Daddy by Surprise [Large Print]

Kat Petroski has a weakness for "swoo". That is the word her mother came up with to explain why the women in the family were drawn to awful choices in men. Swoo is why Kat has been married twice, divorced twice, and has one son by each man. Kat simply cannot imagine her life without her boys, but at the age of thirty-one Kat listens whenever her "swoo alarm" goes off. While waitressing in a bar Kat meets Jack Treadwell and her "swoo alarm" clangs loudly. When a former school buddy offers Kat's services to give Jack a semipermanent tattoo with henna (rather than needles), she agrees. Kat needs every penny she can earn. Jack show up on his motorcycle for his tattoo and the next thing Kat knows she is agreeing to be his paid tour guide of the Black Hills. Jack is an orthodontist from Denver. His ex-fiancé had told Jack that he was boringly predictable. Jack wants to find out what he has been missing. So he buys a motorcycle, takes time off, and heads for the Black Hills to live life to its fullest. The very last thing Jack expects is to be attracted to a mother of two boys, especially since he wants absolutely nothing to do with kids. His father's career had been ruined due to a lying child. But how can Jack resist such a brave and honest woman like Kat? **** FOUR STARS! The author brings this couple together in an interesting way. Kat and jack share the same dream about Mad Jack and a schoolmarm in 1876. They wake up to find they had made love while asleep. I found it a bit hard to believe they both slept through the act, but I guess it is possible. Not as much attention is given to the television show being filmed in Sentinel Pass and few characters fro the previous titles make an appearance. The author's focus remains on Kat and Jack most of the story. Due to this, I was able to learn much about their backgrounds, including Kat's boys and ex-husbands. These details made me feel as though Kat were real. I came to care very much for Kat's character. I am also eager to read Char's story. This author cannot write fast enough for me! **** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Following the end of his engagement, dentist Jack Treadwell goes on vacation in Deadwood, South Dakota where the celebration of the "Days of '76 gold rush occurs. There he meets Kat Petroski, a twice divorced mother of two (Tag and Jordie) at the bar she works as her first ex says in a "tits for tips" job; they share an instant attraction to one another. Motorcycle riding Jack hires Kat to be his guide in the area. As Jack and Kat fall in love; each has a problem. She knows she falls for his type of "swoo" hunks who run on the wild side while he has issues wondering if he can be a good father to her sons; besides he also knows he is more a dentist than the ride like the wind image he has shown her while on vacation. Title aside, this is a wonderful Black Hills romance due to the eccentric support cast who bring South Dakota alive one week before the Sturgis bike event is to occur. The lead couple is a nice pairing as she falls for swoo, but he may be "looking for adventure out on the highway" (Steppenwolf), but deep inside he is born to be a dentist not going wild. Fans will enjoy this engaging contemporary with strong characters who hook readers from the onset. Harriet Klausner