"Charming contemporary romance"
In Queens, New York, Nina Chickalini is weary and wants to
simply escape from her home and her borough to the French
Riviera instead of the Rockaways or Jones Beach. She is
tired having raised her younger siblings after their mother
left for heaven and achy from filling in at the family
pizzeria. However, Nina suffers from a responsibility bone so when
her pal Joey Materi asks a favor she knows she owes him.
He wants a child of his own so Nina agrees to be the
surrogate mother, but makes it clear she did her child
raising already and will not help him as Europe beckons
just after the nine months are over. During the pregnancy
the neighborhood plays matchmakers. Meanwhile, Nina
reassesses her dreams for she feels so right in the
muscular arms of Joey, who wants her as his beloved wife
forever. New York neighborhood humor is what keeps this charming
contemporary romance from becoming a farcical soap opera.
The story line amuses the audience with the antics of those
wanting Nina to marry Joey. Readers who had early
responsibilities will commiserate with Nina and all fans
will like Joey who is a huggable hunk. Still, paying her
debt by achieving the goal of THE NINE MONTH PLAN seems a
bit excessive, but then again Wendy Markham keeps it just
light enough to also make it fun to follow the Chickalini
clan. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted July 31, 2003
Summary"Nine months." He grins. "See? You definitely have time to
have a baby for me." "You're serious about that, aren't
you?" she says unexpectedly. "You really, really want to
become a father." "I do." "Why?" He ponders that. "I don't
really know," he says at last. "It just seems like
something's missing from my life. I'm ready for the next
phase, just like you are." "Yeah," she says softly. "Only
my next phase and your next phase mean the opposite thing.
Yours is about putting down roots, and mine is about
pulling them up." For the first time, he thinks he hears a
hint of reservation in her voice when she talks about
leaving. "You know...you don't have to go, Nina..." "I want
to go, Joey," she cuts in firmly. "It's all I've ever
wanted." And he's always believed that...until now. Falling
in love isn't part of the deal. WHAT'S A GIRL TO DO? Nina
Chickalini has a plan: Get out of Queens. But something
keeps stopping her. Maybe it's the four siblings she raised
almost single-handedly. Or the family pizzeria she's
running so Pop can take it easy. Or maybe it's her best
friend, Joe Materi, who's just made an incredible request:
Have his baby! Nina doesn't need another reason to feel
tied down, but how can she refuse the man who's always been
there for her? Getting in the family way turns out to be
easy, and suddenly she's seeing Joe in a whole new light-
his muscular arms cradling a baby, his sexy voice crooning
a lullaby... With the entire neighborhood meddling to get
them to tie the knot-and Joe looking like he wants them to
tie the knot-Nina might have to stop dreaming of grand
adventures and settle for something even better: love.
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