Aloha to Tracy Brogran and HOLD ON MY HEART - Book Review

Today is the giant book fair at the RT Booklovers' Convention - perhaps Tracy, who attending the convention, will be signing HOLD ON MY HEART:

To build a future, sometimes you have to tear down the past…

Chicago event planner Libby Hamilton can turn any bland setting into a dramatic venue—but when she abruptly loses her job, and her fair-weather boyfriend moves to another state, Libby suddenly finds herself back in the tiny town she grew up in. Worse than that, her father wants help transforming an old schoolhouse into a vintage ice cream parlor and Libby must trade in her power suits for power tools.

Widowed restoration specialist Tom Murphy can rebuild just about anything—except the shattered relationship he shares with his teenaged daughter. Hired by Libby’s father, Tom isn’t interested in sharing the details of his personal life with beautiful, spunky Libby. He just wants to get the job done. But she is tenacious—and sexy—and it doesn’t take long before she breaks down his walls, builds up his hope, and gets a hold on his heart that won’t let go.

Hold on my heart
throw me a lifeline
I'll keep a place for you
somewhere deep inside
- Phil Collins

HOLD ON MY HEART brings together Libby and Tom when each faced a cross road in their lives - Libby lost her job, her boyfriend, and her apartment.   She returns home to her family who has their own hands full - her father is opening an ice cream parlor in a run down school house; her mother contends with the cranky live-in grandmother; her older sister is about to give birth; and her younger sister is engaged to a jouster. Tom has his own baggage - his guilt over a car accident that killed his wife; his distant daughter; and his angry in laws.  

Libby and Tom clash during the renovation yet neither can ignore their attraction to the other.   Their attraction makes them realize that they can let go of past hurt to find a future together. Brogan delivers a sweet romance in a small town setting with quirky (yet heartwarming) characters.  Passion ignites between Libby and Tom ... but story shifts to Tom as he wrestles with his demons.   Brogan charmed me by allowing Libby to be the conduit for Tom to reengage with his life and reconnect with his daughter.   

I enjoyed HOLD ON MY HEART and recommend it to fans of contemporary romance, small town settings, and "aww" moments.  I won a copy of HOLD ON MY HEART from another blog giveaway.

I am giving away a print copy of HOLD ON MY HEART to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about Ice Cream Parlor - what would you order at the counter?

2.  Comments are open through Sunday, May 18, 10 pm in Baltimore.  

3.  I'll post the winner on Monday, May 19, assuming I survive RT.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Learn more about Tracy and her books at tracybrogan.com.