Goddamn this book...was so many things! I can't even explain how I feel right now! Damn man. Deadly abt to start book 2!

I received this book as a First Reads giveaway. This book far exceeded my expectations. The book is written in the pov of the two main characters Aubrey and Maxx. The book was very realistic with showing both drug addiction and bad relationships. It's a story about the relationship between Aubrey, an aspiring substance-abuse counselor, and Maxx, a court-mandated participant in the group. It's both a story of a young woman trying to save a damaged young man, and a young man that claims to want to be saved, but not if he has to give up his addiction. As Aubrey tries to lead Maxx "back to the light" and save him, he leads her into his world of clubs and drugs. Both characters are damaged in their own way. The book kept my interest through the whole story and I enjoyed learning about the characters as the story unfolded. The ending left me looking forward to the second book.

This book was heartbreaking and intense. I can't wait to read the next book and see how everything plays out!

It was amazing, WOW I can't believe how deep the story was. when I first started reading it I thought I would fall in an other cute-issh love story, but let me tell you I was surprised to find myself reading this ! It touches parts of daily lives of many people, it's ulterly beautiful ! You should totally read it, appart from the occasional cheesy moments that you can find in other books its a totally new book in an other category !
READ IT !!!!

-Bookarina :)

In this first book of a 2 book series, and first book by A. Meredith Walters that I’ve read, Lead Me Not is one intense read. In it Ms. Walters tackles the subject of drug addiction and recovery therapy from the perspective of both the potential therapist and the addict deep in denial. It’s presented in an all too realistic fashion, in an atmosphere of a college campus and the lifestyle of young club goers, at a time in life when a lot of young adults first taste independence.The story focuses on Aubrey Duncan and Maxx Demelo.

Aubrey is estranged from her family, after the drug overdose related death of her younger sister. At first I found at a little hard to connect with Aubrey, but the writing storyline and writing sustained my interest. Aubrey has more than enough on her plate. Emotionally she is dealing with her roommate Renee and her depression, Brooks a past friend with benefits who may not really be past their history, and Maxx, a recovering addict in the group therapy she is co-facilitating and a man who is completely off limits.

Maxx has lived a life that left he and his brother orphans. Drugs become his way of forgetting the past and hurt, but they also become the way forward, a way to meet the monetary demands placed on him. The conflicting sides of his life soon takes over and contradicts everything that Aubrey stands for and against. But young love is foolish, and all too soon Aubrey’s developed her own addiction, Maxx. All signs are there, the excuse making, doing things against your better judgement and Aubrey risks her future for the attentions of one man. A Meredith Walters does a really wonderful job portraying the actions of an addict and the consequences associated with addiction. Lead Me Not is a great start to this 2 book series.

i was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Stars and recommendation.

The word I would use to describe this book is raw. Maybe real, too. Having dealt with drug abuse in my family, I know that looking past the addiction itself is easy when you love that person. It's so easy to see what you know is hidden by the addiction and you find yourself making excuses because you want so badly for that person to be who they're meant to be. You know that they're not bad or evil. They're sick and it hurts because nothing you do or say can make a difference or change the outcome unless they want to change and get clean on their own.

This was definitely the case for Aubrey and Maxx. He's addicted to drugs and she's sort of addicted to him. Unhealthy, to say the least. The way the story ended was depressing, yet hopeful at the same time. I can only hope that the second book brings some redemption and a happy outcome!

I really struggled to find anything I liked in any of the characters in this book :(

Because she was my nirvana. My quiet in the storm. And what I felt for her was a hell of lot more real than anything I could experience at the sharp end of a needle or through the chalky taste of pills in my throat.

I loved Light in the Shadows and could not wait read this new book from A.M.W. The Prologue had me reeling and I never recovered, even after the last sentence. The book was an emotional roller-coaster; I found myself literally holding my breath. Maxx and Aubrey's relationship was headed on a horrible collision course and I felt each heartbreaking moment.

Maxx overtook me. He overwhelmed me. I was drowning.

This is not a sugar coated, "love conquers all things" type of book. It is a realistic view of addiction. I worked in this field for numerous years and A.M.W. nails the behaviors of an addict and those who enable them. Love is not always beautiful and clean. However, she also does a phenomenal job at displaying the struggles of a young college couple falling in love. Despite all the odds against them, I wanted Maxx to conquer his demons. These two deserved true happiness, like we all do. I can not wait to read the follow-up book for this couple.

If you enjoy emotional and angst filled books, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book!

4.5 stars

This book was raw and powerful.

It won’t be for everyone, but this is the most realistic love story about falling in love with an addict I’ve ever read.
True addiction is messy and hard and sometimes you have to get out of that relationship for your own sanity.

This story was such a great representation of this. I felt like the heroine should have left a bit earlier then she did, especially given her past experience and her schooling, but overall this story was great.