Saving Leah

by Misha Elliott

Sometimes the only thing worse than revealing a painful secret is keeping it from the one who wants to save you.

In time, fractured bones mend and torn flesh heals. But what about a fractured soul? Years of abuse have left Leah scared and broken, in solitude with the only symbol of the person she used to be-her violin.

While in hiding, she never expected to meet the handsome and alluring Asher. Can he save her before all is lost or will her secrets become the death of her?

*WARNING* This book contains adult material including violence and sexual content intended for readers over the age of 18.

Previously self-published as Fearless

Genres: Romance

200 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2014

About the author

Misha Elliott is a nomadic soul, living all over the US with her Scottish husband. During their travels she fell in love with the written word and put her hands to the keyboard to romanticize her journeys. When not writing you can find her at Scottish Highland games (she's there for the men in kilts) or at the beach...as long as It's not hurricane season.

Reviews

[Sharon Mariampillai · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Actual Rating: 3.25

This was a good read. The book deals with hope, love and finding who you are after a horrible past. The story is about an woman from an abusive marriage and her moving on with her life. Along the way, she meets Asher, a guy with a past himself. They fall in love.

Leah is a broken woman from an abusive marriage. She used to have everything. Loving parents, a loving boyfriend, and music. However, after her parents died, her boyfriend turned husband began abusing her. He abused so much that she lost their baby.

Asher is also broken. However, he doesn't let his brokenness consume him. Instead, he wants to save Leah from her broken past and make her believe in hope, love, and music again. He may be broken, but he is also kind and patient. They have amazing chemistry.

The ending was perfect. Everything fell into place at the end. I was happy and smiling at the HEA that Asher and Leah got. This is a good story about how hope can let people feel love and find who that are again. Overall, an enjoyable read.

[D. L. Foley | My Last Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimers: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not obligated to write a good review nor did I receive any compensation for writing this review.

Why did I decide to turn the pages? It looked like a novel I'd enjoy.

My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: It wasn't at all what I was expecting. In fact, the synopsis led me to believe that the novel was something else entirely.

The novel does talk about Leah, a famous violin player, who endured years of abuse. But what it doesn't mention is that "in hiding" referred more to her state of emotional being than anything else.

I don't mean to down play abuse or the scars that abuse can have on a person. I love books about this subject, but that wasn't what I thought this book would be about and it wasn't my favorite book that's been written on the subject.

Asher and Leah were interesting characters, but I never felt like I really got to know them. And their relationship didn't ring true for me.

So why 3 stars? It just wasn't what I was expecting and it didn't quite grab me and pull me into it as much as I wanted it to.

Warnings/Side-notes: Some scenes of violence, sexual references. It's tame as far as new adult goes, but it still is for 16+.

The Wrap-up: I wanted to like this, but it just wasn't what I was expecting.

[Nikki Costello ***Crazy Cajun Book Addicts Blog*** · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Saving Leah by Misha Elliott it does deal with very sensitive issue but I think it was written really well and kept my interest throughout. I read page after page just hoping that Leah could somehow heal and find someone to love and finally get her HEA.

Leah was a musical star on the violin but living in hell in her personal life. She's a victim of domestic violence but has finally found the courage to leave her abusive partner and concentrate on herself. She's lost so much through her violent relationship she's now alone but determined to start a new life. She's not sure she'll ever be able to trust a man again but when a stranger risks his life for her and vows not to leave her side could all that be about to change. Asher Sky could be Leah's knight in shining armour if she can find the strength to let him in and help her heal.

A great read that I would highly recoommend.
(This review is for a new revised version due for release July 2018)

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an intense story. This book does focus on domestic abuse and may be a trigger for some.
Misha Elliott does a good job of writing about how one feels after suffering domestic abuse and how difficult it is to move on. I also was pleased to show that domestic abuse is not only something women suffer but men as well and it can also be in all types of relationships.
As a reader you will feel Leah's pain and self-loathing that she stayed and "allowed" herself to be abused. While she does come off as rude and nasty at times, she is trying to find herself and deal with all the issues and negativity that she suffered for years.
Asher too knows about loving someone who doesn't love you and he is one amazing man. He realizes he wants Leah and is is patiently waiting for her to realize they belong together. He realizes that she needs to heal and he just needs to show her he is there for the long haul and that he will wait for her.
I received this book for an honest voluntary review.

[Teri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leah is finally free from her abusive ex and trying to move forward in her life. Unfortunately PTSD and some other aspects of her time with him are still a huge problem. When Asher saves her from being ran over he makes his way into her life. Unfortunately this is where the problem begins for me. I love books and realize they are fiction and should be seen as an escape and not reality. Well for me that's what books are but when you are dealing with this type of subject I need a little more reality. The book wasn't bad by any means. It is well written with characters and situations surrounding abuse that need to be acknowledged and recognized, I just feel this author needed to give us more. I think if she had the relationship between Asher and Leah would have been easier to swallow.

All in all it is a good read from this author who is new to me. I did enjoy the story and I am sure others will as the reviews and ratings show but for me 3.5 stars is what I got.

[Loraine Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saving Leah is a book about a woman who has been lucky enough to live through physical and mental abuse, and her struggle to start living a normal life again.

Leah from the age of two years old started playing the violin, and she played from inside her head and not from written music. She was put into a school for gifted music students and her parents gave up everything to afford to do this. A year before she graduates, she is picked out of over 300 students, she and two others, to take the summer and play all over the world-they were considered the best. It is here that her life takes a turn for the worst and her parents die. With no guidance, she falls into the hands of one of the other two that went on that summer tour and he turned out to be an abuser, and she learned to hope and forgive him,even married him. Eventually she gets away, after he almost kills her and puts her in the hospital several times.

Leah, after her Mother and Father passed away, was left with no family and this made it easier for this young man to use her and abuse her physically, mentally and emotionally. Her only friend through all of this was the other student who went on the tour and he helped her, but finally even he was pushed out of her life for awhile. Now he is on tour but he promised to come back.

Finally after her friend comes back Leah is able to start going outside again, and she seeks professional help and it helps her to start on her road to healing, but she is still afraid. She has visited her parents at the cemetery finally, and when she goes notices a very handsome man who looks like he is grieving as much as her, and although she does not really see him-he sees her. They run into each other a few different times but never speak.

Leah finally starts getting out almost on a daily basis, and she is at the corner one day waiting to cross the street and she sees a man approaching her in a hoodie, and he is so big, she reverts to her normal behavior -she runs right into traffic and almost gets run over, but the man in an attempt to pull her in knocks her down. He gets her to the hospital and he stays for two weeks just leaving when he has to as he wants to make sure she is okay. His name is Asher and he is the man that saw her in the cemetery.

When it is time for her to go home she will have to go to rehab unless she has someone to take care of her so Asher insists she go home with him, and although she is afraid, she consents to do so. This is the story of Leah and Asher and how Leah's life changes for the better, for having him in her life.

The characters are well developed, and Asher is an awesome and handsome, and big man with a perfect body, but more than that he is a kind man, and in his own words, he was a mommy's boy, and he took care of her when she lay dying of cancer. Asher's Mom taught her son how to love, and how to be a gentleman. After a bad relationship with a self centered woman he has been alone. Now for some reason he is attracted to Leah, and he wants to care for her. Leah on the other hand is terrified to love or to give anyone any kind of control over her, and it makes her appear mean and hateful in the story, but Asher understands and can see her.

Read this book and see what happens between these two and if they can survive their own pasts- Leah and her self doubts, and lack of trust, and Asher caring enough for the both of them to let Leah heal and become the young woman she once was again.

I really liked this story and gave the book 4**** stars and look forward to more by this author.

[Tbird London · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel the synopsis does a very good job at telling you about this book and what to expect. There are many issues that might be triggering for victims of abuse. The intensity of such taboo topics never come without a great deal of emotions to such a story. I feel Misha did a great job at keeping this realistic while telling Leah’s story but never going over the line of dramatics to SELL it. I have great respect for authors who write books such as this one and shows the respect and compassion towards those readers who could be affected.

Leah and Asher both carry their own wounded souls in life. While Asher still has the courage to reach out and risk his feelings with other people, Leah has surrounded herself among the four walls of her house. She tried to drink the pain and memories away and that only landed her in rehab. She tried to reach out to her closest friend, and that left her feeling even more alone. Leah lost more to Ian than her safety; she lost her dreams, self-confidence and her music to his violent hands.

Asher knows what losing someone feels like, he is also aware of how abandonment can destroy a person. The questions of why, how and what did I do wrong haunt him, but they also give him an understanding of Leah when he first meets her in a unique way. This could be the first answer to the question of “why he has had to endure so much in his life”………was it so he could fully understand and help Leah heal? While he strives to see the big picture in life, Leah struggles to survive the next hour. Can those two every find a path together that will put them in the here and now and build a future together? The past wants to derail them, haunt their minds and invade their sleep while love wants to heal them and help create the world they both deserved.

Leah will come across as a mean woman, someone that Asher doesn’t deserve but once I stepped back and looked at her I could see why someone with his compassion and kindness would scare her to death. She has always found the good ones are easy to run off while the ones who persist to stay in her life ended up hurting her when all is said and done. Her fear drove her to do things that her heart protested, but she was an injured woman, trying to learn to live on her own now in a scary world. This book touched my heart and made me feel emotions that often left me heart broken. I also felt empowered to overcome the hardships in life and reach out to others who are hurting as well.

I think Misha did a brilliant job at showing Asher and Leah, both lives parallel to each other in many ways, but due to how they decided to deal with the pain, made them appear to be worlds apart. Watching them come together and realize how similar they were and what they could be, was amazing and will stay with me for a very long time.

[Twin Sisters Rockin' Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Rating: 4.25 Rockin’ ★★★★

Life can be cruel at times. You can do everything right, be a talented and beloved artist, but still end up on the short end of the stick, or sometimes on the abusive end of a fist. In Misha Elliott's newest book, Saving Leah, she delves into the horrific world of domestic violence, while interlinking a love story so beautiful that it will leave you breathless. The author creates characters that touch you as if he or she could be your best friend, someone that you know and love. The design of the characters and the plot is elegantly crafted with agony as well as heartfelt hope.

Leah Campbell is a prodigy on the violin. Since she was a small child she captured her audiences and the hearts of everyone that heard her play. After the death of her parents when she was still a young adolescence, her life became something she didn't recognize. A secret so dark and haunting plagued her into adulthood and her music was adversely affected. Now she is trying to pick up the pieces, trying to move on with her life and heal the best way she can as a victim of violent abuse. Not trusting anyone and becoming somewhat of a hermit, Leah is thrust together with a most unlikely companion. A man who just might be able to push beyond all of her defenses and become a balm to Leah's shattered soul.

Asher Sky is an entrepreneur of sorts. Asher knows loss, devastating, heart wrenching loss. But life must go on, so he molds himself and makes a decent living modeling. However, he feels his life is missing something, someone. When he meets a beautiful girl, Leah Campbell, in a tragic incident, things become clear to him. He begins to yearn for something special, only his. Asher knows that something is off with Leah, she is broken and he wants to help her mend.

This is truly a beautiful yet a difficult story at times to read. The fact that the author was able to probe into the cruel savagery of abuse while giving us an unforgettable story that fills hearts with such passion and grace is beyond astounding. This is definitely a must read, but just make sure you have plenty of Kleenexes available! Fearlessly executed, Misha!

***Received an ARC of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review***

Saving Leah
Misha Elliott

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

"Unfortunately, love doesn't change people; they are who they are deep down."


Leah used to think that she had the perfect life, a parents who support her, a boyfriend, a career as a violinist, till everything came apart, the death of her parents was the beginning of the nightmare, and when everything can't be worst, his prince charming turned into a beast and he takes with him the best of Leah. But Leah survived and now is a new woman, strong and fragile at the same time, with a lot of scars of the past... nothing was the same for Leah until a casual accident joins her way with a total stranger who little by little made a change in her life.

Asher is a normal guy, with a normal life... that changes one day when he decides to put in front a girl for save her, without knowing nothing about her only that it is something in her that calls him, he is with her all the time that she is in the hospital, trying to know more about her and after that he offers his house to take care of her. Asher knows that Leah is hiding something, he knows that she doesn't trust completely in him, so he decides to tell her little things about him, like the death of his parents and how his ex leaved him after that... so with that Leah begins to say more things about her, and Asher starts to feel more things for her than before.

Leah doesn't know how to feel about Asher, because she doesn't feel worthy after all the psychological and physical abuse that her ex did to her, but Asher doesn't budge and little by little he shows her that this second chance in life is the best thing for her, thanks to Asher she starts to play the violin again, and starts to feel more woman, more alive, more safe and starts to live without fear.

In the end Asher can cure the wounds in her, achieve to be the man that she deserves and achieve to gave her the live that she always wanted, and Leah achieve to make her dreams come true, and the past remains like an experience to tell to others woman to save them of the pain.

Is a very good book, about surviving with a haunting past, about how strong are the woman who go out from the abuse, and how difficult is for them to start again, and feel "normal" again, and how important is that she has a family or friends that supports her in the best and hardest decision of their lives.

[Rhi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Saving Leah by Misha Elliot deals with a difficult topic, that of domestic abuse. While Leah is no longer in an abusive relationship, much of the book deals with her recovery from the abuse inflicted upon her by her ex. There is also a romantic plot line involving Asher. Fortunately for my sensibilities, the 'saving' part of the title doesn't actually refer to Asher saving Leah from her abuser; rather, Asher literally ends up saving her from an accident.

Any book that deals with abuse is a difficult read and I hesitate to impose my own thoughts and beliefs on recovering from such a relationship. While Ms. Elliot certainly provides Leah with the means of recovery, I found some of it rather awkward, almost as if she was merely going through a checklist. Perhaps because it is a difficult topic, Ms. Elliot sometimes opted to superficially dealt with the abuse and Leah's recovery. While I don't think it is necessary to go into exquisite detail on how Leah regained her sense of self, I'd have liked to have seen more of it.

The romance part of this story also felt awkward to me. Again, part of this could be me imposing my own beliefs on recovering from an abusive relationship, but I didn't understand why Leah was interested in Asher given some of his actions. That is not to imply that Asher was in any way abusive in either a verbal, emotional, or physical means. Indeed, Ms. Elliot makes it very apparent that Asher has fallen for Leah and fallen for her hard. However, some of his actions come off as highhanded and the relationship between Leah and Asher didn't flow for me as it might for other readers.

Overall, the book felt a bit rushed and the dialogue could use some polishing as it felt a little stilted at times.

NB: I received a free ARC in return for an honest review.

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books that handles the tough subject matter of domestic violence. May contain triggers for some people. A book about survival and believing that you can move on and live a happy life full of love and trust. Unfortunately, I liked this book, but didn't love it. I didn't really like Leah and I thought she was downright rude at times. Asher was the complete opposite. What a wonderful man and so caring towards Leah. He made the book for me.

Leah is finally free. She no longer has to live in fear of her husband, but doesn't know how to move on. She rarely leaves the house and copes by using alcohol to keep the demons at bay. The memories consume her. Trying to escape the past has Leah making a terrible mistake and Asher is there to save her. He stays by her side and takes care of her, asking nothing in return. Asher  has his own demons to work through, but he's willing to risk it all for this woman. Will Leah let him in and learn to trust him?

The only thing I wish is that there was more focus on Leah's support group meetings and working with her therapist. It was kind of glossed over in chapters.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen Hrdlicka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the recently revised version of this book and I love the story. Asher is the most swoon-worthy hero I've read in awhile and he has his eyes set on a Leah, who is broken seemingly beyond repair. The story is one of overcoming abuse and questioning one's self-worth to overcoming those hurdles with love and compassion.
Leah is not easily swayed by the persistent Asher and their road to HEA is certainly not an easy one. Leah is a woman who lost everything that mattered to her: her music, her parents and the self-confidence that her ex stole from her.
Asher seeks to overcome his past relationship and has his eyes set on the lovely Leah. Unfortunately the broken woman is actually broken in a freak accident and he refuses to leave her side, even though they are virtually strangers at the time. Persistence and patience pave the way for their eventual HEA.
This is a story of triumph after devastation and the true power of love and the power to heal.
Ms. Elliott creates characters that feel deeply and are well-loved by the reader. Asher is the man every woman wants and lucky for Leah, she has him to mend her heart and soul. I highly recommend this story.

[Dee/ bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leah has just left an abusesive relationship and is trying to find a way to whom she once was. Afraid of her own shadow she puts herself in jeopardy and is saved by a passerby, Asher. Asher is instantly drawn to Leah and want to protect her, be in her life, everything. Can Leah let him in? Or will she run?

Leah has some well deserved issues from her ex, Ian. I am really glad the author took the time to put Leah's character through all the stages of greif and healing. She went to counsiling, went to support groups. She sought out friends, or a support system of her own. She has issues trusting, but knows she can never go back, and if she did, he would likely kill her.

I really think it is a beautiful tribute what Leah does in the end to give back and try to help others. Without giving more of a spoiler I think it is an awesome thing and a huge sign of the awesome heart she has. I am glad for the happy ending. Anyone who has battled with any of this deserves to have there own happy life.

[Sherley Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

**I was gifted with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review**
BY

This book was intense. It truly dealt with some really deep rooted issues. It put you in the actual state of feeling how Leah felt through her journey of depression and her fear and just overall very difficult time. I couldn't stop reading but at the same time you just wanted to jump in the book and do something about the situation she was in. Overall this book was absolutely amazing and really shows you that no matter the bumps in the road or the awful things others can do to you if you truly want to make a change in your life and start over you can & no one deserves to be verbally & or physically abused. This was beautiful and hopeful!
Go to my blog www.sherleyvazquez.com for more book reviews!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more than I did. While there were tropes that I really love in this book, the execution felt a little clunky in parts. Or you really had to suspend belief. It was hard to believe that Leah would stay at his house after they just met. I was confused by the fact that Leah completed her therapy and later realized she needed more. What made her think she was done? After she freaked out about flowers at her therapists office, I thought flowers from Asher would stimulate some sort of response. Whether it was negative or reflection on how far she'd come. It just wasn't quite there for me.

[Myra Espino · Rating 5 out of 5]

~Copy from Netgalley~

Saving Leah, a book about moving on from the past and learning how to live again. Leah, a woman who has survived an abuse from the man who she once loved. As the story goes, she will meet a man that will help her through things. But will it be enough to pull her and totally move on? What I love about this book is that the story and the characters are easy to relate with. Ms. Misha did an amazing job in writing a novel that I know women will love. I personally loved it.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was excited about this book. I enjoy a dark and twisty book with angst and pain; however this one did not deliver. I felt like there was a lot missing in how Leah dealt with her past. At times it felt a bit too rushed and not enough meat. Writing books with sensitive topics can be so tricky. You don't want it to be so heavy that the reader feels like they are drowning but you also do not want it to feel like the topics are being glazed over. This book to me, unfortunately, felt like the later.

[Juliana Ignácio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC exchange of an honest review through #30DayReadingIndie.
It was difficult to read some parts of how it all happened to Leah over the years. Unfortunately, a near-death event had to happen so she had the strength to escape the abusive situation in which she lived.
And when her life seems to be falling into place, here comes Asher, a beautiful and kind man, who does everything for Leah to open herlesf for him and to feel loved.
A beautiful story of overcoming, in which both with broken hearts, can become one.

[Carlene Inspired · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received a copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I have contacted the publisher regarding the copy I have to verify it is the correct copy. It seems to read out of order, but this could be how it is written. I will change this review if it comes back that I have the wrong copy, otherwise I will leave this as DNF due to a very confusing storyline. I wanted to like this book, just didn't at all with how it was.

[Elexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to apologize to the author, Ms Misha! It took me a long time to read this book, not from it being bad, but more so from their being sensitive subjects to me in the story. I won this book in a raffle at The SASS signing in Greenville, NC. Pay attention to the warnings as it can trigger some emotional responses from you.
All in all though, I enjoyed the story :)

[Jennifer Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet read. I liked Leah and Asher...what a great book boyfriend he was. Both have broken pasts and I liked how they come together and grow together. Heartbreaking pasts, but a beautiful future. I liked it.