REVIEW: Destined to be a Dad by Christyne Butler

Destined to be a Dad by Christyne Butler: When Missy returned to London 15 years, ago, she returned pregnant. Not sure if the baby belonged to Liam or her new boyfriend, she doesn’t say anything to Liam. When a paternity test says her boyfriend is the father, she tries to put Liam, the love of her life, behind her. When the truth comes out that her parents altered the test, Casey, Missy’s daughter, takes off to Wyoming to find her father. Missy takes off after her, reuniting with the man she’s always loved and never forgotten.

Liam, needless to say, is upset when Casey arrives at the rodeo claiming to be his daughter. Not at Casey, but at Missy. He felt betrayed that she would keep his daughter from him. When he learns the truth of what happened, they both have to learn to put their anger about things that happened in the past behind them and learn to get along again for Casey’s sake.

Liam and Missy had both jumped into relationships soon after they left to try to move on from one another, but their feelings for each other never died. Casey, despite wanting to know her father, pushes him away at times, not feeling like she fits in with his family and also feeling unsure about her status with him.

I loved how Liam’s family, with the exception of his niece, Abby, immediately embraced Casey into their family. They also quickly accepted Missy when they could have treated her poorly for keeping Casey away.

The only reason I didn’t rate this higher is because I felt there were some unresolved situations. One was Missy and her mother. All these years her parents knew the truth about who was really Casey’s father and kept it from her. The fight they had is what led Casey to take off to America. And while her mother eventually gave Missy the letters Liam had written to her all those years ago declaring his feelings, it wasn’t really explained why they hid the letters and the truth. It felt like the two woman should have had a confrontation so her mother could explain what they were thinking when they did it.

The second situation was the hostility Abby displayed towards Casey. While Abby eventually apologizes, she gives no reasoning for her actions. I would have thought she’d be happy to have a cousin around her age, but she did nothing but bully her and treat her terribly. I would have liked to have understood where all her anger was coming from.

Destined to Be a Dad is a sweet story about a man connecting with his daughter and reuniting with his first love. It’s about family that truly cares being unjudgmental, forgiving, and supportive. It’s worth a read.

Book Info:

Publication: August 15, 2015 | Harlequin Special Editions | Welcome to Destiny

The British Are Coming!

Cowboy-turned-businessman Liam Murphy thought he had it all until the teen daughter he never knew existed walks into his life, her mother close behind. Now the Wyoming bachelor must confront his first love, former London exchange student Missy Dobbs, and get answers. To start: How can he still be so attracted to this person who has seemingly betrayed him?

Missy has to ask herself the same question. Long in the dark about her child’s paternity, Missy can’t help feeling a secret thrill that Liam’s back in her life. Maybe staying in Destiny awhile will help her daughter bond with her dad, but is it a trap for Missy’s shell-shocked heart?