chloe. Their plan was for a paper marriage that would end as soon as Anders had custody of Lolly. They didn't count on the paparazzi getting wind of the marriage, which forced them to make it look real.

The intense attraction between Chloe and Anders had both of them on edge. Though Chloe insisted on a platonic arrangement, the chemistry between them blew that away the first night. I loved the effect it had on Anders, who suddenly realized that maybe being married wouldn't be such a bad thing. But Chloe freaked out at the intensity of her feelings and pulled back hard. They both put on the show that it was a real marriage, though Chloe kept reminding herself and Anders that it would be over soon, trying to protect her heart (which was a losing battle). I loved how easily they melded as a family. It was great to see the workaholic Anders leave work earlier every day, just to spend time with Lolly and Chloe. I ached for both of them, as Chloe was afraid to believe, and Anders finally understood what his brother had tried to tell him. When it came time for Chloe to make a choice, she had to decide where her heart really belonged. I loved their big moment at the end, and the setting was perfect.

I haven't read any of the other books in the series, but they are now on my list of ones I want to read. The love and support that they all had for Chloe was fantastic. I loved how they all came together to make the wedding happen, and how they drew Lolly and Anders into the family. I ached for Chloe, who let her pride get in the way of asking for help. And I loved her mom, who was a lot smarter than Chloe gave her credit for, and played a big part in Chloe's happy ending.

His Pretend Fiancée - Victoria Pade (SSE #1564 - Sept 2003)

Series: Manhattan Multiples (Book 3)

KISSING ROOMMATES...

Suddenly homeless Josie Tate felt fireworks during her passionate three days with firefighter Michael Dunnigan, but she wouldn't live with him unless she paid him back...like be his pretend fiancée so that his mother would stop her matchmaking. Although Michael made her heart hammer, Josie didn't want strings in the relationship. Then a sweet little development ruined her best-laid plans.

The moment he saw Josie, Michael wanted her. He even agreed to their "platonic roommates" status because as a risk taker, he didn't need serious attachments. But the nights were torture, and soon, both he and Josie couldn't fight the truth...that nothing felt better than being together, and that their pretend arrangement should involve a real walk down the aisle...

Good book about two people who, after years of avoiding commitments, discover that maybe there's something worth risking their hearts for. Josie is a free-spirited young woman who takes life with both hands. She has had all kinds of different jobs, moving on when she gets too comfortable. She is fun-loving, nearly always cheerful, and easy-going. She had also decided that marriage and family aren't for her after her risk-taking parents died when she was a child, leaving her an orphan. Burned once again when the man she loved decided he didn't love her, she decided that depending on herself is the only way to live.

Enter Michael, good-looking, charming, and a firefighter. He loves his work and his mother and sister. He had never wanted to be anything other than a firefighter, even though he lost his firefighter father when he was twelve. Between the memories of that time and the more recent witnessing of the devastation caused by the loss of so many first responders on 9/11, Michael has decided that he will hold off on any serious relationships until after he retires from firefighting.

Michael and Josie met at a poetry reading at a local bar. The chemistry between them was instant, and they spent the Labor Day weekend together before parting, not expecting to see each other again. I loved their second encounter. Michael has just suffered through another blind date set up by his mother, who is determined to get him married off. He realized that she isn't going to give up and came up with a crazy plan. He asked Josie to become his "pretend fiancée" and move in with him, long enough to get his mother off his back. This came at a perfect time for Josie, who has been kicked out of her apartment for having an unauthorized dog. Though she is wary because he still makes her heart pound, they agree to a "platonic roommates" arrangement.

I enjoyed the development of their relationship. Michael and Josie quickly became friends over shared meals and movie nights. But underneath it all was a simmering attraction that kept getting stronger, no matter how they tried to fight it. I loved seeing them grow closer as they shared the house and their lives. I especially liked how sensitive each was to the other's moods. It was heartwarming to see the way that Josie was there for Michael when he'd had a particularly rough day. Each of them began to think more about making their pretend engagement real, but getting past their fears was a challenge. Then Josie has a double event that makes her realize just how deep her feelings for Michael are, and that she has to talk to him about them. On his side, Michael has an epiphany about what he's really doing by avoiding relationships. I loved his big moment at the end when he was able to share that revelation with Josie. Her response was great, especially with her own revelation.

I also enjoyed Michael's mother. She was definitely pushy and determined to get Michael married off. I loved their conversation about all the dates she had arranged for him. Her surprise when he announced his "engagement" was priceless. It was fun to see how Josie was amused by her antics rather than put off. Michael's love for his mom was obvious, even though she frustrated him on a regular basis.