Harrison Conrad returned to Scarlet Springs from Nepal, the sole survivor of a freak accident on Mt. Everest. Shattered and grieving for his friends, he vows never to climb again and retreats into a bottle of whiskey-until Kenzie Morgan shows up at his door with a tiny puppy asking for his help. He’s the last person in the world she should ask to foster this little furball. He’s barely capable of … of managing his own life right now, let alone caring for a helpless, adorable, fluffy puppy. But Conrad has always had a thing for Kenzie with her bright smile and sweet curves. One look into her pleading blue eyes, and he can’t say no. Kenzie Morgan’s life went to the dogs years ago. A successful search dog trainer and kennel owner, she gets her fill of adventure volunteering for the Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue Team. The only thing missing from her busy life is love. It’s not easy finding Mr. Right in a small mountain town, especially when she’s unwilling to date climbers. She long ago swore never again to fall for a guy who might one day leave her for a rock. When Conrad returns from a climbing trip haunted by the catastrophe that killed his best friend, Kenzie can see he’s hurting and wants to help. She just might have the perfect way to bring him back to the world of the living. But friendship quickly turns to into something more-and now she’s risking her heart to heal his.
more
Loved it! Excellent writing, and an original plot that pulls you into the struggle with survivors guilt and the true strength it takes to grieve and keep living! Great love story.
I read this book in one sitting it was that good! I thought the information about rescue dogs was well done. And fur babies Gabby and Gizmo were too cute and so smart! The romance between Kenzie and Harrison was sweet with a side of sexy and I loved revisiting the characters of Scarlet Springs!
Full to the brim with heartbreak, love, and learning to overcome loss and survivor’s guilt, Holding On was a great entry to the Colorado High Country Series!
It has been awhile since I’ve read a Pamela Clare — I love her I-Team series; Unlawful Contact being my favorite. I stumbled upon Holding On in my Kindle…and although it is the 6th book in the series…and I had not read the first five…I started reading.
The author gave the characters, especially Harrison, a wide-range of realistic emotional experiences. Those experiences made this story enjoyable. I adored the interactions of Harrison and Kenzie (+ Gizmo and Gabby); their relationship evolved naturally…from crush-to-lust-to-HEA.
Off to read more…
This was a good read! This was a first for me from this author, and this series, but I didn’t feel lost at all. The writing flowed well, and I loved the chemistry between the Harrison and Kenzie. Harrison was a good guy that was struggling with everything that had happened. Kenzie was a great h, and I liked that she was trying to help Harrison get his life back. There was some suspense in this story, but I liked that it had the romance to balance it out. I was happy to see these characters get their HEA.
I voluntarliy reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.
Conrad and Kenzi were a great couple. I loved Kenzi’s outlook on life and the things Harrison had gone through and the exploration of his struggles was handled really authentically by Pamela Clare. As usual, the town and The Team were huge highlights in the book
This story started with heart break and takes us on a journey of survival and love. The K9 rescue dogs stole the show, ok Kenzie and Harrison had a great romance too. There’s some heartstopping moments towards the end that will have you gripping your kindle. I loved it and highly recommend it.
Been reading this book over & over so many times, love the way how the characters in the books interchange so easily, can’t wait for book 7 (if any )
Wow!!! This book was awesome! I seriously did not leave the house till I finished it. I loved Conrad and Kenzie so, so much. I absolutely recommend this book. Actually, I recommend reading the whole series.
I love the Colorado High Country Series. Each book has been a hit for me. Holding On was a great addition to the series. I have been waiting for Harrison Conrad’s book for a while now. I knew going into this read that Harrison had some major issues to deal with after losing his climbing team in an accident and almost dying himself. Pamela Clare did a great job of writing Harrison and his pain in a believable light. My heart broke for Harrison. He felt so guilty for surviving and he suffered with PTSD. Enter Kenzie and her adorable puppy Gabby! OMG talk about cuteness overload. Kenzie was a member of the Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue Team as the K9 SAR unit. She knew how therapeutic animals could be. Crushing on Harrison for years, Kenzie came up with a plan to ask Harrison to foster SAR trainee puppy Gabby. What ensued was some of the cutest puppy antics I have ever read!
Harrison and Kenzie were both amazing and they made a cute couple. Different in a lot of ways they complemented each other well. They were both very protective of one another and the dogs. They were both supportive of each other and had a friendship along with being in love with each other. Harrison was very sexy and charming. I loved how hard he fell in love with Gabby. Nothing like a man cuddling a baby human or animal to make a woman’s ovaries explode. Kenzie was smart, and sassy. She had a confidences about her that made her very sexy as well. I felt Harrison and Kenzie has a great connection. Smexy time between Harrison and Kenzie was smokin’ hot. When Harrison role played Kenzie’s fantasy I totally melted.
I love that even though they made a great couple they still had to deal with PTSD in a real way. Healing isn’t always easy or pretty and I love when Authors keep it real when it comes to things like PTSD. I loved getting to catch up with past couples and seeing how they are doing in their HEA. Lots of babies to awe over. There was some raw emotional and sweet moments in this book. There was some really funny ones too(Harrison naked outside his older neighbor catching him and calling his junk franks and beans). The action towards the end had me on edge and I was so happy that Harrison was able to overcome his problems and saved the day. The epilogue was amazing and gave me everything I wanted. I loved this book and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next one!
Ahh, Holding On was one of those “everything” reads for me. It had a strong story, an interesting plot, amazing characters, and superb chemistry between the hero and heroine. Really, the relationships were strong all around. There were fascinating insights into the characters’ jobs, and bits of daily life to make the characters and their worlds feel real. There was suspense, thrills, and several genuinely emotional moments. Oh, and dogs! Perfectly awesome dogs! And, I noticed only one tiny typo. This book was OUTSTANDING!
Harrison Conrad is a world-renowned alpinist and superior athlete, having reached Everest’s summit twice. On his last attempt with his long-time climbing partner and best friend, he was the lone survivor following a freak accident that killed his friend and the two climbers they were taking up the mountain. After 15-months in recluse with Tibetan monks, he finally returns home to Scarlet Springs, still broken spiritually and not knowing what’s next for him and avoiding those who cared for him. Kenzie Morgan, the town’s expert trainer of search and rescue dogs, has more than admired Harrison, who’s also a member of the Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue Team. She comes up with a plan to place her new puppy, Gabby, in his home for a little fur therapy.
This was a wonderful story! Harrison’s issues were so very real and his gradual retraction from everyone important to him was painful to experience. Kenzie’s instincts about the power of her puppy were on target and it was heartwarming to see Gabby’s impact on Harrison, to watch him slowly emerge from survivor’s guilt to something closer to acceptance. Kenzie and Harrison’s own relationship blossomed out of friendship and mutual attraction, as well as through their shared admiration and love for the dogs. An added bonus was the education about the intricate training required for service dogs as it was enlightening. And, I learned quite a bit about extreme climbing, including how endorsements actually are contracted and orchestrated.
I love this series and its focus on community, a staple in every story and definitely in this one. It was extraordinary how the town wrapped themselves around Harrison to protect him from his adoring fans and the media, giving him a chance to heal emotionally. The search and rescue training and alpine research was outstanding, lending an authenticity to the core story. Lastly, the romance was well developed (and steamy!) and I wasn’t ready for this book to end.
Holding On is the sixth book in Pamela Clare’s Colorado High Country series. I feel like this series is unique in Ms. Clare’s body of work. There is a sense of beloved-ness that comes out in the characters, setting and subject matter. Colorado is Ms. Clare’s homestate and she grew up climbing and she is very familiar with the volunteer rescue teams. This familiarity shows in each of the books. I absolutely love the community of volunteers she has created. She pours love and affection in the town of Scarlet Springs and the people who live there.
Of all the books in this series, Holding On, is the most relatable for me. Harrison’s survivor’s guilt is heartbreaking and his desire to run away from his demons is understandable. Kenzie is a character that is easy to love. She is warm, giving and a world-class nurturer. Their chemistry is like two puzzle pieces coming together. And the dogs, oh, the dogs! They are simple irresistible.
The story has depth and intrigue. You know with Pamela Clare, there will be a suspense element to it. An excellent addition to a highly enjoyable series.
It was amazing
**I received a copy of Holding On from Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review**
Holding on by Pamela Clare is the sixth book in her Colorado High Country series. I have to say that each one I read is comparable to her I Team series which I loved and only wants me to know who will get the next book. She also does her research quite well and this story show it with the technical terms that Harrison Conrad’s high climbing career and how Kenzie and Gizmo go out on searches whether they are found alive or a recovery mission. This book is worth all five stars and then some. I do agree that the back and forth use of both Harrison and Conrad was a bit confusing but it didn’t detract from the story.
Kenzie Morgan is a dog trainer and volunteers with the Colorado High Country search and rescue she can be sent out with her dog Gizmo at a moments notice. She has also loved Harrison Conrad secretly for years, so when she hears he’s coming home after spending several months grieving the loss of his best friend and two other climbers in Nepal. Somehow she convinces him to “watch” her newest puppy trainee for S & R knowing that Gabby will help him heal his soul.. But when a armored car robbery puts her in the cross hairs of one of them men it will take everyone to find her during a blizzard.
Harrison Conrad is devastated when climbing in the Himalayas his best friend and two others are killed when a Serac ridge of ice takes the lives of them but spares him. After months at a monastery Meg flies in and convinces him to come back to Colorado. (Boy is she a gutsy lady!) But even though he’s back in Colorado he still feels guilt from why he was spared and it will take a golden retriever puppy Gabby show him that he’s been chosen to be saved for a reason and her name is Kenzie. When reporters, sponsors and having to do a talk show brings back memories he’ll shut her out until Kenzie goes missing in a white out blizzard and the Search and Rescue needs his climbing skills to rescue her, but will they be in time?
Conrad escaped from the climbing accident that killed his buddy and 2 young climbers. He retreated from the world for over a year. But his old boss has decided he has licked his wounds long enough and guilts him into returning to Colorado. When he gets back he realises all the things he has missed out on including team weddings and pregnancies!
But mostly he realises how much he missed Kenzie. When they run into each other again Kenzie realises that Conrad needs something to keep him tethered to the here and now and to stop wallowing in the past. Enter…Gaby, just about the cutest puppy ever!
Kenzie becomes a big part of Conrad’s life and she hates lying to him about the puppy but it is for his own good. And what is not to like about a huge alpha male holding a puppy like a baby?!?!
Kenzie is a great lead female. She is independent and generous, stubborn and quietly sexy. She has her own doubts about her relationship with Conrad but ultimately Conrad is the one who pulls away. I loves reading all about mountain climbing…not for me but made interesting reading. Really need to go back and read the rest of the series LOL.
I’ve been really impressed by this series. Some books I like more than others but overall I think the author has done a fantastic job of bringing more to the story. You’re not getting a simple love story.
In Holding On we have a hero who is a world class climber. He’s climbed Mt. Everest twice and has done work on his home town’s SAR (Search and Rescue) team. We also have a heroine who does work with the SAR team along with her dog Gizmo who has SAR and HRD (Human Remains Detection) training.
Reading about Kenzie’s work with Gizmo was pretty exciting as was Conrad’s climbing experience. I was just as fascinated about the careers of our two main characters as I was about their love story. One didn’t override the other. We got a great amount of time with Conrad and Kenzie as they grew close together as we did with their work.
This was a really great feel good story that had some pretty awesome side characters. A lot of the side characters are main characters in previous books. If you follow the series, you get to know them well. You can also read each book as a standalone if you don’t want to commit to a whole series.
Holding On gives us great scenic descriptions of Everest and many mountain peaks in Colorado along with an inside look at the training of search and rescue dogs from puppy stage to adult dog stage.
A man still grieving over a year after the loss of his friends on a summit to Everest that turned tragic and the search and rescue dog trainer and kennel owner who plays dirty and uses a cute puppy to force him out of his self imposed exile. Touching story full of a range of emotions with a great cast of characters both new and all the previous ones we’ve come to love..