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Hold Me Close
Apart, they are broken, but together, they are whole.
Effie and Heath are famous. Not for anything they did, but for what happened to them as teenagers. Abducted and abused by the same man, they turned to each other for comfort until they were finally able to make their escape.
Now adults, their relationship is fraught with guilt and despair. Whether fighting or making love, their passion is strong enough to destroy them both — and Effie's not about to let that happen. She knows it's time for her to have a 'normal' relationship, and Heath is nothing but a constant reminder of the dark past they share. Heath, on the other hand, knows Effie is the only woman he can ever love. She may want to forget what happened, but he's convinced that they must face their past together in order to move forward. So while Effie continues to bring new men into her life, Heath becomes obsessed with proving he's the one she needs.
Then a new crisis arises and Effie begins to lose every scrap of self-control she ever had. As she struggles against her desire to return to the one man who understands her, she discovers that sometimes the only safety you find is with the person who is the most dangerous for you.
Effie and Heath are famous. Not for anything they did, but for what happened to them as teenagers. Abducted and abused by the same man, they turned to each other for comfort until they were finally able to make their escape.
Now adults, their relationship is fraught with guilt and despair. Whether fighting or making love, their passion is strong enough to destroy them both — and Effie's not about to let that happen. She knows it's time for her to have a 'normal' relationship, and Heath is nothing but a constant reminder of the dark past they share. Heath, on the other hand, knows Effie is the only woman he can ever love. She may want to forget what happened, but he's convinced that they must face their past together in order to move forward. So while Effie continues to bring new men into her life, Heath becomes obsessed with proving he's the one she needs.
Then a new crisis arises and Effie begins to lose every scrap of self-control she ever had. As she struggles against her desire to return to the one man who understands her, she discovers that sometimes the only safety you find is with the person who is the most dangerous for you.
350 pages, Paperback
First published November 24, 2015
54 people are currently reading
2034 people want to read
About the author
Megan Hart
265 books4,057 followersMegan Hart has written in almost every genre of romantic fiction, including historical, contemporary, romantic suspense, romantic comedy, futuristic, fantasy and perhaps most notably, erotic. She also writes non-erotic fantasy and science fiction, as well as continuing to occasionally dabble in horror.
--from the author's website
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
For Megan Hart, the nutritionist, click here
--from the author's website
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
For Megan Hart, the nutritionist, click here
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December 9, 2015
2.5 stars. Rating clarification see below. Review posted December 9, 2015.
She wanted to kiss him, of course. Wanted to do more than that. Simply touching him this way, when he was acquiescent under her caress yet on the constant edge of a plea, made Effie feel as though she were slowly treading
water but waiting for the inevitable moment when she knew she was going to drown.
She liked to feel dirty when she fucked. She didn’t need a shrink to tell her why. She knew it was because of what had happened to them in that basement, of how they’d turned to each other without anyone else to turn to. She knew it was because pain and struggle were the first things that had ever accompanied sex for her, and she’d imprinted on them like a baby duck.
More than once, how she’d drawn blood. How he begged her to hurt him, and she did, and he hurt her. Over and over. Desire and suffering, all wrapped up together in a way only the two of them could understand.
He turned. “So what, then? You’re a
ghost? Because that’s how it feels to me sometimes, Effie. You’re a fucking ghost, and all you do is haunt me.”
Rating clarification
Writing: 4 stars
Storyline and resolution: 2 stars
Sex: 2 stars
Effie: 1 star
Heath: 3.5 stars
Average rating: 2.5 stars, rounded down because the resolution was extremely weak and unsatisfactory and the ending rushed.
The premise did sound intriguing and I really liked the good writing, but…
Even though the abuse is more or less depicted as fade to black, you know it's there, it happened. Don't read this book when you are not in the right frame of mind because it's bloody depressing. The villain Though once they are set free, Effie refuses to be with Heath because he's a constant reminder of their ordeal.
Minor and major issues
A)
I didn't like Effie's art and I like art but that doesn't mean I have to like EVERYTHING. Art is very subjective and what someone perceives as deep or beautiful doesn't necessarily mean the same thing to everyone else. There's nothing wrong with that. And, honestly, what is labelled as art these days is quite often rather ridiculous. Again, just my opinion. Others will practically orgasm over any kind of artsy crap, and that's fine too, but I couldn't give a rat's ass, TBH.
B)
It was too easy to figure out who the father was of Effie's daughter.
C)
Past events (flashbacks) are told in first person present tense, while the present is told in third person past tense. I'm not sure why exactly, but maybe it should give the reader a feel of a higher immediacy of past events, convey a more intimate connection to their trauma? Be that as it may, I struggled with the first person POV, probably because I never could warm up to the heroine. That's actually me being very kind because I disliked Effie greatly.
D)
A When, who and how long. Easy peasy. *smh*
E)
@55%
"Yes." Her voice harsh and guttural. She sounds like a stranger.
THIS!^^^^^^
She's a sixteen-year-old traumatized teenager and Seriously? That's supposed to be a genuine reaction from an emotionally (and physically) abused girl? That's supposed to be authentic?
F)
Effie fucked with dozens of men (off page, of course) and used them ad libitum, but what bugged me so much was the fact that she never made a real effort to make it work with Heath. I thought that was cruel and selfish. Yet she was so glad when Heath babysat Polly, took her out to have some fun. Those guys might have used her too, but I can't help and internally yell at her how wrong this is. Sure, I felt sorry for the traumatized teenager and understood that even grown up by now she would have to carry around a huge bunch of issues. But, I could not for the life of me understand her need to fuck herself through dozens of guys. Exorcising her demons? Nope, it didn't work. I mean even though she wasn't together with Heath, the memories and nightmares wouldn't go away. Those guys could not hold them at bay either. And while we're on it, This must have been a bitter pill to swallow, fucking a woman who was in love with another guy:
I was appalled at how easy she was fucking around with "her" men. Like I said, those dozens of guys who more or less satisfied her, were never in the picture. She did have sex, however, with It was like a little expulsion game: Although the main problem was that
I was wondering why Effie wasn't in therapy. But, like she said, she didn't need a shrink to tell her why she liked to be dirty while she fucked. Excuse me while I have a little moment here. Her problems are so immense, she really can't deal with those on her own, IMO. Surprisingly, though, the unbelievable resolution seemed to make everything better for her
"I've been trying to get my shit together."
"Good luck with that." Effie laughs. It's cruel. She can't help it.
"Of all the people in the world, I thought you'd be the one to believe I could," Heath tells her.
G)
What kind of effin' odd nickname is Effie? It's awful. Her real name is
H)
The sex didn't do anything for me. I thought it was unerotic and sterile. I don't mind pain play in my erotic stories, but I really didn't care for this one.
I)
SO MUCH THIS!!!^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Effie's reaction was the REAL shocker to me.
J)
That's how the story ends:
I shouldn't have but I had to laugh at that because it's so ridiculous. What in the hell was the bloody Sorry, that's a VERY cheap resolution, super-duper rushed ending inclusive. Of course
Whatever.
Warning
This is NOT a romance with rainbows and unicorns.
She wanted to kiss him, of course. Wanted to do more than that. Simply touching him this way, when he was acquiescent under her caress yet on the constant edge of a plea, made Effie feel as though she were slowly treading
water but waiting for the inevitable moment when she knew she was going to drown.
She liked to feel dirty when she fucked. She didn’t need a shrink to tell her why. She knew it was because of what had happened to them in that basement, of how they’d turned to each other without anyone else to turn to. She knew it was because pain and struggle were the first things that had ever accompanied sex for her, and she’d imprinted on them like a baby duck.
More than once, how she’d drawn blood. How he begged her to hurt him, and she did, and he hurt her. Over and over. Desire and suffering, all wrapped up together in a way only the two of them could understand.
He turned. “So what, then? You’re a
ghost? Because that’s how it feels to me sometimes, Effie. You’re a fucking ghost, and all you do is haunt me.”
Rating clarification
Writing: 4 stars
Storyline and resolution: 2 stars
Sex: 2 stars
Effie: 1 star
Heath: 3.5 stars
Average rating: 2.5 stars, rounded down because the resolution was extremely weak and unsatisfactory and the ending rushed.
The premise did sound intriguing and I really liked the good writing, but…
Even though the abuse is more or less depicted as fade to black, you know it's there, it happened. Don't read this book when you are not in the right frame of mind because it's bloody depressing. The villain Though once they are set free, Effie refuses to be with Heath because he's a constant reminder of their ordeal.
Minor and major issues
A)
I didn't like Effie's art and I like art but that doesn't mean I have to like EVERYTHING. Art is very subjective and what someone perceives as deep or beautiful doesn't necessarily mean the same thing to everyone else. There's nothing wrong with that. And, honestly, what is labelled as art these days is quite often rather ridiculous. Again, just my opinion. Others will practically orgasm over any kind of artsy crap, and that's fine too, but I couldn't give a rat's ass, TBH.
B)
It was too easy to figure out who the father was of Effie's daughter.
C)
Past events (flashbacks) are told in first person present tense, while the present is told in third person past tense. I'm not sure why exactly, but maybe it should give the reader a feel of a higher immediacy of past events, convey a more intimate connection to their trauma? Be that as it may, I struggled with the first person POV, probably because I never could warm up to the heroine. That's actually me being very kind because I disliked Effie greatly.
D)
A When, who and how long. Easy peasy. *smh*
E)
@55%
"Yes." Her voice harsh and guttural. She sounds like a stranger.
THIS!^^^^^^
She's a sixteen-year-old traumatized teenager and Seriously? That's supposed to be a genuine reaction from an emotionally (and physically) abused girl? That's supposed to be authentic?
F)
Effie fucked with dozens of men (off page, of course) and used them ad libitum, but what bugged me so much was the fact that she never made a real effort to make it work with Heath. I thought that was cruel and selfish. Yet she was so glad when Heath babysat Polly, took her out to have some fun. Those guys might have used her too, but I can't help and internally yell at her how wrong this is. Sure, I felt sorry for the traumatized teenager and understood that even grown up by now she would have to carry around a huge bunch of issues. But, I could not for the life of me understand her need to fuck herself through dozens of guys. Exorcising her demons? Nope, it didn't work. I mean even though she wasn't together with Heath, the memories and nightmares wouldn't go away. Those guys could not hold them at bay either. And while we're on it, This must have been a bitter pill to swallow, fucking a woman who was in love with another guy:
I was appalled at how easy she was fucking around with "her" men. Like I said, those dozens of guys who more or less satisfied her, were never in the picture. She did have sex, however, with It was like a little expulsion game: Although the main problem was that
I was wondering why Effie wasn't in therapy. But, like she said, she didn't need a shrink to tell her why she liked to be dirty while she fucked. Excuse me while I have a little moment here. Her problems are so immense, she really can't deal with those on her own, IMO. Surprisingly, though, the unbelievable resolution seemed to make everything better for her
"I've been trying to get my shit together."
"Good luck with that." Effie laughs. It's cruel. She can't help it.
"Of all the people in the world, I thought you'd be the one to believe I could," Heath tells her.
G)
What kind of effin' odd nickname is Effie? It's awful. Her real name is
H)
The sex didn't do anything for me. I thought it was unerotic and sterile. I don't mind pain play in my erotic stories, but I really didn't care for this one.
I)
SO MUCH THIS!!!^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Effie's reaction was the REAL shocker to me.
J)
That's how the story ends:
I shouldn't have but I had to laugh at that because it's so ridiculous. What in the hell was the bloody Sorry, that's a VERY cheap resolution, super-duper rushed ending inclusive. Of course
Whatever.
Warning
This is NOT a romance with rainbows and unicorns.
December 4, 2015
This book hurt. I mean, it was amazing and I loved it, but it made my insides hurt. It made me feel all the things, as only Megan Hart can do. A big thank you to Pamela, who texted me and said - omg read this book - and at that time I didn't even know there was a new Megan Hart book out. She warned me it was a tough read. I needed someone to hold me close as I read it.
This book tells the story of Effie and Heath, who were strangers until the day Effie was kidnapped as a young teenager by a man she was forced to call Daddy. Daddy kidnapped her right off the street at 3pm, drugged her and threw her into a dark, dank basement where a teenage boy named Heath already was. For the next three years, these two lived in this basement. They were drugged constantly, fed food (if any at all) that had drugs or other very disgusting things in it. Forced to live in their own filth. While Effie was not sexually assaulted by Daddy, Heath was made to do sex acts on other random drugged women and he was often beaten horribly. During these three years, Effie and Heath fell in love. They were all they had.
After the rescue, Effie and Heath continued their relationship, but with the trauma they went through, their life was greatly altered. Their relationship goes through ups and downs over the years. The book starts with them as adults. Effie even has a teenage daughter. She isn't married, she still sleeps with Heath, but they aren't in a relationship. And this is the crux of the book. Heath and Effie love each other. A love so deep, it's hard for them to truly understand it. Heath wants to give up the world and live with Effie and her daughter Polly (Heath is not Polly's father) forever. But Effie....oh Effie. She is afraid she only loves Heath because that is all she knew for three years in that basement. The only person she spoke to day after day, night after night was Heath. She doesn't trust their love. She feels like she needs to date other men, and experience what it feels like to fall in love - a normal way.
That was the thing about love, though, wasn't it? When you loved somebody, you wanted to give them everything you could. You wanted what was best for them, no matter what. You wanted them to move beyond what was awful and terrible, beyond anything that had ever hurt them. She would never be able to do that for him, nor he for her. They would forever and always be a reminder to each other of all the things Effie wanted them both to be able to forget.
The book flashes all over the place. Present day, in the past when Effie and Heath are being held captive, in the past after they are rescued. It really gives a deep insight into Effie's life. How her relationship with her mother suffered so much after she came back home. How extremely altered her life is that as an adult, she still can't eat something that she doesn't see made, not trusting there isn't something horrible inside of it. But all the while, she is this great mom who has a tremendous painting career. Megan Hart does such an amazing job at writing Effie. Her complexities are fascinating. She is stubborn, broken, loving, sad. And the angst - my god the angst. Heath wants her so badly, but Effie is so tormented and broken. So they try to live separately but it HURTS.
"I miss you, Heath."
He'd closed his eyes to her kiss but opened them at her words. "Good. I hope it fucking kills you. Every day."
And Heath breaks my heart some more:
"Haunt me," he whispered. "Make me crazy for the rest of my life. But please, Effie. Don't leave me. Just let me love you."
"I don't think I can..."
You are killing me Effie!!!
And while she loves Heath, she dates other men, as we see in this book. She also has a fuck-buddy (no other way to put it) named Bill. He is a police officer and I won't give a lot away about him, but he is consistently in the story. You will see how it all plays out.
Megan Hart doesn't make it easy - sometimes it's horrifying. Sometimes it's really sad. I'm not sure I smiled, but I was engaged the entire book. It's dark and tragic, but with a HEA.
There are probably five million other things I'll think to say - but I don't want to give too much away about this story. It's one you need to read from the beginning and hold on tight.
Grade: A
This book tells the story of Effie and Heath, who were strangers until the day Effie was kidnapped as a young teenager by a man she was forced to call Daddy. Daddy kidnapped her right off the street at 3pm, drugged her and threw her into a dark, dank basement where a teenage boy named Heath already was. For the next three years, these two lived in this basement. They were drugged constantly, fed food (if any at all) that had drugs or other very disgusting things in it. Forced to live in their own filth. While Effie was not sexually assaulted by Daddy, Heath was made to do sex acts on other random drugged women and he was often beaten horribly. During these three years, Effie and Heath fell in love. They were all they had.
After the rescue, Effie and Heath continued their relationship, but with the trauma they went through, their life was greatly altered. Their relationship goes through ups and downs over the years. The book starts with them as adults. Effie even has a teenage daughter. She isn't married, she still sleeps with Heath, but they aren't in a relationship. And this is the crux of the book. Heath and Effie love each other. A love so deep, it's hard for them to truly understand it. Heath wants to give up the world and live with Effie and her daughter Polly (Heath is not Polly's father) forever. But Effie....oh Effie. She is afraid she only loves Heath because that is all she knew for three years in that basement. The only person she spoke to day after day, night after night was Heath. She doesn't trust their love. She feels like she needs to date other men, and experience what it feels like to fall in love - a normal way.
That was the thing about love, though, wasn't it? When you loved somebody, you wanted to give them everything you could. You wanted what was best for them, no matter what. You wanted them to move beyond what was awful and terrible, beyond anything that had ever hurt them. She would never be able to do that for him, nor he for her. They would forever and always be a reminder to each other of all the things Effie wanted them both to be able to forget.
The book flashes all over the place. Present day, in the past when Effie and Heath are being held captive, in the past after they are rescued. It really gives a deep insight into Effie's life. How her relationship with her mother suffered so much after she came back home. How extremely altered her life is that as an adult, she still can't eat something that she doesn't see made, not trusting there isn't something horrible inside of it. But all the while, she is this great mom who has a tremendous painting career. Megan Hart does such an amazing job at writing Effie. Her complexities are fascinating. She is stubborn, broken, loving, sad. And the angst - my god the angst. Heath wants her so badly, but Effie is so tormented and broken. So they try to live separately but it HURTS.
"I miss you, Heath."
He'd closed his eyes to her kiss but opened them at her words. "Good. I hope it fucking kills you. Every day."
And Heath breaks my heart some more:
"Haunt me," he whispered. "Make me crazy for the rest of my life. But please, Effie. Don't leave me. Just let me love you."
"I don't think I can..."
You are killing me Effie!!!
And while she loves Heath, she dates other men, as we see in this book. She also has a fuck-buddy (no other way to put it) named Bill. He is a police officer and I won't give a lot away about him, but he is consistently in the story. You will see how it all plays out.
Megan Hart doesn't make it easy - sometimes it's horrifying. Sometimes it's really sad. I'm not sure I smiled, but I was engaged the entire book. It's dark and tragic, but with a HEA.
There are probably five million other things I'll think to say - but I don't want to give too much away about this story. It's one you need to read from the beginning and hold on tight.
Grade: A
January 28, 2016
Initial reaction: What a rollercoaster ride of a read that was. It was hard for me not to become emotional about the subject matter given how Effie and Heath's history and relationship come across. Hart examined many angles in this difficult case rather well for the narrative, and I could identify well the various emotions and dialogue dimensions the respective cast had throughout the story. At the same time - the time jumps were often jarring and pacing felt off, making it rather disjointed. But the narrative left me with a lot to think about, and I feel like I have a long review to write just to show how it managed to convey some of these issues.
That said, if you asked me whether I enjoyed this novel personally, I'd say I appreciated the read absolutely, and I couldn't put it down because of how well written and intimate it was. But it's much like what my thoughts about "Tear You Apart" ultimately came to be - I have mixed feelings over it. Ironically, characters from "Tear You Apart" had prominent roles here.
Full review:
I've a feeling I might break the character limit over my expansions of this review, but I think the subject matter is worth talking about because the book covers a lot of ground. My primary issue wasn't the type of ground it covered (because kidnapped and abused teens coming to terms with what happened to them and showcasing the problems they have as adults is a difficult topic in itself), but how it chose to show it in places. Nonetheless, I think this is one of those stories that will stay with me a while, and it still has the gears in my head turning as I'm penning this review.
Fun fact: Elizabeth, Will and Naveen from "Tear You Apart" make an appearance here, since the art place/seller that Effie markets her pieces at features the characters. I think this novel happens concurrently with the events of "Tear You Apart". It's no surprise to me since I knew that Hart brings back characters that have been mentioned/showcased in some of her previous narratives.
That said - ye Gods, this book. Even now, I'm trying to pick up pieces left from the rollercoaster of emotions this took me on. Terror, anger, disbelief, arousal, anguish, love, fear, grief, dedication, repulsion (and revulsion) - you name it, this book delivers it by the truckload. If there's something to be said that I admire in Hart's overarching body of work - she knows how to put a finger on the pulse of emotion, and she doesn't shy away from tough subject matters, presenting them in a way that's intimate to not just the leading characters, but also the surrounding cast.
Here's the sum of this novel: Effie and Heath are teenagers when they're abducted by a man called "Daddy". They're locked away and tormented for three years in his basement before they're rescued, leaving them broken and unable to be without each other even into adulthood (and this includes a sexual relationship that's...really messed up considering the circumstances of how they came to be with each other). This book trades between their experiences as teenagers and adults - with mixed results. I didn't have a problem with the narrative tackling these two storylines in itself, but as with a few former books of Hart's I've read, the way that this gets translated to text can be wayward for pacing. It is two separate stories that are smooshed into one. Some moments of the back and forth make sense because of the context, but other times the transitions are jarring. I can't help but think that if it were sequenced more even, it could've had an opportunity to shine more.
The other issue lies within the context of the novel's tough themes and progression in itself. It gets icky - this book will not be for everyone and there may be times when you want to throw the book down. I know I did. I was cringing and typing in my status updates "Nooooooooo! That's messed up!" in more than a few moments of the novel, but I think that was expected considering the circumstances in which Effie and Heath find themselves. It's difficult to like many of the characters in this novel because of how flawed they are, and I hesitate to call it even a romance, because how can this end well given the context of what these two characters go through and the events that transpire in this novel? (So one would ask.)
Let me start with Effie. If I had to sum up Effie's role in this novel, it would be that she's a woman who's desperately searching for what it means to be "normal." Having a normal life, relationships, things that will help her move on from the traumatic years and experiences she had under "Daddy" while in captivity with Heath. But Effie's journey to do that in her teens to adulthood is so full of flaws, you struggle between having sympathy for her and wanting to smack sense into her. She has self-esteem issues, she has commitment issues, her psyche is consumed with trying to find love and use every scrap of it she can get to make her get to a happy place. Which is why she keeps looking for love in the wrong places. She pushes Heath away many times because he's a reminder of that trauma in her life. But at the same time, she goes looking for love from people who give promises of normal, but end up treating her like utter crap. As for her relationship with Bill, the cop, well - that's it's own can of worms. She uses Bill as a means of getting what she wants sexually when her many and varied relationships don't work out, but SPOILER!
The closest Effie gets to a "normal" relationship is with Mitchell. I'll admit I was kind of rooting for them despite their turns of awkwardness and getting to know one another (some moments were sweet). The two of them have their ups and downs, but in the end, SPOILER!
Effie's relationship with her family is strained - notably so, and I felt for Effie and her interactions with her mother and father. Her mother hates Heath (and for good reason which I'll get to in his summary.) Her father struggles too, but you can tell his dedication towards his daughter. Polly, Effie's daughter, is a breath of fresh air through this entire novel and I really liked her scenes, whether with Effie herself or with Effie and Heath.
Guess that makes it a good time to talk about Heath. *sighs* I mean, I felt for Heath too, because it's clear he's pretty messed up himself following his captivity with "Daddy" and his and Effie's desperate attempts at escape were harrowing, to say the least. HIs journey into adulthood is difficult as well. He clings to Effie because he truly loves her, in something of a combination of genuine care, lust, and problematic neediness which raises its head more than once. Plus, SPOILER!
So that's a lot to take in. But Heath is dedicated to Effie in not only attending to her needs, but to Polly's as well. He has issues with Effie continuing to push him away, to the point where he almost breaks with her completely though he wants to remain in Polly's life, even as she's not his kid. I'll admit some scenes between Effie and Heath were hot for sensual chemistry, but you look at the depth of their issues and context things that happened to and shaped them...it's difficult to take in. Which is why I have a hard time seeing this as a romance per se. I definitely see it as circumstances that two very flawed people go through and end up having to come to terms with eventually for their relations, but it's a rough road because of so many different factors, pains, moral conflicts that occur. I will wholeheartedly say that I appreciate that Hart doesn't skirt those moral conflicts and she does make realistic mention and framing of them rather than simply skirting them to glorify the relationship between the leading characters (which I've read one too many times in some New Adult novels. :( )
Emotionally, though, it's so much to take in, which is why I felt exhausted after reading this, but I appreciated the experience of reading it for what it offered. I'm going to say again that this won't strike everyone who reads it in the same way - it'll be love/hate or somewhere in the middle for reaction. It still leaves me with mixed feelings over the events, and particularly for the rushed ending, which provides closure and a resolution in some measures, but it doesn't quite follow a seamless emotional streamline for the build-up provided through most of the novel. But it left me with so much to think about and I could see the realistic qualities and emotions contained in the narrative.
For those reasons, it gets 3 stars from me. No more, no less.
Overall score: 3/5 stars.
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Harlequin Mira.
That said, if you asked me whether I enjoyed this novel personally, I'd say I appreciated the read absolutely, and I couldn't put it down because of how well written and intimate it was. But it's much like what my thoughts about "Tear You Apart" ultimately came to be - I have mixed feelings over it. Ironically, characters from "Tear You Apart" had prominent roles here.
Full review:
I've a feeling I might break the character limit over my expansions of this review, but I think the subject matter is worth talking about because the book covers a lot of ground. My primary issue wasn't the type of ground it covered (because kidnapped and abused teens coming to terms with what happened to them and showcasing the problems they have as adults is a difficult topic in itself), but how it chose to show it in places. Nonetheless, I think this is one of those stories that will stay with me a while, and it still has the gears in my head turning as I'm penning this review.
Fun fact: Elizabeth, Will and Naveen from "Tear You Apart" make an appearance here, since the art place/seller that Effie markets her pieces at features the characters. I think this novel happens concurrently with the events of "Tear You Apart". It's no surprise to me since I knew that Hart brings back characters that have been mentioned/showcased in some of her previous narratives.
That said - ye Gods, this book. Even now, I'm trying to pick up pieces left from the rollercoaster of emotions this took me on. Terror, anger, disbelief, arousal, anguish, love, fear, grief, dedication, repulsion (and revulsion) - you name it, this book delivers it by the truckload. If there's something to be said that I admire in Hart's overarching body of work - she knows how to put a finger on the pulse of emotion, and she doesn't shy away from tough subject matters, presenting them in a way that's intimate to not just the leading characters, but also the surrounding cast.
Here's the sum of this novel: Effie and Heath are teenagers when they're abducted by a man called "Daddy". They're locked away and tormented for three years in his basement before they're rescued, leaving them broken and unable to be without each other even into adulthood (and this includes a sexual relationship that's...really messed up considering the circumstances of how they came to be with each other). This book trades between their experiences as teenagers and adults - with mixed results. I didn't have a problem with the narrative tackling these two storylines in itself, but as with a few former books of Hart's I've read, the way that this gets translated to text can be wayward for pacing. It is two separate stories that are smooshed into one. Some moments of the back and forth make sense because of the context, but other times the transitions are jarring. I can't help but think that if it were sequenced more even, it could've had an opportunity to shine more.
The other issue lies within the context of the novel's tough themes and progression in itself. It gets icky - this book will not be for everyone and there may be times when you want to throw the book down. I know I did. I was cringing and typing in my status updates "Nooooooooo! That's messed up!" in more than a few moments of the novel, but I think that was expected considering the circumstances in which Effie and Heath find themselves. It's difficult to like many of the characters in this novel because of how flawed they are, and I hesitate to call it even a romance, because how can this end well given the context of what these two characters go through and the events that transpire in this novel? (So one would ask.)
Let me start with Effie. If I had to sum up Effie's role in this novel, it would be that she's a woman who's desperately searching for what it means to be "normal." Having a normal life, relationships, things that will help her move on from the traumatic years and experiences she had under "Daddy" while in captivity with Heath. But Effie's journey to do that in her teens to adulthood is so full of flaws, you struggle between having sympathy for her and wanting to smack sense into her. She has self-esteem issues, she has commitment issues, her psyche is consumed with trying to find love and use every scrap of it she can get to make her get to a happy place. Which is why she keeps looking for love in the wrong places. She pushes Heath away many times because he's a reminder of that trauma in her life. But at the same time, she goes looking for love from people who give promises of normal, but end up treating her like utter crap. As for her relationship with Bill, the cop, well - that's it's own can of worms. She uses Bill as a means of getting what she wants sexually when her many and varied relationships don't work out, but SPOILER!
The closest Effie gets to a "normal" relationship is with Mitchell. I'll admit I was kind of rooting for them despite their turns of awkwardness and getting to know one another (some moments were sweet). The two of them have their ups and downs, but in the end, SPOILER!
Effie's relationship with her family is strained - notably so, and I felt for Effie and her interactions with her mother and father. Her mother hates Heath (and for good reason which I'll get to in his summary.) Her father struggles too, but you can tell his dedication towards his daughter. Polly, Effie's daughter, is a breath of fresh air through this entire novel and I really liked her scenes, whether with Effie herself or with Effie and Heath.
Guess that makes it a good time to talk about Heath. *sighs* I mean, I felt for Heath too, because it's clear he's pretty messed up himself following his captivity with "Daddy" and his and Effie's desperate attempts at escape were harrowing, to say the least. HIs journey into adulthood is difficult as well. He clings to Effie because he truly loves her, in something of a combination of genuine care, lust, and problematic neediness which raises its head more than once. Plus, SPOILER!
So that's a lot to take in. But Heath is dedicated to Effie in not only attending to her needs, but to Polly's as well. He has issues with Effie continuing to push him away, to the point where he almost breaks with her completely though he wants to remain in Polly's life, even as she's not his kid. I'll admit some scenes between Effie and Heath were hot for sensual chemistry, but you look at the depth of their issues and context things that happened to and shaped them...it's difficult to take in. Which is why I have a hard time seeing this as a romance per se. I definitely see it as circumstances that two very flawed people go through and end up having to come to terms with eventually for their relations, but it's a rough road because of so many different factors, pains, moral conflicts that occur. I will wholeheartedly say that I appreciate that Hart doesn't skirt those moral conflicts and she does make realistic mention and framing of them rather than simply skirting them to glorify the relationship between the leading characters (which I've read one too many times in some New Adult novels. :( )
Emotionally, though, it's so much to take in, which is why I felt exhausted after reading this, but I appreciated the experience of reading it for what it offered. I'm going to say again that this won't strike everyone who reads it in the same way - it'll be love/hate or somewhere in the middle for reaction. It still leaves me with mixed feelings over the events, and particularly for the rushed ending, which provides closure and a resolution in some measures, but it doesn't quite follow a seamless emotional streamline for the build-up provided through most of the novel. But it left me with so much to think about and I could see the realistic qualities and emotions contained in the narrative.
For those reasons, it gets 3 stars from me. No more, no less.
Overall score: 3/5 stars.
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Harlequin Mira.
November 25, 2015
El Heath de la sinopsis me sonaba mucho a Heath Ledger. Odio a las autoras que toman nombres de actores (o cuyas descripciones físicas son curiosamente parecidas a aquellas de actores famosos...los más utilizados siendo: ese que hace de Thor, y ese otro de Vampire Diaries...me arruinan la imaginación de tal manera, que apenas me puedo concentrar en lo que leo), así que empecé el libro sin muchas ganas (y lo empecé igual porque me encanta Megan Hart.)
Pasa ésto: a la mitad de la historia (o un poco antes, en realidad), me doy cuenta que ya no me suena un carajo a Ledger, sino a Heathcliff (EL HEATHCLIFF, el que todos conocemos, el tú que no tienes apellido, sólo eres Heathcliff). La actitud del personaje, la relación con Effie, la pasión entre suicida y vital, y todo lo que conlleva parecerse al anti héroe (o directamente villano) de Wuthering Heights, está en el Heath de Hold me close. ¡Hasta el aspecto desgreñado, y la familia ausente!.
Para ser una novela de romance, se zarpa en originalidad. La historia de fondo, digo. El pasado que va a parir a esta pareja de loquillos. La historia es una mezcla entre Room y The Lonely (pero, obviamente, muchísimo mejor que la segunda, esa novela ridícula de Tara Brown). HMC Por un lado te parte el corazón y por el otro, te calienta las partes privadas (te alborota a la Lady Jane, diría DH Lawrence- o al John Thomas en el caso masculino.) El lenguaje erótico supera el contexto desgarrador del abuso, lo que hace llevadera a la historia. O sea, no se revuelca demasiado en la miseria de los hechos traumáticos, sino que pone el foco en las consecuencias que éstos tienen en sus protagonistas.
Después, lo usual. El amor, la traición, el muchachito que la pelea y se la banca; la chica que quiere pero no quiere, que tiene que "encontrarse a sí misma", y bla bla bla. Un poco de lo de siempre pero, tratándose de Megan Hart, con ese algo diferente, que parece poco pero a fin de cuentas (acuérdense que esto es romance, género lleno de clichés), resulta ser mucho: los personajes no se quedan en las palabras lindas, sino que son lo que son mediante las acciones, haciendo que el amor parezca, en efecto, un amor de verdad entre personas reales.
Me partió el corazón y no me dejó pegar un ojo.
Muy recomendable para lectores de romance que quieren una trama diferente, con un anti héroe que dista bastante del chico lindo y rico que solemos leer en otras novelas. (Primero porque no es lindo, y segundo, porque no tiene un peso partido al medio.)
Más allá de algún que otro tema en la trama que, en mi opinión, estaba demás y por momentos, me hizo pesada y aburrida la lectura, Hold me Close es un romance sólido, con más realismo de lo habitual en el género y, ciertamente, mucho más drama al que estamos acostumbrados.
Puntaje: 3.5/5
Pasa ésto: a la mitad de la historia (o un poco antes, en realidad), me doy cuenta que ya no me suena un carajo a Ledger, sino a Heathcliff (EL HEATHCLIFF, el que todos conocemos, el tú que no tienes apellido, sólo eres Heathcliff). La actitud del personaje, la relación con Effie, la pasión entre suicida y vital, y todo lo que conlleva parecerse al anti héroe (o directamente villano) de Wuthering Heights, está en el Heath de Hold me close. ¡Hasta el aspecto desgreñado, y la familia ausente!.
Para ser una novela de romance, se zarpa en originalidad. La historia de fondo, digo. El pasado que va a parir a esta pareja de loquillos. La historia es una mezcla entre Room y The Lonely (pero, obviamente, muchísimo mejor que la segunda, esa novela ridícula de Tara Brown). HMC Por un lado te parte el corazón y por el otro, te calienta las partes privadas (te alborota a la Lady Jane, diría DH Lawrence- o al John Thomas en el caso masculino.) El lenguaje erótico supera el contexto desgarrador del abuso, lo que hace llevadera a la historia. O sea, no se revuelca demasiado en la miseria de los hechos traumáticos, sino que pone el foco en las consecuencias que éstos tienen en sus protagonistas.
Después, lo usual. El amor, la traición, el muchachito que la pelea y se la banca; la chica que quiere pero no quiere, que tiene que "encontrarse a sí misma", y bla bla bla. Un poco de lo de siempre pero, tratándose de Megan Hart, con ese algo diferente, que parece poco pero a fin de cuentas (acuérdense que esto es romance, género lleno de clichés), resulta ser mucho: los personajes no se quedan en las palabras lindas, sino que son lo que son mediante las acciones, haciendo que el amor parezca, en efecto, un amor de verdad entre personas reales.
Me partió el corazón y no me dejó pegar un ojo.
Muy recomendable para lectores de romance que quieren una trama diferente, con un anti héroe que dista bastante del chico lindo y rico que solemos leer en otras novelas. (Primero porque no es lindo, y segundo, porque no tiene un peso partido al medio.)
Más allá de algún que otro tema en la trama que, en mi opinión, estaba demás y por momentos, me hizo pesada y aburrida la lectura, Hold me Close es un romance sólido, con más realismo de lo habitual en el género y, ciertamente, mucho más drama al que estamos acostumbrados.
Puntaje: 3.5/5
November 23, 2015
Effie and Heath have been kidnapped as teenagers, they had to spend 3 years in the captivity of a weird guy who made them call him Daddy.
They didn't know each other, but they fell in love in that dark and lonely and dangerous place.
Now, 15 years later, they both haven't really gotten over what happened. Or at least they haven't learned to deal with everything properly.
Heath only knows one thing: he wants to spend the rest of his life with the woman he loves....Effie.
But Effie thinks it can't be healthy for body and mind to be this fixated on one person - a person that you went through so many horrible things with.
That's why she has date after date trying to fall in love with somebody else.
But it's always been just Heath....
The story is told from Effie's POV and jumps back in time a lot.
We read about their time in captivity, the time when they just got back home, the present, et cetera.
The reader wants them to have their HEA with each other....but ....
WHAT WiLL HAPPEN TO EFFiE & HEATH???
WiLL THERE BE A CHANCE FOR A HEA???
OR ARE THEY TOO BROKEN TO HAVE A HAPPY LiFE TOGETHER?
WiLL THERE BE A CLiFFHANGER???
NOPE . . .
I'm not telling you ☺
═════════════════════════════════
I REALLY LOVED THiS BOOK!
With every new Megan Hart book you know that you're about to read something extraordinary.
Something different from all the other romances out there.
Megan comes up with stories and characters, other people couldn't even imagine to create.
I love that!
This book was full of sooo much feelings: love, fear, hope....
LOTS of sex too.
The only way Effie seems to be able to be with Heath is in bed - or wherever ;)
I loved to read their story - you have no idea how it's going to end. You hope that they end up happily together, but the hows and whys and ifs .... you just have no idea!
HOLD ME CLOSE was such an amazingly moving and sexy and darkish Romance. About two broken people who desperately want to finally get to their Happy Ever After. You will so enjoy watching them fight for it! ♥
November 24, 2015
Thank you to MIRA and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t even know where to start with this book, except to say that if left me reeling. Typical Megan Hart. Effie and Heath were such compelling characters. Even when I had to put this book down for pesky things like work and hygiene, it was consuming me.
After spending years being held captive by the same man, Effie and Heath find it impossible to give each other up completely once they find their way out, no matter how bad they think they are for each other. This was a hard book to read for several reasons. Effie was the queen of self-destruction on her quest to find ‘normal.’ She wasn’t always nice to Heath, and he was so good to her and her daughter, Polly, that it absolutely broke my heart. It was almost like she was trying to outrun him, but she just couldn’t resist looking over her shoulder, slowing herself down and inadvertently giving in to him. The push and pull Effie was suffering when it came to Heath was so exquisitely written. This story flows seamlessly from present day to events from the past that are significant in shaping Effie into the woman she is today. There are times when she isn’t very likable, but I liked her anyway. She was a survivor, and the guilt she carried for loving Heath when she felt like she shouldn’t haunted her. Heath’s character was enough to bring me to my knees. His love for Effie was unconditional, and for a man who’d never had love himself, it was killer to watch her cast him aside time and again. The things he endured not only at the hands of their captor but from the parents who never wanted him was devastating. That he was as functional, patient, and loving as he was was a miracle.
There were a whole host of secondary characters in this one: Effie’s daughter, Polly, a sweetheart who adores her mom and Heath, who treats her as if she’s his own; Effie’s mother, who tries so hard to be there for her daughter that she smothers her; and the men Effie parades in and out of her bedroom (figuratively, as she doesn’t expose her daughter to them.) They’re all major players in Effie’s life and give us a lot of insight into who she is.
This really was a beauty from ashes story about Effie’s journey to finally come to grips with her past and rid herself of the shame for feeling the way she did. As always from this author, this was a book with complex characters in complex situations, and then boom – one moment of simplicity where everything clicks into place, and you know that even if things didn’t end the way you expected, they ended perfectly. If you’re a fan of Criminal Minds and find yourself what happens to the victims after they’ve been rescued, this book was written for you. If you’re a fan of dark romance, this book was written for you. For me, Hold Me Close is one more stellar read from Megan Hart to add to my collection, and at this point, it’s nothing less than I expected!
This review was originally posted at Badass Book Reviews.
I don’t even know where to start with this book, except to say that if left me reeling. Typical Megan Hart. Effie and Heath were such compelling characters. Even when I had to put this book down for pesky things like work and hygiene, it was consuming me.
After spending years being held captive by the same man, Effie and Heath find it impossible to give each other up completely once they find their way out, no matter how bad they think they are for each other. This was a hard book to read for several reasons. Effie was the queen of self-destruction on her quest to find ‘normal.’ She wasn’t always nice to Heath, and he was so good to her and her daughter, Polly, that it absolutely broke my heart. It was almost like she was trying to outrun him, but she just couldn’t resist looking over her shoulder, slowing herself down and inadvertently giving in to him. The push and pull Effie was suffering when it came to Heath was so exquisitely written. This story flows seamlessly from present day to events from the past that are significant in shaping Effie into the woman she is today. There are times when she isn’t very likable, but I liked her anyway. She was a survivor, and the guilt she carried for loving Heath when she felt like she shouldn’t haunted her. Heath’s character was enough to bring me to my knees. His love for Effie was unconditional, and for a man who’d never had love himself, it was killer to watch her cast him aside time and again. The things he endured not only at the hands of their captor but from the parents who never wanted him was devastating. That he was as functional, patient, and loving as he was was a miracle.
There were a whole host of secondary characters in this one: Effie’s daughter, Polly, a sweetheart who adores her mom and Heath, who treats her as if she’s his own; Effie’s mother, who tries so hard to be there for her daughter that she smothers her; and the men Effie parades in and out of her bedroom (figuratively, as she doesn’t expose her daughter to them.) They’re all major players in Effie’s life and give us a lot of insight into who she is.
This really was a beauty from ashes story about Effie’s journey to finally come to grips with her past and rid herself of the shame for feeling the way she did. As always from this author, this was a book with complex characters in complex situations, and then boom – one moment of simplicity where everything clicks into place, and you know that even if things didn’t end the way you expected, they ended perfectly. If you’re a fan of Criminal Minds and find yourself what happens to the victims after they’ve been rescued, this book was written for you. If you’re a fan of dark romance, this book was written for you. For me, Hold Me Close is one more stellar read from Megan Hart to add to my collection, and at this point, it’s nothing less than I expected!
This review was originally posted at Badass Book Reviews.
November 23, 2015
4 hauntingly beautiful stars. This novel really tugs at the heartstrings and showcases how survivors of abuse struggle to move on. The chapters flip between the present and the past to give a really solid understanding of Effie and Heath. Effie and Heath have a very delicate, complicated, and interesting relationship. The two handle their suffering differently and that is shown throughout the novel.
Effie uses her body to drown out the issues she can't seem to deal with. While she may love Heath, she chooses to try and find a "normal" boyfriend and continues to have sex with a cop. She can't let go of Heath all together but finds herself in the constant struggle for a "normal" life.
Heath loves Effie more than anyone in the world. While he struggles to deal with the abuse that happened to him in the past, he has moved forward in less destructive ways than his lover. He can't help but run to her whenever she calls even if she uses him and breaks him over and over again. She's like his drug of choice and he's so far beyond addicted he can't seem to really make sense of anything.
I think what I really liked about this book is how the prospect of "normal" is taken, twisted and shown to be overrated. Who is to say what love should look like or who it should be with? The outside world is a mess so why is it that the outside world should be the marker for what kind of relationship you have and who you have it with? Effie and Heath have a connection no one else could ever hope to understand and their love is one of the purest things on the planet. Their feelings and comfort is what allowed them to move forward in life after the abuse they suffered as teenagers.
Effie uses her body to drown out the issues she can't seem to deal with. While she may love Heath, she chooses to try and find a "normal" boyfriend and continues to have sex with a cop. She can't let go of Heath all together but finds herself in the constant struggle for a "normal" life.
Heath loves Effie more than anyone in the world. While he struggles to deal with the abuse that happened to him in the past, he has moved forward in less destructive ways than his lover. He can't help but run to her whenever she calls even if she uses him and breaks him over and over again. She's like his drug of choice and he's so far beyond addicted he can't seem to really make sense of anything.
I think what I really liked about this book is how the prospect of "normal" is taken, twisted and shown to be overrated. Who is to say what love should look like or who it should be with? The outside world is a mess so why is it that the outside world should be the marker for what kind of relationship you have and who you have it with? Effie and Heath have a connection no one else could ever hope to understand and their love is one of the purest things on the planet. Their feelings and comfort is what allowed them to move forward in life after the abuse they suffered as teenagers.
March 28, 2016
CONTENT WARNINGS: Abduction, child abuse, sexual abuse, statutory rape, miscarriage.
SPOILER WARNING: This review contains spoilers. If reading on Goodreads, they're behind a cut. If reading elsewhere, they're out in the open.
Until now, I didn't realise how much I include publishers as part of an author's brand. But in the case of Megan Hart, I automatically add her Harlequin Mira (and before that, Harlequin Spice) titles to my wishlist. I'm not interested in her Harlequin Nocturnes, and her Penguin Berkley books weren't for me.
The author has upcoming publications scheduled with Chaos Publishing (her self-publishing arm), Samhain, Macmillan Swerve, and Montlake. So I'm hesitant to add those to my wishlist, because I kind of only want to read the ones in the vein of her Mira books. Which probably makes me a terrible person, picking and choosing instead of wanting it ALL ;-)
So for the unforeseen future, Hold Me Close may be the last Megan Hart book with Harlequin Mira. And this is a heart-wrenching number. In case the content warnings don't give it away, this book is DARK. With a happy ending, though, so romance fans will be fine unless you don't like to read about soulmates rooting other people.
It's the attention to detail that makes Hold Me Close so good, namely Effie's issues with food. Because of various things being put into her meals and drinks during the three years she was imprisoned, Effie's reluctant to eat anything that she or a loved one hasn't prepared, or food she can't see through. She drinks a lot of "clear cola", which I've never seen in real life but I don't live in the US.
Even though I don't agree with...well, a lot of things in this novel, I heartily recommend it.
SPOILER WARNING: This review contains spoilers. If reading on Goodreads, they're behind a cut. If reading elsewhere, they're out in the open.
Until now, I didn't realise how much I include publishers as part of an author's brand. But in the case of Megan Hart, I automatically add her Harlequin Mira (and before that, Harlequin Spice) titles to my wishlist. I'm not interested in her Harlequin Nocturnes, and her Penguin Berkley books weren't for me.
The author has upcoming publications scheduled with Chaos Publishing (her self-publishing arm), Samhain, Macmillan Swerve, and Montlake. So I'm hesitant to add those to my wishlist, because I kind of only want to read the ones in the vein of her Mira books. Which probably makes me a terrible person, picking and choosing instead of wanting it ALL ;-)
So for the unforeseen future, Hold Me Close may be the last Megan Hart book with Harlequin Mira. And this is a heart-wrenching number. In case the content warnings don't give it away, this book is DARK. With a happy ending, though, so romance fans will be fine unless you don't like to read about soulmates rooting other people.
It's the attention to detail that makes Hold Me Close so good, namely Effie's issues with food. Because of various things being put into her meals and drinks during the three years she was imprisoned, Effie's reluctant to eat anything that she or a loved one hasn't prepared, or food she can't see through. She drinks a lot of "clear cola", which I've never seen in real life but I don't live in the US.
Even though I don't agree with...well, a lot of things in this novel, I heartily recommend it.
November 28, 2015
This was really good. It was a difficult and bumpy journey, but Effie and Heath had a bond that was so unique, complicated and yet believable.
Love that little Pollywog as well!
Love that little Pollywog as well!
February 3, 2016
Effie and Heath are kidnapped and held prisoner in a basement for years, abused by a sick man and eventually rescued from their prison, but in many ways, they will never leave that basement. This is the story of your greatest love springing from your worst pain. It’s not romance, but there is love.
The Good: This is one of the hardest reviews to write, so I’ll apologize for the stream of consciousness review. but it’s all I got right now. Reading the blurb, I knew this was going to be a hard one but I thought I was ready. Silly bunny.
The quality of the writing is high, and it has to be to handle this subject matter. This was a realistic take on a very sad woman and her complicated relationships. I hesitate to really classify it as a romance, for many reasons, but I do think it’s compelling fiction. Ms. Hart has managed to tell a difficult story told in a really interesting way. She’s not afraid to have her characters make hard choices, and likeable isn’t a priority. It’s fascinating, and my mind is a scarier place for it.
The things I pictured happening to Effie and Heath were horrid and the glimpses shown from their residual PTSD was so heartwrenching to see. Seriously, this made me all kinds of paranoid about food and drink, and that’s just from reading it.
The Bad and Everything in Between: Sometimes her prose throws me off - third person present isn’t my favorite and the occasional lack of contractions makes things feel a bit more formal than I prefer in my reading. Third person present is used for the flashbacks and third person past for present day, so adjusting to that wasn't bad, but noticeable. That was the only cue for flashbacks, but I adjusted to it.
The core of this story is more Effie and her journey and I wanted to know more about Heath. He drew me in and kept me reading. Effie is a hard heroine because she’s not easy to pigeonhole.
Now, I know that there will be readers who will object to her reaction to her abuse and captivity. That have issues with her sexual freedom and her refusal to feel shame for what gets her off. That is not an issue for me, as a matter of fact I think that isn’t a surprise at all. However, it’s how those sexual relationships hurt Heath that bothered me. At my core, I’m a romance lover, and this wasn’t the romance, even if there is love.
Effie struggles against her relationship with Heath, for both good and bad reasons. Logically, I could understand her need to try and cut ties, but the way he is there for her, I couldn’t help it. I hated how she hurt him, over and over again in her quest for some version of normal that she will never be. I think it’s why this is so hard for me to articulate, because I do understand her even when I don’t like what she does.
Finally, there’s certain moments that felt a bit obvious and the ending wasn't as satisfying as I’d hoped. I was left with a feeling that Effie was giving into the inevitable, but Heath would always love her more.
I had to rate this 4 stars because while I’ll never love it, I think this is very well done and now I understand what was missing from my previous read. So thanks Mandi, this was worth the read. For those who are prepared for difficult stories with realistic characters, and don’t need alot of romance with your love stories, this may be for you.
The Good: This is one of the hardest reviews to write, so I’ll apologize for the stream of consciousness review. but it’s all I got right now. Reading the blurb, I knew this was going to be a hard one but I thought I was ready. Silly bunny.
The quality of the writing is high, and it has to be to handle this subject matter. This was a realistic take on a very sad woman and her complicated relationships. I hesitate to really classify it as a romance, for many reasons, but I do think it’s compelling fiction. Ms. Hart has managed to tell a difficult story told in a really interesting way. She’s not afraid to have her characters make hard choices, and likeable isn’t a priority. It’s fascinating, and my mind is a scarier place for it.
The things I pictured happening to Effie and Heath were horrid and the glimpses shown from their residual PTSD was so heartwrenching to see. Seriously, this made me all kinds of paranoid about food and drink, and that’s just from reading it.
The Bad and Everything in Between: Sometimes her prose throws me off - third person present isn’t my favorite and the occasional lack of contractions makes things feel a bit more formal than I prefer in my reading. Third person present is used for the flashbacks and third person past for present day, so adjusting to that wasn't bad, but noticeable. That was the only cue for flashbacks, but I adjusted to it.
The core of this story is more Effie and her journey and I wanted to know more about Heath. He drew me in and kept me reading. Effie is a hard heroine because she’s not easy to pigeonhole.
Now, I know that there will be readers who will object to her reaction to her abuse and captivity. That have issues with her sexual freedom and her refusal to feel shame for what gets her off. That is not an issue for me, as a matter of fact I think that isn’t a surprise at all. However, it’s how those sexual relationships hurt Heath that bothered me. At my core, I’m a romance lover, and this wasn’t the romance, even if there is love.
Effie struggles against her relationship with Heath, for both good and bad reasons. Logically, I could understand her need to try and cut ties, but the way he is there for her, I couldn’t help it. I hated how she hurt him, over and over again in her quest for some version of normal that she will never be. I think it’s why this is so hard for me to articulate, because I do understand her even when I don’t like what she does.
Finally, there’s certain moments that felt a bit obvious and the ending wasn't as satisfying as I’d hoped. I was left with a feeling that Effie was giving into the inevitable, but Heath would always love her more.
I had to rate this 4 stars because while I’ll never love it, I think this is very well done and now I understand what was missing from my previous read. So thanks Mandi, this was worth the read. For those who are prepared for difficult stories with realistic characters, and don’t need alot of romance with your love stories, this may be for you.
November 27, 2015
Stuck between a 3.5 to 4 stars !!! Loved the writing , loved the dark elements in the story but it kinda felt incomplete. Heath and Effie went through some horrible shit together and their relationship could be considered toxic a present . But It felt sorta incomplete .. especially toward the end .
October 5, 2015
Heath is in love with Effie, and Effie is in love with Heath, but she doesn't want to be. Their relationship is dark, twisted and unbelievably consuming.
Heath and Effie were kidnapped and held hostage together for over two years. Together, they experienced unimaginable horror and fear. Many days passed where they would have nothing to eat, and when they did have food, it was often drugged or unfit to eat.
As they struggled to survive, they began to rely on one another for comfort, strength, and eventuality, love.
Years have passed since their captivity, and now as adults, their need for one another is undeniable. Heath continues to declare his love for Effie, but she will not admit that she loves him just as much, if not more.
This book is dark, and not your typical romance. Having said that, I could not put it down.
I easily get wrapped up in characters that Megan Hart writes, and this book was no exception. Hart did an amazing job bringing the scenes in this book to life. There are many scenes that take place during Effie and Heath's captivity that had my stomach churning, but, I was fascinated!
Effie is a difficult character to like. She goes through some trial and error in this book that had me grinding my teeth because I was so annoyed and angry with her. She is wounded and twisted, and in the end, I was definitely cheering her on.
Although this book did not make me feel all warm and fuzzy, at the end, I was very satisfied. If you are looking for a book with a typical HEA, this is not it, but, if you like books that have romantic elements in it while telling a story of real people with raw feelings and lives, I would highly recommend this book!!
Heath and Effie were kidnapped and held hostage together for over two years. Together, they experienced unimaginable horror and fear. Many days passed where they would have nothing to eat, and when they did have food, it was often drugged or unfit to eat.
As they struggled to survive, they began to rely on one another for comfort, strength, and eventuality, love.
Years have passed since their captivity, and now as adults, their need for one another is undeniable. Heath continues to declare his love for Effie, but she will not admit that she loves him just as much, if not more.
This book is dark, and not your typical romance. Having said that, I could not put it down.
I easily get wrapped up in characters that Megan Hart writes, and this book was no exception. Hart did an amazing job bringing the scenes in this book to life. There are many scenes that take place during Effie and Heath's captivity that had my stomach churning, but, I was fascinated!
Effie is a difficult character to like. She goes through some trial and error in this book that had me grinding my teeth because I was so annoyed and angry with her. She is wounded and twisted, and in the end, I was definitely cheering her on.
Although this book did not make me feel all warm and fuzzy, at the end, I was very satisfied. If you are looking for a book with a typical HEA, this is not it, but, if you like books that have romantic elements in it while telling a story of real people with raw feelings and lives, I would highly recommend this book!!
October 7, 2015
I will read anything written by Megan Hart and Hold Me Close didn't disappoint!
**ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley
**ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley
April 24, 2020
Once again, Megan Hart ripped my heart to shreds.
The two leads are so broken, you have to wonder how either of them will ever have a chance at finding love.
There's some steam in this book, but it's not all pretty. It is raw, brutal, emotional, in a messed up kind of way, just like the characters.
Brilliant.
The two leads are so broken, you have to wonder how either of them will ever have a chance at finding love.
There's some steam in this book, but it's not all pretty. It is raw, brutal, emotional, in a messed up kind of way, just like the characters.
Brilliant.
May 8, 2017
4.5 stars
Megan Hart has a way of telling a story that draws you in from the start. HOLD ME CLOSE is another great example of that. The story of two people who were kidnapped while kids by a sick man and kept captive in his basement for three years, the deep connection they share, and how time may not have healed all their wounds.
I will point out that if you have a trigger about stories with kids being kidnapped, this may be uncomfortable. However, just know that this is not the main focus of the story and there is no sexual abuse.
We see Effie and Heath then and now, but always from Effie’s POV. During their captivity and how their relationship unfolded after. The strong bond between them was vital, it just poured through the pages and made me yearn for a happy ending for them both. Effie hasn’t had it particularly easy. There is much she has to overcome that has happened to her, and I really felt the way the author went about helping her find that healing was perfect. Necessary even. Effie is the one that struggles with her feelings for Heath because to her it can’t be healthy to be in a relationship with a man that reminds her of that dark time in her past. Heath on the other hand is very clear she is his one true love and always will be. But it may prove more than he can handle to wait for her to realize it. And when these two get together? Lets just say if you like your sex a bit rougher and unapologetic, then this will push all your buttons!
Intense and gripping. HOLD ME CLOSE is a beautiful and deep love story, compelling and consuming. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book in one sitting and THIS was it.
Favorite quotes:
“First.Last.Only.”
“There is no forever for me without you.”
“Haunt me,” he whispered. “Make me crazy for the rest of my life. But please, Effie. Don’t leave me. Just let me love you.”
Megan Hart has a way of telling a story that draws you in from the start. HOLD ME CLOSE is another great example of that. The story of two people who were kidnapped while kids by a sick man and kept captive in his basement for three years, the deep connection they share, and how time may not have healed all their wounds.
I will point out that if you have a trigger about stories with kids being kidnapped, this may be uncomfortable. However, just know that this is not the main focus of the story and there is no sexual abuse.
We see Effie and Heath then and now, but always from Effie’s POV. During their captivity and how their relationship unfolded after. The strong bond between them was vital, it just poured through the pages and made me yearn for a happy ending for them both. Effie hasn’t had it particularly easy. There is much she has to overcome that has happened to her, and I really felt the way the author went about helping her find that healing was perfect. Necessary even. Effie is the one that struggles with her feelings for Heath because to her it can’t be healthy to be in a relationship with a man that reminds her of that dark time in her past. Heath on the other hand is very clear she is his one true love and always will be. But it may prove more than he can handle to wait for her to realize it. And when these two get together? Lets just say if you like your sex a bit rougher and unapologetic, then this will push all your buttons!
Intense and gripping. HOLD ME CLOSE is a beautiful and deep love story, compelling and consuming. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book in one sitting and THIS was it.
Favorite quotes:
“First.Last.Only.”
“There is no forever for me without you.”
“Haunt me,” he whispered. “Make me crazy for the rest of my life. But please, Effie. Don’t leave me. Just let me love you.”
December 2, 2015
Review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
I won a copy of this book via a giveaway on Goodreads. In exchange I will offer my honest opinion.
I am really conflicted with this book. At first thought I can say I really did not enjoy it. Many times I considered putting it aside and not finishing. That being said I did not and I stuck to it to finish it. Something triggered my curiosity to make me want to see how it played out. And really, without any spoilers it played out exactly as I thought it would.
My problem with this story is Effie. She is emotionally scarred from the events of her past and she can't get out from under them. I get it, to a certain extent. The issues with food...makes sense. She lived through an extremely traumatic ordeal and to not have some issues would be surprising. What I could not understand was her relationship with men, and essentially how she used them all. How she was only truly happy between the sheets, and even sometimes not even then. This became annoying early on.
This story offered no surprises where the story was heading on Effie's journey to healing. You knew that Heath was waiting in the wings and that Effie's plethora of other men were only really extra's in the storyline. You knew exactly how it would end from the first line.
There are a lot of sex scenes in this story, 90% of which I would say were gratuitous and not really critical to the plot. I think this is where I really struggled. The book seemed to have an identity crisis. Was it erotic? Was it contemporary romance? Was it a thriller? Was it a serious drama? The inability to commit to one genre left me wanting a little bit more, and not in a good way.
While I am sure there will be plenty of people who will enjoy this story, it simply was not for me.
I won a copy of this book via a giveaway on Goodreads. In exchange I will offer my honest opinion.
I am really conflicted with this book. At first thought I can say I really did not enjoy it. Many times I considered putting it aside and not finishing. That being said I did not and I stuck to it to finish it. Something triggered my curiosity to make me want to see how it played out. And really, without any spoilers it played out exactly as I thought it would.
My problem with this story is Effie. She is emotionally scarred from the events of her past and she can't get out from under them. I get it, to a certain extent. The issues with food...makes sense. She lived through an extremely traumatic ordeal and to not have some issues would be surprising. What I could not understand was her relationship with men, and essentially how she used them all. How she was only truly happy between the sheets, and even sometimes not even then. This became annoying early on.
This story offered no surprises where the story was heading on Effie's journey to healing. You knew that Heath was waiting in the wings and that Effie's plethora of other men were only really extra's in the storyline. You knew exactly how it would end from the first line.
There are a lot of sex scenes in this story, 90% of which I would say were gratuitous and not really critical to the plot. I think this is where I really struggled. The book seemed to have an identity crisis. Was it erotic? Was it contemporary romance? Was it a thriller? Was it a serious drama? The inability to commit to one genre left me wanting a little bit more, and not in a good way.
While I am sure there will be plenty of people who will enjoy this story, it simply was not for me.
Want to read
July 30, 2015I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13508383
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13508383
June 14, 2020
2.5 stars.
Ugh! That hurt.
I am a huge fan of Megan Hart's emotional erotic romance books, so giving that rating hurt. It took me two reads and two months after the second read to finally give it.
Feeling rather guilty for my lack of favorable feelings toward the story and its characters, especially given their terrible past that shaped their present, I've thought a lot about what it was that made Hold Me Close my least favorite Hart's novel published by Harlequin, and the answer is Effie.
Over the course of a number of books, I've gotten to know quite a few Hart's heroines. Her heroines leave a lasting impression. Their stories are their stories. No one steals their thunder. I admire that about them. I admit, though, that not all agreed with me. In fact, most of them I didn't find relatable. They were so different from me. They said and did things I would never do. However... However, I understood them. Even when their behavior drove me up the wall, I got them. I empathized with them. And if I couldn't empathize, I sympathized.
With Effie, I managed none of that.
I should have, though.
Effie, the heroine of this story, was kidnapped as a teenager and held captive for a few years. She and Heath (the hero, I suppose) were. They were abused by a mentally ill man. After they were found and brought home, their lives never could get back to normal no matter how much they tried. That alone should have been enough to win Effie some sympathy points.
It wasn't.
Throughout the book, I felt for Heath. He got the short end of the stick while they were captive, as he suffered far greater abuse. He got the short end in the family department, as his didn't care about him. And in loving Effie.
Effie, on the other hand, woke the judgmental beast in me.
"You'll do what you want to do, Effie. You always have. All I can do is wait for you. Right?
That pretty much sums up the relationship Effie and Heath had. It pretty much sums up the book, too.
Effie did what she wanted to do, and whomever she wanted to do. She was always chasing something, peace, safety, or something else, only finding it with Heath, and then throwing him away because he was a reminder of the past she wanted to put behind her, because she wanted normalcy, because she believed what they felt for each other was only the result of what they'd been through together.
Heath loved her and waited for her, made sacrifices for her, and was always available when she needed him. Too available.
Effie needed therapy. I'm no expert, but, damn, did she need help from a professional. She didn't look for that. She chased normalcy in her relationship with Mitchell, which went okay until he really got to know her life. She chased whatever with Bill, the resident booty call, who was that for many years and only that despite the big bond that tied them. She found her other half in Heath, and kept on pushing him away. Until finally he stayed away.
It was only when all three of those relationships blew up, that she realized she needed and loved Heath and that was the relationship she wanted in her present and future.
One could write a lot more about this book -- there's certainly enough material in the story -- but this one is done.
December 31, 2018
This is not your average romance and it may not appeal to everyone.
Avoid this if fidelity is a important for you.
If you have an issue with a female character who is "promiscuous", give this story a pass.
If you want something dark and angsty, this may be up your alley.
This gets frustrating at times especially the hot-cold treatment Effie give Heath. At times you just want to grab Effie by her ears and screamed, "You can stop searching. He's the one! He's right there, in front of you, all along!"
But other times, you want to grab Heath's ear and screamed, "You deserve better, boy!"
Avoid this if fidelity is a important for you.
If you have an issue with a female character who is "promiscuous", give this story a pass.
If you want something dark and angsty, this may be up your alley.
This gets frustrating at times especially the hot-cold treatment Effie give Heath. At times you just want to grab Effie by her ears and screamed, "You can stop searching. He's the one! He's right there, in front of you, all along!"
But other times, you want to grab Heath's ear and screamed, "You deserve better, boy!"
November 21, 2015
Compelling, devastating, dark and tumultuous, Hold Me Close is not to be missed. I loved this book. I started this book with great reservation mixed with a bit of dread. When I see a Ms. Hart book, I must read it because I know chances are good I will love it and feel completely exhausted at the end. I love her writing style and I hate it. Not unlike Effie and how she loves yet loathes Heath, I'm in a similar albeit a non-destructive relationship with Ms. Hart's books.
Effie is a woman who is not able to move past a defining moment in her life. There are many different moments which are memorable, but this one where she was held captive by a sick mad man for three years overshadows it all. Her one person she depended upon during that time was Heath. The two of them together are toxic. Toxic because they can't help but keep reminding each other what they suffered at the hands of a psychotic abuser.
This story is dark not because Ms. Hart graphically describes what happens to Effie and Heath. In fact, she does not go into detail. There is little sexual abuse from the time the two were held captive. What is dark is the negative effect it has upon Effie and how she relates to lovers, friends and family after her ordeal. The character development in this book is fabulous. Effie is lost and stuck in a never ending cycle of hell she places herself in. She becomes a black hole dragging everyone within her sphere of influence into a universe of despair and anger. I am not happy with Effie, yet I do not hate her. She is a character who is so flawed and broken yet is designed in a way that I just hurt for her. I know there is no one who can fix her. Just as I understand she is the cause of her own misery. She is not a spiteful person. She is a person who needs to have her festering wounds lanced and finally able to heal. Heath as the faithful friend and lover at Effie's convenience is a strong man. What I really liked about Heath is that he isn't a fantasy man. He's not rich. He's not famous. He's not super intelligent. He doesn't turn his life around in an awe-inspiring way after his release. He is so realistic to how people can be in real life. The one difference is his unending patience and his giving heart in spite of all he has suffered.
This journey through darkness finally ends in a cathartic release that moves me beyond words. It's story about how bad things happen to good people. Sometimes, it is not possible to overcome it. Sometimes it takes years. Sometimes only death and confrontation will give the finally spark to break free from heavy mental chains. For Effie, watching her struggle against herself and others, it is both frustrating and disheartening. She is an anti-heroine who in the end eventually finds peace. This little hidden fragment of hope is something I can always count on from Ms. Hart. This dark romance is recommended for those who derive pleasure from angst.
*provided by NetGalley
Effie is a woman who is not able to move past a defining moment in her life. There are many different moments which are memorable, but this one where she was held captive by a sick mad man for three years overshadows it all. Her one person she depended upon during that time was Heath. The two of them together are toxic. Toxic because they can't help but keep reminding each other what they suffered at the hands of a psychotic abuser.
This story is dark not because Ms. Hart graphically describes what happens to Effie and Heath. In fact, she does not go into detail. There is little sexual abuse from the time the two were held captive. What is dark is the negative effect it has upon Effie and how she relates to lovers, friends and family after her ordeal. The character development in this book is fabulous. Effie is lost and stuck in a never ending cycle of hell she places herself in. She becomes a black hole dragging everyone within her sphere of influence into a universe of despair and anger. I am not happy with Effie, yet I do not hate her. She is a character who is so flawed and broken yet is designed in a way that I just hurt for her. I know there is no one who can fix her. Just as I understand she is the cause of her own misery. She is not a spiteful person. She is a person who needs to have her festering wounds lanced and finally able to heal. Heath as the faithful friend and lover at Effie's convenience is a strong man. What I really liked about Heath is that he isn't a fantasy man. He's not rich. He's not famous. He's not super intelligent. He doesn't turn his life around in an awe-inspiring way after his release. He is so realistic to how people can be in real life. The one difference is his unending patience and his giving heart in spite of all he has suffered.
This journey through darkness finally ends in a cathartic release that moves me beyond words. It's story about how bad things happen to good people. Sometimes, it is not possible to overcome it. Sometimes it takes years. Sometimes only death and confrontation will give the finally spark to break free from heavy mental chains. For Effie, watching her struggle against herself and others, it is both frustrating and disheartening. She is an anti-heroine who in the end eventually finds peace. This little hidden fragment of hope is something I can always count on from Ms. Hart. This dark romance is recommended for those who derive pleasure from angst.
*provided by NetGalley
November 23, 2015
Copyright Night Owl Reviews
Hold Me Close was my first read by author Megan Hart and I was impressed with the way she could take something so horrendous and make into something kind of beautiful. She has brought us a story about love being born from the darkest of situations. This story is not one for the tenderhearted. Oh, you could get through it. It would be challenging, but worth it.
To see my full review please click the link below:
https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Re...
Hold Me Close was my first read by author Megan Hart and I was impressed with the way she could take something so horrendous and make into something kind of beautiful. She has brought us a story about love being born from the darkest of situations. This story is not one for the tenderhearted. Oh, you could get through it. It would be challenging, but worth it.
To see my full review please click the link below:
https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Re...
November 17, 2015
Megan knows how to create worlds and characters that make you think, make you laugh, make you cry, and always leave you with a lasting impression. I know I’ve said it before, but I know for a fact that this author does not write for everyone but she definitely writes for me, she writes these deep characters who are often times entrapped by their circumstances whether past or present, but always they are imprisoned by something. Effie and Heath are no different in that respect, but on many different levels, they are so incredibly unique, they stole a piece of my heart with their own story.
“…And Heath, Effie. He’s ruined you.”
“Don’t you get it?” Effie says tiredly, wishing all of this would go away. “I was already ruined.”
Effie was 12 years old when she was kidnapped, taken into a van, and then placed in a filthy basement where she meets a 15 year old boy named Heath. They are forced to stay in that basement for more than 3 years, and during that time terrible things are done to them (mostly to Heath, but being there might’ve been just as bad), but they also come to love and depend on each other, they come to know and care for each other much more than two teenagers on the outside ever can. But then they are rescued, and for them 15 years of fighting, of heart break, of sadness and of confusion follows.
“I love you Effie but sometimes…”
“Sometimes what?” she demanded.
“Sometimes, you make it really fucking hard.”
Effie is a masterpiece of a leading lady because she is an absolute mess of a person. And getting to know her was not easy on me, or Heath, she has been clearly traumatized by what happened to her, and yet still she deals for the most part by closing herself off from people, by trying to isolate herself, but pretending for the most part, she pretends with everyone even Heath who knows she’s pretending. This book is really about Effie’s journey to heal, to become a better woman, a better mother, and a better Effie for the people around her, but most of al for herself. I think her journey was one that really impacted me, because even up until 85% we were learning of all the things that had happened to her, that really shaped her into the woman she was. I think that most women when they read this book will at least at first not like Effie or not agree with her life choices, but the truth is, you have to fininsh the book to truly understand who Effie is, and why she makes the decisions that she makes, we can’t form a complete picture of her without completing the book.
“Why won’t you just let me help you?” Heath asked. “When you know it would make me happy?”
“Because it comes with a price doesn’t it? Making you happy.”
“Everything comes with a price Effie.”
Then there was Heath, and he was the tortured soul that stole my heart from the beginning. The things that Heath has had to endure even before the basement was heart breaking, a family that didn’t want him, and an abductor who often times abused him. But Heath was so strong, he was strong because he had to be, no one would rescue him, and so he became the hero, even when it broke him he was strong. The part that really touched me when it came to Heath was that he was strong when I didn’t think he could be anymore, he did what Effie asked, and knowing that it was not what she truly wanted. I wanted an HEA for this brave, battered boy, more than for anyone else in this book, and in deed I am to say that he got his own version of it.
Heath knew everything about her, and always would. Together or apart he was inside her. She could hate it, but it was truth.”
I think this book was just another wonderfully crafted work of art, every little detail, the way the story moves from past to present so seamlessly, this was just a fantastic story. One of the best books I’ve read this year by far, I have not been disappointed with a Megan Hart book yet. Yes it tears me up inside, but what thing of value doesn’t leave us a little more tired, and a lot more satisfied. Wonderful Wonderful book.
ARC provided by Harlequin via NetGalley
“…And Heath, Effie. He’s ruined you.”
“Don’t you get it?” Effie says tiredly, wishing all of this would go away. “I was already ruined.”
Effie was 12 years old when she was kidnapped, taken into a van, and then placed in a filthy basement where she meets a 15 year old boy named Heath. They are forced to stay in that basement for more than 3 years, and during that time terrible things are done to them (mostly to Heath, but being there might’ve been just as bad), but they also come to love and depend on each other, they come to know and care for each other much more than two teenagers on the outside ever can. But then they are rescued, and for them 15 years of fighting, of heart break, of sadness and of confusion follows.
“I love you Effie but sometimes…”
“Sometimes what?” she demanded.
“Sometimes, you make it really fucking hard.”
Effie is a masterpiece of a leading lady because she is an absolute mess of a person. And getting to know her was not easy on me, or Heath, she has been clearly traumatized by what happened to her, and yet still she deals for the most part by closing herself off from people, by trying to isolate herself, but pretending for the most part, she pretends with everyone even Heath who knows she’s pretending. This book is really about Effie’s journey to heal, to become a better woman, a better mother, and a better Effie for the people around her, but most of al for herself. I think her journey was one that really impacted me, because even up until 85% we were learning of all the things that had happened to her, that really shaped her into the woman she was. I think that most women when they read this book will at least at first not like Effie or not agree with her life choices, but the truth is, you have to fininsh the book to truly understand who Effie is, and why she makes the decisions that she makes, we can’t form a complete picture of her without completing the book.
“Why won’t you just let me help you?” Heath asked. “When you know it would make me happy?”
“Because it comes with a price doesn’t it? Making you happy.”
“Everything comes with a price Effie.”
Then there was Heath, and he was the tortured soul that stole my heart from the beginning. The things that Heath has had to endure even before the basement was heart breaking, a family that didn’t want him, and an abductor who often times abused him. But Heath was so strong, he was strong because he had to be, no one would rescue him, and so he became the hero, even when it broke him he was strong. The part that really touched me when it came to Heath was that he was strong when I didn’t think he could be anymore, he did what Effie asked, and knowing that it was not what she truly wanted. I wanted an HEA for this brave, battered boy, more than for anyone else in this book, and in deed I am to say that he got his own version of it.
Heath knew everything about her, and always would. Together or apart he was inside her. She could hate it, but it was truth.”
I think this book was just another wonderfully crafted work of art, every little detail, the way the story moves from past to present so seamlessly, this was just a fantastic story. One of the best books I’ve read this year by far, I have not been disappointed with a Megan Hart book yet. Yes it tears me up inside, but what thing of value doesn’t leave us a little more tired, and a lot more satisfied. Wonderful Wonderful book.
ARC provided by Harlequin via NetGalley
March 25, 2022
"Questo libro è per i folli che ad occhi sbarrati contemplano il buio della notte, che amano quando non dovrebbero; per coloro che contano le stelle e ne ricavano conforto. Questo libro è per chi preferisce essere ossessionato e tormentato, piuttosto che venire lasciato indietro."
Effie ed Heath. Famosi, ma non per scelta loro. Famosi perchè quando erano ancora dei bambini, sono stati rapiti da un uomo, portati via dalle loro vite e tenuti segregati per anni in uno scantinato. Rapiti da un uomo a cui era stata portata via la sua famiglia e che cercava persone che potessero sostiturla. Rapiti da un pazzo che drogava cibo ed acqua, in modo che loro stesso male e chiedessero il suo aiuto, in modo che potesse essere padre di nuovo.
Da questa prigionia è nato un amore ossessivo, che dura nel tempo, Heath non può vivere senza Effie, anche se sono passati tanti anni, continuano a vedersi, ad amarsi di nascosto, nonostante lei sia molto diversa da lui, che le dice costantemente di amarla e venerarla, nonostante lei continui a respingerlo, perchè ciò che li lega è il passato, e lei vuole chiudere con il passato.
Effie ha una figlia di dodici anni, una figlia che adora e una figlia che adora Heath, dato che è sempre stato nelle loro vite. Effie d'altro canto, salta di letto in letto, non riuscendo ad ammettere a sè stessa l'amore che prova per Heath, un amore che non può provare perchè le fa ricordare ciò che le è capitato. Oltre ad Heath, si vede da tanti anni con il poliziotto che l'ha trovata e salvata, fanno sesso e nessuno sa della loro relazione segreta.
Per quanto riguarda i personaggi, Effie non salta all'occhio per simpatia, ha tanti problemi e il principale è proprio quello di essere così chiusa per quello che le è successo, chiusa con Heath, chiusa con tutti. Lo ama con tutta sè stessa ma non vuole ammetterlo, ed è quello che fa venire più rabbia, perchè per tutto il libro speri che si dia una svegliata ma lei ci mette tutto il dannato libro per capirlo, e ti fa saltare i nervi. Heath è splendido, si è sempre preso cura di lei, sia nello scantinato che nel presente, la aiuta con la figlia, la aiuta nella vita. Però è logico che dopo lui si senta messo da parte un po' troppo spesso, non è giusto che te lo fai quando ne hai voglia e poi come un calzino usato e sporco lo getti via quando vuoi.
Botte in testa dalla mattina alla sera per Effie. Hai un uomo meraviglioso che si è sempre preso cura di te, che ti ama con tutto il cuore, svegliati!
"Ti amo Effie ma a volte.. a volte me lo rendi fottutamente difficile." E CI CREDO!
Megan Hart ha scritto una bella storia, in cui c'è un amore disumano fra due persone, che ancora non mi era capitato di trovare, è stata una bellissima sorpresa. Il tocco dark ed erotico sono un ingrediente in più che fa di questa storia una storia ancora più bella. Ho avuto qualche difficoltà con il presente e passato, perchè non sono segnalati, semplicemente il capitolo inizia con una scena dello scantinato o di Effie quando torna a casa, ma non lo si capisce immediatamente.
Effie ed Heath mi hanno emozionata, sono dei sopravvissuti, ritrovati per pura fortuna lasciatemelo dire, stavano per morire là sotto e sono stati salvati. Avrei dato cinque stelle a questa storia tormentata e bellissima, ma sento che ne merita una in meno, forse per Effie che ti fa penare, o per quei piccoli errori che la Hart poteva correggere. Non saprei, sicuramente, mi ha segnata nel cuore per sempre.
Effie ed Heath. Famosi, ma non per scelta loro. Famosi perchè quando erano ancora dei bambini, sono stati rapiti da un uomo, portati via dalle loro vite e tenuti segregati per anni in uno scantinato. Rapiti da un uomo a cui era stata portata via la sua famiglia e che cercava persone che potessero sostiturla. Rapiti da un pazzo che drogava cibo ed acqua, in modo che loro stesso male e chiedessero il suo aiuto, in modo che potesse essere padre di nuovo.
Da questa prigionia è nato un amore ossessivo, che dura nel tempo, Heath non può vivere senza Effie, anche se sono passati tanti anni, continuano a vedersi, ad amarsi di nascosto, nonostante lei sia molto diversa da lui, che le dice costantemente di amarla e venerarla, nonostante lei continui a respingerlo, perchè ciò che li lega è il passato, e lei vuole chiudere con il passato.
"Non smetterò mai di amarti" disse. "Se anche vivessimo mille vite, non smetterei."
Effie ha una figlia di dodici anni, una figlia che adora e una figlia che adora Heath, dato che è sempre stato nelle loro vite. Effie d'altro canto, salta di letto in letto, non riuscendo ad ammettere a sè stessa l'amore che prova per Heath, un amore che non può provare perchè le fa ricordare ciò che le è capitato. Oltre ad Heath, si vede da tanti anni con il poliziotto che l'ha trovata e salvata, fanno sesso e nessuno sa della loro relazione segreta.
Per quanto riguarda i personaggi, Effie non salta all'occhio per simpatia, ha tanti problemi e il principale è proprio quello di essere così chiusa per quello che le è successo, chiusa con Heath, chiusa con tutti. Lo ama con tutta sè stessa ma non vuole ammetterlo, ed è quello che fa venire più rabbia, perchè per tutto il libro speri che si dia una svegliata ma lei ci mette tutto il dannato libro per capirlo, e ti fa saltare i nervi. Heath è splendido, si è sempre preso cura di lei, sia nello scantinato che nel presente, la aiuta con la figlia, la aiuta nella vita. Però è logico che dopo lui si senta messo da parte un po' troppo spesso, non è giusto che te lo fai quando ne hai voglia e poi come un calzino usato e sporco lo getti via quando vuoi.
"Ti ho già detto quello che provo" esclamò aspra. "E' facile amare qualcuno quando non si conosce altro."
Botte in testa dalla mattina alla sera per Effie. Hai un uomo meraviglioso che si è sempre preso cura di te, che ti ama con tutto il cuore, svegliati!
"Ti amo Effie ma a volte.. a volte me lo rendi fottutamente difficile." E CI CREDO!
Megan Hart ha scritto una bella storia, in cui c'è un amore disumano fra due persone, che ancora non mi era capitato di trovare, è stata una bellissima sorpresa. Il tocco dark ed erotico sono un ingrediente in più che fa di questa storia una storia ancora più bella. Ho avuto qualche difficoltà con il presente e passato, perchè non sono segnalati, semplicemente il capitolo inizia con una scena dello scantinato o di Effie quando torna a casa, ma non lo si capisce immediatamente.
Effie ed Heath mi hanno emozionata, sono dei sopravvissuti, ritrovati per pura fortuna lasciatemelo dire, stavano per morire là sotto e sono stati salvati. Avrei dato cinque stelle a questa storia tormentata e bellissima, ma sento che ne merita una in meno, forse per Effie che ti fa penare, o per quei piccoli errori che la Hart poteva correggere. Non saprei, sicuramente, mi ha segnata nel cuore per sempre.
December 3, 2015
Hold Me Close by Megan Hart
2 Stars
***SPOILERISH TOWARDS THE END OF THIS REVIEW, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED***
Ughhhhhh, let me start by saying I was so excited when this was released. This book SHOULD have been right up my alley but NO. Definitely NO. I SHOULD have really liked this heroine, I should have cared for her, felt SOMETHING for her but I didn’t even like her, not even a little bit. Given what’s in the blurb I REALLY should have cared right? I will try and explain as best I can why I felt this way without spoiling it for anyone else. WHEN this changes I will warn you ahead of time. Let me start with something that could not possibly spoil anything. The going back and forth from past to present (which I NORMALLY like) was all over the place, scattered with no rhyme or reason. At one point you go back to the past and say she is 12ish then you go back and she is 18, THEN you go back and she is 16 etc, etc. There was no order. Okay here is where I can’t explain without spoiling soooooooooo
***** WARNING SPOILERS COMING AHEAD *****
I cannot feel sorry for or even begin to wrap my head around a character that CAUSES unnecessary drama. That makes her life miserable for no good reason. She is TOTALLY in love with him and he is everything to her AND her daughter (as she admits every other minute through the whole book) and he is MADLY in love with her and there is no way there could EVER be another for either one of them. They have sex constantly. You KNOW in the end they will be together. Why the fuck are you doing what you are doing? Because you feel you were thrown together by the “situation” and probably never would have met otherwise?? Guess what that is how half of the population has met their significant others…. By chance, good or bad (if my husband hadn’t walked into the shoe repair store I worked in as a teenager I would have never met him either)….LAME reason for all the drama…. SORRY……not sorry. She put him through hell for years, she knew it, and she kept doing it, selfish. And in the end OF COURSE they wind up together. BOOM, done! And he is just like okayyyy. Now I’m just rambling so I will just STOP as abruptly as the ending was. I really can’t think of one thing I liked to be honest….ummm maybe the editing was good!?!? So disappointed.
2 Stars
***SPOILERISH TOWARDS THE END OF THIS REVIEW, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED***
Ughhhhhh, let me start by saying I was so excited when this was released. This book SHOULD have been right up my alley but NO. Definitely NO. I SHOULD have really liked this heroine, I should have cared for her, felt SOMETHING for her but I didn’t even like her, not even a little bit. Given what’s in the blurb I REALLY should have cared right? I will try and explain as best I can why I felt this way without spoiling it for anyone else. WHEN this changes I will warn you ahead of time. Let me start with something that could not possibly spoil anything. The going back and forth from past to present (which I NORMALLY like) was all over the place, scattered with no rhyme or reason. At one point you go back to the past and say she is 12ish then you go back and she is 18, THEN you go back and she is 16 etc, etc. There was no order. Okay here is where I can’t explain without spoiling soooooooooo
***** WARNING SPOILERS COMING AHEAD *****
I cannot feel sorry for or even begin to wrap my head around a character that CAUSES unnecessary drama. That makes her life miserable for no good reason. She is TOTALLY in love with him and he is everything to her AND her daughter (as she admits every other minute through the whole book) and he is MADLY in love with her and there is no way there could EVER be another for either one of them. They have sex constantly. You KNOW in the end they will be together. Why the fuck are you doing what you are doing? Because you feel you were thrown together by the “situation” and probably never would have met otherwise?? Guess what that is how half of the population has met their significant others…. By chance, good or bad (if my husband hadn’t walked into the shoe repair store I worked in as a teenager I would have never met him either)….LAME reason for all the drama…. SORRY……not sorry. She put him through hell for years, she knew it, and she kept doing it, selfish. And in the end OF COURSE they wind up together. BOOM, done! And he is just like okayyyy. Now I’m just rambling so I will just STOP as abruptly as the ending was. I really can’t think of one thing I liked to be honest….ummm maybe the editing was good!?!? So disappointed.
July 11, 2016
Megan Hart è tra le autrici che suscitano in me un interesse molto forte, non solo per la sua scrittura che è sempre lineare e scorrevole ma anche perché nelle sue parole riscopro di vivere emozioni forti e intense. In questo suo ultimo lavoro ho vissuto stati d’animo che oscillavano tra ansia, amore e terrore. La storia è intensa, ma reale più che mai.
Tienimi vicino è un libro che tratta argomenti che oggi sono alla ribalta delle telecronache, quelle che con orrore ascoltiamo la sera durante la cena e che non speri mai di dover vivere.
Felicity e Heat sono dei ragazzini che si vivono sulla loro pelle un’esperienza terrificante, ai miei occhi lontana anni luce ma che purtroppo accade troppo spesso.
Il loro rapimento avviene in due momenti differenti, prima l’uno poi l’altra ma si ritroveranno entrambi in un seminterrato lugubre, quasi privo di luce e solo con poche cose essenziali alla sopravvivenza. Il loro rapitore è un uomo malato, che privato della sua famiglia cerca surrogati per ricreare quello che non poteva avere. Al papà, come vuole essere chiamato “piace” provvedere a loro, piace sentirsi potente e prendersene cura, ma il modo che usa comporta l'uso di droghe e costrizioni fisiche e mentali che portano Effie e Heat ad aver bisogno di lui. Non conoscono il vero motivo del loro rapimento, l’unica cosa chiara è che Heat dovrà prendere il suo posto nell’abusare delle donne che papà porterà a casa, deve abusare di loro, come dice papà, deve fare tutto quello che lui non può più fare.
La loro amicizia nasce così, tra paura e terrore, non sanno mai cosa accadrà e vivono costantemente con la paura di morire da un momento all’atro. Anche mangiare è rischioso, non hanno mai la certezza di cosa ci sia nel cibo, di cosa quell’orribile uomo ci abbia infilato dentro.
PER CONTINUARE A LEGGERE CLICCA QUI:http://newadultedintorni.blogspot.it/...
Tienimi vicino è un libro che tratta argomenti che oggi sono alla ribalta delle telecronache, quelle che con orrore ascoltiamo la sera durante la cena e che non speri mai di dover vivere.
Felicity e Heat sono dei ragazzini che si vivono sulla loro pelle un’esperienza terrificante, ai miei occhi lontana anni luce ma che purtroppo accade troppo spesso.
Il loro rapimento avviene in due momenti differenti, prima l’uno poi l’altra ma si ritroveranno entrambi in un seminterrato lugubre, quasi privo di luce e solo con poche cose essenziali alla sopravvivenza. Il loro rapitore è un uomo malato, che privato della sua famiglia cerca surrogati per ricreare quello che non poteva avere. Al papà, come vuole essere chiamato “piace” provvedere a loro, piace sentirsi potente e prendersene cura, ma il modo che usa comporta l'uso di droghe e costrizioni fisiche e mentali che portano Effie e Heat ad aver bisogno di lui. Non conoscono il vero motivo del loro rapimento, l’unica cosa chiara è che Heat dovrà prendere il suo posto nell’abusare delle donne che papà porterà a casa, deve abusare di loro, come dice papà, deve fare tutto quello che lui non può più fare.
La loro amicizia nasce così, tra paura e terrore, non sanno mai cosa accadrà e vivono costantemente con la paura di morire da un momento all’atro. Anche mangiare è rischioso, non hanno mai la certezza di cosa ci sia nel cibo, di cosa quell’orribile uomo ci abbia infilato dentro.
PER CONTINUARE A LEGGERE CLICCA QUI:http://newadultedintorni.blogspot.it/...
October 26, 2015
Megan Hart is one of my favorite writers, I don’t read erotica anymore but I couldn’t pass a new book by her.
Effie and Heath were kidnapped when they were in their teens for two years, together they experienced fear, horror and hunger, and they started to rely on one another for comfort, strength, and eventuality, love. Many years after their release, Heath still loves Effie, but she thinks that she needs something different for her life and starts to sleep with another men.
Let’s be honest here, I didn’t feel that Effie and Heath really loved each other , the “love” was tainted, in my opinion, by the kidnapping, I didn’t liked Effie, I thought she was using Heath because he was the only one that understood that she needed someone to hurt her, physically and emotionally. The end was a surprise for me, I was not expecting *spoiler* that they would be together”
The writing was flawless and , even after finish reading , I can’t stop thinking about these characters. I really liked it.
Thanks Netgalley and Mira for sending me a copy for review.
Effie and Heath were kidnapped when they were in their teens for two years, together they experienced fear, horror and hunger, and they started to rely on one another for comfort, strength, and eventuality, love. Many years after their release, Heath still loves Effie, but she thinks that she needs something different for her life and starts to sleep with another men.
Let’s be honest here, I didn’t feel that Effie and Heath really loved each other , the “love” was tainted, in my opinion, by the kidnapping, I didn’t liked Effie, I thought she was using Heath because he was the only one that understood that she needed someone to hurt her, physically and emotionally. The end was a surprise for me, I was not expecting *spoiler* that they would be together”
The writing was flawless and , even after finish reading , I can’t stop thinking about these characters. I really liked it.
Thanks Netgalley and Mira for sending me a copy for review.
November 28, 2015
I struggled with the angst in this book. I had to know what happened on the next page, but the emotions Megan Hart evokes at every turn were so intense, I felt so many things. Well done, I just need to take a walk after devouring it, though. Roller coaster of anxiety :) I do feel it ended abruptly and a little rushed but whatever, I'm satisfied.
January 1, 2016
My last read of 2015!
There is something about a book from Megan Hart. It’s hard to explain but there is this darkness that envelopes you, it caresses you and tangles you in its limbs, demanding your submission. This darkness is seductive, it’s overwhelming and you want to give in and when you do, it is pure bliss, no it’s passionately orgasmic.
This story is way intense. There is so much hidden throughout the story that they were hidden from me time and time again and yet finding these secrets, blew my mother effing mind. Good lord. This woman can write her ass off and then some.
Effie and Heath meet in the worst way imaginable, they are kidnapped and held by one twisted fuck who makes them call him Daddy. They are kept in frightening isolation and the flashbacks to that time gave me nightmares. But Heath and Effie, they are survivors and they learn to survive with each other and that bond they create down in that messed up basement, that bond is forever.
Now, this is a romance but it’s not fluff as I mention the darkness in the first paragraph but this truly is a story about love. The love, it’s just twisted in its purity and so damn raw that a few times I felt like I was intruding on something I shouldn’t be witnessing.
I would love to tell you all about the book but though it sounds cliché, it would be giving the story away.
The story, it’s told through time jumps of the present, being held captive and the years between the two. The time jumps work and flow effortlessly as you get into this story of Heath and Effie and what they went through and what it means to who they are as individuals and who they are to each other.
Yeah, I fell hard for Heath right away but he is kinda my type of guy but Effie… man she is tough but you get her secrets too. You know what they both want and she, really for Effie, she fights it so damn hard. I can’t even imagine… you know? I just can’t.
So I know I am not saying much, I just finished this and my brain is trying to process it all. I don’t normally do spoiler tagging but fuck, I need to get this out
Phew. Sorry, I needed that spoiler.
This book. Totally intense and yet sexy as hell. Wait, would I call it sexy? It was sensual and erotic and oh so damn emotional. I didn’t get the original paining I wanted in the story but now looking back on it, it wouldn’t have fit these characters and what we got instead, the triptych and the clocks… they were much, much, much better than what I thought I wanted.
Okay, I have to stop now and find some damn fluff to read. I adore the world Hart’s books suck me into but I need to have unicorns riding a rainbow in a sea of kittens now.
There is something about a book from Megan Hart. It’s hard to explain but there is this darkness that envelopes you, it caresses you and tangles you in its limbs, demanding your submission. This darkness is seductive, it’s overwhelming and you want to give in and when you do, it is pure bliss, no it’s passionately orgasmic.
This story is way intense. There is so much hidden throughout the story that they were hidden from me time and time again and yet finding these secrets, blew my mother effing mind. Good lord. This woman can write her ass off and then some.
Effie and Heath meet in the worst way imaginable, they are kidnapped and held by one twisted fuck who makes them call him Daddy. They are kept in frightening isolation and the flashbacks to that time gave me nightmares. But Heath and Effie, they are survivors and they learn to survive with each other and that bond they create down in that messed up basement, that bond is forever.
Now, this is a romance but it’s not fluff as I mention the darkness in the first paragraph but this truly is a story about love. The love, it’s just twisted in its purity and so damn raw that a few times I felt like I was intruding on something I shouldn’t be witnessing.
I would love to tell you all about the book but though it sounds cliché, it would be giving the story away.
The story, it’s told through time jumps of the present, being held captive and the years between the two. The time jumps work and flow effortlessly as you get into this story of Heath and Effie and what they went through and what it means to who they are as individuals and who they are to each other.
Yeah, I fell hard for Heath right away but he is kinda my type of guy but Effie… man she is tough but you get her secrets too. You know what they both want and she, really for Effie, she fights it so damn hard. I can’t even imagine… you know? I just can’t.
So I know I am not saying much, I just finished this and my brain is trying to process it all. I don’t normally do spoiler tagging but fuck, I need to get this out
Phew. Sorry, I needed that spoiler.
This book. Totally intense and yet sexy as hell. Wait, would I call it sexy? It was sensual and erotic and oh so damn emotional. I didn’t get the original paining I wanted in the story but now looking back on it, it wouldn’t have fit these characters and what we got instead, the triptych and the clocks… they were much, much, much better than what I thought I wanted.
Okay, I have to stop now and find some damn fluff to read. I adore the world Hart’s books suck me into but I need to have unicorns riding a rainbow in a sea of kittens now.
October 25, 2015
This book really shows dysfunction at it's best, but really with the past that Effie and Heath had it's a miracle that they were as ok as they were. I really found myself disliking Effie while reading this one. I felt like she was playing Heath, that he was always Plan B, while she chased after Plan A. I understood why Effie made some of the choices she did, but it didn't mean I liked them.
Towards the end of the book I liked the path that Effie was on. She might not have realize it, but she needed to face those ghosts of the past. Even her tequila soaked verbal spouting seemed help her, as did another confession that was a long time coming. All of those seemed to help Effie realize what was important to her.
I was torn with the ending, I was happy for Heath, but not sure that Effie deserved the same.
Towards the end of the book I liked the path that Effie was on. She might not have realize it, but she needed to face those ghosts of the past. Even her tequila soaked verbal spouting seemed help her, as did another confession that was a long time coming. All of those seemed to help Effie realize what was important to her.
I was torn with the ending, I was happy for Heath, but not sure that Effie deserved the same.
nevermind
February 15, 2016DNF on page 34.
I'm not liking the writing style or the flashback feel to the narrative. I've read another book with a similar premise that I liked a lot better, and I don't feel the need to force myself to finish this one.
I'm not liking the writing style or the flashback feel to the narrative. I've read another book with a similar premise that I liked a lot better, and I don't feel the need to force myself to finish this one.
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