More Than He Expected - Andrea Laurence

She ......

She is Gwen Wright. A nurse by profession, who generally falls in love with men who would eventually leave her. She preferred it that way. She had a troubled past with her mother always falling in love with the wrong guy and always blaming her after the break up.

Gwen did not want to end up like that. So, she had vowed never to be the one who would ruin her life for a man or spend her life pining for one. She worked the nights in a hospital and mostly slept it off in the daytime. This would leave her with friends, who could not get too nosy about her life.

This was till she decided to become a surrogate for Susan and Robert, who could not have kids of their own. Her this one unselfish act made her a very special person. Even when she faced with financial difficulties, she did not think about herself but only about ' Peanut'. ( As she lovingly called the baby)

But Adrienne, her best friend, was very worried about her and forced her to visit them at their home in San Harbor. Well in her 2nd trimester and tired if climbing the stairs of her flat, she decided to take up her offer all the while knowing that she would risk running into Alex.

He......

He is the playboy Alex Stanton., who did not believe in having term relationships. His excuse being he did not want to have a marriage like his parents. His father had done the honorable thing of marrying his mom after she became pregnant with him. Both were miserable. He never wanted to be caught like that in a relationship. So, whenever things got serious he would end it.

This was till he did not meet Gwen. She was the only reason he had come to Sag Harbor- to have another go at ' no commitment ' fling with Gwen. And then he saw the baby bump.

The Love Affair.....

Gwen and Alex had met at Adrienne and Will's wedding. Mutual attraction had flared and they ended up making love followed by two weeks of a torrid affair. It ended amicably with both of them not wanting to make a commitment or so they both thought. Eight months later they met again. But this time Alex found that  Gwen was pregnant. Not with his  child but she was a surrogate mom. The pregnancy - instead of making him want to run away made him want her more.

Gwen on the other hand found that her new found resolution of celibacy going awry the moment Alex made his intentions clear. But this time things had changed for her. She had fallen in love with him.

But could she expect Alex to ever fall in love too or would she like her mother end up alone- without her baby and without her love.

My Views...

The concept of surrogacy has been treated very gently. The pain of the mother who gives up the child vs the joy of the mother who receives the child has been brought out beautifully.

Gwen's character has been defined by this generosity of hers. Alecx depicted as a hardcore playboy shows in many instances as a caring and a loving person. In fact throughout the novel his actions are in total contrast to his persona which makes him a very lovable character.

A very good read on the whole and I would give 4/5 stars. The one star I am holding back because of the prude in me (snicker!!!) found the love scenes a bit too Ahem...... ( so ignore me and add your own fifth star )

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