This one fell a bit flat for me. The chemistry felt utterly lacking between the main protagonists - I felt they were getting together because the author wanted it so, not because it was organic for them. Just no chemistry at all, and their POV as well didn't feel compelling to read, sadly.

One of the best books I’ve read in a while. This one really pulled at my heart strings. All of the trials that Joey went through and the trama that Ryder had endured. I was on the verge of tears several times. I’ve read some of the other books in this series and this makes me want to go read all the rest. So well written!
5 stars!!

Very well written book. Really enjoyed this author, would definitely read more by this author and recommend on my book IG

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

When i got approved foe this book i did not realize this was a series and this was book #12!! I decided to not finish it because i was really enjoying and i i will need to start from book one if im going to get through it :(. From the little bit i read i think this will be a great book.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. Great romance novel. Highly recommend.

Another book I did not know was a part of a series. Definitely need to research titles more. Couldn’t get in to this one.

I got this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.This book is #12 in a series but the first one I have read.Tackling some serious subjects through her characters, the author gives the story depth and keeps the reading engaged.

This checked off everything I look for in a book. Was not disappointed. Really enjoyed this book. I will read more from this author. Must read

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Well, this is the 12th book in this whole big series but yep....it's the first one that I read. It's pretty okay and Iearnt a lot from it....some of you maybe will find this book a bit emotional about the divorce etc


In New York Times bestselling author Stacy Finz's Nugget romance series, a picturesque California mountain town is the perfect place for fresh air—and fresh starts, especially when it comes to love.

One divorce, one mind-blowing kiss with a stranger (code name: Matthew McConaughey), and one year later, Joey Nix desperately needs to find a job in Nugget. It's the only chance she'll have of sharing custody of her sweet little daughter with her soon to be remarried, renowned surgeon ex-husband. Luckily, Joey's qualified to work as an in-home caregiver. Coincidentally, a job offer comes from the afore mentioned unforgettably sexy stranger (real name: Ryder Knight). It's a terrible, irresistible idea . . .

Ryder needs help with his ailing, depressed mother, and darn if Joey isn't the best candidate. Good thing he'll be sleeping in his camper, because their chemistry is still crackling. Besides, the loss of his wife and unborn child five years earlier have left Ryder squarely focused on his trucking company—and even that's on shaky ground. Still, Joey knows how to lift his mom's spirits. And his too—despite a troubling secret she's shared with him. But when she asks him to accompany her to her ex's wedding, Ryder “I don't do weddings" Knight will have to do a lot of soul searching. What he discovers just might surprise them both . . .

Holding On is the 12th book in Stacy Finz ‘Nugget series’. After reading the 11th book, Choosing You, I had high expectations for this one. Unfortunately I didn’t vibe with Joey as much as a character as I did from the previous book.

This is the 12th book in the series and the first I’ve read.
I enjoyed it. In fact, I’m now gathering all the others to read too.
Joey is divorced and trying desperately to stay in her daughter’s life. Roni (her daughter) is a terrific character.
Ryder Knight needs a companion for his mother. She suffered a stroke and needs some help with recovery.
Joey has a secret that jeopardizes everything.
This is a great story of recovery of health, grief, divorce, etc.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I thought I was going to be reading a sweet small town romance, oh how wrong I was. This is a story about addiction recovery, a stroke survivor and overcoming grief so be warned.

Joey is an addict who was once a nurse however due to stealing prescription pads from her ex husband for herself, they've suspended her. All she wants is a new life and to spend all of her free time with her little girl Roni. A new complication comes with her new job as a carer, the son just so happens to be the hot guy she kissed last year.

Ryders has decided to move his mother into his house after she suffered a stroke and needs to hire a carer enter Joey. He doesn't want to hire her but he relents because his mother likes her.

This is a book which is heavy in parts and light in others. The will they won't they between Ryder and Joey was done well because Ryder is mourning, you get why he doesn't want to jump into something after being haunted for so long.

Every time Joeys daughter Roni appeared I was smiling because the author portrayed her as a normal child with words they'd actually use, bravo.
The town of Nugget is somewhere I wish was real so I could visit it's beautiful scenery and quirky residents.

4 Stars
I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is the 12th in a series of companion novels about the town of Nugget. As such, I was a little worried that I would be too confused, since I haven’t read any of the previous books. But happily that wasn’t the case and Finz does a great job of introduction the reader to both place and characters in a way that doesn’t assume you already know everything. I’m a little curious to read about some of the other characters at some point.

On the whole, I found this story kinda sweet, but not one that will stick with me for any length of time. The book starts in an interesting place with a kiss and I spent quite some time wondering how we got there.

Joey and Ryder are very compelling characters with a lot of backstory that just goes straight to the heart. I was rooting for them, but at least in the beginning I thought a little too much between them was left to speculations and hasty conclusions. The sension is real though and I wanted them to be happy.

When it comes to the actual story, it had a lot of elements I have seen before, but also new and fresh aspects that I really liked seeing. It might have been familiar tropes, but the way it was done was engaging and interesting.

At the end, though I was rooting for Joey and Ryder, I didn’t feel any type of way about the ending and wasn’t nearly as emotionally invested as I might have thought I was. But the children though! I often find child characters over written and cringy, but I think Roni was a nice addition to the story and worked really well.

Holding On was a very middle of the road-book for me, I enjoyed reading it while it lasted, but I didn’t end up loving it.

I love redemption stories. Joey trying to start over find a job so she can be closer to her daughter prove to everyone and especially herself that she can do it. Ryder bound and determined to never love again. (LOL seriously his name is Ryder Knight 🤣🤣🤣) it is a great story. I love this series.

I learned after reading this book that this is the 12th book in a series called Nugget, and I am HERE FOR THIS and cannot wait to grab another book in the series. It was a great read, that touched on more than just a romance. This is a story about healing, forgiveness and redemption. I really enjoyed this story about Joey and Ryder and I can't wait to pick up more books in this series!

This book was too cute. I loved Joey and Ryder so much. I was rooting for them from the beginning. I love Stacy Finz writing and highly recommend this book (and author!) to contemporary romance fans.

Stacy Finz did great work with Holding On. I really enjoyed this romance. We followed Ryder and Joey through the course of their relationship. We watched their feelings grow from lust to love and everything in between. These characters are both pretty troubled and I really appreciated the character development and the journey that Finz took us on. Finz really tackled some complex topics with this story but managed to keep the reader engaged and wanting more.

Thank you to NetGalley, Stacy Finz, and the publisher for allowing me to receive an ARC for an honest review.

Was I hooked by that book? I liked it. Holding On is the 12th book in the Nugget Series by Stacy Finz. I have really enjoyed following the lives of the people who have made Nugget their home.

Joey has finally scraped herself back together after her divorce from Ethan (his story is in Choosing You). She is moving to Nugget to be closer to her daughter and to be able to see her more. After the divorce, Ethan got full custody, and Joey desperately wants to be a part of her daughter's life again. She takes on a job as a live-in caregiver for Ryder's mother. Ryder wasn't too happy about hiring her, especially after the scorching kiss they had shared not too long ago.

I somehow missed the previous book with Ethan's story, so I had no idea who they were when I started this one. Joey came with a lot of baggage. She is recovering from an addiction, she is waiting to hear if her nursing license is going to be reinstated, and she has to somehow create a workable relationship with her ex, Ethan, if she wants to see her daughter regularly. For Joey, Nugget was absolutely a second chance. Ryder had some ghosts of his own to deal with. They helped each other heal. They were really good for each other.

Overall, I enjoyed their story. Joey and Rider worked well as a couple. There was plenty of chemistry. The story did get a bit intense between everything that the two of them had to deal with. I didn't care for Ryder's mom's nickname, Shiv. It made me think of prison fights.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Holding On by Stacy Finz
Nugget #12

Nugget is not a town I came into early in the series. I read book 10, missed eleven and came in again on 12. The book can stand alone but I have a feeling I would have had more information about the main female lead if I had read the previous book.

What I liked:
* The small town feel of the romance
* The love Ryder had for his mother
* The huge effort Joey has put into moving forward with her life
* That Joey was not painted as perfect and that what she had to overcome was not easy for her to do
* The love that Joey felt for her daughter
* The effort made to make the “blended family” element work
* That Ryder and Joey were both a bit broken and their relationship was a bit rocky but did come out okay in the end.
* The way the women in Nugget pulled together and took people in
* How Joey dealt with Shiv’s medical situation
* How Shiv found her purpose
* Peter – would like to find out how he does in Nugget and if he finds a partner
* That it was believable

What I didn’t like:
* Knowing that the medical and psychological issues mentioned in the story are real and create so much upheaval – the upside was that the issues were dealt with in an honest and compassionate way.
* Wondering if I had read the previous book would have given me more insight into both main characters…and wondering what I had missed.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? I think so

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Lyrical Shine for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4 Stars