If you’re lucky, you’ll fall in love – truly, madly and deeply in love. But what happens when that honest and pure love isn’t enough to erase your fears? What happens when your past rears its ugly head and threatens your future?
Maddy and Reid had that kind of love – the all-encompassing, Earth shattering, once in a lifetime kind of love. Then life happened. Old wounds that were thought to be long healed and scabbed over are ripped opened and they are forced to face the possibility that, maybe, they are not strong enough to fight their demons and embrace the light.
Together, they found out what love is, but now they will each need to heal on their own before they can ever be together again. They must face their fears and beat down their pasts in order to find their way through this crazy uphill battle called love.
They’ve let love in, but now, they need to find out how to Let Love Stay.
Have you read the first book in the Love Series? Let Love In must be read before Let Love Stay…check out my review here!
What would happen if you lost everything? If the people who were supposed to love you unconditionally were no longer there for you, how would your world change?
Madeleine Becker lost everything when her parents died when she was ten years old. Ripped from her home and everything that she has ever loved, she is forced to start all over again. The only way for her to move on is to build walls around her heart and keep everyone at a safe distance. Her logic: she can’t get hurt if she doesn’t fall in love.
That theory is blown to pieces when she meets Reid Connely during her freshman year at college. He is gorgeous and darkly mysterious. He understands Maddy’s pain all too well, but sharing his pain would mean breaking down the walls he put up around his own heart. Conflicted between loving Maddy and hiding his dark past, Reid starts to reevaluate his world. Maddy’s inner strength, snarky personality and breath taking beauty help Reid to make peace with his past.
Together they find out what happens when they let love in.
I’m very excited to get to meet Reid and Maddy from Let Love In/Let Love Stay. I heart them big time – they’re like a life size Barbie and Ken doll. I arrive at the local coffee shop where we decided to meet and walk in to find them already seated at a small bistro table near the back. Perfect – nice and quiet so I can pick their brains without being disturbed.
They rise to greet me, shaking my hand. They’re both so warm and friendly and couldn’t look any happier. Gives me butterflies! They’re soooo cute!
Lisa: “Well I know you both are very busy, so if you don’t mind, I guess we’ll jump right in.”
Reid: “Sounds good to us.”
Maddy looks over to me, smiling and nodding in agreement.
Lisa: “So, Reid, what do you think Shane would think about Maddy?”
Reid looks over and smiles warmly at Maddy.
Reid: “He’d love her. Hell, he’d have a partner in crime with her.”
Maddy grabs his hand and lovingly squeezes. Awww…. I give them both a wam smile.
Lisa: “Personally, I thought your old car was pretty sweet – do you miss your mustang?”
Reid: “Hell, yeah that car was awesome. Had lots of good memories in that car.”
He says with a cocky smile. Maddy gives him a sideways glance and he quickly straightens in his chair.
Reid: “Um, what I meant to say is no. No, I don’t miss that car one bit.”
Nice recovery Reid.
Lisa: “How is work going? Everything you thought it would be?”
Reid’s face splits into a mega-watt, panty-dropping smile.
Reid: “It’s freaking great. I’ve actually been meeting with this one kid lately and he reminds me so much of Shane it’s scary. I met him at a presentation we did at the local high school and he’s been coming to The Bridge for a few weeks now and I really hope to help him out. Oh and working with Dylan every day is great too. It’s like I got back a piece of my family when he came back.”
I think the biggest reason why that smile is panty-dropping is because it’s genuine. You can hear the joy in his voice.
Lisa: “Biggest regret?”
As Reid rubs his hands nervously over his thighs, his eyes search the ceiling for an answer.
Reid: “My mom. I just wish I had more time with her.”
Maddy reaches over and places her hand over his chest, where his tattoo is inked. Looking down at Maddy’s hand, Reid instinctively reaches his up to encompass hers. It’s very touching…makes my little heart squeeze.
Lisa: “Alright Miss. Madeline – it’s your turn!”
She gives me a big smile.
Maddy: “I’m ready.”
Lisa: “What do you think your parents would think about Reid?”
Maddy: “I think my dad would have hated him at first!”
Reid swats her on the arm playfully.
Reid: “Hey! I’m not that bad, am I?”
Maddy: “No, silly! I just mean that when we first met, you were pretty much every father’s worst nightmare. Now, well, now you’re a dream come true.”
She speaks the truth!
Lisa: “Can you imagine your life without momma and Mel?”
Maddy: “Not one bit. I don’t know what ever made me think they weren’t my family. Momma stops over a few times a week to visit Braden. She loves that little boy like he’s her own. She makes me miss my mom just a little bit less.”
Aww…
Lisa: “Do you still have plans to go back to college?”
Maddy: “Absolutely. I signed up for night classes as soon as I moved back home. It was a difficult decision to leave Mel and the girls back at Ithaca, but things have a funny way of working out.”
Lisa: “Good for you! What’s your biggest regret?”
Maddy: “Pushing Reid away in the hospital.”
Reid drapes his arm around Maddy’s shoulder and kisses the top of her head. Placing her hand on his knee, she squeezes gently and continues,
Maddy: “I should know better than anyone that people react to things in their own way. It wasn’t fair, but at the time it was a defense mechanism, I guess. But it brought him closure with his mom and we made it work in the end, so I guess I can’t regret it too much.”
Lisa: “As long as it worked out, that’s what matters. Alright, now it’s time for both of you at the same time – what are your favorite 5 things about the other – physical and non physical” 😉
Maddy: “Hmmm, non – physical, let’s see: he’s smart and caring. He cooks, because Lord knows I can’t. He’s an amazing dad and he makes me laugh. Physical, ehhh, I guess he’s okay.”
They both laugh but then Maddy flushes and her cheeks turn pink. She’s so cute.
Maddy: “I’ll keep it PG-13 and say – his hands, his lips, his arms, his eyes and his tattoos.”
Lisa: “Hmm…good answers!”
Reid’s eyes rake over Maddy’s body from head to toe.
Reid: “Yeah, there’s only one thing I can come up with physically.”
A shocked look flits across Maddy’s face as she hits him on the chest.
Maddy: “Only one?!”
Reid: “Yep, just one. EVERYTHING!”
He has a huge shit eating grin as he kisses the tip of her nose and she smiles brightly back at him.
Reid: “And non-physical, yeah, I’m going to say EVERYTHING again.”
Maddy: “See, I told you he was smart!”
I didn’t think it was possible for Maddy to smile any bigger than she already was.
Lisa: “What’s your biggest pet peeve?”
Maddy: “When other girls hit on him. I mean, I’m right there, with his kid no less. I mean come on!!!”
Reid tries to stifle his laughter, but when a chuckle slips out, Maddy crosses her arms across her chest.
Reid: “Sorry about that, babe. I can’t help it if they all want me.”
Maddy shrugs her shoulders, and allows Reid to pull her into his side in an embrace.
Maddy: “Whatever. I get to bring you home at night. They can look all they want.”
Tapping his finger to his bottom lip, Reid looks like he’s thinking carefully about his response.
Reid: “I would have to say that my biggest pet peeve is blind hatred. It brings me back to all of the things that Shane and Dylan and too many other people have through. There’s no reason to hate someone over who they love.”
Lisa: “Very insightful Reid, I have to agree with Maddy, you are pretty smart. You’ve had an ‘unconventional’ relationship from the start – was there an ‘ah-ha’ moment when you ‘knew ‘that this was the only person for you or was it gradual?”
They both look at each other and answer at the same time.
Maddy: “Gradual.”
Reid: “Instantly.”
Maddy gapes over at him with a “you have got to be kidding me face”
Maddy: “Seriously?! You were all douche-tastic in the beginning!”
Reid’s face sobers a bit and he sit up straighter in his seat.
Reid: “Yeah, I’m not proud of that. But it was because I knew right away that you were different. I’m not too macho to say that it scared me and I acted like an ass.”
Lisa: “Well, at least you can admit that now. And speaking of admitting – re-do time! The night at the hospital, what would each of you done differently?”
Reid: “I never would have walked out.”
Maddy: “I never would have pushed him away.”
Lisa: “Alright, I’ve been too serious – kinky question time! 😛 Have you had more fun with using the belt from Maddy’s robe?” Lol
I can’t help but giggle as I watch Maddy slink down into her chair and her face turn red. Reid sits up proudly and his lips curl into a sexy, lopsided grin. No one says anything.
Lisa: “Alright…maybe too kinky! We’ll move on! Where do you see yourselves in the next 5 years?”
Reid: “I’d like to finally buy that house I promised her. She deserves a white picket fence and all that stuff.”
Reid’s chest puffs with pride as he smiles at Maddy and she beams back at him. Gah…they’re just so stinkin’ cute.
Maddy: “I’m perfect where we are, but I’d like to be done with school. Maybe another kid.”
Reid smiles and pulls her close.
Lisa: “Okay, time for some word association – give me the first thing that comes to mind – Family?”
Maddy and Reid answer at the same time: “Braden”
Aww…it’s cute and dorky and sweet and they turn to each other and share a small kiss.
Lisa: “Shane?”
Reid almost subconsciously rubs the scar on his chin.
Reid: “Pain.”
Maddy: “Dylan.”
Lisa: “Trust?”
Reid: “Maddy.”
Maddy: “Melanie.”
Looking at Reid, I say,
Lisa: “Maddy?”
Reid: “Perfect.”
I grin and nod, and turn to Maddy,
Lisa: “Reid?”
Maddy: “Happily ever after.”
I think I might get a tooth-ache from all the cuteness and sweetness – but I still love it.
Lisa: “Love?”
Reid: “Her.”
Maddy: “Possible.”
Lisa: “Very good answers! Ya’ll are surprising me a little bit – now for some rapid fire questions – it’s really easy, either/or, just pick one…fast or slow?”
Maddy: “Slow.
Reid: “Slow…THEN fast.”
Kinky…I like it! 😉
Lisa: “Books or movies?”
Maddy: “My Kindle”
Smart Girl!
Reid: “Not chick flicks.”
Such a boy!
Lisa: “Muscle cars or jeeps?”
Maddy: “Jeep”
Reid: “Jeep. You’d be surprised how much room is in the back when you fold the seat down!”
Kinky again! Love it!!! 😀 Maddy blushes and gives him a love tap. He kisses the top of her head as she buries her face in his shirt. She’s so cute when she is embarrassed.
Lisa: “Chocolate or vanilla?”
Maddy: “Chocolate”
Reid: “Vanilla.”
He winks and adds,
Reid: “As long as I get to keep the robe belt.”
I think the reddish-hue on Maddy’s cheeks might be permanent!
Lisa: “Hot or cold?”
Together: “HOT!!”
We all share a laugh at their enthusiastic, in-unison response.
Lisa: “Go out or stay in?”
Reid: “Stay in. I love coming home to my family at the end of the day.”
Awwww…
Maddy: “And we love when you come home. I say “in” too.”
Bigger Awwwww!!!!!
Lisa: “Hard or soft?”
Maddy: “Both. As long as it’s with him, I’ll take it every way I can.”
Reid: “What she said!”
Yup, it has been confirmed. I love them to bits and pieces. We stay and chat for a while, I try and get the scoop from Maddy about Mel but she is sadly tight lipped. Going to make me wait *sigh* Of course Reid is enjoying telling me loads of stories about Braden – such a proud daddy…so freakin cute and makes him that much more drool-worthy. I don’t even realize how long we’ve been talking until I glance at my phone and realize we’ve been there for over two hours just chatting. I give them both hugs and we say our goodbyes and I watch them walk off hand-in-hand. 🙂
Let Love Stay by Melissa Collins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
*ARC Given to Blog for Honest Review*
3 “…I don’t feel chained to my past. I feel freed by my future.” kisses
I am rarely at a loss for words. In fact, I usually have too many. But I feel stuck here. After getting cliffed in Let Love In I was very ready for Maddy and Reid’s HEA. I’m an HEA lover, I need that completion and I was looking forward to the HEA that Maddy and Reid deserved. While I did love Maddy and Reid’s ending, the road to get there…it just…wasn’t what I expected. Let Love Stay picks up right where Let Love In left off, so there is no story overlapping here – and if you haven’t read Let Love In…do not proceed because Let Love Stay will not make any sense at all. We’ve still got the dual POV’s from Maddy and Reid, so as sequels, these book fit really well together…they’re seamless in that respect and compliment each other very well.
Maddy…my dear sweet Madeline Renee Becker. She’s still this brave resilient girl, wrapped up in a sweet, loveable package that is just trying so freaking hard to do her best. She had to make a decision at the end of Let Love In…a difficult decision. One that she regrets. A lot. But I think I disagree with her – I didn’t at the time obviously…but looking back, I think the time that Maddy and Reid spent apart was crucial for their relationship. I will explain….
‘How on earth can I choose between losing Maddy and facing my past? Right now both choices seem like hell – my hell.’
Reid Connely has been changed…by One. Single. Girl. The one he didn’t see coming, that knocked him off his game, onto his pretty, sweet ass and left him begging for more. I found Reid’s reaction to the way Maddy pushed him away very…frustrating at the time. I wanted him to fight for her. I almost felt like he gave up or maybe just gave in too easily…but once again, thinking back on it…it was necessary for them. They are still young, all of this is overwhelming, this is the first time both of them have ever been in love and in a real relationship – the split was logical and made sense. I do think Maddy had a point in wanting Reid to address the issues he had with his mother, it was important for him, as a character.
“Oh, sweetie, love is always complicated. You can’t expect to hand your soul over to someone else without any bumps along the way. Not every relationship survives those dark times, but I’ve seen the way Reid looks at you – the way you look at him – I think you two will work it out.”
Maddy and Reid were not relationship people before they met each other. So…having that connection and those feelings can and would be a shock. But after they break up and go their separate ways you know and expect for them to learn and grow as they as individuals. I feel like they did that…a little bit…but it was maybe 50% growth and 50% thinking they made a mistake by breaking up and blaming themselves for pushing him away/walking away from her. In the heat of the moment you make decisions – you may question them later but don’t use that as a way to back down from what you did or said. Everything they fought over was valid and needed to be resolved. I felt like they did that to a certain extent but it did frustrate me a little when they were more focused on the mistake the made by pushing away/walking away. So instead of being frustrated that they didn’t fight for each other like I was in the first one, I was frustrated that they didn’t use their time to grow while they were separated more…wisely? Not sure if that’s the right word, but you get the picture.
‘“Maddy, please understand me when I say this, I love you.” He squeeze my hand lightly on each of his last three words. “I wish I was smarter. I wish I had more experience in this whole relationship thing. I wish I could make you understand the weight of my words, but please baby, please understand that the words ‘I love you’ don’t even come close to expressing how I feel about you.” His eye contact never wavers; his grip on y hands never loosens.’
The story did surprise me when it focused a lot more on the relationship between Reid and his mother than I thought it would. I liked it because it was very necessary considering it was one of the main reasons that they broke up but at the same time…I wanted Reid and Maddy to hurry up and be together, so I was torn. Craving them together, but liking Reid’s character development. I know…I make no sense…but it’s true! And, obviously, I knew they still loved each other and missed each other, but it was a little over the top as a whole in some areas. After they finally got back together, I did get a little bored with the constant “I love you’s” – they were tolerable to a point but when it’s being said more than once within one page I’m going to roll my eyes a little bit. Something that did surprise me was the sex! I liked the sex scenes in LLI but the hot factor was kicked up a notch in LLS – like Reid turns into a bit of a Dom, there is a little more kink and the sex scenes just seem to be more…detailed, more erotic – I liked it, it just surprised me. The kink/Dom thing especially. I could see that possibility in Reid but I just really didn’t expect it to actually happen.
‘Pulling back from me, she looks up into my eyes and smiles brightly. God I love her. Everything about her, about us, feels so surreal and unlikely. I’ll never be able to understand how two people – once so broken and guarded, have been able to find the love and compassion that they never thought they deserved.’
Don’t get me wrong, I did like Maddy and Reid’s ending, but after the cliff, I had very high expectations, so it’s almost my own fault a little bit. It surprised me in ways I wasn’t expecting and took a few different approaches that caught me off guard, but overall their HEA was great. I soooo can’t wait for Mel’s story – big time! There are a lot of open questions in regards to her and Bryan…I need answers and I think that Mel and Bryan’s story might be better than Reid and Maddy’s! 🙂
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I’ve always been an avid reader. Majoring in English Literature was a no brainer. Becoming a teacher and instilling my love for reading into my students was also a no brainer. I’ve spent the last ten years teaching and I’ve loved (mostly) every minute of it. When I was home on maternity leave for my third son, I discovered a new genre that sparked my creativity. My passion for writing sprang from my love of reading and once I knew I had a story to tell, I couldn’t wait to get it out there. I only hope that my readers enjoy reading my story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Check out Melissa’s Website
