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Hold Me is the conclusion of the Twist Me series. I picked up this book just after it was released and pretty much devoured it just to see what happens in the end.
Let me start by saying this book was slow. The first 100 pages are about Nora, her nightmares, her PTSD, her (view spoiler)[ unexpected pregnancy (hide spoiler)] and her doubts about Julian's feelings. I found myself yawning after a certain point cause it felt like i was reading a contemporary flick and this was supposed to be dark romance which it wasn't. The story was pretty much vanilla and whatever plot there is happens near the end.
Nora is trying to grow a backbone as Julian's wife and soon to be (view spoiler)[ mother (hide spoiler)]. She wants them to be normal which is kinda impossible since Julian is an arms dealer and also the man who kidnapped her. Surprisingly he grows very sensitive when he hears the news of the (view spoiler)[ pregnancy (hide spoiler)] but he continues to be controlling and menacing when it comes to Nora's safety and her right to have a life.
It was kinda funny to see him so gentle and careful with her in sex considering what he has put her through all this time, like for real, a doctor should inform him that (view spoiler)[ you can't have a miscarriage so easily during sex (hide spoiler)]. I liked the fact that he was more open and understanding this time, and listened to Nora's needs but we still have the occassional threats a normal husband wouldn't say.

"My breath catches. “I’m your wife, not your  slave—�
“You’re whatever I wish you to be, my pet. I own you.� The casual cruelty of his words hits me like a blow, knocking all air out of my lungs. Something of my reaction must’ve shown because his grip on me eases, his tone softening slightly as he says, “This is your home, Nora. Here. With me. Not out there.�

All that because she wanted to see her parents. And when he agrees it goes like this :
“If you disobey me, or do anything to endanger yourself while we’re in Chicago, I will punish you. Do you understand me?�

Yeah, these tendencies didn't go away but i was hoping for the moment Nora would snap out of it and confront him. Was her Stockholm Syndrome so strong to prevent her from standing up to him? I didn't like how all the sudden she completely forgot the things he did to her and that wasn't okay. Am i supposed to buy that they are in love now? Does that makes it all right? Those things had to be addressed and Julian should have somehow express his remorse, like wasn't that the purpose of this book?
No matter how hard they tried to be a normal couple i didn't feel it. Nora was still his submissive and he was her captor.

By the time we walk out of the restaurant, I feel like I’m in seventh heaven. Our dinner tonight was the closest thing we’ve had to a real date, and for the first time in months, I’m feeling hopeful about the future.

We may never be “normal,� but that doesn’t mean we can’t be happy.

As we drive to the club, I allow myself that daydream again, the one where Julian and I are a family. It feels more real now, more substantial. For the first time, I can picture us raising our child together. It wouldn’t be easy, and we’d constantly be surrounded by guards, but we could do it. We could make it work. We’d live on the estate most of the time, but we’d travel too. We’d visit my parents and friends, and we’d go to places in Europe and Asia. I would have a career as an artist, and Julian’s business would be something that’s in the background of our lives, instead of front and center.
It wouldn’t be the kind of life I dreamed of when I was younger, but it would be a good life nonetheless

Considering how he wouldn't even let her see her parents and her friends for a few hours i'd say Nora is being clearly delusional. She knows very well that his job put them both in danger numerous times and the one who makes the decisions is Julian, not her. They aren't equals and unfortunately by the end of the book i realized they'd never be.
Also Nora is justifying Julian's killing pretty vigorously. I don't know if it's because she killed a man too but she perfectly agrees Julian is the one who has to serve justice by causing a bloodpath and she is just fine with it completely. I guess being a mobster's wife requires such thinking.

In the final chapters i realize 3 books have been futile and pointless since Julian forces her to have anal sex with him and she is reluctant because she thinks he's punishing her for (view spoiler)[ so basically she starts crying and blaming herself, accepting the fact that she must be punished. Yup. 3 books later we still get this. Then he tells her he loved her since the beginning so it automatically erases all the nasty parts of their relationship, right? Was it love when he abducted and raped her? Was it love when he nearly choked her during sex? Was it love when he forced her to get trackers?
This book was kinda unnecessary, the story could have concluded in two books without too much drama and going back and forth. I liked the writing and some scenes but overall this failed to be a thrilling book like The Dark Duet series. (hide spoiler)]