Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick

After reading Reclaiming the Sand by A. Meredith Walters, I jumped at the chance to get Lead Me Not. I really loved her writing style, and I felt like Walters was really able to capture the true nature of the characters and made them seem so real. That story was raw and emotional, so I really wanted to see what she would do with a good girl that falls for a bad boy in the underground club scene. I expected this one to be really emotional and raw, and Walters definitely delivered. This story was more than I ever could have expected, and I really felt like she captured the addiction and struggles with drugs well. But while I did love the story and can't wait for more, I had some problems with the narration of this audiobook.

Aubrey Duncan is determined to help others in a way that she didn't help her sister. She is attending Longwood University and has been assigned a support group that she will help co-facilitate in order to continue her education. She meets Maxx Demelo in the group, and is instantly drawn to him. While Maxx may be captivating in group and draw the attention of those around him, Aubrey can tell that there is much more beneath the surface with him. Maxx is supporting his little brother by working the underground club scene, and selling pills to those looking for an escape. But he has also been using the pills to self medicate from dealing with his troubles. When Aubrey comes along, Maxx realizes that Aubrey could be the one to save him, and he is just as drawn to her as she is to him. They quickly form a connection and find themselves unable to stay away from one another. But despite the feelings between them, Maxx sinks further into the dangerous world of drugs and addiction. As Aubrey struggles with her feelings for Maxx and the complication they provide in regards to her future, she must also figure out a way to help him out of the dangerous situation he has found himself in. But in order for Aubrey to really help Maxx, he has to want to be saved. Aubrey knows that the longer she continues to let things go on between them, that they more likely she is to end up with a broken heart and a shattered future.

I really felt that Maxx was a good guy. He was in a bad situation and had been struggling with all of the responsibility he was forced to take on at such a young age. Maxx was such a different person when sober and I really loved seeing that side of him. It was hard to watch him spiral out of control and I kept hoping that he would be able to pull himself out of he destructive patterns. I think that Aubrey meant well, but she didn't really go about helping him in the right ways. Aubrey was pretty hard for me to connect with and I didn't understand her much of the time. For someone that had suffered the loss of her sister from drugs, I would have expected for her to do more than just barely try to convince Maxx to leave the drugs behind. At one point she literally just walks away and leaves him behind when it becomes too much for her to handle. I felt like she could have done so much more for him and I just didn't get it. She did save his life, and I was glad when she finally was able to stand up and say enough was enough. I think that she made the right choice in the end and did what was right for both her and Maxx, even if it was hard on both of them. I really felt the chemistry and emotions between them, and I could see that they both clearly loved each other.

While I felt like Sebastian York did an excellent job narrating Maxx's character, I did not care for Shayna Thibodeaux's narration at all. This is the second story that I have listened to her as the narrator for the female character, and not only does she sound way too young for the character but she also sounded exactly the same. She didn't do the character justice, and her voice was not right for the story in my opinion. I feel like she reads everything the same, and she also has a tendency to speak in crescendos. It gets very irritating, and really distracts from the story. Sebastian York however was the exact opposite. I felt like he brought Maxx to life and really portrayed the raw and gritty emotions that Maxx was experiencing. His voice was easy to listen to and was very engaging. I found myself enthralled with the story and didn't want to stop listening when he was speaking. I would definitely be interesting in listening to more stories with Sebastian York as a narrator, and I thought that his portions were by far the highlights of this audiobook. Despite Shayna Thibodeaux's narration, I really felt like the story was so good that I wanted to keep listening. I really can't wait to get more about Maxx and Aubrey and I will be anxiously awaiting the next installment in this story. While this one does not end with a huge cliffhanger, A. Meredith Walters does leave us wanting more and with things unresolved. I think that this book is definitely worth the read/listen if you are looking for something real and raw. This story might not be all hearts and flowers, but I think that is what makes this one worth the time. I can't wait to read more from A. Meredith Walters in the future and I would love to listen to more narrated by Sebastian York.

**Audiobook Provided by Simon and Schuster**

When Aubrey starts university she decides to join the support group to help people with addictions. She had a sister who passed away in a drug addiction so she hopes she can help others not come to the same fate. But things don't get as planed when she falls for one of the guys in the support group Maxx. This isn't ha feelgood, romantic story. This is raw, bitter and infuriating. You'll get mad at Maxx not quiting and you'll be frustrated on Aubery not getting away. But its realistic, addiction isn't pretty by any means and I think this books shows how horrible it is. Its even more horrible and tragic in reality. I will definitely continue on with the series I need to know what going to happen to Aubery and Maxx. It's devastating but good. To me this book feels personal in a way. Haven't been a drug user but I have had addictions nevertheless.

3.8 Stars

Let me start by saying that I can’t stand when I see s rating that’s like my “3.8”. I never understood why people wouldn’t just give it the higher number. But I get it now. I told myself that this year I’d me more honest with my ratings. And though this wasn’t what I would consider a 4, a 3 or 3.5 starts wouldn’t suffice.

That being said let’s get to my review....

So I want to say that I really liked the way this author writes. This was my first book by her and it definitely won’t be my last.

The topic of this book is something that’s rough to read but I feel like it’s not written about a lot. The author portrayed both the female and male point of views in s great way. Though the topic was a rough one, it was so real. I love any type of book with content that is real. It makes me connect with the book even more. Though I haven’t been in either characters position -to that extent anyways- I understood. I felt. I got it.

So why the 3.8? To me I feel like at some point Aubrey needed to wake up. I know she does at the end. But like i don’t know. I really can’t even explain it. Something for me was like hello.... leave him. You deserve better. I also felt like the relationship kind of went fast and for that their relationship kind of didn’t spark any emotions in me. It was More What they each dealt with on their own that I connected with, not them as an actual couple, if that makes sense.


Bottom line. It was a good book and I will definitely be reading more from this author.

Let me list the reasons why I loved this book:

1: teenage angst and drug use
2: boy/girl POVs
3: dysfunctional relationships
4: um did I mention teenage angst and dysfunctional relationships?

HELLO 2012.

That’s what this book was like. Catapulting me straight back to the angst filled year of 2012. Where all of the books I read straight ripped my heart to shreds and then happily popped back into my chest. (Jessica Sorensen, I’m looking at you).

Just riddle me this: How can someone write such flawed and dysfunctional and ugly characters and STILL have you drooling at the mouth for more? I wouldn’t roll with no Maxx in real life but book world Talon is smitten. I’m just, at awe with him and Aubrey.

“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.”

The coolest part about Lead Me Not was the many emotions I felt. The dread, the stress, the disgust, the love. And that was all due to the writing. I’m not a stranger to this author’s work but every time I pick her books up I’m thoroughly impressed with the work and Lead Me Not was no different!

“Love made us stupid. Love made us blind. Love could incapacitate us and leave us powerless. And love could also make everything better.”

In this book, A Meredith Walters graciously paints you a picture as to what it is like battling with addiction and battling it with the person you love. You can’t get any more real than that. It’s brutal. And I felt like this book portrayed that all so perfectly. I flipped pages so fast that I didn’t want to put the book down at all. What else ya got for me girl?

3.5-4 stars

I FINISHED A BOOK TODAY I AM SO HAPPY IT'S BEEN 9 BLOODY DAYS

ANYWAY

this reminds me of another book of Ms. Walters that I read, [b: Find You in the Dark|16081754|Find You in the Dark (Find You in the Dark, #1)|A. Meredith Walters|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1359627731s/16081754.jpg|21881113]. Same dark shit, same intensity. This book is about the effects substance abuse have on not only the person, but their loved ones too. It had me on a roller-coaster of emotions, really, watching a sensible person get tangled with somebody who is absolutely no good, get sucked into a toxic relationship, and surviving that.

This book ends in quite a cliffhanger, but I'm glad the sequel is already out.

3.5 stars

I like Walters' writing style, but this was just the same plot as Find You in the Dark, just a different issue that the love interest has. It also shows a horrible relationship that shouldn't have happened in the first place. The ending is a good ending just like her other book series, but I know there is a book two, so that kind of ruins this story and how it should end.