This book was so so good, thank you to HTP for always putting the best books on my radar. I loved reading this book so much, yes it's a bit silly but it was fun, refreshing and silly and the characters and plot was great. I loved the family aspect, the small town and the surrogacy plot which I haven't read a rom-com with this vibe. I liked how the niece played an important role in finding the perfect surrogate for her uncle even though it was a little weird. I'm also so interested in reading her dad's book. I loved the grumpy mountain man vibes and how she loved animals and brought more and more into the house even though he didn't like it at first. I loved how he built her the chicken coop it was so sweet. The mcs are instantly attracted to each other though they don't act on it until later. This was steamy, they were hot 🔥. I can't wait to read more by this author I enjoyed the writing.

4.5/5

Loved this one and I’m still super emotional with a 2 year old for anything pregnancy related.

Trista ends up being hired as a surrogate for Wyatt, no strings attached. As part of the package she’s moved up to the Fletcher Mountain in the apartment over the barn. Her dream is to open a multi animal rescue and the money from the surrogacy to open it. Of course along the way they fall in love.

Lots of witty banter and just hilarious lines!

I just could not get into this one. The concept of it is really refreshing, I've never come across anything like it, but I couldn't get past Everly constantly saying 'rizz'. I get it, it's a new thing, but it was just an ick for me the amount of times she'd say it in one chapter.

This book is so much fun! I have read so many "baby" trope books, but the plot of this was so much more. The banter between the FMC and MMC is top notch! I loved the character development for the FMC.

THIS WAS SO CUTE! I was worried where this was going to go with Everly being the first few FMC chapters but was surprised when Trista took over. I absolutely loved the unhinged nature of Everly and her "match making" skills in order to find a surrogate for her uncle who wanted a family. The banter was top tier between Wyatt and Trista and Wyatt's whole family. I enjoyed getting a sneak peak into his family life and Trista being brought into the fold and accepted within the crew.

Wyatt, Mr mountain man, so such a good grumpy character who only had eyes for his baby mama. I saw him falling hard right away as someone this grumpy needed a little sunshine to take him down a peg and open up.

I fully related to Trista in showing up with random animals and being able to talk my way into keeping them! I loved her good nature and complete security in her body for being plus size.

This book was so cute I can't wait to read more from Amy and where book two leads!

first of all, thank you to netgalley & harlequin trade publishing for the e-copy of this to review!

unfortunately this book was almost an immediate miss for me despite the optimistic beliefs I had coming in.

my main sentiments:

- misogyny in MY homemade surrogacy romance? its more likely than i expected…

- trista might be the worst “quirky” fmc ive read in a while like why is girlie kinda evil? I really just dont think fundamentally her own animal loving thing meshed well with the idea of her being poor/big like it just felt like the ultimate level of being inconsiderate of someone else’s living space (especially when she seemed to love it there)

- thats not what mainsplaining is

- im sorry to like everyone who has ever had a child for having read this honestly

- wyatt gave me the ick almost immediately but not even because of any of the baby stuff but rather his comical “jealousy” and overprotectiveness that just didn’t really make sense at times and it didnt help that trista is on the other side of the spectrum of for some reason wanting to be a surrogate but having no desire to really care for her own wellbeing for the sake of the baby

-everly’s pov chapters were so unnecessary and in fact a horrible choice bc it just made everything feel even less ethical cuz she’s 18 and about to move abroad but written like a 13 yr old

- none of the humor landed for me like at all, it was almost impressive at a certain point

- the highlight for me mightve been wyatt saving the chickens but I couldnt stop thinking about how Trista didnt know to reinforce her coop when that’s like step 1 in having chickens outside but hey shes the one who randomly smuggled them in for some reason…

overall, this was certainly a book

4.5 stars! Okay so I didn't think I would love this book as much I do but here we are. Nine Month Contract is just a good time and definitely delivered on the vibes. It is funny, insightful, romantic, and so spicy! Wyatt (albeit a little too controlling in my opinion) is the perfect grumpy and growly MMC. He communicates with less words and more grunts and growls until our FMC Trista came in to change his life. Trista is Wyatt's surrogate but ended up falling in love with her. The book was a love story but it didn't focus on just the MCs love. The book explored love for family (uncles to their niece,, brothers to brothers, brothers to their mom), Wyatt's family's love for Trista and Trista love for animals. The animals on this book are one of the many reasons why I loved this book. Each had characters (and names!) and personalities that added to the story. I just love it all!

The only reason I docked it by .5 stars is because I feel like Trista sometimes over focused on her weight. The way she would call herself fat in every instance was a bit much. I think the point would have still come across without it being mentioned at every turn.

Overall, I love this book. All my favorite tropes in one! I am definitely looking forward to the next book and I want to go back and read about Max, Cozy, and Everly. Thank you Harlequinn, The Hive, and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my thoughts.

Y’ALL! I came for the romance, but then I stayed for the protective mountain man with a breeding kink! Wyatt Fletcher stole my heart, and I don’t even want it backkkk. 😩 he’s so grumbly and a little bit “sweet & psycho” and *earnestly* wants to be a daddy. I love a man obsessed so when that angsty secret pining snuck in and consumed him (during a very important solo sesh 👀), I WAS GONE. goodbye. and Trista! an independent, plus size queen who’s an animal mama to her core! her journey to a baby mama (not a cow, woman! 😉 #iykyk) and self-acceptance had me so invested and rooting so hard for her to realize her worth. thank goodness for stubborn mountain men and crazy chaotic family that just won’t let you run away. I cackled, I cried, and I genuinely fell in love with the whole dang gang. 🥹🫶🏻

not me counting down the days until October for Calder&Dakota’s story—Seven Year Itch! 😍

𝘁 𝗿 𝗼 𝗽 𝗲 𝘀 :
🌄 mountain man/single dad wannabe
🤰🏼 plus-sized surrogate
💙 mutual secret pining
🐐 barnyard shenanigans
🪵 he falls first and HARD!
🌾 found family feels

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.