Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Calling from the Heart
SERIES: Secret Springs short story
AUTHOR: Minerva Howe
PUBLISHER: Turtlehat Creatives LLC
LENGTH: 69 pages
RELEASE DATE: August 19, 2025
BLURB:
Brewery owner Jeb is gearing up for Thanksgiving with his sister and their friends when an overheard phone call lets him know that his ex is:
- a) pregnant, and
- b) all alone for the holiday.
It comes as a hell of a shock since Owen has never called or seen him to tell him since they had a stupid fight over some ridiculous jealousy on Jeb’s part.
School teacher Owen has never been more miserable. He’s pregnant, scared, alone, and he’s going to have to leave town now that he’s really showing. And all he wants to do is call Jeb, but he feels like the man doesn’t trust him, and Jeb always said he didn’t want anything serious or kids or… So he’s going to go it alone.
Until Jeb shows up and won’t let him hide anymore. Is it too late for Jeb too convince Owen that he wants it all? Marriage, kids, the works?
This was previously published in a Candy Hearts charity anthology.
REVIEW:
A nice, very quick trip back to my favorite town tucked up in the mountains of Colorado. And it’s as fertile as ever! I literally wonder what in the water there!
When Jeb, the local brewery owner, answers his sister’s phone for her, he hears news he never expected. His ex, that suddenly became his ex after a weird argument and has ghosted him every since, is pregnant and it appears it’s his. He jumps into his truck to confront the very pregnant ex. Kindergarten Teacher Owen knows three things. (A) He’s pregnant with his alpha Jeb’s baby. (B) His alpha made it very clear that he’s not looking for anything permanent. (C) He is keeping his baby girl…with or without an alpha! When Jeb shows up at Owen’s door demanding to be let in, the cat’s out of the bag regarding his pregnancy, and they need to finally talk.
We come in late in these two men’s story. Owen and Jeb have been ex’s for several months when Jeb discovers that Owen is definitely pregnant and sporting an obvious baby bump. I do not recall ever meeting either of these men before in any of the books.
I get where Owen is very concerned about Jeb’s sincerity. He has spouted all along that he doesn’t want to be tied down. And Owen’s worry that Jeb is only doing this out of Alpha Duty is a major concern after hearing that for so long. Realizing it was a defense mechanism to protect his alpha heart, Jeb finally comes clean to Owen. I loved when he just blurts his feelings out. And, let’s face it, Jeb is not the most suave speaker of the alphas in Secret Springs for sure. But it became obvious that he loved Owen and that he wanted them to become a family!
This was a really short, fast read. I read that it was originally a short story in an anthology. I feel like we missed so much in this story. I would have liked to have witnessed their whole history leading up to these moments. But was thankful to see a few familiar faces at the Truck Stop.
RATING: 
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