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pattyfgd's review against another edition
5.0
I am a huge Melanie Harlow fan and when I heard she was teaming up with Corinne Michaels for this book, I was excited, but even more so when the narrators chosen were Andi Arndt and Tor Thom! This is a beautiful, heart wrenching, frustrating, passionate, happy second chance romance. Ian and London finally got together for London's senior prom, declaring their love for each other, only to have it torn to shreds the next day. After years of anger and animosity, the two are brought back together under the worst of circumstances. Ian's sister, London's best friend dies unexpectedly and her three children are now in the care of Ian. He desperately needs help, and who better qualified than London. The kids know her well, and it will help with the transition. Michaels and Harlow masterfully piece together this romance with these two, each having their own issues to work through. With grief, and the responsibility of 3 children, this couple takes all their anger and frustration on each other, with a combustible chemistry underlying every dig. I love the true to life relationship these two have. Ian is so much the macho, alpha, he will take care of everything, he knows what is best until he doesn't. London is vulnerable and insecure in herself when it comes to men, but with the children she is spot on. Their push-pull relationship is so easily relatable, and their banter perfect. The combination is memorizing, keeping me focused for 7 hours of this book, wondering how things will progress and if it will work out. I do think there are a couple of breakout characters as well, the three children are amazing, but my favorite is Ian's sister Sabrina. She is a no hold barred woman, telling things as she sees them and is accurate with every sentence. I loved her! This author team melds their novel together seamlessly and I am hoping to see more from this combination.
Add to this incredible book, two incredible narrators. The team of Tor Thom and Andi Arndt brought magic to this story. A better Ian could not have been chose, Tor Thom gives Ian just enough confidence to make him that strong alpha, yet that hint of insecurity and vulnerability when it comes to the kids. I loved his inflections and ability to give off the emotions that Ian was feeling. Andi Arndt is always amazing, but I really loved her portrayal of London. She had London's animosity towards Ian down to pat, yet you could still feel the love she had for him. Together this team made me sad, happy, angry and full of love, a wonderfully satisfying listen.
Add to this incredible book, two incredible narrators. The team of Tor Thom and Andi Arndt brought magic to this story. A better Ian could not have been chose, Tor Thom gives Ian just enough confidence to make him that strong alpha, yet that hint of insecurity and vulnerability when it comes to the kids. I loved his inflections and ability to give off the emotions that Ian was feeling. Andi Arndt is always amazing, but I really loved her portrayal of London. She had London's animosity towards Ian down to pat, yet you could still feel the love she had for him. Together this team made me sad, happy, angry and full of love, a wonderfully satisfying listen.
beckyrendon's review against another edition
5.0
You can't hold me close enough!
This book is everything a romance reader needs. Everything!
"Unrequited" crush on your bestie's older brother...check!
A heartbreaking event that changes her crush...check!
A lasting hatred because the crush gas not gone away...check!
A traumatic incident pushing them together...check!
Happily after ever...check. (also known as Happily Ever After)
What you can also expect is waterworks...100% made me cry. I cried the stupid ugly tears even knowing 110% what was going to happen- I cried. I would be ashamed if I had any pride...no I wouldn't. I'm a hopeless romantic and I own it. Hold You Close is just the kind of romance that is like an adrenaline boost to a sappy romantics "romance drive". Its the solar energy needed to refill your hopeless romantic energy panel. It's the stuff fantasies are made of, little girls dream of, and Disney makes animated movies about.
This book is everything a romance reader needs. Everything!
"Unrequited" crush on your bestie's older brother...check!
A heartbreaking event that changes her crush...check!
A lasting hatred because the crush gas not gone away...check!
A traumatic incident pushing them together...check!
Happily after ever...check. (also known as Happily Ever After)
What you can also expect is waterworks...100% made me cry. I cried the stupid ugly tears even knowing 110% what was going to happen- I cried. I would be ashamed if I had any pride...no I wouldn't. I'm a hopeless romantic and I own it. Hold You Close is just the kind of romance that is like an adrenaline boost to a sappy romantics "romance drive". Its the solar energy needed to refill your hopeless romantic energy panel. It's the stuff fantasies are made of, little girls dream of, and Disney makes animated movies about.
caseroo7's review against another edition
3.0
Ian was really frustrating to me. I liked him with London, but I couldn't fully get over some of the things he did. This one was just okay for me.
mycatismybookmark's review
3.0
“Loving Ian was never really a choice, though. He’s always been the guy for me. I just wish my heart knew he was the wrong one.”
I haven’t yet read Corrine Michaels but I adore Melanie Harlow’s writing, and these two seem to make a good writing duo.
Hold You Close has all the swoony elements that fans of second-chance romance would love: emotion, angst, and drama. London and Ian’s story delivers it all, along with some laughter to balance out the Disney level trauma Harlow and Michaels dealt these characters.
While I liked the elements overall, London and Ian harbored almost twenty years of loathing, bitterness, and misunderstanding toward each other, and jumping into a physical relationship got in the way of the rebuilding, redemption, and emotional healing that these two needed to go through, making their actions come off as rather immature.
Great banter, good storyline, but overall too much angst before the HEA for my taste. I liked it, but I didn’t love it.
I haven’t yet read Corrine Michaels but I adore Melanie Harlow’s writing, and these two seem to make a good writing duo.
Hold You Close has all the swoony elements that fans of second-chance romance would love: emotion, angst, and drama. London and Ian’s story delivers it all, along with some laughter to balance out the Disney level trauma Harlow and Michaels dealt these characters.
While I liked the elements overall, London and Ian harbored almost twenty years of loathing, bitterness, and misunderstanding toward each other, and jumping into a physical relationship got in the way of the rebuilding, redemption, and emotional healing that these two needed to go through, making their actions come off as rather immature.
Great banter, good storyline, but overall too much angst before the HEA for my taste. I liked it, but I didn’t love it.
ashcash04's review against another edition
2.0
DRAMATIC. That is the word I would use to describe this book. I will admit part of it is because I didn't know what I was getting into. This book had so much potential with the synopsis, but it is basically smut and that was highly disappointing. Childish anger seems to be a common theme (of books I've read not realizing they would be smut). Books like this are so hot and cold, I'm assuming operating under the guise of passion, but it falls flat for me. I read these and think, is this all flair to try to put on a show for the reader, or do people actually talk like this? The fights and relationship were so incredibly immature and annoying. It was like instalove but bipolar to where they immediately hated each other and then loved each other and back and forth.
I've read a few books by Corinne Michael's, the Arrowwood brothers definitely being her best. Her writing is very hit or miss with me. This book, though cowritten, was a miss.
I've read a few books by Corinne Michael's, the Arrowwood brothers definitely being her best. Her writing is very hit or miss with me. This book, though cowritten, was a miss.
bookishblasian's review against another edition
3.0
Great story line, but I'm kind of disappointed? Maybe my standards have increased because I haven't read an OMG THIS IS SO GOOD book in a while. I was super excited to see something from Corinne Michaels because We Own Tonight and One Last Time are probably two of my favorite books of this year. This one just didn't do it for me.
If I'm being completely honest, I almost didn't make it past the first chapter. I HATE not finishing books so I pressed on, thinking that it would get better. When he said that he loved her too and she offered to give up Northwestern for him I seriously thought WOW. This is going to be one of those books. I felt slightly better when he showed up with that other girl because it meant that the story wouldn't play out exactly like I had imagined. This was strike 1.
Also, can I just say how pissed I am that they buried empty caskets and then never once in the story thought to find the bodies or mention the accident ever again? I would've even gotten closure if they saw on the news that the authorities were going to stop searching. ANYTHING but leaving it at empty caskets.
Does anyone feel like they didn't see a relationship develop at all with Ian and London? If that first chapter was supposed to convince me of their love, it didn't. Not at all. It would've been more believable if they kept doing flashbacks. Say, London has a crush on her bff's brother. Then, he comes back from college and takes her to prom. Then her and Sabrina go to visit him in college and they share a secret kiss. Then they spend the next few years texting and talking. Then they have sex and it's magical. THEN maybe at his grad party London sees him with another girl. I feel like their relationship never developed to the point where he would have feelings for her. Wanting to kiss her at some parties not enough to convince me that he loved her. Nope. Not good enough. The whole story bothered me because I never believed their relationship. I didn't feel it. As adults, London kept saying how bad they were together (mind you they were never actually together except for the one night that we know of). Yet, she continues to give in time and time again. While we are on the subject, their sex was really subpar. I love a good sex scene, but I kept skipping through theirs. "You're so hard." "You make me so hard." "My cock is rock hard." Also, can we retire THANK FUCK? I'm tired of seeing it and it was honestly not even cool in Fifty Shades. No one says this. NO ONE. Yet all these new adult authors use it. Ugh.
Can we also talk about how he treated London? I would've written him off the moment the said "Nothing, just that I thought I already had that. But seems the women I fuck aren't able to hold up their end of the bargain. Or maybe it's just the one I fucked last night." I would've been done after that honestly. He kept hurting her feelings over and over and then just solved things by having sex. How does that make sense? This bugs me in books so much.
Speaking of what bugs me, I love that London told him to stop mansplaining to her. He did it back then and then tried to do it again. I don't even see how he was so in love that he had to break her heart to take the scholarship. I don't see how this broke his heart too because I never felt their relationship. I also don't see how young Morgan could say "Why should you get to make it for her?" talking about London's choice to take the job or not. How is this kid smarter than he is?
Despite how much I hated their entire relationship, I loved the story line of this book. I think it would make a great Hallmark movie. It could've been executed much better, but it wasn't half bad. I'll have to say that naming their baby Sabrina was one of the best parts (although that's what made me wonder if they ever found survivors/bodies).
If I'm being completely honest, I almost didn't make it past the first chapter. I HATE not finishing books so I pressed on, thinking that it would get better. When he said that he loved her too and she offered to give up Northwestern for him I seriously thought WOW. This is going to be one of those books. I felt slightly better when he showed up with that other girl because it meant that the story wouldn't play out exactly like I had imagined. This was strike 1.
Also, can I just say how pissed I am that they buried empty caskets and then never once in the story thought to find the bodies or mention the accident ever again? I would've even gotten closure if they saw on the news that the authorities were going to stop searching. ANYTHING but leaving it at empty caskets.
Does anyone feel like they didn't see a relationship develop at all with Ian and London? If that first chapter was supposed to convince me of their love, it didn't. Not at all. It would've been more believable if they kept doing flashbacks. Say, London has a crush on her bff's brother. Then, he comes back from college and takes her to prom. Then her and Sabrina go to visit him in college and they share a secret kiss. Then they spend the next few years texting and talking. Then they have sex and it's magical. THEN maybe at his grad party London sees him with another girl. I feel like their relationship never developed to the point where he would have feelings for her. Wanting to kiss her at some parties not enough to convince me that he loved her. Nope. Not good enough. The whole story bothered me because I never believed their relationship. I didn't feel it. As adults, London kept saying how bad they were together (mind you they were never actually together except for the one night that we know of). Yet, she continues to give in time and time again. While we are on the subject, their sex was really subpar. I love a good sex scene, but I kept skipping through theirs. "You're so hard." "You make me so hard." "My cock is rock hard." Also, can we retire THANK FUCK? I'm tired of seeing it and it was honestly not even cool in Fifty Shades. No one says this. NO ONE. Yet all these new adult authors use it. Ugh.
Can we also talk about how he treated London? I would've written him off the moment the said "Nothing, just that I thought I already had that. But seems the women I fuck aren't able to hold up their end of the bargain. Or maybe it's just the one I fucked last night." I would've been done after that honestly. He kept hurting her feelings over and over and then just solved things by having sex. How does that make sense? This bugs me in books so much.
Speaking of what bugs me, I love that London told him to stop mansplaining to her. He did it back then and then tried to do it again. I don't even see how he was so in love that he had to break her heart to take the scholarship. I don't see how this broke his heart too because I never felt their relationship. I also don't see how young Morgan could say "Why should you get to make it for her?" talking about London's choice to take the job or not. How is this kid smarter than he is?
Despite how much I hated their entire relationship, I loved the story line of this book. I think it would make a great Hallmark movie. It could've been executed much better, but it wasn't half bad. I'll have to say that naming their baby Sabrina was one of the best parts (although that's what made me wonder if they ever found survivors/bodies).
scvallese1's review against another edition
5.0
I have had Hold You Close on my TBR for months now. I'm not sure why I hadn't gotten around to reading it before now because I could kick myself. I have had a tough time these last few months finding new 5 star reads, and Hold You Close finally broke that dry spell for me!
London and Sabrina were best friends growing up, and London has always had a crush on Sabrina's older brother, Ian. Toward the end of high school, Ian and London confess their feelings for each other, but the next day, Ian breaks London's heart. Fast forward 17 years, they're now neighbors, and in a tough situation now that Sabrina has passed away and left her children behind. Ian and London are forced to reconcile their differences and put the children first.
I had love/hate feelings about Ian for most of the book. While I loved that he wanted what was best for everyone involved, his behavior drove me crazy (it drove London crazy, too). London became so career focused, but wanted to give her all to those kids.
Corinne Michaels and Melanie Harlow did a superb job of developing this plot and characters. It kept me both entertained and feeling throughout. I can't wait to read more from this duo!
London and Sabrina were best friends growing up, and London has always had a crush on Sabrina's older brother, Ian. Toward the end of high school, Ian and London confess their feelings for each other, but the next day, Ian breaks London's heart. Fast forward 17 years, they're now neighbors, and in a tough situation now that Sabrina has passed away and left her children behind. Ian and London are forced to reconcile their differences and put the children first.
I had love/hate feelings about Ian for most of the book. While I loved that he wanted what was best for everyone involved, his behavior drove me crazy (it drove London crazy, too). London became so career focused, but wanted to give her all to those kids.
Corinne Michaels and Melanie Harlow did a superb job of developing this plot and characters. It kept me both entertained and feeling throughout. I can't wait to read more from this duo!
anasatticbookblog's review against another edition
3.0
Hold You Close by Melanie Harlow and Corinne Michaels
Narrated by Andi Arndt and Tor Thom
Standalone Contemporary Romance
Corrine Michaels has been on my TBR for a long time and I have loved the Melanie Harlow books I have read. So when I saw the two were doing a collaboration, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Hold You Close. While I had other commitments, this audiobook was burning a hole in my phone, yelling ‘LISTEN! This is gonna be book of the year!’ (Yeah, so my phone talks to me, yours doesn’t?) The writing was absolutely flawless, and I never would have known there were two authors. Sadly, the rest of the book didn’t live up to my expectations.
Ian is Sabrina’s older brother. London is Sabrina’s best friend. London was in love with Ian her whole life. When he stepped in to take her to prom they both professed their love as she lost her virginity. But London wanted to give up her scholarship to her dream school to stay with Ian—so he dumped her the next day.
“Sometimes, you have to let go of what you want more than anything because it’s the right thing to do.”
London spent the next 18 years hating him. He never told her why he did what he did, just went on letting her hate him even though they lived in back to back houses and both loved Sabrina and her kids. He married and divorced. He became a total player and a total asshole. Meanwhile, she was a workaholic spinster.
"I waited my entire life to feel the way I did when I was with him. I never married or had anyone serious because no one could measure up to Ian".
Then the unthinkable happens, and they are forced to raise Sabrina’s 3 kids together.
“Once again, he’s reminded me why I loathe him. This is what we are. We fight. Claw, scratch, and tear each other apart. He’s an asshole and I’m a bitch. We bring out the worst in each other. It’s been this way since…I let him in.
One mistake.
One night.
One thing that will never happen again.”
OMG, three children just lost their parents and these two assholes are fighting like children over one night 18 years ago. Yet he still doesn’t tell her. It was all about these two fighting and being selfish assholes to each other rather than these three grieving kids, who played way too small a part.
“The thing about love is that it’s irrational and stupid. I work with statistics and analyze hard data – I weigh probabilities and risks, and think in truths and facts.
Truth – Ian broke my heart.
Truth – Ian is the man I’ve never gotten over.
Fact – Ian is a selfish player who doesn’t give a shit about me.
Fact – I want to rip his clothes off and fuck his brains out.”
The sexual undercurrent was there, but at first, not so much, he was too much of an asshole.
"The next time I kiss you, London Parish, it’ll be because you beg me to.”
But it did ramp up, and there was definitely some sweet.
“I will always fight for you, London. Even when you pull away, I’ll hold you close, because this is where you belong – with me.”
“Always?”
…”Always.”
And some hot.
"Ian is the gasoline and I'm the match...when we connect, we could start a forest fire..."
Likes:
- •It was well-written, flowed well, and I would never guess it was two authors.
- •I loved the kids. They saved the book for me, and were smarter and more rational than the adults.
- •It was an enjoyable listen, and at no time did I think of putting it down.
Dislikes:
- •EIGHTEEN YEARS. They were godparents to Sabrina’s kids and lived behind each other. They couldn’t make peace in 18 years? All he had to do was tell her one thing.
- •They couldn’t put aside their differences for the kids.
- •I would have liked more focus on the struggles of the kids rather than their petty stupid fighting.
- •Really? She was alone for 18 years because nobody could live up to the guy that broke her heart at 17? REALLY?????
The Narration:
And Arndt, as always, did a great job. I love the way she does kids especially. Tor Thom was a new narrator to me, and I LOVED him!
The Down & Dirty:
This review kind of makes it sound like I hated the book. I didn’t. At no time did I think “I’m not enjoying this, I want to stop”. But I also got annoyed and frustrated with the characters and never found anything I really loved. I actually got way more annoyed at the book while writing this review than I did reading it, but let me repeat my first dislike in case you only read my Down & Dirty: For EIGHTEEN YEARS this couple has HATED each other even though they are neighbors and co-godparents. All he had to do was tell her why he broke up with her. And she lived like a spinster for 18 years because nobody could live up to her high school crush? Oy, it sounds even worse when I write it out. The authors seem to write well together, and if they do it again, I’ll try again, but Hold You Close was just an OK read for me.
Rating: 3 Stars, 4 Heat, 5 Narration
Purchase Hold You Close by Melanie Harlow and Corinne Michaels
annalaura_j's review against another edition
3.0
The last two or three chapters ruined the story for me. The end was just way too kitschy for my taste.