LET LOVE HEAL (The Love Series #3)
By Melissa Collins
Published: October 22, 2013
Source: ARC provided by author in exchange for honest review as part of this blog tour.
Synopsis:
Melanie Crane has always been the perfect daughter, friend, student – she’s been perfect at everything, in fact. But when she lets her insecurities, the ones that she keeps hidden from everyone, get the best of her, she falters in her pursuit of perfection. Melanie crumples under the pressure and buries her pain. Numbed by sadness and guilt, she is determined never to let anyone find out how broken she really is.
Bryan Mahoney may appear to have everything in order. He’s charming, witty and completely swoon-worthy. In short, Bryan has life all figured out, but appearances can be deceiving. When the landscape of Bryan’s family changes in an instant, he’s left to pick up the pieces.
Not all bruises leave a mark. Now, weary and afraid, Melanie and Bryan must find a way to let love heal their broken and jaded hearts.
Review:
I absolutely loved this book! Mainly, I loved that the main character, Melanie, is NOT perfect! I know, there are a lot of characters out there that are not perfect, but Melanie has this drive to BE perfect. She's a girl that isn't stick-thin, drop-dead gorgeous, or confident.
Melanie's struggle with her self-perception is one that is so common in today's youth. Our girls are being bombarded with advertisements telling them they need to look a certain way, dress a certain way, or talk a certain way in order to be "normal." Melanie's inability to love herself the way she is brilliantly demonstrated by Melissa Collins in a way that allows the reader to not only relate to the character but to completely invest in her view of herself. I found myself begging Melanie to see herself the way Bryan and even her friends and family saw her.
The one approach that Melissa took to Melanie's struggle to find and love herself that I completely and utterly loved was that she had to do it alone. I don't mean without support, I just mean that she did not find herself through a man. So often, characters "find themselves" through a relationship. Women are defined by the man. And sometimes, it works for a story. But in real life, I think it is so important that girls understand that they have to learn to love themselves for themselves. Don't get me wrong, Bryan plays a role in leading Melanie to the proverbial watering hole, but she does the leg work. Her journey is bumpy, and heartbreaking at times, but once she makes the discovery that she is worth it all, the transformation is amazing.
This is an inspirational read for ladies, young and old alike. It's a story about finding yourself, loving yourself, and being able to see what those who love you see. There is some mature content including adult language and sexual acts, so this book is recommended for mature readers only.
Click on the book covers to read my reviews of other books in the LOVE series.
AMAZON | AMAZON UK | BARNES & NOLBES | KOBO
I’ve always been an avid reader. Majoring in English Literature was a no brainer. Becoming a teacher and instilling my love for reading into my students was also a no brainer. I’ve spent the last ten years teaching and I’ve loved (mostly) every minute of it. When I was home on maternity leave for my third son, I discovered a new genre that sparked my creativity. My passion for writing sprang from my love of reading and once I knew I had a story to tell, I couldn’t wait to get it out there. I only hope that my readers enjoy reading my story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
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