They met at a wedding… Will they say ‘I do’? It’s wedding photographer Harper’s job to capture other people’s happy ever afters, but she doesn’t believe in one for herself. Until she meets ruggedly gorgeous best man Drew. Having offered to be a surrogate for her best friend, Harper tries to fight their instant chemistry, until Drew sneaks past her defenses. But she’s about to learn this … to learn this extraordinary man has an extraordinary secret!
Marrying a Millionaire duet
Book 1 — Best Man for the Wedding Planner
Book 2 — Secret Millionaire for the Surrogate
“A lovely setting, well-written characters and a completely believable conflict make for an engaging read.” RT Book Reviews on Hired: The Italian’s Bride
“Love and romance artfully knitted in a well-written story featuring family, new traditions, and how one successful woman forged a new path in life.” Goodreads on A Cadence Creek Christmas
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I read the first book in this series, Best Man for the Wedding Planner, and was eager to read Harper’s story. I was not disappointed. It is a fun read about two people who find love in a most interesting situation. Definitely a fun read. I recommend it.
Secret Millionaire for the Surrogate by Donna Alward
Harper has agreed to be a surrogate for her best friend in order for her friend to be able to have a child. Drew is the best man at the wedding. Harper and Drew meet and begin to fall in love but fight it because he doesn’t want to be tied down by strings he wants to be able to travel when and where he wants. They work through their problems and he helps he deal with the process of giving the baby to the friends. I really enjoyed this book and totally recommend.
Secret Millionaire for the Surrogate is the second novel in the Marrying a Millionaire series, the first book I’ve read in the series, and also the first novel I’ve read by Donna Alward. The fact that I’d not read the first book in the series wasn’t a problem, the main characters and their relationships to each other were easily explained in this novel. While it’s a far cry from the steamier, angst-laden novels I usually read and review, I found myself liking all the well-drawn characters, the authors’ writing style, and this rather sweet, clean, and not quite as simple as it seems romance, and it gets 4 stars from this reader.
The novel opens at the wedding of the two characters who were featured in the first book in the series, Dan and Adele. Adele is Harper’s best and closest friend. Harper, a wedding and wildlife photographer, is her maid of honor and her only attendant. Dan’s brother, Drew, is the best man, handsome and charming, and he tries to charm Harper into a fling, but she’s a very different sort of gal, and rebuffs his advances, not because she dislikes or isn’t attracted to him, but she’s been charmed and jilted before, feels she’s rather ordinary, and has put up walls to keep her from ever making that mistake again.
Harper knows that Adele is unable to have children due to having cancer at a young age, and she’s got quite a wedding gift for the happy couple–she offers to undergo IV fertilization and carry and give birth to Adele and Dan’s biological baby as their surrogate, and several months later, the procedure was successful and Harper is now carrying their baby. They choose to wait to tell anyone else until after her first trimester, but when Dan’s brother, Drew, suddenly shows up looking for retail space to expand his business, Aspen Outfitters, his chain of sporting goods stores into Canada, he soon realizes that Dan, Adele and Harper are holding something back, and they finally ‘fess up and admit that Harper is pregnant with their child. Drew questions Harper’s motives, assuming there’s a big payoff in her future, but is shocked and impressed to learn that Harper is giving her friends this amazing gift out of the goodness of her heart.
Drew is the secret millionaire in the title, although Harper hasn’t a clue, and he’s used to the women he meets wanting his money more than they want him. Harper couldn’t be more different–and that difference makes him want to know her better, but Drew is also commitment phobic, loves travel and adventure, and so these two characters, who share a love of the outdoors, begin to form a friendship while Drew is in town and they enjoy each others’ company.
Harper’s family moved frequently during her childhood, so much in fact, that she never really had time to form friendships, or was in one place long enough to call it home. All she’s ever wanted was a place to call home, friends and a family of her own someday. She offered to be a surrogate because she seldom dated the same person more than once or twice, and had resigned herself to the fact that she might never find the right guy or have a child of her own, and this might be her only chance to experience pregnancy.
Eight-year-old Drew once heard an argument between his parents, learned that his father was forced to turn down a lucrative job, which would have meant relocating, because Drew’s mother refused to move the family, and from that point on, he saw marriage and family as a trap that would tie him down. He’s well aware that he never wants to feel that he’s settled for a humdrum and boring life, and he makes no secret of feeling that he may never be ready to settle down and raise a family. Could these two main characters be more different?
When the friendship and growing feelings between Harper and Drew deepen, they both know that his wanderlust and phobia about commitment and her nesting nature are diametrically opposed, and that eventually Drew will go back to his own home base. Drew finds the retail space for his new business, and there’s lots to do before it opens. Meanwhile, Harper’s pregnancy continues and she’s developing feelings for the baby she’s carrying, something that she never expected, and it worries her. Her developing feelings for Drew also worry her.
So, what will happen to the relationship between this mismatched pair? Will they find a way to make their relationship work? Will Harper be able to give up the baby she’s carrying, a baby that belongs to Dan and Adele? What will happen after Harper has the baby? To find out, you’ll have to read this well-written, rather sweet and enjoyable romance.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
An act of love changes the course of four lives in Donna Alward’s, Secret Millionaire for the Surrogate. Life is not always a fairytale, bad things sometimes happen to good people. However, if we spend all of our time focused on the bad, we could miss out on the good. With the Marrying a Millionaire series Alward mixes fantasy with a strong dose of reality and shows the true meaning of love. Two brothers, best friends and a wedding are a recipe for romance.
Harper McBride is the best friend ever. She offered to be a surrogate for her best friend Adele and Adele’s groom Dan. What a wonderful wedding present. Now she is pregnant with their baby. She feels great about this but sometimes also feels concerned that she will become too attached to the little one gestating in her womb. Harper has become friends with Dan’s brother Drew and finds his advice about her concerns and other life issues to be comforting. Drew is a great friend, a friend she has become quite attracted to and may be falling in love with. Drew, on the other hand, is attracted to Harper but warns her that he has no desire to stay in one place. He has a wanderlust and enjoys going places and meeting different people. They both agree nothing can be permanent between them. Love sometimes catches people by surprise. Harper and Drew just might find that their feelings just don’t fit the time scedule they set for themselves.
Secret Millionaire for the Surrogate by Donna Alward is the second book in her Marrying A Millionaire series. The author writes two characters who have plenty of interests in common but certainly do not share some important philosophies on life. Harper moved every couple years as she was growing up so she wants to put down roots. Drew believes his father gave up too many opportunities by passing up promotions that would have had the family moving. Drew isn’t going to follow in his father’s footstops. He likes being CEO of Aspen Outfitters and traveling a lot opening new stores. The way Donna Alward stages this story for the two to realize they can overcome their differences is fascinating. I enjoyed following along on Harper and Drew’s travels to their HEA.
Though this is a stand alone, I would highly recommend reading book one of the Millionaire duet since the reason for the surrogate is made clear in book one.
This story centers around wedding photographer Harper McBride and millionaire Drew Brimicombe. They met at the wedding of his brother Dan and though they were attracted to each other. Bu Harper not only has made a promise to Dan’s new wife, she is also a woman wanting a home and planting roots. Drew on the other hand, thrives on adventure and traveling the world .
Months later he returns to town and finds out that Harper is the surrogate for his brother and his wife Adele. Their time together affects them both and though one is willing to admit falling in love , the other one leaves town.
The plot was engaging and the characters interesting. But it was more than just a romance. It was thought provoking especially when the author tackles the sensitive subject of surrogates and the families wanting their child. No matter what your believe is, Ms. Alward creates a touching story. Not surprising, since she is a very talented author.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
*ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Secret Millionaire for the Surrogate is the first Donna Alward book I’ve read but it certainly won’t be the last. The unique story line combined with interesting, likeable characters will have you hooked from page one. This is the first book that actually made me tear up in a long time. A definite 4.5 stars for me.