Holding Out (Returning Home #4) [Griff & Becca] by Serena Bell

While I LOVED the previous installments in the series, this one just wasn't for me. First of it felt VERY different from the previous ones, the issues it deals with and mostly the WAY it is dealt with. For me the main problem with this book was the amount of sex, sex talk and constant thoughts about sex. If I could I would have deleted round 90% of that and THEN this book would have been GREAT. I just felt like instead of DEALING with anything really, they turn to sex as a sort of escape. It was even in conversations, a real meaningful conversation would end with a sex innuendo instead of feeling like there's a real progress being made. It's OBVIOUS for me that this exact issue for me could be a TURN ON for someone else - books are subjective and that's the beauty of it, right?

Griff Ambrose & Becca Drake have known each other for a while now. He is friends with Nate who is married to Becca's sister - Alia. But it was mostly a casual sort of friendship. They would meet on family and friends meetups and that's about it. Everyone knows Griff is a "player", and Becca is quite a sheltered girl who wants to be brave and strong but finds it hard to date men since she is 24 and still a virgin. For some reason guys are freaked out about that and she had enough.. Which is how she finds herself asking Griff to "help her out" - just a one time thing - like he does.. Griff accepts and though they have their own rules once Becca is back for two weeks working in Jake's resort (where Griff also works) they find it hard to keep their hands from one another.. and the big question is - what happens next..



Becca had a very difficult up bringing with Alia being a mother figure to her and even now, so many years later Alia finds it hard to treat Becca as anything else than a daughter. She fears for her, she wants her to be happy but mostly SAFE. She doesn't approve of her being with Griff as she knows he will break her heart once he is over her.. She also knows from Nate that Griff was once married and when his marriage fell apart Griff was left heart broken and it's not clear if he is even over his ex-wife Marina. Yet Becca wants to HAVE FUN. She enjoys being with Griff, not just in bed or wherever they get it going, but just talking. He makes her feel so much better, competent, strong and smart. He empowers her and she feels great opening up to him and surprisingly (to him) Griff finds himself talking to her, and sharing things he can barely utter. But there are still things he keeps to himself because he isn't sure how to deal with those - Marina for sure, but also his flashbacks from his service. He tries to make Becca conquer her fears but he himself doesn't really act as he encourages her to.. He feels a hypocrite which is exactly what makes him try to take bettering steps himself.

It was sweet seeing these two fall for one another. I'm half sure they were on their way there from the very start. Griff's efforts for Becca's first time were BEYOND amazing. I don't know if ANY girl gets what Becca got for her first time.. Especially from a guy who isn't suppose to stick around.. They click from the start, they have many things in common though it doesn't seem like it. Mostly, for me, they both needed to grow up and realize if they WANT something they need to work for it because it's WORTH it. I guess Alia and Nate's meddling into their business didn't really help it only made them both even more insecure about their feelings for one another..

This book was truly a struggle for me and it's NOT what I was expecting. I liked both Griff and Becca but I was sick and tired of them being sexually obsessed about each other. For me it ruined the romance and also the relationship progression. I swear the first 3rd of the book is ONLY sex. Sex talk, sex thoughts and intentions and then sex scene. A THIRD OF THE BOOK! I wanted SOMETHING to happen other than sex but alas, I had to wait and that I did. I guess I got what I wanted in the end but I was damn frustrated till we got there.

Are you heavily into sexy times? If the answer is YES you should definitely grab this one!

I kindly received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is out TODAY 21 May 2019 - Grab it through the links below.

About the Author

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 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.

[ Photo credit Susan Young ]

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Rating: ★★★½

E-Book Edition

303 pages

Read on: 9-10 May 2019

  ABOUT THE SERIES  

 

Returning Home is a Contemporary Romance series by Serena Bell.

Books:
1. Hold On Tight [Jake Taylor & Mira Shipley] (Published 17 June 2014) ★★★★★
2. Can't Hold Back [Nate Riordan & Alia Drake] (Published 15 December 2015)  ★★★★★
3. To Have and To Hold [Hunter Cross & Trina Levine] (Published 26 July 2016)  ★★★★★ 
4. Holding Out [Griff Ambrose & Becca Drake] (Published 21 May 2019) ★★★½