An Unexpected Baby by Shadonna Richards

Welcome Shadonna Richards and her book An Unexpected Baby. 

I'm actually in the beginning parts of this book and can't wait to see how it unfolds.

AN UNEXPECTED BABY 
(The Bride Series)


By Shadonna Richards


Getting a man is one thing…keeping him is a whole different story!

Recently wed to her hot boss, CEO Evan Fletcher, Emma Wiggins-Fletcher thinks her sizzling hubby is avoiding spending quality time with her…that is until Emma discovers that her pregnancy test is positive.

A baby changes everything. Jetsetter Evan discovers his new wife is pregnant and cancels an important business trip and prepares to rearrange his workaholic life to pamper his newlywed princess. Emma is over the moon about the new special affection from her spouse and her ill grandfather. Gramps has been given six more months to live, and he is so delighted about the baby news, he plans a surprise for the couple.

Too bad her world is turned upside down when she discovers the pregnancy test was false. Emma has been enjoying Evan’s renewed attention and he’s already shifted his life around to be daddy to their unborn. How could she possibly break the news to her husband and to her ailing grandfather without breaking their hearts? Still, pretending to be pregnant is a whole different story and can only last so long before they find out the truth.


EXCERPT



“So when are you going to make me a great-grandpa? You can have children, can’t you, pumpkin?” The old man’s eyes playfully narrowed towards his granddaughter. 


“Gramps!” Emma Wiggins-Fletcher felt her stomach churn as she sat beside her ailing grandfather feeding him cornmeal porridge she had made earlier. She felt heat rush to her cheeks.


“Sorry, pumpkin. You know your old grandpa. Sometimes I just speak what’s on my mind. Didn’t mean to embarrass you, sunshine.”


“That’s okay, Gramps.” How could Emma be upset with her dear old grandfather who just six months ago was given a death sentence with prostate cancer? He was still not out of the woods yet, but at least he’d been given a few more months. A miracle. She wanted to spend every blessed moment she could with him, especially now that he was getting too weak to take care of basic needs like feeding and changing. Thanks to her rich new husband, Evan Fletcher, CEO of her former company, Fletcher Advertising, she could afford to have a personal support worker come in daily to bathe him and tend to his other needs. Still, his spirit was strong though his body was weak. His tongue, however, seemed to carry a lot of strength these days. 
“But you can have kids, right?” Again, he persisted between mouthfuls of scooped porridge. He swallowed quickly to continue his speech to Emma’s chagrin. “Some people are infertile, you know. And they don’t even know it! Imagine that!  Is something wrong with Evan that you’re not telling me?” He leaned closer to her, his eyebrows knitted together.


“Gramps!”


“Sorry, pumpkin. Sorry.” He leaned back in his reclined bed, folding his arms across his chest. He wore a smug but innocent expression on his face.


Talk about an invasive question. What happens between couples should stay…between couples!


Talk about pressure to fit into society’s expectations.


Truth was, nobody knew if they could have kids until…well, they had kids. She’d read somewhere that studies showed that a percentage of infertile couples have nothing wrong with them physically. It’s just the luck of the draw. That was the worst scenario. Sure, she had irregular cycles but still, Evan was alright. Wasn’t he? He was healthy. He wore boxers not briefs, so that could not affect his sperm count. Was the pressure to have kids within the first year of marriage so great? Still, she really wanted to be a mommy and the more people—meaning her grandfather and mother—stressed her about when she would finally become a mother, the more resentful she felt. Sheesh! It wasn’t as if one would go to the mall and purchase a bundle of joy. One little sperm out of a billion had to meet the egg thingy at just the right time in the month. How easy was that? If only couples with kids knew what a blessing they had—something that must not be taken for granted. Still, secretly Emma had been purchasing every single home pregnancy test at every drug store she could. She and her new hubby were having unprotected sex, even though Evan wouldn’t admit he’d love to have a child, he’d agreed to it. She wanted to increase her chances of pregnancy. It wasn’t like she was getting any younger.  Children meant the world to her. Having Evan’s children would mean the world to her. Not to mention to be able to carry on the Wiggins family tree on her father’s side. Evan was facing lots of pressure himself, like his own father’s failing health and the fact he had to be placed back in an institution. That couldn’t be good for him or Evan. Probably it was the stress of having no choice but to return his father to the mental institution that was driving him…crazy. Maybe that could affect his sperm count. Sheesh!


What could Emma do, really? So much had happened during the last six months since her quickie wedding at her grandfather’s hospital bedside to Evan due to circumstances surrounding her grandfather given only days to live at that time and wanting to see his only grandchild married off before he reached the “Pearly Gates.” Thankfully, his prognosis had been extended to include months. After Evan agreed to marry her and professed his love for her just as she had always been in love with him, Evan insisted that her grandfather move in with them. 


But then things changed suddenly. 


Without warning! 


The heat from Evan’s passion cooled off quite a bit after mounting pressure at work, including politics at the office and jabs at Emma, his former assistant turned bride and whispers of a “horizontal promotion” which Emma decided to back off from the promotion due to accusations of nepotism to work from home on other things like being his private secretary.  
Was he having second thoughts? Did the whole marriage by guilt or having an elderly in-law live in their home cause him concern? She wished he would speak his mind. 






**Here’s the set up for the prequel for AN UNEXPECTED BRIDE (Book 1 in The Bride Series) for those who haven’t read the first book.

Emma Wiggins is about to marry her heart-stopping, gorgeous boss, CEO Evan Fletcher, in seven days--too bad he doesn't know it yet!

Desperate to fulfill her ailing grandfather's last wish to see her settle down and get married, Emma Wiggins, a 30-year-old, career-focused executive tells him a little white lie on his deathbed that she is in fact engaged--to her boss, deliciously handsome and emotionally unavailable, Evan Fletcher.

The situation takes an unexpected turn when her grandfather's condition improves slightly and to her shock, he goes ahead and arranges a wedding ceremony at his hospital bedside before he passes on. Now, all Emma has to do is convince unsuspecting, commitment-phobic Evan to tie the knot with her in seven days. Can love blossom in the most unlikely situation?
“A feel good romantic comedy you won’t want to miss”

“The much anticipated sequel to the Kindle #1 Bestseller in Humor 'An Unexpected Bride' (The Bride Series) which has sold 45,000 copies in its first eight months of release on Amazon.com”

What some reviewers have said about An Unexpected Bride (The Bride Series)

"Author Shadonna Richards has an "unexpected" bestseller on her hands with this unheralded romantic comedy....An Unexpected Bride has sold 10,000 copies in its first three months..."
-KINDLE NATION DAILY

"Shadonna Richards is a wonderful author!...It's a sweet and romantic story that will sweep you off your feet."
-REVIEWS BY MOLLY

"This sweet and humorous romance is sure to keep you entertained as well as have you giggling" - TWEEZLEREADS

"I would recommend this book to fans of chick-lit and light romance or anyone looking for a book to curl up with on a rainy afternoon." -HANDS AND HOME

About the Author

Bestselling author Shadonna Richards has a B.A. Degree in Psychology and a Diploma in Nursing. She enjoys reading and writing about the magic of romance and the power of love. She is the author of the non-fiction books, A Gift of Hope and Think & Be Happy: 365 Empowering Thoughts to Lift Your Spirit (an Amazon Kindle #1 Bestseller in Meditation). Winner of Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write 2010 Day Two Challenge, she is a member of the Romance Writers of America. An Unexpected Bride became a #1 Kindle bestseller in Humor and is her first novel. It has sold over 45,000 copies in its first eight months on Kindle. She’s a proud mommy and wife and lives in Canada with her husband and son.

You can visit her at www.shadonnarichards.blogspot.com and join her mailing list for updates, giveaways and news on upcoming releases.  

www.shadonnarichards.blogspot.com

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