A best friends-to-lovers, stand-alone romance from New York Times Bestselling Author, A.L. Jackson . . . Evan Bryant wasn’t your typical hero. But he was mine. Broken by the worlds’ standards, he was still the strongest boy I would ever know. My best friend. The boy I’d given everything to. My heart, my body, and the promise of forever.The day I’d needed him most, he walked away. He left me … walked away.
He left me shattered and questioning the love I’d thought we’d shared.
Three years later, I wasn’t prepared for him to return to Gingham Lakes.
It wouldn’t have mattered if he wasn’t the most beautiful man I’d ever seen.
My fingers still would have ached to caress his skin.
My body still would have begged to get lost in his touch.
And my heart . . . it would have always sung his name.
But time changes things. With it, secrets that could ruin everything.
Can we find a way to love again, or have the fears of our past stolen the hope of our forever . . .
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This was so damn emotional! The title totally suits the book. It’s all about hope, more than just love.
Evan definitely ain’t your typical hero. He’s the strongest guy I ever read about. But I guess he’s not that strong because he left his home thinking that’s the right thing to do. He never thought he would missed out on so many things. He never thought he would broke the one girl he ever loves and shattered her to pieces.
Three years later, he came back but he wasn’t alone. That surprises Frankie Leigh even more. Her heart never truly mended. But could they get back to how it was before?
When I said Evan’s not your typical her, I mean it. He’s totally different and that’s the beauty of this book. Frankie Leigh appeared to be collected, but no one knows what she had gone through when he left. And she’s even more broken than anyone. I guess you can say this is a really unexpected book!
Oh AL Jackson does it again. I feel like I’ve been waiting for Frankie Leigh and Evan’s story for forever! Finally AL Jackson takes us back to that little town for Gingham Lakes where we get a piece of hope, love, and acceptance. I am a HUGE fan of both of these characters and it was great to see them grow throughout this story. The story did seem to be a little wordy and slow at points but it was lovely and a welcome tale into one of my favorite worlds.
3.5 – 4 Stars
Ok, let me start off by saying that I liked this book, but did not love it as I typically do with all the other AL Jackson’s book. I absolutely love second chance & friends to lovers type romances so I was excited to start.
For me, the book started off strong, but somewhere in the middle I lost the connection between the two characters. IMO, I felt a lot was happening in the story that it might have taken away from the characters. Even with that said, I’m glad I did continued with it.
Evan and Frankie Leigh’s love started as kids. They are inseparable until something happens later in life and Evan decides he has to leave her and his family. Three years later he returns and finally figures out that leaving was a mistake. The book goes back and forth between present and the past. This is what I really enjoyed – the flashbacks to when they were kids. This is when I truly felt the immense love they had for each other.
There is a lot of pain and heartbreak between them and they’re other factors that they are dealing with as they find their way back to each other. I did love the suspense happening and it is one of the reasons why I continued. I just had to know what was happening.
I will continued to recommend AL Jackson’s book. This one was my least favorite, does not make it bad. I just wanted more angst.
Love written with pure perfection. An emotional, heart felt story that will leave you with all the feels.
I can’t recommend this book enough!
I am so honored to have been given an ARC of this beautiful book! Like so many of her books this one had all the feels. Evan and Frankie Leigh’s story is so full of tragedy that you can’t help but hope right along with them. Such a great book. 5 HUGE stars!
4 stars for – Hold On To Hope – by A.L. Jackson. This story takes place in the fictional but picturesque town of Gingham Lakes, Alabama – a place I would love to call home. While I highly suggest reading – Show Me The Way – where we met Frankie Leigh and – Fight For Me – where we met Evan, it is not at all necessary to do so prior to reading this story as it can be read as a complete standalone. This is a best friends to lovers / second chance romance that will pull at every single one of your heart strings.
Frankie Leigh had loved Evan for as long as she could remember and losing him out of nowhere when she needed him most broke her heart in the worst possible way. Now three years later she is trying to move on – dating someone new and doing the best she can when he walks back into her life again.
Evan left home and everyone he loves because he was tired of being a burden on their hearts and minds. That doesn’t mean him leaving didn’t hurt him as much if not more than it did his loved ones especially Frankie Leigh. Moving away and getting his life together was his only goal until a week ago when his past came calling in a way he never thought was possible. Now he’s home to maybe see if he can repair the damage he did when he left.
This was a true rollercoaster romance with emotional feels all over the place. Angst and heartache with sexiness and swoon too. I truly think the men Ms. Jackson creates are some of my very favorite as they are the best of both worlds when it comes to alpha and sweet. I highly recommend reading Hold On To Hope today!
I loved Frankie Leigh in Show me the Way. She was the cutest little girl. I was excited to see that she and Evan were going to have a book! And I absolutely loved the cover when it was revealed. I couldn’t wait to read this.
I was not disappointed in the least. Frankie Leigh and Evan’s story had so much heartbreak. So much time lost. A couple of secrets as well. There was even some suspense!
My heart broke while reading this book. But was also healed!
A new best friends-to-lovers, stand-alone romance
Going into this book, I knew I needed to be prepared for the onslaught of sad tears, devastating tears, hopeful tears and happy tears. AL Jackson just has this way of gripping you right by the heart strings and when you don’t think you can take the emotions anymore, she turns it around and fills your heart with a beautiful HEA.
Frankie Leigh has always been such an endearing character she’s so sweet, kind, genuine and good. Her perspective on life and the world is like looking at a rainbow. And her absolute love for Evan from such a young age (hearts and froggy) was such a cornerstone into her life and who she is. But it’s also what eventually took away her light.
And Evan… so can I just say he’s always been a favorite of mine and if you haven’t read the series that introduces these characters as kids, you definitely need to. I’m so glad that FL and Evan got their story written.
They go through a lot and there are a lot of moments where you want to talk some sense into Evan and his feelings of being a burden to those around him that love him, but he has to go on a journey and come to certain realizations on his own. There was this quote that really stood out to me in the book –
“You find your purpose when your love for someone else becomes bigger than your fears.”
I think a lot of fears and personal feelings of inadequacy held Evan back and that once he realized what he really saw as his future that his goals, his hopes, and his focus became clear and became everything that he knew he needed to fight for.
But there’s so much more than deciding you know what’s best for your future… sometimes you have to fight for it, bleed for it, give your everything for it. Things that are worth everything are the things that are most worth fighting for. Evan and Frankie Leigh… so worth the fight.
This book is definitely a recommended from me!
Hold on to Hope by A.L. Jackson is a contemporary standalone romance that will leave you breathless and thankful and having all the feels. The story of the nearly lifelong friendship between Evan and Frankie Leigh, the suffering that both have gone through, the obstacles in their lives and their health that they have both had to deal with, together and apart, is so emotional. The scene with a young Frankie and her frog and the hearts made me cry. When you get there you’ll know what I’m talking about. Man! The writing is superior, the plot is unique, the characters endearing. I loved this! Enjoy!
What a great story Amy writes the most amazing characters! The emotions, the feels, I couldn’t put this book down. Evan and Frankie Leigh all grown up and forging their own journey. This is a must read!
This story is full to the brim with love. It brings us back to some of my favourite characters, I loved the previous series and I wasn’t disappointed at all with this new story.
Frankie Leigh and Evan were always meant to be and they don’t have an easy time getting to their HEA. Their history has shaped their lives and their future is steeped with obstacles. Luckily for them their love is true and they both fight for a future together.
It’s full of great characters, a compelling story and a twist I didn’t see coming. It’s not predictable and will keep you hooked to the very last page.
Another fabulous story from a favourite author, this story does not disappoint so definitely get reading!
Lyrrical, emotional, gut-wrenching and swoony are just a few of the words that capture the style of AL Jackson, one of my persona favorites! Dive into her newest release HOLD ONTO HOPE and find another couple to cheer for on their journey to HEA!
So glad to be back in Gingham Lakes where we get a little piece of hope, love, and acceptance. Loved this story!
A story that started with Show Me the Way. Evan and Frankie Leigh that became friends and now that they are adults it a emotional,beautiful relationship that will steal your heart. I recommend reading this book without a doubt in which it will consume you more than you know.
Another beautiful romance from AL Jackson. 5 stars.
Evan and Frankie Leigh stole my heart when they were young, and they have done it again. Second chance is probably my favorite troupe and the reason for that is all the feels. And this one has the feels in spades. Love and laughter. Heartbreak and Secrets. A.L.Jackson is a one click author for me and never disappoints.
Hold on to Hope was simply perfect! The writing style, the plot, all the emotions; everything sheer perfection! Frankie Leigh and Evan’s story has become my favorite! I devoured this book and I didn’t want it to end!!! I absolutely love Frankie Leigh’s personality. You can tell she wears her heart on her sleeve. Evan has grown up to be quite a man and he knows what he wants, or rather who, and he isn’t afraid to go after her. Throw Everett in the mix and my heart was melting! I highly recommend this book and cannot wait to see what’s next!!
This was amazing!!!! All of the stories A.L has written and this is the one that almost took me down. Seeing Frankie Leigh and Evan, all grown up and living these lives they never expected is incredible. The syntax, the character development, the speak easy way she added the signing in with the spoken word, the past reflections catching us up…It all adds up to an incredibly, awesome sequel story that you have to read. It’s my favorite…
As I started reading Hold on to Hope I felt that this book was going to tear my heart out and it was unlike any book that I have ever read. Evan is deaf and Frankie loved him all her life.
Evan hurt Frankie by disappearing and then reappearing with a son. Gone for 3 years and that son wasn’t hers. Evan had reasons that he disappeared. Can he make it up to her? I can’t say but what I can say is that Evan and Frankie’s story is beautifully written and a must read! I loved reading Evan and Frankie’s story. 5 Stars!!!