Olivia Lindstrom is ready to start the rest of her life in a world she sees as wide-open to accomplish her limitless dreams. A gifted musician, she wants nothing more than to study music, improve her skills, and later pursue a dedicated career. Her biggest concerns about starting college are missing her parents and worrying about her grade point average.
That is, until she meets Derek Salazar, and becomes drawn into a new world.
Derek Salazar’s life has been the opposite of Olivia’s in every way. He is amused by Olivia and enticed by her naïve innocence and innate goodness. When she assumes he is just another new college student, and he doesn’t correct her, but secretly decides to take advantage of the strange, beautiful girl, he soon finds out she is like no one he has ever met. Through her total trust and loyalty, she starts to influence him into changing the corrupt way he lives. But Derek’s life contains dark secrets that he realizes, too late, could harm Olivia. What started off with careless lies could turn into the greatest love of his life; that is, if he can stop the external forces that threaten to destroy it all.
The Sister Series is an epic, multi-family, multi-generational saga that spans sixty years, with overlapping family entanglements, tragedies, triumphs and romance. It touches on the emotional scars and battles that are often hidden in people. Rape. Drugs. Abuse. Violence. Pain. Betrayal. And how they can be overcome. Joy. Family. Forgiveness. Faith. Hope. Redemption… Love. So, buckle in for this 19 book saga that will both break and heal your heart.
Reading Order for The Sister The Other Sister The Years Between (Jessie & Will)-1.5 not included in series count The Good Sister The Best Friend The Wrong Sister The Years After The Broken Sister The Perfect Sister The Lost Sister The Remaining Sister The Step Sister Christina Natalie Melissa Emily Wesley Wyatt Devon Damion
Content Please note this title deals with strong language, sexual situations, and mature content matter. This title includes themes dealing with childhood abuse, mental health issues, drug use, drug overdose and grief.
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.
What a beautiful and heart rendering story. I ached for the turmoil that Derek had to endure all his life. I felt his struggles and dilemmas with his relationship with Olivia and what a lovely person Olivia is, such innocence and kindness blends with her courage. Thankfully she has a loving and supportive family. I love Leanne's writing. She has such a gift in the way you get so involved with her characters and can feel all their emotions and want to fight their battles. This is yet another wonderful story and one I highly recommend reading. Just brilliant!
38% and giving up. Although author is very well written, I don't think her writing style meshes well with the story line. The hero lacks grit for someone whose lived a "hard" life as a child and heroine's innocence and gullibility is exaggerated.
Great read. Olivia has met Derek and though she seems a bit naive, their story is sweet. Really can’t complain because anything Leanne Davis writes is amazing. Fantastic book and highly recommended.
This review is from: The Years After (Sister Series, #5) (Kindle Edition)
Another good book in this series. The author has a great talent for bringing difficult topics in to her stories. This book deals with two young adults (18) that have had total opposite lifestyles in their upbringing. Of course, the dark is attracted to the light. The ending is what I guess you would call a happy for now-one.
The other books in this series have characters that are older and it was easier for me to connect to them. Overall, it was a good addition to the series. I'm anxious to see what other stories this author has in store for us.
Olivia Lindstrom is attending college with her cousins and it is the first time living away from her parents. She loves playing music and has always been a good girl after watching things happen with members of her extended family.
Derek Salazar has never really had a family, except for his brother Max who he protects as much as he can. Unfortunately life has not been easy for Derek and he has been selling drugs for as long as he can remember and is frequently supplying to the college kids.
When Derek first sees Olivia there is something about her that draws him in although he knows he is not the guy for her. Unfortunately Derek can not stay away from her but what will happen when Olivia discovers the truth about him?
This was a great book and I loved getting to know a grown up Olivia!
I thought Olivia was a great character and I thought it was perfect that she was such a good girl after everything she had been through when she was younger. I wasn't surprised she fell for Derek so fast as it sounded like she never had much attention from boys before and this was a really hot guy who was after her.
Derek was a much more complex character as he was stuck in a place where he didn't want to be but he had no way of escaping. Meeting Olivia showed him a different world that he truly wanted to be a part of but at the same time he knew he couldn't give up selling drugs with what was held over his head. But no matter what Derek felt for Olivia he knew he had to protect Max and try to keep him out of the life he found himself in.
There was so much chemistry between Olivia and Derek and you wanted Derek to give up everything bad in his life but at the same time you knew things were going to blow up and you held your breath waiting for everything to happen. Olivia opened herself up to Derek so much and in so many ways that I wondered if she would recover when everything came crashing down.
I was actually shocked at what happened and I was so mad at Quentrell and even more so as the story went on and we learned more about him and his relationship with Derek and Max. When everything crashed I crossed my fingers Quentrell would pay.
I love how far Tony, Olivia's dad, was still willing to go for Derek and Max and how he brought them out to Lindsay and Noah to get the help they needed!
The end was so good and I don't think this is the last of Olivia and Derek that we will see!
“Most people do not see the world as it is. They see it as they are” _ Margaret Landon_ Eighteen-year-old Olivia Lindstrom is a freshman at the Peterson College for the Arts, in Marsdale, California. She is a dedicated student and is proud of her 4.0-grade average. She plays the flute and specializes in the Irish flute. Her interests and dedication left little time for socializing. This all changes when she falls at the feet of a stranger. Derek Salazar grew up in Marsdale. Like many cities, Marsdale has many faces. Derek called the darker side of the town home. Coming from a dysfunctional family of three, from an early age he took responsibility for his mother and his younger brother, Max. His father was killed under suspicious circumstances, leaving his mother with a drug habit and the two boys, pretty much, on their own. From a very early age, Derek ran drugs for his older brother, Quentrell, a local drug boss. Through Quantrell he managed to keep his mother in drugs and his little brother safe, fed, and covered. His presence at Peterson was all business. This all changes when a stranger falls at his feet.
This is a contemporary romance that addresses the many social problems that lurk in the halls of higher education. It is more than a good girl falling for a boy from the wrong side of the tracks. It mirrors countless relationships that probably shouldn’t have been but were. The reader is swept away by the erotic whirlwind that marked their relationship. A strange innocence and purity are intertwined with the passion, making the whole almost ethereal. You are exposed to an oxymoron of emotions and feelings. Young loves, especially first loves, can be so beautiful, joyful, momentous, enlightening, and passionate but it can also be ugly, turbulent, visceral, bewildering, and dispassionate. In other words, it is a conglomerate of conflicting emotions. The sight of young couples, holding each other, staring off into space, with a sad look on their faces, is a common sight. You would think that they had just lost their best friend; this is love. This story encompasses all of these things and emotions, adding even more to the mix and guaranteeing to produce the wayward tear. This story may not change your life but it may serve as food for thought.
This is book 5 in the Sister's series, but this is the first book I have read in the series. This one is about Olivia, who is a college freshman, living on campus in a dorm with one of her cousins. She literally runs into Derek. These two have had the opposite type of upbringings, and of course opposites attract. Olivia is from a loving family, Derek has never been shown love or had it until he gets with Olivia. Of course he knows he shouldn't be with her, but he can't seem to stop himself, and tries to keep her out of his dark life. Tragedy strikes when the two worlds collide. The love and compassion Olivia's Dad shows Derek during this is a testament to the very strong, loving, and forgiving man he is. Lots of ups and downs in the book, and I continued rooting for Derek and hoped he could get away from his old life. I would love to have a follow up story on Derek and Olivia several years later!! Looking forward to more and to reading the other books in this series!
I love a story that feels like it could happen to anyone and everyone. The main characters are well fleshed out and multidimensional. I love this book, I know you will too.
Oliva is an innocent girl who is in her freshman year at a college where she can study and play her music. She doesn’t really understand love and how relationships work. She falls off her bike in front of a cute boy, things got real for her fast.
Derek is more than just a bad boy, he deals drugs. He has been selling since he was very young. When a cute girl wipes out her bike in front of him, he feels attracted to her in a way he isn’t aware he could. He has never had a relationship, his whole family is broken.
What will happen? Do they get a happy ever after? Well, you will need to read the book and find out.
Olivia, Gretchen and Tony’s daughter all grown up and off to college. She was not the typical college student. Wanting to do well in school, not caring about going to parties. She met Derek after she ran into him in the park. Derek turned into Olivia’s first love. But Derek held a deep dark secret. He was a drug dealer, he considered himself as not a good person for Olivia. But she would accept it. Derek was he protector when she did go out to parties with her cousin. They were in love, and Olivia decided to “go all the way” with him. Olivia found out all Derek’s secrets and left him. She decided to have the typical college experience. One night she was kidnap, and overdose by Derek’s brother to serve a warning. Derek found her and called for help. Pick this book up and see what happen to Olivia and Derek. 1 great read!!
Fifth story in the Sister series, The Years After isn't my favorite in the series but it's a good story and an integral point. Cousins Olivia, Kylie and Ally are in college. Each girl is so different in their quest to break loose and live a little or a lot. Kylie and Ally take living it up to crazy levels. Olivia on the other hand, is the socially awkward band geek who's never been kissed. An accidental run-in with a hot guy, the most unlikely chance meeting, and her whole world is turned on its axis. Derek is mysterious and the embodiment of everything she doesn't normally indulge in. An unlikely pair, a shy and introverted college freshman and a bold young man with a sordid past and dangerous secrets that threatens everything they fought to hold together. Recommended read because Leanne Davis never disappoints. Totally emotional reads every time.
This book had some hard parts in it. Real life but it can be hard to swallow for sure. One with a bad history and one he is still trying to figure out how to keep doing what he is doing with out loosing the one thing that has been good in his life. Even though he should of walked away long ago. She was young and a good girl but she felt a pull and she couldn't let it go. Of course you know how the story goes everything catches up with you and when it does life as it is falls apart. Trying to build it up is sometimes something that just doesn't work. I loved how the author really made us feel for both main people and this is not an easy taste when writing on a story like this. Great job.
Book 5 in the Sister Series features Olivia Lindstrom, adopted daughter of Tony and Gretchen Lindstrom. Olivia is in her Freshman year of college and meets a guy, Derek Salazar, who claims to also be a student at her school. They fall in love, and things are going well, until Derek's secret is made known through tragedy.
This was a well written story of love, second chances, and new beginnings. The audible narration was done well and kept me engaged in the story line.
To understand the family dynamics, you will want to read the other books in the series, so you are not lost in the plot.
Wow... seriously towards the end I was balling my eyes out!
Derek, is someone who, has had a crappy start at life, but as soon as he meets Olivia, he feels something that he’s never felt before, and isn’t sure what the feeling even is. Olivia is attending college and is rooming with her cousins, she’s learning how to be a college student, and meets Derek.
I am loving this series, and I especially love seeing and reading about the previous characters that started this series... we caught up with Lindsay and Noah, Will and Jesse, and Gretchen & Tony, who play an instrumental part in Dereks life. Brilliant. Definitely would recommend!
Olivia's story broke my heart. We meet her as 18 year old college freshman, but if you've read the earlier book, The Best Friend, you probably know her as the sweet, hurting 8 year old who brought Bridget and Tony together. Here, she a brilliant, naive young woman who just wants to work hard and begin her future. She's broadsided by handsome, world-wise young Derek, who is definitely not as he seems. Their story is not for the faint of heart. So much drama, angst and betrayal! I couldn't imagine how they'd ever find their way to a true relationship. However, once again, Ms Davis brings her readers along on a bruising and beautiful story rich with forgiveness, unconditional love and a shot at redemption!
My heart was so broken for Derek and his Brother Max. Their story and pain brought tears to my eyes several times in this book. If I could have, I'd have reached right into the book and hugged them both. Shocking point was what happened to Olivia (I'm not saying what, you'll have to read it lol). My heart broke and healed and broke and hurt right along with with Olivia and Derek. I really liked that Gretchen,Tony,Lindsey,Noah and Will were brought into this story. I live how the author brings past characters into the next story line. It makes it more believable and real and its nice to glimpse at past lead characters I fell in love with! I'm totally invested in this series!
This was a tough one for me. I had a really hard time getting into this book and at 29% had a big talk with myself. I was hung up on the 8 year old Olivia in book 3 and not 18 year old Olivia now. I knew the girl was headed for heartbreak and wanted to protect her. After I “forgot” about the 8 year old I enjoyed it more. I ugly cried more than once for all that Derek endured growing up and fell in love with Tony even more for how he handled everything.
This is book 5 in the Sisters series. Oh man it didn't disappoint. We have met Olivia in a previous book and now she is 18. Olivia meets Derek by chance when he is doing a drug deal. Of course she doesn't know it. They start to get to know each other and fall in love. There were so many ups and downs, i was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what was next. This is a good one. It will tug at your hearts strings.
For what he was, Derek was so respectful to Olivia and her family. He went out of his way to keep people from harming her. Was he innocent? No. But she wasn't as innocent as she was portrayed. I think that got to me a little. I think he needed to grow up and learn some things, but not as atonement. I understand how people are in grief, but I think he was treated harsher than he should have been under the circumstances.
Derek is one of the most broken souls I have ever read. He sees no way our of his lifestyle and has no desire to leave since he thinks he is helping his younger brother. Olivia takes everyone at face value. She is innocent in more ways than one. The two of them shouldn't fit but they do. I loved the chemistry and mystery that surrounds them. How they come out the other side is a true testament of love winning above all.
It amazes how LeAnne Davis continues to push the boundaries as an author. Derek and Olivia’s story is one of personal growth but also shaping who you are as a person. Derek has been forced to deal with trauma and a life which has been hard. Then he is given opportunity to change the course of his life through Olivia.
Olivia and Derek's story is about finding first love, betrayal, and forgiveness. About a little boy who grew up without love and an innocent girl who could have had the same life if it wasn't for her adoptive parents. Derek learns how the world is different from what he grew up with and Olivia learns about the harsher side of things.
I don't know how it's possible but they keep getting better!!! This series is awesome but Derek and Olivia's story was just WOW!!! WARNING...STOP EVERYTHING IN LIFE CAUSE YOU CANNOT PUT THIS DOWN!!! No cliffhanger although I'd love to know what is next for them. This is a story of faith, tragedy, love, family, drugs, betrayal, neglect, abuse,etc.
I enjoyed the story but this was my least favorite of the series. I had a hard time getting into it. Found it hard to believe that she was so naive to accept everything at face value even when she questioned some thing. She justified it in her mind and that bothered me. I like how it was resolved and still liked the story. Will still read more.
Fast forward and we have sweet Olivia story. There’s nothing I dislike about this book. I really like the author’s ability to write stories that are independent but intertwine and make you care about the characters. Olivia and Derek’s story is a story of many ups and downs. The Years After is a ride you won’t soon forget.
This is Olivia story all grown up (tony & Gretchen’s daughter) another emotional book! This is book 5! Derek is the guy she meets and there’s emotion and lies be told. This book will tug your heart and I’m looking forward to reading more!
Olivia’s all grown up and her story is just as emotional as the rest. Who ever thinks their first love with be a drug dealer? The ups and downs. His tragic up brining. As it progresses, it makes my heart better.