The Dad Next Door by Stephanie Dees – Review

Have you ever read the first book in a series and loved the characters so much, you immediately check to see who will star in the other books in the series? Well, that’s exactly how I felt after reading Stephanie Dees’ The Dad Next Door (book one in the Family Blessings series).

About the Book

A Place to Call Home

Lawman Joe Sheehan is desperate to bond with the daughter he’s just discovered he has. But as a virtual stranger to twelve-year-old Amelia, the task seems impossible. Until Claire Conley moves to town. A social worker renovating a mansion into a foster home, Claire is the first person to get through to Amelia. Falling for the single dad was not on Claire’s to-do list. But with Joe and Amelia around, the house finally starts to feel like home. Claire’s ready to fight to convince Joe that together they’ve done more than fix a house…they’ve built a family.

Amazon // B&N // Christianbook // Harlequin // Goodreads

In My Opinion

There is so much to say about this book, the longing for a place to call home, the discovery that family comes in all shapes, sizes, and configurations, that small towns have prejudices that newcomers often have to overcome, that building trust takes time, and more. Dees addresses each of these (and more) in a cohesive way that draws the reader in and invites them within the circle of community she’s created.

Joe Sheehan and Claire Conley find common ground in their childhood and both still struggle with finding a place they belong. Add in a twelve-year-old daughter who Joe wasn’t aware he had until recently, and the cycle repeats itself. But the hope of that being broken with Claire’s dream of a home where foster children can find love and belonging shines throughout this story.

And the best news? There are three more books in the series so I get to spend more time with the people of Red Hill Springs.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.