From different worlds… …to the perfect family? Entrusted to take his late colleague’s young son to his grandmother, Manhattan financier Matt McLellan hires down-on-her-luck skipper Meg O’Hara to take them across Australia’s Bass Strait. He might be a billionaire, but on board Meg’s boat she’s the boss! The flame-haired beauty gets under the committed bachelor’s skin and by the time they … by the time they reach their destination, Matt’s wondering if he’s finally found the family he never knew he needed…
“Ms. Lennox has given her readers a trust book, yes it’s a romance and yes there is a HEA…. The ability that she has to show us this through her story, but relatable enough to get into your head is a true talent…I would classify this as a classic….”
— Harlequin Junkie on English Lord on Her Doorstep
“A wonderfully uplifting read that will touch your heart and make you smile from start to finish, The Billionaire’s Christmas Baby is another winner by multi award-winning author and reader favourite Marion Lennox!”
— Goodreads
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Matt McLellan is a Manhattan financier who ends up taking care of Henry, the son of one of his colleagues who was killed in a traffic accident. Matt feels responsible for him and is at a loss of how to help him. Henry has been in contact with his grandmother in Australia and Matt sets out to bring him there. Meg O’Hara works for a charter boat company and is hired by Matt to bring them across Bass Strait to the island where Peggy, Henry’s grandmother lives. Meg questions Matt about Henry to make sure that he is on the up and up. There are many adventures the three face before they even get to Peggy’s island. The boat goes on fire and they have to get to shore on a deserted island and wait for help. Meg proves to be well equipped to help them survive. She also helps Henry begin to open up using her dog Boof. After meeting Peggy, they realize that she is incapable of taking care of Henry and convince her to leave the island. Meg offers Peggy and Henry to live with her, but things change when Henry’s biological father is found. The father has conditions for Henry to be adopted by Matt and he agrees. Matt convinces Peggy and Meg to return with him to NYC. They go. Soon Meg realizes that Matt is a workaholic and is using that as an excuse because he can’t express his feelings for Meg. She decides to go back to Australia. Matt soon realizes what he has lost and decides to do a grand gesture to get her back.
I loved this story. It was so sweet. Meg is a strong independent woman who impressed Matt with her skills. He was man enough to let her take control in order for them to survive. They had great chemistry. My heart broke for both Henry and Peggy, but I was happy that they found each other. This is a feel- good story that has a happily ever after. Couldn’t put it down.
Very good book. Matt is a billionaire workaholic in New York, well known for his financial dealings. One of the lawyers who works for him is a single mother who often brings her young son to work with her. Matt frequently finds Henry in his office, reading or playing computer games. As the book opens, Matt has taken Henry with him to visit McLellan Place, one of Matt’s properties. I loved how Matt tried to bring a little fun to Henry’s life and ached for the little boy whose mother had imposed such control on the boy. When Henry’s mother dies in an accident while he is with Matt, Matt takes responsibility for getting Henry from New York to his grandmother in Australia. I hurt for Henry, but also for Matt, who was at a loss about how to help him.
Meg is the captain of the charter boat Matt hires to take him and Henry to the island where Peggy lives. She left school at sixteen to help her grandfather after her grandmother died. They raised her after the deaths of her parents. She fished with her grandfather, and after his death, continued because that was all she knew. She has debts to pay from her grandfather’s illness, so she feels stuck in a dead-end position.
I liked the first meeting between Matt and Meg. There were sparks between them from the beginning. She’s pretty much forced to take the charter by her boss but accepts because the money is good. She makes it clear she’s not happy and is overheard by Matt. I liked how Meg stood up to him, checking on his credentials and right to have Henry with him. He’s a bit leery of her qualifications but quickly overcomes his doubts. What truly impresses him is how quickly she bonds with Henry. For two weeks, Matt hasn’t been able to break through Henry’s shell, but Meg manages in a few minutes. I loved watching Henry take to Meg’s dog, Boof, and start to act a little bit like a normal kid. I loved how Matt was impressed and thankful for what she did.
But delivering Henry to his grandmother does not go smoothly. The boat that they are on goes up in flames, stranding them on an unoccupied island. To make matters worse, Meg’s boss did not outfit the boat with the proper emergency gear. I loved how Meg and Matt worked together to make sure Henry was safe and to maximize their chances of rescue. While on the island, the attraction between Matt and Meg continues to grow. Their rescue adds further complications to the plans for Henry, as his grandmother is not in a good position to safely care for him, and Henry’s father is located. Dad has demands of his own, motivating Matt to offer Peggy and Henry a home at McLellan Place. He wants Meg to come along, too, and comes up with what he believes is the perfect plan.
Oh, how I wanted to shake Matt. His belief that he can continue his lifestyle and work habits while being a part-time father and husband shows how skewed his values are. He can feel that he wants to spend more time with Meg but fights hard against admitting what his feelings are. I ached for Meg, who knew she had fallen for Matt and wanted more than what he offered. I loved seeing her reach the point where she had enough and laid into him for being selfish. It seemed to take forever for Matt to finally see the truth, but when he does, he discovers how much loving her has changed him. His big moment at the end is sweet and romantic.