AN AMAZON TOP 50 BESTSELLERStephen Hastings is a control freak. He’s arrogant. He’s smart as a whip and sexy AF.He has too much money. He’s bossy, and he’s usually right. All I saw were his clear blue eyes, tight butt, and ripped torso. I gladly handed him my V-card that night, ten years ago. I was so stupid. I swore I’d never be that stupid again… again…
Emmy Barton works for a dry cleaner?
Yes, that Emmy Barton—long, blonde hair, bright blue eyes, pretty smile…
Sexy little body. Smart mouth.
She was the only girl who interested me, but I was leaving to be an officer in the Navy.
Now I’m home, running my business. My life is perfectly ordered until I bump into her, divorced and struggling to make ends meet.
I hate seeing her like this. I hate that she married Burt “The Dick” Dickerson. What an a–hole.
She says she hates me, but when we fight, it’s all heat and lust.
I won’t leave her this way.
She will let me help her and her son. She will stay…
It’s a thin line between love and hate, and this line is on fire.
(STAY is a STAND-ALONE enemies-to-lovers, second-chance, marriage of convenience romance. No cheating. No cliffhangers.)
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* A review copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review *
Stay is the second book by Tia Louise that I have read. I really enjoyed this book. I look forward to reading more by this author.
Stay is Tia’s latest standalone novel. It is told in Dual POV. It covers a lot of different tropes….Single parent, second chance, enemies to lovers and marriage of convenience. I really like a lot of these tropes and that’s why I was fascinated in this story after reading the blurb. I found the characters to be really relatable and lovable (all except Burt). I also found the storyline to be interesting.
With saying that, there were a couple things that bothered me a little. One being the enemies to lovers…I found Emmy’s hate for Stephen kind of unbelievable. Oh she had a good reason for being mad at him and not liking him, but I think it went on for too long. I think that reason should’ve come out sooner, so the story then could’ve focused on Eli and what was happening there. It’s just hard to believe someone hates someone so much, but is easily talked into bed. Just one of my hangups I guess. I also didn’t feel Burt needed to be in the story. If you are going to have an ex who is evil, and he was, then put some fighting words behind him. Burt was kind of wimpy. You’ll understand when you read the book. I just think that he could’ve been a better source of drama than he was.
Now I know that is a lot to say and then say I enjoyed this book, but I truly did. It just didn’t WOW me. I think if you really like all these tropes then this is a book you shouldn’t miss reading.
In this book we follow Emmy, Stephen and Eli. I have to say Eli really stole the show for me. I absolutely loved him. Although I always love the kids in stories. Emmy and Stephen have known each other for a long time. Emmy has been secretly in love with Stephen for just as long. So when she gets the chance to finally be with him she takes it, but little did she know, she had built up Stephen in her head and reality was much worse. Now 10 years later, Emmy is living in a small on room apartment with her 7 year old son. A son from a failed marriage to Burt. When Stephen enters her life again. Little did she know that seeing him again would completely change her life. Can Emmy get over the past and make a future with Stephen?? Will they get their HEA?? Even if it all started as something fake??? Read this book to find out.
I would recommend this book to all fans of Tia Louise’s and if you are a fan of all the above mentioned tropes. I think this is one that many will fall in love with!!!
Omg!! This book has all my favorite tropes wrapped up in one- Enemies to Lovers, 2nd Chance and Marriage of convenience!! Such a sweet, sexy read!! I couldn’t put it down!! We’re on a mini mountain vacation so I’ve been loving sitting on the deck over the water getting lost in Stephen and Emmy’s story!! My kindle is on fire with their intense chemistry!! So freakin good!! 5 stars for me!!
Stay may be my favorite Tia Louise book thus far. This book had everything. A smart, sexy heroine in Emmy. Her adorable son Eli and dominating alpha Stephen. I love a second chance romance, and Stay is one of the best I’ve read. There was great, witty banter between Stephen and Emmy that at times had me laughing out loud. Stephen’s bossy, take charge attitude and wanting to take care of Eli and Emmy made me love him so hard. Throw in a nasty ex-husband just to muck up the water and you have a great story. I read this in one day and when I finished, I just wanted to go back and read it all again.
I’ve suspected since this book was announced that I would love it. But I was not prepared for just how much. It has everything! Sexy alpha, devoted single mom, amazing kid, dbag ex and an oh so fun BFF. Stay will melt your kindle while warming your heart.
Stay kept me glued to my seat, completely engrossed and feeling all the feels from beginning to end. I can’t even begin to count how many times I went from tears to laughter and then right back to tears again. Stay is a book that will hit you right in heart and will stay with you long after finishing it.
Emily “Emmy” Barton had a girlhood crush on Stephen Hastings. In her fantasy she believed once they made love, he’d fall in love with her. Well, that is why they call them crushes and fantasies and poor Emmy did not get to live hers. Ten years later, she is divorced and trying to support her and her adorable son, Eli, who sadly suffers from seizures. Emmy’s ex refuses to acknowledge his son’s condition, one of the many reasons she’s divorced. One day while at work, the man who crushed her heart a decade ago walks through the door, Stephen.
Stephen Hastings has never believed in marriage. His father had a wandering eye and treated those less fortunate poorly. When Stephen comes across Emmy working in a dry cleaners, knowing she once had the means to take care of herself, and that she has a son who needs medical help, he not only feels this deep need to help her, he wants to help her. He certainly has to money to help out, so why shouldn’t he? He never expected her to so no. He also never expected to enjoy hearing her so no so much. She brings out his bossy side and he has no problem using it on her. For years he never thought about a family, but having Emmy and Eli around, now he can’t stop thinking about anything else.
It’s just a temporary arrangement. It’s just a temporary fix. Help Eli and then move on with their lives like normal. Nobody should want to stay once Eli is better. Staying means feelings are involved. Staying means forever. Stephen doesn’t believe in marriage and Emmy doesn’t believe in happily ever after anymore. It will never work. Can it?
Stephen Hastings is a Hero!!!
I luvd this book so much. I’ve been dying to get my hands on Stephen Hastings for so long and let me tell you this guy is awesome. He’s sexy, arrogant, annoying, confident, protective and a hero. But you can’t be mad at him. Stephen does do stupid things but he was younger and had so much weight on his shoulders. This doesn’t mean he was right with what he did. He isn’t that guy anymore. So when he bumps into Emmy Barton again every that had happened came rushing back. She was even sexier than she was years ago but she hated him and he didn’t know why. Emmy better get ready cause she could hate him all she wanted he was goin to work out how to get back into her good books.
Emmy this woman has been through a lot since she last set eyes on Stephen Hastings. He was the guy that broke her heart she thought he was this amazing guy until that night years ago. Now she didn’t have time for his games life was already hard she didn’t need any more complications. But it was hard when he looks even better than he did all them years ago. Her crush was strong then she needs to keep her distance more than ever now.
The sexual tension between Emmy and Stephen was crazy hot through out this book. After what happened between them Stephen wanted more and Emmy had to fight it. This second chance enemies to lovers story was so sexy. The back of forth was so great. Emmy making Stephen work was not what he was used to. They both came from money but there family lives was very different and it was more different now so many years have gone by. Emmy now has the most gorgeous little boy and a ex hubby to deal with but this didn’t stop Stephen wanting from wanted Emmy he just needed to work out why she hated him so much.
Everything about this book was amazing. The story has me sucked in from the very start. Tia Louise is one of my favourite authors she alway creates a great story that alway flows so well. She also create the best characters that you luv from the start and luv even more after. I would highly recommend this book everything about this book is great I don’t have a thing that I didn’t like. This is a book that I’ll be adding to my favourites books.
You are going to want to hold onto your panties ladies and gentlemen and ejoy the ride of Stephen and Emmy as they burn up the pages. Seriously this is a single mom/second chance romance you don’t want to miss. Tia Louise brings in just about everything you want in Stay. You have the sexy. You have a strong female in Emmy who is doing everything she can to help her son. You have a reconnection. You also will have some tear jerking moments. Stay is everything you can ask for and more. I love Stephen and Emmy so much. He can be my hero anytime. I really really loved the bond Stephen forms with Eli. And what about Emmy’s son Eli. He will steal your heart something fierce. Stay is a book that needs to be read. You need to experience Emmy, Eli and Stephen for yourself. Fall in love right along with them. I really couldn’t get enough of this one. GO ONE CLICKY TODAY.