The Pregnancy Test

by Erin McCarthy

If life is a series of tests, Mandy Keeling just hit the mother lode. Ordinarily, I'm a fan of pink--lovely color, does smashing things for the complexion. But not when it's the bright, glaring stripe... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0758208472
• Release Date: October 2005
• Publisher: Kensington
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.8" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Don't be fooled

At first glance, this book appears to be a run-of-the-mill light romantic romp. Don't let the funny blurbs on the book cover fool you - this is so much, much more. My test of a book is if I become emotionally involved and feel that little "tingle" as I'm reading it. I can honestly say that this book surprised me by its tenderness, poignancy and true heart. In "The Pregnancy Test," Erin McCarthy again presents an unusual premise for a romance - an abandoned pregnant woman and the man who falls deeply in love with her. How would she accomplish the love story in a believable fashion? Very skillfully, indeed. Mandy and Damien begin an affair with what seems to be insurmountable obstacles - she works for him and is already pregnant with another man's baby - and he is a sad and tortured man who feels he will never recover from loss of his wife. The story's warmth and compassion are evident in the beautiful dialogue as Damien slowly lets Mandy into his heart. While there are many funny moments, this book is deeply sensitive and the emotions are masterfully written. The scene where he declares his love is one of the best I've read. Yes, this is a very sexy book and if that bothers you, don't read it. But if you are looking for a genuinely moving story with heartwrenching passion, do not miss this one.

An absolute delight.... A keeper

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.

Will touch your heart and tickle your funnybone!

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.

Wonderful reading

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.