Unexpected Babies (The Talbot Twins) (Harlequin Superromance, No. 997)

Rating:
Summary: Touching story!
Review: Caroline Talbot Manning daughter confronts her with the words, "Mom, I'm pregnant," and Caroline's world comes crashing down. Her daughter is too young to be a mother--but there's nothing they can do about that now. But Shelly is too young to get married and compound her mistake. Caroline knows that it won't work because it's just what she did when she found out she was pregnant with Shelly and that marriage was a disastor. But Shelly won't listen. Caroline meets Shelly's boyfriend's father. Matt Kearan is gorgeous--he's also opinionated and wrong when he backs the kids plans to marry. But everywhere she turns, Caroline's forced to spend time with him, and the more time she spends, the more she comes to rely on Matt, and she knows from past experience that relying on a man is nothing but trouble.

Matt doesn't know what to do with his son's future mother-in-law. He finds that he's drawn to her. Their situation doesn't need any more complications and getting involved with Caroline would be nothing but a big complication...but Matt finds he's willing to take the risk. Can he convince Caroline to?

Anna Adams crafts a wonderful sequel to her debut novel, Unexpected Babies, taking readers right back into the middle of the crazy, delightful Talbot family!

Rating:
Summary: Recommend
Review: Caroline Talbot Manning is upset when her teenage daughter Shelly announces her unplanned pregnancy. To top that off Shelly tells her mother she will be marring her boyfriend as soon as possible. Caroline has been there and done that and in the end wound up raising her child alone. Therefore seeing her daughter in the same situation is a big pill for Caroline to swallow.

Caroline's family the Talbots were always there for her and she knows that family matters most. Matt, the father of the groom, helps Caroline comes to terms with her daughter's plans for her future.

Along the way sparks between Caroline and Matt. Eventually leading Caroline to realize that family does matter - but need not stand in the way of true happiness. The story takes you into the hearts and souls of a wonderful quirky southern family. Their idiosyncrasies add to the spice of the story. Matt and his son both finally find true happiness and true family ties to last a lifetime inside the Talbot family.

The book is well written, taking you in and out of the plot and sub-plots with easy allowing you to enjoy the full array of this wonderful family.

Rating:
Summary: Challenging situations -- Recommended
Review: When her nineteen-year-old daughter announces her pregnancy, Caroline Talbot Manning is mortified. She dreads to think her daughter Shelley is repeated her mistakes. Caroline had gotten pregnant and gotten married too young; choices that led to an irate divorce and then later to the realization she had fallen for a man who didn't want children. Disillusioned, Caroline stopped believing in love and happily-ever-after, raising her daughter with the help of extended family and a lot of hard work. Caroline had sworn Shelley would never find herself deserted and penniless by instilling a healthy respect for independence and education in her daughter. Now her daughter announces she's marrying Jake, and if Caroline doesn't support that decision, Shelley will get married without her mother's help.

Lt. Commander Matt Kearan worries that his twenty-year-old son's dreams of becoming a physician are going to change. After Matt's divorce, and his ex-wife's eventual death, Matt had come to live with him; but the time apart had instilled permanent distance. He understands Caroline and Jake's determination to make the kind of family for their child that they had never had. He also understands Carolyn's reactions. Nevertheless, despite his own feelings, Matt prefers to support his son's decisions rather that risk alienating him. With the exuberance of youth, Jake and Shelley believe they can have this child and still fulfill their dreams. He hopes if he and Carolyn support their children, then they will succeed where their parents failed. Now his job is to convince Carolyn that they can help Jake and Shelley stay together.

As a mutual attraction provides stunning undercurrents, Caroline and Matt face some of the toughest parenting situations possible in UNEXPECTED MARRIAGE. Readers may be put off by Carolyn's prickly defensiveness, but will be won over by her obvious dedication to her daughter's well being. Morning sickness, marriage plans, and the over confidence of youth lend this novel a powerful background as these unexpected grandparents become unexpectedly attracted. Wonderful secondary characters and a strong secondary love story result in a delightful read. Recommended.