Natalie

Daughters #2

by Leanne Davis

My life hasn’t been going well of late. Recently contacted by a girl who claims to be my sister, I’m now haunted by a family I never knew about, and swore to never associate with. After all, I was given away at birth; why should I care about anyone who would abandon me?

I’ve worked for years as a patrol cop, beating the streets of my hometown, of San Francisco until I learn my husband is cheating on me. The need to escape to a family who doesn’t really know me becomes the only viable solution; and one I never dreamed I’d pursue. But I must get out of this city, and now! I can’t stand to breathe the same air as Sam Ford.

Sam Ford. The sole ruler of my heart for decades. The day we got married, I thought I was starting the life of our dreams forever, even if we struggled to start a family, I believed we loved each other enough to survive anything… but apparently, not that. Sam managed to shatter my heart into a million pieces, and I’m not sure it can ever be glued back together again, no matter who attempts to.

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 Series:

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


***If cheating is a story element that offends you PLEASE be aware it is a central theme in this book***

Genres: Second Chance, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary, Family Drama, Contemporary Romance

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2016

About the author

Get a free book exclusive to my newsletter subscribers ➜➜ http://bit.ly/2usYsb6.

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.

Follow me anywhere:
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Website➜ www.leannedavis.net
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Email me➜➜ leanne@leannedavis.net

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

Reviews

[Jena]

Self note: read the samples on KU.

Wife catches the hub and his beautiful secretary fucking on his desk. (Heart breaking scene)
He feels guilty, the ow didn’t mean anything to him, it was his first time, blah blah.
The ow ask if that was his wife, and is shocked because she didn’t seem like his type(h is a cop. Doesn’t wear makeup, hair is scraped back, appeared plain).

The ow is blonde, blue eyed and 9 yrs younger (22yr old), and is the complete opposite of his wife in looks. The H always went out with blondes with blue eyes before he married the h, so yes, the h isn’t his usual type.

H is 3yrs older than the h, and they met when he was 8, and grew up together. They were friends first, then lovers. Reading a bit more, the h says she caught him with another blonde before they started dating..So obviously he loved blondes and should’ve married someone with that hair and left the poor h, who is plain - just like one of the guys kinda gal, alone. 🤷🏻‍♀️. I only read the sample, but I feel like they should’ve just stayed friends.


When he’s caught cheating, he says he loved his wife (no he doesn’t, not that way maybe), wife means all to him (lies), ow meant nothing, he didn’t even plan it, he doesn’t even like her, but he was in such a rush to fuck the ow that he ripped her panties off her… 🙄sounds like he was thinking about it for awhile though with that pantie ripping and him staying late after work though. He did say they were flirting for months.


Hard pass on this cheating story.
The author should’ve removed the part about the panties being ripped if she was going for the accidental cheating angle. I tried reading this, because the h sounded strong, but I dunno how anyone can have a HEA with the image of their man fucking another girl on their mind forever.


* I appreciate the author putting the safety warning.😁*

[Raffaella · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really???
The wife sees her husband f***ing his pa on his desk and she forgives him?
How can you even not see that image whenever you close your eyes???
Because he was angry with her that she didn’t want to have children so he did it to hurt her.
Said the man that when was a child bullied a homeless man.
In all the book the hero turns out to be a sociopath.
There’s no need to be a criminal and a sadist to be a sociopath.
It’s enough to do anything to have what you want.
That is lie, cheat, manipulate others and always be complying- on the outside at least.
And he is just that.
I hated this man.
I hated that a strong resilient and worthy woman like the heroine behaved like a spineless doormat when he was concerned and forgave him and took him back.
I so wish she found a real man.
But these writers keep being sexist and chauvinistic.
And it’s always the woman who has to suffer and forgive.
But why?
What did your parents did to you to become like this?
Why are too many women fawning over these weak narcissist bastards, cheaters and cruel??? What do they find in them?
I think - it’s something I’ve been thinking after being psychologist for years, that some women have wrong criteria about men, partly because of their parents (fathers most of all) and partly because of their environment. These women think that to be a strong alpha man, a very sexual active and appealing person and also successful, a man has to be promiscuous, violent, abusive and overbearing, sometimes even a bully. I can tell from my multiple experiences that this is never the case.
The strongest men are very often the quietest and they have a very good anger management. They seldom act impulsively and always think before acting. They stand strong and keep their women safe even during hard times. And sexual prowess is never ever related to promiscuity, on the contrary a promiscuous person is very often one that need more diverse stimulations to perform well and this is why they can’t stand being faithful.
Sadly people think bad boys are more attractive but beware that when they have finished with you, there’s no much left of you.
I’ve seen and helped many. Whatever.
I just can’t enjoy another book that would make me accept a cheater as a normal person.
No, sorry he’s not!

[Debbie DiFiore · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a hard read

She walked in on her husband and his secretary on the desk and not because they were working. She saw them doing it. And his thoughts when he saw her face were really hard to read. Especially because he didn't even like the woman he was with. It wasn't an affair, it was just sex. First time he ever did it, and last time but she saw it. Some disturbing details come out later. This was written very well and if I were a normal person, I would have scored it higher. But I am very hard core about infidelity and this was a very honest heartbreaking look at it and he definitely was more than remorseful. He quit his job the next day. But she was gone. He didn't no where. She was actually connecting with her half sisters and birth Mother. That's a whole other story in the story. I also liked that it took them 3 years to decide what to do about their marriage. there is no Insta fix. She accepted part of the blame, which I am not even sure she was partially to blame but they did have infertility issues and she shut him out about it but he does realize he was angry at her and that is why he did it. I just wish he hadn't. At least he wasn't in love with the other woman, and he only did it one, well 1/2 , time really. They were interrupted. It just was heart breaking and I really wish I hadn't read it. It's definitely not safe and it does warn you. I went in knowing what was going to happen and that helped me get through it. Plus the heroes very real remorse and disgust with himself. There is a lot going on in this novel. I don't feel good after reading it either, I just feel sad and let down. But the writer does write well. And I will read her Again. Just not right away.

[Beeg Panda · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cheating scenario which I can forgive. Whodathunkit. I just need to get that scene out of my mind. Wow. Talk about in your face.

A married couple grown apart because they don’t share the same goals, dreams, values.
He’s the shallow golden boy.
She’s got a stick up her ass and a chip on her shoulder.

Lack of communication is a big issue for them yet it’s not used in scenes to provide angst and drama.
We know they don’t communicate because their story is told and not lived on page - pity.

She responds by withdrawing
He’s angry and acts out by having sex once with a fellow employee. A thoughtless meaningless act he didn’t plan. It’s not even about the act itself, actually. The ow isn’t even an ow and means buggerall to him.

The h leaves. He follows.
She’s not forgiving. He makes changes, grows and becomes less about himself and more about others.

She takes more than a year to forgive him, with the help of therapy, etc.

Their story ends without total closure. I hope to see them happy and settled in the future books in this series.

[Elizabeth]

Spoilers
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I'm not going to rate this bc it had cheating and I dont think I am unbiased enough to fairly rate it. I might have been inclined to give it 3.5 stars if the scene wasnt descriptive in the beginning. I just dont think that was needed, it was very gratuitous even in its unsexiness. I wish authors understood that the scene stays in the readers head for the duration of the book. Yes I get it you want us to feel what she is feeling, but readers hold grudges much stronger than the characters you write. Just because she forgives it doesnt mean we can, so it's best not to write something that will stay in our head the entire book


I also didnt like that she had spent her whole life watching him be with other people before they got together, so it felt unbalanced when you took into account that first scene, like why couldnt she have a man interested in her during the book? It made the cheating all the more unbearable to know that was her dynamic with him, to watch him with blonde girls. It was all kind of about him and how attractive he was. I just didnt like how all of it was framed even in their younger days, why not let him see her with another boy to open his eyes for her? The cheating was the second time she had walked in on him with a girl, even tho they werent together the first time. It was all a little too much for me to be able to let the first scene go. The minute I felt I was starting too something in their younger days would take me right back.


I will give it that it's the first cheating book I have read where I was able to marginally forgive him and feel he was truly sorry. Sometimes I read these to see if an author can make me ok with it by the end, this one was close.

[Tmstprc · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cheating husband book with real potential, but gets bogged down as it’s a spin-off from a long series. There’s just too much to unpack and deal with in the story.

The opening scene is for shock value, and it works… she catches him in the act. To be honest, I like his immediate guilt. HP authors have used it, but without the guilt and it’s even more rage inducing.

She takes off, avoids his family—which may have been more interesting, as they would have kept her over him. Instead she goes to meet her biological mother and sisters. And this is where the story bogs down, her birth mother is somewhat indifferent and would have never searched for her. It’s one of her sisters that found her and wants a relationship.

Hubby follows her and talks her into letting him stay with her for the week she’s going to be there. He wants to support her and also talk about them.

Here’s the problem, 90% of story takes place in that week. The two plot lines are too much to deal with. She’s obviously devastated by her marriage imploding, but her mother’s story is much worse to deal with and the balance seems off.

Both story arcs have positive but not satisfying conclusions. We’re told everything in the epilogue. We don’t go through their 3 years of marriage counseling or the adoption process of their children, or see her build some semblance of a relationship with her birth mother.

Normally, I wouldn’t bother turning on spoilers for a cheating husband book, but this book needs TRIGGER WARNINGS… Major warning… rape, minor warning…infertility.

[Sometime · Rating 3 out of 5]

An angsty cheating book that actually handled things to my satisfaction. The h is no pushover, and the H is extremely remorseful. (It also helps that it was a one time event, not an ongoing affair). The author explores the reasons for the cheating and the H always takes full responsibility while the h recognizes mistakes she made. The H/h take the necessary time to work through things and by the end I felt confident in their reconciliation. There were no easy answers, no body-betraying-syndrome, and the couple went to a marriage counselor and took the necessary time before any reconciliation. (Sadly, most of that happens off page and at the end of the book).

I also liked the secondary story about the h going to meet her birth mother and half sisters. I didn't understand her sense of anger and abandonment considering she was adopted by a loving couple and had a great life. I liked how the "getting acquainted with her birth mother/sisters" parts of the story coincided with what she was going through in her marriage. Things lined up to give her a new perspective on her life.

I didn't read this as a romance, but more a look into the life of a woman during a very stressful time of her life and her reactions to that. I thought it was well written and interesting.

SafetyObviously not safe. The very first part of the book is the h walking into her husbands office to witness him banging his secretary on his desk. They lock eyes and it was so riveting. There was interference that created the cheating scenario by the H's boss/friend. The OW was hired to help the employees relax and she has done it often so she's no threat. It was a once time only event and there is no cheating after that. Rape of a secondary character in the past, adoption, infertility.

[Serialbookstarter:Marla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natalie and Sam have been married for about 7 years. They grew up together since she was 5 and married around 21. She’s a cop and he’s an executive. They’ve been drifting apart and she goes to his office to talk and catches him in the act of cheating with a secretary. Natalie who was adopted takes off to find her birth family. Sam figures out where she went and heads there too. There’s a lot of depth to this story and you love Sam even though he cheated.

[currently being delulu · Rating 1 out of 5]

I honestly can’t find a book that makes me forgive the cheating


And for some
Reason it’s like all the authors silently agreed it’s always going to be the husband who cheats… never the women

And if it is she must burn in hell for all of . Eternity


While the guy must be forgiven less then two weeks ..


I mean honestly cheating is a really big thing and I feel like
It’s used more than a plot device as ever

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew before going into this book it was going to be an emotional punch. Leanne Davis doesnt write stand alone books. For you to get the full emotional significance of each story you need to have read all the books both the Sister series and now the Daughter series. Jesse's story started with the first book The Other Sister and her story was so tragic and heartbreaking its still leaving effects 28 years (book year) later.

Natalie was the product of the horror Jesse endured over 28 years ago. I never even contemplated that the author would ever end up giving us that baby's story when Jesse gave her up in The Other Sister.

Natalie was raised by an older couple who gave her love but something was always a little broken in her. It took her husband who she thought she loved with all her heart cheating on her which sent her running to her biological sisters and mother to realize she played a part in ended up in the circumstances she found marriage and herself in.

I'm going to be honest here and say because so many people have issues with cheating that its front and center and in the end it does have a HEA. If you've ever read a Leanne Davis book that is not achieved easily and by the last page its deserved by both parties. Sam Ford makes a horrible mistake and doesnt try and make excuses for it. He knows he loves Natalie and also searches deep within himself to try and figure out how he could have done what he did and what he needs to do to salvage their marriage and if that isnt possible to at least get them back to friends they have been since she was 5 and he was 8.

Bring a fan of this series from the beginning even though Natalie's birth was always the elephant in the room and never to be discussed and I think Jesse could have gone her whole life never meeting or knowing Natalie and I glad the author went this route. There was no happy declarations of love but these two needed this resolution.

I've been waiting forever it seems for this book and woke up early on release day to read it and devoured in hours. I need an author to pull emotions from me while reading and this one never fails at that task.

[Nikki ღ Navareus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew, this story starts out with a gutting on page cheating scene, and the story starts off from there. This story felt so realistic and heartbreaking. I loved every second of it.

Natalie, runs away from her husband and her home. With nowhere to go, she ends up driving to the home of her biological mother (after her bio half sister tried to meet with her earlier). Natalie's journey of meeting all of her bio half sisters and her bio mother, felt so damned realistic. Somewhat awkward and stinted, and then real love happens between them all. The story was fantastic and I also adored Natalie finally giving into her love with her husband and dedicating herself to trying to give her marriage another chance. Her hubby was as devastated by his stupidity as he could be, he was regretful, heartbroken and shattered. His grovel was decent and I bought it. I believed in these two for real, and I was ecstatically happy for this couple by the time this story ended.

[Maja · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐ 5.0 ⭐

What to say? It was a hard read for me and I loved every page of it. My heart was 💔 for both of them... So...
This book starts very strong. The story is not only about that one mistake and yes that mistake is one time cheating, but we have a grovel and it's the big one. It's also about finding yourself, finding who they are, finding what really are the reasons and problems in their marriage, why are there where they are, finding their love and friendship again, finding a lost and biological family... Nat and Sam are strong characters but at the same time they aren't... They are just humans. The story is very realistic and because of that it's very painful too. We have dual points of view and because of that you can really feel their emotions, their love, their pain... You can feel everything because the writing here is so good.

[Cc · Rating 3 out of 5]

🌶🌶🌶 Spoilers 🌶🌶🌶


4/18/22

I read this straight through, lol. K ~ this is chick lit/general fiction. She basically walks in on him with his secretary, he didn't finish bc........well, could you if your SO walked in on you in flagrante delicto? It describes his little joey going soft and the condom slipping off. That was the best part, honestly. I had a good laugh. Anywho, excuses ensue, she flees to her new found sister, finds out why she was adopted (her birth mother was gang raped, sold into sexual slavery by her father) she and hubby realized that her infertility made them shut each other out and their marriage failed. She's a cop, by the way. She doesn't take him back for three years, everything is politically correct, they eventually adopt 2 little boys, stay in couples therapy for the rest of their lives, ect. Did I leave anything out? Ah, writing. Ok, writing style did not engage me. We were told everything. I didn't feel the hurt. I was told she hurt, but eh, I didn't care. Oh yeah, I forgot, she gets shot on the job, which helps her see that life is too short and if you love someone you try and forgive, which is how they got into couples therapy.

If you can't tell, this really isn't romance. It's a novel, it's dry and, well, boring. I didn't care about any of them. I don't mean to be flippant about the issues that are written about, but it was just so bone dry, I couldn't care. If the author can't be passionate about it how does she expect her reader to get worked up?

Sorry for the disjointed review, gonna give it 3 stars just bc it's basically a cheating trope. I wouldn't encourage to you to buy. I can't loan out bc I bought it with Amazon credit points. Sorry.


4/16/22
This one is up next. Hopefully will it be good: angsty, cheaty and well written. The trifecta. Update when I'm done.

[Tab · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book.
Even though it starts with cheating, which I can handle when done well, the author made me really care about both main characters and how they felt about what had happened. Sam is honestly contrite and heart broken while Natalie is tough, determined but also ultimately reflective. The break down of their marriage was both their faults and I thought the author painted a real and thoughtful picture of how marriages can be destroyed but also how sometimes they can also be saved. I found this story line to be really engrossing and not as teeth clenching as I thought it might be.

The other story line was Natalie's working to make a connection with her biological mother and sisters. It was just as engrossing as catching her husband cheating and had been set up by her younger sister visiting her earlier and being rejected. Her family was complex, but also kind, patient and loving. Her adoptive parents were also acknowledged and not thrown under a bus. Overall I really enjoyed this book, was never bored, was sometimes pissed off at certain characters, but mostly came away feeling satisfied with how everything worked out.

[Sewster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Husband is caught red-handed. Wife sees him with another woman. It’s a bad scene.

Does he come back from this? Imo… kinda?

The entire book is him groveling + her discovering the truth behind her bio family. His actions to win her were certainly more than I’ve read in a lot of other cheating books. They also separate and Natalie has a near death experience that makes me realize life is short. They live separately and date for 3 years, plus they attend counseling. Much more believable than other stories where the wife just gives up and gets over it.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

First let me say that years ago I read the first 2 or 3 titles in the series and rated them highly. Given how I reacted to this , I wish I continued on at the time. An admitted aficionado of the cheating tale , I appreciated how this one played out,how the infidelity was so proficiently examined .From that blatant initial caught in the act stunner to the emotional breakdown\evaluation of the relationship. We actually come to learn the precursors, rationale and or hidden motivation for Sam's infidelity and we later take a deep dive into the causation of bilateral discord within their marriage. I loved that Sam chased her down ,the need to make amends and his love for her a burning fuel.I appreciated Sam's torment(lol 👿) and his determined multifaceted mission of epic grovel.Beginning with his immediate distancing from the corporate spoils that had prior ruled him and then later highlighted by his driven restoration of their childhood park that truly revealed the depth of his love and determination. Others complained about the duel storyline.(her reaching out to birth mother and family) I had no problem as IMO they truly meshed each enhancing the other. I look forward enjoying this well crafted,dramatic series anew!

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emotional but nothing new

This story has been told before and this is just a dragged out version of a husband who cheated but not to completion and a wife who was damaged. At least this Hero feels disgust with himself.

I just wish it was something more out of the box.

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking all around

I sorta knew what the plot was going in but this surpasses what I had imagined!! The opening scene gutted me and then I couldn't put it down!
Natalie was such a strong character and everything else that was happening around her. She dealt with so much in such a short amount of time. Then her husband whom I could understand was going through so much but really knew how to punish is wife for her not wanting to talk about it.
So much happening.... Then finding her bio mom and meeting them.. I loved that she got her sisters especially the younger ones, then Sam showing up and having to make up with Natalie. More pressure on her.
OMG! When we learn the truth in both cases! Totally gut-wrenching!!!
I loved this read so good and the ending was so good too! Just what I needed after everything!!

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story revolves around Natalie and Sam who grew up together and eventually fell in love. They have been having problems lately. Natalie is a cop and Sam works in the corporate world. Natalie goes to Sam's office when she gets off early and catches him having sex with someone on his desk. Sam sees her. Natalie is a product of adoption story goes through her finding her sisters and birth mom and then Sam eventually coming to find her. I think there was good groveling by the H and felt he was very sorry for what he did. Sam's boss had set him up for Natalie to find him with the girl because he didn't think Natalie was good enough for him. The story also went through the lack of communication they had leading up to the cheating.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't wait for this book!

[Danny Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't understand the very low reviews this book received. I just want to start my review by saying this. I understand if cheating is not your thing, but the safety is written right there in the book blurb. So you have purposely read this knowing what it contained and left a low rating. Why read it then? This book is so much more than just infidelity and if that's all you got out of it then I don't know what to tell you. I prefer my cheating books to be trainwrecks and full of ow drama because I enjoy that soapy fictional story at times. But this book is not it. It's very real, and has very real problems. Two people in this marriage have communication problems. Not just one. The wife, the h more so. I will tell you it took me a good while to warm up to her. At the beginning I was completely on her side, but as the story progressed and her personality started coming out more I found myself torn. It gives no excuse to what the H did. I'm not saying that, but she did not make his life pleasant. And vice versa. She's very masculine and had always been competing with her own husband from the time they were children. Which he didn't mind, but when real problems would come up she would shut him down giving him no room to argue with what she decided. That's not how a marriage should work. There was no balance here. Between either of them. It all imploded when she found out she couldn't have children. She just shut it down saying that's just the way it is and left no room for argument or discussion with her husband. Which isn't what the H wanted at all. He was devastated yes, but wanted to possibly adopt, but the H shut him down because she was from adoption and she didn't want that lifestyle. She definitely wore the pants in this relationship. Only because the H was afraid of her anger outbursts she would have. She used her anger and the fact that she was adopted as a shield, and to subconsciously push the H away. He even told her he wanted to share his feelings with her about their marriage, but felt like she would think he was a pussy for doing so because that's not her thing. She's so stubborn and holds everything in. So he resented her and kept resenting her until he cheated with his secretary. Once. Which was all set up by his co-worker. I won't get into specifics, but what a great friend 🥴. So then we have the other story running through this with her finding her birth mother after running from her husband after his infidelity. I really found that part of the book intriguing and how the h Natalie came to be born was heartbreaking. This book can be read as a standalone, but if you go back to the very beginning of the Sister's series you will get her birth mother Jessie's story, and it is fucked up.

Overall I found this book very good and well written. My only critique would be everything was tied up too fast in the end. I wanted to read more about these characters reconciling. I really felt the author should have written more. Unfortunately, the epilogue wasn't satisfying enough for me. Sorry as I know this review is all over the place, and hope it makes since as I'm recovering from surgery 😅. But definitely don't judge this book by the low reviews. If you abhor cheating. Stay away from it, but the story in and of itself was good.

Lastly the H does grovel and works hard to get back the h. I definitely wouldn't skim this book as you will miss a lot to the plot

Also want to add that the H Sam quite his job and his complete lifestyle for the h. His career and everything. He was an executive in a company. The h was a cop. Definitely opposites attract when looking at their careers, but personality wise very similar

[Rebecca Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natalie Ford always knew she was adopted but had no interest in finding her birth family even after meeting one of her half-sisters, Christina. But when an event leaves her reeling she starts heading to Washington to try and put the pieces of her life back together.

Sam Ford grew up always wanting success and put his marriage to Natalie on the back burner as he tried to earn more and more money. Yet that comes at a price and one mistake leads to Natalie leaving and Sam trying to find out where she went and if he can put his pride aside and patch up his marriage before it's too late.

As Natalie tries to figure out why her mom, Jessie Hendricks, put her up for adoption will she ever forgive her for giving her up and can she forgive Sam for his mistakes?

This was a book that I was really looking forward to as it was dealing with some more really heavy material and how Natalie was going to deal with Jessie and even how Jessie was going to deal with Natalie being so close with everything that happened in the past.

I liked Natalie and I understood why she was so bitter yet I was upset at how she treated Jessie without knowing the whole truth and guessing to why she let her go. Natalie also initially had her guard up with her sisters as well but gradually she began to open up her heart to them. I also found it interesting that Natalie wasn't honest about her own life yet she expected honesty from everyone else.

Sam messed up big time and really needed to show Natalie how much he loved her but he also had to respect her wishes. Sam also knew that he could be there as a support system for Natalie as she was going through everything with her family. Sam also recognized that he needed to reevaluate his own life and get it figured out before he is able to straighten out his marriage.

This book had so much emotion in it and it made you wonder if finding out the truth would really help Natalie or not.

When Natalie left Washington to go home I was glad that she found a sense of peace with her family but she still needed to get her own life straightened out in regards to Sam. I was shocked at what happened to her but it also made her see things differently which made me happy.

The very end was awesome and I loved what both Christina and Jessie were willing to do for Natalie!!

[Susan Homan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natalie

Natalie is Book 2 in the Daughters Series by Leanne Davis. I really think you need to read these in order to better understand the dynamics, and it would also help if you read the Sisters series. This book is about Natalie's journey into finding herself. It starts with her walking in on her husband having sex on his desk with a secretary. Natalie knows she needs to get out of town, and packs bags and hits the road, with no destination in mind, but while driving she decides to go visit the half-sister that came to find her months ago. When she calls the number she has, she instinctually knows that she is talking to her birth mother. Max meets her at the diner and she follows him to the Hendricks home. She meets all three of her sisters and Jessie and Will. Natalie doesn't really want to let them in, but she starts feeling a bond with her sisters. Sam knows he needs to find Natalie, and he ends up at the Hendricks home as well, but Natalie isn't all that welcoming. He is there to support Natalie while she is coming to terms with her new family and her birth. It's like a journey for both Sam and Natalie honestly. Natalie has lots of feelings and things to work through, and Sam realizes he does too. But he knows that he loves Natalie, but can he convince her to forgive him? Can Natalie forge relationships with her sisters and Jessie? Natalie is hurt on the job as a police officer, and she comes to some conclusions that she may not have if this didn't happen. I loved that this book talked about many taboo things - cheating and rape. It also talks of family bonds and what people will do for those they love, and that money isn't always everything. I loved what Jessie and Christina offered to do for Natalie. These books by Leanne Davis never let me down. I am looking forward to reading Melissa.

[Bookomaniac · Rating 5 out of 5]

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Natalie is a cop in San Francisco, married to her childhood best friend's brother - they all grew up together. Lately, they have been struggling; she has fertility issues, her husband wants to think adoption, but she was adopted, and even though she had a good childhood, not knowing about her past haunts her. It's more of an emotional block that a rational thought-process. Both she and her husband are workaholics. One day she goes into his office and sees him having s&x with a gorgeous co-worker. The husband runs after her begging to talk but she completely shuts down on him. She gets a leave from work and decides to go on a personal journey to find her birth mother. She travels into northern California. The middle part of the book is finding her bio-family and all the awkwardness and painful secrets ( and insecurities and jealousies ) that goes with it. Her husband tracks her down, and they have painful conversations about their marriage. He tells her it was one-time, unplanned, he doesn't want anyone else just her and he will fight for her. She tells him she can't make any decisions about their marriage until she gets the answers she needs from her bio-family; she wants to get to know them. He meets them, and they pretend to be a normal married couple in front of the bio-family. He leaves determined to show her he has changed. He goes back, quits his job ( I think ? ), finds the old playing field that they used to hang around when they were kids. It's a desolate scrub area for drugs and homeless people. He decides to make it a rec center again for the neighborhood kids. It's a complete change from his obsessive businessman career before the cheating. Meanwhile, Natalie makes a delicate peace with her bio-mom and wants to continue a relationship with her, her husband and their children. She goes back to the city and starts working again. Her husband shows her his new-found work. She is amazed at the difference, but still feels the shock of the cheating. They agree to go slow and start counseling. One day, she is shot on the job, her stomach wound is serious. Her husband calls her bio-family; she wakes up with everyone surrounding her giving her love and support. The last chapter reveals that the main couple did indeed move slowly. They were friends for a year ( I think no dating other people? ). They dated for a year, then later moved in together again. They decided to adopt children, which had been a big stumbling block prior to the cheating ( as well as his workaholic, success-obsessed career ) . They maintain relationships with her bio-family. Eventual HEA.

[Kitty Moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the second book in the Daughters series. But it's deeply connected to the Sisters series. I highly recommend reading the Sister series first. You don't have to but you will better understand the family dynamics. Every book is an intense read into the lives of these characters.
While this hasn't been my favorite of Leanne's books, I still applaud her brilliant writing. And I'm always intrigued how she's not afraid to touch on common taboo triggers for many readers. Like cheating. Many find the cheating plot a no no. In this book, we open with Natalie having walked in on her husband Sam getting his fix with his secretary. Cliche right?
Natalie's first instinct is to run. Her unlikely hiding hole is a little town where her half sister Christina lives and Natalie discovers that not only is there one sister but more sisters. And when she comes face to face with her birth mom that gave her up twenty-eight years before, she and her birth mom Jessie will have to face a torrent of demons over her whole existence. She embarks on a journey of discovery and maybe a little healing. But will there be a death knell for her and Sam or will they ever be able to salvage their marriage from the wreckage of his infidelity?

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprise

I read this book on a whim, after seeing it recommended in a Facebook group. I have not read any of the books that come before this one.

I started it warily, since I’m not a huge fan of cheating. As you move through everything that happens to Natalie, i was surprised by how sympathetic I felt towards Sam. Sam! The cheater! I felt for Natalie, understood and agreed with her anger. But I found her rage and inability to listen to Sam frustrating. The author does such a great job with this character that I’m sitting here thinking about Natalie and I realize that I understand why she was the way she was. But it unravels slowly. And honestly it had me thinking of my own relationship and how I can be better.

I’m sorry we never get more of Sam after his last chapter. I would have liked a bit of his perspective in the last chapters.

I ended up really liking this book, which surprised me, since I knew I was going in blind. I may check out the other books, too.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 Stars

So I'll start off with saying, I choose books based on the summaries and tropes. As long as the series book can serve as a stand alone as well I am all in. This one is part of a series about a family of woman.

Natalie is on the outside of the family as she was given up for adoption as a baby. She is the oldest daughter and is 28. She doesnt know her birth mother or sisters until she flees her home afyef witnessing her husband at work having sex with his secretary. The story also goes into his pov as well ( he is the mmc, this is a marriage in trouble themed story). If this bothers you and marriage redemption after cheating plus the mother giving up a child after extreme physiological and sexual traumatic event ( tw), I recommend bailing out now. If not, I highly recommend reading this story.

Sam and Natalie were inseparable as children and their friendship grew into a deep love. Sam went on to be successful in business and Natalie fulfilled her goal to be a policewoman. Natalie couldn't have children after being tested so her and Sam had desperately wanted a child. Natalie knew they were drifting apart but never expected him to betray him. Desperate to get away..Natalie fled to find her half sister in another state in a small town.

Sam also runs after her after being in a deeply depressed state and trying to figure out the why to his cheating. He does a little of reflection. He figures out it was a set up situation by his boss and quits his job. Off to the small town he goes to chase after Natalie.

Afyer that I'd say the story is 50 percent family centered and 50 percent reconciliation between husband and wife.

The following tropes are present:
🏠 Abuse
🏠 Angst
🏠 Cheating MMC
🏠 family drama
🏠 Marriage in trouble

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great Book!

This is a real tear jerker. You will need tissues...lots of them. This book grabbed my attention from the start and held it throughout. Natalie is the daughter Jessie gave up for adoption. She walks into her husband’s office to find him doing the dirty with a secretary on his desk. She goes home and packs a bag and ends up going in search of her sister, Christina. She ends up meeting Max who takes her to meet her birth mother. She ends up staying for a week trying to connect with her sisters and ignoring her broken heart and cheating husband who suddenly figured out where she was and shows up. There are lots of things revealed that Natalie finds devastating and makes her rethink how she judges and deals with people.

[Robyn Washington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a real tear jerker. You will need tissues...lots of them. This book grabbed my attention from the start and held it throughout. Natalie is the daughter Jessie gave up for adoption. She walks into her husband’s office to find him doing the dirty with a secretary on his desk. She goes home and packs a bag and ends up going in search of her sister, Christina. She ends up meeting Max who takes her to meet her birth mother. She ends up staying for a week trying to connect with her sisters and ignoring her broken heart and cheating husband who suddenly figured out where she was and shows up. There are lots of things revealed that Natalie finds devastating and makes her rethink how she judges and deals with people.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second instalment in the Daughters series. I highly recommend reading book one before diving into this one.
Natalie, a married police office, and Sam, her corporate working husband have their story told to us in this fantastic, highly addictive series.
When mistakes are made, Natalie is stuck facing her past, present and future. Something she’s not ready to deal with really.
Sam knows that he has to try hard to make their relationship work. Even under duress.
This book has some crazy twists. Heartbreak, scary, fun and sweet times that in the end have you hoping everything works out.
I enjoyed this book. I am really looking forward to the third in the series.
5/5