capsandclauses's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mandy_pandy's review against another edition
5.0
4.5
Wow! This was a highly emotional story! Kayla is in an abusive relationship and escapes with her son. She gets help from a group of anonymous women and relocates to Paradise, Idaho. Her new neighbor is Luke Jackson, the high school principal and one of the towns most eligible bachelors. Luke isn't the type of guy who wants to be tied down but when he meets Kayla, he knows there's something different about her and she catches her attention.
There were so many things I really liked about this book. The banter between Luke, his friends and family and with Kayla was fantastic. I loved how Luke was with Kayla's son. Luke was really a fantastic hero for so many reasons. I loved Kayla. She was incredibly strong. The details of her life before escaping were really sad. Alan was an abusive ass and it was crazy to read chapters in his point of view while he was looking for Kayla. It made me so nervous and I was really worried about what was going to happen when/if he found her. Even though the subject matter of this book was hard to deal with and a bit depressing, I think it has a really great message about abuse and how with strength you can overcome anything. The epilogue was fantastic. I loved this author's writing - it sucked me in from the first page and I couldn't put this book down. I can't wait to read more in this series and more by this author!
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
Wow! This was a highly emotional story! Kayla is in an abusive relationship and escapes with her son. She gets help from a group of anonymous women and relocates to Paradise, Idaho. Her new neighbor is Luke Jackson, the high school principal and one of the towns most eligible bachelors. Luke isn't the type of guy who wants to be tied down but when he meets Kayla, he knows there's something different about her and she catches her attention.
There were so many things I really liked about this book. The banter between Luke, his friends and family and with Kayla was fantastic. I loved how Luke was with Kayla's son. Luke was really a fantastic hero for so many reasons. I loved Kayla. She was incredibly strong. The details of her life before escaping were really sad. Alan was an abusive ass and it was crazy to read chapters in his point of view while he was looking for Kayla. It made me so nervous and I was really worried about what was going to happen when/if he found her. Even though the subject matter of this book was hard to deal with and a bit depressing, I think it has a really great message about abuse and how with strength you can overcome anything. The epilogue was fantastic. I loved this author's writing - it sucked me in from the first page and I couldn't put this book down. I can't wait to read more in this series and more by this author!
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
shai3d's review against another edition
4.0
Kayla had fond memories of Paradise Idaho from a summer that she had spent there as a child. When she needed a safe place to hide for herself and her son, Paradise immediately came to mind. It’s a good place where she won’t have to worry about being abused for not living up to someone’s unreasonable standards. It’s a safe place where her son can ride bikes and make friends without having to worry about not being big enough to protect his mother. And if Kayla happens to run into her childhood hero, so much the better.
I was really impressed by HOLD ME CLOSE and how the author Ms. James is willing to delve into subjects such as abuse. As a woman that has experienced abuse, I was really impressed by how spot on Kayla’s reactions are to certain triggers. And her insistence that she has to survive on her own before she begins to trust again brings back memories. Either Ms. James did a lot of research into the subject or she is an abuse survivor herself.
Luke is just the man to bring Kayla back out of her shell by being patient and so careful about her triggers. And it wasn’t just about Kayla. Luke came to care deeply for her son and accepted that they were a package deal but only when Kayla was ready. His courtship was so sweet that at times I found myself sighing in delight.
I do recommend HOLD ME CLOSE to any of my readers who enjoy a good love story, one that will have you believing in ‘happy ever afters’. There are a couple sex scenes that were fairly vivid that really add to the plot and show how much Kayla has grown back her confidence. Still they might not be appropriate for a younger audience.
*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my ow
I was really impressed by HOLD ME CLOSE and how the author Ms. James is willing to delve into subjects such as abuse. As a woman that has experienced abuse, I was really impressed by how spot on Kayla’s reactions are to certain triggers. And her insistence that she has to survive on her own before she begins to trust again brings back memories. Either Ms. James did a lot of research into the subject or she is an abuse survivor herself.
Luke is just the man to bring Kayla back out of her shell by being patient and so careful about her triggers. And it wasn’t just about Kayla. Luke came to care deeply for her son and accepted that they were a package deal but only when Kayla was ready. His courtship was so sweet that at times I found myself sighing in delight.
I do recommend HOLD ME CLOSE to any of my readers who enjoy a good love story, one that will have you believing in ‘happy ever afters’. There are a couple sex scenes that were fairly vivid that really add to the plot and show how much Kayla has grown back her confidence. Still they might not be appropriate for a younger audience.
*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my ow
sarahkdnp's review against another edition
4.0
I really loved getting to know all of the characters in this book and the reminder that family is so important. There were many parts of the book that I found myself tearing up as I was reading it. I love books that have a strong heroine lead character. Kayla had these moments and I enjoyed watching her grow throughout the book. Apparently this is the second book in the Paradise, Idaho series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone. Recommended.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
jamieco's review against another edition
3.0
Ok so I've been reading this one for a long time and dragging it out. I've FINALLY forced myself to finish it. There was nothing really wrong with the book, i really enjoyed it in the beginning, but as I got towards the end, I was SO bored. All in all, it was good, but I probably wouldn't reread
goliathfrog's review against another edition
4.0
Bonus points for being one of my top tropes and for being done well. The relationship development and timeline was fairly realistic. I get annoyed when the ‘on the run’ heroine is immediately in an instalove situation with a new guy because it doesn’t translate to real life. In this case, the timeline takes place over months and there is a natural progression that makes sense with the trauma the heroine has experienced. I also thought the inclusion of Eli was fair and reasonable. It can be challenging for authors to work in adolescent children in the romance genre, I’ve found they’re usually secondary or disappear in the plot, but Eli was a presence throughout and develops an independent relationship with H that isn’t cringey.
I was a little disappointed with the ending being so similar to book one in the series. I like karma as much as the next gal, but it felt way too easy after a very slow and detailed build up.
I was a little disappointed with the ending being so similar to book one in the series. I like karma as much as the next gal, but it felt way too easy after a very slow and detailed build up.
kluv's review against another edition
5.0
This is a fabulous work of art. I work with abuse victims on a daily basis. Rosalind has managed to portray the fear and fight of a survivor of abuse. I loved every minute of this book.
Kayla shows the struggle to escape an abusive partner. She also shows the struggle to trust again. I think Rosalind did a great job with showing that inner emotion for Kayla. And Luke displayed all the desired reactions of a supportive friend and eventual lover. All that would be enough for a great book. But then there is Eli.
Eli, Kayla's nine year old son, stole my heart. His love for his mother, pride in his deceased father, joy with friends, and hesitance with Luke all seemed very real to me. Just wow! That sent this book to the top of my list of books ever read.
In true Rosalind form, there is passion and longing. But it's done in a respectable way. The family portrait and its variations is wonderful. After reading Carry Me Home and this book, I want to be a member of the Jackson family. You will too. This is the book for you.
Kayla shows the struggle to escape an abusive partner. She also shows the struggle to trust again. I think Rosalind did a great job with showing that inner emotion for Kayla. And Luke displayed all the desired reactions of a supportive friend and eventual lover. All that would be enough for a great book. But then there is Eli.
Eli, Kayla's nine year old son, stole my heart. His love for his mother, pride in his deceased father, joy with friends, and hesitance with Luke all seemed very real to me. Just wow! That sent this book to the top of my list of books ever read.
In true Rosalind form, there is passion and longing. But it's done in a respectable way. The family portrait and its variations is wonderful. After reading Carry Me Home and this book, I want to be a member of the Jackson family. You will too. This is the book for you.
kboc923's review against another edition
5.0
***CAUTION*** if you are a survivor of domestic violence, this book could contain triggers
schreckjo's review against another edition
2.0
Cheese factor 5,000. What a disappointing, overly nauseating, entirely predictable read. There were moments when I thought, "if this guy picks this chick up & whirls her around I'm going to barf," and you can guess why happened the next moment in the story. Also, The drama of this plot revolves around the main character's ex hunting her down. There wasn't much hunting going on, and he met his demise in the most unsatisfying and anti-climactic manner I've ever witnessed.