My Review: Stay By Hilary Wynne

*Warning: I have already read the books I am covering, any and all posts may and do contain spoilers.

There are very few rich alpha males in this genre that I like. Scratch that, the wording is wrong. There are plenty of rich alpha males I love, but honestly, it is not my book boyfriend of choice or preference. I’m more of the tattooed, ruff around the edge male lead. But Julian Bauer does not disappoint and he’s not exactly clean cut (emotionally/personality wise) or tattoo free either, so that is a plus.

My one major rant about Julian is the “metro look” of his style. I’m not too big on the pretty boys, so the “white pants and loafers style” doesn’t really do it for me. I am from the area of South Florida though, and Hilary Wynne hit the nail on the head for that “Miami look.”  This gripe for me can be easily over looked, especially in a book boyfriend, due to the fact that Julian has won me over in every other aspect. He’s hot, dominant (but not overly controlling), patient, persistent, and great at the sexy talk.

The part where I said I live in South Florida bring me to my next point. It is always exciting to pick up a book and see that it’s location is set in your neck of the woods. It brings the imagery to life, easier to visualize, the picture is clear in your head. That’s not to say that getting lost in the travel of a book location you don’t know anything about isn’t great too, because it is. Creating the visual and travel via imagination is just as exciting. But back to Stay, and it’s settings. It’s exciting to know the city names, and to know what the locations look like. Julian takes business trips to Sanibel and this is somewhere very adjacent to the city in which I live. Sanibel is a place where I have spent time and even worked on the beautiful Island. You’re sitting there, reading, and then a city pops up that is pretty much a stones throw away from your back yard and you feel more connected to what is happening in the characters lives. I can see Julian driving down Periwinkle Way to the destination of his meeting.

Alexa is a mess, a straight up hot mess. But this is part of the reason I enjoyed her character and the book. It was real and relatable. Most every one has got all kinds of messed up stuff going on in their heads, the good and the bad. She’s not perfect. She has good friends, a good job, and well-meaning family (even if they are overbearing), but bad things happen to people and she is trying to deal, she is trying not to be a mess, even if sometimes she “goes dark.” Lexie (Notice, I’ve called her Lexie, we’re at the point where I can do this.) is also witty, with a rapid-fire tongue, and isn’t afraid to be sexual, which I also like about her.

Excerpt:

-“I have a very hard time letting people get close to me, 

and the walls I’ve built around my heart are very high and very strong. 

You have to decide if you want to deal with that because 

I’m not sure I can let you in.”

He answers immediately. “I have no choice but to deal. 

I saw that this week, when I was away from you. You need to decide 

if you really want me to get in, because I will. I have to. 

I want you in my life.”-

*****

Julian knows what he wants, and he expresses it in a way that give you chills, and goes for it. This excerpt is a supreme example of his perfect mix of hot dominant alpha male and patient, loving, way with words man. He says the perfect thing.

I am a fan of long moving speeches. Any Grey’s Anatomy fans out there?! The people involved with that show have perfected the long moving speech; there is usually one in ever episode.  If you know what I am talking about, you all know this…

“Meredith: 

I lied. I’m not out of this relationship. 

I’m in. I’m so in, it’s humiliating, 

because here I am, begging…

Derek: 

Meredith.

Meredith: 

Shut up. You say Meredith and I yell, remember? 

Okay. Here it is. Your choice? It’s simple. 

Her, or me. And I’m sure she’s really great. 

But Derek, I love you. 

In a… really, really big… pretend to like your taste in music, 

let you eat the last piece of cheesecake, 

hold a radio over my head outside your window, 

unfortunate way that makes me hate you, love you.

So pick me. Choose me. Love me.”

Great, right? In Stay, Wynne does a pretty good job herself with long moving speeches. Julian is a word god and one speech in particular stands out in the phenomenal writing of this book.

“I’m so glad you’re that girl, Alexa, 

because that girl belongs with the guy who couldn’t stay focused 

on work because all he wanted to do was get back to Miami. 

She belongs with the guy who freaked out when his girlfriend 

refused to speak to him and tried to find a way to cut his 

very important business trip short. 

That girl belongs with the guy who missed her so much it actually 

hurt his heart too. That girl needs to stay with the guy, 

who, despite his best efforts to not feel this way, 

can’t imagine her not being in his life.”

Oh yah, that one definitely does it for me too. Have I made my argument, are you a fan of long moving speeches yourself now too? You should be.

Over all, I am a fan of the book and of the writing by Hilary Wynne. I am excited to start book two, Hold on and I am rooting for Alexa and Julian. Mostly I am rooting for Alexa though. She is the type of character you just want to see emerge from the broken girl in book one and find her happily ever after. Books like that give you hope for the dark and self-proclaimed “damaged” girl. Every one loves the underdog, and all that… right? 

I recommend, If you haven't read this book.... Go out and buy it, now. It's worth reading.