The Pregnancy Test [Paperback]

Erin McCarthy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 27, 2005

Ordinarily, I'm a fan of pink-lovely colour, does smashing things for the complexion. But not when it's the bright, glaring stripe staring back at me on the pregnancy test. Then, pink is the colour of major oops, of morning sickness, of boyfriends who seemed decent but now are part of some Jerk Witness Protection Program. Still, I've got a few things going for me-bitter humour, a divine right to eat till I'm the size of Marlon Brando, and good friends who've managed to get me a job interview with one Damien Sharpton: in need of a personal assistant, and some say, a good, swift kick in the arse. If you want to make a lasting impression, by all means, toss your cookies in your future boss's wastebasket, which is located directly between his excruciatingly sexy legs. Apparently, Mr. Gorgeous-But-Unbearably-Anti-Social must like personal assistants who violate his trash can, because I got the job. And if I can avoid him via text messaging for the next seven months of health insurance, everything will be just fine. Except that he's just asked-no, insisted-that I go with him on a business trip to the Caribbean. Gulp. Ordinarily, this would be cause for celebration. Ordinarily, I'd shave my legs, pack my bikini, revel in day-glo drinks and my seething lust for Mr. Swarthy-And-Secretive. But there's nothing ordinary about this situation...which means it could be absolutely extraordinary...

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Mandy Keeling is desperate. She has sold her toy shop, lost her boyfriend, and found out that she is pregnant. In search of a job with health insurance, she experiences a wave of morning sickness in the elevator on the way to an interview. Naturally, Damien Sharpton, known as the "Demon," the man with whom she has an appointment, is in the elevator with her. In spite of this inauspicious beginning, she gets the job and easily conceals her condition since they don't come into contact too often, developing instead, an electronic relationship that leads her to believe that Damien's reputation as an ogre is greatly exaggerated. Since Mandy is the first person to penetrate his tough exterior, he invites her along on a trip to the Caribbean and becomes more enthralled. Things aren't easy once they're back at the office, but love finds a way in this truly wonderful tale. This novel has it all: wit, charm, sensuality, and two of the most enjoyable, fascinating characters around. Readers will treasure McCarthy's unexpectedly tender romance. Maria Hatton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"I had no idea that a book could be so steamy and still so laugh-out-loud funny!"

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Brava (September 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758208472
• ISBN-13: 978-0758208477
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 6.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #303,342 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > Travel > Reference & Tips > Business Travel

More About the Author

Erin McCarthy, the author of Bad Boys Online, Smart Mouth, Houston We Have a Problem, and Mouth to Mouth, lives with her husband and two children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

90 of 95 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful reading, September 20, 2005

By 

Laurie (OH - USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Pregnancy Test (Paperback)

Mandy Keeling, while on her way to a job interview is suddenly overcome by morning sickness so severe that she is literally doubled over in an elevator. There is a gorgeous man on the elevator with her. Imagine her horror upon finding out that he is none other than Damien "Demon" Sharpton, the very man her interview is scheduled with. Damien is just as horrified, being totally clueless as to what to do for this very sick woman. Despite the interview ending with Mandy throwing up in his wastebasket, Damien hires Mandy as his assistant and is grateful that he has found someone so efficient. His only qualm is that he never sees her as the majority of their communication

is done by instant messaging and email. He has no way of knowing that Mandy is purposefully avoiding him so he won't notice her slowly expanding waistline. She desperately needs this job for the health insurance benefits as well as the regular hours which will make arranging day care much easier. Damien wants to spend more time with Mandy and insists that she accompany him on a business trip to the Caribbean. Mandy doesn't want to go, not only for the risk of Damien seeing her in a swimsuit, but because she has been having highly erotic dreams about him. Soon the two of them are playing games, both innocent resort games and more erotic private games. Eventually Damien finds out about Mandy's pregnancy; when he fully understands the reasons behind her secrecy, he cannot believe that the father could abandon her the way he did. Despite the intense sexual attraction between her and Damien, Mandy is worried about what the future will hold for her and her baby. Erin McCarthy has yet again given readers a beautifully written story, with humor, sensuality, a very real look at pregnancy and the trepidation when that pregnancy is unexpected. This book is an emotionally charged example of the best of Erin McCarthy.

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute delight.... A keeper, October 12, 2005

By 

Judy "book reader" (Cincinnati, ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pregnancy Test (Paperback)

Erin McCarthy has penned another heart warming, funny and all out sexy story in The Pregnancy Test.

Mandy Keeling is in a major jam. After selling off her business and being dumped by her boyfriend she finds herself pregnant. Striving to make the best of this Mandy interviews for a job as a personal assistant to get health insurance. Even though she has heard tales about how Damien Sharpton is a total tyrant, Mandy gets the job. All she has to do is lay low for a while until without her pregnancy being discovered until it's to late to fire her.

Damien Sharpton has turned his whole focus into his work. After a tragedy he cut himself off from family and friends. Something in Mandy struck a chord in him, so he hired her. Now it seems she is avoiding him. Now Damien plans a business trip to the Caribbean with Mandy in tow.

The sparks really fly once they are away from the office. Damien begins to open up and let Mandy into his world. But will this off the wall attraction and friendship survive back in the real world.

The Pregnancy Test is a spectacular read. Mandy and Damien will make you laugh your socks off and reach for a fan to cool off when they hit the sheets. Their relationship builds and grows through the whole book. Mandy's friends are a delight and I hope they each get their own stories soon.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Will touch your heart and tickle your funnybone!, September 22, 2005

By 

Stacy ~ "book lover" (Chicago 'burbs) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pregnancy Test (Paperback)

Erin McCarthy shows off the range of her talent with this funny, steamy and poignant read. Mandy Keeling knew it was time to grow up and start living off of her parents' money. Lo and behold, nature was also trying to tell her something in the form of a pregnancy. She realized that she had to find a job that would allow her to support her baby since she wasn't getting any help from the baby's father. With the help of her friend Caroline, she lands a job interview with Damian Sharpton, an ogre of a boss whose already gone through four assistants in the last year. Amidst a bit of drama involving a rather embarrassing encounter, Mandy lands the job without letting him know she's pregnant. She manages to be a fabulous assistant while at the same time avoiding Damien like the plague.

This intrigues Damien, who can't believe in the two months since he's hired her he's seen her only a few times. Yet she manages to know him in a way he never expected, anticipating his needs and acting on them. When he tries to exert his authority to regain control, it only ends up making him seem like an immature child, which ruefully amuses him. So much so that he impulsively decides to bring her along on a trip to the Carribbean with the reasoning that it's business. Mandy is reluctant to go, but he makes it mandatory so she can't refuse.

Despite never seeing his secretary, he is attracted to her, albeit reluctantly so. He begins to question his sanity at bringing her along, but learns to relax and even show his sense of humor. As Mandy and Damien get to know each other, their already strong mutual attraction deepens, making it difficult to keep away from each other. When an intimate moment presents itself, so does the opportunity to confess to Damien about her pregnancy. When they finally kiss, it is as explosive as they imagined it would be, and things only get hotter from there. Mandy's pregnant body fascinates Damien, who reads up on the topic and becomes the world's expert on pregnant women, with amusing results. As their relationship grows, it becomes obviously how truly right they are for each other, and that they are already a family.

Wow! This book is fabulous. Mandy and Damien are refreshingly honest and their physical intimacy is sexy and intense, the result of strong feelings for each other. Mandy may seem to be young and irresponsible, but nothing means more to her than the well-being of her child, which she will do everything in her power to protect, and Damien is not the hard-nosed enployer he's made out to be. Behind all those demands lays the heart of a vulnerable man who was hurt very badly but still has the capacity to love deeply. He is a true tortured hero who longs for happiness. The icing on the cake is Erin's unique brand of humor, which is truly laugh-out-loud funny. I adored this story, and love how McCarthy's writing keeps getting better and better.