Here to Stay
Ratings1
Average rating3
15
Ratings1
Average rating3
"Melissa Tagg follows up her debut novel with a stellar sophomore read. With her charming wit and engaging prose, Tagg pens a story of hope in God's dreams for us and ties it all together with sigh-worthy romance. Truly a book and author not to be missed." ~Rachel Hauck, award-winning, bestselling author of The Wedding Dress and Princess Ever After After playing nomad for five years, Blake Hunziker has finally had enough of adventure. Not sure what reception he'll get from everyone back in Whisper Shore, he's stunned at not only a warm welcome from his hometown but also a job offer. The job is his if he can successfully pull off the annual Christmas Festival. If only he knew the first thing about coordinating events... If there's one thing Autumn Kingsley knows, it's Whisper Shore. For years, she's been stuck running her family's inn when all she wants is to see the world. Now she has a visit scheduled from a potential investor who could take over the inn, as well as a dream job offer in Paris. But with just two weeks to whip the inn into shape, her chance at escape is a long shot. The Hunzikers and the Kingsleys may not get along, but Blake knows Autumn's the only one who can help him. She agrees to a trade--she'll help with the Festival and he'll help with inn repairs. But what was meant to be a simple deal quickly becomes much more than that when the guy who's done running away joins forces with the girl who can't wait to leave.
Featured Series
1 primary bookWhere Love Begins Book is a 1-book series first released in 2014 with contributions by Melissa Tagg.
Reviews with the most likes.
4.5 stars.
I like Melissa Tagg better and better with every book she releases...and her debut was pretty far up in my ratings, so that's saying a lot. I knew I was going to enjoy Blake's story, and I certainly did! I love this type of small-town tale, and there's even a brief appearance from Randi Woodruff from the first book.
Now available in a book store near you is Melissa Tagg's sophomore novel, Here to Stay. It's laugh-out-loud funny and a wonderful sequel to her debut book, Made to Last. The characters are heartwarming, the story easy to connect with, and the small-town family rivalries familiar to us all in some fashion.
Blake Hunziker plays the prodigal son as he returns from wandering the world after a tragedy changed his life forever. He hopes to find forgiveness and closure but doesn't expect to find it in the father who's always held him to high standards. When he receives a job offer, he realizes he'll need help from one of his family's rivals to pull off Whisper Shore's annual Christmas festival.
Autumn Kingsley has been stuck in Whisper Shore her whole life and dreams of traveling across the globe. Before she gets the chance to chase her dreams, she must restore her family's inn to its former glory. Despite the fact that the Hunzikers and Kingsleys have been rivals for decades, she needs Blake's help to make the necessary repairs to her inn.
Will they put their differences aside long enough to help one another during this holiday season? Or will they allow their families to ruin any chance of bringing success to their little town? Will their different dreams collide somewhere along the way?
Many parts of Here to Stay had the laughter pouring out of me. Among them were a wasp attack, roof prank, and Melissa Tagg's unique writer's voice. Believe me, this story will have your giggle box turned on from the get-go. Not only did Melissa write a hilarious story, but she also knew precisely when to turn the tone more serious. Her timing is impeccable. The plot perfectly planned out. The build-up and ending fit together in a greatly satisfying way.
I can't say enough good things about this story. You'll just have to read it for yourself and form your own opinion. Here are a few of my favorite lines to pique your interest:
This one made me chuckle.
“Jamie, I've already grouched at you this morning. I have no desire to add to that by scaring you with my morning hair.” ~Autumn Kingsley; Chapter Four
After reading this one, I found myself reprimanding Autumn. There's always reason to pray, girl!
“What was there to pray about? When your dream finally hit the ‘come true' part, you ran with it, didn't you?” ~Autumn Kingsley; Chapter Two
This one I found swoon-worthy. Tell me if it doesn't make you sigh happily.
“Because I think you, my dear, might be my open door.” ~Blake Hunziker; Chapter Six
Here to Stay swiftly leapt up my favorites list. It's standing firmly in my top three. That's a tricky spot to earn, but Melissa Tagg did it with flair. Must say, I'm looking forward to more from this author. This one beat her first one, in my opinion, and I'm anxious to see if she can do it again. Come on, girl. You've got this!
Thank you to Melissa Tagg and her publisher, Bethany House for a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review. It's been a blast being a part of your influencer team. Thanks for allowing me to be a part of spreading the word about your first two books. With such great writing, you make my job so easy.
