3 1/2 Stars!

Ben and Aurelia have been in love with each since they met ... but neither one knows it. When a baby (presumably Ben's) gets left on his doorstep, Ben and Aurelia begin to care for the baby together. It doesn't take long for their true feeling to be known to each other.

This is a sweet friends to lovers romance with some laughs and lots of steam! But I just found it very predictable ... I wish there would have been more angst in it.

I received an early copy courtesy of Montlake Romance through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

Call Her Mine was the friends to lovers story I needed to get me out of my book rut. Melissa Foster always does an amazing job at writing characters that are easy to love. Ben and Aurelia were so great together and added the perfect amount of romance, sass, and humor.

I was able to finish this story in one night. It was so addicting. I loved the idea of friends who had feelings for each other and were ready to admit their feelings to each other. To add more drama there is a surprise baby. Baby B!

I loved how realistic the situation seemed. When Ben found a baby at his doorstep, he freaked out. Aurelia was his rock. She used her past experiences in life to reel Ben in and make him see that taking in this child wasn't all bad. Aurelia was so great with B and even if they weren't sure if it was Ben's she treated Baby B with so much love.

I loved meeting all of Ben's family members. They were crazy fun. Every single sibling or family member was so different and they each added their own two cents whenever they pleased!!

Overall, this was a sweet friends to lovers romance that will give all romance lovers the best feels. I give Call Her Mine 5 stars. The story was fantastic, I loved the characters, and Baby B stole the show!!

Thank you to Melissa for my copy of this book via Netgalley. I am a huge fan of Melissa's work so when I was asked if I would review Call Her Mine I couldn't wait to dive in.

If you have read the Sugar Lake series then you will have already met Ben Dalton but even if you haven't you could read this as a standalone. Ben Dalton and Aurelia Stark have been best friends since they were children. They have been in love with each other for years but both are too scared to tell each other that their friendship could be ruined if things don't work out.

I fell in love with Ben Dalton when we first met him in the Sugar Lake series. He's described as a Henry Cavill lookalike. Well, I was all in right then. Ben might be a hotshot in the city but really he is a family guy with a big heart. He loves his sisters and is clearly close to his parents too.

Aurelia is a sweet girl who is extremely strong. I am not sure I could cope with everything she goes through in this book. Aurelia has to listen to all of Ben's conquests while her heart is being pulled apart. That must have been SO difficult, Aurelia is a true friend to Ben.

Melissa does an excellent job of showing how difficult it is to look after a baby. Melissa didn't make it out to be rainbows and sunshine. She showed that a baby is hard work and sometimes its overwhelming. I liked that Melissa kept the truth to this side of the story.

The truth about B's mum was all over a little quick for me. It would have been nice to have a few more scenes with her.

The epilogue was so funny! I really love Ben's sisters! If you haven't read the Sugar Lake series I really would recommend it along with this book too. I can't wait to see who is next to fall in love in Harmony Pointe.

Latest in the series, this is the story of Ben and Aurelia, a friends to lovers story.

They are attracted to each other, but neither of them has ever acted on it. Just when you think they might get together, a baby is left on Ben's doorstep. This is his daughter he knew nothing about. As Aurelia helps him out with the big change in his life, will they finally have their chance together?

An entertaining and emotional read. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

I am a sucker for a friends-to-lovers story, and when our lovelies have been besties forever, it is even more adorable when they finally get together.

Throw in a sexy, new DILF and an adorable bub and I was hooked.

Now, our Ben did pee me off a bit at the start with the way he talked about the baby, but this might just be me, and it wasn't too long before that all changed and went all Papa Bear.

I loved Aurelia and Ben navigating their way to a new sort of relationship. The chemistry is strong in this pair, and as a reader I was left wondering what took them so dang long?

But for me, as much as I liked Ben and Aurelia, Call her Mine was all about baby - made this old duck want to find a baby to squish!

Great secondary characters rounded out this lovely story, and I couldn't help but smile as I was reading.

I look forward to more of this series.

I’ll start by saying I usually love books by Melissa Foster, but this one felt a little flat for me. Ben and Aurelia have been dancing around each other for years, and when she finally decides to move on and moves to another town, then he suddenly decides to finally make a move.

When a baby is dropped off on his doorstep, Ben narrows down the possible mother to four women. He blames sleeping with these women on Aurelia, because she went out on dates those nights. I found that to be a weak excuse for his behavior. If he just came clean and admitted his feelings, all that drama could have been avoided.

At first he denies the baby is even his, and keeps calling her “it”. It was a poor reaction on his part, and I expected better from him.

A large portion of the book is the pair navigating instant parenthood. I felt it dragged on a bit in sections. I also thought when the baby’s mother finally does show up, Aurelia’s reaction was a bit over-the-top. Yes, I get she had gotten attached to Bea, but the way she got herself all worked up was a little much.

While this is the start of a new series, I would recommend that readers read at least the Sugar Lake series first. These books are about Ben’s sisters, and where Ben and Aurelia, are introduced. The characters from those books make appearances in this book. I think if readers haven’t read those stories, they are definitely going to feel like their missing something in regards to Ben and Aurelia’s history.

Overall, I thought the book was ok, but it wasn’t my favorite book by this author. I’m still looking forward to seeing what’s in store for the rest of the Harmony Pointe series.

I was on pins and needles a few times throughout the book. The ending was heart wrenching but also heart warming.
Babies truly are a blessing.
Rels and Ben are so perfectly matched. I’m so glad Baby Bea..she deserved the best.
Be prepared to laugh, cry and everything in between.

~BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS~
Plot~ 4/5
Main Characters (hero/heroine)~ 4/5
Secondary Characters~ 4/5
The Feels~ 4/5
Pacing~ 4/5
Addictiveness~4/5
Angst~ 4/5
Steam/Hotness/Chemisty ~ 4/5
Theme or Tone~ 4/5
Flow (Writing Style)~ 4/5
Backdrop (World Building)~ 4/5
Originality~ 4/5
Ending~ 4/5
Book Cover~ Cute and Sexy
Source~ Kindle eBook - ARC for honest review
Would I read more from the author? Yes
Would I recommend this book? Yes

Honestly my favorite Melissa Foster book ever. The build up to Ben and Aurelia has been grueling and frustrating, but so worth it. They are magic together. Add Bea in the mix and what’s not to love. You can feel all the emotions bubbling right off the page.
I also love that Caroline wasn’t a “villain”. Though her story is sad, it’s a nice way to have her story wrapped up.
Well done!

*i received an arc in exchange for an honest review.*
I always love the friends to lovers trope when it’s done well and this one is. These two have had it bad for one another for years but they cannot find their moment. Until a baby shows up on Ben’s doorstep with a note claiming she’s his.
Aurelia has been trying to get over Ben. Hell she even moved to the next town but when Ben finds a baby on his doorstep, she steps in to help. Pretty soon they are stumbling through diaper blowouts, crying jags, and a lot of wtf do we do Now’s.
What’ll I really loved about this book is that once the feelings are admitted, there is no drama coming from every direction. Yes they are in a new relationship and there’s a baby involved but they talk to one another and support one another. The scene where Aurelia is just completely overwhelmed and is crying in bed was so relatable. I loved that Ben took care of her and was not mad about her meltdown. They are grown ups. Which in romance is always refreshing.
I was heartbroken for Caroline and that felt a bit convenient but it’s better than her being a twat who dumped her baby.
I’d love to read more books in this story and would definitely recommend it to friends.

⇨ R E V I E W ⇦

Not my first read by author, heck I have read just about every single book MF put out, she is also one of my very first reads. That said, a new series HECK YESSS!

This started off on fire, then died a slow death when I realized what was happening *sigh* poor Aurelia stuck in the deep end of the ‘friends zone’ GAH! What’s worse she is doing it to herself, she can’t blame Ben for not returning anything because well to her it’s one sided. But just when she was making a small step towards moving ON and away…a basked with a baby shows up at Ben’s door. Fast forward and they are sitting at the doctors office trying to figure out where, what, when and who. The who part being specific…which is also a part that is killing Aurelia. Nothing worse then going over your mega-crushs also BFF old flings.

Today had felt like a month rather than a day. She had to get on with her life.

-Aurelia
looking from Ben’s view, he was finally ready to gamble it all, just to be with her. His love for Aurelia only grew every day, now the mess he seems to be in, he is thankful for Aurelia but there is so much he wants to tell her, sow her…*sigh* but guys, the SWOON affect is not only with Aurelia but with BABY B oh. my. gosh. i seriously am in love with Ben for it! He calls her PEANUT, now OVARIES EXPLODE because it’s so sweet and even though he wanted to wish her away, he can’t.

Basically this is a case of CAT & MOUSE, the chase, the unsaid words, the adventurous…every time they seem to take a step something comes up, something happens, another time, another day…well, both Ben and Aurelia need to get their shit together and say it…GAH! I was fuming at one point yelling at my kindle DO IT DO IT DO IT!

Oh my heart, I am not sure I would have survived had I known what was coming. You will be shocked and better get some tissues handy because it’s a tearjerker. So sweet yet so heartbreaking…MF’s characters are always wonderful, this story alone is something NEW from her TO ME! I really enjoyed it, wish there was more of the sweet, the swoon, the funny and Baby B! Simply a beautiful story, re-read worthy and YES, made it to my TOP 2019 MUST READ list!

TOP 2019 MUST READ!
Rating: ★★★★★
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY!
⇨ H A P P Y – R E A D I N G ⇦

*5 Stars*

ARC kindly received in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book on one sitting, with only a break for dinner in between. I mean, I really shouldn't expect any less when it comes to a Melissa Foster book, because I devour every single one, each and every time I pick one up.

I don't think I even read the synopsis for this one, I just went "Ooooo Melissa Foster, yes please!" - and so as I started reading and the baby got dropped on the scene, I was like oh hell no. I should've known not to doubt Melissa though, because this book was amazing. As evidenced by the fact that I devoured it so fast.

I loved both Ben and Auriela in this one, and best friends to lovers is one of my fave romance tropes, so that played in perfectly for me. I adored Bea, and I loved all the family and friends we got as secondary characters. This is written so that there is no angst, plenty of communication (apart from the very start of the book) and lots of love and laughter going around.

There were a couple of loops that threw me at the end, but they were written well, and made me emotional too. The perfect mix of everything in this story, that made me feel things I didn't expect.

With two strong and fantastic main characters, and a supporting cast just as fabulous, this one is sure to be a hit with readers. I highly recommend it, and can't wait for more from this new series!

Ben and Aurelia have been harboring feelings for one another for years, but neither one realizes this truth. Their timing has always been off and the surprise baby left on Ben’s doorstep is a testament to this.

I have never been a fan of friends-to-lovers stories and unfortunately, this book failed to sway me. Sure, there are some cute baby moments but the romance between Ben and Aurelia was so painfully sweet I got cavities.

While their bad timing is supposed to be a quirk of their love story, I think in the larger scheme of things, even fate is looking down on them saying “Really guys? That fast?” Ben and Aurelia were annoying even at their best—really ruined the story for me.

The story felt rushed and yet it dragged on...I was aching for it to be over. This was the first book by Melissa Foster I’ve read and I’m underwhelmed.

Senses collide with heart. Foster takes a dip on the sweet side with a hint of naughty. There's nothing hotter than a father who loves his child. There's nothing cuter than a baby who steals the show. It may not be love at first sight, but Ben is about to get a wake up call. It comes at the hands of a surprise bundle and a life long friend. Aurelia is on the move, just when Ben needs her most. After years of longing, will a baby finally bring these clueless hearts the happy ending they've secretly always craved? Call Her Mine is proof that sweet and simple can be a sexy combination. With humor and heart, heat kind of takes a backseat this time around.

Another fantastic new series from one of my favorite authors! This is a charming, sweet and heartwarming love story that packs a nice amount of heat too. I love the best friends to lovers trope and tossing in an unexpected baby added even more goodness to this amazing couple’s journey to a HEA. Ben and Aurelia are perfect for each other in every way but for years have kept it strictly friends. Once they decide to take the leap, things become complicated by a tiny baby girl left in his doorstep. They may be more complicated but as they fall more and more in love with each other, they also fall in love with B and realize being a family means everything. I really love the way they support each other and how their family and friends make for a very big support system made up of amazing people. Such a wonderful story!!

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley.

The story of Ben Dalton and Aurelia Stark was one of long time friends. A friendship that Aurelia wanted more of, and one that at this point in her life, was hindering her from moving forward. Especially since it appeared Ben just wanted to keep her in the BFF side .
But when a baby is dropped on Ben’s doorsteps, his life goes into a turmoil. And who does he wants to help him? Aurelia.
I have to confess , that in the beginning, I struggled with the book. Ben just did not do it for me. I found him a tad immature, and a bit irresponsible . And really, why call a baby “it”?
The story was mostly about the baby, and less about the romance, since that part of the story was resolve early on.
Maybe beacuase I am older, but it was not one of my favorite books.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

What did I just read? Why did I keep reading past the first few chapters? That's what I keep asking myself the entire time I forced my way through this book (because I don't like being a quitter). This was a 'new to me' author who I was at least familiar with already, having downloaded a couple of her books before now (just haven't read them). It's obvious after reading this book that the secondary characters were all part of a previous series and at times, some parts fell flat because I had no clue who they were or what their stories were.

This book can be summarized pretty simply: Boy and girl have been best friends and in love with each other for a long time, but they continue to see other people. They become a couple and instant family when a baby is left at his doorstep. They profess their love as often as possible. And they live happily ever after. The end.

That's pretty much it. At about the 90% mark, there is a really sad part that will probably make you cry. But other than that, I was bored and the only emotion I showed was annoyance at how sickeningly sweet the whole book was. By Chapter 4, I was thinking 'Surely, it can't be this easy and they can't be this in love already?' I mean they had professed their love within the first few chapters and then the book really just became about them learning to be parents. The parenting moments in the beginning were quite funny though, I'll give the book that. But everything else just seemed flat.

I'm not saying that I don't like sweet romances, I really do. But there was nothing that kept me wondering if they would end up together in the end or what hurdles they'd face. There was no gradual friends-to-lovers build-up, it was just an instant 'they should probably just go ahead and marry within the first 3 chapters' romance since it was a foregone conclusion from the beginning. Basically, the sweet stuff that usually comes at the end of a romance book was 90% of this book. Had this been a novella, that would have been just fine. But given it was a full length novel, I expected more than a book of nothing but Hallmark endings.

Call Her Mine is the first book in the Harmony Pointe series by Melissa Foster. While it is the start of a new series, there are some familiar faces for Foster fans. It is currently scheduled for release on August 13 2019.

Ben Dalton has always been honest, except where his heart is concerned. He’s been in love with his best friend—saucy, smart-mouthed Aurelia Stark—forever. But Ben’s a planner, and timing has never been on his side. When he finally decides to make his move, Aurelia beats him to the punch with a move of her own—to a different town. Aurelia loves her new life in the charming town of Harmony Pointe. She has a great apartment and her very own bookstore, and best of all, the sinfully hot, commitment-phobic friend she’s crushed on for years is no longer just around the corner. Maybe she’ll finally be able to leave her unrequited love behind and move on. But when a baby is left on Ben’s front porch—a baby that is presumably his—Aurelia is there for him. Neither one knows the first thing about babies, but how hard can it be? Ben and Aurelia are catapulted into a world of love, laughter, and tracking down the baby mama, and it might even add up to a very happily ever after, just not one either of them expects.

Call Her Mine is an emotional and engaging romance. While Ben and Aurelia have been dancing around each other for years, neither realizing that the other was attracted to them and wanted more than friendship, it took a big crisis to get them to slow down and really look at each other. I like how once they started talking things out with each other they started making thing work- even though there was more than one occasion I wanted to shake one or the other to get them to share more of what they were thinking. Frankly as a parent, and former daycare worker (in the infant room no less), I found their antics as they figured out how to take care of the baby highly entertaining. I loved that they did have a support system, and like most fiercely independent people, struggled with accepting support even when freely (or enthusiastically) offered- which is something I relate to on many levels. The compassion and love in this book is almost overwhelming- and if I can complain about anything it is that the characters are almost too unrealistically good and I wish there were more people like this in the real world.

Call Her Mine is a must read for fans of Foster. I loved the story and found it to be sweet, fun, and steamy in good proportions.

4.25⭐

Call Her Mine is the first in Melissa Posters new Harmony Pointe series. Which I think is a spin off from another series as the characters seemed very established and some were even familiar to me. Although I could be mistaken as I honestly don't read a lot of Melissa Foster stories.

However, this story which follows a familiar trope being best friends to lovers, with the added shock baby (although not quite in the way most would imagine) Flowed comfortably, was well paced and pleasing to read. Not to mention sweet, and with charming and engaging characters, I was easily absorbed throughout.

Yet, I must say I didn't really feel the romance and as the story developed it became more about them as a couple learning how to care for a surprise baby than anything else. Which wasn't necessarily a bad thing it just wasn't what I was anticipating or hoping for at the outset. But to be fair, Ben and Aurelia certainly grew as a couple and as individuals and they did keep me entertained. So I will be looking for book two when it's released. And I would recommend this story to others.

What a fun, sexy, sometimes angsty to the point of tears, wildly romantic friends to lovers story!

Ben and Aurelia have been friends forever. They both want more than friendship but neither knows how the other feels. Ben has wanted to make his move but the timing has always been off. Now, Aurelia has moved to another town and is ready to “start over” and it’s driving him insane. When a baby is left at his front door, she steps in to help and he’s using the unlucky timing to his advantage.

Aurelia has a hard time facing the fact that Ben has a baby by another woman, a one night stand who he doesn’t even know her last name. But as she helps him with Baby B, she finds herself falling in love with the baby girl and opening herself up to a possibility of more with Ben.

Even if I had a bit of a problem with Ben using other women to get through not having Aurelia, I loved everything else about him. His reactions to the baby and then his poppa-bear protective instincts were hilarious and sweet. Add in a naked chest and a sweet baby girl on that chest and my ovaries were exploding. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a better single-dad hero than Ben. He was completely swoon worthy and when he and Aurelia finally have their talk, he became that hero that melts hearts everywhere.

Aurelia claimed my heart as well when she accepted that sweet innocent baby and was able to let Ben’s past go. However, she did have some adjustments to make, not realizing she was dealing with the same issues every new mother must go through. Secondary characters were awesome in helping her and Ben both learn to adapt.

This is a relatively low angst read until near the end when things take a very emotional turn. I found myself choking back tears, my heart wrecked. If you enjoy stories with a plethora of friends and family, this one is definitely one to pick up. The epilogue is just a quick look into the future, but satisfying. This would have been a solid five star read had Ben not made past decisions that he made – but that’s totally my own preference and not being aware of it going into the book made it harder to deal with.

Overall, this is a fun, flirty, family and friend filled story with tons of swoony dad/baby girl moments and plenty of laughter and sexy times.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley and Montlake Romance. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Is there anything more awkward than trying to figure out how many random women your best friend - the guy you’re secretly in love with - has slept with recently because a baby showed up on his doorstep? That’s the question at the start of this book, and I’ve got to say that our introduction to Ben left a sour taste in my mouth that lingered until the book finally won me over. An otherwise swoonworthy guy, Ben uses casual sex as a distraction from his feelings for Aurelia, and since she doesn’t know how he feels, she takes that as a sign that he won’t be able to commit if she does open up about her own feelings. They have a somewhat unhealthy friendship, and Aurelia has decided that she’s finally had enough of it when a baby appears with a note claiming to be Ben’s. His reaction to that news sets the tone for the book moving forward as the two team up to try to figure out exactly what’s going on - starting their own instant family in the process.

I’m a fan of Melissa Foster, so when NetGalley offered me an ARC in exchange for an honest review, I was excited to read this book (and that cover is awesome). The writing is great and the characters are complex - it just took a little while for me to like them as people. I liked the depth of emotion between these two, and once the book shifted away from Ben’s past, I liked him a whole lot. He’s sweet, a great father, and his feelings for Aurelia are unwavering. It definitely took a while for the book to grow on me, and had I not committed to reviewing the ARC, I’m not sure that I would’ve continued reading. That being said, I would’ve missed the heartwarming and sexy book that this turns into once it settles into the story.