Wyatt lives a loner life on the mountain he bought and built cabins on with his brothers. He has everything he could want except a baby to raise on his own. When his attempts with a surrogate agency keep ending in disaster, his niece decides to take things into her own hands and find him not just a surrogate but someone he can fall in love with. Enter headstrong Trista who is convinced she doesn't need anyone and does not want a family but needs money to launch an animal shelter for all the animals she wants to save. They start with clearly delineated guidelines, but the more Trista and Wyatt interact, the more they see the other has everything they didn't know they needed. But can Wyatt convince Trista that letting others help and love you doesn't have to lead to disappointment?

I'm sadly just giving this one 3.5 stars because while I get where it's coming from and appreciate the messaging, I found Trista a little difficult to mesh with. She has a very solid and understandable reason for not wanting children, but her constant disassociation with her pregnancy and insistence that she's a cow were offputting. It made the miracle she was performing for Wyatt feel cheap. So even though she has an excellent character arc and Wyatt and his family are a dream, I was constantly pulled out of the story with annoyance at her dismissiveness. It's not enough for me to disregard the entire story, just enough not to make it a great read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for the read!

I really enjoyed the main characters! There were so many fun and sweet moments, and the romance definitely had its steamy side too. The dynamic between the couple was engaging, with a nice balance of humor, and a bit of spice

Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws delivers everything I crave in a romance: humor, heart, and a slow-burn connection that sizzles off the page. At its core, this story beautifully explores the concept of found family, weaving together moments of vulnerability, laughter, and love in a way that feels authentic and deeply satisfying.

Wyatt, the grumpy, broody mountain man with a heart of gold, wants a baby — no relationship, no strings attached. Enter Trista, a sunshine-filled force of nature, who signs up to be his surrogate. Their dynamic is pure magic. The push-and-pull between Wyatt’s guarded nature and Trista’s warmth creates a slow-burn romance that kept me glued to the pages. Wyatt’s protective streak — complete with a “look at her and you’ll die” attitude — is the kind of guilty pleasure I can’t resist, and it pairs perfectly with Trista’s fierce independence and love for animals.

Amy Daws masterfully balances humor and emotion in this romcom. The witty banter had me laughing out loud, while the tender moments tugged at my heartstrings. The steamy scenes? Absolutely worth the wait. Wyatt’s “acts of service” love language made every quiet gesture speak volumes, and Trista’s strength and compassion shone through in every interaction.

What truly sets this book apart is the sense of belonging that forms around Wyatt and Trista — a found family that’s as heartwarming as the romance itself. Wyatt’s brothers, his loving mother, and especially his 18-year-old niece Everlee add so much warmth to the story. Everlee plays matchmaker in her uncle’s love life, and her bond with Trista adds another layer of connection that makes this unconventional family even more endearing.

If you’re looking for a story that makes you laugh, swoon, and maybe shed a tear or two, Nine Month Contract is a must-read. Amy Daws has crafted a tale that’s equal parts hilarious, emotional, and undeniably steamy. While I wished for a bit more depth in some areas, the heartwarming found family and the chemistry between Wyatt and Trista make this a romance worth diving into.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — A heartwarming grumpy-sunshine romance with humor, heat, and a family you’ll wish you were part of.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing the E-ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! I was really excited about the concept of this book. The twist on surrogacy was what drew me in, but it was actually the reason I ended up struggling with the book. I couldn't deal with the FMC constantly referring to the surrogacy as inseminating a cow, and honestly, I just didn't jive with her as a character. I really enjoyed Wyatt and the rest of his family dynamics, but didn't care for the FMC.

Well, the premise of this story was intriguing enough, however as much as I wanted to absolutely love and laugh over this book, there were a few things that ended up throwing me off.

This book follows Trista, a curvy spunky, full of sunshine lady, who is a little down on her luck and in need of funds to support herself and her animal rescue centre, is in desperate need of a job. This leads her to considering surrogacy to give her the necessary funds achieve all that she needs to.
There, fate brings her to Everly who is on the hunt for a surrogate for her beloved uncle, Wyatt.

Wyatt is the resident grump who growls and grunts more than he speaks, but also owns a pet goat and has a soft spot for those in need. He is a man who is looking to have a child to fill the void inside him, and to provide a beautiful, happy to addition to his rowdy family, after suffering the loss of his father.

WELL, the two meet, and all I can say is that small town, grumpyxsunshine goodness ensues!


My thoughts:

I could see that the author, Amy wanted to provide a new spin on the breeding trope (a trope which I genuinely am on my knees for), and also provide a realistic setting for this in a small town romance book! While there were many hot, spicy, and steamy scenes, I didn't feel like I could connect totally with the surrogacy angle. I can appreciate that the author stated they did their research, and that this is a fictional world, but I did struggle to see this reflected at times in the book.

There was also a moment where the author starts comparing the softness of a bed to the foreskin of a newborn. (yes. this happened.). I can understand how she wanted to really encapsulate how quirky and sunshine-y Trista is, but this line really made me consider whether I wanted to continue or not.

I'm not quite sure why the decision was made to continually refer the whole surrogacy process to an artificially inseminated cow and have this narrative consistently mentioned in Trista's internal monologue. I do understand that there is a niche for this trope - but the setting for this book didn't seem like it was quite right. Something about "You're a cow" makes it feel a little off putting in a romance novel.

Those issues aside, I did finish the book and enjoyed some of the other aspects - found family, family dynamics, the humour, and the absurdity of some of the comedic scenes. Trista and Wyatt are sunshine x grumpy defined, and if one truly could look past the above issues, I could see this be a reasonably enjoyable read!

Plot and writing: 2.5/5
Spice: 3.5/5
Overall: 2.5 rounded to 3 stars ⭐

Thank you to Netgalley, Amy Daws, and team for generously providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Top 10 favorite book I’ve read ever! I absolutely loved this book. I literally was giggling thru out the whole book. The niece mastermind helping her uncle find love, the grumpy mountain man meeting his match in the crazy animal loving surrogate. I could not put this down and can’t wait for Amy’s next book to see what the niece has in store for her other uncles !!!

This is a cute, fun book. I loved Wyatt and his family, the emotions and humor, the animals and the way Wyatt and Trista worked out their issues in the end. I'm looking forward to finding out what happens with the other brothers.

i don't typically read anything to do with pregnancy but this was sooo cute!!

╰┈❥trista
i really liked her. she is such an animal lover. she works with a vet and wants to save all the animals. i love that she slowly starts bringing more and more and more animals in (even though wyatt does not like it) the chapters have a count of how many animals she has and it made me smile

╰┈❥wyatt
he's such a grump but underneath he is really such a teddy bear. and an acts of service king.
some examples of things he did without being asked!! just because he wanted to:
he drives all the way to town from his PERSONAL MOUNTAIN to get her fresh pastries!!!! fresh breakfast delivered every single day!! fridge always stocked!!! leaves snacks everywhere for her!!!! professional cleaner for her apartment! a brand new bed specifically made for good sleep and pregnancy. cleans her car. always makes sure its filled with gas. and this is just a small fraction of the things he did that i loved. their romance was sweet.

♡the found family aspect was beautiful! wyatt has a wonderful, supportive, loving family and trista, quite literally, has no one. i loved seeing her get the love and support she deserves. i hope that the other brothers are getting books. i would read more books in this world.

things i didn't like:
×the word crazy is used a lot and i hate that.
×the fmc is plus sized and it was honestly annoying (this is coming from a fat woman lmao) it was constantly talked about, talked down on and she referred to herself a cow all the time. she would say she loved her body then turn around and bash herself

'Nine Month Contract' by Amy Daws is a spicy surrogacy romance, and I appreciated that Daws shared she carefully considered how surrogacy was represented in the book. Obviously, this is not the traditional surrogacy journey many experience, what it is is a fun romcom which explores themes of family, attachment, and goats...and chickens...and a pig....

I enjoyed 'Nine Month Contract' immensely, it was a fun read with likable characters. You just need to keep in mind this is a romcom, likely not a good depiction of a realistic surrogacy relationship (probably very unethical) maybe more of a taboo romance, so if that's not your thing this book isn't for you.

Thank you to Amy Daws and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for the ARC of 'Nine Month Contract' in exchange for a honest review.

DNF at 7%

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! I genuinely wanted to enjoy this book. I really liked the premise and the cover was gorgeous but there were too many gen z references that irked me that I couldn't overlook. I'm sorry but the multiple uses of the word "rizz"... I just couldn't do it.

1/5 ⭐️
3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

“Do you want to meet my goat?”

The plot is what initially pulled me in. I had never read a surrogacy trope before and while I’m sure this is FAR from realistic, it was mostly enjoyable for the unhingedness…in the beginning. Well til 46% in because then…MAJOR ICK INCOMING…the FMC compared her bed to being as soft as newborn foreskin 🤢🥴 literally anything else could’ve been said to compare a soft bed to.
The TikTok lingo didn’t read well, it kept taking me out of the story. Even the FMC annoyed me with constantly calling herself “a cow”. Honestly I should’ve just DNF’d. I won’t be continuing with this series.

Nine Month Contract is book one in the Mountain Men series. It follows Trista and Wyatt. I ate this book up! I have always loved Amy’s books and this one is one of my favorites. Wyatt and Trista have such amazing chemistry right from the start. Wyatt is a grump who is content to live on his mountain alone but wants a child of his own so he is looking for a surrogate to make this dream come true. Trista is a woman in need of extra income to make her dream of owning an animal sanctuary a reality. I found myself laughing throughout the entire book especially with the animal names and banter with the brothers. I can’t wait to continue with this series.

You will enjoy this book if you like the following:
- Small town
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Age gap
- Curvy FMC
- Quirky animal names

Thank you so much, Amy Daws, Canary Street Press, The Hive and Netgalley for the gifted copy!

The story centers around Wyatt, who’s looking for a surrogate so he can become a father. His niece, Everly, wants to help — and maybe play matchmaker while she’s at it. After a chance meeting with Trista outside a surrogacy clinic, Everly decides Trista is the perfect candidate.

What worked for me:
Trista’s family trauma was genuinely saddening and I liked that Wyatt & his family were able to heal some part of that. The found family aspect was probably the best part of the book.
The mountain setting and collection of crazy animals was a sweet touch. Fans of Tessa Bailey might find a lot to enjoy here.

What didn't work for me:
There was a heavy focus on Trista’s body, often following the pattern of “she’s not fat, she’s beautiful” — which perpetuates the idea that fatness & beauty are mutually exclusive. The book does try to address this later, but it misses the mark. Trista claims to have worked on her body issues but defaulted to her insecurities several times throughout the book suggesting the complete opposite.

Referring to herself as a "cow being inseminated" multiple times was…jarring. There were many passages in this book that were an odd choice to write.

For someone so desperate to be a dad, Wyatt shockingly lacked research into surrogacy. Both he and Trista really dove in with very little understanding of the process.

The inner monologues felt like a little soapboxy, with long tangents about fatphobia, surrogacy, and adoption. While I appreciate the attempt to highlight the complexities and injustices of these industries, the execution was about as subtle as a sledgehammer.

Unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me. Overall, while there were some sweet moments and an intriguing premise, the heavy-handed messaging and strange word choices made it hard for me to connect with the story. 2⭐

In “Nine Month Contract,” Dawes takes some well worn tropes and spins them into a fun, fresh romcom that’s equal parts funny and emotional. I love that she shows you how the protagonists feel about each other rather than telling you. And even though you know how it’s gonna go, their relationship develops so naturally that you’re learning how they feel along with them instead of waiting for them to catch up.

Also: If, like me, your eye starts twitching when certain side characters get so much page time that you just know they must be from another book—but you can’t easily tell which book because this one is the first in a series—allow me to relieve the twitch: Max, Everly and Cozy are from the book “Last on the List,” but you don’t need to read that one first. However, it does help explain why Everly gets her own POV chapters and why her uncles are over-the-top protective (so you don’t need to worry this is gonna turn out to be some creepy banned-from-Amazon ish).

This book was so enjoyable! I couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed these characters. I am so excited to see what the next book has in store. Loved this quick, fun read!

Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws

Ok listen, the surrogacy to lovers trope is… niche. But I actually liked this book. There were a few “control” things I wasn’t crazy about, but overall this was a sweet, fluffy romcom. The banter was funny and I loved the found family aspect of the story. I also really loved the relationships between the MMC and his brothers and all the guys relationship with their niece.

Read if you like:
Found family
Forced proximity
Age gap
Protective MMC

I wanted to love this, as it had its funny, laugh-out-loud moments and some cheeky flirting that I'm keen on, but there were just parts that gave me the ick. Some weird language here and there but the most prominent part that wasn't my cup of tea was the surrogacy trope in this book. The way it was portrayed didn't work for me. I'll definitely give Amy Daws another chance as she writes quite well, as shown in this story, but also in One Moment Please, yet this book just wasn't for me. 🫶🏻

A Heartfelt, Swoony, and Hilariously Charming Read!

Amy Daws has absolutely nailed it with Nine Month Contract! This book is the perfect blend of heartfelt emotion, laugh-out-loud moments, and sizzling chemistry, all wrapped up in a story that will leave you smiling long after you turn the last page.

Wyatt Fletcher is the ultimate bearded, flannel-wearing, protective mountain man—a guy with his life in order but a heart still healing. His dream of fatherhood leads him to a surrogacy arrangement, but thanks to his determined (and meddling) niece, Everly, he ends up with more than he ever bargained for. Enter Trista—a strong, confident, plus-size woman with a heart of gold and a financial situation that has her backed into a corner. Their arrangement is meant to be strictly business, but between their undeniable attraction, close living quarters, and a barn full of hilarious rescue animals, their relationship quickly turns into something much more complicated… and a lot steamier.

Wyatt and Trista’s slow-burn romance is so satisfying. The push-and-pull dynamic, the undeniable chemistry, and the moments of emotional vulnerability make their journey feel real and deeply heartfelt. Trista has every reason to be wary of Wyatt’s protective nature, and watching her learn to trust his love and support was incredibly touching. Wyatt, for all his gruff and broody ways, is the kind of hero you can’t help but adore—strong yet soft, fiercely loyal, and secretly a total marshmallow when it comes to the people (and animals) he loves.

Speaking of animals—Millie the goat and Trista’s ever-growing collection of rescues bring so much humor and warmth to the story. The antics of Wyatt’s family, especially Everly’s matchmaking schemes, had me laughing out loud more than once. And the setting? Absolute perfection! The mountain, the cozy homes, the barn—it all made me want to pack up and move there immediately.

Nine Month Contract is swoony, spicy, and full of heart. It’s a must-read for anyone who loves grumpy/sunshine dynamics, found family, and the kind of romance that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.

Highly recommend—just be prepared to fall head over heels for Wyatt, Trista, and a whole barnyard of unforgettable characters! 4.5 stars!

(Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!)

I had not read anything by this author and found this book to be outrageously funny and at the same time, heartachingly tender. Trista Matthews is dealing with the world as a “plus” size woman and has decided, since not really wanting children of her own, that she would offer to be a surrogate. After all, she is exceedingly “regular” and she could use the money for the animal rescue she hopes to start. When an ad for a surrogate is pointed out to her by Wyatt Fletcher’s niece, she decides to meet him. After the death of his father, Wyatt decided that he wanted to be a father, but living on the mountain as he does, with his other brothers, the opportunity to meet a woman interested in having his child is not happening. His visits to a surrogacy group are not productive after interviewing twelve candidates, but he never dreamt that his brother would post an ad for him or that his teenage niece would decide to help. Trista has never had a supportive family and has dealt with life in her own way. Believing that she would never be a good mother, of course she believes that she will be able to give this man the child he wants and walk away, but… Will lucky number thirteen, be his lucky number after all? I look forward to the next books in this series. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

This book was a lot of fun, I thoroughly enjoyed both characters and the premise was very creative. As well, upon seeing the physical copy in the store, the sprayed edges are gorgeous.