Seven Months And Counting... (The Stockwells of Texas #2)

The miniseries Stockwells of Texas continues with SEVEN MONTHS AND COUNTING... by Myrna Temte. When ex-girl friend Caroline Carlyle unexpectedly encounters Lawman Rafe Stockwell, he can do the math, realizing that she neglected to tell him the consequences of seven months ago. When Caroline finally agrees that Rafe can be her partner until the baby's born, then they go they separate ways, she underestimates his determination to convince her to marry.

Caroline has been badly wounded by her experience with men who put their careers first. When she became pregnant, she ended her relationship with the baby's father because she doesn't believe that Rafe can put her ahead of his job as U.S. Marshall. She believes that eventually he won't be there when she really needs him despite his protestations to the contrary. Indeed, she's determined to protect her child from the hurts she suffered from having a father who put his work ahead of his family.

Until his niece arrived at the Stockwell mansion, Rafe assumed that babies were "annoying little creatures who did nothing but poop. Spit up and squall in restaurants and movie theaters." Now his small niece has captured his heart and Rafe finds her irresistible. If the baby's his, Rafe will marry Caroline and fulfill his obligation, although he still has reservations about kind of husband and father will be. Rafe has his work cut out for him.

The subplot of SEVEN MONTHS AND COUNTING... also continues the inquiry into the Stockwell's family history as well as the deterioration of the family patriarch, mirroring the loss of Caroline's own father.

SEVEN MONTHS AND COUNTING... provides delightful reading. Temte continues the Stockwell tale seamlessly, with a powerful narrative voice that keeps the pages turning. The strong characters clash with convincing passion, leading the reader through a maze of emotions, thereby weaving a convincing and energetic tale.