Even if you love dessert, a diet of nothing but dessert (besides being unhealthy) gets overwhelming and even the sweet addict wants something else. Even when you prefer books to come with happily ever after guaranteed, sometimes one that makes you cry can be a nice contrast. My reading lately has tended toward mindless romance novels but just like after eating too many of my own desserts at Christmas I wanted some flavor other than sweet. On my last trip through NetGalley's offerings, I went looking for a book that went in another direction and came upon this gem.

One by-product of the sexual revolution has been a large increase in children born out of wedlock. While some of these children know and have relationships with both parents, plenty do not. Sophia has never met her father until the day that she and her mother Cara descend upon Jack's doorstep.

It is clear that Cara and Jack have lived different lives. She's a single mom who is devoted to her daughter. She lives in low-income apartment and has a low-income job. Jack and his wife have decided to never have children. They want to be free to do the adult things in life when they want to do them. They have a nice home and plenty of disposable income.

What would you do if someone showed up on your doorstep with a child they claimed was your spouse's, especially if the child was well past infancy? There is never any suggestion that Jack has been unfaithful to Rebecca--this was clearly something that happened before they were together. However, as Rebecca notes, if she had known Jack had a child, she would have never gotten involved with him.

The relationships between the affected adults, along with the relationship with the child would make an interesting story in almost any case, but Cara's secret (which is revealed pretty early in the story) adds another dimension, and of course there is a money wrench thrown into the works as well. By the end of the book I was both smiling and crying and I'm sure that was Emma Robinson's goal.

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley. Grade B+

This book was an absolute roller coaster of emotions. It was shrewd to give us the viewpoint of both the wife and the ex-girlfriend as it is easy to take sides when you only know half of the story, but it was interesting to feel this from both perspectives.

Rebecca and Jack are happily married and are happy to not have children, despite their friends unwelcome advise, who feel they know better. One evening, Jack’s ex arrives on their doorstep with her daughter in tow and proceeds to turn Jack and Rebecca’s world upside down when she confirms 4-year old Sophie is Jack’s daughter.

This was a stunning and unpredictable read!

I loved this heartbreaking tale of love and acceptance. The compromises the main characters need to take are not easy, however, it is what makes them into fully grown adults. A beautiful story that I highly recommend.

One day your husbands ex shows up at your house asking for a place to stay. Oh and the little girl she has with her is your husbands daughter. This is a huge shock for Rebecca, who never wanted kids to begin with.

This is how the story starts and it gets more interesting from there. The ex, Cara, seems sneaky at first so I spent the first part of the book figuring out what she wanted from Rebecca and her husband.

The book is told from Rebecca’s point of view and from Cara’s. I really enjoy stories like this because you get to see different sides of the story. Their story will pull at your heart.

Contain Spoilers: Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC in return for a honest review. This was my first book by Emma Robinson and look forward to reading more of her novels. This was a quick read for me and really enjoyable. The book basically follows the lives of two women, Rebecca and Cara. Rebecca and her husband agreed that they both were happy remaining child less in order to pursue their careers and enjoy a rich social life. This was until Cara showed up into their lives with her four year old daughter Sophie. Turns out Cara dated Rebecca's husband prior to her and is now stating Sophie is their daughter. At first you don't know Cara's motives to showing up now after almost five years but then you learn she has cancer and is concerned about her daughter's future. Ultimately the story proceeds the way you would like with Rebecca and her husband failing in love with Sophie and ultimately caring for her when her mother dies. It was a sad story but with a feel good ending. I would definitely recommend.

I'm not sure what I expected when I started reading this book, but certainly not what it turned out to be.

My Husband's Daughter was like reading Lifetime movie script. But, that's not a bad thing. There are many times when I enjoy Lifetime or Hallmark movies. This would have been one of those times....I can definitely see this becoming a movie.

I hesitate to use the word “entertaining” to describe the story because of the subject. It was serious and emotional. It was very easy to read and kept me going. I found the characters to be very realistic. But, the plot was predictable and the writing was simplistic. For this reason, I can only give 3 stars.

This book really brings out the fact that no matter what your plans are for the rest of your life, circumstances can change in the most unexpected ways. These changes can actually turn out much better than expected.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advance Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.

There are some books which just by looking at their cover and premise, you are able to predict that it’s going to be a good read. This is one such book!

When the doorbell rings past ten o’clock on a cold Friday night, Rebecca and her husband Jack wonder who could be visiting them at this late hour. Outside is a woman who introduces herself as Jack’s ex-girlfriend Cara. And she’s holding the hand of a shivering, blue-eyed, four-year-old girl. Who she claims is Jack’s daughter.

Rebecca is shocked to discover that Jack has a child from his last relationship – even one he hadn’t known about himself. Because becoming parents isn’t part of their life plan. But Cara needs them. Because Cara has a devastating secret that she can’t tell anyone yet. Not even her daughter. A secret with the power to change all of their lives.

This book has been written so well that I couldn’t put it down until I finished it.

All the characters were amazing with a quality of their own. The plot is narrated from the alternating perspectives of Cara being the perfect mom, who would go to any extent to give the best life for her daughter and Rebecca, who though doesn’t want children and is suspicious of Cara's motives tries her best around Sophie.

What makes this book even more beautiful is that while throughout, the book tugs at your heartstrings, the epilogue allows you to end the book with a smile on your face.

Thank You to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

My Husband's Daughter by Emma Robinson is a heartbreaking story about love and the meaning of family. Ms Robinson has deftly created characters who are so well fleshed out that you will literally ache for them, and I must say that I did not expect to become as emotionally involved with the story as I did. This one will touch readers on many levels.

Jack and Rebecca are a happily married couple, thriving in their careers, and quite content to leave children out of the mix. Enter Cara, an ex-girlfriend of Jack's, who shows up at the door one night with her four year old daughter in tow, throwing the couple's perfectly ordered life into turmoil. Just what is Cara's agenda after all of these years?

Told from the alternating perspectives of Rebecca and Cara, we are privy to the emotional agony endured by each woman, and I was fully engaged with their story from start to finish. I look forward to reading more from the talented Ms Robinson. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

Blooming hell! What did Emma Robinson do to me with this book? I’ll tell you what. (Finger points while frowning). She had me in bits and not even funerals do that to me. This was the most touching story I’ve read for a long time, so bravo to the author.

If you love thought provoking fiction that will get you through tissue paper quicker than a dose of food poisoning, then ‘My Husband’s Daughter’ is the book you’re after. Of course, it won’t be as messy unless you’re really squeamish of your own snivelling nose and eyes, but that’s another story entirely.

My favourite POV in this book was Rebecca’s. The woman who chooses not to have children is totally underrepresented and the fact that Emma wrote Rebecca so well made me cheesed off with Rebecca’s friends and acquaintances, going on and on at her like a boring broken record (the boring friends, not the book). Her stance on everything absolutely heightened what was to come and made it all the more emotional.

This is an amazing story of compassion and selflessness and if you don’t get upset reading it, I don’t think you’re capable of being upset. This is an absolutely brilliant five star read and not one to be missed!

Such an emotional and beautifully written story, my heart broke for Carla as she faced the fear of leaving Sophie and the turmoil for Rebecca and Jack when the truth came out. Just be warned that you need a full box of tissues close by for this book. I got this as an arc from Netgalley and the opinions expressed are entirely my own views and are completely unbiased.

Oh my goodness what a brilliant book, sensitively written with a great story line that just drew me in from the very first page and I just loved every word on every page.

I cannot speak highly enough about this book and can thoroughly recommend, five stars + from me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this fantastic book.

I'm not crying..you're crying.
What a great heartfelt book. Parts of it (no spoilers) hit close to home for me.
Draws you in from the first page and only gets better as the story evolves.
Loved this book!!

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Net Galley for an early release of this book.

Enjoyed reading this book. My first time with the author. Jack and Rebecca are a married couple with very busy careers and they have. Their lives planned out and they have decided that they want no children. Enter Cara who is an ex girlfriend of Jack’s with a surprise for him. Sophie is her four year daughter and she claims that Jack is the farther. They have no Lace to live at the moment and end up staying with them. Rebecca is suspicious of Cara. Read to find out how it all evolves! Good book!

Thanks to Emma Robinson and Bookouture for this. Book!

I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Oh my goodness! What a book! Albeit, somewhat predictable, what a beautiful story of love and acceptance! Grab the Kleenex before you read this one.

Wow keep the tissues handy for this one as it’s a real tearjerker. It follows the story of Rebecca and Jacks who’s organised lives are thrown in turmoil when Jacks ex turns up with a little girl called Sophie who she says is his child. As their marriage is put to the test and Rebeccas views on children out in the open they must all come together to make some tough decision on what is best for a little girl. This one will break your heart but I could not put it down.

I don't even know where to begin to review this absolutely gut wrenching, beautiful story.

Sometimes the unplanned things always turn out to be the best things to ever happen to us, but in another breath they can turn out to be the worst.

Emma Robinson is just such an artist with the words she writes. When you read her books, you know they have come straight from the heart and this one is by far no different.

I have never audibly sobbed or struggled to read a book through tears, but this one was tough. It got messy, through a dehydrating amount of tears, alot of nose blowing and just the need to read this whole thing in one sitting. Which i what I did.

I cannot express the need for everyone to read this book enough without giving away spoilers. But it is just beautiful and I think it gives a lot for people to learn from in their own lives too.

If this isn't your usual genre jump outside of your comfort zone like some of the characters in the book and even 'play it by ear' because you may just surprise yourself.

Oh my days, what a tear jerker! I have such a book hangover! I love Emmas books and her beautiful writing so I have been very impatiently waiting for this!! I had no doubt that I would enjoy this one too and, no surprise, I was right. I can't remember the last time I read a whole book in one sitting but as soon as I finished the first chapter I knew I wouldn't be able to put it down. Emma has thrown some huge twists in there and I have been glued to the edge of my seat!

I should mention that tissues are a must! I cried more than once (I lost count..) and am still wiping away the tears as I write this. The story is so heart breaking but beautifully written that some parts had me both sad but smiling at the same time.

I cannot recommend this book enough. An easy 5 stars from me but I would give it so much more if I could! It was not what I expected at all but it is absolutely brilliant!!