The Baby His Secretary Carries

Bound by a Surrogate Baby Duet #1

by Dani Collins

A temporary engagement is made complicated when this CEO’s PA reveals she’s expecting! Secrets, longing and passion are to be found in the new romance by USA TODAY bestselling author Dani Collins.

The Italian boss’s proposal…
The secretary’s secret!

Faced with a hostile takeover, tycoon Gio must strengthen his claim on the Casella family company with a fake engagement. He’ll never commit to a real one again. Despite his forbidden attraction, his dedicated PA, Molly, is ideal to play his adoring fiancée. The only problem? Molly is pregnant!

Secretly carrying a surrogate baby, Molly can’t reveal the truth of her pregnancy. But knowing Gio’s protecting his legacy, she agrees to the ruse temporarily . Until pretend passion becomes red-hot reality! Will innocent Molly walk away from Gio unscathed or forever burned by his irresistible touch…?

From Harlequin Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.

Read all the Bound by a Surrogate Baby

Book 1: The Baby His Secretary Carries
Book 2: The Secret of Their Billion-Dollar Baby

Genres: Romance, Harlequin Romance

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published January 23, 2024

About the author

USA Today Bestselling author Dani Collins thrives on giving readers emotional, compelling, heart-soaring romance with laughter and heat, just like real life.

Mostly she writes contemporary romance, but she has also writes Historical Western, erotic romance, and romcom.

Want to be notified of Dani's latest release along with getting sneak peeks, price drops, behind the scene's gossip and other special offers? Join Dani's VIP list. Join Now!

Reviews

[Helen]

I loved this new book from Dani Collins, this author really knows how to put sensual into her stories as she took me on a trip to few countries with luxury yachts, private jets and a fabulous hero and heroine to meet, come along and meet secretary Molly and CEO Gio Casella.

Molly has worked her way up the ladder with the Casella Company and is now assistant to the CEO’s PA, she has had a secret crush on Gio since she came to work at the London office but when she is suddenly promoted just as she is going to request six months leave, Molly is stunned she has a secret she must keep, how on earth is this going to work out?

Gio is thrilled to offer Molly the promotion she deserves he has always felt a pull towards her but as her employer he knows where to draw the line, but he is also stunned when she says no to the promotion and on further questions he uncovers her secret but he knows there is more to this than she is saying, can he convince her to stay more than the three weeks she is offering?

When Gio’s grandfather gets sick and there is a threat to the company, Gio convinces Molly to become his fiancé for a short time, but spending so much time together getting to know each other soon finds them in a very sensual and passionate affair but will they be able to walk away from each other?

This is a book that I would highly recommend, it is sensual and emotional and I loved Molly she is beautiful inside and out and Gio after all he has been through finally finds that he can love and be loved, don’t miss this one.

My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.

[Susan in Perthshire]

I’ve loved a lot of this author’s books but this one is definitely not my cup of tea. I don’t find stories about surrogacy particularly romantic and this one was such a bizarre combination of themes and tropes that I could not engage at all. DNF.


If you like surrogacy stories and find them romantic, you’ll enjoy this but I’m afraid I don’t. Not for me.

[Nas Dean]

"The Baby His Secretary Carries" by Dani Collins is a captivating romance novel that seamlessly blends passion, emotion, and unexpected twists. The story revolves around the intricate dynamics between already pregnant Molly, and her enigmatic boss, Gio and the unforeseen consequences that follow when Gio asks Molly to be his fake fiancée.

Dani Collins excels at creating characters with depth and authenticity, making the reader empathize with their struggles and triumphs. The Molly's journey is both relatable and compelling, and the emotional nuances are expertly woven into the narrative.

The plot is skilfully crafted, with unexpected turns that keep the reader eagerly turning the pages. The romance between the Molly and Gio is charged with intensity and chemistry, adding a layer of sensuality to the story. The author navigates the complexities of love and relationships with finesse, making the reader invest emotionally in the characters' journey.

What sets "The Baby His Secretary Carries" apart is its ability to balance the steamy romance with genuine emotional depth. The author tackles themes of love, trust, and self-discovery, creating a story that resonates on both an emotional and sensual level.

Overall, Dani Collins delivers a compelling and engaging romance that will appeal to fans of the genre. "The Baby His Secretary Carries" is a delightful read, blending passion and emotion in a way that leaves a lasting impression. With well-drawn characters and a storyline that keeps you hooked, this novel stands out as a shining example of contemporary romance done right.

Highly recommended for all readers of romance.

[Patty Duplechin]

When Molly gets promoted to an executive PA, she is surprised because she was wanting to take some time off from her job. She is pregnant but it’s a secret. No one is to find out. But when her sexy, wealthy and handsome boss, Gio Casella whisk her off to Genoa for a big takeover he has a family emergency. His grandfather, Otto is very ill. He’s grandfather helped raise him. Once Gio sees how ill he is, Gio comes up with a fake engagement, not that he will ever commit again. Molly agrees but just until Otto is better. What can go wrong? Her pregnancy, his horrible parents and his attraction to Molly. Will he be devastated when he finds out her secret about her surrogate pregnancy? She hates that she can’t tell anyone. Will he fire her? Will he let her walk away? Can they both walk away unscathed? The characters are strong and independent, while Molly is loving, kind and caring which is something Gio never had. They both deserve love and a family. Worth the read. Dani Collins always brings it.

[Mattie]

I didn't like it, but it was well written and the hero and heroine had a good connection. It's just not a book I'd ever want to re-read, there were too many things I didn't like.

First I'm not a fan of hero being strongly attracted to heroine, but sleeping with other women.
I was glad it was revealed later on in the book that he didn't sleep with the woman he was with on the Yacht (first scene, in the prologue).

Second I didn't really like the surrogacy plot. It was different to read about a heroine that doesn't keep the baby she's carrying regardless if she's the biological mother or not. Not that I wanted her to keep the baby, it was just different than what I'm used to reading.

Also with the 3rd act breakup it wasn't stated whether he was celibate or not. They were seperated for 8+ weeks and in that time he went on dates and in his POV he was trying to close off his feelings for heroine and move on with his life. I assume he was celibate, but I wish he had thoughts of how he wasn't attracted to other women. P.

[Lynn Brooks]

Sexual tension and drama hooked me from page one! Dani Collins delivers on angst with the first book in her Bound by a Surrogate Baby duo and I highly enjoyed every minute! The characters are rich with emotion and the drama from various angles kept me entertained throughout. I can't wait for Sasha and Rafael's story!

Molly is a very heartfelt character. She has secrets that she can't openly share, but overall she's upfront with her feelings and emotions in a way that makes her easy to like and understand.

Gio has a soft side to him that only his grandfather generally sees, but Molly brings out more in him than he ever expected when they entered this fake relationship ruse and he's loving every minute of it.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fake relationship trope that is fast paced and emotional as the characters start to fall for each other for real.

[Janie]

Gio doesn't believe in romantic love, which stems from his relationship with his greedy parents. Molly is carrying around a secret that she can't share with anyone. When Gio's grandfather Otto is ill and is giving up on life, Gio decides that he is going to make Molly his pretend fiance in order to give his grandfather something to live for. The story surrounds Molly's secret and Gio's learning to trust in love.

[Gee Gee]

What a story! The love between Gio and Molly was so tangible, I could feel it on every page. Their connection pulsed with sincerity and emotion—utterly unforgettable. I also adored how vividly the characters were portrayed—no, painted—with such richness and detail. Sasha’s dual personality was both intriguing and perfectly executed, while Patricia shone through as the ultimate mother hen, full of warmth and quiet strength. And little Libby? Simply amazing—she stole my heart! 😍

[Flo Hill]

What an incredible start to a relationship Molly and Gio had. Molly was bound by a NDA agreement not to divulge anything. Fortunately for them both their attraction was so strong it led to their happily ever after.

[Harlequin Books]

Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Bound by a Surrogate Baby (Book #1)

[pip ✨]

Surprised to read a Harlequin/Mills and Boone with a non-sociopath male love interest.

[Evelyn]

This hotly intense book kept my interest from start to finish. Dani Collins definitely has a way with words. I love her books!

[Senetra]

Collins is an auto-buy for me but this was...different. I will definitely read the other book in the series though, lol.

[Debra Shutters]

I enjoyed reading this story. Love how Gio Met Molly and how they deal with everything going on and how Molly is a strong women not backing down when challenged and love how this ends.

[Rebecca]

Good book

[Abanobi Noella]

A very heartwarming read

[Carmelita Clardy]

A good start

This is the first book in the series and it was very good. The h is the executive assistant to the H. He has always been attracted to her but she was an employee. The H was a surrogate for her friend and was under a NDA.There is a lot of twists and turns, the plot and characters were very well written. Looking forward to the next book in the series. Great epilogue.

[Harlequin Books]

Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Bound by a Surrogate Baby (Book #1)