The Good Father (Harlequin American Romance) [Mass Market Paperback]

Kara Lennox (Author)

Book Description

Series: Harlequin American Romance | Publication Date: April 14, 2009

Max Remington has a simple credo: stay away from single moms. His little black book is filled with women who have no ties, because he can't bear the heartache that comes from breaking up with a single mom and her kid--he's done that before and once is enough! Now, if only his newest employee, Jane Selwyn, wasn't so appealing. And then there's her adorable toddler...

With a child to raise, Jane needs to keep her new day job. But it's her gorgeous boss who's keeping her up nights. Jane knows Max isn't the settling-down type, and she can't afford to let him into her life. Her daughter has to be Jane's top priority.

But maybe Max isn't the confirmed bachelor he pretends to be....

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin (April 14, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373752601
• ISBN-13: 978-0373752607
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,086,338 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kara Lennox (a.k.a. Karen Leabo) published her first book when she was in the eighth grade. She wrote a children's book as a class assignment, then convinced her yearbook publisher to print up bound copies, which she distributed herself to friends, relatives and neighbors. Though this was hardly a high-profit venture, the urge to see her work in print never deserted her.

Kara began her first novel in college, a truly awful gothic that was best left in a drawer. Then graduation, finding a job, marriage and moving cross-country got in the way. She toiled in anonymity for the Texas Society of CPAs, writing brochures for their continuing education program. Naturally, with such scintillating subject matter to occupy her days, her imagination ran wild at night, and soon she was working on her second novel.

The horrible first job gave way to an even worse second job (writing insurance policies in plain English) and a third. But she never completely lost sight of the dream of earning her living as a writer--a real writer, with a byline.

She worked several years as a nonfiction magazine writer with hundreds of articles to her credit. She would get up at five every morning to work two hours on her novels before tackling her various freelance jobs. Three years and five novels later, Kara sold her first book, Roses Have Thorns (by Karen Leabo) to Silhouette Romance.

Determined to earn a living as a novelist, Kara focused relentlessly on her goal to sell at least three books per year (the minimum she figured she could live on). And during the past fifteen-plus years, that's exactly what she's done (if you average things out!). Writing has always been her priority, and in sixty-plus books, she has missed only two deadlines (both only by a few days).

Kara has written for seven different category lines (for Harlequin, Silhouette and Bantam Loveswept). In addition, she's written ten screenplays (three of which have been optioned, none produced, alas) and numerous novels and proposals that haven't sold (yet). She also blogs, tweets and spends way too much time on Facebook. The blank page doesn't frighten her.

Kara's books have finaled in several romance industry contests including the National Readers' Choice Awards, the Holt Medallion competition and the Rita. Her Harlequin American PLAIN JANE'S PLAN won the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice.

Currently Kara writes a romantic suspense series for Harlequin Super Romance, PROJECT JUSTICE. She lives in a 105-year-old fixer-upper Victorian house in California with her husband Rob, also a writer, and various pets. When she is not writing, she enjoys an ever-changing array of activities that currently includes bicycling, yoga, mosaic-making and selling vintage jewelry online.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kara Lennox delivers another winner, April 10, 2009

By 

booksforabuck "BooksForABuck" (Long Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Good Father (Harlequin American Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

Max Remington has plowed everything into his advertising business. Now his offices are beautiful and he has a line on a top artist. The one thing he doesn't need is sexy mom Jane Selwyn to come into his life. So, one word to his assistant and Jane learns that he's too busy for their interview. Except Jane needs this job--and turns out to be a lot more persistent than Max had believed possible. The real problem is, Max can't deny a definite attraction to the woman--but he's sworn off women with attachments.

Jane is happy to be out of her marriage, but she desperately needs a job to keep up the payments on the boat where she lives--and she'd love a job that allows her to develop her artistic skills--skills her ex-husband mocked. It doesn't hurt that she's been attracted to Max ever since he first flirted with her--and got punched in the eye by her jealous ex-husband. She's determined to get the job, then prove that she has what it takes to make both herself and Max successful. Surely it won't be too hard to make sure her daughter, Kaylee stays out of the way.

Max can't deny Jane's talent. He also can't deny that she can do the work a lot cheaper than the artist he had in mind--and he's definitely overstretched his finances. Still, working with Jane creates all sorts of danger--and he's a sucker for kids. Maybe, though, he can find a way to keep things professional. Like that'll work--especially when he gets a chance at the biggest account he's ever seen--and winning the account depends on him being a family man.

Author Kara Lennox concludes her SECOND SONS series with Max's story. Max is charming as he does everything he can to convince himself--and Jane--that the two have no future together, all the while finding himself wishing he could spend his life with her. Kaylee adds charm to the story, and the Remington family back in New York continue to try to pull strings on the second sons, only to find they're pulling the men closer to the women they've found in Texas.

Lennox writes a consistently strong romance, and THE GOOD FATHER is a great example of why she's one of Harlequin American's top talents.

4.0 out of 5 stars engaging contemporary romance, April 11, 2009

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Good Father (Harlequin American Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

In Port Clara, Texas, Jane Selwyn cannot believe her marriage is over with the final straw being her husband's reaction to the flirting by Remington Agency CEO Max Remington. She needs a job to support her and their three years old daughter Kaylee since she asked for little from Scott, but with a résumé so thin a wafer looks obese she has no hope of gainful employment. Her last chance is to persuade Max to hire her as an artist at his advertising agency.

She reminds him that Scott was going to drag Max's name in the mud at a time he needed a positive reputation if she asked for a large settlement. He agrees to hire her on a trial basis since she lacks any experience. Jane proves herself as the right choice, but though extremely attracted to her and liking her precious preschooler, Max sticks to his policies that sex in the work place is a mistake and don't get involved with single moms.

This is an engaging contemporary romance starring a stay at home mom suddenly thrust into the workplace if she finds a job. Although Jane settling for less in the divorce especially with a child due to a threat that Scott could not prove seems inane, fans of the Port Clara series will enjoy watching Max trying not to fall in love. Newcomers will feel overwhelmed as stars of the previous novels in the Second Sons' saga (see THE PREGNANCY SURPRISE and RELUCTANT PARTNERS) make critical appearances.

Harriet Klausner