Hold On ('Burg, #6)

by Kristen Ashley

[stacey_is_sassy]

***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.

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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!!