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caseroo7's review against another edition
3.0
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**
romancejunkie1025's review against another edition
4.0
another good story about teh beauty of living nd loving in a small town. Can't wait to see whose story comes next
bookloverchelle's review against another edition
4.0
Another great read from Jaci Burton in the Hope series. Reid is back in town to help rebuild the mercantile back to it's original glory. He plans this to just be a short trip to Hope, he has an architectural business in Boston to return to, but local florist Samantha is becoming too much of a temptation. Sam knows she's attracted to Reid but understands that he isn't staying in town long term so she doesn't want to care too much for him. But her heart doesn't listen to her head and she falls hard. But will Reid give up his life in Boston to explore his feelings for Sam or will their short romance be their only time together? Great read!
scoutmomskf's review against another edition
4.0
Good small town story with a sweet romance combined with a bit of heat. Reid McCormack made his return to Hope in the previous book (Love After All) to attend his brother's wedding. While there, he and his brothers bought one of the town's historic buildings, preventing it from being demolished. Now Reid is in charge of its renovation, keeping him in Hope for an extended time before he heads back to Boston and his life there. He didn't count on getting involved with Sam.
Sam is the owner of the local florist shop, which she has taken over from her grandmother. She has a busy life, centered around her work and watching over Grammy Claire. She's fascinated by the plans for the mercantile and has had a quiet crush growing for Reid. Acting on it wasn't in her plans, but resisting the attraction proved to be impossible.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Sam and Reid. They are both part of the same group of friends, so they have known each other for a while, but it's only recently that there has been more to it. Both of them have noted the attraction, but Reid is determined to return to Boston, and Sam wants more than just a fling from her next relationship. Though both try to ignore the sparks, but that doesn't work for long. The friendship that has grown between them turns into friends with benefits, and those benefits are pretty intense. More than passion, the time they spend together also deepens the bond between them. I loved seeing the two of them watching out for each other, understanding and supportive when lives get busy. It was sweet to see the number of times one or the other would show up with food just when the other needed a break. I also liked Reid's quiet presence when Sam was dealing with her grandmother's issues, supportive but not controlling.
As the weeks went on, their feelings deepened. Sam was the first to admit it to herself, but couldn't bring herself to say anything. Reid's plans to return to Boston have never been in doubt, and she won't guilt him into staying in Hope. I ached for her and her pain in letting him go but really wished that she had given him at least a hint of what she felt. Reid spent a much longer time denying his feelings. He spent more and more time reminding himself that he was going back to Boston, and each time it seemed to be a harder sell. I loved seeing his friends and family doing their best to convince him to come home to stay, and I wanted to shake Reid out of his stubborn determination. I liked the boot in the butt that his brothers provided. Fortunately, when Reid finally makes up his mind, he's very focused. I liked his big moment at the end, as he takes his courage in hand and goes for it.
Even more than Reid and Sam, whose romance I did enjoy, I loved the dog. I loved how he attached himself to Reid and would not be dissuaded. I liked Reid's acceptance of the dog's attention, even though he kept trying to deny their bond. His frequent response of "he's not my dog" soon became the dog's name. It was fun to see Reid talk to the dog and imagine the dog's answers. He was a wonderful sounding board for Reid's dilemmas, especially when it came to his relationship with Sam.
As always in series like this, I like being able to catch up with characters from previous books. Casual scenes like the gang meeting at Bash's bar give glimpses into their everyday lives, while events like the ranch barbeque are the opportunity to witness major life events. I loved the house scene with Bash and Chelsea and her closet dilemma. There's also a hint for a future book that looks like it could have some drama to it.
Sam is the owner of the local florist shop, which she has taken over from her grandmother. She has a busy life, centered around her work and watching over Grammy Claire. She's fascinated by the plans for the mercantile and has had a quiet crush growing for Reid. Acting on it wasn't in her plans, but resisting the attraction proved to be impossible.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Sam and Reid. They are both part of the same group of friends, so they have known each other for a while, but it's only recently that there has been more to it. Both of them have noted the attraction, but Reid is determined to return to Boston, and Sam wants more than just a fling from her next relationship. Though both try to ignore the sparks, but that doesn't work for long. The friendship that has grown between them turns into friends with benefits, and those benefits are pretty intense. More than passion, the time they spend together also deepens the bond between them. I loved seeing the two of them watching out for each other, understanding and supportive when lives get busy. It was sweet to see the number of times one or the other would show up with food just when the other needed a break. I also liked Reid's quiet presence when Sam was dealing with her grandmother's issues, supportive but not controlling.
As the weeks went on, their feelings deepened. Sam was the first to admit it to herself, but couldn't bring herself to say anything. Reid's plans to return to Boston have never been in doubt, and she won't guilt him into staying in Hope. I ached for her and her pain in letting him go but really wished that she had given him at least a hint of what she felt. Reid spent a much longer time denying his feelings. He spent more and more time reminding himself that he was going back to Boston, and each time it seemed to be a harder sell. I loved seeing his friends and family doing their best to convince him to come home to stay, and I wanted to shake Reid out of his stubborn determination. I liked the boot in the butt that his brothers provided. Fortunately, when Reid finally makes up his mind, he's very focused. I liked his big moment at the end, as he takes his courage in hand and goes for it.
Even more than Reid and Sam, whose romance I did enjoy, I loved the dog. I loved how he attached himself to Reid and would not be dissuaded. I liked Reid's acceptance of the dog's attention, even though he kept trying to deny their bond. His frequent response of "he's not my dog" soon became the dog's name. It was fun to see Reid talk to the dog and imagine the dog's answers. He was a wonderful sounding board for Reid's dilemmas, especially when it came to his relationship with Sam.
As always in series like this, I like being able to catch up with characters from previous books. Casual scenes like the gang meeting at Bash's bar give glimpses into their everyday lives, while events like the ranch barbeque are the opportunity to witness major life events. I loved the house scene with Bash and Chelsea and her closet dilemma. There's also a hint for a future book that looks like it could have some drama to it.
chailady's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
scrublife3011's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
cgroup6's review against another edition
3.0
Another good addition to this series. Felt a little rushed at the end, otherwise, I would have given more stars. Enjoyable nonetheless.
lauribooks's review against another edition
2.0
Este es el que menos me ha gustado de la saga hasta ahora. Y me parece una pena, porque Sam me parece una chica muy dulce y generosa, pero no me han gustado ni los personajes ni la historia. Para empezar, en el primer libro nos cuentan que la madre de Logan, Luke y Reid se volvió a casar cuando el padre murió y se fue del rancho. En este libro ya no es una viuda que se fuga de la ciudad sino una mujer que se divorcia de su primer marido. ¿En qué quedamos?
Además, los personajes se me han quedado muy planos, sobre todo Reid. Le falta mucha profundidad para mi gusto. Sam está un poco mejor perfilada y la relación que tiene con su abuela me ha encantado, probablemente sea lo que más me ha gustado del libro. Cierta escena en la consulta del médico me ha sacado la lagrimita y todo.
La historia de ambos es precipitada, se enamoran de golpe, me ha faltado una transición. Y ese final... volvemos otra vez a esos finales que se cortan nada más sucede la reconciliación.
Sinceramente, me ha decepcionado mucho. Tengo muchas expectativas puestas en el siguiente porque Megan me ha enamorado en los libros anteriores, espero honestamente que mejore porque sino probablemente abandonaré la serie.
Además, los personajes se me han quedado muy planos, sobre todo Reid. Le falta mucha profundidad para mi gusto. Sam está un poco mejor perfilada y la relación que tiene con su abuela me ha encantado, probablemente sea lo que más me ha gustado del libro. Cierta escena en la consulta del médico me ha sacado la lagrimita y todo.
La historia de ambos es precipitada, se enamoran de golpe, me ha faltado una transición. Y ese final... volvemos otra vez a esos finales que se cortan nada más sucede la reconciliación.
Sinceramente, me ha decepcionado mucho. Tengo muchas expectativas puestas en el siguiente porque Megan me ha enamorado en los libros anteriores, espero honestamente que mejore porque sino probablemente abandonaré la serie.
kimmypete1's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed Make Me Stay, though the ending felt a bit rushed.