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Don't Plan to Stay
At eighteen, Donnie Kagan's plans for graduation, and maybe even college, were derailed by a beer, a stoplight, and a fatal crash. Now he's twenty-four, out of prison, and bitterly determined to start over. But with the holidays approaching, he can't resist a quick trip home to Tallbridge, North Dakota, and the man he left behind. Just a fast look, to make sure Adam's doing all right, before Donnie starts his new life. He doesn't plan to stay.
Adam Lindberg's been waiting six years to get closure with Donnie. He missed that chance after the accident, fighting for his life in a hospital bed as Donnie pled guilty and disappeared into the justice system. Without so much as a letter back from Donnie in all this time, Adam's tried to move on. And yet, he never found another guy he cared about the same way. So when Donnie shows up in Tallbridge, Adam's ready to fight for more than three words of goodbye. Of course, Adam's brother and dad don't want Donnie to stick around, but it's the busy Christmas season at the family store. If Adam asks for Donnie's help, maybe he'll stay long enough to finally talk about the future, and the past.
Adam Lindberg's been waiting six years to get closure with Donnie. He missed that chance after the accident, fighting for his life in a hospital bed as Donnie pled guilty and disappeared into the justice system. Without so much as a letter back from Donnie in all this time, Adam's tried to move on. And yet, he never found another guy he cared about the same way. So when Donnie shows up in Tallbridge, Adam's ready to fight for more than three words of goodbye. Of course, Adam's brother and dad don't want Donnie to stick around, but it's the busy Christmas season at the family store. If Adam asks for Donnie's help, maybe he'll stay long enough to finally talk about the future, and the past.
110 pages, ebook
First published December 10, 2017
40 people are currently reading
407 people want to read
About the author
Kaje Harper
91 books2,727 followersI get asked about my name a lot. It's not something exotic, though. “Kaje” is pronounced just like “cage” – it’s an old nickname, and my pronouns are she/her/hers.
I was born in Montreal but have lived for 30 years in Minnesota, where the two seasons are Snow-removal and Road-repair, where the mosquito is the state bird, and where winter can be breathtakingly beautiful. Minnesota’s a kind, quiet (if sometimes chilly) place and it’s home.
I’ve been writing far longer than I care to admit (*whispers – fifty years*), mostly for my own entertainment, usually M/M romance (with added mystery, fantasy, historical, SciFi…) I also have a few Young Adult stories (some released under the pen name Kira Harp.)
My husband finally convinced me that after all the years of writing for fun, I really should submit something, somewhere. My first professionally published book, Life Lessons, came out from MLR Press in May 2011. I have a weakness for closeted cops with honest hearts, and teachers who speak their minds, and I had fun writing four novels and three freebie short stories in that series. I was delighted and encouraged by the reception Mac and Tony received.
I now have a good-sized backlist in ebooks and print, both free and professionally published. A complete list with links can be found on my website "Books" page at https://kajeharper.com/.
You can find me and my book reviews on my author page here on Goodreads - I hang out on Goodreads a lot because I moderate the Goodreads YA LGBT Books group. I also post free short YA stories on that group, more than 50 of them so far.
You can also find me on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/KajeHarper
I was born in Montreal but have lived for 30 years in Minnesota, where the two seasons are Snow-removal and Road-repair, where the mosquito is the state bird, and where winter can be breathtakingly beautiful. Minnesota’s a kind, quiet (if sometimes chilly) place and it’s home.
I’ve been writing far longer than I care to admit (*whispers – fifty years*), mostly for my own entertainment, usually M/M romance (with added mystery, fantasy, historical, SciFi…) I also have a few Young Adult stories (some released under the pen name Kira Harp.)
My husband finally convinced me that after all the years of writing for fun, I really should submit something, somewhere. My first professionally published book, Life Lessons, came out from MLR Press in May 2011. I have a weakness for closeted cops with honest hearts, and teachers who speak their minds, and I had fun writing four novels and three freebie short stories in that series. I was delighted and encouraged by the reception Mac and Tony received.
I now have a good-sized backlist in ebooks and print, both free and professionally published. A complete list with links can be found on my website "Books" page at https://kajeharper.com/.
You can find me and my book reviews on my author page here on Goodreads - I hang out on Goodreads a lot because I moderate the Goodreads YA LGBT Books group. I also post free short YA stories on that group, more than 50 of them so far.
You can also find me on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/KajeHarper
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
December 23, 2017
There was just some intangible quality about this story that really made it work for me. Both MC's were extremely likeable and, right from the start, it just seemed like they did truly belong together.
I can't really say that the "Don't Plan to Stay" title was entirely 100% correct, though.
When Donnie showed up at Adam's family business, six months after being released from prison, he may have "said" he was only there to make sure that Adam had recovered from the car crash 6 years prior, then he'd be leaving; however, in his heart, it did seem that all it would have taken was one "please stay" and Donnie wouldn't be going anywhere -- other than wherever Adam went.
Because Adam was Donnie's home. Always had been.
One of my favorite characters in the book wasn't actually ever *in* the book, but her presence was very heavily felt. That would be Adam's recently-deceased mother, who passed away 8 months before Donnie's return. She'd always been in Donnie's corner, so even thought she was gone, she helped pave Donnie's way with Adam's dad and, to a lesser extent, Adam's older brother, Nate.
Speaking of Nate. Asshole. Read the book and you'll see what I mean. I just knew he'd pulled some bullshit, but we're never fully told why he was the way that he was and did what he did. Still, asshole.
But Adam's dad more than made up for Nate's bitter, awful attitude and I loved him for it. And so did Willow, Donnie's timid, rescued pit bull.
Others may not think so, but for me, the story contained far less angst than I'd anticipated, which was partly due to the fact that Donnie would *not* open up about his time in prison, and Adam never pressed him for details. Yes, this kept the drama to a minimum, but I felt that it also made the story not quite as interesting and fleshed out detail-wise as it might have been with that information.
The sexy bits were fine, never really going into hot and heavy details, but I did like the fact that the MC's weren't hung up on specific roles in the bedroom. Donnie may have been the ex-con fighter of the pair, but he never got all machismo about that.
This book rated around 4.25 stars on my scale, so I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a decent story about a second chance at love.
December 11, 2017
When I saw Kate Harper’s blog post about her holiday story being available today I said “Count me in”!
I’m not going to go on & on about this because it’s 1:30 in the morning because I had to finish and I’m going to get less than 4 hours of sleep before work!
You want a holiday story about rredemption, forgiveness, recovering from loss and finding your way back? Right here!
Sexy men, sweet dog, good people and hope.
Recommend to anyone who is looking for the holiday story that will remind you what Christmas is supposed to be!
I’m not going to go on & on about this because it’s 1:30 in the morning because I had to finish and I’m going to get less than 4 hours of sleep before work!
You want a holiday story about rredemption, forgiveness, recovering from loss and finding your way back? Right here!
Sexy men, sweet dog, good people and hope.
Recommend to anyone who is looking for the holiday story that will remind you what Christmas is supposed to be!
March 15, 2018
A nice story but not my favorite Kaje Harper. She is one of my all-time favorites, and though this was a good one, I have sky high expectations when it comes to her work.
December 13, 2017
4.25 stars
Donnie Kagan returns to Tallbridge, North Dakota, after served six years in prison for criminal vehicular homicide. Donnie doesn't plan to stay, he just wants to see how his ex-boyfriend, Adam, is doing (Adam was also in the car during the accident) after six years. Then he wants to leave to L.A. to start new life. Well, plan doesn't always go your way, isn't it? Because when Adam sees Donnie, he is determined to make it difficult for Donnie to just leave. And Donnie has never been able to say NO to Adam.
Kaje Harper delivers another SOLID story about second chances (and the power of forgiveness, I think). The second chances is about Donnie and Adam. I LOVED Adam's attitude. He doesn't take "No" for an answer. He refuses to let Donnie to be in such guilt and sorrow. Donnie doesn't stand a chance :). And I guess that's what he needs, for someone NOT to see him only as an ex-con. Adam knows Donnie before prison time, and he'll make sure he knows Donnie after time-served as well.
The forgiveness ... I guess it's about Donnie letting go... There's this resentment and anger in him when it comes to Adam's older brother, Nate, (). Donnie also did things he might not be proud of to stay alive in prison; he was finally able to make peace with it, albeit NOT easily.
The other winning character in this novella is Adam's father. I LOVED him so much! For giving Donnie a chance, to let Donnie in and accept him, even if he is weary at him in the beginning (he knows how Donnie means to his son).
I may be resenting Nate quite a lot, after knowing what he did, but since Donnie seems to decide to be the better man (because it will probably creates problem between Adam and his brother), I guess I can try that too.
Don't Plan to Stay is another winning book from Kaje Harper, in my opinion. I hope she returns to releasing more titles next year *here's hoping*
Donnie Kagan returns to Tallbridge, North Dakota, after served six years in prison for criminal vehicular homicide. Donnie doesn't plan to stay, he just wants to see how his ex-boyfriend, Adam, is doing (Adam was also in the car during the accident) after six years. Then he wants to leave to L.A. to start new life. Well, plan doesn't always go your way, isn't it? Because when Adam sees Donnie, he is determined to make it difficult for Donnie to just leave. And Donnie has never been able to say NO to Adam.
Kaje Harper delivers another SOLID story about second chances (and the power of forgiveness, I think). The second chances is about Donnie and Adam. I LOVED Adam's attitude. He doesn't take "No" for an answer. He refuses to let Donnie to be in such guilt and sorrow. Donnie doesn't stand a chance :). And I guess that's what he needs, for someone NOT to see him only as an ex-con. Adam knows Donnie before prison time, and he'll make sure he knows Donnie after time-served as well.
The forgiveness ... I guess it's about Donnie letting go... There's this resentment and anger in him when it comes to Adam's older brother, Nate, (). Donnie also did things he might not be proud of to stay alive in prison; he was finally able to make peace with it, albeit NOT easily.
The other winning character in this novella is Adam's father. I LOVED him so much! For giving Donnie a chance, to let Donnie in and accept him, even if he is weary at him in the beginning (he knows how Donnie means to his son).
I may be resenting Nate quite a lot, after knowing what he did, but since Donnie seems to decide to be the better man (because it will probably creates problem between Adam and his brother), I guess I can try that too.
Don't Plan to Stay is another winning book from Kaje Harper, in my opinion. I hope she returns to releasing more titles next year *here's hoping*
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December 10, 2017Now available on Smashwords, and Amazon, and soon at other retailers. The cover picture is by Dan Skinner - if you aren't familiar with his lovely photos of young men and gay couples, check them out online.
December 15, 2017
Plano, sin emoción y muy aburrido.
December 16, 2017
A really great story about learning how to believe that you deserve good things. I love MM Prison stories and there are relatively few of them - so that makes the ones there are extra special to me. Since this is a sort of Christmas story I give a pass at not going deeper into what happened to Donnie in prison. It is all alluded too without ever being stated - that's probably enough for many but I wanted more. The sense of emotional connection I got to Donnie was related more to his feelings of low self worth and his belief that he was unforgivable. So there was enough of that to make this more of a feelings story than a gritty prison reality story. I really enjoyed it all the same - especially the little pieces that added so much like being able to "smell" Christmas or how the author portrayed Donnie by his actions, and not his words.
February 13, 2020
3.5 stars
February 21, 2022
This was a second chance romance done right. I really loved both MCs and the way they reconnect, get reacquainted through deeds and not words or not old notions of who they were. I like that there were developed secondary characters. I just wish it was longer so that we could have gotten more about Donnie's experience in jail and also to understand Nate (Adam's brother) better. That's just me being greedy probably. Kaje Harper never disappoints so I would definitely recommend this one and I'll go check this author's catalogue because I really like their brand of realism!
December 27, 2020
Nice story but I never quite clicked with it. There was just something missing, and I can't really put my finger on it. But it was still a good read and just my kind of Christmas story - schmaltz-free and with the Christmas stuff on the light side.
December 3, 2018
4.5 Star
I'll come back to write something coherent when my face stops leaking.
I'll come back to write something coherent when my face stops leaking.
December 29, 2017
**3.5 stars**
Adam Lindberg’s best friend, Donnie Kagan, was sent to prison when he was eighteen after police ruled he was at fault in a collision that killed an old man when the vehicles met in an intersection. Donnie had been drinking and though his blood alcohol was only .04, since he was underage and the other driver was killed, it was considered a major crime. Adam was seriously hurt and couldn’t testify on his behalf, nor could Adam’s older brother, Nate, who was in the front seat but knocked unconscious. Now, six years later, Donnie heads home to Tallbridge to check on Adam and his family—a family that had treated him as one of them until the accident. He doesn’t plan to stay, but he can’t resist seeing Adam to finally say goodbye.
Adam is shocked when he sees Donnie since Donnie never responded to any of Adam’s letters and Adam didn’t even realize Donnie was finally out of prison. Not wanting to talk about his time in prison is one thing, but not wanting to open up and talk about anything at all is another. But Adam finally convinces the reticent man to help out at the family’s Christmas store and Donnie reluctantly agrees. Things have changed while he’s been gone, and Adam’s mom passed away in the last year, leaving he and his father and brother bereft and finding it difficult to cope with the holiday season. The dog that adopts Donnie when he’s out wandering his old neighborhood is the key to helping Adam’s father finally come out of his depression, and Adam’s consistently positive and forgiving attitude toward Donnie goes a long way toward helping Donnie finally open up.
Eventually, old scars are healed, new paths are forged, and Donnie accepts that he’s not going to be heading to warmer climates. Instead, he’s going to follow his heart and stay with Adam after the Christmas break. The two seem to have been destined to be together from the time they were children, so it’s very possible they’ll be together for a lot longer now.
I enjoyed this story, but I’m sad to say I didn’t like it as much as I’d hoped. I think that’s because Donnie is a tough character to get to know and like, though that’s understandable since he spent so much time in prison, and he doesn’t give away a lot of personal information or open up until late in the story. Much of what we learn about who he is comes from flashbacks and from his actions in the present—everything from rescuing an abused dog to working for his former boyfriend’s family business for little to no pay, and then helping out a friend who saved him from a beating while in prison.
It’s one of those books that kept me coming back, but not one that I avidly looked forward to each time I was forced by RL to stop for a while. One of my favorite parts of the story is a subplot about converting a prison tattoo from carved initials to an open cage with a caterpillar emerging. Without giving further detail on that, I will say that I loved the comparison and enjoyed meeting the young man who emerged from the stoic ex-con who first showed up in town and became the open, happy young man who finally expressed his love for Adam and found comfort in its return.
I most certainly recommend this as a story of healing and hope.
ARC provided by the publisher through Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words in exchange for an impartial review.
Adam Lindberg’s best friend, Donnie Kagan, was sent to prison when he was eighteen after police ruled he was at fault in a collision that killed an old man when the vehicles met in an intersection. Donnie had been drinking and though his blood alcohol was only .04, since he was underage and the other driver was killed, it was considered a major crime. Adam was seriously hurt and couldn’t testify on his behalf, nor could Adam’s older brother, Nate, who was in the front seat but knocked unconscious. Now, six years later, Donnie heads home to Tallbridge to check on Adam and his family—a family that had treated him as one of them until the accident. He doesn’t plan to stay, but he can’t resist seeing Adam to finally say goodbye.
Adam is shocked when he sees Donnie since Donnie never responded to any of Adam’s letters and Adam didn’t even realize Donnie was finally out of prison. Not wanting to talk about his time in prison is one thing, but not wanting to open up and talk about anything at all is another. But Adam finally convinces the reticent man to help out at the family’s Christmas store and Donnie reluctantly agrees. Things have changed while he’s been gone, and Adam’s mom passed away in the last year, leaving he and his father and brother bereft and finding it difficult to cope with the holiday season. The dog that adopts Donnie when he’s out wandering his old neighborhood is the key to helping Adam’s father finally come out of his depression, and Adam’s consistently positive and forgiving attitude toward Donnie goes a long way toward helping Donnie finally open up.
Eventually, old scars are healed, new paths are forged, and Donnie accepts that he’s not going to be heading to warmer climates. Instead, he’s going to follow his heart and stay with Adam after the Christmas break. The two seem to have been destined to be together from the time they were children, so it’s very possible they’ll be together for a lot longer now.
I enjoyed this story, but I’m sad to say I didn’t like it as much as I’d hoped. I think that’s because Donnie is a tough character to get to know and like, though that’s understandable since he spent so much time in prison, and he doesn’t give away a lot of personal information or open up until late in the story. Much of what we learn about who he is comes from flashbacks and from his actions in the present—everything from rescuing an abused dog to working for his former boyfriend’s family business for little to no pay, and then helping out a friend who saved him from a beating while in prison.
It’s one of those books that kept me coming back, but not one that I avidly looked forward to each time I was forced by RL to stop for a while. One of my favorite parts of the story is a subplot about converting a prison tattoo from carved initials to an open cage with a caterpillar emerging. Without giving further detail on that, I will say that I loved the comparison and enjoyed meeting the young man who emerged from the stoic ex-con who first showed up in town and became the open, happy young man who finally expressed his love for Adam and found comfort in its return.
I most certainly recommend this as a story of healing and hope.
ARC provided by the publisher through Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words in exchange for an impartial review.
December 30, 2020
I just picked up Don't Plan to Stay and I didn't even check who wrote it. I started reading and POP I was totally sucked into the story. I enjoyed the pacing, I enjoyed the characters, there was just the right amount of worry and angst without going over-the-top schmaltzy. All of the characters were as captivating as they can get in such a short story. Three quarters in I finally noticed who the author was, Kaje Harper.
That author makes me so happy.
That author makes me so happy.
January 4, 2018
~ 4.5 Stars ~
Donnie has spent six years surviving in a prison cell he didn’t deserve to be in. During those years, one boy stayed on his mind—the one he left a wreck in a hospital room after crashing the car they were both in. Who could blame him for wanting to check on Adam just to make sure he was truly okay. He was determined not to stay—not to further complicate or disturb Adam’s life more than he already had. But Adam had different ideas.
Adam had taken some time off from getting his social work degree to help at the family store after his mother had passed away and his father had resigned from most of his daily activities while mired down in mourning her. Helping his older brother manage the Christmas crowds, Adam is shocked when he sees the familiar face step inside the door. Despite dating other men, Adam has never lost the feelings he had for Donnie—his first love. Now he was back, and Adam knew he had to do whatever he could to keep him there. But Donnie was not the same boy he once was, and Adam knew that he had to take it slow or lose the man he was still hopelessly in love with.
Don’t Plan to Stay by Kaje Harper is a Christmas story that’s all about second chances. Donnie has lived a quiet hell while in prison, and while we only get occasional glimpses of what he must have endured, we are given just enough to know it has changed him forever. Adam has grown as well, not only physically filling out but emotionally maturing as well. He has never forgotten how much Donnie meant to him, and it takes little interaction with him to set those feelings aflame again. But this Donnie is different—wounded, raw—and Adam wisely realizes if he is to win Donnie back, he has to take it ever so slow and reassure the man that no matter what he has endured, it has not changed how Adam feels about him.
Forgiveness is key in this story. Donnie is tortured by what happened that drunken, fateful night when an accident landed him in jail, and Adam in the hospital fighting for his life. Donnie needs to be sure Adam forgives him before he can move on with his life. Told in alternating points of view, there is more expressed through internal dialogue than verbal discourse with these two men. The passion that flares between them is almost painful for Donnie, who has done things in prison in order to survive that have left him feeling soiled and dirty. Adam is heartbreakingly gentle and kind, slow moving and careful to allow Donnie to take whatever he is capable of handling. With just the right pace, Kaje Harper allows for Donnie to begin healing emotionally and mentally.
I so wish this had been a full length novel and we had been made privy to more of the backstory concerning how Donnie ended up in prison, and what part Adam’s older brother played in landing him there and why. These characters were so captivating that I wanted more of their story, and felt a bit cheated when it wasn’t provided. I think that’s the highest form of praise I can give for a novella—that I desperately wanted there to be more of it, more of their relationship growing up, more of Donnie’s experience in prison, and more of the confrontation between Donnie and Adam’s brother after Donnie was paroled. The novella was so enticing, so rich in pathos and emotion that I just didn’t want it to end.
Don’t Plan to Stay is not your typical light and fluffy Christmas fare. Instead, it is a bit stark, a tad darker and yet full of healing and grace. If you’re looking for a deep and meaningful holiday story, you won’t go wrong with Kaje Harper’s offering.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach
Donnie has spent six years surviving in a prison cell he didn’t deserve to be in. During those years, one boy stayed on his mind—the one he left a wreck in a hospital room after crashing the car they were both in. Who could blame him for wanting to check on Adam just to make sure he was truly okay. He was determined not to stay—not to further complicate or disturb Adam’s life more than he already had. But Adam had different ideas.
Adam had taken some time off from getting his social work degree to help at the family store after his mother had passed away and his father had resigned from most of his daily activities while mired down in mourning her. Helping his older brother manage the Christmas crowds, Adam is shocked when he sees the familiar face step inside the door. Despite dating other men, Adam has never lost the feelings he had for Donnie—his first love. Now he was back, and Adam knew he had to do whatever he could to keep him there. But Donnie was not the same boy he once was, and Adam knew that he had to take it slow or lose the man he was still hopelessly in love with.
Don’t Plan to Stay by Kaje Harper is a Christmas story that’s all about second chances. Donnie has lived a quiet hell while in prison, and while we only get occasional glimpses of what he must have endured, we are given just enough to know it has changed him forever. Adam has grown as well, not only physically filling out but emotionally maturing as well. He has never forgotten how much Donnie meant to him, and it takes little interaction with him to set those feelings aflame again. But this Donnie is different—wounded, raw—and Adam wisely realizes if he is to win Donnie back, he has to take it ever so slow and reassure the man that no matter what he has endured, it has not changed how Adam feels about him.
Forgiveness is key in this story. Donnie is tortured by what happened that drunken, fateful night when an accident landed him in jail, and Adam in the hospital fighting for his life. Donnie needs to be sure Adam forgives him before he can move on with his life. Told in alternating points of view, there is more expressed through internal dialogue than verbal discourse with these two men. The passion that flares between them is almost painful for Donnie, who has done things in prison in order to survive that have left him feeling soiled and dirty. Adam is heartbreakingly gentle and kind, slow moving and careful to allow Donnie to take whatever he is capable of handling. With just the right pace, Kaje Harper allows for Donnie to begin healing emotionally and mentally.
I so wish this had been a full length novel and we had been made privy to more of the backstory concerning how Donnie ended up in prison, and what part Adam’s older brother played in landing him there and why. These characters were so captivating that I wanted more of their story, and felt a bit cheated when it wasn’t provided. I think that’s the highest form of praise I can give for a novella—that I desperately wanted there to be more of it, more of their relationship growing up, more of Donnie’s experience in prison, and more of the confrontation between Donnie and Adam’s brother after Donnie was paroled. The novella was so enticing, so rich in pathos and emotion that I just didn’t want it to end.
Don’t Plan to Stay is not your typical light and fluffy Christmas fare. Instead, it is a bit stark, a tad darker and yet full of healing and grace. If you’re looking for a deep and meaningful holiday story, you won’t go wrong with Kaje Harper’s offering.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach
December 19, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
Kaje Harper writes about two high school boyfriends, one bad decision, and lots of extenuating circumstances. The book takes place after those events. After Donnie has survived six years in prison and after he made what he tells himself is an impulse decision to see Adam again.
The book has a bit of somber tone and deals with forgiveness and loss. Forgiveness that Donnie claims he doesn’t need or deserve, as well as loss that Harper layers in throughout their story. We are shown glimpses of Donnie and Adam as they fell in love at a young age and then glimpses of how they never could let each other go.
Donnie’s past before prison is not gone into with much detail, nor is his time in prison, and so we don’t get to know him as well. Whereas with Adam, we learn much more about his home life as his family is included in his story.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
4 stars
Kaje Harper writes about two high school boyfriends, one bad decision, and lots of extenuating circumstances. The book takes place after those events. After Donnie has survived six years in prison and after he made what he tells himself is an impulse decision to see Adam again.
The book has a bit of somber tone and deals with forgiveness and loss. Forgiveness that Donnie claims he doesn’t need or deserve, as well as loss that Harper layers in throughout their story. We are shown glimpses of Donnie and Adam as they fell in love at a young age and then glimpses of how they never could let each other go.
Donnie’s past before prison is not gone into with much detail, nor is his time in prison, and so we don’t get to know him as well. Whereas with Adam, we learn much more about his home life as his family is included in his story.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
December 12, 2017
The words in 'Don't Plan to Stay' somehow glisten like light caught in pieces of amber,translucent fire in places where the sun bleeds through and darker tones of honey where intense heat,time and pressure has formed an object of ancient beauty.
And like with amber there are memories of the dead trapped within,fossilized forever in the minds of those left behind,there are old grudges,new truces and the embers of a young love never dying.All of the characters undergo an awakening when a ghost from the past is released from his cage,serving as a catalyst and breathing life back into a family still slumbering within a blanket of death after the passing of a beloved one.
Despite it's at times somber mood,the story never really dips into true darkness and there is always a glow of hope that surrounds each crash into the grey,a glow that is towards the end of the book,a steady pulse of light that is always good to embrace at Christmas and beyond
And like with amber there are memories of the dead trapped within,fossilized forever in the minds of those left behind,there are old grudges,new truces and the embers of a young love never dying.All of the characters undergo an awakening when a ghost from the past is released from his cage,serving as a catalyst and breathing life back into a family still slumbering within a blanket of death after the passing of a beloved one.
Despite it's at times somber mood,the story never really dips into true darkness and there is always a glow of hope that surrounds each crash into the grey,a glow that is towards the end of the book,a steady pulse of light that is always good to embrace at Christmas and beyond
November 17, 2022
At some point I'm going to run out of Kaje Harper books, and that will be a sad day indeed.
Loved this. Wish it was longer.
Dammit, now I'm full of Christmas spirit. My heart is not supposed to grow three sizes!!!
Loved this. Wish it was longer.
Dammit, now I'm full of Christmas spirit. My heart is not supposed to grow three sizes!!!
December 15, 2017
4.5 stars. This is the kind of holiday story I was looking for. If you want a feel good Christmas story with depth and emotion, this is a good one to pick up. Kaje rarely disappoints with her character building and relateable characters and this book is no exception.
I rated it down just slightly because I spent the whole book kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop with the new sheriff and old sheriff but that seemed to be a thread that went nowhere after all and honestly, I wanted a longer story.
I rated it down just slightly because I spent the whole book kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop with the new sheriff and old sheriff but that seemed to be a thread that went nowhere after all and honestly, I wanted a longer story.
December 20, 2017
2.5
Don't know about this one. I almost DNF it at first but pushed forward anyway. It's one of those reads where the premise sounds more promising and interesting than the actual story itself. I didn't connect with the characters in any level. In fact, 90% of the time I felt very detached from both the story and the characters.
Don't know about this one. I almost DNF it at first but pushed forward anyway. It's one of those reads where the premise sounds more promising and interesting than the actual story itself. I didn't connect with the characters in any level. In fact, 90% of the time I felt very detached from both the story and the characters.
December 17, 2017
yeah, yeah, I am a sucker for Kage Harper, because she writes so well, and there's always thoughtful inclusion of well developed characters that bring her stories to life.
Gritty realism, but also hope and joy.
Gritty realism, but also hope and joy.
June 27, 2022
While I love second chance romances and I love Kaje Harper's books, this one didn't work for me. The overall tone of the story had a weird imbalance, I didn't like how the romance was done and Adam was pretty much a non-entity, despite being one of the main characters.
What bothered me most about the story is that it was weirdly boring at times but also had way too much happening at other times. It didn't help that there was a weird tone imbalance with the narrative shifting between fluffy/light Christmas stuff and dark traumatic events. Maybe having one of these dark situations would have allowed the story to maintain it's light, Christmas atmosphere, but there were way too many dark things happening: It was way too much and many of these plotlines didn't get the development they needed (such as Nate's dislike for Donnie, which appeared and disappeared randomly, as the plot required). Not only that, but it was a jarring shift between these dark issues versus the characters having snowball fights, munching on gingerbread cookies and helping last-minute Christmas shoppers in their store.
I also disliked the romance - the second chance aspect and the romance overall. Part of the problem is that Donnie is dealing with tons of issues in this book (which is understandable), but as a result, rekindling his romance with Adam seems to be last on his priority list (again, that's understandable). There's very little pining coming from Donnie's direction and he doesn't seem overly enthusiastic about rekindling their romance. He was so distracted with other issues that it felt like he didn't really care one way or another: get together with Adam or don't - it's all the same to him. Donnie felt like a character who wasn't ready for a romantic relationship and didn't need one. If this book had been longer and Donnie had been given time to address is other issues, it would have made sense for him to slowly shift gears and desire a romantic partnership. But it didn't work in such a short time frame. Making things worse is that Adam is the only character in the book who has nothing going on with him, which means the guy has the personality and plot impact of a piece of cardboard. You could literally remove him from the story and very little would have changed (no sexy times for Donnie, but that's it).
The only part I loved about this story was Donnie's relationship with Adam's dad (I love surrogate father figures, especially if the child is older) and both of their relationship with their rescue dog Willow. All three had some really great scenes that beautifully progressed their relationship and addressed the issues they brought to the table. That was really well done. It's just unfortunate because this was supposed to be an MM second chance romance, and that aspect of it fell completely flat.
What bothered me most about the story is that it was weirdly boring at times but also had way too much happening at other times. It didn't help that there was a weird tone imbalance with the narrative shifting between fluffy/light Christmas stuff and dark traumatic events. Maybe having one of these dark situations would have allowed the story to maintain it's light, Christmas atmosphere, but there were way too many dark things happening: It was way too much and many of these plotlines didn't get the development they needed (such as Nate's dislike for Donnie, which appeared and disappeared randomly, as the plot required). Not only that, but it was a jarring shift between these dark issues versus the characters having snowball fights, munching on gingerbread cookies and helping last-minute Christmas shoppers in their store.
I also disliked the romance - the second chance aspect and the romance overall. Part of the problem is that Donnie is dealing with tons of issues in this book (which is understandable), but as a result, rekindling his romance with Adam seems to be last on his priority list (again, that's understandable). There's very little pining coming from Donnie's direction and he doesn't seem overly enthusiastic about rekindling their romance. He was so distracted with other issues that it felt like he didn't really care one way or another: get together with Adam or don't - it's all the same to him. Donnie felt like a character who wasn't ready for a romantic relationship and didn't need one. If this book had been longer and Donnie had been given time to address is other issues, it would have made sense for him to slowly shift gears and desire a romantic partnership. But it didn't work in such a short time frame. Making things worse is that Adam is the only character in the book who has nothing going on with him, which means the guy has the personality and plot impact of a piece of cardboard. You could literally remove him from the story and very little would have changed (no sexy times for Donnie, but that's it).
The only part I loved about this story was Donnie's relationship with Adam's dad (I love surrogate father figures, especially if the child is older) and both of their relationship with their rescue dog Willow. All three had some really great scenes that beautifully progressed their relationship and addressed the issues they brought to the table. That was really well done. It's just unfortunate because this was supposed to be an MM second chance romance, and that aspect of it fell completely flat.
December 17, 2017
Donnie goes back home after doing a 6yr stint in prison for a drunk driving vehicular homicide. His bf/best friend, Adam, was in the car with him and was injured in the accident. Donnie has cut off all communication with him and his mom during his time away but, once he's out, he can't help getting one last look at Adam before he moves on.
I grabbed this because I love second chance / ex-con books. Yet, this took a bit to get into. The book just had a pall of depression over it, the town, and all the characters. I couldn't connect with the characters, or feel anything for any of them about 80% of the book. It was slow, depressing and a bit boring, and I just kept reading because I didn't want to give up. Really, the only people I genuinely felt anything for were Adam's dad and Willow (the dog). Donnie's gesture to Adam's dad near the end actually made me teary eyed, and the epilogue was nice, but this was pretty much a 2-star read for me until then.
I grabbed this because I love second chance / ex-con books. Yet, this took a bit to get into. The book just had a pall of depression over it, the town, and all the characters. I couldn't connect with the characters, or feel anything for any of them about 80% of the book. It was slow, depressing and a bit boring, and I just kept reading because I didn't want to give up. Really, the only people I genuinely felt anything for were Adam's dad and Willow (the dog). Donnie's gesture to Adam's dad near the end actually made me teary eyed, and the epilogue was nice, but this was pretty much a 2-star read for me until then.
December 29, 2017
A lovely Christmas M/M romance. I really liked the characters in this story, and the setup. It has snow, trees, lights, goodwill, love, family...and a dog. It's all good.
October 15, 2021
2+
Przyzwoita, świąteczna opowieść. Jednakże porusza zbyt dużo poważnych tematów, traktując je zbyt powierzchownie. Wszystkie. A że jak na świąteczną historię wcale nie jest AŻ tak krótka, to tym bardziej niedosyt jest większy...
Przyzwoita, świąteczna opowieść. Jednakże porusza zbyt dużo poważnych tematów, traktując je zbyt powierzchownie. Wszystkie. A że jak na świąteczną historię wcale nie jest AŻ tak krótka, to tym bardziej niedosyt jest większy...
December 26, 2017
“Don’t Plan to Stay” by Kaje Harper portrays the homecoming of a man who has served his time for an injudicious decision but needs to figure out whether the ties he attempted to cut with those he left behind are really severed. The young love he left behind has matured into a man, who knows his mind and his heart…and is prepared to fight for what he wants, no matter what his family thinks.
This m/m contemporary romance is a lovely character study that explores the idea of redemption and dealing with the past, set during the Christmas season, making it perfect for reading at this time of the year. I am always fascinated by this author’s ability to portray men who have dealt with a crucible that has honed their character and distilled them to their indelible core, and this is yet another example of such. The gradual unfolding of the background that has shaped Donatello (Donnie) Kagan and altered the lives of the Lindberg family plays out against the events that accompany their moving forward, six years later. I’m a little puzzled by the antipathy displayed by one particular character…and dismayed that his inaction and/or actions resulted in such a harsh punishment, which is never quite resolved sufficiently for my tastes.
Nonetheless, I loved the different characters who are rebuilding and finding a new lease on life, including the four-legged addition to the family. The faith and persistence and tentative hope that unfurls provide such a wonderful warm feeling, and that final tattoo was just so perfect that reading the story was like a warm hug and a wonderful reminder that all of us need to let the painful past go and not allow it to define our tomorrows.
A copy of this title was provided to me for review
This m/m contemporary romance is a lovely character study that explores the idea of redemption and dealing with the past, set during the Christmas season, making it perfect for reading at this time of the year. I am always fascinated by this author’s ability to portray men who have dealt with a crucible that has honed their character and distilled them to their indelible core, and this is yet another example of such. The gradual unfolding of the background that has shaped Donatello (Donnie) Kagan and altered the lives of the Lindberg family plays out against the events that accompany their moving forward, six years later. I’m a little puzzled by the antipathy displayed by one particular character…and dismayed that his inaction and/or actions resulted in such a harsh punishment, which is never quite resolved sufficiently for my tastes.
Nonetheless, I loved the different characters who are rebuilding and finding a new lease on life, including the four-legged addition to the family. The faith and persistence and tentative hope that unfurls provide such a wonderful warm feeling, and that final tattoo was just so perfect that reading the story was like a warm hug and a wonderful reminder that all of us need to let the painful past go and not allow it to define our tomorrows.
A copy of this title was provided to me for review
December 24, 2020
A wonderful story, full of love and hope.
Donnie stole my heart early and Adam deserved his HEA. Willow and Mr L added the perfect side action.
Lots of feelings in this one.
ETA Still a lovely read
Donnie stole my heart early and Adam deserved his HEA. Willow and Mr L added the perfect side action.
Lots of feelings in this one.
ETA Still a lovely read
December 24, 2017
I enjoyed this story. It flowed really well. Sweet and about second chances.
February 12, 2018
Don't Plan to Stay hit me in every feeling I have. It's heartbreaking and hopeful in turns and I loved reading the journey.
Full review soon on the blog and then here . . .
**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
Full review soon on the blog and then here . . .
**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
December 12, 2017
This was probably my favourite book of what I've read of Kaje Harper's work so far. Despite it being a novella, it didn't feel too short or like something was missing, and while some parts were a bit cliched and handled too easily (everything related to Nate and what he did), it was a very satisfying Christmas story.
December 21, 2017
Reviewed for Sinfully.
Donnie isn’t sure of the reaction he is going to get when he stops by his hometown in North Dakota after having done a six year prison term for a car accident that killed a man and injured his best friend and lover Adam, as well as Adam’s older brother. Donnie hasn’t kept in contact with anyone, ignoring all the family’s attempts at contact, and he has now been out of prison for six months. Donnie just needs to know that Adam is okay and then he can continue his journey to California to start his new life.
Reactions to Donnie’s return are mixed, but not necessarily for the reasons he thinks. The one thing that hasn’t changed is Adam’s effect on Donnie. When Adam asks him to stay for a while and help out at the family store, Donnie can’t refuse. Nate, who now runs the store isn’t happy at all about Donnie’s return and makes it very clear. Adam’s father isn’t as disapproving, but things are pretty uncomfortable. A lot has changed, but a lot has remained the same and even though Donnie doesn’t plan to stay, he knows it’s not going to be easy to leave again.
I wasn’t sure how this would go, so I prepared for some major angst. What I got instead was a quiet, but emotional homecoming story. It’s not just Donnie that has to deal with his past and reconcile the person he was with the person he is now. Everyone has gone through changes in the past six years and everyone has their own mistakes to acknowledge. The one thing that hasn’t fundamentally changed is the love between Donnie and Adam and the sense of family between Donnie and the Lindbergs.
Adam realizes that his love hasn’t changed, but that they aren’t the kids they used to be. He knows he needs to let Donnie decide whether he will stay or go and he wants to do his best not to pressure him. I enjoyed Adam and Donnie becoming friends again, getting used to being around each other and sharing some of what the last six years were like. It’s obvious Donnie’s time in prison wasn’t easy and has changed the way he sees himself, but it has only made Adam see him as a stronger person than ever before. As Donnie finds his place in the world again, Adam’s brother Nate and their father also have to do some of their own readjusting.
This holiday story struck a wonderful balance between the emotion of reconciliation (without getting heavily angsty) and the romance of Adam and Donnie finding their way together again. Whether as friends or lovers, their connection comes through beautifully. There were one or two characters that showed up early that I expected to play a bit more in the plot then disappeared, including the sheriff, but other than that, I really enjoyed this second-chance Christmas story and highly recommend it.
Donnie isn’t sure of the reaction he is going to get when he stops by his hometown in North Dakota after having done a six year prison term for a car accident that killed a man and injured his best friend and lover Adam, as well as Adam’s older brother. Donnie hasn’t kept in contact with anyone, ignoring all the family’s attempts at contact, and he has now been out of prison for six months. Donnie just needs to know that Adam is okay and then he can continue his journey to California to start his new life.
Reactions to Donnie’s return are mixed, but not necessarily for the reasons he thinks. The one thing that hasn’t changed is Adam’s effect on Donnie. When Adam asks him to stay for a while and help out at the family store, Donnie can’t refuse. Nate, who now runs the store isn’t happy at all about Donnie’s return and makes it very clear. Adam’s father isn’t as disapproving, but things are pretty uncomfortable. A lot has changed, but a lot has remained the same and even though Donnie doesn’t plan to stay, he knows it’s not going to be easy to leave again.
I wasn’t sure how this would go, so I prepared for some major angst. What I got instead was a quiet, but emotional homecoming story. It’s not just Donnie that has to deal with his past and reconcile the person he was with the person he is now. Everyone has gone through changes in the past six years and everyone has their own mistakes to acknowledge. The one thing that hasn’t fundamentally changed is the love between Donnie and Adam and the sense of family between Donnie and the Lindbergs.
Adam realizes that his love hasn’t changed, but that they aren’t the kids they used to be. He knows he needs to let Donnie decide whether he will stay or go and he wants to do his best not to pressure him. I enjoyed Adam and Donnie becoming friends again, getting used to being around each other and sharing some of what the last six years were like. It’s obvious Donnie’s time in prison wasn’t easy and has changed the way he sees himself, but it has only made Adam see him as a stronger person than ever before. As Donnie finds his place in the world again, Adam’s brother Nate and their father also have to do some of their own readjusting.
This holiday story struck a wonderful balance between the emotion of reconciliation (without getting heavily angsty) and the romance of Adam and Donnie finding their way together again. Whether as friends or lovers, their connection comes through beautifully. There were one or two characters that showed up early that I expected to play a bit more in the plot then disappeared, including the sheriff, but other than that, I really enjoyed this second-chance Christmas story and highly recommend it.
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