Hold Me Close

Ryker Falls #5

by Wendy Vella, Lani Blake

The life he has always known is about to change

Findlay Hudson landed in Ryker Falls, Colorado, leaving a dysfunctional family and his bad attitude behind. He has friends he now thinks of as family, and considers himself happy. All that changes when Maggie Winter, a sexy, alluring red-head, returns to Ryker Falls. She’s had her big London adventure, but Maggie’s clearly hurting and vulnerable now.

They’d always struck sparks off each other, but never moved on them. Second time around though, Fin doesn’t seem able to keep his distance, and suddenly the comfortable life he’d always thought he wanted is turned on its head. Maggie’s arrival brings overwhelming desire and hidden threats. Now Fin’s embroiled in a potential homicide, his estranged father arrives in town, and Maggie… well, Maggie, slides into his heart and this time he can’t shake her.

Coming home was meant to heal her

Maggie Winters left home excited for her big adventure, then everything changed one chilling day when she faced an horrific attack. Determined to put the trauma behind her, she arrives in Ryker Falls, ready for the best acting job of her life. Of course, she’d counted on Fin Hudson, a long tall drink of handsomeness who had always made her feel a little off balance, still keeping his distance. Turns out she was wrong. Way wrong.

Maggie’s defences are weakened and now Fin wants to know what she’s hiding and he’ll do whatever it takes to find out. Fin Hudson could seduce secrets from a stone, but Maggie is no pushover.

With a murder to solve, scars to hide and a business to run, she doesn’t have time for love.

But kisses that touch her soul, a confession and the cheering squad of a close-knit community give her the strength to accept that she and Fin deserve a chance.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

326 pages, Paperback

First published December 4, 2020

About the author

Wendy Vella is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of historical romances filled with mystery, intrigue, unconventional heroines, and dashing heroes.

Connect with Wendy in her Facebook reader group facebook.com/groups/wendyvellareaders or sign up for her reader newsletter at WendyVella.com to get goodies, exclusive excerpts and behind-the-scenes peeks.


Wendy also writes small town contemporary romances under the name Lani Blake.

Reviews

[Wendy Vella]

Preorder now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08...

Checkout the excerpt below to read a snippet of Mags and Fins story:
“Hey, you ok there?”

Every muscle in her body clenched at the deep words. She knew that voice. Knew the disturbing male it belonged too, but wasn’t ready to face him yet.

“It has to be noted the fur ball is good for a hug, but I’m pretty good too. I mean some even say better because you don’t get a mouthful of fur.”

She couldn’t stay here, her face pressed into Buzz’s fur, forever. She’d have to get up. Giving the dog a last squeeze, Maggie regained her feet.

“Hello, Fin.”

“Maggie?”

Fin Hudson, a long tall drink of handsomeness who had always made her feel a little off balance. The one man she couldn’t dismiss no matter how hard she’d tried. He still had a smile playing on his lips telling her he was thinking about something that would make her knees go weak.

It wouldn’t turn her weak though. Maggie had other things to think about now, and men were definitely not one of them. In fact she wasn’t sure she’d ever be ready to have a relationship again. The man who understood her now would need to be one with really broad shoulders and compassion. Plus patience, he’d need buckets of that.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This newest book in the Ryker Falls series can be read as a stand alone, but I recommend reading it as a series. The main characters have been dancing around each other since book one and I had been hoping they would get their own story. It was worth the wait! I love how Wendy Vella has created this awesome dynamic with the small Colorado town, each character brings something to the story from funny to serious. As the main characters are slowly discovering their love for each other while battling their own demons, there's a mystery hanging over the town. Very good read!

[Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Maggs and Fin's story. As always, Wendy's characters are quirky, bold and interesting.

[Suzzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved revisiting Ryker Falls. Mags and Fin’s story was exactly what I needed to escape the craziness of my world. I was gifted this book as an arc read. I voluntarily give my review. This is my honest review.

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have adored each and every book in this series so far and this is no exception! Fin and Maggie have had a spark for years but when she moves back to Ryker Falls they reconnect and get their chance at happiness.
There are numerous issues in their way including PTSD, broken relationships and even a murder.
I love that we get to catch up with the previous characters, I love that we get to see so much of the town folk, some of them are just so amusing and I love that these books get there happy ever afters, well worth reading the whole series

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yay! Finally Fin and Maggie's story! It's been a long time coming and it was great! Maggie and Fin have danced around one another since the very beginning. And though they were in denial, everyone else knew there were definitely sparks between the two of them. And in the previous book Maggie had left for a new adventure. Now she is back and things have changed. First off, Maggie has changed. She went through a horrible thing in England and instead of telling anyone, she kept it in believing that she could move past it. She survived, surely that was enough. It wasn't. As soon as she enters Ryker Falls Fin is the first person she sees and he notices right away. Her spark is gone and that is not okay with Fin. Fin is starting to wake up and realize that Maggie may just be the one for him and when she returns he knows something has happened. Now he just needs to figure out what it is and to get her to open up to him. And if that wasn't enough, Fin finds remains in the woods and evidence shows that there could have been a murder at Ryker Falls. But is the killer still around? Maggie and Fin are just perfect for one another. I loved reading their story. It was a long time coming and it was perfect. I adore this series and I cannot wait for more!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lou · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really excited for this story, but it was such a disappointment. I really liked Finn and have liked him in all the previous stories and liked Maggie in the previous stories but found her character to be confusing with no reason to root for her in this story.

I found Maggie’s reasoning for not telling anyone about what happened to her makes zero sense. It also makes no sense that no one figured out what happened sooner. I think they were all totally justified to feel upset that she didn’t tell them what had happened.

By the end of it, it just seemed like such a copy of Ted and Mandy’s story. Like especially the conversation after she was saved ‘you made me brave’ or whatever. It didn’t make any sense because he hadn’t done anything to make her brave. Like I do like Finn and I think he helped her but to make that declaration just felt like the author’s recycling books.

[Mireille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome back to Ryker Falls. Maggie comes home after working in London. Maggie has a secret. Finn has always had a “thing” for Maggie and notices that all is not right. Sparks fly between the two of them. Everyone knows that you can’t keep a secret for long if you live in Ryker Falls. Reading this book felt like coming home and catching up with the family. This book has love, intrigue and murder. What more can you ask for! I want to live in Ryker Falls.

[Wendy Faulkner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of this book. Another book in the Ryker Falls Series. Maggie, the art gallery owner has secrets about London and Fin the Park Ranger has major family issues. Sparks fly between the two old friends but they are both running from their own personal demons. This book was funny and exciting and I had a hard time putting it down!

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise that Maggie owes anybody her story be it her brother, her friends or Fin is something I just can not get behind. Everyone making her feel guilty for not reaching out and their anger at the expense of her lived experience was not okay. Way to make it about them. With friends and family like this as the old saying goes.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggs comes home after two years in London, where something happened to her. Fin has problems with his family.
They had sparks flying before Maggie left and now these sparks enlighten the fire between the two for real.
They have to overcome their problems and solve the mystery of a human femur Fin found in the mountains.

All in all another good romance by Wendy Vella, a 4.5 star read for me.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received advanced copy and just finished. Have read all the books in this series and this story is my favorite. Fin and Maggie were always there in the background, making you wonder what will happen with them. Their story is complex, funny and, of course, full of love.

[April Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

At last

Fin and Maggie finally get their story, and once again nothing about this story is predictable. Maggie has been through hell, but wanted no one to know. Fin was never going to let that stand. See how he finally get all he wants.

[Sarah Schultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book, but about halfway through it started to feel like a chore to read. It seemed to drag. I did like the small town quirks that were woven into the story. It had a Stars Hollow feel to it. Unfortunately it wasn't enough for me to love it.

[Catherine L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

so good

I liked the storyline. I liked the characters even though I was 4 books behind. But I especially liked the smack talk between the various characters —so true!

[Glenda Bettin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute couple

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I've waited the entire series this far for this love story to play out !! I naturally read it in a day because I needed to know what would happen, and I loved it !

[Feija]

5/5 ⭐️ I loved this book!!