{"id":46963,"date":"2019-10-28T08:00:39","date_gmt":"2019-10-28T12:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=46963"},"modified":"2019-10-28T06:06:53","modified_gmt":"2019-10-28T10:06:53","slug":"release-excerpt-arc-review-giveaway-hold-onto-hope-by-a-l-jackson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=46963","title":{"rendered":"Release, Excerpt, ARC Review & Giveaway: Hold Onto Hope by A.L. Jackson"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

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A best friends-to-lovers stand-alone romance from NYT\u00a0Bestselling Author A.L. Jackson<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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\u201cMy FAVORITE!! The love, the bond, the soul connection…. there will never be a love as destined and powerful and sweet and beautiful as the once in a lifetime love of Evan and Frankie\u00a0Leigh!!!!!!!!\u201d
\n<\/strong><\/em>~USA Today Bestselling Author Lauren Rowe<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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Amazon\u00a0<\/a> | \u00a0Paperback<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Audible<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n

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\u2713 Best Friends-to-Lovers<\/strong>
\n\u2713 Second Chance<\/strong>
\n\u2713 Single Dad<\/strong>
\n\u2713 All the Feels<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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\r\n <\/div><\/div><\/h4>\n
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Blurb<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A best friends-to-lovers, stand-alone romance from New York Times Bestselling Author, A.L. Jackson . . .<\/em><\/p>\n

Evan Bryant wasn’t your typical hero.
\nBut he was mine.
\nBroken by the worlds\u2019 standards, he was still the strongest boy I would ever know.
\nMy best friend. The boy I\u2019d given everything to. My heart, my body, and the promise of forever.
\nThe day I\u2019d needed him most, he walked away.
\nHe left me shattered and questioning the love I\u2019d thought we\u2019d shared.<\/p>\n

Three years later, I wasn\u2019t prepared for him to return to Gingham Lakes.
\nIt wouldn\u2019t have mattered if he still wasn\u2019t the most beautiful man I\u2019d ever seen.
\nMy fingers still would have ached to caress his skin.
\nMy body still would have begged to get lost in his touch.
\nAnd my heart . . . it would have always sung his name.
\nBut time changes things. With it, secrets that could ruin everything.
\nCan we find a way to love again, or have the fears of our past stolen the hope of our forever…<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/p>\n

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Add to Goodreads<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n

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Review<\/b><\/h4>\n

4.5 \u201cyou are my favorite\u201d<\/i> stars<\/b><\/p>\n

Oh, the feels! The epic, heartwrenching feels! I\u2019ve been so eagerly awaiting this story, and I absolutely devoured it. Evan and Frankie Leigh\u2019s beautiful second-chance, friends-to-lovers romance captured my heart, and I loved their story so much.<\/p>\n

This book is a standalone, but it\u2019s a spin off from the Fight For Me<\/i><\/a> series. Frankie Leigh and Evan were introduced as children in that series (Frankie is the daughter of Rex from Show Me the Way<\/a> and Evan is the son of Hope from Follow Me Back<\/a>, both a big part of their parent\u2019s stories and adorably irresistible on their own. They became instant best friends when they met, and grew up completely enmeshed in each other\u2019s worlds, setting the stage for this, their epic love story.<\/p>\n

Evan was born with a genetic heart defect. His health difficulties meant that he needed multiple surgeries, including a heart transplant, and resulted in him being deaf. His battles were a big part of Hope and Kale\u2019s book and he survived it all, but in his early 20s it all became too much and he took off and cut off all contact with his friends and family. Now, three years later, and just as unexpectedly as he left, he is back\u2026 and he is not alone.<\/p>\n

Frankie was left shattered when Evan left. The love of her life, he was her everything, and when he left she was left with just a letter, a broken heart and so many questions. She has tried so hard to move on, but with one glance at him she knows she hasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no amount of time that could ever erase who you are to me.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As old wounds are torn open once again, Evan begins to realise the magnitude of the mistake that he made in leaving, and oh, my heart! I was so devastated for all of the people that love him so dearly, and for Evan himself when he sees the damage he has caused. He vows to make it right, to make it up to the people he hurt so badly, and to win back the heart of the only girl he has ever loved.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere hasn\u2019t been a single day since the day I met you that I didn\u2019t love you, Frankie Leigh \u2026 You belong with me. Just like I belong with you.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But it won\u2019t be easy. Frankie is understandably terrified to trust that Evan won\u2019t leave her again, and though her heart aches for him, she tries to listen to her head and protect herself.<\/p>\n

But Evan is one determined man-in-love, and it\u2019s only a matter of time before their undeniable connection sucks them both in.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me love you.\u201d
\n\u2026\u201dAs long as you promise never to stop.\u201d
\n\u201cNever.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The love between these two is just amazing. You can feel<\/i> it! You can feel their connection, the bond of friendship and the deep, undying love that they have for each other. They are each other\u2019s whole worlds, and the passion, intensity and all-consuming need for each other just drips off the page.<\/p>\n

Reaching out, I signed against the scar on his chest where his beautiful heart hammered at his ribs. YOU ARE MINE.
\nEvan dropped his forehead to mine. \u201cYou are my everything.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So. Much. SWOOOOOOON!<\/p>\n

But there are secrets from the past between them that have the potential to break their hearts all over again. And danger is lurking, threatening everything that Evan and Frankie are building together.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a dramatic read that is full of feels, and I was sucked in from start to finish. We see glimpses of Evan and Frankie together over the years, helping us understand the depth of their connection, and they are just so beautiful together. We also get to see the couples from the Fight For Me<\/i> series, and I loved seeing them in their roles as parents to grown up children \u2013 still supporting them and being there for them in every way that they can, that was really special to see.<\/p>\n

Confession: I usually get a bit turned off by overly poetic, gushy writing, and I\u2019ve struggled with that in A.L. Jackson\u2019s more recent releases. Yeah, it was there again, with all of the metaphors and excessive emotion… Not a spoiler, but an example…

<\/span>Spoiler<\/div>
\n

Evan and I were a constellation. An intricate pattern that glimmered and twinkled in the deepest night. One that led you into the light like the sun breeching the horizon after you\u2019d spent years wandering in the dark.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

\u2026 But the more I got sucked into this book, the less it bothered me. I was so caught up in the love story, and I was experiencing everything right along with them that I just let go and went with it.<\/p>\n

This is a really beautiful story. Not the ideal path that you wanted these characters to have to go down, but there is this sense that it happened as it was supposed to happen, and I loved watching them work through it all and find their way back to each other<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m finished living my life without you in it.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I loved this one! 4.5 stars.<\/p>\n

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.<\/i><\/p>\n

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Hold on to Hope is a spin off from the Fight For Me series<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Meet Frankie and Evan as children in Show Me the Way <\/em>and Follow Me Back<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a0\u00a0\"\"\u00a0\u00a0\"\"\u00a0\u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

Show Me the Way (#1)<\/strong> (Rex & Rynna)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Kindle Ebook\u00a0<\/a> |\u00a0 Paperback<\/a><\/p>\n

Hunt Me Down (#1.5) <\/strong>(Broderick & Lillith)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon\u00a0<\/a> |\u00a0 Paperback<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Follow Me Back (#2) <\/strong>(Kale & Hope)
\n<\/strong>Review<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon\u00a0<\/a> |\u00a0 Paperback\u00a0<\/a> |\u00a0 Audio<\/a><\/p>\n

Lead Me Home (#3)<\/strong> (Ollie & Nikki)
\n<\/strong>Review<\/a>
\n<\/strong>Buy:\u00a0 Kindle Ebook<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Paperback<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Audio<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"Fight For Me: The Complete Collection<\/strong>
\nThe three full-length novels in one boxset!
\nBuy:\u00a0 Kindle Ebook\u00a0<\/a> |\u00a0 Paperback\u00a0<\/a> |\u00a0 Audio<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Excerpt<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Hold Onto Hope<\/strong><\/p>\n

Prologue<\/strong><\/p>\n

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M<\/span>oonlight poured in through the window where I leaned over the desk, soul twisted in two as I struggled with the decision that had to be made.<\/span><\/p>\n

Memories spun through my mind in the most violent storm.<\/span><\/p>\n

Battering and bruising.<\/span><\/p>\n

I felt chained by them. Forever tied to the past where I\u2019d been condemned.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019d tried to change it. Tried to fix it. But I\u2019d already caused more pain than one person should have to bear.<\/span><\/p>\n

The only thing I could do now was sever the ties.<\/span><\/p>\n

End this before it was too late.<\/span><\/p>\n

Loving her had been the easiest thing in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

Letting her go the most brutal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Every cell in my body wept with the sorrow of it as I leaned over the piece of paper.<\/span><\/p>\n

The words flowed over the page.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bitterness and regret and the little bit of hope she\u2019d left me with.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before I could do something selfish like change my mind, I stood, grabbed my bag from the floor, and tossed it over my shoulder.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then I walked out the door and I didn\u2019t look back.<\/span><\/p>\n

Because I knew there was no atonement for this sin.<\/span><\/p>\n

No amends that could rewrite what had been written in stone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nothing that could change who I was . .<\/span><\/p>\n

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Giveaway<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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\"\"<\/h4>\n

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To celebrate the release of Hold Onto Hope, A.L. Jackson is giving away a $100 Amazon Gift Card!<\/h4>\n

Enter Giveaway Here<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n

The Escapist Book Blog is not responsible for this giveaway<\/em><\/p>\n

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About the Author<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\"A.L. Jackson is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. She writes emotional, sexy, heart-filled stories about boys who usually like to be a little bit bad.<\/p>\n

Her bestselling series include\u00a0THE REGRET SERIES<\/a>,\u00a0CLOSER TO YOU<\/a>, and\u00a0BLEEDING STARS<\/a>\u00a0novels. Grab A.L. Jackson\u2019s latest novel, MORE OF YOU, the first stand-alone novel in her brand-new\u00a0CONFESSIONS OF THE HEART<\/a>\u00a0series.<\/p>\n

Her bestselling series include THE REGRET SERIES<\/a>,\u00a0CLOSER TO YOU<\/a>, BLEEDING STARS<\/a>, FIGHT FOR ME<\/a>, and CONFESSIONS OF THE HEART<\/a> novels.\u00a0\u00a0Grab A.L. Jackson\u2019s latest novel, HOLD ON TO HOPE, a best friends-to-lovers stand-alone\u00a0romance.<\/p>\n

If she\u2019s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.<\/p>\n

Be sure not to miss new releases and sales from A.L. Jackson \u2013 Sign up to receive her\u00a0NEWSLETTER<\/a> or text \u201caljackson\u201d to 33222 to receive short but sweet updates on all the important news.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

FACEBOOK<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0FB READER GROUP<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0AMAZON
\n<\/a>BOOKBUB<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0TWITTER<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0INSTAGRAM<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n

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Check out our\u00a0A.L. Jackson Author Spotlight<\/a>\u00a0for more great reads!<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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\"\"<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/p>\n

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

  A best friends-to-lovers stand-alone romance from NYT\u00a0Bestselling Author A.L. Jackson   \u201cMy FAVORITE!! The love, the bond, the soul connection…. there will never be a love as destined and powerful and sweet and beautiful […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":46251,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","yasr_overall_rating":4.5,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"Product","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,49,25,9,24,1036,29],"tags":[35,59,634,48],"class_list":["post-46963","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-feeeeeeels","category-friends-to-lovers","category-romance","category-second-chance-romance","category-single-parent","category-steamy","tag-a-l-jackson","tag-arc","tag-release","tag-review"],"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\/2019\/09\/Hold-on-to-Hope.jpg?fit=200%2C300&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7gaNL-cdt","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46963","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=46963"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46963\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/46251"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=46963"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=46963"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=46963"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}