A one-night stand becomes much, much more in this sexy, lighthearted romance.Maid of honor Kelsey Peterson is disappointed when the bride-to-be bails on her bachelorette party—especially since Kelsey’s already ordered the stripper. Desperate for a break from her romantic woes, Kelsey goes through with the party. After all, why let a good stripper go to waste?Dr. Aaron Baucus is definitely not a … Baucus is definitely not a stripper. He’s a legit doctor with a PhD in neuropsychology. But when his friend calls him over to a bar to meet a bunch of tipsy, flirtatious bridesmaids, they assume otherwise. After all, their stripper was supposed to be dressed like a doctor. Aaron isn’t much for pretending, but with Kelsey, he’s willing to be whatever she wants him to be. At least for one night.
But fate has a wicked sense of humor: Aaron and Kelsey are the maid of honor and best man at the same wedding. And after their one-night stand, Kelsey’s pregnant, but she doesn’t know how to tell him. Aaron wants to start a relationship, but he doesn’t think Kelsey wants something long term. Can their fragile romance survive all the half truths and secrecy?
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They thought one night was all they had until fate stepped in and gave them a glimpse at forever. Aaron and Kelsey are thrown together by chance. A bachelorette party, a missing bride and a friendly favor have these two strangers breaking their own rules and giving in to desire. How could they have known that one night would leave a lasting impression on the course of their lives. The Secret Baby aims for tempting and ekes out hilarious. Harper puts a sexy twist on an oops kind of romance and scores a winning hand.
I brought this book for my sister. I borrowed it so we can read it together.This is the 1st book I read by Leddy Harper. I’m sorry I stopped reading this story at chapter 3 because I couldn’t connect with the characters. I’m glad my sister loved it.
This book made me laugh, feel sad and think about how we perceive people. I loved Kelsey and Tamara’s friendship, so honest, loving and together they were hilarious. Aaron pretends to be a player but underneath it all he is a soft marshmallow with a kinky side.
This book was HYSTERICAL!!! I both listened and read this, because listening just wasn’t enough. From Aaron being a fake stripper to Kelsey being so obnoxious, I loved it all so much!!! There were some really amazing parts in this though, that were so much more than funny!
Leddy did a really great job giving us a fully rounded book. We got steamy parts, truly hysterical parts, sad parts, parts that really frustrated me, I mean we got the whole shebang! I really loved how Leddy gave us so many twists and turns. There was almost nothing predictable and I loved that so much! I felt so much for each of these characters, completely understanding why each did what they did, but at the same feeling those same frustrations. I think this is part of why I enjoyed it so much. Although I’ve NEVER been in this situation, I could feel so much for each of these characters.
I can’t wait to read what else she’s got!
Wonderful and inspiring
Never start a Leddy Harper book unless you can finish it that day. I made this mistake again! It’s almost 2:30 a.m.and I couldn’t put it down! It’s an emotional rollercoaster just waiting to turn the page and find out what happening! Excellent characters with a well written story! You won’t regret it, not even the lack of sleep!
This was my first book fro this author, the book was really funny, the characters were really nice. This is Good book to have a good time
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Ruthie –
This is a really fun, sexy, and sweet romance. Whilst it is definitely a lighthearted plot, there are some quite clever twists in issues of timing and trust too.
Kelsey is a successful businesswoman, but clearly has been damaged by love in the past, and so claims that is it – no more. However, Adam clearly fills a space in her life and, as it happens her future, given she is pregnant. But accepting that fact and doing something about it cause her to panic, repeatedly. By showing her at work and successful at being strong and direct, we get a sense of how out of kilter she is when Adam is around – and after all, due to circumstances, he is around a lot!
Adam may have a fancy education and job, but when faced with Kelsey, he rather loses his polish and certainty. He is keen to settle down and start life with a partner, but he knows Kelsey’s thoughts on that… and so ensues a run of misunderstandings.
I found this book to be a very enjoyable escape from my every day and will be looking out for more of Leddy Harper’s books.
Mary Jo –
This book is not what I was expecting. Everyone has read the one-night stand and the “oops” baby. But here you have a play on it.
Kelsey thinks of herself as the black sheep of her family, never doing anything correctly in her mom’s eyes. So, when she finds herself pregnant right before her bestie’s wedding, she’s dumbfounded. Her one-night stand with the stripper from said bestie’s bachelorette party has just impacted her life in ways she couldn’t dream of. And when the stripper is actually the groom’s best man, she’s really screwed because she already promised to let the best man live with her while he is looking for a house.
Dr. Aaron Baucus is not one for one-night stands or being a stripper but as a favor, he pretends to be a stripper and meets this gorgeous woman who he spends the night with. He knows that he will probably never see her again, but the memories of her haunt him. Then he sees her at the wedding and it’s all he can do not to grab her and haul her away to his hotel room.
Aaron is not the player everyone believes him to be. He’s friends with a lot of women, but he hasn’t been lovers with most of them. He’s been friend-zoned because he’s such a nice guy.
Kelsey has a hard time finding the words to tell to Aaron about the baby and that is the sticking point through the entire story.
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
This was a fun quick read. I laughed a lot and enjoyed readying this book.
Kelsey hooks up with a stripper at her best friend’s bachelorette party. She never thought she would end up pregnant and never expected to see here stripper again. Her one nightstand ends up being her new roommate and a doctor. This was a fun book and I really enjoyed it.
This is a fun entertaining, easy to read romantic comedy with great characters, it has everything I love in a good read, a sassy smart heroine with a potty mouth and a loveable nice hero and once you add in all the misunderstandings you get some hilarious moments.
When the bride can’t attend her own bachelorette party Kelsie steps up and pretends to be the bride after all why cancel a great party and a stripper but when the stripper fails to turn up its Aaron who steps up and takes the strippers place and that’s when the fun and games really begin …..
An instant attraction between two people both pretending to be someone else, never expecting to meet again and who never even exchange names becomes so much more when a one night stand produces a baby….
This book has it all, it’s funny, it’s sweet yet steamy and for me it makes the perfect holiday read.
3.5+ Stars
This was my first ever book by Ms. Harper and The (Secret) Baby definitely won’t be the last! This was fun, a bit angsty and it had me smiling the whole time.
We start off meeting Kelsey having a very bad day, which leads to Kelsey having a very nice encounter with her best friend’s bachelorette party’s doctor-dressed-stripper. They say no names, just one night of fun. So when Kelsey realizes she is now pregnant by the nameless doctor-stripper she can’t believe her luck. Ha! She is in for one giant whopper. The stripper, not actually a stripper at all, but an actual doctor with a Ph.D., is non-other than her cousin’s best friend and the best man at the wedding that she’s the maid of honor at.
Aaron can’t believe the sexy redhead he can’t stop thinking about is the one his best-friend told him was off-limits… well, it’s a bit too late for that! He just hopes that Kelsey will give him a chance to change her mind about men.
Kelsey and Aaron’s chemistry was amazing, and when they were open with each other it was the sweetest thing. Kelsey had snark to go for miles, she was funny as hell and could be sweet, but her close-off-ness and quickness to judge made me want to slap her a couple of times. I could understand were her issues were coming from, but I still lost my patience with her a couple of times.
Aaron was a nice guy. Tired of people not taking him seriously and jumping to incorrect conclusions about pretty much every aspect of his life, he just didn’t bother to correct anyone. He was caring and sweet, smart and funny but he could still get sexy-bossy.
While I really loved them both and their relationship the main issue between them was lack of open communication, and then both of them taking turns at being immature butt heads. This part was absolutely exasperating. EXASPERATING! Fortunately, they both remove their heads from their rectums and straighten things out to give me an HEA.
With the best snark and banter, an accidental pregnancy and the worst stripper ever, The (Secret) Baby is a really fun read that had me smiling like a loon and LOLing in the middle of the night. I do need to let it be known that there are no explicit sextivities… which is a shame as Aaron had a really big duck.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book*
My first experience reading this author’s work was the first book in this standalone series, The (Half) Truth, and while I enjoyed that one, I liked this one even more. There’s a few lessons to be learned from both of these books and she does it very well — this one is “never make assumptions.” I really liked Aaron’s character — he was a thoughtful, compassionate, sweet guy and I really felt for him throughout this book. Kelsey, on the other hand, whom we met in the first book, kind of frustrated me in the beginning but then she redeemed herself and I liked watching her grow up and mature. I think what I liked the best in both books is the crazy, nutty family that really has each other’s backs — refreshing and enjoyable! I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC for NetGalley.
This book is rom-com, brother’s best friend, secret baby deliciousness!
The start of this book – I couldn’t make this up to be so funny and unexpected if I tried. I was hooked! So many well thought out and well written aspects to this story. These characters are great, relatable and had me rooting for them from the start. The familly dynamic on Kelsey’s side – mygoodness it was like a reunion playing out in my head as I read the witty banter and interactions. Brilliant, creative and entraining in every way!
Kelsey has been burned in the past and hardened to love. However she is independent, strong and determined. Aaron is handsome, successful and just too nice. Everyone believes his playboy type persona that is far from who is truly is.
These two share a wicked, unforgettable night together and had no idea who the other person really was. When introductions are made and truths revealed – everything is shaken up. Kelsey has a secret – and the more she tries to find the right time to come clean – the more she second guesses herself.
When the reveal is made – will these two overcome their hesitations and learn to trust each other? Forgive and move on together? Or will their love fizzle as quick as it began?
The secret baby trope is one of my favorites, and author Leddy Harper executes it with ease with her most recent book. The (Secret) Baby opens with a bang, which introduces the heroine, house stager Kelsey Peterson. Her ex really hurt her a few years back, and as a result, she has become a man-hater in every sense of the word. Then she meets Dr. Aaron Baucus, a neuropsychologist and PhD, not a MD or a stripper, at her best friend Tatum’s bachelorette party. Aaron rocks her world that evening, and their one night stand forever fuses their lives together.
Kelsey is a deeply scorned woman, so moving on has been quite difficult, no matter how much time has passed. Watching her friends and family get married, have families and be happy, is something that she has begun to yearn for, much to her dismay. Aaron is an anomaly, so Kelsey is drawn to him. Aaron likes everything about Kelsey, however, getting to know her requires a lot of patience and work. Their relationship is amazingly complicated and in the end, they are able to be each other’s soulmate.
This is an enjoyable, emotional read. The characters are well developed, and their feelings are tangible. If you are in the mood for a romance that twists and turns in many directions, then pick up a copy of The (Secret) Baby.
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
3.5 stars. The Secret Baby was an entertaining read, but I felt it had a few issues. This book is Aaron and Kelsey’s story. Kelsey’s best friend is getting married. She plans the bachelorette party at a local club for her friend, but when the friend gets sick and bails at the last minute, the party must go on. Kelsey steps in and pretends to be the bride to be as a joke. When the “doctor” stripper she ordered doesn’t show up, the club owner calls her friend Aaron, a real doctor, to pretend to be the stripper. In a funny turn of events, Aaron and Kelsey end up having a wild one night stand, only for her to find out later that she is pregnant and she doesn’t even know the father’s name. Things get really awkward when Aaron turns out to be best friends (and best man) with the groom who is marrying her friend. To make things even more crazy, Kelsey has volunteered to rent out a room to Aaron, before she knows that he is her “stripper” baby daddy. Now, she has to figure out how to break it to him that he’s going to be a father, and try not to fall for him along the way.
I love books with the secret baby trope. They are my catnip so I couldn’t help reading this one, but I didn’t totally love this book. I felt like it was trying a little too hard to be funny. The comedy of errors became a little ridiculous. Also, the characters were only okay for me. Kelsey’s personality was a little abrasive. She was a well-known “manhater” because her ex boyfriend broke her heart. As for Aaron, he was very embarrassed about his job. He was a neurophsychologist, and apparently he was teased that it wasn’t a “real doctor”, but it sure sounds like a real doctor to me. So I did not get that at all. I also did not like that Aaron pretends to be a big player, bragging about getting all sorts of women, but it is not true. It is just an act. He came off as desperate and lacking confidence. So I didn’t love either character at first. I also felt like the book had too much telling vs. showing. We are told that they have gotten to know each other and feel so comfortable it feels like they’ve known each other forever. But we don’t get to experience that ourselves as readers, so it falls flat. I also felt like key moments were skipped over, like Kelsey first thinking she could be pregnant and how she felt or Aaron moving in. Those were missed opportunities to feel a connection to the characters, I felt.
As the book went on, though, I did enjoy it more and more. It became more serious and emotional along the way, as Kelsey and Aaron developed strong feelings for each other, while she is hiding her pregnancy from him. There were some silly miscommunications, but I found the last 20% of the book to be the best. Aaron and Kelsey turned out to be really sweet together and I did feel the love between them.
Overall, I am glad I read this book. It was entertaining and had some sweet moments. I enjoyed the way that Aaron and Kelsey’s relationship developed. Even if I had a few reservations, I do think this book is worth reading. I will try this author’s books again in the future.
The (Secret) Baby is Book 2 in the series however it stands perfectly fine on its own. I must say, I enjoyed this one more than the first. I enjoyed getting glimpses of Kelsey’s personality in the first book and was eager to dive in.
Even though Aaron didn’t fit the normal “cliche” of what someone would expect from someone in his profession, I found him refreshing and relatable. Just because someone is highly educated and has an amazing career doesn’t mean they still can’t be a geek. I adored that aspect of his character. Kelsey and Aaron made a great couple assuming they can make it past all the misassumptions and lack of communication.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more from this author.
The (Secret) Baby follows Kelsey, Tatum´s best friend from The (Half) Truth. It is a standalone and Half Truth does NOT need to be read prior to get the story though I´m happy I did. It gave me background into a lot of the characters in this story.
Kelsey did not expect to meet Aaron the way she did but it was an interesting meet cute. I love those. The easy conversations with them made me smile wide as well as their private jokes. Their chemistry is hot but beware that this is fade to black / tame sex scenes.
This was another book by Leddy Harper that sucked me in and didn’t let go until I was finished. The story between Kelsey and Aaron and a one night stand resulting in a baby. My only issue with the book was that a lot of the problems between the two could have been solved by talking to each other. I know, I know….It’s a book but we read about miscommunication and her not sharing her secret about the baby for a bit to long. That being said, it was a good book, a few out loud giggles and characters that I couldn’t help but like.
The (Secret) Baby is an amazing read. If you love a good romcom then this is the one for you. Kelsey will have you cracking up left and right. I love Kelsey. She is fiesty and full of spunk. Aaron is just this all around good guy. You will love how they meet and all the awkward situtations after. Kelsey and Aaron together will keep you on your toes. Secrets and half truths all start to come out and hold onto your seats everything unfolds between Aaron and Kelsey. This is one funtastic read you don’t want to miss out on.
The (Secret) Baby is a super cute, super fun rom-com. Fake bride makes fake stripper that ends in an unexpected surprise.
When Kelsey’s best friend, Tatum, can’t make her own bachelorette party she steps in and pretends to be the bride. Enter Aaron. His friend owners the club the bachelorette party is being held and these girls got stood up by the stripper they hired, so Aaron gets roped in and figured it was a great way to get a couple phone numbers.
Kelsey and Aaron instantly connect and because they are strangers decide it is okay to have one night where they can pretend to be someone else and never have to see each other again, they never exchanged names. Though, this one night stand turns out to be so much more than either of them expected.
I loved this story. It was funny, it was sweet, it was steamy and emotional. Not to mention surprise babies are one of my favorite tropes. Kelsey’s anti-man attitude is warranted given her jerk of an ex, but I love how Aaron breaks down her walls. The only thing that bothered me is how long it took her to tell him about the baby, but at the same time there was also so many times she tried and something else came up to prevent that.
I was in tears when it came to Kelsey’s slideshow and journal. It was one of the sweetest things I have ever read.
If you read The (Half) Truth, you’ll recognized Tatum and Jason, and it was great to be able to get more of them and watch their relationship grow throughout this story.
This is a MUST READ super sweet secret baby romance!
The (Secret) Baby is like a quirky telenovela: fun, flirty and filled with misunderstanding and miscommunications and a secret just waiting to be revealed. There are lots of laugh-out-loud moments mixed with low-level angst, and a surprising amount of heartfelt emotions too.
I picked it up because it sounded like a fun read and had no idea that I’d see characters from a previous book – The (Half) Truth – so that was a fun surprise! You don’t need to read it first, but Kelsey and Aaron are the BFF’s of the main characters, Tatum and Jason, in The (Half) Truth.
The (Secret) Baby is a fun read, but for me the timeline seemed to lengthy – that’s a long time to keep a secret that important — and Kelsey’s wishy-washy emotions had me thinking JUST TELL HIM THE TRUTH!!!