Stay by Tia Louise

Category: Contemporary romance
Publication date: 06/10/2019
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Cliffhanger: No
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I’ve had so many DNF books lately, folks, that I was starting to get depressed. I actually watched an episode of Dance Moms because I didn’t have anything to read. (I’m not proud of that. It was a low moment.) But after that rock-bottom moment, I noticed that Tia Louise had a new release, so I 1-clicked as fast as humanly possible, because THIS is a woman who has NEVER let me down. And because of her, my slump was broken.

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Plot overview: Hard-working, divorced, single mom Emmy is forced to accept help from her first love, Stephen, who broke her heart terribly, in order to help her sick son. It’s a second-chance, marriage of convenience, enemies-to-lovers romance.

There are so, so many things to love about this book. Smart heroine? Check. Hot, bossy-but-kind-hearted hero? Check. Smokin’ hot chemistry between the heroine and heroine that sizzles off the page? Check and double check. But what I think I loved the most was that Emmy did what any REAL mom would do in her situation. If my kid was sick and a rich man said, “hey, I just want to help you. Move in with me and marry me so that I can use my money and my medical connections to get your kid a life-saving surgery. I don’t expect anything from you in return,” I’d jump all over that. I think any mom would. But so often in Romancelandia we see moms who let their pride or hurt feelings get in the way of what’s best for their kid(s). But not Emmy. She knew she needed help and she took it, just like a real mom would. It wasn’t easy for her to accept help from the man who broke her young heart years ago, but she did what she had to do for her kid, and I really loved her for that. 

Stephen was pretty awesome, too. He didn’t demand ANYTHING from Emmy in return for helping her kid. He didn’t hit her with a stupid sex contract, or an unreasonable list of demands (like I’ve seen in other marriage of convenience romances). He wanted to help her and her kid, so he made an incredibly generous, completely unselfish offer because he’s a good and kind-hearted person. I also loved the fact that he bonded so quickly and so easily with Emmy’s son. It was all kinds of adorable. 

So, long-story-short, I adored this story. It was sweet, it was sexy, it was emotional, and it made me tear up at one point. (I didn’t cry, though, because I DON’T CRY.) Just like with all the other Tia Louise books I’ve 5-starred, this one’s a winner.       

Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?
No rehab needed. This one is clean and sober!

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