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Hope #5
Make Me Stay
The fifth novel of heartwarming passion in the Hope series, from the New York Times bestselling author of the Play-By-Play. Perfect for fans of Jill Shalvis, Rachel Gibson and Bella Andre.
Reid McCormack is back in Hope to renovate the old mercantile. Then he plans to go back to Boston, where he's built a successful career. But beautiful florist Samantha Reasor is a distraction Reid hadn't counted on. Samantha intends to convince Reid that Hope is where his heart has always been, and coming home might be the best choice he could ever make.
Reid McCormack is back in Hope to renovate the old mercantile. Then he plans to go back to Boston, where he's built a successful career. But beautiful florist Samantha Reasor is a distraction Reid hadn't counted on. Samantha intends to convince Reid that Hope is where his heart has always been, and coming home might be the best choice he could ever make.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2015
208 people are currently reading
2185 people want to read
About the author
Jaci Burton
153 books8,293 followersJaci Burton is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of over 85 books. She lives in Oklahoma and when she isn’t on deadline (which is often), she can usually be found wrestling with her uncooperative garden, wrangling her dogs, watching an unhealthy amount of television, or completely losing track of time reading a great book. She’s a total romantic and longs for the happily ever after in every story, which you’ll find in all her books.. Visit her website at www.jaciburton.com for excerpts, book information and contests.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
August 20, 2016
This was cute, with some steamy interludes.
Boston architect Reid is the youngest McCormack brother, and he's temporarily back in small town Hope, Oklahoma (where his two brothers still live) to renovate the historic town mercantile. He meets pretty flower shop owner Samantha, who is very busy with her career and with looking after her elderly grandmother. The two eventually hook up, but it can't go anywhere because Reid is heading back to Boston, and Sam can't commit her heart fully if he's going to be leaving. But who says they can't have a little fun for the few months he'll be in Hope?
This has a nice small town vibe going for it, with lots of detail about the H/h's day-to-day life, and the supporting characters who they interact with. Reid is carrying some baggage about his mother's abandonment of the family when he was a young boy, and about a breakup with a past girlfriend. Sam is the owner/operator of her flower shop, plus she has to look after her increasingly confused yet fiercely independent grandma (who raised her). She and Reid develop a strong friendship that turns passionate (some really hot love scenes) but both are reluctant to admit they're falling in love and really need the other.
I felt the issue regarding Reid's mother was not explored enough (maybe in a future book?) and I wanted to know why he broke up with his ex Britt which made him reluctant to try again (did I miss something?)
Anyway, some nice moments in the book and I learned a little about flowers and architecture/renovations, and of course there were those steamy interludes....and we get to catch up with all the characters in the series so far. A solid effort. I think I'll stick with this series. 4 stars
Boston architect Reid is the youngest McCormack brother, and he's temporarily back in small town Hope, Oklahoma (where his two brothers still live) to renovate the historic town mercantile. He meets pretty flower shop owner Samantha, who is very busy with her career and with looking after her elderly grandmother. The two eventually hook up, but it can't go anywhere because Reid is heading back to Boston, and Sam can't commit her heart fully if he's going to be leaving. But who says they can't have a little fun for the few months he'll be in Hope?
This has a nice small town vibe going for it, with lots of detail about the H/h's day-to-day life, and the supporting characters who they interact with. Reid is carrying some baggage about his mother's abandonment of the family when he was a young boy, and about a breakup with a past girlfriend. Sam is the owner/operator of her flower shop, plus she has to look after her increasingly confused yet fiercely independent grandma (who raised her). She and Reid develop a strong friendship that turns passionate (some really hot love scenes) but both are reluctant to admit they're falling in love and really need the other.
I felt the issue regarding Reid's mother was not explored enough (maybe in a future book?) and I wanted to know why he broke up with his ex Britt which made him reluctant to try again (did I miss something?)
Anyway, some nice moments in the book and I learned a little about flowers and architecture/renovations, and of course there were those steamy interludes....and we get to catch up with all the characters in the series so far. A solid effort. I think I'll stick with this series. 4 stars
August 23, 2016
Originally posted on The Book Nympho
Reid McCormack returned to Hope, his hometown where his two brothers still call home. He's a highly successful architect with his own firm in Boston and he's back to take on the renovation of the town's old mercantile building. Lovely florist Samantha (Sam) Reasor, who's admired him from afar, makes his extended stay that much more interesting.
What begins as a casual relationship blossoms into something more but neither Reid or Sam are willing to step out and admit it to each other. She respects his life in Boston but wants him to stay in Hope by his own decision without pressure from her. He's uncertain of his feelings for Sam and likes his life in Boston. The issues weren't huge, just realistic for a couple who live in different states. It was never a wedge in the romance, just always in the background. I like how they related to each other and seeing their relationship shift to something deeper.
One of the reasons I love series is the opportunity to revisit characters I liked from earlier stories. This series does an outstanding job of weaving in past characters into every storyline. We get more than updates as each has a significant role in the plot. It feels like coming home.
I also enjoyed the narrator's performance as she's adept at providing character voice distinction and I like how she portrays the male characters. I liked Sam & Reid, their romance, the narration and the overall story. This is one of my favorite, sweet romance series.
(I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review)
Reid McCormack returned to Hope, his hometown where his two brothers still call home. He's a highly successful architect with his own firm in Boston and he's back to take on the renovation of the town's old mercantile building. Lovely florist Samantha (Sam) Reasor, who's admired him from afar, makes his extended stay that much more interesting.
What begins as a casual relationship blossoms into something more but neither Reid or Sam are willing to step out and admit it to each other. She respects his life in Boston but wants him to stay in Hope by his own decision without pressure from her. He's uncertain of his feelings for Sam and likes his life in Boston. The issues weren't huge, just realistic for a couple who live in different states. It was never a wedge in the romance, just always in the background. I like how they related to each other and seeing their relationship shift to something deeper.
One of the reasons I love series is the opportunity to revisit characters I liked from earlier stories. This series does an outstanding job of weaving in past characters into every storyline. We get more than updates as each has a significant role in the plot. It feels like coming home.
I also enjoyed the narrator's performance as she's adept at providing character voice distinction and I like how she portrays the male characters. I liked Sam & Reid, their romance, the narration and the overall story. This is one of my favorite, sweet romance series.
(I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review)
December 1, 2015
Jaci Burton is a name synonymous with sporting romance so I was quite surprised when I discovered this series set in the town of Hope , Oklahoma. It's a contemporary series that showcases exactly what it's like to live in a small town where everybody seems to know everybody and sometimes maybe that's a little too well! Such is the talent of this author that it's so easy to fall into this world she has created peopled with characters whose lives intertwine and share their hopes and dreams as some of them find their happy ever after!
Reid left his home town of a Hope for the bright lights of city life in Boston. A successful architect he's home temporarily to help his brothers bring new life to to the old mercantile in town. He has an easy going friendship with Sam the local florist that just kind of escalates into a warm relationship that fulfils their mutual needs. Sam has always found Reid attractive but knows his life is in Boston but there's no harm in two mature adults just kicking back and sharing good times , is there? Well maybe it's not as uncomplicated as this pair believe because the more time they spend together the more they just seem to fit! Reid isn't staying though and Sam refuses to be the one to ruin the fun but maybe not everything is set in stone. Will Reid follow his head or listen to his heart?
I really liked Sam. She is kind, loyal and very independent. Reid is the only one of his family to leave Hope and bravely make a new and very productive life for himself and I have to admire that. What's even better was seeng the love he shared with his family and how they all support each other. I really enjoyed seeing this couple in my minds eye get to know each other and it was easy to see the changes in Reid particularly as this story progressed. He isn't staying and yet is clearly falling back in love with the life he left behind and Sam only enriches his experience. Ok there's not really any action or drama here but it's a story that's warm and made me smile. There's a wee bit of emotion as we learn more about Sam's family and it was poignant to this reader as it's something very close to home. What's really had me entertained though was the bond Reid made with a dog he named Not My Dog! Very funny dialogue as he attributed his own inner monologue to the cute Not My Dog ! I can think of two bachelors in Hope who I'd love to read more about and if a sweet romance appeals to you then this story will certainly fit the bill.
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review
September 26, 2016
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1NVEvq0
Oh how I love the worlds Jaci Burton creates! Scrumptious men, lovely heroines who can hold their own, cute pets, community and some sigh-worthy heat. It's just fun diving into their lives and spending time with them. Make Me Stay? All of that in one tasty package.
The quick of it is that Reid has come back home to renovate a historical building that he and his brothers saved from demolition. It's a dream job made even sweeter by the oh so tempting florist that works next door... but it's just a temporary thing before heading back to Boston where he owns a business.
I had a great time with these two. Reid was sexy, talented (he's an architect) and a good guy all around. And Samantha? I loved her. She's sweet and talented in her own ways, a hard worker and fun to be with. She had a lot on her hands caring for her elderly grandmomther and I totally felt for her struggles. She had me tearing up a few times because I totally understood her sometimes helplessness at what life was throwing at her.
The two had an easy going chemistry. They both know there's no real future since they normally live in different states so there's not over the top romance or workings that way. They're just enjoying their time together. Getting to know each other and becoming friends. I kinda loved that. Seeing things sneak up on them. It didn't make for a WOW though, ya know? There weren't big gasping omg moments or anything that specifically blew me away. It was just an easy moving one this time. I enjoyed that though. Getting to see them together but also with their individual friends and families, at their jobs, going around town and picking up stray pups or rather being adopted by said pups.
Overall, Make Me Stay was sweet and charming. Nicely heated and full of friendship and family. And one very cute pup. Total reader-girl win.
**I do think this one would probably appeal more to those who have read at least some of the previous books. It's a complete HEA and stand alone in that regard but you do see a good deal of the past characters and the current hero/heroine interacting with them. Had I not known them and their stories I think that part probably wouldn't have done much for me.
November 24, 2015
"Heartfelt and sweet, this is a story that will no doubt enlighten and bring a smile to your face."
Read this review in its entirety at Fresh Fiction
Read this review in its entirety at Fresh Fiction
February 21, 2016
Jaci Burton's books are absolutely adorable and I always look forward to a new release in her Hope series. We finally got to see more of Reid McCormack in Love After All and I couldn't wait to see his own story in Make Me Stay.
Reid McCormack loves his life in Boston where he started his own architecture business and is accustomed to the fast paced life. Now that he's back home in Hope working on restoring a historic building, he's starting to realize what he's missing out on with his family. Sam Reasor has a busy life running her own floral shop and taking care of her grandmother, but she can't ignore the pull she has towards Reid. She knows that he's going back to Boston once his job is done Hope, but that doesn't stop them from connecting. Sam and Reid soon realize that they both have very different priorities for the future, so why doesn't that stop them from feeling things for each other that they've never felt before?
I've got to say, the most recent books of Jaci's Hope series have not impressed me. I wasn't a fan of the main character in the last book and this one fell a bit flat for me as well. I liked Sam's character enough, but I felt like there was some drama added in there that was pointless and only added for drama's sake. We all knew that Reid wasn't really going to return to Boston no matter how many times he brought up how he had to go back (which was A LOT), so this book ended up being predictable and I was just waiting for that ending point to come.
As for the romance, it was just okay. I'm not sure if I just don't remember the other books in this series as much, but this one felt like it had a lot more sex in it and the emotional side of the relationship didn't balance that out as much as I would have liked. I wasn't that invested in their relationship and found myself skimming more than caring about how the couple was going to end up together.
While I loved the beginning of this series, I have been disappointed in the last two books in the small town of Hope. The storylines have been predictable and I haven't been as connected with the main characters. I think I'll stick with this series and see what book 6 has in store when it comes out later this year, but if you're a fan of this series, don't go into Make Me Stay with too high of hopes.
Reid McCormack loves his life in Boston where he started his own architecture business and is accustomed to the fast paced life. Now that he's back home in Hope working on restoring a historic building, he's starting to realize what he's missing out on with his family. Sam Reasor has a busy life running her own floral shop and taking care of her grandmother, but she can't ignore the pull she has towards Reid. She knows that he's going back to Boston once his job is done Hope, but that doesn't stop them from connecting. Sam and Reid soon realize that they both have very different priorities for the future, so why doesn't that stop them from feeling things for each other that they've never felt before?
I've got to say, the most recent books of Jaci's Hope series have not impressed me. I wasn't a fan of the main character in the last book and this one fell a bit flat for me as well. I liked Sam's character enough, but I felt like there was some drama added in there that was pointless and only added for drama's sake. We all knew that Reid wasn't really going to return to Boston no matter how many times he brought up how he had to go back (which was A LOT), so this book ended up being predictable and I was just waiting for that ending point to come.
As for the romance, it was just okay. I'm not sure if I just don't remember the other books in this series as much, but this one felt like it had a lot more sex in it and the emotional side of the relationship didn't balance that out as much as I would have liked. I wasn't that invested in their relationship and found myself skimming more than caring about how the couple was going to end up together.
While I loved the beginning of this series, I have been disappointed in the last two books in the small town of Hope. The storylines have been predictable and I haven't been as connected with the main characters. I think I'll stick with this series and see what book 6 has in store when it comes out later this year, but if you're a fan of this series, don't go into Make Me Stay with too high of hopes.
December 7, 2015
As we arrive at book five in the Hope series, we finally get the third McCormack brother's story. I was intrigued by Reid all along because he was the brother that left Oklahoma to live and work in Boston as a well-respected architect and builder. The brothers were all affected when their mother walked away from the family, the ranch, and Oklahoma. But Reid had come back for a wedding in book four and promising to renovate one of the old, run-down buildings in Hope and catching the eye of one of the group of friends, Sam Reasor who runs the florist.
The slowly paced and gently plotted small town romance series has become one that I welcome each new release. I like this for a change of pace between my more exciting, action-packed, and dramatic reads. It's cozy, heartwarming, and can still dial up the passion in the laid back setting of a small town in Oklahoma.
The books work best in order as there are the tanglings of a group of friends and family in Hope that are very present in each new story and new plot threads begin in one book and cross into the next. But I will say that I managed to read the series just fine by skipping one of the earlier books.
As I noted, this is Reid and Sam's story. They are already known to each other, but they hesitate to do something about their attraction since Reid makes it abundantly clear that he doesn't do relationships and he isn't planning on sticking around. He's going back to carry on with his successful architectural firm in Boston. He loves his family and he likes Hope, but he really doesn't want to stay past getting the old Mercantile restored as new retail and office space to help revitalize the downtown area.
The project is one he loves and it allows him to spend time with his old friend, Deacon, along with his brothers and their wives, and other old friends. The part that makes him nervous is his attraction to Sam. But he encounters her everywhere and eventually decides to go with the attraction as long as they both know the score.
Sam loves living and working in Hope. She runs the florist shop that was her grandmother's. Sam was raised by her grandparents after her parents died and her gram is the last of her family. Unfortunately, her gram is starting to get turned around and forgetting where and when she is at. Sam loves her independence, but for once, she is glad that Reid is around. He doesn't plan on staying and he discourages any thought of deepening feelings, but he helps and listens. Sam doesn't know what to do with the feelings that are growing for Reid and it will hurt when he goes back, but for now she will go with it.
Alright, this one is a relatively simple and uncomplicated story. Bland in fact. The conflict is Reid needing to be convinced to stay where he really wants to be and Sam accepting change in her life through her gram's mind deteriorating. There are lots of fun things like the gathering together of friends and family, Reid's stray dog that becomes known as Not My Dog, local events, and Reid and Sam's attraction, but not much to really engage me with this romance.
He grabbed the dog's leash and headed for the park.
"Nice dog, Reid."
Reid nodded at Bobby Jameson, owner of the barber shop. "Thanks. It's not my dog."
"That's what I keep hearing," Bobby bent and scratched the dog's ears. "How you doing today, fella?"
The dog totally ate up the attention especially when Megan came out of the bakery and stopped to pet the dog, too.
"Hey Reid, how's Not My Dog doing today?"
Reid frowned. "Huh?"
Megan looked up at him. "Your dog. Not My Dog."
"That's not his name."
"Really. Then what is it?"
"Uh..."
"Everyone's taken to calling him Not My Dog since that's what you keep telling everyone."
p. 79 Reid, Bobby, and Megan from Make Me Stay
The characters aren't too deep nor are they mysterious either. Sam is a ‘what you see is what you get’ gal who likes to speak her mind. She clings to the need to care for her Grammy Claire because she feels she'll be alone when Claire is gone.
I had to chuckle when she decided it was her business to prod Reid about something personal in his life when they were first getting to know each other and then she gets all starched up when he calls her on it and he wasn't even more than mildly out of line the way he did it. Always a source of amusement to me when outspoken people don't tend to enjoy having it turned back around on them. Haha!
And then there is Reid. Reid is fairly well-grounded and a nice guy. He is one of those rare contented people. He has accepted the thing with his mom and happy that he still had his dad and surrogate mother, Martha, the ranch housekeeper. He was set in returning to Boston and it was because of the successful business he built up from scratch.
"Life doesn't come with guarantees, Sam. And family is what you make of it. I got lucky that I had Ben and Martha in my life. And they may not be blood family, but they're like parents to me and always have been. I have Carter and Deacon and a lot of other friends I've made over a lifetime here in Hope."... He swept his knuckles over her cheek. "Family isn't just blood relatives, Sam. It's the people who hold your heart, the people who know you better than you know yourself. You might think you're alone, but you aren't. You're well-loved, Samantha Reasor, by a lot of people in this town. You will never be alone as long as you are loved"
p.234 Reid from Make Me Stay
The romance is a slow-burn sort. First, they are both in denial, then cautious not to let it grow past friendship and temporary bed buddies, and then trouble just being honest with themselves and each other. Nothing that was more than mildly frustrating that a direct conversation would have solved. Again, had to chuckle that this was the moment Sam picked not to speak her mind when she had no trouble poking and prodding before. And Reid was hilarious the way he used Not My Dog as his sounding board and conscience. They were a nice couple and I was glad to see them get together.
The best part for me wasn't the romance so much as the overall larger picture of friends and family going about their lives in this engaging small town. Each of the previous pairs gets good page time and some future pairs have ongoing minor plot threads. I love the meet ups at Bash's bar, the barbecue at the ranch with Logan, Des, Martha, Bob, and the clan of dogs, the sightings of the rest of the gang here and there. The author makes one feel close to the people and the setting.
All in all, this was a mild story. I was moderately drawn in. The romance got hot, but again, was mildly engaging for me. It was just a nice feel-good romantic distraction. I would recommend the series to those who enjoy gently-paced small town contemporary romance.
My thanks to Penguin Group for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
The slowly paced and gently plotted small town romance series has become one that I welcome each new release. I like this for a change of pace between my more exciting, action-packed, and dramatic reads. It's cozy, heartwarming, and can still dial up the passion in the laid back setting of a small town in Oklahoma.
The books work best in order as there are the tanglings of a group of friends and family in Hope that are very present in each new story and new plot threads begin in one book and cross into the next. But I will say that I managed to read the series just fine by skipping one of the earlier books.
As I noted, this is Reid and Sam's story. They are already known to each other, but they hesitate to do something about their attraction since Reid makes it abundantly clear that he doesn't do relationships and he isn't planning on sticking around. He's going back to carry on with his successful architectural firm in Boston. He loves his family and he likes Hope, but he really doesn't want to stay past getting the old Mercantile restored as new retail and office space to help revitalize the downtown area.
The project is one he loves and it allows him to spend time with his old friend, Deacon, along with his brothers and their wives, and other old friends. The part that makes him nervous is his attraction to Sam. But he encounters her everywhere and eventually decides to go with the attraction as long as they both know the score.
Sam loves living and working in Hope. She runs the florist shop that was her grandmother's. Sam was raised by her grandparents after her parents died and her gram is the last of her family. Unfortunately, her gram is starting to get turned around and forgetting where and when she is at. Sam loves her independence, but for once, she is glad that Reid is around. He doesn't plan on staying and he discourages any thought of deepening feelings, but he helps and listens. Sam doesn't know what to do with the feelings that are growing for Reid and it will hurt when he goes back, but for now she will go with it.
Alright, this one is a relatively simple and uncomplicated story. Bland in fact. The conflict is Reid needing to be convinced to stay where he really wants to be and Sam accepting change in her life through her gram's mind deteriorating. There are lots of fun things like the gathering together of friends and family, Reid's stray dog that becomes known as Not My Dog, local events, and Reid and Sam's attraction, but not much to really engage me with this romance.
He grabbed the dog's leash and headed for the park.
"Nice dog, Reid."
Reid nodded at Bobby Jameson, owner of the barber shop. "Thanks. It's not my dog."
"That's what I keep hearing," Bobby bent and scratched the dog's ears. "How you doing today, fella?"
The dog totally ate up the attention especially when Megan came out of the bakery and stopped to pet the dog, too.
"Hey Reid, how's Not My Dog doing today?"
Reid frowned. "Huh?"
Megan looked up at him. "Your dog. Not My Dog."
"That's not his name."
"Really. Then what is it?"
"Uh..."
"Everyone's taken to calling him Not My Dog since that's what you keep telling everyone."
p. 79 Reid, Bobby, and Megan from Make Me Stay
The characters aren't too deep nor are they mysterious either. Sam is a ‘what you see is what you get’ gal who likes to speak her mind. She clings to the need to care for her Grammy Claire because she feels she'll be alone when Claire is gone.
I had to chuckle when she decided it was her business to prod Reid about something personal in his life when they were first getting to know each other and then she gets all starched up when he calls her on it and he wasn't even more than mildly out of line the way he did it. Always a source of amusement to me when outspoken people don't tend to enjoy having it turned back around on them. Haha!
And then there is Reid. Reid is fairly well-grounded and a nice guy. He is one of those rare contented people. He has accepted the thing with his mom and happy that he still had his dad and surrogate mother, Martha, the ranch housekeeper. He was set in returning to Boston and it was because of the successful business he built up from scratch.
"Life doesn't come with guarantees, Sam. And family is what you make of it. I got lucky that I had Ben and Martha in my life. And they may not be blood family, but they're like parents to me and always have been. I have Carter and Deacon and a lot of other friends I've made over a lifetime here in Hope."... He swept his knuckles over her cheek. "Family isn't just blood relatives, Sam. It's the people who hold your heart, the people who know you better than you know yourself. You might think you're alone, but you aren't. You're well-loved, Samantha Reasor, by a lot of people in this town. You will never be alone as long as you are loved"
p.234 Reid from Make Me Stay
The romance is a slow-burn sort. First, they are both in denial, then cautious not to let it grow past friendship and temporary bed buddies, and then trouble just being honest with themselves and each other. Nothing that was more than mildly frustrating that a direct conversation would have solved. Again, had to chuckle that this was the moment Sam picked not to speak her mind when she had no trouble poking and prodding before. And Reid was hilarious the way he used Not My Dog as his sounding board and conscience. They were a nice couple and I was glad to see them get together.
The best part for me wasn't the romance so much as the overall larger picture of friends and family going about their lives in this engaging small town. Each of the previous pairs gets good page time and some future pairs have ongoing minor plot threads. I love the meet ups at Bash's bar, the barbecue at the ranch with Logan, Des, Martha, Bob, and the clan of dogs, the sightings of the rest of the gang here and there. The author makes one feel close to the people and the setting.
All in all, this was a mild story. I was moderately drawn in. The romance got hot, but again, was mildly engaging for me. It was just a nice feel-good romantic distraction. I would recommend the series to those who enjoy gently-paced small town contemporary romance.
My thanks to Penguin Group for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2015
Sweet, small town romance…
This is the fifth book in the Hope series and Reid McCormack and Sam Reasor have their opportunity at love. Back to Hope temporarily, Reid is not planning to stay in his hometown long, so isn’t looking for anything long-term. Sam, on the other hand, is attracted to Reid but is looking for a relationship like her grandparents had—something solid and real. As part of a group of family and friends, and brought together over a shared interest in Reid’s restoration project, they would get a chance to explore the possibilities…
I really enjoyed this warm, low-key romance filled with humor and heart-tugging emotion. Reid is successful and oh, so sexy so it’s not hard to see why Sam is attracted to him. Not at all! I’m not entirely sure why he is determined to go back to the big city when so many of the things he loves—including his family—are here but Reid makes that very clear. Sam, on the other hand, is happy where she is, growing her business and ensuring her grandmother is looked after. So many reasons that love won’t work between them… but maybe just grasping at straws or railing against the inevitable?
“The man even did dishes. Clearly there had to be something unlikable about him. Maybe he had weird chest hair or something…”
They both protest but things are heating up with each polished, seductive come hither line…
“Why not? You’re clearly bored with TV, and unless you have to be in bed by nine p.m., there’s not much else to do. I’m game if you are.”
Both successful professionals and confident in their lives, when it comes to love they are as uncertain and hesitant as they come. While no uber highs and lows, this story is a steady, “no fake drama here” tale of love and family that left me relishing a sweet happy ever after… ~ Diane, 4 stars
This is the fifth book in the Hope series and Reid McCormack and Sam Reasor have their opportunity at love. Back to Hope temporarily, Reid is not planning to stay in his hometown long, so isn’t looking for anything long-term. Sam, on the other hand, is attracted to Reid but is looking for a relationship like her grandparents had—something solid and real. As part of a group of family and friends, and brought together over a shared interest in Reid’s restoration project, they would get a chance to explore the possibilities…
I really enjoyed this warm, low-key romance filled with humor and heart-tugging emotion. Reid is successful and oh, so sexy so it’s not hard to see why Sam is attracted to him. Not at all! I’m not entirely sure why he is determined to go back to the big city when so many of the things he loves—including his family—are here but Reid makes that very clear. Sam, on the other hand, is happy where she is, growing her business and ensuring her grandmother is looked after. So many reasons that love won’t work between them… but maybe just grasping at straws or railing against the inevitable?
“The man even did dishes. Clearly there had to be something unlikable about him. Maybe he had weird chest hair or something…”
They both protest but things are heating up with each polished, seductive come hither line…
“Why not? You’re clearly bored with TV, and unless you have to be in bed by nine p.m., there’s not much else to do. I’m game if you are.”
Both successful professionals and confident in their lives, when it comes to love they are as uncertain and hesitant as they come. While no uber highs and lows, this story is a steady, “no fake drama here” tale of love and family that left me relishing a sweet happy ever after… ~ Diane, 4 stars
December 9, 2015
Cheyenne's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
It’s been a while since I have read a Jaci Burton book, and I had forgotten that why I had enjoyed them so much. Make Me Stay has what I have come to know as a “Jaci Burton” book. It is sweet, has characters that you can’t help but love, and leaves a smile on your face when you are done at the end.
With Ms. Burton living in Oklahoma she knows how the small towns really are like there. I lived there for four years and while I have spent my fair share of time in the south due to my family, Oklahoma is different than most southern/western states. Make Me Stay reminded me of all the things I loved while living there and has made me want to make a trip back for a visit, and trust me I never thought that would be the case. Then again like Reid, sometimes it takes going back to really open your eyes to what you left and makes you want to stay especially when you find the right person to stay with. For Reid that person was Sam and add in a dog that you swear isn’t your dog and it makes it even better.
For true fans of Ms. Burton’s works I think they will once again see why even if it is a long time that you have read a book of hers, that you continue to come back time after time, because she reminds us what a real romance and happiness is about.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
It’s been a while since I have read a Jaci Burton book, and I had forgotten that why I had enjoyed them so much. Make Me Stay has what I have come to know as a “Jaci Burton” book. It is sweet, has characters that you can’t help but love, and leaves a smile on your face when you are done at the end.
With Ms. Burton living in Oklahoma she knows how the small towns really are like there. I lived there for four years and while I have spent my fair share of time in the south due to my family, Oklahoma is different than most southern/western states. Make Me Stay reminded me of all the things I loved while living there and has made me want to make a trip back for a visit, and trust me I never thought that would be the case. Then again like Reid, sometimes it takes going back to really open your eyes to what you left and makes you want to stay especially when you find the right person to stay with. For Reid that person was Sam and add in a dog that you swear isn’t your dog and it makes it even better.
For true fans of Ms. Burton’s works I think they will once again see why even if it is a long time that you have read a book of hers, that you continue to come back time after time, because she reminds us what a real romance and happiness is about.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
December 6, 2015
Couldn't finish this... super boring. I think this is the first book I've ever given up on. I've read a lot of other books by Jaci Burton and liked them. But not this one. Didn't care about the main characters and too much talk of renovations.
January 16, 2016
The thing is... the story was fun and cute, but all the dialogues were soooo awkward and kind of robotic that i was never able to really like the book. Boo :(
May 2, 2016
Find this review and more at Ramblings From This Chick
Make Me Stay is the fifth book in the Hope series by Jaci Burton. While I have been a huge fan of Jaci for years now, I haven't read any of this series before. I love her books though, so I was really looking forward to this story. While it did have plenty of sweet moments, this wasn't my favorite book of hers. I liked the characters well enough, but I just felt like some of the heat was missing here and it didn't captivate me the way her books usually do. I wasn't sucked in right away and I kept putting it down and walking away.
Reid McCormack left his hometown of Hope years ago for Boston, but when he returns for his brother's wedding he finds a reason to stick around a little longer. As a successful architect, Reid is looking forward to renovating the old town mercantile. But he knows that once the project is done, he will return home to Boston which is why he shouldn't start anything with Samantha Reasor. Sam is looking for love and is ready to settle down, and as much as she is drawn to Reid she knows that he isn't what she needs. But while Reid is in town, she figures that they can become friends and possibly even have a fling. As Reid and Sam get to know one another and grow closer, they find themselves feeling far more than they planned on.
I liked both Reid and Sam. Reid was sweet and sexy, and just an all around good guy. Sam was smart and kind, and really easy to root for. While these two did have friendship and chemistry, their relationship was definitely a slow burn. They took their time to get to know one another, and while that was enjoyable there were times that I wanted more. I didn't think that their story packed the same punch as some of Jaci's other books. It was great to see them get to know one another though, and I did find their relationship and the connection they shared to be believable.
Part of my problem here though was one I have had with the last few books of Jaci's that I have read. While I love a series and getting to see familiar faces, I feel like lately she puts too much emphasis on past characters. They already had their books, and while it is enjoyable to catch up with them, they should not play such a huge part that their role in someone else's story becomes almost as big as the main characters. Even if I had read the previous books in this series, I really think that I wouldn't have enjoyed just how much the others were focused on here. I wish that more of the focus had been on Reid and Sam as I think that was a lot of what I was missing here. While I do think that this is a good book, it wasn't as great as I had been hoping for. As likable as the characters were, I just wasn't fully invested in their story and that had me losing interest from time to time. I still think that Jaci Burton is a great writer and this is worth the read. Fans of the series will enjoy this one, and I know I will read more from Jaci Burton in the future. I just hope that she focuses more on the main couple in her future books than she has in recent books as I feel like their connections are getting lost in the details and HEAs of other characters where they should be shining in their own stories.
**ARC Provided by Publisher**
Make Me Stay is the fifth book in the Hope series by Jaci Burton. While I have been a huge fan of Jaci for years now, I haven't read any of this series before. I love her books though, so I was really looking forward to this story. While it did have plenty of sweet moments, this wasn't my favorite book of hers. I liked the characters well enough, but I just felt like some of the heat was missing here and it didn't captivate me the way her books usually do. I wasn't sucked in right away and I kept putting it down and walking away.
Reid McCormack left his hometown of Hope years ago for Boston, but when he returns for his brother's wedding he finds a reason to stick around a little longer. As a successful architect, Reid is looking forward to renovating the old town mercantile. But he knows that once the project is done, he will return home to Boston which is why he shouldn't start anything with Samantha Reasor. Sam is looking for love and is ready to settle down, and as much as she is drawn to Reid she knows that he isn't what she needs. But while Reid is in town, she figures that they can become friends and possibly even have a fling. As Reid and Sam get to know one another and grow closer, they find themselves feeling far more than they planned on.
I liked both Reid and Sam. Reid was sweet and sexy, and just an all around good guy. Sam was smart and kind, and really easy to root for. While these two did have friendship and chemistry, their relationship was definitely a slow burn. They took their time to get to know one another, and while that was enjoyable there were times that I wanted more. I didn't think that their story packed the same punch as some of Jaci's other books. It was great to see them get to know one another though, and I did find their relationship and the connection they shared to be believable.
Part of my problem here though was one I have had with the last few books of Jaci's that I have read. While I love a series and getting to see familiar faces, I feel like lately she puts too much emphasis on past characters. They already had their books, and while it is enjoyable to catch up with them, they should not play such a huge part that their role in someone else's story becomes almost as big as the main characters. Even if I had read the previous books in this series, I really think that I wouldn't have enjoyed just how much the others were focused on here. I wish that more of the focus had been on Reid and Sam as I think that was a lot of what I was missing here. While I do think that this is a good book, it wasn't as great as I had been hoping for. As likable as the characters were, I just wasn't fully invested in their story and that had me losing interest from time to time. I still think that Jaci Burton is a great writer and this is worth the read. Fans of the series will enjoy this one, and I know I will read more from Jaci Burton in the future. I just hope that she focuses more on the main couple in her future books than she has in recent books as I feel like their connections are getting lost in the details and HEAs of other characters where they should be shining in their own stories.
**ARC Provided by Publisher**
December 11, 2015
Reid's come back into town to renovate an old historic building in his hometown. He doesn't plan to stay longer than the renovation process. However, his plans quickly change when a stray dog claims him as his owner and he starts to spend time with Samantha. Pretty soon he finds himself thinking about the what-ifs.
This is a sweet romance that has to do with a tight knit group of people. Everyone from the previous books played a rather significant role in this novel. I should probably point out that I only read the second book in the series which was about Reid's brother Logan. So with that being said, you don't have to read all the previous books, but I feel like I would have had more of a connection to these characters if I did. Especially since all the guys are friends and all the girls were friends. Make's me think that these two popped up a lot in the previous installments. Regardless, this was still an enjoyable read.
These two characters were great. They're both independent, have successful businesses, are loyal to their family and friends, and don't beat around the bush when it comes to things they want. There wasn't a whole heck of a lot of angst in this story because whatever Sam and Logan wanted from each other, they voiced it. I found that aspect to be very refreshing. Nothing bothers me more than two people who don't know how to communicate what they want.
Now I'm sure some people will go on and on about how swoon worthy Reid is. I'm not going to be one of them. I felt like he was a bit too scripted at times. The character that stole the show for me was Reid's dog, Not My Dog. I loved that dog! He got his unique name because people would comment on Reid's new pal and he would immediately go on the defensive and say, "He's not my dog". Thus, the dog was named by the community of Hope as "Not My Dog"... or Notty if you're in the know. This pup followed Reid around and essentially bullied and cemented his way into Reid's life. He made sure he was always beside Reid on any adventure and he even hung out at the building Reid was renovating. Not to mention that Reid had full blown conversations with Notty where he imagined what the dog would say in return. Yeah, that dog was awesome!
Okay, enough about the dog. Can you tell that I'm an animal person? Ha! Anyways, if you are looking for a sweet romance set in a small town where everyone knows your name, then look no further than Jaci Burton's Hope series.
Favorite part...
Reid and his brothers were pretty funny. They were always ribbing on each other there were definitely times where I cracked a smile at their brotherly ways.
"Where the hell are you going to get a date?" Logan asked.
He'd known it was coming. "I know people. Women people."
"So you're gonna call one of our cousins?"
Reid glared at Logan. "No. I'm not going to call one of the cousins. I'm going to call a woman who isn't related to us. Because I know women."
This is a sweet romance that has to do with a tight knit group of people. Everyone from the previous books played a rather significant role in this novel. I should probably point out that I only read the second book in the series which was about Reid's brother Logan. So with that being said, you don't have to read all the previous books, but I feel like I would have had more of a connection to these characters if I did. Especially since all the guys are friends and all the girls were friends. Make's me think that these two popped up a lot in the previous installments. Regardless, this was still an enjoyable read.
These two characters were great. They're both independent, have successful businesses, are loyal to their family and friends, and don't beat around the bush when it comes to things they want. There wasn't a whole heck of a lot of angst in this story because whatever Sam and Logan wanted from each other, they voiced it. I found that aspect to be very refreshing. Nothing bothers me more than two people who don't know how to communicate what they want.
Now I'm sure some people will go on and on about how swoon worthy Reid is. I'm not going to be one of them. I felt like he was a bit too scripted at times. The character that stole the show for me was Reid's dog, Not My Dog. I loved that dog! He got his unique name because people would comment on Reid's new pal and he would immediately go on the defensive and say, "He's not my dog". Thus, the dog was named by the community of Hope as "Not My Dog"... or Notty if you're in the know. This pup followed Reid around and essentially bullied and cemented his way into Reid's life. He made sure he was always beside Reid on any adventure and he even hung out at the building Reid was renovating. Not to mention that Reid had full blown conversations with Notty where he imagined what the dog would say in return. Yeah, that dog was awesome!
Okay, enough about the dog. Can you tell that I'm an animal person? Ha! Anyways, if you are looking for a sweet romance set in a small town where everyone knows your name, then look no further than Jaci Burton's Hope series.
Favorite part...
Reid and his brothers were pretty funny. They were always ribbing on each other there were definitely times where I cracked a smile at their brotherly ways.
"Where the hell are you going to get a date?" Logan asked.
He'd known it was coming. "I know people. Women people."
"So you're gonna call one of our cousins?"
Reid glared at Logan. "No. I'm not going to call one of the cousins. I'm going to call a woman who isn't related to us. Because I know women."
December 11, 2015
The Hope Series just gets better and better with each book. I have been waiting for Reid's book for a while and I absolutely loved it!
Reid McCormack has come home to Hope to help his brothers in reviving the old mercantile - bringing it back to its glory days and hopefully help to revitalize the small town near Tulsa. His life is in Boston now, where he runs a successful architectural firm. He's hoping to be in and out of town within a couple of months, but is ready to take on a historical project and something different than his modern designs he works with daily.
The only thing he didn't expect was to have all these fond memories hit him, making him see that his life in Boston really isn't what he thought it was cracked up to be.
Samantha Reasor is the town florist and she has always loved the old mercantile. So when Reid invites her to come and check out the old building, there was no way she could turn him down. She's always kinda had a thing for Reid, I mean who wouldn't like to look at the handsome man. As the two start to become friends that leads to a little more, Samantha has to remind herself that Reid is only here temporarily, even though things seem to be going to a new level between the two.
Sam wants more than anything for Reid to stay in Hope, but with her own set of problems, who he ever consider staying just because of her.
Stay with Me was sexy fun and we get plenty of drop ins from our other favorite couples in Hope. Another hit for the Hope Series and can't wait for the next book to hit the shelves.
Reid McCormack has come home to Hope to help his brothers in reviving the old mercantile - bringing it back to its glory days and hopefully help to revitalize the small town near Tulsa. His life is in Boston now, where he runs a successful architectural firm. He's hoping to be in and out of town within a couple of months, but is ready to take on a historical project and something different than his modern designs he works with daily.
The only thing he didn't expect was to have all these fond memories hit him, making him see that his life in Boston really isn't what he thought it was cracked up to be.
Samantha Reasor is the town florist and she has always loved the old mercantile. So when Reid invites her to come and check out the old building, there was no way she could turn him down. She's always kinda had a thing for Reid, I mean who wouldn't like to look at the handsome man. As the two start to become friends that leads to a little more, Samantha has to remind herself that Reid is only here temporarily, even though things seem to be going to a new level between the two.
Sam wants more than anything for Reid to stay in Hope, but with her own set of problems, who he ever consider staying just because of her.
Stay with Me was sexy fun and we get plenty of drop ins from our other favorite couples in Hope. Another hit for the Hope Series and can't wait for the next book to hit the shelves.
January 17, 2016
I love this series about the small town of Hope Oklahoma and the family and friends that live there. With each book I feel like I am catching up with old friends as well as meeting new ones. This book is an easy, low on angst read that made me happy reading it. We get a glimpse of who will be featured in future books, and I look forward to them. 4 stars.
May 22, 2017
I loved watching Sam and Reid fall in love. Just when I think the last book in the series is my favorite, I listen to another book. I'm now almost completely caught up on the series and can't wait to listen to the next book in the series as soon as it is available from my library.
not-interested
June 18, 2018The blurb again: another character comes back to the home town determined to leave again as soon as they’re done with whatever he came back for.
😒😏
😒😏
December 4, 2015
Originally published at The Book Pushers
I picked up Make Me Stay because I’ve read Burton’s entire Hope series so far, and reviewed all of them here at The Book Pushers. (Start with Hope Flames). I’m obviously hooked, although I’m not totally sure why. I think I just like these people.
Hope, Oklahoma is a small town, not too far from Tulsa, that is growing and changing. But the core of the town is the people who grew up there, including the McCormack boys, Luke, Logan and Reid, and the friends they made when they all went to high school together.
In addition to the McCormacks, we’ve also seen a couple of their best friends finally get their own happily ever afters, but Make Me Stay is Reid McCormack’s story. The title makes things obvious from the beginning. Reid left Hope for college, and has stayed away ever since, building a business and making a career as an architect and contractor just about as far from Hope as he could get. Reid’s life is in Boston now.
But he’s back in Hope for the moment, because he and his brothers have bought the old Mercantile Building in downtown Hope. The plan is for Reid to do the architectural plans, and then help his friend and fellow contractor Deacon Fox with the teardown and rehab. They are trying to return the old Mercantile to the look of its glory days, so it can be the centerpiece of downtown again, only this time with retail on the first floor and beautiful offices on the second and third. It’s going to be a showpiece.
And Reid is enjoying being back home more than he thought. The project, with all its frustrations, is every bit the fantastic experience he thought it would be, but being home is much sweeter than he expected.
Hope has grown since he left, and every time he turns around someone is asking Reid to draw up plans for a remodeling job or a business expansion. Unlike the way things were a dozen years ago, now there is plenty of work in Hope if Reid wants to come back.
In addition to all the work and all the joy of being home, Reid has found a woman he might want to spend the rest of his life with. Only if he can manage to admit it to himself. And especially only is Samantha Reasor can let herself rely on someone to help her carry the burdens that she has always expected to shoulder alone.
Sam starts a relationship with Reid expecting a fling while he works on the Mercantile, expecting him to return to Boston at the end of the job. A fling is all that she has time or energy for, as her beloved Grammy Claire starts having episodes of memory loss, and Sam fears the worst. She knows she’s going to lose the only family she has left, and lose her in pieces as Alzheimer’s takes away the woman who raised her.
Sam is afraid to lean on Reid, even though he keeps being there for her as the crisis deepens. Sam hasn’t had anyone except Grammy Claire to rely on since her parents died when she was a child. She is rightfully worried about leaning on someone who has always been upfront about his plan to be gone.
And she won’t ask him to stay. Sam doesn’t think it’s fair to drag Reid any further into her mess. But Reid is looking for a reason to change his plans. He’s already changed his mind. And his heart.
Make Me Stay is kind of a quiet love story. There’s no big crisis between Reid and Sam, just a lot of little stutter-steps as the two of them work their way from friends-with-benefits to lovers to partners. They both have histories of losing people they rely on, and they are both afraid to trust. But it all makes sense for them and their relationship.
I particularly liked that Sam was independent. She doesn’t see Reid as a rescue, and she doesn’t need to be rescued. She needs someone to support her so that she can continue to stand strong. And she’s right to be worried about him leaving, he’s always said that he would. There’s no lie, there’s no misunderstandammit, there’s just two adults who have a lot to work out.
Sam’s situation with Grammy Claire is heartbreaking, and is going to continue to be. This part of the story does not have a happy ending. And even though Grammy Claire is mostly all right at the end of this book, I’m certain that as the series progresses there will be more bad days to come. And it feels real.
All of the books in this series have featured animals in one way or another, and my favorite character in this book is the dog that adopts Reid. Reid keeps telling people that he’s “not my dog” whenever they ask, so of course the dog’s name eventually becomes “Not My Dog”. Which is an infinitely better name than “No No Bad Dog” as so many get. While Not My Dog is a sweetie, it’s the way that Reid’s attitude toward the dog evolves that we see his heart turn towards home.
I give Make Me Stay a B+
I picked up Make Me Stay because I’ve read Burton’s entire Hope series so far, and reviewed all of them here at The Book Pushers. (Start with Hope Flames). I’m obviously hooked, although I’m not totally sure why. I think I just like these people.
Hope, Oklahoma is a small town, not too far from Tulsa, that is growing and changing. But the core of the town is the people who grew up there, including the McCormack boys, Luke, Logan and Reid, and the friends they made when they all went to high school together.
In addition to the McCormacks, we’ve also seen a couple of their best friends finally get their own happily ever afters, but Make Me Stay is Reid McCormack’s story. The title makes things obvious from the beginning. Reid left Hope for college, and has stayed away ever since, building a business and making a career as an architect and contractor just about as far from Hope as he could get. Reid’s life is in Boston now.
But he’s back in Hope for the moment, because he and his brothers have bought the old Mercantile Building in downtown Hope. The plan is for Reid to do the architectural plans, and then help his friend and fellow contractor Deacon Fox with the teardown and rehab. They are trying to return the old Mercantile to the look of its glory days, so it can be the centerpiece of downtown again, only this time with retail on the first floor and beautiful offices on the second and third. It’s going to be a showpiece.
And Reid is enjoying being back home more than he thought. The project, with all its frustrations, is every bit the fantastic experience he thought it would be, but being home is much sweeter than he expected.
Hope has grown since he left, and every time he turns around someone is asking Reid to draw up plans for a remodeling job or a business expansion. Unlike the way things were a dozen years ago, now there is plenty of work in Hope if Reid wants to come back.
In addition to all the work and all the joy of being home, Reid has found a woman he might want to spend the rest of his life with. Only if he can manage to admit it to himself. And especially only is Samantha Reasor can let herself rely on someone to help her carry the burdens that she has always expected to shoulder alone.
Sam starts a relationship with Reid expecting a fling while he works on the Mercantile, expecting him to return to Boston at the end of the job. A fling is all that she has time or energy for, as her beloved Grammy Claire starts having episodes of memory loss, and Sam fears the worst. She knows she’s going to lose the only family she has left, and lose her in pieces as Alzheimer’s takes away the woman who raised her.
Sam is afraid to lean on Reid, even though he keeps being there for her as the crisis deepens. Sam hasn’t had anyone except Grammy Claire to rely on since her parents died when she was a child. She is rightfully worried about leaning on someone who has always been upfront about his plan to be gone.
And she won’t ask him to stay. Sam doesn’t think it’s fair to drag Reid any further into her mess. But Reid is looking for a reason to change his plans. He’s already changed his mind. And his heart.
Make Me Stay is kind of a quiet love story. There’s no big crisis between Reid and Sam, just a lot of little stutter-steps as the two of them work their way from friends-with-benefits to lovers to partners. They both have histories of losing people they rely on, and they are both afraid to trust. But it all makes sense for them and their relationship.
I particularly liked that Sam was independent. She doesn’t see Reid as a rescue, and she doesn’t need to be rescued. She needs someone to support her so that she can continue to stand strong. And she’s right to be worried about him leaving, he’s always said that he would. There’s no lie, there’s no misunderstandammit, there’s just two adults who have a lot to work out.
Sam’s situation with Grammy Claire is heartbreaking, and is going to continue to be. This part of the story does not have a happy ending. And even though Grammy Claire is mostly all right at the end of this book, I’m certain that as the series progresses there will be more bad days to come. And it feels real.
All of the books in this series have featured animals in one way or another, and my favorite character in this book is the dog that adopts Reid. Reid keeps telling people that he’s “not my dog” whenever they ask, so of course the dog’s name eventually becomes “Not My Dog”. Which is an infinitely better name than “No No Bad Dog” as so many get. While Not My Dog is a sweetie, it’s the way that Reid’s attitude toward the dog evolves that we see his heart turn towards home.
I give Make Me Stay a B+
January 28, 2017
THIS SUMMARY/REVIEW WAS COPIED FROM OTHER SOURCES AND IS USED ONLY AS A REMINDER OF WHAT THE BOOK WAS ABOUT FOR MY PERSONAL INTEREST. ANY PERSONAL NOTATIONS ARE FOR MY RECOLLECTION ONLY
Reid McCormack returned to Hope, his hometown where his two brothers still call home. He's a highly successful architect with his own firm in Boston and he's back to take on the renovation of the town's old mercantile building. Lovely florist Samantha (Sam) Reasor, who's admired him from afar, makes his extended stay that much more interesting.
What begins as a casual relationship blossoms into something more but neither Reid or Sam are willing to step out and admit it to each other. She respects his life in Boston but wants him to stay in Hope by his own decision without pressure from her. He's uncertain of his feelings for Sam and likes his life in Boston. The issues weren't huge, just realistic for a couple who live in different states. It was never a wedge in the romance, just always in the background. I like how they related to each other and seeing their relationship shift to something deeper.
***
Reid left his home town of a Hope for the bright lights of city life in Boston. A successful architect he's home temporarily to help his brothers bring new life to to the old mercantile in town. He has an easy going friendship with Sam the local florist that just kind of escalates into a warm relationship that fulfils their mutual needs. Sam has always found Reid attractive but knows his life is in Boston but there's no harm in two mature adults just kicking back and sharing good times , is there? Well maybe it's not as uncomplicated as this pair believe because the more time they spend together the more they just seem to fit! Reid isn't staying though and Sam refuses to be the one to ruin the fun but maybe not everything is set in stone. Will Reid follow his head or listen to his heart?
I really liked Sam. She is kind, loyal and very independent. Reid is the only one of his family to leave Hope and bravely make a new and very productive life for himself and I have to admire that. What's even better was seeng the love he shared with his family and how they all support each other. I really enjoyed seeing this couple in my minds eye get to know each other and it was easy to see the changes in Reid particularly as this story progressed. He isn't staying and yet is clearly falling back in love with the life he left behind and Sam only enriches his experience. Ok there's not really any action or drama here but it's a story that's warm and made me smile. There's a wee bit of emotion as we learn more about Sam's family and it was poignant to this reader as it's something very close to home. What's really had me entertained though was the bond Reid made with a dog he named Not My Dog! Very funny dialogue as he attributed his own inner monologue to the cute Not My Dog !
***
As we arrive at book five in the Hope series, we finally get the third McCormack brother's story. I was intrigued by Reid all along because he was the brother that left Oklahoma to live and work in Boston as a well-respected architect and builder. The brothers were all affected when their mother walked away from the family, the ranch, and Oklahoma. But Reid had come back for a wedding in book four and promising to renovate one of the old, run-down buildings in Hope and catching the eye of one of the group of friends, Sam Reasor who runs the florist.
The slowly paced and gently plotted small town romance series has become one that I welcome each new release. I like this for a change of pace between my more exciting, action-packed, and dramatic reads. It's cozy, heartwarming, and can still dial up the passion in the laid back setting of a small town in Oklahoma.
The books work best in order as there are the tanglings of a group of friends and family in Hope that are very present in each new story and new plot threads begin in one book and cross into the next. But I will say that I managed to read the series just fine by skipping one of the earlier books.
As I noted, this is Reid and Sam's story. They are already known to each other, but they hesitate to do something about their attraction since Reid makes it abundantly clear that he doesn't do relationships and he isn't planning on sticking around. He's going back to carry on with his successful architectural firm in Boston. He loves his family and he likes Hope, but he really doesn't want to stay past getting the old Mercantile restored as new retail and office space to help revitalize the downtown area.
The project is one he loves and it allows him to spend time with his old friend, Deacon, along with his brothers and their wives, and other old friends. The part that makes him nervous is his attraction to Sam. But he encounters her everywhere and eventually decides to go with the attraction as long as they both know the score.
Sam loves living and working in Hope. She runs the florist shop that was her grandmother's. Sam was raised by her grandparents after her parents died and her gram is the last of her family. Unfortunately, her gram is starting to get turned around and forgetting where and when she is at. Sam loves her independence, but for once, she is glad that Reid is around. He doesn't plan on staying and he discourages any thought of deepening feelings, but he helps and listens. Sam doesn't know what to do with the feelings that are growing for Reid and it will hurt when he goes back, but for now she will go with it.
Alright, this one is a relatively simple and uncomplicated story. Bland in fact. The conflict is Reid needing to be convinced to stay where he really wants to be and Sam accepting change in her life through her gram's mind deteriorating. There are lots of fun things like the gathering together of friends and family, Reid's stray dog that becomes known as Not My Dog, local events, and Reid and Sam's attraction, but not much to really engage me with this romance.
He grabbed the dog's leash and headed for the park.
"Nice dog, Reid."
Reid nodded at Bobby Jameson, owner of the barber shop. "Thanks. It's not my dog."
"That's what I keep hearing," Bobby bent and scratched the dog's ears. "How you doing today, fella?"
The dog totally ate up the attention especially when Megan came out of the bakery and stopped to pet the dog, too.
"Hey Reid, how's Not My Dog doing today?"
Reid frowned. "Huh?"
Megan looked up at him. "Your dog. Not My Dog."
"That's not his name."
"Really. Then what is it?"
"Uh..."
"Everyone's taken to calling him Not My Dog since that's what you keep telling everyone."
p. 79 Reid, Bobby, and Megan from Make Me Stay
The characters aren't too deep nor are they mysterious either. Sam is a ‘what you see is what you get’ gal who likes to speak her mind. She clings to the need to care for her Grammy Claire because she feels she'll be alone when Claire is gone.
I had to chuckle when she decided it was her business to prod Reid about something personal in his life when they were first getting to know each other and then she gets all starched up when he calls her on it and he wasn't even more than mildly out of line the way he did it. Always a source of amusement to me when outspoken people don't tend to enjoy having it turned back around on them. Haha!
And then there is Reid. Reid is fairly well-grounded and a nice guy. He is one of those rare contented people. He has accepted the thing with his mom and happy that he still had his dad and surrogate mother, Martha, the ranch housekeeper. He was set in returning to Boston and it was because of the successful business he built up from scratch.
"Life doesn't come with guarantees, Sam. And family is what you make of it. I got lucky that I had Ben and Martha in my life. And they may not be blood family, but they're like parents to me and always have been. I have Carter and Deacon and a lot of other friends I've made over a lifetime here in Hope."... He swept his knuckles over her cheek. "Family isn't just blood relatives, Sam. It's the people who hold your heart, the people who know you better than you know yourself. You might think you're alone, but you aren't. You're well-loved, Samantha Reasor, by a lot of people in this town. You will never be alone as long as you are loved"
p.234 Reid from Make Me Stay
The romance is a slow-burn sort. First, they are both in denial, then cautious not to let it grow past friendship and temporary bed buddies, and then trouble just being honest with themselves and each other. Nothing that was more than mildly frustrating that a direct conversation would have solved. Again, had to chuckle that this was the moment Sam picked not to speak her mind when she had no trouble poking and prodding before. And Reid was hilarious the way he used Not My Dog as his sounding board and conscience. They were a nice couple and I was glad to see them get together.
The best part for me wasn't the romance so much as the overall larger picture of friends and family going about their lives in this engaging small town. Each of the previous pairs gets good page time and some future pairs have ongoing minor plot threads. I love the meet ups at Bash's bar, the barbecue at the ranch with Logan, Des, Martha, Bob, and the clan of dogs, the sightings of the rest of the gang here and there. The author makes one feel close to the people and the setting.
Reid McCormack returned to Hope, his hometown where his two brothers still call home. He's a highly successful architect with his own firm in Boston and he's back to take on the renovation of the town's old mercantile building. Lovely florist Samantha (Sam) Reasor, who's admired him from afar, makes his extended stay that much more interesting.
What begins as a casual relationship blossoms into something more but neither Reid or Sam are willing to step out and admit it to each other. She respects his life in Boston but wants him to stay in Hope by his own decision without pressure from her. He's uncertain of his feelings for Sam and likes his life in Boston. The issues weren't huge, just realistic for a couple who live in different states. It was never a wedge in the romance, just always in the background. I like how they related to each other and seeing their relationship shift to something deeper.
***
Reid left his home town of a Hope for the bright lights of city life in Boston. A successful architect he's home temporarily to help his brothers bring new life to to the old mercantile in town. He has an easy going friendship with Sam the local florist that just kind of escalates into a warm relationship that fulfils their mutual needs. Sam has always found Reid attractive but knows his life is in Boston but there's no harm in two mature adults just kicking back and sharing good times , is there? Well maybe it's not as uncomplicated as this pair believe because the more time they spend together the more they just seem to fit! Reid isn't staying though and Sam refuses to be the one to ruin the fun but maybe not everything is set in stone. Will Reid follow his head or listen to his heart?
I really liked Sam. She is kind, loyal and very independent. Reid is the only one of his family to leave Hope and bravely make a new and very productive life for himself and I have to admire that. What's even better was seeng the love he shared with his family and how they all support each other. I really enjoyed seeing this couple in my minds eye get to know each other and it was easy to see the changes in Reid particularly as this story progressed. He isn't staying and yet is clearly falling back in love with the life he left behind and Sam only enriches his experience. Ok there's not really any action or drama here but it's a story that's warm and made me smile. There's a wee bit of emotion as we learn more about Sam's family and it was poignant to this reader as it's something very close to home. What's really had me entertained though was the bond Reid made with a dog he named Not My Dog! Very funny dialogue as he attributed his own inner monologue to the cute Not My Dog !
***
As we arrive at book five in the Hope series, we finally get the third McCormack brother's story. I was intrigued by Reid all along because he was the brother that left Oklahoma to live and work in Boston as a well-respected architect and builder. The brothers were all affected when their mother walked away from the family, the ranch, and Oklahoma. But Reid had come back for a wedding in book four and promising to renovate one of the old, run-down buildings in Hope and catching the eye of one of the group of friends, Sam Reasor who runs the florist.
The slowly paced and gently plotted small town romance series has become one that I welcome each new release. I like this for a change of pace between my more exciting, action-packed, and dramatic reads. It's cozy, heartwarming, and can still dial up the passion in the laid back setting of a small town in Oklahoma.
The books work best in order as there are the tanglings of a group of friends and family in Hope that are very present in each new story and new plot threads begin in one book and cross into the next. But I will say that I managed to read the series just fine by skipping one of the earlier books.
As I noted, this is Reid and Sam's story. They are already known to each other, but they hesitate to do something about their attraction since Reid makes it abundantly clear that he doesn't do relationships and he isn't planning on sticking around. He's going back to carry on with his successful architectural firm in Boston. He loves his family and he likes Hope, but he really doesn't want to stay past getting the old Mercantile restored as new retail and office space to help revitalize the downtown area.
The project is one he loves and it allows him to spend time with his old friend, Deacon, along with his brothers and their wives, and other old friends. The part that makes him nervous is his attraction to Sam. But he encounters her everywhere and eventually decides to go with the attraction as long as they both know the score.
Sam loves living and working in Hope. She runs the florist shop that was her grandmother's. Sam was raised by her grandparents after her parents died and her gram is the last of her family. Unfortunately, her gram is starting to get turned around and forgetting where and when she is at. Sam loves her independence, but for once, she is glad that Reid is around. He doesn't plan on staying and he discourages any thought of deepening feelings, but he helps and listens. Sam doesn't know what to do with the feelings that are growing for Reid and it will hurt when he goes back, but for now she will go with it.
Alright, this one is a relatively simple and uncomplicated story. Bland in fact. The conflict is Reid needing to be convinced to stay where he really wants to be and Sam accepting change in her life through her gram's mind deteriorating. There are lots of fun things like the gathering together of friends and family, Reid's stray dog that becomes known as Not My Dog, local events, and Reid and Sam's attraction, but not much to really engage me with this romance.
He grabbed the dog's leash and headed for the park.
"Nice dog, Reid."
Reid nodded at Bobby Jameson, owner of the barber shop. "Thanks. It's not my dog."
"That's what I keep hearing," Bobby bent and scratched the dog's ears. "How you doing today, fella?"
The dog totally ate up the attention especially when Megan came out of the bakery and stopped to pet the dog, too.
"Hey Reid, how's Not My Dog doing today?"
Reid frowned. "Huh?"
Megan looked up at him. "Your dog. Not My Dog."
"That's not his name."
"Really. Then what is it?"
"Uh..."
"Everyone's taken to calling him Not My Dog since that's what you keep telling everyone."
p. 79 Reid, Bobby, and Megan from Make Me Stay
The characters aren't too deep nor are they mysterious either. Sam is a ‘what you see is what you get’ gal who likes to speak her mind. She clings to the need to care for her Grammy Claire because she feels she'll be alone when Claire is gone.
I had to chuckle when she decided it was her business to prod Reid about something personal in his life when they were first getting to know each other and then she gets all starched up when he calls her on it and he wasn't even more than mildly out of line the way he did it. Always a source of amusement to me when outspoken people don't tend to enjoy having it turned back around on them. Haha!
And then there is Reid. Reid is fairly well-grounded and a nice guy. He is one of those rare contented people. He has accepted the thing with his mom and happy that he still had his dad and surrogate mother, Martha, the ranch housekeeper. He was set in returning to Boston and it was because of the successful business he built up from scratch.
"Life doesn't come with guarantees, Sam. And family is what you make of it. I got lucky that I had Ben and Martha in my life. And they may not be blood family, but they're like parents to me and always have been. I have Carter and Deacon and a lot of other friends I've made over a lifetime here in Hope."... He swept his knuckles over her cheek. "Family isn't just blood relatives, Sam. It's the people who hold your heart, the people who know you better than you know yourself. You might think you're alone, but you aren't. You're well-loved, Samantha Reasor, by a lot of people in this town. You will never be alone as long as you are loved"
p.234 Reid from Make Me Stay
The romance is a slow-burn sort. First, they are both in denial, then cautious not to let it grow past friendship and temporary bed buddies, and then trouble just being honest with themselves and each other. Nothing that was more than mildly frustrating that a direct conversation would have solved. Again, had to chuckle that this was the moment Sam picked not to speak her mind when she had no trouble poking and prodding before. And Reid was hilarious the way he used Not My Dog as his sounding board and conscience. They were a nice couple and I was glad to see them get together.
The best part for me wasn't the romance so much as the overall larger picture of friends and family going about their lives in this engaging small town. Each of the previous pairs gets good page time and some future pairs have ongoing minor plot threads. I love the meet ups at Bash's bar, the barbecue at the ranch with Logan, Des, Martha, Bob, and the clan of dogs, the sightings of the rest of the gang here and there. The author makes one feel close to the people and the setting.
November 29, 2015
Spotlight & Review: Make Me Stay (Hope, Book 5) by Jaci Burton http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-3oV
Publication Date: December 1, 2015
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated: 5 Stars
Publication Date: December 1, 2015
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated: 5 Stars
I immediately fell for Reid and Sam, not to mention all their friends and family. This story just made me feel a part of everything going on from the start, which is just the way I like it. Make Me Stay is a feel-good romance that has you smiling and also getting a little choked-up at times. I especially loved the dog who bears a strikingly similar name to my cat…for the same reason too. I loved it!
*Review copy provided by Pengiun in exchange for an honest review.
Read Excerpt Here: http://jaciburton.com/books/stay.php#excerpt
~*~*~*~
Kindle | Amazon PBK | B&N | Kobo | iBooks
~*~*~*~
The Hope Series by Jaci Burton - Amazon Series Link
Novella: Hope Smolders
Book 1: Hope Flames
Book 2: Hope Ignites
Book 3: Hope Burns
Book 4: Love After All
Book 5: Make Me Stay
~*~*~*~
March 10, 2016
MAKE ME STAY by Jaci Burton shows another side to this author
http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...
E-Galley provided by publisher for review. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted.
Only one brother in the McCormack clan left Hope to do something different and has done well. But, the pull of his home town is strong. He feels at home there and he doesn’t really feel at home in Boston.
I found it was interesting, when after a long time. I met up with friends with whom I had grown up. It’s interesting: I had made my life completely away from anyone outside my family, I had known from growing up. But even though I don’t remember a lot of them it was interesting and comfortable to meet up with people with whom I had a shared past. I imagine the effect would be more so if you went back to your home town and kept in touch with your friends.
So, when he is home and sees alll the work he could find there, and because he hooks up with a woman who is more or less on the same page, Hope starts to feel like the right place. But, he doesn’t want to admit that to himself or anyone else.
He also gets a dog, or rather a stray dog adopts him. Other than romantic love and family, the trust of an animal like “Not My Dog” would be like a big sign telling you this was home.
But Reid has business and Samantha has family obligations. Outside of a fling, it doesn’t look like this relationship is possible. Plus, Reid doesn’t have a great track record with relationships and his mother just took off on his father and his brothers when they were just kids. So that baggage adds to the rolling cart of “why we won’t work.”
Samantha is so busy running a florist shop and with her aging grandmother that a fling feels like all she can manage. I don’t know a lot of people who can do the Friends With Benefits thing without it becoming a relationship of another sort.
I have to get back to the dog whose presence is nearly preternatural and he is a stress breaker and a bridge between Reid and the world. Reid hasn’t really had to have responsibility for someone else and I think having “Not My Dog” centers him. Just petting an animal can bring calm and peace.
In the long run, the story is about family and belonging to a community. Community doesn’t limit you; at the end of the day it can buoy you up. You aren’t alone when you have family.
I have enjoyed Burton’s other series: PLAY BY PLAY as well. But I like Hope more; a small town with all the trappings can be more romantic and also Jaci writes the hook ups without the words I find overused and discomfitting.
I think that it”s exciting that erotica can tell a story, talk about love and belonging and still have some very juicy bits. And Jaci is a master with this series.
http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...
E-Galley provided by publisher for review. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted.
Only one brother in the McCormack clan left Hope to do something different and has done well. But, the pull of his home town is strong. He feels at home there and he doesn’t really feel at home in Boston.
I found it was interesting, when after a long time. I met up with friends with whom I had grown up. It’s interesting: I had made my life completely away from anyone outside my family, I had known from growing up. But even though I don’t remember a lot of them it was interesting and comfortable to meet up with people with whom I had a shared past. I imagine the effect would be more so if you went back to your home town and kept in touch with your friends.
So, when he is home and sees alll the work he could find there, and because he hooks up with a woman who is more or less on the same page, Hope starts to feel like the right place. But, he doesn’t want to admit that to himself or anyone else.
He also gets a dog, or rather a stray dog adopts him. Other than romantic love and family, the trust of an animal like “Not My Dog” would be like a big sign telling you this was home.
But Reid has business and Samantha has family obligations. Outside of a fling, it doesn’t look like this relationship is possible. Plus, Reid doesn’t have a great track record with relationships and his mother just took off on his father and his brothers when they were just kids. So that baggage adds to the rolling cart of “why we won’t work.”
Samantha is so busy running a florist shop and with her aging grandmother that a fling feels like all she can manage. I don’t know a lot of people who can do the Friends With Benefits thing without it becoming a relationship of another sort.
I have to get back to the dog whose presence is nearly preternatural and he is a stress breaker and a bridge between Reid and the world. Reid hasn’t really had to have responsibility for someone else and I think having “Not My Dog” centers him. Just petting an animal can bring calm and peace.
In the long run, the story is about family and belonging to a community. Community doesn’t limit you; at the end of the day it can buoy you up. You aren’t alone when you have family.
I have enjoyed Burton’s other series: PLAY BY PLAY as well. But I like Hope more; a small town with all the trappings can be more romantic and also Jaci writes the hook ups without the words I find overused and discomfitting.
I think that it”s exciting that erotica can tell a story, talk about love and belonging and still have some very juicy bits. And Jaci is a master with this series.
November 30, 2015
Oh sweetness! I love the stories in Hope! Ms. Burton makes me fall in love with these characters with such ease it's surprising sometimes. I was anxiously awaiting this one because I love these McCormack brothers. Reid was the one that left town to pursue his big dreams in the city. But a project dear to the whole town brings him back to town and right in the path of Samantha. She's more concerned with taking care of the last remaining member of her family, her grandmother, than with her own life and pleasure.
First of all...hot men wearing tool belts and flannel shirts. And I have to point out that he does the dishes. Reid McCormack is almost perfect. Like that ideal man that we read about and the real thing sometimes falls a bit short. He's a successful architect and can wear a suit like it's no ones business, but when he gets back to Hope to work on this restoration, he gets hands on and a bit dirty. Warning: Swooning will definitely be happening while reading.
On the other hand, Samantha is a very likeable heroine. Even if at times I couldn't identify with her as much, whether it was her thoughts or decisions, I still came to care for her and wanted to see her get that ideal HEA. She's a very happy person even when faced with a hand that is not easy. She puts her big girl panties on and takes care of stuff. I loved that determination in her. The chemistry between Reid and Sam was excellent. They are sweet and even endearingly clueless at times.
I can't leave Not My Dog, Notty, out. I'm a sucker for stories with cute and adorable animals and this has that. I absolutely adored him! And while we talk about side characters, fans of the series will be happy of the glimpses of previous couples they get to see in this book.
Now if only we could get Ms. Burton to write faster because I'm definitely left DYING for Deacon and Loretta's story
*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Francesca
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October 11, 2015
I finally got caught up on the hope novels and thankful this one came at the right time so I remembered the characters instantly.
Reid is back in hope but only to restore a building. While in town he get a dog that is not his dog and starts to have a friendship with Samantha. The more time he spends with her the more he thinks that just maybe it's time to come home back to Hope.
Samantha is attracted to Reid but she knows that his life is back in Boston. Besides she has too much going on with work and taking care of her grandmother to even think about getting serious with Reid. But the more time they spend together the more she falls.
One thing I love about this series is the characters and how close they all are. Burton fills the pages with amazing dialogue and fun characters. This story was no different.
I loved Samantha. She was independent, a business owner and went after what she wanted. Although she thought Reid would leave I felt maybe at times she didn't give him enough credit that maybe she and Hope was enough for him to want to stay.
As the story progressed you could see the change in Reid and knew he was going to stay in Hope. I was glad it wasn't just for Sam but for everything he missed like his brothers, the burgers, and the people who have known him forever.
One of my favorite parts is when Reid has conversations with his dog. I couldn't help but laugh because I have done that with mine. It was cute! For a man who didn't want a dog they became inseparable.
Of course In this story Burton sets up for the next book and I think it will be Deacon! I can't wait to get the whole story of why him and his ex broke up and what will happen when she moves back to town.
A truly wonderful read from the beginning to the end.
Reid is back in hope but only to restore a building. While in town he get a dog that is not his dog and starts to have a friendship with Samantha. The more time he spends with her the more he thinks that just maybe it's time to come home back to Hope.
Samantha is attracted to Reid but she knows that his life is back in Boston. Besides she has too much going on with work and taking care of her grandmother to even think about getting serious with Reid. But the more time they spend together the more she falls.
One thing I love about this series is the characters and how close they all are. Burton fills the pages with amazing dialogue and fun characters. This story was no different.
I loved Samantha. She was independent, a business owner and went after what she wanted. Although she thought Reid would leave I felt maybe at times she didn't give him enough credit that maybe she and Hope was enough for him to want to stay.
As the story progressed you could see the change in Reid and knew he was going to stay in Hope. I was glad it wasn't just for Sam but for everything he missed like his brothers, the burgers, and the people who have known him forever.
One of my favorite parts is when Reid has conversations with his dog. I couldn't help but laugh because I have done that with mine. It was cute! For a man who didn't want a dog they became inseparable.
Of course In this story Burton sets up for the next book and I think it will be Deacon! I can't wait to get the whole story of why him and his ex broke up and what will happen when she moves back to town.
A truly wonderful read from the beginning to the end.
Read
November 28, 2015I have really enjoyed the series and was looking forward to learning more about the third McCormack brother, Reid. However, I didn’t really enjoy this book though.
I liked Samantha. She is a wonderful woman with a huge heart and is very family-oriented. She is taking care of her ailing grandmother while putting too many hours in as the sole owner of the town’s flower shop. I could easily relate to Sam and she definitely tugged at my heart strings on more than one occasion.
What I didn’t really like was Reid. I couldn’t understand why he was so bull-headed in choosing a life in Boston, than moving back to Hope and being closer to family. Something else irked me about him that I couldn’t put my finger on. I just never warmed up to the guy. It also drove me crazy with Reid and Sam’s let’s-keep-it-casual-but-we-secretly-want-a-deeper-relationship type of friendly benefits. It worked out for them in the end, but I, unfortunately, disconnected from the story early on. MAKE ME STAY didn’t quite do it for me.
***I was gifted an eBook copy from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. All conclusions reached are my own***
I liked Samantha. She is a wonderful woman with a huge heart and is very family-oriented. She is taking care of her ailing grandmother while putting too many hours in as the sole owner of the town’s flower shop. I could easily relate to Sam and she definitely tugged at my heart strings on more than one occasion.
What I didn’t really like was Reid. I couldn’t understand why he was so bull-headed in choosing a life in Boston, than moving back to Hope and being closer to family. Something else irked me about him that I couldn’t put my finger on. I just never warmed up to the guy. It also drove me crazy with Reid and Sam’s let’s-keep-it-casual-but-we-secretly-want-a-deeper-relationship type of friendly benefits. It worked out for them in the end, but I, unfortunately, disconnected from the story early on. MAKE ME STAY didn’t quite do it for me.
***I was gifted an eBook copy from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. All conclusions reached are my own***
December 2, 2015
Review will be posted at www.books-n-kisses.com .
NUMBER OF HEARTS: 4
Reid is back!!!!
I was super excited to be back in Hope!! I was happy that Reid was back. And even more happy when Samantha goes over to the mercantile and starts chatting up Reid. I loved these two. Samantha is the super sweet town florist, who has a major crush on one Reid McCormack. Ried is back in town to work on his latest project, but once the project he is back to his big city life in Boston. But fate has slightly different plans for the both of them.
As always it was a lot of fun visiting Hope. I really enjoyed Reid & Samantha’s stories. It was so much fun watching these two go round and round. I also loved Reid’s dog. Notty is so awesome!!!
I can’t wait for the next installment in the Hope series.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
NUMBER OF HEARTS: 4
Reid is back!!!!
I was super excited to be back in Hope!! I was happy that Reid was back. And even more happy when Samantha goes over to the mercantile and starts chatting up Reid. I loved these two. Samantha is the super sweet town florist, who has a major crush on one Reid McCormack. Ried is back in town to work on his latest project, but once the project he is back to his big city life in Boston. But fate has slightly different plans for the both of them.
As always it was a lot of fun visiting Hope. I really enjoyed Reid & Samantha’s stories. It was so much fun watching these two go round and round. I also loved Reid’s dog. Notty is so awesome!!!
I can’t wait for the next installment in the Hope series.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
December 25, 2015
*ARC WON AND PROVIDED FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*
First book by Jaci Burton and it was a total win. A sweet small town novel that makes you smile all along while reading.
Sam and Reid? Oh the perfect and cutest couple ever. Still both are stubborn, and Reid being the male he is has to deny his feelings for a while, you know!
I read this book slowly and I was never in a hurry to finish it. Yeah the story is repeated and might be considered a cliché, but still I couldn't stop and the writing was beautiful.
I loved how Sam always sacrificed her free time and peace of mind for her grandma Claire. It was so nice to know that people like her still exist. I loved how strong she was and never once backed down or went crying and complaining to anyone.
I loved Reid's character, despite his denial. But still, he finally managed to understand where he trulu belongs by the end of this book.
And now I want more books by Jaci Burton! Patiently waiting for Brady's story.
*On a side note: I loved the dog!!!*
First book by Jaci Burton and it was a total win. A sweet small town novel that makes you smile all along while reading.
Sam and Reid? Oh the perfect and cutest couple ever. Still both are stubborn, and Reid being the male he is has to deny his feelings for a while, you know!
I read this book slowly and I was never in a hurry to finish it. Yeah the story is repeated and might be considered a cliché, but still I couldn't stop and the writing was beautiful.
I loved how Sam always sacrificed her free time and peace of mind for her grandma Claire. It was so nice to know that people like her still exist. I loved how strong she was and never once backed down or went crying and complaining to anyone.
I loved Reid's character, despite his denial. But still, he finally managed to understand where he trulu belongs by the end of this book.
And now I want more books by Jaci Burton! Patiently waiting for Brady's story.
*On a side note: I loved the dog!!!*
May 26, 2023
I love this series and book. Reid and Samantha’s story pulled on my heart strings. This book made me laugh and cry.
Reid come's to the town of Hope to restore a heritage building. Sam owns her own florist shop and she is very interested in what is going on at this heritage building. Reid doesn't want to get into a serious relationship and Sam is not sure what she wants. But she's willing to have a casual fling because Reid doesn't plan on staying in Hope for too long. But things start to develop between them and they are completely in denial.
I think it was really cute that the this random dog started following Reid and his name becomes No My Dog.
Sam's grandmother was a part so hard to read but it's a crappy disease and there's really not much for it right now. I have a great uncle that suffers from the same thing and it's hard on our family.
Reid come's to the town of Hope to restore a heritage building. Sam owns her own florist shop and she is very interested in what is going on at this heritage building. Reid doesn't want to get into a serious relationship and Sam is not sure what she wants. But she's willing to have a casual fling because Reid doesn't plan on staying in Hope for too long. But things start to develop between them and they are completely in denial.
I think it was really cute that the this random dog started following Reid and his name becomes No My Dog.
Sam's grandmother was a part so hard to read but it's a crappy disease and there's really not much for it right now. I have a great uncle that suffers from the same thing and it's hard on our family.
December 7, 2015
I found this one to be charming. I liked that both Sam and Reid were bumbling at the first, neither wanted to own up to the initial attraction. I was glad that they let themselves go with things because they were cute together. From the start they seemed to be there for each other as difficult times popped up. My heart went out to Sam and what she went through with Grammy Claire. I found it interesting how Reid kept saying that he didn't want to stay in Hope, yet you could tell that was just what he wanted to do, but couldn't admit it to himself. I was glad that Reid made the right decision at the end.
March 29, 2016
Make Me Stay
The Characters:
Reid McCormack
Samantha “Sam” Reasor
The Story:
Good story. No shocking twist and turns but it didn’t play out exactly like I thought. The story was cute, fun and had just the right amount of smexy times. Reid, Sam and Not My Dog will be very happy together.
The Random Thoughts:
3 Stars
The Characters:
Reid McCormack
Samantha “Sam” Reasor
The Story:
Good story. No shocking twist and turns but it didn’t play out exactly like I thought. The story was cute, fun and had just the right amount of smexy times. Reid, Sam and Not My Dog will be very happy together.
The Random Thoughts:
3 Stars
July 7, 2016
I really enjoyed this, the story worked for me! I liked the characters, as I have for all of this series. Jaci Burton always seems to deliver those. I did think the end was a bit rushed, but it was sweet too. Very glad I read this!
I listened to the audio and the narrator seems to be growing on me. Saskia Maarleveld has been ok with this series, but not special. I didn't have any issues with this, but I did listen as an increased speed.
I listened to the audio and the narrator seems to be growing on me. Saskia Maarleveld has been ok with this series, but not special. I didn't have any issues with this, but I did listen as an increased speed.
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