BLOG TOUR - Building a Surprise Family

DESCRIPTION:

An instant family…

Is life-changing!

Pregnant construction supervisor Jo Bertoletti doesn’t need anyone’s help…or another heartbreak. So she’s putting handsome, kindhearted firefighter Ozzy Lakeman firmly into the friend zone. After all, she’s just passing through Butterfly Harbor, and her life is too complicated for a summer romance. But Ozzy feels an immediate connection. Can he convince the woman of his dreams to take a chance on building a forever family with him?

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MY THOUGHTS:

 

Title:   Building a Surprise Family

Author:  Anna J. Stewart

Series:   Butterfly Harbor #10
Publisher:  Harlequin Heartwarming

Genre:   Romance

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   368

Date of Publication:   July 27, 2021

My Rating:   4 Stars

Ozzy Lakeman is as honorable as they come. At first he was a policeman in the small town of Butterfly Harbor, but he felt he had so much more to offer so he became a firefighter. Ozzy's kind and considerate nature goes a step further when Jo Bertoletti arrives in town to supervise a construction project. Her preganancy brings out Ozzy's protective nature, especially when he learns that she is alone and will soon be a single parent. Jo needs this current job in order to put some money away for the time she will need away from work when she has the baby.

However, there are issues on the site and this ratchets up Ozzy's concern for Jo and he is determined to help her in any way that he can. It doesn't take Ozzy long for him to realize that he not only wants to be Jo's friend, but so much more. In fact, he can easily see them all becoming a family. What about Jo? Can she continue to resist the connection that blooms between her and Ozzy? Would she be wishng too much to dream for something permanent with him?

Despite events that happen at the construction site, the pull of community is powerful and this no doubt goes a long way helping Jo to decide on her future. Also, there is something very special about Ozzy and in this story we see how he deals with baggage that might keep him from finding true love, and this is where Jo comes in with her own issues and proves to be perfect for him.

No doubt the entire Butterfly Harbor series was just as endearing as this book, Building a Surprise Family. I did not get a chance to read the previous books in the series, and this book did just fine as a standalone. However, the author does note that Ozzy appeared in the first and just about every book in the series thus far and in this book he finally got his chance for a HEA. I am excited for the next book in the series.

Many thanks to Harlequin Heartwarming and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please enjoy the following excerpt:

Building a Surprise Family | Excerpt Anna J. Stewart The truck’s engine suddenly went silent. Ozzy walked over to greet the driver. “That is a thing of beauty,” he said as the door opened and the driver dropped to the ground in front of him. Every thought he had disappeared straight out of his head. Tall, curvy and with sun-streaked blond hair knotted into a messy pile on top of her head, Butterfly Harbor’s latest arrival faced Ozzy with a wide, welcoming smile on her round face. Beneath the barely-there sunlight of the May morning, her skin seemed to glisten in the chilly air. She had light brown eyes, almost amber with flecks of gold that sparkled when she smiled. She wore snug jeans that accentuated everything a man like him enjoyed, sneakers that looked as if they’d been worn into the ground and a snug short-sleeved turquoise T-shirt that displayed a surprisingly round stomach. The new foreman was a woman? A pregnant forewoman? “Didn’t realize there’d be a welcoming committee.” The woman closed the truck door and stepped up to him. “I know I wasn’t expected until next week, but I wanted to get a jump on settling in. I’m Jo Bertoletti. You are not Mayor Hamilton.” She gestured to Ozzy’s T-shirt with the BHFD logo on the front peeking out of his jacket. “Ah, no, ma’am.” Ozzy shook her offered hand. Her skin felt rough and calloused, proving she was someone who was used to getting her hands dirty. Beneath that observation, a dull buzz shifted through his system. “I’m Ozzy Lakeman. I was in the diner when you drove down Monarch Lane. Just thought I’d come up and be the first to see what was happening here.” His own smile widened as something oddly definitive dinged. “I guess that makes me the welcoming committee.” “I appreciate that, Ozzy Lakeman of the BHFD.” She beamed at him before her expression shifted into a knowing one. “Judging by the look on your face, I’m betting you weren’t expecting someone…like me.” “I…uh.” There had to be a way to answer that without sounding like a complete sexist or jerk. “Like you?” Jo snickered. “Don’t worry, Ozzy. Not the first time I’ve seen that reaction when I arrive on a site. And it’s not because of the little bun I’m baking in here. Bun in the oven. That’s such a weird phrase. Although come to think about it, I have spent my fair share of time waiting for my sourdough starter to develop.” Ozzy could only nod. His ears were buzzing and his heart did an odd little skip and jolted in a manner he’d never felt anytime he’d swiped right.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

USA Today and national bestselling author Anna J Stewart can't remember a time she didn't have a book in her hands or a story in her head. Early obsessions with Star Wars, Star Trek, and Wonder Woman set her on the path to creating sweet to sexy pulse-pounding romances for her independent heroines. Anna lives in Northern California where she deals with a serious Supernatural addiction and an overly affectionate cat named Snickers.

Connect with the Author
Website: https://www.authorannastewart.com/#
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAnnaJStewart
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ajstewartwriter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annajstewart/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8475995.Anna_J_Stewart