Title: Dear Father
Author: Dee Miller
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-7372955-1-8
eBook ISBN: 978-1-7372955-2-5
Genre: Fiction, Women’s Lit, Time period
Availability: Paperback or eBook
Review
A woman goes on a sentimental journey during the 1950s and 1960s as she struggles with grief, love, and ultimately, self-discovery in the somber but hopeful novel, Dear Father, by Author Dee Miller.
The story begins on a sad note as Betty “Betz” Doyle, an employee of Becker Insurance holds the hand of her deceased mother, Anneliese Doyle, who has just passed away after a long battle with cancer. Grief gives way to determination as Betz begins a journey to find her long-lost father, after discovering a single yellow rose on her mother’s grave.
Annaliese’s death strikes the right emotional chords and also hits close to home as Betz struggles with the grief of losing her mother, something we all will experience at some point in our lives, making the character’s sadness relatable.
Despite a loving fiancé, Kenneth Johnson, her mother’s best friend, Pauline, and the support of her closest friend, Evelyn, Betz struggles with alienation and sadness. Eventually, she is distracted from trying to find her father and directs her attention to Kenneth when he is drafted into the Korean War. Unable to wait, she weds Kenneth days before he ships out for training. Her life further changes when she decides to become a nurse and discovers she’s pregnant.
Betz’s inner strength allows her to rise above each situation, not unlike her mother, who always faced challenges head-on. Dear Father isn’t only about Betz’s struggles, there is also warmth, love, and a general feeling of hope that energizes the story, ultimately rewarding Betz for all that she endures during the most trying times. While the story mostly focuses on Betz and her evolution from a grieving daughter to a resilient mother, you also see growth in supporting characters. Betz’s long and winding road to discover her father’s identity does take a backseat to the hustle and bustle of life, and it often takes a life-altering event to reignite Betz’s search.
The characterizations of the heroine and supporting characters are handled well, as is the structure of the story and the relationship dynamics between the characters. While it would enhance the reading as a sequel to Anneliese, Dear Father also works as a standalone novel.
Dear Father is a short but very worthwhile read that left me yearning for more after a big reveal concludes the story. An enjoyable read and a high recommend for me. ★★★★★– Elijah B. (Explore Authors Magazine)