This is a wonderful and well written read that left me with a feeling of peace and happiness. Its the story of Tom Murphy, a widower with a teenaged daughter. They are both still experiencing the grief of their loss which is keeping them apart. Tom sets up counseling sessions hoping to repair the gulf between them. Meanwhile he has just started a new job helping to restore a very old school house and convert it into an ice cream parlor for his boss. Event planner, Libby Hamilton, was fired from her job in the city and has returned to her small town home just as her father has started to renovate an old school house. This is nowhere near what Libby does for a living, but she is between jobs and not having much luck finding one. She finally agrees to help her father and Tom, the restoration specialist. The story line is excellent with a lot of family participation from both Tom's and Libby's families. The characters are all wonderful, from Libby's odd-ball father to Tom's troubled teenaged daughter and his over bearing X-father-in-law. They all add color and a bit of tension to the story. Tom and Libby get the sexual tension going and before you know it you have a book that you can't put down. I just loved it and will be looking for more from this talented author. Hold on my heartthrow me a lifelineI'll keep a place for yousomewhere deep inside- Phil CollinsHOLD ON MY HEART brings together Libby and Tom when each faced a cross road in their lives - Libby lost her job, her boyfriend, and her apartment. She returns home to her family who has their own hands full - her father is opening an ice cream parlor in a run down school house; her mother contends with the cranky live-in grandmother; her older sister is about to give birth; and her younger sister is engaged to a jouster. Tom has his own baggage - his guilt over a car accident that killed his wife; his distant daughter; and his angry in laws. Libby and Tom clash during the renovation yet neither can ignore their attraction to the other. Their attraction makes them realize that they can let go of past hurt to find a future together. Brogan delivers a sweet romance in a small town setting with quirky (yet heartwarming) characters. Passion ignites between Libby and Tom ... but story shifts to Tom as he wrestles with his demons. Brogan charmed me by allowing Libby to be the conduit for Tom to reengage with his life and reconnect with his daughter. I enjoyed HOLD ON MY HEART and recommend it to fans of contemporary romance, small town settings, and "aww" moments. I won a copy of HOLD ON MY HEART from another blog giveaway.
What do You think about Hold On My Heart (2013)?
Not my favorite. Some good characters, but weaker plot and less developed than Bell Harbor books.
—chibuike
A great read. Loved the characters in this book and how they changed over time. A sweet story
—Jerkin
I enjoyed books by Tracy Brogan very much. They all are hilarious and lovely.
—runfatboy
