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Lean On Me
Sandy Morrow's four year old daughter is hit by an SUV as she's riding her tricycle down the sidewalk near her home. Her new next door neighbors, Hunter Thurman and his son Jason, had been arguing just before Jason jumped in the vehicle and took off without looking behind him. Now her daughter has a concussion and a broken leg,and Sandy has a sexy neighbor who will stop at nothing to make it up to her.Whether she wants him to or not.
Hunter Thurman has a mission: to fix the mess his son has made and to fix the mess he's made of his son's life. He is determined to take care of his next door neighbor and her daughter after the accident, but Sandy is independent and determined to take care of herself, insisting she doesn't need Hunter's help.
His son, Jason, bridges the gap, opening up to Sandy in a way he never has to his father, revealing things Hunter wishes his son had told him instead.
Hunter Thurman has a mission: to fix the mess his son has made and to fix the mess he's made of his son's life. He is determined to take care of his next door neighbor and her daughter after the accident, but Sandy is independent and determined to take care of herself, insisting she doesn't need Hunter's help.
His son, Jason, bridges the gap, opening up to Sandy in a way he never has to his father, revealing things Hunter wishes his son had told him instead.
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First published July 24, 2011
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About the author
Tori Scott
29 books68 followersAward-winning author Tori Scott believes in love and enjoys writing about the ways people fall in love and the pitfalls along the way. Her own love story was a classic romance storyline. She met her husband, Tony, on her first day of college at the age of 17 and knew the moment she met him that he was the one she was supposed to marry. She did, and they now live on 5 acres in the country with their dog Bo. They have 4 grown children and 5 grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 17, 2011
Lean on Me by Tori Scott explores a much more tender side of romance from an author who managed to grab my interest after reading her hot little novella Satisfaction Guaranteed. Released on the 24th of July, Lean on Me is a novel that delves into family life, the healing power of love and brings home the fact how communication is a vital aspect of any relationship.
Sandy Morrow is a single mother living alone with her four year old daughter Melanie who is a constant whirlwind of non stop activity. A childcare director by profession, Sandy had lost her husband in a car accident during a freak ice storm two years back and more than anything Sandy mourns for not what she has lost but what her marriage had never been able to give. Independent to a fault, Sandy doesn't want anything in the world to take that away from her, and shies away from relationships and the opposite sex until the Thurmans move in next door making her sit up and take notice for the first time in two long years.
Hunter Thurman is a military man who had served his country for a long time as a Special Ops soldier that had taken him away from home for long periods of time. His marriage to Liz hadn't turned out to be what he had envisioned and finally Hunter returns home for good when Liz dies leaving behind an angry and surly teenage Jason behind. Hunter focuses all his time and attention on finding out why his son resents him so much, an uphill battle all the way when the only form of communication between them seems to be screaming matches.
Everything comes to head when Jason's car hits Melanie's tricycle giving Jason the wake up call he sorely needs to get his act together. The accident brings together these two families and the constant intimacy brings to light the fact that the attraction that simmers between Hunter and Sandy is one that cannot be ignored. Its not an easy journey for these two towards happily ever after as both Sandy and Hunter bring to the relationship scars from their previous marriages together with the welfare of both their children to the equation. However with a lot of love, understanding, compassion and a whole lot of conversation with a few sensual scenes tossed in between, Tori Scott managed to deliver a happily ever after that I wholeheartedly approved of in the end.
I found Hunter Thurman and his gentle manner beneath which lies a man who can make a woman tremble in all the right ways to be one of the things that drew me into the story. His previous marriage had turned out to be a stifling one that makes him wary of a repeat experience. But when he finds himself enamored with Sandy and her daughter, the way he brings alive good old fashioned courting together with the stolen kisses made my toes curl inward, and made me sigh in pleasure as his wooing works its magic over a woman who has had her fair share of disappointments when it comes to men.
I loved Jason's character and how he grew in the story. At the beginning he is a surly, rude and obnoxious teenager with a belligerent attitude beneath which lies a wealth of pain and resentment towards his father for never being there when things had gotten quite bad at home. But with time and the healing touch and understanding from Sandy and a lot of patience on Hunter's part, Jason turns out to be a wonderful and unforgettable character that I fell for as the story progressed.
One cannot read this story without falling in love with the cute little Melanie. Her conversations with Jason made me smile at just how simple everything in life seems to be when you are that young, trying to make sense of all the chaos that reins in this world. Endearing is the term I would use to describe Melanie and she is a character that I wouldn't be forgetting any time soon.
The way that both Sandy and Hunter eventually find love and acceptance in each other was a journey that I very much enjoyed though there were moments that Sandy tended to rub me raw with her constant need to assert her independent nature which she is reluctant to let go of, understandable given her past. But in the end I loved how everything turned out and how Tori Scott managed to squeeze in a cute little epilogue giving me the closure I needed to let this one go. But mind you, I wouldn't complain if she were to write stories for Sandy's brother Ryan and Sandy's best friend Brandy who has a painful past of her own and who knows, maybe even Jason and Melanie? Ah! A girl can always hope!
Rating=4/5
Original review posted on MBR's Realm of Romance
Sandy Morrow is a single mother living alone with her four year old daughter Melanie who is a constant whirlwind of non stop activity. A childcare director by profession, Sandy had lost her husband in a car accident during a freak ice storm two years back and more than anything Sandy mourns for not what she has lost but what her marriage had never been able to give. Independent to a fault, Sandy doesn't want anything in the world to take that away from her, and shies away from relationships and the opposite sex until the Thurmans move in next door making her sit up and take notice for the first time in two long years.
Hunter Thurman is a military man who had served his country for a long time as a Special Ops soldier that had taken him away from home for long periods of time. His marriage to Liz hadn't turned out to be what he had envisioned and finally Hunter returns home for good when Liz dies leaving behind an angry and surly teenage Jason behind. Hunter focuses all his time and attention on finding out why his son resents him so much, an uphill battle all the way when the only form of communication between them seems to be screaming matches.
Everything comes to head when Jason's car hits Melanie's tricycle giving Jason the wake up call he sorely needs to get his act together. The accident brings together these two families and the constant intimacy brings to light the fact that the attraction that simmers between Hunter and Sandy is one that cannot be ignored. Its not an easy journey for these two towards happily ever after as both Sandy and Hunter bring to the relationship scars from their previous marriages together with the welfare of both their children to the equation. However with a lot of love, understanding, compassion and a whole lot of conversation with a few sensual scenes tossed in between, Tori Scott managed to deliver a happily ever after that I wholeheartedly approved of in the end.
I found Hunter Thurman and his gentle manner beneath which lies a man who can make a woman tremble in all the right ways to be one of the things that drew me into the story. His previous marriage had turned out to be a stifling one that makes him wary of a repeat experience. But when he finds himself enamored with Sandy and her daughter, the way he brings alive good old fashioned courting together with the stolen kisses made my toes curl inward, and made me sigh in pleasure as his wooing works its magic over a woman who has had her fair share of disappointments when it comes to men.
I loved Jason's character and how he grew in the story. At the beginning he is a surly, rude and obnoxious teenager with a belligerent attitude beneath which lies a wealth of pain and resentment towards his father for never being there when things had gotten quite bad at home. But with time and the healing touch and understanding from Sandy and a lot of patience on Hunter's part, Jason turns out to be a wonderful and unforgettable character that I fell for as the story progressed.
One cannot read this story without falling in love with the cute little Melanie. Her conversations with Jason made me smile at just how simple everything in life seems to be when you are that young, trying to make sense of all the chaos that reins in this world. Endearing is the term I would use to describe Melanie and she is a character that I wouldn't be forgetting any time soon.
The way that both Sandy and Hunter eventually find love and acceptance in each other was a journey that I very much enjoyed though there were moments that Sandy tended to rub me raw with her constant need to assert her independent nature which she is reluctant to let go of, understandable given her past. But in the end I loved how everything turned out and how Tori Scott managed to squeeze in a cute little epilogue giving me the closure I needed to let this one go. But mind you, I wouldn't complain if she were to write stories for Sandy's brother Ryan and Sandy's best friend Brandy who has a painful past of her own and who knows, maybe even Jason and Melanie? Ah! A girl can always hope!
Rating=4/5
Original review posted on MBR's Realm of Romance
January 21, 2013
Lean on Me
By Tori Scott
Review by MaKayla Spetta
In life, you will never know who you fall in love with. It just may even be with the neighbor next door. Tori Scott really made me feel as if I knew what it was like to really be in love with someone. The book Lean on Me is about two neighbors who form an unexpected relationship with each other when Jason, Hunter Thurman’s son, had hit Melanie, Sandy’s daughter with his vehicle when he was angry.
The relationship between Sandy and Hunter is what caught my attention to keep on reading the book. The love they had for each other, felt like no other. It was an unexpected thing, and sometimes in life the best things are the ones that are unexplainable and unexpecting.
The theme is that you should never be afraid to meet someone new due to your past, because they could teach you things that you may have never known about yourself. The conflict in this book is both Hunter and Sandy are afraid to love again due to the marriages they had previously.
What I really liked about the writing style is, it made me feel as if I was right there going step by step with Sandy, Hunter, Jason, and Melanie. The way Tori Scott described the setting and everything else, I felt as if I knew exactly the picture she had in her mind when she was writing the book.
“A door slammed next door and a booming male voice yelled, “Jason, get in here right now!”” I loved how I could sense how angry Hunter was.
The proposal really makes you feel as if you are at the dinner table. “Sandy, I love you, and I have for a long time. I’m sorry I waited so long to tell you, but I promise to tell you every day for the rest of my life if you say you’ll marry me, and make a family with me, Jason, and Melanie, and any future Thurmans that might come along. Will you, please?” How is that not beautiful? Wouldn’t every woman want a man to propose to her like that?
I feel that if you are in the mood to read a book about love and want to feel warmth in your heart, then you need to read this book. Tori Scott takes you on an adventure and shows what love can be all about.
By Tori Scott
Review by MaKayla Spetta
In life, you will never know who you fall in love with. It just may even be with the neighbor next door. Tori Scott really made me feel as if I knew what it was like to really be in love with someone. The book Lean on Me is about two neighbors who form an unexpected relationship with each other when Jason, Hunter Thurman’s son, had hit Melanie, Sandy’s daughter with his vehicle when he was angry.
The relationship between Sandy and Hunter is what caught my attention to keep on reading the book. The love they had for each other, felt like no other. It was an unexpected thing, and sometimes in life the best things are the ones that are unexplainable and unexpecting.
The theme is that you should never be afraid to meet someone new due to your past, because they could teach you things that you may have never known about yourself. The conflict in this book is both Hunter and Sandy are afraid to love again due to the marriages they had previously.
What I really liked about the writing style is, it made me feel as if I was right there going step by step with Sandy, Hunter, Jason, and Melanie. The way Tori Scott described the setting and everything else, I felt as if I knew exactly the picture she had in her mind when she was writing the book.
“A door slammed next door and a booming male voice yelled, “Jason, get in here right now!”” I loved how I could sense how angry Hunter was.
The proposal really makes you feel as if you are at the dinner table. “Sandy, I love you, and I have for a long time. I’m sorry I waited so long to tell you, but I promise to tell you every day for the rest of my life if you say you’ll marry me, and make a family with me, Jason, and Melanie, and any future Thurmans that might come along. Will you, please?” How is that not beautiful? Wouldn’t every woman want a man to propose to her like that?
I feel that if you are in the mood to read a book about love and want to feel warmth in your heart, then you need to read this book. Tori Scott takes you on an adventure and shows what love can be all about.
September 13, 2011
I really enjoyed this book and have sort of a personal affinity due to the military association throughout the story. I was pulled in right from the start and went through a myriad of emotions throughout. It is well written with a good pace to keep you interested and excited page after page. The issues and struggles within this story are realistic and raw, they are things anyone in real life could and probably has dealt with or gone through themselves or someone they know. The emotions and relationships between characters are easy to follow and stay focused throughout the book. There are a few steamy scenes between Sandy and Hunter that are well written, I do wish there would have been a little more but that's just me LOL. I absolutely love the Epilogue in this one it is probably one of the best wrap ups I've read in awhile. All in all I'd have to say this story felt "real" in a way that life happens for all of us in one way or another, not overblown occurences or over dramatized situations that only happen in books and not everyday people. I would definitely recommend this book and look forward to more from author Tori Scott.
March 26, 2016
Have tissues. The story starts off a little heartbreaking, but later draws happy tears. The kids are adorable, the romance sweet and sexy, and the best part is the meddling family, everyone tries to help Hunter and Sandy get out of their own way and end up where they belong – together!
I’ve read a few stories by Tori Scott, and what they’ve all had in common is a strong emotional investment and that “sugar and spice” dynamic and this one certainly doesn’t disappoint. The romance is sexy without being blunt, and the overall story is just so endearing as the whole family falls in love with each other, but face old fears and hurts to overcome.
Lean On Me is hands down one of the most heartwarming contemporary romance stories I’ve ever read. It shows love, family, loyalty, and honor in many forms. It’s an awesome quick read for whenever you just need a little pick me up. This will without a doubt bring a smile to your face!
I’ve read a few stories by Tori Scott, and what they’ve all had in common is a strong emotional investment and that “sugar and spice” dynamic and this one certainly doesn’t disappoint. The romance is sexy without being blunt, and the overall story is just so endearing as the whole family falls in love with each other, but face old fears and hurts to overcome.
Lean On Me is hands down one of the most heartwarming contemporary romance stories I’ve ever read. It shows love, family, loyalty, and honor in many forms. It’s an awesome quick read for whenever you just need a little pick me up. This will without a doubt bring a smile to your face!
September 10, 2015
WOW!!! Tori did it again!!! She is fast becoming one of my favorite authors!!! I can't believe how well written Lean On Me was don't. In the book two people come together when a tragedy happens. Melanie is a little girl riding her tricycle while her mother, Sandy, watches. Jason is fighting with his father, Hunter, and gets into a car and backs up and hits the little girl. Both Sandy and Hunter are widows. And he refuses to leave Sandy while Melanie is in the hospital. Jason and Melanie become fast friends and plot to get their parents together. But Sandy doesn't want to depend on anyone and fights her feelings toward Hunter. Hunter feelings are strong but he doesn't want a weak woman for his son. Can they make a go of it?
This book is awesome!!!! I would recommend it to everyone!!
This book is awesome!!!! I would recommend it to everyone!!
March 12, 2013
Was a very cute story. Second time that i have read it actually.
October 3, 2014
I liked this but the female lead was very wishy washy. I could've done without that but everything with the kids was great. Overall I enjoyed it.
March 2, 2012
I enjoyed the plot of this one and thought it was really good!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews