A Father's Place by Marta Perry

Michelle: This is the forth book in the Hometown heroes series. Three close friends in high school went on one final adventure together. They never realized the adventure would soon turn into a life-threatening event that would change them all forever and create an unbreakable bond to each other. But there was one friend who didn't go, and he's felt guilt that he should have been there the whole time. That man was Quinn, and this is his story.

But so much more happened to Quinn since that stormy day. More storms have come up, the worse being the one that took his wife and the mother of his daughter. But the storm was only part of the robber of life, the second part being a drunk driver. Since then, Quinn couldn't bare to stay still. He had to throw himself in his work, coming home to see his daughter for short visits before heading back out to his work.

But then he got a phone call from his sister. Mom is dating again, and Quinn was always very protective of his mother who couldn't ever take care of herself, or so he thought!

In this story, we again get to see his cute little girl, you know the one...she brought Brett and Rebekah together as well. Now she has a prayer request into God - that her pretty Sunday School teacher, Ellie, would be a new mommy. Of course, everyone is horrified at the thought of this happening. Quinn is just beginning to understand the impact his absence had on his daughter and is trying to find more ways to spend with his daughter. He's somewhat possisive of her, and let's Ellie know quickly that she is HIS daughter and HIS responsibility - nobody else's!

Then just when they are beginning to admit their feelings for each other, Quinn's past slaps him in the face, and there's one thing that could destroy their relationship - his unforgiveness for the drunk driver.

The ending was the best part, of course! I like how the storm seemed to answer so many of the questions. The storm took away his wife and cause him a world of hope. Now, a similar storm could possibly restore him.

This series is a must read! All four books are excellent. I felt a bit more detached from the characters in book four, and it wasn't at all as I expected but I'm glad to see that the men involved in a high school trip so long ago finally found the love and happiness they all deserved!