Malibu, California and Sentinel Pass, South Dakota – Present Day

Cooper Lindstrom is drowning in debt -- mostly his mother’s. An actor and a host on a television show, he overspent when he had a hit show for a few seasons and money was pouring in. Now the show is at the bottom of the heap and will soon be cancelled. His mother, who died a few weeks ago, was addicted to gambling and left a mountain of debt. Coop doesn’t know which way to turn with ex-wives waiting for alimony. He sees an ad on a web site on the Internet, “Will trade: quarter share in working gold mine for viable sperm resulting in pregnancy. Restrictions apply.” He is intrigued. He reads more about Libby McGannon and her gold mine in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and he makes a decision, sells his mother’s collection of Lladro figurines, and goes to South Dakota. Coop isn’t interested in trading sperm for gold, but he does want to make gold by writing a sitcom about the situation.

Libby is the postmistress of Sentinel Pass. Her friends and family think she is crazy when she places an ad for a stranger to father a child, and her friends are surprised that someone as famous and handsome as Cooper would be interested. Thirty-five year-old Libby hears her biological clock ticking loud and clear and is determined to do something about it. She wants a baby -- whatever it takes -- and she wants to meet the man who will donate sperm for her child. She is impressed when she hears from Coop. They seem to have a lot in common.

Used to adulation, Coop is surprised when Libby rebukes his attempt at flirtation and is a bit disconcerted to discover that the gold mine is not really worth anything. Coop checks out the surroundings of Sentinel Pass, all the while thinking about his sitcom, sure that it will be a hit. He does not reveal his plans to Libby, so what will happen when she finds out the real reason he is here?

Cooper is somewhat superficial, always trying to keep up the image of a handsome star while hearing his mother’s advice and put-downs in his mind. His mother started him out in commercials as a child, and he has known no other life style. Dominated by her, he feels disoriented since her death, but he is kind hearted, if a little self-absorbed. He is surprised to find himself attracted to pragmatic Libby. It seems a bit strange that Libby would go to such lengths to find a man for sperm on the Internet in BABY BY CONTRACT, but she is a likeable woman with many friends who has never found true love. Perhaps Cooper and Libby are lacking something that the other can provide? Secondary characters, particularly Mac, Libby’s brother, add interest to the story.

BABY BY CONTRACT is an entertaining and romantic story with an unusual premise about two people finding that special something despite their different backgrounds. It is a warm-hearted story with good dialogue. Readers are sure to enjoy this one and look forward to reading the next book in this series, HIS BROTHER’S SECRET.

Marilyn Heyman