Synopsis
Rachel Mason oozes confidence. She’s outgoing, adventurous and would chop off her right arm before caring what other people think of her or her disability.
Right?
Jared Mattheson on the other hand, is more than a little goofy and a whole lot of carefree. He’s happy living the bachelor life on his father’s credit card, takes nothing seriously and wouldn’t know difficulty if it slapped him in the face.
Right?
With Emily and Dexter away in the States, Rachel and Jared are left behind to keep each other company. They share the same sense of fun, their personalities bounce off one another perfectly and perhaps inevitably, they become best friends. But what happens when the lines of friendship start to blur? How will they cope when the sides of themselves they’ve kept hidden from the world for so long begin to show?
Their journey together may have started with fun, games and alcohol – but it seems the future has other ideas.
Turns out, even the strongest of people need someone to lean on sometimes.
(Not suitable for under 18’s due to adult language and sexual content)
BOOK REVIEW
*This book was provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.
She’s done it again!
You all know how much I love Nicola Haken’s books. I have to say, I think Lean on Me is my favorite of all her books.
This is Book 3 of the Take My Hand series and takes place in the UK while Dexter and Emily are in the US. In my head while reading Hold on Tight I knew Rachel’s story would be interesting and unpredictable. While I had my suspicions I never imagined the story would take the turns it did.
This book is special. If you’ve read the previous books you will likely laugh at Rachel and Jared’s antics, but you will absolutely fall in love with them, especially after reading Lean on Me. This book and these characters made my heart melt. I fell hopelessly in love with Rachel and Jared from the moment I read Take My Hand. I never imagined their brief appearances in Hold on Tight would lead to what was revealed in Lean on Me. I really can’t compare their relationship to Dexter and Emily’s because both go through their own sets of trials and tribulations and although their struggles are different each story is beautiful in its own right. I think for me though, I connected with these two on a deeper level than I did with Dexter and Emily.
When I first started the series all I wanted was for these two to get together and get on with it. I mean, how could two people who are so perfect for one another not see it? Well, these idiots made me wait long enough haha. Rachel is a complex character and although she appears strong and confident on the surface there are so many layers beneath the persona. It’s hard for her to trust or rely on others. When Jared starts to break down those walls it’s then that you really begin to see who they both are. I never imagined how deep and meaningful a relationship between these two would be, but boy did I enjoy getting to know them. Rachel and Jared both have secrets and getting close only begins to make each of them unravel. The beauty in this story is their commitment to one another as friends and as lovers, but how far will this relationship get? Both Rachel and Jared steer clear of relationships…can they possibly build more than a fling? Or will they ruin a perfectly good friendship trying?
Lean On Me is a beautiful story about two incredible people who learn being different isn’t always a bad thing and sometimes having someone to lean on is all you need. This is an excellent read. I highly recommend this series to New Adult/Contemporary Romance fans.
About the Author
Nicola lives in Rochdale, England with her husband and four children and she is the author of New Adult/Contemporary romance novels Inevitable, Saving Amy and the Take My Hand series. When she is not busy playing with her imaginary book friends (or talking about them with real life friends!) she can usually be found studying or carrying out her ordinary mum/housewife/all round slave duties!
BOOK TRAILER
EXCERPT
Day 5 ~ Your future boyfriend x
Day five? What the hell was that supposed to mean? Seemed I was about to find out when a few seconds later, Jared let himself into my flat, waving his key proudly in the air and looking too hot for his own good in black jeans and a white shirt with just the right amount of buttons undone at the top.
“Fucker.”
“Good afternoon to you too, saffy. I see you got my flowers?”
“Day five?”
“Today is the fifth day you’ve still not said yes. If I were smarter I’d have started sending them on day one. But I’m not… so we’re starting at day five.”
“Well as long as you know you’re going to end up bankrupt,” I said dismissively, trying to ignore the warm feeling cocooning my heart.
“Nah. It won’t take that long,” he replied confidently. I simply shook my head, amused at his sureness. “You ready?”
“My hair is wet. Do I look ready?”
“You look beautiful.” A smile emerged on my lips without permission, even though I knew he was probably bullshitting me as part of his master plan. “Let me do your hair.”
“My hair. You… want to do… my hair?” What the…
“Sure,” he said, shrugging nonchalantly.
“Um… let me think. How about, fuck no!”
“I’m doing your hair.”
“You are not doing my hair!” I protested, gripping my hand-rims and wheeling away from him.
“I’ll catch you, saffy. I can run faster than you can wheel,” he teased.
“Seriously, I don’t get what’s gotten into you lately!” I stopped, throwing my hands in the air. Damn, I was laughing. I was supposed to be acting pissed off.
“Well I know what’ll be getting into you soon enough.” He strode over to me with a wicked grin illuminating his irritatingly gorgeous face. Then he bent down so his mouth was level with my ear, and when his breath swept across my heated cheeks my breath caught. Damn. “Me,” he whispered throatily.
Ah, fuck. I’m so screwed.
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