In HOLD ME CLOSE, Shane Callahan is meeting his best friend at O'Hare airport
after
Maggie O'Leary arrives from Ireland. Maggie left Chicago almost two years
years ago to find herself and recover from the devastating rape by
her ex-boyfriend five years earlier. Her family owns and operates the
O'Leary bar and it's time to face her fears, coming home again to
work again at the bar. Her brothers, Ryan, Quinn, Colin and Liam,
are super protective of her, and her sister Moira is equally
supportive.
Arriving damaged with several hang-ups over her rape and sex,
Maggie plans to work at the family bar towards eradicating the
horror and its aftereffects from her mind. With her school chum,
Shane, at her side, anything is possible for Maggie. She has
dreams of steaming hot sex with a faceless man with huge
hands, and the dream fulfills every fantasy she could imagine.
Shane is elated Maggie is back but is intent on protecting her as she
works at the bar. After sessions with Dr. Janzen, she decides to
overcome her sexual hang-ups with the only one she trusts, Shane.
Finally convincing him, he insists if he agrees it will be at his pace
and his terms. Eventually successful in giving her the most erotic
and explosive orgasms ever, her hopes are to overcome the sexual
fears to find a man to share her life. Shane, on the other hand, has
not only loved Magpie all these years but has been in love with her and
wants her as his own forever. Revealing his true feelings to Maggie
might just destroy their closely bonded friendship.
This is the first novel I have had the pleasure of reading by this
gifted author, Shannyn Schroeder. HOLD ME CLOSE is the last book
in the O'Learys series and I will definitely go back and read the
previous ones. I feel like a part of this family as each of their
characters is carefully defined and I fell in love with the family. The
emotions of Maggie's past rape were clearly felt throughout the
meticulous descriptions of Shannon Schroeder. I am impressed
with her ability to convey the degrading and horrendous lasting
fears following the rape of a woman. This is a marvelous story of a
young woman recapturing her life and self esteem.
Maggie O’Leary is finally coming home to Chicago. After more
than a year in Ireland, she’s ready to make a plan for her
future. But first, she’ll have to confront the tragedy that
scarred her so deeply. Asking for a job in the family bar is
the first step, and it’s one her family isn’t entirely happy
about. At least Shane Callahan, her best friend in the
world, is behind her a hundred percent. He’s also a hundred
percent more lovable than she remembered…
Shane is determined to keep Maggie safe, even if it means
working three jobs and giving up sleep to be around during
her shifts at the bar. But when Maggie boldly tells him she
needs more than a loyal friend now, Shane knows a single
night together won’t be possible. The idea of spirited
Maggie in his bed is electrifying, but will she believe he
wants to give her his heart, too?