Book Review — Let It Be Me by Toni Aleo

Let me be the one to hold you forever… Just please, let it be me.

• Buy LET IT BE ME (Kindle) **
• Buy LET IT BE ME (Paperback)

**Please note that 10% of the first month’s sales will go to the Joyful Heart Foundation.

Let It Be Me was a beautiful, heartfelt story about a woman’s struggle to face her fears, find her inner strength and gain the courage to leave an abusive relationship along with the support of an incredible guy who showed her what it was like to live without fear and to truly be loved.

It felt real and kept me connected me to the characters. I couldn’t put it down and read it start to finish in one sitting!! I was honestly hooked from the prologue. This was another book that I started just intending to “test” it out but after the prologue, I knew that there was no way I was going to be putting it down.

This is Violet’s story. Two years ago, she was Rob’s world, now she lives in constant fear of his temper and fists. Trapped under his control and unable to leave, he has made her life a living hell.

“He promised me the world, and all I’ve received in the last two years is pain and heartache. Why the hell do I stay? Why do I take this and why do I allow this to happen? I’ve asked myself those same questions for the last seven hundred and thirty days, but for some reason I still stay.”

But when Tucker McCloud enters her life, everything changes. For the first time in years, she feels a real connection to a man – real desire, an attraction that went beyond something just physical – and, although she tried to keep him at arm’s length, slowly but surely he became a part of her life. But as he began to spend more time with her, he started to piece together the tell-tale signs that her life wasn’t really as okay as she made it seem and he made it clear to her he would help her in any way he could.

“…Violet. Let me help you…. you don’t deserve to be treated like this, and when you’re ready to talk, I’ll be here for you. I always will be here.”

The story is told to us by Violet as though she were sitting right in front of you talking to you in person and I found myself instantly drawn into her story and wanting to know more.

“I’m aware that I should be classified as a weak person, but don’t give up on me yet, because, look, do you see that? Do you see the way I’m getting up?… See the way my chin is going up, the way my tears have stopped?… Because I do… I’m going to fight back. I have to.”

The book really highlighted and actually showed us how easy it is to fall into an abusive relationship. Even though there are often warning signs, it’s so easy to overlook them and want to see the best in people and give a second chance. But I really just have to get this out of my system and say that I absolutely hated Rob with a deep and angry passion. That man was just the scum of the earth. How any person can be so cruel is just beyond me and it was heartbreaking to see someone as sweet and kind as Violet be subject to his brutality.

There were times when I wanted to just scream at her to stand up to him or leave him but every time I got to that point her narration of the story made me be patient and just wait to see her journey unfold. At the same time I also felt Tucker’s frustration so deeply. Here he was caught on the outside watching the woman he both cared deeply for and was falling in love with be trapped in a situation she insisted on tackling herself. He wanted to help her so badly but at the same time, I absolutely loved that he understood her need to take back her freedom on her own.  He was there for her all along and he helped her where he could but he was also strong enough to stand back a little and just give her the support she needed to gain back the confidence her abusive husband had stolen from her and let her save herself.

“Let it be me, Violet. Let me be the one to hold you forever… Don’t waste your life on him. Spend it with me… Just please, let it be me. Pick me. Love me…

This is your battle and as much as I want to fight it for you, I know I can’t, but what I can do is be the guy that encourages you and gives you the tools you need to win.”

That man was just a saint!! I fell hard for him and loved how caring he was. A true savior. The very definition of a good man. It was just impossible not to love him.

Towards the end of the book, I was moved to tears. The last few scenes were seriously intense and my heart was just racing as I flipped the pages as fast as I could! The story had a beautiful ending and a wonderful epilogue that completed the journey and brought everything full circle.

Over all, this was a deeply moving story with a strong message. I loved it!

4.5 stars

Casting for Tucker and Violet.

• Buy LET IT BE ME (Kindle)
• Buy LET IT BE ME (Paperback)

**Please note that 10% of the first month’s sales will go to the Joyful Heart Foundation.