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Dreams Come True #1
A Dad of His Own
With his Dreams Come True foundation, Ethan Fox turns wishes into reality. Amazing trips. Meeting heroes. But Ethan has come to care deeply for a sick boy whose dream is…a dad. And not just any dad: Ethan . Though little Cooper has a great chance of getting well, widowed Ethan can't chance loving—and losing—again. Yet he's spending time with the sweet boy and his lovely, strong single mother, Lexie Carlson. Could a little boy's wish for a dad of his own come true after all?
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 15, 2011
4 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Gail Gaymer Martin
147 books137 followersMulti-award-winning novelist, Gail Gaymer Martin writes Christian fiction for Winged Publications with many books published by Love Inspired and Barbour Publishing, where she was honored by Heartsong readers as their Favorite Author of 2008. Gail has 77 published novels or novellas with over four million books in print. She is the author of Writers Digest’s Writing the Christian Romance and a founder of American Christian Fiction Writers, a keynote speaker at churches, libraries and civic organizations and presents workshops at conference across the US. She was named one of the four best novelists in the Detroit area by CBS local news. Gail loves to hear from readers through her website contact and adds the reader's name to her bi-monthly drawing for a free book or two.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 3, 2011
As I curled up in my favorite chair on Super Bowl Sunday to read (instead of watching the big game), I thought I knew what to expect when I cracked open “A Dad of His Own” by Gail Gaymer Martin. I’m a fan of the Love Inspired Line by Steeple Hill and Mrs. Martin is one of their finest authors.
I settled in to read for a few minutes at a time as I fixed supper. I prepared myself for the usual mix of a some guilt-free romance, a little laughter, a lesson in faith, and of course a happy ending. A couple of hours later I fond myself thoroughly surprised-and without supper-as I’d read straight through the novel.
“A Dad of His Own” delivers all the ingredients of a Love Inspired novel. But this story tackles a subject uncommon to the romance genre: cancer.
The story revolves around Cooper Carlson, a fatherless boy who is battling leukemia. He has one wish-for Ethan Fox to be his dad. It’s Ethan’s business to grant wishes through his Dreams Come True foundation. Ethan finds it easy to spend time with the lovable Cooper and single mom Lexie. But Lexie is reluctant to risk her son’s heart and her own to a man whose job it is to turn wishes into reality.
Mrs. Martin doesn’t take the easy way out by tying up the plot in the expected way. She takes the time to deepen the story, building the characters into people I was rooting for. Lexi isn’t just another cookie cutter romance heroine. While single mothers are often at the heart of inspirational romances, Lexie’s background as a never-married mother, is one that is rarely explored. Mrs. Martin handles Lexie’s past with realism and grace.
Cooper, despite his physical ailments, has a strong spirit and a child-like faith that is unshakable.
Ethan is the hero I’ve come to expect from inspirational romances. His Christian faith and devotion to family makes him all the more attractive.
It’s evident that Mrs. Martin is a mature Christian who seeks to glorify God through her novels. This story doesn’t add a last-minute dash of God into the plot as a way to rework the traditional romance recipe for the Christian market. Readers who are looking for more love and less Sunday School lesson won’t be turned away by the faith element. There are no trite sermonettes; just a genuine exploration of a woman looking to heal her son and her past.
The ending was more than satisfying. Mrs. Martin’s talent for storytelling adds spice-making this book one for the keeper shelf. Though Mrs. Martin left me hungry for future books that will hopefully feature some of the supporting characters in search of a happily ever after of their own.
“A Dad of His Own” is a March 2011 Love Inspired release and is on sale now. Look for “A Dad of His Own” at Wal-Mart or your favorite bookstore. Or order through Amazon.
I settled in to read for a few minutes at a time as I fixed supper. I prepared myself for the usual mix of a some guilt-free romance, a little laughter, a lesson in faith, and of course a happy ending. A couple of hours later I fond myself thoroughly surprised-and without supper-as I’d read straight through the novel.
“A Dad of His Own” delivers all the ingredients of a Love Inspired novel. But this story tackles a subject uncommon to the romance genre: cancer.
The story revolves around Cooper Carlson, a fatherless boy who is battling leukemia. He has one wish-for Ethan Fox to be his dad. It’s Ethan’s business to grant wishes through his Dreams Come True foundation. Ethan finds it easy to spend time with the lovable Cooper and single mom Lexie. But Lexie is reluctant to risk her son’s heart and her own to a man whose job it is to turn wishes into reality.
Mrs. Martin doesn’t take the easy way out by tying up the plot in the expected way. She takes the time to deepen the story, building the characters into people I was rooting for. Lexi isn’t just another cookie cutter romance heroine. While single mothers are often at the heart of inspirational romances, Lexie’s background as a never-married mother, is one that is rarely explored. Mrs. Martin handles Lexie’s past with realism and grace.
Cooper, despite his physical ailments, has a strong spirit and a child-like faith that is unshakable.
Ethan is the hero I’ve come to expect from inspirational romances. His Christian faith and devotion to family makes him all the more attractive.
It’s evident that Mrs. Martin is a mature Christian who seeks to glorify God through her novels. This story doesn’t add a last-minute dash of God into the plot as a way to rework the traditional romance recipe for the Christian market. Readers who are looking for more love and less Sunday School lesson won’t be turned away by the faith element. There are no trite sermonettes; just a genuine exploration of a woman looking to heal her son and her past.
The ending was more than satisfying. Mrs. Martin’s talent for storytelling adds spice-making this book one for the keeper shelf. Though Mrs. Martin left me hungry for future books that will hopefully feature some of the supporting characters in search of a happily ever after of their own.
“A Dad of His Own” is a March 2011 Love Inspired release and is on sale now. Look for “A Dad of His Own” at Wal-Mart or your favorite bookstore. Or order through Amazon.
March 2, 2011
This is a heart rendering story about eight year old Cooper Carlson, a little boy without a dad, his mother Lexie Carlson, and their friend Ethan Fox, a widower.
There was no lack of excitement in this story to keep your interest. Every page and paragraph was written with the excellent skill of Gail Gaymer Martin who writes for Love Inspired books
”A Dad of His Own” begins with emphasis up front as Lexie and her best friend Kelsey are attending a support group meeting for Mothers of Special Kids. The speaker, Ethan Fox represented the Dreams Come True Foundation, a charitable organization that provided seriously ill children their dream. Following the meeting, Lexie was curious about Ethan’s talk and the author cleverly brought them together to talk about Cooper. Gail Martin’s book is impossible to put down from the start.
Cooper Carlson, the young son of single mother Lexie Carlson, is a cancer patient. Eventually, Lexie invited Ethan to her home to meet Cooper. Ethan arrived with a gift for Cooper, a well thought out gesture to help Cooper enjoy a pastime of his own. The gift became an essential tool in helping Cooper learn about God’s creation in a personal way. Ethan took an immediate interest in befriending Cooper, not because of pity, but of mentoring. Cooper immediately loved Ethan and the two of them became close. He felt an attraction to Lexie, but sensed her reserve and reticence toward him. Lexie knows nothing of the grace and mercy of Jesus; whereas Ethan is a faithful child of God. Cooper questions his mother as to why they don’t pray in their home
Gail has covered some edgy topics in her story. Lexie, alone and bruised from past relationships is a survivor and had no choice but to move on with her life. She was the sole protector and provider of then baby Cooper. She became employed as a graphic artist that granted her the ability of affording a home and sustenance for Cooper and herself.
The readers will go through the sorrow and worry of Cooper’s and Lexie’s ups and downs Speaking as a reader, the story is so real and the characters so full of mixed emotions that one shares a kinship with them, God’s presence is seen and felt throughout this story. This is probably a good place to end this review to make way for the surprises yet to come. This story is so exciting that the temptation to reveal this story/s ending is too strong. You’ll need to get your own copy of Gail Gaymer Martin’s exclusive story about some edgy subjects for Christian authors and readers to handle. Gail writes with reality about serious times of a little boy’s life and all their relationships of love and God becoming real in lives. Enjoy the read!
There was no lack of excitement in this story to keep your interest. Every page and paragraph was written with the excellent skill of Gail Gaymer Martin who writes for Love Inspired books
”A Dad of His Own” begins with emphasis up front as Lexie and her best friend Kelsey are attending a support group meeting for Mothers of Special Kids. The speaker, Ethan Fox represented the Dreams Come True Foundation, a charitable organization that provided seriously ill children their dream. Following the meeting, Lexie was curious about Ethan’s talk and the author cleverly brought them together to talk about Cooper. Gail Martin’s book is impossible to put down from the start.
Cooper Carlson, the young son of single mother Lexie Carlson, is a cancer patient. Eventually, Lexie invited Ethan to her home to meet Cooper. Ethan arrived with a gift for Cooper, a well thought out gesture to help Cooper enjoy a pastime of his own. The gift became an essential tool in helping Cooper learn about God’s creation in a personal way. Ethan took an immediate interest in befriending Cooper, not because of pity, but of mentoring. Cooper immediately loved Ethan and the two of them became close. He felt an attraction to Lexie, but sensed her reserve and reticence toward him. Lexie knows nothing of the grace and mercy of Jesus; whereas Ethan is a faithful child of God. Cooper questions his mother as to why they don’t pray in their home
Gail has covered some edgy topics in her story. Lexie, alone and bruised from past relationships is a survivor and had no choice but to move on with her life. She was the sole protector and provider of then baby Cooper. She became employed as a graphic artist that granted her the ability of affording a home and sustenance for Cooper and herself.
The readers will go through the sorrow and worry of Cooper’s and Lexie’s ups and downs Speaking as a reader, the story is so real and the characters so full of mixed emotions that one shares a kinship with them, God’s presence is seen and felt throughout this story. This is probably a good place to end this review to make way for the surprises yet to come. This story is so exciting that the temptation to reveal this story/s ending is too strong. You’ll need to get your own copy of Gail Gaymer Martin’s exclusive story about some edgy subjects for Christian authors and readers to handle. Gail writes with reality about serious times of a little boy’s life and all their relationships of love and God becoming real in lives. Enjoy the read!
February 8, 2011
I have become quite fond of Gail’s writing and I always look forward to reading her new books, but A Dad of His Own became very personal to me early on. When I read that little Cooper has leukemia, I knew this book was going to be particularly meaningful and special to me. My mom had leukemia and sadly lost her battle in February 1997. Despite the sadness of reading about a boy with leukemia, I knew this book would be filled with the hope and uplifting message I have come to appreciate in Gail’s books. It absolutely lived up to my expectations and as I turned the last page of A Dad of His Own, I was filled with the hope that not all stories about leukemia have to end sadly. And, in the middle of Cooper’s fight against leukemia a love develops that will change his life, and his mom’s life, forever.
There are a couple of things I have noticed about Gail’s writing that make her stories especially good. First of all, she knows how to create romantic situations, but at the same time, her characters have real-life problems and issues from their pasts that add a depth and realism to the story. Lexie and Ethan had to struggle through some difficulties and pains to find love. There was some tension in the story, but it was just enough to make the romance more interesting. Gail has certainly mastered the art of creating romantic tension between characters that readers can’t help but like.
I also really like how Gail includes a lot of detail in her stories. She leaves nothing out. I feel like I am actually in the story because I can see what the characters see and Gail lets the reader in on all the questions and doubts and feelings in the characters’ hearts. I just love the way she writes and I loved the way I felt while I was reading A Dad of His Own. I have not been disappointed in the least by any of Gail’s books and I loved A Dad of His Own every bit as much as I hoped I would. This book spoke to my heart and reminded me that God is always with us, especially through our trials, and that He forgives us and loves us. I highly recommend A Dad of His Own. I hope this book will mean as much to you as it has meant to me.
There are a couple of things I have noticed about Gail’s writing that make her stories especially good. First of all, she knows how to create romantic situations, but at the same time, her characters have real-life problems and issues from their pasts that add a depth and realism to the story. Lexie and Ethan had to struggle through some difficulties and pains to find love. There was some tension in the story, but it was just enough to make the romance more interesting. Gail has certainly mastered the art of creating romantic tension between characters that readers can’t help but like.
I also really like how Gail includes a lot of detail in her stories. She leaves nothing out. I feel like I am actually in the story because I can see what the characters see and Gail lets the reader in on all the questions and doubts and feelings in the characters’ hearts. I just love the way she writes and I loved the way I felt while I was reading A Dad of His Own. I have not been disappointed in the least by any of Gail’s books and I loved A Dad of His Own every bit as much as I hoped I would. This book spoke to my heart and reminded me that God is always with us, especially through our trials, and that He forgives us and loves us. I highly recommend A Dad of His Own. I hope this book will mean as much to you as it has meant to me.
February 20, 2011
ABSOLUTELY LOVED this book.....Might seem like a sad story, but it isn't VERY heartwarming....GREAT characters! And little Cooper is just ADORABLE!...I CANNOT WAIT for the 2nd book in this series! Gail has done it again! ANOTHER AWESOME story!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews