This is a series set in the town of St. Valentine, Texas. I had not read any so was treating this as a standalone. While a light read DADDY IN THE MAKING deals with matters which are very serious to the characters, and I enjoyed the way it was told.

Conn Flannigan lives on his family ranch and four months before the story begins, he was in a serious traffic accident while traveling for business. Now he and his brother are retracing his steps to uncover what happened to him, because a head injury has stolen portions of his memory. Conn vaguely recalls staying in St. Valentine so the two young men arrive and check out the hotel. The attractive brunette behind the desk practically spits scorn at Conn however and he realizes that a lot more went on than he knows.

Rita Niles is in a quandary. Four months ago Conn stole her heart and she uncharacteristically slept with him, believing him when he promised he would come back for her after a business meeting. That was the last she saw or heard of him, and now she is four months pregnant. To make matters worse, this is the second time she has been caught out; her little girl Kristy is seven and her father, Rita's then fiancé, scarpered rather than be a father. Rita has a hotel to manage and a daughter to protect, and the last thing she needs is a playboy messing up her life.

Conn unfortunately was just that sort of love-em and leave- em playboy, as his brother remembers only too well. But Conn has faced the realities of his life now, and come to terms with needing to grow up and take responsibility. Does Rita mean more to him than his past would suggest? And can he persuade her to trust him... maybe even love him?

Crystal Green has given us a story with a good sense of place, without smothering us in details of all the townspeople's affairs. We see a local wedding, Thanksgiving Dinner, a Chamber of Commerce function and Christmas. We see a cowboy with a smartphone, and a delighted expectant mother getting a scan. We look forward to returning to St. Valentine.