What do you think?
Rate this book
Whatever #4
Whatever It Takes: A Highland Springs Romance
Secrets are best left buried in the past, something Darla Heartwood knows better than anyone. She’s hidden the truth for eighteen years until the night of her birthday when she receives a call asking if she gave birth to a baby girl. Suddenly, her perfectly ordered world, successful business, and public persona come unraveled. Life doesn’t always turn out the way you expect it to. Jason Byrne found that out the hard way. Left to raise his baby daughter on his own, he’s made a quiet life for them, teaching at the local college and dedicating his time to being a single dad. He had hoped to avoid the promise he’d made to Meghan—to find her biological mother when she turned eighteen—but when his healthy, athletic daughter collapses and doctors aren’t able to determine why, he can’t put it off any longer. Meeting the daughter she gave up, and the handsome, distinguished man who raised her, Darla decides it’s time she faces her fears. Meghan deserves a strong, brave role model. To earn her respect, Darla must confront the powerful man who left her pregnant at fifteen. She has to do Whatever It Takes to forgive herself, stand up and be heard, and open her heart to love and family.
189 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 30, 2018
20 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Leigh Fleming
12 books75 followersLeigh Fleming is an award-winning author of romantic suspense, and has published contemporary romance. The Truth of the Matter is her first work of historical women’s fiction.
Leigh lives in West Virginia with her husband and her deaf French bulldog. When not writing, she enjoys reading, travelling, scrapbooking, and spending time with friends.
Contact Leigh at leigh@leighfleming.com
Website: http://www.leighfleming.com
Follow her: http://www.facebook.com/leighhfleming...
http://www.twitter.com/leighhfleming1
http://www.instagram.com/lhfauthor
Leigh lives in West Virginia with her husband and her deaf French bulldog. When not writing, she enjoys reading, travelling, scrapbooking, and spending time with friends.
Contact Leigh at leigh@leighfleming.com
Website: http://www.leighfleming.com
Follow her: http://www.facebook.com/leighhfleming...
http://www.twitter.com/leighhfleming1
http://www.instagram.com/lhfauthor
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 22, 2019
Whatever It Takes
is a beautifully compelling story that has a bit of everything. From drama, romance and conflict, to joy and sorrow, there is really something for everyone. It is a contemporary fiction and romance novel set in Highland Springs, West Virginia, a wonderfully scenic, American small town with a close-knit community.
What’s really likeable about it straight-away are the opening chapters that draw you straight into the main character, Darla Jean Heartwood. She is a strong, confident, very successful businesswoman, however, she is also emotional and impulsive. You feel instantly on her side, particularly in her initial dealings with Jason Byrne the handsome fellow who has been following her. You can immediately sense there is something going on, and one of the highlights of the book is following how that relationship develops. The handsome, charismatic, distinguished, silver fox Jason is, at first, hard to work out but you gradually get to know him as the story unfolds and see that he has many surprising qualities.
Darla has kept a family secret for eighteen years until she receives an unwanted telephone call. Family relationships are put to the test when she decides to correct some of her past decisions, for her daughter, Meghan, the man she loves, and also herself. She will let nothing stand in her way to expose the high-profile Governor, a man who took away her innocence and brought great angst to her life for years.
Both the plot and the character development are excellent, and the story-line is very believable. The story is both captivating and engaging. It held my interest from start to finish, and I found myself rooting for Darla as she showed extremes of courage in confronting her challenges.
The writing style is very easy to read and it’s an interesting novel particularly for the interplay of the different characters - a wacky and psychic aunty, a loud and pushy cousin and a large group of girlfriends. Plenty of romantic ups and downs along the way and plenty of surprises. I loved it!
I highly recommend this book and suggest wholeheartedly that you add it to your booklist.
Thank you to Hidden Gems for a free ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary, honest review.
What’s really likeable about it straight-away are the opening chapters that draw you straight into the main character, Darla Jean Heartwood. She is a strong, confident, very successful businesswoman, however, she is also emotional and impulsive. You feel instantly on her side, particularly in her initial dealings with Jason Byrne the handsome fellow who has been following her. You can immediately sense there is something going on, and one of the highlights of the book is following how that relationship develops. The handsome, charismatic, distinguished, silver fox Jason is, at first, hard to work out but you gradually get to know him as the story unfolds and see that he has many surprising qualities.
Darla has kept a family secret for eighteen years until she receives an unwanted telephone call. Family relationships are put to the test when she decides to correct some of her past decisions, for her daughter, Meghan, the man she loves, and also herself. She will let nothing stand in her way to expose the high-profile Governor, a man who took away her innocence and brought great angst to her life for years.
Both the plot and the character development are excellent, and the story-line is very believable. The story is both captivating and engaging. It held my interest from start to finish, and I found myself rooting for Darla as she showed extremes of courage in confronting her challenges.
The writing style is very easy to read and it’s an interesting novel particularly for the interplay of the different characters - a wacky and psychic aunty, a loud and pushy cousin and a large group of girlfriends. Plenty of romantic ups and downs along the way and plenty of surprises. I loved it!
I highly recommend this book and suggest wholeheartedly that you add it to your booklist.
Thank you to Hidden Gems for a free ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary, honest review.
January 24, 2019
Whatever It Takes
by Leigh Fleming
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Good, Good story! Excellent characters and special happenings make this a remarkable book. Darla Heartwood is the realtor with a heart, so says her business card. She's a thirty-three year old single woman with a cat and great-aunt Clara, who's a medium. At her birthday celebration she encounters a gorgeous silver haired man, Jason Byrne. Jason shows up again the next day at her open-house asking a lot of personal questions. He thinks she's his adopted daughter's biological mother. Darla gave birth to a baby when she was only 15, and gave it up for adoption immediately after. That baby is Meghan, Jason's daughter of 18. Jason had long ago promised Meghan that he would try to find her birth mother, and now he had. Darla is so confused and upset by Jason's declarations, she goes to see Clara for some clarification. Then, Darla finally agrees to meet her daughter, Megan. The two just click after their first meeting, and even Jason starts to think more of Darla too. Meghan's life, it turns to, is in medical jeopardy. These three, spurred on by Clara's visions, find themselves embroiled in political and personal scandal, that affects them all, started 18 years ago by Darla's unwanted pregnancy. A fascinating and heart wrenching tale of pedophilia, psychic visions and deep familial love. The chain of events in the lives of the three is tragically horrific and wonderful at the same time. This is the first I've read by Ms. Fleming, but, now I'm sure to read more! Excellent!
I voluntarily read this Advance Readers Copy for an honest review.
by Leigh Fleming
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Good, Good story! Excellent characters and special happenings make this a remarkable book. Darla Heartwood is the realtor with a heart, so says her business card. She's a thirty-three year old single woman with a cat and great-aunt Clara, who's a medium. At her birthday celebration she encounters a gorgeous silver haired man, Jason Byrne. Jason shows up again the next day at her open-house asking a lot of personal questions. He thinks she's his adopted daughter's biological mother. Darla gave birth to a baby when she was only 15, and gave it up for adoption immediately after. That baby is Meghan, Jason's daughter of 18. Jason had long ago promised Meghan that he would try to find her birth mother, and now he had. Darla is so confused and upset by Jason's declarations, she goes to see Clara for some clarification. Then, Darla finally agrees to meet her daughter, Megan. The two just click after their first meeting, and even Jason starts to think more of Darla too. Meghan's life, it turns to, is in medical jeopardy. These three, spurred on by Clara's visions, find themselves embroiled in political and personal scandal, that affects them all, started 18 years ago by Darla's unwanted pregnancy. A fascinating and heart wrenching tale of pedophilia, psychic visions and deep familial love. The chain of events in the lives of the three is tragically horrific and wonderful at the same time. This is the first I've read by Ms. Fleming, but, now I'm sure to read more! Excellent!
I voluntarily read this Advance Readers Copy for an honest review.
January 25, 2019
🎭Super, heartwarming story of second chances: can Darla brave and overcome her monstrous past? 🌄
January 23, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
👍👍💕😷😥😍
Really fascinating story of second chances and healing stemming from an adopted child who won't abandon her ambition to meet Darla Heartwood, her birth mother. I liked everything about this novel --the concise writing style, the character development, the plot and subject matter --even though it took me a while to warm up to the heroine. Her erratic and self-absorbed behavior early in the story is somewhat explained as the author slowly pulls back the curtain Darla closed on her trauma when she was a teen. Jason, her child's adoptive father, was also a bit hard to like at times, but his intense protective love for his ailing daughter never wavers and, on that basis alone, I had to overlook some of his harsher behavior toward Darla. Once I picked this story up I could not put it down! Totally recommended!:😊🌟⭐🌟⭐🌟
For those sensitive to the subject, there is a description of sexual assault, but it was integral to the telling of the tale.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
January 23, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
👍👍💕😷😥😍
Really fascinating story of second chances and healing stemming from an adopted child who won't abandon her ambition to meet Darla Heartwood, her birth mother. I liked everything about this novel --the concise writing style, the character development, the plot and subject matter --even though it took me a while to warm up to the heroine. Her erratic and self-absorbed behavior early in the story is somewhat explained as the author slowly pulls back the curtain Darla closed on her trauma when she was a teen. Jason, her child's adoptive father, was also a bit hard to like at times, but his intense protective love for his ailing daughter never wavers and, on that basis alone, I had to overlook some of his harsher behavior toward Darla. Once I picked this story up I could not put it down! Totally recommended!:😊🌟⭐🌟⭐🌟
For those sensitive to the subject, there is a description of sexual assault, but it was integral to the telling of the tale.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
January 29, 2019
Whatever It Takes by Leigh Fleming.
Darla Heartwood and Jason Byrne are the main characters with his adopted daughter Meghan who is also Darla's biological daughter that she had and gave up for adoption at age 15. Darla and Jason meet when he finds her because his daughter Meghan wants to meet her biological mom. She is a sick and Jason is hoping that knowing somethings about biological parent will help her to get well. There was up and downs in the book. It was a very emotional book. Darla and Jason fall in love. I recommend to anyone looking for a good book to read. I would definitely read another book by this author.
Darla Heartwood and Jason Byrne are the main characters with his adopted daughter Meghan who is also Darla's biological daughter that she had and gave up for adoption at age 15. Darla and Jason meet when he finds her because his daughter Meghan wants to meet her biological mom. She is a sick and Jason is hoping that knowing somethings about biological parent will help her to get well. There was up and downs in the book. It was a very emotional book. Darla and Jason fall in love. I recommend to anyone looking for a good book to read. I would definitely read another book by this author.
April 16, 2019
Darla has resigned herself to the possibility she may be single the rest of her life. She has her dream house, a busy career as a successful realtor, her cat, Mr. Fluffybottom, and she’s just been nominated by the Highland Springs’ city council for their prestigious Citizen of the Year to be awarded at the Raspberry Festival. Except that none of them know her secret. She’s immediately attracted to Jason Byrne when he turns up in Highland Springs searching for the mother of his adopted daughter, but her whole house of cards is about to come down.
The book is a testimony to the courage it takes for women to come forward and the family and community support they need.
The book is a testimony to the courage it takes for women to come forward and the family and community support they need.
May 10, 2019
This book is unbelievable and unrealistic. There is rape, adoption, secrets, and psychics all wrapped up in one book. I just couldn't like the characters and I found that around 3/4 of the book done it started to come together a little better and you could feel the passion from the author but by then for me, it was a little late. There was some drama but all in all it was just fluffy when it should have been more serious. I think the author really had a story to tell and it could have been a fabulous one, just missed the mark on it. Received this book as an ARC and I wanted to give my honest review of it.
January 24, 2019
This book steals your heart away...if you stay the course. There are so many things to understand; so many things to want to come true. Leigh Fleming weaves a masterful tale of love, pain, and loss of innocence. The characters are well developed; the plot twists and turns keep you the edge of your seat; while the HEA brings it all together. This is a truly amazing read, and it definitely deserves to be on your TBR. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and was totally blown away!) ❤️❤️
January 24, 2019
An amazing read!
Ms. Fleming hooked me as a reader with this book. I absolutely LOVED it! Talk about emotional reads this book took me from sadness to angst to giddy happiness. If you like to read something that hooks you from the very beginning this is it!
Personally I’ve gotten the first book in the series and will start it after I finish this review.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Ms. Fleming hooked me as a reader with this book. I absolutely LOVED it! Talk about emotional reads this book took me from sadness to angst to giddy happiness. If you like to read something that hooks you from the very beginning this is it!
Personally I’ve gotten the first book in the series and will start it after I finish this review.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
October 13, 2025
It was an okay book. Jason is on the hunt for Meghan's, his adopted daughter, biological mother in order to dig up any medical history that could explain her mystery illness. When he finds her, Darla does not want to meet her daughter, but shows up when Meghan gets sick. I probably won't read it again. It just felt a little monotonous. I just somehow couldn't get into the book. There was a lot going on with Darla's past and with Clara and the psychic side of things.
January 21, 2019
Predictable and bland
I found the book sickeningly sweet. Most of the decisions made by the main character are unrealistic and it's very hard to relate to all characters. Most of the book was predictable and bland. Two stars is more for the fact that the author can spell and the storyline had a some potential.
I found the book sickeningly sweet. Most of the decisions made by the main character are unrealistic and it's very hard to relate to all characters. Most of the book was predictable and bland. Two stars is more for the fact that the author can spell and the storyline had a some potential.
January 4, 2019
I just have to say Leigh Fleming hit it out of the park with this book. She hooked me from the first page when Darla Heartwood's life is about to change with one simple phone call. This book has suspense and romance all wrapped up into one.
January 20, 2019
Truly enjoyed reading this book. The story was realistic and inspiring. Reading and listening to Darla’s explanation of herself at 15 and the choices she made were those of a 15 year old. The feelings of Darla at 33 are understandable and believeable. This is a fast read that I would recommend.
February 23, 2019
Hard decisions and taking chances were central to this book. The stakes were high for all involved. Health, heart and happiness were all included. This book was hard to put down and kept me interested right from the first chapter to the last.
February 2, 2019
Loved the characters and how Darla over came such a horrific event as a child.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews