Holdout
By: Jaqueline Snowe
Series: Moo U Hockey
Book # in Series: 4 of 11
Genre: Sports Romance
Publication Date: February 12th, 2021
My Rating: ✮✮✮✮
My Reading Format: *Arc Received For an HONEST Review*
Synopsis:
Jonah Daniels has enough work preparing for his 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 hip-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…
OHHHHH! I am living for this swoony and sweet hero!!!
In my own words:
Holdout by Jaqueline Snowe is the third book in the Moo U series. This novel centers around Jonah and Ryann, newly room mated under a miscommunication and a name mishap. Ahhh, I love when fate intervenes and takes love into her own hands. It’s never a dull moment, that’s for damn sure.
Jonah is trying to make a name for himself on the Moo U hockey team. His determination to be the best is the only thing on his mind. He lives his life on the straight and narrow. If he’s not studying hard, he’s training. His life and his father’s financial well being lays in the palms of his hand….no pressure, right?
Ryann, the little sister to the captain of the Moo U hockey team, is looking to move out of her dorm as soon as possible. She’s done living the chaotic lifestyle and she needs to prove to her older brother she has the ability to be independent and survive on her own. When a ‘roommate wanted’ ad falls into her lap, she takes the chance and her offer is accepted.
Rooming with one another isn’t the hard part for Ryann and Jonah. The hard part is fighting fate and the undeniable chemistry that flows between the two of them. The hard part is Ryann keeping her promise to her brother and Jonah staying focused on what matters most to him. But when lines start to merge and feelings begin to get mixed up in the equation, Ryann and Jonah are about to realize, the outside world doesn’t matter as much as it once did.
My Thoughts:
Jaqueline Snowe DELIVERED!!!!
Jonah stole my heart with his boy next door vibes.
Ryann stole my heart with her tenacity and her drive to find her own way in life.
I loved these two together!!!
This is the first novel I have read by Jaqueline Snowe, and judging from my love for her story line, her characters, and her writing style I can safely say this won’t be the last time I pick up a novel by this author!!! I loved the dynamic of this novel. Ryann and Jonah’s chemistry is off the charts. I really enjoyed the fat that they established a friendship before jumping in between the sheets. Their chemistry slowly built until there was nothing left but to accept their blatant attraction to one another.
Their relationship didn’t come without it’s issues though. You see, Ryann made a promise to her brother, she would never again get involved with one of his teammates… but as we’ve come to learn, some promises are meant to be broken. Throughout this novel, there is that hint of doom. The expectation of not if but when her brother finds out about her and Jonah. This is the epitome of the words, recipe for disaster. I’m not going to lie, I was nervous as hell waiting for that impending doom-ish moment. I knew it was coming and I only hoped Ryann’s brother would let his sister do what was right for herself and the man didn’t let me down.
I loved the fact that both Ryann and Jonah found their person. They found someone they could share all their secrets and all their fears with. I loved that they leaned on one another during the hard times. I loved watching them grow into stronger individuals.
Now onto why I rated this a four star instead of a full star rating.
You see, I loved this novel and the characters, but I would have loved to see Jonah step up to the plate a bit more when it came to he and Ryann’s relationship. I wanted to see him fight more for her. I wanted him to go toe to toe with all those who dare try to stand in his way. I guess what I’m trying to say is I wanted more from him. Don’t get me wrong, I know he’s this focused kid. His overall personality is the boy next door who does no wrong and lives his life on a schedule. But the glimpses of the alphamale in between the sheets, had me hoping like hell this man would step up a bit more.
Overall, Holdout is a great addition to the Moo U series! I honestly loved the connections and the chemistry. And given a few nit picky issues, I have to say, this is one romance I won’t be forgetting anytime soon. This novel has all the swoon and so much heart!!
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Check out my reviews for the Moo U Hockey Series:
✮✮✮✮½ Victoria Denault – Blindsided | My Review: https://wp.me/p7rFfT-dLX
✮✮✮✮ Rebecca Jenshak – Slapshot | My Review: https://wp.me/p7rFfT-dMl
Peace Love and Happy Reading,
This was my first book by this author and I was so impressed!