Very good story. Jody is pregnant and ready to handle everything on her own. She has everything planned out and is ready for anything. That is, except for the step-brother of her baby's father to get involved. Seth had had no idea that his late brother had fathered a child. At first furious at not being told, he quickly resolves to give Jody all the help she needs - whether she wants it or not.

I liked Jody. She's feisty and independent, determined to be the best mom she can. However, she can be a little too independent at times, pushing away the people that care for her. She has decided that marriage isn't for her, as that would mean risking her heart. She's been hurt twice before and isn't up for a doing it again. She's also got a secret she's been carrying for thirteen years, one that deeply affects her actions as a mother now. I loved how, in spite of being sure she's ready for anything, she still experiences the same doubts as any new mother once the baby arrives.

I liked Seth too. At the beginning he's pretty stiff and judgmental over not knowing about the baby. He had thought he was very close to his brother and couldn't understand why he hadn't been told. Seth is also one of those men who is very conscious of his duty. He has devoted all his time to his job as sheriff, avoiding getting involved with any of the women in town. He was in love once before, which ended tragically, and believes that loving again would be disloyal to his late fiancée.

I loved the development of their relationship. Because Seth won't take no for an answer, he is constantly underfoot, doing anything he can to make Jody's life easier. When she goes into labor early, and none of her coaches are around, Seth is the one who comes to the rescue. The labor and delivery scene is awesome, with the experience creating a big change in Seth. It's pretty sweet how he moves right in with Jody as a mother's helper. Jody knows she should send him home, but the longer he stays, the more she appreciates everything he does. It doesn't take long before they've developed an excellent friendship, one deep enough that they are able to share their worst hurts of the past.

It's pretty obvious that they are falling for each other, but neither wants to admit it. Jody has a pretty good idea of what is happening to her when she realizes that she doesn't want some other woman to win him at the bachelor auction. I loved Seth's insistence on following through with the date, and he really goes all out. By the end of it, he has realized that he wants Jody and the baby in his life permanently, though he still refuses to think of the L word. His proposal is sweet, but a little lacking. Jody, still avoiding her own feelings, agrees that they would suit each other well, and accepts his proposal. But once they are married, she realizes that she wants more than he appears to be willing to give. I liked that she didn't just give up, but was determined to fight for their marriage. She just had to get past Seth's stubborn refusal to believe that he can love again. I ached for Seth as he faced the thought of losing them both. I really liked how he finally admitted he should talk to someone, and that it was his father he opened up to. Seth's big moment at the end was awesome - romantic, sweet and pretty funny. I especially loved the epilogue and how it covered more than just a couple months.

I loved the always present support of the other Bravos and their families, as each one plays a role in Jody's life. It was pretty funny that they all could see the truth of Jody and Seth's feelings, even as they refused to believe. Jody's mom Willow was especially fun at the bachelor auction, as she prodded Jody along the bidding war.

There was one part early in the book that made me laugh out loud and really relate to Jody. When she was settling in for a night at home, her idea of relaxing was binge watching the second season of Outlander. As a huge Outlander fan myself, that made her all the more real to me.

*copy received in exchange for an honest review. ( )

The Lawman’s Convenient Wife by Christine Rimmer is a 2017 Harlequin Special Edition publication.

This is another outstanding installment in the Bravo series!

Jody Bravo discovers she is pregnant shortly before the baby’s father died. Quite by accident, Seth Yancy discovers Jody is expecting his late step-brother’s baby and immediately barges into her life, determined to help in any way he can. Marriage was the last thing on his mind, and love? Well, Seth had already met and lost the one great, true love of his life. But, he could be a father to Jody’s baby and they could be a family despite that, right?

This is a special and tender love story about two people who have suffered terrible disappointments and have experienced tremendous losses, but discover that much to their surprise, they really can fall in love and have the happily ever after they never thought possible. But, realizing that possibility takes a little work, especially for Seth.

I got a kick out of the way Seth pestered Jody in the beginning. She is grateful for his concern, but you can tell he gets on her nerves a little bit. It was so funny and really cute, but eventually things turn serious as the couple began to slowly fall in love. Seth is dedicated and loyal, and pretty much everything you could ask for in a guy, but he really struggled with his feelings for Jody. His story was sad, and I felt sympathy for him, but I still lost patience with his stubbornness.

Jody was much more open, and was willing to put her heart on the line to make things work with Seth, but she deserved to have his whole heart, and so she had to make some hard choices. I thought she did the right thing, at the right time. She had given him plenty of space to sort out his feelings and so she had to do what was best for her and her daughter.

So, as you can probably guess, the emotions run deep in this story and had me really worried that this couple might not make it. But, the ending was absolutely the most charming and romantic conclusion you could hope for!!

I really enjoyed Jody and Seth’s story and appreciate the depth and feeling of the characters. The plot is well balanced with sexy time, and serious, heavy drama mixed with lighthearted moments to make this a very well rounded and satisfying romance!

I highly recommend this one to all romance readers!! ( )