Status Updates From The M.D.'s Secret Daughter ...

"That made me think about your reasons for leaving. I listened, but I didn't hear you, either." Zack's gaze fixed on hers. "You can't be yourself as long as I insist on controlling you."

"Is this because I snapped at you?" Zack couldn't believe she intended to leave after how far they'd come these past few months, with each other and with the girls. He loved having his family around, with Jan at the center. "I already apologized, but I'll do it again. I know I'm unfair sometimes. Still, I'm learning."

"I can see that." Her mouth quivered.

"Let's at least give this a few more months." Surely she'

Nobody in this book knows how to parent.

Why was she on the defensive. "It's a worthwhile project, even if it is competing with yours."

"Every time I start relax and feel like I can trust you, I get blindsided." How well she remembered that judgmental tone.

Ugh, this guy is so icky

He hears her say, "I love you" after sex, but doesn't say it back, EVEN THOUGH he feels the same way, because he is an asshole. Then on the next page she just accepts his asshole-ness. She's not even mad.

Her cardigan and beige wool skirt joined his slacks in a friendly heap on the floor. He used to fold everything neatly before making love, Jan recalled, half expecting him to take a moment to do so now.

"Aha." Zack flipped her onto the bed. "Caught you off guard."

"You used to..."

"Never mind that. I've grown up."

Ummmmmmmmmmmm

Her skin prickled with excitement. They were going to be alone tonight. She knew what that might mean, and judging by the quick intake of his breath whenever they came close, so did he.

Ew, gross. Don't have sex with him!

Too much parenting, too much medical details. Not enough romance, although I'm not particularly interested in these two getting together.

Oh, I guess Jan is supposed to be Latina.

Jan admired his insistence on healthy habits for Berry, even if he was a little rigid. ... "First girl to spot a stray cat gets a sugar-free candy." ... This must be a fun area to go trick-or-treating, although she usually took Kimmie to a party at a church or a community center, to be safe. She was wondering about Zack's plans when she recalled he didn't let Berry eat most types of candy.

Jan supposed she might

"You may develop a sense of humor yet."

I thought I had one already. Was he really perceived as being that stern?

Yes.

"Spaghetti?" It was one of Jan's fallbacks.

"They'll like that." But he wasn't crazy about serving all those carbs. They ought to work out a system for meal planning.

This guy...

How could she take this so lightly? If people didn't control their emotions, the result could be open antagonism and even estrangement. "They need both of us there to..." He nearly said "lay down the law," which was what his father would have said. Disturbed by that observation, he amended it to "Mediate. And reassure them."

There's kissing, but I can't enjoy it because I despise these people.

Their KIDS arrange for them to live together? That doesn't seem physically possible.

To him that bordered on rewarding the girl for breaking rules. Still, he'd seen enough strong-willed behavior from Berry recently to understand the value of compromise.

Next page, discussions of punishments and his terrible father.

Both of these leads are assholes. I am frustrated with this book.

"If Berry goes around in frilly clothes she'll avoid exercising." That was the heart of the matter. Literally.

Ugh.

She had some nerve to consider him in the wrong!

You're a fucking asshole.

In the kitchen, Jan realized that she didn't usually give a ride to someone else's child without permission, let alone bring her home. She wondered if she'd overstepped.

Yeah, you did.

"I baked a double batch. We've got plenty."

"Daddy doesn't like me to eat sweets." Berry grabbed her pack.

Ordinarily, Jan would have accepted on Kimmie's behalf. But if Zack was strict about diet, she didn't want to make Berry feel bad. "It's kind of you, but Kimmie's been eating too many sweets herself." Such as waffles for lunch.

Anger flashed through Zack. How embarrassing! Kimmie should have been more careful.

Ugh.

He was here to make friends, not enforce a health code. "Sure." If I were your real father, I'd tell you to eat something that at least pretends to be good for you.

Only he wasn't yet her real father.

Ugh.

Because of the importance of a proper diet for Berry, he kept himself on the same restrictions. Good for his waistline, but he missed indulging once in a while.

Ugh.

If you allow one daughter to have pancakes to lunch, but not the other because her family has a history of heart disease, you are going to end up in the shit pretty fast, asshole.

Ugh, this guy. He wants his daughter to wear shirts and pants. He wants her to keep her hair short. He rags on her about diet and exercise because her family has a history of heart disease. I can't understand if they are saying the heroine likes this guy, especially after he didn't believe her or stand by her in her times of crisis.