Holding on Tighter

Jolie is a strong, hard working woman who is so focused on expanding her fashion design business that she doesn’t have time for anything too personal. Keeping her sister grounded and her mom happy, that’s all she has time for. Forget a man, that is the last thing on her mind. Heath, a gorgeous, former British spy, takes a small job as a security consultant for an up and coming fashion designer. With a few break-ins in the area he figures this job to be a quick job setting up a new security system. Heath is still haunted by his past and the death of his wife years ago. He has a onetime only rule because he doesn’t want any attachments. Then he meets Jolie and things change for him. Jolie realizes very quickly that Heath is more than just a security consultant, he is someone who can tear down the walls around her heart. The chemistry is strong and the heat between them was steamy. But despite their new relationship, there is trouble brewing. Her sister is getting gifts at work from a secret admirer whose notes that sound threatening. There is a breakin but the robber is only after her laptop. There is also an attempt on Jolie’s life. They need to figure out fast if everything is connected to or not, who is targeting them, and why. When Jolie’s life is on the line, Heath will do whatever he needs to so that he doesn’t lose Jolie like he did his first wife. And will Heath get answers to what happened in the past and who caused his pain years before. Will he get to Jolie before it’s too late? As expected the steam level is high, but I would expect nothing else from Shayla and this series. I found that even though Jolie was a strong, independent woman, she had a need that she didn’t know she had or wanted. Heath started out being a manwhore in my opinion and a character I wasn’t a fan of but like always, he redeemed himself as the book progressed. By the end of the book I saw and understood why he had been the way he was for so many years. I’ve been reading this series since the first book and have loved them all. I love how characters all come together even if they don’t know each other at the start of the book. The epilogue was great because we got to see everyone from all the other books together at once and it was a great end to the series. I hate to see the series end but all good things must come to an end. Shayla probably could have gone on writing this series forever but that would mean we would miss out on so many new things she will bring us in the future.

This series never gets old. Ms. Black has done it again. Heath and Jolie's story is everything I love in a story. Our hero is a little damaged from the loss of his wife in a tragic way 6 years ago. He feels helpless since he couldn't save her and doesn't really live any more, he just exists. Jolie is married to her job. She doesn't have time for dating or men in general. She is a tough lady who runs a million dollar business and has a heart of gold. It doesn't take Heath and Jolie long to give into the heat that burns between them. When Jolie's life is threatened, Heath will do whatever it takes to protect her. He can't lose her like he lost his first wife. I was on the edge of my seat for the last half of the book. I loved the suspense and the ride I was on. The climax of the story brought me to tears as I was completely in the moment of Heath and Jolie's love. Loved this story. I loved at the end, how we got to catch up with all of the couples from the series. Such a great read.