Surrogate Dad

Quinlan-Chadwick #1

by Marion Smith Collins

SEEING IS BELIEVING

When Alexandra Prescott's innocent sketch made her and her son targets for murder, the independent-minded widow needed someone to depend on. The most unlikely candidate? Luke Quinlan, new neighbor, pin-striped lawyer - and definite preference of her adolescent son, badly in need of a father...

Luke Quinlan had been attracted to Alexandra Prescott since he first laid eyes on her, but he knew that with his reassuring horn-rims and conservative suits, he was hardly her type. Still, he found it hard to stay away from her and her son - and not just because they needed protection. The closer he got to Alexandra, the more he realized she wasn't the only one in danger...

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Marion Smith was born on 1935 in Georgia, USA. She got the writing bug early when she was seven and won an award for her essay on protection of our feathered friends. She admitted, "The thrill of seeing my words on a printed page has never faded." She met her husband, Robert L. Collins Jr., while studying journalism at the University of Georgia. Bob was a lawyer, and they had two children, Robert L. and Katherine. The family lived in the north Georgia mountains. She had been a public relations director, and her love of art inspired her to run a combination gallery and restaurant for several years. But her love was to write, and while bringing up her two children she wrote features for the local paper, press releases for civic clubs, political advertising — anything to keep her hand in. And then, she wrote her first romance novel, published in 1982. "Now I've found my niche, my passion," she said with conviction. "I want to do this every day for the rest of my life." Her enjoyment of romance writing was reflected in the warmth and gentle humor found in her novels. She was the author of several contemporary romances, as well as one book of general fiction. She and her husband shared a love of art, travel, oceans and beaches. She was a devoted traveler and had been to places as far-flung as Rome and Tahiti. Her favorite country for exploring, however, was the United States because, she sayd, it has everything. She died on 24 February 2002 in a house fire, survived by her husband and children.

Reviews

[Saly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty nice read which at first didn't have the traditional drop-dead gorgeous hero who the heroine has the hots for. The heroine is a widow who at first finds his co-worker more her type than him actually. The hero a lawyer is having his house built and is living in the same condo building as the heroine; he is attracted to her but both of them think they are not each other's type. But the heroine's 14 year old son take a shine to the hero, his new house; his vintage race car that throws them together and then there is suspense element; the heroine who is an artist is being terrorized by someone she sketched (who happens to be the hero's firm's client). At first I didn't like the heroine much but as we got to know her you started liking her. She was happily married but when her husband suddenly died she realised how dependent she was and so ill-equipped to manage realities like mortgages etc; so she has grown tougher more rigid but her real personality still shines through in her caricatures. The hero comes from nothing so to fit in at his firm he took his image too seriously at first which led the heroine to think he was stuffy. But the book proved that these two had judged each other by their covers. I enjoyed their HEA.

[Deb Diem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surrogate Dad by Marion Smith Collins is an entertaining read. Ms. Collins has delivered a well-written book and filled it with extraordinary characters. Luke and Alexandra's story is full of drama, suspense, bits of humor and a little spice. I enjoyed reading Surrogate Dad and look forward to reading more from Marion Smith Collins in the future. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

I read a print copy of this book.

[Cherry-Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the build-up to the relationship. It wasn't rushed and so there was a believable sequence of events. However, I wouldn't align it with a foreseeable 40 year anniversary. The rich guy poor guy scenes were a bit overdone but a good read nonetheless.

[Cherise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this one quite a bit, mainly because of the intriguing plot.

The H is honest, straight forward and while he does protect the h, he also isn't overbearing and will listen. I didn't like our h so much as first. She seems to be pretty shallow if she only gets interested in the H after she thinks he looks good (I could have misinterpreted this and it could have been his stiff and stodgy attitude that was turning her off), I also find her behavior odd at times, like running to the other man when she was attracted to our H, or being angry over the H being bound not to disclose client information.

I do like the fact that both will talk out their problem and try to get the other's point of view like adults, and especially adore the precocious and matchmaking teen in here.

The plot makes this more interesting as it also helps push their relationship along, I couldn't wait to see what danger they are in and how they can get out of it, though I think the wrap up of that part is a bit hasty as we weren't told what happened in the end.