A Reason to Stay

Oak Hollow, Book 1

By: June Stevens, DJ Westerfield

Narrated by: Meghan Kelly

Length: 1 hr and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

Ellie loves her hometown, job, and best friend Jake. But Jake is a ladies man that will never settle down. Ellie can't stand to see him with other women anymore, so she is packing up and leaving Oak Hollow and everything she loves to start over. A night of unexpected passion makes her start to think maybe things can work out between them, until she happens upon a secret Jake has been keeping for more than a year.

Will their friendship be forever torn apart? Or will Ellie find a reason to stay? This is a special edition of the best selling novella, A Reason to Stay.

©2014 Danette J. Westerfield (P)2014 Danette J. Westerfield

Great Quick Listen!

A cute quick friends to lovers story. Elle and Jake have been friends forever and Elle has been in love with Jake just as long. Right before she moves away they hook up. Loved it just wished it was longer. I think the narrator did a good job telling the story

Enjoyed it but wish it was longer.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

A Reason to Stay felt like the last half of a longer novella. I want the beginning, the work up to Ellie moving. I would like to have learned more about Ellie and Jake.

What did you like best about this story?

I love romances where best friends are secretly in love with each other. It's one of my favorite plot lines in contemporary romances.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

I didn't fall in love with Meghan Kelly's narration of the book. It was bad but it wasn't my favorite either. The biggest issue I had was her voice for Jake. I don't know how to put it... he didn't sound guy enough for my taste.

Do you think A Reason to Stay needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I don't really see how there could a be follow up book, since Jake and Ellie got their happily ever after and there was no other characters in the story to get their own book.

Any additional comments?

Great characters and I liked idea of the story. Just wish there was more than basically a two or three scene story. I wanted more.

Heartwarming, Sexy Love Story

Here is an audio book with a sweet story that grabs your heart. Ellie is a curvaceous young woman who is leaving her home town for the big city. Jake, her best friend since childhood is the reason she is leaving. Jake is a handsome, muscular fireman who has had many hearts on a string. These two characters are so well defined that the listener quickly starts caring about their pain and joy. June Stevens carries you along with their story. At the same time she spices up the action with passionate scenes that fit the story as well as Ellie and Jake.

I read "A Reason to Stay" in print form and was impressed with the combination of sweetness and heat. Hearing it read by the talented Ms. Kelly really turned up the temperature for me, while preserving the warmth of the romance.

Predictable, but sweet and sexy

Would you try another book from June Stevens and DJ Westerfield and/or Meghan Kelly?

Ah, this is one of my absolute most favorite themes in all of romance novel land: friends who become more. Ellie and Jake have secretly been pining for each other for years, although neither is aware of the other's feelings. It's Ellie's last night in her hometown before leaving for Chicago to move on from what she believes are her unrequited feelings for Jake. Both realize this is their last chance to lay it all out on the table, and my goodness do they decide to take full advantage of this opportunity. They hold absolutely nothing back, and spend a passion-filled evening together doing all sorts of naughty things.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Something I really liked about this novel was that after Ellie and Jake did the deed, they don't have that awkward "what did we just do" moment. Nope! They just go at it again...and again. They understand that this sexual chemistry isn't something they want to give up.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

I was lucky enough to receive this book in audio format, which was a great way to pass the time during a recent drive from Atlanta to Tuscaloosa. Overall I'd say the narration wasn't too bad, but it could use some improvement, specifically with the male voice. It just went too deep, which made it sound rather phony. The female voice was much better, but at times their sexual banter back and forth sounded like cheesy phone sex.

What would have made this romance irresistible?

There is an introduction of drama at the very end of this novel which I personally thought was a bit ridiculous. Ellie finds a ring in Jake's desk drawer, and assumes that he was intending to give it to someone else. Girl please! Did all of that delicious sex knock off a few of your brain cells or something?

A Reason to Stay!

If you could sum up A Reason to Stay in three words, what would they be?

Steamy romantic novella!

What did you like best about this story?

I loved when Ellie found the ring in Jake's desk, which made Jake admit how he really felt about her.

What about Meghan Kelly’s performance did you like?

I enjoyed the total performance. I like how the excitement was placed throughout the book. I also the voices Meghan used for the characters of Jake & Ellie.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes & I did read this book in 1 setting.

Any additional comments?

A nice novella where romance was there all along, but both parties didn't know how to approach the situation. A little steamy, but only in all the right places! I was pleased to see in the end, both Jake& Ellie were able to admit how they felt. I was afraid Ellie was going to blow it. Thankfully Jake held them together!

Enjoyable and fun.

There were quite a few aspects to this story that I just loved. The inner dialogue of the main character is spot on for a curvy woman. I really enjoyed that her personality was relatable and realistic. I liked the story so much that I Wish there were more to it. I am secretly (not so secretly now) hoping that later on the author will write their backstory and release it. I loved the little tidbits of their history that we got a glimpse of, and think their story could be just as good.

I also found the narrator enjoyable. Her voice is soft, not harsh, so headphones weren't a bother. The only problem I had with her was when she was reading in the male perspective/dialogue. It wasn't bad by any means, but when she would speak in a deeper voice to help differentiate between male and female characters it just made me giggle, which was slightly distracting.

I received a coupon code from the publisher for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Hot romance novella!

This book is a spicy contempory new adult romance that is about the difficulty of moving from the friend zone into the romance zone. The entire novella is set during one twenty-four hour period. Ellie is a girl with some curves and some insecurities who is moving to Chicago the next day. Jake is a firefighter who has been her best friend since high school. The book is well written and the characters' actions are very believable. The only issue that I had with the book is that it was over too quickly. I wanted to spend more time with Ellie and Jake. Since this novella is labelled 'Book 1', hopefully I will get that chance later. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to escape their own life for 90 minutes and likes spicy romances.

I received this audiobook for free in return for my honest review.

quick, sexy story

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

As this is a short story/novella, it would be easy to listen to in one sitting. The story felt complete for being only 1 1/2 hours long.

Any additional comments?

Ellie and Jake have been best friends for years, After Ellie's Grammy passes on, she decides that leaving her small town life and moving to the big city is the only way she is going to start over and escape her feelings for Jake. Jake has other ideas. One night leads to revelations of feelings.

Ms. Kelly does a good job as narrator. She gives both characters their own voice and draws you further in to the story. I would love to listen to more books read by Ms. Kelly and to read more books written by Ms. Stevens.

This is a quick and sexy short story. I would recommend it listeners 18+ who like their stories steamy.

Yummy Quick Read

Such a quick yummy naughty read!! I love a curvy gal and a dishy firefighter!!!

The story is compact but holds a great smexy punch! A few steamy scenes that will have you begging for a cold shower. Oh la, that is some hot dish! Good lord the shower scene alone will have you loosing your panties!

The story is a typical best friends who are in love. It is great because it reduces build time for the feelings. I can totally believe that Ellie and Jake are in love.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Meghan Kelly, who is terrific. She has a wonderful tone to her voice and keeps a steady pace. She added extra umph to the smexy scenes!! Oh my, did she every put energy into that part of the read!

This is one of those books that you wish were longer, you want to savor the delightful story. I really wanted more and can mot wait to see them again in the series!

Disclosure - I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions and ratings are my own.

shot and sweet

This is a sweet and spicy audio book with a whole lotta heart. I'm a long time fan of June Stevens and this latest offering did not disappoint.