Cover Design: Soxsational Cover Art
Publisher: Hot Tree Publishing
20 Saturday Jul 2019
06 Tuesday Nov 2018
July 26, 2016
reviewed for
Title: To Have and to Hold
Author : Serena Bell
Series: Returning Home #3
Release date: 26 Jul 2016
Rating : 4 Stars
Blurb : In this emotionally charged novel from the bestselling author of Hold on Tight (“Sweet, sexy, and real.”—Jessica Scott)
a war hero fights to remember the love he left behind—and the woman who refuses to fade away. The reunion is supposed to be the start of the rest of their lives. But when Trina Levine sees the soldier she promised to love forever, Hunter Cross looks at her like she’s a stranger.
The connection is gone, lost in the blank stare of those soulful brown eyes. Hunter remembers his young daughter but not Trina, and he certainly can’t recall why Trina and her own child are living in his house. Although his lean, rugged frame bears the scars of battle, his mind took the worst hit.
But Hunter Cross hasn’t forgotten everything. His body remembers caressing Trina’s delicate curves, holding her close, never wanting to let go. Was it just a dream, or was it real life? Now, as he tries to put the pieces back together, Trina’s the one who comforts him when his night terrors strike.
It’s Trina whose warm touch rekindles a connection no man could deny. Even with the odds stacked against them, Hunter wants to believe. Because passion has the power to awaken the past—and remake the future.
Praise for Serena Bell’s Returning Home novels
“Sweet, sexy, and real . . . In Hold on Tight, Serena Bell has written a beautiful story about a wounded soldier and the woman strong enough to love him.”—USA Today bestselling author Jessica Scott
“Hold on Tight is intensely sensual, with three-dimensional characters and a romance worth rooting for. Serena Bell is a master of sumptuous realism.”—Cara McKenna, author of Crosstown Crush
“Can’t Hold Back is a lovely story of second chances and new beginnings. Wounds that go deeper than physical pain are the most difficult to heal.”—New York Times bestselling author Kathy Clark
“With deceit and forgiveness, pain and addiction, healing and a second chance at love, Can’t Hold Back has it all. You do not want to miss this sexy story of a soldier coming home.”—Wendy S. Marcus, award-winning author of All I Need Is You
Review : To Have and to Hold: A Returning Home Novel (Returning Home #3) by Serena Bell was a surprising read. I have read my fair share of wounded warrior novels but must admit this one is special.
It might not be unique in its plot but the characters are so well crafted and you can almost feel the love this author placed in her creations.
The plot is told in a believable pace that felt real to me. I could relate to Hunter and his struggles to find his “normal” but also to Trina and her Battle. She was trapped between remembering, whishing and the hard / ugly reality – her battle felt also real. And the story is told in a way that almost (yeah just almost – so no 5 stars unfortunately) brought tears into my eyes.
It was the end that was a little misplaced and went a little to sappy that blew the 5th star.
But still that does not change that it is a great plot in a beautiful setting that I can highly recommend.
reviewed by
15 Monday Jan 2018
Discovering her fiance is an international con man just moments before they exchange vows devastates celebrity wedding planner Brooke Baldwin’s business—and breaks her heart. Now a pariah in Los Angeles, she seeks a fresh start in New York City and thinks she’s found it with her first bridal client, a sweet—if slightly spoiled—hotel heiress. Then she meets the uptight businessman who’s holding the purse strings.
Seth Tyler wishes he could write a blank check and be done with his sister Maya’s fancy-pants wedding. Unfortunately, micromanaging the event is his only chance at proving Maya’s fiance is a liar. Standing directly in his way is the stunning blonde wedding planner whose practiced smiles and sassy comebacks both irritate and arouse him. He needs Brooke’s help. But can he persuade a wedding planner on a comeback mission to unplan a wedding? And more importantly, how will he convince her that the wedding she should be planning… is theirs?
5 ‘Wedding Belle’ Stars
Lauren Layne is one of my favorite authors. She manages in comparison to other authors to hit the right spot in it being sweet & funny but with a pinch of angst and a plus not so much fluff. Some authors tend to go overboard with the fluff which kind of makes me cringe. I am NOT a fluffy person.
Brooke Baldwin has moved from the West Coast to the East Coast due to some unfortunate event that made her flee. My heart went out to Brooke what with the embarrassment and the humiliation of the situation. So she starts over in New York as a Belle.
Her first big wedding is the wedding of Maya Tyler, a heiress of Hotels that belong to the Tyler Group. The thorn in her side? Seth Tyler the brother.
Seth Tyler the CEO of the Tyler Group is controlling and after the death of his father he has become even more so. When his little sister confesses that she is getting married after only three months? His temper is hard to contain. So what is a possessive, controlling yet adorable big brother to do but tag along to damage control the situation. What also doesn’t help is that he is also an absolute cynic when it comes to love. But understandably so when he but his well you can’t really say heart but was rejected in a cruel manner that has colored many an aspect of his life.
The mission for Seth is to implement stop sister marrying a dodgy bloke but the ditzy, bubbly wedding planner is in the way. He never expected to be instantly attracted to her. Brooke has in her opinion a conflict of interest and that conflict is Seth Tyler and his domineering ways. In the end they give into their attraction to one another and well they are a great couple. Seth did take some things a little too far.
The secondary characters are just as fleshed out as the main characters and I love how we get a feel for them to see them in their upcoming books. What I find pretty cool is that Ms. Layne has a writing bucket list. So expect more awesomeness from the author.
I am of the opinion that when I like an author I don’t always like all of her books but so far the books that I have read by LL have been a winner for me.
26 Tuesday Dec 2017
May 11, 2016
reviewed for
Title: To Have and to Hold
Author : Serena Bell
Series: Returning Home #3
Release date: 26 Jul 2016
Blurb : In this emotionally charged novel from the bestselling author of Hold on Tight (“Sweet, sexy, and real.”—Jessica Scott)
a war hero fights to remember the love he left behind—and the woman who refuses to fade away. The reunion is supposed to be the start of the rest of their lives. But when Trina Levine sees the soldier she promised to love forever, Hunter Cross looks at her like she’s a stranger.
The connection is gone, lost in the blank stare of those soulful brown eyes. Hunter remembers his young daughter but not Trina, and he certainly can’t recall why Trina and her own child are living in his house. Although his lean, rugged frame bears the scars of battle, his mind took the worst hit.
But Hunter Cross hasn’t forgotten everything. His body remembers caressing Trina’s delicate curves, holding her close, never wanting to let go. Was it just a dream, or was it real life? Now, as he tries to put the pieces back together, Trina’s the one who comforts him when his night terrors strike.
It’s Trina whose warm touch rekindles a connection no man could deny. Even with the odds stacked against them, Hunter wants to believe. Because passion has the power to awaken the past—and remake the future.
Praise for Serena Bell’s Returning Home novels
“Sweet, sexy, and real . . . In Hold on Tight, Serena Bell has written a beautiful story about a wounded soldier and the woman strong enough to love him.”—USA Today bestselling author Jessica Scott
“Hold on Tight is intensely sensual, with three-dimensional characters and a romance worth rooting for. Serena Bell is a master of sumptuous realism.”—Cara McKenna, author of Crosstown Crush
“Can’t Hold Back is a lovely story of second chances and new beginnings. Wounds that go deeper than physical pain are the most difficult to heal.”—New York Times bestselling author Kathy Clark
“With deceit and forgiveness, pain and addiction, healing and a second chance at love, Can’t Hold Back has it all. You do not want to miss this sexy story of a soldier coming home.”—Wendy S. Marcus, award-winning author of All I Need Is You
reviewed by