Holdout

By: Jaqueline Snowe, Heart Eyes Press

Narrated by: Jason Clarke, Savannah Peachwood

Length: 7 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's Summary

Jonah Daniels has enough to do during hockey season without spending time interviewing a roommate to help share expenses. So when some dude answers J.D.’s ad and agrees to his terms, he puts a key under the mat and leaves for practice. 

What he doesn’t expect is that his new roommate is not a dude at all but an overtalkative, energetic hottie. What’s worse? She’s the younger sister of his friend on the team, and she’s sworn him to secrecy.

Ryann Reiner needs a place to live, stat. After an incident at the dorms that almost tanked her scholarship, Ryann wants a boring roommate who’ll leave her alone. J.D. almost fits the bill. He lives and breathes hockey, just like her brother, and he wouldn’t know a joke unless it checked him against the boards.

He’s also gorgeous. And broody. And he looks fine on laundry day, in too little clothing. Soon, late night study sessions turn into dangerous flirting. And then a kiss turns into more. But they’re determined to keep things in the feelings-free zone. 

Until lines blur and tensions rise when Ryann’s brother learns the truth. And both their hearts are skating on thin ice....

©2021 Jaqueline Snowe (P)2021 Heart Eyes Press LLC

Great NA Sports Romance!

Overall 4.5 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 4 stars

I am a huge fan of the forced proximity roommate trope and Holdout definitely hit the spot. Add in some taboo/forbidden (teammate's little sister) and the ever favorite grump + sunshine trope and I was sold. Jonah and Ryann were oh so sexy together and I loved the push and pull between them. They both have had to overcome difficult events in their pasts (see CW below) and I appreciated that the author didn't gloss over how complicated grief and healing can be. The drama was a bit predictable, but it was understandable given their histories. The narration by Jason Clarke and Savannah Peachwood was absolutely stellar and they complemented each other so well. I love how versatile they both are and I truly could listen to Jason Clarke all day long. *swoon*

A great addition to the World of True North Moo U series and I can't wait to read more from Jaqueline Snowe!

CW: death of parent, parental abandonment

Enjoyable story, unnecessary epilogue at the end

I really enjoyed this story immensely. I loved both Ryann and Jonah. They complimented each other perfectly. I only had 2 real issues with the storyline...the constant mention of the "casual" relationship and that they were both growing feelings but didn't want to. They waffled over this issue thru 98% of the book. Even at the end they still refused to communicate with each other leading to a whole bunch of unnecessary drama. I lost count of the number of times I actually shouted at them (as if they could hear me. lol) "JUST TALK TO HIM/HER ALREADY!" but alas, they didn't listen. They FINALLY have a discussion in the last 1% of the book and admit their feelings. I felt the epilogue at the end was completely not needed. All it contained was a gratuitous oral sex scene in the kitchen between Ryann and Jonah. It didn't add any relevance to the ending whatsoever. The last part of the epilogue which goes on about creating a NEW family unit and how they healed each other could have just as easily been added to the end of the storyline without the epilogue. Overall, I was still a good book if you can overlook those minor issues. I don't regret buying or listening to it and will probably add it to my repeat listen collection.

Sizzling, Emotional and Fun

I loved listening wrhis book. The story is intense, funny and emotional. Jason Clark and Savannah Peachwood did an amazing job as Jonah and Ryann. Their performance is perfect as usual. He’s an outstanding grumpy guy, and she’s as sunny as you can be. They certainly complement each other beautifully.

Holdout by Jaqueline Snowe is the third book in the Moo U series, written by multiple authors and inspired by Sarina Bowen’s True North series. It is a standalone though, so you don’t have to read any other books to fully enjoy this story.

I love roommates to lovers. It is my favorite trope in the whole wide world, and Holdout is definitely a great addition to my collection. And when you add the opposites attract and the teammate’s little sister slash secret fling factors, you definitely get a winner. The “mistaken identity” thing was the cherry on top, if you ask me.

Jonah is a hyper focused hockey player on a mission. He’s intense and grumpy, and he has no time for distractions. But he needs a roommate to be able to afford his apartment. Ryann is not the dude he was expecting as a roommate, though. And she’s his teammate’s little sister. She’s also friendly and funny and hot. She’s definitely a distraction. She’s also desperate to prove she can be independent. Jonah and Ryann are attracted to each other, but they must resist. There are many things on the line for both of them. The problem is, that’s easier said than done.

I really enjoyed this book. Jonah and Ryann are very different people, but they both carry emotional wounds that they’re still dealing with. I love the way their relationship evolves, how it shifts very slowly until they become friends. And how the attraction they feel for each other is always there, so strong and intense you can feel it. Their chemistry is off the charts!

Holdout is an excellent story. There’s lots of steam, and the buildup is outstanding. There’s also lots of laugh-out-loud moments that make it fun and light, but there’s also an emotional depth to it. And then there’s also lots of hockey to enjoy, and glimpses of the other Moo U hockey players.

I would totally recommend this book to anyone who loves new adult and college hockey. Holdout is so good! It’s definitely worth reading.

struggle to finish

I enjoy Jason and Savannah, their narration was great. my issue with this book is and many books in this genre, instead of being a good story with a little sex, it was sex with a story that wasn't developed completely..

Didn’t seem to fit

This book didn’t seem to fit in the series. It lacked some of the past characters and did not have as much humor. This is my least favorite in the series so far.

Holdout

I love the name mix up that was kinda perfect.
I loved a lot of scenes in this book, the first one with Ryann and her brother, getting a sibling connection is something I find doesn’t happen a lot.
I also really liked J.D and his dad their relationship is cool and I liked that J.D looks out for him.
I kinda want to know Ryann’s boss’s romance I bet that would be a good book.
I liked the narration of this book the most.

Jonha is soooo sweet

I really loved these characters. The story line was believable and the narrators did a good job. Best of this series, so far.

Worth a listen

This book is a great addition to the Moo U Hockey series. The books don’t necessarily have to be read/listened to in order to enjoy them.

Loving this series!

I loved Ryann and Jonah in Holdout! This is the 3rd book in the Moo U Series set in Sarina Bowen’s True North World. I am really loving this series. Although this was my first book by Jaqueline Snowe it most definitely will not be my last. In Holdout she has written a sweet, sports romance with a somewhat forbidden storyline, a situation of forced proximity and lots of laughter, heart and heat.

Ryann is in search of a new place to live and answers an add that Jonah is looking for a roommate but they both get a surprise when Jonah realizes Ryann is a woman and not a man, and Jonah is also her brothers teammate on the University hockey team. Of course they immediately try to put boundaries and rules in place but they have undeniable chemistry that they just cannot ignore. They try hard to keep their relationship between just them but it is only a matter of time before Ryann’s brother finds out and how will this affect Ryann’s relationship with her brother and Jonah with his teammate? The story was beautiful and had an emotional component to it I was not expecting. Jonah is dealing with some parental abandonment issues and Ryann is suffering from the loss of her parents. I really loved how deeply they connected as they are both dealing with emotional pasts.

I cannot wait for more books in this series releasing next week to see what the other authors will bring this fantastic Moo U World.

Jason Clarke as Jonah was perfectly cast, he has that sexy growly tone that I can never get enough of and paired with Savannah Peachwood’s sweet/sultry voice, it made for an enjoyable listening experience.

Steamy sexy Broody Hockey Player

Chemistry between JD and Ryann is off the charts, it wasn’t too far into the book that they give into their temptation. JD is such a straightforward almost awkward character, but Ryann’s out going spunk beings him out of his shell. The added drama between JD and his mother was emotional, I’m not sure I would have been quite as forgiving. Plenty of hockey scenes in this book.