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Friends & Lovers #7

Let Me Hold You

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Love in the fast lane 

In the five years since Alana Sharp Dumond lost her husband, she has remodeled her life. Her vintage car company, Custom Classics, is raking in money. She owns her own home and she has top-of-the-line friends. If she misses the feel of a man's arms around her, she'd never admit it. The shadows from her past are nobody's business but her own. 

Worldly restaurateur Roland Casey has had his eye on Alana for months, but and now he wants to speed up put their relationship. With his tall, muscled build and cognac-brown eyes, he's never had any trouble romancing a woman—until now. Sultry Alana keeps putting the brakes on all his moves. Roland has no doubt that he can send her temperature racing, but can he mend her once-broken heart?

218 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

26 people are currently reading
62 people want to read

About the author

Melanie Schuster

34 books126 followers

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Profile Image for The Book Junkie Reads . . ..
5,021 reviews154 followers
August 20, 2022
Alana has been through much in her life. The lose of her husband turned her life upside down. Now, at the celebration of her friends wedding she has a chance to make things happen for her and no longer live in the past. Roland wants so much to offer Alana so much more than just smile and quick hugs. She usually runs from him but no more. He wants much more. But it her move. Will she take that step and let him in?
Profile Image for Karen.
250 reviews
August 4, 2014
A profound love story that will jerk all of your chains. Alana Sharp met her soulmate when Roland Casey practiced patience and refused to let her live in misery. Not only did this man swoon over her, he knew that she would be worth the wait and that she would be his forever! Awesome read and Ms. Schuster has done it once again!
Profile Image for Shone.
1,347 reviews28 followers
December 27, 2013
As with book one I am all into the story and here come the dogs, thus my interest is lost. The love story, romance, are lost when the people spend more time talking to and about the dogs than they do communicating with each other and trying to solve the problem.

Not sure if I will read the next two book in the series .
Profile Image for Roseann Nurse.
5 reviews1 follower
October 9, 2013
This book was great. I think I have read all of the books this author has written
634 reviews
October 1, 2019
4.5
Me Hold You [Love in the fast lane. In the five years since Alana Sharp Dumond lost her husband, she has remodeled her life. Her (vintage car restoration company), Custom Classics, is raking in money. She owns her own home and she has top-of-the-line sisters and friends. If she misses the feel of a man's arms around her, she'd never admit it. The shadows from her past are nobody's business but her own. Losing her husband to gun violence then keeping his car shop dream alive while dismissing her dream of being an artist. Worldly (investor/restaurateur) Roland Casey has had his eye on Alana for months, but and now he wants to speed up put their relationship. With his tall, muscled build and cognac-brown eyes, he's never had any trouble romancing a woman—until now. Sultry Alana keeps putting the brakes on all his moves. Roland has no doubt that he can send her temperature racing, but can he mend her once-broken heart?]
Profile Image for Uta.
271 reviews4 followers
May 2, 2021
This series just kept getting better and better and I loved seeing the previous characters grace the pages in each new story. :)

I loved Roland and Alana's love story. Their chemistry was everything and the way in which their relationship developed was really good. Roland was determined to get Alana but was also patient and upfront with his feelings. Alana was dealing with a painful past that required letting go in order to receive Roland's love.

These two will keep you entertained.

Loved their story and the happy ever after they got :)

Happy reading!
Profile Image for Mrs Giggles.
138 reviews28 followers
January 9, 2014
Let Me Hold You is the second book in Melanie Schuster's Friends & Lovers series, following Poetry Man. This one can stand alone, although do be mindful of the presence of a considerable number of secondary characters with pre-existing relationships. It does have one thing in common with Poetry Man: it is about a man not being just a woman's best friend but also the adoring hunk that tirelessly polishes her pedestal so that it is all shiny. Unlike the previous story, this one doesn't seem corny at all. Nice.

Alana Sharp Dumond has been a widow for five years. Yes, she isn't dating, but that's because - in a nice change from the usual "my late husband is a faithful abusive jerk who treated me like garbage; now seeking sexual healing, please boink me ASAP" widow-gone-emo thing - she's not looking. She doesn't think that she could replace her late husband, so she thinks she will be content to live life around, surrounded by friends and family members. It's enough.

Or maybe not, as a kiss with Roland Casey on her sister's wedding day suggests. Roland has always wanted to know her better - as he puts it, she's on his "to do list", snicker - but she has always kept him at arm's length. That kiss promises plenty of intriguing possibilities, so how long would it be before these two hook up?

On paper, this book sounds pretty boring, and, yes, the story doesn't have explosions, chases, or other forms of dramatic excitement. But this only means the entire story is devoted to the TLC, and it's nice. Melanie Schuster has a way of making the Kimani formula work, almost as if it's such a simple thing.

Her main characters generate ample chemistry and their romance feels real in many ways. The development of the relationship is well-paced, and the cheerleading secondary characters do their thing without coming off too much as a means of the author to insert herself in the story to yell at me that these two people must be in love. Also, in many ways, Alana and Roland are typical characters of the Kimani line, but their emotions seem genuine. Also, the author makes everything fun because she shows and tells in a well-balanced manner, making the story flow like the main characters falling in love is the most natural thing in this world.

It is very easy, therefore, for me to have a pleasant time reading this story from start to finish. It's predictable, yes, but it's offers a good kind of predictability, as there is something enjoyable and even reassuring about the way this story still works so well despite its adhering to the formula. Let Me Hold You doesn't generate fireworks, but it delivers enough emotional resonance to make me a satisfied reader.
Profile Image for Sophie Sealy.
379 reviews21 followers
November 29, 2013
"Let Me Hold You" is another reason Melanie Schuster remains in the top five of my favorite romance writers. This is the third book in her Friends and Family series and I was not disappointed.

Losing her soul mate in a tragic accident Alana now has a second chance at love. Take a read to see how Roland accomplishes the task of wooing her.
Profile Image for Tracy.
130 reviews11 followers
December 2, 2013
My heart ached for Alana from the beginning she wanted to be so strong and independent. Thinking that she didn't need love in her life again, Roland Casey is the right man to show her that love is better the second time around. Great job Melanie Schuster.
Profile Image for Deborah C. Fidderman.
521 reviews2 followers
June 8, 2016
Let Me Hold You

I absolutely loved the story of Alana and Roland. These books make you feel that there is your perfect match just out there somewhere waiting. I recommend this book to everyone who loves romance novels.
Profile Image for Carol.
35 reviews1 follower
August 9, 2014
I enjoyef the book. With the exception of one character whose name they couldn't get right it eas s good book.
Profile Image for Tanya Mayes.
710 reviews23 followers
June 2, 2015
All I know is where can I find a man like Roland. Talk about a new book boyfriend. He is simply Wow!!!.
Profile Image for Angela Devouse.
24 reviews1 follower
June 15, 2016
Love it

This was a simple and sweet love story between to extra special people Roland and Alanna. This story made me smile the hold entire book.
Profile Image for Nerissa Golden.
Author 26 books13 followers
October 5, 2016
Roland was a surprise. I loved how tender he was. Very sexy book but he felt genuine and I liked that about it.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews

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