Beach Bar Baby

Brothers & Sisters #6

by Heidi Rice

Beach…
After some bad news, Ella jets off to sunny Bermuda for a bit of solo R&R…

Bar…
By day six, surrounded by honeymooners and smug-marrieds, she has to admit the solo bit is getting a teeny bit boring! Why say no to a casual date at the bar with ripped, tanned and enigmatic Cooper Delaney?

BABY!
It’s really not Coop’s style to flirt with tourists, let alone hook up with one again. But he can’t get the sweet London girl out of his head.A business trip to Europe is the perfect chance to see her. Only he finds Ella curvier, prettier…and keeping a secret he was so not expecting…!

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Adult, Fiction, Contemporary Romance

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

My name's Heidi Rice, I'm a USA Today Bestselling author. I'm married with two sons (which gives me rather too much of an insight into the male psyche!).

I love my job because it involves sitting down at my computer and getting swept up in a world of high emotions, sensual excitement, funny feisty women, sexy tortured men and glamourous locations where laundry doesn't exist ...

I also tutor a 14-week in-depth online Write a Romance Novel course. So, if you have ever wanted to learn how to write romance from a bestselling author, check it out here: www.profwritingacademy.com/course/wri...

Now I believe wholeheartedly that readers should give honest and open reviews on Goodreads and Amazon and elsewhere. If you didn't like a book you are entitled to say so (even if it's mine! ouch). But you may notice that none of my book reviews are less than four-stars. That's simply because as an author myself I know how pathetically sensitive I am about bad reviews and with that in mind I prefer to spread the love among other authors — and don't do public reviews of books I didn't like. Just thought I'd clarify that!

You can find out about my latest releases and all my other books at www.heidi-rice.com

Reviews

[Pearl Angeli · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was frustrating. I expected a lot since it has a very promising start but then things have gotten worse all throughout the book.

The book starts with Ella who went to Bermuda for a summer vacation. There, he met the hot, gorgeous, and rich Cooper Dellany. They instantly had that chemistry which led to flirtations and well, sex. It was supposed to be just a summer fling, but when Ella returned to London, she found out that she's pregnant. When Cooper went to London to see her again and found out that he's about to become a dad, their connection continued and so on...

The book has a nice concept. I love summer themed books with fluff but this book gave me a real hard time. The writing style was okay but it wasn't smooth compared to other contemporary books. The plot progression was also slow and I felt like there was nothing going on throughout the first half.

And my biggest concern?

The characters.

I like Ella because she seems like a nice person but she's weak as a character. I hate it when the heroine is too crazy and too patient over the guy just because she thinks he's too perfect and good in bed. Cooper Dellany is also a very annoying man. Such an immature guy. The moment when he discovered that Ella was pregnant and the moment he freaked out was already my cue to generally dislike the book. And the moment Ella discovered that he doesn't want to show her to his friends as the mother of his baby... WHAT A DOUCHEBAG!

I also dislike how sex became a common scene in this book. I mean, intimate scenes are spices to romance books but I think they're already too exaggerating here.

NO, this book is a big mistake.

Rating: 1 Star

[Desere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going on a solo vacation to fun filled Bermuda sounds like a dream come true. However once there every one will tell you that the more you see of the couples holding hands, making out on the beach and get into the wet and wild side of things whilst playing in the ocean waves, the more you get the message that you're there all alone and none of the action will be coming your way.

That is unless you are the heroine in a Heidi Rice book. Beach Bar Baby tells the very long awaited story of Ella. I first met Ella in the super hot Cupcakes and Killer Heals many moons ago, and back then she was just a glimmer of "I wonder what her story is?" fading into the background.

I was delighted to hear the author had finally penned down all the details of Ella's story. Now as I mentioned Ella is pretty much feeling very sorry for herself as she sits and watches couples get smooch up to each other and she is getting none of the action.

That is until the very sexy, very tanned, very ripped and more than willing to make all her sexual fantasies come true Cooper shows up. After a couple of drinks and getting to know all you can to know about the person you're about to sleep with they spend one sinful night together and the next morning Ella 's gone.

Cooper and his go get 'em attitude does not let this stop him from finding her again only when he does he notices a difference. She's still pretty and still very much tuns him one faster than a potent mix of rum and cocktails goes to you head, but she is also a heck of a lot more curvier than he remembers and once she drops the reason why Cooper is for darn sure that this is the one and only time in his life he has ever regretted taking a beautiful woman to bed.

I loved this read from start to finish. It was so much crazy fun to read I had bouts of laughter and people close by staring at me like I was some kind of crazy loon, it is not every day you find me bursting out in uncontrollable fits of laughter when reading solo in a corner, not the mention me snorting my coffee all over!

The character of Cooper was a bit of a ass at first, and all I wanted to do was bash his head in to see if that would snap him out of his utter blindness at Ella's feelings.

Ella's character was really nice to read, I liked that she was so very scared of everything happening yet she still pushed forward to try and make any valid point that she knew was needed.

The author did a brilliant job at taking a everyday occurrence, and yes also commonly found in romance books, and letting it play out with wild crazy humor and sweet sexy passion. Usually reads of this nature have a lot more of the emotional happening and none of the fun stuff in between such as jokes and laughing together. It was if I was reading about a couple expecting first child after the fairy-tale wedding ,yet I knew better because the relationship of Ella and Cooper is everything but the happy couple playing house.

I recommend this read for all fans of fun romantic reads. It is the perfect afternoon pick me up read!

5/5 star review
" It happened one night at the beach bar and now they're both screwed"

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beach Bar Baby by Heidi Rice
Grade: B-

“Aye-aye, Captain. But be warned. I’m on a mission tonight to get whatever I want.”

After getting some devastating news from her doctor, Ella Radley decides that she is in desperate need of a vacation. Soon it’s so long England, hello Caribbean! Ella spends most of her vacation alone or fending off married men and their advances until she meets Cooper Delaney on a boat excursion. For once Ella goes with the chemistry she feels with Cooper and spends the last night of her trip having a wild one night stand. Back in England Ella realizes she brought something home with her and now she has to track down the sexy boat captain and tell him the news that will change both of their lives forever.

Cooper Delaney left Indiana years ago for the Caribbean and has spent the years building his empire and living a carefree life. While helping out a friend Cooper finds himself captain of an excursion and unable to keep away from the sexy Ella Radley. After one night of mind blowing sex Cooper finds Ella has left but that doesn’t stop him for thinking about her for months after their fling. While heading to Europe for business Cooper decides to stop in England and surprise Ella but she’s got a major surprise of her own. Cooper must decide what to do now that the woman of his dreams is pregnant with his baby and how to convience her he’s finally changed his playboy ways.

I am a sucker for any story where the couple has a fling and ends up pregnant. I was very excited to read Beach Bar Baby and for the most part really enjoyed it. Upon completion of this book I found out that there was one before it, Cupcakes and Killer Heels which focused on Ella’s best friend Ruby. I wish that I would have read it before this one because I was a little confused in spots, especially about Ruby and Ella’s relationship. I don’t think reading Cupcakes and Killer Heels is a must but I do recommend reading it before starting Beach Bar Baby just so you have the whole picture.

Now on to Cooper and Ella! I really, really, really liked these two and I found them to be very sweet and fun to read. I liked that Ella fights for her and her baby to have Cooper in their lives but she doesn’t allow him to walk all over her. I had a few problems with Cooper towards the end but he did redeem himself before he did anything really stupid. I loved that Cooper went to Europe to see Ella and that even though he has some major commitment issues he can love and really wants to love Ella.

All in all I really liked this book. I found it very cute and a lot of fun to read. I do wish that we could have seen how Cooper was through all of Ella’s pregnancy and how they handled the rest of their adventure. I do think that I am going to go back and read Ruby’s book so that I can get the whole picture of these two best friends.

[El · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review and more on So Bookalicious

Who doesn’t like to go on a vacation to Bermuda. Sun, beach, a beautiful beach and most of all a lot of beach boys/men. But seeing all those happy couples walking hand in hand can put a damper on your perfect vacation. This is Ella’s story. Bermuda should have been the best vacation she’s ever had. But once there she realizes that it might have been the biggest mistake she has ever made in her life. That is until Cooper shows up in her life. He shows her what she has been missing her whole life. They have one wonderful day and night before Ella heads back to England. When Cooper sees her again after a couple of months he doesn’t know yet how their lives are about to change forever.

I really liked Ella and Cooper together. They might not have realized it at first but they make each other stronger. Ella wants him to be a part of her baby’s life and she will do everything to keep him in their lives in some sort of way. But at the same time she doesn’t allow him to start making all the demands. Cooper was very closed in the beginning, he had a difficult past and he still doesn’t like to talk about it. He had some pretty big issues, so I can see why he was so reluctant at first when it came to Ella and the baby. The biggest problem between Ella and Cooper was that they didn’t talk. Yes they talked about non-important things but they never asked one another how they felt about the whole situation. A lot of their issues could have been resolved earlier when they had communicated better with each other. But in the end I loved them both. They needed each other to heel and they made each other a better person. A person they could never dreamed of being.

All in all I liked this book, it was cute and a lot of fun to read. But I missed the real connection between the characters. Yes there was a lot of chemistry between them from the start but I missed the part where I could see them fall in love with each other.

[Abby · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ella decides to take a singles vacation, but little did she know, she would hit it off with Captain Coop Delaney.

When Coop sees Ella and her radioactive blushing, he knew she was adorable, but he didn't know what it would lead to a night together...

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and well, I'm going to be honest...

I barely finished the first chapter, why you ask? Well, I'll tell you;
From the first page, I realised that this wasn't my typical favourite type of writing, it seemed really awkward, and forced, using sentences that aren't smooth, and left something to be desired.
There was two POV's, which I don't usually like, unless they're executed really, really, really well, and in this case, they had the same thoughts... *Snooze*
It's also at a slow pace, where after the actual first page in the book, I thought it told me that they hit it off, and obviously slept together. But further on than that, I realised that I am yet to go through that part, which put a downer on it all. As I felt it was drawn out more than it needed, as I was expecting to go straight into the part where they meet again, with flashbacks every-so-often.

Thoughts on the actual paperback copy (not the large sized text version)
A really sweet cover, where a man and woman are kissing, and they both seem happy.
Really small size, I didn't even realise books were made that small!
It has really small text, which I found hard to read, even though I only need glasses for looking very far away (very good eyesight otherwise).
- Please not that the paperback format didn't enter into my rating.

I received a copy of Beach Bar Baby in exchange for an honest review

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was a clinic in what happens when a doormat gets knocked up in an one night stand by a douchebag.

Ella was far too forgiving and patient with Cooper, who was an incredibly unappealing male lead in a romance. Immediately when he showed up, I pegged him for a shitbag and he proved it again in every scene. He also tried jumping Ella at every possible chance, including getting her to fly to his country to talk about baby stuff but, in reality, he wants to distract her with sex so they don't talk about it. It didn't help that the book decided we needed to give him a sob story background to make you feel bad for him. Like, sorry you have daddy issues but that doesn't mean you get to be a prick to people. Ruby's the only one who's got him pegged correctly at the beginning and even she fumbles on it later.

If the female lead being a doormat and the male lead being an ass wasn't bad enough, the book was just plain boring. There's far more entertaining books with the same premise with better characters in it. I'd give this one a pass.

[Sana Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply amazing...!

[Cheryl M-M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ella has retreated to a place that offers sunshine, solitude and beautiful scenery. It isn't really a holiday, it is more a time to reflect and to digest some potentially devastating news. She isn't looking for anything and certainly isn't prepared for the stand-offish yet delectable Cooper.

Cooper isn't exactly what he appears to be at first sight. He keeps all relationships on a candy floss level. Sweet, fluffy and easily dissolved. No complications, no expectations and definitely no repercussions. How very hard-nosed and controlled of him.

Just his luck that life will not be controlled by anyone, let alone a mere mortal. Stars collide, people connect and hey presto the unexpected is sat right there on your doorstep. Sometimes you just have to roll with the punches and the hand of cards life deals you.

In this case Ella is quite so sure about Cooper wanting to take that punch or even look at her cards. Unexpected twists shouldn't be the only reason people end up together, then again there is nothing like the nagging question of whether it is fate or just a big mistake.

The type of mishap that can make or break a relationship. If there isn't any relationship at all it is a whole different ball game.

This is a sun filled romantic interlude with a lifetime of possible ramifications.

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Harlequin UK & Mills and Boon.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ella finds out she will probably never have kids and goes off for some time on her own to deal with the reality. She meets Coop while on a snorkeling outing and they seem to click. When he invites her to meet up with him later that night, she isn't too sure of herself but then her friend talks her in to it. After a night together she wakes to find him gone so she leaves and plans on having a fun memory.

Coop returns with breakfast to find Ella gone. Although both of them try to go on with life, there is something about the whole deal that just won't let them forget and move on. Coop's friend talks him into dropping in on Ella when he goes to Europe on business. Ella hasn't been feeling well but puts it all to stress but soon finds herself taking a pregnancy test upon the insistence of the same friend who told her to hook up with Coop. She's just getting used to the fact that's she's going to have to tell him he's going to be a father when he shows up to visit.

Coop has decided that he will never father a child so now they have to figure life out. And there's still that chemistry between them...

Sexual content (obviously). The story was good though they do seem to spend a lot of time in bed together.

[Shoshana · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable, what-you-see-is-what-you get romance novel. It didn't suffer from a case of the stupids, which I appreciated - the characters eventually talk out their issues and whatever Stupid Assumptions are made typically get sorted out relatively quickly rather than dragging out for ages in a sad excuse for a plot.

For some reason, I found Ella's POV far more readable than Cooper's; his felt very Stereotypically Male rather than an actual character, while her's felt more real and organic.

There was also far too much focus on her nipples and their visibility through clothing. Has the woman never encountered a lined bra?

That aside, if you're looking for a lazy-day-off kind of read, this delivers.

Thanks go to Netgalley for the e-ARC.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are looking for a sweet, simple, fast paces, sexy and enjoyable book thats a bit predictable book then this book is for you.

What I liked about this book was the interesting characters and getting both point of views of Ella and Cooper. It was interesting getting to know a bit about their pasts. I enjoyed seeing the connection between the two. My only problem with this is very predictable book that I feel like I've read it before. Same characters, same situation just different names and places. There was just something missing from the book to really stand out to be unique. Overall I still really liked this book.

I've read many versions of this book to really put it says its worth 4 stars to me. I would rather this book a 3.5 stars.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Posted on HarlequinJunkie.com (4.5 stars)

Ella was *so* over her solo vacation. Everywhere she looked there were wall-to-wall couples, and she was the odd one out. At least there were only a couple of days to go, and a few activities left on her calendar. Scuba diving was up – and the captain was supposed to be a lovely man in his fifties… but once she got up close, it was definitely not Captain Sonny from the brochure. Read More

[Tabitha Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great fast read. The setting of this book was beautiful. I felt as though I could feel the tropical wind blow in my hair. Who wouldn't want a nice little vacation all by your lonesome in Bermuda and fall madly in love with a local. Ella just needed a little get a way to breath, she really did not think that she would actually meet up with someone who sparked her interest. Along come Coop and well the rest as history. Great recommendation for a beach read.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as a first-read from goodreads in exchange for an honest review of the book. This is a great and fun beach read. It has everything a contemporary romance should have, I will definitely be reading other titles from Heidi Rice.

[Jeannette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read

This is a good vacation or beach read. I enjoyed the storyline and the main characters Cooper and Ella. One click now and settle in with this good read.

[Harlequin Books]

received 4 stars @ RT Book Reviews

[Kellcifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars.

The title of this book is ridiculous, but the story was enjoyable enough. The main characters had real issues in their past that have led to real issues in their present, and it was believable. So often, the hero and/or heroine have stupid or shallow reasons for why they behave the way they do, but honestly, with the past Ella has it was amazing her character wasn’t totally jaded. And it was not a surprise that someone who grew up the way Cooper did would have intimacy issues. And it was nice that they actually spent time together, doing things with one another and getting to know each other before they started revealing their pasts. There was no instant info-dump at the end of the book to resolve all the issues. The characters slowly learned to trust one another and bit by bit revealed their past hurts and insecurities to one another.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was boring. I actually put it down and left it, forgot I'd gotten so far sort of boring.

It ended so abruptly like the author had hopes for a few more pages but had gotten cut off by the 192 page rule M&B seem to have.

Characters was boring and irritating - one dimensional and selfish. Didn't connect with either of them.

[Andrea Lujano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Protagonistas: Ella & Cooper

Profesiones: Pastelera & Empresario/Capitan de Barco

Paises: Londres & Las Bermudes

[Lucy (why do I bother to read chicklit) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute

[Rebe Caraballo ☕]

Lectura ligera.
Historia corta y llana, ideal para los amantes del género romance.
😊😊✨❤️💕📖

[Ashley Coons · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short and sweet book. I bought this book years ago, probably close to when it came out, and never got around to reading it. It just left me wanting a bit more from the story.

[Wyrdness · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars... I guess?

This wasn't really a bad book, but I just didn't find it really interesting either. Nothing much seemed to happen for the majority of this book until the last 20% where they both sat down and had a bit of a chat over their insecurities, but it was done in such a way as to make it seem like a bit of a non-issue. I also found Coop rather annoying because he'd act like an immature jerk and hurt Ella in selfish ways, act all guilty and remorseful afterwards, then go out and do it again. I did kind of like Ella, she'd be a great friend to have in real life I think, but I think she was far too patient and understanding with all of Coop's nonsense and should have pushed him harder sooner or followed through on her plan to leave earlier instead of getting all starry-eyed about him.

If you like the holiday fling/ unplanned pregnancy tropes and are a more devoted (Mills & Boon/ Harlequin) romance reader than I am then you'll probably enjoy this, but I didn't really find it anything special.

[Jane Doe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Plain stupid.