Wyatt has decided he's ready to become a single dad via surrogate. He runs into issues with his plan when the surrogacy agency drops him as a client after he declined 12 potential surrogates. Everly, Wyatt's 18 year old niece decides she is going to find him the perfect surrogate...and when she goes to hang up fliers, she meets Trista outside the surrogacy agency. Trista is looking to become a surrogate to fund an animal rescue, but was turned away by the agency because of her weight...Everly decides she is perfect, Wyatt actually agrees, and soon Trista and Wyatt are living in close proximity while on a life changing journey.

This book was a really fast read, but there were a lot of things that didn't work for me. I don't feel like the surrogacy piece was handled the way that it should have been. The way surrogacy was depicted seemed really unethical. Wyatt and Trista both had a ton of baggage that they needed to work through, but that never really happened. Trista's baggage and trauma is related to her childhood and Wyatt's is related to an experience when he and his brothers all <spoiler> slept with the same woman who was actually already married and pregnant </spoiler>. Wyatt was way too controlling of both Trista and his brothers. Trista also just seemed really immature in her actions, like continuing to bring more animals to the mountain despite Wyatt saying no. Overall, it's a quick read, but just didn't work for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an e-copy for an honest review!


This is my first ever work from Amy Daws and I have to say just from the description I was already hooked.

Pro’s :

1. Characters had such unique personalities I never found myself being bored from whoever POV we got to see from.

2. I related a lot to our main FMC from her love of animals to just her overall weird personality.

3. Overly possessive mountain man? Yes please.

4. Comedy was up my alley. Found myself laughing throughout the book.

5. Sexually tension between this couple was so steamy. Worth the ups and downs.

Con’s :

1. My only negative from this book has to be the very odd comparison of baby parts to a bed? For that brief moment it took me out the story.

My overall review of this book is that it’s a really easy read to just sit down and lose yourself in the story between Trista and Wyatt. The story just flows nicely for me and it was a pleasant experience.

DNF 45% didn’t appreciate bed/ bedsheets being likened to _new born babies foreskins_ I thought that was….less than ideal for a way to akin something to another; even with being a book about surrogacy and babies. 😳

Nine Month Contract was a romance comedy for me! Yes, I enjoyed the Grumpy x Sunshine and age gap tropes but overall the banter between Trista and Wyatt was enough for me to keep reading. Who would have known that teenagers are capable of being matchmakers? My favorite thing about this read was the family, and family dynamics of this book, everyone was genuine with each other which is refreshing for romance novels because I feel like most have unlikeable characters, but everyone in this was so nice.

OMG! This book is so FUN. A huge suspension of belief must be done to fully enjoy it but it's definitely worth it!

The premise is pretty unique - a first time surrogate who wants money to start an animal rescue and grumpy mountain man who wants to be a dad more than anything - what else could you ask for? It's both heartfelt and hilarious. I felt like I was escaping the real world a bit with this one which is much needed right now. It's definitely not going to be for everyone - it doesn't take itself too seriously and isn't trying to be realistic but that's what I love about it. I loved both our main characters and the constant present of animals throughout. I definitely recommend!

Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws follows a man who wants to become a dad and the relationship that develops with the woman who is going to be his surrogate.

I tried to ignore all the ethical and possible legal issues with the book and was able to suspend disbelief for the most part. Go into it knowing that you'll need to do this and you should be able to enjoy this for the way it's supposed to be, not the way it probably is.

The MMC was a bit controlling over the FMC and that was a negative, but she seemed to like it, so I was okay with it.

I really enjoyed Wyatt and Trista's relationship and the way it evolved and Wyatt's family was full of secondary characters that were a sheer joy to read about.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Read this if you like a plaid wearing bearded grumpy MMC and a strong female lead!!

Similar vibes to Part of your World by Abby Jimenez and the Rebel Blue Ranch by Lyle Sage!

‼️‼️make sure to read the trigger warnings pertaining to the surrogacy theme of the story. I absolutely flew through this book in 24 hours—it has a quirky female character, which I often relate to, a grumpy mmc, tackles topics around parenthood and the idea of found family, and a mountain farm with randomly appearing rescue animals with funny names.

Also posted on Goodreads and will be reshared on publication date!

Nine Month Contract was a fun and different read! I loved the plus size FMC and the grumpy MMC! The premise of Wyatt wanting to be a dad and looking for a surrogate was fun for me! Can't wait tor read the rest of the series!

I received this Advanced Copy in an exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley and publisher.

I liked this book but also don’t know how I feel about it. I thought the premise was interesting and catchy. There were some things that the FMC referred to herself as that weren’t personally for me. I think the MMC’s overly possessiveness really teeters the line when it comes to the trope for me. Generally, I thought the book has a very interesting take on the pregnancy trope with the surrogacy angle and I can tell the effort put into doing a surrogacy storyline.

A broody mountain man x a take-no-attitude woman = a hilarious romcom story that transcends "traditional" family stereotypes!

I personally LOVED Nine Month Contract! Trista was spunky and sassy, and I loved seeing a curvy FMC. She has some pretty intense family issues, which hinders her ability to really open up and make connections. And she signs up to be a surrogate for Wyatt, the grumpy man who lives on a mountain with his brothers. Wyatt is supposed to be this silent, brooding guy, but with Trista, he is all talk! I liked how their relationship evolved, but it was a teensy bit slow for me (slow burn romance for sure!). Regardless, the ending left me excited to see what is in store for the other brothers 😉

Favorite character was easily Millie the goat. I can't help it, I found her hilarious😂 I need a necklace with a goat pendent!

Now, granted, I enjoyed the surrogacy aspect of the book. BUT! I will say this: I know *nothing* about surrogacy, being a surrogate, or how any of the official process works. For some people who have experienced surrogacy & went through the entire thing, they may have a completely different opinion about the book than me. However, I found the comedic relief (as in, the ranch cups and Tylenol syringe 🤣) perfectly timed and made me giggle! But if this type of romance gives you the ick, then just fair warning in advance.

But if you want a cutesy romance with a surrogacy trope, Nine Month Contract is a great read!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nine month contract was such a fun read! This had a ton of great elements: found family, fiery FMC a grumpy loveable MMC animals of all shapes and sizes plus all the comedic relief you could want.

I think it was a great concept and I really enjoyed the flushing out of both main characters back stories. The first 75% of the book had great pacing and I really felt as though I understood the two main characters and who they were. However, the last 25% of the book felt slightly rushed with Trista’s fundamental views of motherhood changing seemingly overnight along with her opinion of a potential relationship with Wyatt. I would’ve liked to see more from her perspective on how those views shifted. Overall, this was a refreshing contemporary romance plot and I loved following Trista and Wyatt as they navigated love animals and farm life.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amy Daws and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the e-copy in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this book so much. It was a cute romance with some emotional moments thrown in the mix.

Wyatt is ready to be a dad but doesn't want marriage or a relationship. He has interviewed 12 surrogates, but none have clicked for him. His niece Everly has decided to help her uncle not only become a dad but find a wife as well.

Trista is not interested in becoming a mom, but she is interested in starting her own animal refuge for wildlife. Becoming a surrogate will help her get closer to that dream. Leaving the surrogate agency after being turned down and running straight into Everly gives her the opportunity that she is dreaming of.

This book was so cute. All of the animals just added to the charm. The way that Wyatt acted like a grump but could not say no to Trista was adorable. I was presently surprised at the emotional aspects that were added to the story to explain why these two very wonderful people would want one thing and not the other. The family aspect from both characters was a huge part of the story and very well written.

I cannot tell you one bad thing about this story. I cannot wait to read the next books in this story. I was so excited to see that Max's story is already written!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin trade publishing for this title. This is my very honest review.

Single Man seeks Surrogate to have his child in this hilarious and adorable rom-com.

From dad (love) bombing to goat poop-sized babies, Nine Month Contract is perfect for those hyper-independent women who love wood-chopping, gruff mountain men with dirty mouths 🤭.

I adored the FMC, Trista. Her hyper-independence is relatable, while Wyatt's family is the kind of family everyone wishes for. Who doesn't love a meddlesome niece and an MMC who can't say no to her?

This book all around gave hilarious moments mixed in with some serious topics that were touched on pretty briefly. If you like a pregnancy trope, gruff mountain men, and love animals, you're going to love this one.

The only issue I really had with the book was that I felt like it was capitalizing on all of the popular romance terminology recently, but that's probably a me thing and not an issue with the book itself.


Nine Month Contract is available on KU now.


Thank you so much to Netgalley, Amy Daws, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC. I had a lot of fun reading this one 🥰.

I did not except to love this as much.
It’s hilarious but also I cried like a baby, yay shitty childhood!
I’m gonna be reading the first book now and whatever comes after this one!
The Fletchers are the family every little kids with awful parents dreamed of.

Nine Month Contract is everything it promised to be - great banter, grumpy mountain men, strong FMC, and a baby!

Trista was a little difficult for me to like as a FMC, as she couldn’t make up her mind internally about herself. As more of her backstory unfolds it becomes clear as to why she’s very closed off and my heart hurt for the child she once was.

Thank you for the opportunity of an eARC, and I am leaving this review willingly.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws follows a loner mountain man who’s set on being a dad and a surrogate mom who wants to use the surrogacy funds to start her own animal shelter.

This was such a fun read. Both our characters start off with every intention of keeping things business like but as they grow closer their feelings start to overtake those plans in the most satisfying and heartfelt way! While the premise is definitely out there—I thought it was done in such a believable and sweet way and both characters really brought out the best in each other.

Overall, I gave this a five star rating. I really love the little community the author has created and I can’t wait to see how she continues to expand on it in the rest of the series!

i'm usually a huge fan of the pregnancy trope but i had a hard time getting through this one, the pacing felt a bit off to me and some things in the writing just didn't sit well. I'm an advocate for surrogacy and plus size characters but i think when touching on these subjects the author wasn't as cautious to the readers. Having your plus size fmc who's the surrogate describe herself as a cow was a choice. I think me and breeding kinks just always have a rough time.
but overall a 3
* book, i enjoyed the side characters a lot

I’ve been missing Amy Daws’ comedic timing from the romance landscape. There was a scene with accidental eye contact during an intimate moment that had me cackling laughing. I loved all the hijinks and farm animal shenanigans.
My only complaint would be how the FMC’s view of motherhood changed in a moment. It would have been better to see her becoming more attached over time before revealing it to the MMC. Other than that, it was a super Cozy and sweet grumpy-sunshine forced proximity love story.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the e-copy in exchange for an honest review!

2.5 Stars
The concept of this book is so unique. A man wants to become a father but is burned by a past relationship to the point where he decides the way to make a family is through surrogacy. Falling in lust with his surrogate before they even start the process.

I commend the author for tackling such a topic, as the legality of these matters can get blurry when trying to add romance to it for story purposes. And I appreciate the added preface where she states her intentions with the story and the research she put into it.

Though the unique plot pulled me into the book I, unfortunately, did not enjoy it as much as I hoped I would due to the writing style and tropes. I understand why these aspects of the story were made as artistic choices to enhance the plot line, they just did not work for me and honestly made me uncomfortable.

1.) I didn't like how possessive the MMC was. It felt more controlling than "hot" for me and overpowered his character.

2.) The breeding kink of the MMC was not for me. It made me uncomfortable in a story that has ethically blurry lines and was a risky move.

3.) And the constant animal/human comparisons throughout the book were a bit repetitive and felt more demeaning than joking at times. Trista being referred to as a cow throughout the entire book (both by herself and the MMC) made me uncomfortable.

With this in mind, I did enjoy that Trista was independent to a fault (I hear you there girl) and seeing her relationship play out with a man who just wants to care for her was very sweet and validating.

I think this book is perfect for people who like a grumpy possessive man falling in love with a larger-than-life woman. The cons just heavily outweighed the pros for me at the end of the day.

Was pretty interesting and kept me intrigued through out the story. Definitely a recommendation from me.