Jackson Koch had already lost his wife to cancer when the town’s coal mines shut down and his job was gone too. So, with a three-year-old daughter to care for and a broken heart to mend, he moved across the country to find a new life in Bridgeport, Ohio. Now he tends bar by night and tries to navigate life as a single dad by day. Luckily, his neighbor is happy to babysit while he works late … nights. She’s great with little Kate, beautiful, kind … and lately he’s found himself smiling whenever he thinks about her.
Dani Brown also knows what it’s like to lose a spouse and raise a child on her own. Cleaning houses during the day, and taking online classes at night, she dreams of running her own preschool someday. And, since her fourteen-year-old son Jeremy’s baseball team requires a lot of money, she’s thrilled to earn some extra cash by watching her handsome neighbor’s adorable little girl. But even with two jobs, she’s having trouble making ends meet.
When Jackson sees Dani running herself ragged for her son’s baseball ambitions he decides it’s time to get the Bridgeport Social Club involved. Together they cook up a plan. They will run a charity poker tournament to support Jeremy’s dream and help out a hardworking single mom. But will Dani be able to accept help from the handsome neighbor she’s starting to feel more-than-friendly feelings for? And how far is she ready to let those feelings go?
Get ready to fall in love with Shelley Shepard Gray’s Bridgeport Social Club again, where a poker night is so much more than a game of cards and an extraordinary community of ordinary men and women come together to offer love, light, and hope to everyone they encounter.
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I have enjoyed the previous books in this series, but I think this one is my favorite.
The story centers around widowed, single Mom, Danielle/Dani Brown, and single widower Dad, Jackson Koch. Both have suffered great loses and are still trying to find their way in life as a single parent and an individual.
But instead of giving you a summary of the story , I will go a different way.
This story is about the loss of a spouse and finding your way back to the living. About having to take a step forward everyday for your children , whom you want to give the best life can offer.
About overcoming the sadness and finding hope . About realizing that the life you had before is gone forever , but also that the one in front of you, is opened to opportunities ,and maybe love.
A touching story that at times is heartbreaking but in the end heartwarming.
Lastly, I enjoyed getting a chance to “visit” with the characters of previous books and seeing how they were all doing.
Another winner by this talented author.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
Hold On Tight by Shelley Shepard Gray is book Three in The Bridgeport Social Club Series. This is the story of Dani Brown and Jackson Koch. I haven’t yet read the previous books, so for me this was a standalone book.
Dani and Jackson have both lost their spouses and are single parents. Dani is helping Jackson to watch his young daughter Kate, when he is at work, which helps her get extra money besides her cleaning jobs. In addition to all that she is taking online classes and trying to help raise money for her son Jeremy to be on a baseball team.
This was a sweet second type change romance.
This is a beautiful story about finding love again after loss. It is very well written and holds your attention from the beginning until the end. It is not a sugar coated story, it reads true to life. Thank you Blackstone Publishing via NetGalley for the copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I loved the first two books in this series and this one shows that Gray knows how to keep delivering. Both Dani and Jackson have experienced hardships in their lives and are just doing the best they can for their kids. The easy way these two manage to create a kind of friendship and then something more is very appealing. And realistic. There are so many ways that this could have gone sideways but Gray manages to keep things real and relatively drama free.
Dani has spent so many years having only herself to rely on that it is hard for her to accept someone else’s offer of help. She can’t get past the feeling of owing someone and while Jackson is ready to be there for her it takes a bit for her to get to the point of being able to accept it.
Jackson has been struggling with losing both his wife and his job in a short amount of time. He had a little problem with depression (understandably) for a while and getting him & his daughter out of their small town was the best for both of them. It’s just super hard to accept a life where he is now a bartender – a good job just not what he imagined for himself. But he has good friends and with a little self-examination he’s starting to feel a better about his situation.
You aren’t going to find a lot of drama moments with this series. It’s just realistic characters, living their lives and trying to figure things out – pretty much like you and me 🙂 Instead, go into it with a relaxed mind and an attitude of just enjoying the ride. You’ll find plenty to appreciate about the well-crafted characters and the normality of their lives.
**Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way.**
Hold on Tight, the third book in The Bridgeport Social Club series may be my favorite one to date, though I’m still a fan of the character of Finn in the 2nd book, All In. What I love of Hold On Tight is not only the message of the series (friendship and community) that translates exceptionally well here too, but the author also delve into the roles and hardship of single parenthood. There’s an emotional thread related to that story line that felt real. Add in second chances in life, and a gorgeous cover to match, Hold on Tight will have you ready for more by the author.
For my clean readers, please note there is mention of premarital sex and pregnancy out of wedlock in this story.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.
Hold On Tight ( Bridgeport Social Club # 3 )
By: Shelley Shepard Gray
Hold On Tight is book three in Bridgeport Social Club Series and it was my favorite. I love the story and the characters, both were well written and realistic. This is Dani and Jackson’s story. Both have had hurt in their past and both are struggling as a single parent. Dani has a teenage boy and Jackson has a three year old daughter. Dani watches Jackson’s daughter while he works at night. These two become good friends. This is a second chance story that will touch your heart. I felt sorry for both of them.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book, but was not told that I had to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Hold on Tight is the third book in the Bridgeport Social Club series and it is my favorite by far. I read this book in one day because the storyline was so touching and realistic that I couldn’t stop reading.
Dani Brown and Jason Koch have both suffered the loss of a spouse, they each have a child and they are both good people who I was rooting for to have the best of everything that life offered.
Dani works hard to provide for her son Jeremy who wants to play on the baseball team which isn’t in her budget. My heart went out to her as she worked tirelessly to make his dream come true. From cleaning houses to babysitting Jason’s daughter to taking online classes she doesn’t have much time for herself or friendships. Until she becomes closer to Jason that is, I loved the interest he took in her and how his friends became important to her, too.
Speaking of friends, this book and series in general as all about family and friendship.
The characters are humble, compassionate, hardworking, flawed human beings who use colorful language occasionally. They don’t put on airs and they never forget what it’s like to struggle which is why they are ready to help others in need. I find myself genuinely respecting the imperfect characters who are trying to make better lives for themselves and those they love.
I received a copy of the book from the author but was under no obligation to write a review. All opinions are my own.