Hold The Date--Weekly Online Read by Shirley Jump

to change her mind about Ben?  It seems to me like that should be some sort of trigger point that started it all. 

Yet another story that is a weekly that I wish were a daily!!!!!  

Great start, Shirley!

Thanks for the compliments! And hopefully the not knowing will hook you all into reading next week ;-).

 FYI...for those of you having trouble finding the story (like I did; I'm still getting used to the new eHarlequin, which I LOVE, but need to find my way around yet), it's here.

Shirley

You know the worst part of my job? That I have to read these and wait like the rest of you. I hate waiting. I mean, I really, really, really hate it.

Shirley, I can't decide if I still like you--just kidding! Way to hook, line and sink me.

Rae, who cannot wait for next Monday.

Thanks for the link FF.  I hope the link from the chapter works next week!

Wonder why Monica has gotten cold feet!  Although if I was in her shoes, I might do the same thing...   a relationship built mostly on email and letters with a few visits in between wouldn't work for me no matter how much I loved the guy. 

Though I didn't get cold feet :-)...My husband was in the Navy and got out shortly before we married a LONG time ago. So I had that long distance love thing going with him :-) But we dated in the age before e-mail (my goodness, can anyone imagine those days now?) and had to watit ages for letters.

They met right before he got shipped out then corresponded by emails/letters and met each other during his leaves.  That's not a whole lot of face to face time in 4 years.  I can see why she would hesitate.  I would hesitate if I were in her shoes.  I would opt for more time together to build the relationship before getting married.  But that's me!  I know others think differently  

I am  wondering what's up with her though that she is completely cutting him out...

BTW, Shirley, I like your books and I'm sure this online read will be a great read wishing it was a daily like the rest of you though, these weekly reads drive me crazy since I am an impatient reader and want to read right through to find out what happens 

Yep, Micki--I've been busy! This year alone I've already written a Christmas book for this Christmas (Marry-Me Christmas, the last in the Bride for All Seasons series being kicked off in spring by Liz Fielding), as well as this online read. In the next few weeks, I finish up a book for next February, then start one for next July.

Shirley

is what I call Monica. There has to be more to this as well. I've heard of cold feet before...and she does have valid points about marriage--it's hard work for us women.

Poor, poor, Ben.

Rae

It's probably a good thing she called off the wedding.  Sounds like she needs some "growing up" to do.  Can't believe she's still in love with him, yet not even willing to work on the relationship!  They may have communicated by email and letter, but doesn't seem like they communicated the important things.  If she is worried about his take charge attitude and the fights they have, then she should talk to him about it.   How can you love someone so much and not even try to make things right before writing it off

I know they are going to work this out and am anxious to see how...  I wish this was a daily read!

I'm still liking the story and wanting to know more even though (as FF says) she's being a pip!

I like her almost maid of honor too!  I got married in blue jeans and a plaid shirt with a wili lei on my head in a Catholic wedding in a church!  The priest said it was his first wedding where he had a lot more white than the bride!   Can't remember what I had on my feet, but at the reception I put on shorts and my rubber slippers Hope there's a story on her in your wedding planners series!

That girl has some problems! 

Monica has so real problems within her self. And I wondering how the lunching will go.

Am I the only one who waits for a couple of chapters to be available before reading them?  I also hate season ending cliffhangers and in one case didn't watch the last show of the season until right before the new premiere!  

She's being annoying. She doesn't explain anything and she runs away every time. He is better off without her. Now she will melt into his arms and then she will say it doesn't mean anything, that it's just hormones talking. Why doesn't she talk to him about her grandparents? Arrrrrgggh!

She really hasn't explained anything.  If she can't explain "what is wrong" with their relationship, she can't expect Ben to accept that they are over.  Though, right now, I am wondering what he saw in her in the first place.  Hope this improves in the next chapter.

I'm enjoying the story. It's hard to explain what changes when someone's been away so long and you've been on your own...you feel selfish because they're serving their country and you're left behind, coping with life. I think it's a great read and totally enjoying it!

Melissa

...I didn't mean that as a critique of the story.  I'm enjoying the read, too.  It's because I AM enjoying the story that I'm so frustrated for poor Ben and annoyed at Monica.  (If I weren't into it, I wouldn't care one way or the other.)

As others have indicated, I'd love this to be a daily rather than a weekly.  It's hard to wait.

OK, she's just given him a little information.  We'll see what he does with it.  If she would just give him time and talk to him, they could work things out.  But she's being all to real.  She is expecting him to see what is in her head without telling him.

...who waits a bit and then starts the read. I seriously hate waiting a week for the next chapter. So, I just started the read today. Like others, I'm annoyed with Monica.  She does have some explaining to do! Ben seems like a keeper-so, where is the problem?

Shirley, what are you hiding from us?  I'm enjoying this read even if I'm annoyed with Monica. I hope you are able to see how your readers are pulled into-engaged by your characters, otherwise we wouldn't be so annoyed with one of the characters.

 Now I have to wait for the rest of the chapters.

Why do I get the feeling Monica needed to read that letter before Ben go there????  What did her grandmother send him?  What did her note to him say? 

Why can't all the stories be daily ones????

I hate waiting, hate anticipating right along with ya. Seriously, Shirley, you should be...punished.

Way to keep us hanging!

Rae

and so is Ben.  She with her ears, he with his heart.  I'm glad he realized she needed him but he wasn't there for her.  He knew how much her grandmother meant to her, but didn't make the effort to support her in her time of grief and pain.  (Of course, with the military, I'm still not sure he could have gotten away, though.) 

Now, it's time for her to realize how much she needs him in other ways....  and for always.  Can't wait to find out more about the letters!

Until next week!!!!!

what she has been going through.

Dang, it's going to be hard to wait one more week to find out what was in Grandma's letters!

I know they will end up getting married, but the wait is killing me!

Not fair is right.

Ugh. I want to know what is in that letter. *insert swear word here*

Rae

Finally, she got a clue!!!!!  W00T! 

I love that they realize that relationships aren't easy AND that things must be worked at in order to be successful.  Will we see them mentioned in any of the series books????

Great job, Shirley!  I just bought the 1st book today!