By:
Siobhan Davis & S.B. Alexander
Published:
Sept. 15, 2019
Source:
eARC from Social Butterfly PR in exchange for a honest review
Add to:
Goodreads
Book Synopsis:
Secretly dating Coach Parker’s daughter was never part of the plan. Neither was becoming her dealer…
ADAM
Returning to my drug-dealing past wasn’t on the agenda when I accepted the full ride to play ball at Cypress U. But Mom lost her job. And my sister’s medical bills are mounting. So, I’ve no choice but to change the playbook.
When Emily walks into my life, like a fallen goddess with the ultimate power to destroy me, I know I’m screwed. I should steer clear, but I’m the one supplying her poison of choice. Falling for her is a complication I don’t need, but the more she’s around, the harder it gets to walk away. She needs me, and I crave her more than the sport I love.
Now, it’s all on the line. Including the NFL career that’s tantalizingly close.
The stakes are high, but family means everything, so I’ll take my chances.
EMILY
It’s only a problem if it’s out of control. And I have it in hand.
Except a certain a-hole discovers I’m using again, and he threatens to rat me out to my folks. Mom’s president of Cypress U, and Dad’s the illustrious football coach. Appearances mean everything to them, and I’m a continuous disappointment. They told me I’d be out on my ass if I fell off the wagon, so keeping it a secret is my number one priority.
Until the super-hot all-star QB takes more than a passing interest in me. Adam gets me, in a way no guy ever has, filling my head with ideas of forever—and now, I want more.
Dating my dealer is a recipe for disaster, especially when it’s forbidden, but I can’t help myself.
Because I’ve fallen too deep.
And the hole is too large to crawl out of.
My Thoughts:
Adam is the star quarterback for Cypress University, which he attends on a full football scholarship. He hopes to make it to the NFL one day and the only thing more important to him than football is his mother and younger sister Phoebe. His sister suffers from cystic fibrosis and when she gets seriously ill and is hospitalized, he learns that it's because her vest broke and his mother can't afford to repair it; due to the loss of her job. He decides to sell drugs in order to be able to help his mother pay to fix the vest, as well as Phoebe's extremely expensive medical bills that are continuously piling up.
Emily is addicted to the drug Molly, (a form of Ecstasy). She uses it to escape her past as well as present bleak reality. She officially meets Adam when she is trying to score Molly with her friends. In the meantime, Emily is being blackmailed by Weston, who is trying to force her in to sexual situations, and what he is holding over her head is pretty bad. When Adam tries to save her from Weston's forceful advances at a frat party, these two have instant attraction and chemistry. This is the beginning of them falling for one another, but both have the odds stacked against them. Will Adam destroy his future by dealing? Will Emily be able stop Weston and beat her drug addiction? Can love win when the odds are stacked against the both of them?
I enjoy angst filled romance with lots of twists! There wasn't a dull moment in Holding on to Forever, and I loved how unpredictable the plot was, and how it completely held my attention from the very beginning, until the very end. I enjoy the fact that the authors gave us a dual narrative, so that we could see the internal as well as external struggles going on with Adam and Emily.
We got three horrible villains, a great supporting cast of secondary characters, and two main characters that I was rooting for, even though I didn't foresee any way that they could possibly get out of the messes that they were in. If you enjoy a fast paced, angst filled, and dramatic romance, check out Holding on to Forever!
Book Teasers:
Book Excerpt:
I’m half-tempted to call Donnie to make sure he gave me the correct address when headlights brighten the narrow alleyway. The SUV is crawling toward me, and my nerves are jacked. I shouldn’t be doing this. I should find a decent part-time job to pay for my sister’s medical expenses, but I see no other way. We have to get her vest fixed or buy a new one. Selling drugs is the only way to make some quick cash. Besides, I’m good at it. I sold dope and pills for years, and I’d never been arrested. I always had my pulse on the neighborhoods, and I knew where cops loitered at night.
You’ve been out too long. Things might have changed, and you’re in a new state.
I push my inner thoughts aside. None of that matters. I’m always alert. I always know what’s around me, and as Mom tells me, I’m perceptive as hell. I have to be. Taking care of Mom and Phoebe—especially Phoebe—I have to be alert to her sounds, her breathing, and her emotions.
Thinking of my sister sends pain slicing through my chest. I can’t let anything happen to her. She spent two days in the hospital, where the doctor pumped her with antibiotics, until she started feeling better.
The SUV pulls to a stop, and a short stocky guy gets out of the front passenger seat brandishing a gun. The driver, a taller man than his compadre, follows.
I lift my hands as if a cop is arresting me. “I’m unarmed.”
Aiming the gun at my head, he stalks toward me. His dark eyes are hard, his mission resolute. “Move and you’re dead.” His deep voice is lethal.
An all too familiar wave washes over me, and I’m tempted to back out of this stupid idea to sell drugs and run before he pulls the trigger. I’m not any good dead to Mom and Phoebe. But I know his words are just a scare tactic while he frisks me.
I stand statue-still while the second dude, sporting a thin beard and no mustache, pats my sides, my lower back, down my legs, and straight down to my ankles. He sticks one finger in the air. “All clear.”
The stocky dude lowers his gun, and, inwardly, I grin. The goon didn’t find the blade in my boot. I’m not about to use it though. But I don’t walk into situations like these unarmed. Still, I make a mental note of the type of men I’m dealing with.
A tall man climbs out of the back seat. He’s sporting baggy jeans and a New York Yankees ball cap, and the gold bling around his neck probably weighs ten pounds as it glints off the dim light on the side of the car repair shop.
It’s all I can do not to roll my eyes. Donnie doesn’t show off like this dude. Donnie’s motto is blend in with the crowd. Standing out only draws attention.
“You must be Wrangler. I’m Ray Diaz.” Ray struts over to the metal garage door. “You understand I have to be careful.” He punches a code in on the keypad tacked to the frame of the door. Within a second, it opens.
I tuck my hands in my jean pockets. “I’m well aware of the industry.”
A deep chuckle erupts from Ray. “I heard. Donnie told me you were a cocky punk too.”
It’s my turn to laugh. “When I need to be.”
Watch the Trailer: https://smarturl.it/HoldingOntoForeverTR
About Siobhan:
USA Today bestselling author Siobhan Davis writes emotionally intense young adult and new adult romantic fiction with swoon-worthy romance, complex characters, and tons of unexpected plot twists and turns that will have you flipping the pages beyond bedtime! She is the author of the international bestselling Kennedy Boys, Saven, and True Calling series’. Siobhan’s family will tell you she’s a little bit obsessive when it comes to reading and writing, and they aren’t wrong. She can rarely be found without her trusty Kindle, a paperback book, or her laptop somewhere close at hand.
Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Siobhan forged a successful corporate career in human resource management.
She resides in the Garden County of Ireland with her husband and two sons.
About SB:
I'm Susan Alexander, and you'll find my books under S.B. Alexander. I'm an independent author with close to 20 titles to date. I write young adult and new adult romances that span the sub-categories of coming of age, sports, paranormal, suspense, and military fiction. My stories are emotional, angsty, and character driven.
In between writing, I spend time with my soul mate of 21 years who got a bad deal in life. Four years ago he was diagnosed with ALS. It's a horrible disease, but we both have been making the best of life, laughing, smiling, and doing what we can together.
But writing is a great outlet for me to take my mind to another place. Plus, I have a great network of family, friends, fans, and so much more. I truly have an angel on my shoulder. My mantra is make the best of life because it's too darn short.
I love to hear from readers and fans. Drop me a line by filling out the contact form on my website or you can email me at susan@sbalexander.com or stalk me on social media.
I've seen this around but I didn't think I'd like it. I may have to rethink that :) Great review
ReplyDeleteThanks Debbie!
DeleteThis sounds like a tough one at times but still a good an addictive story. Glad you enjoyed it and great review!
ReplyDeleteThanks Teresa :)
Deleteoooo three villains. i love that. thanks for sharing the great review
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
Yes! I love a good villain! Thanks Sherry :)
DeleteWow, they really went there with the tarnished hero and heroine. I've been meaning to try Davis' books and each release and your reviews remind me to get on that. :)
ReplyDeleteI've really enjoyed her books! I hope you get the chance to check out her books :)
DeleteI always like books like that!
ReplyDeleteYou should check it out Melliane :)
DeleteI don't mind angst and drama in books if it is done well and isn't too excessive. It sounds like this had a nice balance to it. Great review!
ReplyDeleteI'm usually not a fan of a lot of angst and drama, but I have made exceptions. I'm not a fan of stories where the character(s) are on a downward, destructive spiral and I don't like it when they're drug users so I don't know if this story would work for me. Glad to hear you enjoyed it, Lindy.
ReplyDeleteBased on the description, I would have not picked out the story, but I really have enjoyed this authors books, and I ended up enjoying it :)
DeleteI don't know Lindy... Better you than me. The drug storyline doesn't sound like it can end happily. The statistics on how many times you have to go to rehab before it sticks is high, really high. I'm not sure I could believe it. BUT it does raise the stakes extremely high paired with him being the drug dealer!! I'm glad you enjoyed it ❤️❤️
ReplyDelete