Darlin'

Aster Springs #4

by Samantha Leigh

She's the woman I loved and left. Now I'm back with a ten-year-old boy at my side and a heart full of regret.

I spent my whole life broke and unreliable—proving my father right. A Covington boy never amounts to anything.

Until my sister took off and left her son behind.

So I do what no man in my family’s ever done. I step up. He needs a home. Stability. A man he can count on. Which means I need a job. And fast.

Desperation has me taking the first one I'm offered—at Silver Leaf Ranch.

My new boss? Daisy Davenport.

The feisty, ranch-raised hellion I walked away from over a year ago takes one look at me and wants me gone.

Until she sees the little boy holding my hand.

Her brothers hate me. Her sisters tolerate me. Everybody on this whole damn ranch has an opinion.

And Daisy? She's sworn off love, sworn off me, and made it real clear I'm not getting a second chance.

I don't blame her. But I never stopped loving her.

So when she's sick, I take care of her. When she flirts with another cowboy, I see red. When she shows up drunk on my doorstep demanding answers, I kiss the fight right out of her instead.

Then a job offer comes. The kind that could finally make me the man I always wanted to be.

But my nephew’s already calling her name in his sleep.

And I have to choose.

Chase the life that proves my father wrong…

Or stay with the woman who already thinks I'm worth loving.

Genres: Second Chance, Westerns

431 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 27, 2026

About the author

Samantha Leigh is the author of hot and heartfelt small town romance with a fierce found family heart. She writes feel-good love stories about finding your way, healing what hurts, and happily-ever-afters that linger long after the last page.

Find Sam online!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samanthaleig...

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samanthalei...

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthaleigh...

Reviews

[Lauren (lololovesthings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars.

"Darlin'" by Samantha Leigh is another winner in the Aster Springs series. Leigh has a way of hooking her readers in the very first chapter, and that's what she does here. I loved the tension and teeming chemistry between the main characters, Daisy (FMC) and Beau (MMC). The two of them were together years before, deeply in love, on top of the world, traveling and working on various ranches in different countries, but Beau left and didn't say why. Years and many tears later, he has taken a job at Silver Leaf Ranch in Aster Springs, not knowing that Daisy works there. He is not alone: he is the guardian of his ten-year-old nephew, Ollie, whose mother left him. Daisy immediately wants him gone, but Beau is not above begging to give his nephew some much-needed stability. She acquiesces and lets them stay temporarily. The more time they spend together on the ranch in proximity to one another, the more feelings come swirling back between them, feelings that likely never left. I really enjoyed this book. The way Beau tended to Ollie made me swoon. He was willing to do whatever it took to give him a home, even if it was temporary. He is charming, sweet, and respectful. Daisy has had to learn to live without Beau and without answers as to why he left. She thought they were going to get married, but he left without a word. With Beau back in her orbit, all of these feelings she thought were long-dead have come bubbling back up to the surface and probably, realistically, never left in the first place. Beau makes Daisy realize what she really wants in life. They have quite a passionate romance with one another, one that never feels fake or forced. They have a natural gravitational pull to one another. I'd say this is a rather successful second-chance romance! I also like the way Daisy, Beau, and Ollie get along as a family unit. Ollie and Daisy have several wonderful scenes together that made me teary-eyed. Beau also had a couple of tear-jerking moments as well. This book can be read as a standalone, but I think it would behoove you to read the rest of the series beforehand! Great book!

Thank you to Samantha Leigh and Love Notes PR for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

[Liisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darlin’ was such a gorgeous return to Aster Springs - warm, emotional, full of family, and somehow it unexpectedly made me cry. 🥹

Beau has spent his whole life believing he’ll never amount to anything. But when his sister leaves her ten-year-old son Ollie behind, he steps up. Suddenly he needs a home, stability and a job - and that job happens to be at Silver Leaf Ranch.

His new boss? Daisy Davenport. The woman he loved, left, and never really stopped loving.

I really loved Beau and Daisy together. Through the dual timelines, we slowly uncover their whirlwind first romance, the heartbreak that tore them apart and everything they never managed to say. There’s so much history between them, but also this wonderfully natural connection. Their interactions feel effortless, and they seem to instinctively know what the other needs without having to say it.

Their second chance is actually quite low angst once they finally start being honest with each other. So much of their original heartbreak came down to miscommunication, and there were definitely moments where I thought you two could have saved yourselves a lot of heartache if you’d just talked! 😂 But I loved that once everything was out in the open, they recognised where they’d both gone wrong and decided they weren’t going to let something come between them again.

But Beau absolutely stole my heart. His difficult upbringing has left him believing he’s unreliable and unworthy, yet everything he does for Ollie shows the exact opposite. He’s loyal, hardworking, caring and so determined to give Ollie the stability he never had himself.

Watching Beau, Daisy and Ollie slowly create this safe, warm space together that felt like home was beautiful - and apparently much more emotional than I was prepared for. 🥹

Darlin’ is a sweet, slow-burn second-chance romance full of history, pain, regret, happiness, love and family. It’s about running from your past, trying to prove yourself, finding happiness somewhere that once brought you sadness, and accepting love even when you don’t believe you’re worthy of it.

Beau, Daisy and Ollie had all been through so much, and I loved seeing them find home in each other.

This can be read as a standalone, but the Davenport family is so embedded in these stories that I think they’re infinitely better read in order.

Thanks to Love Notes PR and Samantha Leigh for the eARC.

Tropes: second chance • single guardian • hate to love • boss x employee • cowboy • found family • forced proximity • small town

[❁ Ashton ❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Samantha has done it again!! I am enjoying this series and I honestly don’t want this to end !

I loved the :
» Tension and yearning!
» The dual timelines from past to present
» Their conflicting emotions
» The jealousy!
» The small town vibes
» The family unit

Daisy and Beau shared a whirlwind romance but although they loved eachother they were wanting a different future. A miscommunication caused a breakup with no closure which soon had them blaming the other ( BUT .. Wait! Hear me out! I usually hate this trope in books but it worked perfectly in their story!)

I liked how they both had a different memory of the past and those conflicting emotion between loving and hating was delicious. It added the perfect amount of tension to their chemistry. Like a simmer pot ready to boil and I was ready for that explosion! She was fiery, he was gentle but they were both hurting. I felt so many emotions! The feeling of happiness, grief , resentment and feeling abandoned. But they soon felt peace with eachother on this beautiful ranch. Their healing journey was also realistic, something many readers could relate to.

I had so much empathy for both. Daisy with her struggles to find a place to call home and be at peace within herself , and for Beau who struggled but was adamant to create a home and safe space for his nephew Ollie. It was refreshing to have the MMC with the financial struggles , and I totally admired his strength and bravery in asking and also for accepting help.

Overall , this was a really cute read! The Davenports are a family that I would love to be a part of! They love and support their own so hard!!

Would I recommend? Yes!! I love this series. It’s very heavy on the found family trope which i adore! So if this is your vibe , definitely check them out!

[Saartje’s literartea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another cozy summer read.
I actually didn’t realize it was part of series until finishing this arc.
So excited to explore the other couples stories.

I could easily folllow the story but probably would get more of the context if I read the previous books.

This book has many emotionally charged moments like the note left by beau and the breakdown Daisy had when she found it. I got a bit confused by the beginning since I'm quite new to the second chance trope, I wasn’t quite sure how to feel about the level of anger both characters felt.
And if it was normal to slowly read about the event that caused them to break up. Maybe I’m still learning to understand the tropes charm.

The highlights of the books were the kids becoming closer, the emotional scene between Beau and Daisy when Beau asked to visit her family and seeing them become a family and working on their issues.

Overall a nice summer read about family drama, second-chance romance, small town and high angst.

Thank you Love Notes PR and the author for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I apologize if there are any spelling or grammar mistakes!

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I luuurve Daisy and Beau so much. Like, so freaking much. It might be hard to find the right words but here we go.

I think I've been (im)patiently waiting for Daisy's story since the very first book in this series, and I've read them all. So when I finally got my hands on Darlin', I was hooked from the first chapter. Ugh. I wanted to know EVERYTHING. The tension and chemistry between Daisy and Beau? Yeah. You could feel it from the start. And I had questions burning in my brain that I NEEDED answers to.

The Silver Leaf Ranch setting in the cozy little town of Aster Springs is exactly the kind of place I want to escape to. Add in the Davenport family, found family, hot cowboys, and all those small-town feels, and I was already sold.

Then there's Beau.

He's the guardian to his ten-year-old nephew, Ollie, protective and so, so loyal, and a hot cowboy with an attitude and some serious broken-boy vibes. He broke Daisy's heart because he didn't think he was good enough for her, and his love language is definitely acts of service. And can I just say... FINALLY we get a guy who, even when separated from the love of his life, kept it in his pants. Can I get an amen? 🙌🏻 🤣

And Daisy? She's a horse girl who runs the trail rides on her family's ranch, and she's feisty, free-spirited, fiercely independent, and the baby of the family. She's afraid of commitment without quite realizing it, and her love language is quality time. These two just FIT. Even when they were apart, that connection never really disappeared.

We get both past and present timelines, so we get the backstory we desperately want one little piece at a time. Watching their story unfold this way made me desperate to know what happened between them and why their insecurities and fears drove them apart. And then watching them find their way back to each other? So darn good.

I did not want to put this book down. I wanted to inhale every single second of their story all at once. I was one-more-chaptering my husband when it was time for dinner. 😂 We get their exhilarating first days, their heartbreaking middle, and then we get to go right along with them as they find their new beginning. How was I supposed to stop reading that?

This is fairly low angst, but don't mistake that for low conflict. There is definitely enough going on to have your heart racing and leave you a little teary. The difference is that this time, the conflict comes from outside their relationship. Beau and Daisy are scared, sure, but they're willing to fight for what they want with their second chance. And I loved that.

Daisy. Beau. Ollie. The Davenport family. Silver Leaf Ranch. Those are basically all the ingredients you need to make this delightful story. It's just such a sweet, heartfelt story about two people who love each other deeply and are willing to do the work to earn their HEA. I wanted everything to work out for them and sweet little Ollie so badly.

And catching up with Dylan and Poppy, Izzy, Finn and Rosie, Chord and Violet, and Charlie, who I cannot WAIT to see find her own HEA, felt like checking in with friends too. I love when a series gets to that point where the characters don't feel like side characters anymore. They feel like people you've been keeping up with.

Is this a completely new concept? Nope. But honestly, I don't care. This is exactly the kind of comforting romance I love. Real, relatable characters you can get behind. A second chance at an "it's always been you" kind of love. Family that makes you feel like you belong. A quintessential small-town ranch setting that makes everything feel like home. And all those feel-good romance emotions that leave you smiling with maybe just a little sting behind your eyes.

It's heartfelt. It's hot. 🥵 It's healing. It's happily ever after.

And true love is the answer every time. 💜

[Emily Knaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I swear, if you crave second chance romances that bruise a little before they heal, Darlin’ is a knockout! I was all sorts of sad and angry before Daisy and Beau got their much deserved HEA.

Daisy and Beau spend over a full year traveling together; falling in love in that wild, wandering way that makes you believe nothing could ever break them. And then Beau does the unthinkable: he leaves. No explanation. No goodbye. Just heartbreak carved out of a miscommunication that should never have had that much power.

A year later, Daisy’s trying to rebuild her life on her family ranch, Silver Leaf, when Beau shows up on her doorstep… hired by her sister, carrying the weight of regret, and raising his ten year old nephew, Ollie. The moment they see each other again, you feel everything: the hate, the longing, the hurt, the want. Neither of them moved on. Neither of them even tried. Now, Daisy is Beau’s boss and she can’t try to get him off her ranch fast enough.

Their chemistry is unreal. The kind that snaps and sparks even when they’re furious. And when they finally give in the spice is perfection. It’s charged, intimate, and soaked in all the history they never stopped carrying. Beau aims to please and wants to be the only man for Daisy.

Daisy is doing her best to process her grief, even though being back home is hard. She loves her siblings but it’s difficult to plant roots because of all the memories she has tied to the ranch. Her second chance with Beau is much needed. She’s totally an FMC you can connect with, her pain, anger, and love are emotions you can feel through the page. Her bond with Ollie was SO cute! I loved that she became someone he could rely on in the midst of everything that was happening.

Beau is the kind of MMC who gets under your skin: protective, gentle, trying so hard to do the right thing even when he’s terrified he’s already ruined everything. Daisy it is for him and he knows it. He calls her darlin’, takes care of her when migraines knock her down, and shows up for her anyway he can.

“There’s nobody like you, Daisy Darlin’. Don’t ever change.”

Daisy’s family is slow to trust and quick to protect their own. Eventually they see the truth right before their eyes with a small push from Daisy. She fights hard to keep them at Silver Leaf Ranch. Ultimately, they accept Beau and Ollie not because the story demands it, but because the emotional work earns it and because if they don’t they lose Daisy too.
I seriously cried at the ending. How sweet!! Daisy gets the love of her life and sweet bonus with Ollie, while Beau and Ollie get the family they always wanted. In the end, all are truly loved and cared for unconditionally.

Darlin’ is angsty, emotional, beautifully messy, and full of that rare kind of love that survives distance, mistakes, and time. Such a gorgeous second chance story that lingers long after the last page.

A huge thank you to Samantha Leigh & LoveNotes PR for the early copy!

[Dimitra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darlin'🐎
Firstly,I want to thank LoveNotes PR & Samantha Leigh for trusting me with this ARC!🌟
a past decision is hunting Beau & two eyes that he cannot forget burst into his life again,while he has to navigate fatherhood alone.
Daisy is ready to fire him.Until she sees a little boy holding his hand,and starting to believe that a second chance may be given.
What an incredible love story this was.
Literally,the perfect book to binge,while giggling your feet for the 100% of the time (still do while writing this🫪).Since page 1,I could sense a 5 star putting itself together,and the way the romance,the characters & the tropes unfolded left me no space for doubt.Leigh's writing had me amazed,was easy to read and follow,while having that something which I am always looking for when I read those deeply yearning romances.
Daisy,was a woman of her own kind.Strong,unable to put in a cage,or make her stay in a place for too long,who once upon a time was deeply in love,had those passionate feelings about for one and only man,until everything collapsed,side by side with her chances to fall in love again.Since that she became a fortress,with few people able to pass her guards.However,since the return of Beau in her life,we see how can someone believe in its feelings again,and that a woman returning to love is not one that suddenly became soft or lost her fierce way of looking at life.Apart from that,I loved her energy and spirit,with her being truly the fmc this book needed.Wonderful job done by Leigh.
Beau,was a man of his word.Already,terrible in love with Daisy & that man did EVERYTHING in his power to get her back,and SHOW her how many things he never stopped feeling.Also,we saw him become a dad in a very admiring way,loving this little boy with his whole heart & becoming what can I only describe as man material.
Fore the romance,a little words can be said and many things can be felt.It was from the ones that honestly had me in aw & got me so good that I truly felt it in my heart,and wanted only the best for those two.
So,if you are searching for that deeply yearning feeling,an amazing book to binge,those cowboy vibes or just everything put together,Darlin' is the perfect book for you.🪵
Out On Aug,27th🍯
5⭐

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of those soft, sweet, easy to read books. It is a second-chance romance with a slow-burn. It is full of history, pain, regret, happiness, love, family and life challenges. Its running from the past, trying to prove yourself, finding happiness in a place that once only brought sadness and accepting love even when you see yourself as unworthy. Beau, Daisy and Ollie had all been through so much in their lives, and coming together they were all able to create this safe, warm space that felt like home. For Beau & Daisy they were able to get that second chance they never thought they would have and in doing so it added two more people to the crazy, big, loving unit that is the Davenport family.

Beau & Daisy's relationship started off like a whirlwind, then some miscommunication tore them a part. There was a lot of hate on Daisy's side, which made sense when she didn't have all the facts. But once things were explained they both realised they each contributed to the original breakdown. You could feel that they worked so well together. Their interactions were effortless. They knew what the other needed without words and they decided to never let something get in between them again. It was a very sweet connection connection they had. But them getting back together did feel a little too easy and simple. Basically, if they had those conversations back then, everything would have been fine. I guess that's why I didn't feel as emotionally invested in the characters.

I love the way the Davenport family always have such a big part to play in each book. Although Beau didn't get off on the right foot with them all, him and Ollie grew to be a part of the family. And the Davenports showed him this in the most them way.

I will admit, this one didn't grip me as much as I was hoping. Did it blow me away? No. But it was still a good enough book that I stuck around until the end. I think it just felt a little slow with its pacing at times. I did love all the found family elements and deep down I am still sucker for this series because of how much I adored book 1 & 2. Overall this one was a 4 ⭐️ read for me.

Thank you to Samantha Leigh & Love Notes PR for providing me with an arc.

[Sneha R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darlin’ is a sweet, emotional, and deeply satisfying romance about two people learning from their mistakes, choosing each other again, and creating the family they've always wanted. With lovable characters, a charming ranch setting, adorable nephew moments, and a beautifully written second chance love story, it's a standout installment in the Aster Springs series.

A heartfelt, emotional second chance cowboy romance that combines lost love, family, healing, and small town charm. The story follows Daisy Davenport and Beau, two people who never stopped loving each other despite a painful breakup caused by grief, insecurity, and miscommunication.

A year after Daisy returned home heartbroken, Beau unexpectedly reappears at Silver Leaf Ranch after becoming the guardian of his young nephew, Ollie. Forced back into each other's lives, they must confront the past, unpack old wounds, and decide whether their love deserves another chance.

One of the biggest strengths of the novel is the relationship between Daisy and Beau. Their chemistry is undeniable, but it's the emotional connection beneath it that makes their story so compelling. Through dual timelines, it slowly uncover the whirlwind romance they once shared, the heartbreak that tore them apart, and the reasons they struggled to find their way back to each other.

Beau stands out as a deeply lovable hero. Despite his difficult upbringing and feelings of inadequacy, he's loyal, hardworking, and incredibly devoted. His role as guardian to Ollie showcases his caring nature and provides some of the book's most heartwarming moments. Daisy is equally strong and relatable, balancing her independence with her fear of commitment and unresolved feelings for Beau.

The Davenport family and the residents of Aster Springs add warmth, humor, and a strong sense of community. The found family atmosphere, ranch setting, and memorable side characters make the story feel comforting and immersive.

While the romance is relatively low angst, the emotional stakes remain high. The conflict comes mostly from external circumstances and personal insecurities rather than unnecessary relationship drama, making the reconciliation feel mature and satisfying.

Thankyou Samantha and LoveNotes PR for this ARC!!

[Emmy Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell head over heels for Beau from the first time he called her “darlin” in that southern cowboy accent and from then on I was in a spell. Not only did this book attack my ovaries (because he is a killer father figure to his nephew who he has legal guardianship of) but also my emotions because I was a crying mess by the time the book ended. I’m not usually a big fan of time changes in between chapters but my one exception is second chance where there’s flashbacks of their first time being in a relationship with each other. The parallels and differences between the then and now of Daisy and Beau’s relationship had me crying from how beautiful their past relationship was and mourning the loss. But it also made me love them so much more and root for them with all my heart. Gosh when they meet again after a year the heartbreak and longing cuts so damn deep and raw, and it’s written so well that I felt for them through the pages. Their first romance was very “right person wrong time” but also major miscommunication on both their parts. It was amazing seeing them work past the insecurities that led to their “breakup” and finally communicating with each other in the end for their HEA. The found family also got so damn hard because the class difference between them was a major issue or insecurity for Beau, and although her brothers hated him for hurting Daisy at the start, they loved and accepted him and his nephew Ollie. Why you ask? Because he made Daisy happier than shroud been since their parents died. Ollie, Beau’s nephew, was also the sweetest little kid and deserved so much better than to be left behind by his bio mother, and the way Daisy supported him from the start was beautiful. Despite all of Beau’s struggles that he’ll never be worth anything, I think how he stepped up for Ollie proves everything. This book is an emotional wreck so prepare your tissues because there are crazy and heartbreaking plot twists, that in the end, make their happy ending even more heartwarming. I’m still crying as I write this review because I fell so deeply for both Daisy and Beau, and I give this a 5/5

[Rebmay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daisy and Beau’s story is both sweet and spicy with lots of angst and yearning. They met while working on a ranch in New Zealand two and a half years ago. An instant attraction soon turned to love. They spent the next eighteen months together while travelling the world, working on a ranch for a few months, before moving onto another. A year ago, Beau broke both of their hearts when he left in the middle of the night, with a note saying it was over between them. Daisy had left her family‘s ranch in California at just eighteen to escape the pain of losing both of her parents and, ironically, it’s the pain of losing Beau that brought her back home to her family a decade later.

Now Beau is back in Daisy’s life as the new stable hand that her sister hired without consulting her. She wants to fire him immediately, but Beau pleads his case. He needs stable work and a place to stay in order to assume permanent custody of the young nephew he has with him. Daisy can’t in good conscience send him away without making sure he has another job lined up. She doesn’t want to punish young Ollie for his uncle’s actions, but she tells Beau to start looking for that other job and she will too. She does get another job lined up for Beau, but it doesn’t start for two months. Daisy tells Beau to do his work and stay out of her way. Of course that is impossible when they are both working in the stables with the horses.

As their story unfolds, Beau and Daisy finally hash out what happened between them, especially the breakup and why he left her the way he did. Neither has stopped loving each other, but there is so much angst and hurt between them, as well as his need to prove himself worthy of her. Daisy has her own need to prove herself to her family after being gone for a decade and leaving the ranch for them to manage. Her protective family is also watching, intent on protecting Daisy from being hurt again, and not exactly making things easy for Beau. It is young Ollie, with his eagerness to please and his joy in being on the ranch, who ends up uniting everyone.

This well written and very engaging book has my heartfelt recommendation.

[rosesreadsromance · Rating 5 out of 5]

🤠 "I've never had to think about you, Darlin'. I knew I loved you the moment I saw you, and I know I'll keep on loving you forever." 🤠

“I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you.” — Paul Coelho, The Alchemist 🤍


Daisy and Beau’s story has everything I love in a romance: love at first sight, undeniable chemistry, steamy moments, secrets, hidden feelings, and a heartbreaking separation that left them both carrying painful wounds 💔🥺

When they meet again years later and get a second chance at love, all those old feelings come rushing back—both the good and the bad ❤️‍🩹

Daisy is beautiful, talented, and strong woman 💖 After years away, she returns to her family’s ranch, searching for her place in the world and a chance to finally do what she loves 🐎🤠🎀🤎

Beau has had to leave his life as a drifter behind after becoming the guardian of his nephew, Ollie. Now, his number one priority is giving this little boy a safe, happy, and stable home 🥹❤️

And Beau... I absolutely adored him 🫠 He is protective, patient, understanding, and hardworking, and I love that Ollie’s happiness always comes first. He would do absolutely anything for him 🫶🏻

I also loved watching Daisy and Beau’s relationship evolve 😍 Their journey from hate to love was slow, emotional, and full of tension. The chemistry, the physical attraction, the yearning, the jealousy… 🔥🥵 Everything was there! And I especially loved that, deep down, neither of them ever stopped believing that they were meant to be together forever ❤️

Daisy fighting for their future and refusing to give up on them was one of my favorite parts 🥰 She never stopped hoping that somehow, they would find their way to be with each other 🥹💕

And the bond between Beau and Ollie, as well as Daisy and Ollie, completely melted my heart 🥹🫠 The three of them fit together so beautifully, and watching them become this sweet little family was everything 💜

I highly recommend this book, especially if you love second chance romance, single guardian, hate to love, cowboy romance, and found family 🐎🤠🏡


📖 Darlin' by Samantha Leigh (ARC) 💜

[Minnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review

5⭐|2🌶️|4%🌶️frequency

If you don't know it, I am an empath. I feel the pain of characters when I read it. But also the joy 😉 So, of course I cried a lot reading this book.
Daisy and Beau's story is just so extremely wonderful but also sad. I knew Daisy was suffering a huge heartbreak when she came back to Silver Leaf Ranch a year ago. It was clear in the previous books. I was curious about what happened. And OMG, I expect a lot, but not that. Not the chemistry she and Beau have and had. It's more than just chemistry. It's the whole shebang. They are made for each other. Obviously, I cried so much when the breakup in the past happened. The book has a dual timeline, so there are a few chapters from the past in between present-day chapters.

Beau is a wonderful man. He's all green flags. But he's also broken. His childhood wasn't the best. Now he wants to do it completely differently with his nephew. God, he's so cute with him. I can see him with more kids.

I loved seeing the whole gang again. Sure, this family has its "fights" sometimes, but they hold together. Nobody comes between them. That's what I love so much about the Davenports 🩷

I need to come to an end, even though I don't want to 🙈 But let me say one more thing...
I absolutely LOVED the names of all the horses on the ranch. God, they couldn't be more perfect, and they are also funny 😂

OK, one more thing, but that's the last thing...
I'm so looking forward to Charlie's book. I didn't see any hints so far about what her story could be, but I'm soo excited and hope it won't take too long. I'm not a patient girl 🙈

Thanks to the author and Love Notes PR for trusting me with an ARC 🩷


Follow me on IG for more
https://www.instagram.com/minnie.love...

[Maxime Janssens · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ // 3🌶

A cowboy, second-chance romance that has everything you need for a sweet ride. Part of an interconnected standalone series of the Davonport siblings.

Daisy came home after 10years on the road, with a broken heart that her family did not know about. Now, a year after, she is ready to take up more responsibilities and become a true part of the family business. But when her sister introduces her to her new help, she is faced with the man who broke her heart.

Beau needs to obtain stability. When his sister leaves her 10yo in his costudy, he is determined to give the boy a better life and future that was given him. Having a stable job at this new firm was everything he needed for the both of them. But when he is confronted with her, the women that broke his heart, those plans and stability are in sambles.

Will Daisy and Beau get a second chance and clear up everything that led to the end, or will they split ways without looking back? With much at stake, and a heart that beats for the other, boths faith in love is tested.

Darlin' is a super sweet story in which 2 people with haunted souls find a home in one another. Their different backgrounds show how love does not follow the rules, but that open communication and honesty are what makes or breaks you. The MCs are written so well and with depth, you truely feel all of their struggles, heartaches but also their wins. Everyone makes mistakes, its the way you act and tackle them that makes up character, and both Beau and Daisy are kind, loving people deserving a happy ending. I truely enjoyed the book, a swooning, giddy lovestory that warms up your heart.

"𝑨𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚" 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒚.

[Romi · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review — Darlin’ by Samantha Leigh 💜

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Darlin’ was such a sweet, emotional second-chance romance with all the small-town and found-family goodness I was hoping for.

Daisy and Beau had me hooked because their relationship isn’t just about attraction—it’s about everything they never got to say, the hurt they carried from the past, and whether two people who once loved each other can find their way back to each other.

I really enjoyed the tension between them. Daisy is fiery and stubborn, while Beau has that softer, protective side that made him incredibly easy to root for. And Beau’s relationship with his nephew Ollie added such a lovely layer to the story. Watching him try to become the dependable person his nephew needs made his character feel much more emotionally grounded.

The ranch setting, the Davenport family, the found-family atmosphere, and the small-town vibes made this feel incredibly cozy, while the chemistry and unresolved feelings between Daisy and Beau kept the story moving.

I especially loved the emotional side of their journey. There’s resentment, longing, jealousy, vulnerability, and ultimately the feeling of finding your way back to the person who feels like home.

If you love:
🤎 Second-chance romance
🤎 Small-town romance
🤎 Cowboys & ranch life
🤎 Found family
🤎 Single guardian
🤎 Emotional tension & yearning
🤎 Protective MMC
🤎 A couple with history

…you’ll definitely want to add Darlin’ to your TBR.

Samantha Leigh once again delivers a heartfelt small-town romance with plenty of chemistry, family feels, and a happily-ever-after worth rooting for. 💜

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beau & Daisy

I've been living in Aster Springs for a few years now and it was so great to finally see one of the Girls get her story!

A second chance romance that was so swoony and deep feels and everything I love about the Davenports! Loyal, loving, crazy at times, but above all - compassion!

I love the way Samantha Leigh writes, I love the stories she creates, the relationships with all different characters and how the entwine with each other, as it does in real life! Its not just a bubble between the to MC - its about the people they interact with on a daily and not so daily - its the people passing by.

Thats why I loved and CRIED reading this love story - because there was depth and real mindfulness of peoples needs and in particular their own - it really highlighted how people see themselves vs how they see each other - we experience worthyness and not being enough, about letting people down while also not letting ourselves down.

This one really hit different because it felt so much more than a romance novel - it was real life.

I will always and forever be a team Samantha Leigh because she writes beautiful towns, characters and love stories!

I should review more about the story - but I feel like its one that needs to be read - its a second chance at romance, but I think its the importance of why Beau and Daisy got to their second chance. Its hard to put into words the relationship (thats why we leave it to the author) but it moved me to tears too many times, it has heart and such important life lessons with loss, love, family, worthyness and more... just read it!

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

I’m not even sure where to start with this one because it gave me ALL the feelings 🥹❤️

Beau and Daisy’s second-chance romance completely stole my heart. There’s so much history, hurt and unresolved feelings between them. Watching them slowly find their way back to each other was everything.

But Beau… my heart absolutely broke for this man. 🥺 He has spent his whole life being told that he isn’t good enough and that Covington men never amount to much, so it was heartbreaking to see just how deeply those words had affected him. Especially when we find out what really happened between him and Daisy a year ago.

He loved her so much, but he genuinely believed that he didn’t deserve her. Beneath all those insecurities, Beau is such a sweetheart, and I just wanted to wrap him up and tell him how worthy he really is. 😭

I also loved seeing him step up for his nephew Ollie, and doing everything he could to give him the life he deserved.

And Daisy and Beau together? The love was still there, even after everything that had happened, and watching them work through the past and finally realise that they both deserved their happily ever after was so satisfying.

One thing I appreciated was that there was no unnecessary third-act breakup. 🙌 After everything these two had already been through, I was so glad the story allowed them to actually communicate, fight for each other and enjoy finding their way back to one another instead of throwing another pointless obstacle between them.

Beau and Daisy absolutely have my heart, and I loved watching them get their second chance. ❤️

Thank you to Samantha and Love Notes PR for the ARC.

[Lyn Brownlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Amazing story in the Davenport world
This is book 4 of the Aster Springs series and it’s Daisy Davenport’s time to get her happy ever after.
Daisy has been a favourite of mine from early on and I was so excited for this story.
With her year long man ban finally up, her ex Beau comes back into her life with his 10 year old nephew Ollie.
From that moment on their lives were forever changed.

This story had it all -
-From past to present retelling
-Anger, hurt and jealousy
-Misunderstandings
-So many emotional moments that had me crying
-Second Chance at love
-Found family
-The love of a child
-Families that step up when needed
-Amazing chemistry and spice

I adored this story.
Daisy was her wild, gorgeous, emotional self, bottling up her feelings at times, then being the fiery woman she is and letting loose.
Whilst, Beau struggles with his upbringing, the hurt and loss of leaving Daisy, the love he has for Ollie plus the need to give him love and a home was emotional and truly beautiful.
Will Daisy let him through those walls she has built up?
Will Beau choose the right path this time?
Another amazing story in this series of which I loved every minute of my time in Aster Springs.
Great catching up with all the other Davenport’s and can’t wait for Charlie’s turn to find her partner.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you Samantha Leigh and Love Notes PR for the gifted copy and the opportunity to read this gorgeous book - all opinions are my own.

[Kerrie Juric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darlin’ by Samantha Leigh is Book 4 in the Aster Springs series and a dual-POV, second chance, small town, workplace romance filled with hurt, healing, and so much love that completely stole my heart.

Daisy and Beau meet while working on a ranch in New Zealand before travelling the world together. They share a love of horses and adventure, but they’re also carrying painful pasts. Beau is tired of running and ready to put down roots. He wants nothing more than to build a life with his Daisy Darlin’, but doing so means they both have to face the things they’ve spent so long trying to leave behind.

Chapter after chapter, this book had my heart in a vice 😭 Their history, the emotional depth, and the love they’ve carried for each other made this such a beautiful, heartfelt romance. Then there’s 10-year-old Ollie, Beau’s nephew, who needs stability and a loving guardian. His presence brought another layer of tenderness and emotion to their story that I absolutely loved.

The heartache felt so real, but so did the love, making Daisy and Beau’s journey all the more meaningful. This is the kind of love story that completely wrecks you before putting your heart back together. 🥹

This was my first Samantha Leigh book, and she absolutely did not disappoint. Darlin’ is hands down my favourite contemporary romance of the year so far! I can’t wait to go back and read the rest of the Aster Springs series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

[Spicy_bookcorner · Rating 5 out of 5]

📕BOOK REVIEW📕

This is the 4th book in the series, and it can be read as a standalone. However, if you haven’t yet done so, the first three are worthy reads.

Daisy and Beau were once nomads, living on different ranches across the globe, living their best lives and most importantly, loving each other. At home, Daisy’s family are running the ranch she is part owner of, and when she ultimately cannot give Beau a ‘yes’ to marriage, she returns to Aster Springs heartbroken. But life has a funny way of turning out. When Beau receives an opportunity for a more permanent position, he ends up at Aster Springs as a single guardian to his nephew. Daisy wants him gone. But Beau wants to be stable for his nephew.

Oh this was quite an emotional read. We know from the other books the impact the parents death’s had on each sibling, but Daisy felt it the most. Being at Aster Springs was painful in some way, but I really loved her character growth with this. You can see why she reluctant to show Beau her roots. I enjoyed the sort of dual timeline-you understand their history and the choices they made.

Beau was honestly so kind and considerate, and he was such a great role model for his nephew. I loved their relationship. I also adored Daisy’s involvement in ensuring he felt safe and welcome. Daisy’s family are hard going haha especially towards Beau, and again, the character development was perfect.

All in all, a beautiful book about second chances and new found family.

[Katey Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

-Second Chance
-Cowboy Romance
-Boss x Employee
-Hate to love you
-Single Guardian

This book was such a cute romance read. Daisy absolutely hates that she still loves Beau. It adds in yearning and delicious tension. It gives you that flashback element so you can real live out what went down in the past with Daisy and Beau.

Daisy is kind of stubborn and set in her ways. She has some obvious trauma to work through when it comes to the loss of her parents. I was really struggling during this book when she kept wanting to blame Beau for leaving her all those years ago when she also played a part. Trauma for sure does weird things to your brain chemistry and it showed in this book.

Beau recently has taken in his nephew due to his sister leaving him. He wants to be an amazing father figure or stable parents but his past with his own parents really bothers him. But he will stop at nothing to give his nephew the best life even if that means he will be working for his ex girlfriend.

I love a small town second chance romance book and this one hit the mark! I can’t wait for the 5th book to come out. Thank you so much to the author and agency for allowing me to read this advanced readers copy!

[Emmi (bookish_redpanda) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Format: 📱 eBook 📱 (ARC)

One comment to make - Sam is still one of the very few authors who can get my eyes watery as I read.

Okay, but seriously, Sam has knocked it out of the park with this one. I swear with each book she writes, the more in love I fall with her craft and her characters, and Daisy and Beau are no exception. Throw in Ollie and once more a top tier read for me.

I love the complexities of the characters, and that we aren't just seeing things at surface level; we really delve deep into both Daisy and Beau. The way Sam chose two write this as an almost dual timeline book works in their favour, as it keeps you hooked to see what happened in the past, whilst they reconnect in the present. Their story is so full of tension and yearning, and you certainly get the satisfaction of their relationship panning out.

Throw in the amazing found family that Sam writes into Silver Leaf Ranch, and it's such a joy and guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Yes, there is some angst and some low-level conflict, but it's written in a way that is perfect to move the story along but not cause too much trouble to our MCs. And as is the way with the Aster Springs series, the balance of storytelling, character development, spice, banter and chemistry is spot on. No notes.

This is one of those books where I want to suggest you just read it, especially if you're a fan of small-town romances, with a side of single guardian and a hefty helping of second chance romance. It's one that I don't want to spoil with my review, but will definitely encourage you to read, as I loved it so much.

I always love returning to Aster Springs and the Davenport family.

Thank you to the author for the eARC opportunity. These are my honest thoughts that I have provided voluntarily.

[♡Angelique♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic Aster Springs story!!!

I loved Daisy in the previous story and am glad she finally got to tell her story about her travels and why she came back home so broken.

The whirlwind romance Daisy and Beau had was something you tell your kids about when you get older. Falling in love doing what you love and seeing the world with someone by your side sounds like the best of both worlds. Unfortunately, Daisy's grief and Beau's insecurities got in the way and these two just decided to hurt each other. They spent over a year apart and when they cross paths, neither of them is the same. Beau now has his nephew, Ollie, to raise and Daisy is trying to be taken seriously in a more management position in the ranch.

The whole time I was reading, I was on the edge of my seat praying they would figure it out and Beau and Ollie could get the family they needed and deserved. Despite all the setbacks, the find a way to get the life they always imagined and Ollie gets the stability he craves.

I loved this story so much! While I am excited for Charlie to fi ally find someone to be more important than work, its bittersweet knowing the end of this series is coming ♡

[Reece Andriese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darlin
Daisy and Beau
They were once every thing to one another in a life that was just there own. But a year latter she back at her family’s ranch and trying to live life again when in walks a familiar face they will make both of there worlds a whole lot harder.
With a child involved and their future at the ranch on a thin line will this make or brake them? Does love still exist or was it never gone?
This is a cute read with some drama and heartfelt moments!
At times Daisy can be a little bit misunderstood but when she comes to show her true feelings you can’t but help feel for her! Beau is sweet a charmer and really just wants a life with love and appreciation! Both Daisy and Beau are exactly what each other needs.everyone on the outside looking In may not understand what these two have but it’s their underneath the hurt and misunderstanding! The found family, the banter and the heartfelt moments are the perfect way to sum up darlin’
The happy ending for these two is the way it was meant to be but with a lot more,
found in family and the future!
⭐️/4.5 stars
🌶️/2 on the spice level

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this one.

These two fought hard for their love.

These two fell hard and fast. They worked to love each other the best way possible. Then things fell apart. Both of them were hurt. Both felt like they were lost.

Now they are back on the same space. Not on purpose but forced back together by circumstances beyond their control. As time goes on the truth comes out. How they hurt each other. The secrets that they weren’t ready to share and the love that was still there even a year later.

More love to be had and a family to build these two fight hard. Both with and for each other. As they come back together and start building a life piece by piece getting to see this family come together was truly something special.

I loved every moment with this family. This story being no different. This one had me in my feels from the beginning. I loved how these two fought for each other and there wasn’t a silly break up to work through. Once they realized what they had lost and found again they both held on with both hands and didn’t let go.

Highly recommend this entire series.

[Mama C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last summer Daisy came home to Silver Leaf Ranch after 10 years of travelling and working abroad. This summer she plans to take on a larger role in the running of the ranch.
But she’s been keeping a secret from her family about the real reason she came home. And that reason just walked in the front door.

After leaving home at 18, Beau has worked as a stablehand on ranches and horse farms all around the world. But when his sister reaches out asking him to raise her son, Beau returns home.
Needing to provide stability for his nephew, Beau accepts a position at Silver Leaf Ranch, not knowing it’s the home of his ex girlfriend, who is now his boss.

Another brilliant story in the Aster Springs series by Samantha Leigh. I honestly think this is my favourite one yet. Well written characters with a depth of relatability that I don’t often find.
And I’d be lying if I said that last 20% didn’t have me sobbing to the last page! (Good tears in the end, I promise!)

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this second chance romance, which isn't usually a trope I enjoy. The chapters go between the current and past for FMC and MMC in a well written way. The pacing is also reflective in this.
Daisy is such a strong character and wants not to disappoint the family and fall for Beau again. Beau's life has changed dramatically since last seeing Daisy, mainly being taking care now of Ollie. Ollie is lovely and you just want the world for him!
There were tears for some parts of the story as it pulls on your heartstrings. It was quicker than expected them both getting onto the same page. But I think this is very much helped by the MMCs devotion.
Great setting, found family elements and cute interactions between Daisy Beau and Ollie 🥰

Thanks for the ARC copy (Love Notes PR and Samantha Leigh), all opinions and thoughts are my own. New author to myself, will be investigating more!

[Ashley (aneverendingbookstack) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Darlin’ was a cute, emotional second-chance romance with plenty of small-town charm. This was actually my first book in the Aster Springs series, so I went into it without any background from the previous books. Thankfully, I was still able to follow the story and connect with the characters without feeling completely lost.

I really enjoyed the history between Daisy and Beau and watching them work through all the hurt and feelings that were still there. I also loved the family dynamics and Beau stepping up for his nephew—it added such a sweet layer to his character.

There were definitely moments that had me swooning, but I didn’t completely connect with the romance the way I hoped I would. Some parts felt a little repetitive, and I wanted a bit more depth in certain areas.

Overall, this was a fun and heartfelt read with chemistry, family drama, and second-chance romance. Even though I started with book two, I’m definitely curious about the rest of Aster Springs!

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darlin' by Samantha Leigh is a sweet, heartfelt second-chance romance! The FMC Daisy and MMC Beau have the kind of chemistry that jumps off the page, and I loved watching two people who clearly never stopped loving each other find their way back together. Beau’s role as a guardian to his young nephew added an extra layer of tenderness to the story, and his determination to become the man he wants to be made him incredibly easy to root for. The small-town ranch setting, family dynamics, emotional history, and plenty of swoony moments made this such a cozy and enjoyable read. I especially loved the themes of forgiveness, healing, family, and getting a second chance at the love you thought you lost. Overall, Darlin' is a must-read for anyone who loves small-town romance, second chances, protective heroes, and found family!

I received an ARC copy from Love Notes PR. Thank you for giving me the chance to read this novel and share my honest review of the novel

[Emma (thecaffeinatedbookaholic) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my heart. This one brought alllll the feels!! Beau & Daisy have history no one knows about, and when he showed up on her ranch, looking for a job, a year after he walked away from her? Oh it hurtttt. It was not an easy reunion, but with Beau recently getting custody of his nephew, he was determined to do whatever he needed to for that boy. I adored watching Beau learn how to parent, and seeing Ollie come out of his shell. I loved getting to watch Beau & Daisy’s story unfold and to see them finally face all the hurt and the questions between them. These two might’ve been broke, but dang were they rich on love, and I loved watching them find their way back to each other. Between Daisy’s grief and Beau never feeling like he was worth much, this one tugged on all the heartstrings, and it hurt. But these two are so meant to be, and I loved their story! I can’t wait for Charlie next!

[ARC review]