Two besties and a baby make for an instafamily and a surprising romance in a delightful series by Melissa Foster, the New York Times bestselling author of the Sugar Lake novels.
Ben Dalton has always been honest, except where his heart is concerned. He’s been in love with his best friend—saucy, smart-mouthed Aurelia Stark—forever. But Ben’s a planner, and timing has never been on his side. When … been on his side. When he finally decides to make his move, Aurelia beats him to the punch with a move of her own—to a different town.
Aurelia loves her new life in the charming town of Harmony Pointe. She has a great apartment and her very own bookstore, and best of all, the sinfully hot, commitment-phobic friend she’s crushed on for years is no longer just around the corner. Maybe she’ll finally be able to leave her unrequited love behind and move on.
But when a baby is left on Ben’s front porch—a baby that is presumably his—Aurelia is there for him. Neither one knows the first thing about babies, but how hard can it be? Ben and Aurelia are catapulted into a world of love, laughter, and tracking down the baby mama, and it might even add up to a very happily ever after… just not one either of them expects.
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Fun read!
Ben and Aurelia have been best friends forever, but somewhere along they both want more. When a baby shows up on Ben’s doorstep their relationship definitely changes. How can you not fall in love with one baby girl and form a bond for each other? Sometimes sweet, sometimes sad and a whole lot of sexy when one little girl’s asleep. Hop on board for a rollercoaster ride.
loved it made me cry made me laugh
Is there anything more awkward than trying to figure out how many random women your best friend – the guy you’re secretly in love with – has slept with recently because a baby showed up on his doorstep? That’s the question at the start of this book, and I’ve got to say that our introduction to Ben left a sour taste in my mouth that lingered until the book finally won me over. An otherwise swoonworthy guy, Ben uses casual sex as a distraction from his feelings for Aurelia, and since she doesn’t know how he feels, she takes that as a sign that he won’t be able to commit if she does open up about her own feelings. They have a somewhat unhealthy friendship, and Aurelia has decided that she’s finally had enough of it when a baby appears with a note claiming to be Ben’s. His reaction to that news sets the tone for the book moving forward as the two team up to try to figure out exactly what’s going on – starting their own instant family in the process.
I’m a fan of Melissa Foster, so when NetGalley offered me an ARC in exchange for an honest review, I was excited to read this book (and that cover is awesome). The writing is great and the characters are complex – it just took a little while for me to like them as people. I liked the depth of emotion between these two, and once the book shifted away from Ben’s past, I liked him a whole lot. He’s sweet, a great father, and his feelings for Aurelia are unwavering. It definitely took a while for the book to grow on me, and had I not committed to reviewing the ARC, I’m not sure that I would’ve continued reading. That being said, I would’ve missed the heartwarming and sexy book that this turns into once it settles into the story.
“Once upon a time there were two best friends, a sassy, sexy girl who loved Converse sneakers and was careful with every penny, and an insanely handsome, rich man who adored her. They did everything together except share the truth of their hearts.”
Sexy, fun, sweet and wildly romantic friends-to-lovers/surprise-baby rom-com with fantastic humor, heart and heat. I adored Ben and Aurelia’s story and immediately dived into the Sugar Lake series featuring Ben’s sisters. I can’t wait for more to come in the Harmony Pointe series!
What do you do when you have fallen in love with your best friend but cannot act on it? Do you ruin the friendship by acting on your feelings? What happens when you are ready to tell her but one package left at your door stops everything in it’s tracks…..especially when that package is a baby girl that might just be yours. Ben is truly in love with Aurelia but needs to put his daughter first. Can Aurelia and Ben become instant parents and fall in love? Or will the baby be the one thing that stops the friendship altogether? I fell in love with this couple from the opening pages. The humor and connection between them leaps of the pages. Throw in a beautiful newborn and you have the perfect combination. Cannot wait for more in this series.
This is a great start to a new series by Melissa Foster.
Ben and Aurelia have been friends for a long time. The attraction between the two is undeniable but neither have done anything about it. They don’t know what to do when a baby shows up on Ben’s doorstep. Thankfully he has Aurelia there to help him take care of the baby. It doesn’t take long for these two to finally realize they have something and go for it.
This was a fun read, a story filled with laughter and moments that warm your heart. I loved this book and recommend it.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Ruthie –
I am a huge Melissa Foster fan, and always reach the final page with a smile on my face… and a tissue at my side! This was no different, I had truly ugly tears, but by the end all is good. It was fun too catching up with a lot of friends from Sugar Lake. Who would have expected Piper to be the one who steps up to the plate with baby shopping?
I enjoy friends-to-lovers romances, and this one has an added kick with the baby on the doorstep. Anyone who has faced new parenthood will be laughing as they navigate the unexpected sides that you rarely see in films or TV, but that make up the reality of those early months. The fact that Aurelia had grown up without a mum made the situation more poignant, but led to some important conversations.
For a fairly quick (because I could not put it down), romantic and fun read, this would be hard pressed to beat. I am very much looking forward to more in the series – and hopefully more time in the new bookshop, which sounds like somewhere I would spend a lot of my time!
Sarah –
I loved this fun friends-to-lovers romance and I’m so glad I ignored the blurb and trusted that Melissa Foster wouldn’t let me down. Best friends Ben and Aurelia have been secretly in love with each other forever, but neither has dared risk their friendship for a chance at romance. It’s the unexpected baby dropped on Ben’s doorstep that finally forces them to see each other differently and try for something more.
I love the playfulness in Ben and Aurelia’s relationship. These two feel like soulmates from the first page and it was a joy watching them get together. I also loved Aurelia as a character. We meet her when she’s finally gathered the courage to make her life work for her. She’s a new business owner – full of ideas and anxious about details. She’s also determined to be independent. She’s a character I’d love as a friend and she’s possibly the least maternal mother figure I’ve read in a while. In contrast, Ben is a bit bland and not always convincing as a billionaire financier. For me, Ben’s work is the one element of this story that doesn’t feel quite right. Aside from the surprise baby, Ben is pretty much perfect and I always think perfect is pretty boring.
I’m not a fan of kids in romance and I’m not a huge baby fan in general. Thankfully, the baby parts of this book are far more comical than sentimental. The baby is the catalyst for Ben and Aurelia to re-examine their lives and their relationship – and neither of these two is ready for parenthood. I love the development we see in both characters in this story and I enjoyed the close community that surrounds them.
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Ms. Foster always writes the best friends to lovers with a twist. Of course the twist with these friends turned lovers is learning how to parent while falling in love. I enjoyed the growth of these characters so much, not just as a couple but individually as well. I love that even though this us a new series we get to see characters from other Foster books. I’m excited to see where this series will go!
Wow! That was my first thought when I finished this book. Also, this was my first read by Melissa Foster, but certainly not my last.
As I was reading this book, I thought this is so cute. Another surprise baby story (and I do love that troupe) with the Daddy totally lost and confused. But this book was so much more.
Aurelia is her own person. She is not needy, not dependent and certainly not a pushover.
Ben is organized, a perfectionist and always waiting for the right time.
One morning Ben has a surprise on his front porch, calls his best friend, Aurelia . . . hence the beginning of one hell of an adventure. The laugh out loud humor! The antics! The what do we do now moments!
And then . . . the laughter ceases and realization become the central point of this story. That sometimes we must do what seems to be the wrong thing for all the right reasons. After, I laughed my self into oblivion, I cried myself into a stupor.
Melissa seamlessly combines love and heartbreak, laughter and tears, ups and downs, love and hatred. She has also seamlessly earned 5 stars from this reader.
Call Her Mine is a fun, sexy, sweet book that has you laughing one minute and reaching for your tissues the next. This is a wonderful friends to lovers story with an added surprise along the way. Ben and Aurelia have been friends for years and are absolutely perfect for each other. Once they admit their feelings, they can’t keep their hands off of each other, the chemistry between them is scorching hot. I absolutely loved Ben and Aurelia together and I enjoyed watching Ben taking care of what is his and loved how he made Aurelia feel special and loved. I also enjoyed visiting with all of the Sugar Lake gang. I could not put this book down once I started it. I truly cannot wait for the next book in this series.
This is a fun, sexy, laugh out loud emotionally thrilling romantic journey… .. the perfect relaxing in the sun with a cold drink summer reading. Adore this intriguing couple and all the fun charters that around them. Excellent reading that was so hard to put down, I look forward to more from this series.
I love the friends to lovers trope. Call Her Mine shows it at its best with a hero and heroine who make me happy. They’re both strong people who value open communication and honesty. Their love, friendship and regard for one another is never in question. The only thing they haven’t spoken is how much they want each other, but thankfully, that doesn’t last long. There’s a wrench that gets thrown in the works? But even that they tackle as a unit. It’s pretty great.
Also, can we just take a minute to appreciate the yumminess who is the cover model. Yes, please, and thank you!
Two of my favorite tropes in one book….single dad and billionaire! Ben and Aurelia made me smile right from the start. You can feel their love and devotion for each other and baby B with each turn of the page! I loved that Aurelia was opening a bookstore. I also like that Ben didn’t act like a flashy billionaire and wanted his home to be wherever his two favorite girls are. Melissa gave us a twist I didn’t see coming and it made me tearful, but also made love this family even more. Ben could call me his forever any day! This story will have you bursting with joy, hope, compassion and so much love! It just goes to show dreams come true when you least expect them!
I absolutely love Melissa Foster and her book’s and this one is no exception!! I love a good to friends to lovers book but this one wow this one had some twist and turns I didn’t see coming. And when a book does that to me I love it!! And everything that Ben and Relsey went through and came out stronger and better for it. And I can’t wait to read about more in this town/family. This is definitely a book you don’t need any spoilers about but I will tell you that I highly highly recommend it!!!! By Tina
I always enjoy her writting
Adorable. I loved that Ben and Aurelia were friends first. Their chemistry was HOT and their interactions around Bea were so heartwarming. I also loved the fact that the angsty part was not between them but instead they were a united front against a possible bad situation. I really enjoyed this and can’t wait for the next book in Harmony Pointe!
Sweet and sometimes cheesy and other times heartbreaking, this story revolves around a precious baby girl that arrives in the life of Aurelia and Ben at a time where they needed her. Even though initially they both revolted; Ben because he didn’t want the responsibility and Aurelia because she felt it ruined her chances with Ben, this baby was necessary.
Ben and Aurelia have been best friends like forever, and they have feelings for the other. However, due to circumstances, such as other boyfriends for Aurelia and frequent business trips for Ben, they hadn’t found an exact moment in time when they could plan to divulge their feelings to the other. I think it was mostly cowardice, fear of being rejected and losing the friendship. When Baby B arrived (B for Ben), it threw them into such a tailspin that they emerged battered and committed to each other and the baby.
There were some hysterical scenes where a poop explosion happens and they panic and yell and run, and other scenes where the peace and love of a sleeping baby brings them together.
There are no couples conflicts in this book, more like the opening of eyes and hearts to what they mean to each other as they each fall in love with Baby B and commit to her welfare. There are peeks into family members that seem to come from previous stories and the adjustment and learning curve of living with baby. There are sexy times, quickie times that all new parents know intimately LOL, lots of baby bottles and diapers duty. It was fun, tender, endearing, full of family love, and if it was a little cheesy at times, it was OK because it was so heartwarming.
Another scene not to miss is Ben in a g-string! Can’t miss this one! Read it!
4.5 stars
As is usually the case with Melissa Foster’s stories, there is a lot of interconnection. Although this is the first book in a new series, this series is a spin off of her Sugar Lake series. Neither series is technically a part of the huge Love in Bloom family, but there are crossover characters to be found for sure. If you read all of this author’s work, it’s a lot of fun to hear about or see familiar faces. If this is your first book by this author, that’s okay too. She does a wonderful job of keeping her stories contained enough that you don’t have to read the other books to enjoy any of them. So dive in!
The way this story starts, I thought it was going to be a slow build. Joke was on me because BAM, things got real super-fast. Same with the romance aspect of this story. I adore the friends to lovers trope with the exception of when the author takes too long for the friends to realize they should be lovers. When this pair admit their feelings, it is just plain hot. And it happens even sooner than I expected…Yay!
Ben and Aurelia have stable lives and are pretty intelligent people. They never realized what it would take to raise a little tiny baby, or how much they could fall in love with said baby so quickly. It was fun and emotional at the same time to watch these two become three and then gel into a cohesive family unit. There is a lot of love and respect between them and it shows.
Lest you think this story is too full of taking care of baby and major life changes to still give you butterflies and heat, I’m here to tell you different. There is chemistry, both romantic and purely sexual, that reaches off the pages and pulls you into the story. Another great story by Melissa Foster.
This review can also be found at https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.com/2019/08/21/call-her-mine-harmony-pointe/
This one provides a bit of unexpected emotional ride, intense anger, and then strong unity and compassion.
Jump in on the beginning of a new series from Melissa Foster. Take flight with a fantastic take off. This was a friends to lovers with a bit more. The ins and outs of Ben Dalton and his love for the one person he wanted more than anyone in the world, Aurelia. Aurelia Stark had forever loved Ben and as things move forward in life she makes a decision that she can no longer wait for him to see her right before his eyes. The one things that draws them closer together and that step closer to what they both one get disturbed by a little hiccup.
Bea was not so much a hiccup as a connector piece. She was just what was needed to push both Ben and Aurelia to open their eyes and their feelings to what could and should be.
This one brings all the characters to life and shows ferocity of some while the compassionate side of other. There are characters to love so much you want more of them and then there are those that make you cry. I have to say that I did have to pull out the tissue. Those last five to six chapters just had me wrapped up tight. I for one can say this was another well loved romance from Melissa Foster and a fab introduction to the life in Harmony Pointe. There were also some interesting cameos from some that I would love to see more of. I look forward to Remy and more from Harmony Pointe.