The Good Father - Diane Chamberlain

Released April 24, 2012

Diane Chamberlain
Mira/Harlequin

Book Review by Tracy Farnsworth

As a teenage, Travis Brown made a tough decision. He claimed his newborn daughter and promised to do whatever it took to raise her in a happy home. For close to four years, he kept that promise. He spent years on his career in construction while his mom watched Bella. However, his world comes crashing down leaving him without a career and without a home. Facing homelessness, Travis vows to do whatever it takes to keep Bella fed and to get a roof over her head again. When he's offered a job that pays $500 cash every time he works, he thinks his luck is changing. He soon learns that the choices he makes may tear Bella from his arms forever.

The Good Father is a tender story of the love a man has for his little girl and the strength it takes to keep her safe.  The story is told from three different points of view. Travis shares his side of the story. His former girlfriend, Bella's mother, is also given a chance to reflect on her past, present, and future. And there is Erin, a thirty-something who lost her own daughter and bonds instantly with Travis and Bella making her do things she knows is wrong. By incorporating the three viewpoints, you really get a clear understanding of what makes each character tick.

At the end of the book is a list of book discussion questions and an interview with the author. I definitely think The Good Father is a story that will get readers talking, regardless of whether you agree with Travis' decisions.