67. Janice Kay Johnson ~ With Child ~ HSR #1273 May05 [9 Months Later]

     Oh what a wonderful book to end both a month and a challenge with!  I've not read anything by this author before, but I do have a number of her books in my TBR.  I've picked them up solely because of the way the stories sound (by the blurb on the back) and I'm very happy to say that I was not mislead, nor was I in any way, shape or form disappointed in the story.  Ms. Johnson writes a fabulous story with such emotion and realism that I could not help but be absorbed into what was going on.  Definitely a new (to me) author that's become both a favourite and autobuy!

RATING:
Excellence: Outstanding ~ 5 stars
Steaminess: Romantic

BOOK READ:
Janice Kay Johnson; With Child; HSR #1273, May05
       part of the 9 Months Later continuity series

FROM the BACK:
     On a beautiful spring night Mindy Fenton went to bed thinking all was right in her world.  Before it was over everything had changed ~ and not for the better.
     Mindy was awakened by Brendan Quinn with the news that her husband had been shot and killed.  Now Mindy is alone, nearly broke and pregnant...and Quinn ~ a man who never hid his contempt for her ~ is the only one she can turn to.

MY NOTES:
     An absolutely OUTSTANDING story with so many elements that were all marvelously displayed.  I've enjoyed all the other 9 Months Later continuity stories that I've read ~ starting with perennial favourite Brenda Novak's Snow Baby that I read years ago ~ and I have to say that this story heads the list as my favourite.  The bulk of the story takes place during the nine months of pregnancy ~ hence the series name ~ and so, while there is a lot of time to cover, there is no wasted or extra descriptions.  Everything carries you onward; and the character development is amazing.  Truly a fabulous read!
     I was so touched by Ms. Johnson's letter to the reader at the beginning of the book that I wanted to include part of it here.  This again spoke to me very strongly of the kind of story that I was going to experience and I want to share it:

"The nine months of pregnancy are a woman's most vlunerable time.  Accustomed to being an independent adult, suddenly she needs protection and care.  At the same time, her life is in flux ~ even a woman in a secure marriage knows that nothing will ever be the same again.  If she finds herself pregnant after her husband has died, when her emotions are already in turmoil,whe she has no one to turn to...  How irresistible is that for any writer?

With this book I also had a chance to create a hero who believes he needs no one ~ until he loses the one person who did mean somthing to him.  Reforming rakes has nver intersted me; shattering the ice around a man who believes himself incapable of love is my kind of challenge."

   And there you have it... an outstanding story about two ordinary people that carry within themselves seeds of greatness.
 

Books read in February:  33 
Har / Sil ~ 27
Others ~    6

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kalyko ~ Reading: One of life's little joys and a much needed reward!