Blog Tour: Hard to hold On by Shanora Williams

Summary: 

For the past four months, Natalie Carmichael and Nolan Young have been complete. Everything still feels right in their passion-filled world. It still feels natural - that is until Nolan's mother passes away.
Things begin to turn for the worst for Nolan and his brother Mills. After losing their father from previous years before, it's a tragedy on top of a tragedy. Along with the loss, Natalie and Nolan will face obstacles that they aren't so sure they can handle.
 
From the New York Times and USA Today Best Selling novel, Hard to Resist, Natalie and Nolan will realize that there is something in their relationship that will have them either wanting to run away or trying to stick through it.
 
Will Natalie and Nolan stick together? Can they hold on to what they've worked so hard to keep going?
Love was found. Their only hope is that it never gets lost.

4 Star review

Both Natalie and Nolan know what it feels like to be betrayed by someone you love. Nolan also knows what it is to be the betrayer. Together they have learned to trust again and love again. Nat and Nolan’s love and passion for each other had filled their world. Their relationship was perfect for four months. Then Nolan’s mother passes away.

Nolan and his brother Mills have suffered a devastating loss before when their father was killed. Now the only parent they have left is gone. Nolan becomes distant and pushes Natalie away. 

“Just tell me now, Nolan, what am I doing wrong. I swear I’ll fix it. We can fix anything you just have to work with me. You haven’t said a word about how you feel about your mother’s death since I’ve been here. I’ve let you in before. It’s your turn now.”

Natalie feels helpless and begs Nolan to talk to her so she can be there for him; he continuously falls into a black hole. When he questions their relationship and suggests some time away from each other, Natalie is devastated. He made her ONE promise and he just broke it.

“I don’t want to hurt you, Bunny. I don’t want to destroy this anymore than I have so I think its best that we take some time apart. I need space right now. I can’t deal with anyone’s emotions outside of my own.”

“That girl will suffer along with you if she has to,” Mills says through a dry chuckle. “Seriously, I can see it in her. She’ll do anything as long as she’s by your side but you’ve just f@#ked up. You shouldn’t have let her go like that-not without explaining yourself thoroughly.”

After having a heart to heart with his brother, Nolan finds the note Nat left for him he realizes the damage he has caused.  He hurt her, the one thing he promised he wouldn’t do. He sees that now he has truly lost everything, especially her and he will do everything he can to get her back. Natalie is once again devastated but this time it is so much worse. Tired of being the victim of love gone wrong, Natalie realizes she just needs to go out and have fun. Then she meets Tyler, a handsome and popular guy. Being honest with him from the get go, Tyler goes after her full force.

When Nolan’s ex-girlfriend Sharon shows up she makes things a bit complicated for him and Natalie.

Seeing that Natalie is distancing herself away from him and knowing her trust in him has been shaking deeply, he fears he may be too little too late. Losing the people you love is life altering but is the love that Natalie and Nolan have for each other strong enough to hold on?

 "We're not ending, Natalie. Never. I don't care what I have to do to keep you, I will. I don't care what I have to go through to keep you with me. You're mine."

Natalie and Nolan’s relationship is put to the ultimate test. My heart broke for Nolan, he was so tortured and just wasn’t able to deal with anything. I was able to relate to his loss on such a personal level. Death changes you in more ways than one but understanding and learning to deal with that pain, heartache and loss can make or break you.  Feeling helpless Nat has no idea how to handle it but she did right buy him but just letting him know she was there for him, that is all anyone can really do. 

I felt that both Natalie and Nolan grew up so much in this book.  Learning from mistakes and being able to grow from them is a lesson we have all been through. With some hot sex scenes*insert blushing* add a bit of WTF, along with a side of angst and tears, but don’t forget the “ooh no you didn’t!”  You have a story that has a little bit of everything. 

Shanora gets stronger and stronger with each story she writes.  Hard to Hold On was so heart felt. I was pulled in immediately. A great enjoyable read!  A job well done!

Our Interview with Natalie and Nolan

Three Chicks: Natalie, what did you learn from your time away from Nolan?

Natalie:  I learned a lot. I learned how to loosen up, to let go. I admit I was down and felt so incomplete without him but I had no choice but to lighten… especially since I thought were weren’t going to happen again.

Three Chicks:  Natalie, when did you know that Nolan was the one, the love of your life, your forever?

Natalie:  I knew when he admitted to me what he really wanted from me -  what I really meant to him. I knew even more when he wrote a song about me and sang in front of a crowd for the first time. Also when I saw out how different Nolan was from Bryson after running into him again. Nolan cherished his time with me, Bryson didn’t. 

Three Chicks:  Natalie, why didn’t you tell Nolan about what Brittney told you about her time with Tyler?

Natalie:  I didn’t want him to freak or fight again… plus we weren’t officially together and I was confused about him and Sharon. I didn’t know if he had anything going on with her and the last thing I thought about was telling Nolan about some guy I was messing around with. Way too much drama but in the end, I screwed up by not telling him.

Three Chicks:  Natalie, why didn’t you stop talking to Tyler after your blackout? Even after your friends warned you especially when you knew what had happened to Brittney?

Natalie:  Trust me, I wanted to. But when I have a problem, I have to solve. I had to figure out what the hell he did to me and why. Brittany never mentioned that it was all Tyler. She didn’t know what happened and neither did I. Tyler was just so sweet that it was hard to believe he would do anything to hurt anyone. After my blackout and knowing he was avoiding me, I needed answers. Stupid, I know, but I wouldn’t have confronted him in private.

Three Chicks:  Natalie, when you found out the truth about Sharon, how did it make you feel?

Natalie:  I thought she was a crazy broad from the start. She was purposely pushing Nolan and I apart and I couldn’t stand her but then I began to sympathize for her after hearing her family’s problems. At least she gave up on trying with Nolan and I’m proud he kept himself grounded. I don’t think we would be together if he had done more with her.

Three Chicks:  Nolan, how did you come up with Nat’s nick name Bunny?

Nolan:  Bunny… ‘cause she's soft, cuddly, cute, warm. People love bunnies. I figured it out while at work. The tourists were hounding and cuddling with the bunnies like crazy. I held one and I don’t know why but I immediately thought of Natalie.

Three Chicks:  Nolan, Are you still playing your music?

Nolan:  I am. I thought about quitting but the letter from my dad gave me inspiration. I couldn’t quit.

Three Chicks:  Nolan, what did you learn from your time away from Natalie?

Nolan:  A LOT! I was lonely without her – dead without her. I learned how to cope, how to deal with my emotions. I know to never blow up on her again… ever. She didn’t deserve it and I’m dumb for allowing my temper to rule me.

Three Chicks:  Nolan, at what point did you realize that you completely messed up?

Nolan:  I knew it when I found her poem. As much passion and heart as she puts into her words, I knew it killed her because reading it killed me. I hated myself for it – still do. I’ll never do it again.

Three Chicks:  Nolan, why didn’t you tell Natalie that Tyler was Sharon’s brother? Don’t you think it would have made her stay away from him sooner?

Nolan:  Natalie is an impulsive person. It came to mind a few times and I know I should have told her ahead of time but I didn’t think anything would happen while she was at school. I still thought I had enough time later on that night. I honestly think it would have made her panic even more and rush to find him and demand answers – even if I were to tell her not to. Natalie isn’t the easiest person to tell what to do… one of the many reasons why I love that girl.

Three Chicks:  What have you both learned from what you went through?

Nolan:  Me… I’ve learned to never let my pain interfere with my love life. If I want to get through something, I’ll get through it with my baby. My Bunny.

Natalie:  I’ve learned that no matter what, love never fails. It conquers all and with Nolan I’ll always know that.

Three Chicks:  Where do you see yourselves in 5 years?

Nolan: I see us still having extremely hot-ass sex. That’ll never change. But on a serious note, I see us loving one another more and more each day.

Natalie: I see a pretty big wedding, a romantic honeymoon, and quadrupled happiness. I also see us having little Nolan’s and Natalie’s. Hopefully they aren’t as bad-ass as Nolan but either way, I’ll be completely satisfied. 

Three Chicks:  What is one word that you would use to describe each other?

Natalie: Wonderful.

Nolan: That’s impossible. There are so many words to describe her… she’s my everything.

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