Hold You Close

Melanie Harlow and Corinne Michaels did a Fabulous job co-writing Hold You Close. The story flowed so effortlessly that you wouldn’t know that it was written by two authors. This is a heartwarming story with all the feels. Ian and London’s book is a great enemy to lovers story, and one I couldn’t put down. I can’t wait to see what they write next.

Melanie Harlow and Corinne Michaels. A match made in bookworm-heaven. And HOLD YOU CLOSE is pure, stunningly beautiful perfection. A story to savor – and yet I found myself unwilling to put it down as the journey of London and Ian and the kids truly captivated me. It’s heartbreaking as much as it’s deliciously sexy, emotional as it is spiked with witty banter and a constant push and pull between hero and heroine. A second chance romance of two people finding their way to one another again under the most tragic of circumstances. Lord, my heart ached so much: for London, for Ian, for Christopher – well, for all of them. It’s a story about family, hope, and love, about finding trust again – and, most of all, about sacrifice and healing.

While London was easy to love, it took a couple of pages to actually warm up to Ian. He did what he did for an extremely noble reason, but that does not mean that he can continue being a total jackazz to London still after years passed – even if he is only doing it for self-preservation. But as he slowly began winning back London’s favor, he also won mine. In the end, his faults only made him more perfect in my book – more real.

Nothing comes easy, trust has to be earned, they took two steps forwards – only to fall one step behind again in a matter of minutes and for the stupidest of reasons. It’s frustrating and sad and painful – and so true and human. I laughed and screamed in frustration and cried and swooned so much, feeling everything the characters did.

This one is one of the finest second change stories I’ve ever read.
I truly hope there will MANY more to come by this duo!

Yes. This is me with the biggest smile and the heart eyes because I just finished this fun•sweet•realistic•adorable story.
This story was perfection

I laughed out loud. I fanned myself “HOT” there were some pretty steamy scenes along with some swoon-heart-melting moments.

I love that this story gave me the entertainment I look for when I pick up a book. I also loved that it made me feel (there might’ve been a few tears)
These characters were relatable and I fell in love with them.

If you’ve enjoyed a read by Corinne Michaels or Melanie Harlow YOU will definitely love this.

I’ve loved both these authors independently and having them together was fabulous! This is an amazing collaboration.

I am a huge fan of both Melanie and Corinne so when Hold You Close was announced I might have freaked out a bit. I mean, two of my favorite authors combining their beautiful words is epic. I hope this is just the start.

Ian and London have history. She doesn’t remember a time she didn’t love Ian. He only saw her as his little sister’s best friend. That was until prom changed everything that she thought she knew. But, after being on cloud 9, she was falling to the ground later that same day. He broke her heart. That was seventeen years ago. And she never forgot how he made her feel. Since then it’s been years of heated arguments, looks of hatred, and shared contempt. Through it all, they were still protective of each other. That is why when London calls he rushes to her house. To find out that their lives are forever changed.

Ian is in shock. He doesn’t know how to raise a family. He doesn’t want London to be right but he needs her. Can they let go of their shared past and come together for the kids they love?

I don’t want to give too much away so I will stop there with the story. I will say that I loved these characters. Strong, stubborn, sexy. They definitely know how to get under the other’s skin. It’s both hilarious and oh, so very hot. I loved their banter together and with the kids. Chris, Morgan, and Ruby all have their own personalities that were shown throughout the book. I am so happy that they were just in the background of this second chance romance.

Overall…it was fan-fucking-tastic! I didn’t want it to end. I laughed, cried, swooned, cried and laughed some more. It’s a story full of heart, family, love, and passion.

Quotes:

“Only you could be a dick and a gentleman at the same time.”
“It’s a gift,” I tell her. “Now get in. I’ve got things to do today.”

“It’s okay. You’re doing great, and I’m here for you. We’re a team. United front, remember?”
“I really want to make a joke about uniting fronts right now.”

Can I turn the boat around, because we went from understanding, sweet, smiling London to batshit crazy in two seconds.

“Men are fixers, Son. Men are strength. Men don’t let anyone see vulnerability. When someone hurts your mother or sister, you’ll fight. If someone you love is in pain, you fight, got it?”

Guhhhh…. that quote makes me all prickly. It’s like we’re the weaker sex because females tend to show emotion. Puh-lease. I’m not usually all about the feminist stuff and don’t get all holier-than-thou but that statement irked the hell outta me. Men are allowed to have feelings and share emotions too. There shouldn’t be some great divide… everyone should be able to be who they are without fear of being told their sex doesn’t show vulnerability… scoff… ok, I’m off my high horse. I don’t know, I can usually handle sexist remarks and just roll my eyes but death is different. Feeling and emotions can help in the grief process.

Ok now that I’ve read most of this, I’m no longer pissed at Ian’s moronic thoughts as I was earlier about the most extreme sexist thoughts he had above with the quote. These authors just can’t create characters we don’t fall for… no matter what idiotic statement come out with I still fall from them! Ok, I wish you all could see that I’m writing my review as I go… not the best way to go with this book as my heart has been taken on a roller coaster ride! However, go back to the beginning… the quote that started my entire sexist rant. This entire book could wrap around that mindset… that thought process. Keep that quote in your mind when you’re reading this book. And every time you think good Lord this lady is insane while reading this review that is jumbled and bonkers, just think… Melanie Harlow and Corinne Michaels made me this way! Now… go… run…. one-click this book now!!!

These two authors sure created vastly different opposing characters. I mean, the way Ian is portrayed is a serious playboy of like, epic proportions with at least one new playmate nightly, sometimes more than one! London is portrayed as a stuffy cat lady with no life but the career she worked so hard for. I mean, they are on different planets!

The best quote in the entire book: “His big, stupid, magical dick.” The things London thinks I. Her head is pure gold. She makes me laugh whole-heartedly.

Oh the feelings feelings in this book! Sigh! Once we opened up and got a little lust out of the way… I just swooned here, swooned there, everywhere a swoon swoon!

I think I was a bit surprised that none of the kids had problems with London flying… like some freak out episode. I guess after how everything went down, I expected there to be issues or flying fears. I was a bit shocked that none arose.

I adore these authors separately but together they are magical. I’ll be honest though, I wish this book had more details. I feel like the kids didn’t get s big enough roll and that Ruby’s issue in the beginning could have been played a bit better. I guess I was a bit bummed in the response to the main problem in the story. I also felt there was a few loose ends at the ending. I wondered what happened with London’s job… what happened with Ian’s.

I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… my opinions.

This book is so good! Grab your tissues and be prepared to go on a roller coaster of emotions with this one, but I guarantee you it’s one thousand percent worth it!

I am absolutely in love with Ian! Granted, you’re not going to like him all the time – he does have his flaws – but deep down he’s a great man. He’s loyal, loving, strong, and more adaptable than most give him credit for. He has a big heart and so much love to give. He’s sexy, charming, intelligent, and infuriating all at once. He’s absolutely irresistible.

London is full of fire. She’s smart, driven, and headstrong with a stubborn streak that only seems to rear its head when she’s near Ian. Truthfully, there will be times where you don’t like her much either. She often lets her emotions get the best of her and says things without thinking. But just like Ian, if you give her a chance, I think you’ll adore her in the end. She’s pretty great.

It’s true what they say. There’s a thin line between love and hate, and it’s an emotional ride to watch them figure out which side of the line they want to cross into. There’s so much chemistry and passion in this story. Definitely one of my favorite reads of the year.

Man, I just LOVE an enemies to lovers romance! Add in that it’s a second-chance romance too, and I am hooked!

Ian and London have a not so pleasant history. According to London, Ian broke her heart at seventeen and she’s continued to hate him for the past eighteen years. Sure it was hard to hate him when London was best friends with his sister, but somehow she managed to hold that grudge. He made it easy with his playboy ways and careless regard for the women he brought to his bed.

Ian fell hard for London when he was younger—and broke her heart and moved on with his life. He’s seen her sporadically over the years at his sister’s house. They are godparents to her three children, so they’ve had to cross paths on occasion.

London and Ian have a love-hate relationship. She hates him, he loves to bait her. But Fate has a funny way of interrupting things . . . and a cruel way too.

Now London and Ian need to put their differences aside to raise the three children they love and help heal their hearts from the horrible tragedy that put them in their care. Can they do it for the kids and themselves? And maybe find that fine line between love and hate?

Gosh, I’m still trying to come to grips over this beautiful story. Hold You Close ran me through a whole range of emotions: love, hate, lust, sadness, fear, and hope. I loved the romance between Ian and London—once they finally started to put their animosity aside. I loved the interaction with the kids and how they helped show the way to the future for London and Ian. And good lord, the letters. The letters nearly broke me!

4.5 stars

Whilst this isn’t my first book by Corinne Michaels, Melanie Harlow is a new author to me, so initially I had very few expectations. Overall I was pleasantly surprised at how much I really enjoyed this book.

This is a second chance love story and the scene is set right before London is due to head off to college. She is in love with her best friends brother, Ian. She thought the feeling was mutual, however fast forward several years and some feelings of hate towards each other and you get a very intense chemistry between the duo.

The setting for this book was in Las Vegas, with Ian being the owner of a night club. London can’t help but criticise Ian’s Playboy lifestyle and lack of responsibility, yet an event suddenly has them both realising that responsibility is of the utmost importance and Ian has no choice but to accept London’s help.

I loved London and Ian’s arguments. It was so clear there was a lot of unfinished business between them which meant for some extra hot scenes. One of the things that I love, when done right, is when an author adds child characters to the story and this book, with the addition of Ian’s sisters children certainly had that part right and pulling at my heart strings.

I really enjoyed Melanie and Corinne’s collaboration and even better that I can now add Melanie Harlow to my must read authors list.

“London is the sun, the stars, the light at the end of the tunnel that I’m so desperate to reach, but know I’ll never touch.”

What do you do when your two favorite authors co-write a book together?? You drop everything and get your greedy hands on it, of course! Now, let me tell you, when it comes to these two authors, my bar is already set high. I mean, I have loved and adored everything that they have written. So, when I heard that they were co-writing a book together, I screamed, did a little happy dance and anxiously awaited getting my hands on this book. I couldn’t wait to see what these two had in store for us and let me tell you, these two do not disappoint. If anything they’ve gone and set the bar even higher.

Hold You Close is heartbreaking and addictive second chance romance. From the moment you start reading Ian and London’s story, you might as well forget whatever you’ve got going on for the day because this is a book that you will not be able to put down. It’s an enemies to lovers story that will take you on one emotional ride. From ups to downs, to soul crushing loss to doing what you think is right and taking a chance on the one that hurt you, this book has everything an angst lover could want.

Hold You Close is incredibly well written and has an addictive plot. The characters suck you in instantly and will have you begging for more. London is the girl who wants it all: love, career, family. She’s smart, loyal and dependable. And Ian is the guy that has heart-breaker written all over him. He is sexy and completely unattainable. He’s living the life and makes no excuses for the man he is. He isn’t perfect, but underneath his player exterior is a man with a huge heart. A man who will do anything for those he loves. A man that will give up his happiness for the happiness of others. Together London and Ian are an explosion just waiting to happen. Their past and their chemistry lends to some insane tension. The push and pull will leave you begging for more and dying for these two to just give in to what they truly want.

What else can I say other than I loved every word of this story. From beginning to end, I was completely swept up in Ian & London’s story. I was captivated, heartbroken, frustrated and totally in love. This book was angsty and filled with just the emotion I was waiting for. It was Corinne Michaels and Melanie Harlow to a T. You couldn’t tell where one authors writing began and the others ended. It was completely flawless and just the book my heart was looking for. Simply put, I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. This duo knocked it out of the park with Hold Me Close and I can not wait to see what this duo brings to the table next.

I knew at 4% in that Hold You Close would be an excellent book filled with angst and deep emotions. Neither author disappointed me and I felt like this is what happens when two amazing authors collaborate.

Hold You Close is a second chance romance and enemies to lovers story. I can honestly say that when I read the very last page, I had mixed emotions of happy and sad as I did not want to read “The End”. This book was so unbelievably good with an engaging, consistent and well written story-line. It had all of the perfect elements that I love. It was funny, touching, emotional, romantic, sexy and heartwarming.

Ian and London met as teenagers and London was best friends with Ian’s sister, Sabrina. London was infatuated and completely in love with Ian. Unfortunately, he breaks her heart and they have been sworn enemies every since. And several years later, they still can’t stand each other. The love/hate relationship, sarcastic digs and comedic banter between them is hysterical. London is a successful, responsible and career driven woman. I adored her as she was relatable, loving and a nurturer. Ian is a divorced, man-whore, night club promoter turned successful night club owner who has everything he’s ever wanted and is living life to the fullest. He’s also a good man, dedicated uncle and selfless. Later on in the story, you will find out just how selfless he is. Did I mention that Ian and London live next door to each other which made for an entertaining read! Unfortunately tragedy strikes, Sabrina and her husband, David pass away and Ian and London are now responsible for taking care of their kids. This is where the story really takes off and you won’t want to put it down. Ian and London are struggling to get along to help raise the children and at the same time, the sexual tension between them is about to explode!! When they finally get together it is passionate, romantic, sexy and very stimulating. I loved their family dynamic and the children are freaking hilarious, especially Morgan. At times the children acted more mature than they did by being mediators and giving relationship advice. And as hysterical as that was, it was also sound advice.

Chapter 22, 23 and the epilogue were the absolute BEST part of this book! My heart just soared and I felt complete after reading those chapters. Hold You Close is one of my top favorite books of 2018 and I am truly looking forward to reading more collaborations by Melanie Harlow and Corinne Michaels.