Somebody's Dad

The Daddy School #8

by Judith Arnold

A heartwarming story in the bestselling Daddy School series.

Sharon Bartell knows how to photograph people, even people like successful but camera-phobic fund manager Brett Stockton, who needs an updated portrait for his company’s annual report hates having his photo taken. Within minutes, Sharon has him at ease, laughing and shedding his self-consciousness. She’s so poised, so calm and focused - and so attractive. On an impulse, he asks her to accompany him to a fundraising dinner he’s hosting, and on an impulse she says yes...as long as she’s able to hire a babysitter.

A babysitter? Brett hates children. He had to raise his younger siblings when he was just a child himself, and he never wants to deal with children again. He’s always been honest with women about this, and the reason he’s still single is that most of the women he meets want to become mothers.

Sharon is already a mother. Widowed while pregnant, she has raised two-year-old Max alone. She devotes herself to her son while also running her photography studio - and also competing for a commission to do the photographs for her town’s 300th birthday celebration.

A power player in town, Brett happens to know one of the birthday celebration committee members. He could get the commission for Sharon. But he wants more than her gratitude. He wants her. Without her son. But they’re a package deal, and perhaps with the help of the Daddy School, he can learn to love Max.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Romance

219 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2002

About the author

Barbara Keiler
aka Ariel Berk, Thea Frederick, Judith Arnold

Barbara Keiler was born on April 7th. She started telling stories before shecould write. She was four when her sister, Carolyn, stuffed a crayon intoher hand and taught her the alphabet, and she's been writing ever since.

Barbara is a graduate of Smith College, where she learned to aim for thestars, and she received a master's degree in creative writing from BrownUniversity, where she took aim at a good-looking graduate student in thechemistry department and wound up marrying him. She says: "Before myhusband and I were married, I had a job in California and he was working onhis Ph.D. in Rhode Island. I became ill, and he hopped on a plane and flewacross the country to be with me. Neither of us had any money, but he saidhe simply couldn't concentrate on his research, knowing I was three thousandmiles away and facing a serious health problem all by myself. He stayed fortwo weeks, until I was pretty well recovered. That he would just drop whathe was doing, put his life on hold and race to my side told me how much heloved me. After that, I knew this was the man I wanted to marry."

Barbara has received writing fellowships from the Shubert Foundation and theNational Endowment for the Arts, and has taught at colleges and universitiesaround the country. She has also written several plays that have beenprofessionally staged at regional theaters in San Francisco, Washington, D.C.,Connecticut and off-off-Broadway.

Since her first romance novel's publication in 1983 as Ariel Berk. Shewrote one novel as Thea Frederick, and since 1985 she writes asJudith Arnold. Barbara has sold more than 70 novels, with eight millioncopies in print worldwide. She has recently signed a contract with MIRABooks. Her first MIRA novel will appear in 2001. She has received severalawards from Romantic Times Magazine, including awards for the Best HarlequinAmerican Romance of the Year, Best Harlequin Superromance of the Year, BestSeries Romantic Novel of the Year and a Lifetime Achievement Certificate ofMerit for Innovative Series Romance. She has also been a finalist for theGolden Medallion Award and the RITA Award for Romance Writer of America. Hernovel Barefoot in the Grass has appeared on the recommended reading listsdistributed by cancer support services at several hospitals.

Barbara lives in a small town not far from Boston, Massachusetts, New England with her husband, two teenage sons, and a guinea pig named Wilbur. Her sister Carolyn died of breast cancer in 1998.

Reviews

[Melanie Milburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brett Stockton had a childhood that left him not wanting children. He’s built a highly successful financial services company and enjoys his life. And then he meets Sharon and he starts wondering if he could change his stance on children, and attending The Daddy School.
Sharon Bartell is a young widow and single parent to two year old Max. She’s also a talented photographer who gets hired to take Brett’s photo for their annual company report. There’s a definite spark between the two, but his less than warm reaction to her child gives her pause. But when he makes an honest try to get over his aversion, she’s willing to give him a chance.

[Janet T. Nickels · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unlike the others

I loved the previous books in the Daddy School series. This one not so much. There was little of the entertaining humor which characterized the other books in the series. The main characters, Brett & Sharon were hard to understand and like. I finished this book hoping it would get better. This book almost seemed as if it was written by another author. If this were the first book in the series I would not have purchased the sequels.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read nearly all of the Daddy’s series and they never disappoint- in this one he didn’t want children but came round for the love of a good woman. Worth a read
I very rarely give more than three stars only because it’s my own system 3 is a good enjoyable read two is below average

[Wendy Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This my first book from the series. I enjoyed it but as a single mother, Brett's thoughts about Max made me cringe. I am glad he was honest with Sharon and everything worked out for them.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming

A different aspect of daddyhood! A great story, good characters, a realistic portrayal of parenthood! With lots of heart! Loved it! ❤❤👍👍

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took a unique approach to falling in love. The hero has a serious problem with kids - he hates them! This problem becomes forefront when he meets and falls in love with a single mother with a child going through the terrible twos. His love causes him to re-examine his hatred of kids and seek help from support groups for Dads! As the relationship develops we learn more of what caused this hatred and see how love truly can heal all wounds! I loved it, even though at first I thought the hero was too selfish in the beginning before I found out what caused his hatred! Worthwhile read!!

[Dianne Sidebottom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would interested to know if there is really "A Daddy School"? maybe in the USA. Understandably I get why Brett didn't want to be a dad because as a youngster his mother put the responsibility on him to look after the younger siblings. I think anyone who is the oldest in the family gets lumbered with that job. I liked how the writer was able to draw the picture of what it's like to be a single mum 24/7 that didn't choose that life and for a man to step in and observe/see what that entails. The classes he attended to help understand what happened as a child and now being an adult he could heal the wounds he carried.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharon Bartell, widow, single mom and photographer takes a job to get pictures for the annual report of successful but camera-phobic fund manager Brett Stockton. After getting him to relax and getting some good shots they meet again and start a romance but it is all not smooth for them. She has a two-year-old son named Max and Brett doesn't like kids.

He decides Sharon is worth trying to be Somebody's Dad starts classes at 'Daddy School'. This is a sweet story with ups and downs and in the end Brett finds a way to let Max into his heart right along with her mother for a happy ever after ending.

I purchased this story as part of an anthology.

[Liza · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is cute all in all but in the beginning, I thought Brett was a total dick. I mean his thoughts about the kid were not pleasant at all. But the kid was kinda obnoxious as well. I mean I have a kid as well but he never had such behaviour like the kid in this story demonstrated. I liked the ending reflecting that he remained stern towards the kid but loved him nevertheless.

[Elizabeth Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Above average depiction of what single-mom-with-toddler-and-job life is life, coupled with a believable slowly building romance with a man who is an avowed child-hater, having raised his four siblings from the time he was eight, due to severe family dysfunction. They cautiously find each other, begin to heal each other, and discover how to love each other, and become a family.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting perspective on a confirmed bachelor and his attraction to a woman with a toddler. It reinforced the notion that generalizations of character type can get in the way of true understanding and personal growth.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. The characters were nice and the story was well written. I liked this story b/c the characters had depth and real life problems, they just weren't rich billionaires...lol. I look forward to reading another Judith Arnold book.

[Cheryl]

this was a great short story! i really enjoyed reading this and thought it was fairly realistic! The details were very nice in this story as well and helped alot for visulization.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Last 1/3 of the book pulled it up to a 3* from 2*

[Matlene Kind · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet romantic & funny at times :)

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bachelor who hates children falls for a single mother of a toddler. Oh the frustration!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

fabulous read!