Dad by Choice (Maitland Maternity)

Rating:
Summary: Strong characters yield a good start to a new series
Review: In this first installment of a new Maitland Maternity series, Dr. Abby Maitland finds herself juggling her life as a loving and supportive daughter with that of her high-pressured life as a gynecologist. When an unexpected baby is found on the doorstep of her family's maternity clinic, Abby and her prominent family find themselves the targets of the media's unflattering curiosity.

Her day continues on that note when expectant uncle, Kyle McDermott is compelled to draw her into his family crisis. As Marcie's respected gynecologist, Kyle attempts to persuade Abby to nudge his sister into marriage with her boyfriend, preferably before the baby's birth. Though Abby refuses to take sides, she is rather shocked when Kyle's attentions toward her persist. Both Kyle and Abby are surprised when their relationship deepens to friendship and progresses toward love.

Marie Ferrarella has written a solid story to spearhead this series. Both Kyle and Abby have strong personalities and the moderate speed of development suits the quiet tone of this book. The tone is periodically disrupted by the edgy quality of the overarching subplot concerning the mysterious baby and its equally mysterious mother. The author, however, does a fantastic job of establishing the strength and love of the Maitland family as well as the family's maternity clinic. There are a number of secondary characters, as well, whom Ferrarella sets up quite nicely for the books that follow.