I will pretty much read any book when there are dogs involved and it doesn’t hurt when there is a cute vet in the story too.
This is the 3rd in a series and I’ve haven’t read the first two and it isn’t necessary other than maybe to be clued in to the back story of Rory’s brothers and a few other characters.
Rory and Oaklee have some major baggage with past relationships and it does infringe upon their potential relationship with each other. I think most people can relate to bad relationships that leave them feeling vulnerable or skittish on getting involved with someone again. This is definitely where Rory and Oaklee are but they are wise enough to learn that perhaps being together is worth the risk. I think this makes them very relatable because who hasn’t had their heart broken making it hard for them to trust again?
The setting of the book really makes me want to move there. I love the ideas of small towns and a close knit community. Maybe not that everyone knows your business but knowing everyone and knowing who you can call for different things.

4.5 Heartwarming stars

Somebody's Baby was a beautiful and heartfelt read, loved it.

The storyline was emotional, heartfelt and captured my interest from the first few pages.
It was one of those reads once you started you didn't want to put it down.
I loved Rory and Oaklee together, they made me smile, they made me swoon and I even shed a few tears. They truly touched my heart with their story.

The Darling series has been such a beautiful, heartwarming and entertaining read. I've enjoyed every book and I highly recommend them all.

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*A big thank you to the publisher for the advance copy*

If you're an animal lover you will love this book and Rory. He's the town Vet and teaches Oaklee how to let someone in. That someone is the dog she agrees to foster, after she hits him with her car. Rory was her crush when she was younger but he was her older brother's friend, Rory always thought that Oaklee was pretty but was also warned by her brother that she was off limits when he noticed that she was growing up.
The foster dog teaches Oaklee to care again, but she also learns to deal with heartbreak, and Rory is there every step and learning about himself as well as how to love. This book is just like the name of their small town... Darling!

This is the third one in the Darling, VT series.  #.5 is Get Me to the Church on Time.  #1 is Somebody Like You.  #2 is Someone to Love.  This was my first book from this author and I loved it.

Rory Gallagher is a veterinarian in his hometown.  Oaklee Ferguson brings an injured dog to Rory to see if he is okay.  Over time, they became good friends.  They both have not been very lucky in the love department.  Rory is known for dating someone 1 or 2 times then no more.  Oaklee had someone run out on her (read to find out more).

This was a sweet romance in a small town, which I love to read.  I can not wait to read the other books and I hope there are more books in this series.

☆☆☆☆☆
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!
Read more from this author? Yes!

Happy Reading!
Melissa

Oakley Collier suffered a broken heart when her fiancée left her at the alter. She came back to Darling, VT determined never to be hurt again, but her resolve weakens when she meets a childhood friend. Rory was her brother's best friend. He, also, came back to heal. The women he loved said goodbye and broke his heart. Can these two find happiness togeather? They are both in pain. Oakley seems to have her life in order, but I felt her vulnerability. It was easy to empathize with her. I loved seeing her fall in love with Buster, the dog she was fostering. She took a chance. Rory is a veterinarian. He's handsome, sexy and hurting. He's become a serial dater to avoid commitment. He comes from a large, loving family, but he won't confide his pain to them. I wished he wasn't so reticent. Talking to those we love can be therapeutic. These two have amazing chemistry which pulled me into their romance. I enjoyed the setting. Darling, VT is such an inviting small town. This is where everyone knows you. Donna Alward wrote charismatic characters in a great romance. I enjoyed Somebody's Baby.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read. My comments are my honest opinion.

Oaklee was tired of attending bridal and baby showers. She wanted develop a chronic illness so she would have to go to them anymore. Saying no wasn’t an option , she ran the town of Darling’s social media. Oaklee had been given the office nickname “ Social Butterfly”. Oaklee was on her way to a double whammy the bride was pregnant and both Rebecca and Darren her fiance were over the moon. Jeff had ripped out Oaklee’s heart by leaving her standing at a chapel altar in Vegas. Oaklee had been a former homecoming queen and Jeff had been her HS sweetheart. Thankfully Jeff had disappeared across the country to a new job. On her way home Oaklee hit a dog and she couldn’t leave the dog there to die. Rory lived over the veterinary clinic where he worked as a Jr. vet. Rory had been best friends with Oaklee’s brother Cam who was now a hockey star. As a teenager Oaklee had a crush on Rory. Darling was the perfect example of small town America and it was Oaklee’s job to help bring in both tourist and business. Rory talked Oaklee into fostering Buster - the name Rory gave the dog- and Rory stopped the first time he could in the afternoon after he got out of work. Apparently Buster had made quite the mess. Before he left after checking on Buster and Oaklee. Before he left Rory kissed Oaklee and had liked it too much. He had already had his heart broke once. He liked being with Oaklee nut they really weren’t compatible she wasn’t an animal person where as Rory sometimes brought animals to his home to care for during the night. He was a night freak and Oaklee definitely wasn’t, Rory was laid back in jeans and a tee shirt , she wore high heels and name brand handbags. The only thing they had in common was caring about Cam and liking Papa Luigi’s pizza.
I basically liked this story but it just didn’t WOW me in any way except for Buster. This was very predictable story best friend falling for sibling etc etc...but nothing really stood out but Buster. But I will say this was realistic other than I think I would want to live over a vet’s clinic. Also the part of being called down for an emergency anytime during the night even if you weren’t on call and at times the animals got loud. I know it doesn’t take much for my dogs to go off morning noon or night. As I said this just didn’t grab me I could set it down or not have to absolutely pick up to see what was happening next. But I loved Buster !! There were some good and funny moments just not enough as far as I am concerned. I would put a 3.5 if I could.

I enjoyed this book but, for some reason it just didn't keep my attention like I thought it would. The story was sweet & heartbreaking. The love history for Oaklee & Rory wasn't kind to them, both coming off being dumped by the one they loved & thought to have a life with. Neither wants to get serious with anyone but for some reason the time they spend together just feels so good. Everyone can see that they care for each other but it takes a sweet dog for Oaklee to finally see that she is loveable & that she should go after who she wants.....Rory. For Rory love wasn't in the cards anymore until he finally sees Oaklee, truly sees her. This book was well written just a little too long in the story I feel. I am interested though in reading the other books in this series, hopefully it won't take me as long to read them . Do recommend though for a heartwarming read.

Donna Alward is once again on top form with the third installment of her charming, enchanting and highly enjoyable Darling, VT series, Somebody’s Baby!

Rory Gallagher has always marched to the beat of his own drum. Unlike his brothers, Rory had chosen to tread his own path and become a veterinarian – unlike his two brothers who had chosen to become first responders in the town of Darling, VT. Rory’s affinity with animals is as legendary as his affinity with women. His track record with the ladies is well known and, although he has stolen and broken many a heart, Rory has always made it clear from the off that although he is more than happy to share his bed, he has no interest in settling down. Rory is in no rush to find the woman he will spend the rest of his life with. He is positive that he will recognise ‘The One’ as soon as he claps eyes on her…or will he?

Oaklee Collier must be the only woman in Darling who is immune to Rory’s charms. After her last relationship had ended in the most humiliating way possible, Oaklee had put up impenetrable defenses around her heart and vowed to give any kind of emotional and romantic entanglement as wide a berth as possible. Romance is the last thing on her mind – and even if it were, playboy Rory would be the last person on earth she would date! But when she hits a stray dog with her car by accident late one night and rushes to Rory’s clinic distraught and devastated, she is struck by his professionalism, his tender bedside manner and his devotion to his patients.

A deep connection soon develops between Oaklee and Rory and their friendship quickly gives way to complicated romantic feelings neither one of them can deny. As they find themselves falling madly in love with one another, Oaklee and Rory begin to wonder whether they should throw caution to the wind and grasp this unexpected chance at happiness…

Has the ‘The One’ been right under their noses all this time? Or are Oaklee and Rory simply better off as friends?

Donna Alward is an absolute star of the genre and Somebody’s Baby is an absolute treat for contemporary romance fans the world over! Sparkling with drama, pathos, humour, wit and heart, Somebody’s Baby will make readers laugh, cry and fall madly in love with gorgeous Rory, spirited Oaklee and the perennially charming town of Darling, VT!

A superlative friends to lovers tale that will touch the heart and tickle the funny bone, Somebody’s Baby is another outstanding contemporary romance from the new queen of small town romance: Donna Alward!

I love the A Darling , VT series so when I got the chance to read Somebody's Baby I was thrilled and I dived into this book as soon as I could and OMG was it amazing ! .This book was another excellent addition to this series .

In this book we follow Rory and Oaklee and I just loved these two together . The romance between them was perfect for who these character are . These are both people who have been burned when it comes to love in the past so seeing them come closer and closer and eventually fall in love was just wonderful . This is my third Donna Alward book and I most say that ever romance she writes is so unique , sexy and filled with swoons and those are three things I adore in my romances. I love a good small town setting so It makes me so happy to say I love this town and all the characters in it. I thought it was so cool that all 3 stories in this series some how have some type of link to the bridge and of course the fact that this story has an adorable stray dog or two lol makes it even more more awesome in my opinion lol .I have nothing but good things to say about this story it was so so good !!!

Somebody's Baby is a sexy , sweet , addictive contemporary romance and If you are looking for a story that includes all of those things you should definitely pick up a copy of this book as soon as you can

Somebody's Baby Darling, Vermont Series Donna Allward

I enjoy reading romances centered around veterinarians and pets. This story seemed perfect. A young very handsome vet has an encounter with his best friends younger sister, all grown up and beautiful. Can he get past the big brother feelings?

Oaklee Collier is the town of Darling, Vermont's Social Media director. Not an event goes on that she doesn't attend or tweet about. Inside she hides a broken heart. In college, the man she loved, left her at the altar in Vegas, and she has never been able to forget the pain and embarrassment. Driving late at night (texting!) she hits something with her car and realizes to her horror it's a dog. She scoops him up and carries him to Dr. Rory Gallagher the town vet.

Rory lives above the office and immediately starts treating the dog, to Oaklee's relief. Oaklee has always had a crush on Rory, but his reputation as a serial dater kind of turns her off. Rory fell in love with a woman in Vet school who had a young son. He grew to love the child as much as the mom, so when she walked away it devastated him. Rory and Oaklee are not going to get involved, no relationship, no strings, despite their attraction to each other, at least that is their plan.

This is where the story lost me. After getting to know Oaklee, she seems pretty self-centered. The more Oaklee and Rory are attracted and moving towards deeper feelings, one of them backs away.....repeatedly. When they finally slept together, and talked about there past, Oaklee still woke up in the morning totally closed off. There was plenty of story left, but it was a see saw of her emotions. I finally skipped to the end to make sure there was a HEA. I would certainly read something else by this author, but this book just wasn't the right one for me.

I received this eBook from the publisher and Netgalley for an honest review.
Pat Fordyce

If you enjoy reading Jaci Burton , Jill Shalvis or Robyn Carr then you'll love this author. She brings you right in to the story. The reader cheers for the couple to fall in love.

What a fantastic story!! I am in awe and in tears.
Somebody's baby is a sweet and heartwarming tale, yet so lifelike, so realistic, the feelings are raw and real, and easy to relate to. The process of falling in love while it has the charm and magic of the new feelings growing and blooming it is also difficult, awkward, an uphill battle, that takes time and emotional moments of hard conversations to be able to learn to trust again, have the courage to open your heart again to be vulnerable, to have faith in a lasting relationship. And when you add the meddling townfolks and family who means well but steps on the wrong toes, it all just shows that life and love is a fragile balance of glee and grim.
I adored the characters and how they grew and developed through the story. Both Rory Gallagher and Oaklee Ferguson had had a devastating heartbreak in the past that they still struggled with. As they process the past hurt and its effects on them today, I was in tears as the feelings of betrayal and devastation were tangible.
Rory has a reputation of a player for the past years, but he is a good guy. He is generous, honest, steadfast, and reliable.
Oaklee, the social butterfly, hides her loneliness and the humiliation of the past breakup in her constant smile and cheerfulness. Her home is a mess, so she wouldn't feel the emptiness and solitude of her life. She is kind, always willing to help others, she is smart, capable, and fun, yet she is lonely in her heart.
I loved the role Buster played in the story, how Oakley's life changed, how she changed after the dog walked into the scene and to her foster care. The chemistry and connection Oaklee had with Rory were evident to all to see, the attraction is obvious. But it takes more than an attraction to built something lasting, and that is what the story shows the readers, the building of something more - hope, faith, and trust - before love is possible.
I am still feeling the ripples of the tale, of the heartfelt story so well crafted and told that it found an easy road to my heart. I have never highlighted so much while reading a book, as this story resonated with me on a very deep level, the words, and thoughts of the characters so beautifully put together. This is a gem of a tale, going directly to my 2017 favorites file!
~ Five Spoons!

Somebody's Baby runs almost parallel with Someone to Love. When Ethan and Willow are dealing with their problem's Ethan's brother Rory is dealing with his own. Rory has hidden part of his past from his family and it isn't until he reconnects with his best friends little sister that he feels the need to finally tell someone and finally let go of the past. Oaklee has had a crush on her big brother's best friend for as long as she can remember but Rory has always been just out of reach, it isn't until she hit a dog with her car that the goal of Rory's love doesn't seem to far away. Oaklee has some baggage to deal with also the outgoing social media guru of Darling VT closes herself off so much she really doesn't have many friends and doesn't like to let people in close to her. But when Rory guilt trips her into fostering the dog she hit with her car it all changes. The little lost dog changes Oaklee's perspective on thing and let's Rory in to her heart. Despite just trying to be friends the sexual energy between the two is too strong to resist. But can the two deal with their pasts and move on or is the heartache to strong for either of them.

Overall, Darling, really the name of the series says it all. I love the easy flow of the books and just enough angst to make you tear up and want to smack them up side the head Gibbs style and say, "What's wrong with you!", and appropriately funny in all the right places.

3.5 Stars. This book is the 3rd book in the series but can easily be read as a stand alone (I haven't read the previous books). Overall, this was a really sweet book and I loved Buster (I have a soft spot for dogs).

Oaklee and Rory have known each other since they were kids and Rory was Oaklee's brother's best friend. Both have had serious heartbreaks and have chosen not to get involved seriously again but have handled that aspect in completely different ways. Rory is a serial dater and Oaklee doesn't date at all. (Just once I'd like it if it was the opposite way around but it didn't bother me that it wasn't).

Both went away to college and have moved back and started careers. They haven't really spent any time together until Oaklee accidentally hits a dog and takes him to Rory who is the town vet. This was definitely a slow burn romance with lots of starts and stops. Rory and Oaklee are complete opposites in a lot of ways. Oaklee is very much into social media while Rory doesn't have much of a use for it, Oaklee is fancy business clothes and heels while Rory is a jeans and t-shirt guy, Oaklee doesn't really do pets while Rory is a vet and loves animals, Oaklee is a bit of a slob while Rory is a neat freak and so on. So while neither of them think they would really work in a long term relationship they are hesitant to get into something less that could ruin the friendship they have. They also care about each other and don't want either one of them to get hurt.

I enjoyed the characters and the interactions between the two. I thought the pacing was a bit slow in a few parts but it never lost my interest. The scene where Oaklee returned Buster was heartbreaking to read and very well written. My one minor irritant was that both Oaklee and Rory can't cook and have no issues with that until the end when all of a sudden it seems Oaklee decides she needs to have more "homemaker" qualities and so both her mom and Rory's mom offer to teach her to cook. It just bugs me a little that the woman suddenly decides she needs to learn to cook and it didn't really fit the rest of her personality IMO. I gave it an extra 1/2 star for the dog!

Overall, a sweet and cute story with an adorable dog.

I have been reading Donna Alward’s Darling, Vt. and really enjoying it but I have to say this book may have been my favourite. Oaklee and Rory’s story was one I could relate to. These two couldn’t deny their chemistry and their connection but they had both been burned and were scared to put their heart’s at risk again. I mean, I enjoyed the past two books but this one really got to me and I loved it. It may have helped there was a dog involved as well. Everyone loves a dog.

Like I said, this book is about two people scared to risk themselves for love. Oaklee was Rory’s best friend’s sister growing up so she was off limits. Years later, they definitely have chemistry and they are both interested, but they don’t want to risk their friendship or themselves. We can all relate to that. Add into the fact that they’ve both experience some pretty brutal heartbreak and you can see why they’re both hesitant to start something up.

I think this book worked because of the hesitancy of both characters. Too often in romance you have two characters getting involved with one another when they have baggage they need to sort and they end up hurting the other because of it. This time you have Rory and Oaklee both trying to give the other distance to not risk a friendship and to avoid causing the other pain. Sure, that approach also had flaws but it’s nice to see folks giving a little consideration to one another before venturing into a relationship they are definitely not ready for.

Basically, I liked the fact that the characters felt real. Oaklee is a woman who has pushed many a person away after her heartbreak at college and is now trying to exude a confidence and togetherness she doesn’t really possess as she tries to stay in control of her career. Rory, on the other hand, has been burned by love so goes on numerous dates which never really get past date two to try and make it seem like he doesn’t care about settling down. They are both people keeping up appearances so it was nice to see them allow a bit of chaos into their lives in the pursuit of love. Add in a poor dog that needs a home to recuperate in and I was totally sold on this romance.

Somebody's Baby is book three of the Darling, VT Series by Donna Alward. After reading the description, I was afraid that Veterinarian Rory Gallagher would be too much of a player for me to enjoy reading his story. In Ms. Alward’s capable hands, he is a hurt and at times lonely soul carefully trying to guard himself. Injured dog and wonderful female lead character round this story out to bring tears, smiles and a desire to see Rory, Oaklee and rescued pup find their happily ever after.

Oaklee and Rory build a friendship that in no way can stay in the “just friends” stage. It does not matter that their history is that he is a big brother of a girlfriend, everyone is grown up now. I enjoyed seeing their interactions, concerns, common beliefs give them a basis for friendship that turns to love. Wonderful story that I can recommend to all contemporary romance fans.

This is another installment in the Darling, VT series, and, like the others, it provides a cute, well-paced romance. Oaklee and Rory have known each other for years. Oaklee was Rory’s best friend’s little sister. Oaklee has had a crush on Rory for years, but has just about given up on it. Both Rory and Oaklee have had disastrous relationships in the past, since they both left Darling years ago, and are thus a bit shy about getting into any more entanglements. After accidently hitting a dog one night, Oaklee brings the injured dog to Rory’s vet clinic, where Rory ministers to the dog, who he now calls Buster. While the pair bonds over Buster, their shared childhood memories further cement their relationship as they grow to love and relate to each other under new circumstances. This is definitely a slow moving, small town romance. The pace was not hurried, but just right. The two characters were well developed and definitely matured into their relationship as the book progressed. Having Buster only added further to the enjoyment of this story. However, I really would have enjoyed getting a more human feel for Rory, who seemed a bit detached from being a genuine, caring human, who really only showed his humanness whenever he was working with animals and not as much as I would have liked otherwise. Still, both characters—and Buster--were endearing. The book is as well written as the rest of the series. Not sure where the author will go from here, but there appear to be many more stories in Darling, VT to probe and read about. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

A very nice story about two people that have had their hearts hurt in love, and now must find a way to trust another person again. Rory Gallagher is the town’s veterinarian and is surprised one night when Oaklee Ferguson shows up after hours and is not looking like herself at all. Once down stairs he realizes that she is trying to tell him that she hit a dog and it is in her back seat. He is surprised that she was able to put the animal in her car and hence this begins the awkward romance that begins to take place between the two of them. There are many hurdles, first he is her older brother best friend and for him it just seems strange to now be attracted to her as a women after years ago being hit by her brother when staring at her when they were in high school. The good point is he is playing pro hockey so he is not in town. second she told him about her crush she had on him when she was a younger and how she knew he protected her when her brother left town and that made her feel special even though she knew she could do nothing about it at the time. Now the biggest problem, they each had their heart broken his is sad and painful, but hers. She was dating someone since her Jr. Year in high school, and they went to college together and before the last semester was to begin they decided to go to Vegas and elope. The problem is when he left in the morning to run errands he never showed for the ceremony, and on top of that text her while he was on a plane saying that “this was on him not her”, mean while she spent her two days in Vegas alone which was supposed to be her honeymoon until she could leave on her flight. She had to borrow money from her brother but did not tell him the whole story afraid he would leave during the playoffs to destroy her ex. So for the last two years no one has known why she came back to town alone after college. When you get to the story when she tells Rory he freezes up like most guys and does not open up about his hurt and so when he realizes he is in love with he must gravel. That part is funny along with some other parts of the story. I cannot give this 5 stars because I did not like the end, and some parts in the middle just dragged a bit. Overall not a bad story.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy of Somebody's Baby by Donna Alward that I read and reviewed.
This was a sweet romance that I enjoyed. It is the first book I read in the series and it is a true stand alone but I will be reading more from this author because I enjoyed this one so much.
I enjoyed the fact that this couple were true opposites but had also known each other a long time before they started feeling more. This is a cute romance book that I would recommend.
I am giving Somebody's Baby four out of five stars.

Alward crafts a nice story that reads especially realistic at times, even with a well placed 140 characters or less grovel!