Book Review – To Have and to Hold

10 Wednesday Aug 2016

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Book Review, Returning Home series, Serena Bell, To Have and to Hold

To Have and to Hold

A Returning Home Novel

by Serena Bell

In this emotionally charged novel from the bestselling author of Hold on Tight (“Sweet, sexy, and real.”—Jessica Scott), a war hero fights to remember the love he left behind—and the woman who refuses to fade away.

The reunion is supposed to be the start of the rest of their lives. But when Trina Levine sees the soldier she promised to love forever, Hunter Cross looks at her like she’s a stranger. The connection is gone, lost in the blank stare of those soulful brown eyes. Hunter remembers his young daughter but not Trina, and he certainly can’t recall why Trina and her own child are living in his house. Although his lean, rugged frame bears the scars of battle, his mind took the worst hit.

But Hunter Cross hasn’t forgotten everything. His body remembers caressing Trina’s delicate curves, holding her close, never wanting to let go. Was it just a dream, or was it real life? Now, as he tries to put the pieces back together, Trina’s the one who comforts him when his night terrors strike. It’s Trina whose warm touch rekindles a connection no man could deny. Even with the odds stacked against them, Hunter wants to believe. Because passion has the power to awaken the past—and remake the future.

Based on the blurb, I think I expected something a little different than what I got. For some reason I read that as Trina fighting for Hunter but in reality it is something so much more complicated.

We start with Hunter coming home and not recognizing Trina, but at that time he doesn’t realize that he’s lost a year of his memory. With all the hub-bub of getting him healthy and home no one recognized that there were gaps … until he comes back and finds Trina waiting for him, obvious signs that she’s more than just a friend.

I feel so bad for both Hunter and Trina. He’s freaked out by the memory loss and because of his first marriage very hesitant about giving his heart to anyone again. Finding that he’d apparently started a relationship with Trina sometime during his missing year only adds to his stress. Without any basis for it, and only remembering what happened with his wife, he’s not ready to try to rekindle anything.

Trina doesn’t have a good history with men. She got pregnant in high school, only to have the boy chase his dreams and leave her & the baby behind. She wasn’t necessarily looking to fall in love but Hunter convinced her to trust him with her heart … only to break it when he doesn’t remember her. With an opportunity to go to California so her daughter can be near her dad, and without Hunter as a reason to stay, Trina starts packing.

But first Hunter talks her into staying just until he can get comfortable in his home and with his daughter again. Lots has changed in a year, especially with a preteen girl, and he needs a little help to get settled. The only problem is having Trina in his home, and knowing that they had something together, makes the situation even more complicated.

There’s such a jumbled mess of emotions in this house – the girls don’t want to be separated (from each other or Trina & Hunter), Trina started to love again only to have it turn on its head, and Hunter is scared and confused. Bell does a fantastic job of showing their confusion, heartache and hope. And of delivering a fantastic HEA ending.

Book Review – Can’t Hold Back

04 Monday Jan 2016

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Book Review, Can't Hold Back, Returning Home series, Serena Bell

Can’t Hold Back

A Returning Home Novel

by Serena Bell

In this tender military romance from the bestselling author of Hold on Tight—perfect for fans of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery—a war-shattered veteran gets a second chance at love with the one that got away.

No girl can resist a man in uniform—especially if that man is Nate Riordan. But after an injury in the line of duty leaves Nate broken, body and soul, the soldier finds himself addicted to his pain meds, with no place to call home. Desperate for an escape, Nate reluctantly accepts a friend’s invitation to a new veterans’ retreat. Expecting a little R&R, Nate is shocked when the sight of his physical therapist opens up another old wound: heartbreak.

Years ago, Alia Drake fell hard for Nate, but never made her move. Instead, she set up her sister with the sexy, confident military man, a foolish decision that continues to haunt all three of them. Now, with Nate as her patient, she can make things right—even if it means getting too close for comfort. A healing touch and a little honesty work wonders, fueling a physical intimacy that crosses professional boundaries. This time, with desire in the air once more, Alia won’t hold anything back.

There is a lot of emotional growth going on here – both Nate and Alia have things that they have to look at about themselves. And I think because of that it isn’t a very quick read. The undertones require a lot of digesting and picking apart so that you can totally get where they are coming from. Which means you have to go a little slower to get all of it.

Because Alia is so strong and independent I think it is a little harder to like her. Not that she isn’t likable but it makes her a little intimidating because she isn’t very … soft. She’s used to being the one who is strong that it is hard for her to let go. Nate is still trying to get over the incident that left him injured and out of the military. It’s left him in pain both in body and in heart, but now he’s back in Alia’s sphere for help. Neither expects exactly what that is going to mean for them.

The history between the two takes a bit to get over, but not as much as you would imagine. It’s more of an issue with the people they are now, how they interact & what they expect from others and what they think their futures should be. It’s such a journey for them from where they were to where they think they are going to where they actually should be. It’s a rough trip but definitely worth it.

(This is a follow up to Hold On Tight, but you really can read this one on it’s own. The little bit of influence the first book has here is minute and easily explained. It pretty much revolves around Alia and Nate.)

Book Review – Hold on Tight

18 Friday Sep 2015

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Book Review, Hold on Tight, Returning Home series, Serena Bell

Hold on Tight

A Returning Home Novel

by Serena Bell

In Serena Bell’s heartwarming novel, a young mother and a battle-scarred veteran must decide if they can rekindle the sparks they once shared.

Fighting for his country gave Jake Taylor’s life shape and meaning. Now as an injured war hero he struggles to find purpose, until he runs into the gorgeous woman he dated briefly—and disastrously—before being deployed eight years ago. Turns out Jake doesn’t just need to figure out how to be a civilian . . . he also needs to learn how to be a dad.

Eighteen, pregnant, and totally lost, Mira Shipley couldn’t track down the soldier who fathered her child, so she put college on hold and focused on making a good life for her son. Now she’s determined to be something more than Sam’s mom, her parents’ daughter, or Jake’s girl—as hot as she finds her old flame’s take-charge attitude in and out of bed. Soon Mira and Jake realize that their passion didn’t disappear when Sam was conceived—and that instead of running away, sometimes it’s better to hold on tight.

This has got to be one of my favorite second-chance romances – I love the idea that Mira and Jake were infatuated at such a young age but were separated. Now fate has brought them back together again at a time when they really need each other.

You feel so much for both of the characters. While Mira’s parents love her very much, her dad is also a bit controlling. Getting pregnant at 18 and without Jake, living with her parents, means that this is the first time that she’s had a chance to try to break free. She knows that everything was done with good intentions but it made it hard to be an adult. Unfortunately for her piece of mind just as she’s striking out she runs into Jake again and with him comes a ton of complications.

I really liked how strong Mira is. She’s fought for as much independence as she could while raising her son in her childhood home. She’s dedicated, smart and very understanding. And she’ll need all of that to deal with Jake.

Jake was dealt a very hard blow while serving as a Ranger. He’s lost not only his leg, but his best friend and his calling. He’s allowed everything he lost to bring him down, until he runs into Mira again and she shocks him with the news that he has a 7 year old son. Even though the changes that Jake starts making are caused by Mira and Sam, I really love the fact that Bell has him making those changes for himself. Realizing that he has a family is the kick he needed to get him out of his own head.

I also love that once he starts moving forward Bell doesn’t have him wallow too much in the setbacks that he experiences. He shows the attitude that he needed to make it in the military – he picks himself, brushes himself off and tries again. He’s vulnerable but strong in mind and body. Some of his most embarrassing moments happen in front of Mira but she’s so very good at helping him get past them and I think it helps to make their bond even better.

Of course things aren’t 100% easy for them. Jake is carrying around a lot of baggage, even some from his childhood which are only complicated by his accident. But it is wrapped up wonderfully and I was so invested in them that I found myself smiling at the end.

Hold on Tight is fantastically written – the perfect balance of emotions, with Jake learning to live again and Mira learning to stand on her own two feet. Plus both have to deal with the fact that they made a child together and now have to decide what that means for them going forward. But Bell does a great job of not letting things get too bogged down. Instead she manages to keep all of her characters steadily moving forward to something better and that HEA that we want so badly for them.

Available on Amazon – http://amzn.to/1KUmRr1