The beginning of The Boss’s Surprise Son sparkles with potential, but as I read more, the story became more and more predictable. Eventually, I put the book down for a couple of weeks until I realized that I hadn’t finished it. Hardly the stuff of a compelling read.

Savannah Jones, with the patronage of Rick Sullivan’s grandmother has secured a temporary position filling in for his assistant, who has taken a leave of absence to recover from knee surgery. From the very beginning the chemistry between them sizzles, but Savannah knows better to cross the employee/employer barrier. She is not going to make that mistake, especially since Rick’s work habits leave him with no time for family. She has already experienced that. After her mother died, her father had no time for her or her siblings. She is looking for a man that will put family first.

Rick Sullivan has firsthand knowledge of what can happen to a business when the CEO has a laissez-faire attitude about it. His father left the company in a very vulnerable position after his death, and Rick is determined not to make the same mistake. He puts the business first as his way of protecting his family. Of course he is protecting himself too, since he has already been unlucky in love.

When an international business deal breaks down, Rick and Savannah travel to London, to meet with the second choice contender and negotiate a new partnership. As they spend more time together, the reason for not giving in to their attraction fades. Afterward, Rick is relieved when Savannah seems to instinctively understand that this was just a onetime encounter. Things change when Savannah discovers she is pregnant.

At the start of the book Savannah notices Rick’s interest and is playful with it. She is spirited and slightly impertinent. But as the book progresses she becomes more and more a Mary Sue: perfect sister, perfect employee, and perfect ex-lover.

Rick has buried himself in work, distancing himself from the very family he wants to protect. Since his brothers have successful relationships I found his reasoning for his narrow minded view weak. But that is a minor quibble, compared to his typical reaction to the news of Savannah’s pregnancy.

Surprise pregnancy plots in romances seem to have only one solution: hero feels obligated to marry the heroine and the heroine feels honorbound not to trap the hero. While this is a sweet book, with polished writing, the plot and the resolution are very ordinary. If this is one of your favorite tropes, then you might find enjoyment in this book. Otherwise, I would give it a pass.