Fate has a funny way of twisting together the lives of people who are destined to be connected, but just don’t know it yet.

One phone call.

That’s all it took to change Owen Carmichael’s life forever.

One meeting.

That’s all it took to turn Elle Blackwell’s life around.

Tangled, like the vines of the winery they both seek to control, will they realize they work better together than as enemies?

Tangled Vines by Melissa Collins
on September 21, 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
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Fate has a funny way of twisting together the lives of people who are destined to be connected, but just don’t know it yet.

One phone call.

That’s all it took to change Owen Carmichael’s life forever.

One meeting.

That’s all it took to turn Elle Blackwell’s life around.

Tangled, like the vines of the winery they both seek to control, will they realize they work better together than as enemies?

Melissa Collins has always been a book worm. Studying Literature in college ensured that her nose was always stuck in a book. She followed her passion for reading to the most logical career choice: English teacher. Her hope was to share her passion for reading and the escapism of books to her students. Having spent more than a decade in front of a classroom, she can easily say that it’s been a dream.
Her passion for writing didn’t start until more recently. When she was home on maternity leave in early 2012, she read her first romance novel and her head filled with the passion, angst and laughter of the characters who she read about it. It wasn’t long before characters of her own took shape in her mind. Their lives took over Melissa’s brain and The Love Series was born.  Check out Melissa’s Website for more info.

In honor of the cover reveal for Let Love Heal, the third book in the Love Series by Melissa Collins, I decided to post the long lost interview I did with Melissa on her first blog tour for Let Love In.

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?

That’s exactly what happened to Madeleine Becker 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.

Let Love Stay – Book #2

Check Out My Interview with Maddy and Reid as well as my review

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.

Let Love Heal – Book #3

Perfection. We all strive for it, but what happens when the desire to be perfect consumes you? What happens when the need to bury your mistakes blinds you?

Melanie Crane has always been the perfect daughter, friend, student – she’s been perfect at everything, in fact. But when she lets her insecurities, the ones that she keeps hidden from everyone, get the best of her, she falters in her pursuit of perfection. Melanie crumples under the pressure and buries her pain. Numbed by sadness and guilt, she is determined never to let anyone find out how broken she really is.

Bryan Mahoney may appear to have everything in order. He’s charming, witty and completely swoon-worthy. In short, Bryan has life all figured out, but appearances can be deceiving. When the landscape of Bryan’s family changes in an instant, he’s left to pick up the pieces.

Not all bruises leave a mark. Now, weary and afraid, Melanie and Bryan must find a way to let love heal their broken and jaded hearts.

Check out the Prologue for Let Love Heal

Now that you’re all caught up with The Love Series…check out what Melissa had to say when I put her in the hot seat! 🙂

Where did your inspiration from the story come from?

I wanted to create a story where one character had something that the other didn’t. In this case, that “something” is a family. I know lots of readers hate Maddy at the end, but really what’s motivating her is her own loss.

Did you have specific inspiration/people in mind for Reid and Maddy?

For Maddy, a lot of her personality inspiration – the sarcastic snarkiness – came from me. Yes, I’m openly admitting to being sarcastic. Those of you who know me in real life can see the similarities. Where Reid is concerned, I know many people think he’s a big old mush, so my personality inspiration for him came from every girl’s dream boyfriend. He’s totally swoon-worthy, right? This is how I see them.

Maddy

Reid

Did you swoon over Reid? I have to be honest, in the beginning I was worried – but he turned out to be quite the softy, was that all Maddy’s doing?

He does have a major character change and some people have said it’s a bit unbelievable, but love does some pretty crazy things to be people. There’s enough heart-ache in the real world, so yes, I wanted to make Reid extremely swoonable (ß not a real word, but I’m sticking with it). I think Reid wanted to find love, but he was so scared. Maddy’s innocence and vulnerability make him feel safe enough to finally open up. Every man needs a good woman. Maddy is most certainly Reid’s woman.

Did either character give you any “trouble” while writing? If so…which one was the most difficult?

If I’m being completely honest (which I have been, I promise), this is the first piece of fiction I’ve ever written. I studied English Literature and I’ve been a teacher for the last 10 years, but I’ve never written anything that wasn’t for school or work. So I was very surprised to see that both characters, and the minor characters as well, came to me fairly easy – as did the smut, that was fun to write as well. I will say that some of the guy banter was a bit difficult for me, because, well, because I’m not a guy.

If you have to pick one POV to write the entire book from, who would you choose – Maddy or Reid and why?

Reid. Definitely Reid. He’s a total guy’s guy. He’s hot. But then he’s a total sweetheart. Who doesn’t want to get inside the head of a man like that?

What was your favorite scene to write? What about least favorite/scene that nearly kicked your ass? 😛

I really (wink wink) enjoyed writing the scene where they “get together” (insert favorite euphemism for sex if you’d like) for the first time. It was sweet and romantic and pretty much every girl’s dream first time.

Reid’s nightmare was difficult for me to write. I knew how important the scene was to the book and I wanted to do it, and him, justice. The end was also a pain – for those of you who have read it, you understand. I just brainstormed that scene for a few days, started writing, scrapped what I had written and then started all over again. My husband reads all of my work and when I shared the end with him, he said “Nooo, it can’t be over. I want to read more.” And he’s not a reader, so I knew I had finally gotten it right.

Obviously…without spoilers…what’s in store for Maddy and Reid next – you left their ending very…mean/torturing/heartbreaking? (nope…I’m not bitter :-P)

Well, before they can get their happily ever after (which they do, I promise) they both have to work out the issues of their pasts. We all hate Maddy at the end, but in part she’s right. You do need to at least heal from your past before you can move on. They both have a lot of growing up to do, but it’s really very sweet to watch them do that together.

5 words you would use to describe yourself?

• Sarcastic – but then again, I already openly admitted to that 🙂
• Hard working
• Crazy – I have 3 kids under 4; I work full time; and I decided, quite randomly one day to write a book. Maybe I should be evaluated!
• Kind
• Dorky

Favorite Word?

Is it sad that I don’t have one?

Least Favorite Word?

Fag / Homo – Because most of the time, they’re used in blind hatred and ignorance.

Favorite Curse Word?

Fucker. Said in the right context it just has so much punch. A close second is Twatwaffle – just rolls off the tongue.

Favorite quote or saying?

My life is crazy and chaotic so to make it through the day I usually have to tell myself that “This too shall pass.”

If you could meet anyone (dead or alive) who would it be and why?

Dead – George Carlin – the man was a genius and freaking hilarious.

Alive – Morgan Freeman – is there anything the man can’t do?

Biggest regret and why?

I know it sounds lame, but I don’t have any regrets in my life. Every road that I’ve taken has brought me right to where I am. Sure, I’ve cursed that path every now and then, but without that journey, who knows how different my destination would have been.

Let Love In by Melissa Collins

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

*ARC Give to Blog for Honest Review*

4 “you make me happy” Kisses

You know those books that you think are going to be nice, cute, sweet, easy reads…that’s what I thought Let Love In was going to be. A nice, cute, sweet, easy read. Something that would give me that perfect little balance of angst, romance and sexy appeal. A heroine I could love, a hero I could drool over and a happy little HEA at the end. I had to take a step back and give myself time to let this book sink in before I wrote a review…this is a direct quote of the first thing I typed after finishing the book… ‘I am going to try…try being the operative word here…to calmly and rationally write out my thoughts and feelings about this book. I will be challenged greatly because while I loved this book through about 80-90% of it, the last 10% just knocked me so flat on my ass, I dunno what to think, say or feel. I live for books to bring out emotions in me, it’s like my crack addition, but lord sweet JESUS…I was not prepared. *Breathing exercises* I can do this….maybe….’ Yeah…so that all those nice, cute, sweet, easy feelings…that’s not all I got!

Madeleine Renee Becker…5’7”, soft wavy golden blonde hair and bright vibrant green eyes – she’s a gorgeous, sad girl. Maddy has suffered more tragedy in life than one should have to deal with before the age of 18. At 10 years old she lost both her parents in a car accident ‘It seem like my life was plagued by death and I was only in fourth grade.’ …how can you read a statement like that and not internally break for this character. She’s raised by her elderly Aunt until she passes away and then lives with the only other family she knows, her best friend (Melanie Crane) and her mother, Momma Crane. Maddy pulled on all my heart strings…she’s strong, resilient, but oh so very sad and fragile…she just holds it in too well.

‘The tears are quickly followed by sobs – gut wrenching, chest heaving sobs. I sink down to the sand and cover my face. I’m crying because I’ve hurt Jay, but more so because I hurt. Just when I thought that maybe, just maybe, I could start to feel better about my life, it all comes crashing down around me. I know I don’t love Jay, but not loving him makes me feel like I’m never going to love anyone. If I can’t love someone like him, then I am broken beyond repair.’

So she’s getting ready to go off to college with her bestie and what’s a better way to start off a new school year then to crush your boyfriend of 2 years. It’s not that Maddy isn’t capable of love, it’s just easier to keep people at arms length when you’ve suffered such an enormous loss. She has walls that are 10 feet thick and if poor Jay couldn’t break them down in two years, you would think she’s a lost cause. She even thinks she’s a lost cause. So she goes off to college with a set of rules…

‘They’re very simple promises, but ones that I hope will wipe the slate clean.
1. Choose happy.
2. Appreciate beauty.
3. Let love it.
Like I said, simple, refreshingly simple.’

And it really is…so enter Reid Connely, ‘…six feet two inches of solid, gorgeous, beautiful man….’ – he’s a droolworthy little sucker but I gotta be honest…I didn’t like Reid at first. It worried me because even when my hero’s are ass holes, there is still a small masochistic side of me that secretly loves them despite it. You love them because of their flaws – Reid’s flaws just pissed me off a little bit. He’s fragile and broken like Maddy, they need each other so very badly – and he fights it because he is not the relationship guy. It doesn’t last…it never does. 😛

‘For the first time ever, I want a girl for more than just one night, for more than just sex. She’s alive and vibrant. I just feel like she sees me, the real me. Scares the shit out of me, but I can’t deny it any longer.’

I really enjoyed watching Maddy and Reid’s relationship develop, I think that this was one of the best developed couples I’ve read. You get to seem them piece by piece as they go thru, not only do they ‘talk’ about their relationship and their feelings but you really do actually get to see a lot of it, which helped me fall in love with them more. They grow with each other, which in turn brings them together more as a couple. It wasn’t an easy or fast love, it took time to mature…but once again, it makes you appreciate it that much more. It feels genuine and real.

“You’ve completely knocked me off my game. I’ve never met anyone like you and it scares the shit out me. It’s like you don’t see my.” My brow furrows in confusion and I move to interrupt but he continues before I get the chance. “You don’t see me; you see straight through me. You see beyond the outside and it’s like you see the me that no one else sees. I saw it in your eyes that first night I met you and it knocked me on my ass. I was a goner and since then I guess I’ve just been trying to push you away.”

There was quite a bit of angst throughout the book…you’re dealing with two people who have never really been in a relationship like this before – fuck up’s are bound to happen, and they do…but it’s how they deal with them that matters. How they let those mistakes shape them as individuals and as a couple, which in turn makes them better together. But the last 10-20% I mentioned – lord have mercy, I was not expecting that angst.

“You’ve completely knocked me off my game. I’ve never met anyone like you and it scares the shit out me. It’s like you don’t see my.” My brow furrows in confusion and I move to interrupt but he continues before I get the chance. “You don’t see me; you see straight through me. You see beyond the outside and it’s like you see the me that no one else sees. I saw it in your eyes that first night I met you and it knocked me on my ass. I was a goner and since then I guess I’ve just been trying to push you away.”

It took me by surprise…I did not know this wasn’t a stand alone – not that that is a bad thing, it just took me by surprise cause the closer I got to the end, the more it hit me that ‘wait a minute’ feeling when you finally realize this book is not going to be able to wrap it up in time! And then holy cliffhanger from hell! OMG my emotions….I wanted to clap and be proud but then cry and scream and be frustrated…the ending messed with my poor little brain big time.

“Happy? Are you kidding? Maddy, you are the reason I breathe. Without you, my life would have no meaning at all, so saying that you ‘make me happy’ is a huge fucking understatement.
You bring more happiness into my life than ever thought I deserved.”

So we bounce back and forth with POV’s between Maddy and Reid…it was clear and never confusing, and I did enjoy seeing things from both perspectives. And we also get a good dose of Maddy’s best friend that I mentioned earlier, Melanie. It’s actually really cute, because Reid is no dummy – he knows the quickest way to a girls heart is thru her best friend…so what does he do? Becomes good friends with Mel. It’s actually pretty adorable. Oh and I forgot to mention the ‘six degrees of Kevin Bacon’ – Reid is roommates with the boyfriend of one of Maddy’s suitemates.

‘And then there’s the impossible to ignore fact that he makes me happier than I’ve ever been in my life. I could be lame and quote some cheesy ass chick flick saying that he completes me, but that’s a load of crap. He doesn’t make me whole; he doesn’t erase the pain I’ve felt for most of my life. Being with him isn’t some cure all to everything I’ve ever dealt with, but when I’m with him, I’m me. I’m the person I have always wanted to be – fun, lighthearted, playful, flirty, sexy, seductive, and loving. He’s opened me up to the possibility of a completely different future than I ever envisioned for myself – a future that I just can’t imagine him not being a part of.’

Melissa has set this up for an amazing sequel and I can’t wait to see what she does with it. Reid and Maddy have a lot yet to accomplish and I know there will be an HEA well worth the aguish and havoc that was unleashed upon my psyche. I can act like I was mad and frustrated that it was a cliff, but at the end of the day, what matters is that Let Love In evoked enough emotion out of me to be mad. I’m invested in the characters and story enough to care that it didn’t end HEA. So now I just have to anxiously await Let Love Stay. 🙂

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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

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! 🙂

View all my reviews

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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