I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Just Read. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
A Baby for the Doctor by Stephanie Dees Series: Family Blessings #2
Published by Harlequin on September 19, 2017
Genres: Christian, Clean & Wholesome, Contemporary, Family, Family & Relationships, Fiction, Inspirational, Romance, Small Town & Rural, Social Issues, Special Needs, Values & Virtues
Pages: 288
Source: Just Read
Amazon|Barnes&Noble|Goodreads
A Family to Call Her OwnAfter becoming a foster parent to a young boy, equine therapist Jordan Conley's life gets turned upside down. Little Levi is in need of an exceptional pediatrician, which means seeking help from Dr. Ash Sheehan--a man that, despite her heart-pounding crush, isn't her type. Her life is horses and hay, and she can't imagine the suit-clad doctor in a pair of cowboy boots. As a confirmed bachelor, Ash has never been nervous around women, but there's something about Jordan that flusters him, and working closely together doesn't help. The last thing he's looking for is long-term romance. But the more involved he gets, the more he wishes they could stay together...always.
Welcome back to Red Hill Farm, which is crawling with children and farm animals and those magical men of the Sheehan family. Claire and Joe are running a gaggle or twenty of foster children while expanding their own family as well. Claire’s twin sister Jordan is working on expanding her equine therapy nonprofit when she ends up with a foster child of her own. It wasn’t supposed to be that way but there ya have it. I love how this book starts with the stories of Claire and Jordan but I have a feeling it’s really going to focus more on the Sheehan children, I mean adults but ya know, finding their own futures and happily ever afters. Remember how not too long ago I thought it might be time to step away from the romances? Yet, here I am, loving another romance novel. I still think it’s time to switch it up a minute but this book soothed those rough edges for me and gives me hope.
Before I get all gooshy with how much I enjoyed this quick read I’ve got to share a couple of eh moments for me. Let’s talk insta-love. I mean, I get they already knew each other and Jordan already knew she was a bumbling teenage girl around Ash, but. . . Let’s just say things moved entirely, OK really, fast at the end. I mean REALLY fast. Maybe not completely insta-love but definitely insta- forever after. The other things that threw me off was the insta-trust. I’m loving on the word insta today, if you didn’t notice. I mean Ash shares things with Jordan, kinda randomly, before they were doing the relationship thing unlike he had shared with other people before. Perhaps because most of his circle he grew up with so they knew and possibly because all his other ‘dates’ (I can’t say relationships) didn’t have sticking power but I don’t know it felt weird. There were a few dangling things that just showed up unannounced and/or didn’t find their other lace to tie off, but there are more books with this family to explore. So there’s that.
Here’s the thing, I love Stephanie’s writing style. Harlequin books are light on pages and she more than makes up for that with depth and amazing characters. I might be a bit burning out on squishy romance but Stephanie made me love it all over again. She has created such a setting with the town of Red Hill Springs and the family center at Red Hill Farm. She brings social issues, as varied as child abuse and blended families, to light in a way that doesn’t overpower the rest of the story. It takes talent and skill and a heart of devotion to create a story that secondaries children in foster care (and all the reasons for that) without taking over the greater story of life happening or creating a senses of pity or worse despair. This is another great book in a series that so far has kept me engaged and hyping for the next book.
About Stephanie Dees
Award-winning author Stephanie Dees lives in small-town Alabama with her family, two spoiled dogs, and a very bossy cat. A Southern girl through and through, she loves sweet tea, SEC football, corn on the cob and air conditioning.
Favorite writing snack: Chex mix with honey-roasted peanuts
Favorite vacation spot: Gulf coast of Florida
Favorite day of the week: Monday (there’s just so much possiblity…)
Favorite thing ever: first coffee in the morning
Favorite rom-com: The Proposal
Favorite family activity: Game night (favorite game: Ticket to Ride)
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