REVIEW: Can’t Hold Back by Serena Bell

In Can’t Hold Back (Returning Home #2) by Serena Bell, Alia Drake and Nate Riordan have quite a history. Years ago, she set him up with her sister, but things didn’t work out between the pair, because the Drake sisters deceived him. Determined to make things right, Alia works hard — using her skills as a physical therapist — to help Nate overcome the lingering pain, of an injury he suffered that ended his military career. The question is – can he find it within him to forgive her, so they can have a second chance at love?

What a fantastic second chance read Ms. Bell has penned with this tale, of a heroine determined to earn forgiveness, and a hero determined to honor a promise he made. The plot starts off fast, but then I thought slowed down a bit until Alia comes to his rescue when his injury gets him into trouble, and then from that moment the pace picks up again. Still, it was a real page turner and entertaining, due to their past history.

“Nate, please let me help you.”
He raised his face and his eyes glittered. “What, witnessing my humiliation once wasn’t enough for you?”
She reached out a hand, but he flung his arm out and knocked hers away. “Get out of here.”
“Give me a chance. One chance. If I can’t help, I promise I’ll leave you alone.”

The dialogue was well-written and a nice blend of intense and playful, fan-your-face banter. The latter when Alia is attempting to get Nate to relax, and with the texts they share. Where as in the beginning, Nate’s attitude towards Alia is full of bitterness and accusation. In the way, he flings her past mistake back in her face as a reminder, of what she and her sister did to him. It made me wonder whether he could forgive her the more I read about their history. Because it seemed what they did was a tad deplorable. Yet, at the same time, I could understand why Alia did it. She’s protective of her sister, Becca, and had been helping her for years since discovering Becca had a learning disability.

“What I don’t understand,” she said, millennia later, “is if you were driving back, how were you texting? Were you driving and sexting?”
He shook his head. “Pulled over a few times.”
“Oh, really. So, like, side of I-five, hand in your pants?”
They were lying side by side, facing each other, and he was grinning at her.
“Yep. Because you’re hot. Because sexting with you is hot. And fun. You’re fun, you know that?”

I really liked both characters. Alia is passionate about her work. She does a lot of good helping her patients, and every one of them clearly like and respect her. She’s also tenacious when it comes to helping Nate, because it gives her the chance to finally explain why she and her sister deceived him. While Nate, he’s honorable and determined to follow through on an unspoken promise to J.J, a comrade that was killed in the line of duty. As well as the promise he made to the man’s parents because he has a serious case of survivor’s guilt. It haunts him, and he wants nothing more than to help J.J’s family any way he can. I could empathize with his reasons for the promise, when he explained the story of how he was injured.

Steamy sex scenes heat up the story at the right moments, and illustrate this couple’s intense chemistry perfectly. It’s palpable that they had feelings for each other when they first met, and still do even after everything that happened between them. However, Alia faces a dilemma. Can she be with Nate if it means risking her job? Of course, he doesn’t make things easy for her and tempts her whenever possible, especially in the moments when he needs her to work her magic with his injury.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story, of which the secondary characters entertained me almost as much as the main characters. They really help Alia and Nate realize that love and happiness is important. The moment where Alia expresses her feelings to Nate in a way he’d appreciate had me cheering. Because it led to a wonderful ending where important decisions were made concerning their future together. What would Alia do about her job? Where would they live? Would Nate finally realize that he deserved to be happy, instead of doing what he thinks is right?

I would recommend Can’t Hold Back by Serena Bell, if you enjoy stories with ex-military heroes or a second chance romance where the couple has quite an interesting history.

Book Info:

Publication: December 15th, 2015 | Loveswept | Returning Home #2

In this tender military romance from the bestselling author of Hold on Tight—perfect for fans of of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery—a war-shattered veteran gets a second chance at love with the one that got away.

No girl can resist a man in uniform—especially if that man is Nate Riordan. But after an injury in the line of duty leaves Nate broken, body and soul, the soldier finds himself addicted to his pain meds, with no place to call home. Desperate for an escape, Nate reluctantly accepts a friend’s invitation to a new veterans’ retreat. Expecting a little R&R, Nate is shocked when the sight of his physical therapist opens up another old wound: heartbreak.

Years ago, Alia Drake fell hard for Nate, but never made her move. Instead, she set up her sister with the sexy, confident military man, a foolish decision that continues to haunt all three of them. Now, with Nate as her patient, she can make things right—even if it means getting too close for comfort. A healing touch and a little honesty work wonders, fueling a physical intimacy that crosses professional boundaries. This time, with desire in the air once more, Alia won’t hold anything back.