We know that tomorrow, June 19, 2022, is Father’s Day in the USA, but did you know that the third week of June is Universal Father’s Week? Since I’m a mother, I tend to say that every day is Mother’s Day, but it’s nice to discover that fathers have their own week too.
If you’re a father, I wish you a Happy Father’s Day! I thank God for my dad, who passed away some six years ago now, and I know I will see him again some day in heaven. How about you? Is your father a Christian?
“Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers” (Proverbs 17:6).
I remember many happy childhood memories with my dad, including my first motorcycle ride (no helmet!), my first Robin Hood novel that he gave me, and my first box of 36 colored pencils that he bought for me. Many years later, I still smile thinking about the times when Dad drove Mom, my brothers, and me on road trips to see Grandma and Grandpa in the countryside. Good memories remain with me even though my dad has since passed away and gone to heaven to be with Jesus.
- Question #1: What are some of your favorite childhood memories with your father?
- Question #2: What are some of the contemporary Christian romance novels you’ve read that spotlight fathers? Why did the book resonate with you?
Comment on either one or both questions for a chance to win an ebook copy of one of these three novels featured in my blog post today.
In my story world, I sometimes write about moms and dads falling in love again after heartbreaks, sometimes to each other, sometimes with a new spouse. Married people need romance too. I write about single, divorced, and widowed fathers. And a father who doesn’t know he’s one (looking at you, Roger!).
Roger Patel, the unexpected father in Find You Again (Savannah Sweethearts Book 8)
Roger. Oh, Roger. Since the beginning of my Savannah Sweethearts series, he has been highly respected at Riverside Chapel as a Sunday school teacher. Pastor Flores even asks him to preach in the evening service from time to time. His biblical knowledge is sound, and he has done so much in his day job as the director of the Savannah Senior Living Resort. When Find You Again opens, his romance with firefighter Cheyenne is starting to bloom. As their relationship grows, a huge problem threatens the peace between them when Roger finds himself face to face with an eighteen-year-old girl who looks like him, who has come to town to look for her biological father. Can you imagine her birth mother keeping this secret from Roger for nineteen years since they breakup?
Logan Urquhart, the divorced father in Wait for Me (Vacation Sweethearts Book 3)
In Wait for Me (Vacation Sweethearts Book 3), Logan and Marie have to take their young son, Jonas, on a family cruise in Alaska. It would have been like any other family’s summer vacation, except for the fact that Logan and Marie have been divorced for a few years. Will they argue and quarrel again, as they did before, or will they try to give Jonas the best birthday vacation ever? When work catches up to Marie, her real job in Europe comes to light. Will Logan be able to handle the unveiling of her many secrets? I know this blog is all about contemporary Christian romance, so I have to warn you that this romance novel comes with a side of suspense because of the nature of Marie’s job with INTERPOL. However, most of the book is about the family dynamics in the fractured Urquhart family. Because of their five-year-old son, Logan and Marie have to make decisions post-divorce that end up affecting their own relationship with each other.
Diehl Brooks, the billionaire single father in His Morning Kiss (Seaside Chapel Book 3)
Sometimes, I like characters that are not run-of-the-mill. In this novel, we meet Diehl, that big brother who wasn’t very nice to Ivan in His Longing Heart. Fast forward a few years, and Diehl’s life is falling apart. His wife, who betrayed him at least twice, dies in a tragic road accident in Italy, leaving him their two children to raise. Are they even his? Diehl burns out at the family business headquarters in Atlanta, and is forced to take a summer-long sabbatical on St. Simon’s Island, where his family has roots. There, he ends up staying in his sister’s beach house that comes with a personal chef. Skye Langston is his sister’s very good friend and an excellent chef, a multitalented lady who also sings lovely hymns at Seaside Chapel. One thing leads to another, and Diehl ends up playing piano accompaniment for Skye’s musical trio at church, a place he usually goes to only at Christmas and funerals.
Have you read any of the above novels? If you have, what do you think about those Christian fathers and the women who come into their lives?
Don’t forget to comment about the fathers in your lives or fathers you’ve read in the fiction universe for a chance to win your choice of one of the ebooks above: Find You Again, Wait for Me, or His Morning Kiss. If you win but have already read all three novels (oh thank you!), then feel free to pick another ebook from my inventory of published books.
Have a wonderful weekend in the Lord!
USA Today bestselling novelist Jan Thompson writes clean and wholesome multiethnic contemporary Christian romance with elements of women’s fiction, Christian romantic suspense with an air of mystery, and inspirational international thrillers with threads of sweet Christian romance. Join Jan's mailing list for her latest book news: JanThompson.com/newsletter
One of my earlier memories of my father involves him patiently sitting while I put old fashioned rollers in his hair and then unwinding his brylcream-ed hair and tying ribbons around the newly formed curls. He loved playing sport and had been in the air force but I guess he loved his daughter enough to put up with her too!
In Australia father’s day is in Sept. I didn’t know about the fathers week.
Dad died when I was almost 12 but had a stroke when I was 8 and a half and he changed. so the last 3 and a bit years were different. But before that we lived on a farm where dad was a farm hand and I have good memories of times standing by him on the tractor for a ride also times when I had a ride with him on the horse he rode (a white horse called Tango). Also when mum first started Junior Christian Endeavor I was too young to go so Dad and I would go to the playground (mum didn’t drive so dad brought her and my brother to JCE). If it was wet there was a family near the church we would visit and I would play with the youngest daughter also too young. After the stroke dad would drive me to school and I can still remember him singing “Man of Sorrows” and also “One Day”.
I really like Frank Granger in “The Granger Series” by Jillian Hart. His wife had left when the children were quite young (I think there were 6) and he kept the ranch going and raised these children. He gets his own chance of romance over a few books. I just like how he was such a strong character to the children.
Good morning Jan from SW Michigan. I was unaware the third week in June was universal Father’s Week. As a German immigrant and my father’s favorite daughter (his only daughter) I remember helping my dad learn English. He always had questions after reading the local paper. Since I was also learning English and didn’t understand politics, I usually wasn’t much help. As immigrants, money was tight, but in the late 1950s my dad bought me the first frisbee, which at the time one balanced on a stick to make it spin, and the a hula hoop. Dad instilled the work ethic in his daughter. He worked 6 days a week as a night watchman (5 pm – 1:30 am), so during the school year I primarily saw him on Sunday, when we went to church or at our dinner, which was at 4 pm. When I was 12 my parents studied to become American citizens and for six months each day at dinner I helped my parents study for the test. I aced my civics class that year. My father wanted to be a citizen before I turned 14, so I would become one automatically otherwise I had to wait till I was 18. My father was a loving and caring man, always looking out for his family.
The last story I read about a father was Valerie Comer’s A Wide and Pleasant Place. Valerie Comer describes Trey Ackermann struggle dealing with his ex-wife while raising his 5 year old daughter Scarlet. The drama hit close to home since my son Jon, as a single dad with joint custody faces the same drama with his ex wife while raising his 5 year old daughter.
This avid reader, has read two of your books, but not those listed in your blog. Enjoy the weekend. Best wishes.
My Daddy passed away 26 years ago, and I will see him again!! I have lots of memories of my Daddy, the earliest ones of asking him to “bump” my head on the ceiling, or telling him to catch me when I’d jump off the couch. He’d also push my swing a lot until I could do it myself. I have three older sisters, and the first gift Daddy ever gave us on his own, without Mom’s help, were razors, since my two oldest sisters kept using his razor to shave! He was tired of always having dull razor blades. Mom etched our names into each of our razors! I still have mine, though blades for it are kinda hard to find.
What are some of your favorite childhood memories with your father? Going ice-skating,going camping swimming with him and much more memories but can’t list all of them I just love spending time with my family.He is 47 and still has a 1.5 year old and 3 year old so he has still little kids around the house . My mom and dad have 13 children and 4 grandchildren and one on the way.
What are some of the contemporary Christian romance novels you’ve read that spotlight fathers? Why did the book resonate with you? I have read some of the love inspired and harlequin heartwarming and they spotlight fathers I have read others too but can’t think of what they are called.
I grew up in Manitoba, but the November I was 13, we went south for the winter because Dad was helping with renovations at a mission school. The day before we left, I went ice skating on a nearby pond, knowing I’d miss that outdoor fun when we were away. Imagine my surprise when my dad strapped on a pair of skates and joined me on the pond! I didn’t even know he owned any! He also used to make me a sledding hill every winter with steps carved down the side. Manitoba is flat as a pancake, so we didn’t have naturally made hills.
My dad passed away on my 39th birthday. I miss him still, and it’s been quite a while now…
My dad was a minister/missionary. He was a character!! Always making up silly songs. He was a great hugger! I remember one day in high school I was having cramps and feeling really bad. My dad came and got me, took me home, and put me in bed and took care of me. He passed away in 1990.
When I was growing up my dad would wake us up on our birthdays playing Happy Birthday on his harmonica before he left for work, which was always so very nice. Both my dad and my mom brought us up in our faith, we would go to church every Sunday. When our dad built our first house he built it in a town, which was actually not even a town yet, because our house was barely the 2nd house built there. As the town grew, both my parents were very involved in having our first church built there, before that , we would have Mass on our carport, my dad would bring a priest from a town that was abut 20 mins away until the church was built. My parents would also have Catechists come and give us lessons at our house. I myself was a catechist for over 25 yrs when my 2 own children were in elementary school and I really enjoyed it. So both my parents had alot to do with my faith in God. My dad passed away in 2005 and my mom passed away in 2019 and I know I will see them again one day. I enjoyed your post, Thank you for sharing about the books. Have a Great weekend an stay safe. (I am not entering this giveaway as I don’t read ebooks at all , I am not tech savvy, but Thank you so much. )
John Baxter is the father I thought of first when when you asked about CCF . He’s in several books by Karen Kingsbury starting with the first redemption.
cooking with dad
I was a big fan of Kenny Rogers and the Oak Ridge Boys when I was a child. My Mom had purchased two tickets to take me to the concert, but she became ill and could not go. So I would not be upset and disappointed, she convinced my Dad to take me. My Dad was not a hands on Dad. He really did not do anything with just us unless my Mom pushed the issue. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
That’s a great dad making memories with his daughter. Thanks for sharing!
BTW I also remember my dad using Brylcreem!
I had no idea that Australia celebrates Father’s Day in September. I had a feeling it might be on different days in different countries, so I made sure to say it’s Sunday in the USA.
Those are wonderful memories you have of your dad. Good hymns!
Always good read about fatherly figures!
Thank you for your comment!
Those are wonderful memories of your dad. Many of then next generation don’t realize how hard our parents’ generation worked!
It always amazes me when people are multilingual so fluently. I’m trying to learn another language this year.
Valerie’s books are all TBR for sure! Five must be an interesting number LOL bc in Wait for Me, my divorced couple also had to deal with their 5YO son! But it’s on a summer cruise in Alaska.
Thank you so much for reading my books. Appreciate it. Have a wonderful weekend!
What wonderful memories of your dad! And we do remember things like that e.g. razors. I think it’s a great keepsake. When we moved, we had a lot of STUFF that I can’t give away because of the memories they all held.
Yes to seeing our dads again. Praise the Lord!
Thank you for your comment.
Thank you for your comment!
Wow that is a huge family. My mother’s family is also huge (4 boys, 7 girls) though some of her siblings have since passed away.
Nice memories of your dad, and glad that you like to spend time with your family. Me too!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Those are great memories of your dad in winter time! So glad you have those times to spend with your dad.
When I was young I didn’t feel like time flew, but now looking back, I wondered what I would have done differently — spending more time with my parents, for example — had I realized that once I went to college, I saw them so infrequently due to the cost of travel. Now that my dad has passed away, I miss him more than ever. He will always have a special place in my heart.
Thank you for your comment and have a wonderful weekend!
Memories to treasure of your dad! He sounded like a very caring father. What a blessing!
Great is his reward for being a father to you and a minister and missionary to many.
Thank you for sharing. Have a great weekend!
Fun!
Nice! I haven’t read much of KK’s books but it’s always good to hear about fathers in Christian novels.
Thank you for your comment!
Glad your dad went with you! That’s a good memory to keep. I haven’t seen KR or ORB in concert.
My dad tried to be involved as much as possible but he was a schoolteacher so he was gone most of the day. Every day my dad got home from school, we’d have a meal together. We all did go to the movies together also from time to time.
Thank you for your comments. Have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you so much for commenting and sharing about memories with your parents. Sounds like they were among the pioneers starting the town.
I also like paperbacks myself, though as I got older, ebooks allow me to use a bigger font size so that I don’t get eye strain. So there are pros/cons. But printed books are fun to read too. No battery needed! :-)
Have a wonderful weekend!
My father is an upright man with values but he is not a Christian…he knows that God exists but he does not recognize him as a father or trust him at all, nor does he believe in the Bible as the real inspired word of God since I converted I have been praying that one day he will open his heart to Jesus.
One of my favorite memories is making buns and braids in his head in the summer while he was napping in a chair when he woke up my dad was really surprised! hahaha my mom never liked having her hair played with so he was my guinea pig.
I love my memories going camping with my Dad. I don’t remember the titles but there are a few sweet Dad & child books