
Rock bottom has never felt so good.
At least, thatās what I tell myself when I bargain with the enemy and score a renovation for my hair salon.
The enemy? Nick Stamos, my best friendās older brother.
Heās got a body and face the Greek gods would envy but his personality needs a major overhaul.
Heās surly.
A rule-follower.
Did I mention heās seen me naked?
I may have crushed on him for years, but the only place I want Nick swinging his hammer nowadays is at my salon.
Except, he needs something in return…
A fake girlfriend.
And Iām just reckless enough to say yes.

Title: | Hold Me Today |
Author: | Maria Luis |
Series: | Put a Ring on It (Book 1) |
Pages: | 435 |
Category / Genre(s): | Contemporary |
Trope(s): | Best Friend’s Brother Fake Relationship |
Point of View: | |
Location: | US |
HEA: | āļø |
Release Date: | 17th January, 2019 |


Wow – just wow!

Let me start by laying it out quite simply – this book slayed me. In the best possible way. It made me laugh – it made me cry – it made me laugh while crying. I gasped out loud – and had to fan myself on more than one occasion. All in all, it was utterly fantastic.
Iāve never read Maria Luis before but now I want to get everything she has ever written and I want it now. This books stands alone but I did notice tiny teases of her Blades Hockey books, and the introduction of a certain burly ex-footballer with cynical eyes, who Iām hoping will be the subject of the next book in this series, Kiss Me Tonight.
Back to this story – I am straight up in love with Mina. Just bloody love her. She came alive off the pages and I want to simultaneously hug her for her vulnerabilities, and also to be her because sheās so damn sassy, sweet, kind, fun, mouthy – and everything else in between. But you also neednāt fear – sheās no cookie cutter adorable airhead. Sheās smart and savvy in her own way. No cliches for Mina. I almost loved her more than I loved Nick. Almost.
“…quite simply – this book slayed me. In the best possible way.”
Because Nick is just perfection. Heās a hot construction boss who might be called grumpy. Even he thinks heās staid and sensible but oooft – that man can be bad when he wants to be. And dirty to boot. And no saint ever looked the way that he does. Yum! I especially loved the way heās looked after Mina all her life. Heās cared for her all his life. And he even thinks that he doesnāt, and hasnāt always been in love with her. Itās so adorable that heās so clueless about his own feelings.
Iām also almost speechless at the sexual tension and the build of Nick and Mina as a couple – Iām pretty sure my eyes rolled back in my head at one point as my stomach clutched. A dangerously gorgeous mixture of sweet and oh-so-sexy. I was overwhelmed with love and lust!
Ms Luisās words just flowed from beginning to end. I found myself having to re-read paragraphs because I wanted to devour them so quickly – but also wanted to make sure I caught every single work. She so deftly captures the nuances of the evolution of the relationship between Nick and Mina. Itās not just a simple friends to lovers. Neither is it a high school crush brought to reality. Itās more. Itās everything.
I honestly cannot praise this book highly enough. I feel a bit shell-shocked now itās over. Like Iām wrung out in the best possible way. Truly spectacular and very worthy of 5 stars from me.




Maria is a big fan of books, nature, dogs, and pretty things – not always in that order, though.
By day, Maria is a historian who specializes in 19th century New Orleans and 14th century London. What do the two eras have in common? Not much, except for disease, scandal, and crime – Maria’s favorite historical topics. (For real, if you want to talk any of the above, just reach out!)
When not digging through the archives, Maria writes romances about strong men and the sassy women who sweep them off their feet.



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Audiobook Review: Love Me Tomorrow by Maria Luis š§ - Jo Reads Romance
3 September 2023 at 10:51 pm[…] adored Hold Me Today – the first book in the Put A Ring On It series by Maria Luis. I mean adored it. I called it […]