This is a Christian book about the joys and the hardships of caring for a family member with dementia. It follows a young professional as she cares for her elderly aunt with Alzheimer's. The caregiving situations are very real and shows the frustrations in accurate detail. There is also a unexpected romance to add to the mix. I enjoyed this book and would recommend as a quick easy to read book.

This is a story that needs to be told and one that everyone should read. Unless you walk in someone else's shoes you don't know what they are going through. Pat Simmons tells the story of Tabitha who is a pharmaceutical rep who becomes the caregiver of her Aunt Tweet who has Alzheimer's. In the morning while Tabitha was getting ready to go to work, her aunt would disappear and end up at a neighbors house and sit on his porch. Marcus wasn't too happy about that and threated to dial 911 if it didn't stop. She did try but it only took a second and she would be gone. Finally, she said maybe if you walked in my shoes you would understand. That made him think about what she said and he started being kind. At first, Tabitha was leary of his offers but over time she realized he really did want to help.
Marcus learned what it was like to try to juggle a job and be a caretaker. Even though she found an adult daycare for her aunt, it didn't leave any time for her. Marcus kept telling Tabitha that he was going to be a caretaker for her like she was to her aunt. She didn't have time to take care of herself so he was going to help her. I thought that was a wonderful thing to do and realized that this was what being a caregiver was like.
This was a well-written book that put the spotlight on being a caregiver and all that it involves. I hope everyone reads this book because many will become caretakers and for those of us that aren't, we may step up and offer to help someone who is.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review. My honest review is this was a story that needs to be told and needs to be read because there is more and more people that are going to have to step into the role. This gives us an idea of what they are going to go through. Thank you, Pat Simmons, for writing this book.

Lean on Me by Pat Simmons is an inspiring story about the highs and lows of an Alzheimer's caregiver in dealing with family, love and illness in compassionate and Christian way.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

"Lean on Me" is a touching and heartbreaking story of loving a family member suffering through Alzheimer's. Tabitha and her two sisters are taking care of their sweet, funny aunt who was always there for them especially when their own parents died. They learn things about their aunt they never knew. She keeps them on their toes. Tabitha has her for six months before the other sister takes over. She wonders off down the neighborhood and Tabitha is beside herself. She usually uses Sundays to sleep in and her aunt has changed that and is up ready for church. Listening to the preacher is a big help for not only Tabitha, but her sisters and a romance that her aunt brought up with her wandering away! First time to read anything by Pat Simmons and look forward to reading more!

Thank you publisher and NetGalley for the eARC

This Christian book is an amazing story of the ups and downs of an Alzheimer’s caregiver. Tabitha and her sisters agreed to take care of their aunt on a six-month rotation so she does not have to go to a nursing home. Aunt Tweet stays with Tabitha first, and Tabitha has a very hard time adjusting not only to care for her aunt, but to her new job. Through Tweet’s wandering she meets a man who does not understand and he threatens to call 911 and turn Tabitha in for neglect. Getting to know them, he witnesses many of the emotions of both Tabitha and Aunt Tweet, changes his attitude and eventually becomes a caregiver for the caregiver. The author does a fabulous job of demonstrating the emotions of all the characters. According to the Author’s Note at the end of the book, this is a series. I am definitely looking forward to the next book. I would recommend this book to anyone who has been or is a caretaker or anyone who is looking to help a caretaker. I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca. All opinions stated here are my own.

Lean On Me is heartbreaking especially for those that have dealt with a family member suffering with Alzheimers or dementia. It showed the hardships a caregiver experiences and the love and appreciation that they also receive. A true to life portrayal of how a caregiver can experience stress and burnout. I believe everyone probably knows or has heard of someone that has this terrible illness. This novel hits a note with all of us. I would like to thank Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of this book.

Lean On Me is a timely story of love, misunderstanding, and the caretaking of a loved one suffering from Alzheimer's, As parents, families, and friends age, most people have been touched in some way by this disease, and often judgements are made without a true understanding of what caregivers go through. Pat Simmons gives a touching, heartwarming story that hits all the points with three sisters striving to give the best care for their grandmother while following her written directions.

I thanks NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for giving me the opportunity to read this book. It brought back many memories of my family's care and struggles with my deeply loved grandmother who suffered from dementia.

Lean on Me covers a timely topic of adults as caregivers for family members who have illnesses that mean they are unable to care for themselves. Pat Simmons weaves a tale of a believer who automatically assumes when an elderly woman comes to him, unassisted, on several occasions, that she is being abused in some fashion. His actions, though, are a little tough and Tabitha feels the brunt of it. Tabitha and her sisters are managing to care for their aunt through three different residence rather than put her in a facility. They were not prepared, as with so many people today, who cannot ascertain the challenges that will faced with a woman whose memory is diminishing on a daily basis.

This is an emotional read that has threads of reality and sweet romance. I have followed Pat Simmons for the majority of her career, and this caregiver series is a wonderful addition to her library of work.
--USA Today Bestselling Author, Naleighna Kai
Thank you SourceBooks and NetGalley for this advance read.

This is a new-to-me author and I wasn't sure what to expect. Her book was wonderful! It is well written and holds your attention. It's a beautifully written story about caring for an elderly person and how sometimes people judge without knowing all the facts. You feel like you know the people in the story and you have to know what happens next. If you like a realistic emotional read with a sweet romance, you will love this book. I can't wait to read more of her books. Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

A story of the times as the growing population is getting old and needs help. Caregivers find themselves trying to cope with taking care of the elderly population without help and lack of knowledge.

We meet a pharmacist representative who cares for her aunt with Alzheimer but she still feels lost in providing health care for her. She tries to cope as she takes her aunt to church on Sundays which she does not believe inn as it tests her faith.

Her aunt tends to wander away and a she keeps frequent a certain porch. The owner at first thinks she is being neglected as he offers to be a part of her caregiver.

Soon there is a bond between the two caregivers as they become more than friends. Sometimes the burden is less when you have someone to share. Love sneaks up when you least expect it.

No caregiver should ever have to go it alone...pretty much sums up the most powerful emotional punch in Pat Simmons’s LEAN ON ME. There is also a wonderful growing romance that starts out on a very, VERY bad foot as well as a message to lean on one’s faith, as well as those around us. Being a caregiver under any circumstance is beyond difficult and on the surface, this book does address the toll it takes on everyone involved.

As a person who has been the sole caregiver for more than one family member through dementia and/or cancer, I can say that there is a reality disconnect in this tale. I found it interesting that Marcus, a professed Christian and believer in giving second chances, he jumps to the conclusion that the elderly lady who has shown up on his doorstep several times is being abused and acts in the most unchristian-like manner.

Tabitha and her sisters had decided to shuttle their aunt between their homes to care for her and clearly had no idea what they were getting into. Money was not the problem, so I am not sure how they thought this would be a good situation for a woman whose memories are failing.

That said, it is a pleasant read, and does give a surface-level story of the trials of caregiving and the blessing of faith. Finding love when one least expects it IS a lovely bonus.

I was invited to read a complimentary ARC edition by Sourcebooks Casablanca! This is my honest and voluntary review.

Series: Family is Forever - Book 1
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (January 7, 2020)
Publication Date: January 7, 2020
Genre: Women's Fiction | Romance
Print Length: 288 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A sweet story about family and caring for older family members with a romance thrown in formgood measure.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I received this book through NetGalley, When I began to read this book I did not realize it was a Christian romance but I continued to read it and really enjoyed it. The characters were wonderfully created with normal flaws that made them realistic. This story is heartbreaking for anybody, but especially for those that have dealt with a family member suffering through dementia or Alzheimer’s. It showed the true hardships that a caregiver experiences plus the love and appreciation that they also receive. Aunt Tweet was a wonderful lady and I felt the author portrayed a strong female character with her. I loved to hear her stories and not knowing g what was or wasn’t fact actually made the book better. The romance was sweet and I was rooting for Marcus to win Tabitha over. This is a lovely book that will move you and leave you wanting to hug a senior in your life. While I’m not keen of that much religion in the book I still thoroughly enjoyed this book.

This is the first time I have read this author but I really loved this story. 3 sisters are sharing the care 6 months at a time for their Aunt Tweet. This story is about Tabitha the first sister to start this. Then it involves Marcus who Aunt Tweet manages to find her way to his porch most mornings and sits on his porch. He meets Tabitha when she goes back one morning to find her aunt's scarf. He is very hostile with her and accuses her of being a bad caregiver. This book shows you how someone can change their mind about a caregivers role and how hard it can be . It is also includes a story about Tabitha and Marcus. Also Tabitha's 2 sisters who visit on long week ends. This is a must read. GREAT READ, I will look out for more books written by this author.

A well depicted portrayal of a loved one with alzheimer's, definite caregiver stress and burnout.
I believe everyone knows or has heard of someone that has this dreaded illness. This novel hits a note with all of us.
Tabitha and her sisters share the care of their beloved Aunt Tweet, who is in her eighties and has had a wonderful full life.
Aunt Tweet tries to remain independent, but finds herself wandering many times, unable to read, unable to cook,, unable to live alone.
Her nieces each take her into their homes for six months. This is Tabitha's time.
The stress and feelings are real. "Dementia has so many symptoms".
Tabitha attempts to adjusts to the daily changes within her aunt, her own exhaustion, her job and now a man who wants to call Adult Protective Services. Is he kidding?
Will Tabitha's prayers be answered? Is anyone listening?
A wonderful story that I hope will be continued. I enjoyed meeting all the characters and especially Aunt Tweet!