Kenzie Morgan owns and runs the local kennel and volunteers on the Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue Team. In fact that's where she met Harrison Conrad, world famous climber. He's recovering from a freak accident on Mt. Everest where he lost 3 friends. Kenzie brings a puppy into his life, trying to help with his grief and despair.

Why I started this book: Puppies, hiking and Colorado? Sold.

Why I finished it: More contemporary romance than romantic-suspense like Clare's other series, this is a gentle read about recovery and the strength of friendships. Solid romance, it takes the reader thru the journey of the heart... and a darling puppy is your guide.

Harrison Conrad is an Alpinist and on his third trek to the summit of Mount Everest his climbing partner of twenty years and two brother they were taking to the summit are swept away when an ice ledges collapses. Conrad stays there with Tibetan Monks trying to figure out everything. Fifteen months later and still at the same place someone from Scarlet Springs tells him it is time to leave. Returning home is still difficult for him. Kenzie Morgan dog trainer and rescuer is glad he is back and decides to bring him her new puppy using the excuse that it does not get along with her dog. She is hopping that gabby will at least get him up and moving and maybe even outside. When he decides to show up for one of her dog training classes he begins to see her in a different light wondering if maybe they could be something. Working together is rough for he is still dealing with his issues from the accident. His issues and how the two of them work together begins this story and with all of the other characters in this story you have a very good book. A good story dealing with loss and overcoming in order to live once again.

And this book is a perfect example of why Pamela is one of my favourite authors. The passion, the romance, the suspense...Holding On had it all!! I just love her writing, the story she wraps you up in and makes me fall in love with these characters. Kenzie and Conrad's story was beautiful, a love years in the making it took obstacles and a determination to see it develop into something worth fighting for but oh what a love it was. Hoping we hear more from this series in the future!

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.

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 absolutely love this series with its strong characters yet delightful characters and the stories that capture the reader and make them part of the family.  

This one hits close to home for me having grown up in India and being familiar with the majestic peaks of the Himalayas notable of which is Mount Everest known as the rooftop of the world.   My heart broke for Conrad when a freak accident killed the rest of his climbing team leaving him the sole survivor.  It's Kenzie with her search and rescue dogs who finally manages to get him to join the world of the living even as the rest of the S&R team gets him to finally climb the might peaks in their vicinity. 

Every one of the stories in this series has been my absolute favorite until the next one comes along. I have learned so much from these stories about human relationships, human frailties and community spirit, I wish the stories can just continue.

Before I start, I need to confess that Pamela Clare is one of my favorite authors. I know I can count on her for great characters and a satisfying love story.  I had high expectations for  Holding On, her latest Colorado High Country contemporary romance, a friends-to-lovers with 2 adorable fur babies. Happily,  i can say Pamela didn't disappoint. 

Harrison Conrad was the sole survivor of a climbing expedition to Mt Everest,  losing his best friend. But he comes home to Scarlet Springs unsure of what life has in store for him.  Kenzie Morgan is an old friend (& mutual secret crush) and trains dogs for mountain search & rescue. Concerned for Harrison,  Kenzie gets him to foster a puppy she plans to train. (Gabby the puppy has to be the cutest k9 character ever.)

I really don't want to say too much about the plot for fear of spoiling a great read. Kenzie is just perfect for Harrison and he for her. But they're not without their moments of angst and just a wee bit of suspense that ratchets up to a wonderful HEA. I even had a tear or two.

Told in 3rd person, Holding On is s steamy, satisfying romance with a great love story and enough heat to keep things going. I highly recommend it. 

Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read and provide my honest review of Holding On.

Review posted on Amazon

i love books about SAR dogs. they always add a special element. i liked the relationship between the hero and heroine. it was so adorable to hear about the way he handled the puppy. the town is really well written and you feel you are observing a place and its people.

Holding On is a Good, Better, Best story.  The good: Holding On may be my favorite book of this entire series, and I have loved every book in the "Colorado High Country" series. I couldn't put Holding On down so I did that thing we readers do when a book has us in it's grip...I stayed up way too late so I could finish it. Clare gave me a story that has it all: heartbreak, courage, drama, and romance.

The better: There is not a single thing I would change in this book. From beginning to end, the action of the story, the characterization, and the dialogue was impeccably written and oh-so-riveting. The opening scene took me to Everest, where I saw the beautiful friendship between four adventurers, only to see it end in tragedy. I felt Harrison's grief and Kenzie's fear, and Clare wrote in a way that kept me in their emotions throughout the story. Their characters developed in a way that kept unfolding what was inside of them. I loved the way that they acted together. The Search and Rescue Team that they were part of made for great secondary characters.

The best: Harrison and Kenzie. These are two characters that are perfect for each other. Clare developed these two (and two dogs) who are human and very admirable. Harrison learning to embrace society again, taking that step of talking about his loss and fears, and loving Kenzie made my heart grow. Kenzie was perfect, too. She took care of Harrison without hovering or guilting him into doing things he wasn't ready to do, but without babying him. This is what a mature relationship looks like, and it was beautiful. Too often I read whiny poor-me characters...Harrison and Kenzie could be role models.

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.  

ARC provided by NetGalley.

I have loved this series so much, and cannot wait for the next installment. The story feels so real that I feel like I should check the news for the headlines! Loved Harrison and Kenzie's story! So many excellent story elements.

4.5 Stars What a great story and addition to the Colorado High Country series. Harrison and Kenzie are great characters and had me quickly engaged only wanting the best for them. I am loving this series and I really enjoyed this book. I look forward to reading more and recommend you read it too.

Holding On was a fantastic, easy to read and swoon worthy romance with some seriously amazing characters. I've read most books in this series and loved them, and this book was no exception. I really found the two main characters, Harrison and Kenzie, to be really interesting and genuine. I felt that even though this book was quick and easy to read, I connected with the characters and understood their emotions and motivations. Often in a romance book it's over too quickly and I didn't feel like I understood the characters at all. This is not the case with Holding On. It's enjoyable, steamy but also truthful, with barely any tropes/cringing involved. Even though I am not an adventure/outdoors type myself, I love this series as it has some really genuine and hot characters. Not many romance stories detail search and rescue scenarios and I think that adds to the overall appeal for me. 

Harrison was hot, older and had his own inner demons. Watching him learn to love himself, to forgive himself and love Kenzie was great to read. There were certainly ups and down to their relationship, but its such an enjoyable book it leaves a smile on your face. As usual there is a pinch of drama/danger but I love that and it gives the book something to focus on other than pure romance. All the other characters from other books and all the side characters are back and its so good to read and have them consistently throughout each book of this series. 

If you are looking for a wonderful, very easy to read romance thats steamy with a little bit of drama and danger, this is certainly for you. I would also highly recommend Pamela Clare's other books.

Harrison Conrad returned to Scarlet Springs from Nepal, after 18 months of being away. He was the only survivor of a freak accident on Mt. Everest that killed his best friend and the rest of his climbing team. Spending time in a monestary he vows to never climb again and retreats to a bottle of Whiskey after he returns home until Kenzie Morgan shows up with a puppy for him to take care of. The puppy is able to pull him out of his slump, but he also has an excuse to spend time with Kenzie. 

Kenize is a search and rescue dog trainer and kennel owner. She also volunteers for the Rocky Mountain Search and Rescue Team where she is called out with her dog to find missing people and in some cases bring them home. Kenzie has sworn to never date climbers but when Conrad returns haunted from his trip she can't help herself. Kenzie tries to keep her distance but their friendship turned into something more.

How can you not like a Pamela Clare book? Holding On is no different from the other books in this series, they are books you just can't put down and want to keep going until you finish the story and then upset when you're done. I may have cried a few times, and especially in the end when Kenzie risks her life to save her Search and Rescue partner. Picturing the things Conrad and her friends are willing to do to save her life, you can't find friends/family like that anywhere else except for the TEAM. I loved loved loved Conrad coming home and watching him and Kenzie find their HEA. Definitely a recommendation to put in your TBR pile!

Pamela Clare always delivers!  I’ve been in a reading funk this summer and she pulled me out with this book.  
Harrison Conrad is the sole survivor of an accident on Mount Everest.  He lost his long-time climbing buddy and two young proteges on the mountain.  He spends 15 months hiding in a monastery but then returns to his Colorado home.  Once returning home, he is reluctant to re-engage with his friends and his alpine search and rescue team.  

Kenzie Morgan, the K9 handler for the search and rescue team, has harbored a long-time crush on Conrad.  She’s reluctant to date a climber, having been left behind one too many times.  But when Conrad returns a broken man she dedicates herself (and her furry friends) to helping him heal.

What can I say?  Everything about this book is great.  The writing, the plot, the chemistry between the hero and the heroine.  There’s an amazing cast of secondary characters and a little intrigue thrown in. This is a great summer read!

‘Tis a fact that I barely read straight contemporary romance any more, but if there is one author who can get me to pick up a book in the genre, it’s Pamela Clare… as evidenced by the fact that I’ve devoured all six of her Colorado High Country books. Ms. Clare has a rare gift for creating characters so realistic that you feel you can reach through the page and feel them, and HOLDING ON is no different. With every turn of a page, I lived Harrison’s grief, survivor’s guilt, self-doubt, and journey back from the abyss; Kenzie’s steadfast love, willingness to help, and trepidation; and even little Gabby’s puppy wholesomeness and joie de vivre. There are no real plot twists or suspense subplots in HOLDING ON, just a heartwarming, angsty story of recovery and self-discovery (and puppies!) between two solid, relatable characters whose budding romance has been on a slow simmer for 6 books. And lots and lots of really hot sex, another Pamela Clare speciality! A solid addition to a top-notch series. And with all the page time Sasha gets this time around, dare I hope her book is next? I’m dying to see who takes on that firecracker.

**ARC provided by author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I've been reading each of this series' books as they come out. I'm obsessed. I've never really been to Colorado. I feel like I have through these books.
This is book 6.I do think that this could be a standalone. I did enjoy the supporting characters in this book.
I do love Megs. She's in charge of the Search and Rescue team. She's a tough but wise person. She's older than the others on the S&R team. I love how she comes through for Harrison at least 2 crucial times.

I really love the H & h i this book. I love ALL of the Hs & hs in this series.
Kenzie is not a climber, but she is on the support staff for S&R. She has a kennel that boards dogs, she teaches dog/owner behavioral classes. She also gets called ("toned out") paged for rescues and sadly, for deceased body recoveries. Kenzie's trained rescue do Gizmo is very sweet and smart. Kenzie is an true expert in handling her dog. She does get another dog- a golden retriever puppy named Gabby 

Harrison's story starts this book. He's a world famous mountain climber. A very tragic event is explained in the prologue. This part is very well done, but is chilling and heartbreaking to read. Harrison is devastated. He eventually comes back to Scarlet Springs. Harrison and Kenzie have a history of sparks/chemistry, but had previously never pursued a relationship.

Kenzie cooks up a story for Harrison to foster her puppy Gabby. He's caught off guard, but agrees, so he can help out Kenzie. This actually helps Harrison get out of his own shell-a little. He's still closed off & grieving. 
There are some funny moments and sweet and also romantic times too. Kenzie and Harrison are hot together.
There's suspenseful and scary parts. The Colorado Rockies are beautiful, but the weather starts to turn The terrain is tough. The last 1/3 or so was intense. 

I loved the time that Kenzie & Harrison spent together. Kenzie was patient and sweet. Harrison had to come to grips with what happened. He was a reluctant celebrity.  
This is 3rd person POV. I'm so happy that I read this book 
I give this one 5 days. How can I not?

This is the first book I have read by this author, and I loved it. I found the first few chapters a little difficult to get through because this book is part of a series and the author seems to assume that you have already read all the books. Once I waded through all the references to people and events from previous books it really picked up. I loved how real Kenzie and Harrison come across. They have great emotional depth and you can't help but feel for them. My favorite though were Gizmo and Gabby and how adorable they are. As I have a 10 year old golden retriever myself it made the story much more personal for me. I think I am going to have to go back and start at the beginning of the series.

Oh my goodness, this book was a treat! I'd barely even made my way through the prologue when I decided this book deserved 5 stars. When I read reviews of fantasy novels, people often talk about world building. The prologue takes place on Mount Everest, an environment as foreign to me as most fictional worlds. Through the perfect combination of words and immaculate descriptions, I was right there with Conrad and his climbing buddies.

I've never had a desire to climb a mountain, so I've never given much thought to what it would be like up there. Honestly, it sounds terrifying. Then the unthinkable happened and my hard limit of never climbing a mountain was solidified that much more. My heart was racing and I was having all sorts of feelings for poor Conrad, and the tragedy he experienced.

While the prologue may have been the most impressive part of the book as far as I'm concerned, but the rest of the story didn't disappoint. There was a genuine story of loss, heartbreak, and healing with a healthy dose of suspense toward the end.

Now, it's time for my favorite part, the steamy bits. The sex was hot, without being overly graphic. This was a romance novel, the focus was on the couple falling in love, not their expression of it.

We also get a very healthy dose of a big strong man cuddling with a puppy. Does that make anyone else swoon? It gets me every time. Conner is absolutely book-boyfriend material.

Kenzie is an awesome female lead. She's strong and doesn't need a man to save her. She is also a search and rescue dog handler, talk about an awesome career.

Holding On was a wonderfully engaging read. I was absolutely hooked from the first page and stayed up much later than I should have reading just one more chapter. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a love story that's a bit different from the norm. This book wasn't like anything I had read before.

Harrison is an extreme climber who has scaled all the major mountains but he couldn't stop the tragic accident that happened on his last climb. Full of survivor's guilt he has a hard time returning to his hometown and the people he left there. Kenzie trains rescue dogs and is Harrison's best friend. When their relationship blossoms she has to fight his demons as well as her own. Enjoyable suspenseful romance.