Successful family lawyer, Ella McLeod and surrogate mother for her sister, Keira, has just given birth to a beautiful daughter. Unable to have a child Keira and her husband Dmitri Volkovoy will have the family they dream of. At the last minute Ella's sister and brother-in-law decide to work for an international aid charity in Africa and have no room for a child. Ella now faces the dilemma of finding the best possible home for her child as her lifestyle does not permit raising a child.

Dmitri's big brother Yevgeny wants to adopt "Holly", whom he fell in love with at first sight. Ella is determined that the handsome Russian billionaire will not fill the bill as the infant's father. Yevgeny sees Ella as an ice block incapable of giving the child the warm motherly attention she deserves. Constantly matching wits and convinced they don't even like each other, the tide begins to turn as they spend more time together with Holly and learn who the other really is. When the shocking truth is revealed who really donated the sperm, all Ella's plans go up in smoke of her intent for an open adoption. Agreeing to give Yevgeny consent to adopt the infant, his offer of marriage to Ella causes sadness. Falling in love with him does not allow her to accept the proposal without his love. The surprise appearance of Keira and Dmitri causes more conflict in their declaration they have changed their minds and plan to adopt after all. It is now time for Ella and Yevgeny to stand their ground and refuse to give in to their spoiled siblings and to grab their own happiness.

STAKING HIS CLAIM is a very touching tale of a woman who has spent her life sheltering her younger sister and a man who has done the same with his sibling. Together they find the love, and extremely satisfying sex, they have denied themselves previously. The story is well written and peaks the interest from page 1 to the end. This is an extremely unique and heart wrenching story that leaves you with a really good feeling. STAKING HIS CLAIM is a must read.