In brief: All it took was one night of passion, but now Bailey Sawyer is pregnant to her ex-fiance’s brother. So what else can she do but write to the local paper’s agony aunt?
The good: It’s fun and of course there’s a happy ending.
The not-so-good: I really want to hear about the other McKinnel siblings now – Bailey wraps up their issues so nicely, they all need a story!
Why I chose it: I will read anything that Rachael Johns writes because I know I’ll love it.
Year: 2017
Pages: 210
Publisher: Harlequin Mills & Boon
Setting: Jewell Rock, USA
My rating: 9 out of 10
Rachael Johns is my queen of go-to fiction whether it be rural romance, life lit (aka women’s fiction) or contemporary romance. Her stories are always absorbing, fun, detailed and have that magical sparkle. Pregnant by Mr Wrong is her second title for Harlequin Mills & Boon and is a sweet romance with hints of passion. There are trust issues, a secret pregnancy and a bad boy hero with a secret.
The heroine of the novel is Bailey, who we met in the first story about the McKinnels (A Dog and a Diamond / It’s Not You, It’s Her). She’s the one who hired Chelsea, the Breakup Girl to dump Callum McKinnel. Now Bailey has a problem not even Chelsea can fix. One night of passion with Quinn McKinnel (aka Callum’s brother) has turned into pregnancy. Bailey wants the child, but she doesn’t want a bad boy for the father. And Quinn is known throughout Jewell Rock as a super bad boy… When Quinn finds out Bailey’s secret in the most unconventional of ways, he’s determined to prove that he’s really a good guy. Can Quinn and Bailey get it together, and stay together?
It’s the little quirks that really made Pregnant by Mr Wrong for me. I love a good agony aunt, and Aunt Bossy is one of the best. Plus the truth of her identity is somewhat surprising! I loved the ways in which Quinn tried to prove his good guy status to Bailey, such as inventing a surprise party for his mum, complete with handmade invitations that he and Bailey just have to make together. He’s doing his best and then some. Bailey is also a strong character. She knows what she wants and she won’t take Quinn at face value. In fact, she’s happy to show to him the full force of her anger! The writing is smooth with memorable characters. This is not your standard category romance – it’s a fun romance ride that cleverly packs a lot on to the page.
I also liked how the family dynamics of the McKinnels wasn’t glossed over – it’s awkward when your ex-fiance falls pregnant to your brother and there are going to be some growing pains. I hope the McKinnels have some more strength in that respect because when Bailey explodes with the relationship issues of all the siblings, it seems like things are only going to get more complicated! (I for one can’t wait.)
A fun read that has me eagerly waiting for the next in the series!
Like you I will read everything that Rachael Johns writes. Her books have a ‘sparkle’ about them. I do hope that we are going to be spoiled with a story about each of the McKinnels.