Hard to Hold (Vows) (True Vows: The First Reality-Based Romance) [Paperback]

Crime reporter Anne Miller isn't opposed to dating but she isn't about to date just for the sake of dating either. She firmly believes she'll meet Mr. Right when the time is right and no amount of mental feng shui or wishful thinking is going to change that fact. She's perfectly content with her life `as is' but when she meets Michael after attending a concert she thinks there could be some real potential for a relationship between them, but then he walks away without expressing any interest in seeing her again.

Michael Davoli recently moved to New York where he works as the campaign coordinator for the Quality Education Initiative. Despite temporarily living in his buddy's attic room, Michael is pretty happy with his life. He has a dog who adores him and the only thing that could make things even better is if he had a woman to share his life with. Even though he's mastered the physical tics associated with Tourette's syndrome he's well aware that many women aren't comfortable with the reality of his disorder.

From the moment Michael meets Anne after the concert he realizes that she's perfect for him but the combination of allergies, antihistamines and large doses of caffeine are wearing off and the tics are always much worse when his immunities are down. Despite his attraction to Anne, Michael chooses to head home rather than hanging out with Anne and her friends. Normally that would be the end of it but several months later they meet again when as luck would have it, he's moving into the very same apartment building where Anne lives. The attraction between them is undeniable and yet Michael treats her as a casual acquaintance. It's all rather frustrating, but then Michael locks himself out of his apartment and Anne comes to his rescue - though she's not at all happy to have her Monday evening Keifer Sutherland drool fest interrupted. How can Michael possibly resist a woman who can pick a lock during the commercial break? Most people can't even make a bathroom run in that amount of time.

Bestselling author Julie Leto brings her riveting love for romance to life with HARD TO HOLD. Based on a real life couple, HARD TO HOLD brings a smile to readers' faces while reinforcing the belief that there truly is someone out there for everyone. I adored getting to know these characters and their quirky natures. Anne's obsession with the television show `24' had me chuckling - and I loved Michael's compulsion for cleanliness... especially considering Anne's intense dislike of picking up after herself. While Michael's neurological disorder might be offsetting to some women; Anne takes it in stride and accepts that it's simply a part of the man she loves. What I found fascinating about this story is how yes, Tourette's is talked about and even explained somewhat for those of us who know very little about it besides the extreme cases we might have seen on TV, the disorder is not the main focus of the story. Ms. Leto treats the disorder compassionately yet focuses on the characters' unique quirks which draw them together and at times could destroy them. HARD TO HOLD is one of three debut titles in the TRUE VOWS line. We can only hope to see many more. After all, everybody needs a little romance and knowing that the book you're reading is based on a real couple gives you a little feeling of hopefulness that love can be an actuality.

The other debut titles for this new and exciting reality based line are:
MEET ME IN MANHATTAN by Judith Arnold
and
THE ICING ON THE CAKE by Allison Kent.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

This story had me swept away with joy from my first contact with the book. My friend, my friend let me tell you, it is a wonderful true story of a romance that give me hope that one day I will fulfill all of these dreams I have of finding the connection that Michael and Anne have for each other. Reading their story, it is clear that they are not birds of a feather, but you know if he could, he would hold Anne in the embrace she longs for. I didn't know I would be into a real life romance novel, but I could not keep the secret smile off my face as the passion struck me one terrible night as I turned each page. When they finally get together I was bouncing around the room with excitement. Each night, I would stash the book away till it was silent in the morning and I could once again be buried alive in this amazing love story. The strange design of their lives made it easy to waste my time with them each night. Like Halley's Comet, this kinda of love must only come once in a generation. This book has given me the hope I need to put the ghost of past relationships behind me, and get back on the train and find my sweet one again. Thank you Michael & Anne for sharing your light with me. It is truly growing brighter now.

Rating: 2.5 Stars

Micheal Davoli, a lobbyist, has recently moved to New York. While out with friends at a concert one night he is introduced to Anne Miller, a crime reporter. They hit it off immediately, or so Anne thought. Anne invites Michael out for drinks but Michael turns her down leaving Anne totally confused, thinking she must have misinterpreted the vibes she was getting from Michael. But Michael has Tourette's syndrome and although it's nothing like the extreme cases most people have probably heard of, Michael has a more difficult time managing his tics under stressful situations and so he bowed out of the invitation.

Time passed and although they had mutual friends, Michael and Anne never crossed paths again but both still thought of each other often. Until one day, as luck would have it, Anne discovers Michael struggling with his dog while moving into his new apartment that just happened to be in the same building she lives in. Reunited they discover the attraction is still there. Now they have to see who will make the first move toward developing a friendship and an eventual romance.

Michael is sweet, on the shy side and cautious when it comes to relationships because of his Tourette's syndrome. He prefers to take things very slow and while I can appreciate that in a real life situation, it's not really what a want in a romance novel. Anne is cute, and a little quirky and thank goodness willing to step up and make the first move to get ball rolling. They are opposites in so many ways but seem to somehow compliment each other nicely.

Hard To Hold is exactly what it's billed as; a book based on a true life couple and their road to happily ever after. It's a sweet romance however if you are expecting a story filled with drama and major relationship obstacles that need to be overcome, you may be disappointed in Hard To Hold. Anne and Michael seemed like just your average everyday couple that had to face everyday issues that arise in almost every new romantic relationship. They faced a few trials that would test most relationships but nothing too far out of the ordinary. It's a story you might enjoy listening to at a dinner party with friends. However, reading this story as a full length novel, I found it a bit slow, and somewhat lacking in entertainment value and overall enjoyment. I have to admit, I feel uncomfortable admitting that because although I am referring to the story as a whole, these are also the details of someone's real love story.

Even in contemporary romance, I need a touch of fantasy, a bit of the unexpected and a chance to leave the world behind for a little while. However I didn't experience that while reading Hard To Hold. Instead it was an average story, about average people living in the real world, which is fine, but it's not what I read romance for.