I went into this wanting a cute, light-hearted story. Megan was annoying at times. Like going back to bed when she was going to put on a sweatshirt. Starts about two weeks from Thanksgiving and doesn't even reach Christmas and Megan goes from a self-determined spinster to very upset that Patrick has proposed. I don't expect much out of romances, but this one just didn't hit the mark. Evanovich does put in some cute moments that remind me of why I enjoy her writing.

How did I find this book? I've been reading the Stephanie Plum series. This was a holiday recommendation from CloudLibrary.

Megan Murphy was left at the altar on her wedding day. Embarrassed, she moved away to start over in Williamsburg, VA where she met Dr. Patrick Hunter, a pediatrician, and had insta-love episodes!

The story is quick and fluffy with some funny moments. But you'll have to suspend disbelief to be able to fully enjoy this goofy romance that starts before Thanksgiving.

I felt Megan's a bit clingy and wanted to get married too soon after what happened with her ex fiance. She kept the wedding dress as a reminder so why... anyway. This was written in 1988 so I'll give it some slack and after all, it's Thanksgiving

I almost abandoned this one. The beginning felt so forced.  And I can't even pretend to believe that a young, single mother could drop her son off at her doctor's house for 2 weeks with no explanation and have no consequences for it. My ability to suspend my disbelief only go so far, even for cheesy fiction. There were some enjoyable moments and typical Evanovich calamities here. Those things saved the book for me.

I had to suspend about a couple tons of disbelief to swallow the premise that an MD who was handed a stray baby would not call social services. I understood that it was necessary for the plot that this man and this woman care for the baby themselves because it will draw them together, but the doctor would at least have filed a report or something. That fact alone made me think this one of the stupidest books I ever read. I was only able to tolerate it by viewing it as an old comic movie, maybe with a Katherine Hepburn type as the fiery redhead, and maybe with a Jimmy Stewart type as the goofy, adorable doctor. The dialogue was snappy, and it was entertaining, if fluffy. Plus, it was mercifully short.

Welp. That was miserable.

Let me begin by saying that I don't think it's impossible for two people to click right away and have such a strong attraction especially when thrown into a situation that makes it impossible to avoid the other... However, the relationship between the two protagonists was forced. Also, I am really tired of a woman doesn't cook or want children but as soon as she sees a baby she wants to be around the child all the time and all of sudden becomes this great mothering resource. Sure we all have parenting capabilities but I feel like stories like this do a great disservice to those who have chosen a life without children; it feeds into the popular belief that if only this situation were forced onto a woman who doesn't want children that soon she will become googly eyed and motherly. I feel like this is a way that a lot of women who shouldn't have had children got pressured into have children because of people with this mentality of motherhood being "innate" in all women.
However even more disconcerting is the underlining message of if a man wants a woman then with enough needling and pressuring, unwanted touches and advances, the woman will give in because that's how she really feels deep down. Also I find it disconcerting that the female lead is the one who has to take care of this wayward child because she just happened to be visiting the person the child was left with and because she expressed concern for the child becoming a ward of the state. Also, her job is not taken into consideration at all, and pretty much glanced over once it's established that the male lead is a doctor.
Ultimately, there are ways to convey someone feeling reserved about starting a relationship and someone who wants to pursue this someone without a lot of unwanted touches and demanding talk. There are also ways to convey that someone who didn't have any motherly experience rose to the challenge and found herself wanting a child, despite having little exposure to children. I am not opposed to those kind of scenarios, but this book just screams "well women don't know what they want until they have motherhood and a man thrust upon them."

But putting all of that aside, as I attempted to do so I could finish, the writing was choppy. There were multiple times where it was unclear as to who was speaking and why certain things were said and the way they were said. The characters motivation for both caring for a left behind child and the chemistry between the two felt unrealistic and unrelatable. I found myself skimming to the end.

Where do I begin on this one?

All I can think is that Evanovich was on crack the whole time she was writing this. Actually, if she was on crack it may have come out better. It's HORRIBLE!

The main character, Megan, was the most crazy, psycho, bipolar, unbearable character in a romantic book I've ever seen. One second she was mad he wasn't proposing to her and the next she wanted to smack him. Granted, when you are in love you do crazy things, but she was just annoying! I mean really!

Thank God Evanovich got better as time went on because this was just outright horrendous.

Right around Halloween I like to look for holiday themed books.
I found this one on a list.

Megan and Pat meet when Pats rabbit chews a hole through her skirt. They live in Williamsburg, VA.

Everything about this book is absurd. I'm supposed to believe a pediatrician would simply take a baby left in his care without calling authorities. I'm also supposed to believe a woman's maternal instincts suddenly go into overdrive just being around said abandoned baby.

I chuckled a bit but all of the outrageous over the top situations were not enough to keep my attention.

Mindless reading doesn't have to be great literature for me, butt his was ridiculous. Hardly worth reading at all. I'm sorry to be so harsh, but I hope I never have to waste my time on a book like this.

Entertaining relationship listening