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Foster Brothers #2
Surprise Dad
Mike Foster just inherited a bundle.
In this case, the bundle is his bubbly, eight-month-old half brother Brian.
A successful restaurateur, Mike came to Vermont's Serenity Valley and built his life out of nothing. Now, his estranged father has left him an inheritance that will turn his carefully organized life upside down. But that's nothing compared to what Allie Hendericks is doing to his heart.
The spunky teen Mike hired years ago has bloomed into a lovely young woman he can't ignore. On a break from med school, Allie graciously helps care for Brian. She fits so effortlessly into their lives that Mike can't believe she'll be leaving them both behind come next semester. He has to find a way to prove to her that their makeshift family is the greatest gift he's ever received, and that she's the only one who can make it complete.
In this case, the bundle is his bubbly, eight-month-old half brother Brian.
A successful restaurateur, Mike came to Vermont's Serenity Valley and built his life out of nothing. Now, his estranged father has left him an inheritance that will turn his carefully organized life upside down. But that's nothing compared to what Allie Hendericks is doing to his heart.
The spunky teen Mike hired years ago has bloomed into a lovely young woman he can't ignore. On a break from med school, Allie graciously helps care for Brian. She fits so effortlessly into their lives that Mike can't believe she'll be leaving them both behind come next semester. He has to find a way to prove to her that their makeshift family is the greatest gift he's ever received, and that she's the only one who can make it complete.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
41 people want to read
About the author
Daly Thompson
7 books2 followersDaly Thompson is a collaboration between Liz Jarrett and Barbara Daly.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 15, 2012
4 Stars ~ All her life Allie knew she was going to be a doctor. She'd studied hard, got all A's and in college achieved a 4.0 average. Then she had to make what she thought was the hardest decision of her life, having discovered that medicine really didn't do it for her, she quit. Returning to Serenity Valley with only a few months free to decide her next move before the next semester, Allie surprises everyone and goes to Mike's Diner to see about her old job. Mike's pleasantly surprised to see Allie, but she's no longer the teenager who used to waitress for him, she's grown up and she's beautiful. Of course, a job is not a problem. And just as Allie starts to fit back into life in the Valley, Mike's whole world is about to change. A phone call from a Boston lawyer, and another call from a New York food corporation, have him going in circles. New York wants to franchise his restaurant into a chain, and Boston has an inheritance from his estranged father, one he can't refuse, an eight-month-old brother. Adding to this, his short-order cook, Barney, has a cardiac scare that will take him out of the kitchen for weeks. Mike finds he's turning to Allie more and more. As Allie's heart becomes attached to baby Brian and his new dad, she realizes that the hardest decision of her life is back to school for her new career choice or stay and make a family.
Mike's life revolved around his restaurant and his bond with two foster brothers, so finding himself an instant father shakes him to his core. Mike's a stand-up guy, always upbeat and hugely respected in his community. Usually unshakable, losing control of his life has left him all jumpy. Allie knows Mike is a threat to her future independence and she's afraid she'll fall into his life and later regret not pursuing a career of her own. I love the family and community dynamics that surround Mike's Diner. With the help of amazing secondary characters, Allie and Mike become alive. I'm so glad we'll see glimpses of them again in the next book of this trilogy, Ian's story.
Mike's life revolved around his restaurant and his bond with two foster brothers, so finding himself an instant father shakes him to his core. Mike's a stand-up guy, always upbeat and hugely respected in his community. Usually unshakable, losing control of his life has left him all jumpy. Allie knows Mike is a threat to her future independence and she's afraid she'll fall into his life and later regret not pursuing a career of her own. I love the family and community dynamics that surround Mike's Diner. With the help of amazing secondary characters, Allie and Mike become alive. I'm so glad we'll see glimpses of them again in the next book of this trilogy, Ian's story.
January 1, 2024
I read this book years ago and loved it and I tried picking it back up and could only get to page 60 before I out it down, I think it has more to do with my reading than the author, but I couldn't finish the rest.
March 3, 2017
Nice read about an unexpected baby, a med school dropout and, a chef.
February 21, 2013
A successful restaurateur, Mike came to Vermont's Serenity Valley and built his life out of nothing. Now, his estranged father has left him an inheritance, in the form of a half brother, that will turn his carefully organized life upside down. But that's nothing compared to what Allie Hendericks is doing to his heart.
The spunky teen Mike hired years ago has bloomed into a lovely young woman he can't ignore. On a break from med school, Allie graciously helps care for Brian. She fits so effortlessly into their lives that Mike can't believe she'll be leaving them both behind come next semester. He has to find a way to prove to her that their makeshift family is the greatest gift he's ever received, and that she's the only one who can make it complete. I gave this 5 stars! Love love loved it.
The spunky teen Mike hired years ago has bloomed into a lovely young woman he can't ignore. On a break from med school, Allie graciously helps care for Brian. She fits so effortlessly into their lives that Mike can't believe she'll be leaving them both behind come next semester. He has to find a way to prove to her that their makeshift family is the greatest gift he's ever received, and that she's the only one who can make it complete. I gave this 5 stars! Love love loved it.
August 24, 2015
Short. Good story. Well written.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews