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I was never meant to stay in Rose Ridge.
My father was the president of a notorious motorcycle club, so if something rattled him enough to request that I go, I should have listened.
In my defense, at the time, it seemed more terrifying to give up the only dream I ever had than to leave like everyone else.
I should have known that chasing that dream would lead back to the club, because everything in this town eventually did.
I wasn’t expecting to see a familiar face, glaring as usual, amidst the chaos surrounding the Stone Riders. For years, I had endured scowls, glares, and scoffs from Ford Ryan. However, there was something new and different about his heated stare, and even that oddly protective touch.
Something dangerous and addictive.
I should have left when I had the chance, because my proximity to Ford and the club meant I was close to danger. Even worse would be discovering exactly why Ford chose to stay when, out of all of us, he had every reason not to.

310 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2026

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About the author

Ashley Munoz

33 books2,800 followers
Ashley resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and four children. She enjoys hiking, sneaking off to read, and of course, drinking copious amounts of coffee when she finally sits down to write.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 494 reviews
Profile Image for Fiona.
1,558 reviews75 followers
May 18, 2026
3.5 / 4 ⭐️

This wasn’t enemies-to-lovers in the traditional sense. Nobody was truly enemy-ing here.

This was yearning with anger issues. Mutual pining wrapped in resentment. Two emotionally constipated people weaponising unresolved feelings because neither of them knew how to communicate like functioning adults.

And while I absolutely wanted to shake both of them at several points?

I was INVESTED invested.

The kind where I kept stopping to scream at my Kindle, only to immediately read five more chapters.

What worked for me
(aka: why I was emotionally held hostage)

Ford Ryan is the kind of MMC who doesn’t just fall in love - he rearranges his entire existence around it.

Not in a casual way either.

This man memorised her freckles, knew her childhood hiding spots, named his construction company after her and gave up his dreams to stay in town because he couldn’t leave her behind. He sat outside her bedroom door for days after hurting her feelings and spent years acting like loving her was both a blessing and a personal curse.

And I’m a sucker for devotion especially the quieter kind. Not just possessive posturing but the kind built on years of noticing little things, remembering everything and choosing to stay.

The emotional backbone of this romance is Ford choosing Royce over and over again long before he ever believed she could truly be his and that absolutely carried this book for me.

Royce also worked really well for me because beneath all the sunshine and chaos, there was genuine vulnerability there. Once we started peeling back the layers and realise that her confidence was acrually self-protection, her character became much more emotionally compelling.

And together?

These two had chemistry that felt deeply lived in. Not instalove. Not forced tension.

They felt like two people who had been orbiting each other their entire lives while continuously making the worst possible emotional decisions.
The flashbacks especially HIT.

Every reveal - the Christmas card, Ford stepping aside for Connor, Royce believing Ford hated her and Ford trying to convince himself he hated her in return - just added more emotional damage to the pile.

The biker suspense plotline surprised me by how invested I became in it. The club politics, the reveal surrounding Ford’s role, the mole storyline, the kidnapping setup, Connor’s return, the Chaos Kings reveal - all of it added momentum without completely overtaking the romance.

This still felt romance-first, which I appreciated.

Also: the generational family dynamics??? LAYERED.

The parents emotionally watching these two finally get together after years of mutual yearning genuinely got me emotional. The epilogue especially felt like such a satisfying full-circle moment.

Where it lost me
(aka: somebody PLEASE communicate before I lose my mind)

The Miscommunication Olympics.

I need everyone in this book to spend twelve consecutive business days in therapy.

Because OMG, these people tested my patience spiritually.

At times, the miscommunication dragged so long that I started wanting to physically intervene.

Especially once we learned that Ford had loved her the entire time, Connor knew enough to clock the tension between them and Royce had feelings for years too…yet we STILL spent YEARS trapped in avoidance, hostility, emotional repression, vague cryptic conversations, endless “I can’t tell you” moments and dramatic staring instead of simply speaking plainly.

Sir. PLEASE.

There were multiple moments where I wanted to scream: “ONE honest conversation would solve 80% of this plot" but then we'd have a novella instead of 300 pages of yearning-induced psychological damage.

Fords Allergy To Direct Answers.

I understood WHY Ford hid certain truths.
Logically, it made sense.

Emotionally? I wanted to throw a shoe at him. Because whenever things got emotionally difficult, Ford’s instinct was always to deflect, brood, posture, kiss Royce instead of communicating, say something devastatingly romantic and then somehow still avoid answering the actual question.

And while the yearning absolutely worked on me, there were moments where the romance progressed physically faster than it progressed emotionally.

I needed a little more accountability, direct communication, and proper emotional unpacking before we launched headfirst into full “you’re mine forever” territory.

Connor and The Timeline Questions.

I also think the Connor/Ford/Royce dynamic was intentionally messy…but there were still moments where I struggled a bit with the emotional logic.

Especially around Connor insisting Royce was his future wife, Ford stepping aside for years, Connor simultaneously clocking Ford’s attachment, and somehow nobody having a direct conversation about any of this EVER. It emotionally worked more than it logically worked for me.

But honestly? The intensity of the yearning carried me through most of my questions.

Final Thoughts

This book frustrated me, emotionally tortured me and made me yell at fictional bikers for refusing to communicate properly.

And yet?

It also gave me generational yearning, obsessive devotion, emotional callbacks, soft domestic intimacy, biker suspense, childhood pining and an “I stayed” level romance that absolutely got its claws into me.

So while I absolutely had frustrations with the pacing and prolonged miscommunication, I can’t deny how emotionally invested I became in Ford and Royce.

Because at the end of the day, this story understood something very important -
sometimes the most devastating romances aren’t about falling in love.

They’re about finally realising you were loved the whole time.

Final Verdict

3.5 / 4 ⭐️ (4 ⭐️ with frustrations) - Imagine wasting years emotionally torturing yourselves over feelings everyone else clocked immediately. Couldn’t be me. Anyway, I ate this UP.

Tropes and Vibes:
• biker romance
• childhood friends to lovers
• mutual pining
• “I loved you the whole time”
• yearning with anger issues
• obsessive devotion + touch her and perish
• forced proximity
• generational legacy families
• found/chosen family vibes
• chaotic family dynamics
• romance-first suspense
• emotionally feral energy
• small town biker politics
• matching each other’s freak eventually

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Pre-read:

Yessss bring on the second gen Stone Riders chaos ✨️ I’m ready for inherited trauma, dangerous men with loyalty issues and a heroine about to ignore every red flag in Rose Ridge 🏍️
Profile Image for Kursed Reads.
884 reviews10.1k followers
May 18, 2026
When Royce Quinn’s high school sweetheart makes a half-hearted proposal, her refusal means staying in Rose Ridge and at home, where her father, Killian, president of the Stone Riders, can protect her.

Six years later and Ford Ryan, too, remains in Rose Ridge, after giving up a full-ride scholarship to Virginia Tech. Rarely crossing paths with Royce during those years, they now seem to regularly be in the same place at the same time. Despite the time and hurt between them, the feelings they once had for each other never really disappeared.

Another new-to-me author, another 5⭐️ read!! It was steamy, but not all that spicy. We know I prefer my reads with heat, but this one was the perfect mix of steam, yearning, and story so I’ll allow it!! LOL! Seriously though, it was fast-paced, emotionally engaging, and kept me hooked the entire time. Plus, Ford is a cat dad, which automatically earns bonus points from me. Definitely looking forward to the rest of the series!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Format: 📱

🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): Mystery/Suspense, New Adult

Ending: 💗 {HEA}
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present • Past}
Emotions: 😩🤭😍
Darkness: 🩶🩶
Burn: 🔥🔥1/2
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

✨ Tropes: Childhood Friends-to-Enemies-to-Lovers, Family Saga, Forbidden, Heroine in Danger, Motorcycle Club
 
💫 Microtropes: Backward Hat, Caretaker/Protective MMC, Cat Dad, Caveman/Bridal Carry, Forehead Kisses, It’s Always Been You, Pet Name (Rose), Sassy FMC, Secret Tattoo, Tattooed MMC

🔆 Character: Blue Collar, Illegal Enterprises

💋 Kinks: Snowballing, Spitting

🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a

🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole, Dominant MMC, Jealous/Possessive/Obsessive, MINE!

⛔️ Safety Squad: Kidnapping/Captive (Not by MMC), OW/OM Drama (Mild, Not Really/Before Together), Unaliving, Violence, and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page and in the past and/or present. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!

📍 Setting: Small Town + MC Club, Virginia 🇺🇸

📣 Type: When You Stayed is the first book in the Generations of Rose Ridge series of interconnected standalones. The couple gets their HEA/HFN, but the overarching storyline will continue in future books. As such, this series will be best enjoyed when read in order.

⚠️ Warning: The hate-to-want-you in this one will give you whiplash and damp panties.

🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
Profile Image for LollyDolly.
225 reviews2 followers
May 23, 2026
3.5-4⭐️ As a second‑generation book, I’d recommend reading the Stone Riders MC series and Darling Mayhem first — or at least the novella A Rose Ridge Christmas, as the author suggests. It fills in gaps and introduces a subplot I’m convinced will run through the whole series. You could also read the Rake Forge University series and its second‑generation duet, since those characters drift in and out. None of this is essential, unless you’re a freak like me who needs every backstory, every connection, and every detail of any moving part 😁. Once I’m sucked into an interconnected world I’m nothing if not a fully dedicated disciple. 😬🤨 It is what it is.

So, the story. I enjoyed it. I liked Ford and Royce together when they finally got there....

This is a slow‑ish burn childhood‑friends‑to‑enemies‑to‑lovers, one of my favourite tropes when it’s done well. I wanted all the pining and yearning, with a decent reason to justify the “enemies” bit. Basically, I wanted deep secret simping with anger and bitterness and lots of chemistry. We get that to a degree, and as much as I enjoyed their story, it felt more along the lines of huge miscommunication‑for‑decades‑to‑lovers rather than enemies 🤷🏻‍♀️

Ford is obsessed with Royce in all the small‑town romance ways I eat up: secret tattoos, staying in town because she did, secretly watching over her for years, naming his business after the nickname he had for her, mapping her freckles like constellations — all the good shite 😁 — and much, much more. Royce was equally smitten from childhood, doing everything she could to be near him, but they both shove their feelings down thanks to a massive dose of missed opportunities and miscommunication. 🙄🤨

For me, it hit that almost‑annoying point I secretly love, where you’re angrily reading and moaning at the page, urging the MMC to get his bloody arse in gear and tell the truth. To be fair, it went both ways — Royce needed that shove too. As I said, lots of miscommunication. The shift comes not long after the midpoint and moves are made, but there was still plenty of book left to reveal more secrets and biker drama, nicely setting up book two.

I really liked all the cute love declarations, the “it’s always been you” moments, and the warm found‑family dynamics setting up further relationships. I enjoyed the overprotective‑dad actions 🤣👊🏻, all the secrets and revenge being served. There is plenty of motorcycle‑club drama, especially from the ever‑present threat that none of the characters can quite get to the bottom of 👀👀👀. Spice‑wise, we get some decent moves thrown in; it’s not overly spicy but fitting for the story. Not bad 😉

As a fan of this world, I loved getting a chapter from Killian, Royce’s dad; he’s one of my favourite MMCs from the Stone Riders series. His book is absolutely delicious 👌🏻🥵, and I hope we get more parent chapters in future books.

Overall, Ford and Royce’s story was a cosy, easy read for me — possibly more so having enjoyed their parents’ books so much — and even though this didn’t quite have the same shine, I was still thoroughly entertained. I feel there is great potential going into the next three books, with future couples heavily hinted at, and the background mystery has my interest piqued. I’m locked in and looking forward to book two later this year. Ashley Munoz has created a spicy, drama‑filled, interconnected world with biker and mafia action. I’m fully invested.

If you like completely obsessed, morally grey bikers, these books are worth a shout. Definitely check out the reading order and dive in. That is it 🙌🏻❤️
Profile Image for Robin ❤️.
425 reviews3 followers
May 19, 2026
Super quick read with tons of passion and yearning.
Definitely fell head over heels for Ford. That man is something else 😍
I enjoyed Royce a lot. The emotion between them both was done so well.
I loved the slow burn, definitely slow but definitely worth it. Not my typical type of book but I’m so glad I gave it a chance.
I’m excited to read the other books coming out and can’t wait to see what else happens in Rose Ridge ❤️


“I’m not always harsh. I could try to be tender.”
Killian’s eyes blazed again, searching mine. “You can try all you want to, Ford. Just not with her.”


Tropes
Motorcycle Club
Small town
Best friends girl
Enemies to lovers
Obsessed
Secret tattoo

Thank you Ashley Munoz for the ARC. ❤️
4.0/5⭐️
Profile Image for Megan Coggins.
763 reviews177 followers
May 15, 2026
An under 24 hour read.
A straight binge.
Chokehold.

I am here for the second gen Stone Riders!

Ford & Royce
Their parents are bffs
She dated his friend (another 2nd gen) at a young age
They’ve always crushed on each other
Enemies ish type banger vibes there to start
Motorcycle club
Suspense
She steals his cat

The symmetry between the parents and kids.
Royce working at the Hollow.
And some other little similarities I found….
Chefs kiss
Ashley Munoz knocked this one out of the park

And. Oh my god. This man was down bad for her.
“I’d stay in every lifetime”
Melted into a puddle for this bad boy

Arc review ✨
Profile Image for Mackenzie.
436 reviews1,167 followers
May 23, 2026
The way this man YEARNNNNNED for her oh my gosh 🥹 Ford Ryan is 100% a new top book boyfriend.

This was my first book by Ashley and definitely won’t be my last. This book made me fall in love with this little town and the Stone Riders family. I can’t wait to go back and read the first gen series as soon as possible!!


- Small Town
- MC Romance
- Enemies to Lovers
- Ex’s Best Friend
- Forbidden
- Mutual Pining
- Man Obsessed
- Secret Tattoos


A few of my favorite quotes:

“𝑩𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝑰 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑰 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆. 𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒕. 𝑰 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒃 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰’𝒎 𝒔𝒐 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒚 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒐.”

“𝑰 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝑹𝒐𝒚𝒄𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒅. 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏’𝒕 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆. 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎. 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆, 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒂 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆. 𝑰 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆. 𝑰 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒕, 𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒚, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰’𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒖𝒏, 𝑰’𝒅 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆, 𝑹𝒐𝒚𝒄𝒆. 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆.”

“𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝑰 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏’𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒘𝒆𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆. 𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏’𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒖𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒚𝒆𝒕, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏’𝒕 𝒈𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒌𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒕, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒇. 𝑾𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏’𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒆𝒕, 𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒚.”

“𝑵𝒐, 𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒚. 𝑰 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒊𝒕. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎…𝑰 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰’𝒅 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒖𝒑. 𝑰’𝒅 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆, 𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒘𝒆’𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆. 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒆 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”

“𝑹𝒐𝒔𝒆, 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅. 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒗𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒔, 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅. 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒗𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒉𝒆𝒏𝒅.”

“𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒓, 𝑵𝒐𝒗𝒂. 𝑵𝒐𝒘, 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒖𝒑𝒐𝒏 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒕.”

Profile Image for Sim-fully Ever After.
377 reviews50 followers
May 19, 2026
4🌟, 3🌶️

I finished this book with my heart in pieces and immediately wanted to start it all over again.

Set against a gritty small-town backdrop and the constant danger of the motorcycle club, this story is packed with angst, secrets, and a love story that feels raw and deeply real. The emotional tension between Ford and Royce had me hooked from the very first chapter.

Ford and Royce carry years of hurt, and their slow-burn second-chance romance is agonizing in the best possible way. Watching them fight their feelings while being drawn back together kept me completely invested. Ford is a wonderfully tortured hero, and his shift from keeping Royce at arm’s length to becoming fiercely protective of her was impossible not to love.

What stood out most was how earned their relationship felt. Beneath all the tension and danger is a deeply emotional story about forgiveness, healing, and finding your way back to the person who still feels like home.

It was messy, emotional, and ultimately so worth the heartbreak.

~~~~

Huge thank you to Ashley Munoz & The Smuthood for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
Profile Image for Lauren (lololovesthings).
937 reviews95 followers
May 12, 2026
3.5 stars.

"When You Stayed" by Ashley Munoz is a Stone Riders (new generation) motorcycle club romance between Royce (FMC), the daughter of the club's former president, and Ford, the new club president. The two of them have had an enemies-type of vibe and a massive animosity towards one another since they were kids. Little do they each know that they have been secretly pining for one another for years... but it's miscommunication at its finest! Because of this, the angst between them is high, high, high since they both believe the other one hates them. There are lots of secrets going on between the characters in this story. I do suggest you read the original series before starting this one. I wish I had done that because I feel like I would have been much more connected to these characters, their parents, and their pasts. As it stands, I liked this book, but it was not my favorite romance, nor was it my favorite motorcycle club book. I think there is a good connection between Royce and Ford, but the miscommunication aspects of their past made me a bit wary of their pairing. I also thought Royce was pretty immature for a 24-year-old, which didn't help her cause. I did enjoy Ford, despite his gruff, grumpy demeanor. There is some good spice between the two characters, but I wish the yearning had been there to back up the emotional aspect of their relationship. I am not quite sure whether it was the writing style or the lack of "oomph," but something kept me from fully getting into this novel. I will say that the pacing of this book is good, and I don't think it's unnecessarily or overly long. I might go back and read the parents' series before diving back into the second book.

Thank you to Ashley Muñoz and The Smuthood for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Profile Image for JewelsyGoolsy.
707 reviews103 followers
June 2, 2026
4.5 stars.
Dammit, I couldn’t stop rolling my eyes at all the unnecessary drama and miscommunication relating to everyone in this book, but double dammit, I couldn’t stop reading it and enjoying myself. This is how I like my obsessed, pining, MMCS, I suppose - even if he’s being a d!ck about it for nearly half the book.

Told in dual POV. Dropped some star ratings for the unsatisfying 3rd act conclusion, cliffhanger to the next story and rushed epilogue, but got a bit of a fix with the bonus novella link by the author in the end.
Profile Image for ✨booktrovertkait ♡.
152 reviews61 followers
May 15, 2026
✨WHAT TO EXPECT ✨
🩷 small town
🌸 enemies to lovers
🩷 motorcycle club
🌸 secret crush
🩷 obsession
🌸 cat daddy
🩷 secret tattoo

GUYS. It’s time. We’re back in Rose Ridge and my heart could not be more complete right now. The anticipation for this release has been EVERYTHING.

Ford Ryan is so unbelievably down bad for Royce Quinn. Their parents are best friends, Royce dated Fords best friend back in their teen years, and they’ve always secretly had a thing for each other… so cue the enemies to lovers, tension and the mutual pining. 😮‍💨

Getting to witness Killian as a girl dad made me swoon.. he’s still the Wolf! In true Ashley fashion, there are twists, turns, and plenty of plot woven throughout to keep you completely hooked from beginning to end.

This is the second generation of the Stone Riders MC series, and while you can read this on its own, I highly recommend starting with the original Stone Riders books first so you can FULLY experience the history, the connections, and fall in love with these characters from the very beginning, you won’t be disappointed!

💬 FAV quote: “𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲, 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱. 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝘃𝗲𝗶𝗻𝘀, 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱. 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗜 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗱.“
Profile Image for Kayla Kelly.
89 reviews6 followers
May 11, 2026
I am so happy to be back in Rose Ridge!!!

I love a second gen series and it made me so happy to read how similar Ford is to Wes. His brashness to protect his heart when really he’s just a man who was hurt as a young boy and is SO down bad was so similar to Wes in Where We Started. Royce was not an FMC I really connected much with, especially in the first half of the book, but I appreciated her loyalty and love for her people. AND KILLIAN THE WOLF IS STILL KILLIAN. OMG him as a Dad is exactly as we all thought he’d be. I love how much of him we saw in this book. I enjoyed the conflicts within this story and how it all played out. The epilogue was EVERYTHING.

Ashley knows what she’s doing when writing a MC series and I CANNOT wait to see how this story continues and who the next book will be about.

4⭐️
2 🌶️

Thank you to Ashley for the ARC!
Profile Image for Rose DeVault.
679 reviews26 followers
May 13, 2026
The moment I found out I was going to witness Killian being a girl dad, I RANNNNN!

I absolutely LOVED being back in Rose Ridge. This is the perfect start start to this second generation series.

Royce is a force to be reckoned with when she puts her mind to something and when Ford tries to get in her way she isn't having it...To get back at him she may or may not steal his cat lol

The push and pull between Royce and Ford was HOOOOTTT. The tension between the two was palpable. Both of them had been mutual pining over each other for YEARSSSSSS!!!! Ford was SOOOOO down bad for her, even while she dated his best friend. That man waited for her until it was the right time.

This is a delicious slow burn filled with LOTS of chemistry, plot and spice once it hit. I am so intrigued how the rest of the series is going to go. I have my theories.
Profile Image for Maddi Smaha.
65 reviews5 followers
May 29, 2026
Trying not to be embarrassed about the cover but I eat this shit up
Profile Image for Amanda.
370 reviews18 followers
May 15, 2026
This is the first book in the new Generations of Rose Ridge series and it can be read as a standalone. The series before this has 4 books, two of which include the parents of the main characters in this book. It is a great series, and I recommend it.

I absolutely loved this book, I could not put it down. There was so much going on with secrets, twist and the main characters relationship.

Ford and Royce have known each other their whole lives since their parents are friends and all part of the same motorcycle club. Their friendship as children wasn't all rainbows and sunshine, especially becauae both Ford and his best friend had a thing for Royce. He definitely pined for her.

They had great chemistry and I loved when they finally gave into their feelings. The spice was 🔥. They did not have it easy especially with Ford working to earn her father's blessing. They also have to deal with some lies and omissions that cause turmoil not only for them but the MC club.

I loved everything about them and can't wait for the next book.

🩷 small town
🌸 enemies to lovers
🩷 motorcycle club
🌸 secret crush
🩷 obsession
🌸 cat daddy
🩷 secret tattoo

Thank you, Ashley Munoz for the ARC.
Profile Image for Emily Johnston (Booked.Up.With.Emily).
1,763 reviews126 followers
May 12, 2026
As always with a Ashley Munoz book, you know that you are going to get all of the feels! I loved seeing all of these first generation Stone Riders couples in their older years being parents. That is always my favorite part of second gen books!

MC romance
Hate to love
Small town romance
All the pining

Ford and Royce have known each other their whole lives. And for most of that time, there has always been this deep rooted animosity that has kept them from even being friends.

Now they are in their mid-twenties and Ford has become the new President of the Stone Riders, and Royce is still the daughter of the old President. These two are forbidden, and all they do is fight, but the passion and yearning is so present.

Royce is such a great character! I love her spunk and her ability to banter with the best of them. Ford is a huge grump, but when things finally turn a corner and he’s not a grump for her, man I loved seeing that side of him!

I can’t wait to read the next book in this series because STUFF IS DEFINITELY GOING DOWN!!!
Profile Image for Laura (booksandbunnyhugs).
266 reviews3 followers
Read
May 16, 2026
If you like angsty couples with a lot of history and pining, then Royce and Ford may be the couple for you. Set against the backdrop of the Stone Riders motorcycle club, the novel delves into a new generation taking over and getting ready to fight an old enemy.

Royce and Ford each have a bite to them when dealing with each other. Royce believed that her childhood crush went unreciprocated to the point that she had even dated Ford’s best friend in high school. Ford puts on a good front of being unaffected but there are clues all around that he has been obsessed with Royce for years. Having them slowly circle each other to find that their end goal has always been the same is satisfying.

This is a second generation series. While you don’t have to read the Stone Riders series ahead of time, it will add to the experience if you do. The rest of the series is set up well and I’ll be eager to read the next iteration.

Tropes:
🏍️ motorcycle club
🎵 small town
🏍️ enemies to lovers
🎵 secret crush
🏍️ obsessed MMC
🎵 best friend’s ex

I read an ARC from the author via Smuthood PR. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Cokiereads.
762 reviews36 followers
May 16, 2026
The pining! The angst! This one was just busting with it. It was such a whirlwind. I kept thinking, Does he like her? Does she like him? Why are they like this?!

It's definitely complicated. Ford and Royce have grown up together. Their moms are best friends, their dad's are in a motorcycle club together. But right now? They're definitely not friends. At times you think... what is going on in Ford's head! Royce dated his friend Connor (who was her friend too) years ago, and Ford... Well, he keeps his feelings close to the chest.

This is a second gen story, but it really does give good backstory and isn't too hard to follow.

Part of the time I'm thinking, he doesn't care for her. But then he proves how wrong I am. And Royce just wants a simple life. Something that Ford can't give her. Because he is in deep.

Enjoyed it so much. If you have read her other series, it was like catching up with old friends. I'm definitely going to need book 2, stat.
Profile Image for Julie Booklover.
2,349 reviews104 followers
May 18, 2026
4.5 stars

It is good to be back in Rose Ridge! I loved the first series and now we get the second generation. When you stayed is the perfect start, and I know I am going to be impatient waiting for more in the series.

Royce and Ford are so good together, the push/pull, her stubbornness. These two have been longing for each other for years! The slow burn now just keeps all that going. The chemistry, the conflicts, keep me engaged. AND Killian as a dad – LOVE!

I read this book a little too fast, now I need to wait.

Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
Profile Image for Heather.
716 reviews
May 23, 2026
The push and pull between these two was crazy. They fought a lot of the book. But it was also kind of spectacular the way it came together. Ford watching his best friend date the only girl he ever loved. Then years going by after they split but him not making a move. I’m excited for this story and to see where Taryn’s book goes.
Profile Image for AJ.
3,307 reviews1,079 followers
May 16, 2026
4.5 stars

The first book in the Generations of Rose Ridge series, this is a second-gen story from the Stone Riders MC series, with a childhood crush, enemies-to-lovers MC romance that is angsty, emotional, and absolutely beautiful! Ford and Royce have true ‘meant to be’ vibes, and I loved this heartfelt love story!

Ford is the son of Wes and Callie (from Where We Started) and Royce is the daughter of Stone Riders President, Killian and his wife, Laura (from Where We Belong). Their parents are best friends and they’ve known each other since birth, and Ford has been deeply in love with Royce for as long as he can remember. Royce has crushed on him on and off over the years, but years of miscommunication between them has led to them barely tolerating being in the same room together, and they keep their distance as much as possible.

The tension, angst and chemistry are electric as we watch these two move from snarky animosity to finally acknowledging their attraction, and wow, what a journey. It’s a slow shift, full of longing, and I was right there with them through every little moment as they figured it all out, desperate to see them finally reveal their truths to each other. And it’s absolutely worth the wait. Their wild passion for each other is sizzling, and the emotion between them is so gorgeous to see.

“We’re doing this, and we’re not wasting any more time. You’re mine.” Pinning my forehead to hers, I whispered on a shaky breath, “Fucking finally.”

While they’re finding their way to each other, secrets within the club and external threats bring drama to the story, and all of the different elements weave together well to create mystery and suspense, adding intensity to the romance as Ford and Royce navigate it all. I was glued to my kindle, and loved watching it all unfold, my heart fully invested in these fantastic characters and their gorgeous love story.

“You were worth staying for, baby. I’d stay in every lifetime.”

As a fan of the Stone Riders MC series, I loved being back in this world and catching up with characters from the original books (seeing Killian as a fiercely protective girl dad is such a delight!). A Rose Ridge Christmas serves as a prequel to this series, setting up the external conflict and paving the way for events that shape this story, and I would definitely recommend reading it before diving into this book.

There are some great set ups for future books for more of the Rose Ridge kids, and I look forward to continuing with the series.

I loved this book – 4.5 stars.

An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the author for an honest review.


Profile Image for Helen - HappilySheReads.
614 reviews2 followers
May 22, 2026
MC vibes with a touch of darkness & a possessive hero

With motorcycle vibes that aren’t too dark, a protective, glaring hero, & some great hate-banter, I totally enjoyed this always-been-you romance.

Ford is the perfect obsessed hero & uncovering all of his layers was one of my favorite parts of this story. Understanding why he stayed behind really made his yearning the star. I especially liked his interactions with Killian, even when they happened of-page. The power dynamic between the two of them was some of my favorite character chemistry moments.

Royce is head-strong & loyal. A hard worker, determined to make her dreams come true & willing to work to make it happen. I loved her combination of hurt, confusion & irritation with Ford & his mercurial behavior.

When they come together, their spice is hot. I could definitely had a few more scenes between them in buildup to the big event if you know what I mean….👀

Written a little like a serial romance, the love story between Ford & Royce wraps up but leaves major suspense points left open to be handled in the following books. Once you’re in Rose Ridge, Ashley makes it hard for you to want to leave! Especially if you NEED to know what happens.

When You Stayed is a second-gen series so if you’ve read the original Stone Riders series, there are great updates on the first generation characters. However, this book can totally be read without having read the prior series.


‼️SPOILER & OTHER THOUGHTS

I would have liked more flashbacks to Royce & Ford as kids. I think it would have helped support my connection to the relationship they were building. So much of their relationship is built in the boast and I would have loved to have felt that longing and angst from both of them at the time.

I also loved Ford’s devotion to her but I struggled a little bit with him having never kissed anyone but her. Maybe he didn’t like it or whatever, but for such an alpha guy, I would have liked the assurance that he had the skills (ahem) needed to keep her satisfied.

Finally, a small suggestion:
There are major plot references to a Christmas novella. It would be super helpful to me, as a reader, to have a brief synopsis of that book at the beginning of this one. Or a dream when the major plot points are set up for me. I spent the majority of the book not understanding the danger or who Max is. Honestly, I still don’t know who max is. A refresher would be a super helpful addition and eliminate plot holes left bc I haven’t read the novella.
3.75 stars. 2 peppers.
Profile Image for Yazzie.
27 reviews4 followers
May 11, 2026
✨✨✨
First off thank you to the author Ashley Munoz for allowing me to read this arc of your new book. And also Smuthood as I found this through your website.

I love that you’ve included the family tree for the characters! This is my first time reading so this helps me piece together who is who and so on. It is also recommended that you read the first book of this series but not needed as can be read as a standalone. They also recommend reading the Christmas special which has events that happened in it, referenced quite a few times! I have not done either but I was able to follow along the story.

Ford has been in love with Royce since he was 9 years old! He’s only had eyes for her, their parents are best friends so they’ve been in each other’s lives from the start. He may of never had her, but he’s always watched over her! Her protector even when she didn’t know it.

Their past is a rocky one, Ford has had to watch his girl be in a relationship with his best friend! Yearn for her from a distance, and eventually at the age of 15 try to confess his feelings through a Christmas card. Royce sick of his mood swings and constant fighting among them! Refuses to even read the card which leads to an even stronger wave of “hatred.” But hates just another word for LOVE.

With Royce’s dad being the president of the MC club, she’s always lived an unconventional life, and with past events a very protected life! She feels trapped and would love any kind of freedom even if it was just something simple like living on her own. But that’s just a no go, she values her family but also values running a Bar called ‘The Hollow’ which she someday dreams of running and possibly owning in the future. With her ties to the gang, it stunts any progression and sparks an ultimatum which leads her going back to the club house to make sure no one stands in her way by interfering or causing trouble at the bar.

Everything her dad’s done to protect his children is all intertwined with the life she’s built and the constant events happening makes him tighten his reigns more. Ford knows she’s off limits and has had multiple arguments and beatings but that won’t stop him from him having her. It’s a slow burn but it’ll all work out! Or will it?
✨✨✨
Profile Image for Leah.
33 reviews1 follower
May 15, 2026
*Review of Advanced Reader Copy*

I’m super excited to tell you about “When You Stayed” by Ashley Munoz, Generations of Rose Ridge, Book 1. This is a second-generation series. If you want background for all the characters and some of the storylines I recommend starting with the first-generation series, Stone Riders MC, which begins with “Where We Started” – so wonderful!! If you want to jump right in, at least read the novella that bridges the two series together, “A Rose Ridge Christmas” (Stone Riders MC, #4.5).

Content warning: Meant for mature audiences (18+) as it includes language, violence, and sexual situations.

On to the good stuff- Ashley Munoz is so talented when it comes to descriptions and details of personalities, emotions, looks, etc. I am drawn into the world she’s built and feel like I’m in the stories. Because this book had a lot of the previous main characters from the first series, it was familiar, like spending time with old friends. I enjoyed getting to know the second-generation characters since they were just kids when we last saw them…but they are definitely adults now! Buckle up for this rollercoaster ride!

The story follows Royce, daughter of the Stone Riders MC President, and Ford, son of the previous President. Oh, and their parents are best friends! They grew up together and were friends, but eventually grew apart to the point of dislike. I sometimes get exhausted with enemies-to-lovers tropes because it’s clear to the reader that they like each other, but they are annoyingly blind to it. However, it worked well in this book as it did not disappoint with the smooth transition from arguing to witty banter to flirting. Royce has a lot to say about her feelings, while Ford tries to let his actions speak for him. All of this is done while continuing to emphasize the value of family and friendships. I can’t forget about Gus, Ford’s cute cat- I think he should get all the credit of bringing them together!

This book has a blend of day-to-day living and exciting adventures that are mostly through the dual pov’s of Royce and Ford, but there are some chapters with additional pov’s, including the prologue to set up where the story begins.

Read “When You Stayed” if you want to escape into a detailed world of danger and excitement full of deep characters who would do literally anything for each other. Tropes like Childhood Friends, Best-Friend’s-Girl, Slow Burn, Enemies-to-lovers, Motorcycle Club, Touch-Her-and-Die, Small-Town-Romance.

Highly Recommend!! Thank you to Smuthood Promo for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book.
Profile Image for thehotmesslibrary.
841 reviews21 followers
May 13, 2026
When You Stayed by Ashley Munoz is book one in the new spin off of The Stone Riders MC and in this series, we see the second generation all grown up and trying to adult. In this book we meet Ford and Royce whose fathers were first generation Stone Riders. The two of them grew up together albeit it rather reluctantly. We see their complex relationship through their duel POV about what has happened both in the past and the present. There is an unrequited love element to this story from both characters, but I have to say the way Ford goes about things can sometimes leave you a bit cranky.

I really loved Royce, she is quirky and cute and owns who she is, she also knows what she wants and at times that’s Ford (unless he’s being a douche). I love how she stands up to her father and the relationship that she has with her sister. There is a complexity to her that I really enjoyed, and I liked how strong she was, even when Ford was not being supportive, but I also enjoyed reading about her vulnerability, how she feels behind closed doors. Ford and Royce belong together, there is no doubt about that, they just seem to take the long way to get there, but in the end, they do and with everything thrown at them, they come out stronger!

There are a lot of twist, turns and secrets in this book as well as a lot of characters that are introduced which is to be expected at the beginning of a new series. It also isn’t a traditional MC book in that, that storyline is secondary to the characters and their own stories.

Be warned there are some trigger warnings at the beginning of the book, but once you dive in, you’re going to love this story!

ARC received for a fair, honest and sometimes long review. All opinions are my own. 😊

More of my reviews can be found on my blog: http://thehotmesslibrary.blogspot.com
Profile Image for Erin Sultanovic.
46 reviews3 followers
May 20, 2026
⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars

When You Stayed by Ashley Muñoz is a next-generation motorcycle club romance following Royce, the daughter of the former Stone Riders president, and Ford, the club’s current president. Their relationship is packed with years of tension, unresolved feelings, and plenty of misunderstandings, creating that classic they think the other hates them while secretly wanting each other kind of angst.

I think this book would have hit differently for me if I had read the original Stone Riders series first. There were so many references to past events, family dynamics, and character history that I felt like I was missing key emotional context the entire time. Because of that, it was harder for me to fully connect with the characters and really understand the weight behind certain moments.

Ford was definitely my favorite of the two—I’m always a sucker for the gruff, protective, broody MMC—but Royce was a bit harder for me to connect with at times. Some of the miscommunication and emotional reactions felt a little frustrating, which made it harder for me to fully root for them as a couple.

There is chemistry between Royce and Ford, and the tension/spice was there, but I personally wanted a little more emotional depth and longing to really sell their relationship for me. The pacing was solid, and I never felt bored, but overall I just didn’t feel as invested as I wanted to.

I can definitely see longtime Stone Riders fans enjoying this more, especially with the nostalgia of revisiting this world. For me, coming in without the background knowledge made this one feel more like an okay read than a standout romance. I may still go back and read the original series because I think having that context would make a big difference. 💗

Maybe I’ll come back to it and do a reread once I read the original series. Maybe it’ll hit different.
Profile Image for Nicole Marie.
264 reviews4 followers
May 10, 2026
As someone who already loves Ashley Muñoz’s books, I went into When You Stayed with high expectations and she still managed to exceed them. Her writing always feels emotional, raw, and deeply immersive, and this story pulled me in immediately.
Rose Ridge felt heavy with secrets, tension, and danger from the very beginning. The motorcycle club backdrop added so much grit to the story, but what really kept me hooked was the relationship between the main characters. Ford Ryan was the perfect broody, emotionally guarded hero. Every interaction between him and the FMC carried years of history, hurt, and unresolved feelings that made their chemistry impossible to ignore.
One of my favorite things about Ashley Muñoz’s writing is how well she balances romance with emotional depth and suspense. The romance felt intense and believable, while the underlying mystery and club dynamics kept the story moving at the perfect pace. I constantly wanted to know more about Ford, his choices, and everything tying these characters back to the club.
This book was emotional, addictive, and atmospheric in all the best ways. Ashley Muñoz continues to prove why she’s an auto-read author for me, and I already know this story is going to stick with me for a long time.
Profile Image for Claudia.
103 reviews6 followers
May 10, 2026
What a wonderful way to kick off the new Rose Ridge generation 🥹

Being back in Rose Ridge honestly felt like coming home. Seeing all the OG characters again was like catching up with old friends and it gave me all the nostalgic feels. Ashley did such a beautiful job blending that familiar comfort from the original series while setting up this new generation.

Ford and Royce were everything. Ford has been absolutely gone for Royce since they were kids, but between miscommunication, bad timing, and teenage stupidity, these two spent years pushing each other away while pretending not to care. The tension, the history, the longing..SO good. And once they finally gave their relationship a real shot?! Sparks everywhere. They were genuinely the sweetest together and I loved watching them figure things out.

Ashley left so many little clues and breadcrumbs for what’s coming next and now I’m already desperate for the next book!! The found family vibes that made the OG series so special are still very much alive here and honestly top tier as always.

If you’ve been thinking about picking this one up, this is your sign. And if you haven’t read the original Rose Ridge series yet, please do yourself a favor and start there first. It makes coming back to this world and seeing all these characters again so much more special.

Thank you so much to Ashley Muñoz for the ARC opportunity! 💗
Profile Image for Katelynn.
1,009 reviews31 followers
May 15, 2026
Drop everything and pick up this book! If you've read the Stone Riders series, you know the magic Ashley sprinkles into her Mc romance books. This one felt somehow even more special as we see Royce and Ford fall in love and hate with each other. These two have so much history and secrets and pining that I could not put this book down even when I needed to. I craved one more paragraph even when life demanded I step away. Royce was fierce but so relatable vulnerable that I wanted to protect her. Her relationship with her family was so full of love and reminded me why Killian and Laura have been my favorite couple up to this point. Ford was a mix of his parents reminding me why this series was so magical in the first place. His protectivenes and deep ability to love shined in this book. He was an absolute treat I couldnt get enough of. I wish I could binge this entire series right now because Ashley sold me on the mysterious interwoven plot and potential character pairings I cannot stop thinking about. This is absolutely one of my favorite books of the year and I cant recommend it enough!
Profile Image for Chelsea Mansell.
376 reviews24 followers
May 7, 2026
When You Stayed by Ashley Munoz eARC review 🩷

It was so fun being back in Rose Ridge. I have missed all of these characters and this was the perfect start to a second generation series.

If you love banter and ALL the pining, this is the book for you.

Royce and Ford have some of the absolute best back and forth and you can literally feel the tension radiating off of the page.

Ford is so down bad for his best friend’s ex and this man waits for her. He waits for YEARS for her to finally realize her feelings.

After some miscommunication and a lot of assuming, the two of them get their chance. BUT Royce’s dad, my man Killian, absolutely has something to say about that. He wants his daughters to have nothing to do with the Stone Riders, but it’s in her blood and there is just no way around it.

A great plot, the best banter, amazing spice, this one was really good!

What to expect:
Small town
MC romance
Enemies to lover
Obsessed
Best friend’s girl
Secret tattoo

Thank you so much Ashley and the Smuthood for the arc!
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