The Best Friend

Sister #3

by Leanne Davis

Gretchen Hendricks spent half her life in love with a man who ended up more dedicated to his job than her. After a divorce that left her devastated she put all her energies into building up her career as a psychologist. Now, well into her thirties she has achieved professional success, and leads a model life. She has tried to let go of her girlhood dreams of a marriage and kids to complement her career. After being burned so thoroughly by the boy she’d given her young girlish heart to, she is happier alone.

Until one day she runs into her adolescent friend, Tony Lindstrom and realizes the catastrophic circumstances that have ended his service in the United States Army. It has been two years since the end of Tony's professional career, and life as he knew it. But he has done nothing to accept what happened to him, or even begun to learn how to live with it. He is holed up in his parents' house, without a job or prospects of any kind, and the thing is: he's just fine with that. He figures he's paid his dues to society more than the average person; doesn't he deserve to be left alone to deal with things how he wants?

But then he runs into the one woman he always loved, and could never have, because she was always his best friend’s girl. Gretchen will not accept who Tony has become, or that he has completely given up on living a worthwhile life. But Tony can’t contemplate anything with Gretchen because to him, what good is a man who is incomplete on the outside, but completely broken inside?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Dark, Friends To Lovers, Fiction, Adult

350 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 28, 2014

About the author

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Raw. Real. Emotional Romance. Writing provocative and darker themed romance that always finds its happily ever after!

With 50 plus, full length books there is a story for everyone!
Cowboy romance? Got it! Small town... yep. Big city rock star? Covered! You like a little suspense? Yep, got a few of those too.

Most of my books are standalone stories in connected series. Whether it's the setting, theme or family connections, my series are often multi-generational and span decades. While each book is a complete story, beloved characters will pop in and out of these sagas. I stick to new adult, contemporary and western romances, with tons of emotion and all the feels tucked into them.

I live in the rainy area of Western Washington, and spend as much time as I can traveling to destinations all across the state, where I do all things outdoors.
Many of these locations become the settings for my books.
I earned my business degree from Western Washington University, and worked for several years in the construction management field before turning to writing full time.

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Email me➜➜ leanne@leannedavis.net

My Books:
River's End
Rydell River Ranch Series
The Sister Series
The Zenith Series
The Seaclusion Series
Diversions
At the Next Table

Reviews

[Laura V.]

Lo descarto por dos razones:

1. Está haciendo demasiado (demasiado) lío solo porque le falta un brazo. Lo hace sonar como si le faltaran dos piernas, tres ojos y estuviera en silla de ruedas con bastón láser (es tu amigo y no se te ocurre hablarle bien porque le falta un brazo? está en perfectas condiciones y ella no puede dejar de pensar oh dios, oh dios, oh dios su brazo? Qué era? un brazo mágico? Nunca vio otro igual? le tenía cariño a ese brazo justamente?).

2. Y no pude terminar ese primer cap porque mi reader no lo lee completo. Me quedaré con la intriga de saber qué hizo cuando se le pasó el susto.

Hasta acá llegó mi amor.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again this author brings heartbreaking issues to the table and leaves you a sobbing mess getting through them. Gretchen Hendricks has been in all of the previous books and we’ve known her as a strong caring woman that has helped many people. What we never got to see was that what she presented to the world was not what was on the inside. Gretchen has the same fears and insecurities as the many women and children she has helped. But helping is also in her nature and she cant help but to get involved with a childhood friend when she sees what he has become after losing his arm in combat.

This is not a standalone book. Gretchen, her ex husband Will (from the first book) and Tony Lindstrom (hero in this book) were all friends since grade school. Gretchen only had eyes for Will and never knew that Tony had always harbored feelings for her from the beginning. Neither Will nor Gretchen knew what had happened to Tony two years ago and are both shocked at his loss and also in the mean and surly person he has become. Even though at times it kinda put Will in a bad light it was great to see that forgiveness for the past was finally brought front and center and dealt with.

There are multiple journeys taken in this book. The main is the healing and bringing back to life of Tony. The author did a great job of not only showing us all the grief and anger a war veteran goes through after losing a limb but also the effect that it has not only on him but also his family and friends. Another is a grandmother with terminal cancer we’ve met in a previous book and her granddaughter that Gretchen will get custody of when she dies. This story plot had me crying more any other. The young girl Olivia not only was instrumental in helping Tony but the issues she brought up for Gretchen were hard to deal with as they made her very venerable and we saw her strong disposition start to crack.

All the previous characters are back in this book and as Gretchen was instrumental in many of their recoveries it was great to see them be there for Gretchen when she needed help. I’ve yet to read a Leanne Davis book that hasn’t touched my heart in some way and this one was no different.

[Belen (f.k.a. La Mala ✌) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Sacando de lado lo que ya dije varias veces en el pasado (las ganzadas yanquis sobre la guerra y todo eso), esta historia de amor es muy interesante. Los personajes son realistas y sus dolores entendibles; los crecimientos personales de ambos protagonistas son creibles y el amor que crece entre ellos te engancha enseguida.

Muy buena novela, esta autora sigue creciendo de a poco.

[Lexee Toste · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. The characters were great and are dealing with big issues. Tony is a military vet that lost his arm and he has been dealing with the aftermath since, and not well. He has become a big jerk and shut himself off in the worst way. We see Gretchen again and watch her take on Tony and his surly behavior but it is different this time as there is more there for the first time. Neither know what to do with it. Tony because he doesn’t believe himself worthy and doesn’t trust that she finally sees him that way unless it’s out of pity. Gretchen because it is far fetched and knows that Tony needs help to move forward in his life and find a reason to actually live again. She also knows he doesn’t trust it. Gretchen is also watching a friend die of cancer, knowing that she will be taking her granddaughter to care for when it’s over. It’s not an easy situation and there are a lot of obstacles these two have to overcome in order to find their happy ending.

[Pam Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say about this book? Gretchen we love from other books because she was such an amazing gal. It's only fitting she gets her story told for sure.
I felt for her when you hear how her marriage was with Will. You like her because of her help with Jessie and Lindsey.
But I have to say I didn't see her with Tony for a long time maybe because he was so mean and just so surly to not only her but to everyone.
I feel in love with Olivia that girl sure goes through the wringer. I am so glad in a few books we get to see what becomes of her.

In the end I am glad Gretchen fights for what she wants but what Olivia wants too. And Tony wakes up and smells the love that is showing in those 2 girl's eyes. I can't wait to read the next book I have a feeling I am going to like it best of all. I have a spot in my heart for the Lindstrom men...

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gretchen is an independent professional woman who is alone and can take care of herself. She reconnects with her childhood friend, Tony, who is not the same person she knew before. He's broken inside and out and seems hopeless. She fixes him gradually though. and in the process finds she needs him as much or more than he needs her. It's a good story and as with her other books, it sends the reader on an emotional roller coaster. I keep wanting to read something else to give myself a break but I'm really loving this series. Warning...the sex is graphic!

[Karen S Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to Put Down

This book was hard to put down most of the time. The characters are so incredibly crafted,especially Olivia. Actually, Olivia is the glue. Her life transcends all the characters.

[Miriam still reading! HIATUS from GR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written. I truly enjoyed this book. It was a somewhat slow romance but once the hero and heroine got together,,,,oh boy, was it well worth it from beginning to end.

[Donna Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great characters. Wonderful sensitive handling of some tough issues. I don't want to give anything away on the plot, so I'm not going to say anymore.

[Rebecca Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gretchen Hendricks is a psychologist who was married to Will Hendricks but time and war drove them apart. Now she is working at her practice and helping out best friend Lindsay and her sister, Jessie who is now married to Will.

Tony Lindstrom was once best friends with Gretchen and Will but time and war have distanced them. When Tony is injured overseas he struggles to adapt to the new way his life and pushes away everyone, including his parents and brother who are trying to help him.

Gretchen is shocked to see Tony but when his brother Donny asks for Gretchen's help will she be willing to get involved when it is obvious that Tony doesn't want her help?

This is another good book in the series and I was excited that this book was going to focus on Gretchen!

We first meet Gretchen in book one and learn how kind she is when she helps Jessie with everything that she is going through, even though she is involved with Will and then to help Lindsay after that. She was definitely a character that I was rooting for! She was also so caring for what she was doing for Olivia and her grandma.

At the beginning of the book Tony was so angry and it made sense. He was angry for what happened during the war and he was mad at Will for abandoning him. He felt like he was no longer the man he once was and struggled with doing things for himself. Yet it was obvious how much his parents and his brother, Donny, cared about him.

I loved when things began to get out in the open and everyone expressed how they felt about the past and what went wrong! It was so therapeutic and allowed everyone to get a fresh start and begin again.

I was so happy when Tony got up and spoke at Olivia's school and how everything went from there for him. It was amazing and so heartwarming!

I hated how Tony was mad about Olivia and then even more mad with the things that Tony's mom, Leila, began to say to Gretchen. Gretchen was so much stronger than I could ever be!

It mad me so happy to see a few more things from the past resolved and I had my fingers crossed that things would work out. My heart broke for Olivia and I hated the choice that Tony ended up making.

I loved the grown up decision that Olivia made at the end and how everything worked out!

Such a great book and I look forward to the next one!

[Nicole Studioso · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read the Zenity triology by Leanne Davis, and I've read the River's End series. When I got the chance to read a copy of one of Leanne Davis's Sister's books, I jumped at the opportunity. What an amazing book filled with well-developed and deep characters who nearly leap off the page with their intelligence, bravery, and deep connections to one another. This book centers on Tony Lindstrom, the former best friend of Will Hendricks, and wounded Army vet. When Gretchen Hendricks, Will's ex-wife and former childhood crush of Tony's runs into him at the grocery store, she's flabbergasted at the change in Tony's attitude and personality. Family members ask her to step in and help; she's a licensed therapist, but she has not idea of the depth of Tony's pain and rage. Gretchen and Tony have a long, slow burn in this book before anything happens between them, but the heat they create and the chemistry....Wowza! The complications and outside stressors that combine to add to the story are heartbreaking and real - a young child is losing the only mother she has ever known, and she will become Gretchen's responsibility. The story is extremely detailed and fleshed out, and the supporting characters (most from previous books, from what I can surmise), truly help to make this a saga without end. Each character draws you into their personal lives and worlds, and I cannot wait to get better acquainted with the rest of these lovely people

[Lisa Marie Barrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPEECHLESS!! JUST SPEECHLESS!! Leanna Davis is a New Author for me and She Had me Intrigued from the Very beginning of this book!
This is Book #3 in the Sister Series and didn't stop me from reading this one. I do in fact want to go back and read the first two books of this Series!

Gretchen Hendricks is the Older sister and Tony Lindstrom is the Best Friend of Gretchen's ex-husband Will Hendricks since childhood. It's quite the triangle of friends and family members who have been webbed together. Gretchen is a 30 yr old child psychologist building a career and a divorced that left her devastated but moved on. Then one day at the grocery store, she notices her childhood friend Tony which to her surprise looks different. Tony is a bitter and a wounded war veteran but he also has always harbored feelings for Gretchen since their childhood. But he remained in the background unseen.
When Gretchen decides to help Tony, Olivia a little 8yr old ex-patient of hers is intrigued by Tony which he opens up to her by her innocent bold questions. She immediately latches on to Tony which consequently they start helping each other unbeknownst to them.
I'm not going to Spoil anything for you since there is So much Emotional distress and Heartwreching Aches & pains. You need to have your tissues handy and at times will have you wanting to Throw your Tablet across the room!

The Best Friend is Beautifully written and draws in which YOU WILL NOT WANT TO PUT IT DOWN!
I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE and definitely a Huge Fan of Leanne Davis!

[Amy Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read. Leanne Davis captures what veterans feel when they come home from duty, especially if they have been wounded.
Gretchen, Will’s ex wife (Book 1 - The Other Sister) ran into a long time friend Tony. She couldn’t believe it was him. She noticed that he had lost an arm while deployed. She didn’t know what to say to him, and when she did finally speak with him, he was rude and cold towards her.
Donny, Tony’s brother invites her to have dinner with the family. Gretchen hasn’t seen them sister before her and Will were married. Tony was not impressed and make it known.
Gretchen convinced Tony to see her colleague to help cope with his feelings of anger. He went, but hating every minute of it.
While waiting for his appointment, Tony met a little girl Olivia. Olivia was going to move in with Gretchen when her grandmother passed. With the help from Olivia and Gretchen Tony came out of his shell.
Tony and Gretchen became involved and soon after Tony obtained employment and moved to Washington.
Olivia grandmother passed and Tony came back to help them.
After a few months, Gretchen and Olivia couldn’t handle being away from Tony. They up and moved to DC to be with him.
A great ending to a very moving story.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Has there ever been a friend in your life that you never knew really wanted to be with you--but would not even mention it because you were with his best friend? It can happen-and it does to Gretchen She ended up marrying her high school sweetheart--but things did not exactly work out. They divorced and she went back to college to become a child psychologist. She is one of those people who seems to have it all together and has come to terms with being single with no children. She will be adopting a young girl soon--she promised the girls dying grandmother she would.

Then she bumps into Tony-her ex's best friend and hers actually while food shopping. He lost an arm while in the service and is currently hiding out at his parents home. Why he is there will make you cry when it is revealed. Gretchen refuses to let Tony be and tries to get him back to the way he used to be--he is angry and definitely out to hurt the world and everyone in it. He still loves Gretchen--but because he has only one arm he feels like he is not good enough for her. It takes the young girl to break through Tony's anger.

There is an incredibly happy ending but many parts will have you reaching for the tissues.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this story of Gretchen and Tony. Gretchen, a child psychologist, and Tony, a wounded war veteran, were childhood friends, who grew up with Gretchen's ex-husband and Tony's best friend, Will Hendricks. Tony is bitter about the loss of his arm, and his perceived treatment of Gretchen by his ex-best friend Will in regards to their divorce years prior.

When Gretchen tries to help Tony, it isn't until a little 8 year old girl named Olivia begins to take an interest in Tony that life begins to change.

I thought that the story line was great and emotional as Tony tries to comes to grips with the loss of his arm and the love that he has always harbored for Gretchen.

This is book #3 in the series, and you don't have to read the other books in the story enjoy this one.

The audible narration was also very well done.

[Kitty Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once upon a time Gretchen was married to his best friend. Tony wasn't even on her radar as anything but Will's best friend and in turn her friend. Years later, divorced and single, she's on the precipice of adopting a little girl when she runs into Tony again. But life dealt him a cruel blow, injured in combat, and it's left him angry and a changed man from the one who once made Gretchen laugh so long ago. She found herself drawn in wanting to help him find himself again. She never expected to fall in love. There were so many obstacles emotionally and physically, however.
Once again, this author delivers another emotional read. Third in the Sister series, this squeezed a few tears out of me. I don't think I've read anything in this series that hasn't hit me hard in the feels. I loved this story.

[Samantha Waldow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 3 in the Sister series. If you have been reading the series you would remember Gretchen from the firat 2 books. Always the kind and helpful friend. She is always so considerate and doesn't like to curse. She was married once to her best friend. Her ex-husband and her both had a best friend, Tony. She see him one day and hes not the same. He is mean and grumpy, nothing like himself. She didn't know he was back from war but she is shocked to find out he is also missing his arm. She makes it her mission to help him find himself again. This really takes us on a journey. Be prepared this will pull at your hearts strings more than once. I loved this book. I enjoyed reading it and also loved how everyone just loved Gretchen for all she has done.

[Tracy Trixy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, oh wow.... ❤️

I throughly enjoyed this book, and spent a lot of last night losing sleep reading it :)

We have Tony who is back with an injury sustained whilst serving his country, and he isn’t coping very well.
Gretchen sees Tony whilst out shopping and realises he isn’t the same boy she used to be best friends with.... it’s a complicated threesome between Tony, Gretchen and Will but it’s a great story!
Many issues and problems to sort through that makes this story well worth a read!
I haven’t read the previous book to this, but I have a feeling I’ll be devouring any and all after this 😉

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first read by this author. Overall, it was an enjoyable read. However, there were some awkward spots and a lot of repetition of phrases and events. I felt that a lot of Gretchen’s “anger” came out of nowhere at times, directed at different people.

I feel like that Gretchen and Tony’s relationship was rushed and too far late in the book for it to develop. I did like how they became friends again first, but I wanted more of them as a couple.

I loved the role Olivia played, especially her suggestion for just going to Tony at the end. It showed how much she truly cared for him but also highlighted her innocence.

[Thea Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is about Tony, Will's best friend and Gretchen, Will's ex-wife. I think this is my favorite story so far. It is about Tony trying to acclimate to civilian like as a wounded veteran and how it effects his family. About Gretchen realizing that she can't be perfect all the time, about how she falls in love with Tony, and also helping her friend Helen, by taking care Helen's granddaughter after she dies. This book shows joy, and grief. It gives us an idea of what our wounded veterans go through when they get home.

[Deirdre Stokes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written story about three best friends who come back into each other lives. When Gretchen sees Tony at the grocery store and sees his injured and angry at the world and everyone who tries to get close to him. This book takes you through a lot of different emotions and events as you see Tony amd Gretchen and even Will side of the story. I really enjoyed this book to the fight between Tony and Donny and everyone just coming together to be there for Tony without him having to reach out even after cutting everyone out in the first place.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Sister series. It is the story of Afghanistan veteran amputee Tony Lindstrom and his best friend’s ex-wife Gretchen Hendrix. Tony has had a crush on Gretchen since adolescence but she always viewed him as a friend. That changes when she meets him in the grocery store years later and learns that an injury in the war resulted in the amputation of his arm. He is depressed, doin nothing and hiding away in his parents’ basement. Gretchen’s love changes all that. Sweet love story.

[Puja · Rating 5 out of 5]

The journey continues... We have been introduced to Jessie, Lindsey and now Gretchen in Leanne Davis' 'Sister' series. Victims who went to become heroes! Such wonderful stories of women who face all odds (and even life attempts), yet not only struggle and survive, but go on to be winners. Such beautiful stories of love, loss and women power. They are sisters in arms! Loved each book till now and look forward to the others in the series.

I'm in love with the guy Tony is... :)

[Isela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahhh a pesar de que me han gustado mucho estos libros (de los cuales, el primero sigue siendo mi favorito), y que de éste me quedé enamorada de Travis (y no me enamoré de Will ni de Noah... ya voy mejorando) no creo que siga leyendo los siguientes.
¿El principal problema? sigue en emisión y son 10 libros!!
Me daré un pequeño descanso con esta serie y luego le seguiré, ya medio me spoilee el siguiente... así que no hay tanto problema :D

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Good Read

This book packs a punch! It’s very emotional and there will be tears. There is an angry Army Vet who lot an arm, enabling parents, rediscovered friends (one of which he has been in love with for 29 years even though she dated and was married to his best friend), a curious little girl who is about to loose her only relative to cancer. Yes, you need lots of tissues but it’s a good story.

[Deborah Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

My eyes were red in spots in this one. I love Gretchen, her strength in face of adversity, personal losses in family, burgeoning responsibilities, with young soon to be ward. Her treatment of commitment to her childhood friend, injured in war, loss of his limb and will go to on, a surly mean spirited mess when she sees him two years after his accident, looking a limb. True look at ptsd, loss to soldier, struggles at coming to terms with new trajectory and future spot on.
Recommended.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page Turner

Awesome read. Quite the page turner. List many hours of sleep reading this book and others in the series that came before this one. This is the best sites of books I have read this far and this one did not disappoint. Can't wait to start the next. Interesting from beginning to end. Keep writing Ms. Leanne Davis.

[LS Kralicek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Friend love story

Gretchen has always take care of everyone else; so when will she take time to fall in love and take care of herself. Gretchen and Tony have a love story of finding friendship over again but then realizing to love where you are grow with it. One of my favorite stories I have read from Davis for far.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leanne Davis has fast become one of my favorite authors! The Sister Series is phenomenal! Just like most of her books I have a hard time putting it down once I've started reading. Gretchen and Tony's story had me up until all hours just wanting to see what happens next! I can't wait to see what more Leanne has to come!

[Neisha Exeter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leanne Davis has done it again. Really amazing book. I was wondering if Gretchen would get her own book and what a story this was. I could feel Tony’s anguish and Gretchen’s love and devotion to him. These two were meant to be together. I especially loved how they became friends again. I would definitely recommend reading this book.