This is a tale of secrets and how one lie can come back to haunt you years later and destroy, in the most heartbreaking way possible, the life you currently live. The ramifications of the lie told by Cassie to second husband Luke affect not just her, but one of the most precious people in her life, like a domino effect Cassie's life begins to tumble, and with it, her mental health.

'The Daughter She Gave Away' is a very emotional read, full of drama and split second bad decisions, I had to reach for the tissues more than once. It is ultimately though, a tale of hope and resilience, and the search for light at the end of a dark tunnel.

The plot I enjoyed very much and would happily rate this at four stars however I could not warm to Luke at all. Sanctimonious, condescending, irritating and too perfect. Surely even a counsellor/psychologist would get it wrong in the heat of the moment occasionally and for that I can only rate this at three stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my free draft copy in return for my honest and unbiased review.

My first read by this author but I will definitely be looking out for more. A very well written and emotional roller coaster.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review

This book was so well written. Such an emotional read for me. The author writes in such a sensitive way. I especially connected with the character of Becca. I felt every emotion she did. I wasn't expecting such an impact from this book. Highly recommend.

With thanks to the Author, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this eARC.

A heartbreaking, complex and woven tale of two mums, two dads, a grieving daughter and son who is slowly being impacted through the lies and traumas of those around him.

Our main character Cassie has experienced much trauma and grief when we find her, teaching at a local school, being a wife to a loving and supportive man and mother to a gorgeous young boy. We find out that her ex-husband has cheated on her, and throughout this realisation, she is pregnant with his child. The rest of the book is a roller coaster ride of lies and deceptions, depression, survival, grief and trauma and how these families will need to come together to move on and through it all. A quick and captivating read, but it will constantly pull at your heartstrings, feeling every decision and experience that the characters go through.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was a heartbreaking story of a family of 3 living their best life when Meg gets a diagnosis that she is dying and doesn't have long to live. Her biggest concern is for her husband, Simon and their 14 year old daughter Grace and how will they survive without her. Meg also knows it is time to tell Grace the truth about what happened when she was born and hopefully Meg and Simon will not lose their daughter in the aftermath. Meg decides to make videos of her life with Grace and Simon so that when she is gone Grace will know exactly how loved she really was and how great their lives were together. One of the comments in her videos to Grace was, "Embrace the love that is waiting for you...open you heart my darling girl and let the love in" and you will find out the meaning once you read this book. Enjoy!!!

Thank you to Lisa Timoney, Boldwood Books, and Netgalley for the ARC. My review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

This book is an emotional roller coaster! At times hard to read, but as a reader we must read these to get to the sunlight on the other side. The story is fraught with characters and their emotions. The consequence of actions. The author's work in describing some of the hardest things was beautifully done! This is the first book by Lisa I have read. I will look for others in the future.

What a story.

This book focuses on family and the way it wraps itself around a mother’s heart.

This book had me smiling, laughing and of course, sobbing as I read it. Every time I turned a page I felt the emotions fly across the page and you could feel the heartbreak of the storyline and how the characters dealt with the situation they had themselves in.

I received this book for a honest review.

Wow, this was a real tear jerker for me! The Daughter She Gave Away is a wonderful story about family, secrets and past mistakes and what these characters have to live through and experience to make things right. Or at least as close to right as possible after suffering from so much pain and hurt and the loss of loved ones. It’s a story that covers infidelity, depression and adoption. I really liked all the characters involved. Some readers might not feel that way about Simon and Meg but I personally can understand their pull and desire to be together. I can also understand Cassie’s depression because pain can really damage a person. It was Luke and his constant strength and guidance that I found to be enlightening and such a blessing to Cassie and all the characters actually. Although it was a sad story, it was uplifting in the end how everyone came together and united to do what was right for everyone involved. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others. It’s my first time reading this author but I would really be interested in reading more by Lisa Timoney in the future. I’d like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the arc. I’m giving this a much deserved 5 star rating!

Cassie has a deep dark secret that has changed her life.

When you make a promise that you know you can’t keep, but this will affect more than one person in the long run, questions being asked and relationships on the line.
When Meg is diagnosed with terminal cancer, both Meg and Simon decide the right thing to do is tell Grace, their daughter the truth.
Meg is not Grace’s real mother, she adopted her when Simon ( her birth father) had separated from Cassie (her birth mother) because Cassie had severe post natal depression and couldn’t care for her properly.
Simon had already done the dirty on Cassie by cheating on her with Meg but when he found out she was pregnant he had broken it off with her and tried to make up with Cassie for the babies sake.
Things take a turn for the worst when Simon returns with his guilty conscience and admits that he and Meg are back together having got together at the conference.
When Meg dies, Simon emails Cassie asking for her help with Grace as he is at a loss with what to do…
Then Cassie’s life gets turned upside down in more ways than just her ex husband contacting her..

The premise was so good I had to jump on it, however I didn’t feel the drama as I thought I would. Maybe it’s a me thing more than a writer thing. I’m way down the rabbit hole of drama I guess.
For my taste, it lacked emotion. It was very factual, if that’s the word I need.

It’s still a good book for an entry level of drama. If you want some family drama, I’d totally recommend this book! I could imagine a Sunday afternoon movie made of this book.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

A narrative that stirs profound and diverse emotions related to past experiences. This story delves into adoption, postpartum depression and mental illness, divorce, and remarriage.

When your life in the present is perfect and then the past catches up to you. When you dwell on and perceive circumstances with a certain perspective until you confront and work through those instances, it is then when your view of yourself and others changes. Healing begins.

This was a splendid story. My stomach was in knots much of the time because I related to similar occurrences. The cast of characters was not too broad, so I was able to get to know them more intimately. That added to the intensity of the narrative.

Thank you, NetGalley, and Boldwood Books, for the advanced reader's copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks #TheDaughterSheGaveAway #WomensFiction #Adoption #Death #Divorce #Healing #PostPartumDepression #MentalHealth

When Meg gets a terminal diagnosis, she knows it is time to tell her and Simon's 14-year-old daughter the truth. Simon is her biological father. But Meg, who Grace believed to be her biological mother her whole life, is not. When Meg dies, Grace begins to spiral into depression and Simon reaches out to Grace's biological mother Cassie for support. Cassie had decided to walk away from Grace and Simon for, what she believed, would be a benefit to all when Grace was only a baby. But Simon reaching out, unearths past issues for Cassie and new ones for Grace who is trying to move forward in her new life.

I have read two books by Lisa Timoney writing as Kate Storey and have loved them both. When I saw this one, I automatically signed up to read the eARC and was lucky enough to be approved. And boy, was I not disappointed!

This story was so emotionally moving and beautifully written. The story flowed so smoothly despite flipping between multiple time periods as well as Meg and Cassie's perspectives. There are so many topics covered in this book including, but not limited to - depression/mental health, secret keeping and the chance to move forward from our past decisions. I would highly recommend picking this book up! But be prepared for all the feels.

Thank you to Boldwood Books, NetGalley and Lisa Timoney for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Greif | Love | Postnatal Depression

- It was only the feel of her son's small hand in hers that made her take one step after another into the building -

Ahh this broke me, so so sad but so so good. So well written 🩷 This book covers postnatal depression and how mothers can sometimes feel like they're not good enough for their children, they're better off elsewhere 💔 it's so sad, so close to home.

Cassie decides to leave Grace with Meg and Simon. She never looks back and starts a family later on in life, she loves her little boy and husband Luke however has her past very heavily shadows over her. Cassie is courageous and heartbroken.

Grace, loses Meg, the lady she knows as her loving Mum. The story unfolds greif and a beautiful way that two families come together to help Grace with her huge loss.
I'd recommend this book if you enjoy emotional reads or have ever suffered with Postnatal depression, it's not spoken about enough and it shows us we aren't alone 🩷

The Daughter She Gave Away by Lisa Timoney is a deeply moving and beautifully written novel that explores the lasting impact of secrets, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bond between mothers and daughters. Timoney masterfully weaves past and present into a rich emotional tapestry, following two women whose lives are forever shaped by a choice made decades earlier. The characters are raw, real, and deeply human, drawing the reader into their struggles and triumphs with remarkable authenticity. With compelling prose and a powerful sense of empathy, this novel captures the complexity of forgiveness and the courage it takes to confront the past. It's a heartfelt, unforgettable story that lingers long after the final page.

“The Daughter She Gave Away” by Lisa Timoney is a gripping contemporary novel.
The author has woven a great story that makes the reader think and how each character will react.
The characters were well developed and felt realistic.
The writing was phenomenal and kept me hooked throughout it all.
I found this book extremely moving and touching. The setting was very detailed and I could picture everything so vividly.

This book both broke my heart and put it back together. Have the tissues ready. That’s all I have to say about that. Such an emotional story about grief, regret, and forgiveness. Definitely read if you want to feel something!

The Daughter She Gave Away by Lisa Timoney.
I really really enjoyed this book. I loved the cover and blurb. I got into it straight away. I love good family drama with plenty of suspence. I was hooked from page one. This did not disappoint me. This was cleverly written. I loved the plot. This is a new author for me. I will be keeping an eye on her. What a read. I read in two sittings. I love the short chapters. I definitely recommend this book.

When Meg gets a terrible diagnosis, her only thought is for her family. How will her husband Simon and their beautiful, sweet-hearted, 14-year-old daughter Grace cope when she’s gone? She also knows that she has to finally tell Grace the secret they’ve kept from Grace her whole life. That, though Simon is Grace’s father, she isn’t Grace’s birth mother. Because Simon was married before, and his first wife, Cassie, hadn’t wanted to keep their baby.

So Simon and she had stepped up. They’d given Grace the life she deserved, full of light and happiness. But in the family’s darkest hour, Meg thinks Grace deserves the choice to meet the mother who gave her up… because she’s the only mother she will have left.

Wow, this was an emotional rollercoaster for sure. These are the types of books I love and hate. And I love to hate! So many feelings! Excellent read. I highly recommend this one! 5⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

Such an emotional book. Cassie finds out her husband Simon is cheating on her the day she learns she is pregnant. She struggles with post-partum depression and asks Simon and Meg to take Grace. Cassie never deals with the trauma but marries Luke and has Alf. When Meg gets sick and dies, Grace is harsh with Cassie. Cassie is upset and also finds that a few boys are picking on Alf. She gets in trouble at work; Luke is frustrated with her lack of honesty and their marriage is in trouble. When she finally decides to forgive herself and reach out to Grace, they both find peace. This is a well written book with a lot of emotional moments. I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

The Daughter She Gave Away is a heartbreakingly, poignant book about parental love and loss. Although I couldn’t gel with the main character Cassie, I felt deep empathy for Meg and Grace and was sobering during the last few pages. A reminder to hold those we love close.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review