I tend to stay far away from the pregnancy trope but this one sounded different since it started with surrogacy. When I started reading and realized I would be crying laughing most of the time, I was hooked. Romances don’t usually surprise me anymore but this one definitely did. It had goofy animals, found family, a brooding mountain man and his brothers, and a hilarious FMC. It was hard not to fall in love with all the characters and the ending was the cherry on top. Can’t wait for more of these Fletcher brothers up on the mountain.

Y’all, I’ve read this book twice in three months. It has quickly become a comfort read for me.

A mountain of a mountain man seeks a surrogate to make him a single father.

A plus-sized woman with no desire to have a family is rejected by the surrogacy agency.

His (matchmaking) teenage niece brings the two of them together.

It’s only supposed to be a nine month contract, but when they get in close proximity up there on his mountain, sparks (and feelings that they continually deny) start to fly.

At a glance:
- Grump/Sunshine
- Small Town
- Age Gap
- Forced Proximity
- Landlord/Tenant
- Pregnancy
- So. Many. Animals.
- Close-Knit Family
- Let’s do this without feelings. (Oh, sweet summer children, that never works in romance novels.)

Filled with plenty of humor, heartwarming moments, building tension, and heat, Nine Month Contract pulls on my heartstrings and gives me the warm fuzzies every time I read it.

Originally indie-published, this one is getting the pretty, sprayed and stenciled edge treatment with its release from Canary Street Press in March 2025. I will be adding a copy to my shelves.

I received a copy of the ebook from Canary Street Press and HTP Hive. All review opinions are my own.

The Nine Month Contract was a fun rom-com book that made me giggle. I loved the over protective MMC and his family. The way they treated Trista was so cute, especially considering her past family trauma. I appreciated how light hearted this was despite covering some deeper topics. I had a really fun time with this one. My only complaints are that there were a few cringey things. Specifically Trista talks about something being as soft as newborn foreskin, how she constantly referred to herself as a cow, and the baby as a goat turd. Other than that, I loved this!

This was such a good romance. I thought the banter was so cute and Trista and Wyatt's slow burn was well done (from someone who typically doesn't like slow burn romances). The spice wasn't overdone and both characters were dynamic. The pacing was great as well, so I was hooked from the beginning.

I received an ARC of Nine-Month Contract from NetGalley and wanted to share my thoughts. The premise is intriguing, and the book description is well-crafted, but I found the execution challenging to fully engage with.

One aspect that stood out to me was the inclusion of the niece as a matchmaker. While it added a unique dynamic, it felt somewhat unconventional and, at times, a bit jarring—reminiscent of certain plot points in other stories that can come across as awkward or misplaced. Additionally, I struggled to connect with the female main character, as her personality and choices didn’t resonate with me as much as I had hoped.

Overall, while the book has its strengths, it didn’t fully align with my personal preferences. That said, readers who enjoy unconventional family dynamics and lighthearted matchmaking tropes might find it more enjoyable.

Wyatt is desperate to be a father...but after trying several surrogacy agencies, the dream seems farther away, until his niece Everly takes matters into her own hands, determined to find him not only a surrogate, but a family.

This book was a really fun read. I do recognise that most of surrogacy is strictly regulated, but of course, romance book laws apply in these two falling in love and building a relationship. I did appreciate that the book was very thoughtful in ways that people are discriminated against - Trista is ineligible to be a professional surrogate because she has never previously been pregnant and is over their weight limit. I also enjoyed that the book advocated for the healing that can come with working with a loving animals. Tessa is a worker at an animal shelter and her love of her array of farm animals is a source of stability and love after a difficult childhood.

I also really enjoyed Wyatt's matchmaking niece Everly. Like me, she's heading off to college in Ireland at 18 (unmentioned which one, but I hope my alma mater, Trinity) and has the assertive (some would say pushy) nature you need to move across the Atlantic Ocean from your family at 18. She is a great matchmaker for her uncle, and curious to see if she's as good at it for herself in future books.

This may not be a book for anyone struggling with infertility, but I really enjoyed it and would recommend to fans of Tessa Bailey or Melanie Harlow.

The plot of this book was interesting, but I felt like it could have been executed better. Some of the writing was really cringe and I could have done without the foreskin of newborn babies line. That was pretty inappropriate for me. The FMC was great, and I loved her love of animals but the MMC being a big, rich, jealous mountain man was also cringe for me.

Well, I wouldn’t recommend this for a classroom, or high school students due to the explicit nature of the content. This book has all the things you want in a romance story. It’s cute, funny, romantic, if a bit unrealistic. But who wants scenarios in their romance? I love this author and would read more by them.

This book was cute and an easy read for me. I enjoyed the all of the characters and how they brought more dimension to the book.

This book was super cute. My favorite tropes are forced proximity and fake dating, and even though the main characters don’t fake date, it felt similar with the surrogacy.

I loved how spicy the female lead was, and how unapologetic she was about who she is. Her thoughts and comments on her size became redundant, which I find to be a theme when the author is trying to convey body positivity. Anytime the male lead tried to reassure her, it was very superficial, when I felt like he could have been more specific about what he loved about her.

The brothers and mom (omg her mom sass - LOVED IT) added a fun element to the cast with their different personalities. The sister seemed like a forced character and all of a sudden became a completely different person to help move along the happy ending.

The setting was fresh for me, it was nice to have it be Colorado instead of California or New York. It would’ve been fun to experience the snow - and maybe a snow in! - since they talked about it so much. I hope this gets pulled into other books in the series for the brothers!

I wasn’t a fan of how the personal conflicts were presented. They seemed to come out of nowhere and left me confused about what the characters were referencing.

I have also shared feedback on Goodreads as linked below.

Amy Daws delivers another heartfelt and humorous romance with Nine Month Contract, a surrogacy story that balances emotional depth with her signature wit. While this book carries a more serious tone compared to some of her previous works, it’s handled with care, making it a compelling and thoughtful read.

Wyatt Fletcher, a grumpy, brooding mountain man with a heart of gold, just wants to be a dad. Enter Trista, the woman willing to carry his child—a decision that turns their lives upside down in ways neither of them expected. Their journey is filled with heartfelt moments, undeniable chemistry, and, of course, a fair share of laugh-out-loud scenes. The way Trista keeps bringing home stray animals despite Wyatt’s grumbling had me in stitches—it was one of the most endearing aspects of their dynamic.

And can we talk about the animals? I lost it every time a new one was introduced. Wyatt’s grumpy reluctance and Trista’s sheepish explanations had me cracking up. Their dynamic was everything, and I adored them together.

I’ll admit, I struggled a bit at the beginning—maybe because of the time jumps? It took me a little while to settle into the rhythm, but once I did, I flew through the rest.

Nine Month Contract is my favorite by Amy Daws. It was a heartfelt, funny, and emotional read that I thoroughly enjoyed. And now, I’m even more excited to see what’s next for the Fletcher brothers!

At first I was pondering how I would like a surrogate romance. But of course Amy drew me in immediately. Over the top antics. A super protective hero. Sweet and swoony with all he does for Trista. Humor. Loving over involved family. This book had crazy antics and wonderful emotions. Looking forward to the other Fletcher brothers.

This was a funny grumpy/sunshine romance. The surrogacy aspect may throw some people off, but I think it was done tastefully. This book was a good time- it was lighthearted while still having emotional moments and both main characters were likable.

3.75⭐️3.5🌶️

Contemporary romance
Small Town Romance
Pregnancy/Serrogacy
Curvy FMC
Age Gap (10yrs)
Opposites attract
Forced Proximity
Found Family
Strong Side Characters

I could see how if you have a problem seeing ethics surrounding surrogacy, its process, and seeing a book make light of it… this book is not for you.

I love a good stoic man whose love language is acts of service. Add on a FMC who is strong and independent and it makes for great banter and a fun romance with lots of tension!

I was a little disappointed how negative the internal monologue of the FMC was about her own weight and body type.

There were lots of pop culture references, especially when we were given the teenage niece’s POV. I was really not a fan of having to wade through the modern slang/“brain rot” breaking up the flow of the book. I didn’t need her internal monologue about her own love life and plans in the book focusing on her Uncle’s romance.

Over all it was a cute book!


Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I thought this was a fun twist on the accidental pregnancy trope - but so much better because everything was on purpose. They walked slowly into love but quickly into everything else. I adored the banter and the family dynamic.

Thank you Harlequin Trade and Netgalley for the e-ARC this book.

Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws is a small town, grumpy/sunshine romance. It is the first book in the Mountain Men Matchmaker Series.

Wyatt is a grumpy mountain man who wants nothing more than to become a dad. Trista is an animal loving, caring, and loving woman who wants nothing more than to open an animal rescue, but she does not have the money, which is why she is looking to become a surrogate. Overall, I really enjoyed this book! The banter between the main characters was great (and their DIY home insemination was a riot) and I loved how Wyatt’s family accepted Trista into their world. There were a few cringy plots, but these were easily overlooked. Excited for the rest of the series to come out.

I freaking LOVE Amy Daws. I love her. Did you hear me? I LOVE HER!

Nine Month Contract had me from start to finish. I've been dying for the Fletcher brothers since Last on the List and here we go!

Trista is on her own, and she has been for a long time. She doesn't need anyone to take care of her because she has been taking care of herself her entire life and on her own since 16 years old. She does have dreams though, not the family kind but the furry kind. She wants to open an animal sanctuary for all those animals out there that aren't cats and dogs. Obviously, she needs money for this, so she starts researching surrogacy. She knows she doesn't want her own children, but she realizes she can make good money giving someone else a child. Turned away from the agency because of her weight she unceremoniously bumps into our old friend Everly (daughter from Last on the List) who is on her own mission. Find a surrogate for Uncle Wyatt, a grumpy mountain man, who just wants to have a baby.

Wyatt is jaded on women because the last one was a TERRIBLE human. He does want a family though, so he decides to look into surrogacy. Too bad no one he meets through the agency is what he is looking for. Then one day his brothers put up a ridiculous ad looking for a surrogate which sparks an idea with Everly.

Wyatt and Trista are so much fun! At no point did any of this feel like exploitation and it's obvious that Amy Daws did her homework. Everything just felt so right from start to finish. I laughed and cried and the healing both of these people did was felt throughout.

If you like an Amy Daws book then you'll love this. There is also an age gap. Surrogate to Lovers, not sure that's an actual trope but there it is. Just read it.

Just finished this one and it’s five stars, one of the best books of the year. Taylor swift references, cannot wait for more by this author! Must buy when it releases! Loved the story and the characters!

This was hilarious. I found myself giggling and kicking my feet more times than I can count. We also love seeing a plus size FMC. I love that Trista is confident in her own skin, while also insecure about how others view her size. As someone who can relate, this is how I go about my day to day life. I enjoyed the story and even though it was not crazy thought provoking, I found myself not wanting to put the book down. I also really enjoyed the animal side characters.

I thought the book showed an experienced author, and it was well written and I liked the fact that the fmc size was never a point of others. I think I cannot comment on the accuracy of ethic dilemma of the surrogacy, however I did not like the fact that the woman changed her mind whether she wanted kids after being so headstrong on not wanting them.

This book leans into its theme almost to a fault. I appreciated all the research done by the author, it was detailed and showcased many of the benefits of surrogacy as well as many negatives within the process.

I liked the intro of the book when we meet Wyatt and his brothers, it was silly and fun. I loved Everly and Trista, and found them very relatable - they had great personalities and attitudes, and were very funny to boot.

Overall, it was a bit too out there for me but I found some parts enjoyable.