Review copy was received from Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Hold On To Me by Karen Grey Series: Carolina Classics #2
Published by Self-Published on November 9, 2022
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 280
Format: eARC
Source: Author
Goodreads
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple
After a devastating accident at sea, the only job Sullivan Calloway can get is one that few have survived.
If time and tide wait for no man, neither does Helen O'Neill. She's spent years forging her own path in the movie business. The young hunk she's hired to replace her latest assistant to leave in tears may be a sight for sore eyes, but expectations will not be lowered. If he can’t do the work, he’ll be out on his very fine behind.
If only her heart would get the memo.
The Carolina Classics series continues with what I thought would be Whitney’s story, but it’s Sully. We get both his and Helen’s points of view. All five friends: Violet, Danielle, Whitney, Sully and Ford make appearances and they socialize together except Whitney. Sully initially is living with Dani, as a roommate not a romantic relationship. Perhaps because they are new adults, the series has lots of both personal and career developments.
In Hold On To Me, Sully takes some temporary work while recovering from an accident. He ends up learning a lot about himself and what he wants. He is attracted to his boss, Helen, and provides her with good support, both professionally and then personally. As he becomes certain of what he wants, he is clearer and better in all his relationships.
Helen has never had a good relationship and her career normally has her moving to wherever a production is happening. Her childhood wasn’t easy either. She doesn’t want to accept the comfort and personal support Sully offers because what happens when filming ends? She is so strong and competent because she has had to be in the competitive field where she works. She doesn’t think she can have more than work, or any relationship.
I enjoyed the growth of the characters who were more honest with each other and kept communication going even when things were uncertain. It’s more complex than I’ve explained. You will need to read for yourself. I, like Helen, wish I had a long-time group of friends and circle of support. It makes me even more worried about Whitney.
About Karen Grey
KAREN GREY is the pen name for award-winning narrator Karen White. A stage, screen and radio drama actor in Boston, New York and Los Angeles in the late 20th century, she started recording books in 1999. Now back in her home state of North Carolina, she shares a home with her family and (probably) too many pets, where she continues to narrate audiobooks as well as make up stories.
Karen White is a classically trained actress who has been recording audio books since 1999 and has well over 150 books to her credit and is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA. Honored to be included inAudiofile’s Best Voices 2010 and 2011, she’s also an Audie Finalist and Best Audiobook of the Year winner for 2009, 2010 and 2011 (The Hemingses of Monticello by Annette Gordon Reed, Too Good to be True by Erin Arvedlund, and Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O’Connor) and she has earned multiple Audiofile Earphones Awards, recently for and You Had Me at Woof by Julie Klam and Inside of a Dog by Alexandra Horowitz. Publishers Weekly says of Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick, “Karen White delivers a stunning reading, her character interpretations are confident and well-rounded, and she forges a strong bond with the audience.” Speaking of Audiobooks says of her, “Karen is one of my auto-buy narrators – if I think a book may interest me, her narration will sway me to give it a try.”
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 22-COYER
I’m looking forward to this one after the way the first one ended. But I’m holding out for the audiobook.
It sort of had a different main character than I expected. I liked Sully a lot.
Glad to hear you enjoyed the story. I’d be interested to see how it played out with Helen being his boss.
lol I really enjoyed how both characters grew.
I like the author’s series premise of finding relationships for a tight-knit circle of friends. Interesting set up with Helen worried about long term and that they are good at communication.
I liked it a lot.
I like the premise for this. I’m intrigued now.
I like this series and it’s set near where I live.
I think you did a great job explaining it.
Thank you Kimberly. I try to share some concepts without spoiling.
I definitely want to read this one! I enjoy Karen Grey’s writing but didn’t request this one due to time constraints. Great review!
I can relate to the time constraints issue. I always want more than I could actually read.
I like it that the characters have good open and honest communications
Yes! I really admire people who can communicate honestly even when it might make them vulnerable.
Glad to see the spinoff is equally interesting. One day I’ll catch up.
Well I also love that it’s set here. I hope you will enjoy it too.
I do like when characters experience growth throughout a series. I’ll have to keep this series in mind 😊.
yes I like layers of things, a more complex story with threads of settings, careers, families/friends, mysteries, romance, and action, and character development. Every good book for me will contain a mix of at least a couple of these.
Seeing the cover and the title…I didn’t expect that summary! Sounds really good though
yes, I thought it was pretty good.
I liked the first one and can’t wait for this one, but didn’t have time to fit it into my review schedule. I’ll probably wait and get it on audiobook too. Glad to hear this one was good too!
I’m sure it will be great on audio. I was surprised by this one. I learned a lot more about the characters, especially Sully.