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Hold On Tight (Returning Home) Paperback – May 18, 2020

by Serena Bell (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,106 ratings
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A military hero with scars. The son he never knew he had. And the woman he could never forget.

Mira Shipley is far from home, raising her son on her own—and the babysitter has just quit. Then salvation appears, in the messiest—and hottest—form possible: Sam’s real dad, who’s an Army Ranger. Jake Taylor was Mira’s first love—her first everything—and she always vowed that if she ever saw Jake again, she’d tell him he had a son. But she wasn’t expecting him to be so wounded and angry. Part of her wants to walk away—but she knows she needs to be patient with him.

That was before he volunteered for childcare duty.

Now they’re under one roof together. There’s no way to keep this alpha warrior at a distance. No way to protect her own heart, or her son’s. No way to deny the wild chemistry between them. It’s a recipe for the deepest intimacy of her life. The most intense connection she’s ever known. And maybe, if she and Jake can both overcome their fears, a recipe for…family.

“One of the best books I've read so far this year.” —Bette, Goodreads

“LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.” —Denise, Goodreads

“Sweet, sexy and real . . . In Hold On Tight, Serena Bell has written a beautiful story about a wounded soldier and the woman strong enough to love him.”—USA Today Bestselling Author Jessica Scott

“Hold On Tight gave me all the feels. I love that it’s about healing, finding something to fight for, learning to go after what you want and that love is never a bad thing. … “—The Book Dutchesses

“I was completely swept away with the characters, story and the writing.”—Twin Spin

“The authenticity of their story is resounding. This isn't a story of instant love, but of an uphill battle and determination, of making decisions, and of living in the here and now.”—Heroes and Heartbreakers

“Hold On Tight is one of those romance stories that warms you right through to your very soul.”—Nicci's Book Blog

“Bravo to Serena Bell for some truly astounding character work in this book!”—Smitten with Reading

“This contemporary second-chance romance is Bell's best written book yet. It deals with the horror of war beautifully and with great care, weaving it into a great love story, and many, many swoons.”—The Book Hammock

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  1. Book 1 of 4
    Returning Home
  2. Print length
    320 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    May 18, 2020
  5. Dimensions
    5.25 x 0.8 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1732894884
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1732894884
  8. See all details
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All the Little Raindrops: A Novel
"All the Little Raindrops: A Novel" by Mia Sheridan for $10.39
The chilling story of the abduction of two teenagers, their escape, and the dark secrets that, years later, bring them back to the scene of the crime. | Learn more

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Serena Bell Books (May 18, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1732894884
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1732894884
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.8 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,106 ratings

About the author

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Serena Bell

Serena Bell

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USA Today bestselling author Serena Bell writes contemporary romance with heat, heart, and humor. A former journalist, Serena has always believed that everyone has an amazing story to tell if you listen carefully, and you can often find her scribbling in her tiny garret office, mainlining chocolate and bringing to life the tales in her head.

Serena’s books have earned many honors, including a RITA finalist spot, an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, Apple Books Best Book of the Month, and Amazon Best Book of the Year for Romance.

When not writing, Serena loves to spend time with her college-sweetheart husband and two hilarious kiddos—all of whom are incredibly tolerant not just of Serena’s imaginary friends but also of how often she changes her hobbies and how passionately she embraces the new ones. These days, it’s stand-up paddle boarding, board-gaming, meditation, and long walks with good friends.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
1,106 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the storyline sweet, quiet, and real with not too much angst. They also describe the reading experience as great and the writing style as excellent. Readers also mention the characters as believable.

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StorylineReading experienceWriting styleCharacters
23 customers mention "Storyline"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the storyline sweet, heart rendering, and lovely. They also say the plot is written exceptionally well, and the story is very real.

"A beautiful, moving, emotional book. Reading the book description, I thought this would be an ordinary book and almost didn't give it a chance...." Read more

"...I *got* them. I loved their vividly portrayed powerful attraction toward each other, and loved that this didn't solve / resolve anything; they..." Read more

"...is arduous and anything but a forgone conclusion but a thoughtful emotional read." Read more

"...Very emotional and heartbreaking with one smart kid who won't be denied his Dad and a woman strong enough to go after what she wants." Read more

13 customers mention "Reading experience"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a great read with well done characters. They also say it's a good start to a new series.

"This is a really good start to a new series. This is not a light, easy read. There are some very serious subjects explored in a very sensitive way." Read more

"...I loved him!!This was a great read. I will definitely read more books by this author." Read more

"...How 're to life the babysitter issue...Like I said a good book, returning hero, with some issues, a woman that loves him...." Read more

"This is the first book in a series of four. They were all really interesting to read...." Read more

11 customers mention "Writing style"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style excellent and believable.

"...Not too much angst. The writing is almost lyrical. Well done...." Read more

"This is a really good start to a new series. This is not a light, easy read. There are some very serious subjects explored in a very sensitive way." Read more

"...And I’m glad I did. It was a well written story with characters that were real. Overall I really enjoyed the story of a second chance at love" Read more

"...The writing was good although it was a bit too wordy at times, hard to keep track of where the sentence was going." Read more

8 customers mention "Characters"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters in the book believable.

"...The characters felt spot-on to me. I *got* them...." Read more

"...And I’m glad I did. It was a well written story with characters that were real. Overall I really enjoyed the story of a second chance at love" Read more

"...I loved Sam, he is a great child character!!! How 're to life the babysitter issue......" Read more

"...The writing is solid; hooks you right away. And the characters are fully-drawn. They too ring true...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

J S
5.0 out of 5 stars Hold on Tight, a beautiful, moving emotional book.
Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2014
Verified Purchase
A beautiful, moving, emotional book. Reading the book description, I thought this would be an ordinary book and almost didn't give it a chance. Mira Shipley was eighteen when, in an act of defiance against a controlling, but loving father, she meets and briefly dates Jake Taylor before he is deployed to the Middle East. They have a disastrous night on the beach and Jake walks away from Mira a week before he needs to. She becomes pregnant that night and is unable to tell Jake because she doesn't have his full name. Eight years later, she moves back to Washington after living for seven years in Florida with her father and step mother. She has just broken up with Aaron, who was pushed on her by her family. She just didn't love him and felt she needed to move away from her family's strong influence and raise her seven year old son, Sam, on her own. In a chance encounter at the therapist's, she sees Jake, her first love. He is a wounded veteran having lost most of a leg and suffering emotional trauma as well. She tells him about Sam and gives him her phone number. The majority of the book is their discovering themselves as individuals and getting to know each other. They are two adults who bring honesty and openness to the relationship...it's not clear sailing, but they each bring what the other needs. Not too much angst. The writing is almost lyrical. Well done.

Some rough language which I would normally not care for, but was a little easier to take from the character of Jake. Still I would prefer not so strong.
2 people found this helpful
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Ellen H
4.0 out of 5 stars Really good
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2022
Verified Purchase
This is a really good start to a new series. This is not a light, easy read. There are some very serious subjects explored in a very sensitive way.
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T
5.0 out of 5 stars lovely quieter romance
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2014
Verified Purchase
This book made me melt. It hit a sweet spot for me, no question, the one where romance meets realism. The characters felt spot-on to me. I *got* them. I loved their vividly portrayed powerful attraction toward each other, and loved that this didn't solve / resolve anything; they still had to find their way to each other past their own inner obstacles. And Sam, the kid, was adorable in more than a cute-precious-kid sort of way. He had yearnings and confusion and it worked. This is the second romance I've read by Serena Bell (the first was Yours to Keep), and both times, I've walked away feeling like I'd glimpsed an entire world, that it continued even after I closed the book. I guess what I'm saying is that the characters felt more real than most.

Plus? I think this is the first time I've ever read a contemporary romance with a secret baby trope that actually felt organic. Kudos to Ms. Bell!
6 people found this helpful
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Rubi S
3.0 out of 5 stars A second chance at love
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2020
Verified Purchase
This has been in my tbr for over a year and I finally took the plunge and read it. And I’m glad I did. It was a well written story with characters that were real. Overall I really enjoyed the story of a second chance at love
3 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Jake & Mira
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2023
Verified Purchase
I loved Jake and Mira’s story. It was real and hard. Things didn’t just fall into place. They each had to work through the issues that were holding them back. Jake had to allow himself to have feelings. Mira had to come to terms with being the adult she was without having to prove it to anyone else.
Sam. Sam was perfect. A wise little Sage able to see his parents and guide them without guile. I loved him!!
This was a great read. I will definitely read more books by this author.
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Gigi's Reads
4.0 out of 5 stars Loved these characters…
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2023
Verified Purchase
Mira is so brave and when she strikes out on her own with a seven year old instead of relying on her parents she proves herself a force to be reckoned with. Jake is a broken soldier, but somewhere deep inside he is the gung ho fighter he once was. Their second meeting after so many years is not cute, but awakens something in them both. Their journey to forever is arduous and anything but a forgone conclusion but a thoughtful emotional read.
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MM-E
5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book!!!
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2017
Verified Purchase
A twenty year old soldier on leave becomes infatuated with an eighteen year old girl. Refusing to commit to marriage little knowing he left her pregnant. Eight years later, a chance encounter at the office of a physical therapist, gives her the opportunity to tell him of his son. What fallows is the inner struggle of a wounded solider who now has a reason to live with the woman he loves and the son he never knew he had. Very emotional and heartbreaking with one smart kid who won't be denied his Dad and a woman strong enough to go after what she wants.
4 people found this helpful
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Lynn
5.0 out of 5 stars Survivor’s guilt
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2021
Verified Purchase
Injured vet reconnects with an old flame only to find that he fathered a child with her. Mira was 18 and Jake was 20. He was going to was and she was going to college. They had three weeks together but when Jake left he left behind a piece of himself. Having survived an explosion in Afghanistan which left him an amputee, Jake is just going through the motions of living. After seeing Sam and Mira, Jake starts to have feeling again. Can he get his life together to include Mira and Sam or will he continue his spiral into dispair?
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Schiloh
5.0 out of 5 stars Hold on tight
Reviewed in Canada on June 9, 2019
Verified Purchase
Great book,great read. Perfect for a day at the beach.many lessons to be learned! Easy reading and certainly well written.
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Booknerd
3.0 out of 5 stars Gutes Buch für zwischendurch
Reviewed in Germany on March 22, 2019
Verified Purchase
An sich ein schönes Buch. Für mein Empfinden zieht sich die Story ein wenig. Mir gefällt jedoch dass Jake das Beste aus seiner Situation macht.
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NicShef❤️Reading
4.0 out of 5 stars Stayed with me...
Reviewed in Australia on March 12, 2017
Verified Purchase
I read and published this on 6 Dec 2014... here is the review republished for amazon.com.au reviewers...
This is a good solid love story. It is the story about putting your life together when you have lost a limb, everything you know or hold dear including your best friend and a job you love. Veterans always hold a soft spot for me, as are single mums when it comes to my book choices. This is a well written book flowing well. With this book I wanted to recommend it to those who are looking for a story about finding yourself. It will appeal to parents, and those that like second chances in life and love...
It's stayed with me over 2 years later....
One person found this helpful
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Dj & CA SISTERS Lucyann
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Read family reunited!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 19, 2015
Verified Purchase
A fantastic read beautifully written and created a story that flowed really well from chapter to chapter ! I really love reunion story's. I loved character's of Jake Taylor an injured war hero has he struggles with his injury and a new life he runs into Mira Shipley who he dated in his past and her young son Sam not realising what she was about to tell him! Loved the chemistry between the two character's and loved the bond they had formed has a family unit! First book I have read by Serena Bell I thoroughly enjoyed it won't be my last love her writing style !
One person found this helpful
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Sarah Anguish
4.0 out of 5 stars A good read, although a little overthinking at times
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 25, 2020
Verified Purchase
Eight years ago Mira met Jake in a bowling alley in Seattle. He was home on leave before deployment, what should have been a one night fling turned into a week of fooling around. Understanding that this was her first time, they waited until Mira felt ready. Putting on a condom at the last minute wasn't soon enough to land her pregnant.

Not that Jake knew this. Whilst Mira attempted to find him she wasn't able to trace his unit with the various Army bases she had tried. Bumping into him in the PT office with her sone Sam, Mira tells Jake that he is his father. Wounded from the war Jake has a chip on his shoulder and at first, doesn't think it is possible. However, looking at Sam through the window he can see the resemblance.

What follows is a journey of being introduced, firstly as a babysitter, to his son as he and Mira navigate the feelings they have for each other than never really went away. However, Jake is not in a place for living, still holding on to guilt, regrets and the feeling that his life is over. Can they help each other to become a family?

The chemistry between Jake and Mira is raw, each with their own baggage. A good read, although a little overthinking at times disrupting the flow of the story.
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