Let Love Stay by Melissa Collins Series: Love #2
Published by Self-Published on July 25th 2013
Genres: Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Format: ebook
Source: ARC
Purchase @ AMAZON or BN
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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.
Liezel’s Thoughts:
In my opinion, Let Love Stay can be read as a stand alone but to get the full effects of the Reid and Maddy’s story I do recommend reading Let Love In first before reading this one.
Let Love Stay occurs right where Let Love In leaves off where Maddy basically gives Reid an ultimatum. She believes that the only way he can get rid of his demons and completely move on in their life together is to reconnect with a certain someone before it is too late.
Both are also given some shocking news that affect their future. Reid is not as receptive as Maddy and she decides she needs a break from him and moves back home to think things through and also to recuperate.
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Because of experiences and the hardships of their past both Reid and Maddy seem so much more mature for their age. Both Reid and Maddy have been through so much in their individual pasts that each has developed a wall around their hearts to avoid intimacy. When Reid first met Maddy he knew she was different. Just by looking into her eyes he could see that she has experienced just as much pain as he has. From then on, he knew that they belong together but just like any new relationship they both have their ups and downs.
Let Love Stay explores these ups and downs and there are many that get thrown their way. Despite the challenges this new couple experience – the love that they have for each other is strong enough to bear their troubles. They realize that they were both at fault and they strive to make amends in Let Love Stay. As they rekindle their relationship, Reid fully grasps the wonderful gift that they have been given and he is determined to show Maddy how much he wants a perfect family as much as she does.
I immensely enjoyed this series. Immediately, I felt a connection with the characters. The story telling was great. I thought that both stories were moving and emotional. heart breaking and also heart warming at the same times. There were some moments of frustration too but I loved how it all works out in the end.
Let Love Stay to me was a book about closure and forgiveness and also about rebuilding relationships. Not only in Reid and Maddy’s case but also with Reid and someone important from his past.
It is rare for me to find a NA series that portrays the real meaning of soul mates and true love. The Love Series is one of those that did. For me, this series is a MUST read.
The Verdict:
Excerpt:
“Reid’s young. Hell, so are you. But think of it as a little bump along your journey. You can’t control how he feels. You two will never survive if you are always expecting the other to feel a certain way about things. People have a right to their emotions and what’s important is to be there for those emotions, to let them own their feelings and to be there to support them through their decisions. That’s the kind of stuff they leave out of the movies.”
I never thought of it that way. Hell, I never thought of any of this. I’ve never been happier to have Momma in my life – as my family.
When I first met Melanie, I thought she had some kind of gift for mind reading. Now I’m wondering if it’s genetic.
Momma puts it all so simply and I wonder how I was not able to see it so clearly on my own.
I sigh at the foolish way I handled this whole thing. “I pushed him away because he wasn’t excited about the baby. I know that’s not fair, but it’s true.” Burying my face in my hands, as if it will hide my shame, I continue. “But it’s more than that. He’s completely ignoring issues from his past and his family and I can’t be with him if he doesn’t deal with them.” I don’t want to tell her all of his problems. For one thing, they’re his to tell, not mine. More importantly, I have a feeling if I tell her about Reid and his family that she’ll side with him. And I can’t say that she’d be wrong.
Momma doesn’t prompt me for more; she just gives me another glare. “Maddy, I can say this because I’ve always thought of you as my own daughter and it’s because I love you that I’ll say it without any filter, but you’re being an ass, honey.” Momma’s arched eyebrows convey all of the sarcasm that her words don’t.
Did she just call me an ass?
There’s no helping it; I laugh, almost uncontrollably. When I finally come to my senses and regain my composure, I say, “Ok, but you’ll have to explain that one, Momma.”
“You’re pushing him away for doing the same thing that you’re doing. You haven’t made peace with your past either. Reid loves you, and you’re not letting him love you because you’re afraid that he’ll hurt you. You can’t go through life constantly fearing that the good things will be taken away from you like your parents were. You want him to be whole and that’s not fair because I don’t think you are either.” Her knowing stare is all I need to help me realize my mistake.
Damn her mindreading skills!
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About Melissa Collins
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.
