Hold On To Me (Against All Odds) Paperback – February 15, 2014

“I want that” “ I want you”Hold on to Me Book #2 in the Against All Odds series by Elisabeth NaughtonOkay I totally was into “Wait for Me” and I loved Ryan and Katie, along with Julia and of course Mitch, Simone and Shannon. So when I realized Hold on to Me was Mitch and Simone’s book I was chomping at the bit.Like all of Elisabeth’s reads, they keep you captivated. Hold on to Me was no different. This read literally grabbed your heart, breath and soul from the first chapter. Simone is coming back from a business trip in DC and has finally decided she wasn’t going to hold back with Mitch and she wanted her HEA. After a week of emotional conversation with herself she finally realized she was in love with Mitch Matthews and she was going to tell him.Now while all this is going on with Simone in her head, Mitch the steadfast bachelor, never going to be stuck in a serious relationship, would stay foot loose and fancy free and the player also had an about face. He was in love with Simone, he wanted the house (which he already had) the minivan and he wanted to be a Dad to Shannon. Mitch had the entire week to prepare for Simone’s return home. Had a romantic dinner planned, candles, music the works and he even had the engagement ring. Yes he was going to pop the question.Sounds perfect doesn’t it. It was up until Simone got the phone call from someone in her past warning her to watch herself and he was so sorry he may have given her whereabouts away. You see Simone had a past with her deceased husband Steve that could prove dangerous if not deadly. She was use to running just to keep her daughter Shannon safe. That one phone call totally destroyed any chance of happiness for Simone. She had to come up with a way to just end it with Mitch and not hurt him she needed to keep him safe and not pull him into her problems. She couldn’t tell him about her past. But when she arrived at his house everything spiraled out of control and the one thing she didn’t want to do she did. She ripped his heart out (and hers at the same time with her words) Simone blurted out in desperation “I told you I didn’t want a relationship, this was just sex and here it comes “I Don’t Love You.” Then she ran, like she always did. Leaving Mitch devastated, shocked and an empty shell. He needed to get away.When Mitch left without saying goodbye to Shannon she thought all of it was her fault, angry with her mother and just plain miserable, she loved Mitch and was becoming attached to him. Julia (Ryan and Kate’s daughter) had come up with a plan to get Mitch back and to try and get Simone and him back together. Shannon flew to where Mitch was and waited on Tate Kendrick’s front porch for them to come home. Brillant Brillant Brillant. Julia is a smart little cookie. Unfortunately the plan didn’t go as planned. They never do.This read is full of suspense, danger, intrigue. A Secret Society known as the Cyphers where some members were corrupt, and Mitch became a member his senior year in college. That’s all I’m going to say. You won’t realize you were holding your breath until you actually finish the book. There will be parts that will bring tears to your eyes. My heart stopped when Simone said those words to Mitch “I Don’t Love You”. The twist that will shock you to your toes. But one thing for certain Mitch’s family will do anything for him. I loved Ryan in this read also. Such a take charge guy. I give this read 5* and I so hope we see a book for Tate Kendrick.

Hold on To Me by Elisabeth Naughton is the second book in her Against All Odds series. I read the first book in this series, Wait for Me, which was my favorite romance suspense of 2012. I was happy when I found out that Elisabeth was going to write a sequel, and it was going to be Mitch’s story. I could not wait for Hold on to Me.The story starts with Simone, who we knew from the first book, as she was Katie’s best friend, and the woman that Mitch was falling in love with. Simone has a hidden past, one she tells no one, and which she and her daughter Shannon have been running away from. Simone finally thinks the past is behind her, and we watch her happily head home from a trip to meet Mitch. But along the way, she gets a disturbing phone call that floods the past to the forefront, and a terrified Simone rushes to pick up Shannon and run again. She runs into Mitch, who is all prepared to ask Simone to be his wife. Because she fears for her life and Shannon’s, as well as trying avoid putting Mitch in danger; Simone tells him it was a mistake, and leaves him heartbroken, as she takes Shannon and leaves.This was the very start of the book. An angry and crushed Mitch, also leaves to get away from it all, vowing to never trust a woman again. But danger follows both of them, until the only way for them to survive is for them to work with Mitch’s family, including Katie, Ryan, and Tate. The secrets that Simone must reveal, will help them try to find a possible resolution. Ryan takes control, and Mitch is sent away with Simone into hiding.Their hot chemistry together brings them back into each other’s arms, but both their stubbornness and the ensuing danger constantly seems to bring them apart again. Mitch and Simone’s romance was very steamy, and you can tell how much they love each other. Which was another reason why I wanted to take turns smacking them both at different times. In Simone’s case, she loved Mitch, and it was this belief that she saving his life. Mitch, after being hurt by Simone, took awhile to see reason; but I did feel bad when every time he would bring her back into his arms, something would happen to scare Simone again. Mitch had his own secrets, which if he had told Simone, it would have helped them all.Elisabeth does a fabulous job creating such wonderful characters, as I was very happy to see Katie, Ryan, Julia, & Tate again. All of them together was great.Hold on to Me was a great story, filled with non-stop action, excitement, danger and suspense. As I have said, it was a great romance, though I found myself being annoyed with Mitch & Simone a few times. Nevertheless, a great story and one I wholly recommend. If you have not read Wait for Me, I suggest you read that awesome book first, in order to know more about all the characters and Mitch and Simone. However, you can read Hold to Me without much trouble, even if you have not read the first book.

Have previously enjoyed repressed ,lost protected and unspeakable so thought I would try more from this author. This was a really good read , definitely not disappointed

Loved wait for me with Ryan so was interested to read on with Mitch`s tale. Had good continuity with Kate and Ryan part of the story. If you haven't read wait for me please do as it is great romance too but not necessary as a pre read. Enjoyed storyline behind their romance and glad they both got together (not a plot spoiler as it was rough ride and we know love conquers in the end don't we !!)

Always loved Mitch from the first time we met him. Simone was always a sexy smart arse that could put him in his place. Who would have thought that they were all caught up in a secret society! Loved the rollercoaster ride and you kept us in suspense until the last chapter if they were actually going to make it! Tate is a right character too ;-)

I love love love this author & enjoyed every series she's released. I stumbled across this and couldn't believe I'd missed it. It was a really quick read with a great concept, but honestly the lack of communication between the main characters just didn't let up. I didn't want to knock their heads together, I just lost interest. It was ok but I won't be raving about it.

I really enjoyed this. I had read the previous book in the series. This one wasn't quite as good but still great - good to catch up with characters from the last book too.