Limecello’s review of The Oilman’s Baby Bargain by Michelle Celmer
Contemporary romance released by Silhouette Desire 13 Oct 09
This is the second of the Brody Brother’s stories, and X number in the Texas Cattleman’s Club. (I’m pretty sure the latter is a never ending series much like Man of the Month, but the stories come out in clusters, so those released in the same year/six months are loosely tied.) Anyway, I generally look for Michelle Celmer’s harlequin books, and I knew I wanted to read it because it’s about the second Brody brother. Mitch Brody is the suave, debonair, and smooth romance hero. But he’s in a terrible situation – he’s caught up with his brother’s fianceeex-fiancee. Who so happens to be a senator’s daughter. Hooray for complicated romances.
Alexis Cavanaugh, known as Lexi to her friends is an interesting character. I was inclined to feel bad for her, based on what happened to her in the first book, and to be honest her own book as well. However, there’s something slightly off about her. Lexi brings to mind a wounded puppy – I had trouble extending my belief that she could be so very clueless. She makes a lot of references to the fact that “all she knows about love, romance, and men” – are from romance novels. I hate that. I cannot express how ridiculous and frustrated reading that in a book makes me feel. I find it incredibly distracting. It takes me out of the book, and dislike the character. Any reasonable adult would know that a romance novel, or hell, any fiction novel is not. real. However, her life and circumstances are so sad that you can’t help but sympathize with her.
Mitch Brody is a mix – I’m not quite sure how I felt about him. He almost seems to be two different people. There’s the guy who is madly in love with the heroine… and then there’s the man who is determined never to fall in love, and devotes all to the company – his life and purpose, is Brody Oil and Gas. He was so incredibly blind to Lexi’s good qualities. Purposely blind, even. That made him a first class jerk. Yet there was the aspect that found Lexi irresistible.I think that Mitch’s deep connection with his brother redeems him and makes him more likable than not.
This story was just so tragic, and based on so many misunderstandings. It’s very well written, which helped me get over the snap judgments the characters make about each other. Senator Cavanaugh was a terrible person, and I suppose it’s fine he was so static because he’s a secondary character. Nevertheless the restrictions he put on Lexi were almost ludicrous. The premise of the story is very complicated, and there’s so much going on – but I did enjoy it. The Oilman’s Baby Bargain has great characters you can relate to. The plot is frustrating, but understandable. Additionally, all the secondary characters help develop the hero and heroine. A number of them make cameo appearances, and it’s nice because their books are all loosely connected.
I admit to liking “forbidden” relationships. I knew something was going on between Mitch and Lexi in Taming the Texas Tycoon. And what is more forbidden than lusting/falling in love with your brother’s fiancee, or falling in love with your fiance’s brother. Of course Mitch is likable there, and Lexi even, because she tries so hard. I had to admire Lexi’s willingness to “sacrifice” herself for the sake of her child. And while sad, the fact that her pride prevents her from begging for Mitch’s affections. I think that’s when she really starts to grow into herself. That and the fact that Mitch is redeemable. He’s not a totally horrible person – just emotionally scarred, and thus flawed relationally.
I’m enjoying the new Texas Cattleman’s Club books, and plan on buying and reading the rest of the connected books that come out. While there was some frustrating aspects, and glaring misunderstandings, they actually made sense and weren’t too far fetched. Ms. Celmer is a Silhouette Desire author I normally consider, and I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys her writing, or the Silhouette Desire line of books.
Grade: C
Summary:
He’d seduced Alexis Cavanaugh once…on his brother’s behalf. So when the powerful Texan’s sibling shockingly married someone else, it was up to Mitch to wed the jilted heiress. After all, he and Alexis had shared a very real night of passion.
But Alexis was done being manipulated. She would have a marriage on her terms, or not at all. Except staying away from Mitch was not an option. She was carrying the oilman’s baby…and she would not reveal her secret until she had the billionaire exactly where she wanted him.
Read an excerpt here.
