BOOK INFORMATION
Hold Me
Close
The O'Leary's #6
The O'Leary's #6
By: Shannyn Schroeder
Releasing July 21, 2015
Kensington
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BOOK SUMMARY
Leave it
to the O’Learys to make romance a family affair…
Maggie
O’Leary is finally coming home to Chicago. After more than a year in Ireland,
she’s ready to make a plan for her future. But first, she’ll have to confront
the tragedy that scarred her so deeply. Asking for a job in the family bar is
the first step, and it’s one her family isn’t entirely happy about. At least
Shane Callahan, her best friend in the world, is behind her a hundred percent.
He’s also a hundred percent more lovable than she remembered…
Shane is
determined to keep Maggie safe, even if it means working three jobs and giving
up sleep to be around during her shifts at the bar. But when Maggie boldly
tells him she needs more than a loyal friend now, Shane knows a single night
together won’t be possible. The idea of spirited Maggie in his bed is
electrifying, but will she believe he wants to give her his heart, too?
TBR/BUY L INKS
EXCERPT
They ate their dinner and watched the movie,
with Maggie curled up close to him. They laughed and joked about the
characters, and when closing credits came across the screen, he leaned over.
Maggie didn’t say anything, but her eyes
widened. This was it, the moment he’d wanted for a long time. His fingers
wrapped around the back of her neck and her pulse throbbed against his palm.
Only her rapid heartbeat let him know she wanted this, because the rest of her
was stock-still. Her eyes told him she wasn’t afraid.
“Relax,” he whispered against her lips.
And she did. She closed her eyes and her
lips softened. He brushed against them, her breath quickening. He tried to
follow his own advice, but there was no turning back now. This was no friendly
kiss meant to comfort. This one conveyed his lust. He’d wanted this for so long, he almost
couldn’t control himself.
She was everything he imagined. Soft and
warm, gentle and open.
His heart crashed against his ribs and his
blood thundered through his system, urging for more. But this was Maggie, his
friend and soon-to-be-lover. She deserved better, so he kept the kiss soft and
slow, as slow as he could bear.
***
This was it. Shane Callahan was kissing her
and oh my freaking God was it good. A giggle bubbled up but was squashed by how
good the kiss was. She tried to focus to remember what it was like to be kissed
like this, but she couldn’t concentrate.
His tongue ran along her lip and eased into her mouth. Shane was gentle
and slow, but he controlled every move, every shift, every second of pleasure.
She grabbed his shirt and held on, needing
to pull him closer, to feel his body touching hers. She felt the tingle of
excitement and wanted to hold that feeling. Shane deepened the kiss, his tongue
swirling around hers. While his hands stayed near her face, touching her jaw,
her neck, her hair, hers roamed down his chest.
Time ceased to exist. The only air was the
breath they shared.
By the time he pulled away, she was pliant
and beyond relaxed, yet her nerves still thrummed with excitement. Maggie
opened her eyes.
Shane’s thumb stroked her cheek. “You okay?”
“More than.” She leaned forward, wanting
more.
Shane took the hint and shifted closer,
angling his head and capturing her mouth again. Part of her wanted to feel
silly. This was Shane, her buddy. She never knew he could do this. She imagined
an awkward fumbling between them. Not this kind of simple magic.
Her heart raced and then her blood weighed
heavy in her veins as lust took over. His fingers threaded into her hair and
pushed it aside. His lips left hers and he kissed a trail across her jaw to her
ear and down her neck. His hands finally—finally!—began to move over her body.
He skimmed down her sides, barely brushing the sides of her boobs.
She gripped his head as he continued to lick
and suck at her neck, his hands spanning her rib cage before they moved up and
pressed against her breasts. Her nipples were hard points, sticking out,
begging for attention. Using his whole hand, Shane kneaded one breast and then
the other while he returned to her mouth just in time to swallow a moan.
Her entire body hummed and thrummed. If she
had never vibrated with need before, she knew exactly what it meant at this
moment. She tugged at his T-shirt and pulled it up to reveal his tight muscles
and line of hair leading below his waistband. Desire pooled low in her belly
and she welcomed it.
She trusted Shane to make this happen. She
shoved at his pants, barely getting past his hipbones before he shot away from
her.
“Whoa. Slow down, there.”
“What? No!” She reached for him, but he
pulled his hips away.
He grabbed her hands and held them.
“Maggie.” His voice was strangled. Inhaling deeply, he leaned his forehead
against hers. “Slow, Mags. I’m not stripping you on the couch.”
“We can go to my bed. It’s not that far.”
The bulge in his pants made her mouth water.
He sighed, then kissed her cheek. “Good
night, Maggie.”
He stood.
Wait. What? He was walking away? She jumped
off the couch to follow him. “Shane Callahan.” He looked over his shoulder.
“Get your butt back over here and finish what you started.”
“I will. Just not tonight.”
“Why the hell not? What’s the point of
getting me all hot and bothered and then walking away?”
He walked back to where she stood and held
her hand. “You trust me, right?”
She nodded.
“We do this my way.” He kissed her again,
this time on the mouth. Their lips interlocked and she still wanted more, but
he pulled away. Again.
Damn him.
He walked to the door, and as he opened it,
facing the hallway, he said, “One more thing. Don’t finish without me.”
The man was crazy. He got her horny and now
he expected her not to get off at all?
When she didn’t respond, he turned to face
her. “I mean it. You agreed to do this my way.”
“You’re insane.” She crossed the room and
poked his chest. His very hard, muscled chest. “You don’t get to control my
body. I can do whatever the hell I want.”
He smirked. “But what you want is me.
Whatever you can do alone won’t be enough. Trust me. It’ll be worth the wait.”
He didn’t wait for a response. He walked
across the hall to his apartment, leaving her gaping at him from her door. He
waved with a smile as he opened his door.
She slammed hers shut. Unfortunately, it
barely took the edge off her frustration.
CAT'S REVIEW
"Hold Me Close" by Shannyn Schroeder. Maggie and Shane's story. Maggie has returned home after living away for a while. Shane, her best friend who is in love with her, does all he can to help her. Maggie suffered a tragedy in the past and is working hard to move. She asks Shane for help. Shane is the epitome of a good friend and all around great guy. He goes above and beyond to make sure she is safe and is ok. Maggie, still struggling to overcome her past, and leans on Shane to help her. At times, I grew a bit annoyed at Maggie. I felt she didn't treat Shane that great and he would move heaven and earth for her. I get she was dealing with a lot, but still, it irked me. Except for that, I did like the rest of her. The two of them together were fun and easy. It was so obvious they were meant to be together, despite her not realizing it. I also enjoyed the interactions with the rest of her family too. This is book #6 of the series, I would recommend reading the others as it helps to learn the other characters we meet and the background. Personally, I haven't yet read them but intend to - I really want to learn all about the O'Leary family! Ms. Schroeder has written a wonderful story that had me feeling good and laughing, but also was a bit of an emotional ride, having me shed some tears and feel the hurt the characters did. I look forward to reading and following Ms. Schroeder in the future. (received copy for honest review)
★★★★
AUTHOR INFO
Shannyn Schroeder is the author
of the O’Leary series, contemporary romances centered around a large Irish-American
family in Chicago and the new Hot & Nerdy series about 3 nerdy friends and
their last spring break. When she’s not wrangling her three kids or writing,
she watches a ton of TV and loves to bake cookies.
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