💐 🌳 “A Father for Her Boys” (2023) 🌳💐 – Book Review

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for A Father for Her Boys by Danielle Grandinetti, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: A Father for Her Boys
Author: Danielle Grandinetti
Publisher: Love Inspired
Release Date: August 22, 2023
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Romance

A family scarred by tragedy… 

Will find hope in an unlikely gardener 

A summer escape to the quaint little town of River Cove is just what auntie turned mom Sofia Russo—and her troubled, energetic nephews—needs. It’s a chance to heal from grief and her broken foot. But a surprising friendship with compassionate gardener Nathaniel Turner shows Sofia just how much she’s been missing…and how much she stands to lose when summer ends.  

From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

Also Available

 

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My Review

Thank you in advance to the author, Danielle Grandinetti, for providing a complimentary review copy through JustRead Publicity Tours. A positive review was not required, and all words are my own.

While Grandinetti has other works published, including her Strike to the Heart series (2022) and her Harbored in Crow’s Nest series (2023) – this is the author’s Love Inspired books debut, and it is my introduction to her writing as well.

As of note, back in 2003/2004, I received some Love Inspired (Steeple Hill) books as part of a promotion, but I hadn’t didn’t read them. Instead, I packed them away and toted them between storage and three (3) residences. It wasn’t until 2019 when I was re-introduced to the line, when I became a fan; it’s my second favorite line. My number one favorite is the Love Inspired Suspense line (previous favorite was the Harlequin Intrigue which I read from 2000-2004). I still have some unread books from that line, and when the library has a sale – I grab a few here or there.

Getting back to the Love Inspired line …

A few years I unearthed those books. Since then, I’ve been trying to collect more. Earlier this week, I snagged about 16 backlist LI books from the library bookstore, ranging from 1998-2005; mostly 2005 – and some were literally BRAND NEW.

For those with any doubts, especially long-time fans of the line, Grandinetti fits right in. Fans of the line will definitely want to check out this read.  

Don’t let the cutesy “family”-like cover fool you. While this is a sweet read, there are themes of loss, grief, and cancer mentioned. This is one of those second chance, friends to more kind of read. There are small moments of humor as well. I’d definitely keep tissues close by though.

Grandinetti introduces readers to:

🩼 Sofia

👦🏻 Tucker

👦🏻 Rowan

🌳 Nathaniel

👩🏻‍🦳 Mrs. Reynolds

Where some books take a while to get to the main plot or hint at it – the LI line jumps right in at Chapter One.

It’s clear right off that Nathaniel is tending the Allens’ garden, and knows about the house-sitter. What he isn’t told – it is an aunt-turned-single-mom of two boys. He’s immediately introduced to Sofia, Tucker, and Rowen.

It’s also clear there is some issue between the boys and their aunt. And, Sofia is also nursing an injury which doesn’t make it easy for her to care for them.

As much as Nathaniel doesn’t want to get involved, he can’t desert Sofia when she obviously needs help – especially with the boys. They’re grieving the loss of their mom, while Sofia grieves the loss of her sister. They’re all there to heal for the summer.

But, one thing they soon learn – Mrs. Allen is playing match-maker for both of them. Neither one is going to fall for the woman’s scheme.  

However, the boys develop an immediate bond with Nathaniel and he with them. They of course respond better to him than their aunt. Sofia accepts Nathaniel’s offer of help. He offers no criticisms for her. He even decides to help her and the boys have their ice cream Friday nights.

Nathaniel also is trying to win a bid to renew the Town Square, a place that was special to his fiancée April who died of cancer three (3) years earlier. In turn, Sofia offers to help him with the bid.

The bid will help Nathaniel’s business so he can hire extra help, but he has some opposition in the form of an older lady by the name of Mrs. Reynolds, though no one knows why she’s opposing Nathaniel’s bid. She even goes so far to tell him to remove his bid, or risk losing everything. Though, she doesn’t reveal why she’s so opposed to the renovation which will only serve to beautify and renew it.  

After Nathaniel gets the bid, the older woman stages a protest and uses the death of April against him, even claiming he’s replaced her with Sofia. The woman even blames Sofia for turning Nathaniel’s head.

Nathaniel’s date for the project coincides with the 4^th of July, a holiday special to Sofia and her sister. Since Sofia is recuperating, another volunteer from the church is working on it. And, it is clear the poor girl is in over her head.

Despite his good intentions, Nathaniel starts to have feelings for Sofia; though he’s wondering if he’s ready for a relationship. And, Sofia sees how the boys are flourishing in River Cove, even more so when her boys are getting closer and closer to Nathaniel. And, with Nate there – even for her, she wants to stay, but she also wants to go home. She also knows that whatever decision she makes has to be best for the boys, even if it means losing what she has.

Nathaniel eventually opens up to Sofia, especially as to why the square refurbishment is so important to him.

Their problems only get worse – a legal injunction against Nathaniel and Sofia begins to doubt whether she is afraid of losing what she has versus what is best for the boys. She’s further devastated by a revelation from the boys.

But, that isn’t the only revelation.

Grandinetti crafts an emotional, beautiful, devastating, and inspiring story; one that examines grief and healing from different perspectives. She also examines what the loss of a parent does to children and how they feel about leaving their home, as well as how they feel about a non-parental relative looking after them.  

This grabbed me right from the end of the first chapter, and had me reading except for the moments where I had to get lunch, then go for a quick taco run. In short, I read this from the first page to the last in about six (6) hours. Definitely an easy “day read”, much like how I’d read those Intrigue books back about 20+ years ago.

This wasn’t a fast or slow-paced book – it was what I’d call a “normal” pace. Grandinetti kept the story going, didn’t bog down, and it didn’t repeat itself. Unlike some books of the line – the chapters were a bit shorter, which for me, is a good thing.

The ending did make me do one of those “ugly cries” because of how beautiful and poignant it was. The big reveal was something I sort of suspected, but it was interesting to see it play out.

I absolutely adored the instant friendship with Nathaniel and Sofia. And while the boys instantly connected with Nathaniel, I didn’t like the way the boys treated Sofia. The ages of the boys wasn’t made clear, so that made it difficult to truly understand why there was a lack of communication between everyone.

As of note, most times when I read the name Nathaniel; the nickname “Nate” is used. In this case, the author used the full name for the entire story. I thought that was interesting.

While this can function as a standalone read, I can EASILY see it as the beginning of a potential series, one I’ll definitely read additional books in. I’m eager to see what Grandinetti has planned for her next book – a return trip to River Cove, or a standalone read.

Although this is the “Christian” line from Harlequin – don’t expect a super preachy read. While there are some church-going folks, and Sofia works for a church, this has minimal themes of faith, but enough to remind readers of God’s work and promises without overwhelming the main plot.

 

RATING:

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html; update: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html)

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About the Author

Danielle Grandinetti is an inspirational romance author fueled by tea and books, and the occasional nature walk. A 2023 Finalist in the FHLCW Reader’s Choice Award, she has also won the UNW Distinguished Faith in Writing Award and the CROW National Excellence in Story Telling Award. Originally from the Chicagoland area, she now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline with her husband and their two young sons.

Connect with Danielle by visiting daniellegrandinetti.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a paperback of A Father for Her Boys & a $15 Amazon Gift Card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight August 23, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 30, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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