The Baby Bombshell by Victoria James

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Title: The Baby Bombshell
Author: Victoria James
Series: Shadow Creek Montana #2
Published by: Entangled: Bliss
Release Date: April 10, 2017
Format: eARC
Pages: 172
Genres: Romance, Contemporary
Source: NetGalley
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2017 Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge, Lenoreo's 2017 New Release Challenge, Lenoreo’s 2017 Netgalley and Edelweiss Challenge
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Google ✩ Kobo ✩ iBooks ✩ IndieBound ✩ Book Depository
My rating:

Blurb:

Lily Cookson has a few rules for the New Year, the most important being don't fall for Jack Bailey. The gorgeous, rugged man returned with a new look and a determination to win her back, catching her off guard. After a forbidden night in his arms, she vows never to let it happen again. But when morning sickness kicks in a few weeks later, Lily realizes staying away from Jack just got a whole lot harder.

Jack Bailey left Shadow Creek behind five years ago when his world imploded around him, knowing it would be best for everyone if he was gone...including Lily. It took him a long time to get his life back on track and grow into the kind of man she needs him to be. Now he's determined to prove to Lily that he's back for good and ready to commit, but the secrets she's holding onto are nothing compared to the bombshell he drops...

My Review:

I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

3 stars — OK, am I just confused?  Or misremembering?  But wasn’t Lily like super shy in the first book?  Damn, I might have to go look it up, b/c it’s killing me.  Well Lily was definitely not shy in this one.  She really didn’t feel like the girl I remembered at all, but perhaps it’s how other people see Lily versus how she sees herself?  I’m not sure.  Not saying she wasn’t an interesting character, she just wasn’t what I was anticipating and looking forward to, and so I probably didn’t connect with her as well.

This book was a solid romance, I just felt like I was left wanting a bit.  Like it didn’t give me the same emotional impact as the first book.  But it might just be the mood I’m in.  It’s like it had all these potentially gut wrenching circumstances, but I just wasn’t connecting with the characters and their grief as much.  Maybe b/c we didn’t really get flashbacks?  Maybe I just wanted more?  I don’t know.  It’s not like we didn’t get told how Jack was having a hard time coping and there was the whole beard thing.  That was heartbreaking…but at the same time, I didn’t really feel it as much as I expected.

Part of my problem with this book is that it was a very fast read, which can be nice and devoury…but I also kind of felt like things moved at a very fast pace and didn’t give me enough time to understand the depths of emotions of either character.  I *think* I got a bit more from Lily.  But given that Jack left, I guess I kind of wanted to know what finally made him come back.  What helped him get through his grief?  What was different, what changed?  Why could he suddenly deal now?  Maybe it’s because I’m someone who struggles with depression, the fact that his obvious emotional problems weren’t really addressed, and what he did to work through his grief was just kind of glossed over, it was just very unsatisfying for me.  And quite frankly, I was NOT impressed with the extra tidbit we learned about him wrt Lily’s secret, and I felt like the letters weren’t enough.  I needed more.  Maybe I’m just being picky and greedy.

I was also not super into the climax.  That seemed kind of over the top.  Maybe I’m cynical?  I don’t know.  I’m also not huge on the whole faith and signs thing, but that’s 100% a personal taste thing.

So yeah.  I enjoyed myself, but definitely not nearly as much as the first book.  That one just felt like so much more.  I can’t decide if I’ll try to catch Gwen’s book.  Part of me is intrigued, but I’m not sure if I’m invested enough.  I guess time will tell.