In the final book of the Take My Series, Emily and Dexter are finally on course to a happy future. Arriving back in the UK with Aunt Sarah in tow, everything seems to be slotting into place. For the first time in his life, Dexter has found his purpose. Surrounded by family, friends and the woman he adores, he has at long last made peace with his demons and is determined to fight for the life he now knows he deserves.
With best friend Rachel back by her side and a resolve to work things out with her parents once and for all, Emily’s life is also on the right track. Or so she thinks… When a tragic revelation threatens to destroy Emily’s world, it sends her spiraling down a path leading to more secrets, lies and heartache – leaving her questioning her whole life and everyone in it. To top it off, Emily almost lost one of the most important men in her life once before, is it about to happen again? “This is it, doll. Our future. I need you to hold on to it and never let go.”
(Not suitable for under 18’s due to language, sexual content and explicit drug use)
(Not suitable for under 18’s due to language, sexual content and explicit drug use)
I am literally at a loss
for words that, I have not already used, to describe how much I love this
series. This was as beautiful of an ending as you could hope for these
characters. Once again Nicola Haken has given us exactly what we wanted and so
much more. This last book is beautiful, heart wrenching, entertaining and
hilarious all at once.
Hold on Tight is the
summations of everything wonderful about this series. Dex, Em, Rach, and Jaz
are back together again and ready to take on the world! Their beautiful
friendship is what holds this series together and what kept me coming back even
when it seems like the world is against them. I knew they would get back
together and be better than ever! This
book doesn’t tie things up in a neat bow, yet still leaves everyone exactly
where it feels like they should be.
Sooooo much happens in
this last book that I wouldn’t even know where to begin to summarize without
going into three books worth of back story. What I can say is that Haken does a
wonderful job of not going into to much detail about the previous books so if
you start in the middle you are going to want to go back to the beginning to
find out what the big deal was. I think a lot of series writers feel like they
have to retail the previous books instead of having the reader go back and
read. Not that you would be totally confused if you read this book first, you’d
just be totally missing out of so much of the awesomeness that I suggest
starting from the beginning.
I laughed, I cried (A LOT),
and I was touched by every character in this story. It feels like the end of a
great TV series, you know it’s coming and you LOVE how it ends but secretly you
will always wish they had kept the show going forever **cough**GILMORE GIRLS!!
**cough**.
I could gush about this
series forever but really you just need to go read it! In the words of Nike,
JUST DO IT!
“I don’t have time for this, Dad,” I muttered on a heavy sigh.
“Please, son. Don’t go, not yet. Let’s have another coffee, then if you still feel the same, we’ll go back to how things were. Apart.”
“No, I don’t mean right now. I mean I really haven’t got time to keep hating you. There are so many things wrong with what you’ve just told me, there are three thousand reasons why I should walk out of here and never look back, and I genuinely don’t know how you can ever make this right with Emmie. But… I won’t be here in twelve months time, Dad. I can’t spend those months fighting with you – reasoning with you… struggling to understand what you did.
“In order for me to have any hope of enjoying these next few months of life, I can’t afford to dwell on the past. I don’t understand the decisions you’ve made in your life, Dad, but I accept them, and… I forgive you.”
I noticed tears bubbling up in the corners of my dad’s eyes and I had to force myself to look away before mine started falling too. It took all my strength not to be mad at him. Why couldn’t he have done this years ago? Back when I really needed him.
“And they’re sure? The doctors?” he asked with a slight tremor in his voice. Why does everyone ask that? It seems like doctors are classed as superheroes until they tell you something bad.
“Positive. I had my first chemo session a couple of weeks ago. I have another in two days. That should slow it down… but only by a few months and nothing’s guaranteed.”
“Months?” he repeated – barely a whisper. I noticed my dad look down at his mug and I suspected it was to hide his suddenly damp eyelashes. “Christopher…” he breathed, refusing to look at me. “I don’t want to lose you too.”
What the hell was I supposed to say to that? ‘Oh okay then, Dad. I’ll stay alive just for you.’ I knew my anger was unjustified and so I swallowed it down with a sip of coffee.
“I don’t want it either,” I admitted.
“I’m so sorry, son. I’ve missed out on so much. I don’t deserve to be a father.”
“Whoa,” I said, straightening my back in my chair. “Don’t you start the feeling sorry for yourself bullshit. Whether you deserve to be or not, you are a father. So if your next line was going to be that you’d be better off leaving Emmie to get on with her life without you, don’t you dare. Don’t you fucking dare. You’ve let us both down, Dad. It might be too late to make it up to me but you better spend every single day of the rest of your life making it up to Emily.”
“I will. I swear I will.”
I planned to just sit around until I felt composed enough to face the world again, but with every blink visions of beautiful white lines and glasses of clear liquid numbness overwhelmed my mind. So, I did the only thing that ever manages to stop me from thinking – I changed into my sweats, headed outside and ran.
I didn’t have a destination in mind. In fact, I didn’t even recognize half the streets I flew through. I just ran. I ran until my thighs began to burn and my chest started to ache. I ran until all I could focus on was my rapid breathing and my numb toes. I ran until I couldn’t remember why I was even running.
Then my cell chimed in my pocket, dragging me back to reality.
“Hey, doll,” I answered breathlessly after seeing Emily’s name illuminate the screen.
“Where are you? Chris said you came home.”
“Where are you?” I returned quizzically.
“At home. Waiting for you.”
Shit.
“I just came out for a run. I’ll make my way back now.”
“Are you okay?” she asked instead of saying goodbye. Of course, Emily is the only person that can read me like a fucking book.
“Not really,” I admitted. The truth – that’s the only way our future together would survive. “We’ll talk when I get home. Ten minutes max.”
“Ok. Don’t ever forget that I love you.” Hearing those words, my heart vibrated in my chest – reminding me why I was alive. I remember the very first time I said those words to her, and no matter how hard I pushed, she never forgot.
And neither will I.
“Ditto,” I replied, emotion clogging my throat and making coherent words impossible.
After tucking my cell back in my pocket, I doubled over and braced my hands on my knees while I dragged in a few much needed breaths. Then, straightening up, I stretched my neck from side to side and set off back to break my girls heart.
I don't usually listen to playlist for books but there was a song that was talked about throughout this book that I had never heard and it was so perfect it made me cry......
Nicola lives in Rochdale, England with her husband and four children (six if you include the dogs!) She is the author of New Adult/Contemporary romance novels Inevitable, Saving Amy and the Take My Hand series. When she is not busy playing with her imaginary book friends (or talking about them with real life friends!) she can usually be found carrying out her ordinary mum/housewife/all round slave duties. Oh, and if the kids ever ask, she moonlights as the Pink Power Ranger while they’re sleeping…
April 21
April 22
April 23
April 24
April 25
No comments:
Post a Comment