I absolutely LOVED and devoured this one (while reading several other books LOL). I had actually purchased this on audible before this edition was announced so I did a little reading and a little listening. This book reminded me so much of Meghan Quinn's writing- hilarious and SPICY. I laughed out loud several times while reading this one. Even the names of the chapters and the fact that the number of animals on the mountain kept increasing was epic. What I really liked about this though was the fact the behind Trista's humor there was a woman who had been hurt. She was on the other side of everyone in her life that mattered leaving her for whatever reason so had absolutely convinced herself she wouldn't care if she became a mom for a stranger. Then we have Wyatt who though seeing his parents love each other as they did, is grieving his dad's passing. Because of previous experience he has decided that he will be a single dad all by himself. Wyatt was a borderline grump and watching him come undone and get wrapped around Trista's finger made me smile SO BIG. I loved Trista's version of sunshine being that she legit collected animals. What started as something transactional between these two ended up being forever by the end!

Wyatt has made up his mind and no one is going to change it. He is on the hunt for a surrogate for a baby that he is going to raise by himself. Well technically on the mountain he will have his brother's help. But mostly solo. No woman involved besides the surrogate. The problem is that no one seems to be taking him seriously. Until his nice Everly gets involved and somehow finds the perfect woman. Trista. She wants to be a surrogate but hasn't been picked up by an agency. She has a true purpose that he can get behind on why she wants to do this. All that being said, she is also loud and beautiful and everything Wyatt isn't. She says what's on her mind. Like everything. She walks him through this process and when they come out on the other side and she is now pregnant he can't help having this draw to make her his. He finds himself going out of his way to help her. Though she doesn't accept it which is infuriating. He finds himself thinking about her none stop. He finds himself letting animals on the mountain for goodness sake. So when they decide to no longer fight this connection between them he is all in. Trista claims it can only last until the baby is around. And though he agrees something tells him that might not be long enough with this woman he is now picturing a future with.

Trista can't believe her luck when she runs into a young stranger outside the surrogacy agency asking if she wants to be the surrogate for her uncle. Is this real life? Is she insane? But the more that Everly talks to her the more Trista realizes she is just her level of crazy. Trista is in. She can get this money she wants and work towards her future. What she doesn't expect is her baby daddy to look like a true mountain man. Beautiful. Chiseled. Turning heads at the bar. All that to say he is a man of little words. But that doesn't bother her- she can do enough talking for both of them. So when they get down to it Trista feels good about everything. She has a roof over her head. She has taken the first step towards her goal. But then Wyatt starts showing up for her in ways no one ever has before. He starts to take care of her- even though she fights him on it. He starts to make her want to see if he uses more words in the bedroom. Fact check- he does. And now they are doing this thing- they are scratching itches with a time limit. Because Trista can't let herself get in too deep. She knows what happens to the people that she cares about, and she doesn't want to let herself see if Wyatt will fall into that category. What she doesn't expect is to be proven so wrong.

I seriously can't recommend this one enough! I really enjoyed the audio- Teddy Hamilton was fantastic as our grump Wyatt with the dirty mouth. I have found that I like a boy obsessed and Wyatt played that part so well. I like how they were so opposite but they worked. I liked how we learned more about each of their pasts and understood where they were coming from. The spicy scenes had me legit blushing- also I don't think I will ever look at a child's advil syringe the same way after this one. If you want something that is going to be make you laugh while swooning grab this one. I can't WAIT to read Calder's.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Nine Month Contract is a hilarious rom-com about a grumpy mountain man searching for a surrogate. It may be unconventional but the tension, emotions, and meddling family make it all come together. Amy Daws adds her signature comedy and spice for romance readers to enjoy!

Wyatt is a mountain man who is grumpy on the outside but is a softie Swiftie on the inside. After having a wonderful relationship with his niece, he feels like he is ready for a child. But he doesn't want to deal with a relationship and is going the surrogacy route. His family put out an ad asking for anyone interested, and he got a response. Trista is a strong-willed, curvy FMC, who loves animals and speaks her mind.

Together they embark on this journey of creating a family and gain so much more than a bundle of joy. It's so beautiful to see these opposites balance each other out and find love, family, and happiness.

This is my first book from Amy Daws and I must admit it was a fun one. It was a breath of fresh air to have a FMC who was normal sized and spoke to the fact that just because someone is "overweight" doesn't mean that they aren't healthy.

I enjoyed the interactions between the 4 brothers and their easy acceptance of someone that needed all the love in the world. I will continue to read the stories of the other brothers.

My first Amy Daws book and I will be picking up more of books!

Wyatt and Trista are perfect! The count of animals on from beginning to end, added lightness and fun to what was going to happen in the chapter.

Wyatt the silent (often grumpy) mountain man wants to have a baby and he can't find the right surrogate enter his mastermind of a niece to find him the right one. He ended up being just that silent and grumpy, along with caring and a complete family man who protects those he loves. Over protective most of the time but you know Trista was reading to let him know that.

Trista, she might not be for everyone, her mantras and certain names might make one go, what? But once you get to know her you understand it. A little humor it and lots of pride in doing things on her own. At times you want to tell her GIRL let him take care of you. The moment she realizes she has found a family, she lets go of those worries and allows herself to feel the love of Wyatt and his family and the baby she is going to have.

The moment both Wyatt and Trista give in, there is no looking back but there is still that pull of the past. But the spice was spicy.

Nine Month Contract had funny moments, moments that made you tear up and those angsty moments. A fun Rom-com with animals, realization of self worth and falling in love. I would recommend adding this to the TBR, two more Fletcher brothers to come!

Nine Month Contract took me on a bit of a roller coaster. I couldn't quite follow or understand Trista for most of the book. However! Wyatt and his family carried her weight through it. Their family bond that they have repaired and nurtured is amazing to imagine. While this book was not my cup of tea, the is writing is lovely and I look forward to reading more books by Amy Daws

Thank you netgalley for an arc of Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws

Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws is a sweet, steamy, and heartwarming romance that blends humor, emotion, and a touch of angst. The story follows Reagan, a fiercely independent woman, and Felix, a successful businessman, who enter into a unique arrangement that quickly spirals into something more complicated and emotional.
Amy Daws excels at creating relatable characters with great chemistry, and the dynamic between Reagan and Felix is no exception. Their banter is witty, the romantic tension is palpable, and the story keeps you hooked with its mix of lighthearted moments and deeper emotional undertones.
It’s a perfect read for fans of the fake-relationship trope with a twist, offering plenty of swoon-worthy moments and a satisfying HEA.

I found the book to be poorly written, as the overwhelming amount of information dumped in the first chapter, Wyatt’s weak motivation for wanting to become a father, and the inclusion of TikTok references and slang like 'rizz' made it difficult for me to stay engaged. Ultimately, these factors led me to DNF the book.

I couldn’t put this book down! I loved the mountain setting, the animal counter at each chapter, and the grumpy deviation with silent vs. noise. Trista is such a lovable underdog, but not a damsel in distress, which I appreciated. I loved the contrast in family dynamics, and the use of surrogacy in such a unique way. Wyatt is so well-created and honestly, the minor character setup for her next book makes me ready to preorder! I’m not usually a super spicy girl, but their chemistry and closeness that develops is so authentic feeling, that it didn’t take away from the plot like some scenes do. Well done!

This was a cute, fun romcom. It was well paced and a quick read for me. I love the quirky story and the love story between the two was super entertaining.

This book was something quite out of the ordinary from what I would normally read. The plot was unique, the characters sounded fun, and I had seen some good review from mutuals! However, I think this book fell a little short from what I was expecting.

Wyatt- you are a grown man. I am begging you to act like it. I promise you can communicate in something that isn't grunts! It made me laugh at first but then it was just a lot. It took him a long time to come around to the fact that he was in love with Trista and not the surrogate- which made me feel a little weird but nothing against creating a family in an unorthodox way! I just thought it took him forever.

Speaking of Trista, girl, shut up and let the man help. I understand pride and not wanting someone to 'do everything' for you, but there is a difference between being prideful and accepting help. One thing I LOVED about her was her sassiness. It was super fun and I think it redeemed her a bit in my eyes.

I think Wyatt and Trista will balance each other out as a couple and make great parents. I just think a lot of their qualities made it hard to love and connect with them. Their issues took a long time to work out and it was a struggle for me to read this as quickly as I read other books because it felt like it dragged/ lulled a bit. I think other readers may enjoy this book a lot- it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Overall 3 stars. Thank you Netgalley and Canary Street Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The book clubs will love this one. So much to discuss, laugh about and debate. The surrogacy trope is unique and sounds like a happily ever after but definitely makes you question your own morals

I don't even know how to write a brief summary of this book... it's that odd of a premise. I've rewritten it a dozen times and STILL don't have a good way to explain it so I'm going to stick with the main premise and leave out some of the crazy; Wyatt wants to become a father but doesn't want a partner because he's vowed to live with his brothers on their mountain forever. Trista wants to be a surrogate to fund an animal rescue because she doesn't know how to be around people.

What I liked:
The writing was cute and quirky. It felt very light-hearted and sweet (which doesn't quite vibe with the story, but I still enjoyed it). Wyatt is an overprotective cinnamon roll of a man, and I loved how he wanted to take care of Trista and was so excited to be a father. I also loved how sweet his whole family was and how they immediately took Trista in as one of their own.

What I didn't like: (**spoilers**)
Honestly, the storyline ended up being a major ick. The DIY surrogacy turned romance was just odd and felt gross. Also, the past history of Wyatt and his brothers with a woman they all secretly dated was just another unnecessary ick.

I loved Nine Month Contract so much. It was such a fun journey. I do feel the HEA felt kinda rushed but given the timeline of one particular character it made sense for this relationship. Still 5 stars from me!

Book: Nine Month Contract
Author: Amy Daws (@amydawsauthor)
Rating: 4.5⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Release Date: 3/2025

🐮REVIEW: 🐮
I enjoyed this book so much. While the subject of surrogacy is touchy, I feel that Amy Dawson wrote a book that not only touched on the struggles of such a process, but the lengths one would go to become a parent.

Wyatt and Trista are such a sizzling couple. Their connection is instant but their past trauma has them holding back a bit.
They both know they can’t stay away or ignore their connection, but at the same time the prospect of being abandoned and hurt sits at the end of the 9 month mark.

I loved the way Amy detailed just how gruff Wyatt is but how Trista managed to get to his gooey center (kind of a pun but not really but take it as you will), and Wyatt was able to show Trista that it’s okay to have help.

Everything about this was utterly (another pun??) swoon worthy and I’m still gushing over the grumpy mountain man and the eccentric farm his MB created.

Tropes:
🐽 Found Family
🐽 Forced Proximity
🐽 Pregnancy
🐽 Grumpy x Sunshine
🐽 Don’t Look or Speak to Her

A grumpy, reserved mountain man, Wyatt, is looking for a surrogate because he has decided to become a single dad. His brothers and niece interfere by posting an ad on Craigslist when he continues to fail to find one through an agency. His niece, Everly, has ulterior motives for meddling in his surrogacy search and thinks she’s found the perfect person in Trista.

This was really easy to read and the overall plot moved quickly. There was some good humor as well. I liked the writing and would be open to reading more from this author.

I’m not entirely sure what I expected from a surrogacy involved romance, but this was not what I thought it would be. I struggled to connect with the main characters, but I did like most of the side characters, most of the time.

Overall I just wasn’t super invested in it, and I think it’s that I’ve learned a surrogacy storyline is not something I enjoy.

⭐️;4.75/5
🌶️: 1/5

Are you kidding? This was my first read by Amy Daws and I absolutely inhaled it! It was so good. Such a quick read with the most grumpiest of mountain men, the most yummy spice. I absolutely loved all the Fletcher brothers and Trista was a firecracker. I absolutely loved everything about this book, I loved that Trista got to have the family she deserved to have. And Wyatt got the family he so deserved and wanted too.

The only thing I didn’t like was how Trista seemed to weaponize intimacy with Wyatt to get what she wanted out of a situation. That was kinda icky to me especially since we already knew Wyatt was falling hard for her. But besides that I loved it. And I can’t wait to read more by Amy!

Thanks to NetGalley, Amy Daws and Harlequin for the eArc in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Amy Daws for the E-ARC of this book!


Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you enjoy the following tropes, you'll love this book:

Not- So - Accidental Pregnancy
Surrogacy
Multiple POV
Grumpy x Sunshine (persoanlly my FAV)
Forched Proximity
Found Family
Small Town Romance
Curvy FMC

Quick Overview:

Grumpy Mountain Man wants to find a surrogate, his brother puts an ad out and his niece finds a candidate.
When he decides she will work out, she loves his pet goat.
The contract is signed.
She’s his surrogate.
Living on his mountain.
He realizes that he wants more.

I really did enjoy this book! This was the perfect book to dive into since I've not read anything with this plot line before so it truly was a lot of fun! I relal yloved how close-knit the Fletcher Family is and how inviting they are. The story building with the small town - mountain setting, & animals, etc really sucked me in.

Nine Month Contract is a small town, surrogacy, spicy romance. Wyatt has always loved being an uncle to his niece, whom he adores, and has decided he wants to be a dad, not just any dad, but a single father. He decides to hire a surrogate to ensure he can be a single father, and this decision was not made lightly. Everly, Wyatt's niece, bumps into Trista, who a surrogacy service has recently turned down. Following an interesting meeting, Everly sets up an interview between Trista and Wyatt.

This book kicks off a new series for Daws and I’m already excited for the next brother’s story. It can easily be read as a standalone as well!

This was a cute and fun book, if somewhat predictable. I enjoyed the large cast of supporting characters but I did not enjoy the overwhelming amount of POVs. It got to be a lot. The ending was sweet but predictable.

The moment I saw Teddy Hamilton was narrating Nine Month Contract, I didn’t hesitate—I grabbed both the ebook and audiobook immediately. And let me tell you, Amy Daws did NOT disappoint. She delivered the plot, the love, the laughs, and all the steam. I devoured this book, ate it up, and left no crumbs. It was everything—funny, heartfelt, and oh-so-steamy.

If you love a grumpy-sunshine, “I’m having his baby” romance, this one is an absolute must-read!

Three things to know about this book:
1. “Rizz” can be found in multiple pages. Multiple.
2. Pre-Covid TikTok references are quoted.
3. The female protagonists name is TRISTA
4. There’s a lot of scientific jargon shoved in that is too long, too specific and wholly unnecessary.
5. Every character has the potential to narrate a chapter at any time.

I don’t know anything about surrogacy sensitivity or the political correctness of breeding kinks, but I’ll tell ya that those five things are all I need to wish 0 stars was an option. I skills have known when the author swore up and down that she went through sensitivity boot camp that we were in for a bumpy ride. I always love a preemptive apology from a guilty conscious.