Hold On to My Heart Reviews
From "Escape to Romance" Review
www.escapetoromance.com/reviews/strider-hold.html
Living a lie. That's what Jillee learns after the death of her husband Michael. While going through her husband's papers, Jillee finds things that just don't add up. Her brother-in-law Joseph wants her out of the family for good. Her brother-in-law Antonio is hiding secrets about Michael's activities. Stephanie Lloyd makes an appearance, but why is she connected to this family? An unexpected death leaves Jillee totally alone in the world except for her late husband's family and her best friend Susan. Jillee is no stranger to death. She lost her parents to a drunk driver. Jillee knows she needs to deal with her grief and move on with her life. In order to do this she helps her in-laws financially, buys a new home and take a trip to Hawaii with her best friend Susan. In Hawaii, she meets Marc, a chauffeur working at the posh resort where she and Susan will be staying. Unknowingly, Jillee is the target for murder. Marc is not all he claims to be, either. He knows that winning Jillee's heart is not going to be easy. After learning of the attempts on her life he decides to make his affections known to Jillee. He takes an extended leave from his job and heads to the mainland. Jillee finds that she is more attracted to Marc than she should be after only being a widow for two months. Stephanie Lloyd shows up at Jillee's home but encounters Marc instead and things start to happen all over again. How does Stephanie know Marc? Strange things happen to Jillee but she puts them all down to coincidences or her just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Jillee just can't believe that anyone would want to do her harm. When her best friend Susan moves to Hawaii, she is kidnapped and a ransom is demanded. She finds out the hard way that she is the one in danger. This book is a keeper. The love scenes were done so beautifully. As the story unfolds it is so easy to imagine yourself in Jillee's shoes. Why she would find it hard to believe that she was in any kind of danger. Marc is the kind of hero that every woman wants to enter her life. Of course it doesn't hurt that he is wealthy in his own right, but that he truly loves Jillee. If I were to give this book a rating from 1-10 this book would rate an 11. This is a book I would love to see in a movie.
--Darlene Howard
From "Road to Romance" Review
http://www.roadtoromance.ca/reviewholdon.htmJillee is happily married to Michael D’Angelo when he is killed in an automobile accident. Michael and his family own an Italian restaurant. This year they plan to expand with an investment from Michael and his older brother, Antonio. Jillee has inherited some money so offers to invest Michael’s share. At the funeral she sees a young woman who is crying and wonders who she could be and what her connection is to Michael. Jillee is heart-broken over his death so when her friend, Susan, books a trip to Hawaii, she is happy to get away. They stay at a very luxurious resort that has a butler, a cook and maid service. Some strange things occur. Their butler and cook seem very suspicious. On their helicopter trip, a puncture is found in the gas line. Luckily they have an experienced helicopter pilot so that he is able to land them all safely. They go out for an evening with their driver, Marc Akuna and his cousin, Brad. The two men seem very protective and although Marc is attracted to Jillee, she plans to stay faithful to Michael’s memory. The reader has no idea what is behind all of the strange occurrences in HOLD ON TO MY HEART. Who would want to kill Jillee and why? Several people look culpable. There are some red herrings but no definite clues as to who would want her dead but when several other people turn up murdered, the danger is obviously getting closer. The friendship between Jillee and Susan is particularly enjoyable as well as the friendship they find with the two Hawaiian men. Although Jillee seems to get over her husband’s death a little too easily, Marc is a particularly sweet guy who is willing to be patient and bide his time by getting to know her. Ms. Strider writes a fast paced story keeping the interest of the reader throughout. A very enjoyable read.
Reviewed by Marilyn Heyman for Road to Romance June, 2002
From "Romantic Times", April 2003 Issue
Jillee D'Angelo's heart is broken when her husband is killed in a car crash. She vows to pick up the pieces and carry out his last wishes. After floating a loan for the family restaurant to his siblings, she takes a trip to Hawaii and prays the change in scenery from the harsh West Virginia winter will bolster her spirits.
Her visit is plagued by threatening phone calls and a near-miss helicopter crash. The only bright spot in her vacation is meeting Marc Acuna, her chauffeur. Marc awakens emotions in her she thought were dead and buried.
Marc's heart is captured by this American tourist with a heart of gold. He's determined to protect her and even follows her back to the mainland. Marc and Jillee are compelled to explore the physical side of their attraction, even as threats against Jillee intensify.
Strider's style is pleasantly out of the ordinary. She uses all of her characters' points of view and creatively binds their thoughts together. Strider's romance debut is full of mystery, emotions and down-to-earth characters.
~Faith V. Smith
From "Midwest Book Review", October 2002
Hold On To My Heart by Judi L. Strider is a dramatic novel of love rekindled and the threat of murder. Jillee is a widow who has unexpectedly lost her husband Michael in a drunk driving accident and feels that she will never love again. When a chauffeur named Marc meets Jillee in beautiful Hawaii, he finds that winning her heart is an uphill battle - made even more difficult when it comes to light that someone wants the widow Jillee as dead as her late husband. Highly recommended reading, Hold On To My Heart is an enthralling, romantic, and adventurous story.