4.5 rounded to 5 on Goodreads and retailer websites. Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws is the first book in her new Mountain Men spinoff series. Wyatt Fletcher wanted to become a single dad through surrogacy, but was having difficulty finding a surrogate he felt comfortable with. Then his niece Everly found Trista, who she hoped would become more than her uncle’s surrogate. Trista wanted to start an animal sanctuary for the animals that traditional rescues couldn’t take. Knowing she would need capital to make that happen, she decided that she would meet her goal by becoming a surrogate. She never wanted children of her own, so felt that she would be a perfect candidate, and Wyatt had offered use of an apartment over a barn, where she would be able to keep the potbellied pig who had gotten her evicted. It was a match made in heaven as Trista and Wyatt got to know and like each other. The fact that they had steamy, hot chemistry wasn’t so bad either! Reading this book was like diving into a decadent dessert. It was full of sweet, ooey gooey feelings, healing from past traumas, lots of spice, and a requisite happy ending. There were moments I laughed out loud, moments where I cried, and I finished feeling warm and contented. I love the books that leave the reader with an overwhelming sense of rightness. Trista was a storm of energy and love landing in the midst of Wyatt and his younger brothers with her miscellaneous, oddball strays, gradually transforming Fletcher Mountain into more. Wyatt was a strong, quiet, gentle alpha-giant who was “sweet, but psycho” as Everly put it: a possessive, attentive, giving caveman that I couldn’t help but fall for. If you enjoy he falls first, taboo relationship, grumpy/sunshine, age-gap, Curvy FMC, small town contemporary romantic comedy then you will love this story as much as I did. I am voluntarily writing this honest review after reading an advanced complementary copy of this book thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing.

🌶️🌶️🌶️

Oh my goshhhh. This was the funniest heartbreaking and heartmending romcom that I have read in a while. Add in a bunch of rescue animals and my heart was done for. These characters are ones that I would actually want to hang out with. Which is great news because there are still two more brothers that need their HEA, so I won’t be done with these guys just yet.

❤️ Tropes ❤️
💋 Small Town Romance
💋 Curvy and sassy FMC
💋 Secret Cinnamon Roll of a Lumberjack MMC
💋 Forced Proximity

Wyatt has been a mess since his dad died, but there is one thing he knows for sure. He wants a kid. He doesn’t want the relationship that tends to go with it, and wants to forge ahead as a single dad. But when traditional surrogacy agencies can’t find a match for him, he agrees to let his 18 year old niece try and find one for him before she leaves to go study abroad. Spreadsheets and interviews are only getting her so far, and when she bumps into Trista on the street, she knows she is perfect for Wyatt. To be a surrogate of course. Definitely not for anything else.

What a fun read. A single man, looking for a surrogate so he never has to go through pain like he has in the past. Two misfits in completely different ways come together to create a baby. There were so many laughs, I was surprised to be slowly taken on an incredible emotional journey, even finding myself shedding tears in the last quarter of the book.

Close proximity. Surrogate x broody mountain man. Small town. Found family. All the animals. Mine. HEA always.

Adorable.

Damn another pregnancy trope that I liked. I swear this isn't going to be a thing...

Actually I'm pretty sure it is officially a thing now. Thats fine I have zero shame for loving a good pregnancy trope.

This was so utterly delicious.

Whats to love...
- grumpy MMC mountain man with a heart of gold
- side characters to die for
- animal friends
- curvy and strong FMC
- laugh out loud funny
- panty melting spice
- lots of emotional depth!
- A++++ tension and chemistry
- adorably absurd premise!

What not to love...
- while the absurd premise is fun for me - I can see how some may find it a little unethical and unrealistic.
- I love a confident FMC so some of her self-hate was a bit much, but I did enjoy seeing her grow!
- Our MMC is a tad possessive, bordering on silly at times - but this will be a plus for some!

Thank you NetGalley and HTP Books for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Super spicy endearing tale of a Trista, a plus size woman who volunteers as a surrogate mother for Wyatt, a wealthy builder who owns a mountain outside Boulder to become a dad. He lives in an off-grid sustainable cabin next to his two brothers. She has a pet potbellied pig, works at an animal shelter and wants to start her own shelter for animals most shelters won't take. In addition to the stipend that would allow her to start her shelter, she's about to be homeless because her apartment doesn't allow pigs and the offer comes with an apartment above a barn. Wyatt's family is big and loving. In fact, his 18 year old niece Everly and his obnoxious brother Calder write an outrageous ad as part of their plan to find him a surrogate after the dozen surrogates a big agency found for him were people he would not want to be the egg donor for his child. Everly attempts to post the ad on the front door of the agency just as an infuriated Trista, who has been rejected by the agency because of her BMI crashes into her. Delightful characters, humor, loving family, lovable animals, lovely setting, and a fully realized relationship make this a wonderful read.

I have scheduled my review to post on the release date.