Book Review: Follow Me Back (Twisted Love #2) by A. Meredith Walters

Title:  Follow Me Back (Twisted Love #2)
Author: A. Meredith Walters
Publication Date: June 2, 2015
Publisher: Gallery Books
Pages: 400
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance

     

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.

* * * THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN'T READ 

LEAD ME NOT * * * 

I decided to read Lead Me Not prior to reading Follow Me Back because I wanted to get a full understanding of the characters.  I am so glad that I did because Lead Me Not was amazing! The ending left me dying to find out what would happen next. Follow Me Back picks up right  there with Aubrey questioning the decisions that caused her to be placed on  academic suspension.  Unfortunately, Aubrey lost her relationship with Maxx; the trust of her professors and the ability to determine if counseling was even her true passion. I personally admire the fact that Aubrey was strong enough to leave Maxx and try to put herself back together again. Even though I have to admit that I was sadden to see her do it at the time when Maxx needed her the most! Her decision to leave Maxx left me broken. I couldn’t believe that after everything they had shared together, things would end up so screwed up.

But at least Maxx had now admitted himself into rehab.  At first his main priority was to allow Aubrey to see that he was willing to change and fight for their love.  Then Maxx quickly realized that he not only had to change for the two most important people in his life, his brother Landon and his true love Aubrey. Maxx had to change for himself. He knew that his lies, drug abuse, and drug dealing had been all too much for them. And he knew that he could only get them back if he truly committed to the program. At first Maxx is frustrated and feels alone without the magical pills that allow him to forget the demons of losing his parents and now more recently losing Aubrey and Landon.  But as we move further into the read, we learn that Aubrey isn’t doing much better herself. 

Maxx’s addiction not only left her with a shattered heart, but it has left her career in  jeopardy. This leaves Aubrey questioning the decisions she has made since losing her younger sister Jayme to a drug overdose in the first book Lead Me Not. Thankfully Aubrey has the support of her friend’s roommate Renee and ex-boyfriend Brooks to stand by her side during this very difficult time. Renee and Brooks try their best to help, but the avoid of losing Maxx is far too deep! As she tries to put the puzzle pieces she has left together, she receives a call from Maxx that changes everything.  Should she go see him, or should she try to stay away from him? Maxx will be getting out of rehab shortly, but that is when the real test begins. Will be go back to using drugs? Is their love strong enough? These are all questions that are answered in this read.

I absolutely feel in love with the characters from the very beginning. I admired how the author allowed both Lead Me Not and Follow Me Back to be told from both Aubrey’s and Maxx’s perspectives and POV’s.  I also liked the fact that you really don’t know the outcome of the book until the very end! I am a true fan of A. Meredith Walters  and I absolutely will be reading more of her books in the future!