This one was just OK for me. I didn't feel that huge emotional connection that I ususally do with this author's characters. It was definitely tough subject matter, addiction.

The narration though, was excellent. I love the dual narrators, and Sebastian York is one of my favorite male voices.

I do not know why I read this, sale would be a good reason I guess😂 but it wasn’t a bad as I thought it would be, and also didn’t meet my expectations. The summary made me a bit more ecstatic because Aubrey had previously experienced something akin to what was happening with Maxx in her sister Jayme, but I was also disappointed by the choices she made. And god, I did not like Maxx. He was twisted. He scared me more than the TheNightCircus, but it also gave me an insight on what goes through some addicts’ heads. And the choice Aubrey made was better. The book ended on a positive note. I won’t buy the paperback for book 2, because I don’t deem it worth. But I may just read the cost-free paperback.

PRAWIE JAK HOOVER

Recenzja: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORs-wMho7a8

Heart totally ripped out of my chest :'(

I skipped a lot of the inner dialogue from Aubrey. I thought she was kinda hella boring

Lead Me Not is the first book I've read by author A. Meredith Walters. While I want to read her other books, I don't think I'll be continuing with this series. Aubrey and Maxx's relationship, as passionate as it was, wasn't particularly romantic to me, but perhaps it's due to the addiction storyline.

The story centers around aspiring counselor and college student Aubrey Duncan and the man in her support group, Maxx Demelo. Years ago, Aubrey lost her sister to a drug overdose and now she uses that tragedy to help others battling the same addiction. Along with a fellow faculty staff member, Aubrey co-facilitates a drug support meeting. There, she meets Maxx Demelo, who can't seem to keep his eyes off of her. Outside of these meetings, the universe clearly wants them to get to know one another because they run into each other.

She and her best friend Brooks frequent a local underground club and major drug selling operation to make sure her roommate, Renee, is safe. At the club she meets this mysterious guy, to whom she feels this sizzling magnetic pull, but she is unable to see his face. Each time, he saves her from a potentially dangerous situation.

This story is the classic good girl meets bad boy story. Maxx has a lot of baggage. His mother passed away and his father squandered all of the money Maxx gives to support his little brother Landon. Weighed down with responsibility, Maxx started selling drugs to help his brother and then using them to help his trouble mind. Aubrey and Maxx spend more time outside of group together and fall hard for each other.

Supposedly, Aubrey has experience working with drug addicts and even lost her sister to addiction, yet she finds herself knee-deep in an unhealthy relationship that begins to spiral out of control. I think the author was trying to show the reader that sometimes the person you love isn't perfect, but here I just didn't understand what Aubrey saw in Maxx. Aside from Maxx's determination to care for his brother, I found very little appealing to his character.

When Aubrey sees the "mysterious" man at the club, she can't stop thinking about him, but her draw to him wasn't even explained. The reader was asked to accept it. Further, when Aubrey sees Maxx in support group she obsesses over what he would be like in bed. What? Why? Their chemistry felt manufactured, rather than organic and I couldn't become invested in their love story. Their relationship went from nothing to sex with little build up.

I guess the point of this story is to showcase the power of love against the odds. Lead Me Not, while showcasing a realistic portrayal of addiction, seems to romanticize the message of "love can change him" and I didn't like that.

After finishing this book, I have an idea where the sequel, Follow Me Back, will go, but I don't think I'll continue the series. This story could have easily been wrapped up in this book, especially considering this was a very long book. Both characters went through enough and I am not really interested in witnessing more drama between the two of them.

Audiobook Comments: I love Shayna Thibodeaux (a.k.a. Candace Thaxton) and Sebastian York. I thought Shayna's narration was spot-on and wonderful. I think Sebastian's performance was done really well. However (I can't believe I'm going to say this), I don't think Yorkie's is right for all new adult/college age romances. He sounded a little too mature for Maxx's voice, but he did a wonderful job.

2 stars

* I received this audiobook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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The review looked so good and the book just wasn't. I mean it wasn't horrible but it wasn't great either. It was just lacking in general.

this book had me hooked from the prologue. emotional, gripping, heartbreaking. When Aubrey mext Maxx her brain warned her to stay away, her heart had other ideas. Love can be ugly and volatile but oh so beautiful at the same time. Cannot wait to read Follow Me Back!!

Kept me wanting to read all night...WOW....