The Pregnancy Test

September 15, 2005
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. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)