Lean on Me (Family Is Forever #1) by Pat Simmons

☆☆1/2
ebook, 320 pages
Expected publication: January 7th 2020 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
About the Book:
Tabitha Knicely loves her career as a pharmaceutical rep, but even her health care knowledge isn't much help with the daily challenges she now faces caring for her aunt with Alzheimer's. Her once organized lifestyle is in disarray and her patience is tested. On Sunday mornings, when Aunt Tweet drags her to church, though Tabitha isn't a believer, the peaceful presence of faith is a welcome relief. Marcus Whittington believes in second chances, so he hires former inmates to staff the industrial cleaning service he owns with his brother. When a mystery woman who keeps showing up on his porch turns out to be an elderly neighbor, Marcus is outraged at what he perceives as neglect on the part of her caregiver. Marcus soon learns that being a caregiver is a demanding, compassionate act of kindness that he has never experienced before. After several encounters with Aunt Tweet and Tabitha, his heart is drawn to the family's distress. Marcus is determined to help Tabitha, and a friendship that started out with a grave misunderstanding soon begins to blossom into a relationship filled with love, faith, and partnership. Life is easier, when you have someone to lean on.

Life is easier, when you have someone to lean on.
This book was ok. I didn't find the romance part very romantic, it focused a lot on looks and a little on substance. I also realized very quickly that this is a Christian book and I am an Atheist...so I am obviously NOT the demographic this book is for. The writing wasn't bad just a little repetitive and everything seemed so hunky dory, with the exception of the aunt's illness.

Who takes care of the caretaker?
I enjoyed learning about Alzheimer's and dementia though and the author obviously did some major research. I had little knowledge of pharmaceutical reps and everything they have to know and learn, so that was a wake up call. The author had the opportunity to give Aunt Tweet depth and dimension, especially at the end, but I got the sense that she was coming to the end of some pre-determined page count and had to wrap up the story quickly and maybe save some for the next installment. It's really too bad, as Ms. Simmons has talent but it still wasn’t enough to make me love this book.

Thank you NetGalley, Pat Simmons and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.

#NetGalley