Pregnancy and Passion Series by Maya Banks
Maya Banks’ Pregnancy and Passion series revolves around four wealthy friends: Rafael de Luca, Devon Carter, Ryan Beardsley and Cameron Hollingsworth. They are business tycoons who have made their money developing world class hotels and resorts. Each is a hard as nails business man, until they meet their match in the fierce heroines of each story.
Enticed by His Forgotten Lover – Book 1Rafael de Luca is a no nonsense kind of guy. Upon a trip back from acquiring some undeveloped land for a planned resort, his plane crashes. He survives the crash, but has selective amnesia. He doesn’t remember events that happened before the crash and has issues remembering people’s names, etc. whom he has known from his past. His earlier memories are intact, and some things come back in flashes.
The story starts with him and his friends/business associates at a social gathering where they are wooing backers for their newest development on a small island off the coast of Galveston, TX. He notices a woman across the room whom he feels that he “may” know. When he approaches her and asks “Have we met?”, he is answered with a right hook! She is furious and leaves to return to her hotel room. He follows, and this is where things start to unfold for him. He notices that she, Bryony Morgan, is pregnant. After he talks her into letting him into her room, they talk and that is when she realizes that he has amnesia and doesn’t remember her. Yes, the baby is his, but he, of course, isn’t entirely convinced. But, something in his gut tells him that she is telling the truth. He finds out that she is the one who sold him the land for his development on the island and that he had promised not to build a resort that would change the laid back ways of the island and its inhabitants. One problem. They are set to break ground in the next week.
As the story unfolds, he and Bryony start to reconnect. He goes back to the island with her to try and regain his memories. Eventually, his memories come flooding back and he is disgusted with himself. And so is Bryony and the colorful characters of the small island. All except Bryony’s Mamaw. She tells Raphael that he is a good man and things will work out the way they’re supposed to. He admits his feelings for Bryony and once she gets over the betrayal, admits that she has never stopped loving him.
Wanted by Her Lost Love – Book 2
Ryan Beardsley had been engaged to Kelly Christian, until things went terribly wrong. Ryan thinks that Kelly cheated on him with his brother. When she tries to tell him what happened, he writes her a check and throws her out, refusing to listen to one word she has to say.
Once Raphael and Bryony’s wedding is over, Ryan heads to Houston. For some reason, he can’t get Kelly out of his mind. And, why hasn’t she cashed the large check he had written her? It’s been six months since he threw her out, but he feels compelled to search her out. His private investigator has located Kelly in Houston. When he shows up in a shabby diner where Kelly is working, his entire world is rocked when she turns and he sees she is pregnant. VERY pregnant. The problem? Is it his baby or his brother’s?
He convinces Kelly to return to New York with him so that he can take care of her and the baby and they can try and work on their relationship. It’s hard for both of them. He thinks she betrayed him and she is angry over being thrown out. Once Kelly convinces him of what really happened, he is devastated. He threw out the woman he still loves due to something that his mother and brother concocted. His mother never thought Kelly to be worthy of her son. He, of course, confronts his family and tells them that he still loves Kelly and they are going to be together.
Tempted by Her Innocent Kiss – Book 3
Devon Carter is a driven man. When one of their business deals hinges on his marrying their lucrative business partner’s daughter, Ashley Copeland, to ensure a merger between the two companies, he jumps in with both feet. Even though his friends are weary for him, as well as for Ashley, Devon is convinced that this is the right thing for him to do.
Ashley could not have asked for her life to be more perfect. She had been dating, and was now engaged, to Devon Carter. Handsome, wealthy and seemingly head over heels in love with her. They have a fairy tale wedding and leave for their honeymoon. While Ashley is in the master suite, preparing for her wedding night, she accidentally discovers the reason for their marriage. To say that she is devastated is an understatement. Devon enters and sees what is on the screen of his laptop. He tries to talk to her, to try and explain that he does have feelings for her, but she wants to hear none of it. After she has sat on the balcony for the entire night and thought about what has happened, she decides that she will do her duty and become the wife that he needs her to be. They head back home after only a couple of days due to Ashley’s migraine, which she is plagued by when she is stressed. Once they get home, she tries to gather her pride and trudge forward. Unfortunately for Devon, that means that she is being something she isn’t. He misses the socially awkward, impulsive Ashley that he has fallen in love with. Love?? Yes, he decides, that he does love her. But, trying to convince her of that is an uphill battle.
Ashley finally throws in the towel and goes to confront her parents. Her mother is appalled by what has happened. She had no idea of the “arrangement” Ashley’s father had made. Needless to say, Ashley’s dad has some making up to do.
In the end, Devon convinces Ashley that he does love her and she reveals that she is pregnant.
Undone by Her Tender Touch – Book 4
Cameron Hollingsworth has experienced horrible tragedy in his life. He lost his wife and child in a horrible accident and has closed himself off from any real emotion. The story starts with a house warming party at Devon and Ashley’s new home, which is catered by Pippa Langley, one of Ashley’s best friends. Cam and Pippa had met at Ash & Devon’s engagement party. When only one of Pippa’s waiters show up, Cam swoops in and offers to help. Pippa is a feisty, independent woman, and is suspicious of him offering to help her out, but what can a girl do? She needs the help. It is obvious that they are attracted to each other, but they try to stay away from each other. This doesn’t go unnoticed by his friends, namely Devon. Once the party is over, Cam tells Pippa that he wants to be with her and takes her to his home. He tells her that he will not call her once the deed is done. He doesn’t do relationships, only one night stands. Pippa is all in. They spend a wonderful night together and Pippa leaves the next morning. She is trying to open a catering business and has things to take care of.
The next day, she is surprised to receive a call from Cam telling her that one of their “precautions” may have failed. She is convinced that it isn’t a big deal. But, you guessed it, she discovers a little while later that she is pregnant. She calls Cam to tell him and tells him that she needs space. To Cam’s credit, he tells her that he will take care of her and the baby. He wants to go to the doctor visits with her and be a part of her pregnancy. He helps her start her business and she is thrilled. They spend more and more time together, seemingly growing closer. But, he is so overprotective and domineering that Pippa tells him to back off. He convinces her to let him go to a doctor’s appointment where she is to have an ultrasound. When they see the baby, Pippa is over the moon, but Cam leaves the office without a word. Pippa is devastated at his reaction to the baby. She refuses to see him for a while after that. She finally summons the courage to confront him about his reaction and goes to see him. He devastates her with his words and she returns to her apartment crushed. She falls asleep on the couch and wakes to a raging fire. Firemen break down the door and rescue her. She is taken to the hospital via ambulance for smoke inhalation and exhaustion. Just as the ambulance leaves, Cam pulls around the corner and sees the building engulfed in flames. He makes his way to the hospital, only to be denied access to Pippa per Ashley’s mom’s (Mrs. Copeland) insistence.
Finally, Cam gets to talk to Pippa and spills everything. He didn’t want to love anyone else for fear of losing them as well. He felt like he was replacing one child with another and felt horribly guilty, but, he knows he is wrong. He declares his love for her and she for him.
I love this series. They are all quick and easy reads. I have to be honest though. I kept putting off this series because of the series name. For some reason, I thought they would be different than what they are. But, I love Maya’s work and am so glad I did. Yes, some of the stories are predictable, but, in Enticed by His Forgotten Lover, there was a twist that I didn’t see coming. And, as I’ve said before, that doesn’t happen to me often. I love how all of the men support each other and show up in all of the stories. And at the end, they are all loving, doting fathers. This is a fun, hot and sexy series that is worth the read!! And I have to tell you, Maya Banks is one of my all-time favorite authors. Love the way she writes. Her stories, for me, are simple and go straight to the heart.
Reviewed by Vickie M.
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