Sunday, August 17, 2014

Review of "Lean On Me" by Nicola Haken




"Lean On Me" by Nicola Haken 
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 

This is the third instalment in the 'Take My Hand' series that has so far concentrated on Dexter and Emily's troubled relationship.  Rachel is Emily's best friend: vibrant, sassy, oozing in confidence and in a wheelchair.  While she has been with men in the past, she is reluctant to get involved in a long term relationship for fear of losing her freedom and being smothered and also fear of how people will treat them.  Her confidence is just a façade that she hides behind. 

Jared finds himself falling for Rachel but faces an uphill battle in convincing her.  Jared is determined though so it becomes a matter of when rather than if.  She has to overcome her own preconceptions before they can move forward and realise that caring is completely different from smothering.  While Rachel is fighting her own demons, Jared is hiding his own, scared to confront it straight on for fear of the results.  It takes a life changing piece of news and a reminder of his own mortality for him to take action. 

Jared and Rachel's story takes place at the same time as the events in 'Hold on Tight' .  There were a number of unexpected and surprising twists and turns in Jared and Rachel's story and deals with the rooted ideas hold of people with a disability.  Once again Nicola Haken has produced a story that draws into the lives of the characters and keeps hold of you until the very end.  Real, down to earth characters, a touching and gritty story and awesome writing.   




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