Holding You Close

Noah & Katie Duet #2 (Ex-Con Duet Series, Book 4)

By: Kennedy Fox

Narrated by: Lia Langola, Tor Thom

Length: 6 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

After serving a decade long prison sentence for an accident that resulted in my husband’s death, Noah Reid returns. Even if he was my childhood best friend and the first man I secretly loved, I refuse to make it easy for him. But the heart never forgets and those old repressed feelings quickly bubble to the surface. 

Loving him is a dangerous game, but one I’m willing to play. 

Flirting leads to falling between the sheets, and I’m forced to deal with the guilt of what we’re doing. Viciousness towards Noah runs rampant and while revenge trickles through the streets of Lawton Ridge, I realize there’s more on the line than just my heart. While I’m afraid that my son and I will be caught in the crossfire of those who want to hurt Noah, I can’t walk away.  

Secrets are revealed and revelations are made, but losing him again isn’t an option - especially since I’m pregnant.  

Holding You Away is a slow burn, angsty friends to lovers romance with lots of small-town, Southern drama. It's Book 2 in the Noah & Katie duet and must be listened to in order.

©2021 Kennedy Fox (P)2021 Kennedy Fox

Perfect part 2 to the duet!

The first book left on a cliffhanger and picked right back up where it left off. The story starts a 100 mph and kept going. Noah & Katie had to go through so much to be together and I’m so glad they got their HEA. They are one of my favourite couples from the Kennedy Fox world. We got a fabulous, nail biting setup for the next duet with Archer and Everleigh.

Lia Langola and Tor Thom were fabulous, per the norm. I love Lia’s vocal range and Tor has the prefect gruffy voice.

Happily Ever After!

Such a beautiful and loving ending to Noah & Katie's story! the love they have for each other and the people around them is amazing! I shed so many happy tears for the wonderful family they create!

Such a great book!

I loved this continuation of Noah and Katie's story! Some parts gave me The Notebook vibes when it comes to their reconnect and house connection, but with the best HEA! I loved the action bits too, as the attacks on Noah began to unfold. The narration was just perfect for the characters' povs too! My new favorite couple in Lawton Ridge!

What an end

Noah and Katie deserve so much more than what life dealt them. We get to wince, cry, cheer and swoon in this read. Fabulous end of series with an HEA.

The narrator was enjoyable.

Anything possible when it comes to second chances!

What an ending to Noah Reid and Katie Walker's story! It was filled with so much wondering, determination to get through these mysterious incidents, and of course so much love between the two that you cannot help and want to root them on for a happily ever after. To add the relationship that Katie's son Owen has with Noah will have you feeling the strong bonds growing between the two.

The second chance for more continues to fill with hope and possibilities for a future even after all that is said and revealed. The journey is one that will have you believing that anything can happen if you believe in fate and what is meant to be will be.

Amazing conclusion to this duet!

I screamed so loudly in my head at the conclusion of the first book in this duet, Pushing You Away. I was wrapped up in Noah from the start, he nestled himself right into my heart and he's never leaving. And the thought of something happening to him brought me to an unbelievable tear fest. Every emotion that Katie was feeling, I felt right there with her. The angst was deep and real.

And it did not let up throughout, another wave of what could have almost ended up in tragedy hit hard. Noah and Katie are no doubt fighters and they would do whatever it took to get their happily ever after. All of that effort did not go to waste. Their love is unconditional, undeniable, and strong. The heat between them is off the charts, it about melted my kindle.

I swooned, I cried, and I fell madly for this couple. I again loved how the narrators brought this couple to life so perfectly. I can never get enough, every story is better than the last.

Love this book!

Holy zingers, Batman! There quite a few in this book, which picked up where book 1 left off. Just when Katie and Noah had a good foothold in their relationship and moving forward, something had to happen. All the questions about who could be behind the targets on Noah are answered. They've been through so much over the years, what was a few more roadblocks? Those detours did nothing but solidify their relationship and the love they've had since they were awkward teenagers. Friends turned lovers...FINALLY.

I've said it before and I'll say it again...Tor Thom and Lia Langola voicing these characters is stellar. Their talent for bringing characters to life knows no bounds!

I love how the couples in the Ex-Con Duet Series are all intertwined and are involved in each story. The closeness and support they have for each other...GOALS! They value family, whether by blood or by choice, and they love unconditionally. Forgiveness played a big role in this book, which led to some surprises for me and some tears. Then the set up for Everleigh's story???? BRING IT!

I received an advance copy of the ebook and a complimentary copy of the audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this review.

"I've only ever loved you"

The conclusion to Noah and Katie’s story was so amazing. The love they have for one another is beautiful. We also get our share of drama and suspense but the heat from this couple will melt you kindle. I also love audio books and I will say Lia and Tor bring this couple to life. As always, they did an outstanding job and I feel it is worth a credit. Kennedy Fox have yet to disappoint me with their books. I was honored to receive a copy of the audible book and I purchased the kindle version as well and I am freely leaving my review. I am ready for Everleigh’s story because she is one hot mess😊

The perfect conclusion to Noah and Katie’s Duet!

Holding You Close, the second book in Noah and Katie’s Duet, picked up right where Pushing You Away left off. Noah’s “accident” was a huge eye opener for Katie and changed the dynamics of their relationship. It only made their bond that much stronger—which is a good thing because Noah and Katie had their work cut out for them to make it to their HEA.
There were so many obstacles that they had to overcome from a past that won’t quit
—to Gabe’s family—all the way the town accepting Noah. At times it seemed down right impossible.

What I loved most about the second book was that we not only got to see their HEA come to fruition but we got to see them adapt and evolve as a couple after the dust settled. It was basically like a huge bonus epilogue and for someone who almost always still wants more after a lackluster or brief epilogue it was a huge plus. The end of Holding You Close has me so ready for Archer and Everleigh’s duet!

As was the case in Pushing You Away, Lia and Tor did an amazing job narrating Noah and Katie. This duet is my favorite narration by these two in the Ex-Con Duet Series so far!

Loved This

I absolutely loved listening to this book, I was entirely too invested in the relationship and the outcome. Kennedy Fox once again did an amazing job with this story. Tor Thom and Lia Langola did an amazing job bringing the characters to life

Noah!

be still my beating heart, I know I keep saying it about Kennedy Fox books but they just KEEP on getting better and better, and each H is just as swoon worthy as the last , I absolutely loved Noah and Katie's story it had everything! I highly recommend this book you will not be disappointed! an MUST READ!

Loved Katie and Noah's HEA

Noah and Katie's story picks up right after the ending of Book 1, although the drama surrounding who was trying to kill Noah is predictable from a certain point in book 1 it still added oomph to this second book as you watched all the pieces fall into place for Katie and Noah themselves.

The second half of this book really focuses on Noah and Katie building their HEA together and their are some really special moments. Owen has to be one of my favourite characters in this duet he brings such joy to the story and the heart to heart he has with Noah when he finally asks about what happened the night his father died, was beautifully written and so heartfelt. Then we have the Pumpkin Patch scene and oh my heart, I swooned so hard the whole time. Katie and Noah are just one of those couple that are just meant to be and I truly enjoyed their story. I did listen to the Audio for this duet and Tor Thom and Lia Langola did an outstanding job conveying the emotional and the longing they have for one another. You really felt that connection and it compelled you to want these characters to get through whatever life continues to throw at them and come out on top.

Of course the books ends setting the next duet up nicely with Archer and Everleigh's story and I cannot wait to see how this one is going to play out because Everleigh sure is a fire cracker.

Emotional, swoony small town romance!

When HOLDING YOU CLOSE finally landed on my Kindle, I was dying to jump in right away after the ways things ended in book one. As much as I had a hunch about the mystery pretty early on, it didn’t take away from the reading experience. I was immersed in everything Katie and Noah again straight away.

The relationship between Katie and Noah progressed beautifully, still as adorable and sweet and sizzling as in book one but MORE! Together, they overcame every obstacle thrown their way, their belief in one another never wavering, instead strengthening their bond and the both of them as individuals even further.

Friends to lovers meets ex-con finding love meets small town romance, combined with a strong set of characters – female as well as male, mains as well as secondary ones –, and the sense of family between them, is what makes this series of duet the gem it is. Delightful and humorous, riveting and swoony, as well as emotional and highly steamy, with just the right amount of angst thrown in.

The narration by Tor Thom and Lia Langola was done to perfection. And can I just say that Ms. Langola's male voice makes me swoon every damn time? And I'm not even remotely sorry ...

great conclusion - love this couple

So much romance - couple/family time - loved it and was my favorite part. Low drama and happy how everything played out.

Excellent narration by two pros!

Fabulous Listen

So this book picked up where book one left off.
There was just the right amount of suspense, steam, crazy, humour, and drama to keep me hooked.

I had most of the storyline figured out by the end of book one, but book two gave me a few surprises.
The writing is superb, the storyline intriguing, and the love.... indescribable.

Noah and Katie were absolute perfection.

I'm so super excited to read Everleigh's story! I can't wait to see what kind of crazy the girls throw our way next time.

Audio review: Tor and Lia did an amazing job with the narration for this story.
It was super easy to listen to and still held my attention, even though I knew what was coming.

Katie and Noah!

After everything that transpired in the first part of Katie and Noah’s story they are left trying to regroup. The love between them is stronger than ever but before they can have the future they both deserve they need to find out who is behind the threats before they strike again.

After the threat has been extinguished they turn their focus onto the relationship not only between them but with Owen as well. Katie shows how strong and resilient she truly is as handles whatever life throws at them while Noah proves that Katie and Owen are all that matters.

This is a story about a love that endures so much and a couple who have always belonged together which features captivating characters, hot chemistry, surprises and all the feels. I enjoyed the performance of the narrators as they brought the characters and their story to life.

These duets keep getting better

I was so excited for this and more than read after reading Pushing You Away and when this picked up right where PYA left off I knew it was going to go all the way off. And I was not disappointed in the slightest. Now because this is the second in a duet I can't say much but what I will say is that this was everything I needed it to be and much MUCH more. The twists, the turns, the angst, the steam it was all there and I was living for every page. If you have ever read a KF book before and even if you haven't I implore you to give The Ex-Con series of duets a try. You won't regret it, especially with Lia and Tor as the narrators. I volunteered to read and review an early copy of this. All opinions are my own.