The Good Father Paperback – April 24, 2012

The Good Father was a clean family story with plot twists to surprise the reader. The characters were well developed and the author made you fall in love with the good guys and despise the bad guys.I love a happy ending!

Travis Brown loves the ocean, the beach and the open sky, but more than anything he loves his daughter, Bella. Times are hard, money is low and he's doing his best to take care of his little girl. Then he finds out about a job in another city, so - even though he loves Carolina Beach and doesn't want to leave - he relocates, because Bella always comes first.I saw the cute little girl on the book cover and I had to know more. Four years ago, nineteen year old Travis Brown made a choice: to raise his newborn daughter on his own - after reading these words, I immediately purchased this novel.I anticipated reading a story about a young man taking responsibility for his actions. I thought I'd really be into Travis' story, but here's the thing: I felt good about Travis in the beginning, but after a while, he disappointed me and I had to shake my head at this young man. I mean, I know he was desperate but he had more sense than to make one particular choice when there was a better choice he could have made, but I guess he had too much pride.I didn't know Travis wasn't the only character with a story. There's also Erin and Robin, each with her own issues and difficult choices to make. Their stories were interesting; however, Erin's story kept me reading. What happened `exactly'? That was what I really needed to know and couldn't wait to find out.Chamberlain heads each chapter with character names - Travis, Erin or Robin - and that helped with the reading. It also helped that the year is printed at the beginning of some of the chapters (the story transitions from present to past) or I would have been lost for a second or two.I like to find good messages in a story and it pleased me to find quite a few in this one: When you're feeling down, take the focus off of yourself and help someone else in need. Don't go against your instincts. Be careful who you trust. Just because certain people have money, that doesn't mean they have good principles. Sometimes it takes a little trouble in our lives to get us to stop taking the good things for granted.This is the first book I've read by Diane Chamberlain. I didn't expect the profanity. Not that there was a whole lot of it. In fact, there was less profanity in this novel than I've read in some teen novels, but... I don't know... I see a cute little girl on the cover... I guess I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. Anyway, I had no problem overlooking it when the F-bomb or s***, or a** - what I call the most vulgar curse words - appeared. There are also sex scenes, but not overly descriptive.The Good Father is a good read. My favorite character was little Bella and favorite line: It was one thing to mess with me, another thing to mess with the welfare of my daughter. After I finished I thought I'll have to read another Diane Chamberlain book one day.

I read the book in 2 days!!! Would have been just a day, but I had to sleep at some point. The things I loved about this book:I loved the way the story was told from every main character's point of view. It makes you feel more connected to them. Travis is an amazing father because he did whatever he could to take care of his daughter. He did things that most men would never do and things that could have gotten him into serious trouble. He didnt always make the right decision like leaving Bella with someone he barely knew, but you learn to understand his reason because he didnt have much of a choice. The relationship he had with his daughter was very special. I liked how he was honest with her and explained everything to her like she understood him and she is only 4!! It was his way of not keeping things from her. Erin was incredible with how she helped Travis and Bella. Even though Erin was still strugling with losing her own daughter that was jsut a year younger than Bella, she knew they were in need so she was there for them and even put her own life in danger to protect a little girl she only known for a few weeks. I respect Robin for what she had to do when it came to giving up sole custody of Bella to Travis. She literally didnt have a choice because of her heart, but sad at the same time. I didnt care too much for her father though. I understand the need to protect his daughter because of her failing heart, but I also felt like he suffocated Robin a little. I loved the way everything fell into place with the characters. I wont spoil the ending, but im glad it ended the way it did, I couldnt have predicted anything better. Simply amazing. And I agree with one of the reviewer's when he/she said "Get the tissues ready" definitely a tear jerker. MUST READ PPL!!!!

A real story of a Father and how he loves his daughter and will do anything to protect her , even the unthinkableand take risks he does not feel good about taking . Not many writers tell the truth of how people are sometimes forced into a corner and have to decide on bad decisions to survive and protect their Loved Ones and themselves tooexcellent story of such devotion

I loved reading this book, and I couldn't put it down, once I began. The characters in this book, all had a narrative aspect, and the book kept me on the edge of my seat. At the end of the story, there is a high octane climax, where all the narratives merge into one, which made for a very intriguing story. I am eager to read more of Diane Chamberlain's books, she is a very good story teller and writer, kudos to her!

I like Diane Chamberlain's style. Easy to read and the sort of book you can pick up and get back into with no difficulty if you only have a short time per day for reading. Here a nice bit of suspense, three lives intertwined. Maybe not quite as good as  Midwife's Confession , but the same style. The narrator ('I') for each chapter is one of the three main characters.A pleasant read, recommended. Midwife's Confession

Great book, kept me captivated from start to finish. Diane Chamberlain has a way of drawing you in and really connect with the characters.

At times, this book is both heartbreaking and heart-stopping. Two teens, Travis and Robin begin a friendship in school as they both have problems that make other relationships difficult. But they are friends at first and later begin to fall in love. Robin is a sickly girl with a heart condition and her overly protective and snobbish father makes it difficult for her to see Travis. Travis is the only son of a single mother who needs him to help out around the house. From these two teens, a baby girl is born, and eventually, Travis takes custody of her. When their house burns down with his mother in it, Travis' problems really begin. But he is a wonderful father in every way. There is so much more to the story, but I'll let you enjoy learning about it yourself so as not to give away the entire plot. You will fall in love with Bella, the four year old, and Travis which will keep you on the edge of your seat at times.I enjoyed this read as much as other work by Diane Chamberlain in the past. She does have a way with words.