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WHEN IT HOLDS YOU by @NickiElson3D #Romance #Review #IWSG


Happy Insecure Writers Support Group, hosted by Alex Cavanaugh! Join us HERE.


November's Question: What's your favorite aspect of being a writer?

For me, it's the warm, supportive author community. I'm blessed writing has brought me closer to quality people like my critique partner, Nicki Elson. Which leads me to...

Today I celebrate fellow IWSG author Nicki Elson's new release: WHEN IT HOLDS YOU!




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WHEN IT HOLDS YOU has been selected as a TOP PICK at The Romance Reviews!
“Nicki Elson has become my MUST read new contemporary romance author! The sex is hot, but the emphasis is on emotions in this book. They really are made for each other.”
~The Romance Reviews
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WHEN IT HOLDS YOU

Virtual. That’s where she was supposed to stay—only in my online gaming life. I never intended to meet up with her in person. And I certainly hadn’t counted on her being who she is.

Cliff Walsh has dozens of hot, smart, and willing paramours in his video games. Who needs to look further? The twenty-eight year old attorney is done getting his heart smashed by real-life women who fit his perfect-mate checklist. From now on, he vows to keep his romances digital-only…until a certain redheaded gamer twists all his preconceptions and touches a place in his heart he didn’t know existed.

I always thought I knew what love would look like, but sometimes you don’t recognize it until the moment when it holds you. ~Cliff

WHEN IT HOLDS YOU is a stand-alone novel in The It Series family.

Other titles in the series:
WHEN IT HOOKS YOU, a Top Pick at The Romance Reviews
WHEN IT HITS YOU, coming January 2017

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Here's my 5 star review:

When It Holds YouWhen It Holds You by Nicki Elson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cliff Can Hold Me Anytime

Attorney Cliff Walsh is cute, funny, and smart. He's also tired of women yanking his chain. Chain-Yankers such as tantalizing Trish (the heroine of When It Hooks You) lure him in but end up with other men. Cliff has no choice but to turn to the voluptuous virtual women found in video games.

One such woman, PlanetClaire, intrigues him. In the computer world, she has fiery red hair and alluring curves. Cliff and Claire partner together on screen to battle villains and solve riddles.

The riddles in this story are quite fun! For example, a serpent hisses, "All you have to do is correctly answer a riddle. For only the clever are allowed inssside" then proceeds:

It's what you want above all things.
Some fulfill it with vows and rings.
For some it's not an easy fit.
Some are content to sleep with it.


Hmm, what could "it" be? They say working together to achieve a common goal can forge a tight bond, and Cliff and Claire have a virtual blast together. They decide to take their chemistry offline and meet at a gaming convention. When Claire reveals her identity, MY JAW DROPPED!

Claire has some major self-esteem issues that stand in the way. But Cliff has many talents, including snuggling.

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Too bad he can't make it all better for Claire. I love that this book is from a male perspective. Cliff won my heart and I wanted to hug him when his romance woes continue.

Karen said, "I've seriously had to stop myself from offering you concealer stick to hide those dark shadows under your eyes. What did she do to you?"

"Nothing that hasn't been done before." He tapped the edge of the file he held onto his desk, eager for the conversation to end.


Aww. I'll snuggle with you, Cliff. The characters feel real and the resolution of the story well-paced. And the humor of the series continues with comments like "That shit's mine now" when Claire describes Cliff to Trish.

The It Series is fantastic! I encourage you to check out all three books: When it Hits You (coming in 2017), When it Hooks You, and When it Holds You (October, 2016).

View all my reviews
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Nicki Elson writes spicy fiction with a sweet and dreamy center. She does other stuff, too...like obsess over Survivor and The Bachelor (and she's not ashamed to admit it).

Writing fiction wasn't something Nicki set out to do; it just sort of happened when she realized writing reports was by far her favorite part of her investment consulting position. She traded stock allocation and diversification for story arcs and dialogue and now weaves creative writing into her life with her family in the Chicago suburbs.



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Comments

Congratulations, Nicki!
This community rocks.
Congratulations, Nicki. I love the colour of her hair. Brilliant red. To die for.
Nicki Elson said…
You're the crit partner that just keeps giving! :) It was very fun to read this review again. THANK YOU!!
Cherie Colyer said…
Congrats, Nicki!!
The writing community is amazing!
Stephanie Faris said…
What a fun cover! And I LOVE how she describes her writing: "spicy fiction with a sweet and dreamy center."
Dihiwi said…
So glad you have a good critique partner. I'd love to find a small, supportive person or writing group in my area of Indiana. I had a group when I lived in Colorado but haven't been able to find folks here. Keep up the good work! Glad to have found you through the IWSG. www.dianeweidenbenner.com