Books & Spoons Review LONE STAR DAD by Linda Goodnight

The Secret Next Door 

Nurse Gena Satterfield knew raising her rebellious nephew, Derrick, would be tough, but moving to Gabriel's Crossing was supposed to help ease the transition into their new reality.

That was before she realized her new neighbor was Quinn Buchanon—her teenage crush, the town's onetime star quarterback…and Derrick's father. Her sister's dying wish was that Gena keep this secret.
Yet watching Quinn connect with the boy and penetrate his angry walls, Gena begins to see him in a whole new light.

​Now, torn between the truth and the promise she made, Gena has to follow her heart. And hope they can all heal together…as a family.

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Compassionate, grace-filled, a tender tale of acceptance, forgiveness, finding the blessing in un-answered prayers, and about family, with all it entails, in fun and struggles. 
This story dealt with some real and difficult issues that come close to home to many, yet often are rather not talked about. 
Quinn’s drug addiction started innocently enough, yet it escalated into something that started to change him and his life. 
 Chronic pain management is a careful tightrope action that needs dedicated professionals help, control, guidance and advises.  
I understand the limits of the in-depth material and space the author could have gone here, yet she managed to bring out the pain, intensity and effort, even danger, it takes to detox from the pills if the control has been lost. 
I appreciated how their faith played a big role in this recovery, as well finding their way to each other. Quinn relied on God’s providence and guidance during his struggles. Gena praying and relying on God while  navigating in the deep waters with her nephew and Quinn.  
The family support was amazing. I love how they wanted to spend time with the family, even though they worked together, and cherished the time they had on Sundays. 
Gena and Quinn were hot together. I don’t usually say this about the couples on Love Inspired stories because for some reason the passionate love between the couples is hidden, being more sweet and adorable in nature. But there was tangible attraction between Quinn and Gena, and even though the story and their love and attraction were kept clean and sweet, there was no denying that there was something real, natural, and passionate in between them, and I loved it. 
Derrick and the kittens brought a serious cuteness and adorability to the tale. I struggled a bit with the way Gena and her family dealt with Derrick and the paternity. I’m still not sure how I feel about it. Of course, it all was explained why, and well put into a frame of mind why they did what they did, but my struggle is still with the secrets, and her parent's attitude. 
There're a lot of elements and events in this sincere and poignant story that made me smile, think about sunny Sunday autumn afternoons with the family, true feel-good moments of cheer. 
Yet the story had a clear, serious message, not only about the drug abuse and the difficulty to come back from it but of faith, God’s guidance in our lives when asked and accepted, the blessings of unanswered prayers, and the importance of a family and its support. The Buchanons have stolen my heart with their warmth and accepting hearts and minds, and I am looking forward to getting to know them better and find out about the harassment and vandalism on their construction sites. 
~ Four Spoons

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