His Forbidden Valentine Baby

by Ava Gray

I gave my heart to a stranger
on a winter night meant to be forgotten.

One night.
One mistake.
One secret I’ve protected for six years.

Now Elijah Baird is back—
my boss,
my temptation,
the man who doesn’t know he’s already a father.

I tried to tell him once.
Another woman answered his phone.
So I chose silence… and a child to protect.

Every day he steps closer—
to my job,
to my home,
to my son who looks at him like he belongs.

Every touch feels forbidden.
Every kiss feels stolen.
And every lie tightens around my throat.

Because if the truth comes out,
I won’t just lose his love—
I could lose my career, my safety, my heart.

This Valentine’s Day,
do I confess the baby he never knew…
or let him claim me without knowing the truth?

Author’s A steamy, emotional office romance packed with scandal, secret baby tension, age-gap desire, and a Valentine’s Day revelation that changes everything.

359 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 31, 2026

Reviews

[Paula (in & out) · Rating 1 out of 5]

OMG! What did I just read????!!!

Have you ever been in a room where someone was constantly yelling & disparaging someone and you had to watch this mess upfront and just want to hightail it out of there - or call the police? Yep, this is how I felt reading this mess…

First of, what's up with authors these days not understanding the concept of what fictional romance is and thinking this crap is in any way entertaining? Why would anyone want to read anything that has characters constantly screaming, acting like an entitled harpy & a shrew, has the personality of a gnat, feels entitlement, is ungrateful, lacks maturity and always chooses to misinterpret something instead of communicating like the adults they should have been?

SPOILER WARNING!!!!

MCs met 6 or 7 years prior and had a ONS. Dates were not authors strong point because in the beginning it is 6 years and the kid is 5 years old but towards middle and later part, it is 7 years and the kid is 5 - soon to be 6 on upcoming birthday.

Anyway, so the FMC leaves the next morning and when weeks or months later she finds out she is pregnant, she calls MMC only to have an OW answer his phone and state that she was his wife so FMC decides to never again get in touch and tell him about the kid. We later find out that the OW was a looney cuckoo puffs weirdo with mental issues who would invade his home, strip down naked and claim to be his wife. Okaaaay.. 🙄MMC was never married and at the time they had their ONS he was not in a relationship.

So fast forward to the present and we learn that he was in a 2 year relationship with an OW whom his mother liked and approved of and that he only dated the OW to please his mommy because she was dying. Righhhhht 🙄

He didn’t love the OW, and again, only dated her to please mommy – yet he was enjoying the sex I guess because they were living together and he still dated her for a year after his mommy dearest kicked the bucket because he was grieving the old coot. But then he finds the OW cheating on him with OM and they go to court to split assets and give her some type of alimony to get rid of her.
Again, they were NOT married and only together for 2 years, so why is she getting his assets, alimony or whatnot? 🙄 Ok, whatever. Moving on….

So now it’s been a year since he & OW have broken up but she is trying to get back together with him and instead of him telling her to bug off, not answer her calls or call the police, he does nothing and the OW is constantly harping & yelling at him to take her back.

Then we have the FMC also yelling, screeching and harping on and on about this and that for 99% of the story. That is when she is lying to her teeth and not telling him about his kid but expects him to tell her the truth. It's not until the last few pages that the idiot learns he has a kid and all throughout this masterpiece, he takes crap from both women and even says thank you. (well, not figuratively but close.).

Key take here from this epic “romance” is that you have an MMC who is physically being abused by one character after another and he just takes it. 🤒 He is constantly being yelled at by FMC, OW, OM, FMC’s Mother and can’t remember who else. And if that isn’t enough, he is also slapped & hit over the head with something causing him to be injured by FMC, and beaten up by OW & OM so there is that too.

Now it just may be me (NOPE!) but what of any of this speaks as “romance”? Me thinks author may have anger issues herself to write this crap – or maybe her love language is yelling, screeching and physical abuse. 🤷‍♀️

Safety:

MMC not celibate during separation. As mentioned, he was in a two year relationship with OW because he wanted to please mommy dearest and they were living together.

FMC was celibate during separation but she said she tried to go on a couple of dates but was too busy raising her baby.

OM is FMC’s boss and not a love interest at all. He is abusive towards FMC & MMC

HFN with a possible marriage in the future, though I foresee a divorce for sure in the near future and already feeling sorry for the poor kid with parents like these. Ends with MMC learning he is a Father to his kid and giving FMC a cushy job/promotion to please this money hungry banshee she-devil.

1 star only because I don't want my review deleted or have GR change it to 5 stars. Anyone else getting this crap from GR??? Grrrr.....

[Sally Jask-eh · Rating 3 out of 5]

skip to the end. 97% Underwhelming baby reveal. If you like alpha holes you might get the hots for slimy boss Jimmy. Jimmy has a super foul mouth, f words galore, and he sniffles MC Elijah and Calliope are dimwits

[De_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly sweet and sappy coming from one who enjoys the dark to morally gray. Ava Gray includes a well-rounded library of favored tropes in her novel offerings, it seems. Typical Ava - well written, good amount of plot, with the usual splash of spiciness. This one, for lovers of office romance and no mafia bad guys in sight, has very little trauma and an HEA.
Sure to be a conversation choice at the office water cooler book club!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

His Forbidden Valentines Baby is the fifth book in the Festive Flames Series. A steamy full-length standalone emotional office romance packed with scandal, secret baby tension, age-gap desire, and a Valentine’s Day revelation that changes everything that's end on a happily-ever-after. A woman must decided whether to reveal to her boss that their one night stand six years ago resulted in a son, while their forbidden office romance intensifies. Contains mature adult themes. A fast paced, thrilling, and gripping story. An unputdownable and absorbing addictive read. This is Calliope is Elijah story which is told from a dual point of view. Captivating. Sinful. Decadent.
Compelling. Irresistible. A beautifully written story with complex individuals and a fascinating and exciting storyline that captures the reader attention from the beginning and keeps you transfixed and turning the pages until the end. Immerse yourself in this tantalizing rollercoaster ride of two unlikely individuals and follow along as these two forbidden individuals falls in love with each other. Hang on to your seat with in this employee-boss romance with it's panty-melting passion, mystery, surprises, twists and turns, revelations, tension, and anger.
A new adult & college romance, billionaire romance, contemporary romance second chance romance, single mom romance, aged gap trope story, workplace romance, taboo romance, forbidden romance, secret baby story, off-limits romance, office romance, alpha male story, holiday romance with deep hidden secrets, consensual intense rough sex, dominance, submission, dirty talking, push and pull, survival, resilience, banter, angst, guilt, humor longing, cravings, drama, betrayal, backstabbing, double-cross, lies, treachery, forgiveness, acceptance, family found, deception, misunderstandings, loss, hurt and pain, possessiveness, obsession, grief and love.
Calliope works for Angelic Jewels, as the company's manager for website sales. Her boss Jimmy is a disgusting, underhanded horrible asshole for an employer who takes pride undermining her work and contributing to the company. Years ago Calliope went to a gem conference for her company and while there meets a handsome man at the who just happens to be a CEO of one of her company's vendor. They were attracted to each other immediately and spends some time exploring what the event has for their prospective company. She gave her heart to this stranger on one wintery night which was meant to be forgotten. The two spent one mind-blowing passion-filled night together where they didn't exchanged any names or phone numbers. However, she was left with a parting gift from her mystery one stand stranger which revocably changed her life forever but in a good way.
Then the two went their separate ways thinking that they would never see each other again. It was one night. One mistake. One secret that she have protected for six years. She was blessed with a beautiful little boy name Nick and has been a struggling single mother. Fast forward, six years later Elijah Baird has relocated to San Francisco after needing a fresh start after a nasty break up with his girlfriend and is now the CEO of Amber LTD. He has purchase the company that she works at from her corrupted sleaze ball boss because he wanted to expand his portfolio and branch off into the gem market. And is now back in her life, as her new boss, her temptation. They never believed that their paths would cross again after that unforgettable night that neither have forgotten about.
The man who doesn’t know that he's already a father. As they got closer she tried to tell him once that he was a father. But when she called him another woman answered his phone, so she kept silent and chose to protect her child. But every touch feels forbidden. Every kiss feels stolen. And every lie tighten around her throat. Because if the truth comes out, she fears that she won't just lose his love; she could lose her career that she depend on to support her son. She could also lose her safety, her heart and she him. She wonders if she should confess the secret child that he's unaware of to him this Valentine’s Day. Or let him claim her without knowing the truth.
Because Elijah have a complained relationship going on that he's trying to deal with now, with an ex that just don't get what it means when something is over. What will he do when he learn the truth that he's a father? Will he be mad at Calliope for not telling him about his son as soon as they reconnected? Will he be happy about his son once his anger wear off and work on being a family? Will his ex tries to sabotage his new found family? Or will this be the key that finally gets rid of her? Will they get their HEA?

I received an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Book Addict · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heroine named after a muse truly lives up to her legacy.

Ava Gray’s His Forbidden Valentine Baby is a delightfully addictive romance that thrives on emotional tension, character depth, and a love story that feels both intimate and mythic.

The chemistry between Elijah and Calliope is the novel’s beating heart. Gray captures that charged, magnetic pull between two people who are trying—and failing—to keep their distance. Every interaction between them carries a spark, the kind that makes you lean in because you can feel something shifting beneath the surface.

Calliope herself is a standout heroine. Her name—beautifully spelled Calliope—immediately evokes its Greek origins, calling to mind Kalliope, the muse of epic poetry. The author uses that symbolism with real finesse. Calliope becomes Elijah’s muse not in a clichéd sense, but in a way that feels organic and emotionally grounded. She inspires him, challenges him, and ultimately becomes the catalyst for his growth. The story leans into this idea without ever reducing her to it; she remains fully realised, complex, and compelling as a modern working single parent and a daughter dealing with difficult circumstances.

The plot follows this muse‑like thread with confidence. Elijah’s journey is shaped by Calliope’s presence—her steadiness, her insight, her quiet fire. Their relationship becomes a space where creativity and vulnerability intertwine, and Gray handles that interplay with warmth and nuance.

His Forbidden Valentine Baby is a romantic escape with substance: passionate, thoughtful, and threaded with mythic resonance. Ava Gray crafts a love story where inspiration and desire walk hand in hand. Recommended.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

His Forbidden Valentine Baby is a contemporary romance that brings two people back together after six years past when they’d spent one night of passion.
After MFC Calliope Locke overhears her boss talking about selling his company she fears the new people coming in will revamp the staff and she’ll loose her job which as a single mum she really couldn’t afford.
When the CEO of Amber LTD. MMC Elijah Baird shows up it turns out they recognize each other but haven’t acknowledged it yet to each other!
An entertaining story soon follows that is nicely written with revelations, emotion, drama, family dynamics, spice, corporate intrigue, and a chemistry fueled narrative.
But what happens when Elijah finds out he has a son?
Enjoyed the story which kept me glued to a very good read as it played out to a welcome HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jessica OBryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book five in the Festival Flames series and centers around Elijah and Calliope. His Forbidden Valentine is a beautiful, heartwarming novel about second chances, where truths are revealed, showcasing what you thought you knew as wrong. From page one, I was captivated by the literary brilliance of this book.

After an incredible, romantic encounter, Calliope is left pregnant with Elijah's baby. It's only after Elijah purchases the company Calliope works for that they find one another again, which leads us on a journey of them overcoming obstacles and the past to finding their way to an HEA.

The characters, plot, how everything unfolds before our eyes is done with absolute care and perfect precision. The pacing, the romance, the twists and turns, everything about this book gripped and held my attention. I'm not remotely ashamed to admit that I couldn't get enough, nor am Isurprised by that fact! So beyond amazing!

[Shannon Binegar-Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calliope has a horrible boss. To make matters worse she overhears a conversation that leads her to believe there is going to be a merger. Suddenly her past comes back to haunt her when her one night stand from seven years prior shows up and is now her boss. This story is filled with betrayal, volatile emotions, secrets and downright lies. What an incredible ride it was. My only issue was in regards to an obvious mistake regarding the weather in San Francisco. At one point it talks about snow and ice there. All while being close to the beach. I have researched the weather as being from the Midwest I often wonder where the ideal place to live would be. The climate there ranges from upper 40’s to mid 50’s in the winter and has not had a measurable snow fall since 1976. So that error just didn’t sit well with me. Other than that issue I found the book very enjoyable. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book provided by booksprout.

[Catherine Budd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caliope is trying to survive at her job with a nasty boss. She is a single mom who moved back in with her mother after her father died suddenly. They are struggling financially since her mother refuses to follow a budget.
She encounters Elijah when he comes to the business where she works. She recognizes him as the father of her child. He also recognizes her.
Something about the business makes Elijah suspect not everything is legal.
He and Calliope start to develop a relationship once she confesses that she does remember him.
This story has a roller coaster plot with ups and downs in the relationship. The attraction between the two main characters is off the charts. The son and mother add additional interest.
This was a great read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linda Fairburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calliope and Elijah had a one night stand that neither would ever forget for a few reasons.
She was pregnant and a phone call telling him resulted in a woman saying she was his wife, she's so angry but her son Nick is the one bright spot in her life.
It takes six years for them to be reunited, Elijah was about to be her new boss but that was only one of so many secrets yet to come out from him.
Calliope has her secrets too he's the father of her son and she doesn't trust him one bit, but that's about to change when they can't keep there hands off each other.
There is so much more to this story concerning the jewellery business he just bought and the troubles it brings.
It just makes this a must read story, beautifully written.

[Lisa Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calliope first meets Elijah at a convention, the pair hook up never expecting to see each other again. Elijah left something behind from that night, he son Nick. Calliope is working for a jerk, Angelic Jewels. Elijah is the CEO of Amber LTD, has just relocated to San Francisco. Neither know that his interest in Angelic Jewels is about to have them meet again. Elijah is her new boss and father of the son he has no idea of. Calliope never reached out Elijah when she found she was pregnant as she believed he was a married man. There are lot of obstacles in their path, his ex and her mother, can they trust the other?.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sue Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readable ‘secret baby’ romance. I enjoyed this story of hardworking Caliope and her one- night stand of some years before, Elijah. She struggles against her incompetent and unreasonable boss to run her part of the jewellery business efficiently. Rumours circulate that they are going to be taken over when Elijah comes on the scene to evaluate her employers – giving her the shock of her life. I liked that she is nervous at first – mainly because she never told him about their child (thinking he was married). A gentle romance as they come to terms with their reunion and his discovery of his son. An enjoyable read with some steam and a cute HEA.

[Patricia Ausmus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caliope has a job that she loves but her boss is a real pain. But she needs the job in order to support her son and her mom. But when a man from her past who happens to be a CEO of one of their vendors shows up she doesn't know what is going to happen.
But when they find themselves alone doing stuff for work they admit they know each other and the feelings from back there are still alive.
But they both have secrets that will rock what they are building.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[lf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets and romance

His Forbidden Valentine Baby is the fifth book in the Festive Flames series. This story is a one night stand, secret pregnancy, time elapse, and then boss/employee romance. One unforgettable night was spent between Calliope and Elijah which resulted in an unexpected bonus. But they went their separate ways and now it is six years later when their paths cross once again. Only this time he is her new boss and she has a very sweet secret. What will happen when they start to grow closer and the secret he does not know about comes closer to being revealed.

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this second chance family love story. Having Elijah and Calliope reunite after 6 years was a wonderful story to read. Weaving through her desire to keep her family safe while also falling for the man she met years ago was entertaining.

The characters were well written and easy to feel for.

The ending wasn't overdone either.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linda Lavoie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful one night stand story keeps on giving, it will steal your heart right at the first page and make you cry at some parts. The relationship between Calliope and Elijah is filled with misunderstandings, heartbreaking & beautiful moments, friends, family, love. A mother’s love is the most beautiful thing. I highly recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

'This Valentine’s Day,
do I confess the baby he never knew…
or let him claim me without knowing the truth?'

The characters were very complex and complicated and compelling and perfectly steamy together. Plot was intriguing and well paced. World building was excellent and solidly drawn. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lesley Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got bogged down

I don’t know how to start. I thought this was going to be a love story: it is and it isn’t. Lies and half truths, an insane boss who needs rehab, a crazy mother who, frankly, needs counselling, work colleagues who turn on you, and at the centre is Elijah and Calliope and her son Nick. I skipped 10 chapters and carried on reading and the skipped chapters made no difference to the story. I actually was glad to get to the end.

[Thea Kubicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

His Forbidden Valentine Baby

Elijah and Calliope

A second chance, age-gap romance story that had me in a quandary--in the beginning, the MCs were making me po'd a lot of the time by their actions and the way they handled things but by the end they grew on me and made me understand their actions.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Hope Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can years of crossed wires become untangled and find a future that looks new and different? A passionate moment led to longterm life changes. A destructive force causes them to not reconnect. Will this new opportunity that bring them together or tear them apart?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming story that is filled with drama. Elijah and Calliope had an intimate encounter that leaves her with a child. They reconnect when he buys the company she is working at and it jumpstarts their path that is filled with a lot of interesting twists and turns that had me all caught up in the story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amy Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story!!
Loved reading His Forbidden Valentine Baby. I was hooked with the first chapter and couldn’t put it down. The chemistry between Calliope and Elijah was steamy hot and their story was beautifully done!!

[Stacy Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and engaging. Loved from the first page. Couldn’t put it down. A passionate romance with all the feels.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Donna Nalbandian Woerner Homschek · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet, mildly steamy second chance with a surprise. Warm heartfelt characters that bring you into their lives. So likable you want them to work together. Definitely worth the read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amy Hutchins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great Valentine read with drama, chemistry, and love. Elijah and Calliope end up getting a 2nd chance, and work through all of the hurdles that happen along the way to their HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. This fantastic and adorable story has Elijah a one night stand 7 yrs coming back into calliope's life

[Narelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A steamy second chance read is what is in store for Calliope and Elijah. Meeting years ago, getting pregnant, crossed wires... now he's here in her workplace and things are going crazy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dawnal Hartman-Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keeping Secrets

They meet six years back, miss understanding and lies,, deception from others . then fate steps in and crazy things happen. He buys the company from a corrupt CEO,, and a family is born.

[Gaynor Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Choices

6 long years of secrets after a night of passion changed everything! Now they are brought together as a boss and employee but the sparks are still there. But will the truth force them apart ⁸ form a family.

[Theresa Griffith]

Such a beautiful story!

I just finished this story at worm and darn if k haven't teared up. Nick was adorable and his mom was a momma grizzly! She had spunk. Although it didn't have an epilogue I still give it a 5 star! READ THIS ONE!!!!