by: Cindi Madsen
Series: Hope Springs
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 16, 2016
Source: Publisher ~ Entangled: Bliss
There are certain words that have always described Cam Brantley: Town bad boy. Soldier. Protector. But never, ever dad. Until he returns home from his latest military tour to discover the girl he had one smoking-hot night with is now mom to the adorable two-year-old Zoey. Who has his eyes.
Plenty of words could describe Emma Walker these days. Mom, dutiful granddaughter, budding designer, the town’s golden child. But when her longtime crush Cam Brantley comes back to town, she knows the perfect word to describe herself: screwed.
Cam and Emma are both shocked to discover he truly wants Zoey in his life. But Cam’s not sure he’s ready to be a dad, and Emma can’t gamble her daughter on maybes. As the long-simmering heat between Cam and Emma reaches a boiling point, he’ll have to work past his demons in order to be the man both girls need.
Cam rounded a huge sagebrush, and calm and collected flew right out the window as she took him in. There was something about the mountain background that brought out his rugged features even more, from the strong square jaw to the scruff covering it to just…him. She’d never thought she’d be so turned on by muddy pant legs and a baseball cap that looked like it’d been to hell and back.
And before their bet got pulled into it and things became more awesome or super awkward, she decided to at least complete a semibold move. She took a large step forward, ran her palm down the side of his face, and planted a kiss on his lips.
A grin spread across the rugged features she’d been admiring, and he wrapped one arm around her waist. “Just so you know, you touch the beard, I touch your butt.”
Flashing him a saucy smile, she reached up and ran her hand down it again, dragging out the gesture before brushing her fingertips across his jaw.
He kept his promise, one hand lowering to the curve of her butt. Using the solid grip, he hauled her against him and kissed her again. Then he whispered, “If this is your attempt at getting out of stripping for me, it’s a good try and all, but a bet’s a bet.”
Cindi Madsen is one of my favorite authors. She has this ability to make readers or at least me, fall for a hero within ten seconds of him showing up on the page. Cam Brantley was no different. While The Bad Boy’s Baby is a standalone read, Cam’s name was mentioned in Crazy for the Competition, his brother Heath’s story. I couldn’t wait to meet the man who served his country and had a brother at home waiting on him to make a combined childhood dream come true. I will be the first to admit the secret baby storyline wasn’t one I expected for Cam’s story. But surprisingly, it worked for me with only minor hiccups.
After being abandoned by his mother and raised by his abusive drunk father, Cam left Hope Springs to join the Army. There, he found a family with his brothers in arms and the structure he was looking for. However, his time in the military has left him with emotional battle scars.
Knowing she was unwanted by her parents, Emma Stone has spent her life trying to go unnoticed and under the radar. Raised by her grandmother, she’s smart, thoughtful, and cautious. Her dream has been to move to the big city and become an architect. But her dreams have always been pushed back for whatever various reasons. Wanting to prove to herself she wasn’t boring, she had one alcohol fueled night with Cam before he left for yet another tour of duty. Her one night of misadventure resulted in her becoming pregnant and keeping the child’s father a mystery.
It’s been three years since Cam was in his hometown of Hope Springs. Now out of the military, he’s ready to live an easy, carefree life and fulfill his childhood dream of running a tour company with his brother. The last thing Emma expected was to show up for work and find Cam on the other side of the door. Now she has to figure out how to tell him about the child he doesn’t know about. One she’s sure he doesn’t want.
What I loved about The Bad Boy’s Baby was Cam’s response to finding out he was a father to a two-year-old little girl and the time he spends with her. I loved the easiness of Emma and Cam’s relationship. Their personalities go well together and complement each other. What I didn’t like was the constant self-doubt they seemed to have with each other and themselves in almost every chapter. The story is pretty straightforward, predictable, and doesn’t hold any surprises. But, it will make you smile in the end.
**Received a copy from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest unbiased opinion.**
Rating: 4
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USA Today Bestselling author Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting, revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she'd be even crazier. She has way too many shoes but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they're sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children.
Visit her at www.cindimadsen.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter and learn about upcoming releases.
Cindi is the author of YA books All the Broken Pieces, Cipher, Rift, Resolution, and Demons of the Sun, and adult romances Falling for Her Fiancé, Act Like You Love Me, Resisting the Hero, Cinderella Screwed Me Over and Ready to Wed.
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