Book Review: Left to Love (The Boys Next Door Book 2) by Jolene B. Perry

****--4 Stars.
June 2012, 287 pages.
Source: borrowed from the library.
 
Amazon Description: Leigh’s life is shaping up to be pretty perfect.

She married the father of a little boy she fell in love with. They live in a nice house, on a quiet street, and her hobby of a sewing business is keeping her busier than she ever imagined. She’s back in touch with her brother who she hasn’t seen since she was a child, and her new husband has an “in” for his dream job when he graduates in the spring.

But when her small symptoms begin to lead up to something big - she has to face the shattering realization that her cancer is back.

Leigh struggles with her new marriage, her faith, her desire to adopt the little boy who calls her mom, and the strength to keep fighting for her life.

My Review: This book picked up not long after where The Boys Next Door finished up. Leigh is barely married now to the man she fell in love with (Brian) and is living her dream life being a wife and mother to his son. Very shortly after the wedding, she starts to notice the symptoms--her cancer is back.

My heart was totally tugged!! There were a couple of things that bugged me--if she's gone in for an appointment not long before the wedding, how could the cancer of come back so quickly and be at the stage it's at? I guess it was pretty aggressive. And also when Leigh and Brian go find her brother on their honeymoon and a family secret was revealed, I was extremely surprised at the way Leigh just brushed it off. I guess I usually put myself in the books and I know there's NO WAY I would have (or could have) brushed something like that off. It's barely mentioned twice and the one sentence explanation satisfied her. I couldn't relate. At all. However, that's not the main gist of the story. The main idea is that Leigh is battling cancer for the second time and she has to rely on Brian now more that ever, even struggling with the thought of losing him. So poignant. I cannot imagine having to deal with something like this, especially in her circumstance. It was tender and raw; real and full of emotion. Nothing was spared. Leigh grew up so much in this story and finally realized to let go and let others help and serve her--not because they had to but because they wanted to.

Some favorite parts--when all the boys at church came in and kissed her head; when Noah and Brian were in the same room--haha; when Leigh and the ex-wife met; Andy.

Content: marital relations are implied, but all but some kissing are left behind closed doors. To buy this story, click here.