Tuesday, July 8, 2014

ARC Review: 4 stars for Hold On Tight by Serena Bell



In Serena Bell’s heartwarming novel, a young mother and a battle-scarred veteran must decide if they can rekindle the sparks they once shared.

Fighting for his country gave Jake Taylor’s life shape and meaning. Now as an injured war hero he struggles to find purpose, until he runs into the gorgeous woman he dated briefly—and disastrously—before being deployed eight years ago. Turns out Jake doesn’t just need to figure out how to be a civilian . . . he also needs to learn how to be a dad.

Eighteen, pregnant, and totally lost, Mira Shipley couldn’t track down the soldier who fathered her child, so she put college on hold and focused on making a good life for her son. Now she’s determined to be something more than Sam’s mom, her parents’ daughter, or Jake’s girl—as hot as she finds her old flame’s take-charge attitude in and out of bed. Soon Mira and Jake realize that their passion didn’t disappear when Sam was conceived—and that instead of running away, sometimes it’s better to hold on tight.



Buy Links:  Amazon         Barnes & Noble


What I thought about Hold On Tight


I'm a bit of a sucker for a military romance, so I had a feeling when I started this I would like it, and I've got to say that Serena Bell's Hold On Tight was everything I wanted in this genre.

Mira and Jake have a brief fling that is part rebellion on Mira's part and military leave playtime for Jake. Neither one is ready for the feelings they develop and in a very sad and surprising scene, they decide that it's best if they part ways. Of course, Mira has no idea that the few seconds of fooling around sans-condom will have a lasting impact on her life. She tries to find Jake without any luck, and ends up being a single-mom for the last seven years.

Jake is a lifer in the military, until a devastating IED incident in Afghanistan not only takes his best friend's life, but also Jake's leg. He's rehabbing back home, just around the time when Mira decides to cut the apron strings with her parents in Florida to move back to Seattle. As fate would have it, Mira and Jake run into each other and so begins their second chance.

Over the remainder of the story, both Mira and Jake struggle through many different feelings as they try to determine what their relationship is going to be. Will they be able to sort out the obvious attraction still between them? Can Jake get over his insecurities and fears of having a family of his own? And can they even have a relationship without Sam getting hurt in some way?

For me, the most interesting part of this story was how they would resolve their relationship, after being somewhat forced together because of their child. I liked that they both had doubts and nothing was resolved quickly or easily.

This was a very enjoyable read for me. Recommended when you want a sweet second chance love story.


Arc courtesy of Loveswept and Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

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