Baby on Board-Lisa Ruff

Baby on Board
Lisa Ruff
Harlequin American, Jan 2009, $4.99
ISBN: 0373752474

Glass artist Kate Stevens makes a difficult decision when she learns she is pregnant. She decides to hide the truth from the father, boat racer Patrick Berzani. He has never made any time for her as his prime interest is racing; and believes he would be an absentee father, which is not a good dad for a baby.

During his last event, Patrick was away for three months; in that time he sent no email, no text message, no flowers, and one phone call. She decides the party animal will not hurt their child when he fails to be there. Kate begins seeking someone else to be the father of her child. However, Patrick learns of the pregnancy and Kate’s campaign; he begins his own to prove to her will be a good husband and will be a great father if she gives him a chance.

Although the topic of hiding a child from the father has been done many times before, BABY ON BOARD is refreshed by Patrick’s awareness before his offspring is born. His efforts to prove he will be there for Kate and their child make for a fine tale, but neither him nor her come across as empathetic as each seems stubbornly selfish. Still Lisa Ruff provides a fine contemporary maybe a family drama.

Harriet Klausner