I am not a liar or a thief or a criminal. At least, not anymore. But here I am doing the things that I promised myself I would never do again. Nicholas Crawford made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. He is dangerous and damaged but so am I. Our relationship is an addiction that we have to feed.
Now, things are about to get even more complicated.
Allegiances will be tested. Lies will be told. Truths will be revealed.
We have both made promises that we can’t keep. The secrets we have uncovered only scratch the surface, and I’m afraid to find out what lies below.
All is not what it seems but I have to figure out the truth before it’s too late.
Dive into the decadent and delicious 3rd book of the new and addictive Tell Me series by bestselling author Charlotte Byrd.
Charlotte Byrd is the bestselling author of numerous contemporary romance novels. She lives in Southern California with her husband, son, and a crazy toy Australian Shepherd. She loves dark books, hot weather and crystal blue waters.
BLACK EDGE Series (5 books!)
Mr. Black bought me at a secret auction on his yacht. I’ve never done anything like this before. What happens when one night isn’t enough?
I had to stop reading it - what's with the author giving herself a shameless plug not even half way through? I was cringing so hard, she goes on for so long about herself. Literally the worst kind of advertising.
The books are way too short and to have to wait another month for the next one just isn't worth it whatsoever.
The story line is actually okay too which makes it suck even more. Sorry, Charlotte, won't be reading anything again.
This series just seems to drag on and on. There is a part in the beginning of this book that I found a bit strange, Olive talks about reading her favorite book that she has read numerous times by her favorite author Charlotte Byrd. This author actually had her main character praise her, her writing skills and one of her own books! I have read hundreds of books and have not ever run across an author who praises herself in one of her books. This just added another point in the not for me column.
Cringe fest. I'm not sure why I keep continuing this series. There are so many holes in the plot that isn't explained at any point in the book. This is a trend that started with the first book. Also, there were a number of unnecessary fluffs.
Who promotes another one of their books amidst the story? Charlotte Byrd does.
"My favourite author of all time is Charlotte Byrd. I pick up my kindle and start the Lavish series"
I can't decide if I'm more annoyed or impressed by this.
I can't stress enough that so much happens and most of it is incoherent. The plot is just all over the place. I skimmed the the last five or so chapters. At that point, I had enough of Olive and Nicholas and their drama.
BUT then there is a small plot twist in the end and I want to know what happens next.
I'm not sure how I can be annoyed and interested at the same time. But I am. So, yes. Yes I will read the next book. Why? It beats me.
Whilst I want to carry on reading to see how it ends, I cannot get over how shamelessly the author plugged her other books. "My favourite author of all time is Charlotte Byrd. I pick up my kindle and start the Lavish series" 🤦♀️🤦♀️ I actually laughed.
I also feel like these books could have easily been a trilogy. Each book is too short and I don't really want to keep buying them when it's making me feel a little ripped off.
What an egotistical author! Chapter 13 contains a long winded poorly constructed paragraph about how amazing Charlotte Byrd is! I assume this was supposed to be an attempt at humour, but was severely disconnected from the plot. Feel completely ripped off £3.50 per a book for a series of 6 which could easily be compressed into 1 book. Unsure why the author has decided to take this approach as she has lost many customers through greed!
I am not a liar or a thief or a criminal. At least, not anymore. But here I am doing the things that I promised myself I would never do again.
Nicholas Crawford made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. He is dangerous and damaged but so am I. Our relationship is an addiction that we have to feed.
Now, things are about to get even more complicated.
Allegiances will be tested. Lies will be told. Truths will be revealed.
We have both made promises that we can’t keep. The secrets we have uncovered only scratch the surface, and I’m afraid to find out what lies below.
All is not what it seems but I have to figure out the truth before it’s too late.
Dive into the decadent and delicious 3rd book of the new and addictive Tell Me series by bestselling author Charlotte Byrd.
REVIEW: 3.75 stars--TELL ME TO STAY is the third instalment in Charlotte Byrd’s contemporary, adult TELL ME romantic suspense serial focusing on Nicholas Crawford, and Olive Kernes. TELL ME TO STAY should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately after the events of instalment number two TELL ME TO GO.
SOME BACKGROUND: When an unknown benefactor pays off Olive Kernes’ student loans, our heroine doesn’t question but soon discovers that the mystery donor is looking for something more.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Nicholas and Olive) TELL ME TO STAY follows Olive as she continues to ‘work’ for Nicholas Crawford. The promise of one-million dollars effectively keeps Olive under Nicholas’ command but her brother Owen’s release from prison reveals some surprising information that Nicholas forgot or refused to acknowledge. But not everyone is happy with Owen’s release, and some powerful people have targeted the man with whom she is falling in love, and the brother she hasn’t seen in close to ten years.
Olive Kernes is struggling with the direction of her current relationship, both personal and professional with Nicholas Crawford. Nicholas has not been truthful or forthcoming with his ongoing issues, issues that are placing Olive in difficult positions.
TELL ME TO STAY is another quick read; a fast paced episode that reveals a little more of Nicholas’ backstory, a backstory that hides a multitude of sins and offenses. The premise is captivating ; the romance begins to heat up; the characters are broken, in trouble and struggling.
Reviewing a serialized story is difficult at best; a battle to remember the previous information especially when each instalment is one month apart. I have to recall and reread my earlier reviews in an effort to remind myself about what happened, so far. Here’s hoping the author releases TELL ME as a single story line.
So, I've read the first three books in this series and haven't been too terribly impressed. After finishing this one, I just HAD to write a review and get everything off my chest.
I'll start out by saying this will not only be the last book in this series that I'll read, but it's going to be the last Charlotte Byrd book I'll ever read, and here's why. Firstly, something that's majorly irritated me from book one was all the inconsistencies. The sheer amount of things that Charlotte seems to forget she's written (unless she's purposely trying to make her characters look forgetful to the point of being amnesiacs, or just like they're really stupid) is staggering. Here are a few of the many instances.
During one scene, Nicholas gives Olive her first "paycheck" of $38,000. She holds the check and thinks to herself that this is the most money she's ever held. Um, did Charlotte forget what she'd written in her previous books? This whole thing started out with Olive receiving a check for roughly $176,000, which was what she needed to payoff her student loans. Then later, she asks Nicholas for $50,000 to pay off a debt her mother owed to a loan shark because she thought they'd kidnapped and were going to kill her mom if she didn't pay it. These were pretty big plot points. How do you forget them?
MAYBE the argument could be made that the time In-between writing the books in this series caused her to forget. But you'd have to go years in-between books for that to really be plausible unless Charlotte suffers from short-term memory loss. The next example is onlyna few pages apart, so that excuse won't fly.
There's a point in the book where Olive's brother Owen goes missing. She calls Nicholas in a panic, and he goes and picks her up. She tells him that Owen didn't come home last night and that she even called the teacher he had been having a relationship with while incarcerated, but that woman never responded to her calls.
A few pages later, which was mere minutes for the characters, they're in Olive's apartment going through Owen's belongings, and Nicholas asks Olive if she knows the teacher's name. She says no, Owen never told her. Nicholas proceeds to look through a bunch of notebooks from one of Owen's bags and comes across a phone number and email written in the margins. The email is issued by a local college, so he pulls up the college's website, and they start looking through the listings from the English department since that's what the teacher taught. Olive suddenly points to a woman at the bottom of the list and says, "That's her. That's Gabby." Just minutes before she claimed to not have been told the woman's name, so...WTF?
Secondly, are the things which plain old don't make sense. For example, *SPOILER ALERT* Olive's mom tells her she's adopted. How'd she afford to adopt a kid when we're told Olive's mom has only ever worked minimum wage jobs? How'd she get approved for adoption when she was an alcoholic druggie whose husband would disappear for weeks and even months at a time? Nobody would give her a kid!
The last reason really rubbed me the wrong way, and is why I won't be reading anymore of Charlotte's books. I'm reading along and come to a scene where Olive is trying to get her mind off of some fights she's been having with her brother and Nicholas. She tries watching TV and it doesn't help so she decides to read. What follows is four pages of absolutely unnecassary info because it doesn't further the plot or reveal any important information about the characters. Being unnecassary isn't what caused me to be so off put. It's that the entire four pages were, essentially, jumping up on the soap box, extolling the virtues of indie writers (of which the author is one), and how much better their writing and especially sex scenes are. Her character's inner monologue reveals that she's re-reading (for like the tenth time) Charlotte Byrd's 'Lavish Lies.' Then Charlotte panders for fan engagement by having her character think, 'if you find a favorite author, make sure to write to her and look her up on social media...she will likely even have a Facebook group for you to join.'
Then she has her character go on to think, 'Charlotte Byrd is probably one of my favorite authors, not just indie but of all time.' Then Charlotte uses her character to brag about what a good writer she is (a whole paragraph was dedicated to this), and then actually has the character quote her (the author's) actual fricking blog! "The point of language is to convey exactly what you mean to keep the story going, and that's exactly what I aim to do with each of my sentences."
Oh, the irony! How is it "keeping the story going" when you spend four pages proseltyzing about how great indie writers, especially yourself, are through your character? It was an embarrassing, narcissistic, self agrandizing speed bump! The time would've been better spent editing out the misspelled and misused words her books are riddled with!
Jesus H. Christ. There were quite a few passages in this series that were overly expositional or absolutely unnecessary to the story, but nothing was quite as cringeworthy as the author pushing her own novel from another series for pages on end as a recommendation by the protagonist. I was already on the fence as I'd been taken out of the story quite a few times, but this really sealed the deal for me.
lost me right about the time when the author started self promoting her other books and her writing style in a way that was “supposed” to be the main character’s thoughts but just came across awkward and unnatural. I don’t need the fourth wall broken in this way. Promote your books by being a good writer, and i’ll read more of your work.
You know what, I gave this series a good go and I’m just not vibing with it. I enjoyed the like main plot of the story it’s just the romance I can’t fall for. I was even enjoying the dual POV but even then I couldn’t believe that they were falling for each other when they had hardly even spoken about anything but work and faked being in relationships. Idk. Maybe I’ll try again another time but right now it’s a nope for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
While the author does an admittedly good job of making the last 5% of the book super interesting and leave you wanting to know more… I am so tired of Olive and Nicolas both at this point.
At one point Nicolas says, “Olive is very good at what she does, when she does it. She’s cautious and careful and an excellent partner.” And all I could think is: that’s COMPLETELY false! Most of the time she has “helped” him she has messed it up completely or gone behind his back. I don’t understand their interest in each other.
Also, Olive barely has her brother back for a day and she’s arguing with him over b/s? That whole first fight scene with Owen made me want to pull my hair out.
I won’t even dignify the cringy self-plug the author made with a response.
And lastly…the smut is not quite explicit enough for me. It’s too vague and leaves me wanting more.
Moving on to another author at this point. I’m done.
This is the 3rd book in the 6-book series, and I have to say I am not sure how this series just keeps getting better and better. I have already downloaded the 4th book "Tell Me to Run" and had to start it right away!
The things that are happening to Olive are crazy, but not unrealistic and I just love the way Charlotte Byrd is writing or unfolding everything. I have a hard time putting this book down because of the twists and turns that pull you in.
Pros: Page turner, short chapters Cons: Sometimes the sexual content catches you off guard
Favorite Character: Nicholas
Favorite Quotes: "Reading gives me perspective on my own life." "Only men do this. Only men risk everything in the world for one moment of pleasure and I am not a man."
I definitely would recommend this book to anyone who loves mysteries and or thrillers. I would love to see this as a limited series on NetFlix.
This story of Olive and Nicholas is continuing. This book was a little slower. I didn't think it added to the storyline much to what the first two books started. Charlotte writes some really great books but was not over the moon on this book. Her books are too short she needs to combine her books. The only surprise was Olive was adopted. I have a hard time with this part. Since she comes from a drug and alcohol addicted family. Her adopted father is in and out of their lives and they are very poor. Just wondering who would let this family adopt a child? She plugs herself in the book and some of her other books. I honestly thought I was reading a commercial in the middle of her book. I hate to be harsh since she is one of my favorite authors but I promised the truth when I review her books.
Just no. I tried I really did I read the first 3 books and it was painful. I usually commit to reading an entire series regardless of if I like it or not, but I just can't bring myself to continue.
The only good thing about these books was they were quick 2hr reads so I was able to finish 3 in a day and a half and hit my book goal for the year...
The characters have no depth, the story telling is lacking, and they don't even have sex until book 3! And it's bland and lame. Then the author name drops herself in her own book?! I had to put myself out of my own misery, I'm done there is no way I can make it through 3 more books☠️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Tell Me To Stay by Charlotte Byrd The story is amazing and just keeps getting better and better. This is the third book and I can not believe how much is going on in this story. I can not put this story down and there are so many twists and turns. I know I will want to go back and read this series over again with all the books. This is becoming my number one all-time series. This is the story of Nicholas and Olive and their advantages for a year. Olive's brother, Owen is getting out of prison and has moved in with her. Nicholas is trying to be a friend to Owen but Owen isn't having it. So now Olive is stuck in the middle between her boyfriend and brother. She doesn't know what to do, she wants them to get along. I highly recommend this series to everyone. Charlotte Bryd has an amazing writing ability and an imagination way be on most. I received an advanced reader copy from bookfunnel and have voluntarily chosen to leave a review. This is my honest opinion.
This is the third installment in the Tell Me series by Charlotte Byrd. Nicholas and Olives steamy and tumultuous relationship continues with more suspense, WOWs, and OMGs! I received an ARC copy earlier today and could not put this addictive read down until I finished it. Be aware, however, this novel ends in a cliffhanger. I can hardly wait for Tell Me To Run, the next installment in the series, to be released on November 2, 2019. This series is Charlotte Byrd at her best and deserves at least 10 stars! I strongly recommend this book, but you should first read the Tell Me To Stop and Tell Me To Go installments as this book is the continuation of this series. I received an ARC in return for a voluntary and honest review of this book.
The plot thickens between Nicolas and Olive! Her brother Owen is finally released from prison, but he is not happy when Nicolas arrives at her apartment. Tempers flare and Olive realises that she has to keep them apart!
They have another job to do, and Nicolas needs the money!
When Owen goes missing, Olive fears the worst, afterall there is a bounty on his head. When she finds him things are said and then shots are fired, more truths are exposed and as always there are many more lies!
I am looking forward to the final few books to see how it concludes! Will Nicolas and Olive find their HEA, or have there been too many lies?
This is the 3rd book in the series and I do recommend reading them in order. Nicholas and Olive’s story continues, more secrets are revealed and Olive’s brother Owen isn’t happy she is with Nicholas. Lots of twists and turns, plenty of drama and steam. I am hooked. Can’t wait for more!
Amazing read. I couldn't put this book down. The lies and secrets are coming out. Olive is trying to put this puzzle together. Well done Charlotte. The twists and turns ste unbelievable. I cried and screamed through this book. Can't wait to continue this ride with Nicholas and Olive.
If you have not started this series yet, it's a must. Filled with drama, edge of your seat goodness, sexy men and so good. Loved Nicolas and Olive. Can't wait for the next installment.
Books are way too short and it is incredibly cringey to make yourself your main character’s favorite author. Like the self promo was so bad it took me out of the story and I had to stop reading lol
Book 3, Tell Me to Stay, of Charlotte Byrd's six-book romance series.
A somewhat cryptic beginning about a thief and liar named Nicholas Crawford who's being compelled to work for the FBI or else face criminal charges for his many past crimes - an under duress independent contractor for the feds. In addition there's a few brief romantic scenes with Olive, his new partner, employee and girlfriend. He's promised her a million dollars for a year of work, money he doesn't have, but intends to earn as he completes a number of high-paying jobs.
The FBI's latest assignment for Nick is to befriend Owen Kernes, Olive's jailbird brother who's been in prison for the past 10 years. Owen has been granted early parole for informing on some connected bad guy and of course now has a bounty on his head. Just as the story finally starts getting interesting with Owen disappearing and Olive fearing a contract killer may have taken him out, the story comes to an end, making me say out loud, "What? Just as it was getting good?" I assume we're expected to immediately get the next book.
Nope - not that interesting.
•
Following are story details and exactly how it ends - only for those interested.
At the beginning we learn Nick promised his now dead sister, that he would take care of her best friend Olive and so he paid off her debts and hired her for the million dollar year deal. Olive picks up her paroled brother at the prison and lets him stay at her place for the time being. Getting friendly with Owen as the FBI has insisted is going to be a problem for Nicholas since they have a history. Owen hates him and believes Nicholas seduced, slept with and murdered his girlfriend Nina years ago. Nick and Nina did get together and he was last seen with her, but her body was found out of state (Connecticut) and he has a solid alibi. This puts Olive in a bind, love for her brother and loving her hunky beau boss.
Earning money for the million dollar deal and to replenish his own savings, Nicholas has accepted a 200 grand job, stealing a classified USB drive from a gal who's a company bigwig. The company has high security, but Becker and his wife Kristen endulge in flings with other couples. Nick and Olive feign interest and while they're "busy," Nicholas steals the drive from Kristen's tote bag. Here the reader gets another steamy scene between Olive and Nicholas. With the money in his account, the $38,000 check Nicholas wrote to pay Olive for her first two weeks on the job won't bounce after all.
Owen has disappeared. He isn't answering the cell phone Olive gave him and she's worried about the contract killer. With Nicholas's help they visit the teacher-tutor who had a fling with Owen who was studying for his high school diploma while he was in prison. She turns out to be married and denies any relationship with Owen and doesn't know his whereabouts.
Next it's on to Mom's, Olive and Owen's ne'er-do-wel mother. And that's where he's at, drunk and high just like Mom and no thought that his sister would be worried. Once they head outside a car pulls up and fires a shot at Owen who ends up at the hospital in a coma. Even mom comes to visit and explains about the woman Owen is truly in love with, but knows he probably can never have. It's his adopted sister as it turns out. Mom and dad adopted Olive and Owen has known this since she was about 15. When his devoted sister wrote to him and visited him in prison they became quite close and Owen fell in love with her. And so Owen loves Olive his adopted sister and she's in love with Nicholas the man Owen knows is a criminal and believes to be the killer of Owen's girlfriend. Like I said it was just starting to get good when it ended.
Finally, the story concludes with the return of Sydney, Olive's roommate who's been in Hawaii.
The End
• ..
The Tell Me... books series.
1. Tell Me to Stop (2019) 2. Tell Me to Go (2019) 3. Tell Me to Stay (2019), about 300 pages. 4. Tell Me to Run (2019) 5. Tell Me to Fight (2019) 6. Tell Me to Lie (2020)
Where this series edged on Romance, now it’s more of a crime story – of sorts. There’s the element and undertone of sex, between Olive and Nicholas, but at the same time there are sexy times that you can’t even begin to imagine (who am I kidding of COURSE you have imagined them) coming on up!
In this third installment we have more questions than answers yet again. We watch the Relationship with Nicholas and Olive take a new turn, they get to that next level, yet there’s still always the notion of ‘the deal is off’ or ‘we’re done’ or ‘I don’t trust you’ lurking. At the same time, the relationship between Olive and Owen changes – we know that he’s been in jail for ten years, is up for parole and needs Olive’s help to testify on his behalf to get out. There are interesting circumstances that make this parole hearing happen and even more interesting circumstances that occur after the fact as well.
Olive’s given information from so many different directions about the people in her life. The prosecutor spills the tea about what Owen was into his whole life that Olive never knew. Nicholas shares a bit of information when Olive digs and on the flip side, Owen continues to share his opinion on Nicholas and his past. So you know that there’s no right side of the coin for her!
We know that cons and scams must continue to happen because we’ve learned that Nicholas is living beyond his means and cannot pay Olive the million dollars without doing the jobs. There’s also another guiding force behind the cons too – we know that Nicholas has been forced to work with the FBI because they have a file on him, so that means he’s never going to be free. Olive doesn’t know this yet.
Throughout this third story, we spend much of it wondering when the other shoe is going to drop and what’s going to happen. We know that Nicholas has to befriend Owen to do his job but that’s NEVER going to happen. We also know that Olive continues to want the best for everyone and wants Owen to be ok with her life choices and move on with his freedom, yet we quickly learn that there’s no freedom even for him.
There’s an interesting fun fact that Olive learns about herself in the end and it’s all because of something that Owen says to her, and that means that book four will be even more insane. I mean, there’s another level entirely being introduced to things and I wonder what that means.
There’s one more thing to mention – remember how Olive’s best friend and roommate Syndey met a guy James in HI and decided to stay there? Well, parting words of this book – ‘she’s back’. We don’t know why and we don’t know what it means for the story