Twisted Love #2
By:
A. Meredith Walters
Release Date:
June 2, 2015
Publisher:
Gallery Books
Source:
ARC from publisher for a honest review
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GR's Summary:
The sequel to Lead Me Not, this dangerously sexy second installment in the Twisted Love series continues Aubrey and Maxx’s love story, from New York Times bestselling author A. Meredith Walters—who “writes the most beautifully flawed characters that still have you swooning” (Sawyer Bennett, USA Today bestselling author of the Off series).
Aubrey Duncan has loved…and lost. Should she follow a heart that’s betrayed her or a head that tells her to let go?
Maxx Demelo’s addiction almost destroyed him. It ruined his life and, most importantly, his relationship with the only girl he ever loved.
He has vowed to become the man Aubrey Duncan deserves. Even if he has to tear himself apart to do it. So he enters rehab, trying to fix the parts of him that are shattered as he longs to be healthy and whole.
Aubrey lost everything because she chose to listen to her heart. Now she has sworn to put herself first, to heal in the only way that she can…far away from Maxx and his demons.
But just as Aubrey is starting over, Maxx is released from rehab and thrust back into her world, determined to prove how much they still need each other. And the chaos that had defined them threatens to unleash once again…
But a heart, no matter how broken, is impossible to ignore.
My Thoughts:
Lead Me Not was an excellent story, and I was so excited to continue this duology with Follow Me Back. These two books must be read in order as the second book continues the story of Aubrey and Maxx. Follow Me Back is told in the dual perspectives of the main characters and begins with Maxx entering in to a drug rehab program for 30 days. He is battling his addiction, and wants to heal for himself, as well as for Aubrey and his younger brother, Landen. In the meantime, Aubrey has been put on academic suspension from her college counseling program based on her ethical violation of fraternizing with a member of the substance addiction group that she co-facilitated.
When Maxx gets out or rehabilitation, he has his work cut out for him as far as gaining back the trust of the two most important people in his life; Aubrey and Landon. Both of them refuse to speak to him. To top it off, Maxx is having series financial problems, flunking out of college, and consistently struggles with the temptation to escape in to a drug induced euphoria. As Maxx and Aubrey begin interacting again, she wonders if she will ever be able to trust the man she loves again, and he doesn't know if he'll continue to be strong enough to resist the temptation of his drug addiction.
Follow Me Back is all about the process and challenges of rebuilding one's life, after drug rehab. This story was very realistic, and I felt empathetic towards both Aubrey and Maxx. I understood the reasons that she had trouble trusting him, and I felt bad that Maxx couldn't seem to catch a break. He was alienated from those he loved, (which was his fault,) but worked hard to change his life. The strong love that Maxx shared with Aubrey, as well as his younger brother was evident. These relationships were developed really well, and Maxx and Aubrey were fleshed out characters that I truly wanted the best for!
My Rating:
I give, Follow Me Back, by A. Meredith Walters, 4 Mentally Tough, Fighting for a New Beginning, Unconditional Love, Healing, and A Fresh Start Filled Stars! This was an excellent sequel in the Twisted Love Series.
Book Teasers:
Book Excerpt:
Renee walked beside me, her chin tucked into the collar of her jacket. "It'll get better, Aubrey. I promise. This is your second chance. Your time for something more."
I hoped she was right. i was desperate for that something better.
I can be so much more for you. I want to be everything you could ever want.
It had only been a matter of weeks since Maxx had said those words, his intense blue eyes staring into mine, and had given me his heart. Only weeks since he had made promises he hadn't been able to keep. It was such a short amount of time for my entire life to change.
But it had changed. And now all I could do was accept it and move on. If only it were that simple.
My eyes were drawn to the brick wall that ran along the edge of the green. The once vibrant colors of Maxx's street art had faded, but I could still the painting of a woman walking off a cliff. The word Compulsion was woven into her familiar blond hair. It was a small part of the complicated man who continued to own me. The tiny, intricate X's dotted through the picture seemed to scream at me. Taunting me with their presence.
Even when he was gone, Maxx was everywhere. His art. His love. His chaos.
I couldn't escape him And I was terrified that in the darkest recesses of my heart I still didn't want to.
About A. Meredith Walters:
The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary and Paranormal romance including The Find You in the Dark and Bad Rep series as well as the upcoming stand alone romance, Reclaiming the Sand, and a dark new adult series for Gallery Books. A. Meredith spent ten years as a counselor for at risk teens and children. First working at a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault program and then later a program for children with severe emotional and mental health issues. Her former clients and their stories continue to influence every aspect of her writing.
When not writing (or being tortured with all manner of beauty products at the hand of her very imaginative and extremely girly daughter), she is eating chocolate, watching reality television that could rot your brain and reading a smutty novel or two.
A. Meredith is represented by Michelle Johnson with the Inklings Literary Agency.
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Looks pretty emotional.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds intense and sweet, and twisted. Yeah for a duology :)
ReplyDeleteThis one sounds like a cryfeast! Hopefully they get their HEA!
ReplyDelete