Who's Your Daddy, Baby?
A Quirky Paternity Mystery with a Facebook Twist
What would you do if you learned your dad might not be your dad? In this fictionalized account of her own search, Lisa Pell follows protagonist Lori McGuire Pomay as she unravels a decades-old family secret — armed with love letters, DNA tests, and Facebook. Set against the vivid backdrop of Appalachian Virginia, this page-turning mystery blends humor, heart, and surprising twists right up to the final pages.
Editorial Reviews
Selected a "Must Read" by Southern Writers Magazine, page 11, March/April 2013 issue.
Placed in 2013 communications award for novels, Virginia Press Women, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia, April 13, 2013.
"One of the most clever novels I have read in recent years, Who's Your Daddy, Baby? is entertaining and endearing...Lisa Pell has an incredible gift as a writer in developing characters...It is light enough to be pleasant reading but deep enough to be memorable. The characters are endearing and the writing is exceptional."
— Wayne Parker, About.com on Parenting and Fatherhood, part of The New York Times Company
"Without a doubt, one of my best reads of the year."
— Anglers Rest
"Who's Your Daddy, Baby? story line is entertaining and easy to read. Though fictionalized, it is a real life issue facing many people. Everyone should know their heritage; it is what defines our being. I enjoyed reading this book. It is an awesome read about a woman and her quest in finding out who her father is...topped with a lively but peculiar cast of characters. Lisa Pell is an amazing and talented writer with a gift in developing characters."
— Sylvia Browder's Blog for Women Entrepreneurs
"Magical Mystery Tour and a 'Who Done It' mystery. This is combining two of my favorite things: the Beatles and mysteries...A quirky cast of characters leave you on a roller coaster ride to find the truth about Lori's father. Throw in social networking, which makes it all the more fun."
— The Readiacs
"Who's Your Daddy, Baby? is a funny story. But it's not fluff."
— The Bristol Herald Courier
What Readers Are Saying
Reader reviews from Amazon
What would you do if you learned your dad might not be your dad?
September 9, 2017
"What a delight! I love the humor Pell imbues in her fictional protagonist. The search becomes more interesting as the protagonist returns to the Appalachian communities she thought her mom had left. In these small towns, where everyone knew everyone, the next generation is helpful. Yet, the story spills onto Facebook, which, with the aid of DNA testing, turns into a godsend. The truth comes out, but only after wrong turns and wonderful friendships, if not kinships, are established. Pell tells us this account is a fictionalized version of her own search. It sure rings true. And it's so fun to read! As I got to the final 1/3 of the book, I couldn't put it down."
— CarryOn
A spectacular read!
March 27, 2013
"What an amazing story with more mystery and intrigue than anything Sherlock Holmes could possibly dream up. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, a new development comes into play and I'm back to square one. This sometimes serious, sometimes quirky storyline kept me on edge until the very end. I actually gasped a time or two during this wonderful read; especially during the last final pages. Throughout the story, there were times I laughed out loud and at one point had to put the book down long enough to keep laughing until I wiped tears from my eyes. Who's Your Daddy, Baby? was so well written I took notes for future reference. Lisa Pell is certainly on the literary scene to stay!"
— ms_va_lady
Fiction That Rings True
March 30, 2013
"I purchased this book at a book launch and began to read it that evening. I was unable to put it down until I read the last page. The author tells her story with accurate, and generally unknown, accounts of her and her husband's journey through science in their attempts to give birth to a child. The larger story deals with genetic secrets and a life lived for many years unaware of a biological father's name, personal history, or family members. Ms. Pell artfully shares with us the pain of secrets learned after the ability to connect with a parent either in life or memory has been lost. This book is written with such honesty, love and forgiveness — we believe Ms. Pell's story, and we applaud her character's joy both in the journey taken and the peace she has won."
— Dee Shepherd
Compelling Read!
March 18, 2014
"A compelling read. Who's Your Daddy, Baby? is an amazing story of one woman's journey to find her biological father. Lisa Pell is able to captivate us taking us through each and every twist and turn in Lori McGuire Pomay's search to identify her biological father. I gained great insight into the in vitro fertilization process and have new admiration for women and men that embark on that journey. This wonderful book underscores the importance of parents being forthcoming of their child's origin and genetic background. It is a provocative story told with lots of humor and the beauty of a couple relentlessly joining together to uncover the truth."
— juliana zoto
A DNA Family Mystery
February 2, 2013
"What an interesting ride! Much like the descriptive style of Pat Conroy, Pell's writing transports you to Pomay's Grandma Franklin's home, where you can smell the smoke from the wood stove, taste the fatback, and hear the rain on the tin roof. All the events take place more than fifty years ago; the descriptive narrative found in this tome is a joy to read for anyone interested in days gone by. Family genealogy hints at a royal heritage. I won't tell you who Pomay's father is. You need to take the journey yourself."
— Yorkie Girl
It's not about the genealogy, it's about the people. Well worth a read.
June 25, 2016
"Don't be put off by the apparently ordinary story-line. Ms. Pell has produced a superb evocation of life a couple of generations ago. We may think of the Greatest Generation in terms of the gravitas of the Depression and its wartime coming of age, but in fact the later free-love campaigns must have seemed a bit like deja vu. The book is also extremely revealing as to the limitations of DNA technology, and it really leaves you scratching your head as to whether it ought to be admissible in legal proceedings."
— Douglas Brown
More than a search for a parent
July 14, 2012
"There are few things that define us more than our ancestors. It's one thing not to know who your parents are — but it may be much stranger to believe someone is your parent for your whole life and then learn in middle age that may not be true. Lisa Pell is an extremely talented person who waited a long time to write her first book. She tells a story well, deals adeptly with the plot twists and brings us to the conclusion in a way that is surprising but maybe not all that surprising. Don't miss this one."
— Michael Rappaport
A Wonderful Yarn with the Ring of Autobiography
June 8, 2013
"This author may have started a new genre of who-dun-its. On the cusp of the explosion in uses of new genetic technologies, this author's informed use of several applications of current possibilities from genetics played against old fashioned, tried-and-true gumshoe techniques makes for a thoroughly engaging tale. How it will end up is ambiguous right to the end."
— T. Campbell
Who's Your Daddy, Baby by Lisa Pell
June 13, 2014
"I absolutely loved the book! I really felt like I had been on a BIG roller coaster ride with all the twists and turns, and ups and downs of her search. Lisa had me up until the very last. She has such a gift and her ability to express such a personal account of her 'hunt for her biological father' in such a humorous and revealing manner was captivating. Truly a must read!!"
— Lorie Higgins
A Tale of Two Cultures
March 2, 2013
"Being a woman isn't always easy especially when you're out of your element. When I read this book it stirred such emotion and feeling for how hard it must have been for the Mother in this story. As a mountain girl I know how hard it is now to go into the other world, but I can't imagine how hard it must have been in the fifties. This is an amazing story about women and the choices they have to make. Beautifully written — I would highly recommend this book to all women!"
— Mountain Girl
Who's Your Daddy Baby?
January 17, 2013
"I highly recommend Who's Your Daddy Baby? I was hooked after the first page. Ms. Pell is a gifted story teller. I felt her passion as she told the story that was her life. I learned many interesting facts that surprised me. I look forward to more great stories from Ms. Pell."
— Michele
Papa Mia!
August 11, 2012
"The topic is certainly current, given the space age approaches to fertility. Add to that the connections through the cyber world and the story couldn't be more contemporary or intriguing. What I really liked most about this book was the writing. It's intelligent and witty, informative yet easy to read. So well written that I was caught up in the characters, settings, history and facts equally. When I got to the end, I was seriously wishing I were friends with the main character on Facebook so I could follow her story further."
— Amazon Customer
Great story
January 11, 2014
"Whether the story is true or fiction, it kept my attention all the way. I could relate to a lot of the situations Lisa went through. I would highly recommend it."
— Margie Jones
Excellent Book!
March 1, 2013
"Must read! Easy to read and hard to put down once you start. Lisa Pell keeps you in suspense until the very end. Outstanding writing. This book has some funny lines but also covers some serious subjects. Anyone interested in stories about an American family heritage, paternity searches, and getting to know your roots, will get a kick out of this book."
— J. Balatbat
Who's your baby daddy
March 1, 2013
"I found this book to be a compelling read. I picked it up and could not set it down. The intrigue, and the story line were great. I would strongly recommend this book to be read by all audiences. The book was extremely well written and kept my interest so much so that I felt a need to keep turning to the next page until I finished the book."
— PMO guy
What a family?
March 2, 2013
"Every family has its secrets but jeez! This is a great saga about different worlds colliding and the fallout that ensues. What a tangled web! Exceptionally well written — a must read!"
— Dojie's Dad
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