The Executive's Surprise Baby

The Executive's Surprise Baby by Catherine Mann
HQN Silhouette Desire
Publication date: Dec 01, 2007

The only other Desire book I've read was Taking Care of Business by Brenda Jackson
and it was a nice read. That was also apart of a series focused around
a family but it stood pretty well on it's own. This book, although a
part of the Garrison miniseries, was GREAT and definitely stands well
on it's own. The story centers around rich well-to-do hotel owners,
property patrons and overall movers and shakers: the Garrisons and the
Jefferies. Particularly Brooke and Jordan. On one particular stressful
night, Brooke puts the moves on Jordan and they end up shaking the
sheets all night long.

5 months later Brooke shows up at
Jordan's office to spill the beans...of which you already know from the
title. She's pregnant with his baby.

Right from the beginning
the story grabbed me because I wanted to know how Jordan would take the
news and how they would deal with it. But the book deals with much more
than that. Much kudos to Catherine Mann for writing such engaging
characters. The thing I really liked about the story was how both
Brooke and Jordan are shaped by the backgrounds from which they came.

Jordan
has been jonesing for Brooke since she left him in that hotel months
ago. He's been thinking about her, wanting her and he is straight
jazzed that she is carrying his child. He wants to marry Brooke because
he wants that perfect marriage that his parents had before they died.

Brooke
is another story. She wants Jordan but her alcoholic mother,
philandering late father and family lies and secrets have made her wary
of giving her heart out to anyone, particularly Jordan.

So goes
the story of Jordan trying to woo Brooke with wonderful trips to the
Bahamas as he cares for her and her baby and lavises her with gifts.
All the while they learn more and build their trust with each other.

I
loved that Jordan was the one who wanted to commit and was trying to
convince Brooke of his intentions. He is one of those alpha men that
romance readers love so much but there's a sensitivity about him that
Catherine Mann allows to shine through at the best intimate moments
between him and Brooke.

Brooke is a strong, independent woman but she allows her own vulnerabilities to shine through with Jordan.

Overall
I really enjoyed this story with nice complex characters and exotic
locations for a nice, breezy and fun "getaway" read. Not to mention the
wonderful HEA where we get to see how the hero finally wins the heroine
over (awww). I downloaded this one during the free ebook giveaway HQN
had at the end of 2007, but I'll definitely be adding the paperback
version to my shopping cart for my keeper shelf.