Her Baby, His Love (Charity, Montana #1) by Lynne Marshall

Her Baby, His Love (Charity, Montana #1) Reviews

• 
  Cat

  Format: ebook
  Tissue warning: no
  HEA: yes
  Triggers: no
  Narrative: third person, following Taylor and the ex-con...I mean, Joe.
  My reviewer rating: 2 out of 5.
  Recommend read: No
  Published: March 27th, 2017 pre-order here on Amazon
  
  I have never made so many notes in a Kindle edition before.
  
  I received this as an ARC in exchange for my honest review. And I'm sorry it's not a good one.
  
  I struggled through reading this. I am hoping it was so rough because it is an ARC and it hadn't gone through the finale rigamarole of editing, because it really needed it. I really don't like giving negative reviews, but there were just so many things that were wrong with this story, and I feel like I'm the only one who felt this way when I look at the other rave reviews. So, if you want to know why I rated so low, read through my spoilers.
  
  The positives of the story are that this was a different plot than I am used to, so I was super excited to get to witness a come-together or sorts between two complicated and burned people. I love reading about men taking up the reins in a missing father role.
  
  But, I feel there could have been so much more depth to these feelings that just weren't described well by the author.
  
  So we have Taylor, a man-hater, untrusting woman whose life has taken a path she feels the need to run from—her boyfriend got married to his REAL girlfriend over the weekend and she finds out at work when someone shows her a news article about it. She is so devastated over the lies from her boyfriend, Clay, using her as a side piece that she literally just jumps ship from her job as a nurse at a hospital and hightails it 24-hours straight to Charity, Montana, site unseen, to her new internet-leased home. It's not great. Her initial impression is "I was hoping I'd had the wrong address, but I guess this is the place I've rented, she said pointing to the shabby cottage." This is the first thing she speaks to her new neighbor, an older woman named Dixie, as she pulled into the driveway.
  
  From the get-go, this whole thing seems unreal. But I won't divulge, because I may just end up spoiling the whole book, and that'd be a shame. So, I'm trying to summarize my issues.
  
  Okay, the author, Ms. Marshall, excessively uses adjectives before nouns. Instead of painting a picture of the other characters, we get "bosomy Mrs. Westcook," "eccentric Southern lady here in town," "tall-haired woman," "one brightly dressed, latte-colored grandma." And so on.
  
  We get "ex-convict" at every chance when Taylor finds out about Joe's past and all his friends. If this was a normal Kindle release, I'd do a search for how many times that phrase is coined; it's that much. Why Joe is so bad in Taylor's book is a mystery to me, too. He did minimal jail time for a stupid college offense. Seriously, there could have been so many worse crimes he could have committed that I would label him as an ex-con faster than his measly offense. Taylor is so absorbed in this criminal idea that she can't move past it, and it's so frustrating.
  
  There's also the awkward narration. "The teasing dash in his sand-colored eyes made her need a sip of water."
  What????
  
  Once Taylor realizes she's pregnant, I understand her frustration on suddenly becoming the "single mom" in a new town and the stereotyping that will follow, but again, I find it overused. Once Joe backtracks from his initial distaste of learning of her pregnancy, I do admire his stepping up as her support, attending all her appointments and helping at every turn.
  
  When Taylor and Joe finally let their attractions (more like awkward staring at each other) go somewhere and get some sexy time, the mood is immediately killed by the narration. There was NOTHING at all romantic about how and when and why they come together.
  
  And of course, they both call it a "blaring mistake" and "he'd just taken advantage of her" because she's pregnant.
  
  Eye roll to heaven.
  
  Speaking of heaven, I guess this could be categorized as a Christian novel. The narration follows Joe to his men's group sessions at the church every Saturday. He meditates because of what he had learned through the men's church. Joe references the song of Soloman (I think it's Soloman) a few times. Taylor decides to sneak in the church session one day to see what's going on. So, it's subtle, and no one is directly preaching at the reader to do this or that, but it's referenced nonetheless.
  
  Clay coming back into the picture was strange and sudden and very short lived. We could have done without that. It almost felt added as just another way to add an obstacle for Taylor. It was cute how Dixie and Ram seemed to get the small town to come together and support Taylor and her baby. But Taylor's lawyer is ridiculous, and I say that because of the one comment she made, "Should we stick it to him with child support?" That question is something I wouldn't expect out of a lawyer.
  
  And finally, at the end, when Taylor and Joe have realized how they truly feel for each other in their love, Taylor is back to the I-don't-trust-men-or-marriage-or-you, ultimately causing Joe to give her an ultimatum, slightly out of character. But he did almost kill a guy a few months ago in his nursery, so it could be his character and we just haven't realized it.
  
  All in all, we get our happily ever after, so that is a good thing. The process of getting there was . . . different, and painful, for me, to read.
  
  
• 
  Elaine

  This is a moving contemporary, second chance at life, romance with the ‘heroine’ having struggled with finding trustworthy men in her life, except for her grandfather! She discovered that the latest man in her life was married when it was announced in the newspapers and a colleague shared the news with her. Determined not to be around when he returns from his honeymoon, she finds herself a new job and house to live in hundreds of miles away in the comparatively small town of Charity, Montana.
  
  She’s quite disappointed with the home when she first arrives as it is quite dilapidated and in desperate need of painting. However, inside it is much better and the friendly person who manages the rental properties, Joe Collins, soon gets things fixed and helps her to settle in. Joe also owns and runs the local garden centre and Taylor can’t believe how attracted she feels to him despite having sworn off men for the foreseeable future. When she discovers she’s pregnant, she’s even more determined to keep her distance. As friendship and trust grow between them the arrival of Taylor’s cheating ex is going to test everything they hold dear, especially as he wants his as yet unborn child!
  
  The theme throughout this story is one of trust. There is some stereotyping of both ex-cons and single Mums but the story generally flows well. Joe is an ex-con who is working hard to put his past behind him and to atone for his mistakes but Taylor struggles to accept or trust him because of his past and how she’s been mistreated by the men she’s trusted in the past. I liked Joe’s character much more than Taylor’s! She seems quite blinkered and determined to condemn anyone who is an ex-con and repeatedly voices her prejudices.
  
  As new friendships, a growing sense of community and belonging all develop for Taylor she needs to reevaluate her beliefs and expectations whilst Joe needs to learn to trust his heart and value himself and his achievements. The author takes the reader through the whole gamut of emotions, including some laugh out loud moments. Both the main characters are isolated from most of their family and would love to be the special someone in someone’s life. Their relationships with the community are the strongest and their support - well, apart from Arlene - is heartwarming.
  
  Many thanks to the publishers for gifting me a copy of this novel, via NetGalley, with no obligation. This is my honest review.
• 
  Lynne Marshall

  I wrote this book and there are a few things I'd like to share about it. This is a story that focuses on tough situations in life, using more than the usual point of view characters to reveal information. There isn't cussing in the story, and I've chosen to close the door on the sex scenes. I've made this decision based on my own reading lately. I find the super sexy books out there don't keep my interest unless the plot is really strong. As I read along, I want to get on with the story, and I skip over the sex scenes that mount up after the first one. Yes, the first time together for a couple does change things, and is important. In most of my books, a second love scene much later in the book defines the growth between the characters, and helps reveal the level of closeness they've developed. Beyond a couple of love scenes, well I skip over to find out what's going to happen next in the book. So that's my little confession, and I realize we all have our own reading proclivities. If you have thoughts, please feel free to comment. I'll read and reply, I promise!
• 
  Carla

  I enjoyed this second chance romance story about Taylor and Joe. When Taylor finds out that her boyfriend just got married and that he used her, she does what she always does, she runs. This time she ends up in the small town of Charity, Montana. The townspeople are just like the town's name, well, most of them are. When she finds out that she is pregnant shortly after arriving, she is not sure what to do. Joe is an ex-con. He owns the local nursery as well as being the town's resident handyman and landscaper. There is something between them, but they are both wary of a relationship. When Taylor's ex shows up and threatens to sue for custody of the baby, things change in the town for Taylor. This was a sweet story that I enjoyed. I might have given it four stars if the storyline of the custody battle had not come to a rather simple end. I liked both of the main characters as well as some of the secondary ones. The town has some quaint aspects to it, as well as the mean girl, but overall, it seems to be a sleepy little town, that is home to quite a few ex-convicts who have pretty much turned their lives around. I am looking forward to reading more in this series. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
• 
  Eve

  Not going to lie boys, this was a bit of a disaster. It gave the feeling that the author went into this with a vague idea of what she wanted but nothing actually planned out. Half the time it felt like a bad Christian novel. This was supposed to be a romance, yes? First of all, it was all very insta-lovy, I can think of zero reasons as to why these characters would even like one another.
  
  I'll give you an exact rundown of what happened in every chapter. Her POV: oh no, I love him but I'm pregnant and he's an ex-con!! His POV: oh no, I love her but I'm an ex-con and she's pregnant!!...that was it. Her attitude about people who had been to prison was appalling, and it never even got sorted. In one chapter she just randomly goes "yep, I don't even care he's an ex-con anymore" even though she'd still bring it up all the time.
  
  Another issue I had was that he was always on the pipeline of "we cant be together so we'll stay friends", but were they? They weren't even friends most of the time. Most chapters would start by saying that it had been a few weeks and they hadn't talked to one another for whatever demented reason.
  
  In conclusion, this was bullshit. It's not like I hated it or anything, it just didn't have any redeeming features. There are actually so many more things I could complain about but for the sake of my own wellbeing, I am deciding not to. Just know that this was a bad book.
• 
  Jean

  This was a second chance love story. The book was ok. The story just didn't pull me in and I didn't fall in love with the characters either. "When Taylor’s ex comes to town, he threatens everything that Joe and Taylor have built together." This part of the story could have been so much more but it just fell flat to me. There was build up and then it just ended.
  
  I would like to thank NetGalley and Tule Publishing for supplying a copy of Lynne Marshall's "Her Baby, His Love" in exchange for an honest review.
  
• 
  Sarah

  Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Her Baby, His Love by Lynne Marshall that I read and reviewed.
  This book is a very sweet romance book. Taylor and Joe are both looking for new starts but for totally different reasons. I don't want to give too much away because of spoilers but Taylor has been hurt and wants to keep men in the just friends zone but there is something about Joe that draws her near.
  I really enjoyed this book and found it to be a very fast read for me. It was a very pure romance book without hardly any sexual content at all and had a bit of religion mentioned so if you you enjoy this style of romance books you will love this book.
  I am giving Her Baby, His Love four out of five stars.
  
  
• 
  Coco.V

  💝 FREE on Amazon today (11/23/2017)! 💝
• 
  Somia

  Free on amazon 22nd July 2019
• 
  Char (1RadReader59)

  
  When you start a relationship, you go in blind and with the only things you can faith and blind trust. And when those are broken it can be a hard thing to regain if ever.
  Especially, if one of the two has been hurt before repeatedly and they are the ones getting burned again this time. Which is totally the case for Taylor Clark. Starting with her father and moving right into her relationship disaster with Clay.
  She had a few in between but Clay’s had a reminder that she could not look on as bad although it scared her half to death. Especially, being alone in a new town.
  This all started at work where she was a nurse in Ventura, California. Another nurse brings her the newspaper with the wedding announcement of the man she had been seeing and sleeping with. Not to mention who told her he was in Hawaii on business. More like a honeymoon. So, before her head could stop spinning she had gotten a new job and a new place to live and was gone by the end of the week leaving no forwarding address. Just in case Clay would try and find her.
  She ends up in Charity, Montana a sweet little town. Although the outside of the house she rented doesn’t look anything like the picture she was sent the inside had already been remodeled and she was reassured by the elderly lady that Joe Collins the house manager would make sure that the outside was finished correctly.
  Small town living although had its charm it would be hard to have so many opinions on how you should run your own life without asking. Dixie was as good as her word. Joe had a crew working at her place as she slept. But imagine her surprise and fear when she figures out that they are ex-cons. She is not happy and plans on telling Joe all about it when she gives him a piece of her mind. He may be sexy as hell but how dare he leave her vulnerable.
  Things get tense because now she’s wondering if he’s one too. Which would not only blow her day dreaming out of the water. But her night time dreams as well. Don’t think she’s the only one feeling hot as hell chemistry because she’s not. It’s so hot Arlene Joe’s ex of three years, rears her ugly jealous head and plays at wanting him back. Can you say, ‘Cat Fight!’
  See how these two handle their fears, their trust issues, convictions of faith, jealousy issues, an unexpected pregnancy, and strong hot as hell chemistry. I give this: 5 ++++ stars. Provided by netgalley.com.
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  www.1rad-readerreviews.com
• 
  Tyler Leigh

  I yelled at this book... a lot.
• 
  Jin

  Taylor Clark doesn’t have good track record as far as her past boyfriends. Her latest one is the worst, when she finds out her boyfriend was married over the weekend via newspaper clipping. She couldn’t live in the Ventura anymore so she packs up and headed to small town Charity, Montana..
  When she was faced with not so great looking cottage she already leased for a year that doesn’t make her feel good about moving. When her exuberant neighbor Dixie welcomes her to new town, it made her feel better and tells about her handyman “Joe” who also works at the nursery.
  When her property manager Joe shows up to the house to paint, she is faced with tattoed ex-cons working on her house. She immediately went to complain to Joe and gives her mind about ex-cons. And then she finds about Joe is an Ex-con as well.
  Taylor didn’t want to fall for a wrong guy again.. She was sure Joe wasn’t the right guy. But she is faced with another problem. She is knocked up by her ex-boyfriend. Now she had to think of her baby as well.
  Through out her pregnancy, Joe and her quirky neighbors were the only ones helping her. Finally Taylor is slowly opening up to Joe and getting closer. She was slowly feeling better about being in Charity.
  Her scumbag ex-boyfriend wants to find her and wants to keep her as well as his new wife. So he hires private detective to find Taylor. When she was found, now Taylor is facing more problems and feels lonelier than ever.
  Who will she trust and what will happen to Joe??
  It was delightful read about second chances.
  
  Thanks to Netgalley and Tule publishing for my ARC in exchange for honest review.
• 
  Cheryl Steckling

  Her Baby, His Love by Lynne Marshall
  Lynne Marshall knew 100% what she was doing when she wrote this love story between Taylor Clark and Joe Collins and calling it Her Baby, His Love. It deserves more stars then 5.
  Sometimes life just isn’t fair. Sometimes it takes twists and turns and you stop trusting people. But sooner or later you will find that it was all to lead you to forever love.
  Taylor got taken by her newest boyfriend. She thought it might last and so when her coworker brought the newspaper and showed her what that boyfriend was really doing she knew she had to give notice and leave town. She was so hurt and so dejected again as if she had not had enough heart break by her parents and still did.
  Joe knows he should not get involved but something in Taylor’s eyes caught his attention. He is has been a member of the town called Charity, Montana. Taylor moves into a house that he is a property manager for. He did not expect her quite yet and so the house outside we not finished up yet.
  Joe’s ex worked in the diner in town and Arlene kept thinking that Joe was still going to be hers. Along comes Taylor and Arlene gets even more wanting to be possessive.
  Taylor’s ex comes to town after finding out from a private investigator finds her but he finds that she will not ever do what he wants her to do again.
  Have fun reading the story and see if you agree it deserves more than 5 stars. Lynne Marshall has written a wonderful heartwarming love story.
  
• 
  Jane

  In Her Baby, His Love Taylor Clark comes to Charity, Montana looking for a new start after her now ex-boyfriend told her he was going on a business trip but got married instead. Her first day in Charity, she is drawn to the local plant nursery and meets owner, Joe Collins, an ex-con.
  
  Joe is also the property manager for her rental, volunteers all around town and is very well liked by the residences of Charity. Problems develop between them when Taylor finds out he is an ex-con and he finds out she is expecting a baby.
  
  They face various problems together until he becomes her birth coach and their relationship changes when her son is born.
  
  Her Baby, His Love puts together an unlikely couple with their backgrounds but they find a way to a happy ending making it a good romance.
• 
  Birty

  Could Have Been Sweet Romance but...
  
  Taylor is a nurse with poor choices in men. Joe is an ex-con trying to change his life. They meet when Taylor moves after another bad relationship and Joe is the property manager of the house she rents. Taylor realizes she is pregnant by her lying, cheating ex-boy friend. Joe just tries to be helpful and friendly.
  
  What bothered me about this book is how judgmental Taylor is about everyone! Such a b@#$&! And, she doesn’t mind letting people know her feelings. Joe is wayyyyy too good for her. Plus, this book is semi-religious, which isn’t bad except it is not mentioned in the blurb about the book. Gets a little preachy, which, maybe, Taylor could had used some sermons about accepting others.
• 
  Dee/ bookworm

  Her Baby, His Love well, it was entertaining, but to me it could have been a better book. This review does contain spoilers, please don't read further if you don't want to them.
  
  One thing that bothered me was she was ok with sex, but when he turned her down and said they should wait for marriage she was upset and cited the fact that if she did that he could leave. Well he could anyway, but if it is a marriage its harder, and the fact that he wanted to wait should have meant something to her. Another thing, the confrontation with the ex was almost nothing, I really thought it would drag out more. There were several things listed about her growing up that her grandparents had to deal with without detail. example, they had paid enough in lawyer fees, but no reason was given. And then he got upset at the end when she wanted three months, he was upset she wanted to be in a better physical state. After all the 'I'll wait for you' lines he was upset she didn't want to walk to the JOP and get hitched.
  
  I did like Joe's character for the most part, and I liked that he tried very hard to do the right thing.
  
  I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley for a fair review.
• 
  BookSnuggle

  Her Baby, His Love by Lynne Marshall
  This is Taylor Clark and Joe Collins' story.
  
  This is a sweet story about two people who are experiencing struggles in their life. Taylor finds out that she is pregnant and the father of her baby had been secretly engaged and just got married. Joe is an ex-con trying to get a fresh start. Taylor and Joe are attracted to each other but the timing and circumstances seem to be wrong. Can Joe accept another man's baby? Can Taylor handle Joe being an ex-con?
  
  I enjoyed this sweet and heartwarming romance. The supporting characters were entertaining as well.
  
  I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
  
• 
  Teresa Perrott

  Heartwarming
  
  The way your childhood was can lead to the way you think on marriage etc in adult hood. Two people who in some respects have run away from their pasts, one an ex con the other a person who falls for the wrong type of guy all the time. Their attraction is almost instant, through in the complication of a surprise pregnancy and the dodgy ex turning up. Do they have a chance of love and a future. This is a heart warming story of trust, adversary, future, friendships and love.
• 
  Lynne Marshall

  I have the good fortune of being a guest at 1 Rad Reader Reviews website this Friday, July 28th, at 7 p.m. They are also doing some nice teaser lead ups today (July 26th) and tomorrow (July 27th) regarding other books I've written. If you are interested please visit here:
  
  http://www.1rad-readerreviews.com/201...
  
  Thank you!
  Lynne
• 
  Caro

  This was a good read. I enjoyed getting to know the characters (although I wanted to smack them upside the head a good few times) and their personalities. Good side characters as well that has me wanting to read more in this series and get to know them a little better. This has emotions, humor, some tough spots, introspection, new outlooks on life, strength and courage and the perfect HEA. Good for the snuggle-in and cocoa fix. Enjoy
• 
  Claudia Arensdorff

  Cute story
  
  Love it, Joe and Taylor had many things to over come and had amazing friends to help them out. 💖
• 
  Dorel

  This is the 1st book I read by Lynne Marshall. I'm sorry I stopped reading this story at chapter 3 because it was boring.
• 
  Terri

  loves the struggled she had with him being in prison and her past.