It’s been several years since I’ve read a book from this author, and my recollection of her work is quite positive so I was excited to read an early copy of this book. I loved the picturesque, vivid island setting and small-town feel. The main characters were well developed and authentic, and the secondary characters just enough quirky to make them memorable.

Sadly, this book didn’t live up to my memory of this author's work. My problem was with the copious amount of narrative that detracted from my reading experience. There was a lot of character introspection that rarely revealed anything new and a lot of telling rather than showing. There were also times when a question asked and answered had several paragraphs between so I had to go back and find out what the question was to begin with.

All of this had the effect of bogging down the story and frustrating me, rather than building up emotion or driving the story forward. It got to the point that I was dreading returning to the book and skipping large chunks just to get to the meat of the story. Because I read for pleasure and don’t want reading to be work, this style isn’t for me. If you're a fan of this author and have the attitude “the more the better,” this one may be right up your alley.

*I read an early edition of this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide feedback and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source.

Will post on Romance Reviews Today in early August: http://romrevtoday.com/

THE ONE WHO STAYS – Toni Blake

Summer Island, Book 1

HQN Books

ISBN: 978-1-335-50498-2

August 2019

Contemporary Romance



Summer Island, Michigan – Present Day



Meg Sloan runs the Summerbrook Inn on Summer Island and enjoys it, yet wonders if it’s time to sell and move on. She only came here to take care of her grandmother, who died two years ago. Meg has a “friends with benefits” type romance with local fisherman Zack Sheppard, but she feels frustrated by his lack of commitment towards her. Zack is always off on his fishing trips, leaving Meg feeling alone. One day, Seth Darden arrives at the inn just as she’s struggling to paint the shutters and he ends up helping. Realizing that having a handyman like Seth around is nice, she hires him. Meg plans to use him to help spruce up the place in case she does decide to sell it. But she didn’t count on finding herself attracted to her new employee.



As the days roll on, Meg gets to know Seth and they grow closer. Feeling attracted to him leaves her with several conflicting emotions. Why does Seth interest her? Is she betraying Zack? Seth appears attracted to her also, yet he acts mysterious as Meg has found him “snooping” around the inn. What is he hiding? In THE ONE WHO STAYS, readers soon learn that Seth is there for a reason. How will Meg react when she finds out?



While searching one day, Meg discovers her grandmother’s diary and begins to read it. During the course of THE ONE WHO STAYS, she learns things about her grandmother that changes how she thinks of her. Will it play out in her decision over whether to stay on Summer Island—or her feelings about which man to choose? Seth is a drifter, so his plans are to do what he came to the inn for, then leave. But he then learns someone from his past is about to arrive. Will Seth stick around long enough? When will Zack return to Summer Island, and is Meg’s relationship with him changed?



There is a lot of emotion flowing throughout THE ONE WHO STAYS. Meg has mixed feelings about the inn, though she loves being here. She has a few female friends who act as her confidantes, but she can’t tell them everything. Because of their age differences, Meg thinks her attraction to the younger Seth is insane. He’s charming and flirts with her, but what does he see in her? But they soon give in to their attraction. As their affair heats up, the more Meg becomes troubled. Should she give up Zack, who is currently out on his fishing boat? Seth will be leaving soon. Decisions have to be made by Meg about the inn. Does she do the right thing?



THE ONE WHO STAYS is the first book in the Summer Island series by Toni Blake. If you love a romance that is both sweet and sensual, then you can’t miss this wonderful tale. It has all the emotion that pulls you into a story, with love between a couple that will make THE ONE WHO STAYS a book you won’t soon forget.



Patti Fischer

It's well written but I couldn't connect to the characters. Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I enjoyed The One Who Stays, it provides a good book-cation! It was a cute and sweet romance.

Meg loves Summer Island, the memory of her grandmother, Summerbrook Inn (the inn her grandmother left her) and Zack, a local fisherman who simply won’t commit.

Seth is a “wander” searching for his past on Summer Island. He meets Meg as a handyman and helps Meg see her dreams again while remodeling Summerbrook Inn. What he didn’t plan on was falling for Meg.

Meg is conflicted with her attraction to Seth and her feelings for Zack.

The story moves between character with multiple points of view. I'm not a fan of multiple points of view especially with lots of internal dialog. In the end, I liked it but it kept me from loving it.

I received this ARC copy of The One Who Stays from HARLEQUIN - Romance (U.S. & Canada) - HQN. This is my honest and voluntary review. The One Who Stays is set for publication July 30, 2019.

My Rating: 3 stars
Written by: Toni Blake
Series: Summer Island (Book 1)
Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: HQN; Original edition
Publication Date: July 30, 2019
ISBN-10: 1335504982
ISBN-13: 978-1335504982
Genre: Woman's Lit

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/One-Who-Stays-...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...

6 likes

Reading this book, while being from Michigan & having visited Mackinac Island many times, I was surprised at how well the book captured the draw of Northern Michigan that so many of us here have. It is truly an experience & worth an actual visit... or don't, it can already be crowded in the summer ;)

The book was a bit slow to start, but that didn't stop me from reading it in 2 nights. I didn't mind the parts about the main character finding herself & being on a path of self discovery. It wasn't as romance as some of her other books, but I still love her style & look forward to reading more of her books. I'm hoping that there will be more in this series, specifically with the man she didn't choose.

Sending love from northern Michigan.♡♡

This was a lovely book about a lonely woman who faces decisions to make about her life, livelihood, and the two men in her life. Meg has been living on Summer Island, an island in northern Michigan similar to Mackinac Island, but smaller. She came there after she got sick and her fiance abandoned her and she’s been there ever since running her grandmother’s inn. She has a relationship with Zack, a fisherman, but he leaves her for long stretches at a time and refuses to make any sort of commitment to her. While she’s pondering if she deserves more, into her life comes a sexy younger man, Seth. The wandering handyman clearly has some mystery in his background and the reasons why he has ended up in this remote setting. But he’s also willing to help her renovate her inn while flirting with Meg and making her feel attractive and worthwhile.

Should she stay on this island or move away? Should she keep on with more of the same from Zack, or should she take a chance with Seth.

Spending the Spring and Summer with Meg in this beautiful setting while she pondered her decisions was like a leisurely vacation on her island enjoying the lilacs and the slow pace.

This book fits a bit more under Women’s Fiction than Romance, but there is still an intriguing romance to follow. The resolution isn’t any great surprise, but it was still a very enjoyable read.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

The blurb is intriguing. However, I thought this was a romance novel - based on the title (my fault) It is, but it dwells more on the heroine finding herself through reading her grandmother's journal and the love triangle that follows.

Unfortunate for me, I am not fond of reading about finding one's self. I find it boring and while I am looking forward for the love triangle, it lacks some kick. The story was a bit slow (at least for me)

This book is captivating on its own.. But, like I said, it just wasn't for me. However, if you enjoy reading woman's fiction, you should give this book a try.

ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review

What a beautiful book this was. Filled with love, heart-break, a little intrigue and some amazing women who will make you proud.
Meg grew up on Summer Island and wouldn't trade her life for anything. She was in love and knew that she was loved back. Unfortunately, he won't commit to her and she's finding that it's something that she needs. Everyone assumes that her and Zack will be together forever but she can't stand him sailing away when the mood strikes.
Along comes Seth, the summer worker who seems to be a little bit more than meets the eye. Meg can't help but notice how handsome and helpful he is. She also can't help the spark that ignites whenever he touches her. But, her heart belongs to Zack. Or does it?
Yes, Seth does have something he is hiding. How does he tell her that he's looking for the one thing that would bring her the most joy without telling her how he knows where it is or how it got there? How does he explain the life he's led or the real reason why he's on Summer Island without breaking her heart and having her hate him? He's fallen in love with that little girl that was running around the last time he was here and now he faces a real dilemma. Especially when his past comes walking through the front door of Summerbrook Inn. Now, he has no choice but to come clean, to face his past and hope that Meg accepts him in her future.
This story was so emotional. So beautiful. I give Toni Blake a lot of credit writing such a complex story line that had characters that were so intense and impassioned. The other women in the book are just as intriguing as Meg was and played such important roles in her life. Suzanne is an enigma and I am not sure about Dahlia yet. But, I am sure their stories are coming and we'll figure it out.
I cried and smiled in the end and silently thanked Toni Blake for writing such a beautiful love story. I was really moved and touched by this story and hope you all are too.

First time for me reading this author. I liked it, but I definitely didn't love it. I would call this Women's Fiction, not romance based on the story itself. It was a little slow but once it got going it did get better for me, it just took a while to get there. It was definitely missing that certain something for me. I enjoyed the author's writing style using multiple POVs though and would most likely try another book from her sometime.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I had a hard time with this book. For me it was slow to start. I was h Alf way through the boom before it got interesting and even then it didn't do z good job of holding my attention.
Thenk you Netgalley and harlequin for allowing me to read this title for an honest review.

Author Toni Blake does it again! Yep, I love saying that, but it's true. There hasn't been a single book from this author that I haven't loved. The One Who Stays is no exception to that statement. I instantly fell in love with this setting and its characters. Which again is something that Toni Blake has a knack for. I cheered on this romance like I had a stake in it myself. Loved this book so much!

I liked the setting of this book but not the characters. The perspective of the jilted man took away from the main love story. I didn't like how it was set up like the hero had nefarious intent. I was looking for a sweet simple romance. This book eventually got there but I could have done without those few elements

Meg Sloan runs an inn on Summer Island, a small community on Lake Michigan that comes alive each year when tourists wake up their sleepy town. The Summerbrook Inn was originally established by her grandmother several years before Meg went to live there while recovering from a serious illness and afterwards, never left. She has a relationship with the commitment phobic Zack Shepard who spends weeks and sometimes months on the water as a commercial fisherman. Every time Zack leaves, Meg’s heart breaks a little more. Meg loves him, but has come to realize she wearies of always feeling left behind.

When handsome charmer Seth Darden shows up looking for handyman work, Meg feels the immediate attraction. As he works to remodel and repair the Inn, a relationship develops which leaves Meg feeling torn in two. Seth has a lot of secrets that are connected to some time he spent at the Inn as a child. He is making major changes in his life and wanting Meg is a part of that.

Meg finds an old diary that belonged to her grandmother whose story is told concurrently in part as Meg discovers surprising secrets. Meg and Seth seem to have much in common although whether she can trust him is not clear. Zack comes in and out of the story finally realizing that he may be losing the woman he loves.

How this love triangle works out is not revealed until the end keeping the reader guessing Meg’s choice; however, there are some strong clues along the way. Meg has to decide how to live her best life and with whom to do it. The story slowly unfolds over spring and summer and while I was expecting a romance, this reads more like Women’s Fiction to me with the level of angst and self-discovery. The ending leaves me conflicted in part as I have to wonder what it will be like being around the man she does not choose when they meet again. This story is the first in the Summer Island series.

Well I was bored the heroine bored me and it was kind of hard to stay on course and read it til the end, but I did. It was sad to say that by the end or middle or whenever I could not care less who she would pick, ok let me back up and explain. So Meg has had a sort of-yes sort of relationship with Zack for 5 years but he wouldn't really commit yet everyone on the island saw them as a couple. When he goes off on on one of his fishing trips she ends up meeting Seth, convenient right? Any who she loves Zack but realizes that she wants and deserves more, so now we have a love triangle both men vying for her attention you would think that with this it would be more interesting but sad to say for me not as much..There was a journal and it seems her grandmother had same issue so now we have 2 stories her grandmoms and hers and Meg is going thru some self discovery.. I gave it a three because it was not badly written just needed more ooomph

Full review to be published online in late August.

Really 3.5 Stars; but half Stars aren't an option.

THE ONE WHO STAYS is the first book in Toni Blake's new 'Summer Island' series. Unlike Blake's previous books, which are solid Contemporary Romances, this book strays into the Women's fiction genre. This is not bad, only an observation that the storyline was not quite what I was expecting. There was lots of observations of close knit island life, a subplot played out via diary entries, and a romantic rivalry/love triangle thrown in for good measure.

Good read, if not great. I will read the second book.

The One That Stays is a good story about a young woman growing into herself & choosing what path her life would take going forward. Meg Sloan has had a lot dumped on her in her short life. This spring has her feeling down & depressed. Meg has to decide what is important to her & find the light & love in her life again. Two men are vying for her last be. Which will she choose? Or will she do the unexpected & leave the island?

Zack Sheppard is a commercial fisherman. To him, being alone, out on the open sea is safe & comforting. When he comes home, he comes home to Meg & is comforted. He finally tells Meg a little of his history but doesn’t like to talk about it. Can he stay home for Meg or will he continue his long absences?

Seth Darden has a dark past. He’s come to the Inn to find something from his past. Redemption is hard to come by and doesn’t always take the form you think it will. Seth opened up to Meg about his past & felt lightened by the way she accepted it & him. A person from his past showed up & Seth realized he needed to share his secrets. Will Meg think less of him when he shares everything?

“You pick the one who stays. You love the one who stays.”

This book was one of growth & redemption. Not everything was as it seemed. Meg had to determine her path for the rest of her life without worrying about who she’d share it with. I loved her grandmother’s thoughts sprinkled throughout the story. Her friends added depth but also confusion as it seemed they each wanted different things for their friend. This was a through provoking read.

I received a free ARC eBook from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

What a wonderful story. Meg is the 40 year old innkeeper on Summer Island. Although she did have a life off island for a number of years, she endured a bout with leukemia. After her fiance dumped her when treatments started, she left her job and returned to Summer Island to rest, recuperate, and rejuvenate. Her grandparents had a wonderful life on the island along with her aunt. She has now inherited and run the inn on her own but is feeling restless.

Her 5 year relationship with Zack the fisherman is one of great love but disappointment and frustration too. An early Spring visitor to the island, Seth arives and offers to be a handyman of sorts to help Meg get the Inn repaired and updated for the Summer season. This occurs at the same time that Zack leaves on one of his fishing ventures. There are sparks with Seth from the initial meeting and Meg struggles with her growing feelings. Although they are together as a couple when Zack is on the island, when he goes off on a fishing venture there is deep regreat and longing, a feeling of being incomplete that keeps Meg restless and unfulfilled. Although she has friends on the island, it's not the same. They support her while Zack is away but just don't seem to be enough. She struggles with how acquaintances on the island view her choice to hire Seth.

Her grandmother hid treasures around the grounds of the Inn and in the old house. As Seth works on repairs inside he's also searching for something he left long ago on a visit to the Inn with his grandparents. Seth has his own history that has made him want to change the course his life has taken up to this point. Together they discover many wonderful treasures, one of which is her grandmother's journal. As the story unfolds of Meg, Seth, and Zack a similar story unfolds of her grandmother as a teenager, along with JT and Ace. Suffice to say there is a coming of age and realization for all parties, in the past and the present.

When Meg realizes, although she loves Zack, she deserves a wants a relationship that is constant. Where the love of her life lives with her daily to share the responsibilities of the Inn and his work. The surprise occurs when the ultimatim is offered. I won't ruin the ending of the story and encourage you to read this great new series from Toni Blake. My only regret is that I want to read the next book in the Summer Island series right now!

In “The One Who Stays”, Toni Blake delves into the world of women’s fiction. Her writing voice is perfectly suited to this genre.

The first book in the Summer Island series introduces us to Meg Sloan, the owner of Summerbrook Inn and several other residents of the island.
Meg loves the island and the inn. It’s a place where she sought shelter after a life-altering event. But now, she isn’t sure it’s a place she wants to be nor is she sure if she wants to be with Zack, a man she’s been in a non-committed relationship with for a few years.
Then Seth comes along, looking for contracting work for the summer. His charm is appealing and Meg shares things with him she never expected to reveal.
As Meg begins to change things around the inn, changes occur within her, making her realize she deserves happiness and if she wants something, she should ask for it.

Not only are we part of Meg’s journey, we learn more about Seth and why he came to Summer Island. His part of the story will grab your heart.
And then there is Zack. A man, who loves Meg, but holds pieces of his himself back in his relationship with her.

Ms. Blake crafts a beautiful story, pulling you into these character’s lives and making you believe Summer Island actually exists. Plus, the ending (or new beginning?) of Meg’s journey, was exactly as I hoped it would be!

If you are a fan of Susan Mallery or Robyn Carr, I highly recommend you pick up “The One Who Stays” and add it to your bookshelf.

First off, this book read a bit more like women's fiction then a traditional romance. With the love triangle happening the firm romantic relationship can't be made to keep the mystery of who she will choose going through the story. This story also had a delightful secondary story, told via a found diary, of the h's grandmother back in her late teens. This story also had reoccurring themes that readers may notice, and was also quite heavy in the introspection. I liked the h Meg, but she was a little bland. This book did have some emotional ups and downs, so does earn one of my Kleenex warnings. Overall, a good story. *I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and this is my voluntary and honest review.

This feels like women’s fiction at its purest. Throughout the course of The One Who Stays, the heroine, Meg, learns a lot about herself — what she wants out of life, how to speak up for herself, how to ask the hard questions and how to accept and enjoy what is being offered. She learns these things while reading her deceased grandmother’s diary. It draws her closer to this woman whom she’s admired all her life and allows her to discover the many parallels they share. It’s almost like a woman’s coming of age story. It’s well written, has a steady pace and a beautifully flawed hero. I enjoyed it!