Rely on Him

by Hattie Wade

Just as she is about to lead her college swim team to Nationals, tragedy strikes for Allie Dennis. Allie’s new life as a quadriplegic is no easy feat. Instead of living her life full speed ahead, she feels stuck in survival mode and wrestles with the lie that she is unworthy. "Bad boy" Jonah Steele has just been released from prison, after being locked up for the past six years. He is ready to live again, but fears that may be impossible because of his complicated past. When their lives collide, sparks fly. In this compelling novel of both brokenness and love, watch how only God can mend hearts and bring beauty from the ashes. Psalm 59:9-10, “You are my strength, I watch for you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.”

Genres: Christian Romance

288 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2025

Reviews

[Brittney (booksta.britt) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Book 2 in this series was a harder one to read. I felt terrible for Allie. The Author sheds light on the harsh realities faced by individuals with life-altering injuries.
Allie has been through so much but the love she gets to experience is truly beautiful. It was wonderful to see her relationship with Jesus grow in the darkest time of her life.
Jonah has a rough past but he is determined to be better. He is selfless and kind. He is absolutely precious!
I loved getting to see these two broken people not only fall
in love but grow stronger in The Lord.
I am really enjoying this series and I am excited for book 3!

Quote ✨

“You have awakened a part of me that I thought was long gone. I buried my heart deep down. I put my heart in its own prison cell because I was sure I would never experience love.”

*No foul language, kissing only

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ive had a few books over the years bring me to tears but this one…broke me. I don’t want to go into too much detail but this book spoke to me because I’m Allie. I have lived Allie’s life, not in a sense of being in an accident to be paralyzed because I was born paralyzed from waist down. But, with everything Allie went through and in her struggles I have felt those. I know what’s it like to not want to keep going on. To question why over and over again during my 40 plus years on this earth. Real and raw emotions and feelings came from this book. I think that Hattie Wade did an exceptional job writing this story. She had you feel all the emotions and feelings. I have screamed at the top of my lungs just like Allie did. I’ve have felt the unworthiness. But, we serve an ALMIGHTY AND POWERFUL GOD, who in our weakness He makes us strong instead. He takes our ugly and brokenness makes them beautiful and whole in Him. No our bodies maybe “broken” a sense of not fully functioning but I am strong and fully loved by God. It doesn’t take a man or relationship thought to make anyone whole and loved by God, but I am glad for this sweet and beautiful love story.

[Heather (heathers.clean.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are not many books that move me to tears and touch me so deeply! But Rely on Him did both!! This book took me on an emotional roller coaster ride! I would laugh, cry and then laugh some more! I cried straight through for 3 chapters, it was so moving!

Allie and Jonah’s story is so raw and filled with deep emotions!! I love how Hattie writes her characters where I feel like I am experiencing what they are! I love how she intertwines the Bible and the Lord’s love and mercy in her stories and blends it so beautifully and makes you want to deepen your walk with the Lord!!

There were times I just wanted to reach out and hug Allie! And Jonah was so caring and protective of Allie and respected her boundaries! Their love story was so realistic and beautiful!!

Hattie Wade puts so much research, time and love into her stories! God has truly blessed her as a writer and is using her to reach others! She has become one of my new favorite authors that I will read everything she writes!! You don’t want to miss out on this wonderful treasure!!

[Jessiemaereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give this more than 5 stars if I had the option! Jonah is an amazing MMC! This is a book I’ll be recommending to everyone I know!

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This book is deep and vulnerable and touches your heart. Allie's life being turned upside down and becoming a paraplegic was definitely not on her life list. We see all her flaws and struggles that she has with the way her life turned out and how she blames God for it. She struggles with her identity and doesn't see anyone sacrificing their future and truly loving her with the long list of caring she needs. Jonah is turning his life around after one night six years ago he makes a drunken mistake. He immediately falls in love with Allie despite her worries about her physical impairment. He tenderly cares for her, makes her laugh and smile, listens to her hopes and dreams then makes them a reality. We see his guilt over what he did six years ago and we watch as he makes the right choice to fix them.
I was thrilled we got to see some June and Clay moments. I absolutely loved Opal and I'm ready to read her book soon, but I'm afraid there will be many tears.

"I wish you could see yourself the way I see you. And believe me when I tell you that you are God's masterpiece! Wheelchair or not." ~ quote from the book

Content guide:
Language - heck x8, gosh x14, geez, dang x6, darn x3, shoot x2, unspoken curses

Sexual content - barely detailed kisses, lightly detailed kisses x4

Other content - mentions of PTSD from a car crash, lightly detailed
- use of medical terms, including enema
- couple mentions of alcohol and bars
- pop culture references including Diehard, Grease, Fleetwood Mac, Dirty Dancing
- there is a mention of suicide in the epilogue, not detailed

[Safe Haven Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Rely on Him" by Hattie Wade is a true gem that gently tugs at your heartstrings with a beautiful neighbors meet-cute love story and an engaging and truthful representation of disability and caregiving, that leaves you with a renewed sense of hope and belief in the transformative power of forgiveness and letting go, and the profound impact of God's grace and love.

The collision of Allie and Jonah’s life sparks a connection that defies their complicated pasts. Through their shared journey, the author skillfully explores themes of brokenness, faith, and the complexity of human relationships. I deeply connected with both, Allie and Jonah, at an emotional and spiritual level and I think that at some point of our lives we have all felt like them: lost, hurt, unworthy and searching for a glimmer of hope to guide us towards brighter days. And their story showed us that no matter how broken we may feel, healing is possible.

I really loved how through her careful research Hattie didn’t shy away from dealing with the hardest aspects of spinal cord injury and caregiving in a tactful and simple yet medically accurate way. Also the impact of having a good caregiver and the significance of matching with the right therapist to help you navigate through trauma, which we appreciate when Allie expressed her sense of comfort and safety with the therapist who truly understood her. It was so refreshing to read how her friendship with June strengthened even more as June was there for her when she needed it the most and how she helped Allie realize the possibilities she had ahead of her.

Some of my favorite moments were not only the almost tangible chemistry between Allie and Jonah, but the detailed descriptions of each scene that completely trapped me and made me feel as if I was watching a movie. And I cried at Allie's vulnerability exposed in the least expected moments while having Jonah being an absolute dream of a gentleman.

Hattie’s ability to evoke empathy and stir emotions is truly commendable, I thought I had loved Clay Cooley from “Run to Him” but Jonah Steele definitely stole my heart and I can’t say enough about him and his swoon-worthy personality. There is nothing I did not like about this beautiful story, except how much it touched my heart and made me cry, leaving me wanting to read more about them.

"Rely on Him" is an absolute must-read that reminds us of the importance of holding onto faith during life's most challenging moments. It encourages us to embrace second chances, both for ourselves and for others, and to believe in the power of redemption. No matter which faith you profess I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking a heartfelt, uplifting read that will linger in your mind long after the final page.

Some of my favorite quotes:

“How do I truly live again?” -Allie Dennis

“But I can do this. This is my life. My journey. It’s worth it. I’m worth it.” - Allie Dennis

“I’m so in love with her and she doesn’t even know it.” -Jonah Steele

“You make me want to be brave and not give my past power anymore. I have done so much. My past, it’s so rough. I’m bruised, Allie, but you, you deserve the world!” -Jonah Steele

[abcici_reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rely on Him by Hattie Wade
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 5/5 stars! If I could give it more I would.
Friends, this is one of those books that stays in her heart for a very very long time.
Allie is experiencing her new life as a quadriplegic after a devastating accident. Jonah is an ex-con who has turned his life to God. Hattie Wade has done so much research, making you feel what Allie feels and opening your eyes to everyday struggles for quadriplegics. Watching the friendship grow and turn to love between Allie and Jonah as they both turn to God to find forgiveness and strength is moving. Plus Jonah is just super dreamy! June comes back in this book along with new friends Opal and Jenny. I’m not going to spoil the end- so I’ll stop here. But when you read this one, please reach out! I want to chat about it.
A few of my fav moments:

❤️ The descriptions used make my heart hurt for Allie

❤️ I love Ruth! She reminds me so much of my Grandma Winnie!

❤️ The string lights ❤️❤️❤️

❤️ Jonah is everything! His faith to his kindness. Can we talk about their trip to the lake 😍

❤️ The first kiss🔥❤️

❤️ Sam calling them out 😂

❤️ Allie wishing she could feel Jonah’s hand on hers 💔💔

❤️ “Then it dawns on me: this is loving” -Allie

❤️ “I just stole kisses from a guy with a man bun” hahah oh the man bun 😂

❤️ Flynn Rider smolder

❤️ “Let yourself live again”- God

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; Hattie Wade is an auto read for me. I feel like she has become a friend reading her books.

[Lilly Guirguis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good sequel book and here are some best quotes I loved:

I glance to the side and feel his lips on my cheek.
"You're probably right. I'm just so in love with you, Allie. But I guess since you're my girlfriend now, I can steal kisses every day, so there's no need to rush."
I'm beaming. "I love you, Jonah Steele." He sets me carefully back into my chair and gives me the lightest kiss.
"I love you too," he mumbles, smiling against my lips.

"Allie, I believe you are wrestling with a severe fear of abandonment.
Coupled with debilitating guilt and shame taken on as a coping mechanism when you were young and lost your dad. These thoughts you have are lies from the enemy. God has sent Jesus for you because He loves you unconditionally. He forgives you the first time. You don't have to earn it; all you have to do is repent and ask Him, once. God provides. He has life for you, abundant life. He didn't come so you could imprison yourself to this chair. For you to live in this guilt, shame, and depression; for you to self-sabotage any happiness that He brings you. He has a purpose for you, Allie. He loves you. He is not punishing you.”

[Brit’s Bookstagram · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t read a book that has impacted me so deeply in a long time. Hattie has written a masterpiece that touches so many emotions and circumstances life can bring. First, I loved the disability representation and how I felt like I was dealing with the struggles Allie has to live through. Jonah is 😍 and is polite and respects Allie and her boundaries. At times I was literally ugly crying because the emotions are so raw but Hattie did a great job with tying hope into the story. I don’t want to give anything away but you should definitely read this book. Jesus loves us so much and is always near even when we may not feel Him. For me the title is a play on words because it’s about Allie relying on Jonah and also Jesus. I just love this book so much!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rely on Him can be read as a standalone, but I think you’ll enjoy it even more if you have read Run to Him.

There is so much depth to Hattie Wade’s books. Not the kind of depth that makes you re-read a sentence 5 times, because it’s hard to engage. The kind where you can’t put the book down, because you feel every emotion along with the characters.

The friendship between June and Allie is a rare treasure! They know and love each other so well.

I love how raw Allie’s conversation with God is. We don’t have to hid our brokenness before Him. It is safe to approach Him with our anger, insecurity, hurt, frustration.

The relationship between Allie and Jonah is beautiful! It is sweet how they lift each other up and take care of each other so well.

This book left me on the edge of my seat, ready for the third book in the series! IYKYK. 😉

Content: Clean/ Kissing only

Triggers: Car accident, traumatic brain injury, paralysis (Another trigger warning is given by the author before that part of the story)

[Cindy y · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book

My first book by this author and I enjoyed it. It is a book with tragedy and raw emotions, but also redemption and remembering who we are in Christ. I loved that about it.
I wish there was better editing; a lot of run-on sentences as well as repetitive word usage in parts of it. But over all, it’s a great story. Now I need to read June and Opal’s stories.

[Courtney Bellingar · Rating 4 out of 5]

If reading a book could feel like talking to a friend - then this is it ❤️ Allie and Jonah’s story is a beautiful reminder that God redeems! I have never read a book with quadriplegia in it, and I have learned so much. I can tell that Hattie did her research for this book! This is book two in a series, the first one is called Run to Him and I definitely recommend reading that one before reading Rely on Him! I cannot wait to read the third book in this series which is called Rest on Him, that just got an updated cover and an added chapter!!

[Bekah Holman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Read it in a day because I had to find out what was going to happen.
I laughed and I cried!
It’s obvious the author put in research and prayer into this book.
Can’t wait for book 3

[Rachel Millhone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a great book! You can't help but get emotionally invested in the characters. I laughed, I cried, my heart swelled and melted, then broke. I love a good story that also honors God, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

[Tonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was my favorite of the series. I enjoyed the example of life not being perfect but still allowing yourself to move on and find happiness with God's help. This book was emotional and sweet. Would definitely recommend it to anyone questioning if you deserve happiness after loss.

[Sassy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a former spicy reader this book makes me wonder how I could have ever read such books as those. This author is absolutely amazing. Many parts I had to put the book down and pray. It just touches your heart in the best way. Can’t wait to read anything Hattie Wade writes.

[Sarah Bugbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Romance books and I've never read anything like this one before. I loved this book and the physical, mental and spiritual journey of Allie.

[Monica D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love. Love. Loved!!! Opened my eyes more to the disability community and how to Jesus loves us all.

[Eileen van der Merwe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rely on him -
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🌶:kissing(clean)
❗️:Car accident, traumatic brain injury, paralysis (Another trigger warning is given by the author before that part of the story)

Allie was one of the charmings (one of the popular kids) that had everything going for her, a wonderful boyfriend, swim team, and best friend. But that all changed when she went to college in Florida.

Now she's a paraplegic that turned against God & trying to learn to live her life again

I felt every emotion she felt ,i just wanted to cry and hug her . (I loved how her friends treated her and not like a broken person) Hattie Wade has done so much research, making you feel what Allie feels and opening your eyes to everyday struggles for quadriplegics. 

Jonah, I loved him and his man bun.
He was an angry kid with a bad attitude that did something terrible, and he found his way back to God and helped (with a bit of help from June) Allie to find her faith again.

This is not a sweet ,cute story like Run to him .
This one has hard topics, but you still get that sweet ending between them ,but if you want that cliffhanger for the next book ,please read the warning first.

Some of my favorite parts:
- I love Ruth ,any part with her in.
- The string lights scene.
- The lake scene
- Sam calling them out
- The first kiss
- Allie wishes she could feel Jonah’s hand on hers 💔

[M.M. Bylo · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It’s time to start living, not just surviving…”

This book is a clean, romantic tale of redemption. It truly shows how God can redeem trauma. Its characters are real, relatable, and lovable. I appreciated the disability rep, especially the way it was well-researched and validated for accuracy by a medical professional. The raw emotions within its pages left me in the feels but also comforted and encouraged me. I’m sure every reader can find something they relate to in Allie and Jonah’s story.

I laughed. I cried. I cheered on Allie and Jonah. I swooned over the romance. I laughed again.

I have a habit of giving 5 star ratings to books that make me ugly cry. You have been warned.