SOMEONE TO HOLD (Wild Widows 2 ) by Marie Force -review tour

SOMEONE TO HOLD (Wild Widows 2 ) by Marie Force -review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 15, 2022

Iris

Two and a half years after suddenly losing the love of my life, I’m coming out of the fog of early grief and taking a hard look at the rest of my life. With three young children to care for on my own while also managing their grief, I haven’t had a lot of time to ponder what’s next for me.

When I think about what I really want, I keep coming back to one thing. Or I should say one person, someone who understands what I’ve been through because he’s been there, too, only his losses were far worse than mine. I find myself thinking about him all the time, but is he ready for the things I want? I have no idea, but I’m determined to find out.

••••••

REVIEW: SOMEONE TO HOLD is the second instalment in Marie Force’s contemporary, adult WILD WIDOWS romance series-a spin off from the author’s romantic suspense FORCE series. This is forty-one year old, cybersecurity specialist, widower Gage Collier, and thirty-three year old, widow, social media influencer, mother of three Iris .story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Gage and Iris) SOMEONE TO HOLD follows the building romance and relationship between forty-one year old, cybersecurity specialist, widower Gage Collier, and thirty-three year old, widow, mother of three Iris. Three years earlier Gage Collier lost his wife and two young daughters to a drunk driver, and has struggled to move on from their deaths. Joining Wild Widows gave Gage some purpose including the heartfelt talks with people who have suffered similar losses themselves, losses that couldn’t be measured by importance or grief. Meeting widow and Wild Widows co-founder Iris, whose husband Mike was killed when the plane he was piloting crashed killing everyone on board, gave Gage hopes for the future but our hero was in no place to move on from the past. A weekend away with the Wild Widows pushes Gage and Iris together, a push that will see our couple looking to the future while continuing to look back but all does not go smoothly when an investigation into the crash that killed Iris’ husband reveals more than anyone could have imagined, including a secret past no one knew anything about.

The relationship between Gage and Iris is one of immediate attraction but neither one was in any position to seek out love in the face of death and grief. Iris had three children to raise who had lost their father, and keeping his memory alive was a battle when secrets and lies continued to break her heart. Gage Collier lost everything to a drunk driver, and with the impending court case Gage knew he would have to accept what the court decide. Beginning anew with Iris gave Gage a second chance at love but nothing ever came easy, and more news would send Gage into another spiral. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include Gage’s former in-laws Mimi and Stan; Iris’ former brother in law Rob, as well as Mike’s former business partner Steve Harris, Eleanor and Carter, and Iris’ children Tyler, Laney and Sophia. We are re-introduced to the Wild Widows members: Roni and Derek (Someone Like You 1) Adrian, Brielle, Naomi, Aurora, Lexi, Kinsley, Hallie and Christy-all of whom have a tragic story of love and loss.

SOMEONE TO HOLD is a story of grief and loss, secrets and lies, betrayal and heart break, acceptance and love. The premise is emotional and powerful; the romance is seductive and impassioned; the characters are determined, struggling but moving forward. SOMEONE TO HOLD ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one SOMEONE LIKE YOU

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, romantic suspense and erotic romance. Her series include Fatal, First Family, Gansett Island, Butler Vermont, Quantum, Treading Water, Miami Nights and Wild Widows. 

Her books have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller more than 30 times. She is also a USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller, as well as a Spiegel bestseller in Germany. 

Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news. 

Join Marie’s mailing list for news about new books and upcoming appearances in your area. Follow her on Facebook and on InstagramJoin one of Marie’s many reader groupsContact Marie at marie@marieforce.com.

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Someone to Hold by Mary Balogh – a Review

Someone to Hold by Mary Balogh – a Review

 

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Description:
Humphrey Wescott, Earl of Riverdale, has died, leaving behind a fortune and a scandalous secret that will forever alter the lives of his family—sending one daughter on a journey of self-discovery…

With her parents’ marriage declared bigamous, Camille Westcott is now illegitimate and without a title. Looking to eschew the trappings of her old life, she leaves London to teach at the Bath orphanage where her newly discovered half-sister lived. But even as she settles in, she must sit for a portrait commissioned by her grandmother and endure an artist who riles her every nerve.

An art teacher at the orphanage that was once his home, Joel Cunningham has been hired to paint the portrait of the haughty new teacher. But as Camille poses for Joel, their mutual contempt soon turns to desire. And it is only the bond between them that will allow them to weather the rough storm that lies ahead…

 

 

Review:

Someone to Hold by Mary Balogh is the 2nd book in her Westcott series. In the first book of this series, Camille Westcott lost her inheritance because her deceased father was a bigamist, having been found to have been married before. Our than heroine, Anna Snow, who grew up in an orphanage, was the rightful heir and assumed the family fortune.  Anna always wanted a family, but the mother, two sisters and brother refused to acknowledge Anna, even if she wanted to share the fortune.  Personally, I did not like Camille at all in the first book.  But, in Someone to Hold, we get to see Camille living with her grandmother, in a nice comfortable house, not too far from the Orphanage that Anna used to live in. Camille always presented herself as a lady, to be perfect in every way, and feelings did not count for anything.  Whereas, her sister Abby was happy, Camille was miserable.  She was betrothed to a man of wealth, until he dumped her after she lost everything.

Camille trys to rediscover herself; she decides to get a job working as a teacher at the same Orphanage.  Along the way she meets, Anna’s best friend, Joel Cunningham, who is an artist, and also teaches art a few days a week to the students.  Joel has disliked Camille, since he did not like how she treats Anna, but slowly he will begin to see a different side hidden under her severe & abrasive appearance.  Joel watches with amazement how Camille steps in and without any experience, does wonders with the children. Joel begins to talk more to Camille, to help give her more confidence and in time they will find their company enjoyable.  Camille puts herself in Anna’s shoes, how she lived all her life growing up and eventually working at the orphanage.  This will help her understand Anna’s situation, as well as slowly begin to open her cold heart, as she starts to have feelings for some of the children, especially young Sarah.  Camille has never known how to love, only to be the perfect lady, which was expected of her in as a Westcott heir.

As Joel and Camille start spending more time together, each of them discover their feelings change to more romantic, which will gradually become love.  But both of them believe there is no future, as they are both very stubborn.  Joel was a great hero, very nice and sweet to Camille; but he doesn’t see himself ever marrying.  His life later in the book, will also take a turn, similar to Anna’s in the last book. Will this help bring Camille and Joel together?

What I really enjoyed about this story was watching Camille slowly begin to learn all about love; learn her own value, rediscover life and hope.  It was great to see Anna and Avery again, as well as the other family members that played a big part in the first book.  It was very enjoyable to watch Camille rise up from losing everything to change, falling for Joel, and to accept her new sister.  Mary Balogh did an outstanding job giving us a heartwarming story that also teaches us the little things in life that we take for granted.  Well done.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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