365 books in 365 days Challenge ... Book #325

Matchmaking Baby - Cathy Gillen Thacker
Harlequin American Romance
Harlequin, 1996
ISBN: 9780373166138
Reissue - Harlequin Treasury, 2011
eISBN: 9781459274723








My rating

From the back cover:

"A Baby On Her Doorstep 
The towheaded toddler in the pretty pink stroller came with a blankie, a teddy and a note. Unfortunately, she didn't come with instructions. Like who she was or who her parents were. 
As concierge of Bride's Bay, Joanie Griffin assumed little Emily was a guest's child who needed baby-sitting. But the baby arrived at the worst time - just when her former flame showed up, two years and three months after their breakup. 
Now she'd never get rid of Steve Lantz. Because when Joanie picked up the blue-eyed baby, she called her "Mommy" - and Steve assumed he was "Daddy""


This is another book that is from the Harlequin Treasury line (I bought a lot of them, yes!), I bought this one as it was recommended by a user on Goodreads.

The hero Steve arrives at the hotel resort where the heroine Joanie works to give a speech as part of a conference, but he is also there to try and win Joanie back. Joanie is not willing to listen to Steve, he broke her heart when she found another woman in his bed, but he is persistent in trying to get her to talk to, and believe, him. When a baby is abandoned outside Joanie's room, Steve jumps to the wrong conclusion believing that the baby is Joanie's and his, despite Joanie's almost constant denials. Joanie has no choice but to care for baby Emily while searching for whoever left her, and with Steve helping with the baby and their proximity, it brings them closer and closer. Steve desperately wants to be with Joanie again and hopes their new found closeness will make her trust, and love, him again.

This is a very sweet and charming story that I really enjoyed reading. I believed in the love between the hero and heroine, and it was so refreshing to have a hero being the one who is so open about his feelings. Their relationship has real growth within the story, and it was really satisfying to read how the two of them slowly worked through their issues.
As for the abandoned baby part of the plot - well, it is a little far-fetched (I mean, surely if a baby was abandoned, Police and Social Services would come storming over!) but, it is a charming little touch and quite enjoyable.

An endearing and very romantic read.

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