Q. What do you hope readers take with them after they’ve read it?

A. I hope readers understand that past struggles may hold us back, but it is possible to move on and enjoy life and love again. Hope is the word I’d love for readers to remember. No matter how tough things may be, never give up hope, because hope can sometimes work miracles. It did for Daniel Delaney and Keela O’Mara, oh, and little Anna, too.

"I enjoy books with children in them, especially when the author gets their behavior consistent with their ages. Author Lynne Marshall created such a lovable character in Anna, the almost 5-year-old daughter of Keela. . .

I also really appreciated that the tragedies in each of their lives were explained early on in the book instead of having the hints throughout and them not revealed until the end. It helped to better understand their motivations."

Dear Reader,

I’m so happy to share my twenty-fifth Harlequin book, Forever a Father, the launch book for The Delaneys of Sandpiper Beach trilogy. In book one, I introduce Daniel Delaney, the eldest brother, and Keela O’Mara, a young lady from Ireland who works for him. The more I got to know Daniel and Keela, the more I rooted for them and their happily-ever-after. If any couple deserved it, they did, but both had been disillusioned by love and have the emotional scars to prove it.

"Adorably sweet and heart-wrenching all in one! My heart was stolen by a four year old!  Such a great story! . . The Delaney family is really down to earth and fun to spend time with, and I’m looking forward to more to come in this trilogy!"

Keela had never seen her daughter smile so much.

Every time she watched “Doctor Dan” with Anna, Keela’s heart warmed and her thoughts wandered to a secret and special place.

Suddenly, he got serious and turned to Anna. “Maybe it’s time you dropped the doctor part and just call me Dan?” He glanced at Keela, as if to get her approval about letting Anna call him that. She nodded.

"This is a story that will have you crying along with the characters. Especially at the end of the book. I really liked the family togetherness and how they spent time together with extended family. I hope that the next two books in the series keep us updated on this couple."

A lyrical laugh eased out of Keela’s mouth, and it never failed to grab his attention. She might as well be singing.

“I’d never say that, Mrs. Haverhill. You’re in great shape—”

The sixtyish lady tossed Daniel a deadpan look that seemed to say, Do you believe the crock she’s feeding me? More, please.

He smiled and added a benevolent nod.

"This is a touching, yet, endearing tale of two people whose situations were very different, yet, both had been betrayed. Each were coping in the best way they could. Would it be enough?

The Book Cover was well-chosen and the Title passable but perhaps not a great choice. However, the development of the characters and portrayal of the background scenes were realistic to the point the reader felt he/she was a part of the story."

Keela’s phone rang and she stepped inside her office to answer it. With the copier going, Daniel couldn’t hear the conversation, but as he gazed through the large office window, he noticed her brows were lowered. She said something else, then glanced toward the ceiling in a frustrated manner while listening. Just as his copies were done, she hung up, her shoulders slumped and her usual smile inverted. “Thanks for the too-late heads-up,” she raised her voice to the phone on her desk.

“I need help!” She used her outdoor voice, which startled him, and he jumped out of his chair to assist her by lifting her under the arms. Man, she was light, hardly weighed anything. So vulnerable and completely dependent on him. So trusting. Precious. She pushed the button for water, but her mop of curls got in the way. Her face got wet and she giggled. He almost smiled.

“Here,” he said, balancing her on his bent knee and thigh, and holding her hair out of the way with one hand. She slurped to her heart’s content, coming up only when she needed to breathe.

“You’re smart!” Why did everything she say come out like an exclamation? Still, her compliment caught him off guard and he cracked a smile for the first time that afternoon. Okay, so she was kind of cute.

He glanced at his watch again. All of fifteen minutes had passed since he’d been handed the job of childcare provider, and Keela wouldn’t be through until five. Now what should they do?

"This is the first book I have read by Mrs. Marshall and it was a great start to a new series. It was sweet, tender, and touching.

I really liked Daniel and Keela's characters. I thought they were just right for each other. . .

I really enjoyed this book. I thought as I mentioned above that it was sweet and tender. I loved Daniels family and their family bond. And I can't wait for his brothers books."

Anna nodded, as serious as a little kid could be. Keela took the tiny, tangerine-colored backpack covered in animated movie characters off the child’s shoulders, unzipped it and fished out some crayons and a coloring book. “You can make some nice pictures for Daddy for when you see him next.” Then she escorted the girl to the chair opposite Daniel’s desk. The one he reserved for his patients. There was a small table with assorted magazines next to it. She could color on that. She was so tiny, and probably worried about the big mean-faced man. He tried to smile to ease her concerns, but failed. It wasn’t her fault she’d been stuck with him, old mean-face, who was still hurting and lost and, so far, unable to move on.

"Ms. Marshall works hard to establish a sense of the characters and the town and community for her readers. . . . overall, this was a sweet romance to read. I enjoyed reading how the two of them worked to overcome their own insecurities to take a chance on love."

"Forever a Father is a sweet romance about two people who are starting over…but who both have many issues in their past that are standing in their way. . . . The book is the first in The Delaneys of Sandpiper Beach series, and introduces us to a charming town and family that has two more single sons whose stories are due to follow soon."

She’d imposed her daughter on him, and what could she expect—that he’d love it? Thank the heavens it had ended well and she still had a job. But a flare of sadness made her think how Anna’s own father hardly ever wanted to spend time with her. At least Daniel had taken her for ice cream, maybe not because he wanted to, but because he was a decent guy. That alone made him different from her ex.

The day she’d first met Daniel Delaney, she’d tried her best to remain professional but knew her dire need for employment cracked through her job-applicant veneer. Please hire me. Please. Please. Please? His natural good looks had set her off-kilter, but she’d quickly focused beyond his shocking green eyes and his sturdy rugby build, the charming Irish smile she’d recognize anywhere. There was absolutely no reason for her to notice his stylishly cut, thick brown hair, but she had.

"He doesn't know exactly what is about her and her little girl but they make him want things he didn't think he would ever want again.
This story is a sweet romance and good read."

Daniel finished assessing his last rescheduled patient, then went to his office, ready to pick up where he’d left off earlier, practicing his presentation for tomorrow, before he’d been interrupted by Anna. Even though the clinic was empty, he closed the door. The winding tangle in his chest since Anna walked in, reminding him of what he’d lost, pinched tighter. He sat, squeezed his eyes closed and, covering them with his hand, pressed his temples with thumb and fingertip. He stayed like that for a few moments, listening to his breathing, fighting off the pain, the grief, grasping at the calm that always eluded him at times like this. Don’t do it. Do. Not. Do it.

"It was a very quick read as it is only a little over 200 pages. I will say, this moved very fast. . . . I ended up enjoying this story though. If you are looking for a cute read, I definitely recommend this."

3 winners will receive their choice of one print book from Lynne Marshall's Home in Heartlandia series: A DOCTOR FOR KEEPS, HER PERFECT PROPOSAL, and FALLING FOR THE MOM-TO-BE (if US, winner will receive their book signed)