Rock bottom has never felt so good.At least, that’s what I tell myself when I bargain with the enemy and score a renovation for my hair salon. The enemy? Nick Stamos, my best friend’s older brother. He’s got a body and face the Greek gods would envy but his personality needs a major overhaul. He’s surly. A rule-follower.Did I mention he’s seen me n*ked? I may have crushed on him for years, but … n*ked?
I may have crushed on him for years, but the only place I want Nick swinging his hammer nowadays is at my salon.
Except, he needs something in return. . .
A fake girlfriend.
And I’m just reckless enough to say yes.
HOLD ME TODAY is a steamy slow burn romance. It’s the first book in the highly anticipated series, Put A Ring On It, and can be read as a standalone.
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So…Maria Luis ROCKS it in this book. Go forth and one-click! You won’t be sorry!
Best friend’s older brother is my crack-trope, and Maria Luis nails this (see what I did there?) And really, this cover?! You’ll be swooning the whole time. Run and grab this now!
Oh. My. God. I loved this so freaking much. Best friend’s older brother, fake relationship, carpenter hero, good guy boy scout kind of hero, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, big ass messy, loving family, a hero who is totally exactly what she needs and is there for her, a gutsy, independent shero, and all the feels. Maria Luis totally just popped open my brain and scooped out half of my favorite things and poured them all into this book. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. Can I give it eleventy stars?
Negotiating the Heart Strings
Nick decides to ask Mina to pretend to be his girlfriend after he get rejected on a reality game show. Mina had a crush on her bestfriends older brother. Will she help him? Or will she end up falling for him? They both may be negotiating their heart stings.
Fake relationship with her best friend’s older brother? Whoo hoo!!!
Nick and Mina’s story had so much depth to it, so there is so much more than just a fun querky romance with sexytimes thrown into the mix. You get to feel along with Mina and Nick as they both come to terms and struggle with their inner demons, insecurities, and fight their feelings for each other every step of the way. Their story was a journey and I enjoyed getting lost in their story. I can’t wait to read what Maria has in store for Dom. Fantastic read. You won’t be able to put it down and then it will leave you wanting more.
I was fanning myself as I read the blurb and kept on doing that as I read! Fantastic read!
Nick and Mina bring all the heat, humor, and heart in this beautiful love story. I enjoyed every second, sacrificing sleep for just one more chapter because I could not put this book down!
This story is everything! It’s the swooniest, steamiest, explosion of heart and everything we’ve come to expect from the fabulous Maria Luis! Nick and Mina’s dynamic is absolutely electric. They each bring the perfect amount of vulnerability and determination to table as they battle for dominance. Nick grounds Mina and Mina pushes Nick to fly. Each push and pull leads them towards this beautiful intimacy cultivated over their lifetime.
‘Because I’ve been waiting my entire life to feel as though I’m finally where I belong.’
This book is seriously perfection and the audio will melt your speakers!
Ok I know that I am so late to the party on this one…. BUT DAMN! Talk about all the feels! This book had me FEELING it all! The heartbreak, the sexual tension, the nee to belong! All of it! Mina is one badass bitch! I am not even kidding! And Nick! Oh Nick! Swoon to the max! Knowing he was taking the BIGGEST risk with his heart and he did it anyway. FOR HER! And that Epilogue was EVERYTHING!!! OMG there was still so many feels left to feel that I didn’t know I missed until I read that epilogue!
Maria Luis was a new to me author… and with this book, she has sucked me in! I need more of her words! And I can see that I have a whole backlog to tackle!!!
Story
Spice
Swoon
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
Ok, Maria…I see what you did here.
This book has me hooked and I need the other books now too!
I loved this story so much.
The chemistry, the banter, the hilarious antics, the emotions…everything was amazing.
I loved Mina so much and hurt for her as well with everything she had to deal with growing up and even now, but I loved Nick equally for accepting her as she is.
Getting to listen to her learn to love herself as she is and accept herself squeezed my heart and made me love them both even more.
I can’t wait to read the other books and I know they’ll be just as amazing!
Hold Me Today is a favorite of mine by Maria, but the audio!? WOW! The book is even more amazing with these two narrating this book. I absolutely loved how Patrick Zeller and Scarlette Hayes brought these two to life! Patrick might be a new favorite narrator! I had butterflies listening to his Greek accent. I want him whispering Greek nothings in my ear <3
I was swooning the entire time reading this book, and had the biggest smile on my face listening to this story. Scarlette was exactly how I imagined Mina and she did just a good job portraying all of the emotions Mina has throughout this book...she breaks your heart and then puts it right back together! These two sucked me in and I couldn't turn this book off...easy a favorite audiobook of mine!
If you haven't started the Put a Ring on It series, you need to pick up this series and have Maria's words in your life...you won't regret it!
Mina and Nick are such opposites but together they are hotter than a furnace! Loved this story about love and quirky families.
This is the first of Maria’s books I read that got me hooked! You can’t help but love the main (and side) characters in this book.
Talk about a slow burn, and a slow story. I liked the premise but it dragged on. I didn’t hate it but I didn’t love it either. I just felt like it dragged on. Mina and Nick definitely have chemistry, they just couldn’t get it together.
Awesome blend of Greek culture and American. Mina and Nicks story was such fun to read! It is defintely on the reread list. Set in Boston and romantic as hell. Love the blend of English and Greek words. Their story is everything you want; the little sisters besf friend falls for the older brother, crazy family drama, two passionate artists and a favor! This hero is the Adonis and Mina is his perfect match!
Nick and Mina have known each other for years and there is slight problem because Nick just happens to be her best friend’s older brother (talk about a forbidden romance). Mina needs Nicks help with a project that she is working on. The chemistry and attraction between Nick and Mina is very evident from the very beginning of this book. Nick and Mina have this great banter between them and they seem to know what makes each other tick. I means its all far in love and war correct and what the heart want the heart wants. Great book and a great way to start off this series and I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
This was my first Maria Luis book and so glad I found her. Nick and Mina’s story is funny, steamy and all about finding love your way. Both of them have had some ups and downs in life but they were not going to let that stop them. Nicks family is amazing and they have always given Mina their love since she is Effie’s best friend. I am so glad a friend recommended Maria Luis to me I am excited to jump into the next book.
ISO: my own Nick Stamos
Maria Louis has set us up with a new series!!!! Yes, that’s me jumping up and down. It’s a good thing.
This series, titled ‘Put a Ring On It’, shares it’s name with a reality show which is featured in all three of the series books.
All three books are out and available, so if you get hooked on the first one, never fear. Number two and three are there waiting for you.
Where to start with this one…there’s so much so good!
Our story opens as we meet our leading man, Nick Stamos. Nick is experiencing a crisis of conscience. He’s about to propose to a woman…that he doesn’t want to marry. In front of cameras…it’s a hard spot to be in.
Mina, our heroine, is back in Boston. Her and Nick’s hometown. Unaware and frankly unconcerned with Nick’s current curduffle; she’s dealing with the theft of her money, the loss of a not so great contractor, and more importantly the apparent loss of a dream.
Mina and Nick have known each other since childhood. Set in the twisting and narrow streets of North Boston and featuring the Boston Greek community, Maria writes us a story of best friend’s older brother, familial expectations and obligations, and love. Love that starts in childhood as trust, moves to witty repartee which pokes at the other’s weaker spots, and matures into trust and mature love.
The true plot of the story begins with Mina asking Nick for his help. She has dreams of opening her own hair salon in Boston. Nick runs his own construction and restoration business in a Boston suburb. Due to the not so good contractor/missing money situation that Mina’s story opens with, Mina is forced into a position of having to ask Nick to help her out, at the very low cost of “please, please help me”.
Luckily for her, Nick is in a bit of a tangle himself. He’s recently returned from that proposal, sans fiancée. And that proposal? It was to be a climatic closure to a new reality show. Our boy Nick is finding himself in the media’s eye. He agrees to help Mina..for the incredibly decent counter proposal of “fake date me”.
The story features Mina’s and Nick’s families. Takes us through the tightness and closeness that is the Greek community. Maria is also able to weave in pieces of what it means to be a first generation child in America. She straddles the line of Mina and Nick being pulled to do what is “Greek” and what is “American”. Both characters struggle against the roles their families have placed them in. One family is open to their child blossoming and the other wants their child to firmly remain where their family has placed them.
We watch Nick and Mina’s relationship unwind childhood assumptions they hold regarding each other as new realizations and new understandings are born. We watch as Mina realizes that her childhood crush is gone, but the man in his place is a much more complex and compelling character than she ever realized. We watch Nick unravel pieces of Mina that he’s always seen, but understands better now. He also begins to realize that Mina is that selfless and caring woman he’s always known, but he learns just how much of herself she’s allowed others to own.
As a New Englander, I loved seeing Boston come to life in Maria’s eyes. To me, Boston is one of my favorite run away to places. I’m a history geek and have walked the “red line” (history path) dozens of times. Sometimes with guides, sometimes without. I always visit the North End. It’s small, winding streets (some with cobblestones) the crammed in buildings housing Italian restaurants and bakeries as well as churches, houses, and other businesses. In Maria’s Boston, Nick’s sister Effie, runs a ghost tour business. Trust me when I say I will be googling “Boston ghost tours” as that is one thing I HAVEN’T seen or done yet in Beantown.
Also, huge props to Ms. Luis for getting Dunkin and wicked in!! Dunkin is “thing” in the New England states. The styrofoam cups have changed to environmentally friendly paper cups, but all else that is Dunkin remains as protrayed in the book. The use of the word “wicked” is as Boston as they come. Just don’t ever use it combined with “pissa” which is another Bostonian thing.
I’d recommend this book for the brother’s best friend and fake relationship readers. This book is a seamless blend of both these troupes. As with all of Maria’s stories, the characters feel like your neighbors, friends and family by the end. If you are looking for a richly detailed, relationship growth, and character focused read; you will never go wrong with a Maria Luis book. Nick and Mina will own your heart by the end of this book.
If you are wondering who else is in the series Maria gives us some WONDERFUL hints and introductions. My all time, owns my heart, guy is in this series. Squeee!
Honestly – this one hooked me.
Wicked Smaht Maria!
Oh my word I love Nick and Mina! The banter, the heat, the angst! Just… Sigh. ALL. THE. SIGHS. This is a fantastic start to this series! Nick is super swoony and I totally want to be Mina!