Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1l0a7NB
Amazon.com: http://amzn.to/1mLKDDh
Synopsis:
In this dangerously sexy novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Find You in the Dark, a straight-laced college student meets a handsome but enigmatic stranger who lures her into an underground club scene, where she finds it difficult to resist temptation
Aubrey Duncan understands loss. She knows what rock bottom looks like, and she is determined to crawl back up to the top after the sudden death of her younger sister. She blames herself for her part in the tragedy, convinced that she could have done something, anything, to help her.
In her effort to gain redemption, Aubrey starts fresh at Longwood University and facilitates an addiction support group, hoping she can support someone else in the way she failed her sister. But what she doesn’t count on is an all-consuming fascination with group member Maxx Demelo, a gorgeous, blond, blue-eyed enigma who hides dark secrets behind a carefully constructed mask. He only reveals what he wants others to see. But Aubrey glimpses another Maxx hidden below the surface—a Maxx who is drowning in his own personal hell.
As Aubrey and Maxx develop an attraction too intense to ignore, he pulls her into the dark underbelly of the city club scene, where she is torn by her desire to save him and an inexplicable urge to join him in his downward spiral. Worst of all, she is beginning to love everything she should run away from—a man who threatens to ignite in her a fire that could burn her alive…
Review: Surj Harvey
Love made us stupid. Love made us blind. Love could incapacitate us and leave us powerless.
And love could make everything better.
A. Meredith Walters books are far from ordinary. Her story lines are different and her characters... well they're unique, nothing like I've ever read before and that (my fellow readers) is what brings me back to this author's writing time and time again. "Lead Me Not" was no exception. Be prepared to hand over your emotions as you turn the first page because this book will leave you feeling all sorts: frustration, anger, disbelief but mostly, an overwhelming sense of sadness.
He was something primal and unfettered- a force that would take everything and
everyone down with him, burning it all in a violent flame.
And then afterwards he would dance on the ashes.
Maxx and Aubrey story was born from addictions... very different addictions but addictions all the same. Unfortunately the problem with addictions was that they came with cravings and cravings... well they needed feeding and so the vicious cycle began. There was nothing formulaic about the love they shared. If anything, it was all consuming, it was tragic, it was destructive and ultimately what unraveled made for car crash reading. There was no fluttering of butterflies. There was no overwhelming sense of excitement. And hearts and flowers... definitely not. What I got were two characters who were so flawed and so broken, who were crying out for help in their own way and who were ultimately in need of saving. The question was: could they save each other or had they reached the point of no return, dragging the other into their own personal hell?
This wasn't a story with a happy ending. Maxx and I weren't going to live that perfect life
with the white picket fence. The only life we could have together was ugly,
messy and destructive. And I knew without a doubt it would kill us both.
Maxx and Aubrey's characters left me conflicted and I think it was more to do with the fact that I could see what lay ahead for them, the downward spiral that was going to destroy them. Poor choices and bad decisions only accelerated the process and that in turn left me frustrated but also saddened. I wanted to help, I wanted to shout at them. I wanted them to wake up and smell the coffee but that never happens... not even in reality. Sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom to realise all that you've lost and as such, A.Meredith Walters stayed true to the story line and to the characters. Instead of trying to please the reader, she gave a very realistic, honest account of what Maxx and Aubrey were going through and it was ugly... soul shatteringly ugly.
"I've found my way into hell, and wanting salvation is the only thing that keeps me going."
"Lead Me Not" was a story that had layers and each layer gave me another dimension to Aubrey and Maxx's story. It made me see the characters in a different light adding twists to their already messed up story. Their book was compelling and it was unputdownable. I read well into the night because I needed to know how their story would conclude... well I'm just going to put it out there. This was never going to end with a HEA... and when you start reading it, you'll understand why. However what came was a natural turn of events... something that was inevitable I guess. I can't wait for more from this couple and if I were you, come release day, I'd get clicking. You won't be disappointed. I rated "Lead Me Not" 5 soul destroying hearts.
Excerpt:
I stared harder at the picture, uncomfortable with the odd sense of familiarity I felt. Looking at the woman's graceful yet agonized form, I felt as though I should recognize her.
Bothered by my increasing disquiet, I stood up and walked closer. This was not your typical campus painting of daffodils and laughing students. I had seen this particular kind of art several times before. I leaned in to try to see the details in the poor lighting. And there it was- the tiny patterns on the woman's dress composed of dozens of Xs.
I didn't notice any numbers or words in this picture, though, so I didn't understand what its intent was. It was my understanding that X's paintings held the clues to the location of the club, Compulsion. But this picture seemed to have nothing to do with that.
This was a painting created for some other purpose.
"So what do you think?"
I looked over my shoulder to find Maxx standing behind me. I turned back to the picture, not bothering to answer him. The truth was, my outburst in the group had left me feeling raw and vulnerable, and seeing him so soon after making a gigantic ass of myself was embarrassing.
As he came up beside me, the sleeves of our jackets brushed against each other. Maxx inclined his head toward the painting and asked me again, "Well, what do you think of it?"
I shrugged, not really in the mood for small talk. My pounding head couldn't handle a go-around with the group Romeo. I started to walk away from him when he grabbed hold of my arm.
"Wait, Aubrey. Please." It was that word that did it. Please. It was uttered softly and sincerely. And it held me as fast and surely as if he had put his arms around me.
About The Author:
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.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorAMWalters
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.com/e/B006QVHIWA
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