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JerseyGirlBookReviews
Posted February 13, 2013
In Holding On, the sequel to Meant To Be, the story of Daniel and Marienne continues. Holding On is the story of one couple's ability to love and stay true to each other, while finding the strength and courage to hold on and make their marriage work with love, trust, acceptance, and understanding when unexpected life situations tests their marriage.
Newly married, Daniel and Marienne Gardner are enjoying marital bliss while living in a small town. They have special blessings that come into their lives when Ella, Marienne's three-year-old daughter, calls Daniel Daddy for the first time; Marienne finds out that she is pregnant; and Daniel pens a screenplay that is picked up by a LA producer. Can it get any better than this? Well, life has a way of throwing monkey wrenches into the best of marriages and relationships that will test their ability to survive. Daniel receives a letter from a man named Roger, who claims to be the father that he never knew; Justine, Daniel's ex-wife wants him back and tries to seduce him, which brings out Marienne's old insecure feelings of cheating; and Daniel's frequent travels to LA for preproduction meetings for the screenplay leads the lonely Marienne to befriend a single father named Bob during an arranged playdate for their daughters. Can the strength, trust and love in their marriage help them hold on and overcome life's unexpected situations?
Author Karen Stivali once again weaves an emotional story that delves into the realistic inner workings of a marriage through the trials and tribulations and life's challenges that will test its survivability. Written in the third person narrative, the reader embarks on an emotional roller coaster ride with the continuation of Daniel and Marienne's story. As their story unfolds, the couple encounter issues of commitment, miscommunication and insecurities that test their marriage. I think that the author's look into these issues are realistic and believable, you can't help but feel for the couple as their fears, insecurities and flaws come to light as they strive to maintain their happy marriage. As Daniel and Marienne journey to build upon their marriage, the reader is treated to a couple's love for each other that is simply magical. Through the ups and downs of the challenges and struggles that come their way, this wonderful couple's love endures as they weather life's storms together.
With realistic and believable characters who have flaws and issues that are easy to relate to; engaging dialogue and interactions; and an emotional storyline that will tug at your heartstrings, Holding On is a beautifully written story of the enduring spirit of love and marriage that is oh so sigh worthy.
Author Karen Stivali has created a series of stories that is a must read! Meant To Be is book one, Holding On is book two, and Just In Time is book three that will focus on Justine and will be released in January 2014.
Overview
British NYU professor Daniel Gardner thinks life can’t get better than the day his three-year-old stepdaughter, Ella, calls him Daddy for the first time. Then his wife Marienne tells him she’s pregnant. Daniel is thrilled, but worried about Marienne’s health. Not wanting to cause her stress, he turns to writing to calm his nerves. He pens a screenplay, thinking it’s ...