A friends-to-lovers second-chance romance…Fourteen years ago, my life changed forever.My sister disappeared. That day I was selfish. That day I chose myself over her. And that day, I lost everything. Including Nikki Walters. She’s the girl I’ve loved my whole life. She’s gorgeous. Caring. Every single thing I’ve ever wanted but denied myself. She was my sister’s best friend, and I destroyed any … sister’s best friend, and I destroyed any chance of keeping her.
When her safety is threatened, I have a second chance to do the right thing. But as soon as she moves in, I want her in all the wrong ways.
All it takes is a brush of her hand, and I’m losing all control.
The fire between us is only burning hotter.
But neither of us saw what was coming.
And it just might be Nikki Walters who destroys me in the end.
The highly anticipated sexy, suspenseful stand-alone second-chance romance from NYT Bestselling Author, A.L. Jackson.
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OH OLLIE !!!
I was anxious going into this book, because i know this author brings emotion that grips your heart so tight you feel the break !!! I felt Oliver Preston and Nikki Walter’s story was going to be emotional, after all we have got to know some of their past from the previous books in the series. I thought i was prepared for ALL THE FEELS. I wasn’t. I love a story where the couple are desperately in love, and brings you emotionally to a place where you physically feel your heart breaking right along with them, your tears flood right along with them and you laugh right along with them. So much has happened with these childhood friends,When the path they should be walking together is torn apart , but not their love. This book is true love, deep, filled with both the beauty and the pain. When life has shredded you and left you empty, when guilt eats you, even if it is misplaced, how can you ever be whole enough again to be the person you should be for those you love the most. This couple and group of friends have been through it all together and their support and strength for each other just left me in a melted puddle. Yes there is anguish in this book, yes at times you will feel like a mack truck has slapped you, yes you will laugh, sob and smile. But most of all you will finish this book with your heart bursting with love for Ollie, Nikki and this whole group of friends. Their journey isn’t easy but it is one you will never regret travelling with them !!!
I finished this book a couple days ago, and I’ve been delaying writing the review because I’m not sure how my words could ever possibly do this book justice. More than that, though, I didn’t want the story to end. I loved this series more than any other I’ve read, and Ollie and Nikki’s story was so heartbreakingly beautiful and perfect that it will forever be at the top of my favorite-reads pile.
I was intrigued by Ollie, the big beast, since I met him earlier in the series. He was quiet and gruff and there was always a hint of some secret heartache that I was dying to know more about. Nikki was this fun-loving girl who was always quick with a joke, and I loved the way the author kept her jovial mood going even when times got tough.
While Ollie’s secret was touched upon in Show Me The Way, I never foresaw how deep into that story Nikki would actually be. Learning about who Nikki and Ollie had once been and what they had been through made my heart break for both of them. The suspense in this book was a deviation from what I’m used to with this author, but she did it so well I’d have thought she’d been doing it all along. Every little puzzle piece was revealed at just the right time, and I had fun trying to figure out what was going to happen before she unveiled everything.
The supporting cast of characters were fantastic, as they always are in Jackson’s stories. Rex’s admission just about broke me, and I loved seeing Hope, Kale, Rynna and Jenna come through for their friends. And those kids! I didn’t think I could love Evan or Frankie Leigh anymore than I already did, but yeah – that happened too!
I will forever love this series, and Ollie and Nikki and all the others will forever be in my heart.
“I had always belonged to Oliver Preston. The problem was, he’d never fully belonged to me.”
I had been looking forward to Ollie’s book since the moment I met him in Show Me the Way. I love second-chance and friends-to-lovers romances. There is just something about two people coming together again, who have so much history that will link them together forever. Nikki, has been in love with Ollie since forever however after the disappearance of Ollie’s sister, he has been closed off to any woman. He doesn’t feel like he deserves to move on and be happy, so he keeps his distance from her. Nikki, continues to love him from afar and tries to be satisfied with being just friends.
“She was a carrot dangled in front of me like a tease. Always right there, always just out of reach. A connection I couldn’t keep but wanted more than my next breath.”
Even though Ollie keeps his distance, he still is aware of Nikki. He always watches and protects her whenever he feels like she needs it. After blaming himself for not taking care of his sister, he doesn’t wants to fail Nikki. The attraction is there, and at moments Ollie is weak and can’t resist the pull towards her. He is jealous when he sees her with other guys, however Nikki isn’t up for him acting hot and cold towards her. She doesn’t wants to be involved if she can’t have all of him. I loved that Nikki stood her ground and had her limits. She doesn’t want to be used by him whenever he needs her.
“I’m so lost, and I don’t know if that vacant feeling is ever going to go away. Only thing I know is when I’m with you, it doesn’t feel so vast.”
Lead Me Home is my favorite in the Fight for Me series. I loved that there was a bit of mystery/suspense aspect to the story, and I thought it was done really well by the author. I hope she will write more suspenseful books. I also loved that she included flashbacks to when Ollie and Nikki met, and the strong bond they had from the start. This book also had a couple of very emotional moments, which I read teary-eyed. It was also great seeing what all the previous couples were up to. Lead Me Home was a great contemporary romance and I can’t wait to see what Amy will have in store for us next.
“I don’t want to be your duty, Ollie. I can’t be a sin you’re trying to make amends for.”
Wow….what a way to end the Fight for Me Series! Just….WOW!!!
Lead Me Home is undoubtedly emotional, angsty, and suspenseful! This second chance love story is excruciatingly painful as well as beautifully inspiring, giving hope that soulmates truly do belong together.
Ollie and Nikki are without question two very unique characters. Having known each other for most of their lives, they’ve both experienced the same tragedy and despair, along with the aftermath of heartbreak and loss. Lead Me Home catapults you into their lives without restraint, eliciting raw feelings and fears that consume you until the very end.
This book finally answers all the questions we’ve had to what really did happen all those years ago, and not just to Ollie and Nikki, but to the entire cast of characters in the series; the unbelievable circumstances they all endured, and the real reason Ollie and Nikki’s relationship took just a drastic turn. The storyline weaves an intricate tale of sacrifice, passion, and acceptance that showcases the power of unconditional love, devotion, and ultimately redemption.
I’m sad that this is the final book in the series, but it couldn’t have ended on a better note! The extremely poignant storyline coupled with the tenacious characters makes this book an unforgettable love story that is sure to leave you with a newfound appreciation for diverse and compelling romances.
Simply incredible! 5 Stars!
Audiobook Review: 5 Stars
This is the couple that I was expecting the most since I first started reading this series. Nicki and Ollie were always getting my attention in the previous books and I’m very happy and satisfied with their book.
Lead Me Home is a second chance novel through and through. Nicki and Ollie got their second chance, Nicki had her second chance and Ollie did too, both as individuals.
Nicki was the funny friend from the group. She was always matching their friends with their better halves (she took full credit for all the previous couples of the series) and she was the favorite aunt of her friends’ kids… And she had a perpetual crush on Ollie… one of the guys from the group. But it looked just like a crush… Now from her POV, she had much more depth than what she let everyone see. Her love for her friends and family went to the point of sacrifice. She would do anything to protect them, to make sure they all were fine. Her dreams and hopes were beautiful and meaningful. And her crush on Ollie wasn’t really a crush… IT WAS MUCH MUCH MORE.
Ollie… SIGHHHHHH…. That brute of a man!!! I’ve loved all the men of this series. They are all amazing, but Ollie, Oh. My. God. What does a bastard broken man have for me to fall so madly in love with him? I just can’t express my love for him. He was guarded with his heart, or what he thought was left of it. He thought he didn’t have any other purpose in life other than to look for his sister, who has been lost for so many years. He felt responsible for what happened and sadly, Nicki reminded him of everything….
This story was full of twists that had me on edge. I kept wondering what really happened all those years ago when Sydney disappeared, and I never saw that coming. Not for a moment. I love when a book does that to me. And of course, the romance aspect of Lead Me Home was PERFECT!! But infuriating… But this gave more drama and awesomeness to the story. Ollie was too stubborn and Nicki too, but when two people need and love each other as much as they did, they just have to give in and surrender to love <3
About the narration: Andi Arndt & Joe Arden did great jobs with Nicki and Ollie, respectively. I loved their voices and inflections were perfect for the characters. I loved the accents, they were subtle but on point.
100% Recommended!!
Nikki Walters.
Sexy. Fierce. Forbidden.
The only girl I’ve ever loved.
Oliver Preston.
Gorgeous, bad-boy, tattooed bartender.
The only man to hold my heart.
This story will give you all the feels. You will laugh, cry, scream and fall in love with these characters. I love everything about this story. AL Jackson has done it again.
Lead Me Home by AL Jackson was an amazingly emotional read.
Though I thought I was prepared for Ollie, I learned, rather quickly, that I was NOT! Not even close.
The pain, the regret, the guilt, the emotions…just all over the damn place!
Although I made an educated guess pretty early on in the book, I was not prepared to feel the way I did when everything came out.
Hell, I’m emotional again, just writing this review.
Ollie has definitely become my fave in this series, hands down.
I always knew I would love him, but never thought I’d love him this hard!
Like, Daniel, hard!!
Nikki was THE perfect companion for Ollie in more ways than we had ever realized. She knew, and felt, it all. Just as strong!
Go get this book people. But be prepared!!
What a beautiful friends-to-lovers romance! If you’re looking for a great romantic suspense, this is it — and you’ll especially love it if you’re into angst!
A.L. Jackson always delivers an emotional and endearing story. Her words and characters warm my heart. Oh Ollie, Ollie, Ollie. What can I say other than he was everything I had hoped he’d be. As a longtime reader of this series, I have been eagerly anticipating this book and it did not let me down one bit.
Nikki and Ollie’s past is full of heartache and pain, but now that she’s back and needs help there is no way he could turn her away. I could not put this book down. I NEEDED to know how everything worked out and enjoyed every page I read no matter how many tears I had to keep at bay.
A.L. Jackson is an author I know will never let me down and with this novel, she has once again cemented her spot on my list of top favorites.
What a beautiful second chance/ friends to lovers romance by A.L. Jackson!! An absolute stunner. Incredibly well written, emotionally charged, angsty with a dash of mystery and suspense, Lead Me Home just blew me away. It’s my favorite book in the series for sure. It’s like A.L. Jackson has a direct line to my heart. Book by book, I fall more and more in love with her writing.
I’ve wanted Nikki and Ollie’s story ever since we met them in Hunt Me Down (formally Red Hot Pursuit featured in the the Glamour anthology). With everything I learned about these characters from the previous books (especially about Ollie), I just knew I was setting my heart up for some serious heartbreak. These two have been through so much together. Torn apart by tragedy and guilt, still, you can feel the love they share radiating off the page. Gah! I just loved this book!! Ollie, Nikki and the whole Gingham Lakes gang… my goodness… perfection.
Nikki’s spirit and positive energy drew me in right away. I loooved her. Loved. Of course, I knew I would. She is so much more than what we’ve seen in the other books. I adore the way she cares and how determined she is to help people. Her selflessness and her heart is so inspiring. It is easy to see why Ollie is so crazy about her. Oh, man is he ever. Even if he feels like he should stay away from her and that she deserves better, he has a need to stay close and protect her. Always.
Ollie Preston both broke my heart and repaired it more times than I could count. His guilt over Sydney disappearance has forced him to become distant, gruff, and a shell of who he used to be. Oh my God! There were times that I just wanted to shake Ollie and tell him “it’s not your fault.” Most times, I just wanted to hug him!!! With Nikki’s help, he finds the person he was hiding under all the darkness. And, it’s beautiful.
I love that this book is different from the rest of the series. The suspense and mystery element took this book to the next level. The questions we had throughout the series pertaining to everything that happened that night fourteen years ago are answered in heart stopping and intense conclusion. A.L. Jackson has completely outdone herself. Trust me when I say, you don’t want to miss this one. The Fight For Me series has become one of my absolute favorites. Lead Me Home, in my opinion, the best. It’s everything I could have hope for.
(Lead Me Home is a standalone. You do not need to read the previous books in the series first but they’re fantastic and I would highly recommend.)
I’m a sucker for second chance romance. It is probably my favorite theme to read. A.L. Jackson blew me away with this one. If you have read the rest of this series then you know Ollie and Nikki. Ollie is the brooding bad boy bar owner and Nikki is the sweet and sassy girl that everyone loves. We have been given its buts of their relationship and now we finally have all the pieces. This story ripped me apart at places and I loved every word.
I feel like every time I find my favorite A.L. Jackson book a new one comes out that becomes my new favorite. It has happened again! I loved this book. A.L. has a way of writing these emotionally charged stories that give you all the feels. Ollie and Nikki’s story is a story of second chances and healing and is simply perfect. Ollie is so swoon-worthy and had such pain in his life that you can’t help but feel for him and want him to find some peace and happiness. This story quickly drew me in and I couldn’t help but become emotionally invested in Ollie and Nikki’s story, I had been waiting for it and I really felt like it was the perfect story to end this series!
I’m a huge A L. Jackson fan, she definitely did not disappoint with this book. You are taken in an amazing live story with Ollie and Nikki. They have a long and twisted past where nothing us for sure. This is a great ending to the series, with all your questions being answered. Amazing writer!!! Can’t wait for more from her.
All I can say is that this story is phenomenal. Amy has such an incredible way of weaving a story together, her words are magical. It is a beautiful story of love, hope and redemption. Thank you Amy (AL Jackson) for sharing your beautiful words with the world! Your stories give me hours of entertainment and the whole time I feel like I am right in the middle of it.
When it comes to tortured souls, Oliver Preston wears his like a coat of armor. But even his defensive shield is no protection against the honey-haired temptress, whose mesmerizing eyes had, long-ago, captured Ollie’s heart. And she’s been holding it hostage ever since.
She is the woman who has come to mean “everything,” yet remains a torturous reminder of all that’s been lost and all that can never be.
“Nikki. F***ing. Walters.”
She invades his thoughts by day; occupies his dreams by night.
“The Bane of his existence”
The girl, a constant taunt.
“Little tease”
A beacon of light against all of Ollie’s dark
“Sunshine”
As Gingham Lakes’ self-proclaimed matchmaker extraordinaire—aka, the orgasm fairy—Nikki Walters flits through life, spreading love wherever she goes. Boasting a bright smile and spouting fun quips, she’s been dubbed the fun-loving friend with nary a care in the world. But appearances are quite often deceiving–for there is so much more to Nikki than what she dares to let the outside IN to see.
If Nikki is the bane of Ollie’s existence, then Ollie is the guardian of hers. He’s her dark knight; her ferocious protector; her beautiful beast. He’s the man she gave her heart to, who tossed it back, tattered and torn. But when Nikki’s apartment is trashed and her well-being dangles in the balance, its Ollie to the rescue, set in his resolve to keep her safe. Wrapping Nikki under his protective wing, Ollie moves her to his place above Olive’s bar. Although the temporary move becomes a Nikki’s silent comfort, Ollie’s heated perusal keeps her teetering on the edge. As the tension rises and their desire heats, their new arrangement soon translates to a slow-burning torture of the very best kind.
It’s been nearly 14 years since Ollie’s sister, Sydney, went missing; 14 years, since Ollie lost a piece of his soul. Now, as the anniversary of Sydney’s disappearance approaches, Ollie must prepare to confront the demons of his past–a muddled task that proves as difficult as it is necessary, as he finally reaches for a future with Nikki. With continued threats and a past that doesn’t stay buried, “Lead Me Home” takes the reader on an unforgettable, darkly suspenseful journey that leads to answers to long-awaited questions. And, all the while, a new beginning for this couple hovers in the distance–close enough to touch, but just barely out of reach.
As the third (and final) installment to AL Jackson’s Fight for Me Series, “Lead Me Home” wraps up this series in a heavier shroud that only Ollie’s story could command. It’s suspenseful, shocking, devastating and tragic. It’s also wickedly sexy, beautifully romantic, and boasts lots of fun & flirt, while the requisite HEA is delivered in the most perfectly delicious way.
While “Lead Me Home” is written as a standalone, I would highly recommend starting at the beginning. In doing so, a proper perspective would be gained and additional insight can be gathered about Ollie, Nikki, and their endearing circle of friends—friends that I’ve come to know and love; friends to whom I hate to bid farewell. But, alas, I must. So, in parting, I offer my final kudos to AL Jackson for writing such amazing, colorful characters that have carved a permanent home within my heart.
Oh Ollie, Ollie, Ollie!! How I have been waiting for your story!! And A.L. Jackson delivered it in spades! From the moment we first met Ollie in the Fight For Me Series novella Hunt Me Down, I was intrigued by him. And I was doubly intrigued with the way that Nikki Walters would make eyes at Ollie and joke: “I’m going to flirt with Ollie over there and see if I can finally get that man to crack.” which of course made me start thinking that there has been something going on that we just haven’t been made privy to yet.
Well, whatever I thought might have been going on was not at all what we find out in Lead Me Home. Turns out Ollie and Nikki have known each other for a very long time. Have been integral parts of each others lives since childhood. Lives they thought they would spend together until the most horrific of events occurs that alters their lives forever. Ollie’s sister, Nikki’s best friend, disappears. Ollie was supposed to be watching over her, but in one small act of selfishness, he wasn’t watching over her on that one fateful night.
In each of the previous books in the series, Nikki has always come across as a fun loving, self-proclaimed matchmaker who injects humor into every situation. But the smiles she keeps plastered on her face really are just a mask for the heartache she has been enduring for the past fourteen years. She not only suffered the loss of her best friend, she lost Ollie too when he closed himself off from her. Now she’s just been going through life, watching Ollie from a distance, hoping against hope that he’ll find his way back to her one day.
Amy injects Ollie and Nikki’s story with so much emotion throughout, I had to keep tissues handy at all times. Told in dual points of view, as well as chapters told in the past, the reader gets the whole devastating story of what happened when Ollie’s sister Sydney disappeared. And since then, Ollie has spent his life searching for any clue as to what happened to her, always holding out a small glimmer of hope that she might still be out there somewhere. It was his job to protect her, and he failed. Because of this, he doesn’t feel like he deserves to ever be happy again, doesn’t feel he is worthy of loving anyone. Especially Nikki. She is the only thing that brings him any glimmer of light, but he can never have her again. She deserves to find happiness and love, just not with him. Only, the thought of her finding happiness and love with another man rips his guts out.
This story has a big suspense element in it, with Ollie and Nikki discovering her trashed apartment. Ollie immediately goes into beast mode, demanding she come and stay with him so he can keep her safe. He may never be able to be with her again, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been watching over her all these years. Always keeping Nikki in his sights, keeping his promise to always protect her. He failed his sister, he isn’t going to fail Nikki. And with the anniversary of his sister’s disappearance quickly approaching, his feelings for Nikki come to the forefront and his resistance to her wears thin, especially with her right there in his house.
I loved how complex and intertwined Amy made this story. Ollie’s primary focus has been searching for any clues as to what happened to Sydney. But now someone is threatening Nikki, and the tangled web of characters and events – past and present, are slowly moving them in a direction they never anticipated. Just when Ollie finally gives in to the feelings he’s always carried for Nikki and it looks like they may be finding a way to move forward together, devastating revelations hit them from both sides and I found myself reaching for those dang tissues once more! Gah!! Amy just about killed me with the suspense and anticipation of what was coming!
Even though each of the books in this series are standalones, I strongly suggest reading them in order, starting with the novella, Hunt Me Down. I am not just saying that because I am OCD and need to read in order, but I say it because there are interconnected characters who were also heavily affected by Sydney’s disappearance all those years ago. And while you will be perfectly fine whichever order you read the books, I think the impact you will feel when revelations come to light in this book will carry a heavier weight. Either way, you will feel the impact and the emotions one way or the other. Just for curiosity sake, I would love to get a reader’s opinion of how the story impacted them by reading Lead Me Home prior to reading Show Me the Way.
It was so wonderful to see all of the characters I’ve fallen in love with through this series. And as the last book, Amy brings everyone and everything full circle and gives her readers the happily ever afters that each and every couple we’ve met along the way deserve. Although, in my opinion, there’s still SO much story that could be told!! If I had my way, Amy would be just keep writing stories about these amazing characters, keeping us updated on their lives, writing the next generation kid’s stories…. I would read them all!!
I really can’t decide which story of the series I loved the most. Each one stole my heart in their own special way. This is why I love Amy’s books so much. She just writes amazing, heartfelt stories that totally captivate me and keep me thinking about the characters long after I’ve finished reading. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next!
“We do our best. We live and we love. We cherish and we hold. We fight with everything we have, even when we know we might lose. We do it because we can’t do anything else. Because we love so hard, loving is the only thing we can do.”
Oh, my heart . . . The Fight for Me series will be forever etched on my soul. These beautiful love stories shrouded by tragedy culminate in Lead Me Home.
He has always been her protector, her Beast.
She has always been his light, his Sunshine.
Nikki and Ollie’s story in Lead Me Home is so profoundly and intensely emotional that I can’t come up with the words to express how deeply their story – how the entire series – affected me.
Theirs is an intimate and everlasting love built on a life-long friendship that surmounts tragedy and through courage, forgiveness, and hope has a second chance to become something truly beautiful.
“Forever and ever, you and me.”
Love to battle heartbreak.
Hope to battle despair.
Light to battle darkness.
“Not to forget. But to live whole and free in the middle of it.”
Tragedy, heartbreak, and loss. Second chances, love and enduring friendships. Shocking revelations. Sweet surprises. Tears, hope, and laughter. Sensual romance. A.L. Jackson’s lyrical writing delivers it all.
“Never stop going after what makes your heart feel right.”
I highly recommend reading the Fight for Me series in order from the beginning to feel the full emotional breadth of these beautifully interwoven stories that connect this group of friends and lovers: Hunt Me Down featuring Lily and Brody, Show Me the Way featuring Rynna and Rex, Follow Me Back featuring Hope and Kale, before concluding with Lead Me Home featuring Nikki and Ollie.
Oh My Heart.!!!
This book owned my heart and every single bit of attention I could not put it down.
Nikki and Ollie have been best friends since childhood, slowly their friendship starts to develop into something more.But they have to keep it a secret from Ollie’s sister who is Nikki’s best girl friend and the group of friends they hang out with.
But when a tragedy happens to them all Nikki and Ollie fall apart and even in adult hood they tend to avoid eachother…But the chemistry and attraction is still there and Ollie is still very protective towards Nikki.So when her apartment is burgled they end up living together,and this is when everything unravels.
This book is so intriguing the storyline was compulsive and full of twists and turns that kept me on my toes.
The emotions left me raw and I cried so much for these two that my heart was breaking at one point.
A.L.Jackson’s words shook me to my core,she always seems to pluck out everyone of my feelings leaving me exposed. There is so much beauty, meaning and heartfelt moments in her stories and I absolutely LOVED Lead Me Home.
This is a sensational book and an outstanding story.
I highly recommend it.
5 remarkable Star
Nikki and Ollie- what an amazing story so full of pain, heartache love and sacrifice.
love love love
All three books in this series are fantastic. These 3 friends have to learn how to move on from a horrific tragedy from their teenage years. Their friendship shares a bond that’s strong but they all have regrets and they have to learn to cope, grieve, and forgive themselves. These stories show how the friends navigate through life, grow, let go, supporting each other, finding closure and that love can help to heal all wounds. Beautiful series, I love every book.