NMmomof4's Reviews > Nobody's Baby But Mine

3.75 Stars

Overall Opinion: This was cute. I was hoping to like it more because everyone seemed to love this -- and those darn expectations hit again, but I still enjoyed it. It's definitely dated with talk of technology (VHS tapes and such) or even the music references (Rod Stewart), but I didn't mind all that much since I knew going in that this is an older book. I liked their banter and arguments, and I appreciated how the h was smart and didn't hide it. I did struggle with the H. I found a lot of his opinions/actions harsh and it was hard for him to redeem himself in my mind afterwards. I did, however, think that his declaration action for loving her was cute even if the h didn't understand it. I had a few laugh out loud moments in this too. The ending left me wanting, but it was enough for me to still call it a HEA ending. All in all it was a good read but I had too many issues to give it a full 4 stars -- but I did like it more than 3.5, so that's my reasoning for the weird 3.75 Stars.

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Jane and Cal's story. Jane just turned 34, is alone, and gets an idea, with the help of her NFL groupie neighbor, to use Cal as a unknowing sperm donor to get her pregnant after seeing him on tv. He acts like a hillbilly on tv, so she is convinced that she needs him because her IQ is so high she needs someone to dumb down her potential child. This all backfires when he finds out she's pregnant and forces her to marry him and go back home to his North Carolina small town during his NFL off season. They get themselves deeper and deeper in their lies to other people while developing feelings for one another and having some sexy times and some family drama...and they get a HEA ending.

POV: This alternated between focusing mainly on Jane and Cal in 3rd person narrative (with a few parts focused on side characters).

Overall Pace of Story: Good for the most part. The ending felt abrupt, but I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well otherwise.

Instalove: No, they have a hate-to-love type dynamic at first.

H rating: 3 stars. Cal. He was hard to like at times, but then he would do something to win me over...so I'm just going with a middle of the road 3 stars for him.

h rating: 3.5 stars. Jane. She was kind of a mess! She had some weird ideas about things/people and stuck with them, but for the most part she was likable.

Sadness level: Low/moderate. I did tear up a few times, but it was mostly about the H's parents story and not the mcs -- but not enough I needed tissues.

Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[They both push away and pursue the relationship at times. (hide spoiler)]

Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.

Descriptive sex: Yes

OW/OM drama: No

Sex scene with OW or OM: No

Cheating: No

Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated (for at least a couple weeks but maybe as long as a month?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]

Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[The h tricks the H into getting her pregnant (on page) (hide spoiler)]

Closure: I would've loved a jump ahead epilogue for this one! It ended in a good place and I would still call it a HEA, but it felt abrupt.

Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
(view spoiler)[
- Does Not have cheating
- Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
- Does have both the h and H pushing away
- Does have a short separation between the h and H
- Does Not have abuse
- Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]