Rory Hightower had a good life. She had a loving family, great friends, and a job she adored, running Hope Valley’s local watering hole, The Tap Room. But there was just one thing missing. Ever since she was a little girl she knew there was one special guy out there just for her. Her dream man. And when Cord walked into her bar, she knew instantly it was him. Which made losing him all the more … painful.
Cord Paulson had only ever had one person he could depend on. And that bond ran deep. But when he moved to Hope Valley and met the breathtaking bartender with the bright blue eyes and stunning smile, he felt an instant connection. He wanted Rory from the moment he laid eyes on her. But when his past came back and his loyalties were put to the test, he made the biggest mistake of his life.
Then one night changes everything. After avoiding him for months, Rory has no choice but to lower her guard and let him back in. And Cord plans to use that to his full advantage. He’s determined to repair the damage he caused to her heart and win her back. He may have lost the love of his life once already, but there’s no way he’ll make the same mistake twice.
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So in love with this series! I have been waiting for Rory and Cord’s story for what feels like forever, and it was so worth the wait! There were times I laughed out loud and there were times I cried my eyes out. This book brought out every feeling I have – and I still want more!! Hope Vally is one of my favorite series and I CANNOT WAIT FOR MORE!! Five huge Stars!
Previously Mentioned FACT: Jessica Prince is a one click author for me
Previously Mentioned FACT: I love small town romances
Previously Mentioned FACT: I love small town romances where characters “visit” in other’s stories
Previously Mentioned FACT: I love small town romances that have a continuing thread tying them all together yet keeping them uniquely apart.
NEW FACT: Love when small town romances can be held to a higher standard and bring in social issues in such a way that you don’t even realize it.
NEW FACT: Rory is my favorite Hope Valley resident and I want to be friends with her and her crew IRL
NEW FACT: I know I’ve said this before, but this is one of my absolutely favorite stories written by this author.
NEW FACT: I really enjoyed this story. From the physical (obvious) to the emotional and even spiritual side of the coin.
This book is a must read. 5 stars!!!
Rory Hightower had it all, well except the man of her dreams. Her “One”.
Cord Paulson grew up in the foster system. He had no one. Until he met Laurie at school and she broke through his walls of protection. They became friends and then a couple. He thought she was the one, but turned out she wasn’t. He stayed with her because he felt he owed her for saving him. Oh how wrong he was.
When Cord was almost killed while protecting his bosses woman, Laurie baled on Cord. Rory never left his side. But when he woke up in a drug haze, he said the wrong thing and Rory was gone. Cord vowed to make it up to her and win her back.
While I love Jessica’s other book of this series, this one fell a little flat for me. I didn’t feel invested in the characters as much as with the other books. The build up to Rory and Cords story within the other book made me WANT their story. I just felt like it was rushed and not really about their “love story”. I will keep reading her books as I still want to read about the other characters. Xander’s story is next! Can’t wait!
Stay With Me by Jessica Prince is the fifth book in her connected standalone series, Hope Valley . Finally, in this book we get the story of Rory Hightower and of Cord Paulson. Both of whom we have met in previous books and there is obviously history there but until this delectable tale was released we had no clue just how much drama and emotion was etched in their history together.
Rory is running her parents bar. it’s been in the family for decades and with them retired she has taken over the helm. It’s the social spot for lunch and for many moments in past books in this series. This is also the first place that Cord and Rory met. With an instant attraction to each other it seemed like a no-brainer but Cord felt he had to honor past obligations and as a result they became the best of friends. Until he chose wrong.
Cord has spent what feels like forever trying to get Rory to talk to him, to acknowledge him, anything, but after his wrong choice shut her down he has not made any headway at all. When another one of his attempts puts him in the right place at the right time, thankfully, he’s there to protect Rory when something happens at the bar. Neither one of them expects where that night will take them, however, and it’s a journey they’ll never regret!
Well-paced, well-written, another stellar story in the small town of Hope Valley – Loved it! Enjoy!
Oh man did I ever love Rory and Cord! The build-up to these two finding their way did not disappoint and this story tells a tale of mistakes and forgiveness. Jessica Prince has a way with words that make you feel like you are right there, within the pages of the book. Her words made me feel the hurt, feel the love, and I was able to see what great friendships should be like. Great story and highly recommend!
‘Stay with me’ is the fifth book in the ‘Hope Valley’ series and if you have read the previous books in this series than the chance is big that you will have notice that there was something going on between Rory and Cord (in the background). But it was also clear that it wasn’t all good. And that made me very curious about their story. So you can imagine my excitement when I discovered that this was their book! This story was everything I had hope for and more! It was also a bit more emotional than the previous books. The writer really gave us a wonderful story.
I really liked the fact that although the story continued in the timeline of the series, you still got to see throughout the story what had happened in the past between Rory and Cord. So as a reader you really got the whole picture of their story. Which made that you really got to feel all the emotions…the hope, the longing and the heartbreak. Because Cord broke Rory’s heart there’s no denying that BUT once he decided that she was the ONE for him. He really went after her with everything that he was! I loved that about him. How he was there for her whenever she needed him. Rory was a great character. A woman who loved with all her heart and soul.
I adored both characters. And I also loved how they opened their heart for someone else too.
Because this story is more than a story about the love between Rory and Cord. It’s also a story about family, blood and no blood. I don’t want to say too much. Because I think that you have to experience this story for yourself. You get both POV’s in this story.
One of the things that I love about this series is the fact that the basic of each story may be the same (alpha man and sassy woman) but each story is still told in a different way. It’s never a repeat of the previous story. I also like the fact that the characters in this series are in their thirties, forties.
So… do you have to read the previous books to read this one? You don’t really have to but it was interesting to see flashes of their story in the other books.
I’m already looking forward to the next book in this series.
A new friends-to-lovers romance by Jessica Prince!
The entire Hope Valley series is terrific and Stay With Me is a highly anticipated story. I really enjoyed exploring the ups and downs of Cord and Rory’s relationship. There were unexpected events that took place which solidified the kind of person Rory was and made Cord love her even more. Could his past once again tear them apart? This was soo good, I cannot wait for the next book!
a friends-to-lovers contemporary romance with a twist!
5 She’s His Sun, the Moon and the Stars!!!!
We finally get Rory’s story and the wait has totally been worth it!! If you’ve read this series, then you know Rory is the woman that runs The Tap Room and is friends with all my favorite women in Hope Valley. She’s been crushing over Cord for the last few years and just when she thought this was their chance…he goes and ruins it!!
This is how the book opens, with Rory sitting beside Cord’s hospital bed; he’s here because of what happened in the Wrong Side of the Tracks and her love for this man is overflowing. Unfortunately, Cord is such a MAN and misses what’s sitting right in front of him. I really could’ve just slapped him for that. Rory is beyond hurt and Cord doesn’t understand why not only is she not talking to him but she doesn’t want him in her life at all!
Cord is a man determined and I settled in for him to woo her back! And this man is all kinds of sexy! He’s pure alpha and when this man has his mind set on something, nothing, and I mean nothing, is going to stop him from getting her back.
As this story moves along I fell more and more in love with both of them and their relationship. I’m so proud of Rory for standing up for what she wanted and deserves. She’s a beautiful woman and she deserves a man that will love her to the ends of the earth and beyond. Don’t get me wrong, Cord is that man and he knows it too!
There’s a heart-tugging side story going on in this book that I wasn’t expecting too. It made this story so much more emotional. I don’t want to give too much away by saying too much, but, this story arc really brought out all the feels not only with Rory and Cord but with the rest of Hope Valley too.
Ms. Prince has written a book that reminded why I’d love to live in a place like Hope Valley where people love hard and fight equally as hard when injustices are taking place. And that family is more than just blood
Another amazing story by one of my favorite authors just wow loved everything about this story the characters and the plot really drew me into the book . Stay with me is part of the Hope Valley series and can be read as a standalone but I would recommend that you read the books in order that couple from the previous books do make an appearance . I though this was everything I hoping for I loved the characters even when they frustrated me I still loved the book .
A friends-to-lovers contemporary romance with a twist!
Awesome book. Rory was fierce! And I loved the fact that Cord loved that about her. The scenes where she defends her people were amazing. Her parents were also the coolest.
Cord and Rory have been a couple that I have been rooting for since the beginning of the Hope Valley series. I loved getting the complete background to their story, and finally having them get their happily ever after.
I especially loved the conviction and love that Rory had when it came to Zach! He really pulled the story together, and helped to solidify Cord and Rory’s relationship.
Finally! We get Rory’s story, the feisty owner of the local gathering place, The Tap Room. She’s been in the background in some many of the previous stories and a gal friend to the other lovely ladies if this fantastic series. Wow, the prologue was intense and really sets up for an emotional story between the long suffering Rory and the hunky Cord. You’ve got to admire Cord for his desire to be a standup guy but Laurie doesn’t deserve him. I wish Cord wasn’t such a lap dog for his nasty ex not ex. And why Rory didn’t move on is beyond me. But love can be all consuming and forever for some. This is so emotional with Cord and Rory’s past of bad timing and missteps. A friendship that Cord turns his back on for the wrong reasons and the Rory’s is forced to do the same. The connection between Cord and Rory is every present and when they get their chance the chemistry sizzles. Such a sexy couple! Like the rest of this fantastic series this story has a steamy romance, an intense and sometimes painful storyline, the seriously hot hunks of Alpha Omega Investigations, the fabulous gal pals, and the terrific family and friends of Hope Valley. Loved it! I’m still waiting on Xander’s story. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC.
I have been wanting Rory and Cord’s story from the very beginning and loved every word of it!! Oh and I had no disappointment with this wait because Jessica just keeps getting better and better with this series.
Rory had such a spirit and fierceness about her that I would love to have in a friend or even myself. With this she was also very protective of those around her.
Cord was like all the other guys of the Hope Valley Series and very swoon worthy. He was also just as alpha male and hotness to himself. Even with this he had his flaws.
These two together was pure joy because they finally pulled both their heads out of the darkness. Along the way though they had to face the darkness like all the other couples before they could have their happiness.
I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
This is the fifth book in the series and boy was it so good. I literally couldn’t put it down. Every time I read a book in this series I fall in love with it all over again. I loved Rory and Cord so much. Rory is one of my favorites. What she does in this book pulls at your heartstrings and shows you how much love she has in her heart. This book brought the feels. I even teared up a few times because some parts just hit my heart. I loved Rory’s parents. They had me laughing quite often with their banter and antics. I can’t recommend this one enough. You will get sucked into right away and you won’t come up for air until you finish. I really can’t wait for more from this series!
I only recently found the Hope Valley series and have seriously LOVED each book, but I just knew that this one was going to be special. I just knew that Cord and Rory’s romance was going to hit me straight in the feels and I WAS NOT WRONG.
Theirs is a story of longing; of waiting and hoping that you can finally have the most special kind of love. Cord knew that Rory made him feel things he had never felt, but because of personal loyalty, he had to push her away. Later, he realizes his mistake, and hopes it’s not too late to win her back. Rory knew Cord was the one that was meant for her, but after years of carrying that torch, feeling lonely, and waiting for a miracle, she finally decides that she can’t wait any longer–she has to move on.
This story is a beautiful slow-burn and my heart hurt for both of them, but I loved watching them grow closer and finally finding their way to happiness. It was filled with all the alpha goodness that I’ve come to love with this series, and yes, there was plenty of heat and some suspense to round things out, but this book also had me laughing, crying and swooning, and when it was over, my very full heart only wished that there was more.
I can’t say enough about this book and series and am so excited to what Ms. Prince has in store fort us next. It’s small town romance at its finest. Highly recommend!
*** 5 ‘Wild and Beautiful’ Stars***
YAAAASSSS, BITCH (I will, unfortunately have to edit that for the Zon)
*does the whole squeal/happy dance thing while hugging the kindle (okay, this only happened in my head but you get the idea)*
I’ve been waiting patiently (not so patiently) for Cord and Rory’s HEA and it was EVERYTHING my heart wanted and more for them…so much more that there are no words
…well…considering I do that review/blogger thing, I need to put a couplefew more words out there, so here we go
I freaking adored Rory and Cord. Rory is fierce. She’s sweet, sassy, compassionate and knows exactly who she is and what she wants out of her life. Cord is loyal to a fault, something that is highly admirable, but only when it comes to those who actually deserve it. But there is no doubt that he is all kinds of Alpha AF male because when he decides he wants something, he will move heaven and earth to get it.
Their journey to their HEA was all kinds of goodness. There is a lot of hurt and missteps in their past, but I loved how they finally cleared the air and worked at moving past it. It wasn’t easy by any means, but everything they went through was necessary. I went in to this totally #TeamRory but I knew that would shift and end up a 50/50 split with #TeamCord and it totally did early on. I loved that Cord laid everything out for Rory but didn’t expect her to forgive and forget easily. He knew he had to earn her all over again and Rory did forgive, because that is just who she is, but she knows her worth and made him prove to her that he was sincere, without going to any extremes.
I need to stop saying that “this book is my favorite” because thus far EVERY book in this series has been my favorite one *smirks* so I’ll simply say, this series simply ROCKS. It’s so easy to fall in love with these characters and get lost in them and crave more. And speaking of more, I love that we get to hang out and keep up with all the people we’ve met in the series ~ that family dynamic is so strong and good in this baby ~ and meet new ones as it progresses. I’m still all about Xander *BSEG* and Rox was epic in this one, but I loved Rory’s parents. They are amazeballs and I cannot wait to get my hands on the book in the series!
~ Copy provided by Love Affair with Fiction & voluntarily reviewed ~
Wow!!!!! Another amazing 6 star story from an author that is a must read, all the time.
Rory as been in love with Cord. Cord made a mistake and he’s paying for it. Can Rory move pasted it and give him a chance?
This series is just plain amazing. This story had a lot of heart and character. Rory is a selfless women who will open her heart to someone in need. I loved this storyline, it grabbed my undivided attention. I was hooked from the first page read to the very last one. It had suspense and it was very addicting.
What I look for in a great story, are the characters. They were perfectly created and developed. I loved that I got to see where the others from previous stories are at. This is book 5 in this series. Rest assured it can be read a standalone. Bottomline is this is a must read.
Book 5 in the Hope Valley series told in a dual POV with an HEA. I strongly recommend this story.