Surprise baby stories are one of my favorite tropes in romance. Don’t ask me why because it doesn’t have a rational explanation, I just love them. In The Bad Boy’s Baby, Emma and Cam spend one wonderful night together right before Cam’s deployment, and it’s only after he retires from the military and it’s finally back home that he realizes the sweet girl of his dreams is now tied to him in an undeniable way.

Emma had an emotionally rough childhood and suffers from a bit of abandonment issues. Deciding to not repeat the mistakes of her own parents, she dedicates herself to being the best mom possible to her little girl Zoey, all while trying to get her design and architecture career on its way. This leaves her with little time for anything else other than spending some time with her grandmother here and there.

Cam had a much rougher upbringing, with a volatile drunk for a father and a town’s bad boy reputation. But when the truth about Zoey comes out, he’ll do anything in his power to become a good dad to her. The fact that he’s always had a thing for Emma but didn’t want to tarnish her reputation is now a non-issue, as she’s been a single mom for a couple of years now. Now they both need to overcome their own issues, as well learn to trust each other if they wish to give Zoey the best childhood she could have.

Cam was loyal, protective and once he lets himself relax around little Zoey he was swoon worthy. He was sexy and bossy which was a plus as well and good with his hands…as a handyman!

Emma was a sweet, loving, devoted mother who had an independent streak a mile wide. Unfortunately, her lack of confidence regarding Cam was a major eye-roll-inducer.

I must confess that while Ms. Madsen’s work has usually rocked my world, I can’t say this one totally worked for me. For starters, while I liked both Cam and Emma, they spent an annoying amount of time in their own heads being insecure about themselves and the feelings of the other. This made for a very, very slowly developing relationship, as well as a lot of back-and-forthing.

Since it took me a while to get into the story (I kept stopping in exasperation) their connection never completely clicked for me. Also, some of the reasons behind their actions and decisions felt kind of lame, especially in Emma’s case regarding not letting Cam know about the pregnancy. All in all, I enjoyed reading The Bad Boy’s Baby and it definitely left me with a smile in the end, it was just not what I was expecting from this author.

Just couldn't get into the story. Not sure why. I loved the idea of it, but it just didn't click with me.

I know this book came out awhile ago but it still up there with the ones coming out now. And this is down to the amazing and talented author Cindi Madsen. Really hooked me in and I did not want it to end. Loved it from cover to cover and would wholeheartedly recommend this book and this author.

I received a free copy of this book from netgalley.com for an honest review. This is the first book that I have read from this author, so I read it as a stand alone, but I plan to read the earlier books.

Emma Walker was the smart good girl, who took classes with the seniors when she was just an underclassman, who was top in her college classes and dreamed of becoming an architect. After her boyfriend, Ricky, broke up with her, telling her she was boring in and out of bed, his voice continued to play in her head. Until one evening she took shots of tequila, and did the one reckless thing she had done her entire life- have incredible sex in the back of town bad boy Cam Brantley's truck, the night before he deployed back to Afghanistan, the guy who she had crushed on all through high school.

Cam pretty much raised his younger brother Heath, after their mother left and their father fell apart and turned to drink. After high school, when he thought his brother was big enough to defend himself, he enlisted. The Army taught him to handle his anger and taught him skills.

The fateful night the two of them collided, resulted in a pregnancy and Zoey. Emma had overheard Cam say that he never wanted a relationship or children, so when she found out she was pregnant, she only did a half hearted attempt to contact him. Now he is back. And she works for his brother and his soon to be wife. She feels obligated to tell him, but doesn't expect much. Both of them came from households formed only because of an unexpected pregnancy. She didn't expect hime to bond with Zoey from the start and he didn't expect these feelings he now has for both of them. Can they make it work?

This book is sweet and clean – there is no cursing and the sex is of the fade to black variety. If those things bother you, there is nothing to worry about here.

Unexpected child books can either be really well written or painfully awkward, but this one definitely fits the well written category. Emma's reasoning for keeping Zoey a secret was actually really understandable, and the fact that she copped to Zoey's existence so quickly was really admirable. I loved watching clueless Cam learn to navigate his relationship with Emma and even better, with Zoey. The way that he absolutely leaned into being a father and tried so hard to connect with Zoey made him a sexy, wonderful hero. If you enjoy a book hero who is strong and sexy without being a total jerk (the kind of hero that the genre bafflingly brands “alpha” which seems to be code for “a-hole”) , you're going to love Cam. And Emma is also wonderful. She's not the Stepford, perfect single mom, she's real and incredibly relatable in a way that I didn't expect.

I requested and was generously granted an ARC of this story via the publisher and Netgalley. I was under no obligation to write this review, I did so because the book was great.

Three and a half stars.

Emma Walker was the good girl, the avid student, the girl who wanted to become an architect in a big city until one night, fuelled by a mean ex-boyfriend and a lot of tequila Emma stepped out of her comfort zone and had a one-night stand with the town's bad boy Cam Brantley just before he shipped out overseas with the army.

Just one night of passion but three years later Emma is a single mom to cute-as-a-button Zoey and trying to realise her dreams working for a construction company where she has helped to design the latest project, extending the local B&B into a lodge with the addition of several new luxurious cabins for Cam's brother and his fiancee. However, imagine her surprise when she goes to the B&B one day and Cam opens the door. He has no idea that he has a daughter.

Cam has a messed up family, his father was abusive and Cam had to bring up his baby brother and protect him from their dad. As a result he never wanted to get married or have a family - but when he finally finds out he is a father he is entranced with Zoey.

What Emma doesn't know is whether Cam wants her as a woman or just as the mother of his daughter. Is she too boring for one of the most handsome men she has ever seen? And can Cam overcome his family history and his own demons?

This was a lovely, sweet second-chance romance complete with cute moppets, dogs and picnic basket auctions. A bit different to Cindi's more recent novels but still good fun.

Emma, the one night she decides to cut loose and prove to herself her ex was wrong and she is not boring; her night ends in a glorious steam fest in Cam Brantley's truck. Cam is deploying again the next day and out at the local bar with his brother when he sees Emma. Their encounter leaves Emma with a lasting impression, now 2 years old Zoey, a blazing ball of energy.
Emma had her life planned out before she got pregnant and though it took her a couple dips and dives here and there, she moved up from being the token clerk to designing the new Mountain Lake resort that Heath and his girl Quinn had purchased, counting on Cam helping out when he came home. Emma doesn't know he's now home for good and she never told him about Zoey. She tried to reach him but knowing he never wanted kids and overhearing him loudly express that to his brother, thought she shouldn't bother. She and Zoey were ok. But seeing Cam again and knowing how news travelled faster than the speed of light in their tiny town, she had to tell him.
I'm not sure how to describe that one, so you have to read the book. But I can tell you that Cam is head over heels in daddyhood with Zoey. Emma isn't quite sure where they stand and Cam isn't very verbal either. But they share a few common loves, the mountains and their little girl.
Cam has some anger issues, leftover from their upbringing, his last tour overseas was a rough one and he's trying to micromanage his anger about that. Not doing too well at it and as so often happens the anger gets misdirected. Emma is the target. He finally train wrecks Emma. Because you know, men only hear every third word if we're lucky or they're totally deaf or don't even wait for an explanation, they just fly off, make lots of noise, grunt and disappear. Cam for the score on the one. Oh what a man, hot as he is, he's still a horses backside.
And that's all I'm saying. You have to read the book to see what happens between them, how the opening of the resort goes, does she take that sweet job offer in Salt Lake? Does he even care? And then there's Grandma Bev, Emma's grandmother. She's comic relief in the book. I loved her.
Reading this book reminds me how much I like reading Cindi Madsen and what a great writer she is.
You'll love this one, it's a great story.

**arc from NetGalley and Entangled in exchange for a fair review**

I said Victoria James is queen of the bliss world , but Cindi Madsen can write some good ones too. This was really cute. It was also like a second chance live story with a little adorable baby thrown in. I liked the characters. They were mature and acted their age. And were civilized.

Sweet story, cute characters and a adorable little girl.