Hold Me Today (Put A Ring On It #1)

After writing over 700 book reviews in less than two years, it gets harder and harder to be creative; however, Luis is one author who continues to excite my reader’s heart, suck me into her stories, and effortlessly has me in love with her characters before I even realize it. My problem with her books is my inadequacy to do them justice in a review. Her skills as a storyteller continue to grow as she sharpens her wit, perfects her pacing, and pours more of herself into her work. And this book? This book is easily the pinnacle of her work to date. There is so much MORE in this book! More impeccably timed humor, more perfected imperfections of authentic characters who steal the reader’s heart, more soul-deep connections between the characters and the reader, and more complex, deep emotion. And steam. We can always count on Luis for just the right amount of fun, smexy times! So whatever term you prefer, This book is everything, or This one has all the feels, Hold Me Today is THAT book.

Where do I even begin with these two characters? Nick is the swoon-worthy alpha that every girl wants, but he’s such a darn nice guy with a big heart and a sweetly vulnerable side that is oh, so delicious as it’s revealed. And Mina, OMGee, Mina. This girl has layers for days and so many contradictions. Shes a tough, driven over-achiever, yet shes been searching all her life for a place to belong. She’s had challenges all of her life and she’s fought and scraped for every millimeter of success. Is it wrong that I have a girl crush on her? She is easily my favorite Luis heroine, because theres just something about a girl who fights every day to overcome challenges and negativity and is successful in spite of it. Then, throw in a happily ever after with the guy who was made for her, the one who knows her, loves her imperfections, and fits her like no other my heart is done. Wrecked. Destroyed. And I couldnt be happier!

Nick is Mina’s best friend’s older brother, and theyve know each other forever. For most of those years she was simply his sister’s friend and a thorn in his side, but he sees things in a different light when he agrees to renovate her hair salon and they spend more time together. And did I mention she agrees to be his fake” girlfriend to keep the media off his trail after the whole Put a Ring On It” debacle? Hindsight being 20/20, Nick realizes that, at every pivotal point in his life, Mina has been there offering comfort and support but asking nothing in return. A part of me wishes they had seen the light sooner, but destiny has a way of playing out so we learn the life lessons we need in order to make us ready for the next chapter of life. Sometimes when I read a book, I think of how I would have written things differently, but Luis got Nick and Mina’s story exactly right, every step of the way. This is perfection, pure and utter perfection.

This is the first book in the Put a Ring On It series, and Luis has set the series up in such a way that Im insanely excited about what is to come! Not only am I completely in love with Nick and Mina and cant wait to see them again, but there are hints of some wickedly wonderful things to come with both Dominic and Owen’s stories. If you like romantic comedy (and who doesnt?) you’ll definitely want to grab this one and start reading ASAP. Humor, heat, heart, and an author pouring her soul into the characters and their story. What’s not to love? This one deserves all of the stars in the night!

*I reviewed an advance copy of this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.

Frenemies, Fake relationship, Sibling’s bestfriend all good things for me. Nick and Mina couldn’t be more opposite in nature and on paper. Besides knowing each other’s families and growing up together. There are thing’s they don’t really know about the other. Watching that develop between them was so delicious. The banter and bickering, sexual tension and chemistry, all with a Greek Fat Wedding feel.

When the spark ignites it goes full blast. All the foreplay was the start, they got me all swoony. Nick is self made and while he’s nice and shy, good natured, his growlier side is one Mina sets free. It was a joy to watch them finally admit all the years to torturing the other just meant hidden feelings. The humor injected qt the right moments made it oh so much more delicious. They slowly learned more about the other than they originally thought which waa refreshing, they way they became more was sweet and meaningful.

Nick and Mina were opposites that worked, it balanced out in a way. They grew into their new relationship. Even if they drew other sides from the other, more than the hard working good guy and flighty impulsive woman. I like how Maria Luis showed that, the layered side to her characters. She makes her stories hook you in with quirky humor, refreshing characters and interesting plots, versatile author that grabs you. This one is a different than the normal theme you see about this topic on dating shows. Plus that nod on cultural dissonance is relatable.

Fans of Dominic will be happy to note he makes a bigger cameo here and hints the next book in yhis new series is his. I can’t wait!

I can’t tell you how many, many books I have on my Kindle that I have started to read, and really tried to stay with it, but in the end I just can’t finish them. That is NOT the case with Maria Luis!! Every single book that she has written has grabbed me from the first page all the way to the last. She is such a gifted writer, and her stories and characters have so much heart. Nick and Ermione (aka Mina), have known each other since they were in elementary school. Their relationship has always been a love/hate kind of thing. This is the story of their journey to really get to know each other, to share secrets and hopes and dreams, and to finally realize that they were meant to be together. Maria, you knocked it out of the park, again!!!!

Maria Luis has written another amazing story! With a hero who has a huge heart and a heroine with big dreams, this is a romance that will definitely be one of my top reads of the year. (And yes, I know it’s only mid-January.)

Nick and Mina have known each other for years. He is her best friend’s older brother after all. The chemistry between them is apparent from the very beginning, even when they are pushing the other’s buttons. While romance is, of course, a key plot point, both Mina and Nick are characters you grow to love and root for even outside of a relationship.

I love Maria’s writing style. She infuses the story with humor without being over the top, and I love the hints at what is to come in future books in the series!

This was my first book by Maria Luis and WOW! Unfortunately I was on a trip when I started it and had to do things like sightseeing, eating out, going to concerts when all I wanted to do was hole up with this book. The tension in Mina and Nicks lifelong relationship evolves into sexual tension that keeps the reader on edge. I am in awe of the inspiration and talent it takes to write such delightful dialogue, thoughts and action that bring this story together. Ill admit that there were a couple of times that I got teary while reading this which is not at all the norm for me. I am a romantic suspense fan and rarely venture into contemporary romance but this wasnt schmaltzy, sweet or shallow. Instead the story was intriguing with depth and substance that unfalteringly grabbed my attention. For a rewarding way to spend your time, read this book!

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