Kate Hardy - It Started with No Strings...

KATE HARDYlives in Norwich, in the east of England, with her husband, two young children, one bouncy spaniel and too many books to count! When she’s not busy writing romance or researching local history she helps out at her children’s schools. She also loves cooking—spot the recipes sneaked into her books! (They’re also on her website, along with extracts and stories behind the books.) Writing for Mills & Boon ®has been a dream come true for Kate—something she wanted to do ever since she was twelve. She’s been writing Medical Romances™ for over ten years now. She says it’s the best of both worlds, because she gets to learn lots of new things when she’s researching the background to a book: add a touch of passion, drama and danger, a new gorgeous hero every time, and it’s the perfect job!

Kate’s always delighted to hear from readers, so do drop in to her website at www.katehardy.com

BOUND BY A BABY by Kate Hardy won the 2014 RoNA (Romantic Novelists’ Association) Rose award!

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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This book actually started life about five years ago, when the late author Maggie Kingsley and I were chatting about how interesting it would be to have a shaman as a hero.

I haven’t gone quite that far in this book—my heroine is the daughter of an American Indian healer—but I did enjoy the research. And, given that my heroine has been wrapped in cotton wool for her entire life, it makes sense for her to want to work in an area where she gets to do exciting things vicariously, through her patients—hence she works in the department of tropical medicine and infectious diseases.

Then there’s my poor hero, from a family who doesn’t just have a stiff upper lip—they’re practically encased in permafrost. When he ends up falling for my heroine, who has a close family which adores her, he’s like a fish out of water. How is he going to learn to cope with it and get a happy ending?

You’ll have to read on to find out :) And I hope you enjoy their journey.

I’m always delighted to hear from readers, so do come and visit me at www.katehardy.com

With love

Kate Hardy

IT STARTED WITH NO STRINGS … is Kate Hardy’s 60th Mills & Boon® romance

To Penni Askew and Scarlet Wilson, with love—

and thanks for the encouragement!

Praise for Kate Hardy: Praise for Kate Hardy: CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER TWELVE CHAPTER THIRTEEN Copyright

‘BOUND BY A BABY moved me to tears many times. It is a full-on emotional drama. Author Kate Hardy brought this tale shimmering with emotions. Highly recommended for all lovers of romance.’

—Contemporary Romance Reviews

Cover

About the Author KATE HARDY lives in Norwich, in the east of England, with her husband, two young children, one bouncy spaniel and too many books to count! When she’s not busy writing romance or researching local history she helps out at her children’s schools. She also loves cooking—spot the recipes sneaked into her books! (They’re also on her website, along with extracts and stories behind the books.) Writing for Mills & Boon ® has been a dream come true for Kate—something she wanted to do ever since she was twelve. She’s been writing Medical Romances™ for over ten years now. She says it’s the best of both worlds, because she gets to learn lots of new things when she’s researching the background to a book: add a touch of passion, drama and danger, a new gorgeous hero every time, and it’s the perfect job! Kate’s always delighted to hear from readers, so do drop in to her website at www.katehardy.com BOUND BY A BABY by Kate Hardy won the 2014 RoNA (Romantic Novelists’ Association) Rose award!

Title Page It Started with No Strings… Kate Hardy www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dear Reader Dear Reader Dear Reader Dedication Praise for Kate Hardy: CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER TWELVE CHAPTER THIRTEEN Copyright This book actually started life about five years ago, when the late author Maggie Kingsley and I were chatting about how interesting it would be to have a shaman as a hero. I haven’t gone quite that far in this book—my heroine is the daughter of an American Indian healer—but I did enjoy the research. And, given that my heroine has been wrapped in cotton wool for her entire life, it makes sense for her to want to work in an area where she gets to do exciting things vicariously, through her patients—hence she works in the department of tropical medicine and infectious diseases. Then there’s my poor hero, from a family who doesn’t just have a stiff upper lip—they’re practically encased in permafrost. When he ends up falling for my heroine, who has a close family which adores her, he’s like a fish out of water. How is he going to learn to cope with it and get a happy ending? You’ll have to read on to find out :) And I hope you enjoy their journey. I’m always delighted to hear from readers, so do come and visit me at www.katehardy.com With love Kate Hardy IT STARTED WITH NO STRINGS … is Kate Hardy’s 60th Mills & Boon® romance

Dedication Dedication Dedication Praise for Kate Hardy: CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER TWELVE CHAPTER THIRTEEN Copyright To Penni Askew and Scarlet Wilson, with love— and thanks for the encouragement!

Praise for Kate Hardy: Praise for Kate Hardy: Praise for Kate Hardy: CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER TWELVE CHAPTER THIRTEEN Copyright ‘BOUND BY A BABY moved me to tears many times. It is a full-on emotional drama. Author Kate Hardy brought this tale shimmering with emotions. Highly recommended for all lovers of romance.’ —Contemporary Romance Reviews

CHAPTER ONE