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
I get out of the truck and walk over towards the two of them. Maddy’s back is to me as I approach her and her date, so she doesn’t see me right away. But once the guy sees me, she spins around to look at what has caught his eye.
Her face is shocked and when our eyes lock, my heart skips a beat. There’s a pull between us. As much as I hate to admit it, she owns me. Her eyes are magical. They dance with light and passion and when she looks at me, they are filled with love.
The love and passion that are sparkling in her emerald green eyes evaporate when she realizes the scene that I’ve just stumbled upon. I can only imagine what’s going through her mind, but I’m sure the images of me kicking Logan’s ass are flashing vividly through her mind.
I’m no more than a few feet from them when the guy pushes Maddy behind him to protect her from what he perceives as a threat. He’s not very far from the truth, but she’s not the one who needs protecting.
Menacingly close now, he pipes up. “Who the fuck are you? What do you want?” Okay, I’ll give the prick a little bit of credit for trying to stand up to me, but he has no clue what he’s competing against here.
The caveman in me wants to deck this guy and drag Maddy into a bed – any bed – and claim her, repeatedly, until she understands that she’s mine and no one else’s. I’m going to do that anyway, but hopefully I can refrain from knocking this guy on his ass. I’d like to have the use of my hands tonight.
My eyes never leave Maddy’s, but my words are directed at him. “Me? I’m the boyfriend, asshole.” Maddy’s eyes widen slightly as I say “boyfriend.” Did she really think we ever broke up?
I avert my gaze from Maddy for a minute to stare this douchebag down. “And who the fuck do you think you are?” He falters, not enough that most people would notice, but I’m in predator mode. I see his throat work hard to swallow past the newly formed fear. His pupils dilate slightly and the pulse beating in his neck picks up as adrenaline surges through him. If he thinks he’s going to win this battle, he is wrong – so fucking wrong.
He puffs out his chest as he says, “I’m Maddy’s date for tonight.” He snickers lightly as he says, “You know? She never mentioned a boyfriend when I asked her out. Must not be much of a boyfriend if she doesn’t even mention you.” He swells with pride at his snarky little quip. In the split second he looks away from me to gauge Maddy’s approval, I lay him flat on the ground as I drop my shoulder into his gut and take his legs out from underneath him with one of my own. I freaking love my takedown skills. I didn’t even have to bust up my hands. I’m definitely going to need them in a little bit.
I straddle over him and pull him up by the collar. “Whether she mentioned me or not, she’s mine, so lay the fuck off. Got it?”
Maddy still hasn’t said a word and I haven’t actually spoken directly to her. I’m pretty sure she understands my actions though. Wordlessly, I reach my hand out to her. This is her chance. If she still wants me, then she’ll come with me. This is who I am, who I’ve always been. If she can’t understand that I love her, that I want her more than anything, then it’s not because I haven’t tried as hard as I possibly could to prove it to her.
Hand still outstretched, I look her directly in the eyes, as I try to convey everything that I’m thinking, that I’m feeling. In what feels like an act of God, she understands me and laces her hand in mine.
This review is for the second book in The Love Series LET LOVE STAY. If you have not read the first book in the series, you may want to skip down the page and check out the synopsis, excerpt, and my review of the first book LET LOVE IN. From there grab yourself a copy from the purchase links provided, get acquainted with Reid and Maddy and then return and read this review so nothing is spoiled for you. Or just fall completely in love with these characters and the story, get the second book as soon as you finish the first, plow through it and then go share your own review. But either way seriously you will want to GET. THESE. BOOKS! ;)
**Spoiler free for those who have read LLI**
Alright well I didn't think that I could love a set of characters so freaking much but I do. I fell head over heels with both Maddy and Reid in Let Love In, they were both so broken, so hurt, had so many walls up... and were absolutely perfect for each other. The conclusion of their story in Let Love Stay does not disappoint and it blew all my expectations out of the water.
The story picks up right from where Let Love In left off and Maddy and Reid are well... they each have some decisions to make. Reid has to process where his head is and what he is willing to confront about his past and what he isn't. And Maddy with the accident and her most recent news, again in her life she has some major changes and moves to make. Needless to say things are not easy for them off the start.
"Love is always complicated. You can't expect to hand your soul to someone else without any bumps along the way. Not every relationship survives those dark times,but...I think you two will work it out"
Melissa Collins introduced us to Maddy and Reid when she brought them to life in Let Love In, but in Let Love Stay they come leaping off the pages and solidify themselves in our hearts. Maddy and Reid are quite possibly the realist fictional couple there is, I truly adored this story and everyone in it. The moments of angst countered with pure blissful happiness, the sad tears covered by tears of absolute joy and utter satisfaction. Reid and Maddy apart and getting it together is a wonderful journey but Reid and Maddy as a front, united and slowly walking toward the future, facing their fears, demons, and pasts together and head on was genuinely outstanding and a remarkably written experience.
Let Love Stay, this whole series in fact, is absolute perfection. Written flawlessly from start to finish Melissa Collins will have you completely captivated and fully absorbed in her plot and her characters. Sentence by sentence, page by page you will feel what they feel, and be wholeheartedly enveloped into their world until you have reached the last page and the ultimate Happily Ever After. A touching tale of forgiveness, acceptance, strength, and finding your one true love, your soul mate. All told and pieced together effortlessly, the art of a master storyteller.
I have given both books in this series a shining 5 stars, and would recommend them to everyone. I look forward to continuing on the Love Series journey with Melanie in the third book - Let Love Heal, (Add to Goodreads TBR here) where I'm hoping we'll get plenty more of Momma C, and I'm sure get to revisit with Reid, Maddy and all the other characters we have grown to love. ♥
THE LOVE SERIES BOOK #1
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.
There was a group playing quarters on the island and another group lining up shots on the breakfast bar – so not my scene. I just shrugged my shoulders, opened the door, pulled out a bottle of water and, when I turned around to walk back outside, I face-planted into a wall of solid muscle.
“Hand me one?” His voice was smooth and... gruff at the same time. Red-faced, I turned back around and got him his water, glad for the cool respite that the opened refrigerator door offered.
“Here you go.” I could not peel my eyes away from his mouth as he moved the bottle to his lips. They were perfect - beautiful and full in a completely masculine way. I watched, completely fascinated, as his throat moved, downing the water in three or four large gulps. He wiped his mouth with his forearm and I couldn’t help but let my eyes travel up the rest of his arm to his biceps and shoulders – those were the same as his lips – perfect. Amazingly, gorgeously, utterly, divinely perfect. Muscled and tanned, his arms were mouthwatering.
My knees wobbled. My heart thudded. Thousands of butterflies spread their wings in my belly.
“Thanks…” he stared blankly at my face for a minute and I couldn't help but wondering if he liked what he saw. He cleared his throat and roused me from my little daydream where the gorgeous boy is mesmerized by the maybe-a-little-above-average looking girl. That’s when I realized he was asking for my name.
“Maddy. Sorry, my name’s Maddy." I nearly choked on my tongue to get my freaking name out.
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.
LET LOVE IN- SERIES BOOK #1
LET LOVE STAY - SERIES BOOK #2
**Copy kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**