The Way You Hold Me

Pure Talent #2

by Elle Wright

Dazzling, demanding mega-stars. Tabloid drama. Brilliant, unpredictable creators. Viral rumors. Ambitious, gifted newcomers. Internet-breaking crash-and-burns. The Pure Talent Agency team manages it all--even risking scandals of their own . . .

Skye Palmer puts out the biggest publicity fires for Pure Talent's top names. But when an A-list Hollywood actress's dream marriage proves anything but, Skye has to do nightmare damage control. Even worse, her ex-lover, attorney Garrett Steele, is crisis manager for her client's powerful director husband. Now for Skye and Garrett, containing this disaster--and keeping their reignited passion in check--may be mission impossible . . .

Troubleshooting is what Garrett and his elite firm do best. But saving his client from career-killing bad news means battling the one woman Garrett's never gotten over. And when joining forces with Skye leads to one steamy night together--followed by another and another--both their reputations are on the line. Yet now that they've turned up the heat, can they put a new spin on their future?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Cultural

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published December 1, 2020

About the author

Born and raised in Southeast Michigan near Ann Arbor, Elle learned the importance of reading from her mother. It was also her mother who, later on in her life, gave Elle her first romance novel: Indigo by Beverly Jenkins. From that moment on, Elle became a fan of Ms. Jenkins for life and a lover of all things romance. An old journal she wrote back in college became her first book (which she still wants to publish one day).

Elle is hard at work on her next novel.

Reviews

[Kameel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute Story.....There was a lot of back and forth from Sky....However, Sky & Garrett finally got their HEA!!! As you are able to tell, a lot of these stories kind of read the same.

[Melike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I read in the series, it was in one of my Ripped Bodice monthly boxes. A very cute and sweet second chance romance. I enjoyed it a lot.

[Veronica (Honey Roselea Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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Thank you to NetGalley and Dafina Books for inviting me to read The Way You Hold Me and for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A review will be up on my blog on March 1, 2021 at 10 am CST on Honey Roselea Reads for you guys to check out!

My review on The Way You Hold Me will be accessible using this link from March 1, 2021 at 10 am CST and onward.

For now, here is a preview to what the review will look like:

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When Skye and Garrett are pushed to work together, the sparks that once flew in the past now can't seem to stay contained. The Way You Hold Me gives you that sense of satisfaction when Skye and Garrett bring together sparks and chemistry wrapped up in this amazing book. They'll bring the chemistry and the love and the work proximity full steam ahead, especially... continue reading

[Kelsie Maxwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Way You Hold Me by Elle Wright is book two in her Pure Talent series. Though part of a series, it reads well as a standalone.

Skye Palmer and Garrett Steele are talented in their respective fields and have been brought together on behalf of their clients. Their professional worlds have collided and sparked a renewed interest in their personal ones. Can they successfully navigate the minefields in both?

The Way You Hold Me is a smart continuation to the Pure Talent series. The interesting plot and vivid dialogue hold the reader’s attention. The main characters were both introduced in book one but are artfully expanded here with well-developed interpersonal relationships and complete backstories. Overall the novel is fresh and compelling and rates 4 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to all readers of contemporary romance and am looking forward to the next installment in the series.

My thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Way You Hold Me arrived in my Ripped Bodice "ReadRomanceRepeat" January box and this is a new to me author.

I loved it (I think the first book in this series has been rec'd on Fated Mates, so I'm definitely going to track it down). It's a wonderful second-chance romance between two characters who are HIGHLY compatible but broke up over life circumstances (Garrett's mom and step-dad are killed in a car accident so he has to suddenly become a parent to his ten-year-old sister not long after he graduated from college and Skye decided to end the relationship because she didn't think she was ready to parent). But now it's ten years later - Garrett owns a crisis mangement firm and Skye is a talent publicist (manager? I wasn't quite sure what her job definition was). When they reconnect on New Year's Eve, Skye takes her therapists advice to stop overthinking and plant a major smooch on Garrett...and then BAILS. (Understandable, totally.) But they have to work together - almost on opposite sides - in an ever-more-contentious situation between a movie star and her scuzz-bag director-husband. They're a little older and wiser, and their attraction still burns hot, but they each have new worries, too.

[Sheronda H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed Skye and Garrett’s story. They got another chance to see if their relationship would work out. Cute book. Also got an update from X and Zara from the previous book.

[Shannan Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been waiting for the second book in the Pure Talent Series since reading the first book. I love Skye and Garret. Skye is the premier publicist for the Pure Talent Agency. Although she has known them for years and they treat her like family, she get's to wondering if she is really happy. She is given an assignment that will challenge her. It includes an a list Hollywood star and her husband, who is being represented by her ex, an attorney named Garrett. They agree to play nice, but have to make a decision to see if the sparks they're feeling will grow into something more.

Garrett spent the last ten years of his life caring for his younger sister. Now that she is in college, he's able to life his life his way and is ready for the woman he let get away

I really enjoyed how Garrett really knew Skye, especially her interests. The storyline was superb, as well as most of the secondary characters, except the actress's, Paige, husband. I was also happy with the fact that the author made seeing a therapist normal, acceptable and needed, especially for a black woman. And when I read the word "relations" in the story I almost fell out I laughed so hard. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next one.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Azia Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can say Sky was stressing me this book lol girlll if you don’t go get that man !! 😂 she definitely had me on the edge but I’m glad they finally found their way back to each other .

[Brandece · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Way You Hold Me is a book that has been on my TBR since I first got back into reading a few years ago, and I was really excited to get to it. I am personally someone who likes to read series books in order, but somehow I missed that this is the second book in a series. I do feel like it was okay to read out of order, but at the same time I also wondered if some of the characters were maybe mentioned in a different series. I loved the friend group/family, the plot, and setting. I'm not always a fan of the second chance trope, but I was okay with this one. I will say that even thought the MC knew each other for years and they had dated previously I did not love how "insta-love" it was. I liked the MC's, and the talks of therapy and mental health. Overall I enjoyed this book, but it wasn't anything that I think will stick with me long term. I would be interested in reading more from this author in the future.

[Jenica · Rating 3 out of 5]

"But you can't stay in your house forever because you're scared someone will break in. There's nothing wrong with taking a leap, putting yourself out there. Pain is a natural part of life. It hurts, but you can move past it. You have moved past it. You might be wary, you may be frightened, but you're still here."

The Way You Hold Me is a second chance romance between Skye and Garrett. Skye feels like a hot mess for a few reasons, but it seems like the main one is that she can't stop overthinking every single thing in her life. She's also frustrated with herself because she can't seem to get it together to be polite to her ex-boyfriend, Garrett, who is a part of her social circle. Their breakup was sad but her decision and happened years ago. When her therapist tells her to just do one thing without overthinking it, she kisses Garrett when the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Day. Things sort of take off from there. It's a slow back and forth of Skye running away a lot and Garrett being patient. The two wind up involved in a really gross public relations nightmare between actress Paige and her husband Julian, who is a cheating, lying, disgusting serial harasser.

I really liked the characters, even though Skye is technically an "unlikeable" heroine. If that's the type of woman character you're seeking, I would certainly say this book isn't a bad one to pick up. I really loved Garrett's relationship with his little sister, Max, and how he's struggling with the realization that because he's acted as her parent since their mom and her dad died, he is having a really difficult time letting go (she's dating). I liked Zara and X and Duke and the therapist. I felt like there were several loose ends as well in the end and I actually wanted to see more of where Skye winds up with work things. Ultimately, I think this book needed to lean further into the angst or more into the fluff because as it was, it just settled into a place where I didn't feel the urge to keep reading until the book was nearly over. However, the fact that it didn't work for me does not mean that it won't work for everyone! If you love big casts of characters and friendship and characters who are good at their jobs and whose jobs get page time, this might be the book for you.

CW: Harry Potter references, parental death, brief mentions of child abuse, sexual harassment, pregnancy

Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for the digital review copy!

[Cheryl Jamai · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Way You Hold Me by Elle Wright is the second book in the Pure Talent Series. The theme is second chance love and I couldn’t wait to dig into this one. Skye Palmer still has some animosity from the way her relationship ended with Garrett Steele years ago. The pair still run in the same circles and Skye decides to stop over thinking and brings in the New Year by kissing Garrett. It’s much more passionate than she anticipates and she panics. Ms. Wright always has quote worthy passages and one of my favorites by Garrett in describing Skye was “she was…the woman who’d haunted him with her presence and absence…” I just loved that.

Skye and Garrett’s work with their respective clients allows them to naturally reconnect as friends. Ms. Wright lets them take their time without rushing into something they aren’t ready for. Garrett knows what to say to prevent Skye from running.

Ms. Wright adds elements of Skye and Garrett working on themselves. Skye is trying not to overthink and freak out in situations. Garrett is dealing with his upbringing, being the father figure to his younger sister and making sacrifices. Garrett spent so many years avoiding the term Dad, but at the end of the day, that’s what he is, and a damn good one.

The friend group is still enjoying life. I like getting updates on the friends almost as much as the main couple. Zara and X are still as cute as ever. Duke Young, Skye’s best guy friend, is a mess. I don’t know who is going to tie him down. I’m definitely feeling the theme of second chance love and highly recommend this book.

[Ashley Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was okay for me - maybe it's because it was book too, but I had a hard time with the cast of characters. We got a lot of background on a lot of different people. I got the sense they had been introduced in the first book or were intended for future use in series. It just got to be a lot and I felt like a lot of the back story was thrown at it as a way to add depth to the characters but it just didn't balance great and really slowed down the pacing for the book.

I also, in general, tend to cringe at the second chance romance. This one, in particular, just didn't do it for me. They broke initially because it was the "right" thing to do - no miscommunications, nothing to forgive. And yet they both were supposedly pining away for the other person for ten years? Nu-uh. For me, any kind of true, fiery, passionate isn't going to wait that long without a significant outside barrier. And they were regularly running into each other! For me there just wasn't a believable catalyst for why they broke up nor why they chose now to get back together.

That being said, there were plenty of good parts to the story. They did have good chemistry and I really liked Garrett's relationship with his sister. Fun to see so many successful characters running their own lives, too. So I didn't dislike it, but I did have a hard time really immersing myself in the story.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about a second chance at romance. Skye Palmer works at Pure Talent agency and has thought about Garret for years since she broke up with him ten years ago. His parents were killed in a car accident and he needed to move from Atlanta to Houston to raise his sister. She was not ready for the change so she broke up with him. Both being in college and also a huge change in life which I understood.
Now ten years later he is back in Atlanta and has been for some time but she still can’t bring herself to speak with him and on top of that, she has blamed him for the breakup over these years though she knows that it is wrong. With all of that going on she is also dealing with a boss from work who is not pleasant and then has to travel to L.A. for a client. All of this after she kissed Garret at New Year’s and is wanting to avoid him. The problem he is at L.A. Also, he ends up in L.A. with his client as well. Throughout the story, they are put together not by choice which adds to the story.
The different sub-stories and different friends that make up this book just add to the story and make for a really good book. The author adds in her parents even her mother who is doing matchmaking which turns out embarrassing and funny. Overall a good book and worth the read. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

[Jes Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet second chance at love story with a strong heroine and a sensitive hero.

Skye has regretted every day for the past ten years her decision to break up with Garrett. Now that he is back in town and available, she can't stop thinking about him. On New Year's Eve, she stops thinking and starts acting on those feelings.

Garrett reciprocates, but she doesn't trust that he doesn't harbor resentment for how she treated him in the past. She can't avoid him this time. They are working opposite sides of a Hollywood marriage gone awry. Skye must face her fears head-on or risk losing Garrett all over again.

I really liked Skye's character. She never comes off as whiny. She has a strong career, family, and friendships outside her desire for Garrett. Even though there wasn't a huge plot issue that keeps them apart, the story's realistic nature and the obvious feelings between Skye and Garrett had me turning pages.

I wished Garrett had had a little stronger of a misbelief. The lack made the ending a little less intense. Regardless I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy the Bromance series. I also appreciated the diversity in the book and wished there were more out there like it.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Way You Hold Me is another fun story taking the reader behind the glitz and glam and into the inner workings of a celebrity talent agency. While it is the second in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone, however I also recommend the first, as it’s also a fun book.

I liked Skye and especially Garrett…both are wonderful characters, with her being wonderfully complex and him being a total sweetheart. I did sometimes feel the relationship was a bit more focused on sex than anything else, and while I know that can be a selling point for some, I wanted something a bit more to their dynamic.

The supporting characters are all interesting, but especially Duke, who I hope gets a book next. And I like that both Skye and Garrett also have strong connections with family and friends, and I’d love the opportunity to explore each of their stories in some capacity.

In short, despite some personal hang-ups, this book was fairly enjoyable. If you’re looking for a lighthearted contemporary romance, I think you’ll like this one.

[Vilma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very in-depth look into a second chance romance and all the things and people that can come between them.

Skye and Garret have a past that burned hot but ended in a flash. Responsibilities and immaturity caused a rift, along with Skye’s panic attacks and fear. Yet, several years later, they are thrown together at the engagement party of their respective best friends and Skye’s cousin.

Because they have overlapping friends, they’ve kind of always known on the peripheral level about each other, but their friends and family have stayed out of their relationship, until Skye seeks therapy and accepts and acts on her therapist ‘homework’. One steamy New Year’s Eve kiss later and Skye and Garrett embark on renewing their friendship first.

I loved all the details of the many surrounding relationships, and the shared inner circles, but the angst level was super high due to Skye’s panic attacks. While Skye excelled at being a ‘fixer’ for everyone (friend, family or client), she always fell short at fixing her own issues.

In the end, Skye and Garrett get their happy ending, the wedding goes off without a hitch, and all the friends and inter-connected family have a great time.

[Miranda Benson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let’s start with the positives. Garrett and Skye are so cute it hurts! They’re a great romance couple because they’re more than just falling in love, they’re forever. And I love how their relationship played on the former lovers trope, it’s rare to see romances where a couple was serious beforehand come back together! It brought back some very fun memories of Alisha Rai’s Hate to Want You.

Also love BIPOC characters whose entire plot is not around them being BIPOC, it was great to watch Skye and Garrett just *be* without this being an issue book clearly catering to the white gaze.

Now the downside...I didn’t love the prose. There’s a lot of telling instead of showing, and tons of exposition. At times it was rough to read through because there would just be a paragraph of exposition after each line of dialogue.

That said, the underlying backbone of the story was so good that I could probably forgive the prose issues and read another book in the series. The characters were so fun, I genuinely want to see all of their love stories end with happiness!

[Tameka West · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Way You Hold Me by Elle Wright is the second book in this series and I was fortunate to be able to read and review the first title as well. I was so ready to dive into Skye and Garrett's story because we saw so much about them in "The Way You Hold Me."

The story talks about Skye's anxiety attacks and Garrett's responsibility to his sibling but outside of their romance we don't see them truly fixing their relationship. Skye and Garrett also connections to family and friends, was nice but, I kept searching for something a bit more profound with them.

I anxious await for Duke to be the next series chatacter to fall in love. There were small snags here and there overall I rate it a great read. I look to the next book in this series.

I give this title a 3.5 and this is my honest and humble opinion. Thanks for letting me preview and review this title.

[Shameka Erby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elle Wright does it again. I was really impressed with this. Skye and Garrett pulled at my heartstrings from start to finish. I love the build up, the way she leans into how much they want each other, even when they're not having sex. But don't get me wrong, Skye and Garrett are just as hot as any of her characters and their mutual lust is something to be reckoned with, for sure. Lovers getting a second chance is one of my favorite tropes, and theirs is the best. Garrett becoming a father in a way he never expected and leaning into that was a wonderful piece of the story. I loved seeing Skye in therapy, working hard to find ways to be happy, and reading her and Garrett find their way back to each other was perfect for a rainy afternoon.

[Rebecca Lyman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book in a subscription box I had been getting earlier in the year. It was an ok book - I wouldn't say that I loved it. Second chance romances aren't usually my favorite trope, and I couldn't get myself emotionally invested in the characters with this one. There was also an over-abundance of the word "bruh" which just got to be way too much for me, especially considering this wasn't a novel featuring surfer dudes from California. Some of the dialogue felt a little forced to me, and the banter didn't always quite hit the mark of being fun. I did really like the inclusion of therapy into the story line and how it was featured. Overall this was an ok book but not my favorite.

[Angelit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a an avid reader of Elle Wright for years , but this book has become my favorite thus far !!! The main characters Skye and Garrett have a chemistry that literally leaps off the pages , although Skye Palmer is hired to put out a publicity fire , the fire that starts between her and Garrett will make you as a reader want this type of passion in your life ( that’s if you already don’t have it ) I throughly enjoyed their story . I highly recommend this book and any book written by this particular author.

[Paula R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skye and Garrett had broken up 10 years previously because Garrett had to relocate to assume custody of 10 year old sister after the death of their mother. Ten years later, Garrett has his sister on her way in college and he moves back to Atlanta to resume his life and possibly find his way back to Skye. Skye is a person who double thinks a situation until she makes what she later thinks is the wrong decision. With the help of a good therapist Skye finds her way back to Garrett and a way to solve her double mindedness

[Laurie]

Received in my January romance subscription box from The Ripped Bodice. Really enjoyed the main characters who are glamorous, yes, but relatable and far from perfect. Nicely written family relationships (Garrett and his sister, Skye with her mom and stepfather, and many more). The cover is so appealing and just lovely.

The plot thread about Julius, the famous director, just disappeared. I got nervous every time a woman walked somewhere alone, after he stormed off in a fury saying he would ruin all of them. He never reappeared.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine? I liked the relationships that the two main characters had with their friends and family and seeing them be successful in their careers but I never felt particularly compelled to keep reading--I think the fact that it took me almost three days to read this sub-300 page book says a lot. It's fairly low-stakes for a second-chance romance between two people who have supposedly been pining for each other for years and I likely would have enjoyed this a bit more if it had really leaned into the angst and emotion.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so glad this was in my ReadRomanceRepeat box because this was a new author for me and a new series (obviously) and I had a really good time with it. No stupid, overblown fights, just realistic conflicts. Sexy consent. I hadn't read the first one, and now I'll likely go back and do that sometime. I don't know that it will super stick in my brain, but I enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to reading more from Elle Wright.

Content warnings: pregnancy/mention of miscarriage, mention of cancer, child abuse, drunk driving, infidelity (not with the hero/heroine, a side plot)

[JigsawGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet second-chance romance. Skye's behavior and attitude were completely different from her behavior in the previous book. Both Garrett and Skye had their demons, but Garrett never took his out on Skye. Explanations were given for both characters' thoughts and behavior.

I thought the situation with Skye's client Paige was pretty interesting, but it kind of faded away at some point in the story. I was glad to see both characters work through their concerns about relationships and finally achieve their happily-ever-after.

[Matysha · Rating 4 out of 5]

So a second chance at love story sets the stage for book 2 and the Pure talent series. The chemistry between Garrett and Skye definitely sets the pages on fire 🔥. I like how although I knew the couple would get back together that the journey wasn’t easy but well worth it in the end. I also like how sky stop overthinking things and addressed her fears and conquered them. I enjoyed secondary characters Max and Paige. I can’t wait to see what Wright has a store with us in the next story.

[Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love is complicated but worth it

Book #2 of this series..what can I say? Loved it!!!! Can't wait for Book #3

There were moments when I wanted to scream at both of them because they are perfect for each other but at times kept missing each other due to brokenness and past hurts.

Great story and added bonus: We were able to catch up with characters from Book #1 and meet new characters that I hope we see more of in future books!

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot of this that I liked, but too often I found myself wishing I were seeing the conflict on the pages instead of described after the fact. It could be that this is the first book in the series that I'm reading. I loved the cast of characters, but it almost felt like we were getting only character work on the page and all of the conflict was implied leading into The Big Fight. I needed more tension.

3.5 stars rounded down.

[Cassandra Jerido · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boring...

I get it, some people overthink a lot of things. However, unfortunately, I just didn’t enjoy spending the majority of the book in Skye’s indecisive head. Oh my, it just went on and on. Halfway through I was sick of Skye and all of her Sci-fy sh*t! She was full of it and the way she treated and teased Garrett was horrible. She was not an endearing character. In fact, I hope that I don’t have to read about her in any of the future installments.