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msmattoon's review
4.0
This was a little slow going, and I skimmed a bunch of the first 50 or so pages. But once it got to the leads interacting with another more it got really good. The male love interest's trauma was well thought out and very affecting and really informed the story in very believable way.
vpalmer0508's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mommasaystoread's review
5.0
Ah, Hunter and Trina. If ever there were a couple meant to be together, it would be this one. I got so wrapped up in the emotional journey that is To Have and to Hold that I read it in one sitting, and this one definitely runs the emotional gamut. The chemistry between this pair is off the charts, in and out of the bedroom, even when Hunter doesn't remember any of what's happened between them. I've loved each couple in this series, but Trina and Hunter are my absolute favorite so far. This third in the series gives you hope, breaks your heart, and then, finally puts it back together again, and I can't wait to see what's next for this series of love stories. Each one is interconnected with the others in some way, yet they're all uniquely their own story.
kle105's review
3.0
I thought this book was really sweet and pulled at the heartstrings. Having a soldier come home and not have memories of certain people is very real, and trying to recover from PTSD. Hunter owed to love Trina forever and while he was away Trina was keeping his daughter safe.
Seeing them build a friendship and then finding the way back to each other was really sweet. Seeing how Hunter struggled with finding himself again and his memory was heartbreaking. Overall a very good story and was invested in their happily ever after.
I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Seeing them build a friendship and then finding the way back to each other was really sweet. Seeing how Hunter struggled with finding himself again and his memory was heartbreaking. Overall a very good story and was invested in their happily ever after.
I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
mamabookwyrm's review against another edition
4.0
First I want to thank Serena Bell for the superb job she did in depicting what it is like for those living with memory loss and their loved ones. To Have and To Hold captivated me from the very beginning. It’s an emotional rollercoaster from beginning to end. I’m pretty sure I was either teary eyed or crying throughout most of the book, even during the parts that made me smile or laugh. Hunter is a soldier coming home from war after being injured. Trina is the mother of his daughter’s best friend. Before his deployment they had been having a secret relationship but were going to take it to the next level when he got back. At his return, though, Hunter finds he’s missing a year of his life—the year that includes their relationship.
The strength that Trina has is amazing. She was definitely an inspiration for me as I read the book and I found myself rooting for her in whatever direction the book took. I could definitely understand Hunter’s confusion and frustration, even if I wanted to junk punch him at times. And I absolutely adored Paige, Clara and Linda. I found Linda’s antics hilarious. I haven’t read the other books in the series but I definitely plan to go back and read them now.
I had a book hangover after reading this. It took me a couple of days to write this review but I’ve already recommended it to friends.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
The strength that Trina has is amazing. She was definitely an inspiration for me as I read the book and I found myself rooting for her in whatever direction the book took. I could definitely understand Hunter’s confusion and frustration, even if I wanted to junk punch him at times. And I absolutely adored Paige, Clara and Linda. I found Linda’s antics hilarious. I haven’t read the other books in the series but I definitely plan to go back and read them now.
I had a book hangover after reading this. It took me a couple of days to write this review but I’ve already recommended it to friends.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
wilovebooks's review against another edition
5.0
Hunter declares his love before leaving for deployment. Then he is injured and loses some of his memory. He doesn't remember being in a relationship with Trina. It was sad and sweet. I loved it.
aishareadsbooks's review against another edition
2.0
I hate to give a book such a low rating but it really didn't do much for me, I feel like I mostly read it because I had started it already and didn't have any new books around
beckymmoe's review against another edition
5.0
OMG. So. Good!
I honestly had a hard time putting this one down--except during the parts where things got totally intense, when I really needed to take a break and decompress...and even then, I was back about thirty seconds later, unable to wait and see what was going to happen next.
This has got to be one of the best--if not the best--uses of the amnesia troupe out there. Poor Hunter doesn't even realize for quite some time that he has holes in his memory--his brain has developed such a clever loop that he believes everything is hunky dory (except for the brand new, impressive scars he's sporting) until he gets home and finds that life is not quite as he thought it was. His mom has a new boyfriend he should remember, but doesn't. His daughter has grown and changed more than a year's worth of growing and changing. And his dead wife's good friend and her daughter have moved into his home...and he doesn't remember asking them to and can't imagine why he would have.
Seeing things from Trina's POV is heartbreaking--it took so much for her to trust him in the first place, when everything in her was screaming "Don't do it! Men leave! Love doesn't last!" and having it all torn away just as she'd started to depend on them? Devastating.
Seeing things from Hunter's perspective isn't any easier to read either, because not only is he confused as heck about what's going on and totally frustrated, he's also practically drowning in guilt--guilt over his former wife, guilt over missing chunks of his daughter and mother's lives, and guilt over the pain he can see he's causing Trina.
And then there's the girls--Hunter's daughter Clara and Trina's daughter Phoebe--they were already BFFs before Hunter left, and now they're more like sisters than ever. Hunter and Trina's estrangement tears them apart too, in more ways than one.
I wasn't sure Ms. Bell was going to be able to fix this situation...but holy cow, did she ever. It. Was. Brilliant.
I may have cheered. And cried, just a little. There may also have been a bit of spontaneous clapping.
Definitely my favorite of the series so far. If there's going to be a fourth (and there is a single guy hanging around our Returning Home heroes, so I am optimistic!) it has a lot to live up to :)
To Have and to Hold is the third in the series, but it would work well as a standalone. The heroes and heroines from books 1 and 2 ([b:Hold on Tight|18690910|Hold on Tight (Returning Home, #1)|Serena Bell|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1427578343s/18690910.jpg|26537137] and [b:Can't Hold Back|25237996|Can't Hold Back (Returning Home, #2)|Serena Bell|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1437806232s/25237996.jpg|44956712]) do play small roles, but if you haven't read their stories yet you won't be at too much of a disadvantage.
But your TBR will probably grow by at least 2 more.
4 1/2 stars / A
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
I honestly had a hard time putting this one down--except during the parts where things got totally intense, when I really needed to take a break and decompress...and even then, I was back about thirty seconds later, unable to wait and see what was going to happen next.
"I know my feelings, and they're not going to change."Gah! Remember that line...because it takes Hunter a really, really long time to.
This has got to be one of the best--if not the best--uses of the amnesia troupe out there. Poor Hunter doesn't even realize for quite some time that he has holes in his memory--his brain has developed such a clever loop that he believes everything is hunky dory (except for the brand new, impressive scars he's sporting) until he gets home and finds that life is not quite as he thought it was. His mom has a new boyfriend he should remember, but doesn't. His daughter has grown and changed more than a year's worth of growing and changing. And his dead wife's good friend and her daughter have moved into his home...and he doesn't remember asking them to and can't imagine why he would have.
Seeing things from Trina's POV is heartbreaking--it took so much for her to trust him in the first place, when everything in her was screaming "Don't do it! Men leave! Love doesn't last!" and having it all torn away just as she'd started to depend on them? Devastating.
Seeing things from Hunter's perspective isn't any easier to read either, because not only is he confused as heck about what's going on and totally frustrated, he's also practically drowning in guilt--guilt over his former wife, guilt over missing chunks of his daughter and mother's lives, and guilt over the pain he can see he's causing Trina.
And then there's the girls--Hunter's daughter Clara and Trina's daughter Phoebe--they were already BFFs before Hunter left, and now they're more like sisters than ever. Hunter and Trina's estrangement tears them apart too, in more ways than one.
I wasn't sure Ms. Bell was going to be able to fix this situation...but holy cow, did she ever. It. Was. Brilliant.
I may have cheered. And cried, just a little. There may also have been a bit of spontaneous clapping.
Definitely my favorite of the series so far. If there's going to be a fourth (and there is a single guy hanging around our Returning Home heroes, so I am optimistic!) it has a lot to live up to :)
To Have and to Hold is the third in the series, but it would work well as a standalone. The heroes and heroines from books 1 and 2 ([b:Hold on Tight|18690910|Hold on Tight (Returning Home, #1)|Serena Bell|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1427578343s/18690910.jpg|26537137] and [b:Can't Hold Back|25237996|Can't Hold Back (Returning Home, #2)|Serena Bell|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1437806232s/25237996.jpg|44956712]) do play small roles, but if you haven't read their stories yet you won't be at too much of a disadvantage.
But your TBR will probably grow by at least 2 more.
4 1/2 stars / A
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
e_marina's review against another edition
3.0
This book was enjoyable enough, an easy read. While I was intrigued by the premise, I wish the author would have dug a little deeper. It wrapped up too easily for my liking.
Thanks to Netgalley for free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley for free copy in exchange for an honest review.
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