A Novel with Thoughts and Ponderings

THE CHRISTMAS BABY'S GIFT

Author: Kate Walker ISBN:TBA 12/2003 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: HARLEQUIN PRESENTS


Mills and Boon Edition Cover

They both longed for a child. That, and the incredible passion that could sweep them away with one kiss...one touch...was enough for Liam and Peta to decide to get married. Love would never enter the equation.

But one year on Peta is devastate to realize she loves her husband, despite their agreement. There's also still no sign of their much-wanted child, and the heartbreaking truth behind it threatens to tear them apart. Until a tiny baby girl, abandoned on their doorstep just before Christmas, gives Liam and Peta another chance to discover just how much they mean to each other...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

I've read Kate Walker before and enjoyed the work I've read. Unfortunately, THE CHRISTMAS BABY'S GIFT didn't cut the mustard for me. There were a number of things I didn't like about this book. One, this story was long on narrative, sort of a "he thought/she thought" piece. With the exception of brief appearances by two other characters, the story centers on the romantic couple. I never developed feelings for either character - beyond annoyance.

As the story opens, the pair are celebrating the one year anniversary of a marriage of convenience. The couple married to create a baby because both wanted a baby and because the hero's granddaddy had made a stipulation in his will - no baby, no money.

I've also added this book's heroine, Peta, to my too stupid to live (TSTL) list. Several monthes into the marriage, Peta decides her feelings have changed. She has fallen in love with her husband and love was never part of this marriage bargain. So she keeps her feelings to herself as well as a big secret. A secret designed not to endear her husband to her. Her reasons for this secret are lame at best. The arrival of a baby on their doorstep at the exact time Peta was preparing to leave her marriage was a device only to have her stay while her husband searched for the baby's mother.

The only communicating this couple did was in the bedroom - and bathroom or wherever the mood struck them :). I wanted to shake both of them throughout the book and yell "Talk." .

Debbie Jett

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