The Good Father by Diane Chamberlain

A beloved daughter. A devastating choice. And now there's no going back.

Four years ago, nineteen-year-old Travis Brown made a choice: to raise his newborn daughter on his own. While most of his friends were out partying and meeting girls, Travis was at home, changing diapers and worrying about keeping food on the table. But he's never regretted his decision. Bella is the light of his life. The reason behind every move he makes. And so far, she is fed. Cared for and Safe.

But when Travis loses his construction job and his home, the security he's worked so hard to create for Bella begins to crumble...….

Then a miracle. A job in Raleigh has the power to turn their fortunes around. It has to. But when Travis arrives in Raleigh, there is no job, only an offer to participate in a onetime criminal act that promises quick money and no repercussions.

With nowhere else to turn, Travis must make another choice for his daughter's sake. Even if it means he might lose her.

Paperback, 368 pages

Published April 24th 2012 by Mira (first published January 1st 2012)

more details...

ISBN

0778313468 (ISBN13: 9780778313465

My Thoughts:  Let me start by saying that this is the first novel by Diane Chamberlain, that I have read.  There are many other books out there that I have on my TBR list, that need to be pushed to the top of my list. 

I love how Ms Chamberlain develops vivid characters whom you can’t help but to care about.    I felt and cared about each of them in different ways during the shifting of their personal stories.
 

"The Good Father" is much more than choices parents make.  I could feel Travis's hopelessness and despair trying to provide for his daughter.   My heart just ached during the time of their homelessness.
We sympathize with Erin's grieving the  loss of her daughter, and not being able to grieve with her husband.   I felt so for Robin, who survived so much in her life, and in the end is able to see what is really important to her.   This novel has so many facets, elements of suspense, deception, romance.   There were parts of this story that were absolutely heart-wrenching, and I just kept turning pages just to see what was going to happen next. 

I am rating "The Good Father" a 9/10, all the elements of a perfectly written story.