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Wings of Refuge #5
Soldier Daddy
U.S. Air Force commander Aaron Petrowski leads pararescue teams, yet can't find one nanny for his three-year-old twins? The widowed father is returning to duty, but not without the best care for his beloved boys. So when Sarah Graham applies, the young woman surprises everyone by passing inspection. Until Aaron discovers Sarah has a secret tied to a tragedy in his past. He can't keep her in his employ—or in his heart. Until his brave little soldier boys teach him a thing or two about love.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 24, 2023
Cringe worthy beginning.
June 3, 2026
I added this book to Pagebound specifically so I could leave a review and put it on my profile. I am now posting this review to GR too.
Where do I even start? Maybe from the beginning: I joined an IRL Discord group in early 2024, and I've been seeing them at least once every 1-2 weeks for over a year now. I've gone on two trips with them. So, when one of the mods/admins of our server found this book in one of the cafes we meet at, and took it from the shelf (this cafe has a "take a book, give a book policy", so they left them something from their bodice ripper collection in return), then told us the entire group would be required to read it, how could I possibly say no? Peer pressure or not, the jokes were too funny and unhinged for me to resist reading for myself.
To be perfectly clear, this book is a blatant Christian wet dream/fantasy/propaganda. Do not expect any nuance in the storytelling. Also do not expect any true discussion of scripture, because Cheryl Wyatt would rather tell you about how her FMC Sarah is such a virtuous chaste motherly beautiful conservative religious Christian woman than actually get into anything that requires more thought, depth, or even a basic level of literacy and intelligence.
Within the first two pages, Cheryl gives us some of the most hard-hitting sentences in the English language that I have ever had the (mis)fortune of reading: the housekeeper's "wise Hispanic eyes", the FMC's "classy but conservative spiked heels", the obsession over how FMC is so "young and pretty", the manly-man paratrooper/rescue (? his military role is never clear beyond that of "sergeant") widowed father MMC thinking to himself, "major duh, Sergeant Goof". If you think this is cringe, I am very pleased to tell you that it gets much, much, *much* worse.
The basic premise of this book is that Sergeant Aaron needs to go back to full-time duty (not sure what he does at work other than pray with his boss, because of course Cheryl never goes into it), so he's in a rush to find a nanny for his kids (twins, both four years old). Sarah, our classy but conservative and beautiful but virtuous devout Christian FMC, applies to be a nanny despite her "dark past". For some unconvincing and contrived reason, Aaron is hesitant about hiring Sarah because he wants to be sure she's "the right one for his boys". Sarah on the other hand really wants to prove herself to be capable and a good nanny, because she meets the twins once and just LOVES spending time with them and taking care of them, etc. That's how you know she's good Christian mommy material, amirite?
Eventually, Sarah's secret comes out, and it's honestly really dumb because that secret doesn't actually affect her ability to be a nanny at all? But it DOES mean she thinks she's "cursed" and "could never be a mother" (which is tearing her up inside because all women should aspire to be a good Christian mother, of course. #skill issue #couldn't be me). There's a lot of pointless angsting about that, and the resolution of Sarah's secret - the final cinching plot point of the book, where all is finally forgiven - is so blatantly offensive, insulting, infuriating, and enraging that I don't even have the proper words to express how mad it makes me. And it is CLEAR Christian propaganda - this thought that belief in God and adherence to the Christian religion absolves one of all wrongdoing, no matter what that wrongdoing actually was. Literally, no!!!!!! Without getting into too many spoilers, I think this single plot point in Cheryl's stupid book quite literally represents everything wrong with modern USAmerican society.
However. You will notice that I rated this 5 stars in enjoyment, which is not a lie. This is genuinely a comedy show of a book. The prose is not simply mediocre; no, what God-respecting author could settle for simply *mediocre*? It's actively unhinged. It's insane. The metaphors bring to mind the "worst sentence of the year" writing contest entries, then slide it even more left. Cheryl Wyatt is making comparisons that contort the English language in ways you never thought possible.
The characters are flat and one-dimensional, but at least MMC Aaron has the grace to drop zingers like "the 'roach motel (and I mean HUMAN roaches)" and "major duh, Sergeant Goof". Not to mention the "Taliban interrogation voice" he uses when interviewing Sarah.
Like, holy shit - I cannot stress enough the sheer entertainment value of this book. It's the perfect thing to read with a bitchy little group chat, because I guarantee you'll get 100 new inside jokes just from the sheer absurdity of the prose and plot events (someone outside the "roach motel" breaks into Sarah's car and steals nothing but a few CDs that have Christian worship songs on them, for example). Because yes, I did lose brain cells reading this book, but those brain cells are a small price to pay for the Soldier Daddy-themed dinner my group had on our last trip (the Mountain Dew apple dumplings are actually FIRE). So thank you, Cheryl Wyatt and Soldier Daddy Aaron, for the incomparable gift of friendship this book has given me, in exchange for the last thread of my mental stability.
Where do I even start? Maybe from the beginning: I joined an IRL Discord group in early 2024, and I've been seeing them at least once every 1-2 weeks for over a year now. I've gone on two trips with them. So, when one of the mods/admins of our server found this book in one of the cafes we meet at, and took it from the shelf (this cafe has a "take a book, give a book policy", so they left them something from their bodice ripper collection in return), then told us the entire group would be required to read it, how could I possibly say no? Peer pressure or not, the jokes were too funny and unhinged for me to resist reading for myself.
To be perfectly clear, this book is a blatant Christian wet dream/fantasy/propaganda. Do not expect any nuance in the storytelling. Also do not expect any true discussion of scripture, because Cheryl Wyatt would rather tell you about how her FMC Sarah is such a virtuous chaste motherly beautiful conservative religious Christian woman than actually get into anything that requires more thought, depth, or even a basic level of literacy and intelligence.
Within the first two pages, Cheryl gives us some of the most hard-hitting sentences in the English language that I have ever had the (mis)fortune of reading: the housekeeper's "wise Hispanic eyes", the FMC's "classy but conservative spiked heels", the obsession over how FMC is so "young and pretty", the manly-man paratrooper/rescue (? his military role is never clear beyond that of "sergeant") widowed father MMC thinking to himself, "major duh, Sergeant Goof". If you think this is cringe, I am very pleased to tell you that it gets much, much, *much* worse.
The basic premise of this book is that Sergeant Aaron needs to go back to full-time duty (not sure what he does at work other than pray with his boss, because of course Cheryl never goes into it), so he's in a rush to find a nanny for his kids (twins, both four years old). Sarah, our classy but conservative and beautiful but virtuous devout Christian FMC, applies to be a nanny despite her "dark past". For some unconvincing and contrived reason, Aaron is hesitant about hiring Sarah because he wants to be sure she's "the right one for his boys". Sarah on the other hand really wants to prove herself to be capable and a good nanny, because she meets the twins once and just LOVES spending time with them and taking care of them, etc. That's how you know she's good Christian mommy material, amirite?
Eventually, Sarah's secret comes out, and it's honestly really dumb because that secret doesn't actually affect her ability to be a nanny at all? But it DOES mean she thinks she's "cursed" and "could never be a mother" (which is tearing her up inside because all women should aspire to be a good Christian mother, of course. #skill issue #couldn't be me). There's a lot of pointless angsting about that, and the resolution of Sarah's secret - the final cinching plot point of the book, where all is finally forgiven - is so blatantly offensive, insulting, infuriating, and enraging that I don't even have the proper words to express how mad it makes me. And it is CLEAR Christian propaganda - this thought that belief in God and adherence to the Christian religion absolves one of all wrongdoing, no matter what that wrongdoing actually was. Literally, no!!!!!! Without getting into too many spoilers, I think this single plot point in Cheryl's stupid book quite literally represents everything wrong with modern USAmerican society.
However. You will notice that I rated this 5 stars in enjoyment, which is not a lie. This is genuinely a comedy show of a book. The prose is not simply mediocre; no, what God-respecting author could settle for simply *mediocre*? It's actively unhinged. It's insane. The metaphors bring to mind the "worst sentence of the year" writing contest entries, then slide it even more left. Cheryl Wyatt is making comparisons that contort the English language in ways you never thought possible.
The characters are flat and one-dimensional, but at least MMC Aaron has the grace to drop zingers like "the 'roach motel (and I mean HUMAN roaches)" and "major duh, Sergeant Goof". Not to mention the "Taliban interrogation voice" he uses when interviewing Sarah.
Like, holy shit - I cannot stress enough the sheer entertainment value of this book. It's the perfect thing to read with a bitchy little group chat, because I guarantee you'll get 100 new inside jokes just from the sheer absurdity of the prose and plot events (someone outside the "roach motel" breaks into Sarah's car and steals nothing but a few CDs that have Christian worship songs on them, for example). Because yes, I did lose brain cells reading this book, but those brain cells are a small price to pay for the Soldier Daddy-themed dinner my group had on our last trip (the Mountain Dew apple dumplings are actually FIRE). So thank you, Cheryl Wyatt and Soldier Daddy Aaron, for the incomparable gift of friendship this book has given me, in exchange for the last thread of my mental stability.
January 4, 2019
A friend once mentioned there should be a subgenre of romance that dealt with lawmen. If that's true, there probably should also be one for military. I feel like I've read the basic plot before: widower with young kids hires a nanny and then falls in love with her.
I guessed early on what Sarah's secret was--I wasn't sure if it directly impacted Aaron's family or was just similar circumstances until that part was revealed by the author--or at least until Ash appeared on the scene.
We aren't told why Aaron is a single father of twins at first. From what I read, it seems he was able to take quite a bit of time off or be only part-time after his wife died to be with his twins. (Perhaps I misread that part.) That didn't seem realistic, even for the military.
I'm also not quite sure why Aaron felt a program for veterans/service members would help Macy. She's not a veteran and I'm not sure she's even related to a veteran or a service member.
I liked the characters but the plot felt tired to me.
I guessed early on what Sarah's secret was--I wasn't sure if it directly impacted Aaron's family or was just similar circumstances until that part was revealed by the author--or at least until Ash appeared on the scene.
We aren't told why Aaron is a single father of twins at first. From what I read, it seems he was able to take quite a bit of time off or be only part-time after his wife died to be with his twins. (Perhaps I misread that part.) That didn't seem realistic, even for the military.
I'm also not quite sure why Aaron felt a program for veterans/service members would help Macy. She's not a veteran and I'm not sure she's even related to a veteran or a service member.
I liked the characters but the plot felt tired to me.
March 16, 2025
Psalm 34:8 ~ Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
What a beautiful story of a fallen woman being led to redemption through God's love, represented by this holy strong humble father and strong hero of our great country. She did not cover the sins in a way I thought necessary, which is why it is 4 stars instead of 5, but the town is so fortunate to have these men and their supportive wives around. It makes me want to live in Refuge. May we all live in the Refuge of the Lord!!
What a beautiful story of a fallen woman being led to redemption through God's love, represented by this holy strong humble father and strong hero of our great country. She did not cover the sins in a way I thought necessary, which is why it is 4 stars instead of 5, but the town is so fortunate to have these men and their supportive wives around. It makes me want to live in Refuge. May we all live in the Refuge of the Lord!!
January 8, 2024
This book made me laugh and cry.
Sarah Graham made the biggest mistake in her life. One that she has to live with. No matter how hard she tries to make amends she can't seem to forgive herself.
US Air Force Commander Aaron Petrowski, a widowed father of twin 4-year-old boys, hires young Sarah Graham as his nanny. Can Aaron get passed and forgive Sarah's past?
Age is not a factor when it comes to love.
Sarah Graham made the biggest mistake in her life. One that she has to live with. No matter how hard she tries to make amends she can't seem to forgive herself.
US Air Force Commander Aaron Petrowski, a widowed father of twin 4-year-old boys, hires young Sarah Graham as his nanny. Can Aaron get passed and forgive Sarah's past?
Age is not a factor when it comes to love.
May 5, 2018
I love books about the families of our fighting men and women. What they do is a calling not really an option. This one added in the love of family and cute kids. It also dealt with a subject that for many is hard to deal with driving drunk. How God heals and how we are used in his big plan. Yup another favorite author for me.
June 29, 2017
Happiness
What a wonderful poignant story. Sadness, hope and love found through God. I enjoyed this so very much. I loved all the characters and ...
What a wonderful poignant story. Sadness, hope and love found through God. I enjoyed this so very much. I loved all the characters and ...
April 12, 2019
Excellent story. Difficult and emotional storyline handled with compassion and grace. Can highly recommend this book.
September 7, 2019
Great book and story
July 16, 2021
Cute little love story. Quick and easy read.
August 20, 2012
I wanted something simple and quick to read and so I tried this a few times. I'd get a few more paragraphs in and just could not continue. A "creamy glow"? Really? And giggling? Yeah, I know the girl's young and pretty, but who is going to hire someone to nanny their boys when the girl giggles at her job interview? I suspect not a forty year old military man.
May 9, 2016
Aaron's wife, Donna, was killed by a drunk driver. His twin sons need a nanny. Sarah Graham made really poor choices in her early years. Will those choices change he outcome of her relationship with the twins and their father?
November 9, 2009
I could not put this book down! What a wonderful, touching book!
October 21, 2010
Fun quick read. Looking for a story that will make you smile, this is it!
Read
January 23, 2011VERY FUNNY
November 9, 2011
I loved this book in that you learn to be more forgiving of others no matter what they've done.
April 16, 2012
Had some funny scenes, but not Wyatt's best work.
December 12, 2012
loved it
January 9, 2014
Nanny finds true love for soldier and his twins
September 26, 2014
wonderful wonderful story.
July 26, 2023
A pleasant series, clean romance, strong men, tough women and their journey with/towards finding faith, in not just each other, but religion too.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews