Hard To Hold On To by Laura Kaye…Review

Synopsis:

Edward “Easy” Cantrell knows better than most the pain of not being able to save those he loves–which is why he is not going to let Jenna Dean out of his sight. He may have just met her, but Jenna’s the first person to make him feel alive since that devastating day in the desert more than a year ago.

Jenna has never met anyone like Easy. She can’t describe how he makes her feel–and not just because he saved her life. No, the stirrings inside her reach far beyond gratitude.

As the pair are thrust together while chaos reigns around them, they both know one thing: the things in life most worth having are the hardest to hold on to.

My review:

Hard To Hold On To is story number 2.5 in author Laura Kaye’s Hard Ink Series, a series I have enjoyed since the first book. With each book I grow to love the guys of Hard Ink more and more and this novella was an incredible, and emotional, addition to the series.

Edward “Easy” Cantrell has been struggling silently since the day he and his team were ambushed back on that deserted road in the desert. The day he lost his best friend along with almost half of his team. It’s only recently that he is able to temporarily forget the deep-seated feelings of unworthiness. Unworthiness to live. Unworthiness to feel happiness. And it’s only because his remaining team members needed his help with a sticky situation. It’s in that sticky situation he meets Jenna. Jenna, the victim of a kidnapping and a woman he helped save from a doomed fate. She hasn’t wanted him to leave her side since her rescue and if he’s being honest, he hasn’t wanted to leave either. Her faith in him and her need for him to be close was helping plug the gaping hole in his heart. Something he never thought possible. With her help maybe, just maybe, he can face the crushing emotions and guilt he has had since that fateful day in the desert.

Jenna can’t explain why she feels so close to Easy, or why she can’t stand being away from him, only that he seems to be the only thing soothing her frayed nerves and calming her in her darkest moments since the kidnapping. There was something about him. Almost like he understood the inability to reign in your emotions after a horrible situation has turned your life upside-down. He knew what she needed even when she didn’t. Add that to his quiet and gentle giant like ways, and Jenna can’t help but be drawn to him and his strength. She just hopes that one day she could repay the compassion he’s shown her. Little does she know that day may be sooner than she realizes…

 
This novella was an amazing addition to books one and two. Not only was it a fantastic continuation of the situation the Hard Ink guys are in and the mystery they have come together to solve that started with the betrayal of their former leader, but Laura brought a very poignant look at a very real issue…veteran suicide. I ran through a multitude of emotions while reading this story. I was relieved Jenna was safe. I was nervous that she wouldn’t be able to handle the traumatic situation. I was humbled by Easy’s quiet understanding. I was heavyhearted reading Easy’s struggle with his guilt. I was gutted when he finally took the brave step in asking for help. I could feel every ounce of emotion that Laura beautifully wrote into the pages. What started out as Jenna’s rescue story soon turned into Easy’s rescue story…only his rescue wasn’t a physical escape from a building. His rescue is going to be a long road and with the help of his teammates and their now extended family of sorts, I have faith he can do it. I also loved the way Jenna and Easy found strength in the unlikely connection they found. They truly found something beautiful in an abysmal situation and they both became stronger because of it.

Before I end this review I want to take a second to thank Laura.

Veteran suicide is something I am very aware of, but many are not. 22 veterans a day commit suicide. That is 22 too many. In bringing awareness to this horrible epidemic, we can show our vets that we care. That there is help. That they are not alone. In writing Easy’s story, Laura has helped bring that awareness. For that, I am thankful beyond measure and truly appreciate everything she has done with this story.

So, thank you, Laura. You are an inspiration and a special gal.

Five Loves

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About the author:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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