Derek Alexander is an ex-Marine, ex-cop, and the top investigator in his field. Melissa Jones is a small-town girl trying to escape her troubled past.
When the two intersect in a bar in Arizona, their sexual chemistry is off the charts. But what is revealed during their “one week stand” only complicates matters.
Because she’ll do everything in her power to get away from the past, but he’ll do everything he can to hold her.
Note: Stand-alone, M/F, HEA.
***WARNING: Mature themes, strong language and sexual content. Recommended for adult readers (18+) only!***
You can grab One To Hold right now for only 99 cents! Check out my interview with Derek and Melissa!
WARNING: Mature themes, strong language and sexual content. Recommended for adult readers (18+) only!
Patrick Knight is not a nice guy.
At least, not anymore.After a failed engagement, a one-night stand, and a random office shag, he’s sent to the desert so his business partner (Derek Alexander), can clean up his mess. Before he kicks his ass.
When Patrick meets Elaine on his desert exile, all he wants is to make her his. The problem is Elaine’s not looking for any guy—she only wants a one-week fling.
Now Patrick’s doing everything he can to change her mind. And just when it seems he’s convinced her he’s the one to keep, the skeletons from his past life start coming back.
Standalone, M/F, HEA
Oh these boys…what they do to my heart…
Keep reading to see the full Love Note!
Derek to Melissa
You’re amazing, and you let me have you.
You stole my heart, then gave me a second chance.
To my strong, gorgeous fiancee.
For being mine today and always,
I’ll love you forever.
Derek
Patrick to Elaine
Hey, Bubblegum~
My eyes are on you.
My thoughts are on you.
Only you. All the time.
I love your surprises,
I love you,
Patrick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
*ARC Given to Blog for Honest Review*
4 “red” “floating heart necklace” Kisses
A sure way to a dirty book lovers heart is some hot and steamy action right off the bat. One to Hold hooked me within the first 10% with that, but it held my attention with so much more. The mystery, the intrigue, the characters, the twists! I devoured this book within a matter of hours and it not only satisfied my dirty book whore, but it pulled on my heart strings and left me giggling like a school girl at the end.
Melissa Jones…my poor Melissa is sad…broken…a shell of what she once was before her marriage. But she has a plan and is on the road to a happier life…a better life before the ‘bastard fucknut’ – her words, not mine, although I love them and will definitely try and find a way to use them in my every day language. So, on the advice of her best friend, they go away for a little R&R to a spa in the Arizona desert, a trip that will eventually change the course of her life. Although Melissa has been through some shit, she is still a strong woman…a confident woman…and a very sexy woman…one that happens to catch the eye of an equally sexy man.
‘This was not me. I did not fantasize about hooking up with strange men in bars. And a cocky alpha who studied me like I was a frontier landscape he was ready to conquer had never been my type. He probably wanted to tie me up or handcuff me to something. A delicious shiver passed through me at the thought.’
Derek Alexander…oh my…tall, dark, handsome and alpha – yes please! Derek is powerful and charming and sexy and swoony and delicious. My feelings for Derek developed over time…at first, he was a hot, sexy, 6’2” distraction…then he started pulling on those little heart strings I mentioned earlier…and it was a quick fall. I fell right along with Melissa…it’s hard not to. And then…I was sad…then hurt…then betrayed…confused – I was all over the map. But once the ‘truth’ comes out, all was forgiven and forgotten and I was right back to those good old heart warming, loving and sexy feelings. Even with those not so great feelings, I was still drawn to him – I wanted to know why, I was upset but I needed explanations…unlike Melissa who didn’t want to know anything, she just wanted to forget and move on. But you can’t move on from Derek Alexander.
‘“Red is definitely your color,” he said in that low voice that made me wish for the nearest family bathroom.’
Yes…Derek and Melissa have a hot, passionate and amazingly sexy connection. Like off the charts, melt your panties, hot and steamy connection. Wow…just…wow. And Melissa fights it tooth and nail that what they have is more than just this out of control sexual chemistry. Derek is exactly what Melissa needs…just not at the right time and Melissa is exactly what Derek needs, but his reason for meeting her is a little…shitty. I’m being vague with good reason – how everything unfolds is very crucial to the plot and angst and I don’t want to spoil anything because trust me…I did not see this one coming! Maybe I was just too wrapped up in the sexy and swoon, but…yeah, I loved that I didn’t see it coming and hated the way it made me feel.
‘He lowered his face to gently kiss me, and right then it was inescapable. The seemingly endless kiss he pressed, soft lips lingering against mine, tongue lightly touching my tongue, sealed it for me. He was everything I wanted. He was safe with me, I felt safe with him, and I wanted him to hold me forever so badly.’
So, I’m going to address the ‘no-nut sphincter taster’ – once again, not my words, those are Elaine’s (Melissa’s best friend) and another little gem I will be stealing. Sloan Reynolds. Excuse me while I vomit. He’s a piece of shit. Sorry…not going to sugar coat this one. He’s a complete douche canoe with a side of ass hat to boot. Sloan is the soon to be ex-husband…the source of all Melissa’s pain…and he just won’t go away. Ugh…hate talking about him…he’s just yuck yuckity yuck! He’s not necessarily the cause for the angst…but he’s definitely the cause of some of the drama. His presence is an anchor and source of torment to Melissa and the moment she is set free from him…is just awesome.
‘He’d survive without his heart. He had mine to use in its place.’
It wasn’t just the sex that drew me to Derek and Melissa…did they have a fast love affair? Yes…they have a week and there is a lot of push and pull and of course that made me like them more, but the speed of their relationship didn’t bother me, because I felt their connection. It was initially based on sex, but I did feel like they got to know each other and it didn’t feel like it had only been a week. They had an instant pull and draw to each other, which just made feeling comfortable with their relationship that much easier. There was an ease and comfortability that usually takes time to develop but for the Derek and Melissa…I just got it. What else did I love about them…I loved the things he said to her, I loved the necklace he got her, I loved the ‘Christmas surprise’ and I especially loved how they had sex pretty much anywhere and everywhere – hello hotness! I also loved that their best friends developed a relationship too – can I beg for a Elaine and Patrick book?!? 🙂
‘He rose to a sitting position beside me, catching my hand and pulling the back of it to his lips. “I want more than a week this time,” he said, his voice turning gentle. “Much more.” He apused and then held my gaze. “One day soon, when you’re feeling whole again, I’m going to ask you to marry me.”’
There are very few times I can feel this satisfied with the ending of a book…9 times out of 10 I always want more, but I really could not be more satisfied with where Derek and Melissa’s story ending. They are happy, I told you I giggled like a school girl at the end…it was just a sweet, romantic and perfect ending to their story. One To Hold was a whirlwind of a book that completely knocked me off my game and out of a wicked book hangover that I had been stuck in – I loved every second of it! It was sexy, sweet, hot and wonderful. And even better news…it’s going to be a series!!! SQUEEEE – bring on Patrick and One To Keep!
Tia Louise is a former journalist now writing sexy novels for sexy adults. All of her stories are inspired by real heroes. Have a truffle, darling. Say yes~
