Take My Hand Series Review Blitz +Giveaway +Review

 

 

Book Title: Take My Hand Series 

Author: Nicola Haken  

Genre: Contemporary Romance  

Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

Take My Hand

Twenty-four year old Dexter Michaels has arrived in the UK for a fresh start - leaving everything and everyone he knows behind in the states. Determined to put right some of the wrongs he’ll never be able to forgive himself for making and make his Aunt Sarah – the only person left who still believes in him - proud, he lands in London with the intention of working hard, getting his degree and keeping himself to himself. He can’t destroy anybody else that way… His heart and his body have other ideas however when he finds himself sitting next to nineteen year old Emily Barton in his Psychology class. Moving down south to find her own New Life, Emily is shy, smart and beautiful – everything Dexter knows he should stay away from… everything he knows would be too easy for him to break. But she makes him feel things he’d forgotten even existed. She makes him laugh, smile, care… forget. Without her trying, and without him realizing, Emily has wound her way into the one place he swore to keep locked away forever – his heart. But can she stay there when she discovers the dark past he’s so determined to keep hidden from her? Or will he destroy her too, just like he always expected? 

 Hold On Tight (Take My Hand #2) 

 A figure from Dexter’s past has uprooted all the memories he has tried so desperately to bury… to forget. The terrible events of his past have been blown wide open once again, immersing him a pool of guilt deeper than he’s even experienced before. Dexter feels powerless. The future he foolishly allowed himself to conceive is falling apart around him and there’s nothing he can do about it. But there’s one thing he can control – one thing he’s an expert at… blocking everything out. Losing all control, Dexter copes the only way he knows how – he dives so far into the well of addiction, the only thing that matters anymore is where his next fix is coming from. Mission accomplished – there’s no one left. He’s successfully pushed everyone away. Nobody left to care about means no more guilt, right? You can’t hurt people who aren’t there… But has he really pushed Emily as far away as he thinks he has? She’s given up everything for him – her home, her friends… her whole life. And she doesn’t regret a single thing. But can she save him from drowning, or has he finally sunk too far? 

 Lean On Me (Take My Hand #3) 

 Rachel Mason oozes confidence. She’s outgoing, adventurous and would chop off her right arm before caring what other people think of her or her disability. Right? Jared Mattheson on the other hand, is more than a little goofy and a whole lot of carefree. He’s happy living the bachelor life on his father’s credit card, takes nothing seriously and wouldn’t know difficulty if it slapped him in the face. Right? With Emily and Dexter away in the States, Rachel and Jared are left behind to keep each other company. They share the same sense of fun, their personalities bounce off one another perfectly and perhaps inevitably, they become best friends. But what happens when the lines of friendship start to blur? How will they cope when the sides of themselves they’ve kept hidden from the world for so long begin to show? Their journey together may have started with fun, games and alcohol – but it seems the future has other ideas. Turns out, even the strongest of people need someone to lean on sometimes. 

  

Never Let Go (Take My Hand #4) 

 In the final book of the Take My Hand Series, Emily and Dexter are finally on course to a happy future. Arriving back in the UK with Aunt Sarah in tow, everything seems to be slotting into place. For the first time in his life, Dexter has found his purpose. Surrounded by family, friends and the woman he adores, he has at long last made peace with his demons and is determined to fight for the life he now knows he deserves. With best friend Rachel back by her side and a resolve to work things out with her parents once and for all, Emily’s life is also on the right track. Or so she thinks… When a tragic revelation threatens to destroy Emily’s world, it sends her spiraling down a path leading to more secrets, lies and heartache – leaving her questioning her whole life and everyone in it. To top it off, Emily almost lost one of the most important men in her life once before, is it about to happen again? *Not suitable for under 18's due to language, sexual content and scenes of explicit drug use* 

 

 

 

 

 

Nicola lives in Rochdale, England with her husband and four children and she is the author of New Adult/Contemporary romance novels Missing Pieces, Saving Amy and the Take My Hand series, and m/m erotic romance - Being Sawyer Knight and Taming Ryder. When she is not busy playing with her imaginary book friends (or talking about them with real life friends!) she can usually be found carrying out her ordinary mum/housewife/all round slave duties! Oh, and she's also addicted to tattoos and Pepsi Max!

 

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My Reviews

 Take My Hand

This story is about a girl named Emily and a boy named Dexter.  Emily is this incredibly shy girl.  She has had a sad childhood.  Her mother doesn’t hesitate to let her know that she doesn’t like her and her father lives in his own little bubble.  Dexter had a horrible childhood and lives with tons of guilt.  His father beat his mother and one day while trying to put an end to it he hurt her instead.  Dexter feels like he doesn’t deserve love and that he will just hurt everyone who gets close so he doesn’t let anyone get close.  There is just something about Emily though and he can’t resist her.  Will Emily and Dexter be able to find a way to be together despite their pasts?  Will Dexter be able to find a way to deal with the problems from his past or will they destroy him and everyone around him?

I really enjoyed this book. Both Emily and Dexter have gone through so much in their pasts.  Emily thinks that she has dealt with it but realizes she hasn’t.  Dexter thinks he has things under control as well.   Dexter tells Emily that he will just hurt but she continues to be there for him.  This story had lots of twists and turns.  It is a great story of strength and survival.  About how sometimes people choose the wrong path because they see no other way.  Emily is such an exceptionally strong girl even though she doesn’t always realize it.  Dexter is so overcome with guilt and anger that he isn’t sure how to deal with them.  His first instinct is always to run, even from Emily when things get to tough.  I can’t wait to read more about Emily and Dexter.  

Hold On Tight

This is the second book in the Take my hand series.  Dexter’s father has come back into the picture.  Every time Dexter sees him he winds up punching him.  He hates his father more than anything.  Dexter is having trouble coping between his mother dying and his father coming back.  He is turning back to his old ways of coping with things.  He is getting high and drunk.  He keeps telling himself he only needs a little to get through.  A little turns into more and he is hooked again before he knows it.  Emily wants so badly to help him but she doesn’t know how.  Aunt Sarah tries to help by telling her she should go back home to England and that she will take of Dexter as best she can.  Emily doesn’t want to go but she does.  Only instead of going home to Rachel she stays with her brother and doesn’t let anyone know she is back.  Then one day she gets a call from Aunt Sarah that Dexter has overdosed.  She says she will be there as soon as possible.  Her brother insists on coming with.  Emily lies to her brother about what happened to Dexter.  Will the overdose be the best thing to happen to Dexter?  Will this help him to get clean once and for all?  Once they clean out his system will he realize that he loves Emily more than he likes being high?

This story was hard to read.  Emily loves Dexter so much and he seems to like the drugs more than her.  He keeps pushing her away instead of talking things through with her.  He breaks her heart every time he does but he doesn’t seem to realize that.  Aunt Sarah is a wonderful character, she is warm and caring.  Emily finds the mom she never had in her.  Emily is the kind of person who sits and thinks of the what-ifs and maybes of a situation.  But by doing that she winds up not taking action.  She and Rachel drift about because of it.  Dexter’s father is a horrible man.  He does horrible things and only cares about his self.  He almost makes feel like you can understand why Dexter turns to the drugs to deal.  This book also has twists and turns I didn’t see coming just like the first book.  It was an emotional roller coaster as well.  It seems like they will never catch a break.  I was left on a cliff hanger and I can’t wait to read the next book to find out what happens.

 

Lean on Me

This is the third book in this series.  This book focuses on Rachel and Jared’s story instead of Emily and Dexter.  Rachel is this crazy, tough, I don’t give a shit kinda girl and I love her for it.  Jared is a goofy guy.  He and Rachel are so alike and made for each other.  Rachel only seems tough though.  On the inside, the side so only lets few people see it’s something totally different.  She is in a wheel chair but hates to be seen different.  She doesn’t want to be seen as weak.  She is attracted to Jared but doesn’t want to say anything.  Cause after you have slept with a guy you can’t be friends anymore.  She doesn’t want to lose Jared as especially cause Emily isn’t around right now.  Jared lets her know that he is interested in her too.  She says she doesn’t want to go out with him, but he doesn’t give up.  He keeps trying to prove to her that they will work.  When she finally gives in and agrees to go out with him he doesn’t stop there.  He has flowers delivered and lets her know every day how much she means to him.  Jared has his own insecurities.  He is afraid to let Rachel know that he has his own illness too.  Will he tell Rachel or will she find out some other way?  Will Rachel and Jared work out?

This book was different from the first two.  I was happy to get to read about Jared and Rachel’s story.  In the first two books you got the sense that maybe they liked each other.  Their story was great.  They go through their own problems not as crazy and Dexter and Emily but interesting none the less.  It was interesting to learn that Rachel had a softer side.  I like right away but learning and reading about it made me like her more.  I didn’t expect Jared to turn out like he did.  He was goofy and funny, but I liked the side he showed to Rachel.  He could be so romantic and caring.  Rachel and Jared’s story was funny because they are so alike.  They call each other names that would offend most people, but they know they love each other so it doesn’t matter.  There were some twists and turns in this book but not as many.  Rachel and Jared work so well together and I love them as a couple.  I can’t wait to read the next book and find out what else happens to the group.

Never Let Go

Currently finishing this book.