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The Baby Verdict
Jessica's boss, Bruno Carr, has assigned her to work closely with him on a major lawsuit. Then a business trip in the Caribbean led to steamy, sensual nights - but was it more than an affair? The only verdict Jessica could be certain of was that she was expecting her boss's baby!
288 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 1999
About the author
Cathy Williams
1,349 books203 followersCathy Williams, born in Trinidad and Tobago, is a British author who has written romance novels for Mills & Boon since 1990. She lives in Chiswick, London, with her three daughters and continues to craft engaging, heartfelt love stories.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 19, 2019
Re The Baby Verdict - Cathy Williams does the eighth entry in the Expecting series with this updated office romance.
The h is a lawyer from a very dysfunctional family and fiercely independent. She and the H clash from the beginning as her immediate boss, the H's head legal adviser, is sent on medical leave and she has to take his place.
The H shows up and invades her office in a highly sexist manner to ensure that the h is the right lawyer to defend him in an upcoming product liability case. The H deliberately does his best to goad the h in the most patronizing and chauvinistic kinds of ways.
The h is well versed in handing out the snarky put downs tho, so outwardly the H doesn't intimidate her. The H decides she is capable of defending him and his company, so the h gets his defense underway.
In the interim up to the trial, the H has several encounters with the h. First he calls her over to his office at 8:30 at night, after a twelve hour day, as a reason to get rid of one of his lady buffet samples who is getting a little too clingy.
Then he manages to inveigle his way into the h's flat and gets her to cook a very odd and ends dinner for him, when he once again keeps her at work very late into a dark and rainy Friday night.
The h is perturbed by the H's continual importuning on what is supposed to be her off times and tho she has a lot of snarky banter to ward him off, inside she is slowly succumbing to her treacherous body syndrome.
Which seems to be too bad for the h, because like all CW h's she has zero self esteem in herself outside of her career. She constantly compares herself to the noted members of the H's lady buffet and we get a lot of longing and jealousy as the h thinks badly of herself for several chapters.
Eventually the h does win the H's case and when the verdict comes in, she is struck down with flu. The H shows up at the height of her sniffles, but we get no sponging, just a cup of tea and a soft boiled egg or two.
The H maneuvers the h into accepting a weekend on his private Caribbean island by telling her it is a reward for all fourteen of her staff. In a fade to black moment, the H and h have a few nights of purple passion and then we get a time jump to a few months later.
The h never called the H after their weekend fling, she felt more in control of the situation if it was a one time deal. Not surprisingly, as this IS the Expecting series, the h is preggers and the H comes storming over to her flat after he gets her resignation.
The H demands that the h marry him and the h is trying hard to refuse. Her parents had a terrible marriage and her father was a cheating abuser and to the h's mind, the H shows strong cheating and bullying tendencies himself.
However, the h is feeling the tiring effects of pregnancy and she makes several jokes about pregnancy and amnesia when the H asks if she is losing her mind. The H eventually manages to bully her into a semi acceptance of his proposal, but then he tries to seduce the h and she runs out in front of a car.
The h ends up in hospital and the H finally gets that she really doesn't want to marry him. He tells her the marriage is off, tho they will have to come to financial and visitation arrangements and the h is left to have a mopey moment.
The h is mopeying about because she is in love with the H, but she knows he is a major sampler of the lady buffet and she doesn't want to the only one in love in a one sided, unequal relationship. The near miscarriage and the subsequent stay at the H's house make her rethink that sentiment.
The h realizes that she will probably only see the H once a week and that it will really destroy her when he eventually picks out a new lover. So as the h is pondering which is worse, the H's mum shows up and she is kinda mean at first, she thought the h had got up the duff deliberately to hook her son.
But the h has no problems holding her own and the next time jump is a few days later when the H comes banging on the door of the h's flat late at night. His mother and he had been discussing things and the h is wondering if she should confess that she does love him and now wants to marry him, but the H admits that he is smitten first, to the h's huge surprise.
The H knows he is in love with the h because he can't stop thinking about her and he went out with two other ladies, but couldn't get a lurve club thing going on for them. This pleases the h to no end and she finally admits she loves the H back for the pretty funny HEA.
We get a small epilogue where the H and h are deliriously happy together, they have a seven year old daughter and a baby boy on the way, for a very cute finish to a mostly believable HEA.
This one was pretty fast and some of the H's and h's conversations and snark were extremely entertaining. Where this one failed on the reread was the h's attitude towards her looks and herself, her continual self-disparagement seemed a bit forced and the H was maybe a little too enigmatic.
Overall tho, this was a fun and quick read, for a fairly good and surprisingly funny HPlandia outing.
The h is a lawyer from a very dysfunctional family and fiercely independent. She and the H clash from the beginning as her immediate boss, the H's head legal adviser, is sent on medical leave and she has to take his place.
The H shows up and invades her office in a highly sexist manner to ensure that the h is the right lawyer to defend him in an upcoming product liability case. The H deliberately does his best to goad the h in the most patronizing and chauvinistic kinds of ways.
The h is well versed in handing out the snarky put downs tho, so outwardly the H doesn't intimidate her. The H decides she is capable of defending him and his company, so the h gets his defense underway.
In the interim up to the trial, the H has several encounters with the h. First he calls her over to his office at 8:30 at night, after a twelve hour day, as a reason to get rid of one of his lady buffet samples who is getting a little too clingy.
Then he manages to inveigle his way into the h's flat and gets her to cook a very odd and ends dinner for him, when he once again keeps her at work very late into a dark and rainy Friday night.
The h is perturbed by the H's continual importuning on what is supposed to be her off times and tho she has a lot of snarky banter to ward him off, inside she is slowly succumbing to her treacherous body syndrome.
Which seems to be too bad for the h, because like all CW h's she has zero self esteem in herself outside of her career. She constantly compares herself to the noted members of the H's lady buffet and we get a lot of longing and jealousy as the h thinks badly of herself for several chapters.
Eventually the h does win the H's case and when the verdict comes in, she is struck down with flu. The H shows up at the height of her sniffles, but we get no sponging, just a cup of tea and a soft boiled egg or two.
The H maneuvers the h into accepting a weekend on his private Caribbean island by telling her it is a reward for all fourteen of her staff. In a fade to black moment, the H and h have a few nights of purple passion and then we get a time jump to a few months later.
The h never called the H after their weekend fling, she felt more in control of the situation if it was a one time deal. Not surprisingly, as this IS the Expecting series, the h is preggers and the H comes storming over to her flat after he gets her resignation.
The H demands that the h marry him and the h is trying hard to refuse. Her parents had a terrible marriage and her father was a cheating abuser and to the h's mind, the H shows strong cheating and bullying tendencies himself.
However, the h is feeling the tiring effects of pregnancy and she makes several jokes about pregnancy and amnesia when the H asks if she is losing her mind. The H eventually manages to bully her into a semi acceptance of his proposal, but then he tries to seduce the h and she runs out in front of a car.
The h ends up in hospital and the H finally gets that she really doesn't want to marry him. He tells her the marriage is off, tho they will have to come to financial and visitation arrangements and the h is left to have a mopey moment.
The h is mopeying about because she is in love with the H, but she knows he is a major sampler of the lady buffet and she doesn't want to the only one in love in a one sided, unequal relationship. The near miscarriage and the subsequent stay at the H's house make her rethink that sentiment.
The h realizes that she will probably only see the H once a week and that it will really destroy her when he eventually picks out a new lover. So as the h is pondering which is worse, the H's mum shows up and she is kinda mean at first, she thought the h had got up the duff deliberately to hook her son.
But the h has no problems holding her own and the next time jump is a few days later when the H comes banging on the door of the h's flat late at night. His mother and he had been discussing things and the h is wondering if she should confess that she does love him and now wants to marry him, but the H admits that he is smitten first, to the h's huge surprise.
The H knows he is in love with the h because he can't stop thinking about her and he went out with two other ladies, but couldn't get a lurve club thing going on for them. This pleases the h to no end and she finally admits she loves the H back for the pretty funny HEA.
We get a small epilogue where the H and h are deliriously happy together, they have a seven year old daughter and a baby boy on the way, for a very cute finish to a mostly believable HEA.
This one was pretty fast and some of the H's and h's conversations and snark were extremely entertaining. Where this one failed on the reread was the h's attitude towards her looks and herself, her continual self-disparagement seemed a bit forced and the H was maybe a little too enigmatic.
Overall tho, this was a fun and quick read, for a fairly good and surprisingly funny HPlandia outing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2018
Per le prime 50 pagine mi è parso un libro carino, ma poi ovviamente è diventato un Harmony, ovvero, quando i due protagonisti sono finiti in posizione orizzontale, la storia potenzialmente interessante ha perso ogni contorno e si è concentrata sui due protagonisti (quasi gli unici in tutto il libro) e niente di più. Lei è una donna in carriera che conosce il gran capo, ricco e naturalmente affascinante; dopo aver affrontato insieme un caso in tribunale ed averlo ovviamente vinto, il capo offre a tutto lo staff un fine settimana in un'isola caraibica, di sua proprietà (capperi!) e ce li porta con un jet privato; il suo jet privato (altri capperi!). E vabbé, quel fine settimana ovviamente cambia le regole del gioco e l'andamento del romanzo, come ho detto prima. Senza tema di spoilerare, vi comunico che vissero felici e contenti.
October 16, 2021
It’s a good read. I like the fact that she is a lawyer, that she has a career going on. He is the owner of the company where she works.
She isn’t a virgin. She gets pregnant because they don’t use any birth control. She thought it was the time of the mind that she wasn’t in her fertile moment. She says she calculated it wrong.
The book is from 1999. Surely, even then, grown, experienced women would know that calculating your cycle of the month isn’t a reliable birth control method at all.
She isn’t a virgin. She gets pregnant because they don’t use any birth control. She thought it was the time of the mind that she wasn’t in her fertile moment. She says she calculated it wrong.
The book is from 1999. Surely, even then, grown, experienced women would know that calculating your cycle of the month isn’t a reliable birth control method at all.
September 29, 2019
Jessica had tried hard to play down her attractiveness at work. She wasn't interested in office affairs, or so she thought until company boss Bruno Can personally assigned her to work closely with him on a major lawsuit....
Jessica knew she'd won Bruno's professional respect. She also sensed that he saw beyond her neat suits and cool manner--both of which Jessica was forced to abandon on a Caribbean business trip.... Steamy, sensual nights followed, but was it more than an affair? The only verdict Jessica could be certain of was that she was now expecting her boss's baby!
She's sexy, successful...and PREGNANT
Jessica knew she'd won Bruno's professional respect. She also sensed that he saw beyond her neat suits and cool manner--both of which Jessica was forced to abandon on a Caribbean business trip.... Steamy, sensual nights followed, but was it more than an affair? The only verdict Jessica could be certain of was that she was now expecting her boss's baby!
She's sexy, successful...and PREGNANT
February 7, 2017
Me gustaron un montón las personalidades de estos dos.
En especial al momento de la declaración final, en verdad están hechos el uno para el otro, ¡son unos pillos!
Me hubiera gustado saber sí Jessica había continuó con su carrera, después de todo lo acontecido, por que me sentiría muy triste y decepcionada de ella de no haberlo hecho... Aunque igual, un descanso nunca le viene mal a nadie.
En especial al momento de la declaración final, en verdad están hechos el uno para el otro, ¡son unos pillos!
Me hubiera gustado saber sí Jessica había continuó con su carrera, después de todo lo acontecido, por que me sentiría muy triste y decepcionada de ella de no haberlo hecho... Aunque igual, un descanso nunca le viene mal a nadie.
September 9, 2018
The book lurched without continuity from one scene and place to another. There was no chemistry between the h/H. Their conversations were stilted and they don't grow together as a couple physically or emotionally to deserve a HEA.
October 20, 2019
A fast paced riot of a read
Snappy dialogue, a heroine with a sharp tongue and a hero who won't let her have the last word as well as a plot that gallops along at a rare old pace...#deep breath#....One to enjoy if you like an action packed read!
Snappy dialogue, a heroine with a sharp tongue and a hero who won't let her have the last word as well as a plot that gallops along at a rare old pace...#deep breath#....One to enjoy if you like an action packed read!
May 3, 2020
Nothing special
The story was in some parts similar to authors other book about pregnancy. In the beginning I was interested but afterwards I found it a bit follow the scheme with lack of communication between MC. Unnecessary drama, not worth my time.
The story was in some parts similar to authors other book about pregnancy. In the beginning I was interested but afterwards I found it a bit follow the scheme with lack of communication between MC. Unnecessary drama, not worth my time.
December 20, 2018
Typically English romance.
August 17, 2019
At about halfway through, this became really good. It was ok, then wow.
January 22, 2021
Μιλάμε για μια εξαιρετική μετάφραση, ήταν σαν να διάβαζα λογοτεχνικό κείμενο, όπου δεν υπήρχαν οι διάλογοι,Αυτό μ' έκανε να ανατρέξω στην αρχή του βιβλίου για να δω ποιος το μετέφρασε.
Η πλοκή αν και αργή, κατάφερε με τρόπο μαγικό να με καθηλώσει...Είναι γνωστό ότι αν δε μου αρέσει κάτι, το προσπερνώ και πάω για άλλα...
Η ηρωίδα είναι ένα ανεξάρτητο πνεύμα και δεν βάζει νερό στο κρασί της για κανένα λόγο, είναι δυναμική ,ετοιμόλογη και συγχρόνως απρόσιτη.Ο ήρωας της ιστορίας φυσικά δεν πάει παραπίσω,αλλά αυτό είναι σύνηθες φαινόμενο .. .Το κλου της ιστορίας; Ενώ την περίμενα ανέγγιχτη μας βγήκε προχωρημένη χωρίς να έχουμε πληροφορίες και αριθμό για τις προηγούμενες σχέσεις της.
Οι ερωτικές στιγμές ανάμεσα στο ζευγάρι αν και μετρημένες στα δάχτυλα, είναι πραγματικά καυτές, αν αναλογιστεί κανείς πότε γράφτηκε το βιβλίο.Ένα τελείως ρεαλιστικό κείμενο με καντάρια εγωισμού και περηφάνιας και από τις δυο πλευρές σε σημείο αδιαφορίας,έτσι τουλάχιστον το εξέλαβα εγώ, λόγω της σκοτεινότητας των ηρώων. Αυτό που με χάλασε ήταν ο χλιαρός του επίλογος, σε άλλη περίπτωση μπορεί να μ' είχε απογειώσει.Σίγουρα είναι πάντως από τα κομμάτια που διαφέρουν και αποτυπώνονται στο μυαλό σου ακόμη και αν έχει περάσει καιρός.Κυκλοφόρησε το 1999 και είναι το νούμερο 58
Μεταφράστρια :Μαίρη Κορινθίου.
Η πλοκή αν και αργή, κατάφερε με τρόπο μαγικό να με καθηλώσει...Είναι γνωστό ότι αν δε μου αρέσει κάτι, το προσπερνώ και πάω για άλλα...
Η ηρωίδα είναι ένα ανεξάρτητο πνεύμα και δεν βάζει νερό στο κρασί της για κανένα λόγο, είναι δυναμική ,ετοιμόλογη και συγχρόνως απρόσιτη.Ο ήρωας της ιστορίας φυσικά δεν πάει παραπίσω,αλλά αυτό είναι σύνηθες φαινόμενο .. .Το κλου της ιστορίας; Ενώ την περίμενα ανέγγιχτη μας βγήκε προχωρημένη χωρίς να έχουμε πληροφορίες και αριθμό για τις προηγούμενες σχέσεις της.
Οι ερωτικές στιγμές ανάμεσα στο ζευγάρι αν και μετρημένες στα δάχτυλα, είναι πραγματικά καυτές, αν αναλογιστεί κανείς πότε γράφτηκε το βιβλίο.Ένα τελείως ρεαλιστικό κείμενο με καντάρια εγωισμού και περηφάνιας και από τις δυο πλευρές σε σημείο αδιαφορίας,έτσι τουλάχιστον το εξέλαβα εγώ, λόγω της σκοτεινότητας των ηρώων. Αυτό που με χάλασε ήταν ο χλιαρός του επίλογος, σε άλλη περίπτωση μπορεί να μ' είχε απογειώσει.Σίγουρα είναι πάντως από τα κομμάτια που διαφέρουν και αποτυπώνονται στο μυαλό σου ακόμη και αν έχει περάσει καιρός.Κυκλοφόρησε το 1999 και είναι το νούμερο 58
Μεταφράστρια :Μαίρη Κορινθίου.
December 27, 2012
I don't really care for these types of novel, where the woman has her own career and is stubborn as all get out but this was definitely a better one of them. The hero drove me bonkers though. I wanted to punch the prat in the nose. He was arrogant, demanding and never seemed to shut up so the heroine could get a word in. It was frustrating but good to read.
August 12, 2016
A nice read...nothing too aggravating. The heroine was smart and lovely. The hero metamorphosed from arrogant jerk to confident and likable. Their scenes together were good. The HEA was expected. Overall a nice relaxing read
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September 20, 2014#N/A
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews