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Returning Home #1
Hold On Tight
A wounded soldier. A secret baby. A second chance at love.
Military hero Jake Taylor has made a few terrible decisions, but none worse than the one in Afghanistan that cost him his best friend and his leg.
Or so he thinks, until he comes home from war to discover a seven-year-old son he never knew existed.
Jake can’t regret the blissful nights he spent with Mira in his arms, or the boy with his eyes, but he can leave Mira and Sam alone so they don’t become yet another one of his mistakes.
He’ll rehab his body, figure out how to find purpose again—and keep things simple with the woman he once craved desperately.
Except the sizzling attraction that drew him to Mira is still fierce, and staying away from her is a lot harder than he ever expected…
Single mom Mira Shipley has promised herself that if she ever sees Jake Taylor again, she’ll tell him he has a son.
She isn’t expecting to run into him at the physical therapist’s office, where he’s learning to live with an above-the-knee amputation.
She can’t blame him for being a grumpy jerk under the circumstances, but it would be a lot easier to ignore him if she didn’t desperately need child care for her son.
And if Jake didn’t make her feel brand new and dazzlingly alive.
She knows she needs to protect her son’s feelings—but no matter how hard she tries, she can’t forget the long, sweet nights she and Jake spent learning each other’s bodies and each other’s secrets…
Military hero Jake Taylor has made a few terrible decisions, but none worse than the one in Afghanistan that cost him his best friend and his leg.
Or so he thinks, until he comes home from war to discover a seven-year-old son he never knew existed.
Jake can’t regret the blissful nights he spent with Mira in his arms, or the boy with his eyes, but he can leave Mira and Sam alone so they don’t become yet another one of his mistakes.
He’ll rehab his body, figure out how to find purpose again—and keep things simple with the woman he once craved desperately.
Except the sizzling attraction that drew him to Mira is still fierce, and staying away from her is a lot harder than he ever expected…
Single mom Mira Shipley has promised herself that if she ever sees Jake Taylor again, she’ll tell him he has a son.
She isn’t expecting to run into him at the physical therapist’s office, where he’s learning to live with an above-the-knee amputation.
She can’t blame him for being a grumpy jerk under the circumstances, but it would be a lot easier to ignore him if she didn’t desperately need child care for her son.
And if Jake didn’t make her feel brand new and dazzlingly alive.
She knows she needs to protect her son’s feelings—but no matter how hard she tries, she can’t forget the long, sweet nights she and Jake spent learning each other’s bodies and each other’s secrets…
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
781 people are currently reading
2372 people want to read
About the author
Serena Bell
53 books749 followersNewest Release!
USA Today bestselling author Serena Bell writes contemporary romance with heat, heart, and humor. A former journalist, Serena has always believed that everyone has an amazing story to tell if you listen carefully, and you can often find her scribbling in her tiny garret office, mainlining chocolate and bringing to life the tales in her head.
Serena’s books have earned many honors, including an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, Apple Books Best Book of the Month, and Amazon Best Book of the Year for Romance.
When not writing, Serena loves to spend time with her college-sweetheart husband and two hilarious kiddos—all of whom are incredibly tolerant not just of Serena’s imaginary friends but also of how often she changes her hobbies and how passionately she embraces the new ones. These days, it’s stand-up paddle boarding, board-gaming, meditation, and long walks with good friends.
Sign up for new release updates here! http://www.serenabell.com/newsletter
USA Today bestselling author Serena Bell writes contemporary romance with heat, heart, and humor. A former journalist, Serena has always believed that everyone has an amazing story to tell if you listen carefully, and you can often find her scribbling in her tiny garret office, mainlining chocolate and bringing to life the tales in her head.
Serena’s books have earned many honors, including an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, Apple Books Best Book of the Month, and Amazon Best Book of the Year for Romance.
When not writing, Serena loves to spend time with her college-sweetheart husband and two hilarious kiddos—all of whom are incredibly tolerant not just of Serena’s imaginary friends but also of how often she changes her hobbies and how passionately she embraces the new ones. These days, it’s stand-up paddle boarding, board-gaming, meditation, and long walks with good friends.
Sign up for new release updates here! http://www.serenabell.com/newsletter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 270 reviews
June 5, 2018
Quick summary
Eight years ago, Jake Taylor was on a one-week leave before his deployment to Afghanistan when he met Mira Shipley and found himself falling for her. He abruptly ended their time together because he didn't need the distraction before going to war. Now, he's back stateside having lost his leg and is face-to-face with the woman and the 7-year old son he unknowingly left behind because Mira never could find him.
What this story isn't
This wasn't about "insta-love" or the same old tired story about a secret child. Mira always wanted Jake to know she was pregnant but when they parted, she didn't know enough about him to locate him and she tried hard. Their romance was one of those situations where they just fit and were really well matched. So, the story starts at a really good place...both of them plenty wary and with lots at stake.
What really works
Mira is pretty young but has her head screwed on right. She wants her son to know his father but needs to make certain Jake's committed. He's really struggling, going through the motions of life and is shocked into a wake up call but it doesn't happen immediately. Everyone takes their time here, not making any fast decisions and examining personal motives, aspirations and feelings. Sam is a great kid who lightens things up wonderfully without being used as a cheap story device.
My one "nit"
As much as the introspection by both characters was extremely valuable, the story could have used more "doing" than "telling." Those moments slowed the pace and bogged down too often.
The bottom line
It's a wonderful, true and authentic story of two people who were probably destined to be together but life's obstacles got in the way. Their journey back was made more interesting because of those challenges. Bell is a gifted writer, giving us a unique perspective of the realities of someone who's lost a limb and how that reshapes him or her mentally and physically. It's also a story of triumph and is inspiring.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
Eight years ago, Jake Taylor was on a one-week leave before his deployment to Afghanistan when he met Mira Shipley and found himself falling for her. He abruptly ended their time together because he didn't need the distraction before going to war. Now, he's back stateside having lost his leg and is face-to-face with the woman and the 7-year old son he unknowingly left behind because Mira never could find him.
What this story isn't
This wasn't about "insta-love" or the same old tired story about a secret child. Mira always wanted Jake to know she was pregnant but when they parted, she didn't know enough about him to locate him and she tried hard. Their romance was one of those situations where they just fit and were really well matched. So, the story starts at a really good place...both of them plenty wary and with lots at stake.
What really works
Mira is pretty young but has her head screwed on right. She wants her son to know his father but needs to make certain Jake's committed. He's really struggling, going through the motions of life and is shocked into a wake up call but it doesn't happen immediately. Everyone takes their time here, not making any fast decisions and examining personal motives, aspirations and feelings. Sam is a great kid who lightens things up wonderfully without being used as a cheap story device.
My one "nit"
As much as the introspection by both characters was extremely valuable, the story could have used more "doing" than "telling." Those moments slowed the pace and bogged down too often.
The bottom line
It's a wonderful, true and authentic story of two people who were probably destined to be together but life's obstacles got in the way. Their journey back was made more interesting because of those challenges. Bell is a gifted writer, giving us a unique perspective of the realities of someone who's lost a limb and how that reshapes him or her mentally and physically. It's also a story of triumph and is inspiring.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
March 15, 2015
4.75 beautiful stars
"...her heart was aligned, like the rest of her, with Jake's magnetic north."
If you enjoy a good military romance book with a wounded hero, this book is for you.
The love story between Mira and Jake was beautiful and emotional. They were so perfect together and I loved reading about them! This is the kind of book that stays with you long after you read it!
Will definitely be reading more from this author!
"...her heart was aligned, like the rest of her, with Jake's magnetic north."
If you enjoy a good military romance book with a wounded hero, this book is for you.
The love story between Mira and Jake was beautiful and emotional. They were so perfect together and I loved reading about them! This is the kind of book that stays with you long after you read it!
Will definitely be reading more from this author!
June 23, 2014
4 - "I've had sex that isn't as good as staring at you." Stars!
I absolutely fell in love with Serena Bell’s writing after reading Yours To Keep. She is an author that manages to take a love story and add a little something different to it, just to keep the interest piqued.
Hold on Tight, is just as beautifully written, and again offers you a sexy-hot love story based around two average, but also extraordinary people, there is also the bonus of a child in the mix, which I always think adds an extra dimension to any story.
It wasn’t like he was just some guy. He was that guy. The guy whose mouth she absolutely 100 percent shouldn't’t stick her tongue into.
Mira and Jake have history, a lot of it, most of which derives from one night of almost sex, and is all wrapped up in a package called Sam. Mira has spent the last 8 years caring for her son on her own, and has just moved across country to start afresh with him. Jake an Army Ranger, who is now back stateside himself after 8 years fighting, is facing a whole heap of challenges of his own, and now has to add a son he never knew anything about into the mix.
He was her Jake, a man she’d been intimate with, and he’d lost part of the body, shed worshipped.
There is something about a man that is battling his own personal demons whilst trying to be the best he can be for those around him that gets me every time, and Jake epitomises everything I love about that type of guy.
He was all ex. There was nothing left to him now, no present, no future.
You can guess how this story is going to go, but I didn’t care, I loved the challenges that Mira and Jake faced, I loved his emails to Mira at the beginning and their texts gave me all sorts of unnecessary girly giggles. Don't be fooled though, this is a grown-up romance, it’s not overloaded with unnecessary angst or drama, and what there is adds to the story and doesn't bog it down.
”It was hard. It was so, so hard. I missed you.”
Another stunning book, by a hugely talented author, and I cannot wait to see what Serena has in store for us next!
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
I absolutely fell in love with Serena Bell’s writing after reading Yours To Keep. She is an author that manages to take a love story and add a little something different to it, just to keep the interest piqued.
Hold on Tight, is just as beautifully written, and again offers you a sexy-hot love story based around two average, but also extraordinary people, there is also the bonus of a child in the mix, which I always think adds an extra dimension to any story.
It wasn’t like he was just some guy. He was that guy. The guy whose mouth she absolutely 100 percent shouldn't’t stick her tongue into.
Mira and Jake have history, a lot of it, most of which derives from one night of almost sex, and is all wrapped up in a package called Sam. Mira has spent the last 8 years caring for her son on her own, and has just moved across country to start afresh with him. Jake an Army Ranger, who is now back stateside himself after 8 years fighting, is facing a whole heap of challenges of his own, and now has to add a son he never knew anything about into the mix.
He was her Jake, a man she’d been intimate with, and he’d lost part of the body, shed worshipped.
There is something about a man that is battling his own personal demons whilst trying to be the best he can be for those around him that gets me every time, and Jake epitomises everything I love about that type of guy.
He was all ex. There was nothing left to him now, no present, no future.
You can guess how this story is going to go, but I didn’t care, I loved the challenges that Mira and Jake faced, I loved his emails to Mira at the beginning and their texts gave me all sorts of unnecessary girly giggles. Don't be fooled though, this is a grown-up romance, it’s not overloaded with unnecessary angst or drama, and what there is adds to the story and doesn't bog it down.
”It was hard. It was so, so hard. I missed you.”
Another stunning book, by a hugely talented author, and I cannot wait to see what Serena has in store for us next!
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
June 29, 2014
I enjoyed this story a lot. Mira is a wonderful protagonist, brave in all the right ways, even though her life is no bed of roses. Jake is deeply, and I mean deeply, broken but worth the wait as he figures his way through the rough. I came out of this liking them both and happy they finally ended up together (yeah, like that's a spoiler).
There's a lot of internal dialogue in the book and that may put off some readers, though I barely noticed it until after. A lot of the damage in both main characters' lives is internal so the reader needs to be there for it. Bell handles this well enough that it feels natural, even though a page of internal conflict can happen between a one event and its response. This is absolutely necessary as the reader isn't going to understand Jake any other way (and it helps with Mira enough to make it work).
Oh, and another thing Bell does extremely well is understand and convey Jake's character in a way that feels absolutely right for an army Ranger returned from war missing a leg. Seriously, well-done.
A note about Steamy: There's lots of steam, here, though it's really only 3 and a half scenes. They're broken by internal (and external) dialogue so they drag on (one of them for chapters). It's on the high side of my steam tolerance, saved by the fact that the sex is integral to the story and the emotional arc of both characters (making it absolutely necessary and completely non-gratuitous).
There's a lot of internal dialogue in the book and that may put off some readers, though I barely noticed it until after. A lot of the damage in both main characters' lives is internal so the reader needs to be there for it. Bell handles this well enough that it feels natural, even though a page of internal conflict can happen between a one event and its response. This is absolutely necessary as the reader isn't going to understand Jake any other way (and it helps with Mira enough to make it work).
Oh, and another thing Bell does extremely well is understand and convey Jake's character in a way that feels absolutely right for an army Ranger returned from war missing a leg. Seriously, well-done.
A note about Steamy: There's lots of steam, here, though it's really only 3 and a half scenes. They're broken by internal (and external) dialogue so they drag on (one of them for chapters). It's on the high side of my steam tolerance, saved by the fact that the sex is integral to the story and the emotional arc of both characters (making it absolutely necessary and completely non-gratuitous).
April 30, 2014
**ARC, kindly provided by Netgallery, in exchange for an honest review. Many Thanks.**
I love it when a book surprises me, and this one sure did. I was expecting and hoping for something good, but what I found was exceptional. I just loved this very emotional, heart-wrenching read about a second chance years later. It was so endearing and intense and damn right hot, which just warmed me to my core.
I love it when a book surprises me, and this one sure did. I was expecting and hoping for something good, but what I found was exceptional. I just loved this very emotional, heart-wrenching read about a second chance years later. It was so endearing and intense and damn right hot, which just warmed me to my core.
June 17, 2014
She didn’t have words for how she’d wanted to receive everything about him, the anger she could see on his face, his need begging in his eyes, the way he braced himself as if he were going to deliver something that was part gift, part mean withholding. She wanted it as rough as he wanted to give it; she wanted it for as long as he could hold out; she wanted it now and then again after the first time. She feared she would never be done wanting it.
Hold On Tight is a stand-alone novel by author Serena Bell. This second chance romance is told from dual points of view of the two main characters, Jake and Mira. This is the third book I’ve read by this author and while I think she’s done a good job on the other books I’ve read, Hold On Tight is definitely my favorite!
Jake and Mira meet and are drawn to each other but the timing is all wrong. Jake’s on military leave, about to be deployed, and Mira is going to art school. After spending what time they have together, they part their seperate ways. Fast forward 8 years later…Jake is a disabled veteran, recently back home after losing a leg in an IED blast and trying to cope with his loss. Mira is a single mom struggling to put roots down in Seattle. A chance meeting bring Jake and Mira together again and gives Mira the opportunity to tell Jake that her son Sam, is his! The book deals with both characters individual struggles as well as how they try to cope with the new dynamic of Jake becoming part of his son's life.
She had let go of the idea of Jake little by little, but he never went away entirely. He reappeared at odd intervals, at pivotal moments. When Sam smiled for the first time, when he reached out and grabbed her nose, when he rolled over. No matter how much her parents celebrated with her, Jake was there, a presence, an absence.
Only not Jake. Some guy she’d made up. A hopeful, naïve dream.
I have to admit I stopped a book mid-read to start Hold On Tight. I am a total sucker for “wounded warrior” type stories and Hold On Tight didn’t disappoint. A major part of the story line deals with Jake’s struggle to overcome the events of the past and decisions he made while fighting overseas. Jake’s struggle with the loss of his leg was one of the more realistic depictions of a disability that I have read in a romance book. Certain parts of the story, including his inability to do certain tasks or the logistics of being intimate with a prosthetic had an element of authenticity that have been missing in other books with similar story lines I've read. I'm not saying it was 100% accurate, obviously, this is fiction, but it did seem more realistic.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Everything was just very well done. The writing was good, the dynamics between all the characters really worked. The steam factor was medium and appropriate for the story.
...he couldn’t stop thinking about grabbing her and pushing up her shirt and sucking her breasts and unfastening her Professional Lady Pants and getting his hand in her panties so he could see if she was ready. Somehow, years of combat, of death and destruction, hadn’t managed to eradicate the memory of her wet heat against his fingers that night by the lake. Or the sounds she’d made into his mouth when he’d kissed her.
He wanted to get it right this time. He wanted to be buried in her so far she could taste him.
And his dick was totally, completely, 100 percent on board.
At times I was a little frustrated with the characters. There was a lot of back and forth. Jake and Mira wanted to be together but thought they shouldn’t be together, they agreed to try but then one would pull back, that kind of thing. I still really enjoyed the story and thought it ranked high on the readability scale!
I recommend this book for readers that enjoy contemporary romances, second chance romances, and disabled hero's. A very solid 4.25 STARS!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
Hold On Tight is a stand-alone novel by author Serena Bell. This second chance romance is told from dual points of view of the two main characters, Jake and Mira. This is the third book I’ve read by this author and while I think she’s done a good job on the other books I’ve read, Hold On Tight is definitely my favorite!
Jake and Mira meet and are drawn to each other but the timing is all wrong. Jake’s on military leave, about to be deployed, and Mira is going to art school. After spending what time they have together, they part their seperate ways. Fast forward 8 years later…Jake is a disabled veteran, recently back home after losing a leg in an IED blast and trying to cope with his loss. Mira is a single mom struggling to put roots down in Seattle. A chance meeting bring Jake and Mira together again and gives Mira the opportunity to tell Jake that her son Sam, is his! The book deals with both characters individual struggles as well as how they try to cope with the new dynamic of Jake becoming part of his son's life.
She had let go of the idea of Jake little by little, but he never went away entirely. He reappeared at odd intervals, at pivotal moments. When Sam smiled for the first time, when he reached out and grabbed her nose, when he rolled over. No matter how much her parents celebrated with her, Jake was there, a presence, an absence.
Only not Jake. Some guy she’d made up. A hopeful, naïve dream.
I have to admit I stopped a book mid-read to start Hold On Tight. I am a total sucker for “wounded warrior” type stories and Hold On Tight didn’t disappoint. A major part of the story line deals with Jake’s struggle to overcome the events of the past and decisions he made while fighting overseas. Jake’s struggle with the loss of his leg was one of the more realistic depictions of a disability that I have read in a romance book. Certain parts of the story, including his inability to do certain tasks or the logistics of being intimate with a prosthetic had an element of authenticity that have been missing in other books with similar story lines I've read. I'm not saying it was 100% accurate, obviously, this is fiction, but it did seem more realistic.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Everything was just very well done. The writing was good, the dynamics between all the characters really worked. The steam factor was medium and appropriate for the story.
...he couldn’t stop thinking about grabbing her and pushing up her shirt and sucking her breasts and unfastening her Professional Lady Pants and getting his hand in her panties so he could see if she was ready. Somehow, years of combat, of death and destruction, hadn’t managed to eradicate the memory of her wet heat against his fingers that night by the lake. Or the sounds she’d made into his mouth when he’d kissed her.
He wanted to get it right this time. He wanted to be buried in her so far she could taste him.
And his dick was totally, completely, 100 percent on board.
At times I was a little frustrated with the characters. There was a lot of back and forth. Jake and Mira wanted to be together but thought they shouldn’t be together, they agreed to try but then one would pull back, that kind of thing. I still really enjoyed the story and thought it ranked high on the readability scale!
I recommend this book for readers that enjoy contemporary romances, second chance romances, and disabled hero's. A very solid 4.25 STARS!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
February 26, 2019
In her heartwarming and emotional new story, Serena Bell treats us to the ups and downs of the relationship between Jake and Mira. Initially meeting as young adults, a summer fling between them dissolves as Jake returns to his military duties, leaving Mira (unbeknownst to him) pregnant and coping with her new responsibilities with the help of her parents. 7 years later they meet again - Jake, bitter and suffering from a lost limb and PTSD from his military service and Mira, setting out on her own to prove her independence as a single mother. Can they put aside the past and build a new future together?
I loved this story! I've always been a fan of the reunited lovers trope so the plot synopsis intrigued me from the start. Both main characters were appealing to me. Jake is shown to be an emotional and despondent character at the start, his good nature and friendliness of youth gone after a terrible accident that resulted in his lost leg. He struggles with life on a daily basis and when he meets Mira again and learns from her that he has a son, it dawns on him that this might be his way forward. It was a pleasure to read his transformation from hardened and bitter man to a caring and loving person again. Mira is equally appealing - a strong, confident woman, who has had enough of others taking control of her life and is determined to go her own way for her own sake and for her son. Letting Jake back into her life takes courage as she fears he will once again take her heart and leave it broken. Yet her feelings for him have always remained strong despite their separation and she has the knack of how to deal with his new emotional state, giving him the time to come out of his hardened shell and learn to feel again. The bond Jake develops with his son was heartwarming to read.
The sexual chemistry between Jake and Mira is present from the very beginning of the story when they meet each other again after their prolonged absence. The development of their new relationship, with the sexual intimacy that goes with it was well written, the love scenes emotional and sensual. I liked that they didn't just fall into bed with each other immediately but let it develop naturally as the remembered passion of their youth becomes the adult feelings of the present.
I found this story to be a delight to read, the reawakening of dormant desire emotional and well written and the overall plot to be heartwarming and entertaining. 5 fabulous stars!
Note: this book was originally provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review. It's been re-released by the author.
I loved this story! I've always been a fan of the reunited lovers trope so the plot synopsis intrigued me from the start. Both main characters were appealing to me. Jake is shown to be an emotional and despondent character at the start, his good nature and friendliness of youth gone after a terrible accident that resulted in his lost leg. He struggles with life on a daily basis and when he meets Mira again and learns from her that he has a son, it dawns on him that this might be his way forward. It was a pleasure to read his transformation from hardened and bitter man to a caring and loving person again. Mira is equally appealing - a strong, confident woman, who has had enough of others taking control of her life and is determined to go her own way for her own sake and for her son. Letting Jake back into her life takes courage as she fears he will once again take her heart and leave it broken. Yet her feelings for him have always remained strong despite their separation and she has the knack of how to deal with his new emotional state, giving him the time to come out of his hardened shell and learn to feel again. The bond Jake develops with his son was heartwarming to read.
The sexual chemistry between Jake and Mira is present from the very beginning of the story when they meet each other again after their prolonged absence. The development of their new relationship, with the sexual intimacy that goes with it was well written, the love scenes emotional and sensual. I liked that they didn't just fall into bed with each other immediately but let it develop naturally as the remembered passion of their youth becomes the adult feelings of the present.
I found this story to be a delight to read, the reawakening of dormant desire emotional and well written and the overall plot to be heartwarming and entertaining. 5 fabulous stars!
Note: this book was originally provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review. It's been re-released by the author.
June 8, 2016
3.5 stars
I read the blurb for this book and immediately knew that I had to read it. I love books about soldiers, I love books that include kids, and I love a second-chance-romance, so I couldn’t resist the combination of all of that potential in one book, and this is a really sweet story.
Mira and Jake met when she was 18 and he was 20. He had just completed bootcamp, and they started seeing each other in the few weeks before he went off on deployment. But knowing that he needed to concentrate on being a soldier and not wanting to leave anybody behind, it ended badly. Mira was left heartbroken and it wasn’t until weeks later that she discovered she was pregnant, and with no details about Jake’s deployment or even his real name, she was unable to find him.
It’s now 8 years later. Mira has just made the move from where she and her son have been living with her parents in Florida, to Seattle where she was raised. She’s desperate to be out from under the wing of her well-meaning yet controlling father and is working to create a good life for herself and her son, Sam. Jake is home from the war following an IED blast that took his leg and killed his best friend. Shattered from the loss and not knowing what to do with his life, he unexpectedly runs into Mira, and then his world is turned upside down when he learns that he has a 7 year old son.
Jake isn’t in a good place in his life, and is initially overwhelmed by the news about Sam, but he reaches out to Mira in an effort to get to know the little boy, and from the very beginning it is clear that Jake and Mira’s attraction to each other is still very much there. The chemistry sizzles every time they’re together and despite their past and the uncertainty in their lives, neither of them are able to deny it.
I love the interactions between these two! Fun and flirty, the banter is fantastic, and despite how complicated they believe it to be, they are honest about how they are feeling, and I loved that.
But as much as they are attracted to each other, and as perfect at their reunion may appear to be, they have both changed a lot in their time apart. Mira has just come out of a long term relationship, has moved across the country and is working hard to find her feet, create a whole new life for herself and Sam, and prove her independence. And Jake is a mess, his life’s dream is no longer a possibility for him and he has no idea what to do with himself. He’s also adjusting to life with only one leg and struggling under the guilt he feels over the death of his best friend. He’s not in a good place emotionally, and though he wants to explore a relationship with Mira, he doesn’t feel like he’s good enough for her or for Sam.
It’s an angsty, emotional and frustrating journey with a lot of back and forth as they work through their issues, and while I could understand what they were going through, I did have some issues with this one.
I love Jake and Mira together, I could feel the emotion between them, and the scenes where they are spending time together or just talking are beautifully written and totally engaging. And the sex scenes are really well done – totally hot while showing the emotional connection between them and further developing their relationship. I also thought that the scenes with Sam were fantastic! He’s such a great little character, and his contribution to the story added a lot of lightness to the story as well as being meaningful and beautifully emotional.
The book is written in dual POV, which I love, but I felt that there was too much time spent inside of the characters’ heads. I get that they have issues they need to individually deal with, but I got a bit bored with the constant ruminating about everything they were feeling and slowly coming to realise. And it’s hard to follow written dialogue when one character asks a question and you have pages of inner monologue to get through before the other character responds. I found myself flicking back and forth a few times to remember what they were even talking about.
I also had some issues with continuity anomalies, and I did raise my brows at some of Jake’s behaviour. .
But all of that soul searching leads to some great character development, and I enjoyed watching both Jake and Mira figure out what they want and then work towards making it happen. And of course there is a happy ending with an epilogue that finishes off the story really well and left me with a big, cheesy grin on my face.
So yes, I had some issues, but overall I really liked this one. It’s the standalone beginning of a new series, and I’m definitely looking forward to reading more.
3.5 stars.
I read the blurb for this book and immediately knew that I had to read it. I love books about soldiers, I love books that include kids, and I love a second-chance-romance, so I couldn’t resist the combination of all of that potential in one book, and this is a really sweet story.
Mira and Jake met when she was 18 and he was 20. He had just completed bootcamp, and they started seeing each other in the few weeks before he went off on deployment. But knowing that he needed to concentrate on being a soldier and not wanting to leave anybody behind, it ended badly. Mira was left heartbroken and it wasn’t until weeks later that she discovered she was pregnant, and with no details about Jake’s deployment or even his real name, she was unable to find him.
It’s now 8 years later. Mira has just made the move from where she and her son have been living with her parents in Florida, to Seattle where she was raised. She’s desperate to be out from under the wing of her well-meaning yet controlling father and is working to create a good life for herself and her son, Sam. Jake is home from the war following an IED blast that took his leg and killed his best friend. Shattered from the loss and not knowing what to do with his life, he unexpectedly runs into Mira, and then his world is turned upside down when he learns that he has a 7 year old son.
Jake isn’t in a good place in his life, and is initially overwhelmed by the news about Sam, but he reaches out to Mira in an effort to get to know the little boy, and from the very beginning it is clear that Jake and Mira’s attraction to each other is still very much there. The chemistry sizzles every time they’re together and despite their past and the uncertainty in their lives, neither of them are able to deny it.
“I don’t think we do simple. We do complicated.”
“We’re older now. Smarter.”
“No,” she said. “I don’t think so. I think we make each other stupid.”
He was in her space now, backing her up. She could feel the heat of his body. Smell soap and musk, which called to the most primitive part of her brain: You want this.
“Fine,” he said. “Let’s be stupid.”
I love the interactions between these two! Fun and flirty, the banter is fantastic, and despite how complicated they believe it to be, they are honest about how they are feeling, and I loved that.
“It’s just holding hands,” she said. “But it’s totally messing with me.”
“Yeah.” He moved his fingers between hers, and that, too, he felt everywhere – all over the surface of his skin.
…
“I’ve had sex that isn’t this good.”
But as much as they are attracted to each other, and as perfect at their reunion may appear to be, they have both changed a lot in their time apart. Mira has just come out of a long term relationship, has moved across the country and is working hard to find her feet, create a whole new life for herself and Sam, and prove her independence. And Jake is a mess, his life’s dream is no longer a possibility for him and he has no idea what to do with himself. He’s also adjusting to life with only one leg and struggling under the guilt he feels over the death of his best friend. He’s not in a good place emotionally, and though he wants to explore a relationship with Mira, he doesn’t feel like he’s good enough for her or for Sam.
It’s an angsty, emotional and frustrating journey with a lot of back and forth as they work through their issues, and while I could understand what they were going through, I did have some issues with this one.
I love Jake and Mira together, I could feel the emotion between them, and the scenes where they are spending time together or just talking are beautifully written and totally engaging. And the sex scenes are really well done – totally hot while showing the emotional connection between them and further developing their relationship. I also thought that the scenes with Sam were fantastic! He’s such a great little character, and his contribution to the story added a lot of lightness to the story as well as being meaningful and beautifully emotional.
The book is written in dual POV, which I love, but I felt that there was too much time spent inside of the characters’ heads. I get that they have issues they need to individually deal with, but I got a bit bored with the constant ruminating about everything they were feeling and slowly coming to realise. And it’s hard to follow written dialogue when one character asks a question and you have pages of inner monologue to get through before the other character responds. I found myself flicking back and forth a few times to remember what they were even talking about.
I also had some issues with continuity anomalies, and I did raise my brows at some of Jake’s behaviour. .
But all of that soul searching leads to some great character development, and I enjoyed watching both Jake and Mira figure out what they want and then work towards making it happen. And of course there is a happy ending with an epilogue that finishes off the story really well and left me with a big, cheesy grin on my face.
So yes, I had some issues, but overall I really liked this one. It’s the standalone beginning of a new series, and I’m definitely looking forward to reading more.
3.5 stars.
October 16, 2021
5 stars!
After reading so many 'meh' books, this one helped me out of my slump. I'm a sucker for anything surprise pregnancy/ secret baby and I loved that the heroine immediately told the hero about the child instead of prolonging it. Also, love me some grumpy man. 🥰🥰
After reading so many 'meh' books, this one helped me out of my slump. I'm a sucker for anything surprise pregnancy/ secret baby and I loved that the heroine immediately told the hero about the child instead of prolonging it. Also, love me some grumpy man. 🥰🥰
May 1, 2014
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 stars
This started out with great promise. I loved the premise, loved Jake's character, loved that there was unfinished history and child in the mix. But... somewhere around the mid-point, I started to lose interest. I kept thinking to myself, "don't tell me... show me!" There seemed to be brief moments of interaction interrupted with long paragraphs of the characters explaining why they can/can't do something or explaining how they feel. I would have preferred to see more interactions where we could have witnessed the evidence of their attraction. I prefer to have a story unfold before my eyes and allow me to witness the emotions that are playing out between two people rather than have it all explained to me. Plus, I found that the long explanations were interruptions to what I was really wanting and I started to find myself skimming those long paragraphs to get to what the dialogue and the story. By the end, I was so tired of all the explanations that I just grew tired of the story. Add to that the fact that the dialogue and scenes were rather uninspired and the whole thing fell flat in the end.
It's a shame. I really liked Bell's, Yours to Keep, and was hoping for something like that again.
2.5 stars
This started out with great promise. I loved the premise, loved Jake's character, loved that there was unfinished history and child in the mix. But... somewhere around the mid-point, I started to lose interest. I kept thinking to myself, "don't tell me... show me!" There seemed to be brief moments of interaction interrupted with long paragraphs of the characters explaining why they can/can't do something or explaining how they feel. I would have preferred to see more interactions where we could have witnessed the evidence of their attraction. I prefer to have a story unfold before my eyes and allow me to witness the emotions that are playing out between two people rather than have it all explained to me. Plus, I found that the long explanations were interruptions to what I was really wanting and I started to find myself skimming those long paragraphs to get to what the dialogue and the story. By the end, I was so tired of all the explanations that I just grew tired of the story. Add to that the fact that the dialogue and scenes were rather uninspired and the whole thing fell flat in the end.
It's a shame. I really liked Bell's, Yours to Keep, and was hoping for something like that again.
September 7, 2016
Okay it's pretty clear that I'm not going to finish this after this much time has passed. It was all insta-attraction and everything. Hormones that over-write common sense. Blah blah blah. NA trope on top of NA trope. Blech!
November 10, 2014
Secret baby is my favorite romance trope. And I love stories with wounded military heroes. This book was a two for two win for me!!
May 16, 2014
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and am providing an honest review.
Hold on Tight was more of a 3.5 star read for me.
There were several things that I thought the author did quite well. First, the characters were real. Jake had issues even before he was injured in the war. He ran from his problems and while that's not an admirable trait, it's great to see the author writing characters that aren't instantly perfect.
I also liked that this wasn't a case of the mother hiding a pregnancy with some flimsy excuse. She tried to find Jake, but couldn't and she told him as soon as she ran into him for the first time. That was amazing to me. I've read several stories where the father has to arrive to this conclusion on his own after seeing a child that looks like them. But that's not the case with Mira and Jake and that is definitely a plus for me!
The main issue I had with this book was that the relationship between Jake and his son seemed to entirely depend on the relationship between Jake and Mira. It seemed that whenever the adults couldn't get their act together, Jake would drop out of his son's life completely. I feel that no matter how the parents feel about each other, the child shouldn't suffer. I felt that even if Jake and Mira weren't so good together, I would have had to route for their relationship just so that their son could spend some time with his father.
I also thought that Mira could have given her father a little more credit. Sure, he may have been "overbearing", but there are many parents that hold the beliefs of "if you live under my roof, you live under my rules." They took care of her and her son for nearly eight years. She didn't have to have a job, which meant that they paid for everything. I can't say that I fault him for being overly opinionated about what she did with her life. Is it wrong? Probably. But up until her move across the country for her first job, she wasn't exactly in a position to complain.
Overall, though, Hold on Tight was quite enjoyable and I am looking forward to more of Serena Bell's work!
Hold on Tight was more of a 3.5 star read for me.
There were several things that I thought the author did quite well. First, the characters were real. Jake had issues even before he was injured in the war. He ran from his problems and while that's not an admirable trait, it's great to see the author writing characters that aren't instantly perfect.
I also liked that this wasn't a case of the mother hiding a pregnancy with some flimsy excuse. She tried to find Jake, but couldn't and she told him as soon as she ran into him for the first time. That was amazing to me. I've read several stories where the father has to arrive to this conclusion on his own after seeing a child that looks like them. But that's not the case with Mira and Jake and that is definitely a plus for me!
The main issue I had with this book was that the relationship between Jake and his son seemed to entirely depend on the relationship between Jake and Mira. It seemed that whenever the adults couldn't get their act together, Jake would drop out of his son's life completely. I feel that no matter how the parents feel about each other, the child shouldn't suffer. I felt that even if Jake and Mira weren't so good together, I would have had to route for their relationship just so that their son could spend some time with his father.
I also thought that Mira could have given her father a little more credit. Sure, he may have been "overbearing", but there are many parents that hold the beliefs of "if you live under my roof, you live under my rules." They took care of her and her son for nearly eight years. She didn't have to have a job, which meant that they paid for everything. I can't say that I fault him for being overly opinionated about what she did with her life. Is it wrong? Probably. But up until her move across the country for her first job, she wasn't exactly in a position to complain.
Overall, though, Hold on Tight was quite enjoyable and I am looking forward to more of Serena Bell's work!
Want to read
April 22, 2021🎁 FREE on Amazon & on iBooks today (8/8/2020)! 🎁
July 5, 2017
Reviewed by Gemini
Hold on Tight is the first book that I have ever read by Serena Bell. It’s a Military Romance that focuses on the fallout that comes out of a brief fling between a twenty-year-old soldier on leave and an eighteen-year-old girl. Their attraction eventually leads them to have some seriously bad and considerably brief sex that results in a pregnancy. The soldier goes back off to war not knowing about his impending fatherhood while the girl is left to lead an unfulfilled life trying to raise her son.
A majority of Hold on Tight takes place eight years later. The soldier, Jackson “Jake” Taylor and the girl, Mira Shipley have both wound up back in Seattle. However, they haven’t spoke since that odd night and Jake has no idea that he has a seven-year-old son. Fate brings them together at a physical therapist’s office. Mira’s son Sam is being treated for injuries from falling from a tree while Jake is dealing with the loss of a limb from an I.E.D. in Afghanistan. Mira immediately tells Jake that Sam is his son and emotionally scarred Jake doesn’t handle it so well at first. Eventually, Jake agrees to babysit for Mira to help her during her transition to a new job since she has been having issues finding a reliable sitter. Jake, on the other hand, is suffering from PTSD not only due to the loss of a limb but also because his best friend was killed too. Jake has trouble getting out of his own way as he tries to rekindle the flame with Mira and be a good father to Sam.
As expected, the sexual chemistry between Jake and Mira is volatile. They try to keep things simple but inevitably end up all over each other. Plus, their emotions and insecurities play a major role in how they move forward. Consequently, everything becomes a hot button issue. I really appreciated the fact that things were complicated and there wasn’t a simple resolution to their problems. Their baggage was front and center and real. In order to be a couple, Jake and Mira had to understand their flaws and put Sam ahead of everything else. It was easy to root for them because they really tried to be honest with each other and didn’t hold much back. Sam was adorable as the innocent kid in the middle who just wanted to have a father in his life.
**Received a copy from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed.**
Hold on Tight is the first book that I have ever read by Serena Bell. It’s a Military Romance that focuses on the fallout that comes out of a brief fling between a twenty-year-old soldier on leave and an eighteen-year-old girl. Their attraction eventually leads them to have some seriously bad and considerably brief sex that results in a pregnancy. The soldier goes back off to war not knowing about his impending fatherhood while the girl is left to lead an unfulfilled life trying to raise her son.
A majority of Hold on Tight takes place eight years later. The soldier, Jackson “Jake” Taylor and the girl, Mira Shipley have both wound up back in Seattle. However, they haven’t spoke since that odd night and Jake has no idea that he has a seven-year-old son. Fate brings them together at a physical therapist’s office. Mira’s son Sam is being treated for injuries from falling from a tree while Jake is dealing with the loss of a limb from an I.E.D. in Afghanistan. Mira immediately tells Jake that Sam is his son and emotionally scarred Jake doesn’t handle it so well at first. Eventually, Jake agrees to babysit for Mira to help her during her transition to a new job since she has been having issues finding a reliable sitter. Jake, on the other hand, is suffering from PTSD not only due to the loss of a limb but also because his best friend was killed too. Jake has trouble getting out of his own way as he tries to rekindle the flame with Mira and be a good father to Sam.
As expected, the sexual chemistry between Jake and Mira is volatile. They try to keep things simple but inevitably end up all over each other. Plus, their emotions and insecurities play a major role in how they move forward. Consequently, everything becomes a hot button issue. I really appreciated the fact that things were complicated and there wasn’t a simple resolution to their problems. Their baggage was front and center and real. In order to be a couple, Jake and Mira had to understand their flaws and put Sam ahead of everything else. It was easy to root for them because they really tried to be honest with each other and didn’t hold much back. Sam was adorable as the innocent kid in the middle who just wanted to have a father in his life.
**Received a copy from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed.**
April 26, 2014
Hold on Tight is one of those romances that worms its way into your heart without being full of unnecessary angst and overly flowery descriptions. Selena Bell has told a heart-warming tale of two people who are as realistic as their story is to today’s world. Mira was young, Jake was shipping off to the Middle East, strangers that met one night, who made a connection that would stay in their hearts forever. Eight years later, Mira is finally taking responsibility for her life and that of her seven-year-old son, Sam, but to do that she moves across the country, back to where she grew up. Fate had a plan to bring Jake and Mira back together, both older, both cautious, neither able to share their true feelings that were never voiced. For Jake, surviving and coming home from Iraq is bittersweet, he lost his best friend and part of his leg. Feeling survivor’s guilt, suffering from PTSD and struggling to feel like a real man again, he is a mess, one that he feels Mira would be better off without. Knowing that Sam is his son and he wasn’t there for him or Mira just lays on the guilt. How can he be a role model for Sam if he is, in his opinion, less than a man? How can he tell Mira what his heart knows to be true, because she needs someone who is whole, as perfect as she?
Mira is determined to show Jake that in her eyes he is all she could ever need, both for herself and Sam, but first he must let her in. She is the perfect therapy for some of Jake’s problems, but it’s the wise Sam who cuts to the chase with these two, with his blunt and innocent ways. Will Sam and Mira’s belief in Jake bolster his courage to push himself into partaking in the joys of life? To be more than he ever dreamed? Will their love help him down the road to recovery from the nightmares he has lived through?
Serena Bell has taken a very contemporary ordeal that is lived out daily for soldiers who have faced the Hell of war and survived, and given it the respect it deserves without lessening the physical and mental pain these brave people must deal with. Her spin is positive while acknowledging the journey ahead. But this is romance, and she gives heart and warmth to her characters while putting them to the test with their trust issues, independence issues and low self-esteem. Wonderful, warm, sigh-worthy romance with a twist.
I received an ARC edition from Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: June 17, 2014
Publisher: Loveswept
ISBN: 9780553390339
Genre: Romance
Available From: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Mira is determined to show Jake that in her eyes he is all she could ever need, both for herself and Sam, but first he must let her in. She is the perfect therapy for some of Jake’s problems, but it’s the wise Sam who cuts to the chase with these two, with his blunt and innocent ways. Will Sam and Mira’s belief in Jake bolster his courage to push himself into partaking in the joys of life? To be more than he ever dreamed? Will their love help him down the road to recovery from the nightmares he has lived through?
Serena Bell has taken a very contemporary ordeal that is lived out daily for soldiers who have faced the Hell of war and survived, and given it the respect it deserves without lessening the physical and mental pain these brave people must deal with. Her spin is positive while acknowledging the journey ahead. But this is romance, and she gives heart and warmth to her characters while putting them to the test with their trust issues, independence issues and low self-esteem. Wonderful, warm, sigh-worthy romance with a twist.
I received an ARC edition from Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: June 17, 2014
Publisher: Loveswept
ISBN: 9780553390339
Genre: Romance
Available From: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
June 17, 2014
4.5 stars!
As I was setting up this post, I was on Ms. Bell's webpage. As soon as it loaded, I noticed the tag line "Where Smart Meets Sexy" and I was like... YES!! This is exactly how I felt about this author and this book. I believe I have one other of Ms. Bell's books on my TBR list but I can assure you that I will be reading everything I can get my hands on. I love her writing style and her characters.
For one thing, she wrote a female character that was not full of issues. She certainly had some reasons to be full of them but Mira was quite well adjusted. I've tired a bit of female characters that have so many problems from childhood or a previous relationship, that she constantly goes back and forth. Mira was smart, independent and I really liked her. She was a really great mom to her son, Sam and he was a great kid character.
Jake. Jake has plenty of reasons to have issues and yet I loved him. I felt like his issues were handled quite realistically and I really enjoyed reading about his transition into life post amputation. He really didn't feel like he was any use to anyone else until he found out he was a father to a seven year old boy. And it isn't completely easy sailing once he finds out that Sam is his and I appreciated the evolution of Jake. He went from a guy who had no idea what to do with himself to a man who was a father and so much more. I mean how do you lose 3/4 of your leg and get back to running? Much less absorbing a seven year running up to you and hugging you? And then there is....sex. How in the world? Everything gets redefined. But the chemistry and sexy times between Mira and Jake were HOT and even though Jake was kind of figuring things out and adjusting as he went, it was still really freaking hot and passionate.
The connection that Jake and Mira had was undeniable from the first time they were together and it easily transcended to 8 years later.
There was another noise she'd made, when he'd first kissed her. When his lips had only grazed hers, before the full intensity of the chemistry had registered with him. Barely more than a sigh, something like relief. Yes. This.
He'd felt that, too. As if they'd been waiting. Years.
I have to say that this book totally ate my brain. I did not want to put it down and I cannot wait to dig into more of Ms. Bell's books.
Straight Shootin' Book Reviews
Copy for review provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
As I was setting up this post, I was on Ms. Bell's webpage. As soon as it loaded, I noticed the tag line "Where Smart Meets Sexy" and I was like... YES!! This is exactly how I felt about this author and this book. I believe I have one other of Ms. Bell's books on my TBR list but I can assure you that I will be reading everything I can get my hands on. I love her writing style and her characters.
For one thing, she wrote a female character that was not full of issues. She certainly had some reasons to be full of them but Mira was quite well adjusted. I've tired a bit of female characters that have so many problems from childhood or a previous relationship, that she constantly goes back and forth. Mira was smart, independent and I really liked her. She was a really great mom to her son, Sam and he was a great kid character.
Jake. Jake has plenty of reasons to have issues and yet I loved him. I felt like his issues were handled quite realistically and I really enjoyed reading about his transition into life post amputation. He really didn't feel like he was any use to anyone else until he found out he was a father to a seven year old boy. And it isn't completely easy sailing once he finds out that Sam is his and I appreciated the evolution of Jake. He went from a guy who had no idea what to do with himself to a man who was a father and so much more. I mean how do you lose 3/4 of your leg and get back to running? Much less absorbing a seven year running up to you and hugging you? And then there is....sex. How in the world? Everything gets redefined. But the chemistry and sexy times between Mira and Jake were HOT and even though Jake was kind of figuring things out and adjusting as he went, it was still really freaking hot and passionate.
The connection that Jake and Mira had was undeniable from the first time they were together and it easily transcended to 8 years later.
There was another noise she'd made, when he'd first kissed her. When his lips had only grazed hers, before the full intensity of the chemistry had registered with him. Barely more than a sigh, something like relief. Yes. This.
He'd felt that, too. As if they'd been waiting. Years.
I have to say that this book totally ate my brain. I did not want to put it down and I cannot wait to dig into more of Ms. Bell's books.
Straight Shootin' Book Reviews
Copy for review provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
September 2, 2016
A wonderful second chance romance…
Jake Taylor couldn’t wait to leave his fractured home and at the age of 20, after the results of 9-11, he joins the Army. On his last leave before being deployed overseas he meets a young woman who makes him feel things that he’s never felt before, emotions so deep they confuse and frighten him. The time is not right for them though for he doesn’t know when he’ll be back or even if he’ll be one that returns. He’s never forgotten her, or the feelings that she provoked in him.
Mira Shipley met a soldier on leave and what started out as an act of rebellion against her controlling father became a memorable time spent with a man that she came to care for deeply. She was left with more than the memory of him for their union resulted in a child. Alone and pregnant at 18, not able to find the father of her child she puts college on hold and with the support of her parents tries to make the best life she can for herself and her son.
Eight years later fate decides to let their paths cross again. Neither of them are the same, life has changed them. Jake has seen death and destruction; he has returned home disabled, plagued by memories of war, friends lost and survivor’s guilt. Mira had moved across the country with her son to get away from her parents and to prove her independence and in so doing runs across the man she never expected to see again. Mira had promised herself that if she ever found Jake she would tell him of his son knowing that it would change their lives forever.
What would you do if you came face to face with the one you had always wondered about? If life gave you that second chance would you take it? Jake and Mira did, though it was not a given and there were many ups and downs. Sometimes when two people are meant to be together life finds a way of making that happen.
This was a wonderful second chance romance filled with much emotion and a very credible storyline. The years had not distinguished the passion between Jake and Mira; it had just put it on hold until they could meet again. Both Jake and Mira were likeable and compelling characters. We were given both points of view throughout the story which really let you in to what they were going through. The supporting characters were interesting and there is a strong family theme. The son, Sam, was an absolutely delightful and endearing child. This is the best work that I have read of this author and hope to see more like this.
4.5 stars
ARC provided by the publisher.
Jake Taylor couldn’t wait to leave his fractured home and at the age of 20, after the results of 9-11, he joins the Army. On his last leave before being deployed overseas he meets a young woman who makes him feel things that he’s never felt before, emotions so deep they confuse and frighten him. The time is not right for them though for he doesn’t know when he’ll be back or even if he’ll be one that returns. He’s never forgotten her, or the feelings that she provoked in him.
Mira Shipley met a soldier on leave and what started out as an act of rebellion against her controlling father became a memorable time spent with a man that she came to care for deeply. She was left with more than the memory of him for their union resulted in a child. Alone and pregnant at 18, not able to find the father of her child she puts college on hold and with the support of her parents tries to make the best life she can for herself and her son.
Eight years later fate decides to let their paths cross again. Neither of them are the same, life has changed them. Jake has seen death and destruction; he has returned home disabled, plagued by memories of war, friends lost and survivor’s guilt. Mira had moved across the country with her son to get away from her parents and to prove her independence and in so doing runs across the man she never expected to see again. Mira had promised herself that if she ever found Jake she would tell him of his son knowing that it would change their lives forever.
What would you do if you came face to face with the one you had always wondered about? If life gave you that second chance would you take it? Jake and Mira did, though it was not a given and there were many ups and downs. Sometimes when two people are meant to be together life finds a way of making that happen.
This was a wonderful second chance romance filled with much emotion and a very credible storyline. The years had not distinguished the passion between Jake and Mira; it had just put it on hold until they could meet again. Both Jake and Mira were likeable and compelling characters. We were given both points of view throughout the story which really let you in to what they were going through. The supporting characters were interesting and there is a strong family theme. The son, Sam, was an absolutely delightful and endearing child. This is the best work that I have read of this author and hope to see more like this.
4.5 stars
ARC provided by the publisher.
April 30, 2014
I don't know children. I don't know vets nor soldiers. I'm soo unromantic roses would probably wither and die in my presence.
Moreover, I don't usually like contemporary romances, because they are fake-fantasy books in disguise. They lack honesty, and often would be better shelved in the mary-sue-fantasy label of a bookstore.
Do I sound harsh? Yes. You'd be right. I am. So, if I say to you that this book was an honest to god real romance, and had me melt, you'd probably call the doctor. One of us must not feel good. But, I swear, I feel great. Romantic, almost.
Ms Bell does what few other authors do: write an honest, at times painful, book about an every-day woman. No fantastic frills to this love story, plenty of almost-gritty, certainly tough, moments. Jack isn't a war hero, isn't free of problems (neither does she). Her family is normal so is his. They really sound real, an "almost you". Even their fucking sex life is real (and tough again).
I'm pretty sure this book has its faults and nits. I can even see a few. But, guys, at the moment I don't give a damn.
Arc courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley.
Moreover, I don't usually like contemporary romances, because they are fake-fantasy books in disguise. They lack honesty, and often would be better shelved in the mary-sue-fantasy label of a bookstore.
Do I sound harsh? Yes. You'd be right. I am. So, if I say to you that this book was an honest to god real romance, and had me melt, you'd probably call the doctor. One of us must not feel good. But, I swear, I feel great. Romantic, almost.
Ms Bell does what few other authors do: write an honest, at times painful, book about an every-day woman. No fantastic frills to this love story, plenty of almost-gritty, certainly tough, moments. Jack isn't a war hero, isn't free of problems (neither does she). Her family is normal so is his. They really sound real, an "almost you". Even their fucking sex life is real (and tough again).
I'm pretty sure this book has its faults and nits. I can even see a few. But, guys, at the moment I don't give a damn.
Arc courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley.
October 1, 2016
DNF at 51%. I just couldn't take the heroine any more. She had a brief fling with a soldier just before he deployed and she became pregnant. Some years later they run into each other. He has lost the lower part of his leg during the war but desperately wants to rejoin his unit.
She had very actively sought to find him when she first knew she was going to have a baby, always intending to tell him. And, indeed she does tell him right away when they first meet again. He steps up to the plate, wants a relationship with his son, helps her out in a jam when she needs a baby sitter and finds his old feelings for her returning.
Well, she can't fight those old feelings, isn't sure she wants him in her life and pushes him away from her and his son. This poor amputee veteran, just trying to do the right thing is denied his son and I hated her. Things probably worked out in the long run, but I wasn't interested in finding out.
She had very actively sought to find him when she first knew she was going to have a baby, always intending to tell him. And, indeed she does tell him right away when they first meet again. He steps up to the plate, wants a relationship with his son, helps her out in a jam when she needs a baby sitter and finds his old feelings for her returning.
Well, she can't fight those old feelings, isn't sure she wants him in her life and pushes him away from her and his son. This poor amputee veteran, just trying to do the right thing is denied his son and I hated her. Things probably worked out in the long run, but I wasn't interested in finding out.
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August 12, 2015
Ok. I actually give this book 3.5 stars. So it's not "meh" or a "favourite".
This book was quite good. I mean, it must be hard to
I mean, it seemed like a good book. And Sam!! Gooooooooodyeee! I love you!! Be my baby.
Any way ( pointless babble) If you wanna read, read.
This book was quite good. I mean, it must be hard to
I mean, it seemed like a good book. And Sam!! Gooooooooodyeee! I love you!! Be my baby.
Any way ( pointless babble) If you wanna read, read.
May 27, 2019
To call this book "sweet" may throw some people off because it definitely has some heat to it. I think it handled some difficult subjects in sensitive and positive ways. There was insta attraction but not love. It felt like it developed pretty naturally which is enjoyable as so many books they meet and fall in love in 3 days and are getting married 3 months down the road. So to my friend who says "secret babies are my jam!" Thanks for introducing me to Jake, Mira and Sam.
July 8, 2025
3.5⭐️
March 5, 2017
Well, overall, it wasn't a horrible story, but I will say it's not a story for me personally. I just didn't like Jake at all, not in the beginning, not in the middle, not in the end. He was too stuck in that state of being miserable and took out his frustration on the one good thing in his life. Mira was willing to give him a second chance on his say so, despite being hurt by him once already. She did the right thing and tried to find him, the first ting she did upon seeing him again was tell him he had a son and he denied it. She was a good person and the way Jake's sister questioned her assuming that Mira had kept Sam away from Jake all these years was judgmental because she had no idea what has happened between them. Even after finding out that the reason Jake didn't know he had a son was partly his fault, she still didn't welcome her which pushed me off because Mira tried, she went above and beyond to find him, going on what little she knew of him and they still felt like she should have done more to find him. She tried her hardest but moved on once she saw that it was a waste of time. Not only did he give her his nickname as his name but he was the one who cut her off and didn't respond to her trying to get in touch with him.
Even in the end he was still such a jerk and didn't deserve her. Everything that came out of his mouth was negative and if he showed some growth as a character then I could be open to accepting and even liking him but he didn't. He was all about excuses about why he was the way he was, why he treated her like she was disposable, why he gave up on her and cowered away instead of fighting for her. Instead of just taking responsibility for hurting her and letting her down, admitting he screwed up and groveling, he had to explain everything and pull the victim card back onto him. No, screw that. He doesn't get my sympathy because he had plenty of time to clean up his act and prove that he wanted her and Sam and could be who they needed him to be. By the time he got his sh*t together, it was too late. I already gave up on him because he didn't show that he wanted it enough after countless attempts from Mira to make him see that she and Sam wanted him as he was.
I think Mira should have just let him go and moved with someone who wasn't afraid to go after what they wanted or at least made him work for her. She forgave him more than once in the book and didn't hold any resentment towards him when he couldn't figure out what he wanted at first. She just went with it, at his pace, and allowed him to call the shots. She was too lenient with him and let him walk all over her when she was smarter than that. She said no, he said yes, and she gave in, which made me lose just a little respect for her. My point is it took him too long to get to where she was because he kept looking for excuses not to be happy, not to find a purpose to live, he shut everyone out, he denied his own kid, and he spent so much time feeling sorry for himself that it just got really old and annoying.
This is definitely not a book I'll ever come back to revisit and I'll be very blunt, it was a hardship just to get through this book. The agony of forcing myself to keep going because I'd come so far into the story...not pretty. I'm relieved I actually finished it and I'm dreading even starting the next book since it seems to be full of angst from what I've read in the blurb. That too looks like it's going to make some stray hairs turn white. (Depressing sigh) Can't wait to get started...
Even in the end he was still such a jerk and didn't deserve her. Everything that came out of his mouth was negative and if he showed some growth as a character then I could be open to accepting and even liking him but he didn't. He was all about excuses about why he was the way he was, why he treated her like she was disposable, why he gave up on her and cowered away instead of fighting for her. Instead of just taking responsibility for hurting her and letting her down, admitting he screwed up and groveling, he had to explain everything and pull the victim card back onto him. No, screw that. He doesn't get my sympathy because he had plenty of time to clean up his act and prove that he wanted her and Sam and could be who they needed him to be. By the time he got his sh*t together, it was too late. I already gave up on him because he didn't show that he wanted it enough after countless attempts from Mira to make him see that she and Sam wanted him as he was.
I think Mira should have just let him go and moved with someone who wasn't afraid to go after what they wanted or at least made him work for her. She forgave him more than once in the book and didn't hold any resentment towards him when he couldn't figure out what he wanted at first. She just went with it, at his pace, and allowed him to call the shots. She was too lenient with him and let him walk all over her when she was smarter than that. She said no, he said yes, and she gave in, which made me lose just a little respect for her. My point is it took him too long to get to where she was because he kept looking for excuses not to be happy, not to find a purpose to live, he shut everyone out, he denied his own kid, and he spent so much time feeling sorry for himself that it just got really old and annoying.
This is definitely not a book I'll ever come back to revisit and I'll be very blunt, it was a hardship just to get through this book. The agony of forcing myself to keep going because I'd come so far into the story...not pretty. I'm relieved I actually finished it and I'm dreading even starting the next book since it seems to be full of angst from what I've read in the blurb. That too looks like it's going to make some stray hairs turn white. (Depressing sigh) Can't wait to get started...
February 24, 2019
A wounded soldier, single Mom and an adorable seven year old. I laughed and cried through this whole book!
Full review to follow.......
Full review to follow.......
December 29, 2014
HOLY beGEESUS! Nothing I love more than a second chance/time around story and throw a child in the mix and I AM A GONER!
I'm in love with Serena Bell! If I was a lesbian, I would totally have to have her mind! LOL She has a way with writing, I tell ya. She grabbed me and would not let go with this story. I felt EVERYTHING they felt. GAWD!
I just loved this very emotional, heart-wrenching and heart-warming story! It was so endearing and intense and damn right hot, which just warmed me to my core. It had characters you could relate to and fell for and love and cheer on. It just had everything, darnit! LOL EVEN DUAL POV ~ which is aaaaawesome! You don't have to guess or figure out anything!
I'm not one to give away plot, so I won't, but I will say that both Jake and Mira not only have to find themselves as individuals in this story but also their HEA ~ which of course it is meant to be!
It's a roller-coaster of emotions and you'll be sorry if you pass this up! I am forever grateful to NETGALLEY & Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept for providing me a copy on this novel in exchange for an honest review because now I have found another phenomenal author I can look forward to reading! THANK YOU THANK YOU :)
I'm in love with Serena Bell! If I was a lesbian, I would totally have to have her mind! LOL She has a way with writing, I tell ya. She grabbed me and would not let go with this story. I felt EVERYTHING they felt. GAWD!
I just loved this very emotional, heart-wrenching and heart-warming story! It was so endearing and intense and damn right hot, which just warmed me to my core. It had characters you could relate to and fell for and love and cheer on. It just had everything, darnit! LOL EVEN DUAL POV ~ which is aaaaawesome! You don't have to guess or figure out anything!
I'm not one to give away plot, so I won't, but I will say that both Jake and Mira not only have to find themselves as individuals in this story but also their HEA ~ which of course it is meant to be!
It's a roller-coaster of emotions and you'll be sorry if you pass this up! I am forever grateful to NETGALLEY & Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept for providing me a copy on this novel in exchange for an honest review because now I have found another phenomenal author I can look forward to reading! THANK YOU THANK YOU :)
May 15, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. The first chapter was fantastic and completely hooked me. I immediately liked and respected the heroine Mira. She was a single mother determined to be independent and make it on her own, which I really admired. Mira was level-headed, responsible and an amazing mother to Sam, whom I adored! Sam was such a smart, caring and adorable boy. He absolutely stole my heart! The hero, Jake, was a soldier who was seriously injured in Afghanistan and was struggling. He was at a crossroads, trying to figure out his life when he becomes reacquainted with Mira. Mira and Sam helped bring Jake out of the darkness and back to life.
Jake and Mira had tremendous chemistry right from the beginning. They shared some pretty sexy times together . And the scenes between Sam and Jake were so sweet and heartwarming.
This is the second book I’ve read from this author and it definitely won’t be my last. I’ve become a real fan of her writing. If you like realistic, engaging romance with relatable characters that you can root for, then I highly recommend Hold on Tight.
Jake and Mira had tremendous chemistry right from the beginning. They shared some pretty sexy times together . And the scenes between Sam and Jake were so sweet and heartwarming.
This is the second book I’ve read from this author and it definitely won’t be my last. I’ve become a real fan of her writing. If you like realistic, engaging romance with relatable characters that you can root for, then I highly recommend Hold on Tight.
February 20, 2015
Wow. What a great read. This was the story of Jake and Mira, who met eight years ago and spent a month together before Jake went to Afghanistan. Their one night ended badly, Jake left, and Mira couldn't find him after to tell him about the consequences of the night. Flash forward to today and they run into each other at the physical therapists office. Jake is a grumpy guy who was injured in the war and Mira is a single mom. Their connection is still there and holy moley, are they hot together! As your reading, you can feel their frustration and love toward each other. And for the record, Jake grovels fantastic ;)
June 17, 2014
I loved this book! The main character, Mira, is strong, sweet, funny, patient and just awesome. She's a single mom to a super cute and smart 7 year old boy, Sam. I loved Sam! There was so much about this book to love. I love the relationship development between Jake and Mira. I love how strong Jake is even when he doesn't realize it. I loved that there wasn't a lot of stupid drama. I was actually sad when this book was over because I liked these characters so much. Fantastic book, highly recommend!
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
August 3, 2015
First let me say I have the upmost respect for our men and women in the service. My review of the book is not to be perceived as being insensitive to the characters situations it is sticky based on the writing. I felt I had to push myself to keep reading. There was not enough dialogue and interaction between characters and a crap load of inner thought processes that it border lined overload. I found myself skimming the book. It was just so boring for a majority of the book.
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