Ten years ago, Brijitte Dupre was alone and pregnant, rejected by the wealthy father of her child but with a fistful of money his mother gave her for an abortion. Brijitte was a country girl who simply could not fit into their lives.Or so it seemed . . .
Now a Dallas-based physician, Cade Wheeler has returned to Cypress Landing to help out in his uncle's clinic, temporarily - and Brijitte is one of Doc Wheeler's nurses. Both are uncomfortable working in close quarters together, considering their past relationship. But, time hasn't dimmed the attraction between the two.
Should Brijette tell Cade about the daughter she was unwilling to abort? Or does he still think he's too good for her? Is it too late to tell him the truth, when she discovers that both Brijette and Cade were lied to by his mother? And, what the heck is going on with the missing prescription pads that make Brijette look guilty of dealing drugs?
Oh, the dilemmas. But, as obvious as the plot line may seem, Unexpected Daughter really was surprising in many ways. Just when I thought I had things figured out and nothing great was going to happen, along came a new twist. The number of twists were particularly surprising to me because I know Suzanne and recognized the plot from a meeting of the romance writers' group I used to attend (and still plan to return to). The fact that Suzanne still managed to surprise me was, I though, pretty impressive.
Unexpected Daughter is the second in a series of books set in fictional Cypress Landing, Louisiana. I liked the first in the series, A Different Kind of Man. While I'm not a romance addict like most of my romance-writing friends, I do enjoy the occasional romance for a change of pace. However, I didn't find the first book quite as gripping. I could barely put Unexpected Daughter down. It slowed down just a tad in the middle, but not much. So, I'm giving it a very high rating for enjoyment level (all you frequent readers of my blog know how I qualify ratings across genres, right?). And, I can happily do so without prejudice to my friendship with Suzanne. Go Suzanne!
4.5/5
Still reading a Harlequin Next book: Holiday Wishes. I'm enjoying the second story, by Stevi Mittman, so thoroughly that I went running to Walmart to look for Mittman's current full-length novel, which was on the stands just two days ago. And, wouldn't you know, there was not a single next book left. Not one! Shucks.
Just walked into my house: Just Between Us by Cathy Kelly - thanks to Susan in Houston, who hates Chick Lit; I volunteered to take it off her hands. Oh, mama, it's a chunkster! Onto the fat book pile that one goes.
Speaking of the Chunkster Challenge, Carrie at Overdue Books has created a Chunkster Challenge button. Apparently, I dragged my feet for too long. I love it! Isn't it perfect? Thanks, Carrie!!
23 days till the Chunkster Challenge begins! Rules - or, rather, guidelines - forthcoming. But, right now, I think I'm going to have a nice soak and read a little as we've got an early morning and a long day ahead of us.
Happy Weekend!
Hooray!!! I love the Chunkster Challenge button! I already have added it to my post. Thanks for sponsoring this challenge, Bookfool. If you didn't, I don't think I'd attempt one. I'm actually looking forward to starting THE LONESOME DOVE. :)
ReplyDeleteYea for Carrie's button!! I think it is so neat that you've read a book written by someone you know!
ReplyDeleteAhh, I wish I could join the Chunkster Challenge (Lord knows I have enough chunksters on the TBR), but I know I won't be reading anything chunky while I'm writing the dadgum thesis. As soon as I'm done with it, I'm tackling Vanity Fair, though! lol
ReplyDeleteI am all about joining your Chunkster Challenge. Do you s'pose I'll be able to include the monster I just finished: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell? It only took me about ALL of November! Can't wait to discuss huge books with everyone, especially Lonesome Dove (Hooray, joy) which didn't seem huge at all. To me.
ReplyDeleteCool! a button!!
ReplyDeleteThat books sounds good. I'll be doing the chunkster challenge too. :) I don't have the button on my blog cause I don't want to download the software to add pictures. :)
ReplyDeleteJoy,
ReplyDeleteIsn't the button great? Thanks and you're welcome and I'm glad you'd sponsor the challenge if I didn't. Maybe you can host one later in the year, next year. There sure seem to be a lot of challenges coming up in 2007, so far!!! I'm half excited and half terrified. Big books still scare me, ya know. :)
Heather,
It's totally cool getting to read a book by a friend. Maybe I should hurry up and try to get published so you can say, "Hey, I know the author!" That might be just the kick I need. I could say, "I did it for my friends." Hahaha.
Andi,
I wish you could join in, too, but . . . yep, that dadgum thesis comes first. If this challenge helps those of us who are Fat-book Fraidy-cats to seriously knock down the piles, I'm sure there will be more chunkster challenges in the future.
Vanity Fair is on my mental wish list, btw. No copy in my personal library, as yet!
Claire,
That's exactly how I look at romantic reads - they're my fluff breaks. I need the occasional romance break, but I'll never read romance exclusively. I'm more a die-hard variety person. Good to hear you enjoy the Cathy Kelly book!!!
Bellezza,
ReplyDeleteHey, silly, the challenge doesn't start till next month! No cheating! Actually, I've had a little trouble keeping myself from diving into one or two of my chunksters. It's funny how those titles start to holler at you once you decide you're definitely going to tackle them. I agree, it will be fun chatting about our chunkster reads - glad you're going to join in!!!
I can't remember if I read a post about Jonathon Strange on your blog. Sometimes that book sounds wonderful to me, and sometimes it sounds awful! It really depends heavily on the person reviewing it, I guess.
Suzi,
Yeah, baby! I love it!
Lover of books,
No worries about the button. It's the challenge that counts; anyone can join in. I'll have an official sign-up, as soon as I get my head screwed back on. This week threw me way off. I keep thinking of that Ogden Nash poem about the ostrich who runs so very fast he leaves himself behind. It seems so relevant. :)
Love the button!! I'll get it in my sidebar once you post the rules/instructions so I can link to that. Hmmmm, now to figure out which Chunkster to read first...
ReplyDeleteNoooooo...I meant if you didn't sponsor the challenge, I probably wouldn't attempt reading THE LONESOME DOVE. You have given me a good reason to read it. :)
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot of people from the TBR Challenge that are interested in your Chunkster Challenge. They (okay, I confess...me, too) are anxiously awaiting the "guidelines". NO PRESSURE. LOL You still have time.
Whether I "qualify" or not, I'm still going to go ahead and read it. :)
bookfool, by the way, I tagged you for "six weird things." (See my blog.)I'm waiting for you and les, if you want to respond. If not, no worries. :)
ReplyDeleteLes,
ReplyDeleteI'll try to get those guidelines posted, sometime today. After three weeks of hubby being gone most of the week, I'm just flattened.
Joy,
Okay, I get it. :) Thanks for clarifying. As I said to Les, I'll try to get to the guidelines ASAP - hopefully, by tonight!!
Bellezza,
I'll check it out. Thanks for letting me know you tagged me. I love being tagged! I have two book reviews, one set of guidelines, and six weird things to post. Huff-puff. Gotta hurry through the housework. :)