Customer Reviews

Too Hot to Hold: (Navy Seals, Book 2)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is the second book in Stephanie Tyler's Navy Seals series about 3 brothers.

Too Hot To Hold is Nick's story......I think?

I was looking forward to this book after reading Hard To Hold. Nick's story seemed liked it was going to be very interesting after he appeared in book 1. In fact one of the things that appealed to me about this series was the relationship and camaraderie between the three brothers. I just wish there had been more of it.

This book was supposed to be Nick's story as I stated earlier, but he had to share center stage with Clutch and Sarah's story (who also appear in Hard to Hold), and third brother Chris and Jamie's story (he's supposed to star in book 3 Hold on Tight). Now don't get me wrong, I think secondary characters and their storylines are an integral part of a novel, but in this book they almost had equal billing and quite simply I wanted more of Nick and Kaylee's story.

Nick and Kaylee seemed like they could have been soul mates. Both were in trouble with the law during their youth for their car-stealing abilities and adeptness at hot-wiring cars. Both had major family issues with Nick choosing to leave/disown his own family at 14 and Kaylee being abandoned by her mother at 9. And both are keeping huge secrets.

Kalyee is a journalist who's on the hunt for the truth about her supposedly dead ex-husband Adam. Who knew a dead man could make phone calls? And he's been calling Kaylee or has he? Kaylee contacts Nick from a list left to her by her Ex as one of the last people to see Adam alive to try and help her uncover the truth.

Together they embark on a journey to Africa which was Adam's last know location. They discover they've been setup and are now in grave danger and on the run as attempts are made on their lives. With Clutch and Sarah in tow, they try to stop a top secret plot to eradicate a group of government sanctioned mercenaries code name GOST of which Clutch is a member.

Despite the secrets Nick and Kaylee are keeping from one another, they have no problem in the having sex department (including in his Porsche and the wet African outdoors).

These two seemed to fall fast and fall hard for each other and frankly I just couldn't buy into it. Nick had barely been able to maintain a relationship in his past for more than a few hours with other women; had never spend an entire night when he did have sex with someone and could barely stand to be touched. Considering the minimal amount of time he spent with Kaylee I just didn't believe he could be in love with her.

I will read the third book in the series, Chris' story, but this one left me wanting more.

When I finished reading "Hard To Hold", the first book in Stephanie Tyler's "Hard To Hold" trilogy, I e-mailed her and commented that "Nick Devane" (the hero of "Too Hot To Hold) seemed to be a very mysterious and conflicted character. Stephanie responded, "yes, his history is complicated". I'll say! However, Nick's complex, "secret" history is what makes his character so enticing and intriguing. Nick, is a tough, totally Alpha highly decorated Navy SEAL, but he is also emotionally vulnerable because of a history of childhood neglect and essentially indifference at the hands of his biological high profile family. As mentioned in my review of "Hard To Hold", Nick was adopted by the Waldron's at the age of 14, this aspect of his life is fleshed out in "Too Hot To Hold". I won't say too much more, because it will spoil the story, but from my perspective Stephanie Tyler created an absolutely fascinating character in Nick Devane, why? He thrives on danger, speed (he drives a hot black Porsche) and sex with fast women. Nick functions optimally when on a mission, working with his team, he is focused and lethal, intent on completing their assignment.

Kaylee Smith was abandoned by her mother at a young age and raised by a grandmother who disapproved of her. She therefore, battles her own emotional demons but is also tough, street wise and like a dog with a bone when it comes to her job as an investigative reporter. Kaylee writes under a pseudonym and is well known for her tough "no holds barred" journalism. Kaylee believed her ex-husband "Aaron", a military man was killed in action until she receives a mysterious phone call from him requesting her assistance. Aaron pleads with her to come to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with ransom money. Aaron left Kaylee a list of names of military men along with a bank book in a safety deposit box -- the list leads her to Nick.

A major event in Nick's life results in a chain reaction of events. His past comes back to haunt him and despite his covert status with the military, Kaylee Smith finds him and requests his help, and the FBI wants to talk to him.... But about what??

Meanwhile, Chris Waldron, Nick's adopted sibling and teammate hurries home following completion of a mission when he discovers Nick's past is about to catch up with him. Stephanie Tyler develops Chris's character significantly in this book and lays the groundwork for his story to be published later this month. Chris covers for his brother when female FBI agent "Jamie" comes sniffing around the guys house. Chris is a Cajun and has psychic abilities, he drips charisma, charm, and, like his brothers, is dangerous and lethal.

Nick eventually agrees to help Kaylee which requires them to travel to the dangerous and treacherous DRC to help Aaron. Little do they know, they are being manipulated. The plot of this story is fasted paced and thrilling and I think Ms. Tyler incorporates an interesting paradox into the hot, intense romance that develops between Nick and Kaylee. Readers are also treated to a resolution of "Sarah" and "Clutch's" story as part what are intersecting subplots in the narrative of this book. The climax of "Too Hot To Hold", is IMHO, emotional, suspenseful and edge of seat exciting.

Ms. Tyler gives enough background information that I think a reader could enjoy "Too Hot To Hold" without reading "Hard To Hold", first. However, I think it would be far better, to read the "Hard To Hold" trilogy in sequence if you would like to give the series a try.

Great book to read! Fast-paced, great action. Characters are strong and independent. Both Nick and Kaylee have had a bad childhood which makes it hard for them to get attached to others. Kaylee reaches out to Nick to help her with her supposed dead ex-husband. They both go to Africa to deal with her ex-husband's past. Even though Nick wants no involvement with Kaylee, he has a hard time fighting off his attraction and bond with her. You will also get to see the beginning relationship of Jamie and Chris which will have their own book after this book.

Stephanie Tyler's sexy Navy SEAL trilogy continues to amaze with Book #2, TOO HOT TO HOLD from Bantam Dell (Jan. 2010). Gutsy undercover reporter, Kaylee Smith never dreamed she'd have to investigate her ex-husband, Aaron's death since she was told by the military he'd been killed on a mission in Africa years earlier. However, when she receives a phone call from Aaron asking for her help and to bring the money he left her to Africa, she's forced to contact Navy SEAL, Nick Devane, whose life Aaron saved on the same mission. Although Nick agrees to meet with Kaylee and admits that Aaron saved his life and was alive when he last saw him, he wants nothing to do with her because he doesn't like anyone digging into his past. Nick also doesn't want to get involved with Kaylee since he only has sex not relationships with the women he's attracted to. Kaylee proves more than bad boy, Nick's match when she hotwires his Porsche to further get his attention. Like a moth to the flame, Nick pays a late night visit to Kaylee's apartment where they can't keep their hands off each other. Kaylee is intrigued with Nick's tracheotomy scar not realizing it's from his terrible childhood and a prominent family Nick never wants to return to. When Nick was only fourteen he declared his emancipation from his dysfunctional family and went to live with his friend, Chris Waldron's family, who had also taken in troubled teen, Jake Hansen. Jake joined the military as an under aged teen first. Then Nick and Chris were eventually given a choice of jail or military service and they all worked hard to become Navy SEALs. When Nick goes to see Kaylee a second time he rescues her from FBI agents, who try to force her by gunpoint to go with them. Nick takes Kaylee home with him and his brother, Chris helps them make their escape to Africa. Will they find Aaron alive in the war torn Congo? What will happen to Nick and Kaylee's budding relationship when Nick finds out Kaylee's true identity and that she knows about Nick's biological family? Stephanie Tyler's TOO HOT TO HOLD is the quintessential military romantic suspense with plenty of action-packed suspense, passionate love-making, a feisty heroine and a hero to die for! Plus there's a terrific secondary romance which has been continued from Book #1, HARD TO HOLD (Dec. 2009). Readers will be greatly anticipating the next thrilling installment, HOLD ON TIGHT, about Chris and FBI agent, Jamie coming Feb. 2010.

Several years ago the U.S. Navy informed investigative reporter Kaylee Smith that her husband Aaron died while on a mission in Africa. She moved on, but now Aaron calls her from Africa and asks her to bring money with her. She looks at a list of contacts he left her consisting of people he saved. On the bottom is Navy SEAL Nick Devane, whom Aaron saved during the fatal mission that allegedly left him dead.

Nick wants to ignore Kaylee's call, but knows he cannot. When they meet he admits her spouse saved his life, but that the last time he saw Aaron he was alive and well. Both detest their mutual attraction and he wants her to stoop digging especially into his affluent childhood, but the scar on his throat reveals plenty to her. As a young teen Nick walked out of his dysfunctional family to move in with the family of his friend Chris Walden and another troubled teen Jake Hanson (see Hard to Hold) who also joined them; the friends became SEALs. When the FBI intervenes, Nick with Chris' help flees with Kaylee for Africa not knowing what to expect in the Congo; the last thing being love.

This is a super middle book that maintains the suspense that makes Hard to Hold a great thriller. The story line is fast-paced from the moment Kaylee receives the stress call from the "dead" and only gets faster and hotter when she hotwires his Porsche until his car becomes ours that is if they survive the African ordeal. Fans need to Hold on Tight as Chris is next.

Harriet Klausner

I am so glad NICK DEVANE has arrived! The author has put together a group of characters that lends itself to plots and subplots and an interesting storyline that takes the reader between various countries. Great to see Clutch and Sara again. I loved the fact that along with the main story my brain was waiting to read what the lesser characters in this book were doing and yet it was done so well.....not in the normal way that some authors write in making the leads so overpowering that the lesser protagonists are nearly missed.

Ms Tyler does an admirable job of keeping it all tight and neat with interest ever increasing in wondering what will happen next. CHRIS WALDRON is next and that book is one I cannot wait to read. Research was well done and visualisation of the various settings was easy. Thank you for a fabulous book!

I had high hopes for this book, but it is a very difficult read.

Stephanie Tyler's first book in the series - though flawed - showed promise, and I was looking forward to book two.

I did read that this was the hardest book in the series to write, and it does seem like the author wrote herself into a corner. The story became messier and messier and all of a sudden it couldn't be fixed.

There is just too much going on in this book - too many subplots that aren't particularly interesting. I was having a hard time maintaining my interest through all the side stories, though I really, really wanted to get to the end. The structural problems that held the story back in the first book are even worse here. Ms Tyler seems to find certain characters and plots fascinating, while the parts I really enjoy (the interaction between the `brothers', for example) are well and truly in the background.

Cindy Gerard's To The Brink was an excellent example of military romantic suspense where the focus could shift both from one couple to another and between past and present. It seems Ms Tyler was aiming for something similar here, but she does not have the prowess to pull it off.

I was also not much of a fan of either of the lead characters (though calling them leads is a bit generous, as they are fighting for page space with all the others). Flawed characters are interesting, but here the flaws felt forced.

I have already ordered book three, and intend to read it, but I am not getting my hopes up. I am disappointed, as I was really looking forward to this series.

Others (including the publisher) have summarized the plot, so I won't belabor it, but I did want to write a review as I gave the first book of the series only a 3 star. It had an interesting premise, but the lack of correctness with regard to the military details were just too distracting. On the other hand, the story and writing had promise, not to mention a main character with two hot brothers that needed to find their happy too.

As others have commented, there is a lot more going on here than just the story between the main male/female. I felt the author did this very well--there was much more going on behind the scenes for the main two, and she was able to show it off well. Was it too much? I don't think so, I thought the balance was very well done and kept the interest levels high.

I still found some of the military details grating, but it was a little less obvious and I was able to enjoy the story much more than the previous--definitely this book is living up to what I had hoped for after reading the first. I'm very glad I stuck with the series, and found myself looking forward to the third book of the series--including both major and minor characters.

Definitely recommended and 4 stars now. If you aren't the sort to be bothered by the military details, then a 4.5.

JTG

Nick Devane. Navy SEAL. Bad boy. Secretive. And he likes it that way. When the ex-wife of the one man he owes a favor to shows up out of the blue and wants answers, Nick's entire psyche goes on red alert. There are things in his past that he never wants revealed, but Kaylee Smith, the woman in question, is a journalist and just her presence in his life threatens to blow up right in his face.

Kaylee Smith knows that something big has happened to her ex-husband. She has never felt he was actually dead and she knows without a doubt that sexy SEAL Nick Devane has some of the answers she needs. What she uncovers with her research, however, shows her exactly what type of danger Nick deals with on a daily basis. Her attraction to this tightly controlled man is undeniable. Now if they can only live long enough to see their passions ignite.

Stephanie Tyler upped the ante on Too Hot to Hold. Nick was already my established favorite since meeting him in Hard to Hold, the first installment of this series. Nick's secrets are his alone and his trust level is nil, except Kaylee slowly shows him exactly what love means. It comes with no guarantees but it does come with a price - he has to care for her just as much. With danger on their trail and love in the air, these two wonderful characters just clicked.

Stephanie Tyler's Too Hot to Hold is definitely scorching hot. Bad guys, missions, secrets, love, passion - there is nothing about this `hawt' book I didn't like.

Talia
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Journalist & widow of missing & presumed-dead military man asks Navy-SEAL Hero for help in finding her supposedly deceased husband who just phoned her. They give in to their instant attraction right away but Hero makes clear that he's not into emotional commitment while heroine doesn't divulge her journalist ID.

I'm not sure if this is how Tyler typically writes but it wasn't heavy on emotions. The writing & dialogue was very matter-of-fact & emotionally dry. I didn't connect with the main Hero & heroine nor the other 2 couples in this book. There was sexual chemistry & descriptive love scenes with all 3 couples but it didn't engage me at all. It was hard to get through this book since it was too distancing. I started skipping pages towards the end just to get it over with & see if the main characters display more of an emotional connection towards the end. Well, there were the typical "I love you"s in the very last few pages but done too nonchalantly.

Not recommended for the romance but might like the action scenes.