Cheer for Rose Morgan—strong, determined and driven—a brilliant publicist who thought she had finally overcome her tragic past when, once again, her life is turned upside down. Rose and Cole’s passionate love story continues in this second full-length novel in The Hold Series.
Distraught by news of Cole’s unexpected marriage, Rose Morgan tries to pick up the pieces of her life, only to be confronted by Cole at every turn. With her PR career in serious jeopardy, Rose can’t escape his orbit and is forced to continue working on his account. Under snowballing pressure, she seeks solace from unlikely sources.
Reeling from the disastrous fallout after his drunken night in Las Vegas, rock star Cole Manchester is a tormented man. He reaches out to Rose, the one woman who has always fixed his mistakes, only to realize that he might have pushed her away forever. Now, he’ll do whatever it takes to get her back.
Rose and Cole each must face their deepest fears if their love is to survive. But Cole’s stalker is becoming increasingly unhinged … and dangerous. In the end, Rose and Cole must decide if some things are just too Hard to Hold.
Distraught by news of Cole’s unexpected marriage, Rose Morgan tries to pick up the pieces of her life, only to be confronted by Cole at every turn. With her PR career in serious jeopardy, Rose can’t escape his orbit and is forced to continue working on his account. Under snowballing pressure, she seeks solace from unlikely sources.
Reeling from the disastrous fallout after his drunken night in Las Vegas, rock star Cole Manchester is a tormented man. He reaches out to Rose, the one woman who has always fixed his mistakes, only to realize that he might have pushed her away forever. Now, he’ll do whatever it takes to get her back.
Rose and Cole each must face their deepest fears if their love is to survive. But Cole’s stalker is becoming increasingly unhinged … and dangerous. In the end, Rose and Cole must decide if some things are just too Hard to Hold.
EXCERPT:
… I grab my purse and yank the door open. Of course, one of my nails breaks in the effort, but I’m beyond caring. I just need to escape. I rush past the cubicles toward the elevator. I’m sure no one even noticed that I left, except maybe Kim, who probably feels triumphant.
A heavy hand lands on my arm, abruptly halting my progress toward the lobby and freedom. A deep male voice growls in my ear. “I said stop."
When I look up, angry green eyes bore down into me. Cole glances around and pulls us into an unoccupied office.
“Rose."
I reply through gritted teeth, “Cole."
“We need to talk."
“This isn’t the time or the place."
“I don’t give a fuck.” He runs a hand through his hair. His eyes now register hurt and anger in equal measure. My defenses start to lower, so I work double-time to shore them back up. “Ro, this is killing me."
“You don’t think it’s killing me, too?” Refusing to look back into his eyes, I feign a sudden fascination with my hand, rubbing my broken nail over my index finger. Polish has chipped off that nail, too.
“The photos. Mom. Us. It’s too much."
“Kim can provide an objective eye. Let her help you."
He takes hold of my shoulders. “Fuck, I can’t do that. Everything is so out of whack. I need you."
Refusing to look at him, I close my eyes. Which only intensifies my awareness of him. The heat emanating from his body, the way his fingers tighten and loosen on my shoulders. His musky scent. I could step forward and be in his embrace. It would comfort both of us. But no, he has to go through those photos. I need him to focus on the task at hand.
“Can you please help me with the photos? Nothing more. I just. Can’t. Think.” His large frame shudders.
Julie was a wonderful woman. Those photographs show her love for him. I can’t let him go through this alone.
“Yes,” I whisper, surprising us both.
He wraps me in his embrace. Being surrounded by his arms is heaven. I inhale his intoxicating scent, allowing myself to enjoy being here, my face pressed against his chest, his chin on top of my head.
A few moments pass. I need to stop this. We’re not a couple anymore. The words “Mrs. Starr Manchester” flash before my closed eyes.
BUY LINKS: AMAZON (US) | AMAZON (UK) | AMAZON (AU) | KOBO | BN | iBOOKS
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
With the jaw-dropping cliffhanger from the previous installment in this series still running through my mind, and weighing down my hopes for a HEA for Cole and Rose, I was eagerly anticipating this book. From the very first page readers were quickly caught up in the chaos and hurt feelings a single act generated. As the fall-out from that drunken night takes over the narrative, the love between Cole and Rose is put through the wringer and leaves readers aching for them. Add in the increasingly erratic and desperate measures of a crazed fan and not only is the relationship hanging in the balance but so too are their very lives.
Cole's left frustrated and angry at the start of this story. He's heartbroken over the assumption he made when seeing Rose with her ex and desperate to undo what alcohol and hurt led him to. While his PR firm tries to clean-up some of the mess, he sets out to win Rose back by any means necessary. Seeing Cole so broken made my heart ache. All along all he's wanted was Rose, but her devotion to her work forced him to keep his feelings hidden. He steps up his sexual onslaught in this story though, skirting ever closer to letting the world know who he loves. While he lavishes her with endless love and devotion, along with supportive nudges to start her own firm, he's also trying to keep her safe from his stalker whose attacks are becoming more aggressive. The time he and Rose spend together is full of decadent delights that burned up my eReader with scorching sexual encounters and lots of dirty talk in and out of the bedroom. There were also quiet moments that showed him with his heart on his sleeve that reminded me of why I fell for him in the first place. He loved Rose completely, needed her realness in his life as he's tired of the superficiality, and I was frustrated once again by her continuing to keep their relationship hidden.
Just as Rose is ready to take another step forward with Cole what happened in Vegas hits the internet and she's left reeling. Though she's hurt and tries to stay away from him her heart, as well as his charming and sexy attempts to get her back, drive her to discover the truth. Trying to protect Cole though leaves her career hanging in the balance, and brings out the cattiness of some of her co-workers, which again has her treating Cole like a dirty little secret. When she's not stressing over her job readers get to enjoy moments of sweetness balanced with erotically-charged encounters. Just as Cole's stalker meets her face-to-face though everything implodes in a fiery conclusion that left me gasping. Rose is a likable heroine tainted by her mother's teachings, teachings that leave her doubting Cole's commitment to her, and desperate to keep a job that she's increasingly becoming unhappy with just to keep making money. She's willing to sell her soul, and put her HEA in jeopardy, to stay with her vile and manipulative boss Greta. Rose's low self-esteem frustrated me as Cole did nothing to deserve her doubts as she's the one who constantly pushes him into the shadows. With the life-altering conclusion readers are left with I can only guess at what comes next for her as her HEA is once again snatched away.
This story went on a bit too long in dealing with the Las Vegas fall-out. It was a bit overly melodramatic as the outcome was obvious from the start. The time did allow readers to enjoy the scorching and captivating romance between Cole and Rose though as they're connection is crackling. Though Rose's actions often left me frustrated it was Cole who kept me swooning in a romantic narrative that was nicely balanced with the desperate actions of his stalker who got braver as the story went on. Her final act certainly left an indelible mark that has me clamoring to get the next book! Along with a compelling main couple came a very likable cast of secondary characters who find themselves pairing off too. From the sexy Ozzy and spunky McKenna to Cole's bodyguard falling for a surprising woman. It all adds up to an exhilarating and scorching thrill ride that once again left me screeching!
Cole's left frustrated and angry at the start of this story. He's heartbroken over the assumption he made when seeing Rose with her ex and desperate to undo what alcohol and hurt led him to. While his PR firm tries to clean-up some of the mess, he sets out to win Rose back by any means necessary. Seeing Cole so broken made my heart ache. All along all he's wanted was Rose, but her devotion to her work forced him to keep his feelings hidden. He steps up his sexual onslaught in this story though, skirting ever closer to letting the world know who he loves. While he lavishes her with endless love and devotion, along with supportive nudges to start her own firm, he's also trying to keep her safe from his stalker whose attacks are becoming more aggressive. The time he and Rose spend together is full of decadent delights that burned up my eReader with scorching sexual encounters and lots of dirty talk in and out of the bedroom. There were also quiet moments that showed him with his heart on his sleeve that reminded me of why I fell for him in the first place. He loved Rose completely, needed her realness in his life as he's tired of the superficiality, and I was frustrated once again by her continuing to keep their relationship hidden.
Just as Rose is ready to take another step forward with Cole what happened in Vegas hits the internet and she's left reeling. Though she's hurt and tries to stay away from him her heart, as well as his charming and sexy attempts to get her back, drive her to discover the truth. Trying to protect Cole though leaves her career hanging in the balance, and brings out the cattiness of some of her co-workers, which again has her treating Cole like a dirty little secret. When she's not stressing over her job readers get to enjoy moments of sweetness balanced with erotically-charged encounters. Just as Cole's stalker meets her face-to-face though everything implodes in a fiery conclusion that left me gasping. Rose is a likable heroine tainted by her mother's teachings, teachings that leave her doubting Cole's commitment to her, and desperate to keep a job that she's increasingly becoming unhappy with just to keep making money. She's willing to sell her soul, and put her HEA in jeopardy, to stay with her vile and manipulative boss Greta. Rose's low self-esteem frustrated me as Cole did nothing to deserve her doubts as she's the one who constantly pushes him into the shadows. With the life-altering conclusion readers are left with I can only guess at what comes next for her as her HEA is once again snatched away.
This story went on a bit too long in dealing with the Las Vegas fall-out. It was a bit overly melodramatic as the outcome was obvious from the start. The time did allow readers to enjoy the scorching and captivating romance between Cole and Rose though as they're connection is crackling. Though Rose's actions often left me frustrated it was Cole who kept me swooning in a romantic narrative that was nicely balanced with the desperate actions of his stalker who got braver as the story went on. Her final act certainly left an indelible mark that has me clamoring to get the next book! Along with a compelling main couple came a very likable cast of secondary characters who find themselves pairing off too. From the sexy Ozzy and spunky McKenna to Cole's bodyguard falling for a surprising woman. It all adds up to an exhilarating and scorching thrill ride that once again left me screeching!
My rating for this is a B.
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
HARD TO HOLD PLAYLIST
1. “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” by Kelly Clarkson ~ Rose Morgan assigns this as a ringtone for a reason.
2. “Cuts Like a Knife” by Bryan Adams ~ Cole Manchester and Ozzy Martinez sing this song in a restaurant.
3. “Don’t Wanna Know” by Maroon 5 ~ I feel this song captures both Rose and Cole’s moods!
4. “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten ~ Go, Rose!
5. “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye, feat. Kimbra ~ again, Rose and Cole have to go through this.
6. “Paparazzi” by Lady Gaga ~ this is Cole and Rose’s lives.
7. “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” by Meghan Trainor, feat. John Legend ~ no one is promised tomorrow.
8. “Photograph” by Ed Sheeran ~ photographs play a big part in Hard to Hold.
9. “Sunday Morning” by Maroon 5 ~ beautiful love song for Cole and Rose!
10. “Pillowtalk” by Zayn ~ Hard to Hold is a contemporary romance, after all!
11. “Killer Cars” by Radiohead ~ you have to read Hard to Hold to find out!
HERE ARE THE OTHER BOOKS IN THE HOLD SERIES...
NO ONE TO HOLD (Book #1)
BUY LINKS: AMAZON (US) | AMAZON (UK) | AMAZON (AU) | KOBO | BN | iBOOKS
*My previous review of this book HERE.
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD (Book #3)
BUY LINKS: AMAZON (US) | AMAZON (UK) | AMAZON (AU) | KOBO | BN | iBOOKS
For as long as I can remember, I have been lost in a book. During my senior year in college, I picked up a Danielle Steel novel … and instantly was hooked on romance.
I started writing my first novel, No One to Hold, because the characters were screaming at me to do so. The story started coming out in my dreams and attacking me in the shower, so I took to the computer to shut them up. But they kept talking.
Born and raised in New Jersey, I have what some may call a “checkered past.” Prior to discovering my passion for writing romance, I practiced law, was a wedding and event planner and even dabbled in marketing. I live with a very supportive husband and two mischievous cats. When not in my writing cave, I can be found making dinner in the crock pot, working out with Shaun T or hitting the beach.
I hope you enjoy my stories about driven men, strong women and the passions that ignite!
**********GIVEAWAY**********
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Thank you so much for your very thoughtful review! I really appreciate your insights.
ReplyDeleteThank YOU for stoping by and for your kind words! I'm going to be reading the final installment soon and am looking forward to it wholeheartedly. Thanks for crafting such a delicious hero and engaging story!
DeleteThe Scarf Princess