REVIEW: Lean On Me by HelenKay Dimon

Lean On Me 

(Holloway #2)

by HelenKay Dimon

4 HEARTS

From Goodreads

Cassidy Clarke once climbed the world’s highest mountains, but after an unexpected illness ends her career she’s back in her hometown, broke and hoping for a little luck. But the townsfolk aren’t exactly putting out a welcome mat for the woman who once snubbed them in the media, despite her apologies now. 

Mitch Anders knows someone has set up camp on the grounds of his plant nursery, and he’s surprised to find his sexy high school crush ducking questions about where she’s staying. Though he’s sworn to stop cleaning up other people’s messes, Mitch offers Cassidy a job and a place to stay—his place. Bedsharing optional, but definitely welcome. 

Out of options and too attracted to Mitch to keep things platonic, Cassidy says yes to his offer. She wants to get back on her feet financially and start a new career. She never expects to suffer a different kind of fall, one that has her believing Mitch just might bring her something bigger and better than luck.

I enjoyed the 2nd book in the Holloway series so much more than the others. I read this series out of order, so this was technically the last book for me. Lean On Me by HelenKay Dimon was such a pleasant surprise. When I read the blurb for this book it just didn’t strike my fancy. I’m so glad I gave it a chance. 

Cassidy Clark’s life is spiraling out of control. Not so long ago, she was at the top of her game, literally. As a professional mountain climber she was living her dream, until an unexpected illness took it all away. Still, she had plans for her life now that she could no longer climb. That is until she found out her business manager cleaned her out and has left her penniless. Forced to go back to her hometown, the same hometown that she spoke badly about in an interview, she had to face all of her demons. At least she would have the support of her step dad, whom she remained close to after her mother died of cancer. Except when she showed up nothing was as expected. Well, almost nothing. The townspeople hated her, but the welcome home she expected from the only dad she ever knew wasn’t there. He treated her fine when she was around, but he wouldn’t allow her in the home and found excuses to not be around her for very long. Homeless, penniless and hated Cassidy had to find a way to get her life back.

She pulled back and looked into the face of the man who once told a bratty thirteen-year-old girl that she could be as annoying as she wanted because he would never leave her. He was a good man but the stress pulling at the corner of his eyes told her he had bigger things on his mind than welcoming her home. 

Mitch Anderson felt it like a punch in the gut when his high school crush came back to town. He didn’t believe all of the nasty things that the residents of his small West Virginia town said about Cassidy; still he didn’t expect to feel so protective of her. And when it’s brought to his attention that someone is living on the property of his plant nursery illegally he just knows it’s her. Doing some quick damage control with his partners he convinces them to let him handle the situation. Facing his own trust issues and fear of commitment, he has to convince Cassidy to let him in and open up about what is going on with her, find out what is going on with her step dad and get the crazy townspeople to overlook all that they believe is true about Cassidy and actually see the truth. 

I found the banter between Cassidy and Mitch so amusing. The other books didn’t have this and I think that’s why I loved this one so much more. This book was such a great, short read. I can’t say enough about it. 

“Anyone ever tell you how you swear when you get grumpy?” His eyebrows lifted. “Then stop pissing me off.” 

A special thank you to NetGalley.com for the loan of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

Hotness Rating 

4 out of 5