Hard to Hold: (Hard to Hold Trilogy Book 1)

If you love military romantic suspense at all you will LOVE this book. It is action packed with just the right amount of romance. Both of the lead characters were well written and had a good emotional depth to them. The storyline itself was good. I don't think there is a lot that I would personally change about the story. I am really looking forward to reading more from this very talented author!

Navy SEAL Lt. Jake Hansen and his brother are fighting their way back to their extraction site when they are asked to pick up a civilian left for dead. Finding the wounded woman exactly where they were told, Jake is concerned with what he finds - and what he feels - for this abused but beautiful woman. His heart is gone and has been for years so why does he all of a sudden feel as if he will never breathe again unless he can touch her? Getting Dr. Markham out of Africa is not easy - she is the daughter of a senator - but keeping her out of Africa and harm's way proves even more difficult. Isabelle Markham wants to make something of her life. She wants to make a difference. A doctor specializing in reconstruction, she wants to continue the work she started with the humanitarian organization, but facts are facts. Her life is in danger because of her mother's high profile job and besides, she has already been kidnapped and left for dead once, right? When the hard but innately sexy Navy SEAL, Jake Hansen, is assigned as her bodyguard, Isabelle can't help but think of his hands, lips, and other primary body parts. Danger follows her, however, and it is going to take everything she and Jake both have to find their way back stateside alive. Stephanie Tyler - I bow down in humble obsequiousness for this amazing suspenseful novel. I adored Every. Single. Word. From beginning to end I was held captive by Jake Hansen and his story - not just what was happening in Hard to Hold, but what had happened to him prior to becoming a Navy SEAL. I loved his loyalty. I loved his defense mechanisms - of which there were many, and I loved the way he watched, waited, and wanted Isabelle. His ability to keep her safe made me shiver in delight. If you have never read a Stephanie Tyler novel before, please read Hard to Hold. You will be hard pressed to put this thrilling and engaging novel down. I proudly and joyfully recommend Hard to Hold. It kept me thinking of it even after I read the last word and to know that there are two more just like it coming soon, I just don't simply think I can wait! Talia Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

In the Congo, Navy SEAL Lieutenant Jake Hansen arrives to rescue Doctors Without Borders plastic surgeon Dr. Isabelle Markham from a ruthless mercenary Rage who kidnapped and raped her and left her for dead. Jake finds her barely alive without a stitch of clothing. He gets her out of Africa but a connection from the moment they met is evident. When Rafe escapes captivity, Admiral Callahan assigns Jake to keep Izzy safe. He has mixed feelings about the assignment because he told her some things about himself he told no one. However, he would die to keep her safe, but feels bad that he has been ordered to conceal the truth about Rafe who is believed to be stalking Isabelle. When she learns the truth she leaves, but Rafe has been patient. This is an exhilarating romantic military suspense thriller with the emphasis on the love story line over the dark SEAL operations. The lead couple makes the tale fun as each fall in love with the other but share in common relationship issues to overcome. The support cast that includes his SEAL mates (stars of future tales) and the man who took two of the Naval officers into his home when they were teens (the third is his son) add depth to the suspense and even more so the romance. Fans of SEAL romances in which the thrills of the coupling supersede that of the enemy actions will want to read this enjoyable tale. Harriet Klausner

Get ready for a thrilling new Navy SEAL trilogy by Stephanie Tyler debuting with HARD TO HOLD by Bantam Dell (Dec. 2009). At Navy SEAL headquarters in Virginia, Lt. Jake Hansen thought he'd never see Dr. Isabelle Markham again after rescuing her from the African Congo. Isabelle was there working for Doctors Without Borders but had been kidnapped, raped and nearly beaten to death by the ruthless mercenary, Rafe, who she now thinks is in prison. However, Isabelle is determined to put her skills as a plastic surgeon to good use by returning to the Congo and joining the military. Their second meeting on base is awkward since Jake revealed his darkest secret to Isabelle about his terrible childhood during their dangerous time together that he never talks about to anyone. However, their immediate attraction is still there and when Jake is ordered by his CO, Admiral Callahan to guard Izzy, he must keep it a secret from her. Isabelle feels smothered by her high powered Senator mother and Uncle Cal, so when Jake invites her to stay with him in his large house's guest room, Isabelle agrees. Jake also shares the house with his two SEAL brothers, Nick Devane and Chris Waldron, who were all raised together since their teens by Chris' father, a rock band manager with second sight. At the house things really heat up between Jake and Izzy and they both discover they have a common bond of either physical or emotional scars. However, when Izzy discovers Jake has been ordered to protect her, she feels betrayed and wonders if he really cares for her, so she decides to go with the FBI instead. Will Jake be in time to rescue Isabelle from the evil, Rafe and convince her he truly loves her? HARD TO HOLD will hold readers in thrall from first page to last with its intricate romantic suspense plot and pulse-pounding romance! Romance fans will be clamoring for brother SEALs, Nick and Chris' books and luckily won't have long to wait for TOO HOT TO HOLD (Jan. 2010) and HOLD ON TIGHT (Feb. 2010). Add to that a steamy secondary romance that deserves its happy ending in a future book. Brava Ms. Tyler for the superb beginning of such a great new military romance series!

The story opens in the jungles of Africa where Navy SEAL Lieutenant Junior Grade Jake Hansen and his team have been forced to scatter to complete their mission to secure missing equipment and the intel it contains. Under the cloak of darkness with rebel gunfire erupting all around a wounded Jake and his best friend and teammate Ensign Nick Devane are making their way silently through the jungle to the rendezvous point. They receive a call through their communication devices that the rebels have reported a female hostage north of their location. The woman, Dr. Isabelle Markham is believed to have been kidnapped 72 hours previously and is Senator Cresswell's daughter. Dr. Markham's reported location requires the SEALs to retrace their steps and takes them back toward the line of fire. They do find Isabelle inside an abandoned hut naked, bound and gagged, lying face down on the dirt floor, very badly injured. After stabilizing Isabelle to the best of their ability Nick is forced to go ahead to bring back help as their communication devices have failed. Isabelle is conscious and as the rebel forces move closer Jake carries her into the jungle to hide and await help. Terrified and in shock, Isabelle turns to Jake for comfort and shares a dark secret with him. Jake, uncharacteristically, tells her something about his past that has haunted him since his youth, after all, he never expects to see Isabelle again. During that brief time lying in the jungle hidden and waiting for the rest of the SEAL team to arrive an unlikely bond is forged between these two people. Dr. Isabelle "Izzie" Markham is a Harvard educated reconstructive plastic surgeon, and instead of staying safely in America, setting up a practice and marrying her former fiancé, she chose to volunteer with Médecins Sans Frontières a.k.a. Doctors Without Borders. This is one feisty, strong, brilliant and stubborn heroine who despite being betrayed and brutalized by her bodyguard in Africa, prevails. All had been well during Izzie's previous stints serving with Médecins Sans Frontières until her strong willed and controlling mother was elected to the Senate. Then threats against her life started and Izzie was forced to accept "security" while volunteering in Africa. Jake Hansen (like all highly trained men who serve on SEAL teams) is focused, stubborn, deadly in combat, fiercely loyal to his teammates, and accustomed to assuming control under the worst of circumstances. He is, however a tortured hero, having endured extreme hardship and abuse as a youngster until he was taken in by the Waldron's. Jake lives in a big house off base with fellow teammates Nick Devane and Chris Waldron. These men share the special bond that is inherent as SEAL teammates, however they are also brothers, not biological but Chris's father and mother adopted Jake and Nick and raised all three boys. Each one of these men knows the other better then they know themselves and Ms. Tyler wrote subtle sarcasm into the dia