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Hold It Down
The extended version of Hold It Like Sister and Brother with visuals.
565 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 6, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 11, 2026
very refreshing
I really enjoyed the alternative version. I can’t wait for more Braxton woes l. Will we ever get Jaylen’s story?
I really enjoyed the alternative version. I can’t wait for more Braxton woes l. Will we ever get Jaylen’s story?
May 29, 2026
Repeatative
The first 55% of this book was the same thing, they would fight and make up. Nothing more, nothing less. I kept reading to see what would happen but that was basically the premise of the book. I will say it was such an accurate perception of a lot of AA families normalizing cheating even when he brings home a whole baby. They will make you feel like you are still the prize because he treats you differently meanwhile still putting you in a position of stress. As I read I kept thinking break the cycle girl break the cycle know your worth and go that's what really got me through the end of the book was hope of her breaking the cycle, knowing her worth, and making something of herself. But the title alone should of told me that wasn't happening lol
The first 55% of this book was the same thing, they would fight and make up. Nothing more, nothing less. I kept reading to see what would happen but that was basically the premise of the book. I will say it was such an accurate perception of a lot of AA families normalizing cheating even when he brings home a whole baby. They will make you feel like you are still the prize because he treats you differently meanwhile still putting you in a position of stress. As I read I kept thinking break the cycle girl break the cycle know your worth and go that's what really got me through the end of the book was hope of her breaking the cycle, knowing her worth, and making something of herself. But the title alone should of told me that wasn't happening lol
May 14, 2026
Enter at your own risk!!
The trigger warnings should have also blatantly specified that there would be a lot of domestic disputes.
The main male character was extremely violent. He was predatorial. He used the naivety and the immaturity of his step-sibling (main female character) in essence to prey on her body and to manipulate and use her for sex. Ultimately, making/creating a sex addict out of her; getting pregnant multiple times to keep her under his control and in need of him.
He was constantly, strangling, punching being disrespectful rude all while keeping her pregnant. She had four kids by the time she was 18. I was truly disheartened that she did stay with him. And yes, in the end "all's well that ends well" 🙄 and all her kids had their own kids and became functional adults and citizens, but the abuse and the drama/ trauma that they saw that she was subjected to and subsequently chose to continue to be a part of was still damaging.
And her family dynamics were trash& supported the foolishness and kept her in that state to where she was now using hard drugs to cope and no one could understand that she didn't have a childhood because she literally became a live in wife and mother at the age of 14. So what he had money. He was selfish and obsessed but kept cheating and doing his dirt. This was NOT love and I understand that this is somebody's reality in real life. I just want my 8 hours back because this book took me through it and had my mind and soul aggravated that this child had to live like this and would try to leave and would still get sucked back in again. He tormented her and dismantled any semblance of childhood that she may have had ultimately having six kids. He was very calculated in all the things that he did in reference to her. Her daddy Ray-Ray was a POS, too!
Again, read and enter at your own risk.
The trigger warnings should have also blatantly specified that there would be a lot of domestic disputes.
The main male character was extremely violent. He was predatorial. He used the naivety and the immaturity of his step-sibling (main female character) in essence to prey on her body and to manipulate and use her for sex. Ultimately, making/creating a sex addict out of her; getting pregnant multiple times to keep her under his control and in need of him.
He was constantly, strangling, punching being disrespectful rude all while keeping her pregnant. She had four kids by the time she was 18. I was truly disheartened that she did stay with him. And yes, in the end "all's well that ends well" 🙄 and all her kids had their own kids and became functional adults and citizens, but the abuse and the drama/ trauma that they saw that she was subjected to and subsequently chose to continue to be a part of was still damaging.
And her family dynamics were trash& supported the foolishness and kept her in that state to where she was now using hard drugs to cope and no one could understand that she didn't have a childhood because she literally became a live in wife and mother at the age of 14. So what he had money. He was selfish and obsessed but kept cheating and doing his dirt. This was NOT love and I understand that this is somebody's reality in real life. I just want my 8 hours back because this book took me through it and had my mind and soul aggravated that this child had to live like this and would try to leave and would still get sucked back in again. He tormented her and dismantled any semblance of childhood that she may have had ultimately having six kids. He was very calculated in all the things that he did in reference to her. Her daddy Ray-Ray was a POS, too!
Again, read and enter at your own risk.
May 14, 2026
She added moorreeeee to this book!
I cannot explain the nostalgia of the rereading this book and getting a new ending! To know that everything turned out better than I expected for them, and their kids! I lovvveeeee that she added more to this book, from the pictures to the updated ending! This was probably my 10th time going back and reading this book and truly enjoyed this. And I’m now in my 30s and now understand everything so much more now. This will forever be one of my favorite books.
I cannot explain the nostalgia of the rereading this book and getting a new ending! To know that everything turned out better than I expected for them, and their kids! I lovvveeeee that she added more to this book, from the pictures to the updated ending! This was probably my 10th time going back and reading this book and truly enjoyed this. And I’m now in my 30s and now understand everything so much more now. This will forever be one of my favorite books.
May 16, 2026
Still a favorite
I love the added chapters, and Jah’s perspective. Would love a story about JJ and explore how his crazy momma influenced him.
I love the added chapters, and Jah’s perspective. Would love a story about JJ and explore how his crazy momma influenced him.
May 20, 2026
No!
This was a mess Nicole. You managed to turn my favorite couple in every book you've written into the most unliked couple for me. This wasn't love it was toxicity through and through. My version of them has completely changed. Why was Jah so violent with raven? So narcissistic? He dictated her whole life doing his thing while giving her material luxury and babies. She had to push a baby out every year or two just to keep him satisfied. Then i understand about Raven not wanting to see or be near JJ but it's Jj who got the short end and was deprived, always thought this even before this trainwreck of a book. Why did we need a book filled with dv and sex? They used sex as their mediator and that's not cool. This book was not it for me. Why do we have to keep reading about cheating fighting and hunching? That's not Black love. I'm understanding of you needing to write as a professional but I think it's time that i stop reading your books. Dv,sex, colorism(you're obsessed with lightskin long hair pretty eyes where you described them as beautiful yet the only real darkskin characters you describe as just ok looking with good bodies. Like what? Yes its a no for me
This was a mess Nicole. You managed to turn my favorite couple in every book you've written into the most unliked couple for me. This wasn't love it was toxicity through and through. My version of them has completely changed. Why was Jah so violent with raven? So narcissistic? He dictated her whole life doing his thing while giving her material luxury and babies. She had to push a baby out every year or two just to keep him satisfied. Then i understand about Raven not wanting to see or be near JJ but it's Jj who got the short end and was deprived, always thought this even before this trainwreck of a book. Why did we need a book filled with dv and sex? They used sex as their mediator and that's not cool. This book was not it for me. Why do we have to keep reading about cheating fighting and hunching? That's not Black love. I'm understanding of you needing to write as a professional but I think it's time that i stop reading your books. Dv,sex, colorism(you're obsessed with lightskin long hair pretty eyes where you described them as beautiful yet the only real darkskin characters you describe as just ok looking with good bodies. Like what? Yes its a no for me
August 29, 2026
When i saw jah and raven worked my nerves like they have never been worked before. Had my blood boiling at some points seriously. This is a young ass toxic couple. But knowing how young they were how little experience they had in life made me have a lot more grace for them because they didn’t have good examples and they were literal babies having babies. I don’t like how much he put his hands on her, but at the same time she was doing the same. I do appreciate that we got to see them long into the future at the end to see what became of them but this was a tough read for me because I just want it better for everybody involved.
May 6, 2026
nostalgia feelings
One of my favorite oldies but goodies book. I am so glad with the extra 100 pages of updates and growth within the characters (although we know they’ve grown so much do their children’s books). Can’t wait for more updates in the future from the other OGs & their children *cough cough Paris & Jay Rock*
One of my favorite oldies but goodies book. I am so glad with the extra 100 pages of updates and growth within the characters (although we know they’ve grown so much do their children’s books). Can’t wait for more updates in the future from the other OGs & their children *cough cough Paris & Jay Rock*
May 18, 2026
My issues with Jahrein as a character are well documented but I will admit the original book has always haunted me and I have always enjoyed the updates on their lives in other books .So this revisit was very necessary for me and it gave me a much better understanding of Raven and Jahrein s relationship. I hope the next story is JJ s
May 22, 2026
whew
The book I didn’t think I needed. This book put a lot into my own life. Them trials and tribulations and things we as couples go and grow thru be no joke. That rainbow don’t be seeming as close when we’re going thru the storms but like the book said life teaches you things the hard way if you don’t listen the easy way.
The book I didn’t think I needed. This book put a lot into my own life. Them trials and tribulations and things we as couples go and grow thru be no joke. That rainbow don’t be seeming as close when we’re going thru the storms but like the book said life teaches you things the hard way if you don’t listen the easy way.
May 19, 2026
Excellent Alternative
I’ve been down with Nicole since the beginning. Loved this alternative version of the initial novel. As always character development and reader engagement is top tier! Please don’t stop releasing, I’m continuously here for it Alll!!
I’ve been down with Nicole since the beginning. Loved this alternative version of the initial novel. As always character development and reader engagement is top tier! Please don’t stop releasing, I’m continuously here for it Alll!!
August 6, 2026
good story
Had to take off a star because Raven was way too young and yes I did read the trigger warnings and even though it was a good story, her age was always at the back of my mind and that it is not ok. So 3 stars
Had to take off a star because Raven was way too young and yes I did read the trigger warnings and even though it was a good story, her age was always at the back of my mind and that it is not ok. So 3 stars
May 28, 2026
I absolutely try to avoid giving one-star reviews. Even when I don’t like a book, I can usually find enough to give it three stars or more.
But this was bad.
The FMC being 13 years old made absolutely no sense because she never read like a 13-year-old. Not in her actions, not in her thoughts, and not in the way she carried herself. The author might as well have made her the same age as the MMC because nothing about her felt age-appropriate.
She was overly self-aware, constantly noticing grown men looking at her, acting emotionally mature, and bucking up to 18-year-old girls ready to fight over Jah. None of it felt believable for a middle schooler.
That was my biggest issue. At 13, she’s in middle school, but school barely seemed to exist in this story. There was no real focus on classes, grades, teachers, friends, or any of the everyday things that come with being that age. Instead, the focus was on boys, relationships, grown men noticing her, and adult situations.
It felt like the author assigned her an age and then forgot about it while writing the story.
The timeline transitions didn’t help either. Suddenly we’re in the present, and I was left wondering if we had been in the past the entire time. The difference between the timelines was so small that the transition didn’t feel significant.
Then by 15, she’s going on two kids with a 19-year-old baby daddy, which only made the story feel even more disconnected from the age the FMC was supposed to be.
I picked this up thinking it was going to be a coming-of-age romance. Nope! It became a story about a possessive and abusive relationship, with adults aware of what was happening and doing very little about it. The biggest example was her father. I never bought the idea that he would sit back and allow all of this to happen to his teenage daughter without stepping in.
The entire story felt off to me. It’s was a horror story disguised as a romance.
But this was bad.
The FMC being 13 years old made absolutely no sense because she never read like a 13-year-old. Not in her actions, not in her thoughts, and not in the way she carried herself. The author might as well have made her the same age as the MMC because nothing about her felt age-appropriate.
She was overly self-aware, constantly noticing grown men looking at her, acting emotionally mature, and bucking up to 18-year-old girls ready to fight over Jah. None of it felt believable for a middle schooler.
That was my biggest issue. At 13, she’s in middle school, but school barely seemed to exist in this story. There was no real focus on classes, grades, teachers, friends, or any of the everyday things that come with being that age. Instead, the focus was on boys, relationships, grown men noticing her, and adult situations.
It felt like the author assigned her an age and then forgot about it while writing the story.
The timeline transitions didn’t help either. Suddenly we’re in the present, and I was left wondering if we had been in the past the entire time. The difference between the timelines was so small that the transition didn’t feel significant.
Then by 15, she’s going on two kids with a 19-year-old baby daddy, which only made the story feel even more disconnected from the age the FMC was supposed to be.
I picked this up thinking it was going to be a coming-of-age romance. Nope! It became a story about a possessive and abusive relationship, with adults aware of what was happening and doing very little about it. The biggest example was her father. I never bought the idea that he would sit back and allow all of this to happen to his teenage daughter without stepping in.
The entire story felt off to me. It’s was a horror story disguised as a romance.
October 6, 2026
Forever a Fan
I LOVE me some Raven and Jahrein! I thoroughly enjoyed Jahrein’s POV and the way Nicole is able to sit me down right in the heart of Houston! Thanks for the update!
I LOVE me some Raven and Jahrein! I thoroughly enjoyed Jahrein’s POV and the way Nicole is able to sit me down right in the heart of Houston! Thanks for the update!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews