Tuesday, 23 February 2016

Review - One to Take by Tia Louise


Title: One to Take
Series: One to Hold #8
Author: Tia Louise
Release Date: February 22, 2016


A STAND-ALONE NOVEL in the “One to Hold” universe. Prepare for strong language, panty-melting sexy times, and heart-squeezing angst. Readers 18 and older only, please.

Stuart Knight is a wounded Marine turned Sexy Cowboy. Mariska Heron is the gypsy girl who stole his heart. Now they’re fighting for their Happily Ever After…

Life is never simple.
Even perfect couples face storms.
The question is whether our love is strong enough to survive.
I believe it is.

She told me to leave.
If I leave, I take her with me.
~Stuart Knight

#SexyCowboy
#Believe







If Tia Louise’s goal was to make me cry then, damn it, she succeeded…

If Tia Louise’s goal was to make me smile then she succeeded there, too. 

Laugh. Check. 
Swoon. Check. 
Want to slap someone. DOUBLE check. 

Basically, Ms. Louise hit all the right notes with One to Take, and now I am done—and the tears have cleared—I can say it was one beautiful ride. I made a point of meeting Stuart and Mariska in One to Leave first (although I can confidently say, this one could be read as a standalone), and after reading their love story back-to-back, I'm now very attached to this gruff cowboy and his gypsy girl. 

I really love this couple. There's something about them just feels kind of magical—maybe the dreams, maybe the love they share, or maybe the wonderful writing of this author. Whatever it is, I was fully invested in Stuart and Mariska, so when their dreams and plans started to fall apart tragically, I was shattering right along with them. It was heart-breaking. Beautifully so. 

Ms. Louise captured their connection perfectly with her words; she showed their passion, their pain, their grief and their resilience—and did it in a way that grabbed at my heart and my emotions, and had me so completely involved with Stuart and Mariska, I simply didn't want to see this book end. 

While there were one or two moments I would have liked to see built upon—I have a couple of residual questions—One to Take was a wonderful mix of the good and the bad of life, and a book that made me smile through my tears, laugh through my anger. If that was Ms. Louise’s goal, she absolutely succeeded. 
~ Review by Beth

I need more of this series!

Cowboys and romance—two of my favourite things! This is a standalone entry in this series which continues the story of Stuart Knight and Mariska Heron. While I didn’t need to read the previous stories, I can’t wait start at the beginning and learn more about them and their family and friends. I need to find out how this love came to be!

Stuart and Mariska have weathered a few storms to get where they are now in their relationship. Spending time on Stuart’s uncle’s ranch has both of them putting their “day jobs” temporarily on hold but giving them a chance to enjoy themselves and the beauty around them. They are happy, enjoying each other and the new opportunities the ranch has given them. Serenity is fleeting though and their bond is going to be severely tested.

I really enjoyed this story of love, discovery and loss. The bond between Stuart and Mariska is obvious, in and out of the bedroom. There is sexual tension, protectiveness, compassion and above all deep, abiding love. When haunting fears and uncertainty challenge them they will need to dig deep in themselves, and look to each other, as their relationship bears the brunt.

It’s easy to care for these two. Stuart is the consummate cowboy—handsome, protective and loving. Mariska is his beautiful counterpart, artistic and compassionate, wanting to do what’s best for them both. They are not perfectly perfect so when doubt settles in choices are made that impact them all.

Emotional and well-written, this is a story of deep love, heartbreaking loss and the strength of the human spirit to carry on with forgiveness and compassion. Sigh, those cowboys. More than just a Stetson… 
~ Review by Diane







Tia Louise is the Award-Winning, International Bestselling author of the ONE TO HOLD series.

From "Readers' Choice" nominations, to picking up USA Today "Happily Ever After" nods, to winning "Favorite Erotica Author" (2015) and the "Lady Boner Award" (2014) (LOL!), nothing makes her happier than communicating with fans and weaving new tales into the Alexander-Knight world of stories.

A former journalist, Louise lives in the center of the USA with her lovely family and one grumpy cat. There, she dreams up stories she hopes are engaging, hot, and sexy, and that cause readers rethink common public locations...



1 comment: