When You Least Expect it by Helen Lacey is a sweet second chance romance that leads to the pregnancy of two previous lovers via a one night hookup.

Take what seems to be a perfect marriage with a couple so in love. Tess and Mitch are like a romance novel at least to the outside world. Inside there is so much heartache as she keeps having miscarriages and with each one the pain causes them to say things that eventually tear them apart. The only solution is to part. Years later they run into each other Mitch has always and still loves Tess and their passion has truly never died. So what could one night of passion hurt and then move on again. Sounds like a plan except Tess ends up pregnant, but waits till she knows all will be well with the pregnancy. Another fantastic story by Ms. Lacey and after all the anguish you feel for them there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for them. Such a wonderful story.

Both characters were too annoying for me to enjoy. Hero especially needed a good kick in the pants and then some! Sorry but I read for enjoyment, not to feel anger & rage.

I loved this story. After four failed pregnancies, Mitch Culhane said no more. He threatened to permanently remove all hope of another pregnancy, because he couldn't stand to see his wife grieve. Tessa, for her part, saw Mitch's ultimatum as stealing her hope. He saw it as saving her grief. Tess felt so strongly that she walked. Four years later, a chance meeting in a hotel lobby, gives them one night of passion. Six months after that night, Tess returns to the Triple C ranch, to tell Mitch that their one night left her pregnant with their child. In his mind, the logical solution is re-marriage, but she feels their original problems are still there. Will either one meet the other in the middle, or will they simply break?

I really liked Mitch. His sense of honor and duty are both incredibly strong. He raised his siblings after their mother died and their father walked out, so he's used to calling the shots. Unfortunately, that doesn't work with Tess anymore. She wants a say in how she lives her life, and doesn't want to be taken care of.

I wasn''t as much of a fan of Tessa. She gave out way too many mixed signals - falling in bed with Mitch one day and shoving him away, giving a very cold shoulder for days after. They both admit to themselves that they still love the other. I just wanted to yell "Get it together, people!" as I read this..

Can they see that everything they went through in the past happened because they loved each other? Will they decide they still do before their baby is born?

Readers who like the secret baby theme will enjoy this. There's also two very strong-minded main characters.

When You Least Expect It
Helen Lacey

There is nothing better than a good second chance romance and Helen Lacey’s latest in her Culhanes of Cedar River series, When You Least Expect It, is the perfect example. She does a bang up job of exhibiting the shared history, drama, guilt, heartbreak and hearts mending in this steady paced and rock solid plotted tale. Readers will many times want to shake the unforgettable pigheaded pair of Tess and Mitch while they enjoy every step as the relationship that was on life-support is put back together in this fantastic marriage do-over.
When Mitch Culhane’s ex shows up on his doorstep pregnant with his baby he only knows that this is his chance to get back the only woman he’s ever loved.
Tess knows that she wants her ex in their child’s life that’s why she packed up and moved back to Cedar River. And she has to hope that the pain from their past won’t screw up their future.

WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT is the first book in the brand new The Culhanes of Cedar River series by Helen Lacey and revolves around a rancher and his teacher ex-wife for a reunion story and a surprise baby all rolled into one!

Mitch is introduced as a solid guy who was left to raise his five younger siblings after his mom died and his dad fell apart years ago. He was quick to wrap himself around this reader's heart, and I steadfastly supported him throughout the book.

Tess was hard to like at first because she was coming in with a major chip on her shoulder and causing discord with Mitch. It turns out a chance encounter that led to a night together several months ago led to a baby.  Several failed pregnancies earlier led to their marriage falling apart, but can this one be the one that puts them back together again?

I highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a good reunited love story with a heavy supporting cast of family. I'm looking to seeing more of this town and this family!

Such a lovely second chance romance. The angst between Mitch and Tess felt real. I was rooting for them the whole book.

Wow, intense emotional feelings when it came to both these characters. Lived Tess’s life as far as miscarriages but had to wait twenty years until blessed with our full-term pregnancy. (ours she’s now going to be nineteen in December.)
We did not luckily, experience all of Mitch’s wild ride, but could understand it. My hubby is a quiet one so showing emotion was hard. Caused problems during those tough times. But we had parents to guide us through, Mitch didn’t. Knowing how to react is tough. They have the pain of loss but not the raging hormones from that loss.
Then, when words are spoken during fear and anger, they are hard to take back. For some to make amends when dealing with pride as with Mitch. Then you have the dynamics of the pressure he has of feeling I have a business/home/pain to run and keep it together. I also have siblings that are looking to me for the right answers and how to react and now so are their children.
So, when Tess shows up six months after their tryst at the hotel when Mitch had been at a convention he is blown away. His first reaction is anger, they denial, that pain. When his machismo kicks in and stupid falls from his mouth, because he’s still angry and hurt it stalls, their talks.
He’s still angry and hurt from her walking away from their marriage. She’s still upset from the fact that at that time he was going to take away her hope. (By the way, I still don’t think he’s figured out or even identified that was his downfall.) He asks, “Is it mine?” Really?!
He knows if nothing else the true character of this woman. So, he even knows that was a punk bully question. Yet, when you continue to read you find out the man has no edit button. Don’t start feeling too awfully sorrowful for Tess.
You see Tess is just as angry still for Mitch being so controlling. So, she starts with, “I want this!” “No, that!” “Wait! What are you doing? That’s not what I want.” The CIA wouldn’t know what she wanted between her anger and her hormones that are so whacked. If you've ever been pregnant you remember these moments of this. Hers feels like most of the book.
Let me just say for most of this book I didn’t like Tess until Mitch does the rescue. Then I start to bend. By Thanksgiving I am GUMBY.
I enjoyed this family saga. This couple is high drama, passion-filled, and most of all they deep down love each other. I give this: 5 stars. Provided by netgalley.com. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com.

WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT by author Helen Lacey is a September 2019 release by Harlequin Special Edition series.

When Tess Fuller gets pregnant after one passionate night with her ex-husband, she came back to see him to try to work things out.

And Mitch Culhane hadn’t stopped loving her, so could he have it all once again? He had loved and lost his wife once before but now he was getting a second chance. Dare he open his heart once again?

But what about Tess? Would she settle for the heart-ache once more? Could she be sure Mitch had changed? And would they reach their happy ever after and gave a family?

WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT is an emotional romance. Author Helen Lacey brought these two characters live on the pages in this reunion story. You would keep wondering if Mitch and Tess would ever be able to move away from their hurt and grievances from their past. I loved the setting of this story and the premise is an emotional tearjerker.

Highly recommended for all readers of heart-warming and emotional romance.

Tess and Mitch were the perfect married couple except for one thing. Tess kept miscarrying their babies. It tore them apart and words were said that could not be taken back. One night years later, they ran in to each other. Their passion was ignited and they enjoyed one night together. Surprise! Tess shows up on Mitch's doorstep and she is pregnant with their baby and this time, she is doing good.
This is just a goodhearted romance. It is suitable for young adults as well.

First time reading Helen Lacey and what I’m hoping will be the start of a lovely series, using one of my favourite settings of life in a small town ranch centralised round a large family of siblings. And first up is Mitch and his ex-wife Tess, who returns to her former home with a surprise, 6 months after an unexpected night for old times sakes.

“...the reality is quite simple…we’re having a baby. And I’m really happy for us both.”

Lots of push-pull here due to history, misunderstandings, tragedy and past hurts but as they come to terms with impending parenthood, their feelings one another are reignited and there’s plenty of romantic moments and those more steamy. Enjoyable, engaging and with Mitch’s brother, Jake next in line, I’ll definitely be checking his story out. 3.5 stars.

This was an enjoyable 2nd chance at romance between Tess and her ex husband Mitch. They had been married for many years and had many miscarriages until Mitch said no more and Tess ran to get a divorce. At the start of this story they are estranged and over each other and not in love.But they had good bye sex six months before and now Tess shows up 6 months pregnant to tell Mitch about the baby and move back to town.

This is Mitch's story because he wants his child to grow up with two parents on his ranch and he has to convince Tess to re-marry him and agree to that. It was a nicely writtend romance and I absolutely enjoyed it and meeting these characters.