A Baby On The Way

Nathan Kent and his wife Casey have drifted apart. It seems that lately they don't connect all. Maybe it has to do with trying to get pregnant and not succeeding, and the stress of it all is taking a toll on their relationship. What's making matters worse is that Nathan has accepted a position at his law firm’s San Francisco office, meaning they will be moving back home to California. Casey hasn't been home in ages, not since her widowed father sent her away to live with an aunt in Boston so Casey could learn to be a real lady, and not the tomboy farm girl she was growing up to be. Nathan's family is also in California, with siblings that he feels are taking advantage of their elderly mother.

When the two finally make the move to San Francisco, there are two problems waiting for them. Casey has an old boyfriend who ended up marrying her best friend. She has not spoken to either Sarah (who happens to be pregnant) or Jimmy in years, and is not looking forward to meeting either of them again. It's not making things easier, knowing that she has a strained relationship with her father, who has opened his home to Sarah and Jimmy as if their rightful place is at Casey's childhood home, while Casey lived in Boston.

The other problem that Casey did not foresee is the appearance of a coworker of Nathan's. Gwyneth is a shark of a lawyer who will do anything to get what she wants. And what she currently wants is Nathan. Nathan is somewhat attracted to Gwyneth, but he would never cheat on Casey because he loves her despite the problems they are currently having. But with sex almost non-existent between the couple, Nathan is almost tempted...

A BABY ON THE WAY is the story of a married couple who desperately needs to find their way back into each other’s arms again. There's a lot of conflict and tension between them, especially with Gwyneth and Jimmy making things a lot more complicated that it needed to be. Casey no longer loves Jimmy, as he was a high school crush that didn’t turn into anything serious, but he does present a potential problem.

Gwyneth is more of an issue, as she is working closely with Nathan and tries whatever she can to manipulate Nathan into spending more time with her. Casey isn’t happy at all that Gwyneth is in the picture, but she tries her best to trust Nathan, despite the tension that exists between them.

The subplot of Casey, who happens also to be a lawyer, being pulled into her father's crusade to fight a huge corporation (GroWell) from taking over land that will greatly impact the other farmers in the region will keep the readers’ interest. It not only involves her father and his livelihood, but GroWell’s attorney happens to be Nathan and his group. It becomes a conflict of interest for Nathan, and he now needs to decide whether to back his wife and her father, or remain loyal to the company, thus alienating his wife further. However, Casey slowly renews her relationship with her father through his campaign against the conglomerate, and she begins to see another side of him and likes what she sees.

Casey’s relationship with her father is that of a stranger. He treats Jimmy and Sarah as family, and Casey almost feels like the third wheel. Readers will be happy to know, however, that Red, Casey’s father, has his own agenda, which is to help bring romance and love back to a relationship that seems to be falling apart. Casey has actually moved back to her father’s farm, making it easier for her to work with her father and his campaign against GroWell, but it doesn’t help her relationship with Nathan, and Red pulls few tricks of his own to help bring the two back together.

Readers will enjoy A BABY ON THE WAY by Debra Salonen. Realistic characters and a story line that will keep readers engaged is her trademark, and this book will not fail to please her fans.

December 2006