Six months ago, a letter from my mother changed my life.With plans to relocate to be closer to my father and brother, I never imagined it would put me in the same city as the one person I never knew existed until recently. Nor did I believe that I would find the love I had always wished for.When faced with tragedy, I never dreamed that the family I had always known would extend to include so … to include so many. Now I have learned that family is more than blood, and their love is always there for you to lean on.
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I really love the way with words Michelle Rene has. The character and world she has created makes me lose myself and feel as if though I’m there.
I recommend this book to everyone who loves a true love story.
Leaning On Love is book 2 in the Strong Hearts series by Michelle Rene and follows on from Decorating With Love, book 1, but could be read as a standalone.
Following the death of her mother, Shelby receives a letter and inside are details she’d stopped asking for many years ago. She decides to seek further information whilst also focusing on a planned move to be nearer to her father and brother. When she receives the further details she asked for, it’s not good news but she also gets a surprise and she must now decide what to do with what she knows. Then on her first day in Phoenix after moving, she literally bumps into Spencer and “an unexpected feeling courses through my body as his hands linger on my arms”.
We first met Spencer in Decorating With Love when Molly hires him as her architect. He’s also Travis’ work colleague and best friend. After helping Shelby rescue her shopping, he finds that he’s unable to stop thinking about her and is then lucky enough to spend time with her after their paths cross again. As they spend more time together, he looks “forward to the end of the day, because I know that I’ll get to see her, and that alone, would brighten anyone’s day”.
“As I lay here listening to her slow rhythmic breathing while she sleeps in my arms, I realize how much trouble I am in, because in the short time I’ve known her, this girl has already captured a piece of my heart.” – Spencer
After reading Decorating With Love, I was desperate to read Leaning On Love as I hoped it would answer questions that I was left with. Not only did Leaning On Love give me the answers I needed, it introduced me to yet another couple who I fell in love with. Michelle Rene has created another love story that leaves your heart full and you believing in love. Again, we get to meet a couple who follow their hearts and are stronger when together. The bond they share is clear and despite several things happening, their relationship continues to grow.
“Son, let me tell you something. It doesn’t matter if you have known each other five minutes or five years. When you find someone that your heart tells you is the one, you grab hold of them and don’t let go.” – Shelby’s Father to Spencer
I loved that characters from Decorating With Love returned in this book and that we also got to meet new characters. As in Decorating With Love, Travis’ family are absolutely wonderful and welcome Shelby, along with her father and brother, with open arms. You can feel the love radiated from within Travis’ family and anyone who gets to know them are blessed. Seeing Molly and Shelby’s relationship grow was so sweet and I’m glad that they found each other; the scene that had me crying for them was when they were sat talking about their parents being like “guardian angels” and putting them “on the path to meet”. And the epilogue! It was the perfect ending!
As with Decorating With Love and A Beautiful Heart, I fully recommend this heart-warming inspiring love story. Michelle Rene is an amazing author and I’m so grateful to her that she gave me the opportunity to read the first three books in the Strong Hearts series. I can’t wait to see what she has planned for book 3!