The Baby Bombshell
📚💕⭐⭐⭐⭐💕📚
By Victory James

Second Chance Perfection

This book is definitely a sweet well written second chance romance. Written in dual POV my personal favorite. The author manages to have seamless transfer from Jack's thoughts and feelings to Lilly's.

Starting with the return home of Jack after five long painful years. Jack left town after the death of his identical brother Michael and nephew Matthews's funeral five years ago. Leaving behind his shattered parents, sister Gwen and fiancé Lily.

Jack never stopped loving Lily and was always faithful to her. Having so much guilt for being alive and in his heart believing the sight of him will hurt those he loves. He understands the torment because he sees Michael every time he looks in the mirror.

Lily tells herself she wants nothing to do with Jack five years later. She doesn't trust him, he left her and the love she thought was forever. Holding onto even bigger hurts than she wants to share Lily does everything she can to ignore Jack and the pull to him that's always there.

Can these two become forever too each other again? Will they open up and share their pain? Will Jack prove to Lily that when bad things happen he won't leave her again? You can find all these answers and more in this touching book.

Book provided by Netgally for an honest review!!!

3 stars -- I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

OK, am I just confused? Or misremembering? But wasn't Lily like super shy in the first book? Damn, I might have to go look it up, b/c it's killing me. Well Lily was definitely not shy in this one. She really didn't feel like the girl I remembered at all, but perhaps it's how other people see Lily versus how she sees herself? I'm not sure. Not saying she wasn't an interesting character, she just wasn't what I was anticipating and looking forward to, and so I probably didn't connect with her as well.

This book was a solid romance, I just felt like I was left wanting a bit. Like it didn't give me the same emotional impact as the first book. But it might just be the mood I'm in. It's like it had all these potentially gut wrenching circumstances, but I just wasn't connecting with the characters and their grief as much. Maybe b/c we didn't really get flashbacks? Maybe I just wanted more? I don't know. It's not like we didn't get told how Jack was having a hard time coping and there was the whole beard thing. That was heartbreaking...but at the same time, I didn't really feel it as much as I expected.

Part of my problem with this book is that it was a very fast read, which can be nice and devoury...but I also kind of felt like things moved at a very fast pace and didn't give me enough time to understand the depths of emotions of either character. I *think* I got a bit more from Lily. But given that Jack left, I guess I kind of wanted to know what finally made him come back. What helped him get through his grief? What was different, what changed? Why could he suddenly deal now? Maybe it's because I'm someone who struggles with depression, the fact that his obvious emotional problems weren't really addressed, and what he did to work through his grief was just kind of glossed over, it was just very unsatisfying for me. And quite frankly, I was NOT impressed with the extra tidbit we learned about him wrt Lily's secret, and I felt like the letters weren't enough. I needed more. Maybe I'm just being picky and greedy.

I was also not super into the climax. That seemed kind of over the top. Maybe I'm cynical? I don't know. I'm also not huge on the whole faith and signs thing, but that's 100% a personal taste thing.

So yeah. I enjoyed myself, but definitely not nearly as much as the first book. That one just felt like so much more. I can't decide if I'll try to catch Gwen's book. Part of me is intrigued, but I'm not sure if I'm invested enough. I guess time will tell.

Lily Cookson has spent the last five years trying to get over her ex-fiance, but so far that has been easier said then done, no matter how hard she tries to move on, there is always something there to remind her of him and what they had. When he left town unannounced and walked out on their relationship she was completely beside herself, they had plans for their future in place and when he left he completely wrecked everything. But little by little she has rebuilt her life, found a new future, unfortunately for her though her past is about to make an reappearance and could possibly change the course of her new life...

Leaving Lily behind was the hardest decision that Jack Bailey has ever made, and one that he is certain will haunt him for the rest of his life. She is the love of his life, but he was a wounded soul, and no amount of love from her could have fixed the broken parts inside of him, he needed space to heal, away from all of the constant reminders, so he packed his bags and walked away. But now he is back home and ready to fix what he broke five years ago when he walked away, question is will Lily be willing to let him back in again...or has she already moved on?

This heartwarming tale is about rebounding after an unspeakable loss, rebuilding the relationships that were lost along the way, and re-discovering a lost love. These two well crafted characters lost so much, not only one another, but also family members, and it took a huge toll on both of them. But, little by little they found their way back to one another, and also a way to mend what was broken, and I have to say it was a beautiful thing to witness. It has been a while since I have settled down with a book by this author, but it didn't take me long to remember her writing style, she has a special way of creating these touching story lines that are so easy to just fall right into, immediately start to stir your emotions, and have you forgetting all about the world around you. If you are looking for a read that will tug on your heartstrings, and lift your spirits, then I highly suggest you pick this one up, it is sure to do the trick!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this title.

Jack lost his identical twin brother Michael and nephew Matthew in a tragic accident - if he can't bear to look into the mirror and see Michael's face, how much worse is it for his family? He can't deal with both his and his family's grief, and so he runs away. The only trouble is, he also skips out on his fiancée Lily, breaking her heart. When he finally returns, five years have passed and Lily is not prepared to forgive him the anguish he caused her, only trouble is she gets drunk the first night she sees him again and let's him back into her bed for a one night stand. A one night stand with consequences.
This book is part of a series and whilst it can be read as a series I think I would have got more out of the story if I had previously read Christmas with the Sheriff (I hadn't).
I enjoyed this book but had trouble identifying with Jack's decisions/actions.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

LOVED this one!! It's a fantastic second chance story. Lily and Jack had it all going until tragedy strikes Jack's family and he can't handle things. He leaves town leaving Lily heartbroken. It took him 5 long years to get himself together but he's back now and determined to prove to Lily he's the man she needs and deserves. Lily's not so sure about that though! How far will get go to get her back??

Don't miss this very well done story. Not a ton of angst, nice small town romance that just plucks at the heartstrings. I highly recommend this one.

I ADORED this book. Simply A-D-O-R-E-D it! This is the exact kind of second chance romance that I eat up by the spoonful. The hero does something to hurt the heroine...he comes back ready to grovel and make it all better. The heroine makes him work for it...yadda yadda yadda. It was an almost perfect book. The only thing I didn't like and why I took a half star off was that the hero knew about something and STILL stayed away. He had his reasons and I understood...it still put a dent in his otherwise perfect heroness.

Both the books in this series have been top notch reads so far. They are well written. Nicely paced. Have great secondary characters. I am really excited for Gwen's book with her "muffin man" Two HUGE thumbs up from yours truly.

Victoria James' latest book, The Baby Bombshell is fantastic!

After reading and reviewing a dozen books by an author, it's hard to come up with something I haven't already said. Victoria James has been a firm favourite of mine since I picked up her first book back in 2013 when I fell completely in love with her writing style and her ability to create emotional stories with wonderful couples set in the most gorgeous of surroundings. And the second in her Shadow Creek, Montana series brings us exactly all of that.

"Five years, Lil. I’ve been faithful to the memory of what we had and what we could be. There has been no one. I never stopped loving you."

Once again she had me reaching for the tissues by the end of the first chapter. And at several points throughout the story. For readers who have read the first book, Christmas With the Sheriff you be familiar with the reason Jack Bailey left Shadow Creek five years previously, but if you haven't don't let that deter you as this is very much a standalone and whilst I was expecting emotion, I didn't realise how much Jack's pain and determination to redeem himself would put me through the ringer. He's nothing but honest from start to finish and if I fell in love with him, the true love of his life, Lily Cookson, doesn't stand a chance.

"You’ve mourned enough; you’ve got to reclaim your life now. No more hiding."

The cover and the title do give away a major part of what happens between Jack and Lily, but this actually only forms a small part of what is a real journey back to one another for both of these characters. I just wish it had been a little bit longer, but I am a bit greedy when it comes to Victoria's stories: there's a reason she's one of my favourite authors, for me she is the queen of the closed-door romance and The Baby Bombshell is a worthy addition to any romance lover's library.

The Baby Bombshell by Victoria James is Book 2 of the Shadow Creek, Montana Series. While part of a series, this story can be read as a standalone.

The Baby Bombshell is a baby surprise and second chance at love all wrapped up in one sweet and heart-tugging romance. I absolutely loved the characters who were so engaging and really helped to bring this storyline to life. Ms. James brought it hands down with this addition to her series. Looking forward to the next in the series. WTG Ms. James!

Please note that an ARC was generously provided in exchange for an honest review of which this is both honest and completely voluntary.

5 - "I came back for you..." Stars!

Victoria James for me is an author that manages to take the ever present tropes for romantic fiction and make them into something special.

IMAGE.

The second book in the Shadow Creek, Montana series again took an old and well-loved second-chance story-line and gave it a new deeply emotional and tear-stained twist.

He’d almost broken her once… He’d left her alone and vulnerable, now he was back and vowing to make things right… but he couldn’t.

Five years is a long time, but that is how long it has taken Jack Bailey to work through his issues, and decide to return back to Shadow Creek, having left everything and everyone he loved pretty much behind after burying his twin brother and nephew, Jack has returned with more than a few bridges to build. Mainly with his family and Lily Cookson, the love of his life, and also the woman that now wants absolutely nothing to do with him, because of his desertion all those years ago.

"It’s my job to win your trust back. If it takes me a year or another five, I’ll do it."

There are a lot of layers to this story, and what initially seems as a couple trying to reconnect after a long time apart actually turns into a whole other secondary story as it develops. There is a lot going on with this couple as individuals as well as together, and with each new revelation, the author pushed me to use more tissues. This is a book that grabs your heart very early on, and if you are a bit of a softy like myself, it just keeps getting squeezed and squeezed as things progress.

"He’s the guy you want to hate but just can’t."

I really didn’t though, I just wanted to hug Jack, and shake Lily, and I think it’s because of the dual POV, you are in both characters heads, and it makes everything all the more emotive. There are a lot of secrets, hurts and crossed-wires that this couple have to work through, and it was a rollercoaster of a journey for them both.

Another winner from this author, and I hope that Gwen Bailey gets her book next, she figured a little in this one, and the little teasers towards the end for her potential man have left me itching to see how many tissues I am going to need for sniffling into when Victoria gives her, her story.

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was a pleasure to provide the above honest review.

3.5 stars from me.
The Baby Bombshell had a few of my favourite tropes in it - small town, unexpected pregnancies, second chance love. And while I did enjoy the book, I didn't love it.
I think the story lost a bit of its shine for me during the reveal of 'a big secret'. I don't want to give too much away, but I lost some of my love for the Hero after that. Not enough grovelling was done on his part I thought, it was all glossed over a bit too quickly for my liking.
An OK read but not my favourite Victoria James book. **ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I picked up Victoria James’ The Baby Bombshell when I was in need of a light, sweet romance. And I did it without connecting the dots and realizing that it was a continuation of Christmas with the Sheriff. This made for a pleasant surprise as I grew really fond of all the characters and their small town in Christmas with the Sheriff and I was definitely curious as to what would happen next with Jack and Lily upon his return.

All in all it The Baby Bombshell was an incredibly heartwarming read. I adore seeing Jack and Lily find their way back to each other and of course all the scenes with the Bailey clan and Maggie were super adorable. I’m glad we get to check in with Julia from the previous book as there were some exciting developments. Through this book, I felt as if I somehow also became a part of the Bailey clan as I got to learn more about them. After finishing The Baby Bombshell I’m now kind of looking forward to a book about Gwen and the “Muffin Man”.

Jack Bailey returns home to Shadow Creek on New Year's Eve and at least one person is not happy about it - Lily. After five years, her ex has returned and it is just not her night. Little does she know that Jack will play knight in shining armor and it will set off a whole series of events. Lily's year is about to get a whole lot more interesting!

From the beginning, I was rooting for Jack. Every time I thought he would give up, Jack came back and that made him the perfect romantic hero. I loved the fact that he could be vulnerable, but was trying to hard to make up for leaving his family and friends. I understood Lily's hurt and anger over him leaving when she could have used him the most. Watching the two of them come back together and uncover all of the secrets was a great read. The last few chapters made me swoon with what Jack is willing to do for Lily and their life together.

This was my first book in this series. I did feel at time that I was missing backstory so I plan on going back to visit the first book. The secondary characters were great, especially Julia and Chase and I am eager to read about how their story started.

A good story of Jack and Lily. Jack left Lily 5 years ago, and now he is back and wants a second chance. Obviously she doesn't trust him, and then after a night of passion ends up pregnant. The story builds on the two of them learning to give and take and find the way back together. I liked the story, but it is a novella, so there are many places where it would have benefited from more details. I have previously read the story of Chase and Julia, so it was fun to revisit the characters. Looking forward to the next book in the series as well. Highly recommend this story and series.

“It’s for the best. Well, I have a busy day ahead of me, so time for you to hit the road, since it’s what you do best, anyway.”
His eyes sparkled. “I actually don’t think it’s what I do best.”


Ever since reading Christmas with the Sheriff, I’ve been anxious to read about Jack and Lily. Much like Julia, Jack’s sister-in-law, Jack left town five years ago after his brother and nephew passed away. We knew that grief was a large part of the reason, but I was curious to find out what else had Jack abandoning his family and fiancee, Lily.

When Jack landed back in Shadow Creek, I was rooting for him to win Lily back. I totally got why she was apprehensive, but I am a sucker for a second chance love story and I just loved Jack. Lily was determined to stay strong in her resolve to keep Jack at bay, but a drunken New Years Eve and positive pregnancy test later and she really had her work cut out for her.

“Sure, her being pregnant upped his timeline, but it wasn’t bad news. He’d always wanted kids with her. Of course, having her on speaking terms with him would have made things a little simpler.”


This story was funny, romantic and full of heart, like all other Victoria James stories. I loved Jack and Lily and bonded with all of the secondary characters.

4.5 Stars!

The Baby Bombshell by Victoria James, is an engaging, emotional novella. I cheered, smiled many times, and shed quite a few tears throughout this well-written story. Ms. James is one of my go to authors, because her effortless writing style brings happiness into my life. This is the second book from her Shadow Creek Montana series and it can be enjoyed as a standalone.

Five years ago, Lily Cookson and Jack Bailey were madly in love and engaged to be married. Then tragedy struck, and Jack felt compelled to leave town. He left everything he ever loved, because he was a complete emotional mess. Lily was devastated as well, so when her life completely spiraled out of control soon after, she could only rely on herself. Now Jack has returned, trying to earn back the trust and love that he temporarily lost from his family, friends, and most importantly Lily, the love of his life. Lily slowly lets Jack back into her life, because she never stopped loving him.

I loved this emotional and passionate novella. The story is so good and well written, I could not put it down. Ms. James nicely combines the inquisitiveness of small-town-living, love, and angst to create a seductive and meaningful book. Don't pass up the opportunity to read The Baby Bombshell.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

The Baby Bombshell is the second book in the Shadow Creek, Montana series written by author Victoria James. Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing/ Bliss Romance for the advance copy.

This is a well written story. I have read a few books by this author and I have really enjoyed them. This is book 2 in a series about a family rocked by a huge tradegy and how they move on. It completely stands alone and I have not read book 1 and I did not feel I missed out on anything.

Five years before man and his son were killed coming home from a movie. The man killed left behind his wife Julia and a twin brother, Jack and a sister and parents. His brother Jack was supposed to take his newphew to the movie so not only did he lose his beloved twin brother but his nephew as well. He felt it was his fault too since he couldn't take his nephew to the movie.

In dealing with this huge tradegy he takes off for 5 years. He leaves his parents, his sister and his fiancee Lily. Now 5 years later he has made a lot of money and is ready to go back and try and win Lily back. I really liked that Lily refuses to trust and forgive him. No matter what. What he did was beyond terrible and I am glad she made him pay for that. Thats not to say I didn't love Jack too and even understand his pain, I did but what he did was not right either.

After the terrible event that happens I liked how the author interjected faith. I loved the use of the two wolves helping Jack when he needed it and I loved how Jack eventually won Lily back.

This was a very well written and deep story that I really enjoyed. It really made me laugh, cry and feel good. If you are looking for a fun story I would not recommend this story. However if you want a feel good, tera jerker, then this is your book.

**I received a copy of The Baby Bombshell from Entangled Publishing and Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review**

The Baby Bombshell by Victoria James is the second book in her Shadow Creek, Montana series. I was able to read this addition without having read the first book Christmas with the Sheriff. It's a quick, romantic story that will have your heart wrapped up into a pretty little bow.

What if your fiancee just up and decided to cancel everything a fall off the map for five years? Would you forgive him when he shows up unexpectedly at his families New Year's Eve party? Or would you take the champagne bottle and upend it in his glass and try to walk away gracefully even if you were a slight bit tipsy? Lily Cookson is still angry at Jack Bailey for breaking their engagement and disappearing but will she let him back into her heart especially since their one night together gives them something they lost five years ago. All she wants to do is open her Shadow Creek Chocolatier's shop with Jack's sister Gwen and hope for success. When Gwen offers Jack's carpentry experience so that their store can open up in time for Valentines Day. But Jack is very determined to win back Lily with everything he has. When fate steps in and helps both Lily and Jack both realize they were meant to be together there is a mad rush to the doctors in a big blizzard that may test both of them, will they be able to survive it?

Jack Bailey lost his twin brother Matthew and his nephew in a tragic car accident five years ago. It felt like he's missing a part of himself, so he leaves Shadow Creek for five years but now he's back and more determined than ever to win Lily's heart back no matter what it takes. He will do anything to convince her, even eat a olive pizza if that's what it takes. But they both must be able to move beyond the pain and loss from five years ago before they can get back together and look forward to their double surprise in the near future.