New Release (Book Review & Sneak Peek) | Holdout (Moo U series, #3) by Jaqueline Snowe

HOLDOUT BY JAQUELINE SNOWE is Now Available and Free with Kindle Unlimited!!!

Blurb:

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…

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2JD9qSZ
Purchase here → http://viewbook.at/HoldoutJS
Audio → https://amzn.to/3jUUzAY
Paperback → https://amzn.to/2NvqITN

Excerpt:

Without overthinking my decision, I stomped out of my room and snatched a piece of blank paper from the bag hanging from one of the kitchen chairs. “We need rules.”

She tiptoed from her bed to the edge of her room and tilted her head out. “I can stay?”

A growl escaped before I could stop it. “Yes.”

“You sound thrilled,” she said, her annoyingly upbeat voice making everything worse. She continued leaning on her doorframe, her green tank top bearing the word MOO U on her chest, pointing out she was very much a female.

And Michael’s little sister.

“I’m not thrilled.” I narrowed my eyes when she grinned at me, all wide-eyed and happy. It was like she knew the punchline of a joke I wasn’t privy to. “Why are you smiling?”

“You really are grumpy.” She lifted one slim shoulder in a shrug and adjusted her long blonde hair into a ball on the top of her head. Her walk was more of a glide over to the kitchen chair. She sat and pulled her legs up to her chest, wrapping her arms around her knees. “You want to discuss rules?”

“Yes.”

I fumbled around in the side pocket and grabbed a pen, writing RULES in all caps. “No mess, no parties, no friends coming over, no loud music, no hooking up, no girl stuff everywhere.”

“Wait? Whoa, whoa, whoa.” She held up a hand. She wore three small silver rings on her tiny fingers, and the light hit them just right, drawing my attention. “Settle down there, Jonah. You’re going to burst a vein in your forehead.”

I ran a hand over my forehead at her comment, smoothing down the lines that always appeared when I frowned—which was often. “I’m fine.”

“Is this a dictatorship, or am I allowed to offer suggestions?” She tapped her nails on the table, and I hated how I noticed they were purple.

My left cheek twitched at her insinuation, and I swallowed down my initial reaction to tell her to pack her shit and leave. Clearing my throat, I said, “Well?”

“Being clean will not be a problem. I will respect your place. I know the season is long and demands a lot of you physically and emotionally, so there won’t be any parties or friends here. I like music and will listen to it at reasonable hours, but you cannot dictate my sex life. If I want to hook up, I will, while remaining considerate of your boundaries.” Her high cheekbones reddened, but that was the only indication she was embarrassed saying that.

I clenched my jaw, imagining a fling discovering she lived with a guy on the team. If he shared that with his friends, people would show up here. Hockey was life on campus, and crazed fans came in every size, shape, and gender. Everyone wanted a piece of you, and once they got it, they left. “You don’t tell anyone you live with me. Not a person.”

“Deal. I’ll make sure all my hook-ups have no idea a hockey legend sleeps on the other side of the wall.” She grinned and jutted her jaw toward the paper. “Write the rules down, you ray of sunshine.”

Book Review (10) 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!!

Peace Love and Happy Reading,