I have loved this author for a while and this book just reaffirms my love for her words. This book touched my heart and I’m really glad I read it! I look forward to more from this author!

"Make Me Stay" by Sidney Halston is one heck of a ride. This story is filled with love, hate, romance, anger, suspense, twists - pretty much everything. I couldn't put it down! Ms. Halston does an incredible job with the background of Matt and April's story - yes, it's a time jump but one that is necessary. It also gives the reader some more insight into Nico, if you read "Pull Me Close" (and if not, what are you waiting for!!) My heart hurt for both of these characters. Their journey is certainly not an easy one and I found myself yelling at both Matt and April and then I was crying for them. I liked Matt and I liked April. Even as frustrated as I found myself with their situation at times and I found that Matt was being a jerk or was wishing that April would make a different choice, I still really, really liked them. Ms. Halston certainly did a wonderful job of taking my heart and inserting it right in the middle of this story. The story shows us the sacrifices those that work undercover have to make in order to help keep us safe. "Make Me Stay" is a story I highly recommend (Received ARC for honest review)

The beginning of this book takes place before book one, Pull Me Close. I was confused for a minute because Matt's brother isn't with Katherine. So once I got over that I really got into the book. If you haven't read book one, no problem.
Matt falls hard for "June". Which makes it all so much heart wrenching when she breaks his heart. April aka June, is hurt just as badly. But since she's the cause of it, what is she to do? Don't worry they get their happy ending, it just takes a round about way to get there.

Without spoiling too much, Make Me Stay is somewhat of an unconventional love story between a lawyer/nightclub owner and a pharmaceutical rep. The pair happen to meet one night at Matt's bar and hit it off from there. I thought the book was pretty good up until the third act and thats where the author lost me. I felt that subplot, in particular, was unnecessary and over the top. it also ruined what could have been a great book. Besides that, the characters were great and the writing was also done well.

Okay so I must admit I think I liked Nico's book better than Mateo's BUT I still liked this one a lot. There were moments where you didn't know how this book would end. Would Mateo forgive and forget what June/April did or would he harbor his anger and lose the one woman he has ever loved.
I will say there were some twist's that I didn't see coming in this book but they made the story so much better.
There were moments also where I wasn't sure about Mateo...his hobby that was Coke was one huge thing for me that made me hold back from loving his character in the beginning. He was a wild card that could have gone either way but April was the absolute best match for him as she is a cop and not afraid to put him in his place when he needs it.

I absolutely LOVED the end of this book...the lead up through the whole book with Fox and Lola...I need that story in my life!

Matt is instantly attracted to June, so much so that it seems she easily pulls the wool over his eyes. When she leaves he's devastated. When he finds her again, he learns the truth about her but with his heart still invested he can't walk away.

I loved Matt and April's love story. It is very unconventional, but it goes to show that when two people are meant to be together fate will bring them together again and again. What will it take for them to move past all the obstacles and history they share to stay together becomes the question. This is a story of love and forgiveness at its finest with a HEA.

“Tell me something to make me stay.”

4.5 stars

A romantic, emotional second-chance-romance with a wonderful twist and lots of feels. Such a fantastic read, I loved it!

The first book in this series, Pull Me Close, completely blew me away, and it also introduced us to Matt Moreno. Twin brother of Nick from book #1, Matt is a lawyer who also helps to run his family’s Miami night-club, Panic. A confident, fun-loving sweetheart, I loved him in the first book and have been eagerly waiting for his story after the hint that was dropped about story to come, but this book can also easily be read as a standalone.

The book is split into two parts. The first part is set in the past with Matt meeting June at his bar. There is an instant spark between them and amidst awesome flirting, banter and some serious chemistry, they fall hard for each other. Their relationship is fun, flirty and super sexy, and I loved every moment of them together.

“You have my jacket, which I bet you sleep in. That’s what girls do, right? Sleep in their boyfriend’s T-shirts?”
“Yeah, T-shirt. Not an expensive silk Armani suit jacket.”
“Aw, look, you noticed all of that. You were sniffing it, weren’t you? Just admit it.”

“You have a dirty mouth, Mr Moreno.”
“Woman, my mouth is the least dirty part of me.”


But right when things are looking like it might be pointing to forever, June disappears – right when he is facing disaster as his nightclub is the focus of a police investigation that reveals dark secrets and tears his family apart. Matt searches for her for over a year for June with no luck, and then all of a sudden he sees her again, except she looks completely different, and he soon learns that she is not who he thought she was. June is actual April White – a detective who was working undercover on the investigation that changed everything for him.

It broke April’s heart to walk away from Matt the way she did, but she knows that she did the right thing and ultimately protected the man she had fallen so hard for. Now that she’s finally free of undercover work, she wants to make things right and see if she and Matt can rekindle what they once had, but Matt’s anger and devastation over what he perceives as April’s betrayal seems too big to overcome.

“I know this doesn’t mean anything to you, Matt. But I wasn’t lying when I said I love you. I still do.”
“Yeah, well, I fucking hate you.”


It seems impossible, but a surprising twist will change everything for Matt and April, giving them a unique opportunity to move on from their past and discover each other all over again.

I don’t want to go into any more detail than that because this book just has to be experienced, but the journey that these characters go on is unexpected, captivating, and beautifully emotional. I could feel everything that they were going through, and I think the author did a fantastic job at exploring both Matt and April and getting us to the heart of all that they were feeling.

“Whatever happens, remember this. This is me and you. This is real.”


I just loved these characters. I loved them together, and as a couple, and the uniqueness of their issues, and the way that they move forward created a truly unforgettable read with a romance that absolutely melted my heart.

Nick and Katie from the first book both make very welcome appearances, as well as some of the other side characters, and I loved the hint given for the next book, which I cannot wait for.

A beautiful story, I loved it!

4.5 stars.

This book was fantastic, Matt who is a lawyer during the week and on the weekend helps his father and brother out with their bar. One day he sees a woman named June and they jotted it off almost instant, but one day she disappears for a year and the reasons are beyond what Matt could ever think.

What a great story this is! Sidney's written a tightly woven story that ranges from the sensual romance between Matt and June, to the suspense lurking in the background and the edge of his brother Nick and running the Club Panic.
Matt is an attorney who works during the week at a prestigious firm in Ft Lauderdale and drives back to Miami on the weekends to help his brother run their father's club. The two brothers pretty much run things now but the old man still refuses to budge on certain things and still controlling. Matt basically provides a reprieve for Nick on the weekends so he can spend time with Katie who we met in book one. If you haven't read it, do!! Great story.
Matt meets June (just June) working one weekend and he's totally flipped his nut over her. It's her eyes. She's saucy, spunky and confident, all the things Matt loves in a woman. As these two begin to develop a relationship it's clear to the reader June is hiding something but Matt just sort of rolls with things. June has a job as a Pharmaceutical Rep and so she does travel but she spends most of her time with Matt. Their time together was not just sexy and steamy but also fun and clearly these two were in deep together. Until the day June leaves for a business trip and never returns.
A year later: Matt has hired private investigators, looked under rocks and turned every page trying to find the woman he loves to no avail. One day on the street he sees a woman with long red hair sporting the boho look and swears its June. He runs after her, she denies she's June but he can tell by her blue eyes that it's her, either that or he's lost it. Matt is angry, spiteful and displaced. After June left, the Club was raided by police, his father now in prison, he and his brother arrested though released and not charged, Matt lost his job as at attorney and they are now working to rebuild the club. When Matt gets a visit at the bar from a woman his life is once again turned upside down and he makes clear in no uncertain terms he wants any part of her. It was painful to listen to his rant and watch his behavior. When "June" whose real name is April is seriously injured and in the hospital her partner contacts Matt. Only because he has to leave town and April has no one else. The second half of the book is the mending of her body and mind and trying to piece their relationship back together if that's possible. Matt is the biggest challenge. His anger is just overwhelming, you can feel it radiate off the pages.
Such a well written story and again with the unknowns and the twists and the romance between these two. the chemistry was perfect. I loved them as a couple. The second half was tough as Matt struggles with all his issues and Sidney really nails his emotions and is able to translate them for us to read (and feel) .
Great book Sidney!!! 4.5 Stars from me. Huge!

**arc from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for a fair review**

Note: I've read book 1 right after reading this.
Omg, this as really good! I didn't expect the use of that trope bring used here to move the story along. There was just enough angst and tender moments while they figure out. I can't wait to find more about Lola. After reading book 1: Oh wow, that cliffhanger at the end to tie into this! Trying to remember if they touch on that in book 2.

This is a voluntary review via netgalley my thoughts are my own!

Sidney Halston writes another winner. This was a romance novel packed with deep emotion and some serious issues. At one point I had no idea where the story was going and how everything was going to be resolved, but like a truly good author Halston tackled the problems head on while showing real life situations and challenges, and gave us a happy ending for Matt and April.

This story was both fun and exciting to read. It had everything from secrets, second chances and a good storyline all wrapped together! Easy to read and a definite page turner, it held my interest throughout. Thank you for the opportunity to have read the title prior to publication!

When Matt is all spent and relaxed, I loved his attitude, “was that a poem? You wrote me an after-sex poem?” I joke, kissing the top of her head with a chuckle. “Sex with me will do that to you, no worries. Next time you may be writing music or solving complex physics problems. I’m mind-blowing that way.” I liked this book, Matt is a great guy, he can somewhat put his feelings aside amd do the right thing.

I begged & pleaded for an ARC of this book after reading the blurb and I can't seem to get enough of it. I loved this theme right now and this was perfect. I loved April & Matt and hope there is more of this series. Thank you NetGalley and Ms. Halston!

Well. I'm normally a huge fan but this one didn't sit well with me. I just couldn't find myself growing attached to the characters as I have in her prior work. It was difficult for that reason to really commit to reading the book. I want to be unable to put the book down and unfortunately, this one was easy to set aside. Her other work I would gladly revisit and I will certainly snap up the next one. I think this was just an aberration.

Man, did I love this book. Sidney Halston is doing amazing things with this series and she continues wow me with her words. Weaving together romance with some steam and a little angst, Sidney has created a new series full of complex, flawed characters that is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

Full of twists and turns, Matt and April take you on a journey riddled with love and deceit. The circumstances are honest and raw and the journey is not easy. It's an emotional road full of tears, animosity, forgiveness and love.

It's hard to say a lot without giving too much away. But, I absolutely loved this book. It's emotional and sexy and I devoured it in one sitting. Definitely one of my top reads of 2017.

~ Kimberly Anne

I was excited to read the next book in this series. Ive thoroughly enjoyed this series and appreciate that Sidney incorporates a serious disabiity in each of her stories. Coping with those kinds of things is difficult at best on your own but is made even more so when trying to find someone to share your life. Then there's the hot, passionate sex that is sprinkled throughout the book...oh la la!

3.5 stars - Stick with this read and it will redeem itself. Part 1 of this book (pre-attack) left a lot to be desired for this reader. The hero was more naive than I expected of an attorney. The heroine, while somewhat sympathetic as a character, didn’t really give me the warm and fuzzier. I kept thinking, "I'm going to have to give this one an unfavorable review (and I really don't like giving bad reviews. Authors work hard and their work is like their babies). Thankfully, there was a part 2.

The second part of the story, (post-attack) showed the real goodness of the characters without losing the heat coursing throughout the previous chapters.

If you’re in the mood for a sorta second chance romance with none of the delicateness you might find in a contemporary romance, this is probably for you.

I received an ARC of this book, via Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

ARC received for review

4.5 stars

This book starts back 18 months before book one. We get to see June and Matt's relationship from the beginning plus parts of Nico and crazy Naomi's. Then we jump into the present and Matt "reunites" with June/April, and it's not pretty at all. A whole bunch of bad stuff happens, and Matt falls back in love her. It wasn't easy but it was worth the fight. Previous couples make lots of appearances and there are hints for the new book with Fox and Lola. What's she hiding?