Stay (The Command Series) (Volume 1) by Karyn Lawrence

The Command #1

by Karyn Lawrence

A gunshot rings out and interrupts Laurel Hayward’s first steps on stage as a professional dancer, and witnessing an assassination is just the beginning of her horrific night. The ruthless killer is determined to either have her or to silence her, landing Laurel in the protective custody of Deputy U.S. Marshal Jason Dunn.His cocky, indifferent attitude gets under her skin, but worse yet, there’s undeniable attraction. Jason can claim he’s not interested in her all he wants but once he’s got her tucked away in a safe house his actions say otherwise.She needs his help to stay alive and he needs her to catch the killer that has eluded him for years. Forced together and on the run, the attraction flares out of control and develops into more just as the obsessed killer comes for Laurel . . . and threatens to destroy everything.

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Romance, Suspense, Action, Contemporary Romance, Mystery, Thriller

Paperback

First published April 23, 2014

About the author

Karyn Lawrence is an author, graphic designer, and screenwriter. She published the nonfiction book for children: “Techniques of Color Guard” after an editor discovered her color guard blog; way back in the infancy of the Internet and long before blogging was a thing.

She has been a screenplay writer for more than fifteen years, with rather mild success, and grew tired of her stories only reaching a handful of readers. The decision was made to try fiction in early 2013. “Stay” is her first novel. It will be followed by “Keep” which is due to release in winter 2014.

She is a Chicago native who currently lives in Owensboro, KY with her epic husband and two adorable sons.

Reviews

[Katie]

DNF at 26%...

"This thing between them was more than lust. There was a connection to her that went beyond that."

They've known each other for about a day...



Well...the beginning was good until...DUM DUM DUM...the dreaded insta-love!!



Yep...not a fan...

[❃**✿【Yasmine】✿**❃ · Rating 4 out of 5]

.4 Stars

Genre: Contemporary Romance – quite action based
Cover: 6/10
Writing: 8/10
Heroine: 8/10
Hero: 8/10
Humour: 3/10
Hotness: 7/10
Romance: 8/10
Extra book Details: Approx 270 kindle pages. Dual POV; 3rd person. 1st in a series of stand-alones.

'Stay' kicks off on a mystery. The heroine, Laurel, seemingly suffering from amnesia, is battling with her mind, finding herself on the edge of a balcony, not knowing who or where she is, or who her fiancé is.

Rewind six weeks and ballet dancer Laurel Hayward is a witness to a murder and almost kidnapped by the killer, taken into protective custody she meets Deputy U.S Marshal Jason Dunn.

Laurel battles with a mix of annoyance and lust when it comes to living in such close quarters with Jason's bad boy persona. Whereas Jason knows how much he wants her, but knows he shouldn't. Not only could he lose his job, but he also finds himself wanting to comfort Laurel, a very foreign feeling for a man who lacks any soft emotions.

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I really enjoyed Stay, it's definitely for those who like some action. The characters were likeable. I loved the inclusion of Shawn; Jason's brother. He really added some humour to the story and I’m looking forward to more from him in the next book.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

She turned to face the house. Reality began to wash over her.Nothing was familiar. Not this place, not her clothes, not how she got here. She pushed a strand of dark blond hair out of her eyes. Holy crap, not even her hair color seemed right. The force of it all almost knocked her off her feet.She couldn’t remember.It was all just empty.

Every once in a while I read a book that I was able to get for free and end up loving it. SCORE! That's what happened with Stay. It was a new to me book, a new to me author, and I went in completely not knowing what to expect. I just knew the blurb sounded like it had potential and it didn't disappoint.

I don't want to give anything away but I really like how the author started the book and how she arranged the storyline. I also liked the two main characters. I could appreciate how they worked to fight their attraction for each other although the hot and cold did get a litle repetitive. There was an amnesia element to the story that I wasn't expecting from the blurb but I loved how it played into the story.
I think there was actually more potential to develop the storyline a bit. I would have loved to have learned more about the villain. I realize he was the bad guy but I thought there was something kind of sexy about him too. I'm crazy like that!

Overall, I think this was a great debut novel. While I fully admit this was a guilty pleasure read, it rated high on the readabiity scale with me. It was a quick read, but it was sexy and fast-paced. I actually was ready to read the next book in this series but it's not released yet. Excited to see what comes next! A solid 4.25 based on overall enjoyment!

Stay is the first book in author Karyn Lawrence's The Command series and is a complete story, no cliffhanger. The second book, Keep, will be Shawn's story and is expected for release late 2014 or early 2015. At the time of this post, Stay is part of the Amazon Prime program and is available to borrow for free.

[-ya · Rating 1 out of 5]

The characters are likable, but they appear to be one dimensional.

The plotline is disorganized. The story contains some scenes that test the limits of my suspension of disbelief.

The instant-lust connection is made out of thin air.

Steamy scenes are often in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I didn’t enjoy it. Sorry.

[Robin H · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS!!

WOW! I was completely blown away by this! I must admit, going into it I was skeptical, as I am with all new authors. But hot DAMN does Karyn deliver a great story!! It's fun to read, action packed, suspenseful, sexy, hot AND well written!!! Where has this woman been all my life and why isn't she on the best seller lists!??!?!?!?

If you are a fan of romantic suspense/action you MUST read this book!!!! DO IT! DO IT NOW!!!

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't get my review done the other day after I read this book but here it is.

I'm rating this book 3.5 stars but rounding it up to 4 because it was a freebie and that counts for something. The story is of a ballet dancer who witnesses an assassination of a Federal judge in the audience while she is performing. The assassin thinks she saw him (she didn't) and tries to kidnap her but she gets away. The U.S. Marshals take over to provide protection for her until the assassin is caught and brought to trial.

One of the U.S. Marshals is a hardcore but (of course) handsome guy who is already in trouble with his bosses because he punched one of his protectee's because he started to rough up his wife. Now our Marshall seems to be developing some feelings for the ballerina and he knows he just can't get involved again or he'll lose his job. Well...guess what happens.

There is romance, intrigue, shoot 'em up moments and some suspense all wrapped up in this story. The H/h are a good couple, both strong in their own ways. Some of the story is a little over the top, and a tad unbelievable, but it is a good story, one I would have probably paid money for it I had to.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, I was always mad when I had to put it down. Also this was third person, but written so well that it didn't bother me.

[Nicholas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laurel is a ballet dancer that witnesses an assassination on her opening night and the killer comes after her, convinced she’s seen his face. When he tries to kill her, he’s so intrigued with this ballerina that he can’t pull the trigger. Then she fights him off and escapes, and his fascination grows into obsession.

Jason is the US marshal reluctantly assigned to Laurel’s case, and the minute these two are forced together there’s friction. The safe house they’re staying at isn’t so safe after all, and when they move locations it only gets worse. The bullets start flying and so do the sparks between the couple.

You should probably know I happen to be married to the author. I’m not one to pick up a romantic suspense novel, and this is the first romance book I’ve read. What follows is a review that’s as unbiased and honest as I can do.

I thought the book was well-written and fast-paced, and although I’m not the typical audience for this kind of story, I enjoyed it a lot. I asked to re-read the book a second time, not only because I’m a good husband, but because I was curious to see what changes my wife made after the editor.

Jason and Laurel hook up pretty fast. That’s the one thing I repeated to my wife after the second reading. I bought into their relationship, but some might complain it’s rushed.

The love scenes are hot. One of her reader-friends said it was a “wake your husband up” kind of book. I took a proof copy to my office and described it as “steamy” since some of my interested co-workers might need a little warning before reading.

The action is great and held my attention throughout. It’s a page-turner. She teases me about the nights I fall asleep reading in bed, but that didn’t happen with this book. Her readers have all said it had them on the edge of their seats, and one of them said the book was ruining her life. She’d stayed up late to read and it made tired, but she read more the next morning anyway, which then made her late for work.

My overall review is that the book’s a great read. It’s fast, sometimes intense, but always thrilling and enjoyable. Get yourself a copy, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

[Meka♥books · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a novel that has a strong heroine, nonstop action sequences, steamy teasing/sex scenes, with a HEA, look no further, because "Stay" is your book. "Stay" is an easy to read, well paced story that has your emotions in knots while reading. It is a complete novel with no cliffhangers. "Stay” kept me glued to my Kindle until the very last word in the book. I definitely will be looking out for book 2 in the series to see what happens with the subsequent characters (which are just as intriguing) and any new developments with the main characters. This was a well written book by a new author.

This review was posted by me on Amazon 6/15/14.

[April Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say going into this book had me a little skeptical. I was reading really good, when I see the words "six weeks before." I try to stay away from books like this, due to the fact I get confused really quick. (I have these moments) I am always trying to keep up... Sometimes I fail.

BUT...

I followed through perfectly. Karyn Lawrence set the stage really good. Going back in time and bringing us right back to the present was a very smooth transition. I loved the whole Story line. There was not a Damsel in distress. Lauren (the leading lady) made my day when I started reading and seen what she was made of. She gave up her life many years ago for her Career, then gave it away again for the love of her life. She is not weak at all. I love strong women. (girl power)

Jason was a very dominate man. He was strong for the both of them at all times. He gave a hint of weakness, but it was for Lauren. He showed me that he will go to the ends of the earth to find her, fight for her and piss her off when needed. Jason is that kind of man that makes you feel safe, when there are 100 men outside the door with guns and all he has is one.

There were no plot holes. It meshed very well with every chapter. Karyn never missed a beat!! wooo weeee! Romance, Lust and attitude!


I know one thing... I want more. I'll be waiting to see what happens next.

I recommend this book to anyone that wants to read outside their box (genre) that they are not used to. You rocked it out Karyn Lawrence!!

[Matthew Marchitto · Rating 4 out of 5]

[I received a free copy with the condition of providing an honest review]

Jason Dunn is a handsome beefcake marshal who has to protect Laurel after she witnesses a murder. The story progresses at pace that never feels too slow or too fast, and the scenes are given time to breath. Laurel and Jason are fleshed out with clear motivations. The story swaps between Laurel's and Jason's POV, giving good insight into each character. There are some creative uses of the POV switches which help amplify the tension in certain scenes. There is the constant threat of danger as the killer is essentially hunting after Laurel, with the stakes being upped every knew scene. There is some moderately explicit sex, but it is handled well and a good amount of time is given to its build up. Overall this is a great story with fully realized characters and a tight narrative.

[Taz-xo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this! Thanks to the lovely Yasmine for adding this to her TBR pile, otherwise, I never would have seen it on my newsfeed!

Free on Amazon UK as of 14/06/14.

[Carlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keep your eyes open for the new The Command series covers! They are gorgeous! See them now at Carlene Inspired
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review

Suspenseful and sexy, Stay tells the action-packed story of Laurel Hayward as she is thrust into the arms of U.S. Marshall Jason Dunn for protection after witnessing a horrific crime. The criminal, while undeniably handsome, is an incredibly dangerous man who wants her for himself, likely for more than just her memory of the crime. Jason and Laurel try to fight the attraction under increasing danger, but they want him captured and they want each other.

“I’ll take care of what has to be done and then I’ll find you, L, believe me.”

Pretty, petite, and pretty-darn-hard headed would be one way to describe Laurel. She may be a ballet dancer, but the girl has spunk and I loved that about her character. Jason, on the other hand, is ruggedly handsome, a bit egotistical, and always focused on his job. These two don't seem like a perfect match, pairing them together didn't seem like it would work for me, but then I got to know Laurel's attitude and knew they'd make a great team. While it was a bit lacking in the dialogue department, these two heat up a room with looks, kisses, and then some. Pushed together by the dangers of witness protection, I really found myself enjoying their secret moments together, especially when Laurel couldn't deny the attraction despite the situation she was in. It was a tad predictable, but Karyn Lawrence kept me engaged with her writing style and attention to detail. Trust me, you'll find yourself hooked after just the first chapter.

Jason and Laurel have a serious case of insta-love and if it weren't for the undeniable chemistry they have, I would have been quick to set this book down. Fortunately, the insta-love is only apparent in the inbetween moments, overshadowed by the intense action and the lust-filled bedroom scenes. While I didn't love the instantaneous feelings these two had for one another I love the suspense that came with it, it heightened the fears both main characters experienced as they raced to protect Laurel. I wish there had been a bit more development in the characters, particularly the villain, and with Laurel and Jason near the end of the book. A lot of the questions and fears were put away and while I liked the epilogue it wasn't enough, I want more. Fortunately, the next book centers around Shawn!

Like most romantic suspense, Stay is filled with action-packed moments and heady smut scenes. It's fast-paced, well detailed, and a very entertaining read. I really enjoyed the intriguing plot, the strong characters, and the smooth transitions Karyn Lawrence used to transition from present to the past and back again. I highly reccomend Stay and the rest of The Command series.

[Vivian Jane ✯ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 STARS!
This book's cover is BEAUTIFUL. I am obsessed with that shade of red, it really catches your eye. I've been wanting to read this book for forever, but since I didn't win the giveaway, I caved and decided to buy the book.

LAUREL & JASON

“I’ll take care of what has to be done and then I’ll find you, L, believe me.”

On the day of Lauren's debut as a ballet dancer, an assassination occur.
After she is sought after by the killer, U.S. Marshal Jason Dunn is assigned to protect Laurel. Jason is pissed that he has to protect a dancer. However, he is surprised when he is attracted to Laurel and refuses to act upon his feelings because of his job. After days and days of convincing each other that it won't work out, they are unable to stop the feelings for each other.

Then, as things start to get dangerous and when Jason finally thinks Laurel is safe, she actually isn't.

Will Jason find his L like he promised? Or will Laurel stay with this "fiancé" of hers?


The next book is on SHAWN AND KARA! I CAN'T WAIT!

In her eyes it was clear: That was the moment Kara decided she did not like Shawn Dunn. It was the same moment he decided he was going to have to sleep with her.

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

3+ stars, rounding up to 4.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

I liked the plot, and how the author set up the story by moving forward toward the end before she introduced the beginning that happened six months earlier. In this way, I was kept in some form of suspense over who Ryan was: was he a good guy or a bad guy? I liked the heroine, Laurel, a ballet dancer at the time six months earlier, when she possibly saw the face of an assassin when she was on stage performing as a man in the audience was shot.

The romance interest lead was a U.S. Marshal who wanted nothing to do with protecting this witness who'd been threatened. Obviously, in a Romantic Suspense novel, the sparks between these two lead characters begin to fly almost immediately, from antagonism to attraction. There were more than a couple of steamy scenes, for those who wish to know this before reading a book.

Since this is a debut book, I do not want to be hard in awarding stars, but this book was not a five for me [I seem to be in the distinctly small minority here]. If this were other than a first book, I would give it a three-star rating. I'm giving it four because the plot was quite intriguing. I would like to have seen more at the end about the resolution with the assassin, and what kind of danger the leads might still have been in.

[Lizzie Ashworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was well plotted and developed. It kept my interest. But I'm sitting here ripping my hair over a very basic problem that should never happen. This problem really intruded in my enjoyment of this book. From one paragraph to the next, I never knew whose point of view was presented. The narrative and action jumped freely, sometimes even from one sentence to the next, between the two main character's heads. This is sooo not cool. If you want to change point of view, you must create a visual break -- little stars, dashes, something -- to let your reader know that the character you've been following for the last sentence/paragraph/page is no longer the person speaking/thinking.

So I spent a lot of time trying to figure who the hell was talking/thinking. And that's damn shame, because like I said, this was a compelling story, carefully thought out and actually well written in terms of grammer and sentence structure. This one fundamental flaw in structuring the storyline could be so easily corrected, I just don't get why or how it managed to reach this point still in this condition.

Obviously I liked the story enough to give it four stars. So please, Karyn Lawrence, bring this story back to your keyboard and give your readers the pleasure your story deserves. Point of view!

[Monique Tinline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need to start by saying how much I love this cover, it just draws me in.

The story of Laurel and Jason is action packed and keeps you turning those pages for more.

Laurel takes to the stage for her big debut as a Ballet dancer, but wasnt expecting to be a witness to an assassination aswell.

Going into protection to help capture the guy behind it all, she of course falls in love with the one who should be protecting her.
Jason is a US Marshall and loves his job, the idea of looking after a 'dancer' didn't appeal to him, but she is not the kind of dancer he was expecting , she is real, down to earth, don't take shit and fiercely independent and wanting to get back to the stage.

The book was well written. It worked well with it starting with Laurel waking with amnesia and having no idea, then we go back 6 weeks to the night of the assassination and everything happens.

I enjoyed Shawn as a secondary character and do look forward to reading his story.

[Le Ann Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

☆☆Reviewed for Hooked On Books and CherryOBlossoms Promotions ☆☆

I gave this book 4 stars!

For a debut novel this book is very good. At times it is very fast paced and then at other times it like time slows down. The main characters fall in love under a difficult situation. From the beginning they have a love / hate relationship all while trying to stay alive. There is twist, turns and surprises at every turn.

Laurel loves to dance. Her first night in front of the audience at CBC will be one she remembers forever. It's the one that changes her life forever. In a blink of an eye Laurel is a witness of a murder, right in front of her.

Jason is with the US Marshalls office and has been called in to protect Laurel for a few days. When the killer find Laurel, they are on the move. Jason is trying to do his job and fighting his feelings. Can he do both or will it leave Laurel exposed?

This is a stand alone but I highly recommend reading the others in this series.

[Pop Fizz Clink Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addictive! Suspenseful! Riveting! Three books for an impressive series!
Wow! This series is addictive; jam packed with suspense from the very first page. Your heart thumping enigmatic mystery. Each book having a new form of the perplexing riddle continuing the story & charters flawlessly. Massive romance, steamy electrifying passion that we know so well and love from Nikki Sloane all mixed with riveting drama & conundrums. You're on the edge of your seat for each book. Reading this series has continued my adoration for Nikki Sloane/Karyn Lawrence, one of my most favorite authors. Outstanding & impressive series. Hope we get more from her! -read by French Sparkle with Pop Fizz Clink Read

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot hot hot. Wow this book was hot. The sexual tension between the characters and the love scenes were hot enough to burn the pages of the book. I was glad I was using a Kindle or my hands would have been smothering. This is not a book for people who like light romances so if that is what you want this is not for you but if you can take some heat this book was very good. It had a very good suspense plot and a lot of romance. It also nicely set-up the next book that is coming out with some sexual tension between the two characters that will be the leads in the next book. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it.

[Spanxmcb (Yovanka) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hold on to your hats, this one is full of action! I really liked this. U.S. Marshall Jason Dunn is hot and commanding and not completely crippled by his shortcomings with communication. Laurel Hayward is a good heroine. Strong, smart and knows what she wants. I like that she's a dancer and the challenge that her career poses to her situation. The sequence of events doesn't allow for a lot of characters and when they are thrust into closed quarters, the anxiety ramps up. I like how they chose to end it and the developments that will bring about book 2. I'll definitely keep reading on to the next one.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I "purchased" this book when it was free on Amazon and I find it's always hit or miss with freebies (mostly miss I find) but this was a refreshing surprise. It's a fairly unique story with lots of excitement and suspense and just the right amount of sexiness. My only grievance is that, like others have mentioned, the point of view from chapter to chapter can get confusing at times. Overall, it's a good start to a new series, though, and definitely worth a read. I'm sure I'll be reading the sequel.

[Brandy.hurm · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment I started "Stay", I couldn’t put it down. It had the perfect balance of suspense and smoking hot romance. Throughout the entire book, I found myself feeling as if I was being injected with small outbursts of adrenaline. Karyn Lawrence was able to create dramatic situations that made my heart race without sacrificing the integrity of the story or the characters. The chemistry, heat, and tension was off the charts!!! A must read!!!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I downloaded the book because the cover pulled me in. I never read the blurb, I like to be suprised. The story is about a dancer that sees too much and needs protection. Amazing story line, even though parts were highly unlikely. I enjoyed the characters, but wish we knew the reasoning behind an obsession. The story takes a few jumps in time, which can leave you a little confused, but it all makes sense in the end. I will read book 2 to see where else the author takes us. WaAR

[Greg Sloan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. One of the most fulfilling parts of edge is finding a book you just can't wait to read and finish. And when you are finished you are bummed because it's over. Stay does just that but the good news is more will follow. Get to work Karyn Lawrence... Your fans want more. Read this book and you can thank me the next time you see me.

[Diane Sloan · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first page I was hooked. I love a story that captures me right away and keeps me on edge till the very end. This book had lots of action, suspense, some WAY steamy love scenes,and witty dialogue. I couldn't put it down!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book that I just couldn’t put down! It’s sexy, yet full of suspense, the perfect mix. The characters came to life on the page, leaving me impatient waiting for the next book to be released! This is an author to follow for sure! You will not be disappointed!!

[Samantha Agar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't get enough of this book! It is action packed and exciting. I didn't want to put it down because I wanted to see what would happen next. The characters are strong and sexy. The story is different and well written. Thank you Karyn.

[O_O · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the story . Jason and Laurel made a beautiful strory. Strong heroine and an alpha male what more. Together with a story full of suspense.
I cannot wait for KEEP.

[Ila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Unrealistic but totally kept me reading and wanting to peek at the ending. For me just great fun to read!