Monday, April 16, 2018

Review: The Dandelion by Michelle Leighton

"I'm going to ask a girl I used to know to do something I have no right to ask of her. I'm going to ask her to love me again. Or at least to try." - Sam Forrester

The Dandelion
Author: Michelle Leighton
Publisher: Self-Published
Published: April 8, 2018
Source: Author for Review

Buy Links: Amazon - Barnes & Noble - iBooks - Kobo
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Some see an ending, others see a beginning.

At thirty-five, Abigail Simmons has mastered only one thing—running. When tragedy strikes, she runs. This time her urge to flee brings Abi back to her hometown, where she hopes she can find the peace she’s always searched for. That hope is dashed when Abi’s ex, Sam Forrester, bumps his way back into her life.

Sam has flourished in ways Abi hasn’t. From the outside, he has it all—a successful medical practice, a beautiful daughter, and a charming wife.

Who is dying.

Sara Forrester is dying and her final wish is for Sam to find love again so she can meet the woman who will finish raising her daughter and grow old with her husband. Abi seems like the perfect fit, but what Sara doesn’t know is that Abi has a secret, a secret no one could guess.

And it’s a deal breaker.


I've always been drawn to romances that grow from a dying spouse wanting their loved one find happiness before they go. It's always a difficult road to travel down. Trying not to step on anyone's toes or hurt the other's feelings. I love how someone can love their partner so much that they are willing to put aside their needs in order to help that person move on. So when The Dandelion came on my radar, I immediately had to read it. I had never read any of Michelle's books before, so I was excited to give it a whirl. 

I loved this book. The emotions that The Dandelion made me feel... I was up until 3:30 in the morning tearing up. The love and sadness in this book go hand-in-hand. Through love, each of Michelle's characters are able to work their way through the sorrow. I loved that Abi was able to find peace and love from two very unlikely sources - her mom and the woman who married her high school sweetheart. In their own way, each woman helped her stand strong as she fights for a future with Sam, something Abi never thought possible. When times felt bleak, someone was there to pull her out of the darkness. And as she connects with Sam, feelings she thought she buried deep inside come back to the surface. 

I fell in love with Sam from the moment he appears in the book. He's a wonderful father to little Noelle. He's a loving husband to Sara. And as Abi reappears in his life, his love for her starts to blossom again. He's very lucky to have found two soulmates in his life. In fact, it is his love for Sara (and her love in return) that allows him to have feelings towards Abi.

It took me a couple chapters to fully get into The Dandelion, but once I was past that hurdle, I was in for the long haul. I loved Michelle's writing style. I loved how the story flowed between the past and the present. Instead of the characters telling us what happened between Sam and Abi in the past, readers are able to relive it with them. Captivated by their journey, I couldn't put the book down.


New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a rarely ever comfortable speaking about herself in the third person, but here goes. Michelle is a former nurse who has always harbored a passion for the written word, a weakness for alpha males, and a profound love of all things romantic. Never in her wildest dreams did this Yankee-turned-Southerner imagine her life as it is today. She has the best job in the world, a husband who treats her like a princess, and a dog that’s so smart she may one day write a novel, too. You can often find Michelle hidden away in her cave, crafting a new story, or out in the sunshine enjoying some quiet time with her man. Movies, wine, and good food are frequently thrown into the mix, and exercise on days that start with Q. She loves laughter, chocolate, the color red, and you can find out more about her at www.mleightonbooks.com. Sign up for her newsletter here: http://smarturl.it/MLeightonNews. She promises not to spam your inbox:)


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