Hold Me Close

Bridgewater County #4

by Vanessa Vale

Rachel wants one thing in life, a family of her own. But she’s not going to get it without a man. Or can she?
They may have ruined their chances in the past, but Matt and Ethan know Rachel’s the woman for them. When they discover her plans, they tell her they’ll give her exactly what she wants. The old fashioned way. Because once they get their hands on her, they’ll hold her close and never let go.

Warning: Panty melting! Hold Me Close is book 4 in the wildly dirty series where two obsessed alpha cowboys give the woman of their dreams exactly what she desires. This standalone HEA is all about her - no M/M.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Menage, Erotica, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Westerns

366 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 4, 2017

About the author

A USA Today bestseller, Vanessa Vale has written over 100 cowboy and small town romances. She lives in the American West where she's always finding inspiration for her next story.

You can find out more about Vanessa at VanessaValeAuthor.com

Reviews

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK cover on this one. Good representation of the characters. OK composition and title work.



This one was cute. It was a little repetitive in places, and I am not a fan of 26-year-old virgins. But it was very insta with no OW/OM drama and had two (fairly) likable heroes. Matt was his own worst enemy at times, but Ethan was pretty much perfect. Rachel was likable but like I said I could have done without the whole unrealistic virginity. And maybe I am a bitch, but the incident in her past seemed a bit benign to have warranted such an extreme reaction from her for YEARS. Of course, there were some hot sex scenes as well. Lastly, it was wrapped up in an OK ending. I would have liked to have seen a further into the future epilogue for these three. All in all, it was a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours on a dreary Saturday afternoon.

[Brandy Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a woman that enjoys her far share of MFM books and some I'll absolutely devour till the very end and others don't work for me and Vanessa Vale has written one that will be on my top five in this genre . The characters were very likable , story line kept me hooked , and I definitely know I'll be reading more by this author in the future . Rachel is a great heroine everything about her is likable and once she gets with the sexy guys she becomes more confident and in her own skin . Matt took some time for me to really start to like he really screwed up with his words to were it become one big misunderstanding but in the end I fell . Now Ethan is a different story totally swoon worthy melt me into a puddle of goo . The sex scenes are very steamy and in need of a cold shower they are tastefully done . If you are a MFM addict like me then this is just the story you are looking for so one click right away people .
copy provided for honest review 
****************************************
heros = 8 and 10 heroine = 10 secondary characters = 10
Chemistry = 10 steam = 10 romance = 9 humor = 4
darkness level = 3 enjoyment = 10 angst = 3
action = 3 story line = 10 mystery = 3
character development = 10 pacing = 10 Plot = 10
cover = 10 stars = 5 author = 8
would I recommend this book = yes
would I re read this book = yes
would I read future books by this author = yes

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn't my favorite book of the series, but still a good romance. Ethan and Rachel get off to a rocky start when she comes up to introduce herself as his new assistant and he inadvertently makes her feel like she's not good enough for him. Luckily, Matt is able to help Rachel see that they want her and she gives them a chance to make her feel loved. The thing I disliked was Rachel being a martyr, thinking she was going to ruin Matt's baseball career by being pregnant and that she should be out of their lives. They already agreed to be a family and try for a baby so I didn't really understand why she would flip her way of thinking. As with the other books in the series, it is a HEA. The narration was good and had steamy romance scenes.

[Steph's Romance Book Talk · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

My last Bridgewater County family and I loved this one as well! Rachel is the older sister in a family of people that have settled down into relationships. After a traumatic event in college Rachel feels skittish around men, but when she starts to evaluate her life she finds that she wants a baby. When Rachel's sister suggests that she doesn't need a relationship to have a baby, Rachel pushes her attraction to the side about her bosses and researches ways to make a baby happen. Matt and Ethan did not grow up in Bridgewater but they were familiar with the customs of the community. When Matt puts his foot in his mouth with Rachel they find they have an uphill struggle to convince the woman of their dreams to be their forever.

This specific video review will be included in the December 2018 wrap-up.

For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.

[Kathy Heare Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHEN YOU KNOW—YOU KNOW

Book four in the Bridgwater County series is another amazing adventure that is a spinoff from the historical based Bridgewater ménage series but takes place in present day. The town of Bridgewater, Montana still holds with the founding father principles of two or three alpha dominant males claiming and marrying one woman, and partnering for life. The method has proved successful for over a hundred years and why change what works? The story will read as a stand-alone.

Rachel Andrews has finished college, and at twenty-six years old, is still a virgin, and fears her desire for a family is dwindling. Having a bad experience with a date during college, she believes she is frigid and that her dream of the true desire of having a family of her own is slipping away, maybe there is another way to have a baby. She is returning to Bridgewater to take over the office manager position at a local guest ranch, Hawk’s Landing, held by her sister, Emmy.

Matt and Ethan have been friends for years, and with Matt’s money from his short lived career in baseball, he has purchased the land, and Ethan’s business skills have made it a success. Hawk’s Landing is ten miles outside of Bridgwater and has cabins for their guest. Both men know that they want to claim a woman together, forever, they are just waiting to find their “one.”

The plot will have Rachel returning to Bridgewater to take over her younger sisters job and working as the office manager at Hawk’s Landing. Meeting her new boss, Matt, at the rodeo comes with a shock as he makes sexual advances and then embarrasses her by telling her to leave. Ethan and Matt will have to walk a fine line around “their girl” until she can learn to trust them, and that includes keeping an eye on her away from work and being watchdogs when other men come sniffing around her.

A day request off for a doctor’s appointment will become an ice breaker and wake up call for Matt and Ethan to come clean and make their intentions known. “We want you in every sense of the word. We want your body, soul, and heart. We want you to be our woman. For the long term.” Can Matt and Ethan gain the trust of Rachel, and show her how special she is to them before it is too late? “We’re protective and possessive, and a little obsessive.”

The chemistry between Rachel and her two men, Matt and Ethan, is everything she ever wanted and they want to help give her, her dream, a baby. Rachel learns the difference between a fumbling, over aggressive college boy who doesn’t understand no, and two viral, sexy, dominant men who put her and her needs first. When a dream job comes into play, and one of her men needs to go, can Rachel walk away from this triad to help make way for the man she loves to succeed? “They were good men. Solid, dependable, loyal, and loving. If they made a commitment, they’d honor it, even if it stopped them from pursuing their dreams.”

Will their relationship come to an end, just months after it started? Rachel knows how important her dream of having a family is to her, and she won’t stand in the way of the men she loves and their dreams. Walking away from them will be the hardest thing she ever does. Will Ethan and Matt let her go? “It’s everything I’ve ever wanted, but never knew I needed.”

[Nerdy Dirty & Flirty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This newest installment in the Bridgewater County series was full of misunderstandings, false assumptions, passion, and of course the Bridgewater way of love.

I am a fan of this series and this book was another good example of why. Matt and Ethan were perfectly contrasted to be able to provide Rachel just what she needed. I loved how the author managed to give the readers a little something different from the previous books with different twists, turns and obstacles to overcome for the characters.

Ethan was darn near flawless. Rachel was selfless and self sacrificing for those she loves. But Matt had a tendency to stick his foot in his mouth and I felt like he was always having something to make up for. I started to feel bad cause he was just really misunderstood.

All in all though, this book provided everything I was looking for in a contemporary romance. Alpha males that love their partners and are willing to do what's needed to make them happy. A heroine I can like and relate to. Lots of steam. And this series also happens to be a well written menage too. I highly recommend reading all of these books.

[Donna Repsher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I've been following the Bridgewater series and have enjoyed the menage a trois concept that has been and is at the core of both the original historical series and this newer contemporary series, of which Hold Me Close is the fourth short novel, and I usually devour them in one sitting. I also usually wish these stories were more fully developed, and that has never been more true than with this latest entry in the series, which is why I can only give it a 3-star rating.

Told in alternating points of view, Hold Me Close opens with the heroine, Rachel, at a Montana rodeo, drooling over a very sexy bull rider. She's there with her very pregnant, younger sister, Emmy, a Bridgewater bride herself. When Emmy goes on maternity leave, Rachel will be taking her place as the office manager of a local guest ranch, Hawk's Landing. Emmy, who knows how badly Rachel wants a family and a baby of her own, encourages 26-year-old Rachel to go and introduce herself to the handsome cowboy, but Rachel had a bad experience in college with a grabby date and has considered herself frigid ever since, and she rejects her sister's suggestion, until Emmy admits that the sexy cowboy is Matt, Rachel's new boss, and suggests that she introduce herself. When buttoned-up Rachel tries to do just that, she's utterly speechless when Matt starts to flirt with her, and then then goes way beyond that, dirty talking her into stunned silence, and eventually telling her that she's out of her league. Rachel finally gathers her courage and angrily tells him off, including the revelation that she's his new office manager.

We next see Matt and his best friend and business partner, Ethan, both Bridgewater men, at a local watering hole, watching Rachel who's there on a date. Now that they've both met Rachel, and decided that she's The One for them, they don't quite know how to deal with the cold shoulder she's given both of them at the office. She's been very professional, and taken up her new duties competently, but neither man has been able to crack her cool reserve, especially not Matt, who blames himself and his earlier behavior for ruining their chances with her. Months go by this way, until Rachel, envious of her sister's newborn baby, comes to the realization that since she seldom dates a man more than once, her chances of having the home, family and children she wants desperately, follows up on Emmy's suggestion that she doesn't need a man or a relationship to have a baby, she just needs to visit a sperm bank.

When Rachel requests a day off for a doctor's appointment, Matt and Ethan wonder what's wrong, and when they see the notepad on Rachel's desk listing the names of two sperm banks, they're off an running to stop her. If she wants a baby, they're only too happy to provide her with one, the old-fashioned, Bridgewater way. All they have to do now is convince Rachel of that--no easy task

While I enjoyed this short novel, I didn't find myself enjoying it as much as I have enjoyed Ms. Vale's previous Bridgewater books. Everything about it seemed too rushed, and too under-developed. In previous reviews, I've stated that I always want more character development and backstory, and this is especially true of Hold Me Close. I liked these characters, but felt that I didn't really get to know them, which was especially true of Ethan. As always, I liked the steaminess of Hold Me Close as well, but in previous Bridgewater books, the men usually marry The One almost as soon as they find her, something that doesn't happen in this one, making me much more sympathetic toward Rachel, and far less sympathetic to the men who want her. I also felt that Rachel's earlier bad experience wasn't quite bad enough to elicit such a long-term response from her. I can't think of a woman of my acquaintance whose reaction would be quite so negative after such a mild experience with a grabby-handed date. I found myself wondering why Rachel never in the years since then, sought counseling for her problem, and I thought her turnaround with Matt and Ethan was too swift, and too hard to believe.

Finally, if you're new to the Bridgewater series or the Bridgewater County series, I suggest reading them in the order they were written. While these stories all may be read as standalone novellas, you'll get a better understanding of the town, its history and its peculiar habits that way. All of Ms. Vale's novels are sexy and fun reads, but this one just slightly missed the mark for this reader.

[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Vega Vampy - per RFS
Emmy convince la sorella Rachel ad assistere a un Rodeo e, sebbene non sia uno spettacolo che normalmente apprezzerebbe, lei rimane folgorata da uno dei cowboy: Matt.

La sorella, malgrado le sue reticenze, la spinge a incontrarlo perché lui sarà uno dei suoi nuovi datori di lavoro, visto che la ragazza dovrà sostituirla durante la sua assenza per maternità.

Rachel si trova a disagio con uomini attraenti, se da un lato ha un forte desiderio di maternità dall’altro le avances maschili la infastidiscono.

Questo, fino a quando non si presenta a Matt, che scambiandola per una groupie prima la provoca con parole salaci e poi la manda via umiliandola.

Gran bel casino perché lui non sapeva che fosse la sorella di Emmy, ma appena l’ha vista ha capito che è la donna giusta, la loro donna… infatti con il socio Ethan sanno già di volere un matrimonio alla Bridgewater, solo dovevano ancora incontrare la loro sposa, e adesso Matt ha mandato tutto all’aria ancora prima di iniziare.

Ethan parte in svantaggio grazie alla cazzata fatta dall’amico e, quando finalmente incontrerà Rachel sul lavoro, cercherà di essere amichevole ed educato.

Bene, in questo episodio secondo me troviamo l’apoteosi della stupidità: dopo il passo falso iniziale di Matt i due tentano approcci più soft, una sera si fanno anche avanti cercando di fare capire il loro interesse a Rachel, che però pensa la stiano prendendo in giro, così la situazione rimane in stallo per parecchio tempo.

Questo sino a ché Ethan, un giorno che la ragazza è assente, non va a disperarsi alla sua scrivania e nota (casualmente) segnato sull’agenda un appuntamento alla clinica Seattle Sperm. I due capiscono che la donna vuole ricorrere alla fecondazione assistita e in quel preciso istante diventano come due tori a cui hanno sventolato davanti una bandiera rossa: corrono a Seattle, fanno irruzione nella clinica e praticamente rapiscono Rachel, mettendosi a disposizione come donatori in carne e ossa.

Penso sia la storia che maggiormente ho mal digerito di tutta Bridgewater county, ok i tentennamenti e i fraintendimenti, ma onestamente c’è un limite a tutto.

Non solo passano mesi gomito a gomito mandandosi segnali contrastanti e, gli uomini passano da essere educati ad animali da monta appena capite le sue intenzioni, ma pure lei è tutta scema: come diavolo fa a non rendersi conto del testosterone alle stelle ogni volta che sono in una stanza insieme? Ok sono educati ma ti mangiano con gli occhi ogni volta… Ciliegina sulla torta: Rachel, da complessata che era, diventa una regina del sesso in un battito di ciglia.

Peccato perché almeno la scena iniziale era stata divertente!

Per non parlare poi dei soliti problemi di traduzione, e il vocabolario assai gretto e povero di sinonimi, ogni volta che si descrive una scena hot.

Se siete curiosi di scoprire nuove avventure di Bridgewater e le sue particolari usanze, continuate a seguirmi, perché le avventure non sono ancora finite.

[Alecia (The Staircase Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start off this review by stating a fact. Vanessa Vale is a new to me author and even though Hold me Close is the fourth book in the series, it can totally be read as a standalone! However, this novel will have you intrigued and wanting to read the first three books in the series.

Rachel is scared of all things dealing with physical intimacy. After a situation in her college years goes wrong she's tried and tried to lose her V card but no mater what or who she freezes and the panic sets in. All Rachel wants is a baby...and you know what they say....when desperate times call for desperate measures you take the situation into your own hands. That is how Rachel finds herself at a sperm bank. But when two brooding alpha male cowboys come barreling into her exam room putting a stop to it all and making her an offer, she can't refuse...can she. She should due to the fact that the two cowboys are none other than her bosses!

Ethan and Matt made this novel. If I could describe the perfect guy it would be a mixture of these two. Where Ethan is down to earth and the soft one of the two, Matt is the thunderous alpha male with a dirty mouth and a short fuse. I loved these two when it comes to Rachel and the family they are all trying to create.

One thing I wish for is more of the 'cowboy' lifestyle. The first chapter of the novel drew me in with the bull riding. I was excited to read more along those lines but was a tad bit disappointed that was the only place that involved a descriptive cowboy lifestyle.

Matt, Rachel, and Ethan's story is sweet and sexy. This is an MFM novel with no MM. I loved that this novel was fast paced and got to the point of the story. I rather enjoyed this novel and I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

[April Symes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 4 in the Bridgewater County series by Vanessa Vale. This is Ethan, Rachel and Matt’s love story.
Rachel Andrews at 26 years is still a virgin and that is due to a traumatic incident in college, believes she is frigid and because of that, believes she will never have children the old fashioned way. She is returning to Bridgewater to take over the office manager position at a local guest ranch, Hawk’s Landing, held by her sister, Emmy.
Matt and Ethan have been friends for years and with money that is from Matt’s short lived career in baseball, he has purchased land and together with Ethan’s great business skills is their business Hawk’s Landing. Rachel ends up encountering her new boss Matt at the rodeo where he came on way too strong and then tells her to leave which embarrasses her. That’s when Matt realizes she was “ the one” for him and Ethan.
This is a story of two men who have to walk a fine line to show their woman that she is their mate and that she can trust them while this is also a story of a woman who has to come to face her fears and also fight for the men she is in love with. Will they or wont they get the HEA they deserve. There are many steamy and sweet moments in this book and at times I wanted to kick and yell at the men in this book but overall, I very much loved this story. I loved the MFM aspect and cannot wait for the next book in this series.


My Rating: 4.8 stars *****
"I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hold Me Close
3 Stars

Rachel Andrews is wary around men in general and good-looking men in particular, so when her sexy new boss, Matt, mistakes her for a buckle-bunny and comes on hard to teach her a lesson, she isn't so willing to forgive and forget. This makes it all the harder for Matt and his business partner, Ethan, to convince Rachel to give a relationship with them a chance. That is until they learn that Rachel wants a baby. Can they convince her that they can provide everything she needs?

This is not usually a genre that appeals to me mainly due to the lack of actual plot, overdone sex scenes, and unrealistic romances. However, I needed the book for a challenge and, as it turns out, this has interesting characters with well-developed backstories and a believable storyline (aside from the sexcapades that are inherent to the genre).

Rachel is a sweet heroine and Ethan is simply wonderful. In fact, if the romance had been between these two without Matt, whose condescending attitude leaves much to be desired, the book would have been a 4 star read.

Kylie Stewart's narration is acceptable, but she does not sufficiently distinguish between the male and female voices. As such, all the characters sound the same.

[Bookgasms Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you know, you know. You know. Well, that’s how it is in Bridgewater. And Matt and Ethan know that Rachel is the woman for them. The one they’ve been dreaming about sharing a life, love and family with for years. That’s the Bridgewater way—two men finding a woman to share, to love.

Now to just convince Rachel.

I have to admit, I love a good ménage story and this Bridgewater County series is excellent. I love the premise behind it all. And I really enjoyed Matt, Ethan and Rachel’s romance. I loved how Rachel was not easy to win over. I loved that she was independent. But I also loved how Matt and Ethan eventually wore her down—showed her the way to what she most wanted in life was with them.

A good old fashioned romance with a kick of kink—count me in! ~ Missy, 4 stars

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Vanessa Vale has me hooked. Hold Me Close was a little different then the rest of the books because Rachel Andrews was born and raised in Bridgewater so she knew the ways, but an incident in College made her feel untouchable. So much so that she looked to a sperm bank to get pregnant, but her new bosses, Ethan and Matt, were not having that. They wanted her, and they told her everything at the sperm bank. They promised her a family and forever. She gave in and they all enjoyed there time togather. Then Matt got a call that changed everything just as Rachel was going to tell them she was pregnant. She overheard and broke it off. She didnt want Matt to lose his dream. In the end Matt chose them, and they got they family they all wanted. Needless to say I will be reading the next book soon.

[Crystal Wilke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great story by Vanessa. The Bridgewater series is off the charts hot! Sometimes our dreams as kids are just that dreams or when we are older something or someone better comes along and you open your eyes. Hold Me Close is Matt, Ethan and Rachel's story. I need more of the Bridgewater series.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC for this book.

[Samantha Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a connoisseur of MFM books; I devour them and throughly enjoy the dynamics of a trilationship.

This was my first Vanessa Vale book and it was fun and sexy with just a dash of angst.

Matt and Ethan are everyone one looks for in an alpha male but to me they were also very real characters with personality flaws that we would find in the real world.

Rachel is at times a strong independent woman and at others a woman just trying to find her path. She too is very real and very relatable.

The story is highly nuanaced and utterly sexy!

[Cj Loves Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

quick, enjoyable read. A sweet M/F/M love story.
The dialogue had me laughing, gasping, and swooning.

Would love to read more from this series!

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, mindless read

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk about an insta-love affair! Hold me close gets right to the point. The story focuses on two alpha men who know what they want from their woman, they only have to convince her to let them give it to her. Vale writes and amazing story of how polyamory is possible and also fulfilling if it is between the right people.

Having had a traumatizing past, Rachel feels as if her dreams of being married and having a large family will never happen, that is until she meets Matt. Matt is instantly attracted to Rachel and decides that she will be his forever, but in an attempt to make her his he inadvertently scares her away. Ethan also wants to be with her , lucky for him they are both Bridgewater men. Bridgewater men are unique they will love, honor, and in this case share their woman, as long as their woman are happy. Will Rachel's past trauma and insecurities get in the way of them all being together or can they all find their happily ever after?

Although this story is short, Vale does an amazing job giving her characters depth and conveying their feelings for one another through her words. Matt and Ethan are very dominating characters, but they are able to sense what Rachel needs at all times. My one issues with the story is Rachel. I completely understand the insecurities that she has, but with a story this length having to constantly be reassured of Matt and Ethan's love made her character undesirable to read on my part. We want to see woman that are submissive yes, but I believe this character was on the far extreme of the spectrum. By writing the character in this manner, Vale makes her into more of a distraction at times taking away from main point of the story.

For the most part this was an amazing insta-love story with the perfect alpha male characters. Although the character of Rachel was kind of a disappoint for me, I would still recommend this book to anyone who loves and good alpha insta love story.

***I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review ***

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not care for this one as much as I did the previous ones. I did not connect with the characters as much. This one seamed to move faster than the others, with the sole focus on the baby making and not so much on the characters themselves.

Better written than I, this is an excerpt from Donna Repsher's review:

"While I enjoyed this short novel, I didn't find myself enjoying it as much as I have enjoyed Ms. Vale's previous Bridgewater books. Everything about it seemed too rushed, and too under-developed. In previous reviews, I've stated that I always want more character development and backstory, and this is especially true of Hold Me Close. I liked these characters, but felt that I didn't really get to know them, which was especially true of Ethan. As always, I liked the steaminess of Hold Me Close as well, but in previous Bridgewater books, the men usually marry The One almost as soon as they find her, something that doesn't happen in this one, making me much more sympathetic toward Rachel, and far less sympathetic to the men who want her. I also felt that Rachel's earlier bad experience wasn't quite bad enough to elicit such a long-term response from her. I can't think of a woman of my acquaintance whose reaction would be quite so negative after such a mild experience with a grabby-handed date. I found myself wondering why Rachel never in the years since then, sought counseling for her problem, and I thought her turnaround with Matt and Ethan was too swift, and too hard to believe."


I did think it was interesting to have a girl who grew up in the Bridgewater lifestyle and yet it took 'her men' so long to 'imprint' on her. I did wonder about that reading through this series; what happens to a woman if no man 'imprints' on her?

The next musing I had was what if of the two guys who have paired themselves off, what if only one of them 'imprints' and the other does not? Or if one guy from one set and another from another set 'imprint' on the same girl? Would they break up their boy duo for the girl?

[Liz ~ Liz's Reading Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Bridgewater men find the woman of their dreams, they do whatever it takes to her his. But what happens when he goes about it the wrong way? Can he overcome his mistake and make it up to her?

When Matt first saw Rachel she took his breath away. But in his desire to keep her away from all the rowdy cowboys, he goes about it the wrong way.

Rachel is taken by Matt but after their first meeting she doesn't believe she could ever catch the eye of a man like him.

Ethan couldn't wait to meet Rachel after Matt told him about her. And once he did, he knew she was theirs.

Matt and Ethan know Rachel will be theirs, they just have to find a way to let her know. But when they learn her plans to have a baby, they forget all their plans finally make their move.

But when an opportunity arises that could separate this trio, will they find a way to make to work or will they let it tear them apart?

I loved Hold Me Close with it's alpha males and sassy heroine. Matt may be the one that constantly puts his foot in his mouth, but he always comes back stronger. I love Rachel, she's feisty and determined. She decided what she wanted and takes the steps to make it happen. Ethan is the one that makes this trio happen and he never gives up.

I love the passion that exist between these three. It's intense, sultry, and powerful. Even when things didn't look like it would work out, that passion is always there.

Hold Me Close is a fun, brilliant, and saucy. I love this trio and their path to love and starting a family. Each individual brings something special to their trio and make them stronger together.

If you love a good, romantic, stunning menage, then I highly recommend Hold Me Close.

[Janine - The World Was Hers for the Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Rachel moves back to Bridgewater to take over her sister’s job as the office manager for the Hawk’s Landing guest ranch, she never expected to run into one of her new bosses at the rodeo. She also didn’t expect their first encounter to go the way that it did.

When Matt and Ethan first ay eyes on their new office manager, they know she is the one for them . . . however, after a sour first encounter with Matt, they may have lost their chance with Rachel. When Bridgewater men know what they want, they make sure they get it . . . and Rachel is what they want.

When the duo realizes Rachel wants a baby, they let her know that they will be happy to give her one . . .the old-fashioned way! What ensues is a whirlwind romance with panty melting scenes enough to make any girl know that having two cowboys is definitely better than one.

All is not smooth sailing, however, and when Matt receives an offer for his dream job, will it break the trio apart for good or will they be strong enough to weather the life changes they are faced with.

I have enjoyed all of the books in Vanessa Vale’s Bridgewater County series, and Hold Me Close was no exception. I enjoyed that while Matt and Ethan felt insta-love, they had to pursue Rachel and win her over to the idea of a relationship. These characters felt very real to me, and it was enjoyable to watch them go through the learning curve of navigating a new relationship as well as dealing with the curveballs that life threw at them.

If you are looking for some hot and steamy bedroom scenes with a fun plot that leans towards the sweet side, one click Hold Me Close for another Bridgewater couples HEA. 4.5 stars.

[Christine Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about a young woman named Rachel. She wants a family but has intimacy issues. After a very bad first encounter with her new boss she realizes that she probably won't ever get a man if she's uncomfortable of being touched. Matt and Ethan are Rachel's new bosses, when Matt tries to scare her away from other men at a rodeo he does it in the worst possible way and alienates her. He and Ethan knew from the first moment they saw her that she was meant to be theirs but after Matt's horrible first meeting with her she wants nothing to do with them. When they eventually clear up the miscommunication and admit to Rachel that they have feelings for her she's confused, happy and excited. Only there are a few things that can keep them apart. Will Rachel be able to realize that they truly love her for who she is? And will Matt realize that his dream is right in front of him?


I really, really liked this book! I'm a little bit like Rachel right now, I would love a family and a child but the man that's the hard part but lucky for Rachel she has two hot Bridgewater men that want to love her. Matt really comes off as an asshole in this book but it really seems like he's unaware of the way he acts that only after he's acted does he realize he probably should have gone about things in a different way, it's no wonder Rachel was confused by him, Ethan is a sweetheart he's trying to keep the peace between the two of them. Rachel has a past that made her afraid of intimacy with men even though she wants a family she can't believe that two hot men like Matt and Ethan could want her. The three of them go through a lot to be together and of course get their HEA.

[Kristie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hold Me Close
By: Vanessa Vale


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Review by Kristie K

When one sexy cowboy isn't enough, Vanessa Vale brings you two…

Rachel has a soul deep yearning for a child of her own. With all of her siblings in happy relationships, with children of their own, she wonders if she will ever have a family of her own. With the only recent action in her life being a bad date, and an embarrassing encounter with her new boss, Rachel decides she is going to have a baby…on her own. Imagine her shock when the men of her dreams bring her plans to a screeching halt, by confessing their desire to provide her with not only the family she desires…but everything else too.

Hold Me Close is the fourth installment of the Bridgewater County series by Vanessa Vale, and focuses on Rachel Andrews and the two devastating cowboys that want to give her the world. Rachel is amazing, down-to-earth, and gorgeous, with a huge heart and sweet smile. She is so easy to love, and someone you want to know. So relatable, she’s the girl you want to be…or the girl you want to be best friends with. Matt is the tall dark and handsome to Ethan’s tall, bright, and gorgeous. Though we got to know more about Matt in this story, both men are equally dashing, charming, and panty-melting. The character development is good, though I would have loved to learn more about the men. The plot and storyline are unique in their genre, and well executed. I truly enjoyed the story and the characters. I will be looking into the previous books in the story, as well as looking forward to the upcoming installments as well.

Kristie K

[Jennifer Pierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hold Me Close was a SCORCHIN' HOT HOT HOT story that will kill every pair of panties in it's path! Rachel has never really felt comfortable around men, so when her sister makes a flip comment, she realizes that she doesn't need a man to have the family that she dreams of. However, fate has different plans for her. She's about to start a new job in Bridgewater when she meets her future boss, Matt, in the rodeo circuit. He believes her to be a buckle bunny, so he's super rude to her, and by the time he figures out his mistake, the damage is done, because see, she's the perfect woman for he and Ethan. Now he must rebuild the bridge if they have a chance at a HEA, and this is where the fun really begins. This isn't your average menage romance, as the foot in the mouth syndrome that the cowboys sported, had me not only rolling in laughter, but also wanting to shake them at the same time as they tried to woo Rachel. And although I was pissed at Matt for a while, he did worm his way into my heart to where I was finally cheering him on. Vanessa Vale's talented writing style made this story highly original from other menage romances that I've read. Not only that, I'm not a girl who digs cowboys, but I loved hers as they were super yummy! The push and pull of miscommunication kept me on my toes, as there were times that I didn't know if I wanted scream obscenities, pull my hair out, or both! I couldn't get enough of these cowboys, so I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

[Jenny Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book with the understanding that I could leave a voluntary and honest review.

In this book we get Rachel Andrews story. We are also introduced to her boss Matt and Ethan. When Matt and Rachel first meet Matt says things that drive a fragile Rachel away from him. Little did he know this was going to be the one woman meant for him and Ethan. If he had he knows he would have said different things that day. Like they say though you can't go back so both he and Ethan do what they can to make sure that Rachel is at ease around them both. Can they win their woman this way or will it just be another thing that turns her from them?

All Rachel really wants in this life is a baby. The thing is though she doesn't really want to go through making it. She has always assumed she is frigid. However something happens when she is around her bosses. It makes her wonder can she have the loving relationship that all the rest of her siblings enjoy? Or will she always be looking and longing for what she wants on the outside?

This is a great book about love and acceptance. There are some twists in the book that I really want to tell you about but don't want to ruin it for any other readers. I will say this book will hook you in and not let you go till the very end. It can be read as a stand alone or as part of the series without any issues. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by Vanessa Vale and I'm glad I started here. This book thoroughly impressed me on so many levels. Her writing is fun and super sexy. She has a way of developing complex characters you either love right away, or learn to love them the more you know about them.

In Hold Me Close we get the story of Rachel, Ethan and Matt. Rachel has not had luck in relationships and after failed attempt, decides to start a family a different way. When she finds herself at a sperm bank thinking her path is headed in one direction, she could have never in her wildest, most dirty dreams, Forseen what would happen when she tried to start the process to have a baby that way.

When none other than her two bosses come stampeding into the office to stop her, her life will never be the same. They offer her what she never knew she wanted yet always longed for. A relationship with them both. A baby. A family. The chemistry between them all is one of the best I've read in a MFM book. Vanessa has a way of pulling them together and piecing together what could be a very complex dynamic between the three of these character. This book was fun and full of heart. While you start off not to sure about one of the characters, all falls into place and you fall in love with them all!

*I received and ARC copy of this title at my request and am providing this voluntary review*

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fourth book in the Bridgewater County series but can be read as a standalone. As far as this goes within the series it is a good book however in my opinion it wasn’t as strong as the first three. The book starts out with what seems to be a normal introduction but ends up scaring our heroine, Rachel, away from one of the two men that are pining for her. Due to her past with an emotionally scarring man, this is too much for her and she can’t think about him in a romantic way. It also causes for a lot of miscommunication for the first half of the book. I’m all for fighting for your girl, and having to win a girl over for a mistake but this seemed to drag out and be infuriating at some points. Once the two men of the story get through to Rachel that they really do like her and want to be with her forever, the book gets much better. The scenes get a little steamy like in all of Vanessa Vale’s works and they go on the rollercoaster of starting their relationship. However, the miscommunication from the first part of the book and the mistrust steaming from her past come up again and drive a wedge in the relationship. When it was brought up this time it felt more natural and wasn’t as irritating as it was presented in a way that would occur in a genuine relationship. Overall, I’m glad I read the book, however I definitely wouldn’t say it’s my favorite in this series.

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haltet mich Fest ist ein weiteres, sehr gelungenes, Buch der Bridgewater Reihe aus der Feder der talentierten Vanessa Vale.

Rachel Andrews denkt sie ist frigide und wird nie eine Familie haben, weil sie mit 26 Jahren immer noch Jungfrau ist. Nachdem sie das College beendet hat, kehrt sie nach Bridgewater zurück, um den Job ihrer Schwester zu übernehmen. Ihr neuer Boss ist Matt und Rachel ist zunächst geschockt, dass er zuerst sexuelle Andeutungen macht und sie dann wegschickt. Sie weiß nicht, dass er sie eigentlich nur vor den anderen beschützen wollte. Als Ethan dann Rachel ebenfalls kennenlernt, ist für beide klar, dass Rachel die Frau ist, die sie in ihrem Leben haben wollen. Allerdings bedarf es noch viel Geschick, Rachel dazu zu bringen, dass sie das genauso sieht.

Matt und Ethan sind typische Alphamänner und Rachel eine süße, kleine, freche Frau. Die Leidenschaft der Drei ist beinahe körperlich zu spüren. Die Liebesszenen sind so heiß, dass beim Lesen die Temperatur ebenfalls ansteigt. Ich finde, Matt, Ethan und Rachel passen perfekt zusammen, auch wenn Matt am Anfang etwas netter hätte sein können. Wer Menage-Szenarien, dominante Männer und Romantik mag, der ist mit diesem Buch gut beraten.

[Stephanie Phillips (Stephanie's Book Reports) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.

Menage!  That's really all that should be said about this book.  HA!  Vanessa Vale does a great job at writing trio relationships.  This one is no different.  Though this book is the 4th in the series you can definitely read it as a standalone because I've not read any of the others.  

Hold Me Close features Rachel, a woman who's one of many children in her family and familiar with menage relationships.  She'd love to have one herself but just can't seem to meet the right man much less men.  Then you have Matt and Ethan.  They're small business owners who happen to be Rachel's new bosses.  

When Matt and Rachel meet the first time - it's a complete disaster.  Matt has a tremendous amount of groveling to do.  Ethan, of course, is the shining light of the two.  They both know, however, that Rachel is the woman for them.  The one they've been looking for.

Hurdles are evident in every relationship no matter if it's two or three persons.  These guys are no exception.  I was rooting for the doesn't think before he speaks underdog in this book.  Seriously he should think think think before he speaks!  It's gets him in more trouble than he'd care to admit I'm sure.  HA!  

If you like erotic romances definitely give this one a go!