A past set in stone… From the time she was born, Alyssa Douglas was told who she was supposed to be, first by her father and mother, then by her ambitious husband. But in the blink of an eye, her husband passed away, leaving her on her own to raise their two sons… and to determine who she really wants to be.
An uncertain future… Alyssa returns to Noah’s Crossing, Wisconsin, the only place on earth she ever felt comfortable in her own skin. But when a fire nearly destroys her cabin on Rainbow Lake, Alyssa finds herself relying on her kind and handsome neighbor, Ben Cooper—a single father with problems of his own—instead of standing on her own two feet.
A present filled with promise… As wonderful as Ben is, Alyssa can’t let herself love him. Not until she builds a life to call her own. Can she learn to trust God so that she can embrace the blessings He has given her and begin to blend her life and family with Ben’s?
Daddy Next Door is the third book in Carol Voss’ Noah’s Crossing series. A loving story of faith, second chances, and community, this inspirational romance novel is approximately 57,000 words long.
Carol Voss has received two Golden Heart nominations and two Maggie Award nominations. She has won the Heart of the Rockies contest, the Four Seasons Award, the Golden Pen, the Silver Quill, and the Published Beacon. She has published four books with Harlequin, three of which are Love Inspired inspirational romances. A BABY FOR SARAH is Carol’s fourth inspirational romance. The book received third place in the Short Contemporary Category in the 2015 Inspirational Readers' Choice Award and launched Ms. Voss into the world of self-publishing.
After the Wedding is her fifth inspirational romance but slips into No 2 in the Noah's Crossing series, thereby bumping each novel a notch. She blames her muse for any confusion that might ensue.
In January, 2020, Leah's Hope rounded the series to six books. Book seven, Rachel's Song, will release May 22, 2025.
Please sign up at www.carolvoss.com to receive book announcements and to be included in occasional sales or drawings for free books
"Daddy Next Door" was phenomenal and one of the best Christian romance novels I have read in awhile. The storyline and characters were absolutely superb. I completely fell in love with Alyssa, Ben, Joey, Robbie, and Hope. They made a lovely family, and I was thankful to have been able to read their story and go on this journey with them. I also loved the author's style of writing: it was easy to follow and relate to, and it flowed really well. Carol Voss is an extremely talented author and I have enjoyed her Rainbow Lake series immensely. I can't wait to read more from her!
I loved this 3rd book's story line. I loved Alyssa's character. I loved Alyssa's strength in this story. I loved how Alyssa stood up for herself. I loved Ben's character. I love Joey, he is adorable. I loved the ending. I loved the message in this story. Awesome job Ms. Voss.
I expected this to be a run of the mill Christian type romance but we had some real curve balls. I loved how the characters were introduced and we were able to see where they were coming from and how they arrived at the point they were in. Then we were able to see them come together.
Sometimes the hardest things to do are the things that gives us the best reward in this beautifully told love story both the main characters and the the kids have to take a leap of faith in God's plan for Them and others people to have what they want a family.
Alyssa needs to prove that she can be independent and raise her children alone. Recently widowed, she moves to her grandmother's summer cabin but it is winter. She can do this all alone, at least that is her plan. But when she lites the fire in the fireplace, she finds out that the chimney had yet to be cleaned out. Her neighbor and his dog came to the rescue when the cabin caught fire. She was forced, by circumstances, to stay at Ben's house while the cabin is repaired. Great story follows......
This was a sweet story of Alysia and Ben . Alysia had moved to Noah’s Crossing, to live in her Grandmother’s cabin. When she arrived with a u haul trailer and two kids, it was freezing cold outside. They went inside and she built a fire in the fireplace. Problems with the fireplace, causing smoke inside the cabin. Her neighbor Ben called 91 1 for emergency help. This was the beginning of their acquaintance and finding true love. Enjoy.
This was one of the best love inspired books I have read in a very long time, if you have not read this book and this authors work, you really should. It is amazing you will laugh and cry is all I will say and God‘s healing is amazing.
What a beautiful story of second chances. A new beginning for a family blended together with the chance for children to grow together with two parents who love each other and their children with God the center of the family!!!
Each book was better than the last! This about a woman who overcame tragedy and had to stand on her own feet, finally realizing she could give her weakness to God and rely on His strength to allow her to become the woman she was meant to be.
Alyssa is determined to make it on her own, finding accepting help from her handsome neighbor difficult to handle. Releasing her problem to God helped change her attitude.
As with the rest of the books in the series the characters are predictable and likable. I found this a sweet read and though the ending is predictable I enjoyed it and would read another.
Really enjoyed this book. It left me with a smile on my face. The author did a good job of telling a story about two familie's trying to find a way to be together.
This was an okay story of one trying to assert her independence way to hard. In doing so, she almost missed the chance to heal and reunite with family and find new love.
Title: DADDY NEXT DOOR Author: Carol Voss Publisher: Love Inspired August 2013 ISBN: 978-0373878345 Genre: Contemporary Romance
Not Your Everyday Hero
Nearly setting her house on fire isn't the way Alyssa Douglas is supposed to begin her new life. Luckily Ben Cooper, her handsome new neighbor, is there to charge to her rescue. A widowed single mother, Alyssa has moved to Rainbow Lake to build a future for her young sons in the big-hearted Wisconsin seaside town. And she's getting a warm welcome from Ben, a crusading reporter struggling to raise his daughter. With his help, Alyssa starts to believe that anything is possible—even second chances. But are Ben and Alyssa finally ready to trust each other with a love that can make two families one?
DADDY NEXT DOOR is the first book I read by Ms. Voss. It is a formula romance and fairly predictable. Alyssa is a strong heroine who doesn’t think she is. After the death of her husband she wants to take care of herself and her sons, but no one will let her, so in retaliation she moves to her grandmother’s summer cottage, determined to prove herself to her well-meaning friends and family who want to help her.
Ben is a giver, caring and kind, and not the first person Alyssa needed to meet, especially when she accidentally sets the chimney on fire. He’s quick to step in to help and she’s just as quick to get prickly. Alyssa needs to learn that sometimes it’s okay to allow others to bless us, because that is a blessing to them. But it’s a long road to get there.
A quick and easy read. Discussion questions are included at the end. $5.99. 215 pages. 3.5 stars.
I'm not saying it was awful, but I am saying that:
1) This book R.E.A.L.L.Y. drags. It was so difficult for me to get into, because it's basically like reading three weeks out of your next door neighbor's life. 'Today I worked in an office and took my kids to daycare'. 'Today I went to church and ate doughnuts'.
2) I'm finding it hard to understand why it's okay for Alyssa to shack up with Ben, with both of them unmarried. And the church has *NO* problem with this. ?!?!?
3) The theology is not sound. First it's "Joey's daddy's in Heaven". No, he's not - and that's not Biblical. The allegation that church is an example of 'two or three gathered in My name' is preposterous. Especially when Christ called churches 'open graves full of rotting corpses' (<< His words, not mine.)
4) This is the SECOND 'Love, Inspired' book I've read in which a single mother astoundingly is given a part-time job at a church with free daycare RIGHT downstairs, *AND* they offer health insurance. A church that functions on tithes. For a part-time office person. Riiiiiight.
5) WHY in the world is this fundraiser - which is basically gussying up some Victorian house and having a silent auction in it - garnering state-wide attention? Because the author says so? I mean, if it were Frank Lloyd Wright's house or something, but... mmmmmmmno.
6) The author's idea of teaching a 3-year old to joke is having him call people names. And not only okay, but funny? (((sigh.)))
Alyssa lost her husband while pregnant with their second child. Bed rest and sorrow caused her to need to depend on others. Now, a year later she is in need of her independence. Her grandmother passed away and left a cottage to her and Alyssa sees this as the answer to her problems. Only within minutes of arriving, the cottage catches fire and needs major repairs.
Ben lives next door with his daughter Hope. Almost instantly he's a goner. Alyssa's sons Joey and Robbie capture his heart. As does Alyssa. Having nowhere else she can go, Ben Ives them into his house for the two weeks it will take for the repairs to be done. Joey and Hope bond instantly and things go well until Hope starts feeling threatened by Alyssa and her boys being there. She's always had her fathers full attention.
So the question of independence has to be addressed as well as the fear of losing someone you love. Very enjoyable story. The characters were great.
I am a sucker for a great father story! Benn (or Coop, whichever name you perfer) was a GREAT dad! He took a baby, not his own, and raised her as his own. Now at the age of 12, Hope feels she's going to lose her father to someone else.
Alyssia is a sweet single mother who just wants to take care of herself and her two young sons with nobody's help. She struggles with this. Her four year old, Joey, worries about losing those he loves since his dad was killed in an accident after running a fast errand to a nearby store. My heart goes out to all of these!
I didn't feel like there was quite enough drama in this for a "four star" book, but I really liked the father/daughter story and the issues Hope faced. I liked how Coop dealt with it all as well.
Nice little story. Heroine is a widow trying to stand on her own feet. She has 2 boys, one an infant. The hero lives next door and is a rescuer, including the 12-year-old daughter he adopted. So when the heroine's house catches fire in a blizzard the day she tries to move in... This is a sweet story with a reasonable amount of angst. All the conflict seems to be wrapped up in a bit of a rush, but it's an enjoyable read. I liked it.