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Pull Me Close by Sidney Halston

Publisher: Loveswept

Publication Date: October 25, 2016

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If you’ve read any of my reviews of romances, you know that I whine frequently about some romance novels not having a storyline. I blame reality tv a bit for that, not my whining (well, only in part) but about the fact that so many readers are satisfied to read about a couple who like each other but nothing happens in the course of the novel except that they have to decide if they want to be together. I pretty much figure that if I wanted that I could just sit at the neighborhood restaurant and watch couples on a date; or perhaps watch paint dry. It would be just that satisfying.

So, what does that have to do with Pull Me Close? Well, pretty much everything because Sidney Halston hits this one out of the park. It not only has a great storyline, but the characters feel so real and experience real problems, or what I expect some rich sexy handsome dude who own a nightclub in Miami might have as a problem (wink).

Katherine suffers from PTSD-related agoraphobia and hasn’t left her apartment in about 11 months, except she does this particular evening because she doesn’t want to let down her half-sister, who’s celebrating her bachelorette party. While at Panic, a Miami nightclub, Katherine begins to experience a panic attack (not sure if that’s an author-intended pun), feels sick, light-headed and pops a quarter of a Xanax, which makes her feel drowsy. Just as she’s about to faint, the nightclub’s bouncer catches her and takes her to Nick Moreno’s office. Nick immediately feels disgust presuming that she’s just another addict like so many who’ve come through the club’s doors.

Because the nightclub has experienced bad press in the past year, Nick doesn’t want to call an ambulance and have the police show up so he takes Katherine home and sits with her to make sure she’s alright, while still believing that she’s an addict. Katherine is touched by Nick’s decency. He didn’t need to make sure she arrived home or stay with her. So she forces herself to start to make life changes.

That little description is just the beginning! Nick has been caught up in some unsavory situations, not of his own making so it takes him a little while to trust. And, Katherine obviously has a lot of issues that she needs to come to terms with.

There is romance. And, again, if you have read my blog you know I’ve posted at least three or four times about Pearl Jam’s “Just Breathe.” How could I not love a novel in which that’s the song that Nick chooses to play for a romantic moment with Katherine?  This is what romance is supposed to be! Sigh.

And, in case you wondered, there is sex. The blurb on the author’s website says: “Because some love stories are better when they’re a little naughty . . .” So there is a little naughty in here for those who like it like that.

So, what do we have? Drama. Conflict. Fun. Romance. Chemistry. Steam. Just Breathe.

This is the first book in the Panic series.

I highly recommend Pull Me Close if all of those items appeal to you and it’s so, so, so much better than watching paint dry!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

From Amazon: Pull Me Close

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An Excerpt this blogger most “heartily” approves:

My heart melts at the scene around me. Four months ago I couldn’t have dreamed this, and now I’m living it. I love these people. Really love them. My heart is so full right now it feels as if it’s going to burst.

I’m alone in the booth with Nico, who is sitting with a cigar in one hand and a tumbler of amber liquid in the other, looking so damn sexy and dangerous.

“You drunk, baby?” he asks, indicating the flute with a nod of his chin.

I put the flute on the table and slide closer to him. He puts his cigar and drink down and wraps an arm around my waist.

“Drunk enough to want to say something to you, but not drunk enough that it won’t count.”

“What do you want to say to me, corazón?” He tucks some stray hair behind my ear and his thumb strokes my cheek.

“I’ve decided I’m going to let myself fall in love with you,” I say.

His smile fades. He brings his other hand to my cheek, those emeralds eyes looking intently at me.

“Then you need to catch up, baby.”

“What? Are you drunk?”

“Drunk enough that I want to make love to you on this table right now, but not enough to actually try it.”

I laugh and throw myself on him.

One hand holds me tightly against him, while the other one grabs his phone. “One second,” he says as he ferociously types something into his phone. Jeez, so not the right time to be texting.

“Come on,” he says at last, and helps me up. He pushes the table back a little so that we have more space. I’m not exactly sure what is going on, but I don’t question it. Suddenly the fast-paced dance music stops mid-song and the DJ comes on the speakers.

“A special request,” the DJ says. The strobe lights stop and the overall lighting dims, and then a familiar song that does not at all belong in a modern dance club starts playing. People look confused for a moment, as do I until I recognize the song: “Just Breathe” by Pearl Jam.

“Just breathe,” he tells me, because I’ve stopped breathing.

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Author Info

USA Today bestselling author, Sidney Halston lives her life with one simple rule: “Just Do It”–Nike. And that’s exactly what she did.

After working hard as an attorney, Sidney picked up a pen for the first time at thirty years old to begin her dream of writing. Having never written anything other than very exciting legal briefs, she found an outlet for her imaginative, romantic side and wrote Seeing Red. That first pen stroke sealed the deal, and she fell in love with writing. Sidney lives in South Florida with her husband and children. She loves her family above all else, and reading follows a close second. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading and reading and reading. She’s a reader first and a writer second. When she’s not writing or reading, her life is complete and utter chaos, trying to balance family life with work and writing (and reading). But she wouldn’t have it any other way.

 

Author Links:  Facebook | Twitter | Website | GoodReads

Website:  http://www.sidneyhalston.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Sidneyhalston

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/SidneyHalston

GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6916557.Sidney_Halston

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Buy Links:      Amazon | B & N | Google | iTunes | Kobo

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AQNZQD6

B&N:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pull-me-close-sidney-halston/1123383588

Google:google play book Pull Me Close

iTunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1114530490

Kobo:  https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/pull-me-close