I know what you are probably thinking. I certainly did when this title came up to review. Three men and a baby was a lovely movie about three guys managing, sometimes rather awkwardly, taking care of a baby. But that is where the comparison ends in THREE COWBOYS AND A BABY by Kate Pearce. This isn’t my first read of a book by this creative author. Kate Pearce has a strong romantic sense, but it is her honest and intelligent dialogue that has made me a fan. In THREE COWBOYS AND A BABY, the guys aren’t just cowboys running a ranch together, they are all ex-military. They are retired but still face some issues. It seems everyone that leaves the military must deal with baggage.

As ex-military it makes sense that their circle of friends and folk share that background. So when their friend Dave shows up at the ranch, they of course offer hospitality. But Dave came with some baggage of his own, his almost one-year-old son, Sky. Dave is on the way to Africa for some sort of job. And during the night he somehow managed to exit the ranch, leaving Sky behind. Dave is irresponsible, but not stupid. He knew these guys would do the right thing. The problem was he didn’t leave them with any way to get in touch with him or with the baby’s mom.

Several weeks later, however, Sky's mom, Jen, shows up. At first, the guys keep themselves at arm’s length from the woman they assume had abandoned her baby. But as facts unfold, we realize that Jen had been in an untenable situation: unexpectedly getting pregnant and still legally obligated to her job. in the Navy. She hoped she and Dave could have figured out a workable arrangement, with his mom helping take care of Sky until Jen's assignment was complete. Needless to say, events changed everything, and their plan had to be altered rather quickly. Hence how Dave ended up leaving baby Sky with Noah, Luke, and Max at the Nilsen Ranch in California.

Sky is being well cared for by the gruffest guy in this trio, Noah. Noah helped raise three younger sisters and was rather well prepared to take charge of Sky’s care until they could locate his mom, Jen. All this time, Jen traveled coast to coast twice to try to find her son after Dave had to go to Africa. She never expected to find three navy guys taking care of her infant son. And absolutely would never picture a big, bearded guy like Noah leading the team. Sky is absolutely in love with "Nono," his Noah. Noah greets Jen with a huge chip on his shoulder as he had pre-judged her as an absentee mother. But it becomes obvious that their shared love for this baby could become something rather wonderful.

Here’s where Kate Pearce comes in. Her dialogue and attention to detail in THREE COWBOYS AND A BABY make for a very entertaining story. You are immediately drawn to these characters. And somehow the story never feels contrived, instead rather plausible, and you can’t help but cheer these tough guys and gals along. Kate Pearce invests part of her heart and soul into her writing and awards the reader with some of the best situational romance books of this season.

Book Summary