{"id":1333,"date":"2015-09-08T20:22:39","date_gmt":"2015-09-09T03:22:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=1333"},"modified":"2017-01-29T05:37:24","modified_gmt":"2017-01-29T10:37:24","slug":"review-hold-on-the-burg-6-by-kristen-ashley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=1333","title":{"rendered":"Review: Hold On (The ‘Burg, #6) by Kristen Ashley"},"content":{"rendered":"

Buy:\u00a0 Kindle Ebook<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0Paperback<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
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Review\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

4 \u2018Farewell to the \u2018Burg\u2019 stars<\/strong><\/p>\n

The \u2018Burg series is one of my favourite of Ms Ashley\u2019s, and I have been so excited for this book, while also very reluctant to say goodbye. And while this one is not my favourite of the series, there\u2019s no denying, KA has finished it well.<\/p>\n

Garret \u2018Merry\u2019 Merrick is the brother of Rocky (from book 3), a police officer and partner of the luscious Mike Haines (from book 4), and friend to the rest of the boys that we have come to know and love in this series. He\u2019s also the \u201clast good man standing<\/em>\u201d in the \u2018burg, and the object of unrequited love for Cher Rivers.<\/p>\n

Cher was once known as Cheryl, and was introduced into the series as the unsuspecting love interest of a serial killer. It was a dark time in her life, but she has moved on and with the help of Colt \u2013 the man who has stepped in to be a protective \u2018big brother\u2019 \u2013 she is now living in the \u2018burg, and working at J&J\u2019s, doing her best to raise her 10 year old son, Ethan. She\u2019s not had an easy life, but she\u2019s worked her ass off to get where she is, and she\u2019s in a good place, so she regrets nothing and doesn\u2019t let her past bring her down. She\u2019s a kickass heroine who prides herself on being tough, hanging with the boys of the \u2018burg, and as such, she has developed a close friendship with them, but it\u2019s her friendship with Merry that she cherishes the most.<\/p>\n

In previous books of the series, Merry has been struggling with his divorce from the woman he considers the love of his life. He let Mia go when he was in a bad place, and he always regretted not working harder to make it work, but there was always the expectation that they would find their way back to each other. But now, Merry has learned that Mia is engaged to somebody else. Devastated and hitting rock bottom, support comes from an unexpected source when Cher stands up for him, and lays it out in a way that finally wakes him up.<\/p>\n

\u201cStraight up. You got good, you don\u2019t let it go. It lets you go, you hold on. It slips through your fingers, you pull out all the stops to get it back. You got somethin\u2019 worth fighting for, you\u00a0<\/em>fight for it. You do not sit on your ass waitin\u2019 for it to come back to you. You show whoever that is they mean something and you go all out on that, and the only way you go down is doin\u2019 that shit swinging.\u201d
\n\u2026
\n\u201cAny woman worth that kind of devotion, she takes her man\u2019s back so he can stay standing. She does not wait for him to sort out his shit and then find her and kiss her ass.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

From this one outburst, I knew I was going to be a Cher fan and her outspokenness. Seriously, sing it sista! Merry obviously agrees and takes Cher home for a night of hot, drunken and unrestrained sex. The awkward follow up has them both planning on putting their night together down as a one-off, with them picking up their friendship as it was\u2026 Until trouble arrives on Cher\u2019s doorstep and Merry decides that friendship is not enough and commences his pursuit. So, under the watchful eye of everybody in town, there\u2019s a lot of back and forth as Merry determinedly claims that things are going to happen between Cher and himself, with Cher refusing, not wanting to have her heart broken by the only man that could destroy her if she let him. And it sets up the epic battle that KA does so well \u2013 in a way that doesn\u2019t get annoying because you know it\u2019s just a matter of time before the alpha wins, and you just sit back and take in all of the chemistry until that happens.<\/p>\n

His phone sounded.
\nHe grabbed it off his coffee table and his mouth curled up when he read,\u00a0<\/em>Kiss my ass, Merry.
\nUsing his thumb, he returned,\u00a0<\/em>You want that, brown eyes, I\u2019ll work it in.
\nShe didn\u2019t make him wait and shot back,\u00a0<\/em>Go fuck yourself.
\n<\/em>Now, sweetheart, you know that\u2019s not the way it works.
\nThen came,\u00a0<\/em>We\u2019re done.
\nHe ignored that and sent,\u00a0<\/em>Sleep tight. See you tomorrow.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Because it takes them a while to get on the same page, there\u2019s a great sense of anticipation just waiting for them to get their shit together, and when they finally do, it\u2019s sensational as always. Passionate, intense, swoony and sexy, Merry and Cher together are great, and there\u2019s lots time spent with them developing things between them, talking things out, making each other laugh, a whole lotta hotness that had me fanning myself and all of those sweet moments that had me grinning and swooning like an idiot.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe got a lot to talk about, Cher. We\u2019ll get that shit outta the way\u2026 But I don\u2019t want you dreading it, because, honest as fuck, we\u2019re gonna get through it and we\u2019re gonna get past it. I won\u2019t make you promises again that I can\u2019t keep. Swear that, babe. So when I promise right now that I know where my head is at with you and I want us both to give this the best shot we can give it, you can believe that.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhile we ride this out, you don\u2019t need that fortress. You don\u2019t need it because you got me,\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And in the middle of it all is Ethan. Cher\u2019s son is a mini alpha-in-the-making. I\u2019ve gotta say, that some of the things that come out of his mouth surprised me for a ten year old (I have a 9 year old at home, and thought that Ethan was way too mature for his age), but whatever. He\u2019s an absolute sweetheart who is fiercely protective of his mom and I love that he was included as such an important part of Cher\u2019s life, and what was developing between her and Merry. And seeing Merry and Ethan together, and their growing relationship, was gorgeously heart-warming.<\/p>\n

But, as always, there is trouble looming. And with psycho exes (not just one, but two!), Merry\u2019s demons, Cher\u2019s demons, a potentially dangerous neighbour and a looming threat that nobody expected, there\u2019s a lot of drama going on, all building to \u2018the 90% event\u2019 \u2013 and yep, it\u2019s big. But through everything that they endure, they don\u2019t let it interfere with their relationship, and every hurdle that they face only works to bring them closer together.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt happens,\u201d he replied.
\n\u201cWhat happens?\u201d she asked.
\nHe dipped closer and held her tighter.
\n\u201cIt happens,\u201d he repeated. \u201cFor people like us, baby. It happens, eventually. Just as long as we hold on.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It\u2019s a beautiful love story, and I loved watching it all unfold. I loved watching both Merry and Cher find so much happiness together, and I love that, one again, KA gives us so many of the beautiful little moments that mean so much. She envelops you into the story, and involves you in a way that few other authors are able to manage, and I lap that up!<\/p>\n

As a bonus in this book, there is a LOT of time spent with all of the couples from the series, and I love that! Merry and Cher are both much-loved members of the crew, so everybody is up in their business \u2013 there to help with the dramas, provide relationship advice (wanted or not), and nobody holds back on giving their opinions on the unfolding relationship.<\/p>\n

I looked at Colt.
\n\u201cYou gonna give me shit about goin\u2019 out with your brother in blue?\u201d
\n\u201cGave Merry shit already,\u201d Colt returned, and my stomach clutched. \u201cHe shoved it back.\u201d My stomach unclutched and I beat back a smile. \u201cNot sure which one a\u2019 you is more fucked in the head, him for takin\u2019 on your shit or you for takin\u2019 on his. Just know I\u2019ll kick either of your asses, you fuck the other over.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019d been blathering for the last twenty minutes about all that had been going down with me\u2026 I didn\u2019t leave anything out.
\n\u201cVi,\u201d I snapped when she still didn\u2019t say anything.
\n\u201cQuiet,\u201d she returned. \u201cI\u2019m trying to stop myself from slapping you upside your head.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cYou should be a therapist, Mike. Open your own clinic. Call it \u2018Don\u2019t Be a Dumb Fuck Treatment Center.\u2019\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And then there\u2019s that epilogue! Hot damn, it was awesome! From the POV of almost everybody featured in the series, we get glimpses into the future of each of the couples \u2013 and their kids, and It. Was. Epic! I love the strong theme of family and the sense of closure that it provided, and I read it with tears streaming down my face.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo lie that this is the proudest moment of my life, gettin\u2019 to walk you down that aisle.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

WAAAAAIL!!!<\/p>\n

I will admit, though, that I didn\u2019t love this book as much as I was hoping. Cher and Merry are great together, but I didn\u2019t fall in love with them as much as I did with some of the other couples in the series. I also found this one a little excessive in the KA-speak \u2013 not only with Merry and the rest of the boys, but Cher speaks\u00a0exactly<\/u>\u00a0the same, and with all of their combined dialogue and monologue written in the same overly-wordy style that KA has, I did find it a bit much at times. But I still very much enjoyed the story, and am happy with the way it all played out.<\/p>\n

KA has finished off her series beautifully with a great love story, lots of time spent with characters that we love dearly, and she\u2019s given us multiple happy endings to finish it all off beautifully. This series remains one of my favourites, and I look forward to many rereads in the future.<\/p>\n

4 stars.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The ‘Burg series<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"For<\/a>\u00a0 \"At<\/a>\u00a0 \"Golden<\/a>\u00a0 \"Games<\/a>\u00a0 \"The<\/a>\u00a0 \"Hold<\/a><\/p>\n

For You (#1) <\/strong>(Colt & Feb)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Kindle Ebook<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Paperback<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0Audio<\/a><\/p>\n

At Peace (#2)<\/strong> (Joe & Vi)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Kindle Ebook<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Paperback<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0Audio<\/a><\/p>\n

Golden Trail (#3)<\/strong> (Layne & Rocky)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Kindle Ebook\u00a0<\/a> |\u00a0 Paperback<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0Audio<\/a><\/p>\n

Games of the Heart (#4) <\/strong>(Mike & Dusty)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Kindle Ebook\u00a0<\/a> |\u00a0 Paperback<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0Audio<\/a><\/p>\n

The Promise (#5) <\/strong>(Frankie & Benny)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Kindle Ebook<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Paperback<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0Audio<\/a><\/p>\n

Hold On (#6) <\/strong>(Merry & Cher)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Kindle Ebook<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Paperback<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0Audio<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Fore more KA awesomeness, check out our Kristen Ashley Author Spotlight<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Buy:\u00a0 Kindle Ebook\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0Paperback Review\u00a0 4 \u2018Farewell to the \u2018Burg\u2019 stars The \u2018Burg series is one of my favourite of Ms Ashley\u2019s, and I have been so excited for this book, while also very reluctant […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1305,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","yasr_overall_rating":4,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"Product","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,9,29],"tags":[22,48,101],"class_list":["post-1333","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-friends-to-lovers","category-romance","category-steamy","tag-kristen-ashley","tag-review","tag-the-burg"],"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":false,"span_bottom":false},"number_of_votes":0,"sum_votes":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/25664796-e1456544468332.jpg?fit=150%2C234&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7gaNL-lv","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1333","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1333"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1333\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1305"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1333"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1333"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1333"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}