Hold On to Me

Carolina Classics, Book 2

By: Karen Grey

Narrated by: J. F. Harding, Mackenzie Cartwright

She’s my boss, and she’s a stone-cold fox.
Two months ago, I lost my boat, my cat, and—with my leg in a cast—my income. Until I can walk again, the only job I’m fit for is one few have survived.

See, my new boss has a reputation. She's grumpy, no-nonsense, and runs a tight ship. Keeping a firm hold on a movie budget does require nerves of steel, after all. Especially when disaster strikes.

When she yells at me, all I hear is the passion in her voice. All I want in those moments is to kiss her until she can't think straight.

And then convince her that it's okay to fall in love with me.

Fans of 1990's movies like Swimming with Sharks and Beautiful Girls will love this slow-burn, boss-assistant, younger man older woman, entertainment biz, 1990’s office romance from USA Today bestselling author Karen Grey.

©2022 Karen Grey (P)2025 Home Cooked Books

Great romance!

I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. First of all, I really really loved Sully. He was just a great hero. He was comfortable in his own skin and laid back. He knew he wasn't meant to be driven in his career. He wanted to make money and enjoy a good life. I can definitely respect that. These characters really jumped out of my headphones in this book. The author did a great job of drawing the listener in and holding on for a great great ride. I really cared about this story and these characters. I especially loved Helen. She was tough on the outside with a soft center. I loved how Sully brought out the best in her. This book drew me in and brought out all the feels. The steamy scenes were great. I loved the 90s time frame with the movie set back drop. The narrators did an excellent job telling this story. I can't wait for the next one.

Sweet Romance

The chemistry between these two characters is felt from the beginning. Sullivan is just what Helen needs. Helen is strong and trying to make it in a man’s world. Helen need a new assistant and Sullivan needs a job. Sullivan is just the person that can keep up with Helen’s demands.

The only think I didn’t like about the audio book was the sound before each chapter. Mackenzie Cartwright and JF Harding did an amazing job!

Fabulous Story & Narration🎧 A Heartfelt Delight!

Karen Grey pens another wonderfully entertaining novel set in her “Carolina Classics” series and I loved everything about it, from her fabulous writing style to the fantastic characters and storylines she created to the perfectly cast narrators who bring it all to life from the pages to your ears. Also love how she put her own unique spin on a workplace romance, age gap, boss and personal assistant, and all the blast in the past mentions of the times, the late nineteen-nineties, even one of the lead characters had a personal experience in what was later to become one of Hollywood’s biggest scandals, newsworthy headlines that were twenty years in the making. This book is Sullivan “Sully” Calloway and Helen O’Neill’s story and it starts with a bang or rather a crash. Sully was getting away from some family and relationship drama, he set sail on his beloved boat with his beloved cat, found a nice tranquil place to moor, not too far off of shore when he hears loud music and then sees a boat heading straight towards him, he tried to save himself and his cat but the crash was inevitable. He suffered a broken leg and the boat he worked hard on was a wreck. He normally works on the set at the studio, but cannot do it with his injury and while on crutches. No longer able to live on his boat, he stays at his friend Violet’s house, who winds up getting him a job working in an office as a personal assistant to one of the behind-the-scenes movie executives. Helen O’Neill worked hard to be where she is in the film industry and can be a demanding boss, so much so it is hard to keep an assistant and with filming about to start, she needs a new one. And when Sully walks in for the job, she is not sure what to make of him, good looking, knows the business but never held an office job, but with no time to spare she hires him with reluctance. And he excels at the job way more than she thought he would, he is also hard to resist, despite their age difference, but she must since he is her employee, a younger employee. But there are no fraternization policies in place, besides it is Hollywood, filming on location in the Carolinas and if it is ok for men to fool around with their female subordinates, why can’t it be the same for women? I adored both these characters, the chemistry between them is magical, but can they or will they make it work or will they let their careers get in their way? This fabulously plotted story has the perfect balance of drama, charm, humor, heartfelt emotions, and steamy romance. Karen Grey, thank you for another amazing story, a blast in the past and emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧And for the wonderful narration, J.F. Harding and Mackenzie Cartwright did an amazing job portraying these characters and did so with a complete understanding of their persona, giving them a voice that suited them perfectly and was believable in every role they played. Cartwright nailed it as Helen grasped every side of her personality, including her bossy take charge and no BS attitude. Harding’s Sully was spot on, smooth worthy with a cool demeanor. Both were great performing the roles of the secondary characters too. They set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the character’s emotions and projected them into their performance. These versatile voice artists are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to.

Perfect together!

This was great! I really liked Sully and Helen and thought that they worked really well together. Sully survived a crash that took his boat and left him using crutches so he needs a job that will allow him to stay off his feet. Helen works in the movie business and needs a new assistant since her last one just quit. It was obvious right away that their personalities fit together perfectly. I couldn’t wait to see them find their happily ever after together.

I thought that Sully and Helen had wonderful chemistry with each other and I loved the way that they seemed to understand each other. Sully’s group of friends was great and I thought that they added a lot to the story. The 90s references were a lot of fun and brought back quite a few memories.

I listened to the audiobook and thought Mackenzie Cartwright and JF Harding did a fantastic job with the story. I liked the voices that they both used to bring this story to life and I thought that their voices complimented each other very well. I believe that this is the first time that I have listened to either of these narrators but I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up their work again in the future.

I would definitely recommend this audiobook to fans of contemporary romance. This is the second book in the Carolina Classics series but it can easily be read as a stand-alone. I cannot wait to read more of Karen Grey’s work!

I received a copy of this audiobook from the author/publicist.

Love Helen and Sully

I have to say the narrators on this really made this book come to life for me. The book itself was so good but they added that extra. Loved it! Definitely a 5 star listen.
Karen Grey does an amazing job at writing about the past, making it so relatable and the characters so loveable. I love all the retro references, 1998 was a good year...
Sully is a man down on his luck after a boating accident and in need of work. Helen is in need of an assistant so she hires him. The attraction between the two is instant. Helen is a very demanding boss. She puts on a good front but Sully breaks through her walls. These two have baggage from past relationships that keep them from fully committing. Once all is revealed these two go all in. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Sully and Helen's story. These two are so perfect for each other.
I was sent a free audiobook and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

Sweet, Emotional, and Engaging!

This is the third book in the Carolina Classic, a throwback series. Sullivan/Sully and Helen's story is beautifully written, sweet, emotional, and engaging. They are both interesting characters. I liked their slow burn romance, and push and pull relationship. The definitely complement each other. This is an excellent reverse age-gap/office romance. I enjoyed it. Mackenzie Cartwright and J.F. Harding did an outstanding job bringing this story to life. They are perfect as Helen and Sully. This is an excellent addition to the series. I highly recommend it.

Age -Gap Romance

I enjoyed this audiobook narrated by MacKenzie Cartwright and JF Harding. I liked the storyline and the fact the heroine is ten years older than the hero. She sees it as a problem, but he does not. She is also his boss.

Hearing is heaven!

I don’t know how you can take something that is already the best and make it better, but author Karen Grey unfailingly does it with each and every one of her books when you get to listen to them. If you’ve read The Boston Classics or any of The Carolina Classics you already know the stories with their relationships, trips down memory lane to the fabulous (?) 80s and 90s and the perfect blend of sweet and steamy are not to be missed, but when these stories become audiobooks they become simply magical. I don’t know how she finds narrators that are the exact match for what you imagined, but she does. One sentence from Sully and you’re hooked. This time around JF Harding and MacKenzie Cartwright are perfect, perfect, perfect. If you haven’t already read Hold On To Me, read on with this review. If you’ve read it, then run – not walk – for your headphones and prepare to be transported to the Carolinas.

Hold On To Me, the second book in more-than-excellent author Karen Grey’s more-than-excellent Carolina Classics series picks up right where You Get What You Give left off. Violet and Nate are sorted so we don’t have to worry about them. Although Dani still has that stubborn and peculiar resistance to men and relationships, she’s living life and doing her thing. But Whitney, Ford and Sully? “The boys” are still engaged in their life-long competition for Whitney (and everything else) but when she rejects both of them it’s the last straw for Sully, and he takes off in his boat with his pal Mr. Jones (meow). All’s well (or at least no one is actively fighting) until another boat runs into Sully’s boat. Sully’s hurt, the boat’s hurt, they both need a lot of work, and Mr. Jones went overboard and can’t be found.

When we see Sully again he’s on the mend but it’s slow. He’s staying with Dani and he needs money and he needs to keep his insurance to pay for the medical bills and restore the boat but he can’t do his usual sound crew work until his broken leg heals. Dani wants him out of his bed, off the couch and out of her house at least once in a while, and (forcefully) nudges him to apply for a particular job.

And we’re off, as they say. Helen is a unit production manager, or UPM as they say in the biz, and needs a personal assistant, since the last one ran out the door crying like most of them have. Sully isn’t exactly what she had in mind, but her mind has lots of other things on it as soon as she sees his hunky, handsome self. Their first encounter is vintage Karen Grey: enough heat and humor to have you fanning yourself and laughing out loud at the same time.

Sully and Helen couldn’t be more different in most ways. He meditates and she paces. But his mind is in the same place as hers when it comes to the sexy stuff. Except she’s the boss and he’s not and what exactly are the rules here? And even if they do figure out the rules, can her anxious drive and his escapist Zen meet in the middle? How on earth can this ever work out?

HOTM is silly and serious at the same time. Helen and Sully say and do funny things, but there’s a lot more going on with each of them, things they’ve had to work through, hardship and disappointment, secrets they don’t want to share. And that attraction between them? Whoa, wow, whew! Author Grey is THE BEST at these scenes.

This is definitely Sully and Helen’s story but the old gang pops in and out enough so you get that one big, usually happy family vibe Grey is so good at writing. There’s the bonus of the occasional cameo by a character from the late, great Boston Classics series (which you must read as well). Courtesy of Grey’s stellar writing time flies. You’re immersed in the places and the people and the excitement of working “in TV” – and doing it all in the late 1990s. Crop tops, grunge, Doc Martins, chokers, platform shoes, Pearl Jam . . . ah, the good old days. Don’t plan on doing anything else once you start reading because this is definitely an “I can’t put it down” book. You care about these characters and need to know how things will work out.

Hold On To Me is another entry in a tall stack of winners from this favorite author. A solid plot, interesting characters, beautiful locations – and a time warp to the ‘90s! I loved this book and recommend it without any hesitation. I can’t wait to see who’s up next in this satisfying series. Note: I was sent a free book and am voluntarily leaving this honest review; all opinions are my own.

A brilliant, reverse age gap, office romance

I'm a mega Karen Grey fan - and this is one of her best books so far! I highly recommend everyone picks this up (but even though it could technically be read standalone, it's better having read You Get What You Give, book 1 in the series, first, to meet the other characters and get to know the background).

We finally get Sully's story! This one picks up just a short time after book 1, after Vi and Nate's story ended. Sully has taken off on his boat and heads up towards Chesapeake Bay, when a terrible thing happens... He's back home and recovering but needs to get back working to keep his medical insurance active to keep paying his medical bills from that accident. He has a badly broken leg and can't stand up to do the mic and boom operating on movie and TV sets like he used to, but his friends are still in the industry and able to help set him up as an office assistant to a very hard to get along with line producer.

She, Helen (preferring to be called O'Neill), has difficulty holding onto assistants because she's demanding and likes everything to be done properly and in a timely manner. Her latest assistant just walked out after she messed up and got yelled at by Helen, again... and now she's in a lurch because production is about to begin on the next movie, and she needs an assistant! When she finds out they're sending her a ... young guy ... of all people, she's hesitant. Until he and his set experience, and his takes-no-crap attitude turns out to be exactly what and who she needs. And not just on set, but could it be that Sully, 10 years her junior, is a perfect match in all ways? A quick trip up to Chesapeake during a weekend off from filming, when he needs to retrieve his boat, may answer that question.

Karen always has such a beautiful way of writing, and all of her characters are just so incredible (incredibly written, because they are flawed in just the right ways), and chemistry between them, every time, flows perfectly. This particular story, I think, is the best one yet! And a great reverse age-gap storyline. I can always appreciation this trope, along with the workplace romance. And I love that all 5 of the friends are still present and show up a lot in this one... even Whitney! And the retro, back to the 90's is so much fun (this is set in the year I graduated, so I love that)!

Update - I loved the audio version!! Karen picked the perfect narrators! Mackenzie Cartwright did a beautiful job, as she always does. She’s definitely one of my favorite female narrators and is definitely fast approaching the top of my favorite list of all narrators. She suited O’Neill so very well. JF Harding is a new to me voice. He did a great job as Sully - I don’t think anyone else could have done it better or fit the role more perfectly. Great casting, Karen!

I received an advance review and listen copy from Karen Grey and Home Cooked Books Promotions, and this is my honest feedback. Thank you, Karen!

Wonderfully steamy story!

Hold On to Me is my first book in the Carolina Classic series, but I plan to go back and listen to book 1 now. It’s perfectly swoony! Holly O'neill is a badass lady boss who is so busy winning at her job that she has forgotten she has needs of her own. By contrast, Sully is easy going and works enough to be able to escape on his boat and get away from it all. This is a great opposites attract love story with an aspect of the forbidden office romance with Holly being Sully’s boss. Holly has to guard her reputation and any sign of weakness or impropriety on her part because she is guilty of being a woman in the film industry. I really enjoyed Karen Gray’s explanation of the concerns and limitations experienced by women in the entertainment industry without making it in any way confrontational. It just is. Holly is the perfect representation for strong women in the film industry.

Sully is recovering from a boat accident with a broken leg, so he is unable to do his regular job. His friend and roommate suggests he take on the role of Holly’s assistant, even though he has no office experience at all. This turns out to be a perfect fit. His temperament, knowledge of the industry, general competence, and wonderful memory make him the perfect assistant she never knew could exist and they build an excellent working relationship. I just love his attitude and his ability to calm her down without pushing or calling to question how she works. He isn’t challenging her authority or process. When they go on a trip together under close quarters the inevitable attraction blooms into romance and I loved it!

Mackenzie Cartwright and JF Harding are absolute perfection for these characters and I really enjoyed the performances. I am narrator motivated and would listen to this book based on that alone, without even reading the blurb, but together they really bring this wonderfully sweet & steamy story to life. I really enjoyed it!