Miami Beach, Florida - Present Day

Five months ago Brooke Garrison had a drink, a wild night of sex with Jordan Jefferies, and now she has a reminder…pregnancy. She's just told her family she's pregnant, but she's still not brave enough to tell them that their arch business rival is the father of her unborn child. Now, she must brave the lion and tell Jordan. Perhaps they'll have a nice, pleasant meeting with their lawyers, and the whole thing will just go away.

When Jordan hears that Brooke's pregnant (his brother Emilio is engaged to her twin Brittany), he knows immediately it's his child...darn hot tubs. Now comes possibly the hardest and most important business negotiation of his life, getting the mother of his child to marry him. Brooke is skittish after finding out about her father's second life after his death, and is justifiably worried about happily ever afters and whether they even exist. Well, Jordan didn't get as far in business playing with the big boys like the Garrison brothers without learning to read words and facial expressions, with a little luck thrown in. He knows the physical connection is still there, so that seems to be the logical place to start negotiating for the rest of his life.

Catherine Mann has written an intriguing, delightful book, showing both sides of Brooke and Jordan and how they are in a constant push-pull in their relationship. Jordan has no reason to play fair, but for a hunk like him, you'll forgive anything. Brooke is scared to death of her family's opinion, and that of society, scared that Jordan will try to take her independence away, yet wanting him to be a part of their child's life.

Naturally, Brooke's twin sister Brittany, brothers Parker, Stephen, and Adam, are a part of the family surprise over Brooke's pregnancy. Half sister Cassie helps at a crucial time, and the Garrison's mother must finally come to terms with her years of alcoholism. Despite their many problems, blood is always thicker than water when dealing with the Garrisons.

THE EXECUTIVE'S SURPRISE BABY is another great chapter in the wild and wonderful ride the Garrison family has taken us on. You need not have read all the books; this series is wonderfully separate and yet thoughtfully put together. THE EXECUTIVE'S SURPRISE BABY is a memorable, heart-tugging finale to The Garrisons series.

Carolyn Crisher