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A Baby in the House
The bridesmaid is pregnant...
The stuffy air in the church and her queasy stomach are a bad combination, especially since Krystal Graham is trying to hide her condition - particularly from Garret Donovan, the groomsman assigned to escort her down the aisle. The groomsman who just happens to be the father of her baby.
Unfortunately, once the "I do's" are over and the newlyweds are on their way, Krystal knows she's in trouble, and she tries to make her exit before she embarrasses herself. But that's the least of her worries. Garret's a smart man and a doctor. What's she going to do once her secret is out?
Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2003
About the author
Pamela Bauer
42 books7 followersPamela Muelhbauer was born and raised in Minnesota, one of six children. She and her husband Gerr, live in a small community just northwest of Minneapolis. They have two children, Amy and Aaron, and a bichon-poo that thinks he’s human. The marriage spend much of their recreational time in the lakes region of northern Minnesota. They enjoy roasting marshmallows over an open fire and listening to the call of the loons in the summer, and in the winter they trek through the woods on snowshoes and fish through a hole in the ice. Is it romantic? Ask a Minnesotan and you’ll likely get the answer, "You betcha!" says Pamela, who treasures those moments "up north."
Since selling her first romance in 1986, Pamela Bauer has gained fans around the world for her heartwarming stories about love and family relationships. She plans to continue to write stories about people falling in love and living happily ever after. She hopes that when you read one of her books you’ll smile and maybe even laugh out loud, but more important, when you’ve finished the story you’ll feel good — about families, about life, and about love. She often uses the Midwest as a setting for her books, because she believes there’s something special about the region that makes it the perfect setting for stories about love and family. It’s also the place where she fell in love with her real-life hero, her husband.
Since selling her first romance in 1986, Pamela Bauer has gained fans around the world for her heartwarming stories about love and family relationships. She plans to continue to write stories about people falling in love and living happily ever after. She hopes that when you read one of her books you’ll smile and maybe even laugh out loud, but more important, when you’ve finished the story you’ll feel good — about families, about life, and about love. She often uses the Midwest as a setting for her books, because she believes there’s something special about the region that makes it the perfect setting for stories about love and family. It’s also the place where she fell in love with her real-life hero, her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 29, 2018
I hated this. Disliked the heroine, hated her mother, hated her sister, hated the H’s mother, and the hero lackadaisically phones it in.
The two have a one night stand. They’ve been attracted to each other, but are too stupid in the face of even a passionate ONS to realize it goes both ways. She gets pregnant, and all too ugly reality and human reactions kick in from the cast and crew.
Yes, I found the judgmental and hypocritical mother (she had two teen pregnancies so she’s a do-as-I-say-not-as-I do kind of mother and she slaps her daughter),and the passive-aggressive mother of the H that the heroine rents a room from all too annoying. Then there is the supportive sister. Or she’s supportive until her marital troubles turn her into a pathetic, whiny, user that runs the gauntlet from contemplating taking someone else’s husband in a troubled marriage, but settles for manipulating her sister into renting a house they can’t afford then leaving her with the lease when her loser H crooks his finger.
Little romance and too much tawdry and mean-spirited reality for me.
Sincerely,
TheBitchy Cranky Reviewer
The two have a one night stand. They’ve been attracted to each other, but are too stupid in the face of even a passionate ONS to realize it goes both ways. She gets pregnant, and all too ugly reality and human reactions kick in from the cast and crew.
Yes, I found the judgmental and hypocritical mother (she had two teen pregnancies so she’s a do-as-I-say-not-as-I do kind of mother and she slaps her daughter),and the passive-aggressive mother of the H that the heroine rents a room from all too annoying. Then there is the supportive sister. Or she’s supportive until her marital troubles turn her into a pathetic, whiny, user that runs the gauntlet from contemplating taking someone else’s husband in a troubled marriage, but settles for manipulating her sister into renting a house they can’t afford then leaving her with the lease when her loser H crooks his finger.
Little romance and too much tawdry and mean-spirited reality for me.
Sincerely,
The
December 13, 2017
So with this one I believe that the hero didn’t want to marry her because of the baby because he pined for her while she was with the OM was already in love with her when taking her to bed.
My issue is AFTER.
He knows the baby is his. He KNOWS he’s going to offer marriage because a) he’s honourable and b) he loves her. Yet he couldn’t resist taking the OW out on dates?
Now they may be harmless friendly dinner because he very defensively tells his mother he doesn’t use anyone however he admits to heroine that he understands it may look like “something”.
So why are you doing that something when you’re thinking of heroine and thinking of proposing?
And don’t give me BS about heroine not having to worry because she does because a) she knows about your history with OW thanks to your mum, b) YOU know your mum is trying to match make with the OW and C) your mum thinks the OW is the best thing since sliced bread and heroine is nothing compared to her. You are failing to both protect or cherish her.
It IS emotional cheating.
And heroine is damn right to think you are marrying her out of obligation while pining for the OW because your whole family is disappointed and giving her that impression.
Second weakness of hero.
He failed to protect her against his mother.
This is her reaction to thinking OW was pregnant.
“Oh, my goodness! Samantha is pregnant?”
Compared to heroine’s pregnancy:
“She sat with a look of bewilderment on her face, staring at Krystal. “You slept with my son?” she finally said.”
“Mom, don’t blame Krystal. I’m equally responsible,” Garret said, but it was as if his mother didn’t hear him.
“I treated you like a daughter,” Leonie said to her in a voice that wobbled uncharacteristically.
Maddie came to Krystal’s defense. “Leonie, Krystal is like a daughter to you and she’s like a sister to me. This doesn’t change that.”
Then his mother turned to Maddie and asked in an accusing tone, “Did you know about this?”
Then the only thing the he hero says in favour to heroine:
“You didn’t react this way when Dylan told you he was going to be a father.”
“You can’t expect me not to be shocked, Garret,” she told him.
“No, but I did expect you to be fair,” he said”
Oh, hey, how about mentioning how she was excited thinking it was OW who was pregnant? Which heroine rightly pointed out on the next page and he dodges it? Or rather author dodges it thinking we’ll forget it. May be we’d have if you didn’t remind us by the mother telling us how she’s “disappointed but trying to work around it”! What was disappointing about it? It wasn’t the woman of HER choice? She wasn’t a doctor? Then she tries to cover it by saying how the two parents don’t love each other. Who the fuck EVER told you that your son EVER even thought about loving the OW? Yet you were excited? No. You are not disappointed because of that you judgemental bitch. You are a snob and you are disappointed exactly why heroine thinks you were. Because you feel she’s not good enough for your son. Throughout the WHOLE book NO ONE, not even the hero calls this out and I’m supposed to like him? Err, no.
Then the mother has subtly and then openly discouraged her on the marriage. Not her son though. The heroine. She was absolutely blunt about it. It’s not something she’d let other people of the community do. But when it comes to her son, she made sure heroine would NOT say yes to marriage. And to say the MCs actually thought she was the most supportive character at the end of the book !
Then there’s her family.
The bitch of a sister is a user and doesn’t SEE the problem in it. The mother doesn’t see the problem on it. Because the heroine saw the problem she was the selfish one. There really needed to be some consequences. The sister, her husband and the mother needed to learn that they can’t just up and leave. And heroine really needed to take a hiatus from those toxic relationships.
Lastly, hero was already in love with heroine. So no argument there. But I absolutely don’t see what’s to love about him apart from he’s a nice decent reliable guy. He’s also a weak guy who couldn’t resist being petty and taking the OW out on date and couldn’t bother to show the heroine any feelings. There was none. There was practicality of marriage. The right thing to do. The sex. The chemistry. But no emotion. He didn’t give her the right reasons ever simply because HE didn’t feel loved. Well too bad. Then there’s nothing to love about him. I really didn’t see what heroine fell in love with. A man pining for OW? What’s lovable? So no I don’t believe the HEA. I really don’t believe heroine fell in love. It was may be a rebound. May be she settled for the nice guy. He was a nice guy but she showed no loving emotion to return.
I may not have liked the recent Lauren Blakey book Hard Wood, but I’ll paraphrase the hero. Why would any woman be compelled to like or love a guy simply because they are decent when that should be an obligatory requirement to begin with.
Heroine deserved more. Specially after his mother and the OW made her feel worthless and insecure she needed to be wooed and cherished and loved. Not for the baby, not as a baby mama. As a woman. There was precisely ZERO wooing!
My issue is AFTER.
He knows the baby is his. He KNOWS he’s going to offer marriage because a) he’s honourable and b) he loves her. Yet he couldn’t resist taking the OW out on dates?
Now they may be harmless friendly dinner because he very defensively tells his mother he doesn’t use anyone however he admits to heroine that he understands it may look like “something”.
So why are you doing that something when you’re thinking of heroine and thinking of proposing?
And don’t give me BS about heroine not having to worry because she does because a) she knows about your history with OW thanks to your mum, b) YOU know your mum is trying to match make with the OW and C) your mum thinks the OW is the best thing since sliced bread and heroine is nothing compared to her. You are failing to both protect or cherish her.
It IS emotional cheating.
And heroine is damn right to think you are marrying her out of obligation while pining for the OW because your whole family is disappointed and giving her that impression.
Second weakness of hero.
He failed to protect her against his mother.
This is her reaction to thinking OW was pregnant.
“Oh, my goodness! Samantha is pregnant?”
Compared to heroine’s pregnancy:
“She sat with a look of bewilderment on her face, staring at Krystal. “You slept with my son?” she finally said.”
“Mom, don’t blame Krystal. I’m equally responsible,” Garret said, but it was as if his mother didn’t hear him.
“I treated you like a daughter,” Leonie said to her in a voice that wobbled uncharacteristically.
Maddie came to Krystal’s defense. “Leonie, Krystal is like a daughter to you and she’s like a sister to me. This doesn’t change that.”
Then his mother turned to Maddie and asked in an accusing tone, “Did you know about this?”
Then the only thing the he hero says in favour to heroine:
“You didn’t react this way when Dylan told you he was going to be a father.”
“You can’t expect me not to be shocked, Garret,” she told him.
“No, but I did expect you to be fair,” he said”
Oh, hey, how about mentioning how she was excited thinking it was OW who was pregnant? Which heroine rightly pointed out on the next page and he dodges it? Or rather author dodges it thinking we’ll forget it. May be we’d have if you didn’t remind us by the mother telling us how she’s “disappointed but trying to work around it”! What was disappointing about it? It wasn’t the woman of HER choice? She wasn’t a doctor? Then she tries to cover it by saying how the two parents don’t love each other. Who the fuck EVER told you that your son EVER even thought about loving the OW? Yet you were excited? No. You are not disappointed because of that you judgemental bitch. You are a snob and you are disappointed exactly why heroine thinks you were. Because you feel she’s not good enough for your son. Throughout the WHOLE book NO ONE, not even the hero calls this out and I’m supposed to like him? Err, no.
Then the mother has subtly and then openly discouraged her on the marriage. Not her son though. The heroine. She was absolutely blunt about it. It’s not something she’d let other people of the community do. But when it comes to her son, she made sure heroine would NOT say yes to marriage. And to say the MCs actually thought she was the most supportive character at the end of the book !
Then there’s her family.
The bitch of a sister is a user and doesn’t SEE the problem in it. The mother doesn’t see the problem on it. Because the heroine saw the problem she was the selfish one. There really needed to be some consequences. The sister, her husband and the mother needed to learn that they can’t just up and leave. And heroine really needed to take a hiatus from those toxic relationships.
Lastly, hero was already in love with heroine. So no argument there. But I absolutely don’t see what’s to love about him apart from he’s a nice decent reliable guy. He’s also a weak guy who couldn’t resist being petty and taking the OW out on date and couldn’t bother to show the heroine any feelings. There was none. There was practicality of marriage. The right thing to do. The sex. The chemistry. But no emotion. He didn’t give her the right reasons ever simply because HE didn’t feel loved. Well too bad. Then there’s nothing to love about him. I really didn’t see what heroine fell in love with. A man pining for OW? What’s lovable? So no I don’t believe the HEA. I really don’t believe heroine fell in love. It was may be a rebound. May be she settled for the nice guy. He was a nice guy but she showed no loving emotion to return.
I may not have liked the recent Lauren Blakey book Hard Wood, but I’ll paraphrase the hero. Why would any woman be compelled to like or love a guy simply because they are decent when that should be an obligatory requirement to begin with.
Heroine deserved more. Specially after his mother and the OW made her feel worthless and insecure she needed to be wooed and cherished and loved. Not for the baby, not as a baby mama. As a woman. There was precisely ZERO wooing!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2023
A Baby in the House... was not my favourite Harlequin which was super disappointing. I felt the author focused less on romance. Obviously, I know reality doesn't get happy things all the time, but the author talked a lot about separation, divorce and cheating. Either by the friends and people around the main heroine Krystal.
It was also verrrrrry PG. But it ended with a HEA and it was nice to read a paperback after a long time without.
It was also verrrrrry PG. But it ended with a HEA and it was nice to read a paperback after a long time without.
January 2, 2021
OK for a book of its time
December 9, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. Dr. G is a guy I would like to meet. A gentleman who made a mistake but tried hard to make up for it. Loved Kryssie too for her honest outlook. On the other hand really disliked her selfish sister and mom. While I appreciated the close-knit family boy can they 'chat'. Nothing like keeping a secret...tell one person and ask that they not blab to the others. What did I learn? They're still good guys out there. Be true to yourself. Other's opinion of you count and when faced between true happiness and children, most people will chose the children. A good read.
January 12, 2015
Easy breezy, I know it's my word of the day. It was enjoyable, quick, relaxing read.
January 21, 2015
I had the flu this weekend and needed something light. Since I have a weakness for Surprise baby Harlequin books this one hit the spot.
October 1, 2015
It's a very nice book and there's characters that I really dislike. 2 ladies actually. Maybe you will feel the same with me after reading? ☺️
March 20, 2016
Good book
This was a really good read. If you are looking for a quick read. It's hard to put down. Ok
This was a really good read. If you are looking for a quick read. It's hard to put down. Ok
January 22, 2016
Forgettable formula romance.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews