I needed this book today! Hazel Kelly writes the most loveable everyday heroes and Baby Daddy Wanted hit everything off my checklist for a five star (or higher) review. It had me grinning and sighing the entire time. She writes characters that are so relatable and Maeve and Finn go down as my new favorite of all of her couples. I love that they met by chance and were smitten with each other from the start.
After being ceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend, Maeve does some soul searching of her own and realizes she was settling. Nate wasn’t the one, but on paper he looked like Mr. Right, so she tried to make it work. She was in a comfortable place, but he didn’t leave her breathless, and I could really relate to Maeve. She embraced her situation, and knew that she deserved more. That being "comfortable" isn't enough, and that it's better to be alone than in the wrong relationship.
She was a smart, educated, independent woman in a management position in a career that she loved. I admired how she rocked the business world and was confident in her own skin, but wasn’t afraid to admit when she struggled or had self-doubt. She could easily admit her flaws and owned them, and that made her someone I would want to be friends with in real life. She was a class act and seemed to have everything except true love, but that wasn’t necessary to meet her heart’s true desire which was to become a mother.
She met Finn in a bar on New Year’s Eve, and from the first time they laid eyes on each other, I was hooked. Finn had charisma and a bit of swagger regarding his musical talent, but was so down to earth and humble. I loved that about him. He knew from the start that Maeve wasn’t like other women he met, she was the whole package, and he set his sights on learning more about her. Their witty banter and subtle flirting was my absolute favorite part of the book. While getting to know each other, he was not afraid to shock her with a line that always left her feeling beautiful and special. It wasn’t just a line though, because Finn was falling hook, line, and sinker.
I love how he helps her let down her guard and how she easily admits how uptight she can be. It was very emotional how he confides in her about his rocky relationship with his twin brother, and when his brother asked for forgiveness regarding his alcoholism.
These two had such explosive chemistry, and such a sweet, yet super steamy relationship. It was such a pleasure to read because they were not only insanely attracted to each other, they really enjoyed being with each other. They made time for each other and it was so swoony how he planned their first date, and how he wanted her to spend the night. This book isn’t about an alphahole, a player or billionaire, or someone with a horrible upbringing...it’s just two people who crossed paths and are navigating life trying to decide their future.
But as you can tell from the title of the book, it is no secret that she wants to get pregnant, and she leans on Finn to help to her make the right decision. I admired how up-front she was from the beginning, how they both handled this situation, and how they both got the happily ever after they were so deserving of. I adored naked pancakes, his singing and songwriting, how playful they were with his dog, and how she literally learned to let her hair down and enjoy life. The writing was captivating and the story naturally flowed making me want more and more.