Holding on Tighter by Shayla Black
Series: Wicked Lovers #12
Published by berkley on February 7, 2017
Pages: 350
Format: eBook
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four-half-stars

Jolie Quinn is a woman in charge. Her no-nonsense attitude has made her a rising star in the fashion world and her brand a household name among the Dallas elite. Nothing will stop her from achieving her goals—not even the gorgeous British security contractor who seems just as interested in seeing her personal assets as he is in protecting her professional ones.

After a tragedy left him broken, Heath Powell made a rule of staying unattached. But Jolie challenges him in a way he can’t ignore, and he isn’t used to backing down from a confrontation—especially when the reward for winning could feel so good. As passion blazes between them, the stubborn, confident beauty arouses more than his desire. She touches his heart.

When a mysterious enemy threatens Jolie and her company, Heath is the only person Jolie can trust to help. But working with him to save her business might put her dangerously at risk of falling in love…

With fresh characters, a simmering love connection, and an intriguing suspense plot, Shayla Black delivers another excellent installment in the fabulous Wicked Lovers series.  Holding on Tighter is book 12 of the series, but it is one of my favorites of the series so far.

Heath is the main protagonist of Holding on Tighter.  Heath was introduced a few books ago, he was Mystery’s bodyguard.  Heath is an interesting character, he is a little bit older and he has a full past.  His previous marriage ended with the tragic murder of his wife, he is a tough former MI5 agent, and he takes security seriously.  Up until this book, he hasn’t taken any relationship seriously, but the charismatic and capable Jolie intrigues him.  Jolie is a self-made woman, she has a tough past, she had to grow up young and be the responsible, dedicated one and her efforts have paid off.  She has a very successful fashion business and she is pretty fierce.  I love Jolie, she is no delicate flower in need of protection.  Instead, she is a successful career woman having to deal with security threats against her and her business.

Heath and Jolie have serious chemistry together, but what I really liked about these two is that they are such strong, independent people.  Being independent, neither was looking for a relationship, but the chemistry and connection between them pulled them in and caused them to re-evaluate themselves and their lives.  The relationship was very believable, it was never forced or awkward and I really related to Jolie.  The men of the Wicked Lovers series are usually dominant alpha-male types, and Holding on Tighter was no exception.  Heath is definitely a dominant male, but he wasn’t so dominant and controlling that he pushed the independent Jolie away.

All in all, I loved this installment of the Wicked Lovers series.  Keep writing these dominant male protectors Shayla Black, I love all their stories and am quite invested in the series.  Readers, if you haven’t read the Wicked Lovers series, it is high on my “recommended” list.  If you aren’t familiar with all the other books, you could still read this as a stand-alone.  Each book can be independent, reading the series in order just gives more background information.

Happy reading!

4.5 of 5 stars

four-half-stars