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

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.

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.

Appreciate a misunderstood guy...

I'm quite invested in the World of True North. I really enjoy a quiet guy who is an absolute king! I also enjoyed the twins and hope they get a book. More Moo U coming and I'm excited. Narrators were excellent!

A fun read

Great book, wonderful love story with some hockey thrown in. I would have liked more hockey but not everyone loves the sport as much as I do. The characters were really fun and well matched. I highly recommend this book to others.

Steamy and fun read!

I had the opportunity to listen to an early audio copy of Holdout by Jaqueline Snowe. Narrated by Jason Clarke and Savannah Peachwood and it was fun, steamy and full chemistry. It was so much fun to listen too. Jonah needs a new roommate but never expected his new roommate to be the younger sister of a member of his team. Ryann needs a new place to live, but thought she was moving into with another female. They are shocked but need the other. I loved both characters so much. Their journey was fun, emotional and charming.

Holdout by Jaqueline Snowe is a bit of forbidden romance with so many feels. Though part of a series of sorts, it can be read or listened too on its own, though I am excited to read more of Sarina Bowen’s Moo U world.

Happy listening!

Just what I was looking for!

Disclaimer: I won a free code for this from Savannah Peachwood's instagram. That being said, if I hadn't, I absolutely WOULD have spent a credit on it, (and it would have been 100% worth it!) and I fully intend to do so for the other Moo U books. I absolutely loved the story!! The hockey world could use some more guys like Jonah!

Another winner for the True North world!

STORY

Jonah wants to rent out a room in his off-campus apartment. Being on the hockey team and on a scholarship he can't afford distractions so he has a set of rules that are obligatory for his future room mate. Enter Ryann. Who, of course, is a girl, with an N too many and a missing appendage that would make her an eligible roommate. Jonah doesn't realize this little mix-up until it's too late. Ryann being the sister of the Moo U hockey team's captain makes things even more complicated.

This forbidden romance was such a hoot. I adored Jonah who is so focused and appeared to be such a grouch in the beginning but meeting Ryann with her sunny, optimistic disposition turned him into a real dreamboat. He was understanding, patient and listened to her dreams and fears. And Ryann brought the best out of him. The were yin and yang and absolutely adorable. These two had insane chemistry and while their friendship was the basis of their relationship their attraction was the spice.

NARRATION

Jason Clarke is one of the best male narrators out there so there is zero hesitation when I see a book narrated by him. His voice is one of those that can read the most boring text and still make it sound sexy. Savannah Peachwood is a fan favorite, just not mine. I can't pin it down but she doesn't always sound as natural as other narrators. That said, she does a decent job narrating Ryann.

BOTTOM LINE

This is my first book by Jaqueline Snowe and I'll be reading more by her. Her words are crisp and fit the genre.
The True North world has become one of my favorite places to be. Sarina Bowen has created a solid and fleshed out basis for other authors to set their stories in. Jaqueline Snowe's HOLDOUT was a an awesome addition. I hope there'll be a story about Ryann's big brother, he needs to fall. Hard.