A Family to Call Her Own After 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 … 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.
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Book two in the series, A Baby for the Doctor, focuses on the siblings of the two main characters in The Dad Next Door, Jordan Conley and Ash Sheehan.
The story intertwines Jordan’s life with Claire’s when Jordan begins equine therapy for Claire’s children. Ash becomes a vital member of the team when he becomes the pediatrician for Claire’s foster children.
Equine therapy is defined as a form of therapy based on experience and observation that involves interactions between patients and horses to promote human physical and mental health.
Not far into the story, I realized Jordan was “just what the doctor ordered” (pun intended). Ash’s persona was that of someone who just stepped out of GQ magazine, hardly a candidate for a doctor to children on a farm full of horses, goats and kittens. In contrast, Jordan was not afraid to get in the mud and get dirty, mucking out stalls and playing with animals and children alike.
I received this series from JustRead Tours. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.
The first book in this series showed the heart behind Red Hill Farms and fostering children while this one, the second, shows the hands and feet. There’s and abundance of heart (and heartache) in this story too.
While the foster kids (on in particular who we will get to in a few seconds) steal the show in A Baby for the Doctor, Jordan’s soft heart toward hurting children is apparent throughout. It’s that heart that draws Ash Sheehan to her in the first place.
As a pediatrician, Ash himself has a fantastic connection with the children of Red Hill Springs. And he has his own difficult childhood that gives him empathy for injured and ill little ones.
The attraction bubbles under the surface for this entire book but it’s little Levi that makes this a five star read. His situation broke my heart and as Jordan loves this little boy and he slowly begins to trust her, a beautiful picture of God’s love for us is formed. He’s always there, watching over us, waiting for us to trust Him enough to fall into His arms and plans, to run to Him when we’re scared, hurting, or lost.
Stephanie Dees’ ability to draw that connection is spot-on in this book and if you missed it, you should definitely make room for it on your to-read list.
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.
A Baby for the Doctor is the second book in the Family Blessings series and this one focuses on Dr. Ash Sheehan a pediatrician and Jordan Conley. Jordan has come to join her twin sister in helping abused and neglected children on a farm that was left to them by their estranged late father. Jordan is a therapist specializing with the horses and kids, not only the foster ones but also children of the community.
This was certainly a heart tugging romance and an emotional one concerning the little boy Levi who comes to be in the foster care of Jordan. Levi is a three year old boy who has been severely neglected and author Dees shows a realistic picture of how delicate and hard a job it would be to try to get a little one to trust others again. Jordan is a great mom to that little boy and Ash is with them every step of the way.
Now the romance between Jordan and Ash was so lovely to watch unfold. Both were very sick as children and they really are complete opposites. Jordan is a tomboy where Ash has a different model on his arm for every charity event he attends. And though Jordan is attracted to Ash, she is certainly keeping her heart guarded. Poor Ash is doing his best to get her to trust him and I like that he is not pushy but very patient and kindhearted. I really enjoyed their story.
I received a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
A fun sequel to the first book in the series! Though it is book #2, it can definitely be read as a stand alone. The author writes in an easy-to-read, fluid style that draws the reader into the small town of Red Hill Springs, Alabama and into the heart of the Sheehan family. This book focuses on Ash, the town pediatrician, who’s lived his adult life with a fun and easy-going attitude but has a painful past. Jordan has moved into town with her twin sister to set up a foster home as well as an equestrian therapy center. Both are fiercely loyal, amazing with kids, tender and compassionate, and fights for what they believe is the right thing. They just need to get past their huge insecurities and assumptions to realize that they are perfect for each other.
If you enjoy a well-written contemporary romance, you will definitely enjoy this book and the entire series.
I was given a copy of the book by the author/publisher via JustRead Publicity Tour and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
Oh, this book was SO good!!! The little boy, Levi, tugged at my heartstrings something fierce. He came from an abused situation and when he first arrived at Red Hill Farm, he wouldn’t speak or look anyone in the eyes. His transformation once he began receiving love and care from Jordan was amazing.
And the two main characters in this story, Jordan and Ash, absolutely captured my heart, as well. Both of them battled insecurities about themselves from situations they’d experienced growing up.
I thought Ash was such a great character. There was so much to him that Jordan didn’t see at first. He had a very interesting back story and physical challenges he still dealt with. I loved seeing his heart for Jordan and Levi in the things that he did.
I really loved this story and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received a complimentar copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
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.
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.