From New York Times Bestselling author Corinne Michaels comes the final poignant standalone love story in the Arrowood Brothers Series. Hollywood taught me everything I know about relationships—except how to be in one. As an actor, I became an expert at faking it. Faking that I wasn’t affected by my childhood. Faking that I was okay. Faking that I knew how to save the day, the girl, the whole … the whole damn world.
But I’ve always known the truth—I’m no one’s hero.
Until I’m forced to move back to Sugarloaf for six months, and Brenna Allen offers me a chance to prove otherwise. She’s everything I never knew I wanted, but can’t have. Her broken heart, perfect face, and adorable children turn my world upside down. Instead of preparing for my next leading role, I’m directing a middle school play for this small-town single mother.
All to make her smile.
The more time I spend here, the more I want to stay. Build a life in this town that I swore I’d leave—for her.
But when the world comes crashing down around us, I’m forced to decide if staying for her is the right choice or if leaving is better for the woman I love.
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I really don’t know why I’m always surprised when one of Corinne’s books brings me to tears. She is brilliant with how her story and characters evoke the emotions. Brenna and Jacob’s story is full of heartache, hope, friendship and family. Stay For Me is definitely going on my favorite list. Pick it up today!
THE LAST ARROWOOD BROTHER!
People, this is a sad day. Sad because there are no more brothers for this series…unless Corinne keeps one locked up in her basement…which I wouldn’t put past her. This has been a great ride. I loved the connection that Corinne created with bringing these brothers back together, but not only that, recreating an unbreakable bond between them once again.
So at the end of The One for Me, I was dying for Jacob and Brenna’s story. Unlike the other 3 brothers, he didn’t have anything that he left behind in Sugarloaf. He was ready to bid his time and leave back for Hollywood as soon as his time was served. But then there was Brenna…and Sebastian…and Melanie.
This family was recovering from the worst heartbreak, the unexpected death of their husband and father. Initially when Brenna and Jacob first meet and find attraction in the other, I wasn’t 100% on board. I needed more time to warm up to these two. What made me jump on the bandwagon was seeing the kids fall in love with Jacob as much as Brenna did. I’m a huge fan of unconvential families, especially when together they make each other whole again, and that’s exactly what this entire series is about. Healing each other. Making each other whole again. Letting go and letting things be.
As per her usually, Corinne Can’t make it easy on us because she’s that kind of author. The last quarter of this book. I totally didn’t see that coming.
My. Heart. Was. Pounding.
That is why I read everything by Corinne. She makes you feel every moment, and I’m not ready to not have moments with this family. I want to hold them close and not give them up.
BUT
But, we get a glimpse of her next series and …
I
CANNNOT
WAIT!!!!!
Dance in the rain at least once in your life
I enjoyed the journey through Sugarloaf. I’m not quite sure I was ready to say goodbye, but all good things come to an end.
Jacob Arrowood is the last brother to return home for his 6-month “sentence”. He is so adamant that he deserves no happily ever after that when he meets Brenna for the first time he gets the wind knocked out of him. How should I describe Jacob? He’s handsome, new Hollywood royalty, rich, and a great uncle. But I think the thing I found the most amazing about him is how he’s so honest with Brenna and how he treats her like the Queen she is.
Brenna Allen’s story is so similar to many women I think. Getting pregnant young, married, and putting themselves last. Losing her husband broke something in her, but I think it healed something at the same time. You can feel all the emotions she’s feeling and want the best for her throughout this story.
Their journey together is a rollercoaster of self-doubt on both sides. Jacob and Brenna both seem a little lost when it comes to the next steps with each other. When it comes to how they see one another it’s clear they see the best and willing to accept the worst. Sebastian and Melanie are two incredible human beings, they both have been through enough heartbreak to be jaded, but as we learn over and over again that children are the most resilient of us. I think I would agree with Sydney in her “ranking” of the men. This author wouldn’t be true to her nature without a few surprises, but the ride is all worth it. I loved how this book almost seemed like an all-star event, with all previous characters making constant appearances and bringing tons of laughs with it.
I think one of the things that resonated with me most in this series is the guys’ mother. She truly understood her boys at a young age and she asked them to embrace who they were. While they didn’t have as much time with her as they wanted, she guided their lives after her death.
If you’re reading this to help you decide if you want to read this series, take a chance and start Come Back for Me. You won’t regret the journey.
Reviewed for a Wanton Book Lover Blog
Stay for Me……for me, this was the best book of the Arrowood brothers series. Brenna finds herself widowed at a young age with two children. She chooses to move to Sugarloaf to be close to her in-laws. What she doesn’t expect is the intense attraction she finds with Jacob Arrowood, one of Hollywood’s hot, A-list actors. Jacob is honored to spend time with Brenna’s son, especially after he lost his father in a military. The two grow close and Jacob even volunteers to direct Jacob’s school play. Brenna finds herself confused with her intense feelings for Jacob but when she is left again when work calls Jacob, she reverts back to feeling like she did when her pilot husband chose flying and the military over his family every single time.
I really liked this book because it was so sad with Brenna and her kids still reeling from the death of their husband and father and it just seemed like before he even understood it, Jacob put them all back together. Jacob’s and Brenna’s love was just….WOW. I think it even surprised them about how intense and all-consuming it was. This was such a romantic story.Corinne Michaels
*** 4.5 stars ***
Most people think once you’ve loved and then lost that’s it. You won’t ever find that deep connection with another person again. Ever.
Brenna and Jacob slay that myth to bits. Was it easy for them? No. Nope. No. No. No. But isn’t love worth everything? Isn’t it worth all the risk?
Yes. Yes it is. And in true Corinne Michael’s style she makes us readers work for it. Angst and heartbreak and hope and all the feelings one could possibly feel are in this book.
I absolutely adored this book. What a stunning conclusion to the Arrowood Brothers series.
So sad to see the Arrowood brothers saga come to an end. Corinne Michaels saved the best for last in Jacob Arrowood’s beautifully thought out emotional story! He thinks he’s no one’s hero but boy, was he wrong! He and Brenna were perfect for each other. Despite all the unpredictable circumstances, angst and emotions they encounter they were simply meant to be and a brilliant way to end this series!
I can’t believe the Arrowood series is over, but what a spectacular ending it is! I didn’t think I could love one of the brothers more than I loved Sean, but Jacob snuck up on me. He and Brenna are inspirational, heartbreaking, funny, loving and just so perfect for each other. His relationship with Melanie, and especially Sebastian, is real, raw and beautiful. This man who never thought he’d have that kind of love in his life got much more than he ever thought possible…and he deserved all that and more.
No spoilers, but I laughed, sighed and cried. The brothers bond continued to grow and I love how each sister-in-law interact with them all, together and separately, and how they opened their arms and hearts to Brenna and her kids. It was one of the best series I’ve ever read, with an ending to remember. Bravo, Ms. Michaels. Bravo
Wow. This series was a wild ride and I am so glad I was on it! The Arrowood Brothers are absolutely delicious with so much depth from everything they have experienced. As per usual, Corinne Michaels broke me a little with these characters. Brenna’s backstory just gripped my heart. I wanted Jacob and Brenna to get their HEA so badly! And Sebastian added so much to the story. I would definitely recommend this one. I don’t want to spoil anything, but you should definitely read this one if you are looking for an angsty story, with sweet moments and all the feels! Thank you to Corinne Michaels and Valentine PR for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Corinne Michaels books are comfort food for the soul and Stay for Me solidified why I keep coming back for more servings!!!!
This book was everything, gahh I couldn’t get enough of Jacob and Brenna. All the feels throughout their journey and I love how raw and honest their emotions were expressed.
These two became my favorite couple because of their chemistry and compatibility. The way they were towards each other was so much fun to read.
Dare I say Jacob took the top spot from Sean as the best Arrowood brother . It was a great ending to an incredible series.
Overall Grade:
It’s always surprising that when you read a book you find something that speaks to you. Two different readers can read the same text and find different truths within the same book. That’s the exciting part of reading; it’s a place where the reader and author meet and create meaning together. The last book of Corinne Michaels’s series, The Arrowood Brothers, Stay for Me is a reminder of this fact. I could focus on the fact that, for me, Jacob is my favorite. I could note that, for me, this book has a heroine who feels more broken than the hero unlike the other three books in Michaels’s series. I could discuss the beautifully wrought journey that Michaels has created for Brenna and Jacob. But what I think this book does is illustrate the power of the matriarchy, the profound effect that a mother can inspire in her children (for this series, her sons) that, with the right love, her effect can blossom. As I’ve read all four books in this series, that is the final thought I have as I think about Stay for Me.
In this final book, we meet Brenna, a widow who is left to raise her two children along while starting anew in a new town. She has settled in Sugarloaf where her in-laws live, and it is there where she meets Jacob Arrowood, the film star. Brenna’s son, Sebastian, is a devoted fan of Jacob’s, and Jacob’s sister-in-law, Ellie, makes the suggestion that Jacob reach out to Sebastian to help him through the family’s difficult time. From their first meeting, Brenna and Jacob are drawn to each other; they are electric. However, Jacob is intent on leaving Sugarloaf at the end of his six-month stint, complicating any relationship with Brenna. Unfortunately, they are drawn to each other and they enter an agreement to keep it casual until he leaves. That is their only option. Or is it?
What I have adored the most in this series, and by extension, Stay for Me, is the Arrowood Brother’s connection to their mother and each other. I know I”m supposed to love the romances (and I do). Most significant to me has been the way in which their mother saw what the guys call their “fatal flaw” and crafted a life message for each of them. That is powerful as a tool to mitigate the trauma of their father, the patriarchy of sorts. In a way, it’s a nod from Michaels as to the power of motherly love as a way to heal the hurts of the past. The vehicle to that realization is the love of a soulmate. There is so much healing love through the specter of womanhood in this book that it, quite frankly, ameliorates the overbearing masculinity of their father’s influence. You cannot get more pro-woman than The Arrowood Brothers series, and yet, Michaels brilliantly packages it up in stories that tug at your heart-strings.
With Stay for Me, Corinne Michaels pours in emotional blow after emotional blow but she couches it with a deep and abiding love between Jacob and Brenna. I love that Jacob’s epiphany comes sooner than his brothers’. I love that Brenna’s fear is the cause of their potential undoing because it allows for Jacob to be truly heroic in a way that maybe only his brother Sean is. And I love that Corinne Michaels writes their story (and the first three in the series) in a way that invests us in them. You feel and believe that this group of brothers could be your friends.
If you haven’t yet read Corinne Michaels’s The Arrowood Brothers series, run and grab them. This last book, Stay for Me, was my favorite of the four because the hope is heavy with this one, and the way that Jacob loves Brenna is the love of a lifetime.
Stay with Me is the kind of small town emotional romance that you will want to read next to a roaring fireplace with some hot chocolate. It puts you in a cozy mood and it makes you want to bask in that moment and not let it go because that is your happy place for the next few hours.
Newly widowed Brenna Allen is trying to bring back some kind of normalcy into her and her kids life. Moving to a small town with a new house and a new job, Brenna knows that the road to healing is going to be a long one but she’s ready. But when the hollywood local star comes home for six months to honor his father’s wishes, things are about to change drastically for this mom of two.
If someone had told Jacob Arrowhead a year ago that he would be back in his hometown for the next months and directing a school play, he would’ve laughed in your face. But that’s the reality for this hollywood star and secretly, he’s enjoying every minute of it including spending time with the new widowed school psychiatrist. But as much as he’s enjoying the quiet simple life in this small town, Jacob knows that his stay is coming to an end and he has to go back into the spotlight alone. Will Brenna be the one to change him and make him stay? Or will their relationship be destroyed before it’s even off the ground?
I have been a fan of this author writing style and even though it’s been a while since I’ve read anything from her, her stories are very easy to get into. The only downside that I had with this story is the fact that there were previous books with the main character’s family members and I felt out of the loop a bit. They were strong side characters and even though certain things were mentioned, I wished that I wouldve read their stories just to get a better understanding.
Aside from that, this was a good emotional read that definitely gave you the small town feels. If you’ve read the other books in the series, then I think you’re going to LOVE this one.
*Arc received for an honest review
“Stay For Me” is the fourth and final installment in Corinne Michaels’ Arrowood Brothers series and just like the other first three, this one was nothing but emotional.
Come Back for Me 2 stars
Fight for Me 4 stars
The One for Me 3.5 stars
It’s time for successful Hollywood actor Jacob Arrowood to serve his six-month sentence in Sugarloaf, the place he vowed never to return. Although he never expected a single mom, her two children and a school play to make his stay better. Brenna Allen has been going through difficult times and she believed that it was best to move to this small town to rest a bit with her children, but without looking for it she ended up finding comfort in the arms of a man that she knows is destined to leave her, just like her dead husband.
If I’m being honest I liked the two main characters here. I liked how honest they were always with each other and how willing they were to just talk things over; Jacob wasn’t beating around the bushes when he wanted to say something and Brenna, as a psychologist, was like her second nature to think and reason around, and then expressing her feelings. Their romance was full of sweet moments because Jacob wanted to make Brenna see how important she was to him; so you can expect kisses in the rain, Ferris wheel, secret forest escapes, family moments, etc.
And there’s also the relationship between Jacob and Brenna’s children. One of them literally worshipped Jake as and idol, and Jacob was nothing but understanding of the situation they were going through, doing his best to make them feel part of this new family. And the same with the other Arrowood brothers and their wives accepting Brenna into the group, making her part of the family from the first moment. Also my sydneydeclan breadcrumbs they’re still my fav couple here.
The only reason I don’t give it 5 stars is because there were too many mentions of the dead husband (like until the end if I’m not mistaken?) and the military. Sorry but it’s not my thing and I didn’t know that would be something here. Though I appreciate that the author clarified the implication of Brenna’s husband in her life, and didn’t made him dirty in the middle of the book just to justify the romance, that’s literally one of the reasons why I don’t like the dead husband/wife trope.
Overall I think this book followed the same line as the others, having a bit of everything; a sweet and hot romance, an emotional plot, a rather tragic moment and a happy ending. And my favorite part a special epilogue many many years in the future with a glimpse into the lives of all couples and their children.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Jacob Jacob Jacob how do I love thee…..I can not believe the last Arrowood brother story is out. These Arrowood boys have truly broke my heart but repaired it in so many ways too. Jacob and Brenna were the perfect ending. Brenna, a young widow, moves back to her husband’s hometown only to find Jacob Arrowood serving out his time on the farm. Jacob swears he is not going to be like his brothers and fall in love and stay in Sugarloaf but that was before he met Brenna and her kids. This Hollywood heartthrob is nothing but a man in love when he is with them. Little does he know that he will stay for them. This series was everything. Watching 4 brothers grow into such strong characters from the broken boys they were when the series started was heartwarming. Corinne has done an amazing job with the Arrowood brothers and even set the scene for the next series. Oh and lets not forget all the surprise visitors in this book!
Damn it ! I thought I was doing good and this book wouldn’t do it ! But then she went and did it ! Just take all my damn tears !!!!
Yet another cracking read from the Arrowood brothers ! Jacob oh Jacob you sweet young man ! 6 months is a long time to say never !
The characters on point ! The setting on point and the guest characters on point ! I I do love it when worlds collide !
The story is perfect, it has the right amount of laughs and angst and then it had the tears !
5 stars
Diz
4TLOR
Full disclosure: I dove into this book without reading any of the other books in this series.
How do you move on when the one you love leaves you?
How to you let yourself love when you feel undeserving?
How do you let someone in when you aren’t going to stay in the same town?
Jacob and Brenna absolutely captivated me.
Their story was tragic, sweet, scary, steamy and oh-so-good.
The swoon is real in this book: between the perfect and romantic date of grilled cheese (trust me on this one), dancing in the rain and his heart of gold you can’t help but fall for this Arrowood Brother.
Brenna is a trooper. Caring, loving, dented but not broken.
Meeting Jacob turns her frown upside down and brings so much life and lightness to her story.
4.5 Stars
Many reviewers use the phrase “all the feels” and nothing could be truer after reading the Arrowood series by Corinne Michaels. Stay for Me is the final book about four brothers who return home to a small town in Pennsylvania upon their death of their father.
Book four features Jacob Arrowood and single mom Brenna, who is a licensed psychologist. Even though it can be read as a stand-alone, I encourage you to start with book one as all four brothers are introduced, and the reason they must return home for a six-month stint each is made clear.
Stay for Me will pull at every heartstring as Jacob is the youngest of the siblings and a Hollywood superstar. I love how this small town “pays him no mind” as my grandmom would say, and that he got a chance to bond with his brothers and make peace with their tragic upbringing. Corinne spares no details as they suffered physical and mental abuse at the hands of their father after losing their mother who was the light of their lives.
My favorite part of the series is the gift their mom left them in the form of her advice about arrows to compliment their surname. As adults, they now see the true meaning and it is very powerful and emotional to read. I thought this was a brilliant way to tie each book together as well as the four brothers realizing that together they are stronger and that they don’t have to live in the past any longer. They are free to make their own path and define their own future.
The women in this series are strong, independent, and very loyal to their men, and it’s beautiful how they immediately welcomed Brenna and her two children into the family. They are supportive and sympathetic, all while being down to earth and encouraging. This family has been through so much, and I love how they are each survivors in their own right as Corinne writes ANGST like no other.
In book one, Connor is a veteran Navy Seal and returns home to find his high school sweetheart, now a single-mom Ellie, in an abusive marriage and harboring a secret. Book two features Declan who was the only brother to remain in town, and Sydney the woman who has loved him since she was a child. Book three features pro-baseball star Sean, and his best friend Devney, who suffers a great loss and also harbors a secret.
In book four, it’s Jacob’s turn to live on the land and I just love the way he is smitten with Brenna the moment he sees her. I do believe in love at first sight and she is the first woman to make him think about settling down. Still grieving over the sudden loss of her husband, she relocates to Sugarloaf to raise her two children, Sebastian and Melanie. Sebastian is especially awe-struck when meeting his real-life super hero who proves over and over what a stand-up man he really is.
Jacob is everything you would want in a hero and so deserving of the title. He’s honest and upfront with his feelings, a great brother and uncle, a wonderful role-model to the students he mentors as he directs the school play, and one hot smokin’ lover to Brenna whom he just adores. I love that they are a normal couple, with real fears and concerns, and when they make mistakes or over-react, that they can talk things through.
Return to Me is the final book of this series and readers are gifted with a heart-warming bonus epilogue 15 years into the future showcasing all the brothers, their fabulous wives, and updates on their children. The Arrowood brothers will forever share a part of my heart and soul.
An amazing and heartfelt story that stays with you!
I am in awe of Stay for Me. Jacob and Brenna’s story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, and I could not get enough of it. He’s the last Arrowood brother that is holding on to a pact they made as kids to never get married or have kids. Will his return to Sugarloaf end up like his brothers, or will he pave his own way? This Hollywood hottie has a heart of gold, and I loved seeing his story. Brenna has been through more in her life than anyone should have to go through, and yet, she’s kind, funny, and willing to let people into her life still. I adored this story, even the parts that leave you breathless! (And we all know how Ms. Michaels likes to toy with our emotions!) Either way, Stay for Me is the perfect ending to a series that leaves you in a better place than you started. A definite must-read!
I cannot believe the end is here. Stay for Me by Corinne Michaels is the last book in The Arrowwood Brothers series and I loved it! Even as I hated to say goodbye, I devoured this book. It was emotional, angsty and heartwarming all at once. Jacob Arrowwood just stole my heart.
The last thing Jacob wants is to be in Sugarloaf, but he only has to be here for six months and then he is gone. Then he meets widow Brenna and her two children and suddenly, he may want more than what he currently has. But Brenna is staying in Sugarloaf for good, Jacob will only stay for six months. Nothing can come from it, right?
Jacob was so caring and protective, but his past did not always let him see the good in him. Brenna lost her husband and father to her children and now they are trying to find their new normal. She is lost and yet strong and determined as well. When Jacob helps her son, Sebastian, the lines begin to blur for everyone and suddenly, hearts are on the line. Can they see what they have before it is too late? This book and series are must-reads. I loved them and highly recommend them!
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
I loved this book! I am super sad the Arrowood Brother series is over but thought this was a wonderful way to close it out. All of the books in this series can be read as stand-alones but I definitely recommend reading in order. There is a lot of backstory to the brothers and their relationships with each other and you might be a little confused if you don’t go in order.
I loved Jacob and Brenna. They had great chemistry and I loved that they started as friends first. I also loved her kids. While they might be a bit TOO perfect I still enjoyed their characters. Like all of the Corinne Michaels books I have read, this one was definitely emotional. I found myself crying very early on but that’s kind of par for the course with her books! If you like emotional, small-town romances, I definitely recommend this book and the series!
What a perfect ending to this series. Jacob and Brenna’s story had me all over the place with emotion. Love, sadness and hope. The Arrowood brothers will be hard to leave but I’m looking forward to a new series from Corinne.