A Baby to Call Ours

Front Porch Promises #6

by Merrillee Whren

This contemporary Christian romance is the fifth book in the Front Porch Promises series. When Jimmy Cunningham has a once-in-a-lifetime job opportunity with his uncle’s company, Jimmy hopes to prove to everyone in his small hometown that he can be a success despite his bad-boy past. But will his uncle’s unreasonable request that Jimmy find a wife and settle down send his career dreams up in smoke?Kelsey Reynolds wishes she could turn back time a few weeks and change the course of her life, but she can’t undo the mess she’s made. Jimmy offers her a solution, but is marrying a man she barely knows—even one as good looking and kindhearted as Jimmy—any better than facing her family with the truth?How can a marriage built on a pretense survive?

350 pages, Paperback

Published November 11, 2018

About the author

Merrillee Whren is an award-winning and USA Today bestselling author who writes Christian romance. She is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award for best inspirational romance manuscript presented by Romance Writers of America. She has also been the recipient of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award and the Maggie Award. She is married and has two grown daughters. She has lived in Cincinnati, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Florida. She now makes her home in the Arizona desert. When she’s not writing, she spends her free time playing tennis or walking while she plots her novels. Please visit her Web site at http://www.merrilleewhren.com/.
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Reviews

[Valri Western]

When you've made mistakes in a small town, people tend to remember them....for a long time. Some people leave town and start over somewhere else to escape the memories, but some people stay and that would be Jimmy Cunningham. His family is there and he's worked through his issues from the past, at least he thinks so! He feels he's a success now having taken over his father's house painting company. However, his uncle comes to him with a once-in-a-lifetime business proposition and Jimmy really wants to take it. But, his uncle requests that he get a wife and settle down as part of the "job requirement". I felt this was really unfair of his uncle, especially when Jimmy wasn't even dating anyone! And, the uncle wanted him to do it quickly! Everyone knew his uncle was an unreasonable person and difficult to work with - I think that would be a big red flag for Jimmy! Kelsey Reynolds has a secret and the only person who knows about it is Jimmy. She decides to help Jimmy by marrying him because it's also helping her but that doesn't mean she's happy about it! A marriage of convenience even though I felt Jimmy was VERY kind to her and went out of his way to do everything a husband would do but Kelsey really didn't do much for him. I was a little disappointed in her. Jimmy bent over backwards to be cheerful and helpful but she didn't even seem to TRY to make the best of things in my opinion. I know the situation was difficult for her but still, I just felt she could have been more supportive of Jimmy and the circumstances they were in. However, I did enjoy the book and would definitely recommend it! I loved how they evolved into a loving couple!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author but was not required to review it. These thoughts are my own.

[Gina]

A story of what can happen when we try to fix things yourself without God's help. An unwanted pregnancy, the kind hearted man who needs a bride and a marriage of convenience. But guilt about their deceit weighs on them, especially as they fall in love but don't share their feelings. When everything seems to be falling apart, love and accepting God's forgiveness will save the day. I received a complimentary copy and I am giving a review voluntarily.

[Amy]

A Baby to Call Ours is book five from Merrillee Whren’s Front Porch Promises series. I thought the story was pretty good. I loved seeing Kelsey and Jimmy interacting to one another. I thought they were so cute together and had good chemistry. The plot is somewhat predictable but still most definitely a must read.

I give A Baby to Call Ours 4 ½ stars and recommend it to readers who love a good, sweet, delightful, and clean Contemporary story.

I received this book from the author, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

[Mary]

Welcome back to Pineydale, Tennessee! Kelsey Reynolds is in town for the wedding of her older sister, Amanda. However, she has something on her mind that prevents her from fully enjoying the wedding festivities. Jimmy Cunningham’s uncle tells him that he would like him to take over his business, but with the stipulation that he must finish his education and get married. After hearing Kelsey’s story, Jimmy proposes a solution that would help them both.

Kelsey agrees to marry Jimmy, but in name only. How long can they keep up this pretense of a marriage? Will they realize that they are in love and can drop the barriers that prevent this from being a sham? While the reader knows all along that this is a romance and will likely have a happy ending, you need to read the story to learn Kelsey’s secret and ride out the emotional swings as this relationship progresses.

I loved getting to know Kelsey and Jimmy. Merrillee Whren never fails to deliver a book with well-developed personalities and an emotional reach that brings the reader into the story. I was sorry to close the book when I reached the final page.

Any reader of contemporary Christian romance should enjoy A Baby to Call Ours. Even though it is part of a series, each book can be fully enjoyed as a standalone novel. I eagerly anticipated this fifth book in Merrillee Whren’s Front Porch Promises series and am happy to say that it was well worth the wait.

[Diana]

Kelsey has an unplanned pregnancy, Jimmy has a boss that demands he be married as a condition of his employment. When they see each other at Kelsey's sister's wedding, they reveal their struggles with each other and come up with what seems to be a solution to benefit them both- a marriage in name only. They elope and hide the real reason for the marriage from their family and friends. Although they are grateful to each other for the solution, and they are acting in the best interest of the other, the deception is making them uncertain and jumpy. Will they ever get past this? Will they earn to love each other and have the kind of marriage they each actually want? It turns out that the solution is surprisingly simple. A sweet romance that deals with the complicated issues of honesty, jealousy, and the rewards of open communication.

[Joan Arning]

A Baby to Call Ours is a story of God’s forgiveness. Jimmy and Kelsey are great characters who marry for convenience. Kelsey is a considerate young woman suffering because of poor judgment. Jimmy has matured since earlier books in the Front Porch Promises series! You will especially enjoy this book if you have read the other books in the series but it is also great as a stand alone story. I recommend this contemporary romance to others. I received a complimentary book from the author. This is my honest opinion.

[Deanna]

Communication is the key

He needs a wife to fulfill his uncle’s requirements for taking over the business. She needs a husband to give her unborn baby a father. Love was not part of the equation.

As these two get to know one another their feelings grow but how do you tell that person without getting your heart broken. And just when you think they maybe getting on the same page tragedy strikes. Will their love survive.

A very enjoyable read, a little drawn out in some places, but worth the read

[Melissa Henderson]

Can friendship turn into love? This heartwarming story shows how love, trust and forgiveness can be found in difficult circumstances. Decisions made everyday can change lives in an instant. How the decisions are handled can bring us closer to God and closer to each other. I enjoyed this story very much. I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my personal honest opinion. No review was required.

[Madalyn Mathis]

A Great Read. I have loved the series Front Porch Promises and this book five, A Baby to Call Ours, is just as good as the others. The story is of a marriage of convenience. It is a beautiful story of love and forgiveness and redemption. A good reminder that God changes lives and gives second chances. I received a copy from the author as well as purchased a copy. I was not obligated to post a review.

[Laurel]

This is the fifth book in Whren's Front Porch Promises series, & even though I haven't read the others, I still enjoyed this one. It's a wholesome story about love & the power of God's forgiveness, as well as forgiving each other & ourselves. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author , & the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Phylis Carpenter]

Kelsey has a secret she doesn't want to tell her family. Jimmy wants to work for his Uncle and is trying to deal with one of the stipulations of the job. He needs to find a wife. His Uncle thinks that would improve his image with the company.

Can the two help each other out. Read the story, you won't be disappointed.

[Jean Hall]

A woman who needs a husband & father for her baby, a man who needs a wife to keep his job with a demanding uncle, each trying to fix things on their own. Little did they know that their decisions will bring them both closer to each other and God.

[Donna]

Falling in Love

This was such a wonderful story about 2 people falling in love. I found it to be hard to put down. I stayed up way too late on night. I kept cheering for the couple. Hoping they would soon tell each that they were falling in love.

[Donna Kale]

Love the entire series

[Angela Tanner]

This is a wonderful story! I am so thankful for God's mercy and forgiveness. The characters are, like all of us, flawed. But it’s enjoyable to see how it all works out. I highly recommend this book!

[Patty]

3.5
Cute story about Kelsey, who is unmarried & pregnant, and Jimmy, who needs a wife to get a job with his uncle.

[Daisey]

Immature and whiney. It was clean.

[Penny Ramirez]

Maybe 3.5. Too much angst & navel-gazing for me. Super sweet.

Disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Linda Rainey]

A Beautiful Love Story

This was a beautiful story about God's love and forgiveness.
I loved the storyline and the wonderful characters.
The characters from other books in the series added an enrichment to the story.
This book is recommended for those who love inspirational Christian fiction.

[Linda Kish]

I received an ARC of this book from the author. It's a sweet story about a marriage of convenience that goes through some changes with time. Who doesn't love a happy ending?