Hold on My Heart

Read Hold on My Heart Storyline:

To build a future, sometimes you have to tear down the past…Chicago event planner Libby Hamilton can turn any bland setting into a dramatic venue—but when she abruptly loses her job, and her fair-weather boyfriend moves to another state, Libby suddenly finds herself back in the tiny town she grew up in. Worse than that, her father wants help transforming an old schoolhouse into a vintage ice cream parlor and Libby must trade in her power suits for power tools.Widowed restoration specialist Tom Murphy can rebuild just about anything—except the shattered relationship he shares with his teenaged daughter. Hired by Libby’s father, Tom isn’t interested in sharing the details of his personal life with beautiful, spunky Libby. He just wants to get the job done. But she is tenacious—and sexy—and it doesn’t take long before she breaks down his walls, builds up his hope, and gets a hold on his heart that won’t let go.From Publishers WeeklyBrogan's sophomore contemporary (after Crazy Little Thing) successfully blends a sassy heroine and humor with deep emotional issues and a traditional romance. Suddenly jobless with her relationship on the rocks, event planner Libby Hamilton moves back to her small hometown to live with her happy, chaotic family. Perfect older sister Ginny is married and pregnant, wild younger sister Marti is engaged, and Dad is turning a historic one-room schoolhouse into an ice-cream parlor—using Libby's savings. Working with her father, Libby meets Tom Murphy, a restoration specialist. On the darker side of the story, Tom is mourning the death of his wife, killed in a car accident a year ago in which he was behind the wheel. Unable to move on, Tom struggles to maintain relationships with his teen daughter and his wife's parents. The contrast between Tom's genuine pain and the lighthearted conflicts in Libby's family can feel odd, but the well-developed characters and the sweet story with just a touch of heat will please readers looking for a creative take on romance. From Library JournalFired from her Chicago job because of a misdirected email, dumped by her longtime boyfriend, and caught up in her father's crazy plan to turn a dilapidated historical schoolhouse into an ice cream parlor, event planner Libby Hamilton's life is in shreds. Tom Murphy, a widowed restoration contractor who's working on the building, isn't doing much better. With grief and guilt over the accident that killed his wife and a rebellious teenage daughter weighing him down, Tom has no time for anything but work—until persistent Libby takes an interest. VERDICT Launched in hilarious style by an embarrassingly cute meet, this delightful romantic comedy will keep the smiles coming. Brogan (Highland Surrender) is a current RITA Award nominee for her earlier Crazy Little Thing. She lives in Michigan.