This was my first Amy Daws book, but it definitely won’t be my last!! This book was laugh out loud hilarious!!! But it was also filled with SO much heart!! I loved Wyatt and his brothers oh so much!! Trista was the most perfectly imperfect fmc, and I adore her so much!! The found family aspect was SHEER PERECTION and I am literally counting down the days until book 2 is released!

If you love small town romance, with some spice, a curvy FMC and grumpy meets sunshine with a few bunnies thrown in - then you've come to the right place. Wyatt, a grumpy mountain man, wants to be a dad but seeing surrounding situations he has decided the best thing for him is surrogacy (for a number of reasons discussed in the book). Here is were we meet Trista, an independent woman trying to start an animal shelter but lacking funds to do so. After a hard life she has turned to surrogacy to help with her dreams. In an awkward/weird turn of events the two end up meeting and decide to help each other.

I wanted to love this book with the small town romance and mountain man and animal lover but there were more than a few awkward situations I found myself reading. Some of the phrases and 'pet name' definitely gave me the ick and if it weren't for the fact I wanted to see how the book ended I probably would have DNF'ed.

Nine Month Contract, by Amy Daws, is a spicy rom-com, involving a mountain man who wants to have a child via a surrogate mother, and that's all...he thinks. The whole process of making this happen is hilarious. The family involvement is funny and heartwarming, and the ending is just the beginning. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

I thought I was going to read a fun and quirky book about a mountain man looking for a surrogate to become a single dad. What I got was so much more. Yes it was funny but it was also heartfelt. I was holding on for dear life hoping for Wyatt and Trista to make their relationship official and not be parent/surrogate. The rescued animals that kept showing up all had their own moment to shine on page.

Nine Month Contract is a fun, steamy, and emotional romance with a unique premise. Wyatt, a grumpy mountain man, wants to be a single dad and hires Trista as his surrogate. But what starts as a simple arrangement quickly turns into something more.
I enjoyed the chemistry between Wyatt and Trista, as well as the hilarious and loving Fletcher family. The animals, especially the Scottish cow, added a charming touch. The book had plenty of funny moments, sweet romance, and lots of spice. However, I wished for more emotional depth in some areas, especially regarding Trista’s past and Wyatt’s character development.
Trista’s body image struggles were relatable but a bit repetitive, and a few plot points felt unresolved. Still, this was a fun, lighthearted read with great banter and heartwarming moments. If you love grumpy/sunshine romances with family meddling and a lot of heat, this one’s for you!
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own

Grumpy responsible mountain man meets sunshiny messy woman in this fun story full of family dynamics and rescued animals.

Overall: 4
Spice: 4 (due to 3+ scenes and language)
Narration: 5

Wyatt has everything he wants - a mountain top home he built with his 2 brothers as neighbors, a successful business, and a good relationship with his niece and nephew, but what he really wants is a child of his own, but he wants it on his own. Surrogacy agencies haven't worked out, so his niece gets involved with an ad on Craigslist. Enter Trista, a single woman in search of funds to open an animal sanctuary who has been turned down by the surrogacy agency. Wyatt and Trista decided to work together and sign a surrogacy contract. Trista moves into an open apartment above Wyatt's barn and luckily Trista is soon pregnant from a unconventional insemination process. As she and Wyatt live in close confines over the next few months, will they be able to keep their relationship professional when their attraction grows?

I had the pleasure of reading this book twice. I listened to the audio - fabulous duet with the always great Teddy Hamilton and Erin Mallon at the very end of 2024 as a fun Hoopla borrow before I started my 2025 reading list. Then the ARC was available on NetGalley, so I scooped it up thinking it would be an easy read and review. The story is so good at grabbing you that reread most of the ARC to be sure my review was accurate. I found this to be a fun, spicy read along the lines of Meghann Quinn and Tessa Bailey. Wyatt comes from an amazingly close family and Trista's family abandoned her at a young age, so watching them figure out how to relate to one another (and for Trista to accept help) is very interesting. I read a few reviews after I read this and I get that there is some concern over the representation of surrogacy, but read the blurb - this is not a serious book, it is supposed to be fun. No one is encouraging anyone to use this as a real-life approach. Suspend your disbelief and enjoy the story. Also, as a farmer's daughter, I know how a cow is inseminated and the purpose of that process, so I thought Trista's mantra about being a cow was hilarious. Others took it to be a comment on her body shape - that wasn't it! I look forward to reading the rest of this series. Recommend if you like a kooky-fun romance.

Honestly it was kind of weird. It was funny at times but I really didn’t like either of the characters and they lacked chemistry. I had higher hopes for this but Amy has better books.

Book Review: Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws

Nine Month Contract is a delightful rom-com that combines humor, heart, and a healthy dose of spice. The story centers around Wyatt, a mountain-dwelling man who wants to start a family but isn’t having much luck finding a surrogate. Enter Everly, his determined niece, who takes matters into her own hands and finds the perfect woman for the job—Trista.

Trista is a no-nonsense, animal-loving woman who quickly captures Wyatt’s attention. While she is determined to use the surrogacy money to open an animal sanctuary, she has a complicated past that makes her hesitant to start her own family. But spending time with Wyatt’s warm, supportive family shows her a new side of what family life can be—one built on love and acceptance.

Characters: The characters are a major highlight in this rom-com. Trista, the female main character, is hilarious, independent, and unapologetically strong. I loved watching her grow as she navigates the complexities of both her past and her relationship with Wyatt. Wyatt, on the other hand, is a bit of a grumpy mountain man, but beneath his tough exterior, he’s caring and protective. He has his own baggage to work through, which adds depth to his character. Their chemistry is undeniable, making their romance both sweet and sizzling.
Themes: The book delves into themes of family, healing, and personal growth. Tristas' complicated family background and Wyatt’s emotional baggage are central to the plot, and watching them both open up to each other is truly heartwarming. There’s a perfect balance of humor, romance, and deeper emotional moments that will make readers laugh and tug at their hearts.

Final Thoughts: Nine Month Contract is a fun, engaging read with a charming cast of characters and a romance that will make you swoon. Whether you’re a fan of grumpy-sunshine dynamics or love stories with strong character growth, this book has something for everyone. I give it 4 out of 5 stars and would highly recommend it to fans of rom-coms looking for something lighthearted yet emotional.

Release Date: March 18, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read Nine Month Contract.

This was a fun, spicy rom-com that was different than any I have read before. This one was about a single guy wanting a surrogate to become a dad. It took serious issues and made it fun and silly. This isn't going to be a serious read. This is full of silly things that might make some cringe.

Trista is larger girl with low self esteem and she has taken care of herself as long as she can remember. Her parents bailed on her when she was young, so she doesn't really understand family dynamic. She works at a pet rescue so her animals are her life and this is how she relates to the world. So she often refers to herself as a cow, but I took that in reference to her situation more than how she felt about herself.

Then there is "Mountain Man" Wyatt who is a bit grumpy, but his family is everything to him. Two of his three brothers live on the mountain with him. They all work together and commute to work. So to say they are pretty close in and understatement.

Trista finds herself in financial trouble which led her to Wyatt's ad...well the ad his niece made for him. Wyatt's niece decided to intervene on his behalf when the agency he was working with couldn't find the right surrogate for him. So Everly and her uncles posted an ad that looks like:

Help Wanted: Grumpy mountain man seeks baby momma. Job is an incubator position only. Surrogate must be impervious to grunting as the form of communication and nosy brotherly neighbors. Rustic mountain range housing available upon request.

He ended up meeting with 12 women and then he met Trista. And you can just about imagine how the rest of the story goes.

I loved the family dynamic of the story and how they all intervened on Wyatt's behalf to make things happen. Everly was one of my favorite characters. There were a few over the top scenes of course, but I just went with it. I think the last part of the book made the whole book worth it. I will definitely read more of this author because of the silly humor.

Very cute read! I loved this super unique twist on the accidental pregnancy trope, more like accidental falling for your baby daddy! I loved Wyatt and his brothers, the multiple pov was fun, and Trista was quite the character! I did not really understand the point of Avery’s presence, I felt like that character was unnecessary to the story. But otherwise, super cute book! I can’t wait to read what happens with the other brothers!

Once I read the prologue I knew that this story wasn't going to be for me. I appreciate that the author took great care with writing this story but the content matter is too sensitive for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader. All thoughts are my own.

Such a cute book! I am not usually a big fan of this trope but still ate this book up!
I loved the vibes, the characters, everything!

I didn’t know what to expect going into this read, I just knew I needed a change of pace in what I’d been reading, and thank god I picked this up. I didn’t know how badly I needed a book that would make me laugh out loud until I met Trista, Everly, and Wyatt. Honestly, if you need a laugh and don’t care about anything else, read this book. And don’t get me wrong, there are definitely some serious themes and undertones, but you’ll still find yourself chuckling throughout.

Read if you like:
🐷Protective MMC
🐷Do it herself FMC
🐷Pregnancy/surrogacy trope
🐷Let’s get it out of our system
🐷Meddling family/found family

I wish we got to see more depth to the connection Wyatt and Trista developed. I feel like there were several moments where I wish the dialogue just went a bit deeper and stayed a little less surface level.

3.5/5

First things first, the blurb of this book needs to be modified. It is a cringey plot - I do not like what it implies about the book and the plot.

Given the blurb and other reviews, I was pleasantly surprised by the plot. I enjoyed the two main characters getting to know each other AND I loved all the animals. The pacing was a bit off but I enjoyed the ending.

It was the best of books, it was the worst of books.

OK – I liked Trista and Wyatt some of the time. At times he was a bully. At times she seemed to just like to give Wyatt hurt feelings, and at other times she seemed not to know her up from her down.

Trista agreed to be a surrogate in order for Wyatt to have a child as a single father. She had a history that was rather disjointed, sad and not based on a comfortable family relationship. So, she fell in love with animals and doing rescue work. That was her security and her comfort.

Wyatt came from a family filled with loving members. He grew up in an ideal situation and continued to live near and be involved with his family. There was a great deal of love available within his family.

Wyatt’s family are made up of people who love one another. Trista looks at that situation and has no point of reference in order to understand it.

But, Trista is an adult who has been on her own since she was 16. So after being in the world, it seemed to me she would have learned at least a little bit about human nature and human beings. I wanted her to have a little less angst and trepidation.

I don’t know exactly why but at times I just wanted to slap both these people and forget finishing the book.

Emotionally Trista was having a hard time. But that of course did not include the sex. The sex was a HUGE part of this book. There was a lot of sex and it was really great sex. It was hard to imagine that Trista would not have realized how emotionally vulnerable she was making herself. In fact I believe it would have been impossible for the two of them not to become emotionally entangled.

I liked most of the book. I liked Trista and Wyatt and Wyatt’s family very much. And I wanted to go to that barn and see all those wonderful animals. I would love a Scottish Cow.

This is a new to me author. It is obvious she has writing talent. I am glad I read the book. At times I laughed outloud. At times I had tears. I guess I don’t know my up from my down either.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.

What a fun read! This books takes a total spin on the pregnancy trope. I loved what a close family unit that Wyatt had. It was a bit odd how his surrogate was found, but you could tell everybody in the family was rooting for him to not only have the family he dreamed of but also the life. Trista was someone who struggled through self image, which is so relatable, so seeing how Wyatt reaffirmed her that she was perfect just the way she was was so heartwarming.

It did make me have a visceral reaction to some everyday things like dressing cups and medicine syringes though.

Delightfully funny, steamy, and full of hilarious family and four legged characters. Interesting premise of a single man who wants to be a dad and the surrogate who is willing to try to make his dream come true. My first by this author but it won’t be my last. I throughly enjoyed getting lost in this one. Highly recommend!

Tropes:
*Grumpy/Sunshine
*Age Gap
*Small Town Romance
*Curvy FMC
*Found Family

Wyatt Fletcher wants to be a single dad, but he’s not looking for a relationship. Just a surrogate to help make his dream a reality. His niece Everly has other plans though and wants him to have the family he deserves. After a little interference, she finds someone she hopes will be the perfect match, Trista. Trista wants to be a surrogate but is having a hard time getting a chance. She also has the perfect fiery personality to get past the walls of Everly’s grumpy uncle. Both Trista and Wyatt are onboard for the surrogacy together, but time spent together blurs lines and maybe those clean-cut lines don’t sound as good as they once did.
This was not my first book by Amy Daws and it certainly won’t be my last! I loved this story and am anxiously waiting for the other Fletcher brothers’ stories. I loved the whole Fletcher family and Wyatt was a great blend of strong/silent, possessive, caring, and protective. He was everything Trista needed but had never gotten in her life. There was great playful banter, tender sweet moments, and of course some spicy mountain man time. Trista and Wyatt were great but the family support really brought this story to the next level. And I am excited to see how Everly interferes in each of her uncles’ lives. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC to read. All opinions are my own.

This book exceeded my expectations. I was skeptical of the surrogate storyline. Turns out, I loved it. I felt it was a fun and light book, and I'd love to be a part of that family. I look forward to more from this series. I gave this 4.5 stars and rounded up for Goodreads.

I was so excited to read this book, I had read Blindsided and enjoyed it enough to give this one a shot but this one just was not good. Daws said in some press piece or another that she wanted to turn the surrogacy trope on it's head and have the MMC want to be a single father, but the whole time it just felt wrong. The book is full of dubious consent and the MMC constantly ignores or outright rejects the FMC's wishes and everyone in the book is like "oh he's psycho and caring lol it's so cute". I like a gruff and take charge kind of man in my romance as much as the next person, but this man just straight up did not listen. Overall, not her best outing.