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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Oh my goodness, this story stole my heart! Maria grabs your attention, your heart, your libido, & keeps them all throughout the book. Mina is such a real character, she feels like the best friend you wish you’d grown up with! I love the Greek heritage, the trials of a true love, and the laughs along the way.
I just loved this book, I loved how they spoke greek to each other. Their loved blossomed as time went on as it usually does but there is that childhood connection that held together. When he helped her with her hair salon and spa or when he was a shoulder to cry on for her because of her family. Go ahead try it out!
Realistic plot that pulls you in and has you rooting for Nick and Mina from Chapter one. Great character growth for both leads.
Be prepared to laugh and love your way through Nick and Mina’s journey.
The author surprised me with the male lead character being the romantic looking for love and happily ever after. Most romance books are the other way around. This book was very entertaining to read. I liked that it is set in the Northeast. The story itself is relatable and realistic even though it is fiction. Who doesn’t love a strong man who knows what he wants and is willing to wait to find it? I like that other characters are also introduced in this book and will carry over into their own stories. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
Hold Me Today by Maria Luis is the first book in her Put A Ring On It series. While the series books can standalone, I picked this up because I wanted to start at the beginning and this was it. Told in dual POV between Mina and Nick this book started out somewhere I wasn’t expecting – the tail end of a reality dating show. But this gave us a great introduction to one of the main characters from this book and to the other characters featured in other upcoming books in this series (Kiss Me Tonight & Love Me Tomorrow).
Returning to his home in Boston and home Nick faces the fallout from the dating show and runs into his sister’s best friend at a wedding. Mina has a request and a dilemma and she needs Nick’s help. The last person she wanted to ask for help but her lifelong dream hangs in the balance and only his skill set will save it.
Frenemies to friends to lovers – to their very own Happily Ever After was a journey beautifully crafted in this story and I’m excited to read more from this author! Enjoy!
Wooooow!!!
Mina and Nick. Stop what ever you are doing and read this fabulous story!!!
Mina has been in love or like with her bffs brother for what feels like forever!!
Nick has wanted his happily ever after for so long he keeps landing on the wrong path!! It was in front of him all along!
I love, loved. Loved this book!
Maria Luis
Maria knows how to write a great story! This whole series is great!
WHY WHY has it taken me so long to read Maria Luis?!….I have 7 books of hers on my kindle that were just sitting there. THIS..THIS book is OMG soooo stinking good. Nick is to.die.for and I love Mina. It’s romantic, and funny, and hot, and just everything you want in a romance. I was laughing and then crying and then fanning and then crying again and then sighing. You must read this, trust me. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. I am downloading the next in the series right dangit now.
Absolutely love Nick and Mina story. I like watching the progression of their relationship with each other and the people surrounding them. I love the characters and storyline and bringing in the cultural aspect it was great. This was my first book by this author I will definitely be reading more.
Dominic and Aspen had me from the minute they showed up on the page together and didn’t let go until they got their HEA, and even then I wanted more. I love how Maria Luis writes unique and complex characters that grow throughout the book. Love this book and can’t wait for the next.
DNF at 10%
I am so disappointed by this novel! It’s been on my tbr for a while now, but the writing style was just not for me. It felt very wordy and superfluous, and I found myself having to reread passages because I didn’t know what was going on. Plus the fact that the MCs were greek was mentioned 73 times in the first 10% of the novel. Not for me.
Hold me today was the first book by this author and I enjoyed it. It wasn’t until about 70% in that I really connected to the story but in the end it was worth reading.
I was completely drawn in by this book from the first chapter. Nick was swoon worthy, I could relate to Mina, and I just couldn’t get enough of the banter between the two of them. This is one that I would definItely read again! can’t wait for the next book in the series!
Maria Luis, where have you been all of my life??
This was my first read by this author and I am blown away by how much I LOVED it. I was easily pulled in and couldn’t think of anything else.
The writing, the storytelling, the character development…all SUPERB.
Mina and Nick were characters I immediately fell for. They found a way into my heart from the beginning. I couldn’t get enough of them, especially when they were together.
The delicious slow burn kept me wanting, craving the turn of every page. I felt so many emotions while reading this.
Nick was an absolute gentleman, pretty much perfect in every way. Caring and kind and giving. Saint Nick? Maybe outside of the bedroom. But behind closed doors? Naughty Nick all the way. Yes. Please. The steamy scenes had my kindle smokin’ and me tinglin’ in all the right places.
Plenty of humor, a delicious amount of steam and lots of heart. This was SO GOOD.
I immediately dove into the next book in the series – Kiss Me Tonight. It’s Dominic’s story. I’m pretty sure I’m already in love with him from reading about him in this book.
You can count on me reading MANY more of Maria Luis’ books.
I love romances between characters who have a history and this book is a prime reason why…Nick sees below Mina’s tough girl surface. He sees her vulnerabilities, but doesn’t judge her for them. He loves her because of them. He sees the emotions that no one else does and everything about that melted my heart. It was such a good book!
Highly recommend!
Greek Schooled
What an amazing education in Greek culture I received from reading this fun book! I loved it! And I loved Nick and Mina! Slow burn, friends to lovers, sister’s best friend. It was all great! This couple had great chemistry and the build up was so tantalizing!
Check out Hold Me Today by the lovely Maria Luis!!
This was a highly anticipated release for me, even though I have never read from this author. The blurb reeled me in like no other. I have an obsession with falling for a best friends brother, I don’t know if its because I live, day to day life with falling for my best friends brother or what. I just adore it. Hold Me Today was everything. It had it all, the romance, the comedy, a woman fighting for herself, her dreams , and a man willing to stand by her side through it all… GAHHHH, IT IS A TOTAL SWOONWORTHY READ! Maria Luis sure knows how to write a book, and since it is written in dual pov, it makes it even easier to get into each characters heads.
Nick Stamos, is a GREEK Adonis that built his own business from the bottom to the top, called Stamos Restoration and Co. Even after having his heart put through the grinder, this man still craves a life, he can share with someone else. He is hopeless romantic, and is not afraid to admit it. This huge-hearted man, is compassionate, understanding, with a good dose of humor.
Mina is a dream driven Greek woman, that will stop at nothing to achieve her dreams. She has lots of insecurities that stem from her child hood, but uses that to push her more. She is sarcastic and witty, and the most forgiving heroine I have ever read about. Most people do not know how to take her because she is spontaneous and she flies by the seat of her pants. Most importantly she is loyal to the core.
When Mina has to put her pride aside, and ask Nick to help her with the renovation of her salon called AGAPE, will the feelings that she felt when she was a teenager come rushing back?? Or can Nick show her what it really means to have someone by your side that really wants to be there?
On another note, I really enjoyed the secondary characters in Hold Me Today. The banter that they put on, was hilarious, and I can not wait to see what Maria has in store for them.
*I recommend this book.
*Reviewed for Reviews From the Heart
4 1/2 stars. A really great enemies to lovers and best friends brother romance. These two just kept butting heads until they realized that they were not really enemies, but enjoyed sparing. Mina and Nick have longed for each other since childhood. Nick never really admits it to himself, thinking he needs to stay away from his nemesis/sisters best friend. Poor Mina has just never felt like she belongs anywhere and doesn’t feel worthy of “Saint Nick”. Once they stop fighting the attraction, boy do the sparks fly! A wonderful story and a clever set up for a new series. And a sensational epilogue!
This book was so sweet and funny! I loved the Greek theme to it. Nick is the ultimate hero, the sweet and sexy good guy with a little touch of naughty to him. Mina is strong, determined, sassy and loyal and has a heart of gold. These two together give you all the relationship feels. This was my first book by Maria Luis and I will definitely be reading more!