Ever feel like you’ve read the same "surrogacy" romance a thousand times? The billionaire, the secret baby, the predictable drama. Well, Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws basically takes those tropes, puts them in a blender with a grumpy mountain man and a potbellied pig, and serves up something that feels surprisingly real.
Honestly, it's weirdly refreshing.
Amy Daws has this reputation for writing "wait-room" rom-coms—literally stories inspired by her writing in a tire shop—but this book kicks off her Mountain Men Matchmaker series with a different kind of energy. It’s set in the Colorado mountains, far away from the polished city vibes of her previous Wait With Me series, though the two worlds are totally connected through the Fletcher family tree.
What Most People Get Wrong About Wyatt and Trista
A lot of readers go into this thinking it’s just another "hot guy wants a baby" story. It’s not. Wyatt Fletcher is 38, a rugged builder, and he’s genuinely lonely. He doesn't want a wife because he’s been burned by a past relationship that almost destroyed his bond with his brothers, Calder and Luke.
He wants to be a father. Alone.
The "contract" part of Nine Month Contract happens because Wyatt is a control freak who has already been rejected by surrogacy agencies for being too difficult. Then you have Trista Matthews. She’s 28, a free spirit, and she’s currently living in her car because her landlord evicted her for owning a pig named Sir Reginald.
She isn't some wide-eyed girl looking for a savior. She's a woman who needs money to start an animal sanctuary and sees Wyatt’s Craigslist ad (posted by his chaotic niece, Everly) as a business opportunity.
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The Realism in the "Unrealistic"
What makes this work is the messy, awkward reality of their "baby-making dance." Daws doesn't gloss over the clinical side of things. There are home-insemination supplies on the kitchen counter and cheap wine involved. It’s cringey in the best way.
- The Grumpy/Sunshine Dynamic: Wyatt grunts. Trista talks. A lot.
- Body Positivity: Trista is a curvy, plus-size lead who actually likes her body. She was rejected by the formal agency because of her BMI, which is a very real-world frustration many women face.
- Found Family: The Fletcher brothers are a disaster. Their "single for life" pact is a joke, but their loyalty isn't.
Why the Nine Month Contract Amy Daws Wrote Hits Different
In the romance world, we call this "forced proximity." They end up living together in Wyatt’s barn apartment. But the slow burn here is what keeps you turning pages at 2 a.m.
It’s not just about the physical attraction, although Daws definitely delivers on the "spicy" side—this is an explicit, open-door romance. The real meat of the story is how two people who have decided they are "done" with traditional love accidentally build a life together. Wyatt’s love language is acts of service. He builds things. He protects. He worries about her nutrition.
Trista, who grew up with parental neglect, doesn't know how to handle someone actually caring if she’s eaten or if she’s warm enough. It’s heartbreaking and sweet.
The Animals Are Basically Lead Characters
You can't talk about this book without mentioning the menagerie.
- Sir Reginald: The potbellied pig who thinks he's a person.
- Millie: Wyatt’s goat who is obsessed with Trista.
- The multiplying farm animals: As the pregnancy progresses, the animal count on the mountain just keeps growing.
The chapter headings even track the number of people and animals in the household. It’s a small detail, but it makes the mountain feel like a living, breathing character.
Connecting the Dots: The Fletcher Universe
If you're new to Amy Daws, you might not realize that Wyatt’s older brother, Max, is the hero of Last on the List. That’s where we first meet the Fletcher clan. You don't have to read Max’s book first, but it makes Everly’s matchmaking schemes much funnier if you know her backstory.
Everly is the 18-year-old niece who basically runs the show. She refuses to call Trista a surrogate—she prefers "incubator"—and she's convinced that her grumpy uncle just needs the right woman to break him. She's a "well-meaning schemer," and honestly, we all need an Everly in our lives.
What Really Happens With the Ending (No Spoilers, Sorta)
Look, it’s a romance novel. You know there’s a happily ever after. But the path there involves a baby shower that goes sideways and a moment where the "contract" becomes the very thing holding them back.
Trista’s realization that she wants to be more than a "paid incubator" is handled with a lot of grace. It touches on the fears of motherhood and the trauma of being unwanted, which adds a layer of depth you don't always find in "spicy rom-coms."
Actionable Takeaways for Romance Fans
If you're planning to dive into the world of Nine Month Contract, here is how to get the most out of the experience:
- Check the Series Order: If you like crossovers, start with Last on the List to meet the Fletchers. If you just want mountain men, start right here with Nine Month Contract.
- Prepare for the "Steam": This isn't a "clean" romance. It’s a solid 4/5 on the heat scale.
- Look for the Sequels: Once you finish Wyatt’s story, Calder’s book (Seven Year Itch) and the others like Honeymoon Phase continue the series.
- Listen to the Audio: Amy Daws often uses dual narrators, which makes the "grumpy" Wyatt voice and the "sassy" Trista voice really pop.
The beauty of this book is that it acknowledges that families don't always look like a Hallmark movie. Sometimes they start with a Craigslist ad, a goat, and a very legally binding nine-month agreement that ends up being worth way more than the paper it's written on.
To stay current with the series, keep an eye out for Bad Boy Era, which continues the Fletcher Mountain saga. If you're looking for more small-town vibes with actual emotional weight, this is a solid place to start.