Customer Reviews

Hold on Tight (Hard to Hold Trilogy, Book 3)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Chris's story is the finale of Stephanie Tyler's "Hard To Hold" trilogy and I loved this book and the trilogy so much I was sorry when it ended. I have to admit to being a little bias about this novel because I had a thing for Chris Waldron right from the beginning when he was introduced in "Hard To Hold". As his character was developed and integrated into the plot of "Too Hot To Hold", I new he would likely become my favorite. There is the fact certainly that I am attracted to heroes with a New Orleans drawl, but there is far more to Chief Petty Officer Chris Waldron then just an accent. He is the SEAL team's sniper and therefore focused and lethal, however he is also their medic, is sensitive and very intuitive, he in fact has a psychic gift. Chris is like a force of nature, he ia driven, charismatic and has a special way with women, a "magic touch" as it were, likely related to his `gift' which he never really wanted or appreciated.

FBI Agent Jamie Michaels is a complex heroine, raised in witness protection under the US Marshal's jurisdiction she built a thick wall around herself, sharing the secrets of her family with no one. Jamie met Chris as part of a romance/suspense subplot in "Too Hot To Hold", and their sexual chemistry and attraction was instantaneous and undeniable. In a downed plane, surrounded by danger and under the worst of circumstances they became intimate. Chris wanted to be with Jamie, but she wasn't ready to make any sort of commitment so at the end of the day, she let him walk away.

As the synopsis of "Hold On Tight" indicates Chris and Jamie are thrown back together following the dismal failure of a high stakes mission in Africa. Chris and other SEAL teammates were part of a Joint Task Force, the leader of the mission, an FBI agent `Josiah' is killed during a chaotic riot outside an embassy. In addition, Chris's friend and teammate Mark is tortured and killed by the rebels. It was a horrific mission marked by tragedy and loss as only Chris and one other SEAL escape. Chris wakes up in a military hospital in Africa wounded both physically and emotionally.

Jamie Michaels is the FBI Agent assigned to investigate the circumstances surrounding Josiah's death. Following an initial investigation into what happened Chris is suspected of killing Josiah for a variety of reasons. It is under these unfortunate and unlikely circumstances that Chris Waldron and Jamie Michaels are forced back together and while she particularly is reluctant to get involved with him again, neither can deny their feelings, or attraction.

Upon their return to the United States, Jamie's past comes back to haunt her, there is a break in at her home. Then Chris, against best advice arrives on her doorstep and shares some shocking personal news that will either help to bind them together or push them apart. The love scenes between Jamie and Chris are erotic, special and amplified by ever present danger. I have to comment that Chris Waldron has the best medicine for migraine relief on the planet. *g*

As the investigation into the failed mission in Africa comes to a close, the threat against Jamie escalates resulting in a life and death situation that requires Chris, Jake, Nick and their commander John "Saint" St. James" to work together to protect and save her and her sister Patricia Jean or "PJ". The plot of this story is extremely fast paced, complex and full of twists and turns.

I really liked Saint, as with Jake, Nick and Chris, he is career military and a "tortured" hero. Saint meets PJ on the beach outside his home and their relationship quickly turns from adversarial to lovers. PJ's story is a complicated one and both she and Saint help each other to `feel' again.

There are some particularly heartbreaking scenes in "Hold On Tight", and I was moved to tears on more than one occasion. Chris is suffering from significant PTSD because of what happened during that last mission in Africa, he has a secret and he is keeping it close. As a result, he hasn't been able to fire his weapon since returning from Africa. During a tense, frightening climax to this story involving a deranged psychopathic killer and a hostage standoff he is faced with having to use his exceptional skill as a Navy SEAL sniper or lose someone that has become very important in his life.

If you enjoy military suspense stories involving tough, focused and exceptionally strong Navy SEAL's that are thwart with danger, intrigue, packed with action and sensuality, you may like to give Stephanie Tyler's "Hard To Hold" trilogy a try. I do think it is important to read the books in order.

HOLD ON TIGHT is the enthralling conclusion to Stephanie Tyler's Navy SEAL trilogy for Bantam Dell (Feb. 2010). In Djibouti, Africa, Navy SEAL/expert sniper, Chris Waldron has been hospitalized when he's injured from a mission gone bad. The Joint Task Force team is all killed except for Chris and Delta Force, Cameron Moore while rescuing a U.S. ambassador, his movie star wife and two kids from a hostile takeover of an embassy. Unfortunately Chris was knocked unconscious and doesn't have total recall of the event that killed one of his best SEAL friends, Mark Kendall and FBI agent, Josiah Miller. The FBI sends Special Agent, Jamie Michaels to the hospital to question both Chris, whom she has a past involvement with, and Cam. Their stories seem to agree of Josiah, the leader of the mission, ordering them not to go into the building but Mark disobeying the order first and then the rest of them following him. Jamie has to act all business with Chris during her initial interview with him due to his CO being present. However, later that night Chris secretly sneaks out of the hospital and visits Jamie in her nearby hotel room. Jamie and Chris' chemistry is just as hot as when they initially had sex in a downed plane on a mission two months ago, except this time Chris remembers to use protection. They both think they have a chance to pursue their relationship when they return to the U.S. However, Jamie has a dark past and was recently involved with her FBI partner, who was killed and Chris has had trouble breaking ties with his childhood sweetheart, who is now a famous actress. Shortly after, Jamie gets a phone call from her superiors letting her know that Josiah wasn't killed from an explosion but from a bullet between the eyes which makes Chris the primary suspect! Upon his return home, Chris first reports to the JAG office but then goes to visit Jamie, who suspects an intruder has been in her home. Chris takes after his Cajun father, who has second sight and his gypsy mother, who also had special gifts and died of cancer when Chris was a teenager. His parents raised not only Chris but also his friends, Jake Hansen and Nick Devane, who were troubled teens with bad childhoods, all joined the Navy SEALs and still share their family home in Virginia. To further add to their problems someone is after Jamie. Can Jamie and Chris figure out what really happened on Chris' mission to get him out of trouble and perhaps clear the way for them becoming a family? Stephanie Tyler not only delivers her signature passion but really ratchets up the suspense in the fantastic HOLD ON TIGHT with another hot double love story. Romance fans will not only want to hold onto this book for their keepers shelves but also its two predecessors: HARD TO HOLD (Jake's story/Dec. 2009) and TOO HOT TO HOLD (Nick's story/Jan. 2010). Plus the anticipation will be great for more terrific military romantic suspenses from Ms. Tyler coming fall 2010 with LIE TO ME (Cam's story) and PROMISES IN THE DARK (Zane's story).

The Joint Task Force mission rescued the U.S. ambassador and his family from a hostile takeover of an embassy in Djibouti, Africa but left team members Navy SEAL Mark Kendall and FBI agent Josiah Miller dead in an explosion. Navy SEAL Chris Waldron and Delta Force operative Cameron Moore survived.

FBI Special Agent Jamie Michaels questions Chris, who has some memory lapses from the moment of the explosion, and Cam to tell what went wrong. Chris and Cam separately insist leader Josiah ordered them not to enter the embassy, but Mark disobeyed the command. Later that night Chris sneaks out of the hospital to spend time with Chris alone as both remember the heat from their last mission together two months ago. Each wonders where their relationship will go as both have ghosts from their past haunting them. However, her boss informs her that Josiah did not die from the explosion as first thought. Instead he was murdered from a bullet between his eyes; a bullet that super sniper Chris could have fired using a war scenario as fog to cover up the crime. He is the only suspect. When someone breaks into her home, Chris vows to uncover the truth and keep his woman safe.

The third SEAL romantic suspense (see Jake Hansen in Hard to Hold and Nick Devane in Too Hot to Hold) is a terrific investigative tale as the hero is the prime murder suspect and the woman who loves him is the Fed assigned to prove he committed the homicide. With a second romance enhancing the exhilarating story line, fans will want to hold on as Stephanie Tyler completes her best friends' SEALS trilogy with a rousing roller coaster finish.

Harriet Klausner

Chris Waldron is being investigated for a mission that ended tragically. Jamie Michaels is the FBI agent assigned to the case.Hold on Tight is an excellent ending to this new trilogy by Stephanie Tyler. Chris was everything I hoped and just as readers remember him from the previous novels. For those that have read Too Hot to Hold, you will remember Jamie as the FBI agent that was looking for her sister. Jamie has secrets and is afraid to tell Chris for fear he will be in danger. Chris has to accept the psychic gift inherited from his cajun parents. This book had me flipping pages anxiously. Chris was just the perfect guy. Who wouldnt love a singing midwife that also happens to be a navy seal.LOL. Nick and Jake, of course, are on the scene to help their adopted brother and protect the woman he has given his heart to. I like that in this book Tyler brings back the focus on the romance and the two characters working around having a relationship and maintaining their professional careers.

There is also a side romance between secondary characters that has some hot scenes but doesnt take away from the romance with Chris and Jamie. This was such an enjoyable read and I cant wait for the next seal books from this author thanks to the sneak peek at the end of Hold on tight

This is the 3rd book in the series and I LOVED it just as much as I loved the first two! I love the characters and their stories. I also enjoyed how the three books mixed together and how the characters where involved in some way from start (book 1) to finish (book 3). These are books that I'm excited to keep and read again later. The stories are HOT and exciting!! I would read the first two books so then you have more of an understand about what is going on.

I gave book one a 3 star rating, book 2 two a 4 star, and now book 3 gets the 5 star rating. At this point (at the risk of being repetitive from my other reviews) my biggest beef with the series has been the accuracy of some of the military details (after reading the first one I mentioned the whole 'don't call a Marine a soldier' problem and got treated to the 'difference between cussing like a Sailor and cussing like a Marine'. So my grade, 4.5 and rounding up.

I agree with another reviewer, Chris was the most interesting brother to me, and I was really looking forward to reading his story. I was glad to find out more about his extra 'gifts', and watching him work through the trauma of his last mission as well as working through his relationship with Jamie was a real treat. The tension was high, and the pace exciting, and once again, the supporting cast intriguing. Getting more on Saint was excellent--in fact, the more compelling the minor characters are, the more I tend to enjoy the full story and Saint was great!

I think this author very much improved from book 1 to now book 3. The best part is that now she has a new trilogy (using an even more minor character) that looks just as good if not better.

Excellent and most recommended!

JTG

Stephanie Tyler does it again......all three of her books in this series are great.

Navy SEAL Chris Waldron has gained consciousness in a military hospital after a dangerous mission resulted in the deaths of most of his team. Chris' heart is heavy, especially since he is able to `feel' certain things before they happen. When he hears HER voice in the hallway, Chris knows that his luck isn't getting any better because he knows without a doubt that Jamie Michaels, his ex-lover, is not at the hospital to bring him flowers. She is here to investigate the prime suspect of the failed mission - him.

Hold on Tight is exactly the book I needed for Chris to have. My favorite of Stephanie Tyler's SEALS, Chris is all man - he is unapologetic, often stubborn, and seriously smoking hot. His feelings for Jamie are honest and true, yet he is scared. And so is Jamie. She loves Chris, but also doesn't think he can handle what she feels for him.

Communication and trust are key factors in Hold on Tight. Jamie and Chris' lives depend on it. Kudos to Stephanie Tyler for a realistic, intense, and rocking love story! I couldn't put it down and can't wait to read more from this talented author.

Talia Ricci
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Loved this book! I found it to be the best of the 3. Now I can't wait for more books by Stephanie Tyler!

Hold on Tight is the 3rd book and the conclusion to Stephanie Tyler's Navy Seals trilogy featuring three brothers who are bonded together not by blood, but are family none the less.

This series for me was an OK read. Not so great that I raved about them, and not so bad that I couldn't finish them and read the next one. I love stories featuring hot, alpha, navy seals and some of the best books in the genre have been written by Suzanne Brockmann, Christy Reece and Cindy Gerard and Tyler's books fall just a little short of that mark for me.

If you read the books in order(and I suggest you do), then Chris and Jaime are already familiar characters as they are featured quite prominently in a suspense/romantic subplot in book 2, Too Hot To Hold.

In Hold On Tight, Chris Waldron is being investigated for his actions during a mission in Africa that resulted in a tragic end when an FBI agent assisting the mission is killed along with one of Chris's good buddies and teammate Mark, who is captured, tortured and killed by rebels.

Special FBI agent Jamie Michaels just happens to be assigned to investigate the tragedy, bringing her right smack dab back into the centre of Chris's life. As mentioned above, they have a past including some wild sex in a downed plane in Africa, but it's been a few months since they've had any contact.

Jamie is keeping a major secret from Chris, but as learned in previous books, Chris has a special gift, so it doesn't take him long to unravel her secret. In fact she's got a lot of skeletons in her closet.

Jamie and Chris had quite a hot and heavy romance in book 2, so part of my problem with their relationship in Hold On Tight was that Jamie was such a hard-ass when it came to believing Chris and his side of the story. He's having a hard time remembering exactly what happened due to some injuries he sustained during the Fubar mission. Jamie's excuse is that she's just doing her job and wants to keep things professional, but that excuse went right out the window the minute she slept with him before they even left Africa to return to the United States to start the investigation. I just didn't comprehend her actions and felt she should have recused herself from the case right from the start.

I found the love story between the secondary characters PJ (Jamie's older sister) and Saint to be far more interesting. It had more bite and grit and was down and out dirty.

With all that being said, there was lots of action and suspense and intrigue; things got blown up and people got shot at and lives were in danger.

Nick and Jake make appearances as do their girlfriends and once again one of the highlights for me was the banter and interaction between the three brothers.

Of the 3 books in the series, this was probably my favourite. Will I pick up Cam's story Lie With Me when it comes out? Yes I probably will.