MAKE ME STAY is the fifth book in the Hope series by Jaci Burton about the youngest of the McCormack brothers who has returned home to restore a historic building. In this novel you will be reintroduced to characters from previous novels that each have their individual stories. MAKE ME STAY is about an architect who now lives in Boston. When he comes home for his brother's wedding, he sees an historic building he's drawn to and stays to restore it. This is a story about finding your calling and fulfilling it. It's about creating a place for yourself and taking a chance.

Architect Reid McCormack has returned home to Hope to renovate a historic building. His plan is to return to Boston once the renovation is finished. While working on the renovation he becomes drawn to florist Samantha Reasor. Samantha is taking care of her elderly grandmother and running her florist shop. Samantha's grandmother will have some serious health issues which she has to make some decisions about. She thought she was alone in all this but she soon discovers that not only is Reid there to lend support but she has friends to support her with whatever she needs.

Reid and Samantha have a strong sexual chemistry and try to convince themselves that they can have a temporary fling. Samantha sees the love that all her friends have and so wants that, but she's afraid she can never have that with Reid because he intends to return to Boston. Reid misses being home in Hope and he wants the kind of relationship his brothers have, but he's not sure Samantha wants the same. They both are afraid to speak up for what they want.

Jaci Burton does a wonderful job in showing how family and friends lend you support and encouragement when you need it most. I am looking forward to the next story in the Hope series.

Book Summary

The New York Times bestselling author of Love After All and the Play-by-Play series delivers a new novel about how love sometimes has plans of its own.  

Having left his hometown of Hope years ago, only one thing could persuade architect Reid McCormack to come home for a lengthy stay—the challenge of renovating a historic building. But once the job is finished, he’ll be headed back to Boston, no matter how much he’s drawn to beautiful florist Samantha Reasor.  

Samantha watches over her elderly grandmother and pours a piece of herself into every floral creation she designs. Her crush on Reid has been blooming for a while now, but she’s reluctant to act on it. A temporary fling isn’t what she’s looking for, even if Reid is smoking hot and super sexy. She wants a real, permanent, forever kind of love. 

Two people with different goals couldn’t possibly work, and yet as their attraction grows into something deeper, maybe falling in love is the one thing Samantha and Reid can build a future on.