Laura Marie Altom, His Baby Bonus

His Baby Bonus

Laura Marie Altom

Harlequin American, Apr 2006, $4.99

ISBN: 0373751141

In Fort McKenzie, Oregon, eight months pregnant Gracie Sherwood is under the protection of the US Marshall Service witness protection program to keep her safe from her former husband, dangerous Bolivian trafficker Vicente Delgado, who just escaped from prison and plans to stop her from testifying against him in court. U.S. Marshall Beauregard "Beau" is assigned to keep her safe, but though she knows Vicente has an ego larger than Vermont and will come for her, the feisty woman refuses to stay hidden. Instead she insists on going to San Francisco to participate in the Culinary Art Invitational cooking competition, as she feels she can win, and subsequently provide herself and her unborn with a strong new start.

Gracie sneaks out of her cocoon only to have someone, most likely Delgado try to kill her. Beau rescues her, as she now realizes how precarious her situation truly is. However, Beau admires the courageous chef and soon finds he cannot resist kissing her. However, the recipe for love has a detour named Delgado that first must be dealt with, then there is the soon to born infant next.

Though similar stories have been told using the witness protection program as a matchmaking device, the pregnancy keeps the tale fresh. The brave Gracie refuses to allow her ex, her pregnancy or the marshal service to stop her plans. Beau sees the beautiful inner woman and does not allow the fact that she is carrying the child of a bad seed to admire and desire (in spite of eight months - that's real love) her. HIS BABY BONUS is a fine romantic suspense.