This was a sweet friends-to-lovers story. Wil and Georgia had met at university and became best friends, there for each other through all of their romantic ups and downs. Though both had stronger feelings, they kept their relationship strictly platonic, each of them afraid of ruining their friendship if something went wrong. Then Wil married and completely disappeared from Georgia's life, with no explanation why. Two years later, Wil showed up at Georgia's door, desperate for her help.

Wil had a turbulent childhood that he never talked about with anyone. Though he was later adopted by a loving family, there was always a part of him that he held back. His marriage had been a mistake from the beginning; one of the worst effects being his wife's demand that he drop his friendship with Georgia. After the marriage ended, Wil was too embarrassed to reach out to Georgia, until circumstances forced his hand. He received the shock of his life when his ex died and left him custody of the baby girl he knew nothing about. I loved his determination to be the best father he could be. His scenes with little Nina were beautiful.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Wil and Georgia. In the two years apart, Georgia overcame her need to please everyone and learned to stand up for her goals. Wil's appearance and plea for help struck at the heart of her progress. Something in her wanted to say yes right away, but another part refused to go back to her old ways. I loved the way that she was straightforward about his treatment of her and didn't just roll over immediately. As Wil found ways to draw Georgia deeper into his life, she had to work hard to keep their relationship to friends only. I loved seeing the deepening of their friendship to more as they spent time together taking care of little Nina. I ached for Georgia as she realized the depth of her feelings for Wil and believed that he didn't feel the same way. I also hurt for Wil, who was afraid to risk his heart for fear of rejection and losing her from his life forever. The ending was sweet as Wil fumbled his big moment, and Georgia found a way to give him a do-over. ( )

A vulnerable hero who grows stronger as his vulnerabilities are revealed highlights "Second Chance with the Single Dad". a touching contemporary romance from wonderful storyteller Kandy Shepherd. Wil Hudson is tall, dark, and handsome--and wealthy through his business success as a genius engineer. His personal life is another matter, and his world is turned upside down when he learns after his ex-wife's death that she had borne him a daughter. Stunned that she would keep such a secret, Wil is determined to care for his infant daughter, Nina, but he can't do it all on his own. He needs Georgia, the best friend he had turned away from when he had married Nina's mother. Georgia is still hurt by Wil's disappearance from her life two years ago. Now he's back, asking for her help, and against her better instincts for self-preservation, she agrees. After all, it's hard to resist two sets of beautiful, hopeful brown eyes--Wil's and Nina's, whose eyes are just like those of her father. Previously, in order not to lose their valued friendship, Wil and Georgia had kept their relationship strictly platonic, each ignoring a glimmer of longing for something more. Now, together again under such emotional circumstances, those longings are growing into a desire for a deeper relationship. However, each of them has their own issues to work through, especially Wil, who has never told Georgia the truth of the trying circumstances of his turbulent childhood. Can Wil and Georgia clear away the shadows of the past and look forward to a bright future with precious little Nina? Kandy Shepherd is one of my longtime favorite authors, and she writes appealing characters whose lives and loves evolve through compelling story lines.

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