Hero Dad (The Flanagans, Book 3) (Love Inspired #296) [Mass Market Paperback]

Marta Perry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2005

Life was much safer at a remove, or at least so Julie Alexander thought. Her photojournalist job allowed her to view life through her camera lens, a job that would help her learn if a man she’ d never met was a good father to her estranged late half-sister’ s child. But Julie’ s efforts to be a detached observer were challenged by firefighter Seth Flanagan and his warm-hearted family, and her detachment was completely shattered by her unexpected love for three-year-old Davy. Yet Julie wasn’ t the only one facing issues; the still-grieving Seth made it clear that love didn’ t feature in his future plans. Could God’ s love build a bridge to connect the two?

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Steeple Hill (April 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373873069
• ISBN-13: 978-0373873067
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,129,018 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I realized I wanted to be a writer at age eight, when I read my first Nancy Drew novel, The Secret of the Old Clock. Most little girl reach the end of that book wanting to be Nancy. I wanted to be the person who created the story!
The dream lay hidden for years while I became a teacher, married, had children...all the usual things. But eventually it re-surfaced, and I began to write, beginning with short children's stories for Sunday school take-home papers. It seemed a long time until that first acceptance, but eventually I began to sell. After some three hundred published short stories, I finally found the courage to work on the novel I'd always wanted to write.
Thirty-some published novels later, I still feel the same excitement every time I begin a new book--a mix of not believing I can do it combined with an overwhelming urge to see the story on the page.
A lifetime spent in rural Pennsylvania and my own Pennsylvania Dutch roots eventually led me to the books I'm writing now about the Amish. The Pleasant Valley Amish series from Berkley Books are longer, more complex emotional stories with Amish main characters, while my forthcoming HQN suspense novels are more adventure-filled books set in Pennsylvania Dutch country. I'm also writing a Love Inspired series, The Bodine Family, set on the South Carolina coast where we have a second home.
When I'm not writing, I'm busy with church activities, traveling, and spending time with my three children and six beautiful grandchildren.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More Sparks Fly with the Flanagans, September 25, 2005

By 

Peggy Blann Phifer "Peg" (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hero Dad (The Flanagans, Book 3) (Love Inspired #296) (Mass Market Paperback)

Photojournalist Julie Alexander found life easier when hidden behind the camera lens. When she decides to check on the well-being of her nephew, the son of her estranged late step-sister, she not only uses the camera as a prop to keep things from getting too personal, she arrives at the Flanagan home and into their lives under false pretenses.

Julie uses the half-pretense of a photo story on fire-fighters to insinuate herself into the lives of the Flanagan family. She uses her camera and cover story to get close to Seth Flanagan, father of three-year-old Davy, her sister's child. She hadn't planned on falling in love with her pint-sized nephew, nor did she count on the attraction that grows between herself and Seth. And Seth, still grieving over the loss of his wife, tries to fight the pull of Julie's presence.

Julie, coming from a disturbing, unloving family background, is unprepared for the over-flowing warmth and open arms of the sprawling, rambunctious Flanagans. Still, she feels certain that Seth, working in a dangerous occupation can't possibly provide the safety and security she believes Davy needs. Determined to be objective about what she observes, she continues to protect herself from the ever-increasing pull of the unconditional love offered by the Flanagans.

What happens when they discover Julie's deceit, and the subsequent dangers imposed on everyone when Julie's controlling father learns about the boy will keep you totally immersed in HERO DAD. Can God's love bring these two together? Can they sort through the hurt and deceit caused by Julie's lie? Both Julie and Seth must come to terms with their own feelings of guilt over the death of Lisa, Julie's dead step-sister, Seth's wife.

You will love the Flanagans and find yourself wishing for more. And there IS more. Other titles by Marta Perry and the Flanagans are: HERO IN HER HEART, and UNLIKELY HERO.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WONDERFUL, October 8, 2005

By 

Deborah Dieleman "Jen D" (Ca.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hero Dad (The Flanagans, Book 3) (Love Inspired #296) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is one of the best books I have ever read. My friends teased me because I took it every where and wouldnt put it down. It is the kind of story that makes you want to luugh one minute and cry the next. You feel the hurt the pain and the love. Marta Perry is a wonderful story teller and I am looking forward to reading more books by her.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I liked it, April 19, 2005

By 

Reader in Texas "Reader in Texas" (Arlington, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hero Dad (The Flanagans, Book 3) (Love Inspired #296) (Mass Market Paperback)

But where normally it takes me a day to read a book this size, I've had this one about a week and a half. Almost every page was ear-marked because I couldn't stay with it to get interested. Toward the end, it got good. It should have had more "up front" so a reader would be tempted to finish it!