Be My Baby by A. L. Michael (Book Beginnings & Friday 56)

Friday 56 (share from the 56th page or 56% mark) is hosted at Freda's Voice (today page 56 of the pdf ARC provided to me by the author) & Book Beginnings (share the first few sentences) is at Rose City Reader.

Amazon Description

Two’s company… 

If you asked Mollie whether she struggled as a single mum, she’d have to cover her daughter’s ears before answering. Surrounded by friends, watching Esme grow into the sassiest eleven-year-old in North London, and building her name as TV chef Mollie Makes, Mollie’s never been happier. Well, that’s what she’d tell you. But as her best friends pair off, and Esme starts getting into trouble at school, Mollie wonders whether life would be different – not better…but easier – with a team mate. 

Three’s a crowd? 

But Esme’s dad, Jamie, would be the last man Mollie would team up with. After all, he made it clear eleven years ago that he wasn’t interested in playing the family game. So when he suddenly reappears, Mollie can’t believe her eyes. And soon, she’s got to ask herself the hardest question yet: she knows she can succeed as a single mum. But what if her daughter doesn’t want her to?

I am both thrilled and heartbroken over being able to read the third book in A. L. Michael's The House on Camden Square series. Thrilled because I absolutely love this series and we've finally gotten to focus on Mollie -- my favorite from the beginning. Heartbroken because this is likely the end of the series. There were three friends to write about -- Evie was featured in Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday, Chelsea in Nice Day For A White Wedding, and now Mollie in Be My Baby. I even debated not accepting an advanced copy of Be My Baby from the author just so I could delay the inevitable a bit longer.  Alas, I couldn't even bring myself to wait until the release date of November 7th before diving in. Unless she does as I requested when first reading GRT and does a fast-forward sequel about a grown-up Esme, I'll pretty much be left alone with memories and re-reads (and this is one of those rare chick lit series that I have every intention of re-reading).

So, Mollie. The quiet one. The single mum. The one who hasn't dated in eleven years because she's been too busy raising her amazing wise-beyond-her-years daughter, Esme. The one who never quite got over the fact that her daughter's father just up and disappeared on her when she was pregnant with just a simple little note that said he was sorry. And now she and Esme are living in the house on Camden Square and have a new life with their "family-of-choice" of Evie, Chelsea, their significant others, and everyone else involved with the studio left to them by their dear departed Ruby. She's starting to dip her toes back into the dating pool and is getting her business creating healthy food for kids, Mollie Makes, off the ground.

And then he shows up -- Esme's dad.

Of course, there are oodles of "oh-no-I'm-not-crying-at-all" whimpers and a fair amount of ugly-crying and self-hugging, but there's also a good deal of laughter and whooping and "I-just-got-a-touchdown-while-sitting-on-my-bum" victory dancing ... and that's all just from me.

Another 5-stars and the highest of recommendations for the whole series (really -- you want to read them all -- and in order so as to not get all mixed up with the various relationship timelines).