Secret Baby (Forbidden First Times #4) (2024)

Just not for me

Too explicit bedroom scenes and just an okay story. The families were just not nice people and Jessie got on my nerves. She just was so over the top. Ben was okay as a hero too but just okay. The writing was just a little disjointed and I couldn't feel a connection to any of the characters. Safe and free in KU.

3 Stars

I get on a kick with secret pregnancy/baby romances and yeah, they normally are predictable and they more or less follow the same storyline. I normally am OK with that and it doesn't take away from the story for me, but this book had inconsistencies, plot holes, and insta everything.

I love a good secret baby, second chance trope but this one is sloppy with too many inconsistencies, and unnecessary details that just don't amount to anything.

Jess and Ben start off with a bang, literally, and insta-love. But it all goes awry then he leaves for 5 years without telling her. Meanwhile she has his baby and pines for him. Story is told in the beginning with flashbacks that get a little annoying. Why have a prologue?

I don't like that she insta-forgives him. He doesn't confess his hair-brained idea then gets mad at his mother for telling her about it. Then her mom is just really mean to her and has a weird obsession with Ben's rich family that comes out of no where. Lots of odd plot points that go no where.

This was my first book by this author, not sure I'll read another.

This is the fourth book in the Forbidden First Times Series. It was insta-attraction for Jessamine/Jessie and Benjamin/Ben the first time they met. He claimed her virginity and they didn't even know each other's last names. They were from opposite sides of the track but they each made the other whole. So in love and then he disappeared for five years. Needless to say when he returned there were some surprises, angst, family drama, and raw emotions. No shortage of misunderstandings, miscommunication, and untold secrets. Their chemistry was explosive and true love wins out in the end. The characters were likable but flawed. Little Olive was adorable and she finally got her Daddy wish. I read a free advance copy via Booksprout and voluntarily chose to review it.

Secret Baby by Sofia T Summers is an awesome story that I have read. This is book number four in this awesome series that I have enjoyed reading very much and I can not wait to finish this series. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about contemporary romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I enjoyed Benjamin & Jesse's book. It was an entertaining read. I received a free copy of the book. And am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.

The couple: Ben and Jessie

Romance genre: secret baby
Series: Forbidden First Times
Length: 266 pages

Plot: Ben and Jessie met for a wild night while they were in college. But Ben had to leave - he was in the military and was being sent to the coast of Somalia. He was unable to tell Jessie this and was unable to contact Jessie while he was on the ship. For five years. When he got home, he goes to find her and sees that he has a child. Eventually, he'll make a move and all the details will get ironed out.

Commentary: 5 years. 5 years! He couldn't have called her, emailed her, written her once? He couldn't have talked to his superiors and asked their advice? He couldn't have sent her a message and said "hey, I can't tell you where I am but I want to keep in contact?" He couldn't contact anyone for 5 years? Seems a bit ridiculous and far-fetched.

Grammar/formatting: could use another pass with a proofreader/editor

Previous book in the series: Dear Boss
Next book in the series: Boss's Baby

1.You will review this book on Booksprout and Amazon when the book goes live.
2.You will have your review ready by July 25, 2020.

Summers, Sofia . . . Secret Baby

The prologue is 7 years before the “actual” story begins. Jessie and her college roommate go to a house party off campus where Jessie meets Benjamin in a garden outside the house. She kisses him and he takes her virginity, consensually, and immediately leaves. Jessie knows nothing about him except his name, he was a senior in NROTC, and she knew he would be something important in her life.
Next, we find Jessie, 7 years later, with a daughter, Olive, that she is raising by herself with the help of her brother Jared and her BFF Henny. Olive’s dad is Benjamin and she inherited his strong personality traits.
Benjamin is a SEAL who has been stationed on a ship off the coast of Somalia for 5 years. He had been promised to return to Wilmington years ago, but that didn’t come to fruition. Now he and his Petty Officer, Barnes, had just landed in Wilmington’s airport. When he had left 5 years previous he had barely said a word to Jessie, HE hadn’t been able to tell her anything about his mission (patrolling the Somali border dealing with the threats of Somali pirates,) couldn’t tell her where he was going or when he would be back.
Now he drove to the address he had found for Jessie. When he parked at the apartment complex, he heard a child’s giggle. Looked over at it and there was Jessie bent down with a young girl. Thinking she was married with a child now, he sadly left.
The book goes from the past to the present which is nice since it lets one see what the characters were like when they were younger and how things between them got the way they are today.
There are some inaccuracies/inconsistencies in the book, but they are easy to ignore.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Jessamine “Jessie” Rhodes
1.21-years-old when the prologue starts.
2.Says she has a large personality. A big head of curly brown hair, curvy body, constantly looking for a challenge, megawatt smile, big brown eyes.
3.Lived in Wilmington, North Carolina, one of 9 children (all their names began with a “K”), where she attended Seaside University.
4.Dreamt of being a sports journalist.
5.Had an internship with a local news station where she got a job, as an administrative assistant, after graduation from college and having Olive when she was 23.
Henny
1. Bright red hair, pale, skinny, practically no curves, normally had a shy smile and two pink cheeks and blue eyes that always looked bashful.
2.Jessies BFF
3.Had been Jessies roommate all 4 years at Seaside University.
4.Jessie said their personalities were as different as oil and water.

Jared Rhodes
1.Jessie’s gay twin brother.

Benjamin Grove
1.Dark hair that tumbled over his forehead, dark/intense blue eyes, lean muscles, sculpted jaw,
2.Born and raised in Wilmington.
3.Met Jessie at a house party off campus.
4.Lived off campus
5.Was in NROTC in college and became a SEAL when he graduated.
Olive
1.Jessie’s daughter

Margot Grove
1.Benjamin’s sister and best friend.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Secret Baby is the fourth book in the Forbidden First Times series but is a stand alone story. This is the story of Jessie and Ben and it is scorch the sheets hot! They both come from dysfunctional families although Ben and his family are wealthy and his mother likes to have control. When he enlists and becomes a Navy SEAL his parents are not too happy. Jessie is the only one who has given him any kind of support but when he gets called to a mission and sneaks away she figures that is the end of their relationship especially since she does not hear from him again for many years and she has a surprise along the way. Jessie comes from a large family and her gay twin brother is the only one who gives her any support. Her mother cuts her down at every turn.

There are twists and turns to the story and their daughter, Olive, is wise beyond her years. It was amazing the questions she asked or the comments she made. She was a nice addition to the story and gave it another layer. There are a lot of steamy moments, swearing, family and friends, romance and love. When Ben returns he is a force to be reckoned with but will Jessie give him a second or even a third chance? When they are together they cannot keep their hands off each other but that does not get to the root of some of their issues especially when Jessie keeps bailing out of work.

The prologue takes place seven years before the story begins and tells us how they first met at a college party which is the start of their heated attraction. The story is told from either the point of view of Jessie or Ben and they do need to learn how to communicate better and not just between the sheets and other places they get easily distracted. The epilogue takes place one year after the story ends and gives nice closure but there are so many siblings I am sure there is someone else who will need their story to be told.

Ms. Summers is a fairly new to me author and I have enjoyed her stories although they do take me out of my comfort zone.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I rated the book 3.5 stars but rounded to 4 stars here and on other sites.

Secret Baby By Sofia T Summers

Jessamine "Jessie" Rhodes and Benjamin "Ben" Grove met at a house party off campus. The sparked up a conversation that quickly turned to hot sex and her losing her virginity (her choice) then he walked away. The story picks up again seven years later. She now has a beautiful, energetic almost five year old daughter named Olive that she has been raising by herself with the help of her twin brother Jared and bestfriend Henny.
Ben is a Navy SEAL and has been stationed overseas in Somalia on a ship for five years. He left without telling Jessie where he was going due to being on a secret mission. He wasn't supposed to be gone for five years and now he is back and wants to start back where they left off. The only problem life didn't stop for Jessie when he left she discovers she's pregnant and she hadn't heard a word from Ben in all those years leading to hurt feelings, frustration because she still loves him,abandonment and anger. Plus her daughter is starting to ask questions about her dad and she doesn't know what to say to her because she doesn't even know why he left or where he went. Then out of the blue he shows up. It takes a while but they begin to work things out that is until their hurtful meddling families get involved. I must say with parents especially mothers like that who needs enemies. Their second chance/secret baby journey wasn't easy it was filled with all kind of personal and family drama, misunderstandings, miscommunications, hurt feelings but one thing that stood the test of time .......their love.

I received an advance copy from Booksprout for my honest review.

Five ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Secret Babyby Sofia T Summers is a second chance/military/secret baby romance story of Ben and Jessie.Ben is from a rich family,attending college and want to be a Navy seal.Jessie a sassy,sweet curvy woman from the wrong side of the tracks and want to be a journalist.They've met in a party and had a party of their own from there they starting to see each other and have a relationship,jessie is very supportive of Ben dreams to become a Navy and when Ben got his assignment and need to deploy soon without telling anybody what,where and when he left without saying goodbye or explenation to Jessie after their last night of passion,unbeknownst to him he didnt left Jessie alone but also his unborn child.Can Jessie give him a second chance or He need to move on without them in his life? read it to find out! an emotional,steamy and enjoyable second chance romance story that you will love and enjoy reading!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Secret Baby is a sweet sexy romance in the end. I'd give it 3.5 stars rounded to 4. Ben and Jesse are a great couple that just can't seem to get together. They're biggest problem is communication. Things I found hard to swallow with their miscommunication: Ben leaving for his Navy Seal mission. Supposedly it lasted for five years. Having had family in the armed forces I have a hard time believing he wouldn't have been given time off where he could have called Jesse. He could have sent a letter. Her forgiving him seemed too easy as well. Lastly, Ben's mom didn't lie. She was a b*tch but she didn't lie. As far as she knew she was telling the truth. Ben lied. He never confesses or explains to Jesse either.

The story is sweet. There are some really cute moments especially with Olive. The sex scenes are pretty hot. It was the lack of communication that got me annoyed with the narrative.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

The premise for the book was good although there were some parts that were not accurate. A little extra research would have told the author that being a Navy SEAL does not mean that the team is completely cut-off from all communication with their family or others in their lives. Letters and phone calls are allowed providing the location and nature of the mission are not disclosed. (Just watching the TV series SEAL Team would have given the author that much information, even if it is coming from Hollywood.) I liked both MC of Jessie and Ben well enough but there also were some parts that just did not ring true for me. They both acted way too immaturely for the age that they supposedly were in the present. Olive was a little sweetie and I was glad that they were able to get their HEA as a family! It had the potential to be a really awesome book but missed the mark when it came to character development and military research. All-in-all it was good, just not great.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

The story line was cute it had potential it just didn't cut it for me. I was struggling to finish this book and its a short read so thats saying something. Maybe instead of the back and forth with the past and present it would have been more telling to write about the past and then the present because with the jumping around I felt like I missing pieces. I want to say after reading the first couple of chapters it sounded like she gave her virginity up to a stranger and they had one night stand and all she knew was his first name and then they jump back to the present and she has his child and then you jump back to the past. The details were there I just felt like they weren't placed properly to make the story grab my attention like I was confused maybe the first 40% of the book.

If you liked reading this, I recommend you read My Kind of Love --- military romance/secret baby.

A beautiful story about infinite love that was already very strong when Jessie and Ben were still teenagers.

But it turns out once again that communication is as if and can make life much easier. It was obviously missing between these two and caused a lot of heartache. They had to remove many stones from the way until they got to their HEA. Olivia, their daughter is absolutely adorable. Since Ben had been in Somalia for 5 years as Navy SEAL, he knew nothing about her existence, but he immediately took her into his heart when he got to know her. He grabbed his second chance with the horns, because he doesn't want to be separated from his two "girls" for one more day.

It's such a romantic book, although it's a long way with many with many unexpected twists until everything's really all right.

I can definitely fully recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout. I have voluntarily
chosen to leave my review in support of this book.

This is one sweet 2nd chance romance with Jessie and Ben. These two meet at a college party and end up together for a couple of years until Jessie gives him encouragement to join the Navy and he leaves with Any notice then a note promising to return. Shortly after Jessie discovers she is pregnant And ends up raising their little girl on her own for 4 years. Ben ends up becoming a Navy Seal and Is sent out on a mission that last way longer then he ever thought. These two have never forgotten or stopped thinking and dreaming of one another so one day when Jessie sees a certain car she knows Ben has returned. After 5 years Jessie is angry and mad so Ben has an up hill battle to get Jessie back and once he finds out about Olive, Ben is all in with all he has! Their biggest obstacle is their parents and their negativity and being able to communicate with honesty. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Ben and Jessie have a relationship that his family doesn't approve of because of their upbringing differences. Jessie always supported Ben in anything he wanted to do so when he enlisted she was there for him. However she never expected him to just disappear on her. Jessie ends up pregnant and with the help of her brother she is able to survive and raise her daughter. Yet she has never forgotten Ben. Ben is finally back home and the one thing he wants is to see Jessie but when he goes to her he finds her with a little girl. Will he go to her to find out who the little girl is or will is stay gone? Can Jessie forgive him for leaving? Can the be the family they should've been all along?

This is an amazing story that once I started it I couldn't put it down. This is a well written and very entertaining story. I would recommend this book to any book lover.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I loved reading Secret Baby by Sofia T Summers because it was such a sweet and very steamy story about Jessie and Ben. They were college sweethearts and were planning their lives together. Then Ben disappeared without a trace and Jessie was pregnant. Jessie constantly thought about him and Ben thought of Jessie all the time too. Jessie was angry and upset when she sees Ben again. They were such a sweet couple and I hoped that everything would work out while reading it. It was clear that they both still loved each other. I didn't like either of their moms. Both were very judgmental. I loved this story and I highly recommend reading it. It was steamy and hot and a great book about a couple that got a second chance with each other.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Secret Baby. This book was a wonderful story of an everlasting love. I enjoyed the drama brought about by a lie. Jessie and Benjamin fell in love years ago. But Benjamin left to join the Navy and became a Seal and couldn't tell anyone about it. So for 5 years Jessie held onto the love she knew was there between them. Benjamin shows up in town hoping Jessie waited for him. Well, things turn out a little different than they both expected. But Ben is determined to gain back his love and live happy ever after. Great read! I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. *** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***

This was a really sweet romance. Also very HOT! Jessie and Ben have chemistry that is off the charts. Their sex life has never been a problem but they do seem to have issues communicating. Ben joins the Navy and is shipped out almost immediately on a secret mission. Jess is heartbroken by his disappearance. Five years later, Ben is back and finds Jessie with a little girl. All kinds of lies and miscommunications follow. Eventually there is a HEA but it is certainly a long and tortuous route. The characters were good and Olive is absolutely adorable. The parental units are kind of a nightmare but hopefully they will mellow with time. LOL! All in all, a decent read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

what happens when you meet your soulmate and the man of your dreams, but he disappears for 5 years and doesn't have a clue he has a 5 year old daughter? Benjamin Grove became a navy seal and his first mission was supposed to be short not 5 years but he never ever forget his one and only true love Jessamine, but when 2 families try to keep them apart will he be happy about being a father or will his family get what they wanted and for him to settle down with another rich girl? This book was absolutely fantastic and you could connect with the characters emotions and pain and heartbreak and also make you want to snap on the parents. Absolutely love this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

An enjoyable story about lost love and finding it again. Jessie and Ben were in love in college – Ben the son of a wealthy family, and Jessie the very curvy daughter of a family with modest means. He enrolled in the Navy Seals and was sent away – as it turned out, for 5 years – while Jessie gave birth to a baby he didn’t know about. When he returns and tries to restart the relationship, all sorts of issues stand in the way, and the last two thirds of the story is dealing with how these issues are resolved. Both characters were intelligent and committed to each other, but the problems of the gap in time, and the interference of family made it difficult for both of them. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Awesome!
Even though the concept of Jessie and Benjamin getting together, him leaving for the service, and her having his baby is nothing unusual, Ms. Summers has taken the concept to a new level. Jessie is an exceptionally strong person, who depends mainly on herself for support although she has many great friends. He had already joined the Navy before they met; however, did not ship out until after. Successful as a SEAL he retired and came back home and was determined to renew his relationship with Jessie. Wonderful characters in this well written story. I purchased a copy so that I could read the entire series in one fell swoop after it is complete.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Jessie fell in love with Benjamin in college and their brief romance was interrupted by his leaving for his enlistment in the Navy. Now, 7 years later, he returns to rekindle his romance with the girl he never forgot, only to find that she is an independent single mother with a lovely little girl named Olive. Strong-willed Jessie still turns his head and he is determined to be a partner to her and a substitute father to her daughter. How will he take the news that he really is her father? Will their newly rekindled romance be destroyed by the secret that Jessie has kept all of these years? Or will their love be strong enough to overcome all obstacles and give them both the family they have always wanted together?
This book is definitely worth the read to find out.

Ben is called away on Seal duty just after he met Jessie. Unfortunately he was gone for a year and when he got back he wanted to see if they could start again.
This was a wonderful story about second chances and hidden secrets. Not a great deal of drama but certainly tension in this story. Ben is a real alpha, tall strong and quiet. He isnt sure where he stands when he comes back but wants her.
This story hit home whether it was subject matter or what I dont know but it certainly was emotional and the ending was the best. A fantastic book really!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Jessamine, "Jessie", and Benjamin," Ben" met in college at at a party and were sweethearts for several years before Ben left for the Navy Seals. Since they were not married he could not tell her much and told her too little and he was gone for over 5 years. Life did not stop for Jessie, she had their child, she did not know she was pregnant when he left. Fast forward five years and Ben comes home. He wants to rekindle his love with Jessie since he never stopped loving her, but has she moved on? Sofia T. Summers has written a smoking hot second chance book !

I received this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

jessie and benjamin met years ago in college at a party, and knew that this was it for e each other them, bu t due to circ*mstances their was a separation and they find themsleves meeting years later. benjamins is naval seal and was only supposed to be away for a little while but the assignment turned out longer. They found each other and again, and unknowst to benjamin jesse was pregnant can these towo misplaced lovers to overcome family drama, misunderstanding, but what they have is love fore each other. i highly reccommend tihis read

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

We all have family that makes us want to scream but to have it be your in laws on both sides is exhausting. Been Ben's snotty rich parents and Jessie's indescribable mom I had too many moments wanting to scream.

Now outside of the parents the author handled crazy situations very well in this book. The drama, the history, the love, friendship and suspense went phenomenally. This book is part of series but is very much a standalone worth reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

When Navy Seal Ben gets sent on a secret mission he isn't even able to tell Jessie where he is going. Jessie is distraught when he leaves with no warning and doesn't return for years. But when Ben does return he finds Jessie with a daughter. After several attempts to tell Jessie why he left and where he went, she finally listens to him and tells him about his daughter.
But there are obstacles in their way back to each other in the form of both of their parents.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

A real delight to read. In love but circ*mstances caused them to lose contact. He joined the Navy and became a SEAL Jessie did not know where Benjamin was but she never forgot him. Once he was stateside again, he was determined to find her because he thought about her constantly. He saw Jessie but assumed she had moved on. I cried when he did not speak to her when he first saw her. As in all good romances, there is a happy ever after. Secret Baby by Sofia T. Summers is a must-read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.