Holding You Close

Noah & Katie, #2 (Lawton Ridge 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.

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.

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!

Fully loved the end of this duet

If you didn’t already know this is book two in Noah and Katie’s love story. So this picks up right where book one left us. The two are still working out being together and someone doesn’t want Noah to have a second chance. Noah has been in love with Katie since they were younger and now that he finally has his chance with her he isn’t going to give it up easily. Katie is happy to finally have a chance to be with Noah and is afraid someone they know might be trying to take him out. Well written and I loved the characters. It’s always hard to review a book and not give anything away. Now that both are out binge this story you won’t regret it. The narrators are fantastic with these characters.

Emotional Story with wonderful narration

I was excited for book two in the Noah and Katie duet and I wasn’t disappointed, Holding You Close was everything I expected and so much more. I want to first say please don’t pick this book up without reading the first book in this duet because this picks up right where Pushing You Away finishes, it’s the conclusion to Noah and Katie’s story. This is not just a story this is a journey that will take over your life, it’s a captivating romance that will draw you in and stay with you long after the final words have been read. Noah is in hospital after an attempted assassination and it’s now time to find out who’s behind the attempt on his life. As Noah starts the road to recovery we see him and Katie growing closer and determined to find out who is out to destroy their relationship. I loved joining this couple on their journey, I loved watching them grow closer as they accepted the love they felt for each other. I loved the relationship they shared but what took this romance to another level was the love Noah felt for Owen, it was wonderful to watch him become the father, Owen desperately wanted. This is a duet with all the feels and I highly recommend you one click this gem of a read, it’s a romance with the perfect mix of love, passion and mystery. The narration by Lia Langola and Tor Thom was everything I have come to expect by these talented narrators. They hit every emotion and they really brought the characters and their journey to life.

Great story and great narration

Holding You Close picks right up where Pushing You away finished so if you haven’t read that book then you need to STOP and read that one first as they must be read in order.

I love friends to lover’s story and this book was just as riveting as their first book. Holding You Close was an entertaining read and is the conclusion to Katie and Noah’s story. It was also one I read through in almost one go as I simply could not put it down.

This is an emotional roller coaster of a read, it is a story that built slowly, with some angst, drama, mystery and suspense; it was well written. Their journey was not without bumps but it was worth it. I freely admit to tears on occasion and I cannot wait for the next book.

The performance by Lia Langola and Tor Thom were spot on for Katie and Noah and they did a good job in expressing the emotions that these characters went through.

Gah I adore this couple!

Words cannot express my love for this book, and the duet as a whole. But the conclusion of Noah and Katie's duet is everything. With how expressive both Langola and Thom are voicing these characters, the depth was just amplified. I loved the twists and turns in this book as well as the absolutely love between Katie and Noah. This book and duet as a whole, is one of those epic redemption stories and you cannot get enough of it. It was raw and passionate. Secrets exposed and so much more. I adored every moment of it!

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!

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.

Loved the audio version!

Holding You Close is the conclusion to Noah and Katie’s Duet. It is packed full of action, steamy romance, betrayal and love. I must say having read the book and listened to the audio book, I loved the audio version more! If you enjoyed Gemma and Tyler’s story, you will love Noah and Katie’s as well. Cannot wait to read Archer and Everleighs. Its going to be hot!

My Thoughts on Holding You Close

Holding You Close jumped right back in where Pushing You Away left off and I was glad for that. We got to continue with the mystery of what was going on with Noah and Katie and the other characters. Some of them were just as rotten as I thought. Some were better than I imagined. And all in all this story turned out so great. I loved that it didn’t stop where I would have thought everything would have ended. There was clearly more story to tell and I enjoyed every moment of it. Lia Langola and Tor Thom also had me excited for this book because they once again gave a fantastic performance and had me absorbed in every moment of the story. I liked the setup for the next book with that last glimpse at Everleigh and cannot wait for her and Asher’s duet.

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.