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The Landis Brothers #2

His Expectant Ex

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Just seconds after signing divorce papers, Marianna Landis fainted. Shocked, her now ex-husband Sebastian discovered Marianna was three-and-a-half months pregnant. The timing was perfectly in line with their last impetuous night together. Incensed that his "wife" would still be so intent on their separation, Sebastian vowed to do anything to win her back. Seduction had worked once before…he'd make damn sure it would work again. For Marianna was carrying a Landis baby, and a Landis man keeps what is his!

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 2008

44 people are currently reading
380 people want to read

About the author

Catherine Mann

598 books1,248 followers
USA Today bestseller Catherine Mann has written women's fiction, romance, and romantic suspense for Lake Union, Harlequin, HQN, Berkley, Tule, and Sourcebooks, with titles released in more than 30 countries. Catherine’s novels have won numerous awards, including a RITA Award, the Romantic Times Magazine Reviewer’s Choice Award, and the Bookseller’s Best Award.

A South Carolinian at heart, after years of moving around the country Catherine has settled back in her home state with her Harley-riding husband. Empty nesters, they have a blended family of nine children, nine grandchildren, two dogs, and three feral cats, who all provide endless inspiration for new novels. For more information, visit: http://catherinemann.com

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5 stars
129 (22%)
4 stars
187 (32%)
3 stars
188 (32%)
2 stars
56 (9%)
1 star
18 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
Profile Image for Jenny.
3,160 reviews558 followers
September 8, 2016
I don't read "Desire" usually cause the writing is bad in my opinion but this one was apparently written by a very good author!

Marianna, and her lawyer hubby Sebastian Landis have gotten a divorce but they have a fling, and the heroine gets pregnant. Sebastian is shocked because his wife can't have kids since a miscarriage nine years ago left her infertile. Later on they adopted a baby girl whom they loved with all their heart but then it was also taken from them. Now they are both broken and hurting.

The heroine has incredibly deep-seated trust issues cause she feels that Sebastian let her down when she was at her most vulnerable and in pain. Sebastian is successful, stubborn, protective a wonderful hero deeply in love with his wife. Once he realizes his part in the breakdown of their marriage, he is committed to making amends and showing Marianna that he adores her by his words and deeds.

Great reunion story!!
Profile Image for Kiki.
1,217 reviews679 followers
June 19, 2018
I am not questioning the existence of their love, that is a separate issue.
However their LOVE couldn’t make them stay together.
His LOVE didn’t make him fight for her.
The divorce was ACTUALLY finalised. HE let her walk away UNTIL the baby was mentioned.
He had his phone on through the divorce proceedings.
He REFUSED to give her any time when she was begging for him to listen but suddenly the moment he heard about the baby he has time to attach himself to her hip.
Yes, he loved the mother of his children. But not just his wife. She was never enough.
Let me repeat. The. Divorce. Went. Through!
Without much protest from his side.
The moment he heard about the baby everything changed.
So he needed something OTHER than his wife. His wife was not enough by herself.
No ONE, apart from the OM raised this issue. NO ONE, not even the heroine raised the question if he wanted HER why did he let her go?
Actually he never mentioned wanting JUST her until the last page, when it was neither believable nor redeeming. And it was a casual mention of one line when she was already in his clutch.
Heroine for claiming to be adult and intelligent was a blabbering mess, took her TWO days to fall in bed with an ex husband who didn’t want her but wanted the mother of his child.
So what if the OM has feelings for her? Does that make the fact the hero was a manipulative and controlling jealous bastard who didn’t appreciate the heroine when he had her and threw her away any less true?
I actually wished the OM well, he was at least honest and seemed had better morals than the “hero”!
Now coming to what if’s.
So what if there was no baby?
I had nothing to base any assumptions about reconciliation except for their mutual lust.
Which was not enough for a relationship.
So even after the apparent fact that hero wouldn’t have chased heroine if there was no baby I am supposed to believe this is a romance novel and he has unconditional all consuming love for heroine?
Well I don’t, heroine would have been better off with the OM. He’d have loved her even with another man’s child. She needed to boot the hero or at least tell him she’s only good for him with a baby so he can control both their lives.
I hate cowards, and I hate weak heroines even more.

Two stars because 1. Hero admitted they got married because they loved each other, not just for their first baby.
2. He did jump to conclusion hearing about the pregnancy. However his conclusion was it was conceived two months ago not before. The fact the baby couldn’t be his never even entered his head until heroine pointed out his jealousy over her boss. Even then he didn’t deter from his beliefs.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Melody Cox.
1,502 reviews180 followers
March 9, 2020
The first thing I noticed about this book is the MCs ages seemed off. They were married at eighteen due to pregnancy. Then you have four years at college which puts them at twenty-two to twenty-three, then he went on to law school which is a three-year program which puts them at twenty-five-twenty-six-years-old. The H and h were twenty-seven at the beginning of the book and, yet, the hero was already a master in the courtroom. I thought the couple on the cover were at least in their early to mid thirties. That all kind of threw me.

Now to the story. Our hero and heroine are Sebastian Landis and his wife is Marianna. They married at the age of eighteen because of a pregnancy but they were crazy about one another. Shortly after they married they lost their baby due to a tubal pregnancy that left her infertile. Just a year ago they adopted a little girl that was two days old. They were ecstatic but it was not to last. The birth mother changed her mind after four months and the baby was taken away from them.

Marianna had fears and serious trust issues because her husband had seriously let her now when she needed him most. He is unwilling to show his emotions and wouldn't share in the grief of the baby girl they lost. He let his wife suffer alone and offered her no support or comfort. They decided to go their separate ways and six months later divorced. After the judge deemed their divorce finalized Marianna fainted as they were leaving the courthouse and she is now pregnant after nine years.

There was not cheating and both remained celibate during the divorce waiting period. That made it seem more special and believable of what they meant to each other. The hero spent the better part of a year making changes and doing what he could to win her back. He finally realized what he had done wrong and made changes as did the heroine.
Profile Image for Paula Legate.
Author 17 books25 followers
May 8, 2014

I've passed this book by, for a long time, because of the negative feedback, and bad reviews. I am glad I decided to read it last night. I thought it was a lovely story. I love romance. What I love most is when the hero really cares, and loves the heroine. Sebastian was a sweet Hero throughout the story.

Sebastian, and Marianna's marriage fell apart over time with the loss of two babies. The pain they went through was just too great. They didn't have any energy left over at the end of the day to work on their marriage. After 9 years, they got divorced. The day of the divorce Marianna fainted at Sebastian's feet. He scooped her up and tenderly laid her down onto a couch. I could tell as he waited for Marianna to open her eyes that he still cared about her. They found out that she was pregnant. Both had always dreamed of being parents. But this is not how they had dreamed of the events playing out. I loved the way Sebastian dated his ex wife, hoping to win over heart once again. Throughout their marriage, Sebastian had always showed his love with his actions. He learned to also talk to Marianna, and tell her that he loved her. She loved his caring touch, but also desperately needed to hear the words of love. Marianna learned a lot about Sebastian while he wooed her. This story really touched my heart. This really is a true romance, of deep love, caring, and a few steamy nights. I loved the way the two talked about the hurt of the past, letting go of the pain in each other's arms. It's sad that it took a divorce, and other life altering moments to teach them that what they shared is what mattered most.

The other reviewers did not like this book as much as I did. I am glad that I read it, and let the book speak for itself. If you enjoy books where the hero is a jerk, or there is fights and tension, then this book is not for you. Cover to cover, this was just a really sweet, and tender romance.
Profile Image for Mareli.
1,034 reviews32 followers
July 8, 2015
Better than the previous one. Sebastian Landis discovers that her ex-wife is pregnant the very day of their divorce. He decides he wants her back and he wants to be a father.

The story is simple and Landises are awfully rich (!) but it was good.
Profile Image for GuisBell.
1,299 reviews32 followers
May 23, 2021
Bueno entiendo que tenían que pasar por este proceso, porque aun al estar casados, no eran sinceros con sus sentimientos. Pero Mariana me saca de quicio, están irracional algunas veces, nadie da su brazo a torcer, pero todo lo que intenta hacer por ella, pero ella todo lo juzga sin por lo menos darle una oportunidad y comprenderlo, si ya se conocen casi una vida. Y son tan lindos juntos, tremendos tontitos...
Profile Image for Juli.
Author 40 books94 followers
June 23, 2021
In RITA award winning romance author Catherine Mann’s 2008 Harlequin’s Silhouette Desire release His Expectant Ex the Florida author introduces a soon-to-be divorced couple, Marianna, and her high-powered lawyer hubby Sebastian Landis. The eve of their separation, they have a final fling, and well, having never been able to conceive before, never thought what might result from it.

So on signing the divorce papers, several weeks later, imagine Sebastian’s surprise when Marianna faints, and he finds out it’s probably due to her pregnancy. Marianna is fully willing to stay divorced, but now, Sebastian’s having second thoughts and turns his persuasive powers and charms on winning his whinny wife back. Can he?

All in all the story (part of Harlequin Desire’s “The Landis Brothers” mini-series) is sweet, and of course, steamy, and was an enjoyable quick read, perhaps some of Marianna’s whiny pining for what she couldn’t have (you’ll have to read it to see what she’s upset about) could have been toned back, but this is a variation on the secret baby theme (not a big favorite of mine, I must admit) so, it’s to be expected, I guess. All in all I think romance, and Catherine Mann fans, as will fans of the Silhouette Desire line, will enjoy it.
Profile Image for Kace | The Booknerd .
1,441 reviews70 followers
February 20, 2021
It was a pretty good read. I always enjoy books where heroine and hero were estranged/separated or divorced. I like to see how they will fix their relationship and find ways to be with each other again and not mention loads of groveling moments. While this book was far from being perfect, I enjoyed it immensely.
Profile Image for Nadia.
1,216 reviews48 followers
December 6, 2015
I liked it better then the first one. Although here were a lot of inconsistencies with clothes that were quite confusing:) I also was quite stunned to find out heroes were only 27 yo. They sounded at least 35 or even 40. I wonder if early marriage can do that to you?
Profile Image for Linda.
1,174 reviews26 followers
November 29, 2019
I am so glad that I read the reviews of a few trusted reviewers! This story was enjoyable and I love to see alpha H's learn to deal with their emotions and realize that love does not make you weak, it is empowering.
Profile Image for Shatarupa  Dhar.
620 reviews85 followers
July 1, 2018
A second chance story, and an emotional read, with a new baby in tow. Sebastian Landis and Marianna are a sweet couple. And with the new pregnancy, even after the divorce, a new Sebastian emerges. A caring, loving, gentle one who takes time out to be with her. I enjoyed the Landis clan, and the tiff between Seb and Ross (Marianna's boss), he is damn creepy, after all. Her love for shoes is a cute quirk, as is Seb's love for watching her in them. And then the sweet ending just seals the deal.

P.S. Beachcombers series is about Landis' foster sisters according to some review I have read, but nowhere in the brothers' books are any of their names mentioned.

Can anyone please suggest me, what is the connection, between Beachcombers series and The Landis Brothers series?

And then there's the story of Landis' step brother Hank Renshaw, in Honorable Intentions, which is thankfully part of this series only (so no need of extra searches), after which comes the story of his two sisters, Darcy and Alicia Renshaw, in Private Maneuvers and A Soldier's Christmas (for which I did not find any Goodreads listing, strange!), respectively, but both books are a part of the series 'Wingmen Warriors' series, (which I look forward to read).

So, this entire clan is divided into three series?
Beachcombers
The Landis Brothers
Wingmen Warriors
(It's damn confusing)
343 reviews1 follower
March 7, 2021
I really liked this book. The two MCs are getting divorced after almost a decade of marriage, a miscarriage, and the loss of an adopted child. They have one last hurrah in the back of a car and two months later, right after their divorce is finalized, it's confirmed that the heroine is pregnant. The hero starts mounting a campaign to get his wife back ASAP. The heroine is reluctant to hop back into a marriage that had problems before the loss of their adopted child.

Sometimes, going into detail about the problems within a marriage/a relationship can be tedious and uninteresting. In this couple's case, their problems were realistic and did a good job of laying out their problems. I was happy with the final outcome of the story. The only gripe I have is I don't understand how the hero was fine with the divorce at the beginning. He was so emotionally stunted. He was very jealous of his wife's boss who he suspected of harboring feelings for her. If he felt so strongly, what did he think would happen once they were divorced?
86 reviews
June 6, 2017
I loved this book.
Besides the part in which Mariana faints on Sebastian's foot the same day she is signing divorced papers I really enjoyed reading about these two. I felt like they were truly in love. Things like "you can't stop caring after 9 years" made my heart melt. I loved how she wasn't acting stupid or just being opposed to whatever SEbastian was saying...
When the whole situation with her boss happened I thought she was going to do something stupid; I just never expected what she did after.

Short story, but really well written
Profile Image for Mattie.
1,989 reviews8 followers
July 7, 2021
I absolutely loved that the hero and heroine were together since 18 years old (thus not having many other sexual partners before). I am sure that the hero did not sleep with other women during 8 month separation. I really liked the connection between the hero and heroine and they felt meant to be. Their problems were that they got together young and weren't great at communicating (they had different love languages, she needed to hear the words while he showed love with actions). P.
294 reviews
December 28, 2017
4.5 stars. I almost didn’t read this story because of the lower reviews. I am so glad I decided to just read it anyway. I thought this was a great 2nd chance love story, that had a great hero and heroine that had truly been through so much but truly did love each other and that showed. Lovely story.
Profile Image for Jane Night.
Author 24 books42 followers
December 26, 2020
I loved the idea of this book and the honest portrayal of how infertility can affect a couple. I had some issues with the characters and their relationship. They had been married for ten years but most of their current relationship feels like lust rather than love.
Overall this book was fine. I read it and had a good time but it wasn't anything special for me.
Profile Image for Maura.
3,883 reviews113 followers
February 23, 2017
Maybe leaning more towards a 2.5. Except I kept getting angry at Sebastian. Not because he's mean or an asshole, but because I resented the hell out of the fact that his marriage wasn't worth saving until his wife got pregnant. Here's a woman he supposedly loves but he's willing to give it all up. Then he learns of the pregnancy and he's willing to undergo all kinds of change and compromise so that he'll be a father to his baby. I can't believe that Marianna wasn't peeved about that. His constant mention of the baby - especially after the accident, when he said he was worried about Marianna and the baby. Now, at this point he's known Marianna for half his life and he's known about the baby for about a week, but when she gets injured, he's got both of them in the same thought. "How are Marianna and the baby?" To my mind, if I'd been married to someone for 10 years and loved them that much, that person would be my first concern, with a follow up question about the baby. So given all that, I really struggled with how much he could have possibly loved his ex-wife. Now, Marianna isn't without fault either, since she was willing to give up on her marriage too, but I didn't get the sense anyone but Sebastian and his sudden willingness to compromise was behind her change of heart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jo.
1,038 reviews
June 24, 2015
Leí este libro hace mucho tiempo. Es un reencuentro. Nunca se llega a saber si originalmente fue fetiche, pero por las actitudes tanto de él como de ella imagino que si lo eran. Pero expresamente no lo dicen. Por eso sólo lo pongo por acá.
La historia es bastante linda porque ellos van a divorciarse porque él no le presta la atención que ella requiere y me parece que porque no quiere tener hijos, pero luego que firman el divorcio ella se desmaya y la llevan a urgencias donde le dicen que su esposa está embarazada de dos meses. Y él asocia directamente a su último encuentro en el coche y en la carretera donde él no usó protección. Jamás, nunca, se le pasa por la cabeza que el bebé no fuera de él. Sólo se enfada porque ella no le dijo antes de firmar el divorcio que estaba embarazada.
La cosa es que él no quiere dejarla sola y con su hijo. Así que se vuelve a la carrera de enamorar de nuevo a su mujer. Se dice que tiene 9 meses para convencerla de volver a casarse con él para formar parte de la vida de su hijo, pero ella dice que sus palabras son sólo flor de un día. Así que no espera que el le haga un hueco en su apretada agenda de negocios para estar pendiente de sus necesidades . pero de equívoca.
Y ella se siente dolida porque dice que sólo su hijo es importante para él.
Es una bonita historia. Recomendable para pasar el rato, pero no inolvidable
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Asrina Maharani.
337 reviews16 followers
December 30, 2009
It's almost 4 stars actually but need more page to reach it from me *grins*

Pertama baca sinopsis novel ini langsung kepikiran, "Heh, ini mirip cerita perceraian Okki-Pasha Ungu neh!"
Tapi don't judge a book by it's synopsis *hmpfh* ini ceritanya bukan kek okki-pasha yang si okki hamil besar n minta cere itu. Ini malah ceritanya kehamilan gara-gara accident *ehem2 di mobil pulak ^on^* after closing the last mediacy before the divorce is official. Abis tanda-tangan sah udah cere baru deh si suami tau klo mantan istrinya hamil *nah lo* n minta mereka buat balikan lagi tapi si mantan istri udah trauma soalnya dulu juga kan si suami mo nikahin dia gara2 dia udah hamil duluan n akhirnya malah jadi abortus habitualin n kehilangan anak yang mau diadopsi sebagai titik kulminasinya.
Novelnya sendiri lebih banyak bercerita tentang pergulatan mantan suami-istri ini untuk mengenali pasangannya. Sayang ampe ending ga ada cerita mereka merit lagi, cuma si cewek bilang kalo dia mau nikahin lagi si cowo. But why mesti nunggu ampe bayinya umur 6 minggu seh?! Aya-aa wae...........
Profile Image for Esra.
Author 50 books86 followers
October 17, 2014
Serinin ilk kitabında boşanma arifesinde büyük bir üzüntü içinde olduğunu gördüğümüz Sebastian'ın hikayesiydi.. Daha on sekiz yaşındayken sevgilisi Marianna'nın hamile kalması üzerine birbirlerini doğru düzgün tanımadan acele bir evlilik yapmışlar ve Marianna'nın dış gebelik sonucu bebeği kaybetmesi yüzünden daha ilk aylarından itibaren evliliklerinde sorunlar başlamış çiftimizin... Bu olaydan sonra bir daha bebek sahibi olamamışlar... Geçirdikleri dokuz yıl içinde birbirlerini istemeyerek de olsa çok incitmişler ve buna yaşadıkları bazı acılar da eklenince boşanmaya karar vermişler.. Ancak hakimin son kararı vereceği davadan iki ay önce gerçekleşen duruşmanın ardından birbirlerini hala deli gibi arzulayan Sebastian ve Marianna soluğu arabanın arka koltuğunda alıyorlar ve iki ay sonra boşanmaları resmileştiğinde büyük bir sürprizle karşılaşıyorlar...
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