Dear Dad: An Inspirational Epistolary Novelette of Divorce, Family Fracture, and Healing Through Faith and Forgiveness

by Lisa M. Prysock

A fictionalized epistolary of divorce, loss, and the journey from trauma to healing—through faith, forgiveness, and redemption.

Through letters penned to the father she lost, Katy chronicles a childhood fractured by divorce, distance, and deception. When her mother flees a failing marriage and whisks five daughters from Wisconsin to Kentucky, Katy clings to her farm-girl memories, her dream of becoming a writer, and her Christian faith that promises healing beyond the hurt.

But a stepfather’s betrayal, years of silence, and the slow unraveling of family secrets test everything she believes about trusting God, forgiveness, and what it means to belong.

Dear Dad is a poignant, faith-filled journey from abandonment to grace found in restoration, redemption, loss recovery, finding purpose, and belonging—penned one letter at a time.

58 pages, ebook

Published October 20, 2026

About the author

Lisa Prysock is an award-winning, "USA Today" Bestselling Author of Christian Historical Romance and Contemporary Romance novels.

She writes Western Victorians, Regency Romance, Gilded Age, Contemporary Romance (including Mystery, Royal Romance, and Western Romance), and more. She enjoys including humor in her books. Readers will often find food, fashion, faith, and fun in her writing. Happily married, she and her husband of 25 years make their home in beautiful Kentucky. They have five children, grown. Empty nesters, they are slowly reclaiming the house.

Lisa's early childhood years include time spent growing up on a northern, Minnesota farm. She has many happy memories of gardening, hiking, bicycle riding, a tree house, and hanging out with a cow named Daisy, chickens, and a few horses. She also grew up in the Ohio Valley near her grandparents. Their ministry greatly impacted her life.

She enjoys working with the children and youth in her church family. She can often be found creating a human video with the children and youth for a new Christian song. Some of her favorite activities include: family time, sewing, crochet, cross stitching, reading, sketching, scrapbooking, cooking, gardening, walking, swimming, and working out--when she is not writing.

Lisa loves all things old fashioned and sharing her faith in Jesus through her writing. Her debut novel, "To Find a Duchess," was published in 2011. Since then, she has lost count of how many books she's written and is both Indie and traditionally published.

For more information about Lisa, check out her website at LisaPrysock.com for reader resources, free recipes, devotionals, giveaways, and more.

Reviews

[Carolyn Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this poignant, heartfelt story, Katy, through letters that span childhood to adulthood, pours out years of unspoken love and longing to her father. I could tell that the author put her whole heart into this book allowing me to feel the emotions, with tears at one point, right along with the characters as they navigate their family's struggles. I appreciate the strong faith thread woven through the story, with themes of forgiveness and completely trusting God especially in times of doubt and insecurity. Katie's spiritual growth illustrates how God works all things for our good and His glory even as we confront challenges that involve profound hurt, betrayal, and things we just don't understand. I was deeply touched by this epistolary novelette based on a true story and highly recommend it.
I received a copy of this book from the author with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Evelyn Foreman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soul gripping, heart rendering cries from the heart of a daughter longing for the love and affection of her father. And in the same vein, the love of her Heavenly Father is revealed in the healing, restoring way only He can. A thought provoking, heartwarming read.

[Donna Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. Grab the tissues you'll need them. This is the heartfelt journey of a little girl, trying desperately to keep in touch with her dad. She shares her thoughts and heart as she tries to understand the situation that she has been thrust into by her mother. Through it all, she learns to lean on God and trust in him.

[Mary Stalnaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, even though it wasn't like any of the other books by Lisa Prysock that I've read. It was written as letters to the dad of the main character. It was kind of sad that they didn't get to spend more time together and the letters showed that. I think it was heartfelt and really embraced the feelings of the main character. It was a good book and I do recommend it.
I received a copy of the book from the author, but that didn't influence my opinion of the book.

[Erralee Hendrian · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

I had to read this one through; it was hard to stop reading. It starts with a little girl not understanding why her mom, sisters, and her have to leave their dad when they moved. I like how it is all through letters she wrote over time telling the story and all she learns overtime. I found it thoughtful and loved how the author approached all these hard topics with a gentleness that would make it fine for young or old read.

[Diane Jewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Dad by Lisa Prysock ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A heartfelt heartbreaking story from a daughter to her Dad. It's so well written that I had tears reading it. 🫶
Fast read under an hour. So worth your time to read it. It releases in October

[Misty Catt · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very realistic. I loved the Faith growth in it.