When the man you randomly kissed a year ago outside of the only diner in town becomes your employer, what do you do?

Joey (read Choosing You to be introduced to her) is a former nurse who is attempting to get reinstated after an addiction to opioids. While waiting for that to happen, she wants to be able to be closer to her daughter who lives in Nugget with her ex-husband (read his story in Choosing You). She finds a job taking care of a recovering stroke victim, but doesn't expect her boss to be the man she impulsively kissed a year ago outside of a diner.

Ryder owns a trucking company and decides to buy himself a piece of land in Nugget to settle down and manage his trucking business. When his mother has a stroke, he fixes up the tiny cottage on the property and looks to hire a caretaker. When one of the people that interviews is the woman who randomly kissed him outside of a diner, he reluctantly hires her on a temporary basis. But what he doesn't realize is that she can help more than just his mother heal.

I really liked both characters and while I felt irritated with Joey in the previous book, it was great getting her perspective as well as seeing her recover and grow into a more confident woman. Stacy Finz addressed such a difficult topic really well. No one ever shames Joey for her actions, they all accept that it was in the past and it something that she is actively moving away from.

They book is not only focused on Joey and Ryder, but also on Ryder's mom. The side story of the mom's recovery and depression was also handled very tactfully. It was accepted that she would go for therapy and Joey and Ryder both encouraged her to do activities that boosted her self confidence. I really hope that she returns in the next book so we can continue to see what's happening with her life.

I absolutely love this book. While it can be read alone, I would recommend checking out the entire series and start from the beginning which is what I did. All these books build upon each other and so you end up seeing the same characters come back. The books in the series are as much about the 2 people falling in love as it is about the town and all that's happening. It's all about second chances and the characters finding themselves again after tragic events in their lives.

I received an ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.

I have read several books by Stacy Finz and enjoyed them all. Holding On did not disappoint in this respect. She writes about daily struggles, trying to fit in, finding your place in life and being true to yourself. Ryder and Joey definitely have their baggage to deal with and don't always handles things between themselves in the best of ways. but they get to where they are suppose to be.

The storyline is good and the characters are developed. The story flows and keeps your attention. I will definitely continue to read books by Stacy Finz!

I did receive an ARC of this book from NetGalley and this is my honest unbiased opinion.
#HoldingOn #NetGalley

Holding on by Stacy Finz is the 12th book in the Holding On series However, I didn't realize it was part of a series and this is my first book by this author.

Was I a little confused or felt like I needed to read the other books? Yes, of course. However, I feel like you can see read this book and enjoy it without having read books 1-11.

I can't express how much I love the town of Nugget and its inhabitants. The story of Joey and Ryder is heartwarming, highlighted for me by Joey's self awareness and consciousness of a need for improvement. I enjoyed that she admitted problems and grew to be a wonderful mother, a supportive ex-wife and a loving caregiver. I have to skip over the graphic sex, which I think is a detriment to the lovely story, otherwise the entire Nugget series would be perfection for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Another fantastic book by Stacy Finz! I couldn't put it down. I love the setting for this series of books and the characters are well developed and so easy to relate to. Even though this is part of a series, I have been able to easily follow each book without reading the previous books. I have recently started at the beginning, but have read several of the most recent books thanks to NetGalley! Thank you so much for this opportunity to review this book - Stacy Finz is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!

First of all, I had no idea this was part of a series! It took me way too long to realize that. That said, this was a sweet story that was just ok. I’m erring on the side of generosity with my rating because it’s my fault for not realizing that there are ELEVEN other books before this one. It definitely would’ve helped to have read the other books before this one.

Joey Nix is trying to get her life together by looking for a job and hoping to prove that she’s worthy of sharing custody with her ex-husband. Ryder has suffered a tragedy and is looking for help for his mother. The two meet and their chemistry is undeniable. The small-town romance vibes were off the charts!

There was a lot going on in this story, which would’ve been easier to understand had I read the previous books. I could definitely feel the sparks between Joey and Ryder, but Ryder was kind of hard to read at first. He opened up in the end and reconciled some things from his past, as did Joey.

DNF

This book isn't bad per se but, it just isn't the book for me. I find the writing very hard to follow. I can't relate to the characters at all, and the background of the book is just weird for me. I do like where this story is coming from. I like the overall plot but, it was just poor execution.

I think those of you who like small-town romance and who enjoys books with a casual writing style can still enjoy this book, but this book is not working for me.

***ARC given for a fair and free review*** This is my first book by this author and it was actually quite good. Cowboys are usually not my jam, but this story was complex enough so that element didn’t matter. The story is about Joey, a recovering addict trying to get her life in order and move closer to her daughter in the small town of Nugget. The author spent time exploring Joey, which I appreciated. She meets Ryder, an emotionally closed off hero for reasons of his own and starts working for him to care for his mother. What I liked about this story: complexity, slow burn romance, strong heroine, and great emotional storytelling. What I didn’t like: the length of time it took the heroine and hero to get together, and some of the excruciating detail (but I wasn’t bored). Did you know there are at least 10 other books in this series. Where have I been? I better get to reading. Worth a read.

This is a romance, and this is the 12th book in the Holding On series. I have read and review the 11th book in this series, and I loved the 11th book in this series. I have to say this book has one of the weirdest book starts that I have ever read. At first I was thinking some how my kindle started the book in the middle of a chapter and not the first page. After, I checked that it was a first chapter. Then, I tried to figure out what characters came for the book 11 I read before. In time, I figure out Joey was Ethan's ex-wife and mother of his child. This book picks right up where the last one ends (Kind of because it is just a flash back we are getting right at the very start of the book). The book really picks up one year after the other book ended. It starts with Joey and the guy she just starts kissing outside the bar at the end of Book 11. That guy is Ryder. After, I got my mind wrapped around what was going on I loved this book so much. I have to say I hated Joey's character in book 11, but In this book I loved getting to see her character in a better place. I feel in love with her character. I think Ryder was that right person for her. I loved all the characters in this book, and in this series that I have read. I really wanted to go back and read the first book in this series. I would have given this book 5 stars if the start of the book was better. I hate when I feel like I have to put in so much work to get into a book. I would say after the crazy first chapter everything flowed great and the writing after that was great. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Kensington Books) or author (Stacy Finz) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that. This book is schedule to be release on May 18-2021.

I'm glad that Joey got a second chance not only to find love and spend time with her daughter. It seemed to me that she had to mend the idea that we had of her from the last book. She definitely did that plus some.

A romantic story with likable and complex characters. Stacy did a good job with character development that contributed to make it a good romantic book. If you are looking for an easygoing romance, this is your book.

Stacy Finz continues to delight her readers with heartfelt stories from her Nugget series. I can never say enough good things about her books and this one is no different. All the characters we love from the beautiful town of Nugget, real life problems and emotions, and of course hot romance. Never miss a story by Stacy Finz!

Sigh. Sometimes I just don’t want a book to end. Holding On is one of those hate to see it end. I drooled over Ryder. The first scene sucked me right in. Ryder is a hunk who is mired in the past and refuses to be open to love. Joey is recovering from her journey down a dark path and anxious to prove herself. Joey and Ryder trip each other’s trigger. I liked all the characters in the book. In fact, I have to go read the first story about Joey’s ex, Ethan. Nugget is a place everyone wishes existed. I kept reading and ogling Ryder. Cowboy’s are my weak spot. I love the cover as well.

This is the twelfth book in the Nugget series set in the small town of Nugget California in the Sierra foothills. Joey Nix was introduced in book 11 as the recovering addict ex of Saintly Dr. Ethan Daniels. She was a nurse but lost her nursing license due to her addiction. She has been sober for two years and is trying to get her life together. Until she gets her license back, she is working as a home healthcare worker. She wants to work in Nugget so she can be near her daughter, who lives with her ex. Ryder was a rodeo bronco riding champion and now owns his own trucking company. His mother is recovering from a stroke and he has decided to buy a house in Nugget to help her with her recovery. When Joey shows up at his door for the caregiver job, she is shocked to see the guy she had flirted with and shared a hot kiss. This is a great story with two broken people that help each other heal. While this can be read as a stand-alone, reading the prior book will give you more background on Joey and Ryder’s initial meeting. I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

Joey is divorced, she lost her job because of her addiction. Now she is clean and ready to start new life.
She is looking for a live in caregiver, when she goes for an interview, she meets with a men who she shared kiss with.
She gets the job and more than that.
I did enjoy the story.

Holding On is the story of Joey, a recovering addict who moves to Nugget, CA to be close to her daughter. I enjoyed this story overall as it was a romance that focused on other aspects other than just the love story. Ryder was also a complex, realistic character with an intriguing and heartbreaking backstory.

One of my favorite things was the portrayal of the elderly and loved how much Ryder cared for his mom's happiness and wellbeing. One thing I disliked was the rivalry with the noisy neighbors as it seemed to not serve a purpose in the story. The romance and story itself is mature without the unnecessary drama that most romance novels include. Joey is (again) a beautiful woman who doesn't know how beautiful she is, but in this story she actually acknowledges and explains her insecurities.

Apparently, this is a series of books based on this small California town, but this book is the first book I read (oops). I would like to also read the book that came before this and see Brynn's story of coming to Nugget and meeting Ethan, Joey's ex husband.

3.5 stars

The town of Nugget is where I would land when I retire. The gossip spreads like wildfire, and everyone knows everybody's business and people care. A perfect location for some small-town romance or two – if you have been following the series.

Holding On is an enjoyable read and picks up where Choosing You ends. We are now getting Joey’s story. After an accident, a bad decision or two regarding pain management has set her back personally and professionally. She is working hard to start over. She takes a job as a caretaker for a woman who is recovering from a stroke.

It is time for Ryder to settle down; he has been on the road for too long. First with the rodeo, and now as a trucker. His mother has had a stroke, and he needs to step up and put down roots. As his caretaker interview walks up, he recognizes the woman with whom he shared an unforgettable kiss in the past. Can they keep this business relationship all business?

The book does stand alone, and it is a fun vacation type read. To get the full effect of all the relationships, you can read the entire series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.

Holding On by Stacy Finz was a quick and easy read. I liked the small town community feel of this book, and I definitely of dreaming of living in Nugget! But, there were many parts that seemed unnecessary and repetitive, and the parts I did want more of- like more depth to the relationship between our main characters- I didn't get.

Thanks NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in return for an honest review.

Reading this book was an emotional rollercoaster. Ryder, a nurse practioner, is starting over in this small town called Nugget. Struggling with an opiod addiction, her life has taken many turns.

I loved how this book displayed Ryder's emotions and character growth. The romance in this book is there, but it takes a backseat and focuses more on the family dynamics and self-growth, which I really appreciated. I did feel it dragged in places and certain things were rushed, but overall, a solid read!

Joey and Ryders story was well worth the wait. Coming back from from such dark issues and making a new life and falling in love was great to read. It was a great happily ever after