Reviews

Wenn deine Hand mich hält by Alisha Rai

rachel_reads_rom's review against another edition

5.0

I am completely enthralled in this authors books. Where the last book in the seried was a wild fire of emotions, this one was a slow burn as two people who feel so much came to accept a lot of different feelings. I can't wait for what she comes up with next.

suchita_r's review against another edition

4.0

Alisha Rai introduces multicultural characters against the backdrop of a decade-spanning family feud in a refreshing take on the typical romance. Once again, she tackles mental illness in a matter-of-fact manner showing it not as something to be feared, but something to be educated about.

fitzofinspiration's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.75

ceena's review against another edition

4.0

Oh this was very, very good. Can also 100% guarantee I was blushing while listening to this one. Loved the chemistry between Jackson and Sadiya. I'm really glad I decided to continue this series, because I do think this one is slightly better than the first-- but it also might be that I prefer the tropes here.

Looking forward to reading the next!

marmoo's review against another edition

4.0

This is an enjoyable and zippy romance with a surprising emotional heft to it, as it builds on the solid foundation of the previous book in the series. Well-constructed characters with a lot of charm, masterful dialogue, and just a fun romp all around.

isitcake's review against another edition

2.0

This was definitely my least favorite of the trilogy. Sadia is a single parent and in the first book she's bi. That doesn't really come up in discussion during her relationship with Jackson. She used to be married to Jackson's older brother Paul, who Jackson had a falling out with. She's been struggling to run the bar/restaurant that he owned since his death. Jackson showed up in town for the first time in years since all the drama between the Kane and Chandler families. He and Sadia were actually childhood friends, but he started liking her more. Seeing him again, Sadia struggles with her attraction to him. And it's not helped since

it turns out in the 10 years that have passed Jackson has become something of a celebrity chef. He travels around the world doing popup comfort food and he has a huge following. When he sees Sadia is short staffed he becomes chef and runs her kitchen while she bartends. She also lets him stay at her house, because he's not really welcome at home.

The big secret is that when Jackson was arrested for setting the C&O store on fire, it really wasn't him It. It was Paul. A witness saw him, mistook him for Jackson, and Paul lied to Jackson saying he should take the fall because Sadia was pregnant with Paul's baby. This was completely false, an outright lie. Sadia didn't get pregnant until way later. And Jackson's mom helped convince Jackson to take the fall too.

Paul had left a journal detailing all of this to their Grandpa John (John Chandler?? the characters in these books are so fucking hard to keep track of. Don't even get me started on Sadia's family and her sisters who pop in and out of the book and I have literally no idea who they are nor do I care.). John gives that journal to Sadia to pass onto Jackson. Jackson reads it and doens't do anything about it. But after he was banging Sadia she discovers it in his room and the truth comes out. She's devasted that her dead husband was a liar, a bad person for letting Jackson take the blame and ruining his reputation in town.
Later on we learn that it was actually Jackson's mom who paid off the witness to recant their story, which dropped the charges against Jackson.

In the end it's still an HAE for her and Jackson, and her kid.

peytonm's review against another edition

4.0

The brother's widow trope in romance novels has never appealed to me, but look, I'll read anything Alisha Rai writes. And guess what, this book is awesome! Sadia is amazing. She runs a cafe and works nights as a bartender, all while also taking care of her adorable son. And she has anxiety (and my lord, it's well-written). When Jackson comes back into town after years of no contact, he has to earn his way back into her life. Which he does by starting to communicate better = my heart. Also, Sadia deals with drama in her own family that is very well-written. I love all of her sisters, especially Jia! There are more reveals to the overarching mystery of this series which are verrrrry interesting. I just loved this series. These are books that I cannot wait to reread and just bask in all of the emotion all over again.

tinamariereads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

headingnorth's review against another edition

4.0

My review is here.

shelbymarie516's review against another edition

3.0

Better than the first one and happy to have Jia in this one cause I really enjoyed her book (again see the swipe right trilogy)