Take Me Back: A Give & Take Novella

After Taken by storm, which introduced MJ and Maddie, I was looking forward to having Rachael and Merrick as the main characters. This book focuses on them, which is good, but goes back to the first person narrative and use of 'you' that I found so impersonal and distracting in the first book, Taken. But that's the least of the problems that this book has, the main one being that it is just inconsequential to the main story. Nothing more than a filler that does not add at all to the plot and just rumbles about a ghost, no less. Honestly, I am starting to forget what this story is really about and what engaged me in the first place. This series is deflating as more books come out and will need the last one, Given, to be spectacular to be redeemed. I preordered it months ago unfortunately, otherwise I would not buy it.

Rachael DeSalvo is haunted by the past. She's come home to her beloved Turtle Tear Island, where she looks forward to happy days and bliss-filled nights in the arms of Merrick Rocha. But when she finds a trunk full of old photo albums and handwritten notes, Rachael soon realizes that the island has not given up all its secrets . . . For long before Rachael and Merrick made Turtle Tear Resort their home, this historic island was a haven for sensual, forbidden affairs. As Rachael and Merrick work to restore the grand hotel to its former glory, they will be caught in the perfect maelstrom of conflict and desire. ~ Publisher's Description It took me a while to get into the book. I had a hard time keeping the characters straight--- who belonged to whom, etc. I did not read the first book Taken which most definitely put me at a disadvantage. It wasn't until near the end of the book that I learned how Rachael and Merrick got together. With that said, I enjoyed the 'ghostly' storyline; but, I do not feel a need to read the other books in the series.

got to page 12 only

This was a great ending to this series.  Merrick and Rachel both have looked forward to this day and it was very well done by Kelli Maine.  Kelli Maine did an overall great job with this whole series.  

This book could have answered so many questions that took place in Taken by Storm. Did the police arrest Merrick's evil father? Is Ingrid real or really a ghost? Instead it spent a lot of time with Merrick and Rachael fighting. I was very disappointed!

I love this series! The love story between Merrick & Racheal is wonderful! They definitely have passion for one another. Looking forward to Given coming out in September. Can't get enough of their story!

Find this review and more at Lusty Penguin Reviews! Take Me Back is an enthralling and captivating novella in the Give & Take series by Kelli Maine. The author tells this story through Rachel DeSalvo’s point of view using first person present tense. At first I found it a bit confusing, but after a few pages, I discovered that I really enjoyed the story being told in this point of view; somehow it just seemed to work. Rachael and Merrick Rocha are in a serious relationship that is still at the early stages of development. Although their sexual chemistry sizzles, and they are quite sexually active from the beginning, communication outside of the bedroom is their main problem. Rachael is a passionate character, along with being obsessive and stubborn. Her most recent fixation is the ghost of Ingrid Weston, whose spirit wants to be returned to her home on Turtle Tear. Rachael shares her desire to help Ingrid with Merrick, but he’ll hear nothing of it, which causes Rachel to pull away. With her openness to the spirit world, Rachel is really an intriguing character, so I felt really bad that she was unable to share this with Merrick. Although in love with Rachael, Merrick is disturbed by her behavior—she lies to him about where she is going and why—and he decides to send Rachael home to visit her mother. Merrick’s inability to listen to Rachael because he’s not a believer made his character difficult to like. But, when Ingrid makes herself known to Merrick, he realizes the mistakes he made with Rachael by not talking and sending her away, which made me smile and think that this couple has a chance at happiness. Before starting this book, I was concerned that I hadn’t read the first three stories in the series and that jumping in would be confusing. In this case, my concerns were justified to a point; it took a while to figure out all of the relationships between the secondary characters and Rachael and Merrick. After figuring the relationships out, I was fully engrossed by the story and the snippets of information as to how Merrick and Rachael became a couple in the first place, which make me want to read the other stories in this series too. Take Me Back is novel about the need for communication in a relationship that leaves the reader with a happy-for-now ending and the need to visit these characters again in the future. I received an eBook copy from NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review, and all conclusions are my own responsibility.

This is a nice continuation of the series. I've enjoyed it greatly!

This was a sticky read for me in more ways than one. First it was Rachael speaking in the First Person. Then she would speak and think as "You", her lover Merrick. Creepy. Then I realized this is the end of a series. I'm sure this story would be a better read if I had read the others. I liked the addition of a ghost or technically a spirit as it was reacting to people. It had a very abrupt ending for me. Check out the first books and give this book a try.

Was good but wanted more. In seemed unfinished to me. But if you like the series it is worth reading, because you love Merrick,

Alpha male romance with a great ghost story! I started with this book, and I really enjoyed it! I would recommend reading the first 2 books in the series first, they will add more depth to the characters, that you may not get from this novella. Still a great story, that left me wanting more!.

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Excellent! I loved it!

Love this book!

Loved the way the story took a turn to the unseen spiritual realm. As always, I loved Rachel & Merrick's journey of love. I love how they stumble through the bumpy road & their love ends up stronger. For those that didn't understand it, read the whole series starting with "Taken" and you can appreciate the creative spin of the story. Loved it!

I absolutely loved this novella, "Take me Back!!!" I love that Kelli gives us Novellas between her fabulous books. This series is so addictive!!! The love story between Merrick and Rachael is just unbelievable. They go through so many different stages in their relationship, that the reader's emotions are all over the place. I have been dying for their story to continue. This wonderful Novella will hold me over until Kelli's next book is published. Kelli really knows how to create a storyline that hooks us all in. I am definitely hooked. If you have not read her books, I suggest you start at the beginning of this wonderful series with 1) "Taken," 2) "No Take Backs," 3) "Taken by Storm," and this amazing Novella, 4) "Take me Back!!" What a great series!!!

I am very disappointed , the book is 105 pages but the story ends on page 84 , that sucks ! The writing style sucks too. It would've been nice to read Merrick's thoughts too.

This book was a waste of time

Very poor. I love this series, but this is horrible. I hate the first person writing and it goes to far away from the story line. I got 10 pages in and quit.

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I was disappointed by the way the author handled merrick sending rachel away. Any strong woman would have never gone back after he sent her away like a piece of trash being thrown away... it shows how the author has made rachel a weak dependant woman... come into this century and make her strong and independant!!! Women should NEVER let a man treat them like a second class citizen.