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The 'Burg #6
Hold On
Since she was young, Cher Rivers knew she was not the kind of girl who got what she wanted. A girl who could hope. A girl who could dream. She knew a happily ever after just wasn't in the cards for her.
In love for years with the last bastion of the 'burg's eligible bachelors, Garrett Merrick, Cher worked hard at making him laugh. Being one of the guys. Having him in her life the only way she could. All this knowing he was in love with another woman.
The Merrick Family is known for loving deep. So when Cecelia Merrick was murdered, it marked the Merricks in a way none of them recovered. Both Cecelia's children found love. Both turned their backs on it. But Garrett "Merry" Merrick knew in his soul the woman he divorced years ago was the one for him.
Until the night when Cher took Garrett's back and things changed. The Merrick family loves deep. They also protect fiercely. And with his eyes finally open, Garrett sees the woman who truly is for him and he goes after her.
In love for years with the last bastion of the 'burg's eligible bachelors, Garrett Merrick, Cher worked hard at making him laugh. Being one of the guys. Having him in her life the only way she could. All this knowing he was in love with another woman.
The Merrick Family is known for loving deep. So when Cecelia Merrick was murdered, it marked the Merricks in a way none of them recovered. Both Cecelia's children found love. Both turned their backs on it. But Garrett "Merry" Merrick knew in his soul the woman he divorced years ago was the one for him.
Until the night when Cher took Garrett's back and things changed. The Merrick family loves deep. They also protect fiercely. And with his eyes finally open, Garrett sees the woman who truly is for him and he goes after her.
592 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2015
942 people are currently reading
5,693 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Ashley
129books39.2kfollowersKristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!).
Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.
Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).
Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.
Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).
Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,524 reviews
May 10, 2019
So I finally decided on 4 strong Stars....
...Three of them are all for my homie, Cher.
Seriously though, outside of Josephine from (whom I personally loved, but I know a lot of peeps didn't) Cher is the only heroine who isn't basically interchangeable with every other KA heroine out there.
Which gets kind of old, honestly.
Furthermore, not to sound ridiculously vain or conceited - because I'm not - but Cher reminded me a lot of myself.
So obviously I dug her.
And, outside of the whole having a kid and actually cooking stuff, *shudder of revulsion* she and I could be twinsies.
Here's why:
1) Cher lives in tanks/jeans/high heels and hates to shop.
Holy. Shit. ^^^This times a million Homie-Cher.
I fucking loathe shopping.
LOATHE IT.
Except for shoes, bitches. Shoes don't count.
I will knock OVER a shoe store in my quest for a new pair of heels/platforms/espadrilles/booties/sandals that look...almost exactly like a pair of heels/platforms/espadrilles/booties/sandals that I already own.
Because FEMALE.
But I would rather mops floors, do laundry, or just fucking flog myself than go to the mall.
Mostly because I hate people.
In large groups.
In the presence of escalators and large glass railings.
2) Even though Cher hates to shop and doesn't like a lot of girly shit, per se...she KILLS it in the makeup department.
What a co-winkydink...
...me too.
I may leave the house looking like a skanky train wreck from the neck down with my basic wardrobe and even more basic hairdo...
But I WILL do it looking like I just left the M.A.C. Store.
Ha!
I'd like to see you try.
Because I will defend my M.A.C./BBrown/Lancome/Dior/Urban Decay/Smashbox stash with physical violence when required.
The hub cap even knows to avoid certain "locations" on the roadway.
Because it distracts me from any current goals and destination.
Anymascara, moving on...
3) Cher can talk FOOTBALL.
Be still my beating heart.
I think it's fitting this book came out in September.
Know why?
'Nuff said.
4) Cher cusses.
A LOT.
Says "What's up bitches" when she sees her girl friends.
And has a LOT of dude friends she calls "Brah."
Check.
Check.
And mother fucking CHECK.
And finally, perhaps my most favorite makes-me-wanna-high-five-her-and-be-BBF's-forever thing about Cher - Aside from her only using the word "HONEY" approximately three times, thank FUCK?
5) Homie-Cher is down with MY homies, Janis Joplin, Van Morrison, and other Classic Rock GENIUSES.
I mean, Jaysus, Merry even gave a shout out to Jefferson Airplane.
JEFFERSON. AIRPLANE.
My heart can't even take it, people.
Classic Rock and 60's/70's protest music is my freakin' favorite.
I am only in my 30's, but I was raised by a former pothead hippie.
Meaning?
Homie knows her music.
In fact, when I met my husband, and he DIDN'T KNOW who Jimi FUCKING Hendrix was?
It was almost a deal breaker.
Luckily, he has since been educated.
But I digress.
Now, what about that final, fourth star, you ask?
That bad boy is dedicated to Cher and Merry's first sex scene.
Because HOLY. SHIT.
Let's just say it got this pussy cat's motor running.
For serio though, that was probably one of the hottest scenes I've read I'm a looooooong time.
And that's really saying something.
In fact, this book is worth reading for just that scene alone.
Other than that, this was pretty standard KA - in a GREAT way - not in a Wild and Free way, and I really enjoyed it.
Updated 9/6/15 to add: I see that the epilogue was a huge hit with a lot of people...and I did enjoy it, absolutely.
However, it didn't blow me out of the water like it seemed to do for everyone else.
So I'm kinda bummed for myself, actually lol. I feel like I missed something and am that pathetic lonely kid on the playground who didn't get the party invite.
But oh well.
Can't win them all and I'm just thrilled it cranked everyone else's tractor.
And on that note...
Find this and other reviews at:
...Three of them are all for my homie, Cher.
Seriously though, outside of Josephine from (whom I personally loved, but I know a lot of peeps didn't) Cher is the only heroine who isn't basically interchangeable with every other KA heroine out there.
Which gets kind of old, honestly.
Furthermore, not to sound ridiculously vain or conceited - because I'm not - but Cher reminded me a lot of myself.
So obviously I dug her.
And, outside of the whole having a kid and actually cooking stuff, *shudder of revulsion* she and I could be twinsies.
Here's why:
1) Cher lives in tanks/jeans/high heels and hates to shop.
Holy. Shit. ^^^This times a million Homie-Cher.
I fucking loathe shopping.
LOATHE IT.
Except for shoes, bitches. Shoes don't count.
I will knock OVER a shoe store in my quest for a new pair of heels/platforms/espadrilles/booties/sandals that look...almost exactly like a pair of heels/platforms/espadrilles/booties/sandals that I already own.
Because FEMALE.
But I would rather mops floors, do laundry, or just fucking flog myself than go to the mall.
Mostly because I hate people.
In large groups.
In the presence of escalators and large glass railings.
2) Even though Cher hates to shop and doesn't like a lot of girly shit, per se...she KILLS it in the makeup department.
What a co-winkydink...
...me too.
I may leave the house looking like a skanky train wreck from the neck down with my basic wardrobe and even more basic hairdo...
But I WILL do it looking like I just left the M.A.C. Store.
Ha!
I'd like to see you try.
Because I will defend my M.A.C./BBrown/Lancome/Dior/Urban Decay/Smashbox stash with physical violence when required.
The hub cap even knows to avoid certain "locations" on the roadway.
Because it distracts me from any current goals and destination.
Anymascara, moving on...
3) Cher can talk FOOTBALL.
Be still my beating heart.
I think it's fitting this book came out in September.
Know why?
'Nuff said.
4) Cher cusses.
A LOT.
Says "What's up bitches" when she sees her girl friends.
And has a LOT of dude friends she calls "Brah."
Check.
Check.
And mother fucking CHECK.
And finally, perhaps my most favorite makes-me-wanna-high-five-her-and-be-BBF's-forever thing about Cher - Aside from her only using the word "HONEY" approximately three times, thank FUCK?
5) Homie-Cher is down with MY homies, Janis Joplin, Van Morrison, and other Classic Rock GENIUSES.
I mean, Jaysus, Merry even gave a shout out to Jefferson Airplane.
JEFFERSON. AIRPLANE.
My heart can't even take it, people.
Classic Rock and 60's/70's protest music is my freakin' favorite.
I am only in my 30's, but I was raised by a former pothead hippie.
Meaning?
Homie knows her music.
In fact, when I met my husband, and he DIDN'T KNOW who Jimi FUCKING Hendrix was?
It was almost a deal breaker.
Luckily, he has since been educated.
But I digress.
Now, what about that final, fourth star, you ask?
That bad boy is dedicated to Cher and Merry's first sex scene.
Because HOLY. SHIT.
Let's just say it got this pussy cat's motor running.
For serio though, that was probably one of the hottest scenes I've read I'm a looooooong time.
And that's really saying something.
In fact, this book is worth reading for just that scene alone.
Other than that, this was pretty standard KA - in a GREAT way - not in a Wild and Free way, and I really enjoyed it.
Updated 9/6/15 to add: I see that the epilogue was a huge hit with a lot of people...and I did enjoy it, absolutely.
However, it didn't blow me out of the water like it seemed to do for everyone else.
So I'm kinda bummed for myself, actually lol. I feel like I missed something and am that pathetic lonely kid on the playground who didn't get the party invite.
But oh well.
Can't win them all and I'm just thrilled it cranked everyone else's tractor.
And on that note...
Find this and other reviews at:
September 4, 2015
::: FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED :::
LOVE LOVE LOVED THIS BOOK!!!
Kristen Ashley is well known as one of the best romance authors and she's also one of my personal go-to favorites. With Hold On, she once again delivered an absolutely gorgeous love story that I adored from the first page until the last!! This book was badass, heart-felt, smokin� hot, and loaded with the deepest, strongest, most powerful emotions you can imagine. By the end, I had happy tears streaming down my face. Without a doubt, it had THE. BEST. EPILOGUE. EVER!!!! Many readers think of KA as the Queen of Epilogues and the Queen of Badass, but she really outdid herself with this book. It was pure perfection!! 5 STARS!!
From the first few pages, my heart was racing. I'd literally dropped everything to read it the moment it was released. I cancelled plans, and cleared my schedule, because lets be honest, who can be getting groceries or sitting out at dinner with a KA book back home?? Not me! I just had to read it.
I've loved this series since I first started it in 2012. I know I say this about almost all of KA's books, but honestly, this particular series is one of my favorites. There's a real depth and maturity to the stories in this series that really just gets to me. I love them so much. These are characters and couples who have been around the block a few times, maybe made mistakes, or had life deal them a bad hand of cards the first time, but within this series, they've each finally had a chance to find the happiness they deserve, and Merry was the last guy in the 'Burg to have his story told.
If you haven't read the previous 5 books in this series, I strongly recommend reading them first and in order (as listed below). Why? Well a) because they're all genuinely out-of-this-world amazing, and b) because you'll get so much more out of the series that way. Just trust me. Each book may be about a different couple, but they're quite interconnected and the layers of each couple's stories build on each other in such a way that I guarantee you'll have a better reading experience that way.
This book was Merry and Cher's story -- the final 'Burg series book. Merry was the last of the 'Burg's bachelors -- a rough, sexy badass Alpha cop who'd sadly spent years thinking that Mia, the woman he'd divorced was the right one for him. Cher worked at the local bar, secretly in love with him for years, but content to just be his friend, to be there for him however she could, all the while knowing he was in love with another woman and knowing he'd never feel the same way about her as she did for him. Painful as it was, she was willing to take it because life had tought her that girls like her didn't get happily ever afters.
She'd gone through life getting the short end of every single stick. As a single mom who'd been left by her no-good druggie boyfriend to raise a child alone with no help and no money, she'd done anything she had to to put food in her child’s belly and a roof over his head.
She was a survivor, willing to sacrifice anything for her son to have a good life, and had absolutely earned her place as the Burg's resident tough chick. But then one night between her and Merry changed everything and brought them together in a way neither of them could ever have imagined ...
Can I just say that I. LOVED. CHER!!!! This girl had been kicked down by life, then kicked again while she was down but she didn't let anything stop her from getting up again. She was just such an incredibly strong woman and mother. She's the kind of person you can't help but wish the world had more of.
And I can't say that without also saying that I. LOVED. MERRY!!!! I loved the way he took care of her, protected her, treated her son, and never gave up on them. He was a good guy by profession, but that goodness started in his heart. For the first time in her life, he showed her what it was like to have someone she could depend on to have her back, and who also loved her in a way she never imagined possible.
After surviving everything life had thrown at her, the walls Cher had built around her were strong and nearly impenetrable. She'd learned the hard way that it was safer that way. Safer for her, better for her son. But Merry came right along and wouldn't give up -- utterly determined to make it through those walls and prove to her that he wasn't going to be another person who did her wrong.
And I can't review this book without sending a big shout-out to her amazing son Ethan. This guy stole the show! He was such an amazing little badass, Alpha male protector in the making. Brave, strong, smart, loyal, caring... I promise he'll melt your heart! Seeing him and Cher's mother-son relationship was so endearing. I loved the way she was firm and strong, but kind and gently. Allowing him to be a kid, but teaching him how to be a man. Gah. SO MANY FEELS!!
There are just such STRONG relationship in this series. And not just romantic ones -- it's also friendships, brotherhoods, families, all kinds of deep, unwavering bonds of love. There was this one scene for example, with all the gals helping Cher pick out a dress that was such a simple scene but it brought me to tears with the depth of the LOVE that was shown in it. That's the kind of heart a KA book has.
But it's also balanced out by great banter. Ha! There was even glorious man-banter between heroes:
Heehee!!
I pretty much loved every single aspect of this book -- the gorgeous dynamics between Cher and Merry, between Cher and her son, between Merry and her son, and between all of them together as they slow but surely came together as a family unit just made me feel gooey inside.
Even though mistakes were made, I loved how functinal they were both together and separately. They both realized quickly how precious what they had between them was and both tried as hard as they could to allow those bonds of love and trust to grow.
I know I say this in almost every review but I swear to God, KA has carved out for herself her very own dialect of the English language and I LOVE it. Like really, if you were to show me a series of quotes, I could instantly pick out the ones that she wrote -- its that distinctive and it just manages to give an extra measure of depth to the already badass feeling her stories are infused it. It just makes them feel REAL!
When you commit to reading a KA book, it's kind of equivalent to committing to binge-watch the entire season of the most badass show you can imagine in one sitting. Her books are literally like 2-4 times as long as most. This one was 11,700 Kindle Locations long (most full length books hover around the 4000-5000 mark) so it's almost as though she gives you a short series within one book. It's a journey, an adventure, a non-stop romantic thrill ride that is absolutely unparalleled in the romance world.
KA not only knows how to write a gorgeous story, but she knows how to end them in the absolute best way. She gives her readers everything they'd hoped to see and leaves no loose ends. Everything that needs to be shown is shown allowing you to not only have experienced these characters stories in the book, but also to have a clear idea of where they ended up after years after their book was over. It's a powerful and very cathartic experience to read them. They just fill your heart to the brim with emotions. Naturally, her reader-given title of Queen of Epilogues is very well-earned, but I think everyone who has read this book will agree with me when I say that it had one of THE. BEST. EPILOGUES. EVER!!!!! It covers not only Merry and Cher's story but gives a final wrap up and beautiful send off to all of the amazing couples we've fallen in love with over the course of this series. I was pretty much happy sobbing by the end. Tears were pouring down my face as my heart overflowed with happiness.
You don't just read Kristen Ashley's stories, you FEEL them deep in your heart and soul. You live them. And Hold On was truly the most perfect end to one of the best series I've ever read.
Rating: 5 stars!! Contemporary Adult romance.
PS: if you're new to Kristen Ashley books, this is a series of interconnected standalones (different couples). While any book may be read alone, I strongly recommend reading the series in order. You can find all the info (and my reviews) here:
_______________________________________
For more of my reviews, book news and updates:
�
�
�
�
“You got good, you don’t let it go. It lets you go, you hold on. It slips though your fingers, you pull out all the stops to get it back. You got somethin� worth fighting for, you fight for it. You do not sit on your ass waitin� for it to come back to you."
LOVE LOVE LOVED THIS BOOK!!!
Kristen Ashley is well known as one of the best romance authors and she's also one of my personal go-to favorites. With Hold On, she once again delivered an absolutely gorgeous love story that I adored from the first page until the last!! This book was badass, heart-felt, smokin� hot, and loaded with the deepest, strongest, most powerful emotions you can imagine. By the end, I had happy tears streaming down my face. Without a doubt, it had THE. BEST. EPILOGUE. EVER!!!! Many readers think of KA as the Queen of Epilogues and the Queen of Badass, but she really outdid herself with this book. It was pure perfection!! 5 STARS!!
From the first few pages, my heart was racing. I'd literally dropped everything to read it the moment it was released. I cancelled plans, and cleared my schedule, because lets be honest, who can be getting groceries or sitting out at dinner with a KA book back home?? Not me! I just had to read it.
I've loved this series since I first started it in 2012. I know I say this about almost all of KA's books, but honestly, this particular series is one of my favorites. There's a real depth and maturity to the stories in this series that really just gets to me. I love them so much. These are characters and couples who have been around the block a few times, maybe made mistakes, or had life deal them a bad hand of cards the first time, but within this series, they've each finally had a chance to find the happiness they deserve, and Merry was the last guy in the 'Burg to have his story told.
If you haven't read the previous 5 books in this series, I strongly recommend reading them first and in order (as listed below). Why? Well a) because they're all genuinely out-of-this-world amazing, and b) because you'll get so much more out of the series that way. Just trust me. Each book may be about a different couple, but they're quite interconnected and the layers of each couple's stories build on each other in such a way that I guarantee you'll have a better reading experience that way.
This book was Merry and Cher's story -- the final 'Burg series book. Merry was the last of the 'Burg's bachelors -- a rough, sexy badass Alpha cop who'd sadly spent years thinking that Mia, the woman he'd divorced was the right one for him. Cher worked at the local bar, secretly in love with him for years, but content to just be his friend, to be there for him however she could, all the while knowing he was in love with another woman and knowing he'd never feel the same way about her as she did for him. Painful as it was, she was willing to take it because life had tought her that girls like her didn't get happily ever afters.
She'd gone through life getting the short end of every single stick. As a single mom who'd been left by her no-good druggie boyfriend to raise a child alone with no help and no money, she'd done anything she had to to put food in her child’s belly and a roof over his head.
I ate shit because that was life.
But in all that, I’d done something right. Something so right, it was the anchor of my life that kept me steady and whole� I’d made [my son]. I’d kept [my son]. And I made sure my boy knew he was loved right down to my soul. Which meant he loved me that way right back.
“You know I love you, baby?� I whispered.
She was a survivor, willing to sacrifice anything for her son to have a good life, and had absolutely earned her place as the Burg's resident tough chick. But then one night between her and Merry changed everything and brought them together in a way neither of them could ever have imagined ...
“I don’t think I gotta convince you that you mean something� to me. What I want you to know right now is, no mater the future, that’ll never change."
Can I just say that I. LOVED. CHER!!!! This girl had been kicked down by life, then kicked again while she was down but she didn't let anything stop her from getting up again. She was just such an incredibly strong woman and mother. She's the kind of person you can't help but wish the world had more of.
And I can't say that without also saying that I. LOVED. MERRY!!!! I loved the way he took care of her, protected her, treated her son, and never gave up on them. He was a good guy by profession, but that goodness started in his heart. For the first time in her life, he showed her what it was like to have someone she could depend on to have her back, and who also loved her in a way she never imagined possible.
After surviving everything life had thrown at her, the walls Cher had built around her were strong and nearly impenetrable. She'd learned the hard way that it was safer that way. Safer for her, better for her son. But Merry came right along and wouldn't give up -- utterly determined to make it through those walls and prove to her that he wasn't going to be another person who did her wrong.
“Got a lotta people who mean a lot to me, but only one took my back� What I want is more good times with you. I wanna fuck wild and I wanna laugh hard, and while we’re doin� that, I’m gonna look out for you.�
And I can't review this book without sending a big shout-out to her amazing son Ethan. This guy stole the show! He was such an amazing little badass, Alpha male protector in the making. Brave, strong, smart, loyal, caring... I promise he'll melt your heart! Seeing him and Cher's mother-son relationship was so endearing. I loved the way she was firm and strong, but kind and gently. Allowing him to be a kid, but teaching him how to be a man. Gah. SO MANY FEELS!!
There are just such STRONG relationship in this series. And not just romantic ones -- it's also friendships, brotherhoods, families, all kinds of deep, unwavering bonds of love. There was this one scene for example, with all the gals helping Cher pick out a dress that was such a simple scene but it brought me to tears with the depth of the LOVE that was shown in it. That's the kind of heart a KA book has.
But it's also balanced out by great banter. Ha! There was even glorious man-banter between heroes:
“You should be a therapist, Mike. Open your own clinic. Call it ‘Don’t Be A Dumb Fuck Treatment Centre.�
Mike grinned back, returning, “You bein� my first client, thinkin� of adding, ‘How Not To Be A Smartass.'�
Heehee!!
I pretty much loved every single aspect of this book -- the gorgeous dynamics between Cher and Merry, between Cher and her son, between Merry and her son, and between all of them together as they slow but surely came together as a family unit just made me feel gooey inside.
Even though mistakes were made, I loved how functinal they were both together and separately. They both realized quickly how precious what they had between them was and both tried as hard as they could to allow those bonds of love and trust to grow.
“We got a lot to talk about� But I don’t want you dreading it, because, honest as fuck, we’re gonna get through it and we’re gonna get past it. I won’t make you promises again that I can’t keep. Swear that, babe. So when I promise right now that I know where my head is at with you and I want us both to give this the best shot we can give it, you can believe that."
God.
“You gonna give this the best shot you can give, sweetheart?� he asked�
I nodded.
He took in my nod, smiled a small smile, but pushed, “Promise me.�
� “I promise, honey.�
I know I say this in almost every review but I swear to God, KA has carved out for herself her very own dialect of the English language and I LOVE it. Like really, if you were to show me a series of quotes, I could instantly pick out the ones that she wrote -- its that distinctive and it just manages to give an extra measure of depth to the already badass feeling her stories are infused it. It just makes them feel REAL!
When you commit to reading a KA book, it's kind of equivalent to committing to binge-watch the entire season of the most badass show you can imagine in one sitting. Her books are literally like 2-4 times as long as most. This one was 11,700 Kindle Locations long (most full length books hover around the 4000-5000 mark) so it's almost as though she gives you a short series within one book. It's a journey, an adventure, a non-stop romantic thrill ride that is absolutely unparalleled in the romance world.
KA not only knows how to write a gorgeous story, but she knows how to end them in the absolute best way. She gives her readers everything they'd hoped to see and leaves no loose ends. Everything that needs to be shown is shown allowing you to not only have experienced these characters stories in the book, but also to have a clear idea of where they ended up after years after their book was over. It's a powerful and very cathartic experience to read them. They just fill your heart to the brim with emotions. Naturally, her reader-given title of Queen of Epilogues is very well-earned, but I think everyone who has read this book will agree with me when I say that it had one of THE. BEST. EPILOGUES. EVER!!!!! It covers not only Merry and Cher's story but gives a final wrap up and beautiful send off to all of the amazing couples we've fallen in love with over the course of this series. I was pretty much happy sobbing by the end. Tears were pouring down my face as my heart overflowed with happiness.
You don't just read Kristen Ashley's stories, you FEEL them deep in your heart and soul. You live them. And Hold On was truly the most perfect end to one of the best series I've ever read.
Rating: 5 stars!! Contemporary Adult romance.
PS: if you're new to Kristen Ashley books, this is a series of interconnected standalones (different couples). While any book may be read alone, I strongly recommend reading the series in order. You can find all the info (and my reviews) here:
_______________________________________
For more of my reviews, book news and updates:
�
�
�
�
August 31, 2015
5 Stars
What an incredibly bittersweet book this was for me to read. I first discovered this amazing series back in 2012 when I read . And I've been wanting and slowly dying for Merry's book ever since. He's been through a hell of a lot throughout the entire series and all of it finally truly coming to a head in . I had always assumed when I read those books that he would end up with his ex, but after finishing Hold On, I can't be happier with the direction that the fabulous Kristen Ashley took it. I adored absolutely every single page.
Now if you've read the entire series, I'm sure there one huge question on your minds which I'd like to answer for you right now. Yes, Cher's boobs are indeed real. Alright then. Moving on...
If there's one thing I learned is that expectations are the bane of my existence. i built them up so high for some characters, only to be let down. But I can honestly tell you that Merry was everything I had hoped he would be and so much more. As a matter of fact, I'd go so far as to say that he's not my second favorite in this series right after Joe. That's high praise, people, because it simply doesn't get any better than Joe. I loved everything about this man; his stubbornness, his protectiveness, his possessiveness, and his all around KA alpha male-ness. *swoon*
The romance between him and Cher is a slow build filled with plenty of bumps along the way, but when both the MCs are as endearing as these two, I didn't even mind the bumps. Sure they have their moments where you want to knock some sense into them, but at the same time they stay true to themselves so it's hard to judge.
Cher is one of those KA heroines that was impossible not to like. To be honest, I didn't feel one way or another for her throughout the series. I wasn't sure what to make of her. She's a wild child and I was almost afraid she'd be borderline brash in her own book, but that was simply not the case. Kristen Ashley managed to endear her to readers so completely, you can't imagine not liking her. She's an amazing mother and while she has her hangups with men for very good reasons, she's not a doormat. This is a woman that has her own breed of strength and she uses it to go to bat for her family. I loved that about her. I also loved how vulnerable she was when it came to Merry.
Being a victim of that psycho Danny, she certainly has her demons and emotional scars a'plenty. That doesn't simply disappear when her and Merry get together. But watching her heal Merry's wounds for him in turn to heal hers was easily one of my favorite things about this book.
You know how I was sure I had a 5 star read on my hands? I didn't skim even one page. Not. A. One. Not any of the descriptions of the clothes, the furniture, the rooms, the clouds in the sky, nothing. I was enthralled in the characters and their romance from beginning to end and absolutely devoured every page.
I cannot picture a better book to end this amazing series with. If you were slightly disappointed with Frankie and Benny's book like I was, this book will more than make up for it. Trust me. If you're thinking of reading this as a standalone, don't. I mean, you can definitely do so, but you'll be missing out on the development of both these characters' stories and why would you want to do that anyway?
That brings me to my final point: The epilogue. Hands down. Bar none. THE best epilogue KA has ever written. Period. And I've read practically her entire backlist so me saying that says a lot. I cried like a lunatic. Tears of joy. It was so incredibly perfect. Beautiful. Emotional. Ugh. Just...GAH. The most wonderful way to close the final pages on the characters I've slowly fallen in love with through the years. It was that perfect cherry on top and I simply adored it.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
For more reviews visit
It happens. For people like us, baby. It happens, eventually. Just as long as we hold on.
What an incredibly bittersweet book this was for me to read. I first discovered this amazing series back in 2012 when I read . And I've been wanting and slowly dying for Merry's book ever since. He's been through a hell of a lot throughout the entire series and all of it finally truly coming to a head in . I had always assumed when I read those books that he would end up with his ex, but after finishing Hold On, I can't be happier with the direction that the fabulous Kristen Ashley took it. I adored absolutely every single page.
Now if you've read the entire series, I'm sure there one huge question on your minds which I'd like to answer for you right now. Yes, Cher's boobs are indeed real. Alright then. Moving on...
If there's one thing I learned is that expectations are the bane of my existence. i built them up so high for some characters, only to be let down. But I can honestly tell you that Merry was everything I had hoped he would be and so much more. As a matter of fact, I'd go so far as to say that he's not my second favorite in this series right after Joe. That's high praise, people, because it simply doesn't get any better than Joe. I loved everything about this man; his stubbornness, his protectiveness, his possessiveness, and his all around KA alpha male-ness. *swoon*
The romance between him and Cher is a slow build filled with plenty of bumps along the way, but when both the MCs are as endearing as these two, I didn't even mind the bumps. Sure they have their moments where you want to knock some sense into them, but at the same time they stay true to themselves so it's hard to judge.
Cher is one of those KA heroines that was impossible not to like. To be honest, I didn't feel one way or another for her throughout the series. I wasn't sure what to make of her. She's a wild child and I was almost afraid she'd be borderline brash in her own book, but that was simply not the case. Kristen Ashley managed to endear her to readers so completely, you can't imagine not liking her. She's an amazing mother and while she has her hangups with men for very good reasons, she's not a doormat. This is a woman that has her own breed of strength and she uses it to go to bat for her family. I loved that about her. I also loved how vulnerable she was when it came to Merry.
Being a victim of that psycho Danny, she certainly has her demons and emotional scars a'plenty. That doesn't simply disappear when her and Merry get together. But watching her heal Merry's wounds for him in turn to heal hers was easily one of my favorite things about this book.
You know how I was sure I had a 5 star read on my hands? I didn't skim even one page. Not. A. One. Not any of the descriptions of the clothes, the furniture, the rooms, the clouds in the sky, nothing. I was enthralled in the characters and their romance from beginning to end and absolutely devoured every page.
I cannot picture a better book to end this amazing series with. If you were slightly disappointed with Frankie and Benny's book like I was, this book will more than make up for it. Trust me. If you're thinking of reading this as a standalone, don't. I mean, you can definitely do so, but you'll be missing out on the development of both these characters' stories and why would you want to do that anyway?
That brings me to my final point: The epilogue. Hands down. Bar none. THE best epilogue KA has ever written. Period. And I've read practically her entire backlist so me saying that says a lot. I cried like a lunatic. Tears of joy. It was so incredibly perfect. Beautiful. Emotional. Ugh. Just...GAH. The most wonderful way to close the final pages on the characters I've slowly fallen in love with through the years. It was that perfect cherry on top and I simply adored it.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
For more reviews visit
September 12, 2015
My quick review...
Hold On is the 6th and final story in The 'Burg series, and I'm telling you... what a sweet, romantic, and sexy tale - a truly beautiful end to the series. We get so much insight into Merry and Cher, bits and pieces of their hearts and souls that make this, for me, one of the happiest of Kristen Ashley's happily ever afters. Over and over again, Kit takes me to a happy place and ROCKS my world to its core! And the epilogue? Best. Epilogue. Ever!
Read an excerpt excerpt here, on my blog:
October 12, 2015
Anyone who knows me knows that if I had to pick one author as my number one favorite, it would be Kristen Ashely. I love her writing, her characters, her stories- everything about them are fantastic. Hold On is the sixth and final story of her Burg series. We met Cher Rivers and Garrett Merrick early on in the series and they are both characters I’ve wanted to read more about. The fact that Cher has a fantastic son named Ethan just made the book that much better.
Cher Rivers has been through so much. If you’ve read the first book in this series, you know her background. The past is behind her now, and it’s just her and her son Ethan. She has a job she likes, friends she adores and a son who means everything to her. She’s happy. The only thing that could make her more happy than she is would be catching the eye of the one man she’s always wanted since she's been in the Burg. Merry.
Merry has an ex-wife things are complicated with. He also has a horrific past. He never really saw Cher as the girl for him, then one night everything changed between them.
“You got good, you don’t let it go. It lets you go, you hold on. It slips though your fingers, you pull out all the stops to get it back. You got somethin� worth fighting for, you fight for it. You do not sit on your ass waitin� for it to come back to you.�
I loved so much about this story and this couple. It takes a little time for Cher and Merry to get it together, but when they do, it’s beauty. The relationship between Merry and Ethan was my favorite of the book. Cher had the best kid and I loved how Merry stepped up and developed a relationship with him. Merry was a great hero, but Cher was by far the best. I think she’s my favorite heroine of this series. There was nothing I didn’t like about her.
Kristen Ashley writes like no other. Her stories are beautifully descriptive, her men are alpha and strong and her heroines kick ass. This is why she’s my favorite. She has a style all of her own and I love her for it. The story itself was overall a 4 star read. There were so many parts I loved, but there were also a few things that dragged a bit and were predictable. I listened to the audio version and the narration was very good. The epilogue� that was KA at her finest. 5+ stars of epic material from all our favorite characters of the Burg.
“Hold on tight, Cherie� don’t let go.�
September 6, 2015
5 Stars!!
Wow!!! What an incredible book! One of the best I’ve read by this author and the perfect book to end this fantastic series. There’s no secret Kristen Ashely is one of my favorite author. Her romances are always really well built, sweet and/or sexy, her characters are always vivid and her writing style like no other. Reading a book by this author feels like coming home for me.
While “Hold On� was not my favorite book in the series, the heroine was like no other for me. I liked Cher in the other books in the series, but here she surprised me in very, very good way. I absolutely loved her. I’m pretty sure most of the readers will at least like her, simply because IMO she was built as a likeable character even if she has her own flaws. I loved her personality and the way she was with everyone - with her friends, with Merry and most of all with her son. You can feel how deep her love is for her boy. She sacrificed for him, but she doesn’t feel sorry for herself. She would do anything for him to have everything he wants and to be happy. Her relationship with her son melt my heart, made me smile and grin and simply made me happy. I think every mother should have this kind of relationship with her kid/s. I also loved her determination and how hardworking she was and her sassiness made me smile and grin so many times.
Indeed Cher had built a shell around her. But she has a good reason for that. She thinks she doesn’t deserve to be happy with a man like Merry, she doesn’t think she’s worthy of this man because of her past and because of her ex-boyfriends. Even if she has her own insecurities, she’s not weak, she’s not a doormat. And I loved her for that.
Merry is the usual KA hero. He’s sweet, caring, charming, dominant and also protective not only with the woman in his life, but also with her son. He knows what kind of woman Cher is and with every opportunity he tries to show her not only how he sees her, but how she really is. And I really loved him for that. For showing this amazing woman that everyone makes mistakes, that she has the right to dream, to be happy, to love him and to be loved by HIM. More than one time Merry made me swoon. He was simply perfect for Cher. There’s no doubt to me they are perfect for each other, because let me tell you, they completed each other and every single way.
I enjoyed how the relationship between these two amazing characters had changed over the weeks and also how the relationship between Cher’s son, Ethan and Merry became a ‘real relationship�. I loved seeing them interact with each other and the moments all three of them spent as a family warmed my heart.
As always KA wrote ‘the perfect� romance. “Hold On� has a little bit of everything � humor, steam, passion, a little angst and drama. We all know KA’s epilogues are awesome, emotional and…longer than other epilogues. But the epilogue here…well…was the sh*t. Really! I loved it, loved it…loved it to pieces. Was simply perfect IMO.
Overall, an amazing read!
Wow!!! What an incredible book! One of the best I’ve read by this author and the perfect book to end this fantastic series. There’s no secret Kristen Ashely is one of my favorite author. Her romances are always really well built, sweet and/or sexy, her characters are always vivid and her writing style like no other. Reading a book by this author feels like coming home for me.
While “Hold On� was not my favorite book in the series, the heroine was like no other for me. I liked Cher in the other books in the series, but here she surprised me in very, very good way. I absolutely loved her. I’m pretty sure most of the readers will at least like her, simply because IMO she was built as a likeable character even if she has her own flaws. I loved her personality and the way she was with everyone - with her friends, with Merry and most of all with her son. You can feel how deep her love is for her boy. She sacrificed for him, but she doesn’t feel sorry for herself. She would do anything for him to have everything he wants and to be happy. Her relationship with her son melt my heart, made me smile and grin and simply made me happy. I think every mother should have this kind of relationship with her kid/s. I also loved her determination and how hardworking she was and her sassiness made me smile and grin so many times.
“I never went soft. I was all hard. I’d built a shell around me no one could crack. I had reason. A really fucking good reason.
Problem was, I built that shell so hard, even I couldn’t break out of it.�
Indeed Cher had built a shell around her. But she has a good reason for that. She thinks she doesn’t deserve to be happy with a man like Merry, she doesn’t think she’s worthy of this man because of her past and because of her ex-boyfriends. Even if she has her own insecurities, she’s not weak, she’s not a doormat. And I loved her for that.
Merry is the usual KA hero. He’s sweet, caring, charming, dominant and also protective not only with the woman in his life, but also with her son. He knows what kind of woman Cher is and with every opportunity he tries to show her not only how he sees her, but how she really is. And I really loved him for that. For showing this amazing woman that everyone makes mistakes, that she has the right to dream, to be happy, to love him and to be loved by HIM. More than one time Merry made me swoon. He was simply perfect for Cher. There’s no doubt to me they are perfect for each other, because let me tell you, they completed each other and every single way.
“I wanna kiss you. But right now, I wanna kiss you because you're standin' in my arms, lookin' up at me the way you're lookin' up at me. I definitely wanna kiss the girl who loves to make me laugh. And I wanna kiss the girl who put that dress on for me. I also wanna kiss you because after I kiss you, I'm gonna take you to my bed and I'm gonna fuck you. But you need to know, in this instant, I wanna kiss you because you're the girl you are right now, the way you are right now, lookin' up at me."
I enjoyed how the relationship between these two amazing characters had changed over the weeks and also how the relationship between Cher’s son, Ethan and Merry became a ‘real relationship�. I loved seeing them interact with each other and the moments all three of them spent as a family warmed my heart.
As always KA wrote ‘the perfect� romance. “Hold On� has a little bit of everything � humor, steam, passion, a little angst and drama. We all know KA’s epilogues are awesome, emotional and…longer than other epilogues. But the epilogue here…well…was the sh*t. Really! I loved it, loved it…loved it to pieces. Was simply perfect IMO.
Overall, an amazing read!
September 6, 2015
4.5 "Gooey" Stars
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What will I do without the great people of this town? The yummy restaurants and most importantly without the constant promise of more? Kristen Ashley delivered an enjoyable last visit to this town, centering around Garrick Merrick and Cher Rivers. Cher the once single mom stripper tormented by the evil Dennis Lowe and Merry� ”The last good one standing.�
Merry and Cher’s story wasn’t completely original if you have read even a hand full of other books by this author. However, their journey was gratifying and I absolutely adored her son Ethan, and of course the drama and action that each Burg book gifts fans.
Cher and Merry go from having a one night stand to Merry getting his head together and realizing the life he could have with Cher and Ethan in his corner. Merry was a great Burg alpha and Cher was a very strong heroine. Their love was well paced and not without the ups and downs of getting to their happy. Merry shows Cher that he’s serious about a future with her and that she’s worth it.
”Why would I bullshit you? Cher, you’re the shit and everyone knows it. That is, everyone but you.�
I loved all the bad guy drama, the drama with Cher’s ex, and come on who doesn’t love a good K.A. kidnapping? Honestly, I felt terrible for her ex’s wife by the end of the book and I can’t say enough about Ryker, love that crazy man. However, my favorite from this series will always be Joe and if you're waiting for a glimpse this book utilizes all the characters of the series and gifts fans with epilogues for all our couples.
I’m going to share my FAVORITE quote from this series because it pretty much sums up how I feel about Brownsburg, Indiana.
"You get home, don't tell anyone or we'll have to send the crew out to cut out your tongue. Most folk think Indiana's a state to drive right through. They took a minute to eat our food, experience our hospitality, understand the depth of our loyalty and they did it in fall when the trees are in color, no one would ever leave."
Overall, a great final book of a great series!
"This concludes The 'Burg series. Thank you for reading. The gang from J&J's sends their love."
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What will I do without the great people of this town? The yummy restaurants and most importantly without the constant promise of more? Kristen Ashley delivered an enjoyable last visit to this town, centering around Garrick Merrick and Cher Rivers. Cher the once single mom stripper tormented by the evil Dennis Lowe and Merry� ”The last good one standing.�
Merry and Cher’s story wasn’t completely original if you have read even a hand full of other books by this author. However, their journey was gratifying and I absolutely adored her son Ethan, and of course the drama and action that each Burg book gifts fans.
Cher and Merry go from having a one night stand to Merry getting his head together and realizing the life he could have with Cher and Ethan in his corner. Merry was a great Burg alpha and Cher was a very strong heroine. Their love was well paced and not without the ups and downs of getting to their happy. Merry shows Cher that he’s serious about a future with her and that she’s worth it.
”Why would I bullshit you? Cher, you’re the shit and everyone knows it. That is, everyone but you.�
I loved all the bad guy drama, the drama with Cher’s ex, and come on who doesn’t love a good K.A. kidnapping? Honestly, I felt terrible for her ex’s wife by the end of the book and I can’t say enough about Ryker, love that crazy man. However, my favorite from this series will always be Joe and if you're waiting for a glimpse this book utilizes all the characters of the series and gifts fans with epilogues for all our couples.
I’m going to share my FAVORITE quote from this series because it pretty much sums up how I feel about Brownsburg, Indiana.
"You get home, don't tell anyone or we'll have to send the crew out to cut out your tongue. Most folk think Indiana's a state to drive right through. They took a minute to eat our food, experience our hospitality, understand the depth of our loyalty and they did it in fall when the trees are in color, no one would ever leave."
Overall, a great final book of a great series!
"This concludes The 'Burg series. Thank you for reading. The gang from J&J's sends their love."
December 28, 2023
2023
Needing some space to regroup, I took a ride back to re-discover books and authors that touched me and wouldn't let go. Kristen Ashley has always been my calming go to. She has this way of writing that once you get her mindset and understand how she weaves a tale, it can be addicting, especially with her "Vintage OG series. These books are always something I come back to.
5 Gooey, Squishy, Just Right Stars
* * * * * Spoiler Free
There is something to be said for Kristen Ashley's books. Once you understand the way she creates her characters, communities, and speech patterns, there is nothing like it. She has developed a style I would recognize without having her name on the book. She has a following devoted to her and when that happens, it causes deep wishes for every book to be as fantastic as the ones you have loved in the past.
Recently, I have noticed a bit of difference in some of the latest books; they were more character-driven rather than circumstances causing the angst or thrills. This can cause readers to either love these new books or feel as if they aren't like the KA books which came before.
I can sincerely state with full confidence all KA readers should love Hold On. I am talking about "jump for Joy, Twirl with Abandon, and Clutch to Your Chest Happiness" with this read. It is Vintage KA Perfection.
It is also the last book of The 'Berg series. In this book she nailed all the feels; all the hopes and wishes we had for the characters we have met over the past years. All of them were there. All of them counted and belonged, inter-woven in this book...as if it were our lives and our friends were rooting for us to have our happy ending.
What struck me so hard was how KA used the concept of Hold On; it was the link in various ways of how we as people learn to deal with things...how we can be measured as one who will fight for the other...to believe it is worth the effort and pain to "hold on" to the relationship when things get tough...
How a mother will "hold on" to her focus and not lose it when the chips are down and she must figure out a way to support herself when abandoned by the father of her child. How "holding on" to hope... and grasping for it with two hands and not letting it slip away...can be hard...impossible even... but done deep down inside.
And how a troubled man learned to "Hold On" to the Happy...to understand it was ok to feel it, give it, work for it, own it, and love it.
All of these things were presented, like steps on a stairway, to understand all of us deserve to dream; to receive friendship, loyalty, and love. No matter what may have happened in the past...you must fight and hold on and work through it all ... to get your happiness.
There is so much gold in this treasure of a book. You have a relationship between a mother and son; a mother who sacrificed and devoted herself to making sure he was whole, cared for and loved. She raised him well and he was wise beyond his years. He was a star in this book. The words of wisdom imparted by our fella Merry to this kid, the way Cher loved him and treated him from the beginning was just right. The boy was a boy but had the makings of a man early... and it was a thing of beauty to experience.
This leads me to this whole story.
You had two people who had a history; a friendship over the years. One of them had loved the other for a very long time... but felt she never deserved any dreams or happiness... so she would settle for being one of the guys. It allowed her to mix and joke with them; be there with their humor in their relaxed state...no drama or worries. Her life had been filled to the brim with pain, fear, reinforced insecurity, and distrust. Her shining moment was her son and she thought that would be all she would ever have. Her mother never had any more...it just didn't happen for "people like them".
His life was stained by tragedy; a wonderful family, loving, fun, and caring destroyed in a moment...his mother was killed. Decided he would never be able to have happiness... too hard when it could be destroyed, taken away...Had already ruined a marriage...and thought he waited too long to get his wife back...thought that was where his happiness was supposed to be.
But in a moment, at a time when Cher has his back... and she "holds on" to him when he is at his lowest...she sets him straight... gives him an "attitude adjustment"... a way to see all these years pinning for his ex-wife...it was the ex who should have fought for him... who should have "held on"... but didn't and didn't deserve his longing.
With these words said, Merry's world gets turned on its side...he begins to see things differently...
In the moment of comfort, Cher has the night of her life with Merry. It was real, free, fun, sexy, and the best for both. But Cher has walls made of steel for her protection and hears a conversation that mends any cracks in her defenses. She will be the one to try and set Merry at ease...things can go back to how they were...for friendship is more valuable than a messed up short-term relationship.
This was where she thought things would be...this was what Merry thought he would need to say...
But that wasn't what happened. Other circumstances came to light. Other desires came into play. Other reasons for Merry and Cher to interact.
And we got to be there through it all.
I have already told you I loved this book, so there isn't much more to say. I really think it was one of KA's best because it brought me back to the feel of the original "'Berg" books. It had insight into the characters, all the descriptions of the rooms, clothes, and any other details KA is known for... it had added elements of the plot which cause drama and suspense. But most of all it had this incredible man and woman; equals in it all...sexually, mentally, and with banter and heart. There was a son who stole every moment he was there and an epilogue to end all epilogues...perfection.
If you haven't experienced The 'Berg series, then please give yourself a treat... settle into meeting people you wish were your neighbors. Become intimate with men who you will covet and wish for your own. Support and admire women who have experienced much and deserve these Alphas.
I promise you will have a new addiction.
For You (The 'Burg, #1)
/review/show...
At Peace (The 'Burg, #2)
/review/show...
Golden Trail (The 'Burg, #3)
/review/show...
Games of the Heart (The 'Burg, #4)
/review/show...
The Promise (The 'Burg, #5)
/review/show...
Hold On (The 'Burg, #6)
/review/show...
~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~
Click Click...I have it on my Kindle ready to go...
Of course, I must get a little rest first...
For I anticipate an All Niter with Merry and Cher coming...
❤️💕❤️💕❤️
Where have I been...
Have I had my head up my A@@ not knowing this was coming???
Thank goodness I only have to wait one day...September 1.
I have been seeing wonderful things about this...
Is it Midnight yet???
Merry and Cher I will be there soon...
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
Needing some space to regroup, I took a ride back to re-discover books and authors that touched me and wouldn't let go. Kristen Ashley has always been my calming go to. She has this way of writing that once you get her mindset and understand how she weaves a tale, it can be addicting, especially with her "Vintage OG series. These books are always something I come back to.
5 Gooey, Squishy, Just Right Stars
* * * * * Spoiler Free
There is something to be said for Kristen Ashley's books. Once you understand the way she creates her characters, communities, and speech patterns, there is nothing like it. She has developed a style I would recognize without having her name on the book. She has a following devoted to her and when that happens, it causes deep wishes for every book to be as fantastic as the ones you have loved in the past.
Recently, I have noticed a bit of difference in some of the latest books; they were more character-driven rather than circumstances causing the angst or thrills. This can cause readers to either love these new books or feel as if they aren't like the KA books which came before.
I can sincerely state with full confidence all KA readers should love Hold On. I am talking about "jump for Joy, Twirl with Abandon, and Clutch to Your Chest Happiness" with this read. It is Vintage KA Perfection.
It is also the last book of The 'Berg series. In this book she nailed all the feels; all the hopes and wishes we had for the characters we have met over the past years. All of them were there. All of them counted and belonged, inter-woven in this book...as if it were our lives and our friends were rooting for us to have our happy ending.
What struck me so hard was how KA used the concept of Hold On; it was the link in various ways of how we as people learn to deal with things...how we can be measured as one who will fight for the other...to believe it is worth the effort and pain to "hold on" to the relationship when things get tough...
How a mother will "hold on" to her focus and not lose it when the chips are down and she must figure out a way to support herself when abandoned by the father of her child. How "holding on" to hope... and grasping for it with two hands and not letting it slip away...can be hard...impossible even... but done deep down inside.
And how a troubled man learned to "Hold On" to the Happy...to understand it was ok to feel it, give it, work for it, own it, and love it.
All of these things were presented, like steps on a stairway, to understand all of us deserve to dream; to receive friendship, loyalty, and love. No matter what may have happened in the past...you must fight and hold on and work through it all ... to get your happiness.
There is so much gold in this treasure of a book. You have a relationship between a mother and son; a mother who sacrificed and devoted herself to making sure he was whole, cared for and loved. She raised him well and he was wise beyond his years. He was a star in this book. The words of wisdom imparted by our fella Merry to this kid, the way Cher loved him and treated him from the beginning was just right. The boy was a boy but had the makings of a man early... and it was a thing of beauty to experience.
This leads me to this whole story.
You had two people who had a history; a friendship over the years. One of them had loved the other for a very long time... but felt she never deserved any dreams or happiness... so she would settle for being one of the guys. It allowed her to mix and joke with them; be there with their humor in their relaxed state...no drama or worries. Her life had been filled to the brim with pain, fear, reinforced insecurity, and distrust. Her shining moment was her son and she thought that would be all she would ever have. Her mother never had any more...it just didn't happen for "people like them".
His life was stained by tragedy; a wonderful family, loving, fun, and caring destroyed in a moment...his mother was killed. Decided he would never be able to have happiness... too hard when it could be destroyed, taken away...Had already ruined a marriage...and thought he waited too long to get his wife back...thought that was where his happiness was supposed to be.
But in a moment, at a time when Cher has his back... and she "holds on" to him when he is at his lowest...she sets him straight... gives him an "attitude adjustment"... a way to see all these years pinning for his ex-wife...it was the ex who should have fought for him... who should have "held on"... but didn't and didn't deserve his longing.
With these words said, Merry's world gets turned on its side...he begins to see things differently...
In the moment of comfort, Cher has the night of her life with Merry. It was real, free, fun, sexy, and the best for both. But Cher has walls made of steel for her protection and hears a conversation that mends any cracks in her defenses. She will be the one to try and set Merry at ease...things can go back to how they were...for friendship is more valuable than a messed up short-term relationship.
This was where she thought things would be...this was what Merry thought he would need to say...
But that wasn't what happened. Other circumstances came to light. Other desires came into play. Other reasons for Merry and Cher to interact.
And we got to be there through it all.
I have already told you I loved this book, so there isn't much more to say. I really think it was one of KA's best because it brought me back to the feel of the original "'Berg" books. It had insight into the characters, all the descriptions of the rooms, clothes, and any other details KA is known for... it had added elements of the plot which cause drama and suspense. But most of all it had this incredible man and woman; equals in it all...sexually, mentally, and with banter and heart. There was a son who stole every moment he was there and an epilogue to end all epilogues...perfection.
If you haven't experienced The 'Berg series, then please give yourself a treat... settle into meeting people you wish were your neighbors. Become intimate with men who you will covet and wish for your own. Support and admire women who have experienced much and deserve these Alphas.
I promise you will have a new addiction.
For You (The 'Burg, #1)
/review/show...
At Peace (The 'Burg, #2)
/review/show...
Golden Trail (The 'Burg, #3)
/review/show...
Games of the Heart (The 'Burg, #4)
/review/show...
The Promise (The 'Burg, #5)
/review/show...
Hold On (The 'Burg, #6)
/review/show...
~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~
Click Click...I have it on my Kindle ready to go...
Of course, I must get a little rest first...
For I anticipate an All Niter with Merry and Cher coming...
❤️💕❤️💕❤️
Where have I been...
Have I had my head up my A@@ not knowing this was coming???
Thank goodness I only have to wait one day...September 1.
I have been seeing wonderful things about this...
Is it Midnight yet???
Merry and Cher I will be there soon...
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
September 12, 2015
Why not 5 I hear you say? TBH, this books was waaaaay toooooo loooong. She could have done with skimming about 20% off it. But that is only my humble opinion. I have read all the books in this series, bar one. Didn't read Benny's story - didn't really have any interest in him when he showed up in the other books so I skipped it. Even when he showed up in this one ... I didn't really care.
Garrett Merrick ... sorry, I cannot call him "Merry". Merry fucking what - Merry Fucking Christmas... to me he is either Garrett or Merrick.
Seriously HOT sex scenes. She sure knows how to give us a hot finger fucking sex scene. Holy damnation.
We had some ups and downs. Some misunderstandings.
We met the folks from previous books
Joe "Cal" fucking Callahan... OMFG - give me that man.
In all honesty, I gave At Peace 5 stars and it was so much better than this book so that is why this one dropped a star. Then again that fucking epilogue.... the best!
Loved Garrett's Dad also. Words of wisdom.
And Nathan... KA sure can write about some great kids.
But, honestly, the Epilogue was wonderful.
I have taken some images from Pinterest, which I presume is fair game if folks post them there and they are in the public domain!
Garrett Merrick ... sorry, I cannot call him "Merry". Merry fucking what - Merry Fucking Christmas... to me he is either Garrett or Merrick.
"Made you come for me," he whispered.
"More than once."
Seriously HOT sex scenes. She sure knows how to give us a hot finger fucking sex scene. Holy damnation.
Her bedroom said anything goes. Her bedroom said your wildest fantasy could come true.
"Christ, if I didn't know you were worth it, I'd walk out the door and this would be done - all we got, over."
"Don't believe in ghosts but evidence points to the fact that the spirit of Janis Joplin puked all over your pad."
We had some ups and downs. Some misunderstandings.
We met the folks from previous books
Joe "Cal" fucking Callahan... OMFG - give me that man.
"Hey Joe."
In all honesty, I gave At Peace 5 stars and it was so much better than this book so that is why this one dropped a star. Then again that fucking epilogue.... the best!
"For people like us, baby. It happens, eventually. Just as long as we hold on.
His thick cock was rock hard. Fuck yeah.
Loved Garrett's Dad also. Words of wisdom.
And Nathan... KA sure can write about some great kids.
But, honestly, the Epilogue was wonderful.
I have taken some images from Pinterest, which I presume is fair game if folks post them there and they are in the public domain!
September 15, 2020
reread #2 (september 2020) � 3.25 stars
don't mind me, just rereading another old KA book because once i start... well, i kinda just fall down this rabbit hole of KA world and next think you know i reread all of my favorites (which im currently doing right now instead of reading the newly released books that i put in my currently reading to force myself to read them oops)
soo gotta be honest, there's a lot of things here that i don't like personally. why?? well...
☞︎ REASONS WHY THIS BOOK MADE ME UNCOMFY:
� our H here, Garrett "Merry" Merrick, is hung up on his ex-wife Mia since he divorced her 5 years ago at the beginning
� apparently Cher (h) aka the burg's resident bartender "tough chick" has been in love with him since she moved there (since the first book idk how many years it's been maybe 2 or 3?)
� REMINDER that Merry was hung up on Mia for the past 5 years and STILL slept with her "not frequent but regularly" and being a ho those 5 years.
this book begins when Merry finds out Mia finally got engaged, meaning he doesn't have a chance with her anymore and drinking his sorrows away. Cher says he's being stupid (i agree) because Mia wasn't the right woman for her as she couldn't handle his demons and didn't fight for him. Merry has an epiphany and was like
so Merry realizes his ex wasn't all that this whole time. he and Cher get drunk, they have a one night stand, breaking Cher's "dry spell" - also, her dry spell is kinda understandable since her last relationship was with a 😅 - Merry was gonna originally blow her off but then realizes Cher's ex's wife wants to kidnap her 10-year-old son because she's crazy so then BOOM Merry has another epiphany and was all like
AND THEN Cher was like nahhh bish in your dreams, and rightfully so because she still thinks he's not over Mia but little does she know that he's 100% over her, case in point:
and then after this, in true KA hero fashion, he bulldozes his way into her life.
first of all, i just wanna hug Cher because that woman has been through a lot. her ex left her when she got pregnant and stealing all her money, was a stripper in the past because she needed money to raise her son, has a stigma where people in town think she's the "town slut" just because she used to be a stripper, was in a relationship with a serial killer because she looks like the girl the serial killer is obsessed with.
she's always had "shit" in her life so she doesn't dare to "dream"... girlll...
~ lemme hug you real quick ~
second, the romance was still sweet but kinda mehh. there's not much angst considering Merry was "hung up" on his wife but he literally got over her in ch 1 and started chasing Cher in ch 3. i genuinely believe that Merry loves Cher waaay more than the ex and is 100% over her but yeahhh.. still meh. i honestly just cared more about the mother/son relationship because Ethan and Cher were so precious and adorable!! my favorite scene is Ethan going on a rant because he's worried about his mother it was so cute!!
and RYKER!!! i'm pretty sure that big oaf is my #2 fave KA side character (#1 being Tex from rock chicks of course).
this series isn't my fave - i don't know whyyy. i can't connect with the characters the same way i connect with the rock chick and dream man characters ughh - but the epilogue is one of the cutest epilogues i've ever read.
anywho, am i still gonna continue with my reread marathon of KA books because school is about to start and i don't wanna think about writing 20+ page papers and exams worth 50% of my grade? yes. yes, i am.
* * *
original rating (feb 2019) � 5 stars
don't mind me, just rereading another old KA book because once i start... well, i kinda just fall down this rabbit hole of KA world and next think you know i reread all of my favorites (which im currently doing right now instead of reading the newly released books that i put in my currently reading to force myself to read them oops)
soo gotta be honest, there's a lot of things here that i don't like personally. why?? well...
☞︎ REASONS WHY THIS BOOK MADE ME UNCOMFY:
� our H here, Garrett "Merry" Merrick, is hung up on his ex-wife Mia since he divorced her 5 years ago at the beginning
� apparently Cher (h) aka the burg's resident bartender "tough chick" has been in love with him since she moved there (since the first book idk how many years it's been maybe 2 or 3?)
� REMINDER that Merry was hung up on Mia for the past 5 years and STILL slept with her "not frequent but regularly" and being a ho those 5 years.
this book begins when Merry finds out Mia finally got engaged, meaning he doesn't have a chance with her anymore and drinking his sorrows away. Cher says he's being stupid (i agree) because Mia wasn't the right woman for her as she couldn't handle his demons and didn't fight for him. Merry has an epiphany and was like
so Merry realizes his ex wasn't all that this whole time. he and Cher get drunk, they have a one night stand, breaking Cher's "dry spell" - also, her dry spell is kinda understandable since her last relationship was with a 😅 - Merry was gonna originally blow her off but then realizes Cher's ex's wife wants to kidnap her 10-year-old son because she's crazy so then BOOM Merry has another epiphany and was all like
AND THEN Cher was like nahhh bish in your dreams, and rightfully so because she still thinks he's not over Mia but little does she know that he's 100% over her, case in point:
"You really over Mia?"
"It's an uncomfortable feeling, kickin' your own ass for years, knowin' you let go the only woman you loved and knowin' you should've pulled out all the stops to get her back, then switchin' that on a dime to kickin' you own ass when you realize she wasn't worth that emotion."
and then after this, in true KA hero fashion, he bulldozes his way into her life.
first of all, i just wanna hug Cher because that woman has been through a lot. her ex left her when she got pregnant and stealing all her money, was a stripper in the past because she needed money to raise her son, has a stigma where people in town think she's the "town slut" just because she used to be a stripper, was in a relationship with a serial killer because she looks like the girl the serial killer is obsessed with.
she's always had "shit" in her life so she doesn't dare to "dream"... girlll...
~ lemme hug you real quick ~
second, the romance was still sweet but kinda mehh. there's not much angst considering Merry was "hung up" on his wife but he literally got over her in ch 1 and started chasing Cher in ch 3. i genuinely believe that Merry loves Cher waaay more than the ex and is 100% over her but yeahhh.. still meh. i honestly just cared more about the mother/son relationship because Ethan and Cher were so precious and adorable!! my favorite scene is Ethan going on a rant because he's worried about his mother it was so cute!!
and RYKER!!! i'm pretty sure that big oaf is my #2 fave KA side character (#1 being Tex from rock chicks of course).
this series isn't my fave - i don't know whyyy. i can't connect with the characters the same way i connect with the rock chick and dream man characters ughh - but the epilogue is one of the cutest epilogues i've ever read.
anywho, am i still gonna continue with my reread marathon of KA books because school is about to start and i don't wanna think about writing 20+ page papers and exams worth 50% of my grade? yes. yes, i am.
* * *
original rating (feb 2019) � 5 stars
November 22, 2016
***November 23, 2016***
Just finished the audio and I really enjoyed it. The narrator does an awesome job. Her voice was easy to listen to and I had no problems telling when the characters changed. The narrator was able to portray the emotions the characters were feeling well. I would have no hesitations listening to another audio book with this narrator.
Kristen Ashley's stories are still my favourite audios...and books in general.
*
Ryker makes the match Merry for Cher�
Abracadbra� Sim Sala Bim…Alakazam…and� Voila!! Kristen Ashley has waved her magic wand and created a masterpiece. Ok, I’m sure it took a wee bit more work than waving a wand, but she sure did produce magic. Hold On reinforces the reasons why I am a dedicated, no questions asked KA fan. The beauty of this story is found in the connection you cannot help but make with the characters. You feel like you know Feb and Colt, Joe (I’m allowed to call him that…to you it’s Cal) and Vi, Layne and Rocky, Dusty and Mike, Benny and Frankie, the Jack’s, Ryan, Marty, Darryl and last but not least Ryker. You know who are the goodies and who are the baddies…you also know who toes the line (looking at you Ryker and Ryan). The biggest and best part of a KA read is that it sucks you into a world where you feel like you are a part of it and belong with these people.
Cher Rivers has had a really, really sucky life. In Cher’s eyes her only accomplishment and success is her son Ethan. What I got from Cher’s character is that she’s hardworking, strong minded and determined to give her son the best she can, even if it means making sacrifices. Cher was a waitress who fell in love with a junkie named Trent. He abandoned her and stole her money when she fell pregnant. Seeing no other choice, she becomes a stripper to make enough money to support herself and her son. One of her biggest failures (in her eyes) was falling prey to psycho killer, Dennis Lowe. Once Dennis is dealt with, the story hits the media and all who were part of the fiasco have to deal with the repercussions. Feb, the target of Dennis’s obsession, meets Cher and decides to help her out by giving her a job at J&J’s, the bar her family owns. Colt, Feb’s husband and ‘burg policeman, keeps an eye on her and Ethan. Cher makes a home for herself in the ‘burg and makes plenty of friends who have her back.
Merry’s life hasn’t sucked completely, but it sure hasn’t been easy. When he was a kid his mother was murdered. The repercussions are long lasting and devastating to his mental wellbeing. Merry grows up to be a policeman, marries then divorces a woman named Mia and becomes a known player around the ‘burg. Merry feels guilty for his marriage failing and finds it hard to move onto a serious relationship because of it. He decides to drown his sorrows at J&J’s when he finds out that Mia is remarrying. Cher is a good friend to Merry and sets him straight on some truths and makes him see that the failure of his marriage was not all his fault.
After his little wake up call, Merry and Cher “get it on�. What Merry has been blind to for five years is that Cher has feelings for him. Cher is concerned about starting a relationship with someone who is a known player. She can’t bring a man into her life when she has Ethan to worry about. Merry realises he has feelings for her and starts to knock down the barriers Cher placed around herself. This story is about two people who think they won’t find happiness but are determined to try. From the start they know they have chemistry, but they are unsure they can give each other what they need.
Some of my favourite scenes revolved around Ethan. This kid hasn’t had it easy, but he also realises that his Mum makes sacrifices so he can have the stuff he likes. His wisdom has been gained from not being sheltered from the realities of life. When your mother has been used by a psycho killer and everyone knows about it, you can’t avoid it. Ryker was another favourite. He’s scary outside, hides a romantic heart. It cracked me up that he thought he should start a matchmaking service.
Some people would say this series can be read as individual standalones. I don’t agree. To be honest there aren’t many books that are part of a series that I think should be read by themselves. To get the full impact, it’s better to see the characters through another person’s eyes. I knew Merry and Cher, some of their history and who they were. Yes, we get a bit more depth in their story, but in the rest of the ‘burg series you get to see how people feel about them. So, don’t start at #6 because my review is bloody good and you can’t go on until you’ve read it (ha ha) go back and take the journey. It’s SOOOO worth it.
This book had everything I want and need in a romance. A strong manly man who knows what he wants and gets it, a woman who works hard, has a bit of attitude and loves with her whole heart. It is also full of supporting characters that you can’t help but love. Evilness that you hope will never be at your doorstep and goodness from a close community who looks out for each other. I laughed, cringed, snorted, groaned, blushed, sweated and loved it all. One of the best parts of this story…THE EPILOGUE ROCKS!!
Just finished the audio and I really enjoyed it. The narrator does an awesome job. Her voice was easy to listen to and I had no problems telling when the characters changed. The narrator was able to portray the emotions the characters were feeling well. I would have no hesitations listening to another audio book with this narrator.
Kristen Ashley's stories are still my favourite audios...and books in general.
*
Ryker makes the match Merry for Cher�
Abracadbra� Sim Sala Bim…Alakazam…and� Voila!! Kristen Ashley has waved her magic wand and created a masterpiece. Ok, I’m sure it took a wee bit more work than waving a wand, but she sure did produce magic. Hold On reinforces the reasons why I am a dedicated, no questions asked KA fan. The beauty of this story is found in the connection you cannot help but make with the characters. You feel like you know Feb and Colt, Joe (I’m allowed to call him that…to you it’s Cal) and Vi, Layne and Rocky, Dusty and Mike, Benny and Frankie, the Jack’s, Ryan, Marty, Darryl and last but not least Ryker. You know who are the goodies and who are the baddies…you also know who toes the line (looking at you Ryker and Ryan). The biggest and best part of a KA read is that it sucks you into a world where you feel like you are a part of it and belong with these people.
Cher Rivers has had a really, really sucky life. In Cher’s eyes her only accomplishment and success is her son Ethan. What I got from Cher’s character is that she’s hardworking, strong minded and determined to give her son the best she can, even if it means making sacrifices. Cher was a waitress who fell in love with a junkie named Trent. He abandoned her and stole her money when she fell pregnant. Seeing no other choice, she becomes a stripper to make enough money to support herself and her son. One of her biggest failures (in her eyes) was falling prey to psycho killer, Dennis Lowe. Once Dennis is dealt with, the story hits the media and all who were part of the fiasco have to deal with the repercussions. Feb, the target of Dennis’s obsession, meets Cher and decides to help her out by giving her a job at J&J’s, the bar her family owns. Colt, Feb’s husband and ‘burg policeman, keeps an eye on her and Ethan. Cher makes a home for herself in the ‘burg and makes plenty of friends who have her back.
Merry’s life hasn’t sucked completely, but it sure hasn’t been easy. When he was a kid his mother was murdered. The repercussions are long lasting and devastating to his mental wellbeing. Merry grows up to be a policeman, marries then divorces a woman named Mia and becomes a known player around the ‘burg. Merry feels guilty for his marriage failing and finds it hard to move onto a serious relationship because of it. He decides to drown his sorrows at J&J’s when he finds out that Mia is remarrying. Cher is a good friend to Merry and sets him straight on some truths and makes him see that the failure of his marriage was not all his fault.
After his little wake up call, Merry and Cher “get it on�. What Merry has been blind to for five years is that Cher has feelings for him. Cher is concerned about starting a relationship with someone who is a known player. She can’t bring a man into her life when she has Ethan to worry about. Merry realises he has feelings for her and starts to knock down the barriers Cher placed around herself. This story is about two people who think they won’t find happiness but are determined to try. From the start they know they have chemistry, but they are unsure they can give each other what they need.
Some of my favourite scenes revolved around Ethan. This kid hasn’t had it easy, but he also realises that his Mum makes sacrifices so he can have the stuff he likes. His wisdom has been gained from not being sheltered from the realities of life. When your mother has been used by a psycho killer and everyone knows about it, you can’t avoid it. Ryker was another favourite. He’s scary outside, hides a romantic heart. It cracked me up that he thought he should start a matchmaking service.
Some people would say this series can be read as individual standalones. I don’t agree. To be honest there aren’t many books that are part of a series that I think should be read by themselves. To get the full impact, it’s better to see the characters through another person’s eyes. I knew Merry and Cher, some of their history and who they were. Yes, we get a bit more depth in their story, but in the rest of the ‘burg series you get to see how people feel about them. So, don’t start at #6 because my review is bloody good and you can’t go on until you’ve read it (ha ha) go back and take the journey. It’s SOOOO worth it.
This book had everything I want and need in a romance. A strong manly man who knows what he wants and gets it, a woman who works hard, has a bit of attitude and loves with her whole heart. It is also full of supporting characters that you can’t help but love. Evilness that you hope will never be at your doorstep and goodness from a close community who looks out for each other. I laughed, cringed, snorted, groaned, blushed, sweated and loved it all. One of the best parts of this story…THE EPILOGUE ROCKS!!
September 2, 2015
It's official.
Cher is my favorite heroine in this series, taking the top spot away from Dusty. She totally surprised me. She's flawed and she didn't always have her life together, which made me like her even more. She didn't have the family or the opportunities most of the heroines in this series had but got it all in the end.
Merry is the quintessential KA hero. He's sweet, protective, loving and very much a KA alpha male. I was a bit worried about his back story knowing that for five books, he's been hung up on his ex. Turns out, I was worried about nothing because once Merry decided he wants Cher, he was in there 100%.
*thud*
Kristen Ashley, seamlessly wove a tale second chances with her trademark humor and steam. As always, the family dynamics, the friendships among the residents of the 'burg was a treat. I personally loved Cher's son, Ethan. We also get a glimpse of Cal, Vi, Mike, Dusty, Tanner...and the rest of the gang.
Hold On definitely took the sting off my disappointment with The Promise. It wasn't a perfect book. The repetitiveness is still there and the men still talked the same but it didn't bother me much since the story and its characters captivated me from the get go.
There's a lot to like about Cher and Merry, their chemistry and the way the made it work. But what really stood out and made me wanna slap 5 stars to this book was the EPILOGUE.
Oh my God. That epilogue was perfection. The epilogue was everything. I cried and laughed and felt every goddamn emotion while reading that epilogue. It was perfection. PERFECTION.
Cher is my favorite heroine in this series, taking the top spot away from Dusty. She totally surprised me. She's flawed and she didn't always have her life together, which made me like her even more. She didn't have the family or the opportunities most of the heroines in this series had but got it all in the end.
"Did he know that he was the dream come true a girl like me would never dare to dream?"
Merry is the quintessential KA hero. He's sweet, protective, loving and very much a KA alpha male. I was a bit worried about his back story knowing that for five books, he's been hung up on his ex. Turns out, I was worried about nothing because once Merry decided he wants Cher, he was in there 100%.
"I definitely wanna kiss the girl who loves to make me laugh. And I wanna kiss the girl who put that dress on for me. I also wanna kiss you because after I kiss you, I'm gonna take you to my bed and I'm gonna fuck you. But you need to know, in this instant, I wanna kiss you because you're the girl you are right now, the way you are now, lookin' up at me."
*thud*
Kristen Ashley, seamlessly wove a tale second chances with her trademark humor and steam. As always, the family dynamics, the friendships among the residents of the 'burg was a treat. I personally loved Cher's son, Ethan. We also get a glimpse of Cal, Vi, Mike, Dusty, Tanner...and the rest of the gang.
Hold On definitely took the sting off my disappointment with The Promise. It wasn't a perfect book. The repetitiveness is still there and the men still talked the same but it didn't bother me much since the story and its characters captivated me from the get go.
“You got good, you don’t let it go. It lets you go, you hold on. It slips through your fingers, you pull out all the stops to get it back. You got somethin� worth fighting for, you fight for it. You do not sit on your ass waitin� for it to come back to you.�
There's a lot to like about Cher and Merry, their chemistry and the way the made it work. But what really stood out and made me wanna slap 5 stars to this book was the EPILOGUE.
Oh my God. That epilogue was perfection. The epilogue was everything. I cried and laughed and felt every goddamn emotion while reading that epilogue. It was perfection. PERFECTION.
September 18, 2015
There are SO many amazing reviews already written for HOLD ON that I wonder what I can add to all that goodness. Like many I find KA’s writing pretty amazing. Whether it is her attention to detail, her humor or those extremely HOT and SENSUAL sex scenes that seems to come so naturally to her, I never doubt what I am about to get when I turn that first page.
There were parts of this story that I absolutely LOVED but in the end I couldn’t give it 5 stars. For me there was a lull in the middle. I never stopped enjoying it but I found myself wishing there was a little less detail and a little more action.
I have to admit while reading this one I formed a bit of a girl crush on Cher. There really isn’t just one thing that I loved about her because she ROCKED on many levels. I loved her simple beauty, her humor, her ability to be a rocking mom, the softness below her hard shell and her ability to stand by her man all the while standing on shaky grounds herself.
Garrett Merrick takes a seat at the end of the bar one night when he wanted nothing more than to take the edge off the shit that was surfacing in his life. Whiskey was his choice of drink and it wouldn’t take just one drink. Cher being Cher would be the one friend that would wade into Garrett’s shit. She’d be the one to take that edge off. She would also be the one that Merrick couldn’t get out of his thoughts.
Garrett Merrick ~ God I loved this guy. He definitely fit the KA alpha badass mold. He was over the top SEXY and he could be so damn sweet. I loved his pet name for Cher ~ Brown-Eyed girl and hers for him ~ Gorgeous.
Cher ~ You already know I am crushing on her but I have to say she has to be one of my favorite KA heroines. I loved how she laid it all out for you. You never had to second guess with her. Things didn’t have to be perfect, she just wanted to be happy. She just wanted her boy to be happy too.
Can I just say the sex scenes in this book were F***ing HOT. KA can write some pretty sensual and tantalizing scenes that had me all hot and bothered. It didn’t matter where or when it happened it was HOT!
Beyond all these HOT sex scenes was humor and lots of gooey sweetness that rounded out the story. The Janice Joplin references made me laugh and were fitting to Cher. She definitely had a little JJ in her.
All the supporting character rocked too. Ethan was such a sweet and protective little man who loved his mom to the moon and back. I loved all the “BITCHES� being around. And Colt, Mike and Tanner were pretty fantastic!
And ladies what about Ryker. Did you all fall in love with this guy? He was funny, mean and sweet all rolled into one. He kinda of stole the show a few times too. And finally, Merrick’s dad may have only been present in a small part of the story but it was pivotal and the two of them together made me shed a few tears.
LOVED LOVED LOVED the Epilogue. KA just gave us her all. Perfectly written, enough said.
February 6, 2016
HOLD ON is the second book in The 'Burg series that I've listened to. After listening to AT PEACE I knew I wanted more of from this series. Kristen Ashley writes her books so you can read them as a standalone or as a series. Even though I've read book #2 and #6 in this series I didn't feel lost at all. In HOLD ON Kristen Ashley brings me up to speed with what I missed by not reading the other books. She does it in such a way that it has me contemplating going back and reading some of the books I missed. The back story of our heroine, Cher, is very intriguing.
HOLD ON is about a cop and a single mom. Cher is also a former stripper who now works in a bar. That plot line right there got me intrigued. But that's not all... she has a history with a serial killer. I really need to figure out what book that is and read it.
Garrett and Cher's non conventional relationship put a spark in this book. The tough girl, tough guy combo worked well for these two.
There's no denying when you buy a Kristen Ashley audio book you get your monies worth. This audio was no exception - it was long (21 hours) and took me just shy of a month to listen to it. Luckily for me I always enjoy a good audio.
If you like older characters (30+) then check out Kristen Ashley's books because that is a specialty of hers.
SERIES:
HOLD ON is about a cop and a single mom. Cher is also a former stripper who now works in a bar. That plot line right there got me intrigued. But that's not all... she has a history with a serial killer. I really need to figure out what book that is and read it.
Garrett and Cher's non conventional relationship put a spark in this book. The tough girl, tough guy combo worked well for these two.
There's no denying when you buy a Kristen Ashley audio book you get your monies worth. This audio was no exception - it was long (21 hours) and took me just shy of a month to listen to it. Luckily for me I always enjoy a good audio.
If you like older characters (30+) then check out Kristen Ashley's books because that is a specialty of hers.
SERIES:
August 30, 2015
FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED:
When you open a new book and you find yourself gasping for air, your chest clenching only a few pages into the story, you know you’ve hit the mother lode of great reads. Once again, in true Kristen Ashley style, we are given a story that owns us from the start, our hearts fluttering to the rhythm of the powerful emotions driving every scene, every sentence, every word exemplifying this author’s distinctive and truly remarkable prose. I always take my time reading a KA book, but I gave myself even more time to savour this particular story, to absorb every hidden layer, to fully appreciate every facet of these two characters that are so unlike any of her others, because I knew she had saved some of her best work for last. A truly splendid conclusion to a phenomenal series, if you haven’t ventured into it yet, it is time you pay The ‘Burg a visit.
Cherie “Cher� Rivers stopped dreaming of a knight in shining armour a long time ago, learning very early in life that the only person she could ever truly depend on was herself. A single mum in her mid thirties, a hard worker, a loving parent, a woman confident in all that she is and all that she would ever be, she lives her life unapologetically and true to herself, knowing that all the sacrifices she has ever made were done in good conscience and for the good of one person and one person alone—her beloved ten-year-old son Ethan. Having pushed all her dreams of finding a good man and being loved by such a man aside, all Cherie now dreams of is giving her son a good life, teaching him how to be a decent man, and making him feel loved every single day of his life. But as closed off as Cherie’s heart might appear to be, it secretly pines for a man who’s only ever seen her as a friend—a good man, a loyal man, a trustworthy man, the kind of man she would fight with all her might to keep in her life. Just not a man who’s ever showed any signs of loving her back.
Lieutenant Garrett “Merry� Merrick has only ever loved one woman in his life, but he’s never believed in happy endings. Losing their mother as young children has marked the Merrick siblings deeply, leaving them both terrified of loss, and thus prone to self-sabotaging their own happiness while in pursuit of emotional numbness. But while his sister conquered her demons and got her second chance at finding happiness, Merry’s hang-ups have led him to watching the love of his life getting engaged to another man and not wanting to do anything to stop it. Except drowning his sorrows in an expensive bottle of whisky with a friend, and opening his eyes to the possibility that the one who’s been in front of him all along might be exactly the kind of woman he didn’t even know he was looking for.
With their inhibitions lowered and their bodies aching to seek comfort in one another, Merry and Cherie share one night of unrivalled passion, a small taste of the bliss to be found in each other’s arms that neither of them can deny, but a new day brings them two very different outlooks on the night they’d shared—one of them daring to dream of more, and the other dismissing it as a one-night stand that should have never happened.
Cherie’s pain from allowing herself for one fleeting moment to hope a man would want to look after her, share her load, love her and her son, and then seeing that dream vanish even before it took shape, leaves a deep scar in both her pride as well as her fragile heart, only strengthening her conviction that she is just one of those girls who would never find that kind of happiness in life, even though she would give anything to have it.
But the moment Cherie’s heart closes off again, Merry’s suddenly becomes wide open to falling for a woman who now spends equal time fighting her attraction towards him and plotting his murder for making her feel everything she refuses to feel for him. And when a Kristen Ashley alpha male sets his eyes on a woman, get the popcorn ready and make yourself comfortable, because resistance is futile from the get-go and it’s going to be a ride like no other.
A woman scared of any more heartbreak in her life, reluctant to let a man see her vulnerable side and trust him not to hurt her, and a man who didn’t even know that all he ever needed in life in order to let go of his past was a woman who would stick by him through thick and thin—Merry and Cherie are two damaged, lonely people who find everything they’ve ever dreamed of in each other, if only they can see past their fears and embrace the rare beauty they’ve uncovered in each other’s arms.
I have loved all the stories in this epic series by an author who never fails to rock my world, and this was not just another great addition to the series—it was the perfect finale, the perfect conclusion, the perfect send-off to a remarkable group of characters whose stories have become some of my favourite re-reads. The epilogue alone acknowledging all the other couples in the series was far more than just the proverbial icing on the cake, the closure gained from seeing their lives fast-forwarded before our eyes leaving me in a happy daze of nostalgia laced with bittersweet tears. Each one of these stories touched me deeply in its own right and in its own way, and the beauty of Merry and Cherie’s story did not disappoint. Not by a long shot.
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“Hold on tight, Cherie� Don’t let go.�
When you open a new book and you find yourself gasping for air, your chest clenching only a few pages into the story, you know you’ve hit the mother lode of great reads. Once again, in true Kristen Ashley style, we are given a story that owns us from the start, our hearts fluttering to the rhythm of the powerful emotions driving every scene, every sentence, every word exemplifying this author’s distinctive and truly remarkable prose. I always take my time reading a KA book, but I gave myself even more time to savour this particular story, to absorb every hidden layer, to fully appreciate every facet of these two characters that are so unlike any of her others, because I knew she had saved some of her best work for last. A truly splendid conclusion to a phenomenal series, if you haven’t ventured into it yet, it is time you pay The ‘Burg a visit.
“I was the kind of girl who’d never dreamed because, even when I was little, I always knew I was the kind of girl who’d be stupid to dream.�
Cherie “Cher� Rivers stopped dreaming of a knight in shining armour a long time ago, learning very early in life that the only person she could ever truly depend on was herself. A single mum in her mid thirties, a hard worker, a loving parent, a woman confident in all that she is and all that she would ever be, she lives her life unapologetically and true to herself, knowing that all the sacrifices she has ever made were done in good conscience and for the good of one person and one person alone—her beloved ten-year-old son Ethan. Having pushed all her dreams of finding a good man and being loved by such a man aside, all Cherie now dreams of is giving her son a good life, teaching him how to be a decent man, and making him feel loved every single day of his life. But as closed off as Cherie’s heart might appear to be, it secretly pines for a man who’s only ever seen her as a friend—a good man, a loyal man, a trustworthy man, the kind of man she would fight with all her might to keep in her life. Just not a man who’s ever showed any signs of loving her back.
“A man who liked me. A man who laughed at my jokes. A man who smiled at me regularly. Who teased me often. Who shot the shit with me. A man who liked me a lot. A man who was my friend. A man who thought of me as a friend. The man I loved more than breath.�
Lieutenant Garrett “Merry� Merrick has only ever loved one woman in his life, but he’s never believed in happy endings. Losing their mother as young children has marked the Merrick siblings deeply, leaving them both terrified of loss, and thus prone to self-sabotaging their own happiness while in pursuit of emotional numbness. But while his sister conquered her demons and got her second chance at finding happiness, Merry’s hang-ups have led him to watching the love of his life getting engaged to another man and not wanting to do anything to stop it. Except drowning his sorrows in an expensive bottle of whisky with a friend, and opening his eyes to the possibility that the one who’s been in front of him all along might be exactly the kind of woman he didn’t even know he was looking for.
“You got good, you don’t let it go. It lets you go, you hold on. It slips through your fingers, you pull out all the stops to get it back. You got somethin� worth fighting for, you fight for it. You do not sit on your ass waitin� for it to come back to you. You show whoever that is they mean something and you go all out on that, and the only way you go down is doin� that shit swinging.�
With their inhibitions lowered and their bodies aching to seek comfort in one another, Merry and Cherie share one night of unrivalled passion, a small taste of the bliss to be found in each other’s arms that neither of them can deny, but a new day brings them two very different outlooks on the night they’d shared—one of them daring to dream of more, and the other dismissing it as a one-night stand that should have never happened.
“It wasn’t walking out of a house into a taxi or your car in your clothes from the night before that was the walk of shame. You wanted what you wanted, you went after it, you got it, then you left it and went on with your life. There was no shame in that. None. The shame was lying naked in your own bed listening to a man be quiet while dressing because he woke up next to you not wanting one thing to do with you.�
Cherie’s pain from allowing herself for one fleeting moment to hope a man would want to look after her, share her load, love her and her son, and then seeing that dream vanish even before it took shape, leaves a deep scar in both her pride as well as her fragile heart, only strengthening her conviction that she is just one of those girls who would never find that kind of happiness in life, even though she would give anything to have it.
“� he’d never give me what I wanted. I forgot. I forgot I wasn’t the kind of girl who got what she wanted. Not once. Not in my whole f*cking life. Yeah, I’d forgotten that.�
But the moment Cherie’s heart closes off again, Merry’s suddenly becomes wide open to falling for a woman who now spends equal time fighting her attraction towards him and plotting his murder for making her feel everything she refuses to feel for him. And when a Kristen Ashley alpha male sets his eyes on a woman, get the popcorn ready and make yourself comfortable, because resistance is futile from the get-go and it’s going to be a ride like no other.
“What I want is more good times with you, Cher. I wanna f*ck wild and I wanna laugh hard, and while we’re doin� that, I’m gonna look out for you. More, I can’t promise.�
A woman scared of any more heartbreak in her life, reluctant to let a man see her vulnerable side and trust him not to hurt her, and a man who didn’t even know that all he ever needed in life in order to let go of his past was a woman who would stick by him through thick and thin—Merry and Cherie are two damaged, lonely people who find everything they’ve ever dreamed of in each other, if only they can see past their fears and embrace the rare beauty they’ve uncovered in each other’s arms.
“That’s life. You have no clue what you’ll get along the journey. But you won’t get dick you stay in one place, spinning your wheels.�
I have loved all the stories in this epic series by an author who never fails to rock my world, and this was not just another great addition to the series—it was the perfect finale, the perfect conclusion, the perfect send-off to a remarkable group of characters whose stories have become some of my favourite re-reads. The epilogue alone acknowledging all the other couples in the series was far more than just the proverbial icing on the cake, the closure gained from seeing their lives fast-forwarded before our eyes leaving me in a happy daze of nostalgia laced with bittersweet tears. Each one of these stories touched me deeply in its own right and in its own way, and the beauty of Merry and Cherie’s story did not disappoint. Not by a long shot.
“God, did he know? Did he know that he was the dream come true a girl like me would never dare to dream?�
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Amazon UK:
Amazon CA:
June 7, 2020
Amazingly beautiful and poignant finale to one of my favorite series.
Once again, Kristen Ashley owned my heart and soul as her unique writing style and storytelling magic caused a whirlwind of emotions, I had no choice but to hold on tight, never wanting to let go of Merry, Cher and all my loves in The ‘Burgs. Reading Hold On took me to an entirely different level as the journey flooded my heart with a riotous amount of emotions. I’ve become tethered to these characters, feeling their passions, pains, heartaches and joys. This friendship turned true love story was touching, but what made this an absolute literary masterpiece was its brilliant epilogue…the best I’ve ever read. So, break out the Kleenex, you’ll need them.
Jumping into this read had me feeling both melancholy and anxious. I was a bundle of nerves and couldn’t wait to crawl inside of Merry’s head. He fascinated me since Golden Trail (Rocky and Layne’s book). Throughout most of this series, he was pining over his ex-wife Mia, his supposed ‘soul mate�. I thought he wanted to fight and win Mia back. Next thing I knew, Cher’s really into Merry, but there were some unanswered questions. How and why did Merry push Mia away? When did a relationship with Cher become a possibility? Can Merry shake off his man-whorish ways and convince me he wants to win Cher’s heart? In addition, Merry’s story marks the end of one of my most beloved series, I had to get myself ready to say goodbye. With all of this in mind, I savored the hell out of this read. Taking my time to absorb every heart stopping drama filled moment, each plot twist, the hilarious banter between the main characters and every steamy love scene (Merry’s all Alpha-Dominant ass-smacking sizzling hot), while discovering the beauty of their relationship. I should never doubt the course KA lays out. Merry and Cher were perfect for each other, feeding their desires while soothing their insecurities and working through a shit ton of baggage.
In a word, Cher “Cherie� Rivers is a survivor.
Former stripper turned bartender, Cher is a hard working single mom to the adorably witty Ethan. At first glance, she definitely gave me the tough chick, hard-as-nails vibe, which I adore (I tend to favor strong female leads). However, there’s so much more to her persona. She’s thick skinned, stubborn and overly cautious since dealing with so many disappointments in her life. She’s a woman whose experiences taught her the rough lesson that dreams do not come true. Poor Cher, she had my sympathies as well as my respect. I loved her realistic views towards life. She’s not a woman who wallows in life’s misfortunes, but one who perseveres and makes the most out of her circumstances. I admired her protective motherly ways � she sacrifices greatly for her son � and when digging deep, I saw her soft, ‘gooey� side.
Cher may be unrefined, but she is true to her family and friends. It’s her loyalty to Merry, when he was at his lowest, which led to a night of unbridled passion. After years of loving him from afar, her dream actually came true. Now she’s panicked that their one night tryst would either ruin the friendship or it could (hopefully) lead to something more…that means taking a chance on Merry. I so wanted Cher to finally find happiness and her dream man.
The extremely sexy, outrageously dominant Lieutenant Garrett “Merry� Merrick is the perfectly flawed, self-sabotaging hero.
The horrific way he lost his mom scarred him so greatly; deep-seeded fears from the trauma led to a failed marriage and crippled future relationships. When finding out his ex-bitch-wife Mia (oh yeah, she’s a major bitch-face) was moving on, Merry decided to have himself a pity party. The only person to have his back was Cher, which led to not only one night of hot sex and multiple orgasms, but also the possibility of more.
It took a tiny bit of time for me to warm up to Merry. He had a hard, uneasy side in the beginning of the story that had me on edge. There were times he pissed me off and I wanted to smack some sense into him, snapping him out of his funk. Although, it didn’t take Merry long to open up and show me all his beauty. I couldn’t help but fall in love with his gentle, protective side. I adored how hard he worked to break down Cher’s impenetrable walls, while trying his best to move past his fears. Merry also had me feeling all gushy the way he took Ethan under his wing and effortlessly became part of their small family.
Merry is a controlling and dominating force in the bedroom. Their fierce sexual chemistry ignited my kindle as Merry proved repeatedly that he is one hell of a dirty-mouthed badass who likes it when his good girl’s being bad. Totally scrumptious.
I loved them together � both Cherie and Merry were powerful, dynamic characters that sometimes collided and were frequently sarcastic. They were as funny as they were passionate, and the things that came out of their mouths were hysterical.
“You grabbin� my hand practically before I could get in your door and draggin� me to your bedroom so you could shove me on your bed and get your mouth on my dick?� His hold on me tightened slightly. “Awesome.�
“You have a great cock,� I shared.
His hips shifted and his smile didn’t get any less cocky. “It likes you too.�
Now there’s always that one person in each KA series that I refer to as ‘The Sage�. That one special character that puts everything into perspective by imparting their wisdom, which usually leaves me a blubbering mess. For me, it was Dave Merrick, Merry’s dad. Father and son shared an enormously tender moment that was forever seared into my soul. Dave, a man burdened with his own pain and regrets, lovingly takes his son’s hand and guides him into the light. Dave lays it all out for his son, telling him to grab hold and fight against these fears with the help and love of a strong woman� that woman being Cherie. It was one of the most touching moments in this read.
As I reached the 95% mark on my kindle, heart palpitations and panic set in when reading the one word that made me realize this is it…the end of an era…EPILOGUE. Holding my breath, I pushed forward and became fully engrossed in the best ending I have ever read, bar none. Told from various points of view and spanning over a decade, Kristen Ashley gifted a phenomenal insight into the lives and loves of all The ‘Burgs characters. Weaving each saga within this series together, tying all loose ends into one spool of thread, KA magnificently spun all of the happily ever afters I craved. It was a beautiful pain seeing all these characters one last time. I laughed, I swooned, I cried happy tears (Joe Callahan made me sob…again), and I was overjoyed with the journey this author paved.
for more reviews please visit
~~~~~
Outstanding!! Cried tears of joy and sorrow (all choked up when a series I love ends) Best epilogue EVER!!! Review to come closer to release date.
Once again, Kristen Ashley owned my heart and soul as her unique writing style and storytelling magic caused a whirlwind of emotions, I had no choice but to hold on tight, never wanting to let go of Merry, Cher and all my loves in The ‘Burgs. Reading Hold On took me to an entirely different level as the journey flooded my heart with a riotous amount of emotions. I’ve become tethered to these characters, feeling their passions, pains, heartaches and joys. This friendship turned true love story was touching, but what made this an absolute literary masterpiece was its brilliant epilogue…the best I’ve ever read. So, break out the Kleenex, you’ll need them.
Jumping into this read had me feeling both melancholy and anxious. I was a bundle of nerves and couldn’t wait to crawl inside of Merry’s head. He fascinated me since Golden Trail (Rocky and Layne’s book). Throughout most of this series, he was pining over his ex-wife Mia, his supposed ‘soul mate�. I thought he wanted to fight and win Mia back. Next thing I knew, Cher’s really into Merry, but there were some unanswered questions. How and why did Merry push Mia away? When did a relationship with Cher become a possibility? Can Merry shake off his man-whorish ways and convince me he wants to win Cher’s heart? In addition, Merry’s story marks the end of one of my most beloved series, I had to get myself ready to say goodbye. With all of this in mind, I savored the hell out of this read. Taking my time to absorb every heart stopping drama filled moment, each plot twist, the hilarious banter between the main characters and every steamy love scene (Merry’s all Alpha-Dominant ass-smacking sizzling hot), while discovering the beauty of their relationship. I should never doubt the course KA lays out. Merry and Cher were perfect for each other, feeding their desires while soothing their insecurities and working through a shit ton of baggage.
In a word, Cher “Cherie� Rivers is a survivor.
Former stripper turned bartender, Cher is a hard working single mom to the adorably witty Ethan. At first glance, she definitely gave me the tough chick, hard-as-nails vibe, which I adore (I tend to favor strong female leads). However, there’s so much more to her persona. She’s thick skinned, stubborn and overly cautious since dealing with so many disappointments in her life. She’s a woman whose experiences taught her the rough lesson that dreams do not come true. Poor Cher, she had my sympathies as well as my respect. I loved her realistic views towards life. She’s not a woman who wallows in life’s misfortunes, but one who perseveres and makes the most out of her circumstances. I admired her protective motherly ways � she sacrifices greatly for her son � and when digging deep, I saw her soft, ‘gooey� side.
Cher may be unrefined, but she is true to her family and friends. It’s her loyalty to Merry, when he was at his lowest, which led to a night of unbridled passion. After years of loving him from afar, her dream actually came true. Now she’s panicked that their one night tryst would either ruin the friendship or it could (hopefully) lead to something more…that means taking a chance on Merry. I so wanted Cher to finally find happiness and her dream man.
The extremely sexy, outrageously dominant Lieutenant Garrett “Merry� Merrick is the perfectly flawed, self-sabotaging hero.
The horrific way he lost his mom scarred him so greatly; deep-seeded fears from the trauma led to a failed marriage and crippled future relationships. When finding out his ex-bitch-wife Mia (oh yeah, she’s a major bitch-face) was moving on, Merry decided to have himself a pity party. The only person to have his back was Cher, which led to not only one night of hot sex and multiple orgasms, but also the possibility of more.
It took a tiny bit of time for me to warm up to Merry. He had a hard, uneasy side in the beginning of the story that had me on edge. There were times he pissed me off and I wanted to smack some sense into him, snapping him out of his funk. Although, it didn’t take Merry long to open up and show me all his beauty. I couldn’t help but fall in love with his gentle, protective side. I adored how hard he worked to break down Cher’s impenetrable walls, while trying his best to move past his fears. Merry also had me feeling all gushy the way he took Ethan under his wing and effortlessly became part of their small family.
Merry is a controlling and dominating force in the bedroom. Their fierce sexual chemistry ignited my kindle as Merry proved repeatedly that he is one hell of a dirty-mouthed badass who likes it when his good girl’s being bad. Totally scrumptious.
I loved them together � both Cherie and Merry were powerful, dynamic characters that sometimes collided and were frequently sarcastic. They were as funny as they were passionate, and the things that came out of their mouths were hysterical.
“You grabbin� my hand practically before I could get in your door and draggin� me to your bedroom so you could shove me on your bed and get your mouth on my dick?� His hold on me tightened slightly. “Awesome.�
“You have a great cock,� I shared.
His hips shifted and his smile didn’t get any less cocky. “It likes you too.�
Now there’s always that one person in each KA series that I refer to as ‘The Sage�. That one special character that puts everything into perspective by imparting their wisdom, which usually leaves me a blubbering mess. For me, it was Dave Merrick, Merry’s dad. Father and son shared an enormously tender moment that was forever seared into my soul. Dave, a man burdened with his own pain and regrets, lovingly takes his son’s hand and guides him into the light. Dave lays it all out for his son, telling him to grab hold and fight against these fears with the help and love of a strong woman� that woman being Cherie. It was one of the most touching moments in this read.
As I reached the 95% mark on my kindle, heart palpitations and panic set in when reading the one word that made me realize this is it…the end of an era…EPILOGUE. Holding my breath, I pushed forward and became fully engrossed in the best ending I have ever read, bar none. Told from various points of view and spanning over a decade, Kristen Ashley gifted a phenomenal insight into the lives and loves of all The ‘Burgs characters. Weaving each saga within this series together, tying all loose ends into one spool of thread, KA magnificently spun all of the happily ever afters I craved. It was a beautiful pain seeing all these characters one last time. I laughed, I swooned, I cried happy tears (Joe Callahan made me sob…again), and I was overjoyed with the journey this author paved.
for more reviews please visit
~~~~~
Outstanding!! Cried tears of joy and sorrow (all choked up when a series I love ends) Best epilogue EVER!!! Review to come closer to release date.
June 1, 2016
3.5 stars
“You got good, you don’t let it go. It lets you go, you hold on. It slips through your fingers, you pull out all the stops to get it back. You got somethin� worth fighting for, you fight for it. You do not sit on your ass waitin� for it to come back to you. You show whoever that is they mean something and you go all out on that, and the only way you go down is doin� that shit swinging.�
Hold On, the final book in The Burg series, is the story of Merry and Cher. Merry is a divorced cop and Cher a former stripper and single mom. Cher has been pining for Merry for years but was waiting for him to get over his ex-wife and notice her. And one day, he did.
3 star reviews are the hardest for me to write. This is probably because I neither hated nor loved the book. Obviously I liked it because I was able to finish reading and don't think of it negatively. It just doesn't have that something special that makes it stand out.
“Is there an us?� he asked.
My breasts brushed his chest as I started breathing heavily.
“Goddamn it, Cher, is there an us?� he clipped.
“I want there to be.�
Fuck! It came out because he was freaking me out.
Fuck!
“Then there’s an us,� he declared firmly.
� “And there bein� an us, Cher, that means you’re mine. Ethan’s mine. Are you followin� me?�
The Burg series in general is probably my least favorite Kristen Ashley series. I know this puts me in the minority, but hello, Wildcard here. Only book I truly loved from this series was At Peace and that's because that book is fucking phenomenal.
Anyways, first 50% of this book was great, a 5 star read even. The second half was like trying to walk through wet tar. I had to push myself and it made it less enjoyable hence rounding it out to 3 stars.
My biggest issue with this book? It needed to be a good 100-200 pages shorter.
That's right. Would have been amazing but instead everything felt dragged out and lost its emotional punch. I lost interest in the characters because it became a chore to read about them after having loved them for the previous 300 pages.
So in the end, I liked this book but it doesn't stand out from the amazing work this author has delivered in the past. Obviously Kristen Ashley is The Queen of romance and I will read anything the woman writes.
“It happens,� he replied. “What happens?� she asked. He dipped closer and held her tighter. “It happens,� he repeated. “For people like us, baby. It happens, eventually. Just as long as we hold on.�
“You got good, you don’t let it go. It lets you go, you hold on. It slips through your fingers, you pull out all the stops to get it back. You got somethin� worth fighting for, you fight for it. You do not sit on your ass waitin� for it to come back to you. You show whoever that is they mean something and you go all out on that, and the only way you go down is doin� that shit swinging.�
Hold On, the final book in The Burg series, is the story of Merry and Cher. Merry is a divorced cop and Cher a former stripper and single mom. Cher has been pining for Merry for years but was waiting for him to get over his ex-wife and notice her. And one day, he did.
3 star reviews are the hardest for me to write. This is probably because I neither hated nor loved the book. Obviously I liked it because I was able to finish reading and don't think of it negatively. It just doesn't have that something special that makes it stand out.
“Is there an us?� he asked.
My breasts brushed his chest as I started breathing heavily.
“Goddamn it, Cher, is there an us?� he clipped.
“I want there to be.�
Fuck! It came out because he was freaking me out.
Fuck!
“Then there’s an us,� he declared firmly.
� “And there bein� an us, Cher, that means you’re mine. Ethan’s mine. Are you followin� me?�
The Burg series in general is probably my least favorite Kristen Ashley series. I know this puts me in the minority, but hello, Wildcard here. Only book I truly loved from this series was At Peace and that's because that book is fucking phenomenal.
Anyways, first 50% of this book was great, a 5 star read even. The second half was like trying to walk through wet tar. I had to push myself and it made it less enjoyable hence rounding it out to 3 stars.
My biggest issue with this book? It needed to be a good 100-200 pages shorter.
That's right. Would have been amazing but instead everything felt dragged out and lost its emotional punch. I lost interest in the characters because it became a chore to read about them after having loved them for the previous 300 pages.
So in the end, I liked this book but it doesn't stand out from the amazing work this author has delivered in the past. Obviously Kristen Ashley is The Queen of romance and I will read anything the woman writes.
“It happens,� he replied. “What happens?� she asked. He dipped closer and held her tighter. “It happens,� he repeated. “For people like us, baby. It happens, eventually. Just as long as we hold on.�
September 8, 2017
Review Posted to:
5 Phenomenal Series Ending Stars!! KA works her magic once again!
Reading a final book in a series you love is like saying goodbye to beloved friends, especially when it's a book! I have enjoyed each and every book in this series, and I'm truly sad to see it end. My own personal favorites are and . While At Peace is my favorite in this series, there is something really special aboutGames of the Heart,and now holds that same �somethingspecial� for me that those books have.
Cheryl “Cher� Rivers is the kind of woman who is tough, loyal, protective, speaks her mind and loves with her whole heart and soul. She has fantastic son, a supportive mother and friends, and a slew of self-appointed big brothers. She's wants, but doesn't dare hope for a happily ever after because of her past mistakes, albeit not all her fault. Mostly because of her involvement with the serial killer, Denny Lowe (), and her stripper days. The woman just doesn't know her own self-worth!
Garrett "Merry" Merrick is a Lieutenant with BPD, and the man that Cher has been in love with for five long years. The news Merry's ex-wife Mia is engaged to another man, has him ready to drown his sorrows at J&J's. Cher, burying her feelings for him decides to help him drown his sorrows. In between shots of whiskey Cher lays it out,and gives it to him straight about his ex which up till now no one has ever done. One thing leads to another, he goes home with Cher and basically he "f#@k's her brains out all night long". After spending the night with Merry, Cher is somewhat hopeful....until she overheard a conversation between Merry and Colt and learns that for Merry it was a "good time with someone he cares about" and nothing more, dashing her hopes.
Everyone in their circle knows or at least suspected how Cher felt about Merry ....that is everyone but Merry. When Cher's ex, the father of her fantastic and adorable 10 yr old son Ethan, his bible thumping wife, and a shifty neighbor start to cause problems for Cher, Merry finally opens his eyes. He sees Cher in a whole new light, steps up, and tries to protect her and Ethan. Naturally, Mia hears about Merry moving on, decides she's not done with him, and does what she can to get Merry back.
Cher and Merry have their ups and downs, misunderstandings, and still manage to find their way. Merry is one bad-ass alpha, but Cher is no pushover beta to anyone!! I loved every minute and will reread this one (like many KA books) over and over again!
Okay, I normally try not to use cuss words when writing reviews but in this case I'm giving myself a pass because the epilogue was without a doubt the BEST F*CKING EPILOGUE EVER!!!! It touched on each and every single character that I love in the 'Burg!! In closing...thank you for another fantastic series ending book and epilogue...truly amazing!!
* ARC Kindly provided to by Author in exchange for an honest review.
5 Phenomenal Series Ending Stars!! KA works her magic once again!
Reading a final book in a series you love is like saying goodbye to beloved friends, especially when it's a book! I have enjoyed each and every book in this series, and I'm truly sad to see it end. My own personal favorites are and . While At Peace is my favorite in this series, there is something really special aboutGames of the Heart,and now holds that same �somethingspecial� for me that those books have.
Cheryl “Cher� Rivers is the kind of woman who is tough, loyal, protective, speaks her mind and loves with her whole heart and soul. She has fantastic son, a supportive mother and friends, and a slew of self-appointed big brothers. She's wants, but doesn't dare hope for a happily ever after because of her past mistakes, albeit not all her fault. Mostly because of her involvement with the serial killer, Denny Lowe (), and her stripper days. The woman just doesn't know her own self-worth!
Garrett "Merry" Merrick is a Lieutenant with BPD, and the man that Cher has been in love with for five long years. The news Merry's ex-wife Mia is engaged to another man, has him ready to drown his sorrows at J&J's. Cher, burying her feelings for him decides to help him drown his sorrows. In between shots of whiskey Cher lays it out,and gives it to him straight about his ex which up till now no one has ever done. One thing leads to another, he goes home with Cher and basically he "f#@k's her brains out all night long". After spending the night with Merry, Cher is somewhat hopeful....until she overheard a conversation between Merry and Colt and learns that for Merry it was a "good time with someone he cares about" and nothing more, dashing her hopes.
"One of us is gonna be breathless, brown eyes, that's a guarantee."
Everyone in their circle knows or at least suspected how Cher felt about Merry ....that is everyone but Merry. When Cher's ex, the father of her fantastic and adorable 10 yr old son Ethan, his bible thumping wife, and a shifty neighbor start to cause problems for Cher, Merry finally opens his eyes. He sees Cher in a whole new light, steps up, and tries to protect her and Ethan. Naturally, Mia hears about Merry moving on, decides she's not done with him, and does what she can to get Merry back.
“Hold on tight, Cherie� Don’t let go.�
Cher and Merry have their ups and downs, misunderstandings, and still manage to find their way. Merry is one bad-ass alpha, but Cher is no pushover beta to anyone!! I loved every minute and will reread this one (like many KA books) over and over again!
Okay, I normally try not to use cuss words when writing reviews but in this case I'm giving myself a pass because the epilogue was without a doubt the BEST F*CKING EPILOGUE EVER!!!! It touched on each and every single character that I love in the 'Burg!! In closing...thank you for another fantastic series ending book and epilogue...truly amazing!!
* ARC Kindly provided to by Author in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2015
5+ Gooey stars!!
It's the end of an era.
The 'Burg series is over, and I couldn't have asked for a better ending. The story of Merry and Cher was perfect. I'm sad to see it all come to an end, but knowing I can always revisit these amazing characters whenever I want, makes the sting a little less harsh.
If you've read any of the books in this series, you have been acquainted with both Cheryl and Garrett.
Cheryl is the 'burgs resident for a couple of years. She was brought into the fray when serial killer, Denny Lowe had her bamboozled. After the destruction he left behind, the single mother and town tough chick is trying to make ends meet. It's been a rough road. She manages, but she's never truly experienced happy.
Garrett "Merry" Merrick is a BPD detective, and has seen some shit go down with some of his closest friends in the last few years. He has had a first hand in experiencing tragedy, when his mother was murdered when he was a teen. This sour is something he has not been able to shake. Unable to move on from his ex for years, he plays the field in hopes of her coming back to him.
After a drunken night, Cher and Merry hook-up. What was supposed to be just a one-night thing turns into more when drama occurs.
With an ex-wife who can't let go, sketchy neighbors, a father who suddenly wants custody, and someone bothering Cher about her experience with a murderer, can the two both find the happy they are in desperate need of?
Obviously a fan of Kristen Ashley, I absolutely loved this story, and dare I say, may be one of my favorites. This had an awesome mix of drama, love, steam, heart-breaking tears, and laugh out loud moments.
As I've read over 20 books by this author, and love all of her characters, I must say that Cher really stuck out as a favorite heroine (nobody beats Sylvie though) of mine. She was down to earth, a great mom, super sweet, sassy, and was probably the funniest female main character of KA's. She was also the perfect fit for Merry.
Merry being the sexy detective was also a fantastic hero. As with all her male roles, he's was a tough guy on the outside with a huge heart. The lovable, comical, protective, and also slightly domineering in the bedroom man, would make any woman swoon.
Everything about them coming together felt natural and believable. It was a great pace, and even at 641 pages, it was still over too soon.
Also throughout the book we get more from the previous 'burg characters. And any fan of this series is going to absolutely love the epilogue. Gah! I think that will stay with me forever. It was so heartfelt, I was a blubbering mess at the end.
And the absolute BEST thing about this was there was not one single, "Sorry?" or "Pardon?". Not one! :)
I don't want to say too much because you need to experience this epic novel for yourself. I think it's best, since this is the last of the series, to read them all. I think you'll appreciate the story if you know all the background with other characters as things go.
This would definitely be in my top 5 KA books, but I think I've said that a lot. I guess that just shows the talent this author has in creating such wonderful characters and stories, that they stand out above all.
Absolutely loved and adored.
I literally had no quotes to post because I was too involved with the story to take note. Sorry this review is a little blander than my usual. I think it says a lot. ;)
It's the end of an era.
The 'Burg series is over, and I couldn't have asked for a better ending. The story of Merry and Cher was perfect. I'm sad to see it all come to an end, but knowing I can always revisit these amazing characters whenever I want, makes the sting a little less harsh.
If you've read any of the books in this series, you have been acquainted with both Cheryl and Garrett.
Cheryl is the 'burgs resident for a couple of years. She was brought into the fray when serial killer, Denny Lowe had her bamboozled. After the destruction he left behind, the single mother and town tough chick is trying to make ends meet. It's been a rough road. She manages, but she's never truly experienced happy.
Garrett "Merry" Merrick is a BPD detective, and has seen some shit go down with some of his closest friends in the last few years. He has had a first hand in experiencing tragedy, when his mother was murdered when he was a teen. This sour is something he has not been able to shake. Unable to move on from his ex for years, he plays the field in hopes of her coming back to him.
After a drunken night, Cher and Merry hook-up. What was supposed to be just a one-night thing turns into more when drama occurs.
With an ex-wife who can't let go, sketchy neighbors, a father who suddenly wants custody, and someone bothering Cher about her experience with a murderer, can the two both find the happy they are in desperate need of?
Obviously a fan of Kristen Ashley, I absolutely loved this story, and dare I say, may be one of my favorites. This had an awesome mix of drama, love, steam, heart-breaking tears, and laugh out loud moments.
As I've read over 20 books by this author, and love all of her characters, I must say that Cher really stuck out as a favorite heroine (nobody beats Sylvie though) of mine. She was down to earth, a great mom, super sweet, sassy, and was probably the funniest female main character of KA's. She was also the perfect fit for Merry.
Merry being the sexy detective was also a fantastic hero. As with all her male roles, he's was a tough guy on the outside with a huge heart. The lovable, comical, protective, and also slightly domineering in the bedroom man, would make any woman swoon.
Everything about them coming together felt natural and believable. It was a great pace, and even at 641 pages, it was still over too soon.
Also throughout the book we get more from the previous 'burg characters. And any fan of this series is going to absolutely love the epilogue. Gah! I think that will stay with me forever. It was so heartfelt, I was a blubbering mess at the end.
And the absolute BEST thing about this was there was not one single, "Sorry?" or "Pardon?". Not one! :)
I don't want to say too much because you need to experience this epic novel for yourself. I think it's best, since this is the last of the series, to read them all. I think you'll appreciate the story if you know all the background with other characters as things go.
This would definitely be in my top 5 KA books, but I think I've said that a lot. I guess that just shows the talent this author has in creating such wonderful characters and stories, that they stand out above all.
Absolutely loved and adored.
I literally had no quotes to post because I was too involved with the story to take note. Sorry this review is a little blander than my usual. I think it says a lot. ;)
September 14, 2015
SOOOO much to say. I can't believe the 'burg drama is done.
Gawd, I don't want this series to end! At Peace was my very first KA read and this particular series (plus anything with Tate Jackson or Luke Stark) has always held a soft spot in my heart.
Possible review to come, maybe. For now, thanks for the 'burg memories, KA. It was an awesome ride!
Gawd, I don't want this series to end! At Peace was my very first KA read and this particular series (plus anything with Tate Jackson or Luke Stark) has always held a soft spot in my heart.
Possible review to come, maybe. For now, thanks for the 'burg memories, KA. It was an awesome ride!
September 24, 2015
Damn...that Epilogue! The feels are so deep. I fell in love with the 'Burg series a while back and I feel like I am an actual resident. Hell I wanna jump in with the gals at J&Js and ogle those hot men. I could honestly read about this town and these characters for 20 more books...but KA has given me a perfect farewell with Garrett Merrick and Cher Rivers.
For those who are fans, it's KA doing what KA does best. She is giving it good and we are "holding on." Finally a heroine that is steel strong and verbally loud! I always thought that there was nothing better than an Ashley Male but I stand corrected because Cher might just be the best thing KA had delivered!
Summary? Nah...you don't need me to ruin that for you. Full Review? FABULOUS. AMAZING. HOT. EMOTIONAL. Thanks for the memories�
For those who are fans, it's KA doing what KA does best. She is giving it good and we are "holding on." Finally a heroine that is steel strong and verbally loud! I always thought that there was nothing better than an Ashley Male but I stand corrected because Cher might just be the best thing KA had delivered!
Summary? Nah...you don't need me to ruin that for you. Full Review? FABULOUS. AMAZING. HOT. EMOTIONAL. Thanks for the memories�
September 8, 2015
Check out this and my other reviews at , , , and
★Book Basics�
Genre : - Cont. Romance
Series : - 6th in the series
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Would I read more by this author/or in this series? - Yes
Rating - 5 stars
★R𱹾�
Now I was as surprised as anyone when I found this would be Merry and Cher, like most other ppl I expected Merry and Mia, and worried that I might not be convinced Merry was over Mia and Cher was his one.
But I need not have worried. I adored this book. I loved Cher so much more than I thought I would and I had liked her in the books in the previous series anyway. Merry however, was just something else. I expected the typical KA hero, and he was to a certain extent, but he had a vulnerability to him also that can sometimes be missing from a KA alpha, and a vulnerability he was fully aware of. He was just so much more than I anticipated.
There was something very endearing about them as people and then as a couple. Loved Cher, she was funny not perfect, doing the best she could, all about her boy, but nursing an unrequited love for Merry for years, and doing all she could, while hiding that to bring a smile to his face when she could.
Merry, ok, he did not start out too great hung up on his ex, but when a switch just flipped in him when he though Cher was in trouble, that was it for him.
What starts out as Cher trying to cheer up Merry and make him realise something about Mia he should have realised years ago, while getting drunk on expensive top shelf whiskey, soon turns into something more.
And as I say, while Merry may not have come across to well to start that all changes.
All in it was a brilliant ending to the series. I am a huge KA fan and make no secret of that fact, but sometimes occasionally, the odd book has fallen flat for me, and I worried that would be the case here, ending a series I loved on a couple of characters I had not anticipated actually every being together.
But, I truly enjoyed their story, and you rooted for them to be together and get their HEA. They had been friends for years and to experience them falling in love and coming together was beautiful. And I loved catching up with the previous couples.
All in, this book was chock full of emotion, a story of 2 flawed and messed up people, taking each others back and wanting the other person to be happy so much more than they wanted that for them self.
It had some drama and while not as dark as say "For You" with regards to the drama side, it is clear how the events in "For You" were still having far reaching consequences.
but I think this book has probably some of my favourite scenes from the entire series -
and I can see it being added to the list of books I just love to read again and again.
So with this, we see the end to The Burg series and I have loved every minute of it.
4/9/15 ahh.....the issue with reading a new KA book, I feel the need to go back and re read many of my oldie fave KA books after I have finished.
Also I kind of really want a book about Brendan's Uncle Jay. He can be added to my wish list along with Cal's secretary from At Peace as she was kickass awesome!
★Book Basics�
Genre : - Cont. Romance
Series : - 6th in the series
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Would I read more by this author/or in this series? - Yes
Rating - 5 stars
★R𱹾�
Now I was as surprised as anyone when I found this would be Merry and Cher, like most other ppl I expected Merry and Mia, and worried that I might not be convinced Merry was over Mia and Cher was his one.
But I need not have worried. I adored this book. I loved Cher so much more than I thought I would and I had liked her in the books in the previous series anyway. Merry however, was just something else. I expected the typical KA hero, and he was to a certain extent, but he had a vulnerability to him also that can sometimes be missing from a KA alpha, and a vulnerability he was fully aware of. He was just so much more than I anticipated.
There was something very endearing about them as people and then as a couple. Loved Cher, she was funny not perfect, doing the best she could, all about her boy, but nursing an unrequited love for Merry for years, and doing all she could, while hiding that to bring a smile to his face when she could.
Merry, ok, he did not start out too great hung up on his ex, but when a switch just flipped in him when he though Cher was in trouble, that was it for him.
What starts out as Cher trying to cheer up Merry and make him realise something about Mia he should have realised years ago, while getting drunk on expensive top shelf whiskey, soon turns into something more.
And as I say, while Merry may not have come across to well to start that all changes.
All in it was a brilliant ending to the series. I am a huge KA fan and make no secret of that fact, but sometimes occasionally, the odd book has fallen flat for me, and I worried that would be the case here, ending a series I loved on a couple of characters I had not anticipated actually every being together.
But, I truly enjoyed their story, and you rooted for them to be together and get their HEA. They had been friends for years and to experience them falling in love and coming together was beautiful. And I loved catching up with the previous couples.
All in, this book was chock full of emotion, a story of 2 flawed and messed up people, taking each others back and wanting the other person to be happy so much more than they wanted that for them self.
It had some drama and while not as dark as say "For You" with regards to the drama side, it is clear how the events in "For You" were still having far reaching consequences.
but I think this book has probably some of my favourite scenes from the entire series -
and I can see it being added to the list of books I just love to read again and again.
So with this, we see the end to The Burg series and I have loved every minute of it.
4/9/15 ahh.....the issue with reading a new KA book, I feel the need to go back and re read many of my oldie fave KA books after I have finished.
Also I kind of really want a book about Brendan's Uncle Jay. He can be added to my wish list along with Cal's secretary from At Peace as she was kickass awesome!
September 2, 2015
That epilogue!
December 5, 2020
2020 re-read: my dash through the ‘Burg series was, barring some rough patches, a needed nostalgia trip in The hellsccape of 2020. None are perfect, but it comes down to the characters, and Cher is among my all-time fave KA heroines ever. Her tenacity, her resilience, and her desire for love just make it so easy to empathize and connect with her. The epilogue stands among the best as well. Just a happy note to end a series on, and considering some KA series that just implode by the last book, this makes me appreciate this all the more.
**original review **
- The ‘Burg is one of Ms. Ashley’s best : I was introduced to The ‘Burg awhile ago, although it took me a bit to try it out because that eye on the cover was �.intimidating. So glad I gave it shot, because it’s a great example of how well Ms. Ashley can do with romantic suspense. Of the series, I think it’s my new fave, right there with Games of the Heart.
It’s a delicate balance between the suspense elements and the romance, but I love that she always makes the romance the star. Ms. Ashley has managed to toss ALOT of balls in the air (more on that later), but they all fall into place at the perfect time and in the most satisfying manner.
From the action and the great humor to stellar romance, along with the fantastic chemistry between all the characters, this feels like a universe that lives and loves long after the last page has turned.
I’ve re-read certain books in this series when I need a pick me up and I know Hold On will join at the top of that rotation.
- Cheryl may be my new favorite heroine : Dusty is still the shiznit to me. But Cher has moved right up to the top of my favorite KA heroines list. Cher is the tough girl friend. The one who’s seen the not so pretty side of life, first with her loser of a baby-daddy, then when she was involved with Denny Lowe, the madman who hacked his way across several states in his demented quest to reach Feb, the heroine from the first book.
Since that horrible time, she’s scraped and fought for every bit of good she could get to raise her son Ethan. She’s a single, working-class mom who is fierce, loyal, and funny. She’s seen all of her friends find their happy in the ‘Burg, but she’s been convinced that she’ll never had that. For years, she thought that Merry’s a good man, but knew he’d never see her in that way, so she was content to be his friend, the one who can make him laugh. Her emotional fortress has made her the smartass, the one who hangs with the guys and prides herself on taking care of herself.
She could have been harsh and unyielding, and she has her moments. However, from the beginning, the reader is invited within her walls, so there’s no time when you don’t understand and support her choices. Better yet, when her chance for happy comes, she knows how special that is and she fights for that. She gives blood, sweat and tears for that and that makes her happy all that sweeter to witness.
- Merry is a great badass KA hero : Garrett “Merry� Merrick was a revelation. I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure how this would play out because in earlier books, much is made Merry’s connection with his ex-wife Mia and how many folks thought they had the love to rival Feb and Colt, or Rocky and Tanner. Twisting that up and taking it in a fresh direction was a fantastic story choice. When he connects with Cher, it’s believable and right. He has his own demons, but I love that both Cher and Merry realize the special they have in their grasp and work hard for it.
- Fantastic humor : I adored that Merry and Cher's first connection was through humor and it plays a big part in their romance. They banter well, and the way they make each other laugh made me smile through the whole story.
- Could standalone, but why? : Yes, there’s recaps when necessary to explain what’s gone on before, so you could read this on its own. I just think it’s better to experience the whole series (well, maybe not The Promise - sorry Benny and Frankie) to get all the feels. You get to see faves from each book come on back in and participate when necessary without overtaking the story being told.
- Lots going on : Now earlier I mentioned juggling. There’s alot that happens, but I appreciated that the story is paced well, crucial bits are introduced early and touched on at the right times to make it all flow well. Was it possible to guess where things would lead? Yes. Did that bother me? Not in the least. I was too busy savoring every moment with Merry and Cher to quibble about that.
- The epilogue is perfect bow : One of Ms. Ashley’s specialities is her epilogues, and this one is no exception. It truly is the pretty bow on the present that ties it all together. It took me on a journey, teasing me with certain mentions of characters from other series while giving me closure and letting me close my kindle on a happy sigh.
I loved it. I took my time to savor it because when Kristen Ashley's stories work, like this one does, they work for me like no other. Cher and Merry were great together and I look forward to re-reading this in the future. If you love Kristen Ashley, I think you’ll love this.
**ARC provided by author for review**
**original review **
- The ‘Burg is one of Ms. Ashley’s best : I was introduced to The ‘Burg awhile ago, although it took me a bit to try it out because that eye on the cover was �.intimidating. So glad I gave it shot, because it’s a great example of how well Ms. Ashley can do with romantic suspense. Of the series, I think it’s my new fave, right there with Games of the Heart.
It’s a delicate balance between the suspense elements and the romance, but I love that she always makes the romance the star. Ms. Ashley has managed to toss ALOT of balls in the air (more on that later), but they all fall into place at the perfect time and in the most satisfying manner.
From the action and the great humor to stellar romance, along with the fantastic chemistry between all the characters, this feels like a universe that lives and loves long after the last page has turned.
I’ve re-read certain books in this series when I need a pick me up and I know Hold On will join at the top of that rotation.
- Cheryl may be my new favorite heroine : Dusty is still the shiznit to me. But Cher has moved right up to the top of my favorite KA heroines list. Cher is the tough girl friend. The one who’s seen the not so pretty side of life, first with her loser of a baby-daddy, then when she was involved with Denny Lowe, the madman who hacked his way across several states in his demented quest to reach Feb, the heroine from the first book.
Since that horrible time, she’s scraped and fought for every bit of good she could get to raise her son Ethan. She’s a single, working-class mom who is fierce, loyal, and funny. She’s seen all of her friends find their happy in the ‘Burg, but she’s been convinced that she’ll never had that. For years, she thought that Merry’s a good man, but knew he’d never see her in that way, so she was content to be his friend, the one who can make him laugh. Her emotional fortress has made her the smartass, the one who hangs with the guys and prides herself on taking care of herself.
She could have been harsh and unyielding, and she has her moments. However, from the beginning, the reader is invited within her walls, so there’s no time when you don’t understand and support her choices. Better yet, when her chance for happy comes, she knows how special that is and she fights for that. She gives blood, sweat and tears for that and that makes her happy all that sweeter to witness.
- Merry is a great badass KA hero : Garrett “Merry� Merrick was a revelation. I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure how this would play out because in earlier books, much is made Merry’s connection with his ex-wife Mia and how many folks thought they had the love to rival Feb and Colt, or Rocky and Tanner. Twisting that up and taking it in a fresh direction was a fantastic story choice. When he connects with Cher, it’s believable and right. He has his own demons, but I love that both Cher and Merry realize the special they have in their grasp and work hard for it.
- Fantastic humor : I adored that Merry and Cher's first connection was through humor and it plays a big part in their romance. They banter well, and the way they make each other laugh made me smile through the whole story.
- Could standalone, but why? : Yes, there’s recaps when necessary to explain what’s gone on before, so you could read this on its own. I just think it’s better to experience the whole series (well, maybe not The Promise - sorry Benny and Frankie) to get all the feels. You get to see faves from each book come on back in and participate when necessary without overtaking the story being told.
- Lots going on : Now earlier I mentioned juggling. There’s alot that happens, but I appreciated that the story is paced well, crucial bits are introduced early and touched on at the right times to make it all flow well. Was it possible to guess where things would lead? Yes. Did that bother me? Not in the least. I was too busy savoring every moment with Merry and Cher to quibble about that.
- The epilogue is perfect bow : One of Ms. Ashley’s specialities is her epilogues, and this one is no exception. It truly is the pretty bow on the present that ties it all together. It took me on a journey, teasing me with certain mentions of characters from other series while giving me closure and letting me close my kindle on a happy sigh.
I loved it. I took my time to savor it because when Kristen Ashley's stories work, like this one does, they work for me like no other. Cher and Merry were great together and I look forward to re-reading this in the future. If you love Kristen Ashley, I think you’ll love this.
**ARC provided by author for review**
August 23, 2015
Foremost, I'm going start with the epilogue. THIS EPILOGUE. It is one if not THE best KA has written and that's saying something coming from The Queen of Epilogues. It touches back to every couple from The 'Burg and their offspring throughout the years in the future. Everyone has their favorite characters and when you read what happens to your favorites, it'll be satisfactory. I won't say who mine are but I will say I did shed tears of elation. I laughed with some and smiled with others. I can't stress enough on how much I LOVE the way Kristen Ashley tells her stories. She has the knack to write about every day people with every day situations though some are a little crazier than others. She writes characters that you fall in love with, that you can easily identify with and with The End(I have tears while I'm typing this cause I'm thinking back on two scenes with...) to The 'Burg series; Kristen gave us a beautifully wrapped book series that will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Now that I've wiped my tears away, let's get to Garrett "Merry" Merrick and Cher Rivers. As friends who become lovers who eventually become more, it wasn't easy but it also wasn't difficult to get to where they are. They know each other as friends. They understand each other as friends. Cher is a straight shootin' woman who hasn't had an easy life but makes do with what she has. As a single mother she wants the best for her and her son but she thinks she'll never get it. Who she wants and who she's always wanted is none other than Merry. Merry has his demons. He never got over the death of his mother and that was the catalyst for his marriage to break. He needed to someone to be there for him, someone to fight for him but his ex-wife never did. After a drunk night together, Cher thinking, wanting it to be more while Merry thinking it was just a one time thing. After a heated discussion, their relationship takes a turn for the better but not without drama involving exes, battling demons and a psycho. It's good to see that Cher finally gets what she's always wanted and also that Merry was the one she got it from and vice versa. With their sexual history, you know their sexual chemistry is going to be intense and it's exactly that. Family and friends rally their relationship and it's good to see closure finally come to Merry and Cher.
This review was a hard one for me because while I enjoyed Hold On, I didn't love it. With a KA book, I can knock it out in two days tops, with this one it took weeks and I hated that. At times I found myself bored with certain parts of the story while in other parts, like I said, enjoyed it. I can't really pinpoint what it was about the story that didn't work, I just know that it's one of my least favorites apart from the epilogue which, for me, made the book. *shrugs shoulders*
*ARC provided by author*
Now that I've wiped my tears away, let's get to Garrett "Merry" Merrick and Cher Rivers. As friends who become lovers who eventually become more, it wasn't easy but it also wasn't difficult to get to where they are. They know each other as friends. They understand each other as friends. Cher is a straight shootin' woman who hasn't had an easy life but makes do with what she has. As a single mother she wants the best for her and her son but she thinks she'll never get it. Who she wants and who she's always wanted is none other than Merry. Merry has his demons. He never got over the death of his mother and that was the catalyst for his marriage to break. He needed to someone to be there for him, someone to fight for him but his ex-wife never did. After a drunk night together, Cher thinking, wanting it to be more while Merry thinking it was just a one time thing. After a heated discussion, their relationship takes a turn for the better but not without drama involving exes, battling demons and a psycho. It's good to see that Cher finally gets what she's always wanted and also that Merry was the one she got it from and vice versa. With their sexual history, you know their sexual chemistry is going to be intense and it's exactly that. Family and friends rally their relationship and it's good to see closure finally come to Merry and Cher.
This review was a hard one for me because while I enjoyed Hold On, I didn't love it. With a KA book, I can knock it out in two days tops, with this one it took weeks and I hated that. At times I found myself bored with certain parts of the story while in other parts, like I said, enjoyed it. I can't really pinpoint what it was about the story that didn't work, I just know that it's one of my least favorites apart from the epilogue which, for me, made the book. *shrugs shoulders*
*ARC provided by author*
September 1, 2015
I didn’t like much of anything about The Promise, and I enjoyed Hold On even less. It felt like The ‘Burg leftovers. Like KA decided hey, who’s left? Cher and Merry? Well, hell, let’s just stick them together.
As far as Cher goes, you’ve read her before. Take a pinch of Maddie from Broken Dove, add a bit of The ‘Burg’s Feb and finish with a sprinkle of Creed’s Sylvie and you have Cher. I was hoping, given her unusual backstory, that Cher would read differently. Unfortunately, she suffers from the same interchangeability as the last ten KA heroines. Her self-flagellation was tiresome, and like every other self-esteem lacking KA heroine, she only seems to learn to love herself after falling on Merry’s dick. I AM TIRED OF THIS. SO Tired.
Merry and I didn’t make friends, either. This book did him NO FAVORS. This “darkness� he has inside of him? The same darkness that plagued his sister for decades? Dude, you KNEW firsthand what she was going through and YOU DIDN’T GET YOUR BABY SISTER SOME HELP? Really?
If you’re familiar with The ‘Burg, you know Mia. Mia is Merry’s ex-wife, the woman EVERYONE around him has nudged him towards. Make up with Mia, Merry. Get your head out of your ass, Merry. In order for Cher not to feel like his second choice (CAN YOU SAY JAGGED?), a total malignation of Mia’s character had to occur, and occur it did. KA has done this successfully. Mitzi, Hop’s old lady, didn’t fare well in Fire Inside, though many of us felt sympathetic towards her in Motorcycle Man. Unfortunately, it didn’t work well in Hold On. It felt CONTRIVED. FORCED. And utterly disingenuous. Everyone in Merry’s life was urging him to pick up where he left off with a spoiled, selfish cunt? Uh�. No.
The story arc, while not EXACTLY an amalgamation of regurgitated plotlines, doesn’t really bring anything new to the table. There’s a twist that’s a non-twist and only served to PISS ME OFF.
The epilogue, while both vast and informative, lacked the "epic" feel I'd expected, as this was a series ender. Too much hopping around, too much time jumping, too many characters.... Too much, in general, but not nearly enough, if you get my drift.
I've long accepted that my KA Magic is gone, so this book served as a reaffirmation, if nothing else.
As far as Cher goes, you’ve read her before. Take a pinch of Maddie from Broken Dove, add a bit of The ‘Burg’s Feb and finish with a sprinkle of Creed’s Sylvie and you have Cher. I was hoping, given her unusual backstory, that Cher would read differently. Unfortunately, she suffers from the same interchangeability as the last ten KA heroines. Her self-flagellation was tiresome, and like every other self-esteem lacking KA heroine, she only seems to learn to love herself after falling on Merry’s dick. I AM TIRED OF THIS. SO Tired.
Merry and I didn’t make friends, either. This book did him NO FAVORS. This “darkness� he has inside of him? The same darkness that plagued his sister for decades? Dude, you KNEW firsthand what she was going through and YOU DIDN’T GET YOUR BABY SISTER SOME HELP? Really?
If you’re familiar with The ‘Burg, you know Mia. Mia is Merry’s ex-wife, the woman EVERYONE around him has nudged him towards. Make up with Mia, Merry. Get your head out of your ass, Merry. In order for Cher not to feel like his second choice (CAN YOU SAY JAGGED?), a total malignation of Mia’s character had to occur, and occur it did. KA has done this successfully. Mitzi, Hop’s old lady, didn’t fare well in Fire Inside, though many of us felt sympathetic towards her in Motorcycle Man. Unfortunately, it didn’t work well in Hold On. It felt CONTRIVED. FORCED. And utterly disingenuous. Everyone in Merry’s life was urging him to pick up where he left off with a spoiled, selfish cunt? Uh�. No.
The story arc, while not EXACTLY an amalgamation of regurgitated plotlines, doesn’t really bring anything new to the table. There’s a twist that’s a non-twist and only served to PISS ME OFF.
The epilogue, while both vast and informative, lacked the "epic" feel I'd expected, as this was a series ender. Too much hopping around, too much time jumping, too many characters.... Too much, in general, but not nearly enough, if you get my drift.
I've long accepted that my KA Magic is gone, so this book served as a reaffirmation, if nothing else.
September 6, 2015
~4.5 GOOEY STARS~
"We lay together, connected, a girl who never allowed herself to dream, lying on top of a dream come true."-Cher
Hold On is the sixth and final installment in Kristen Ashley's popular The Burg Series. Set in a small town in Indiana, The Burg explores the lives of small group of friends. There is always some sort of trouble brewing in the Burg and while love is always on the horizon, inevitably there is heartbreak to overcome first.
Cher is a single mom who is revered in the Burg for her down home personality and her take no prisoners spunk. She has secretly carried a flame for her friend and Burg police detective Garrett "Merry" Merrick. Alas, as a former stripper and a woman with a sordid past she has never been able to catch his eye past friendship. Lieutenant Merrick has finally made his divorce final from his small town wife and finds himself seeking comfort from Cher one night at the bar. One thing leads to another and before you know it, everything has changed!
"It would be okay."
"Okay, right. Not really. That thorn had driven itself deeper, knowing how he kissed-the range of intensity, the level of expertise-not to mention knowing a whole lot more about what Garrett Merrick could do."-Cher
Cher decides to try and move past it and maintain their friendship. However, fate has other plans in store for them. When a piece of Cher's past surfaces and creates trouble, Merry is there and decides that he wants to give Cher his protection and experience a little more of that spark that they shared.
"So now that she had the possibility of trouble, he was going to take hers. If she wanted him or not to."-Merry
Cher is hesitant to accept that things can really be good in her life. Although she has boundless amounts of love for her son Ethan and her mom, she has never really had a chance with love from a man that will cherish her.
"I forgot. I wasn't the kind of girl who got what she wanted. Not once. Not in my whole life."-Cher
Merry is constantly warring with himself over his inability to move past the demons lurking from his past. And yet despite the drama swirling around them, Cher and Merry build something beautiful.
"It was memorizing. Basking. Worshiping. I was into him, it was unreal. Listening. Watching. What a touch would do. It might have been fifteen minutes; it might have been three hours. All I knew was by the time he was finally ready to give me what I needed, I was more ready to get it than I'd ever been in my life."-Cher
Hold On is a beautiful read full of everything KA fans adore. It has maximum steam in the bedroom, a dirty talking alpha male, a strong heroine, a plot with action, and a strong theme of friendship and family. If you are a Kristen Ashley fan, then this is a must read! I can honestly say I enjoyed every minute. Ms. Ashley, as always, is descriptive in her writing and seamlessly creates complex characters that feel like your best friend and neighbor. Although The Burg isn't my favorite KA Series, I found Merry and Cher's story to be a beautiful ending to a journey that I have been on for the past couple of years. It is always bitter sweet to say goodbye to characters that we have grown to love and yet, with an epilogue like the one featured at the end of this read there was only room for joy!
Overall, Hold On kept me engaged the entire read. There were moments where I would have liked for the action to have been a little more intense and yet, when the physical action was slowing down the physical action "between the sheets" was burning hot! Kristen Ashley is a one click buy for me. For me, she brings it every time. The Burg fans will surely enjoy this final installment. I have decided not to mourn to much that it is over because the next CHAOS novel will be out October 27th, 2015. Until then, I have a kindle full of KA to tide me over. Thank you Ms. Ashley for giving so much love to these characters and sharing them with all of us. They will be missed!
~This was a BR with my girls at Turning Pages at Midnight! Thanks ladies for another amazing BR!~
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
"We lay together, connected, a girl who never allowed herself to dream, lying on top of a dream come true."-Cher
Hold On is the sixth and final installment in Kristen Ashley's popular The Burg Series. Set in a small town in Indiana, The Burg explores the lives of small group of friends. There is always some sort of trouble brewing in the Burg and while love is always on the horizon, inevitably there is heartbreak to overcome first.
Cher is a single mom who is revered in the Burg for her down home personality and her take no prisoners spunk. She has secretly carried a flame for her friend and Burg police detective Garrett "Merry" Merrick. Alas, as a former stripper and a woman with a sordid past she has never been able to catch his eye past friendship. Lieutenant Merrick has finally made his divorce final from his small town wife and finds himself seeking comfort from Cher one night at the bar. One thing leads to another and before you know it, everything has changed!
"It would be okay."
"Okay, right. Not really. That thorn had driven itself deeper, knowing how he kissed-the range of intensity, the level of expertise-not to mention knowing a whole lot more about what Garrett Merrick could do."-Cher
Cher decides to try and move past it and maintain their friendship. However, fate has other plans in store for them. When a piece of Cher's past surfaces and creates trouble, Merry is there and decides that he wants to give Cher his protection and experience a little more of that spark that they shared.
"So now that she had the possibility of trouble, he was going to take hers. If she wanted him or not to."-Merry
Cher is hesitant to accept that things can really be good in her life. Although she has boundless amounts of love for her son Ethan and her mom, she has never really had a chance with love from a man that will cherish her.
"I forgot. I wasn't the kind of girl who got what she wanted. Not once. Not in my whole life."-Cher
Merry is constantly warring with himself over his inability to move past the demons lurking from his past. And yet despite the drama swirling around them, Cher and Merry build something beautiful.
"It was memorizing. Basking. Worshiping. I was into him, it was unreal. Listening. Watching. What a touch would do. It might have been fifteen minutes; it might have been three hours. All I knew was by the time he was finally ready to give me what I needed, I was more ready to get it than I'd ever been in my life."-Cher
Hold On is a beautiful read full of everything KA fans adore. It has maximum steam in the bedroom, a dirty talking alpha male, a strong heroine, a plot with action, and a strong theme of friendship and family. If you are a Kristen Ashley fan, then this is a must read! I can honestly say I enjoyed every minute. Ms. Ashley, as always, is descriptive in her writing and seamlessly creates complex characters that feel like your best friend and neighbor. Although The Burg isn't my favorite KA Series, I found Merry and Cher's story to be a beautiful ending to a journey that I have been on for the past couple of years. It is always bitter sweet to say goodbye to characters that we have grown to love and yet, with an epilogue like the one featured at the end of this read there was only room for joy!
Overall, Hold On kept me engaged the entire read. There were moments where I would have liked for the action to have been a little more intense and yet, when the physical action was slowing down the physical action "between the sheets" was burning hot! Kristen Ashley is a one click buy for me. For me, she brings it every time. The Burg fans will surely enjoy this final installment. I have decided not to mourn to much that it is over because the next CHAOS novel will be out October 27th, 2015. Until then, I have a kindle full of KA to tide me over. Thank you Ms. Ashley for giving so much love to these characters and sharing them with all of us. They will be missed!
~This was a BR with my girls at Turning Pages at Midnight! Thanks ladies for another amazing BR!~
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
February 9, 2017
3.5 Dare to Dream stars
Hold On...I have to admit this wasn't one of my KA fav's and that is ok, KA is in a rating scale of her own so I can't compare it to anything else but her books. Cher and Merry was a crash course bound to happen fueled by passion. My personal issue had nothing to do with the KA's style and skill, but my personal reaction to the man himself. Please don't get me wrong, I still loved the love flow through the pages, his alpha demeanor and his fierce protectiveness that no one could rival. It's just compared to the other books in the 'Burg this doesn't rate as high as the others.
Merry had Cher under his nose for years and not once did he pay attention, until a night of desperation (on her part) gives her the man the only way she could have him... But all it took was one night for him to snap out of it and start making it up to her the only way he knows how. I guess you can say the first impression from the two of them left a bad taste in my mouth, a desperate woman in love and the town's most sought after eligible bachelor. By the end it's was all good and the journey was just as sweet, I just couldn't wipe my mind with the beginning.
I love the 'Burg, squeeing when Cal and his family come crashing through the pages, it's crazy that even after all these years, these people are still a big part of this book world... completely unforgettable.
Reviewed on February 7th, 2017
“What I want is more good times with you, Cher. I wanna fuck wild and I wanna laugh hard, and while we’re doin� that, I’m gonna look out for you.�
Hold On...I have to admit this wasn't one of my KA fav's and that is ok, KA is in a rating scale of her own so I can't compare it to anything else but her books. Cher and Merry was a crash course bound to happen fueled by passion. My personal issue had nothing to do with the KA's style and skill, but my personal reaction to the man himself. Please don't get me wrong, I still loved the love flow through the pages, his alpha demeanor and his fierce protectiveness that no one could rival. It's just compared to the other books in the 'Burg this doesn't rate as high as the others.
Merry had Cher under his nose for years and not once did he pay attention, until a night of desperation (on her part) gives her the man the only way she could have him... But all it took was one night for him to snap out of it and start making it up to her the only way he knows how. I guess you can say the first impression from the two of them left a bad taste in my mouth, a desperate woman in love and the town's most sought after eligible bachelor. By the end it's was all good and the journey was just as sweet, I just couldn't wipe my mind with the beginning.
I love the 'Burg, squeeing when Cal and his family come crashing through the pages, it's crazy that even after all these years, these people are still a big part of this book world... completely unforgettable.
Reviewed on February 7th, 2017
September 3, 2015
I have no idea where to begin with how bad HOLD ON was. It seems lately I have been not liking a lot of Kristen Ashley's latest books. Kristen Ashley is a hit and miss author for me. I'll either freaking love the book or freaking hate it.
I strongly feel like the author threw these two characters together just to get a book out and finish the series. These two make NO SENSE TOGETHER AT ALL!
Problem #1: The heroine, Cheryl
1. One of the guys, Badass? = whiny/pathletic & no self-confidence
2. saying shit like, "a girl/guy like me/him"
3. The way she talks about herself & her stupidity.
4. Fucking fight for your kid by asking for help! Terrible mother!
5. Fucking apologize, bitch!
Problem #2: The relationship, Cheryl & Merry
1. I didn't give a shit about them.
2. Whole friends/lover story line? Hate it!
3. They were not epic or magical. They were meh!
4. Boring! Boring! Boring!
Problem #3: The exes
1. Obviously the exes always suck!
2. But they were more stupid this time around.
3. A druggie and his religious cult wife who calls all the shots.
4. Merry's ex was just full of herself.
There is a real problem here if I hate the heroine as much as I hate the exes. This book is basically full of everything that turns me off from romance books, so no wonder I disliked it.
I am happy that The Burg series is OVER. I have only liked two books in this series and they weren't over the moon great or anything, but the majority of this series was a dud.
I strongly feel like the author threw these two characters together just to get a book out and finish the series. These two make NO SENSE TOGETHER AT ALL!
Problem #1: The heroine, Cheryl
1. One of the guys, Badass? = whiny/pathletic & no self-confidence
2. saying shit like, "a girl/guy like me/him"
3. The way she talks about herself & her stupidity.
4. Fucking fight for your kid by asking for help! Terrible mother!
5. Fucking apologize, bitch!
Problem #2: The relationship, Cheryl & Merry
1. I didn't give a shit about them.
2. Whole friends/lover story line? Hate it!
3. They were not epic or magical. They were meh!
4. Boring! Boring! Boring!
Problem #3: The exes
1. Obviously the exes always suck!
2. But they were more stupid this time around.
3. A druggie and his religious cult wife who calls all the shots.
4. Merry's ex was just full of herself.
There is a real problem here if I hate the heroine as much as I hate the exes. This book is basically full of everything that turns me off from romance books, so no wonder I disliked it.
I am happy that The Burg series is OVER. I have only liked two books in this series and they weren't over the moon great or anything, but the majority of this series was a dud.
September 30, 2015
4 STARS
Well, I’m a little late in getting this review together, but I guess better late than never! And I’ll start out by saying that I have been a huge Kristen Ashley fan since I picked up one of her books a few years back. Love the woman. Love her books! And that’s never going to change.
That said, I had high hopes for this book. The Burg� series has been among my favorites. I’ve loved all of the characters and their kids! I have thoroughly enjoyed making my way through the series, and I’m sad to see it finally end.
Hold On is the last in the series and it features Garrett Merrick known to most as Merry, and Cher Rivers, who we met first in Colt and Feb’s book as Cheryl Sheckle.
I won’t go into details of their history or how they got together, it is a long and complicated past, they’ve been friends for years, and Merry’s divorce has been a long and drawn out process.
But a night of whisky and friendly banter at J & J’s between the two turns theirs lives in a completely unexpected direction. It not only threatens the friendship they share, but also threatens the safety of their tightly locked up hearts.
My favorite part of this book was the characters themselves. In fact for the first 20 or 30%, I had a serious case of Insta-love with Merry. OMFG� this guy is pure Alpha male goodness. He even had that “just a touch of assholishness� that I love so much in a man. And MY GOD, just sexy as FUCK with his dirty mouth� LOVED HIM!
And then there is Cher� Now I have to say, I hate the name Cher. I can’t explain it, I just do. But I LOVED her character. She was a straight shooter� a strong woman, who had dug herself out of the trailer park life, to make a good life for her and her son. She was a little rough around the edges, but man, she knew the goodness she wanted in her life and she was willing to give up all personal happiness to get it and give it to her boy.
Ethan, Cher’s son was another character that I absolutely LOVED. Such a sweet, protective kid. He truly idolized Colt, Tanner, Cal, and Mike. So when Merry entered the picture in his Mom’s life, he was over the moon. He wanted his Mom to be happy, but more than that, he wanted a man like Merry in both their lives. So he would play his part in getting that for his Mom.
So why not five stars? Well� it was just too darn long. I lost my mojo at about 50 percent, and I didn’t get it back until about 90%. The story just seemed to lose momentum for me. So much so, that it took me f-o-r-e-v-e-r to get through it. There was just too much “filler� in the story. Too much what I like to call every-day-life-shit that I don’t care about. Like what they were having for breakfast, pizza night, movie night, snacks and video games. It was just too much in such a long book.
Now the epilogue was another story. LOVED the epilogue. It was the perfect ending to such an amazing series. If you like Kristen Ashely’s books, her style of writing and her characters, you will probably love this book. Merry is just a dream� and I’m thrilled he finally got his HEA.
My updates really tell the story. Enjoy�
“It happens,� he replied. “What happens?� she asked. He dipped closer and held her tighter. “It happens,� he repeated. “For people like us, baby. It happens, eventually. Just as long as we hold on.�
Well, I’m a little late in getting this review together, but I guess better late than never! And I’ll start out by saying that I have been a huge Kristen Ashley fan since I picked up one of her books a few years back. Love the woman. Love her books! And that’s never going to change.
That said, I had high hopes for this book. The Burg� series has been among my favorites. I’ve loved all of the characters and their kids! I have thoroughly enjoyed making my way through the series, and I’m sad to see it finally end.
Hold On is the last in the series and it features Garrett Merrick known to most as Merry, and Cher Rivers, who we met first in Colt and Feb’s book as Cheryl Sheckle.
I won’t go into details of their history or how they got together, it is a long and complicated past, they’ve been friends for years, and Merry’s divorce has been a long and drawn out process.
But a night of whisky and friendly banter at J & J’s between the two turns theirs lives in a completely unexpected direction. It not only threatens the friendship they share, but also threatens the safety of their tightly locked up hearts.
I forgot. I forgot I wasn't the kind of girl who got what she wanted.
"Maybe, you let the door to that fortress you built around you open an inch, I can get in and you'll find I do know fuck all about what's going' on in your head, I give a shit about you, and I wanna see you let it go and find yourself some happy."
"That doesn't happen for girls like me, Merry."
My favorite part of this book was the characters themselves. In fact for the first 20 or 30%, I had a serious case of Insta-love with Merry. OMFG� this guy is pure Alpha male goodness. He even had that “just a touch of assholishness� that I love so much in a man. And MY GOD, just sexy as FUCK with his dirty mouth� LOVED HIM!
"Storms get me the blowjob, brown eyes. I get the intel you need, that buys me sinkin' deep in wet pussy."
And then there is Cher� Now I have to say, I hate the name Cher. I can’t explain it, I just do. But I LOVED her character. She was a straight shooter� a strong woman, who had dug herself out of the trailer park life, to make a good life for her and her son. She was a little rough around the edges, but man, she knew the goodness she wanted in her life and she was willing to give up all personal happiness to get it and give it to her boy.
Ethan, Cher’s son was another character that I absolutely LOVED. Such a sweet, protective kid. He truly idolized Colt, Tanner, Cal, and Mike. So when Merry entered the picture in his Mom’s life, he was over the moon. He wanted his Mom to be happy, but more than that, he wanted a man like Merry in both their lives. So he would play his part in getting that for his Mom.
“You look good. There’s no better ass in a pair of jeans in the entire county and it’s mine to tap.�
So why not five stars? Well� it was just too darn long. I lost my mojo at about 50 percent, and I didn’t get it back until about 90%. The story just seemed to lose momentum for me. So much so, that it took me f-o-r-e-v-e-r to get through it. There was just too much “filler� in the story. Too much what I like to call every-day-life-shit that I don’t care about. Like what they were having for breakfast, pizza night, movie night, snacks and video games. It was just too much in such a long book.
Now the epilogue was another story. LOVED the epilogue. It was the perfect ending to such an amazing series. If you like Kristen Ashely’s books, her style of writing and her characters, you will probably love this book. Merry is just a dream� and I’m thrilled he finally got his HEA.
"If I didn't know you were worth it."
My updates really tell the story. Enjoy�
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