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Sutter Creek, Montana #2
A Father for Her Child
She was always his best friend’s girl…
But then their whole lives changed.
Widow Cadence Grigg is slowly putting her life back together—and raising her infant son. By her side is her late husband’s best friend, Zach Cardenas, who can’t help his burgeoning feelings for Cadie and her baby boy. Though determined not to fall in love again, Cadie might find that Cupid has other plans for her happily-ever-after…
Coming in print June 18, 2019 and in e-book July 1, 2019.
But then their whole lives changed.
Widow Cadence Grigg is slowly putting her life back together—and raising her infant son. By her side is her late husband’s best friend, Zach Cardenas, who can’t help his burgeoning feelings for Cadie and her baby boy. Though determined not to fall in love again, Cadie might find that Cupid has other plans for her happily-ever-after…
Coming in print June 18, 2019 and in e-book July 1, 2019.
- GenresRomanceContemporary
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published June 18, 2019
23 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Laurel Greer
66 books446 followersUSA Today bestselling author Laurel Greer loves writing about all the ways love can change people for the better, especially when messy families and charming small towns are involved. She lives outside of Vancouver, BC with her law-talking husband and two daughters and is never far from a cup of tea, a good book, or the ocean—preferably all three.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 24, 2019
Returning to Sutter Creek
I’m so glad I came back to Sutter Creek. Montana has some beautiful scenery and some ruggedly handsome guys (okay, Zach Cardenas is Canadian which makes me love him even more). Zach’s been in love with his best friend’s wife since the night they all met but Sam got there first and, deciding to be a buddy, Zach sat back and watched. Watching wasn’t always easy though because daredevil Sam had a clear picture of what his life looked like and it wasn’t the same picture as his wife Cadie. Again, Zach sat back and watched. Right up until the day Sam died, and then he fulfilled his friend’s final wish by stepping in to take care of the pregnant Cadence.
Cadie Grigg has settled into her life. She’s a single mother, a physiotherapist opening a new clinic, a sister, and a daughter. In the previous book in the series, we met Lauren, Cadie’s sister. Lauren still feels free to meddle and the sisters bicker in the way sisters do. Lauren has watched Cadie grieve but believes it’s time for her to move on. And who better to move on with than the gorgeous Zach? Life is complicated, though. Zach, after crashing spectacularly while skiing, is recovering from his injuries and Cadie’s his physiotherapist. So professional ethics involved. Cadie was Sam’s wife and Zach feels guilty about Sam’s death. Another strike against them. Cadie also has unresolved feelings toward Sam and they hold her back from moving on. Strike three.
[Zach] slid his hands to her lower back and pulled her toward him, landing a kiss on the tender skin just below her earlobe. The dazed, sated look on her face topped the gold medal he’d won on home soil. He’d retired after those games. Stopping at the top had seemed prudent.
Zach knew when to move on, when to accept that part of his life was over. I loved that after Sam’s death he knew when to hold off and, eventually, when to make his move. My heart also stuttered when I watched Zach with little Ben. Some men would find it a challenge to love a child who isn’t theirs but Zach never had that problem.
This is a love story, so things eventually turn as the couple fight back against the demons. Neither has been honest with each other and watching them fumble through the half-truths and sometimes outright lies was frustrating. But true honesty can also be hard. How many of us have struggled to share all of ourselves with the person we love? How much easier is it to just pretend everything’s okay instead of putting all the cards on the table?
My heart went out to both Cadie and Zach. Guilt is a powerful emotion and overcoming it isn’t easy. And throw in a young innocent child? Well, there was a lot to work through. I thought Ms. Greer did a good job of balancing the emotions in the story. I also loved how Zach used Cadie’s full name – Cadence – when talking to her. Making her special. Warmed my heart.
I hope there are more Sutter Creek books as I’ve enjoyed both the ones I’ve read.
I’m so glad I came back to Sutter Creek. Montana has some beautiful scenery and some ruggedly handsome guys (okay, Zach Cardenas is Canadian which makes me love him even more). Zach’s been in love with his best friend’s wife since the night they all met but Sam got there first and, deciding to be a buddy, Zach sat back and watched. Watching wasn’t always easy though because daredevil Sam had a clear picture of what his life looked like and it wasn’t the same picture as his wife Cadie. Again, Zach sat back and watched. Right up until the day Sam died, and then he fulfilled his friend’s final wish by stepping in to take care of the pregnant Cadence.
Cadie Grigg has settled into her life. She’s a single mother, a physiotherapist opening a new clinic, a sister, and a daughter. In the previous book in the series, we met Lauren, Cadie’s sister. Lauren still feels free to meddle and the sisters bicker in the way sisters do. Lauren has watched Cadie grieve but believes it’s time for her to move on. And who better to move on with than the gorgeous Zach? Life is complicated, though. Zach, after crashing spectacularly while skiing, is recovering from his injuries and Cadie’s his physiotherapist. So professional ethics involved. Cadie was Sam’s wife and Zach feels guilty about Sam’s death. Another strike against them. Cadie also has unresolved feelings toward Sam and they hold her back from moving on. Strike three.
[Zach] slid his hands to her lower back and pulled her toward him, landing a kiss on the tender skin just below her earlobe. The dazed, sated look on her face topped the gold medal he’d won on home soil. He’d retired after those games. Stopping at the top had seemed prudent.
Zach knew when to move on, when to accept that part of his life was over. I loved that after Sam’s death he knew when to hold off and, eventually, when to make his move. My heart also stuttered when I watched Zach with little Ben. Some men would find it a challenge to love a child who isn’t theirs but Zach never had that problem.
This is a love story, so things eventually turn as the couple fight back against the demons. Neither has been honest with each other and watching them fumble through the half-truths and sometimes outright lies was frustrating. But true honesty can also be hard. How many of us have struggled to share all of ourselves with the person we love? How much easier is it to just pretend everything’s okay instead of putting all the cards on the table?
My heart went out to both Cadie and Zach. Guilt is a powerful emotion and overcoming it isn’t easy. And throw in a young innocent child? Well, there was a lot to work through. I thought Ms. Greer did a good job of balancing the emotions in the story. I also loved how Zach used Cadie’s full name – Cadence – when talking to her. Making her special. Warmed my heart.
I hope there are more Sutter Creek books as I’ve enjoyed both the ones I’ve read.
June 23, 2019
An emotional and angst-filled story of grief, love, and friendship. It is a tribute to new beginnings and second chances as the protagonist learn to trust again, to embrace life with all its chances and possibilities.
This story was not an easy, light read for me. It is a heartfelt journey to the depth of losing the foundation of your life in more ways than meets the eye. Cadence Grigg was a challenge for me to understand. I liked her, I wanted all the best for her, and for her adorable son. I understood that she had gone through severe trauma, and because of that, she was a true survivor and heroine on her merits alone. The secrets that she held in her heart, the troubled marriage that ended in a cruel and unexpected way, the single motherhood - she had had it tough, her soul was raw, her heart broken. What I didn't understand about her was her inability to communicate. With pretty much everyone, but especially with her best friend, Zach.
Zach Cardenas, absolutely delightfully kind, considerate, generous soul, who would do anything for her and her son, was supposed to be her rock, her support, her best friend. Yet, with all these things building up and churning in her mind and soul, and the new attraction towards him budding in her heart, and she hides, turns away, and cuts him out instead of communicating and trying to find an adult way to reason and work with the issues, to grow together, even as just friends. But no, she creates all this - what for me - seemed like unnecessary drama. And then she does something that is a big no-no in my eyes and goes on a date with another man after confessing her attraction towards Zach. I think there was enough third-person drama with the husband who had passed and all the issues with him, to bring yet another person into the circle.
With the angst and growing pains, for me, this felt a good fit for the Young Adult genre. I think a lot of people who enjoy that variety of books, who do not normally read category romance novels, would love this one. The first book in the series, From Exes To Expecting greatly compliments this book, yet A Father for Her Child can easily to be read as a standalone story.
Deep felt emotions, struggling to accept what life is offering for her after all the sorrow it threw at her way, trying to find her independence, and accepting help to balance her life in the midst of well-meaning family and friends, Cadence Grigg is in the fight for her life and future happiness in a raw, real, and engaging tale.
~ Four Spoons
This story was not an easy, light read for me. It is a heartfelt journey to the depth of losing the foundation of your life in more ways than meets the eye. Cadence Grigg was a challenge for me to understand. I liked her, I wanted all the best for her, and for her adorable son. I understood that she had gone through severe trauma, and because of that, she was a true survivor and heroine on her merits alone. The secrets that she held in her heart, the troubled marriage that ended in a cruel and unexpected way, the single motherhood - she had had it tough, her soul was raw, her heart broken. What I didn't understand about her was her inability to communicate. With pretty much everyone, but especially with her best friend, Zach.
Zach Cardenas, absolutely delightfully kind, considerate, generous soul, who would do anything for her and her son, was supposed to be her rock, her support, her best friend. Yet, with all these things building up and churning in her mind and soul, and the new attraction towards him budding in her heart, and she hides, turns away, and cuts him out instead of communicating and trying to find an adult way to reason and work with the issues, to grow together, even as just friends. But no, she creates all this - what for me - seemed like unnecessary drama. And then she does something that is a big no-no in my eyes and goes on a date with another man after confessing her attraction towards Zach. I think there was enough third-person drama with the husband who had passed and all the issues with him, to bring yet another person into the circle.
With the angst and growing pains, for me, this felt a good fit for the Young Adult genre. I think a lot of people who enjoy that variety of books, who do not normally read category romance novels, would love this one. The first book in the series, From Exes To Expecting greatly compliments this book, yet A Father for Her Child can easily to be read as a standalone story.
Deep felt emotions, struggling to accept what life is offering for her after all the sorrow it threw at her way, trying to find her independence, and accepting help to balance her life in the midst of well-meaning family and friends, Cadence Grigg is in the fight for her life and future happiness in a raw, real, and engaging tale.
~ Four Spoons
August 30, 2019
Reviewed by JoAnne
Book provided by the author
In A Father For Her Child , the prologue takes place in April, three months before the story begins in July. Zach is in a skiing accident on the mountain he works at and is seriously injured and needs surgery and lots of physical therapy. This is after three friends died in an avalanche eighteen months before on another mountaintop and Zach and others who were there and survived have survivor's guilt. Zach's best friend, Sam, left behind his wife and unborn child but all is not as it seemed in their marriage. As she and Zach work through their feelings for each other and dwell on Sam and some of his actions before he died, I was caught up in the story from the first page to the last. Zach and Cadie are best friends but there's more than meets the eye because they met eight years before and she's not even privy to all that occurred back then. Her young son, Ben, is a nice addition to the story.
The descriptions of the mountain where they all work along with the cold were vivid and made me feel like I was there. I could feel Zach's suffering as he strives to make himself whole and get the full use of his body back since he wants to be working and skiing again. There are many interactions between family and friends and the lack of communication between Zach and Cadie does them in time and time again. There's sparks whenever they're together and others see through their ruse even if they think they are hiding their feelings. It doesn't help that she and her siblings work in the newly opened family business and Zach's a patient. Unfortunately, the two of them never seem to be on the same page at the same time and are always sending mixed signals. There are also promises that were made by Zach to Sam that Cadie isn't aware of.
There is a nice flow to the story and we meet up with others from the first book int he series, From Exes to Expecting . A Father For Her Child can be read as a stand alone since there's enough background information given about the other relationships. There is an epilogue, which always helps tie up loose ends and makes me happy. It takes place on New Year's Eve and gives me the closure I was looking for and a nicely played out happily ever after. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series as well as others penned by Ms. Greer.
Book provided by the author
In A Father For Her Child , the prologue takes place in April, three months before the story begins in July. Zach is in a skiing accident on the mountain he works at and is seriously injured and needs surgery and lots of physical therapy. This is after three friends died in an avalanche eighteen months before on another mountaintop and Zach and others who were there and survived have survivor's guilt. Zach's best friend, Sam, left behind his wife and unborn child but all is not as it seemed in their marriage. As she and Zach work through their feelings for each other and dwell on Sam and some of his actions before he died, I was caught up in the story from the first page to the last. Zach and Cadie are best friends but there's more than meets the eye because they met eight years before and she's not even privy to all that occurred back then. Her young son, Ben, is a nice addition to the story.
The descriptions of the mountain where they all work along with the cold were vivid and made me feel like I was there. I could feel Zach's suffering as he strives to make himself whole and get the full use of his body back since he wants to be working and skiing again. There are many interactions between family and friends and the lack of communication between Zach and Cadie does them in time and time again. There's sparks whenever they're together and others see through their ruse even if they think they are hiding their feelings. It doesn't help that she and her siblings work in the newly opened family business and Zach's a patient. Unfortunately, the two of them never seem to be on the same page at the same time and are always sending mixed signals. There are also promises that were made by Zach to Sam that Cadie isn't aware of.
There is a nice flow to the story and we meet up with others from the first book int he series, From Exes to Expecting . A Father For Her Child can be read as a stand alone since there's enough background information given about the other relationships. There is an epilogue, which always helps tie up loose ends and makes me happy. It takes place on New Year's Eve and gives me the closure I was looking for and a nicely played out happily ever after. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series as well as others penned by Ms. Greer.
July 22, 2019
3.75 stars
“A Father for Her Child” by Laurel Greer is part of the ‘Sutter Creek, Montana’ series and features widowed Cadence (Cadie) Grigg, her young son Ben, and her late husband’s best friend, Zach Cardenas. The adults are tied together by friendship, their love of Ben, and their mutual unacknowledged attraction. Mired in the past, they have to get past their emotional burdens and deal with Zach’s injuries before they can figure out their future together.
This contemporary romance connects with the book “From Exes to Expecting” and it was lovely to revisit the folks who were spotlighted in that book and get a glimpse of how their lives are going. The main couple in this story are tied together by tragedy and by their feelings of guilt but they are also connected by their years of friendship and their devotion to the young toddler, Ben. I love the emotionalism that is beautifully portrayed even as the reasons each is consumed by guilt are gradually revealed. The devotion Zach has for Cadence and Ben is heartwarming and the angst caused by the ethical concerns that arise when the relationship starts evolving is understandable although frustrating. A surprise revelation that occurs while they’re viewing outtakes was a bit awkward for me as I didn’t understand why that would have been recorded, let alone aired for the grieving widow, but I understand that it was needed for the story to progress.
I think this is a touching story about second chances and the importance of forgiveness, both of oneself and of others. There is a great combination of family time and growing passion and I thought the relationship evolution was believable. I enjoyed seeing the tenderness and affection that is displayed both between the central characters and the extended family and I finished with a warm fuzzy feeling and a sense of satisfaction. What else could a romantic ask for?
“A Father for Her Child” by Laurel Greer is part of the ‘Sutter Creek, Montana’ series and features widowed Cadence (Cadie) Grigg, her young son Ben, and her late husband’s best friend, Zach Cardenas. The adults are tied together by friendship, their love of Ben, and their mutual unacknowledged attraction. Mired in the past, they have to get past their emotional burdens and deal with Zach’s injuries before they can figure out their future together.
This contemporary romance connects with the book “From Exes to Expecting” and it was lovely to revisit the folks who were spotlighted in that book and get a glimpse of how their lives are going. The main couple in this story are tied together by tragedy and by their feelings of guilt but they are also connected by their years of friendship and their devotion to the young toddler, Ben. I love the emotionalism that is beautifully portrayed even as the reasons each is consumed by guilt are gradually revealed. The devotion Zach has for Cadence and Ben is heartwarming and the angst caused by the ethical concerns that arise when the relationship starts evolving is understandable although frustrating. A surprise revelation that occurs while they’re viewing outtakes was a bit awkward for me as I didn’t understand why that would have been recorded, let alone aired for the grieving widow, but I understand that it was needed for the story to progress.
I think this is a touching story about second chances and the importance of forgiveness, both of oneself and of others. There is a great combination of family time and growing passion and I thought the relationship evolution was believable. I enjoyed seeing the tenderness and affection that is displayed both between the central characters and the extended family and I finished with a warm fuzzy feeling and a sense of satisfaction. What else could a romantic ask for?
July 6, 2019
Laurel Greer’s writing has captured my heart. A Father for Her Child is a sweet, charming small town romance and the next installment in this author’s Sutter Creek series. I fell in love with Cadie and Zach the moment they walk on to the page. They’re both warm, genuine people who are so deserving of the love which blossoms between them. The vital world building and the engaging plot in this exquisitely written story brought to life raw emotions, and a deep sense of fuzzy goodness. I devoured this book in one go and can’t wait to see what’s next by Ms. Greer!
Highly Recommended
5 Stars
Highly Recommended
5 Stars
June 23, 2019
I loved her first book (From Exes to Expecting) and now her follow up is everything I could've asked for! The author did an incredible job with the complexity of her characters. The grief she captured was so authentic, the mixed feelings that arise when you fall for your friend, and even the ethics involved in her characters work. I also loved how realistic it felt to see Cadie retreat before she found the courage to move forward. Sigh. Excellent book! 5 Stars :)
July 12, 2019
a Swoony Ski Romance with a Dash of Steam
While I don’t read much Harlequin, I find a good mountain town ski romance pretty irresistible (go figure). And I always enjoy Laurel Greer’s books. The second in her Sutter Creek, Montana series, this is a swoony friends-to-lovers story with a dash of steam.
Zach, an injured ski-patroller, is a man who’s easy to fall in love with (trust me, I did). He’s genuine and caring, with a solid moral compass, and he loves kids. Cadie, a physical therapist and single mom, is working to prove her strength and independence after losing her husband — who happened to be Zach’s best friend — in an avalanche the previous year.
When that means convincing Zach to become her client, sparks fly. I was definitely rooting for them to make it work by mid-book, but the figurative ghost of her deceased husband gets in the way.
If you’re looking for a page-turning romantic read look no further. You’ll glide right through to the end. It’s available in print now, and for preorder on Kindle. Grab your copy here.
If you enjoy it, be sure to check out Ms. Greer’s first book in the series, From Exes to Expecting.
While I don’t read much Harlequin, I find a good mountain town ski romance pretty irresistible (go figure). And I always enjoy Laurel Greer’s books. The second in her Sutter Creek, Montana series, this is a swoony friends-to-lovers story with a dash of steam.
Zach, an injured ski-patroller, is a man who’s easy to fall in love with (trust me, I did). He’s genuine and caring, with a solid moral compass, and he loves kids. Cadie, a physical therapist and single mom, is working to prove her strength and independence after losing her husband — who happened to be Zach’s best friend — in an avalanche the previous year.
When that means convincing Zach to become her client, sparks fly. I was definitely rooting for them to make it work by mid-book, but the figurative ghost of her deceased husband gets in the way.
If you’re looking for a page-turning romantic read look no further. You’ll glide right through to the end. It’s available in print now, and for preorder on Kindle. Grab your copy here.
If you enjoy it, be sure to check out Ms. Greer’s first book in the series, From Exes to Expecting.
June 23, 2019
I loved her first book (From Exes to Expecting) and now her follow up is everything I could've asked for! The author did an incredible job with the complexity of her characters. The grief she captured was so authentic, the mixed feelings that arise when you fall for your friend, and even the ethics involved in her characters work. I also loved how realistic it felt to see Cadie retreat before she found the courage to move forward. Sigh. Excellent book! 5 Stars :)
October 1, 2019
Don't judge a book by its cover. This is important now more than ever because this cover does not do this book justice. When I first saw it I was thinking 1980s romance with a simpering heroine and an overbearing hero, but that's not the case at all. A Father for Her Child is an emotional, heart string-tugging read that had me sighing happy little sighs the entire time.
Zach is a man's man with a heart of gold, just trying to keep the promise he made to his friend on his death bed. And he loves kids. Sign me up. Cadie is struggling with all sorts of feelings regarding her dead husband's best friend and her struggles relatable... believable... honest. Even to those of us who haven't lost our spouses. Watching them struggle to come to terms with their feelings for one another was a beautiful, chaotic thing where I nearly found myself yelling at the pages while simultaneously having to remind myself that their love is more complicated than I can begin to imagine.
Also, I normally steer clear of romance novels that involve children because I'm a professional nanny and authors almost never portray kids right. I know I'm not alone in this, so I thought I'd just mention that the lovely child featured in this story, Ben, doesn't detract from the overall plot, nor is he some super genius toddler who works behind the scenes to bring Zach and Cadie together or something totally unrealistic like that. He's just a normal toddler doing normal things.
A really enjoyable read for those who like sweeter romances with hints of heat and solid characters. Just an all around good story.
Zach is a man's man with a heart of gold, just trying to keep the promise he made to his friend on his death bed. And he loves kids. Sign me up. Cadie is struggling with all sorts of feelings regarding her dead husband's best friend and her struggles relatable... believable... honest. Even to those of us who haven't lost our spouses. Watching them struggle to come to terms with their feelings for one another was a beautiful, chaotic thing where I nearly found myself yelling at the pages while simultaneously having to remind myself that their love is more complicated than I can begin to imagine.
Also, I normally steer clear of romance novels that involve children because I'm a professional nanny and authors almost never portray kids right. I know I'm not alone in this, so I thought I'd just mention that the lovely child featured in this story, Ben, doesn't detract from the overall plot, nor is he some super genius toddler who works behind the scenes to bring Zach and Cadie together or something totally unrealistic like that. He's just a normal toddler doing normal things.
A really enjoyable read for those who like sweeter romances with hints of heat and solid characters. Just an all around good story.
June 24, 2019
I loved Laurel Greer's debut novel and couldn't wait for the second--and it didn't disappoint. I loved this story even more than the first. It dug deep into dealing with loss, and what it means to embrace a second chance at love. It's a beautiful story and I couldn't recommend it more.
August 22, 2019
I absolutely loved A Father for Her Child. It was both heart wrenching and heartwarming as the characters navigated recovering from loss and finding new love. It was touching and masterfully well thought-out. I look forward to the next in the series!
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July 1, 2019Categories
Romance, Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Sutter Creek, Montana
Romance, Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Sutter Creek, Montana
October 15, 2023
Only read the first three chapters …. Not what i was expecting a little to smutty for my taste and could not would not finish reading it :(
July 3, 2019
Read my review on Romancing-the-Book.com by clicking on the link below:
http://romancing-the-book.com/2019/07...
http://romancing-the-book.com/2019/07...
May 3, 2022
**Actually a 2.5-rating**
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