Ramblings of a Book Lunatic: Hold On tight by Nicola Haken with Giveaway, Excerpt & Review

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Hold On tight by Nicola Haken with Giveaway, Excerpt & Review

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? (Not suitable for under 18’s due to language, sexual content and explicit drug use)

Excerpt:

The front door slamming against the wall startled my eyes open. I must’ve fallen asleep. Dexter stalked straight through to the kitchen without even looking at me, and my belly flipped over with nerves. He must’ve seen his father – only he could provoke this kind of reaction from him. Closing the cover on my Kindle and placing it back on the coffee table, I followed him hesitantly into the small kitchen.

“Dexter?” I pressed gently, placing my hand on one of his hunched shoulders and smoothing my fingers over the grease-stained fabric of his blue coveralls. He immediately shrugged away from me.

“I’m tired, doll. I’m going to bed,” he muttered emotionlessly. It was as I opened my mouth to speak I noticed the grazes wrapping around his knuckles.

“What are these?” I asked, confused and concerned as I picked up his hand and traced his sore knuckles with the pad of my thumb.

“They’re nothing. Just leave it,” he snapped, pulling his hand away.

“Have you seen your father?” I questioned, seeing no other reason for his abrupt hostility.

“Not everything revolves around that bastard,” he spat, snatching his hand out of my fingers. Instinctively I shrank back a step. I felt… I’m not actually sure what I felt. I want to say fear but that sounds ridiculous. I could never be scared of Dexter… right?

“Please, Dexter… what’s wrong? Talk to me,” I pleaded.

“I said I’m tired,” he repeated sternly as he brushed past me and headed straight for the stairs. I started to follow him and was taking my first step on the stairs by the time he reached the top. It was only when he darted into the bathroom and slammed the door so forcefully behind him the walls of the entire house rattled, that I swallowed the nervous lump in my throat and retreated back to the couch.

Sinking my face into one of the fluffy cream cushions, the tears burned the back of my eyes as they escaped to form a shallow pool in the crook of my neck. I still don’t know if they were tears of worry or anger. I knew whatever was going on in Dexter’s head right now wasn’t my fault and I couldn’t help agonising over what might’ve happened to him.

5 stars

This was another emotional roller coaster read for me. I really loved Dexter and Emily in the first book, the way they were with each other. This book is a little different because of the things that Dexter has to deal with, and unfortunately, he is the one who has to handle them. Emily is there to support him, as is his Aunt Sara. However, the main focal point for this book is Dexter and what's going on with him. That's all I can say about that without giving away too much. I was hoping for more than the little bit of Rachel and Jared that we got, but I think we'll see more of them in the next book (crossing my fingers). As ususal Nicola's writing is excellent and she finds a way to deal with heavy subject matter and draw you in at the same time. Because the characters she writes are very easy to care for. I can't wait to find out what happens next to these characters, they're awesome.

Nicola lives in Rochdale, England with her husband and four children (six if you include the dogs!) She is the author of New Adult/Contemporary romance novels Inevitable, Saving Amy and the Take My Hand series. 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 if the kids ever ask, she moonlights as the Pink Power Ranger while they’re sleeping…