Take My Hand

Take My Hand #1

by Nicola Haken

Librarian's note: Alternate cover edition of ISBN13 9781301960408.

Twenty-four year old Dexter Michaels has arrived in the UK for a fresh start - leaving everything and everyone he knows behind in the states. Determined to put right some of the wrongs he’ll never be able to forgive himself for making and make his Aunt Sarah – the only person left who still believes in him - proud, he lands in London with the intention of working hard, getting his degree and keeping himself to himself. He can’t destroy anybody else that way…

His heart and his body have other ideas however when he finds himself sitting next to nineteen year old Emily Barton in his Psychology class. Moving down south to find her own New Life, Emily is shy, smart and beautiful – everything Dexter knows he should stay away from… everything he knows would be too easy for him to break.

But she makes him feel things he’d forgotten even existed. She makes him laugh, smile, care… forget. Without her trying, and without him realizing, Emily has wound her way into the one place he swore to keep locked away forever – his heart. But can she stay there when she discovers the dark past he’s so determined to keep hidden from her? Or will he destroy her too, just like he always expected?

(Not suitable for under 18's due to language, drug/alcohol abuse and sexual content)

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Contemporary, College, Contemporary Romance, M F Romance, New Adult Romance

ebook

First published September 10, 2013

About the author

Romance Author.

I live in not-so-sunny Rochdale, England (true northern girl!) with my five kids - one of whom many refer to as my husband. I write about life, and love, and all the beauty and angst that come with them.

All in all I'm just an ordinary gal with an addiction to reading, tattoos, and Pepsi Max. I don't like even numbers or metal spoons, and I'm allergic to exercise.

Please note: I don't check in here often. If you would like to contact me, please get in touch via Facebook, Twitter, or email - nicola@nicolahaken.co.uk

Reviews

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I think I love English writers! The dialog and slang absolutely crack me up! :) Review to come with my tour post on 10/23

**FULL REVIEW**

Seeing things from different POV always grabs my attention. I’m going to approach this review a little differently because this story truly needs to be told from both sides…that’s what makes it so good.

“I don’t want to be loved and healed and cared for. I don’t deserve it. And she wouldn’t deserve to have to try.” –Dexter

“I’m nineteen years old and I want to start living. I want to see things and do thing that I’ve only ever been able to dream about.” –Emily

The classic American bad-boy and the shy, naïve British girl. I love it. Dexter Michaels is anything but nice and he’s the first to admit it. He classifies women with candy…I’ll let you decide how they would break down (or you could just pick up the book—so worth it): Marshmallows, M&M’s, and Tootsie Pops. Yep! And you can guess which type of “candy” he tries to steer clear of too…until Emily walks into his bar. Shy, beautiful, and obviously very uncomfortable, but something about her just calls to him. Does he want that? Absolutely not. Can he stay away? Nope. Emily just might be the girl that finally breaks the candy mold…

“That was probably the longest conversation Emily and I had ever shared. In fact that was probably the longest conversation I’d shared with anyone since I moved here. It felt…refreshing. Emily interested me. I think she may be the first person beside Jared who’s not given up trying to talk to me even when I couldn’t have acted less interest in becoming acquainted with them. She’s sweet and timid and too darn cute. I also suspect that she’s never been told how special she is. It’s clear by the way she carries herself – the nervous smile, the way she looks to the floor when anyone first speaks to her, the way she twists the same fiery-red curl round her finger when she’s around lots of people…”–Dexter

“Being anything more that friends with Dexter was never EVER going to happen for numerous reasons…Did I mention my vajayjay is broken?” –Emily

Finding a middle ground with these two isn’t easy. Both carry a painful past that neither wants to share; but as they begin to trust in one another, those layers break away, leaving a gooey center with more feeling than just words alone. Emily can’t fathom how she can feel so much with Dex when she’s never felt anything (anywhere) with anyone before. With the help of her best friend, Rachel, Em is on her way to a new start, complete with a list of tasks to tinker off. I seriously wish I had a BFF like Rachel. She’s one amazing and loving girl, with the most badass exterior. And the accents—oh! The accents! I LOVE THEM! Okay, back on topic…Dexter.

Dex is walking on new territory with Em. Not sure how to handle what he’s feeling, his natural inclination is to run. Unfortunately, she isn’t going anywhere; not that he wants her to. Patience is key with their friendship…until that too wears thin, causing a shift that changes both Dex and Em in ways they weren’t quite prepared for.

“As a more intense look of bewilderment invaded her eyes I found myself praying to a god I don’t even believe in to give me a sign that I could do this. That I could have her, take care of her, love her…without destroying her.” –Dexter

Guilt, fear, grief and flat-out selfishness finally come forward as Dex struggles to keep Emily close enough to fall, but not too close that he can’t get away…what he never counted on was that she had fallen a long time ago, along with him and there was no turning back now. No matter what happens, Emily is his and he is hers. All he has to do is trust her enough to stick around but after what he’s done, he’s not sure love will be enough…

“And so I spent the rest of the night I prayed would never happen, drinking myself into a pit of unresponsiveness. By the end of it…the excruciating pain detonating inside my chest, was just a dull, throbbing ache. I’ve lost her. I’ve lost both of them.” –Dexter

WOW! Didn’t see that coming did you? Me neither and my heart broke…on a level I hope never to experience. Haken did a beautiful job with this story, but I have to admit, I’m a little pissed that I am left hanging! Seriously, I knew something like this would happen…all the best stories have that one extra little gut-punch before the screen goes black! The struggles both Emily and Dexter go through are absolutely believable and I found myself cheering them on in one instant and seriously swearing under my breath the next. I love Jared and Rachel (cannot wait to see what’s been going on with them) and what happens in the next installment, Hold on Tight…because I am holding…impatiently…until January.

**4.25 Accented Stars**

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC provided by author for honest review.

Take My Hand was a touching tale that deals with starting anew, finding love, guilt, secrets, and acceptance. Can love be enough to save someone who is drowning in guilt? Can our past sins and secrets be forgiven? When do we truly learn to accept things we cannot changed?

"I'm going to make you see how far you've come and what a good man you are. I don't know how yet..but I will."

Twenty- four year old Dexter Michael arrives to the UK for a fresh new start leaving his past secrets behind in Ohio. He is a troubled young man who hides his burden and past by having casual sex with women. Dexter categorizes women into three candy groups: The Marshmallow, The M &M's, and the The Tootsie Pops.

Marshmallows are cute and fluffy on the outside but essentially offer no sustenance and they're frivolous - easy to please. It usually only takes a half-hearted smile and a compliment about their hair to get them in the sack. Then there's M&M's - they're pretty tough - hard to crack without a good firm bite. They're usually intelligent and need to be treated as such. There's no point in trying to sweet talk them, they can smell your game four miles away therefore your intentions must be clear from the start. M&M's give you a decent conversation and agree on a bit of fun and no further. Then there's Tootsie Pops. Tootsie's are dangerous and must be avoided at all costs. They are typically M&M's but with an added dash of compassion. For Dexter, he doesn't want a tootsie since he feels he doesn't deserve a woman like that because he feels unworthy to be loved and healed.

Emily Barton is a young naive 19 year old Brit, who is starting her first year of University in London. To kick off her first taste of independence, she and her best friend, Rachel decides to go to a pub, which happens to be where Dexter is bar-tending. For Dex, Emily is a Tootsie. She makes him feel things he’d forgotten even existed. She makes him laugh, smile, care and most importantly, forget his past and guilt. Soon friendship turns into a relationship. Without realizing it, Emily has found her way into Dex's heart. Dark secrets are exposed and soon Emily finds herself at a crossroad in their relationship. Is her love enough to erase all Dexter's guilt?



My thoughts:
The beginning of the book started off strong but towards the middle, the story-line was just dragging and there were scenes that didn't flow. At times, I didn't need to know what each character was doing (ie. Emily drinking coffee, Who poured what drink, What did she order, What their wearing) I felt the author could have edited these out since they weren't important or necessary to the story-line. As for secondary characters, I wasn't a big fan of Rachel. I just found Rachel to be annoying. I know Rachel was suppose to be this tough no nonsense girl, but I just found her rude and crass. Originally, I was going to give the book a 3 star rating but in the last 15% of the book, I was surprised to find out Dexter's secret. It was totally unexpected and I applaud the author for surprising me. So, my overall rating of the book would have to be between a 3 and 3.5 stars.

** There is a cliffhanger so readers will have to wait and see what's in store for Emily and Dexter in book 2**

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Tortured-&-Beautiful-Stars! ☆☆☆☆☆
Whoa! F#%kk!! What an ending! Im still breathing funny after what i just read!
This book is just another reason why i love Nicola Haken! 'Take My Hand' was jam packed with so much emotion, my heart felt like it was on a rollercoaster. I laughed & smiled mostly, but there were moments when i got choked up and i even got dry mouth from gasping so much. Lol. I loved every word on every page!

“Emily knows about the girl you screwed last weekend. Turns out she’s in your psychopath class or something.”
“Sociology,” I interjected before shaking my head....” -HAHAhahahaaaaa! ...psychopath ...heehee. :)

I fell for Dexter from page 1, and even though he has his issues...and i think he might be a little bi-polar, he still stole my heart with all his hotness and swagger. :)
I loved it when Rachel referred to Dexter as 'the American' ....it made him sound hotter for some reason..at least to me.
I loved Emily's character as well. Even though i had to google translate what some of words she used meant. (Ex: minger means fugly or ugly?) ...huh.
But i really disliked Rachel and Jared, and for separate reasons. Jared was just an alcoholic jerk. He's the guy you f#%k once because he's confident and your curious what he's like in bed. But right after sex you regret it and wish you had a fancy time machine.
And dont get me started on Rachel. Its not even that i dislike her, i just cant stand her character. She got me so mad every time she called Emily 'ho', instead of using her f#%kin name! And it was in every sentence she spoke! Come on b!tch! I know she's your best friend and all, and she'll put up with it but it was just plain rude. And she was always so crude. Its like her mouth had no filter. What ever stupid or dirty thought popped into her head, she spoke. And her stupid excuse for her not wanting to be treated differently just because she was in a wheelchair is no excuse for acting like a c#nt to every person you meet.
This book had only two sex scenes but i look at it as, quality over quantity, because it was so good. :) i loved it when Dexter would tease Emily to tell him what she wanted him to do. So hot!
I loved the flow of the story too. I never got bored or tired of hoping for the next plot twist. Every chapter had me biting my lip, guessing.

It first half of the book was so romantic, it melted my heart. The anticipation of Emily and Dexter falling in love was the best part. :) i felt like such a girl, wishing is was in Emily's footsteps.
Speaking of Emily, i love how Nicola Haken portrays the heroines in her books. Even the shy ones are still strong women. Despite the demons that haunted both Emily and Dexter's past, it was great to see them taking them on together.
Cant wait for book Two! :)

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read Nicola Haken’s Saving Amy, I was quite certain I would love “Take My Hand” as the blurb already sucked me in. But to be honest, I was still expecting a generic NA novel plot with a damaged characters that upon finding one another forget all their woes and pain and have a happily ever after. “Take My Hand” couldn’t be further from a generic story. It was fresh, original and extremely charming. The story and the characters won my heart in an instant and made me wish that I could hang out with them.

Nineteen year old Emily moves with her best friend Rachel to London in order to attend university. Having been sheltered and protected and never really experienced the real world she feels a bit like a fish out of water. But she wants to finally experience life and live it, despite being shy and insecure and scared of the big world and social interactions. She soon starts making friends and turning heads but it isn’t until Dexter that she feels herself being truly interested in someone. Somehow is off-putting and distant behaviour isn’t putting her off but intrigues her. Being as naive and innocent (although thankfully not a virgin) as Emily is, it leads to the most adorable situations and conversations and will make you blush right alongside with her. What I really loved about her was that despite being naive and innocent, she was extremely likebale and adorable. I found her to be endearing and I loved to see how she started to find her own strength and confidence. How she learns to stand up for herself. What I really enjoyed was that she did not play games, didn’t lie. It might have been down to her innocence or naivety but she more often than not wore her feelings on her sleeve and was honest – even when faced with the risk of getting hurt. Only through the course of the book we find that she has some terrible secrets that have been haunting her in her dreams for years and that she hasn’t shared with anyone.

Dexter on the other hand….is an American in London, running from a past and hoping to make amends for the things he has done and people he has hurt. He spends his days and evenings going to university and working, while the nights are spend with pleasing the female population – much to their dismay only for one night. He does not let anyone get close, thinking he is toxic to those that care about him. What he did not take into consideration was meeting Emily. Although he tries to keep at a distance, she manages to break through his armour piece by piece to find a sweet and caring guy underneath that makes other laugh and is considerate and thoughtful. But there is also a wilder side to him that makes him a passionate, sexy-as-hell alpha male that is cheeky and cocky. Oh despite him behaving like a dumbass, I couldn’t help but totally crush on him. As he lets Emily closer and closer, he can’t manage to hide his darker side but contrary to his belief, it does not send her running. Being the honest and sweet person she is, she wants to help him and be there for him, a reaction he feels undeserving off but that makes him care for Emily even more.
There is just one secret he cannot share with her – knowing she would never speak to him again if she knew.

They cannot fight their attraction for one another and end up giving in but their relationship is anything but cosy and fluffy. Dexter’s problems and past keep interfering and no matter how hard Emily tries, she can’t heal his broken soul. When things take a dramatic turn, Dexters problems and demons threaten to ruin the best thing he ever had in his life. Will he push Emily away too far for her to come back to him? Will she be there for him and see the man she loves and not a monster once she knows the truth? Will things that are out of their control destroy them? You need to read it yourself to find out but be prepared for a hell of a cliffhanger. When I got to the end of the book after all those damn twists and turns and bumps in the road that the story offered, I actually emailed the author that is an evil sadistic woman for making me wait for the next book. But this is one of those cliffhangers that you hate to love. It is so well done, so good….that it makes you anticipate the next book even more.

Nicola Haken’s writing style is superb and I enjoyed the British terms and expressions. It gave the book an additional charm. The supporting characters were done extremely well. I can’t imagine a single person that won’t love and adore Rachel to pieces. She is a hoot and I just couldn’t get enough of her ramblings and dialogues. The fact that Rachel is in a wheelchair and has the taking-shit-from-no-one attitude makes her even more endearing. I just love what Nicola has done with this character and find it extremely winning that she chose to include a disabled character. Jared is quite a fun character as well. A spoiled, but good guy. I cannot wait to learn more about them in the future.

The inner ramblings of Emily and Dexter are at times extremely entertaining, at other times heartbreaking. And I loved every moment of it. The fact that Dexter isn’t just healed and put back together by love makes this book stand out. He still makes mistakes, he still disappoints and he is still hurt and broken at the end – but now he has someone that loves him despite all of those things.

5+ wonderfully British, original, endearing and heart-breaking stars.

[Keeley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to be a beta reader for this book and all I can say is... wow.

I'm not sure where to start because so many things happened and I don't want to spoil it for anyone! I'll start with Emily. She's had a pretty crappy upbringing with a mother who ignores her most of the time because she's too busy entertaining her posh friends and a father who's kind of indifferent to everything. We don't actually get to meet them in this book and I hope they make an appearance in the next books.

But all is good because Emily has grown up with her best friend Rachel who I absolutely LOVE! She's loud, outspoken, tattooed, super confident and has a dirty mouth! She's also in a wheelchair but this doesn't keep her from doing ANYTHING. She is seriously one of the most fun 'book friends' I've ever met.

"Stop being a miserable bitch and make yourself look fuckable.”

“Fuckable?” How the hell would I know what 'fuckable' looked like?

“Like, wear something that shows a bit of flesh, stuff some tissue in your bra to bulk out those bee stings of yours, straighten your hair… that kind of thing.”

Then we have Dexter. Now Dexter really HAS had a hard time of it. I won't even attempt to tell you about it because it will ruin it but by coming to the UK he's effectively running away from his demons. Or trying to. I swear this man made my heart break about three million times! His relationship with Emily was lovely to read. Dexter feels the need to protect others from himself and at first he is withdrawn, almost to the point of arrogance. But Emily kind of gets thrown into his path under a variety of different circumstances and soon we see a genuine friendship start to blossom.

“You’re wrong you know…”

“About what?” she asked, perplexity forcing her eyebrows together.

“About not knowing me. I don’t quite know how it’s happened, but you can trust me when I say that you know me better than anyone else in the entire fucking world. You’ve no idea how much I needed this,” I said, motioning between us with one hand. “Needed a friend. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had, doll.”

I don't think it's too much of a spoiler to say the more time they spend together the closer they become. And when they do.... wow. That's when the story really gets going. There's twists, turns and a broken man. I love Dexter. Like actually LOVE him. He doesn't think he deserves Emily yet he's so sweet to her. As the reader I could tell how much he loves her and I just wanted to slap it into him that he deserves to be loved too! And believe me there are some super swoon worthy lines from him too!


“I’ve waited to say this to you because I wanted to feel you fall apart when you heard it. I wanted you to feel me giving myself to you while I said the words.”

I started to move again, slowly working us towards the point of no return.

“I need you look into my eyes and feel how true the words are when they pour from my mouth. And I need you to believe that I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life when I say…” I drove into her faster, harder. I pounded her until the bed started to shake and she started to tighten and tremble beneath me. “I love you, Emily,” I declared, driving into her for the last time and feeling like I would never recover from this intensity of pleasure.

Then, breathing heavily, I collapsed onto her chest.

I won't go any further than this because the last part of the book exposes a HUGE secret which I didn't see coming even for a second. A secret which made my heart ache for Dexter a million times over left me unsure how I'm going to survive without having the next book in my hands right NOW!

I highly recommend pouncing on this book the second it's released and devouring it whole! It's worth every one of my five stars and then some. And Nicola if you're reading this... get a move on with book 2 I need it now!!
 

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review*

I. Loved. This. Book.

No really, I loved this book. I have been reading a lot of heavy-themed books lately so I was looking for something light and that might restore my faith in humanity. Take My Hand did exactly that. This is your classic love story; the difference is that Ms. Haken has created characters that are so well developed they really come to life. Not only are they likeable, but they are relatable. There are so many different elements we are presented with; death, addiction, parents, school…and Ms. Haken has tackled each in a way that elicits understanding and emotion.

Emily is a sheltered 19 year old who is getting ready to start university classes. She has moved to London from her small, more rural town with her disabled best friend, Rachel. Emily has been sheltered her entire life; she has never dated nor was she allowed to have friends outside of her relationship with Rachel. She has a strained relationship with her parents, for reasons that we find out along the way, but is very close to her brother Chris (who is also estranged from their parents). Knowing that this is a chance to start a new life for herself, Emily is given a to do list of activities she should accomplish in the next year. Number one is Get Wasted, number fourteen is Do Something Reckless, you get the idea. Instead of leading a free-for-all of debauchery, Emily finds herself falling in love with Dexter, a guy she met in a pub, who is also a fellow student.

Dexter is a moody American who has also gone to London for a new start. He is nearly antisocial and uses women only for sex. Circumstances cause Emily & Dexter to spend more time together and they find themselves developing a strong friendship. As that friendship grows, Dexter realizes Emily is different than any other woman he’s met before. But demons from his past keep him from pursuing a relationship with her.

Not only do we see the development of the friendship between Emily and Dexter, we see Emily grow as an individual. She was once meek, mild, and overly apologetic but as the story progresses, we see her maturing, becoming a woman that is capable of making her own decisions and accepting the responsibility of them.

My only issue with Take My Hand is we’re left with a cliffhanger. It does not necessarily detract from the story, by the end I felt as though a lot was resolved, but I am eager to know what Emily & Dexter are going to do next! Take My Hand is the first in a series of four books; the next, Hold On Tight, is expected to be released in January 2014.

I give Take My Hand five stars. It was well written, entertaining, and a fast and easy read. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down!

[CeCe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not care for this one.

The BFF always calling Emily a "ho" was ridiculous. Plus, I am so tired about reading about the BFF who always push their friends to hook up with random guys. The list was stupid. I felt the story revolved too much with the BFF instead of the hero. Then the hero's nickname "doll" sounded forced.

You may love this one, but it did not work for me.

[Kate Poulter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading take my hand (take my hand #1) I Loved the banter between the friends I found Rachel was very funny. Everyone can relate to having a close caring mate with a filthy mouth. This story finishes on a cliff hanger but luckily I have Hold on tight (take my hand #2) to read and find out what happens next for Dexter & Emily.

[Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Characters- I loved Emily and Dexter. They were perfect opposites but similar, I know oxymoron right, but it's the truth. They were perfect together. Jared and Rachel were pretty funny and well written supporting characters.
Plot/Storyline- Story was great with great twists and I loved that both Emily and Dexter were flawed.
Steam Factor- Dexter is FREAKING HOT AS HELL!!! Who doesn't love a man with his man parts pierced?! And boy can that guy please a girl. Phew!!
Cover- Cover is very clean and beautiful. Love it!!
Cliffhanger- YES!!!!! Next book comes out JANUARY 2014
Overall- I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to others. Great job Nicola Haken!!



Let me just start by saying that this book took me for a ride that I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved how Emily was the shy girl but was a very strong character when it came to Dexter. I loved her honesty and selflessness. She was very relatable and the fact that Nicola added great shout outs to other books, which I TOTALLY loved and read myself, made me feel like Emily and I could totally be friends. It was fun to read the names, Dean Holder and Travis Maddox, and relate to losing myself in a book just as Emily was doing. I just thought that was such a neat touch and made me happy.

It was nice to see the relationship between Emily and Dexter grow and develop. Watching them feel attracted to each other but constantly denying that feeling made the transition from friend to more really enjoyable. It was believable. Each of them have baggage and find solace in each other when confronting these demons.

Dexter holds a secret inside of him that keeps him from pursuing love and happiness, but Emily is his kryptonite. He can not resist her and watching the struggle between them was enjoyable because Emily was always there for Dex, no matter how hard he pushed her away. They really balanced each other out.

The supporting characters, Rachel (Emily's best friend) and Jared (Dexter's only friend), were a great source of support for the leading characters and they also provided humor and sideline drama, which was enjoyable and laughable. The only issue I had was Rachel's constant need to refer to Emily as Ho; it was really the only name she referred to her as. She never used her actual name and this made me a little stand-offish to Rachel, since Emily was anything but a ho and it's just not a term I would use for a friend, but that's the only hang up I've had in the book.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a book that includes a swoon worthy bad boy, a sweet yet strong lead girl, two funny supporting characters, and secrets that make you keep turning pages to see what happens next and what the answers will be. It was also nice to read that the demons Emily and Dexter are fighting are legitimately serious issues that would certainly explain their behaviors. I really don't enjoy reading books where the secret is so silly and you come away feeling like the characters were so ridiculous for making such a big deal out of the situation. You will not find that problem in this book. The issues at hand are sad and would cause anyone to shut themselves off and consume themselves in self hatred and guilt. But the story of Emily and Dexter surviving these issues with each other is a great story and I look forward to reading the continuation of their story this January when the second Nicola Haken's Take My Hand series book, Hold on Tight, come out. Until then, Thank you Nikola Hanken for allowing me to take this journey. Bravo!!

Favorite Quotes:

"Seconds later I caught Jared's eye and so I cocked my head and set my face into a firm scowl which I intended to read 'if you value your balls get your ass back here NOW.'"

"Jesus, I thought I was an unsociable person. This chick made Adolf Hitler look like Mother freakin' Teresa."

"This girl was definitely a Tootsie. Her friend? Well she was a whole new breed I hadn't ever come across before. Maybe a Snickers- completely fucking nuts."

"But to be honest I can't seem to stop myself wanting to whip out my Kindle and get back to Dean Holder."

"You every seen one of those shows about dog rescue pounds? You know, the ones where they find an emaciated dog tied to an old gate just minutes from death and then they take it back, give it a bath and fee it it's first meal in three months? Well then you'll know what they look like when they get their mouths round that food- the way they vacuum that shit up without stopping to take a breath. Yeah, well that's how Emily eats- and it's freakin' adorable."

"Emily is like no other person I've ever met. There is no confectionary category for her- she's moade up of the most delicious parts of every piece of candy ever invented. Somehow, every second I spend with her she amazes me a little more. I can do 'this' with her. I have to."

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

***ARC given in exchange for an honest review***


Dexter Michael is a 24 year old college guy coming to London from a town in Ohio. All he wanted was a fresh start in England. Wanting to leave all his deep dark secrets behind in Ohio. Dexter is a troubled young man. He hides his feelings and doesn’t get close to women. He just wants casual sex. No strings attached. Dexter categorizes the women he sleeps with into three candy groups: The Marshmallow, The M &M's, and The Tootsie Pops.

1. The Marshmallows are cute and fluffy on the outside but essentially offer no sustenance and they're frivolous - easy to please. It usually only takes a half-hearted smile and a compliment about their hair to get them in the sack.

2. Then there's M&M's - they're pretty tough - hard to crack without a good firm bite. They're usually intelligent and need to be treated as B>such. There's no point in trying to sweet talk them, they can smell your game four miles away therefore your intentions must be clear from the start. M&M's give you a decent conversation and agree on a bit of fun and no further.

3. Then there's Tootsie Pops. Tootsie's are dangerous and must be avoided at all costs. They are typically M&M's but with an added dash of compassion. For Dexter, he doesn't want a tootsie since he feels he doesn't deserve a woman like that because he feels unworthy to be loved and healed.

I actually LOVED Dexter’s character. So many times while reading Take my Hand he reminded me of Drew Evans from Tangled. He is a pretty funny guy at times. He is sweet and patient. But Dexter has some secrets. Damn if those secrets didn’t tear my heart in two. Dexter broke my heart on more then one occasion while I was reading Take My Hand.

Emily Barton is a young naïve 19 year old girl from a small town. She is starting her first year of University in London. She is there with her best friend, Rachel. Rachel is a disabled. In a wheelchair since she was young. I LOVED Rachel’s character. She is so hilarious. She is crude and rude. But she LOVES Emily. I LOVED Emily also. She is sweet and innocent. She has more patience than most people. She is strong and accepting. Emily and Rachel go to a pub one evening. Its there where she meets Dexter.

Dexter sees Emily as a Tootsie pop. A girl he should definitely steer clear of. She makes him feel things. Things he believed he could ever feel. Soon their friendship turns into a relationship. I LOVED the connection Dexter had with Emily. I enjoyed how they were friends and slowly fell in love. The sex scenes were SMOKING HOT!!!!

I was on an emotional rollercoaster while reading Take My Hand. You will smile and laugh. You will cry and be so drained by the end. We are also left with a cliffhanger at the end. I am looking forward to seeing what happens with Dexter and Emily in Hold On Tight. Hold My Hand is a definite 5 star read.

Favorite Quotes:

"I'm going to make you see how far you've come and what a good man you are. I don't know how yet. But I will." --Emily

“All I know is when I’m around you – even now, arguing like crazy – I’ve never felt more alive. You make me feel safe. You make me laugh. You make me cry. You make me feel so many different things and it’s exciting, overwhelming and heart breaking all at the same time….”

“Anyone can get lost on the wrong path, Dex. It’s whether you have the courage to turn around that’s important.” ---Emily

“Dexter, choosing between living with or without you is the equivalent choosing between daylight and oxygen. Although, living in darkness would be difficult, living without oxygen would be impossible. You are my oxygen. I really need you believe that.” ~ Emily

“I don’t want to be loved and healed and cared for. I don’t deserve it. And she wouldn’t deserve to have to try.” –Dexter

“As a more intense look of bewilderment invaded her eyes I found myself praying to a god I don’t even believe in to give me a sign that I could do this. That I could have her, take care of her, love her…without destroying her.” –Dexter

“And so I spent the rest of the night I prayed would never happen, drinking myself into a pit of unresponsiveness. By the end of it…the excruciating pain detonating inside my chest, was just a dull, throbbing ache. I’ve lost her. I’ve lost both of them.” –Dexter

[Anny hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was provide a copy of the series Take My Hand by the author for an honest review.

Holy Smoke I just finish reading all four book of this series ( Take My Hand, Hold On Tight, Lean On Me, and Never Let Go ). And I love every single one of them, since I fisnih all four books I decide to write a little about each book in my review.

I felt in love with this series from the first page of the first book, to the very last page of the last book, and I love every single minute of it, their si so much going on in this series that is not even funny, this series got me on a roller coaster, it got me mad, crying, and laughing, and I enjoy all of it I love the characters and love how the series turn out to be, even though I finish it I want more.

Book 1 Take My Hand

Emily is ninteen years old, and she left her family to move in with her best friend Rachel to London in order to attend university, but she has being sheltered and protected all her life by her family, she never had expirence the real world, now that she's in London she want to expirience it, she starts making friend and meeting new people, even thoug she is shy and never show interest in no body, but all that change the moment that she see Dexter, Dexter is an American in London his running from his past, from the things that he has done and the people that he has hurt, Dexter spend his day working and going to school, he dont let no one get closed to him, but all that change the moment that he meets Emily.
I love the way this two act with each other, and love it how they tried to fight the attraction that they have for each other, love it how they both started fall in love.

Book 2 Hold On Tight

This book picks right up where the first one is left of.
Dexter is feeling lost and is getting out of control, using drugs trying to numb his guilt and pain, on the other end Emily is trying to hold on to him, when she finally notice that Dexter has relapsed and she cant take it any more, she decide to go back home, when Dexter see that Emily has left he spiral even deeper into his own personal hell on earth, than we meet Jeff and let me just say I love Jeff, with the help of aunt Sarah, Jeff and Emily they help Dexter through rehab, after that they decide to go back to London.
Now the question is what surprised would they have when they get their.

Book 3 Lean On Me

This is Rachel and Jared story I love this two from the first two book, and I am so happy that we get to read about this two.

Rachel is in a wheelchair she is afraid to let anyone get closed to her, she is loud and outgoing, she dont want anyone help bacuse she think they will pity her, than we have Jared he will do everything that he could into Rachel gives up and caves in, Jared dont care what people think of him, and as their dealing with Rachel insecurities and needing to understanding the srong guy, at the other end Jared is also dealing with some health issue that he is scare to face it, will they make it and pass their issues and be happy.
I love the way that this two are with each other, love the way how Jared is with Rachel, love it how he show her how much he care and love her.

Book 4 Never Let Go

This is the final book of the series, this book picks right up where Hold On Tight is left off. This was the perfect ending to this sereis, we get to find out alot of the answers that where left on the last book, we get to find out about what was going on with Chris, we get to see how the girls made up and they all became friends again, we get to see each characters more clear and how their characters grow up, and the way they all became a family, and the love that they have for each other.

I really love and enjoy this sereis and I am ready to Re-Read it again, thats how much I love this series and I am not gone stop saying that, their is alot of angry moment, sad moment and crying moment, but I love them all, Author Nicola Haken THANK YOU for introducing me to this amzaing wonderful characters and this awesome great books love it.

[Mary Tatar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take My hand by Nicola Haken was a unique and interesting read for me. The main character Dexter is American like me and also from Ohio just like me. So I liked him right away. The other main character is Emily who is English and I would describe her as in introvert by nature. For the most part it takes place in England. I enjoyed that the book wasn't your typical romance. It was intense but not to the point where I felt sad. The relationship between the main characters was one that started as friendship and developed throughout the story to something beautiful. I enjoyed watching everything unfold.

Dexter moves to England to pretty much keep to himself and make something of himself. He is holding the guilt of a secret that he can't share with anyone. Emily comes to town to start school. She is trying to disassociate herself from her family. Essentially a fresh start. She does her best to open herself up to new friendships and experiences. With the help of Rachel her best friend encouraging her to do so. She starts a friendship with Dexter one that is unexpected for the both of them. It develops into something more. When they engage in a romance there is no turning back. These two open themselves to one another like they never imagined was possible. Two hearts that were locked away are now open. Dexter holds a secret that may tear them a part. His past is something he is avoiding telling her. Once he has Emily as his he doesn't want to jeopardize it. Unfortunately secrets always come out. Will Emily be able to handle what Dexter has been so skillfully hiding?

First off I thought Emily had a solid best friend. Although I thought she was a little pushy at times. I felt Emily needed it. She was shy and sheltered. She needed a boost and that's what Rachel gave her. She actually was pretty lucky to have her. Then Dexter tried his best to stay by himself. Only engage in meaningless one night stands. That pretty much ended when he realized he had feelings for Emily. She was the kind of girl who deserved more then he thought he was willing to give. I think he surprised himself when he proved to Emily what she meant to him. It was wonderful to watch them open up to one another. Emily was so sweet and innocent. Her character was caring and compassionate. She had a big heart and was so great with Dexter. He on the other hand had a internal battle waging in him. He kept trying to tell himself that Emily was his friend, and only his friend. That only worked for so long. He would of been stupid to let her slip away. He had some real lapses in judgment during the book. Ones where I would of told him to take a hike. Not Emily she saw something in him. They truly needed each other. Being together made both of them better people.

There is a lot of things happening during the course of this book. Some major and heavy stuff. You don't know how heavy until near the end of the book. I thought the author did a good job at giving me enough to stay interested in what was going to happen once the secret was revealed. I had no idea what was coming. It was shocking to say the least. Now this is book one in a series so there is a cliffhanger to be expected. Not a bad one though! I didn't want to throw my kindle or anything.

The book was intense but not super heavy. I have read a lot of emotional books as of late. This one was a refreshing change. It was a solid read and I'm interested see where this series is going.

[Liezel Felix · Rating 4 out of 5]

“All I know is when I’m around you – even now, arguing like crazy – I’ve never felt more alive. You make me feel safe. You make me laugh. You make me cry. You make me feel so many different things and it’s exciting, overwhelming and heart breaking all at the same time….”

Emily Barton is finally free from her parents’ strict parenting. She has gone off to college with her one and only friend Rachel. She wasn’t really privy to getting an education but if it meant being miles away from her controlling mother than she welcomed the distance. Emily is more of an introvert. Rachel on the other hand is the total opposite. She is loud, uncouth and outspoken. Being that Rachel is so shy, Rachel comes up with this ” New Life List” to help her get herself more out there.

They haven’t even been in London for more than 24 hours and she has already found herself a date. Maybe Rachel’s outlandish List is not as insane after all? The List however did not plan for one hot, intense and dark Dexter Michaels. He is just as anti-social as Emily. When thrown together in a class project they develop an unexpected bond that even bests Rachel and Emily’s friendship. What is it about their pasts that makes them so compatible? Read this one to find out!

_______________________

I thought this book was quite interesting. I have to admit that I did have issues in the very beginning but as it moved on the characters and the story in general grew on me.

I found Emily’s character very impressive. I loved her personality and thought that she was pretty mature for her age. She had a way with words. When Dex was down, she always knew the right things to say…

“Anyone can get lost on the wrong path, Dex. It’s whether you have the courage to turn around that’s important.”

I enjoyed the slow development of Emily and Dexter’s relationship. They started out as friends then became something more. Even when they spent so much time together it never felt forced or rushed. Knowing Dexter’s womanizing ways, he took his time with Emily. He made her wait which is unheard of! When they finally got there it was quite passionate. He pours his heart out to her and then the most unromantic thing happens.

Talk about making things real! Yes it a normal bodily function but it was so inappropriate yet so ridiculously hilarious too. It has been a couple of days past that I have finished this book but thinking about those funny instances makes me start giggling all over again. As a matter of fact there are so many funny situations in this story that I am surprised it isn’t labeled as a romantic comedy.

Just as it brought tears in my eyes from laughing the drama did too. Dexter’s past is so heartbreaking. The guilt that he felt from something so life changing (that wasn’t even his fault) felt so real and I was impressed that the author was able to convey those profound emotions in writing.

Bottom line is I thought that the introduction was a little on the longer side but despite that I ended up liking it anyway. The unique elements added spiced up the story and made it even the more entertaining. The harmony between the humor and sensitive issues was very well balanced.

I enjoyed this one and I am looking forward to reading Book 2: Hold on Tight which is due to be released sooner than we thought – December 7th.

liezelsbookblog.net

[Tricia Santos · Rating 3 out of 5]

**ARC received in exchange for honest review for blog tour*

I gave Take My Hand 3.5 stars. This was more than a cute love story, it was a story of letting go, moving forward, and learning how to be loved. The writing was easy to read, and of course I LOVE the dual POVs. I liked the pace of the story, and the sexual tension was intense! The angst was off the charts, because at first Em is too scared to let Dex in and at the same time Dex doesn’t think he is worthy of Em. I found myself smiling throughout the book and the sheer cuteness of falling in love. I swooned over the way that they took care of each other. I liked that they became best friends first. I could relate with Em in the way she didn’t really feel sparks with any other guys and how she moved away from her parents to find herself. Dex did lots of stupid things that keep him from being one of my fave book boyfriends, but I kinda saw a lot of my fave book boyfriends in him.

I’ll admit, the first third of the story was rough for me. Dex was the typical man-whore who had no regrets about using women, but he was harboring some intense self-hatred that intrigued me. Em annoyed the crap out of me at first too. She was just so naïve! And I could see how she could be adorable, but really I couldn’t get over her immature style of thinking in the beginning. After that first third, I flew through the rest of the book. There were just so many hidden secrets that I had to get to the bottom of. So, I guess the intrigue was one of the major things that kept me going in Take My Hand. Dex and Em both have dark pasts and they bring them both down. When they finally reveal their secrets, I was actually surprised. I didn’t expect them at all. My heart broke for the two of them. And because of the guilt from their pasts, they have serious confidence issues. But, they bring the best out of each other. Even when Dex is being stupid and pushing Em away because he doubts her love for him. Their steamy scenes are INTENSE. I actually love the way they were written. It was sexy, emotional, and not overly erotic. I kinda wish there were more of them. (Did I mention Dex has FOUR piercings? And yeah they’re where you’re probably thinking of)

Take My Hand had the typical New Adult outline, however, this book was pretty unique, in my opinion. It’s like I knew what was going to happen eventually, but the way they happened and the timing of it was a pleasant surprise. I didn’t agree with half of what Dex did, but it kept me on my toes. I thought it was weird that Em goes from Jared to Dex with no big fanfare. Also, is it bad to say I really didn’t like Em’s best friend, Rachel? I have friends like her where we call each other beyotch and slut but not like Rachel and all her Ho’s. She never refers to Em by her name, only as Ho. It bothered me, and it matched her over-the-top character. I’m obsessed with England, so I love that this book took place in England. I learned new British terms! The book left A TON of loose-ends. I can’t stand cliffhangers so I was upset with this one, but I can’t wait to see where Nicola Haken takes us next on our journey with Dex and Em.

See full review here http://fallinginfall.blogspot.com/201...

[Tbird London · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt the beginning of this story was a bit slow and was seriously driving me crazy because I wanted Emily with Dex right away. It took a while, of course it would to us readers when we can see they belong together. Once they decided to go for it, it was INTENSE. My point? DON’T GIVE UP ON THIS STORY BECAUSE YOU WILL MISS A GREAT READ.

Emily is a beautiful young lady both inside and out, but she comes from a mother who never showed her what qualities she had. She had a brother she was close to, but he was also a disappointment to her mother and was banished from the family. She decides to move away and go to college with her best friend who is in a wheel chair. Trying to gain her mothers pride and acceptance she enrolls in college, and tries to find a job to support herself, even though she will never live up to what her mother would consider acceptable for this family.

Dex was a handsome play boy with a ton of broken pieces to his soul. He was so engulfed in guilt from his past, he refused to let people get close to him. We know he has an Aunt in America, but he doesn’t have friends. He even has a rating system for women, and he always tries to avoid women like Emily who think they can rescue him. He had suffered something that I am not sure any young man could ever overcome, but then he meets Emily. She melts his defenses and his heart. He spends most of the book trying to protect her from his past. He finally admits some of the mistakes he has made, I think in hopes Emily would run away from him. Then one day he receives the call he has been dreading, he needs to come home and say goodbye.

Emily being the innocent woman who has no clue that this man could be hiding such extreme and dangerous secrets wants to go back to America with him. She knew he had moved to England, running away from something, but she has no clue the real reason he had to go back and what he was about to face. It didn’t matter to her, he needed her and she was going to be there. There was no way he was going to feel the abandonment she felt from her own family if she could help it.

This is where the story gets intense. I was shocked at what Dex was hiding, I was even more impressed with how Emily dealt with it. She has the biggest heart and the highest level of patience and compassion for him, it was an amazing story to read. Dex and Emily showed the reader about mercy and grace. Forgiveness and love, guilt and redemption. The author did a wonderful job at surprising us, taking us down paths that didn’t know even existed and giving us characters that we will either be drawn to or repelled by. I will state that I think Emily’s friend could be misunderstood. She does come across as brash and rude, but I think we can’t miss the fact she is loyal and I think there is something inside her she is protecting with her attitude. I hope we get a book soon that will give us more about her. I recommend this book, but as I stated, don’t give up on the first part because of how slow Emily and Dex move in the story. Once they are together it is an intense roller coaster ride.

[Tickled Pink for Book Ink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dexter Michaels - motorcycle, piercings (yes, THOSE kind of piercings), and a bad attitude; what’s not to like?

When Dexter goes to London to start over and make his Aunt Sarah proud he knows he should stick to easy women with no substance. A good one would only try to dig in and fix him and he’s not willing to hurt anyone else in his life. Emily Barton has moved to London to attend university away from her parents and learn much needed social skills. Beautiful, shy and innocent Emily is everything Dexter should stay away from and everything he needs to live again.

Dexter has some deep, dark secrets and doesn’t want anyone to know so he keeps everyone at a distance. Lacking social skills he knows well and he recognizes this in Emily. Emily has her own dark past she hides along with a dysfunctional family. They really are two peas in a pod and together they can overcome the terrifying secrets that keep them from truly living life. Guilt is a powerful feeling and both are crippled beneath it. Their lives are completely changed by events in their life and it’s so incredibly sad.

“It’s a form of cancer. It starts small - just a twinge deep inside your stomach. But then it multiplies. It spreads. It starts eating you alive until it’s claimed every part of you and your entire being begins the process of shutting down. It’s a selfish motherfucking disease that won’t ever rest until it’s left you alone and broken with only the pain it causes you for company.”

Dexter knows this about Emily because he feels the same. They need each other’s friendship, but they have undeniable chemistry and finally give in to their attraction. The sex is hot, but more than that it heals them and they finally see they are more than their dysfunctional pasts. By the way, dysfunctional is an understatement. These two have some seriously messed up pasts. I had that gut-punched feeling when the truth comes out. Their relationship is slow building and really feels genuine, which for me is a big deal. I’m not a fan of the love-at-first-sight. It’s rarely believable. Emily and Dex develop a real relationship that totally sucked me in. I loved it!

TAKE MY HAND is beautifully written and deep story about two broken individuals who feel they are doomed to be alone, until they find each other. I enjoyed being able to read a story that takes place in London and all the funny cultural differences Americans notice amongst the Brits. Emily has one friend, Rachel, who is bold and hilarious. The humor is wonderful and pure and a great addition to the story.

There is not so subtle foreshadowing of troubles ahead for Dex and Emily, but the ending is a great leeway into the follow-up story, HOLD ON TIGHT. Can’t wait to continue their story.

✳✳ Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.

✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went in reading this story completely blind, not having read any other books by Ms. Haken and not even having read the synopsis of the book. So I had no expectations or any inkling what to expect. I was greatly surprised at just how well I liked this book! I started it last night when I couldn’t sleep and stayed with it until I finished it this afternoon.

Emily is a nineteen year old English girl heading off to college, away from home for the first time and dying to learn what life is all about. Dexter is a twenty-four year old American who has run to England in hopes of leaving his dark past behind him. Take My Hand is written from both of their perspectives, which enhances the story in my opinion because you have true insight into the true feelings of each character.

Emily and Dex both come from less than perfect families, each had an awful tragedy happen to them when they were younger and each still carries the emotional baggage. This jades them into feeling they’re not worthy enough to be loved. That was one thing I really liked about this book was each of these wounded people giving so much of themselves to raise the self-esteem of the other with no thought of their own. You have your innocent, naive girl and your pierced up, bad-boy biker who are the perfect yin and yang.

I absolutely love the humor in this book! Half of the story being written in British English had me cracking up over some of the terminology to begin with. Emily’s way of speaking without using bad words endeared her to me even more! As the characters tell their story, it’s written as if they’re actually talking to you. At some points, they even direct statements or rhetorical questions at the reader which makes them even more real in my eyes. The story isn’t all sunshine and roses though, there are parts that aren’t so pretty. Having been with an addict, I could relate to the uncertainty of these situations and how the user simply relapses because they can’t face reality. I did get thoroughly agitated with Dex on the last relapse, though…..I didn’t like Emily being in the dark about it.

Ms. Haken keeps Dex’s secret until near the end of the book so you’re left wondering for ages exactly what shaped him into who he is. I was shocked once it was revealed, I’d assumed something along those lines but I had the persons involved pegged wrong. I was even more shocked on the last page with the way the story ended!! So heed my warning, have Hold On Tight (the second book in the series) ready to go once you’re done with Take My Hand unless you get a thrill out of cliffhangers!

My introduction to Nicola Haken has been a very enjoyable one. She presents you with a well-written storyline that consists of good, solid characters that you can truly relate to. I will be picking up on the rest of Emily and Dex’s story here shortly with Hold On Tight, but I can guarantee that it won’t be the last of the books I read by this author!

[Athena Freya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Given by the author for an honest review for her Blog Tour

Nicola Haken is one of the few authors who can create happiness out of sad stories. She has found the perfect combination of reflecting the cruel reality and shape it into something beautiful.
Saving Amy and Take my hand are so similar and so very different at the same time. In both stories, our main characters carry their own burdens, meet their other half and slowly their wounds heal. However, the characters are so different from each other that your head is spinning. My point is that whoever has read Saving Amy knows what to expect of Nicola’s next book and is not disappointed. Whoever hasn’t read it, well that’s why we have bookstores everywhere..
Let’s enter the Take my hand world..
>>Emily is the quiet and serene strength. She is shy and socially awkward, but she is so endearing and adorable. Some mistake her as weak, just because she’s shy and doesn’t know how to handle people. She is so young, but she exudes intense sophistication and wisdom beyond her years. She is without a doubt a one of a kind character. Plus, her shyness is no indecision. She knows what she wants, but sometimes the way to it is kind of hard to find. She is very loyal and a great friend to have. However, in the ending I found her reactions a bit wrong and misguided. She should have been a little more aware of Dexter’s actions. But not everyone can see everything. .
>>Dexter oh Dex..He has suffered from a truly horrifying childhood and he spent his life ever since punishing himself for everything he did and everything he didn’t do. He feels guilty and it’s quite understandable. However, any kid who has lived with an abusive parent doesn’t have lots of choices. You just do what you have to do in order to survive and protect your mother, who can’t protect herself. It’s unimaginable. He tries to step away from what his life had become and later he meets our Emily. His first POVs were very amusing, to say at the least. And after his self-destructiveness left the building and they’re happy together, hell breaks loose of course..Nicola oh Nicola…

And after the cliffhanger she left us with, I can only guess that hell is still very present in Dexter and Emily’s lives.

In conclusion, Take my hand is an excellent read. It starts playful, it turns into a hot romance with lots of humor when we’re not crying that is and it ends with a dramatic cliffhanger. I loved the book’s flow. It has exceptional grace and Nicola Haken proves that she can write whatever the hell she wants to, moving from one genre and emotional state to another.
Simply Exceptional.

[K.A. Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been rendered a bit speechless from this book. Very emotional read, and it grips you from the very first chapter. The characters are loving, challenging, and inspiring. This was my first book from author Nicola Haken, and I thought it was absolutely amazing! Taking place in the UK, I loved how you got a glimpse of the differences and similarities between the UK and America.

Emily grew up with parents who were more concerned about their social status, than what was going on in their children’s lives. This left her very sheltered and insecure about herself. She soon finds an outlet to gain that much needed confidence, in the form of her very outspoken best friend, Rachel. Rachel is tattooed, foul-mouthed, and extremely sassy. She’s also wheelchair bound, which doesn’t stop her from doing anything she sets her mind to, and it’s awe inspiring! The two of them together is a great combination, and they bring out the best in each other, and you can see the love and true friendship they have.

So Emily and Rachel are off to college, and Rachel drags her out to a pub the first night there. That’s where they meet Jared and Dexter, who are both bartenders at the pub. Jared has an instant attraction to Emily, and being the pushy bestie that she is, Rachel urges the two to go on a date. It turns out to be a totally awkward situation, and they soon find out they’re better off as friends. This is when Emily starts noticing Dexter more, and the feelings are definitely mutual. He’s in the UK attending college, but originally from Ohio. Rachel instantly nick names him “American” and he, in return, calls her “Snickers” as in she’s nuts…LOL…the rivalry between the two of them is hilarious!

Dexter is a total mystery, and the heartache and despair you see through his eyes is gut wrenching. He instantly wants and needs Emily around him, but fights it at all costs, thinking he’s protecting her from his baggage of the past. She in return, fights tooth and nail to show him she’s not leaving his side. The love they have for each other is so sweet, and it was a change in pace to see a couple start off as friends, and slowly work their way through those first steps.

By the end of the story, we find out a lot more about Dexter, and what he’s trying so hard to hide, and them BAM…cliffhanger! My damn heart skipped a beat, and now I’m anxiously awaiting book 2. I have so many questions now, and can’t wait to see what happens next! I’m also hoping for a Rachel and Jared pairing, because let’s face it, the bickering they do back and forth is just their way of foreplay…*wink wink*

[SoBeA · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars, and that's mostly only cuz I finished it.

Now to be fair I should say, I'm a bit sick at the moment, ( crossing my fingers it's only a bad cold) so that could've played a part in my lack of enjoyment with "take my hand".


The problem ( the first one anyway) is that this is a very very British book....and I'm not British. If you are from the Uk, or have spent a lot of time there, you might enjoy this more than I did...but there was just so much slang! While there were a few words I could figure out, there were twice as many I had to look up! ....Modules, and stodge, and strops, and topping your self, and minging?! It made getting through this a tedious exercise...I shouldn't have to have a dictionary on standby just to get through a YA/ Na book! To be fair, it does get better by the last third or fourth of the book, but by then it was just too little too late for me.


Also supposedly the H was american, but he didn't talk like one....at all. Supposedly he's been in the country a month, when the book starts, and he doesn't have any issues with the lingo, ( or any culture shock) really?

Also the heroines a little Mary Sue-ish, and her bestie, calls her "Ho"....seriously? Do teenage girls still do,this? If so, is it wrong to want to slap them for it? The bestie, Iirc, never calls the h anything else. "Hey ho", "what's up ho" how's it hanging ho", "look at that hot guy Ho", " Let's go home ho".....seriously, it got old very very fast. And I think she was supposed to come off as bad ass, but really she just irritated the crap out of me. Although I did like that said bestie was paraplegic but didn't consider herself disabled....

And this might just be me, but in hated that the hero called the h "doll". On one hand, IMO he can't pull it off, and two in high school i had to read Ibsen's A Doll's House which means for me at least, that "doll" as a nickname...well, it leaves a lot to be desired.
I did like that he has addiction problems, and that they don't fade into the background, though. They aren't just mentioned and forgotten.

Lastly, the characters all seemed a little shallow. I don't really know how to explain this one, but it feels like we got told a few interesting tidbits, but the real meat of the characters was glossed over.

So yeah, 2 stars. And oh, this ends in a cliffhanger, but I don't think I want to go through another book with these IMO, barely likable characters, and having to look up words every few pages, so I won't be reading it.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Take My Hand is going to be a hard one for me to review I think. I didn’t hate it but I didn’t love it either. I’ll try and explain …

I loved that the author is English (I’m sure you all know that I am too) because I knew there would be lots of English-isms. English-isms, you ask? You know, like typically English humour, English slang words. Things like that. Initially I LOVED those things when I read them in the first couple of chapters but then they were in the story all the time and it started to feel over-done.

I always love it when the female main character has a strong and snarky best friend. In this case the best friend was Rachel, and I really didn’t like her! She was just TOO. MUCH! An overly aggressive female is NOT attractive! I do understand that maybe Rachel was written like that because of her disability – she couldn’t walk and used a wheelchair to get around. Maybe the author was trying to convey that despite her disability she’s strong and doesn’t take any crap from anyone. Her disability did not equal her being weak. I don’t know.

I have one more MAJOR complaint before I move on to what I loved about the story! My MAJOR complaint is something that left me REALLY freaked out and cringing! Dexter and Emily had just had sex for the first time. It was hot but sweet, he told her loved her, they both had an amazing experience … then he got up, went to the bathroom and got a wash cloth to clean her!! OMG!! NOOOOO!! Who does that?! It’s weird! And I thought the same thing when Rush Finlay did it to Blaire, too! And as if that wasn’t enough they then snuggled up to go to sleep and he FARTED!! I’ve said it already but … NOOOOO!!

OK, now on to what I liked about the story …

Dexter had a secret. I loved the originality of what his secret was. I haven’t read that before. The last few chapters were moving and I had a few tears in my eyes while reading them.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about the ending when I’d first finished the book. But the more I’ve thought about it I actually did like it. It opens up a whole new can of worms and possibilities of how Dexter and Emily will deal with this. Especially after what Dexter did towards the end. I know that’s vague but I have to be!

So, all in all, I did like the book and I’ll most likely pick up book #2 when it’s out in December. If you like English writers, stories set in England, stories with humour as well as issues, stories that aren’t a straight forward love story then this could be the book for you.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

AMANDA'S 4 STAR THOUGHTS

What is it lately with all the cliffhangers. . . they are killing me!!! I stayed up all night because I had to finish this book, and when I saw the dreaded To be continued I wanted to throw my Kindle! I think I had every emotion with this book. . . I laughed at the hilarious banter, I wanted to cry for the tragedies they had endured, and at times I wanted to punch a few of them! But I loved every character in this book because they were all uniquely different and it totally worked!

Emily Barton moved down south to attend Uni with her best friend, Rachel. She is very shy and uncomfortable around people she doesn't know but that is the reason she came here to start a New Life away from her parents. When Emily first meets Dexter, she knows he is American but that's about it because he is not a talker. But when they find out that they attend school together they somehow start to become friends. She makes him forget what he is running from, why he came here, and what he left behind! Dexter soon realizes that this beautiful girl has broken through his walls and makes him forget his past! But he is convinced that she will leave him when she finds out the truth, but he doesn't think he can walk away from her either!

"This is last chance saloon, doll. You need to know that if we do this - if you let me have you, I won't ever be able to let you go."

But she surprises him at every turn with her forgiveness and support. Emily believes in him and he realizes she is exactly what he has always needed. Just as Dexter starts to let her in. . . he has to go home to America to say a final goodbye and he just knows when Emily finds out this last puzzle piece of his past she will leave him and never look back. Will he be able to carry on? How can she prove to him that she isn't going to leave, if he just talks to her and quits running away?

"Anyone can get lost on the wrong path, Dex. It's whether you have the courage to turn back around that's important."

Be prepared when you start this book to be sucked into the story and not be able to put it down! It grabs you and doesn't let go! I really enjoyed reading the story from both of their POV's. I will be anxiously awaiting the release of book 2 and I can't wait to continue Emily and Dexter's story! I am also hoping (fingers crossed) that we will get more Rachel and Jared because I love them! Go check out the first book in what promises to be an amazing series!

[Roni Guzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 STARS out of 5

I love this author. She has a way of captivating me in her stories that it seems like I’m almost there. I’m not going to lie but I do cry in all her books so unless you are heartless then you won’t be able to relate. This story is about Emily and Dexter. Emily is a very timid girl who wants to start a fresh start away from her parents so she decides to go away for college with her best friend. Her best friend Rachel is hilarious and one of the strongest people I have ever seen. You will have to read the book to find out why. Rachel never feels sorry for herself which is something I’m guilty of doing all the time. I forget that there are people out there that have it worse. Rachel pushes Emily to be more outspoken and to get Emily to loosen up and have fun in life. Of course Emily meets Dexter. Dexter is the typical mysterious bad boy. They build a friendship first because they have classes together. She is very curious about him and the same for Dexter. They are both very reserved about their feelings because of their past. Finally the love blooms between them but Dexter fights it so much because he doesn’t think he is good enough for Emily. Well of course Emily thinks he is stupid for thinking this but you know how guys can be retarded about love. Eventually, he gives in and I really like how they are able to connect. After you learn about both of their pasts you feel bad for them but then also happy at the same time that they found each other. They are good for one another. However, Emily bares her past to Dexter and he only gives her part of his. He’s afraid to tell her everything for fear of her leaving him. Dexter doesn’t seem to understand that when you love somebody you don’t judge them. You love them unconditionally. Emily knows he’s hiding something and of course Dexter tries to run from her but he fails at that. After everything is out in the open he is amazed that Emily is still with him and most of all still loves him. They have a beautiful love story and I hope it continues on to the next installment. They’ve already been through so much I just don’t want them to suffer anymore. Both of them have had hard lives that they deserve happiness and love most of all. I can’t wait for the next book to come out and as I said before I love the work of this author and can’t wait to read more from her.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicola Haken has once again produced a story of the highest quality. What I like about her stories is that she takes some really tough subjects and produces work that doesn't shock but that actually helps the reader better understand those issues. "Take My Hand" is no exception with issues such as drug and alcohol addiction and domestic violence at the heart of the story and instrumental in the shaping of Dexter's character.

Emily has arrived in London with her best friend, Rachel to go to University and to escape from the oppressive nature of her parents. Emily is painfully shy and if she had her way, she would eat, sleep and study. Thankfully her best friend is outgoing and pushes her outside her comfort zone to meet new people. It is through this pushing that they meet Dexter at a local bar where Dexter is working. He is not very forthcoming about himself but for different reasons to Emily. Dexter doesn't believe himself worthy of love or a relationship so he keeps himself to himself and focuses on meaningless encounters. He does find himself drawn to Emily but fights it. He has secrets that he thinks that once Emily finds out them, she will run in the opposite direction as quickly as she can.

Emily is a keeper though and when Dexter reveals his battle against drug and alcohol addiction, she doesn't run and she doesn't judge. She offers her support and love; something which is alien to Dexter. It is not smooth running for the couple as Dexter keeps trying to push Emily away and his destructive behaviour rears its ugly head. They both also have more secrets that could potentially drive them apart forever.

Emily and Dexter are characters that you will fall in love with and their journey of self-discovery. There are moments of immense sadness but also moments of immense happiness, as they both battle the demons of the past. The beauty of this story is that it is understated and the subjects dealt with sensitively. It doesn't glamourise any of the issues but instead looks at their impact on the characters' lives. Their journey does not conclude in this book and I am looking forward to seeing what is next for the couple.

[Cerian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally given 3.5 hearts at Rookie Romance.

Let me start by saying, that I was loving all the off-hand Britishness in this book! I've been reading a lot of books by American authors, and with every mention of fish and chips and Tesco, I felt my heart warm a little. Everything just felt so familiar.

Emily took a little warming up to, for me. She's quite timid, with fairly low self-confidence and is not good at meeting new people and social situations. At first, I found her a little bit boring, but as she becomes more comfortable in her own skin, and as her relationship with Dexter develops we see more of the real Emily shining through. She may be quiet, but she's so understanding and loyal, with a kind and gentle heart that makes her perfect for Dexter.
Dexter starts off as a moody arse, I'll be honest. But there's a damaged and vulnerable man, hiding behind the indifferent attitude. He can't resist the way Emily makes him feel again, and is drawn to her against his will.
I really liked these two together. Every time Dexter opened up about his past, Emily was understanding and supportive, and at time I wished that he could have trusted more in how much she loved him.

I didn't really like the supporting characters as much. Rachel hides her vulnerabilities underneath a tough, no-nonsense exterior, but most of the time I found her irritating. Jared was okay, but I never really cared for him either way, he was just there.

The story started off well, and I was very intrigued as to what Dexter's secrets were. I loved watching Dexter and Emily become closer and start to give in to their feelings. Then I found the middle dragged a bit, but it definitely picks up pace again by the end. I did not see that last revelation about Dexter's past. And the way it ended! I have zero idea about what on earth is in store for us in book 2, but I definitely want to know!

*I received a review copy from the author, for my honest review. Thank you!

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no clue what I was getting into when I started this book other than it was a romance novel. I was taken by surprise by how easily I enjoyed this book.

“Come on, doll. Take my hand. – I’ll keep you safe I promise,” he added sounding too sincere to not believe him.

Take My Hand is written in dual POV and you truly don’t get lost at all. Emily is finally freeing the confines of her parents and wants to creat a “new life.” Dexter moved to a whole new country to start over. But you can never leave your past behind, especially when a part of it is always with you. Emily is not really naive when it comes to life, but she has never been a very social person. Her best friend Rachel aka Snickers (when you read about the nickname, you’ll crack the hell up) is her total opposite but these two are awesome together. Then there is Jared, about the only person that Dexter can consider a friend – he’s quite the comical one in his own right. The banter between all of these characters is very entertaining and helps keep the book alive.

Dexter and Emily start out as friends since Emily is dating Jared. However, you can’t fight the feelings of your heart. Can a guy and a girl really just be friends?? Will Emily and Dexter push the boundaries and see if there is something beyond their friendship?? Will Dexter allow someone close enough to him again that he can let down his walls?? Will Emily go running once she learns about Dexter past??

You will enjoy walking through each of their perspectives throughout this entire book. I might add, that I love Dexter’s comments and thoughts about himself and what is going on in his head. Nicola does a good job with her descriptions and dialgoue. Are you on the edge of your seat the whole time, honestly no. But you interest will be piqued enough that you will want to continue and see what happens.

What I didn’t see coming was the ending. DAMNIT! I must say that I am quite intrigued to see where the next book takes us.



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[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, from the book blurb you would think that the book was written from Dexter's perspective, however, Take My Hand is written from both Dexter and Emily's perspective. I'm really starting to like this trend in books.
Emily has a super controlling Mother and needs some freedom, so she and her BFF, Snickers, head to London for college. Okay, so Snickers isn't her BFF's real name, it is Rachel, and I absolutely adore her.
Rachel may the character that stole the story a bit for me. She is a paraplegic, tattooed, foul-mouthed awesome character that I believe should have her own book. Hear that Nicola, I hope Rachel gets her own book, because it will be hilarious!
Okay, back to the main story. I really liked this book. I was feeling this book. It was a book that I wanted to read. It was a book I couldn't wait to get back to. It was a book that sucked me in. I didn't feel bored. I didn't feel like I would rather be doing one of my other hobbies. It was a good story.
Yes, it was a typical case of boy-doesn't-want-a-relationship-but-finds-himself-in-one-anyways-and-can't-see-himself-without-the-girl-and-pushes-her-away story. But it was also a bit suspenseful because you know he's hiding something, but you just don't know what. Don't those just piss you off sometimes? Ack.....
So, I'm reading right along hoping and thinking that I have figured it out, but I didn't have it all straight and then, BAM! out of nowhere, the ending happens. I would totally say it's a cliffhanger, but not one that pisses you off since the next book isn't ready. I mean, yes, you want to know what happens, but you can totally live until the next book is out. So, I would totally read this one instead of waiting for the next because emotionally, you'll be okay.
So, read Take My Hand. Read about Marshmellow's, Snickers, Tootsie Pops, all those people. Yep, people. Oh, we can't forget the M&M's. those are the tricky ones.....
4 Stars

[Book hooked · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I know is I NEED book 2 now! I loved Dexter and Emily's story, it certainly took me on an emotional journey especially when you find out about their pasts.







Dexter moved to London to study and to try to forget his past and move on with his life. Dex carries a dark secret which will never leave him. He has had a difficult past he turned to drink and drugs to try help him deal with what happened. He manages to turn his life around clean himself up and moves to London for a fresh start.






Emily moves to London with her best friend Rachel, She is a quiet, shy yet she is very loyal to those she cares about and always puts them first. Emily has her own issues with her past as her parents blame her for something which happened when she was a child which was not her fault. The only people Emily is close to is her brother and best friend.






Emily and Dexter meet at the pub where he works, it's not instant attraction but after these two end up spending more and more time together as they both are in the same class at Uni they become really good friends. They both begin to feel more for each other but Dexter is afraid and feels he doesn't deserve to let anyone close to him or to love or be loved with the secret he carries around, so he does what he thinks is best he tries to push Emily away. Deep down Dexter needs her she's made feelings surface in him he promised himself he wouldn't feel. so what starts out as a friendship soon becomes a relationship when he accepts that Emily has found a way into his heart.






The burning question was when Emily finds out his secret and his past will she stay and be with him and support him? Or will she walk away? Which is exactly what Dexter is afraid of. I'm not one for spoilers so you do need to read this fab book to find out.






I loved Nicolas writing and I can't wait for book two after the cliffhanger ending of book one!

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a beautiful, heart-breaking love story about two people who have been through so much in their lives trying to stay strong and love each other.

I adored this story and the characters. I know I probably shouldn't but I loved dexter straight away, he was moody and a bit of an idiot at times but he was also funny and sarcastic and teasing and loving and caring. You knew pretty much straight away he had a secret and when I found out what it was..it was just so so sad, I felt so sorry for him. I'm really hoping he makes it through okay with the help of Emily.

Emily was another character I adored, she was so shy at the beginning and lonely and straight away I wanted her to become a happier version of herself and have more people to care about her. She was strong and loving when she found out what dexter's secret was and the fact she had her own heart-breaking story to tell and yet she was strong for other people made me love her even more.

It's not all sad though, the sex scenes with her and Dex were HOT and I love a guy with piercings so that was ever better ;) and her best friend Rachael was such a laugh. I loved the insults she came up with and I really hope there's something happening between her and Jared because I think they would be perfect for each other.

I defiantly cried during this book, with that one scene I just couldn't stop the tears escaping and I cannot believe that ending!! I didn't realise there would be a book 2 so that was defiantly un-expected and I'm hoping dexter doesn't head down a bad path and with who turned up that nothing terrible happens.

I would 100% recommend this book but with a warning to be prepared to have a little cry and being shocked at the ending. I know I'll be waiting for book 2 anxiously hoping it's not going to turn out in awful way and that everyone gets their happily ever after.

[United Indie Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a beautiful, heart-breaking love story about two people who have been through so much in their lives trying to stay strong and love each other.

I adored this story and the characters. I know I probably shouldn't, but I loved Dexter straight away, he was moody and a bit of an idiot at times, but he was also funny, sarcastic, teasing, loving and caring. You knew from the beginning he had a secret and when I found out what it was it was just so so sad, I felt so sorry for him. I'm really hoping he makes it through okay with the help of Emily.

Emily was another character I adored, she was so shy at the beginning and lonely and straight away I wanted her to become a happier version of herself and have more people to care about her. She was strong and loving when she found out what Dexter's secret was and the fact she had her own heart-breaking story to tell, yet she was strong for other people made me love her even more.

It's not all sad though, the sex scenes with her and Dex were HOT and I love a guy with piercings so that was even better ;) and her best friend Rachael was such a laugh. I loved the insults she came up with, and I really hope there's something happening between her and Jared because I think they would be perfect for each other.

I definitely cried during this book, with that one scene I just couldn't stop the tears escaping and I cannot believe that ending!! I didn't realise there would be a book 2 so that was definitely unexpected, and I'm hoping Dexter doesn't head down a bad path what with who turned up at the end.

I would 100% recommend this book but with a warning to be prepared to have a little cry and being shocked at the ending. I know I'll be waiting for book 2 anxiously hoping it's not going to turn out in an awful way and that everyone gets their happily ever after.

5-stars
Reviewed by Bethany