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Can you fall in love with someone you've never even met?

Hailey Taylor Emery has a hunch that her favorite client at Fetch—an anonymous virtual assistant service—is actually hockey star Matt Eriksson.

Although it's against the rules for her to check his file, she's 95% sure she spends at least part of each day texting with her lifelong crush and catering to his every need. Still nursing a wounded heart thanks to her recent breakup, Hailey is perfectly content with some harmless online flirting... until she has to meet her client. Face to face. Cue: utter panic.

Matt Eriksson is no stranger to heartbreak. He's still not over the destruction of his marriage, and it sucks to be the only guy on the team who knows the truth—that hockey and long-term relationships are a toxic mix. He barely sees his kids, and dealing with his ex makes him feel insane. The only person in his life who seems to understand is someone who won't show her pretty face.

But it's nothing that a pair of fourth row hockey seats can't fix. Hailey can't resist the offer. Matt can't resist Hailey. Good thing he doesn't have to. Fire up the kiss cam!

Warning: Contains rabid hockey fans, misunderstood dick pics, hockey players at the opera and exploding ovaries.

294 pages, Paperback

First published June 20, 2017

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About the author

Sarina Bowen

92 books16.2k followers
sarina bowen
Sarina Bowen is the twenty-four-time USA Today bestselling and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of three dozen books, including: the True North series, and Brooklyn Hockey. She's the co-author of Him/Us and the WAGs series with Elle Kennedy. She's the author of The Ivy Years series, and more!
Are you looking for a friends-to-lovers story or maybe even a secret baby book? You can read a list of Sarina's books broken out by trope and style.
Need to know what's coming next ? Get all the latest news on Sarina's website, and sign up for her newsletter so you don't miss a book or a deal.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,578 reviews
Profile Image for Christy.
4,076 reviews34.5k followers
May 28, 2017
4.5 stars!!!

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When Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy write together, some kind of magic occurs. I've read several books by this duo and each one is fantastic in its own right. Stay is the second book in their WAG's series. I loved the first book and was excited to get more of this team. This book did not disappoint. I adored Matt and Hailey. This book was so much fun. It was sweet, sexy, and exactly what I was looking for. I read it in one day, and not because I had a lot of reading time. I finished it so quickly because I did not want to put it down! 
 
Hailey and Matt have two major things in common. 1- Both of them love hockey and 2- Both of of them are recent divorcees. Matt and Hailey 'meet' long before they ever really meet. Hailey co-owns a company called 'Fetch'. It's brilliant really, any time you need a service or item, contact Fetch and they'll, well, fetch it for you. With Matt having two daughters, a dog, and being on the road for hockey, he uses their services rather frequently. 

I loved how Matt and Haliey met. It was unusual in the best way. Their relationship was a bit of a slow burn. Neither one ready to take that big step and move forward right away, but it was completely believable and real. I love a good slow burn romance. I loved the kids, the dog, really I loved most everything about this book. It was great to get to catch up with Blake and Jess, and of course my favorite hockey couple- Wes and Jamie! 

Hockey romances are my favorite kind of sports romance, and Elle and Sarina are quickly becoming two of my favorite authors. With each book they write, I love them even more. If you're looking for a book that will make you laugh, has just the right amount of feels, and is low drama, pick this one up! It's uber sweet, steamy, and lots of fun!

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Profile Image for Patty ~ Wrapped Up In Reading Book Blog.
1,260 reviews10.1k followers
June 21, 2017
*****4.5 STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Authors}



Matt takes me so far out of my comfort zone that our first date caused me a week of shallow breathing and a loss of focus. I’ve never been so shaken by anyone.



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I can’t get enough of the WAGs series! There’s just something about Hockey players that makes them so much sexier than any other type of athlete. Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen have successfully created another series filled with lovable Heroines and the sexiest and rugged group of professional hockey players who are sure to steal a reader’s heart. I found it impossible to put this book down and stayed up way past my bedtime to finish it, but it was so worth the lack of sleep!




Hailey Taylor co-owns an online personal assistant service with her ex-husband. She and Jackson were childhood friends who eventually became romantically involved in high school and were married fairly young. Their relationship was always more of a friendship and lacking any passion. When Jackson asked for a divorce it broke Hailey’s heart but deep down she also felt relieved and their split was amicable. For over the past year, Hailey has been fantasizing about one of her clients, SNIPER87, who she has been communicating with via instant message. Her company protects the identity of their high profile clients and for that reason, she has never tried to look at his profile to find out who he is, but she has a gut feeling that she knows who he is. All clues point to him being one of Toronto’s sexiest Hockey players, Matt Eriksson. Hailey is a HUGE fan of Matt’s and so the highlight of her days are the instant messages she shares with him.




At thirty-years-old, Matt is one of the oldest players on the team. The days of having sex with a different puck bunny every night have long lost their appeal to him. Matt’s wife filed for a divorce over a year ago. Although their marriage was far from perfect and the love was practically non-existent, he was still shocked when his Ex declared that she wanted out of their relationship. They have four-year-old twin daughters, who are Matt’s world and not being able to live under the same roof with them has been a devastating blow. His ex was not thrilled with his career in hockey and blamed it for ruining their marriage. Since his divorce, Matt hasn’t been with a woman and he’s not sure he’ll ever be able to be in another committed relationship again.



Hailey and Matt have never met face-to-face, and Matt also fantasizes about Hailey. He saw a picture of a woman on her company’s website that he assumed was her and since then he’s harbored a little crush on her. Matt thinks of a way he can confirm if Hailey is the woman in the picture--he asks her to come to his place to walk his dog while he’s away for the weekend. Security camera footage in his condo gives him the proof that he needed. Once he sees the beautiful woman on his camera feeds, Matt decides they must meet in person.


Hailey is a complete mess whenever she is in the same room with Matt and he finds it super adorable. Eventually, he gets her to go out with him and while she jumps at the chance, Hailey also thinks Matt is way out of her league and that maybe the first guy she dates after her divorce shouldn't be someone as sexy and amazing as Matt. Even as they start to spend an enormous amount of time together and Hailey becomes close with all of the WAGs, there’s still a little voice in her head that warns her not to get comfortable and that eventually, Matt will let her go.




While Matt is starting to have serious feelings for Hailey, he’s not sure if he can promise her a forever. His history with his ex has convinced Matt that he is not relationship material and that eventually, he’ll only end up disappointing Hailey.



Will Matt and Hailey be able to work through their baggage from the past?



STAY releases on June 20th! Make sure you add this to your Kindle libraries!!



➜ Amazon: http://geni.us/stayamazon
➜ iBooks: http://geni.us/stayibooks
➜ Kobo: http://geni.us/staykobo
➜ B&N: http://geni.us/staybandn





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Profile Image for Stacey.
1,446 reviews1,144 followers
February 22, 2019
Staying on my Best-of-the-Bestest shelf...

Bloody loved the audio but I kind of knew I would before I even started it. My review below gives a pretty good summary of why it was such a great story. It was as good if not better listening to it...except for a couple of little things. Him doing the kids voices made my eye twitch and her doing the male voices made me laugh. Besides that, it was great and I loved revisiting the WAG's.

Highlight...Jacob Morgan as Matt finally giving his ex a talking-to in a really strong and forceful way. Oooh...shivers up my spine. The ex was a nasty bit of work and she definitely needed a wake-up call. Loved reading that scene...even better listening to it. Mr Morgan, you nailed it.

**********

Some partnerships work better than others

I can openly admit to being a little narrow-minded in my reads. It's easy to judge from the outside looking in. I knew that both the main characters were divorced before I started Stay and I admit to maybe rolling my eyes a wee bit. Was it going to be the she-bi+ch from hell ex? Maybe the cheating ex? Could it be the fell out of love ex? How about the jealous ex or the attention seeking ex? Yep, I’ve read them all before. Guess what? They were all of those things...kind of.

I ABSOLUTELY loved this story. Maybe, having two very talented authors working together is a good thing when they can make magic like this series. They have created real characters who face everyday problems in a realistic way. The pacing was perfect, the dialogue flowed beautifully and the settings were easily pictured. I just felt comfortable reading Stay.

For the first time in ages, I LOVED the heroine. I mean, for crikey sakes, they even had the heroine stuttering and stammering when she met her long-time crush. Bloody hell!! It’s been years since I actually felt that a heroine was portrayed that realistically. There aren’t too many people in real life who find it easy to talk to famous people. I get it! I really get it. There is no way I could hold a sensible conversation (without being a little intimidated) with the likes of David Gandy or my favourite authors. It was refreshing to meet a heroine, opposite a famous hero, who took a little while to get used to being with someone you admire…and maybe drooled over.

…and the hero? Call me crazy, but how cool is it that we meet a man who doesn’t immediately find hook-ups after ending a relationship. Again…refreshing!! Look, to be honest, I felt really bad for this guy. He was beating himself up about something that wasn’t necessarily solely his fault. He knew that his career can play havoc with relationships…BUT SO DOES SHE!! It’s not like she didn’t know that he would have to travel for work. There is no way she could have been in a relationship (for ANY length of time) and not know that it takes time and dedication to be at the top level. It’s not like he can only turn up for home games or not train and keep in top form. Sorry, his ex still makes me a little stabby (if you read Stay, you'll know why).

There’s just something special about Stay that can’t be described. Maybe it was because the main characters showed maturity, strength, courage and determination. ADMIRABLE! They weren’t stupid but they were capable of making silly mistakes. REAL! The characters found ways to communicate that were a little different but perfect to put the other at ease. SMART! They weren’t selfish and they had each other's backs when they needed it most. GENEROUS! All in all, they were just…comfortable…right…perfect, for each other. LOVING!

Stay is part of the WAGs series. I think it could easily be read as a standalone but would be more enhanced if you know the other characters and the world they live in. It was great to catch up with the gang and see the support they give each other.

I bloody LOVED Stay and I can’t wait for more in this series. I loved it so much it hit my Best-of-the-Best shelf.

I’m wondering if the man-whore extraordinaire is about to leap and spin with his new coach?

Stacey is Sassy, received a complimentary copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
Profile Image for Maria✦❋Steamy Reads Blog❋✦.
662 reviews2,694 followers
June 18, 2017

➦I really love books that start out with characters meeting online. Hailey has been Matt's virtual assistant for a while and she is fairly sure that he is a famous hockey player.


➦Being a die hard hockey fan, Hailey is more than happy to engage in some light online flirting. But when one day Matt's dog requires le walk and the dog walker has been fired, Hailey is forced to make a personal trip to the hockey star's apartment. And there's a camera, so he can totally see her.


➦Well, and now he's seen her. And it's not long until he asks her for another favor of fetching a gluten free pancake mix for his daughters who are visiting for the weekend. So what happens when Hailey finally meets Matt?


➦If you enjoy second chance love stories then this one is for you! The hero is super swoony and lovable and his naughty side... well, let's just say, this was off the charts scorching hot. I didn't know opera could be this much fun!


➦This author duo certainly has the magic touch when it comes to the chemistry between the main characters. The delicious build up, the anticipation and fiery steam are always present in their books! And don't forget the completely lovable characters that will charm your socks off and leave you wishing for more!

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Profile Image for Pearl Angeli.
627 reviews1,000 followers
June 27, 2017
4.5 Stars!

“The best things in life are the ones you don't expect.”


Sigh. There should be more books as good as this. I am not surprised to find myself enjoying this book a lot. Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen blew me away when I've read the previous book of WAGs, Good Boy. Now that I've finished this second installment, all I want is more. More of these hockey stars goodness!

Stay brings out the story of Matthew "Matt" Eriksson and Hailey Taylor Emery. Matt, a divorcee hockey player of Toronto, is a loving and devoted dad for his two daughters. One with a successful sports career, he is not all happy with his interactions with his ex-wife. He blames himself for their divorce because of being away most of the time and being unable to spend more time with his family. When he started to interact with Hailey, a co-owner of a premier virtual assistant company called Fetch, he became curious about her. He has always been resorting to her company's services for his everyday errands and the more he communicates with her online, the more he becomes determined to see her in flesh.

What I absolutely loved about Matt and Hailey's story was the overall cuteness which was mixed with enough sexiness and sufficient amount of chemistry between the characters. The story had an incredible depth. You can't expect a heavy amount of angst here because the way their story was portrayed-- it was laced with humor. I cannot fangirl enough over how the story progressed!

I especially loved Matt and the way he treats his little kids with so much affection. I also loved the way he treats Hailey with warmth and not just lust. Compared to most heroes in a sports romance, Matt was not an arrogant character and I loved it. He was gentle and loving and kind. Hailey, on the other hand, was a fun and easy-to-like heroine. I loved her sweet, honest, and open personality.

Moreover, I loved the hockey players' and their women's (WAGs) tight bond. I can't help but smile with the way the WAGs support each other, especially the way they welcomed Hailey and made her feel like she's already part of the family.

And oh, there's this certain character (Mr. Dick) who gave me chuckles along the way. He's definitely one of the most interesting characters in this book. Lol.

Stay, as a whole, was a pleasant, light-hearted, and thoroughly enjoyable romantic read. It absolutely left me with that feel good factor. I would recommend this book and this series to romance fanatics without hesitating!

Pages of Pearl



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Profile Image for Sabrina.
3,577 reviews2,286 followers
June 20, 2017
NOW LIVE!!!
Amazon * B&N * iBooks



I find myself questioning why these authors are so amazing at writing together. Is this a result of some Devil worship or something because while there are more than a few writing teams I love, I have a special place in my heart for Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy. Their stories never fail to completely captivate me and make me fall in love with their characters.

Now that I'm done fangirling over these authors let me tell you why I fangirl over them so hard. Stay is not your normal, everyday, hockey romance. Instead, these authors give us two characters that you will love and a story that hits your emotions on almost every level.

Hailey and Matt have both been through the dreaded D word - divorce. Matt more recently than Hailey. But their pain from that experience is the same and they both find it hard to trust that another relationship won't leave them shattered. But their attraction is too hard to ignore, even for Hailey who tried her damndest to ignore Matt.

I absolutely adored how they met and thought the authors did a great job writing it without making Matt seem too arrogant. There were just were really great characters that I think everyone will find themselves relating to. Matt never let his fame change who he was which was the best part about him, and Hailey was strong enough to finally give in to what she wanted without letting fear hold her back.

Overall, this is a huge recommend from me. It could be read as a standalone but I still recommend reading the other books by these authors so you don't miss out on more awesomeness.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Wendy'sThoughts.
2,662 reviews3,270 followers
October 19, 2020
4.5 Love to Love These Authors Stars
* * * *Spoiler Free
As my title clearly states... I love Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy. These two have given me so many hours of enjoyment, I can't even count. I have not only loved the reading and creativity but their tales make me linger on what they have created long after I have closed my Kindle. So their working together on this series is just a huge given I will enjoy it....and I did.


So, I am one who does not believe in re-inventing the wheel...with so many wonderful reviews out, this is going to be very short and sweet.

This is the continuation of the Hockey Series which specializes in the coming together of players with their love match... but in very interesting ways. We get both POV's and there is always some hook which will grab you from the start and not let go for a second.

This was no different... our guy Matt was edible, had twins he loved, and insecurities he needed to overcome. Hailey was his Perfect Match... as she got what his life was... and had a rabid love of Hockey. That was huge for Matt... for his career was used against him in the past.

There is so much to love- twins, hockey, and swoon-worthy moments. Go read the other reviews and you will see what I mean... this Duo of Authors Delivers Big Time, Every Time.

Good Boy (WAGs, #1) by Sarina Bowen Good Boy (WAGs #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Stay (WAGs, #2) by Sarina Bowen Stay (WAGs, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
Have been waiting for this and cannot wait a moment longer...
Can feel the cool breeze off the ice...
Knowing I will need it when things get Smokin' Hot...
●•●•●•●•●•●•●•
Eriksson, can't wait to see how things shake out...
I will be there for you during this tough time...

Will be looking for every drop of info I can get...

This series has all the markings of greatness...
So I am ready and primed for more...
Bring it on...


Stay-Publishing 2017

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Profile Image for Rachel  L.
1,938 reviews2,397 followers
June 5, 2017
4.5 stars!

“My confidence took a hit after the divorce. But it’s slowly coming back. I feel stronger. More self-assured.”



Hailey runs her own anonymous virtual personal assistant business with her ex-husband, and her favorite client ends up being her favorite hockey star, Matt Erikson. Matt just recently went through a tough divorce and tries to spend as much time with his twin girls as he can. Matt also is intrigued by his virtual assistant, and wants to meet her in person.

Hailey is definitely interested, but her history with her ex has really taken a hit on her confidence. Matt also has his issues with his ex that get in the way of his personal life. But, it may be time for the two of them to take a chance and put themselves out there.

“I’m ridiculously attracted to you. Hottie. I figured I should be up front about that.”
“Shut up and kiss me again, Snipes.”


Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy have never let me down! Every single book I’ve read by this pair has been pure magic! I cannot get enough! Stay is another great novel that you have to make next on your to be read. I picked up this book and never wanted to put it back down. It’s actually because of Bowen and Kennedy that I love hockey romances, I’ll pass on the football and you better pass me the puck!

I gotta say the best part about this book is we got mature characters, by that I mean a driven and smart heroine who works hard, and a man who isn’t sleeping around. I cannot tell you how many books I’ve read where the guy is constantly slutting it up until he meets the heroine. Both Hailey and Matt had standards and goals, and it was so refreshing.

This was an unconventional slow burn romance, one I can see myself rereading in the future. This book was low angst and low drama, so it’s perfect for all of you out there allergic to those things. I happen to prefer angst and drama, and I still loved this book. I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t like it!

“I’m a goner for this man. Our relationship might not be ‘official’, but holy hell, I officially feel all the feelings for Matt Erikson.”

ARC provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review


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Profile Image for Alex ♈.
1,568 reviews1,300 followers
December 18, 2018
3.5 stars

The best hero I read by this author.
Great guy. I really liked him.
I admired that he didn’t follow clichés and didn’t turn into manwhore after his divorce. And he was a good father, and he respected women; I have almost no complains!
I rarely read such amazing man. Respect!

I enjoyed the book. Safe, sweet, no OTT drama.
Partly funny.

But…

(This part is solely based on my personal opinion and preference!!!)

What did they do to the heroine?!
WTF?
She was a sweet woman, a bit shy, but sassy.
Why did the make her look like a silly dumbass who saw a handsome man for the 1st time in her life?!
They even named a whole chapter: Losing IQ Points
WTH???

“Then he smiles and my IQ drops another five points.
…..
I lose another five IQ points.
…..
One possessive hand lands on my ass, giving it a squeeze that steals another ten IQ points.”


Did she end with IQ of 0,00??? *shudder*

Wobbling knees, misspelling, non-ability to think/breath/speak etc.

For Christ's sake, the woman was 29!!!
I don’t find it funny.

I wanted to click 4, but then I thought about IQ points… no… just no!

Profile Image for Jennifer Kyle.
2,462 reviews5,295 followers
June 26, 2017
4.5 Stars

“The best things in life are the ones you don't expect.”

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Loved this one!
Profile Image for Alba and Her Secrets..♥.
853 reviews1,141 followers
July 31, 2017
4.5 'Hottie' Stars!


Gah! This series is just AMAZING!! Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy together.. they are just one heck of a writing duo. I love sports romance and these two authors are creating a fantastic world of stories and characters that will not leave you indifferent. Sarina and Elle's books are hilarious, entertaining, fluent and super sexy: of course, this one was no exception!

Stay is the second installment in the WAGs series and it's time for Matt Eriksson to fall in love all over again. Matt is divorced and has two adorable daughters but he is kind of afraid of starting a new relationship but when she meets Hailey Taylor Emery he is completely captivated! Hailey is the co-owner of Fetch (a virtual assistant service that Matt uses), also recently divorced, and she has the greatest crush on Matt. Imagine when they met and the sparks start flying!

I can’t turn away from those eyes. I feel like something is happening right now. Something weirdly intimate and scarily intense, and yet all we’re doing is looking at each other.

I love sports. I love comedy. I love sexy love stories. Well.. Stay has everything so, as you can guess, I really enjoyed the journey of reading this novel. The characters are outstanding, the story is compelling, the banter is hilarius, the couple has an out-of-this-world chemistry and the secondary characters are to-die-for! Sarina and Elle gave us lots of hilarious moments with all the characters that will leave you wanting more. I can't wait to read the next story!

“The best things in life are the ones you don’t expect.”

Therefore, I am rating Stay with 4.5 STARS because I loved catching up with all these characters and reading another wonderful love story. Matt and Hayley were absolutely brilliant and the twins will steal your heart with their adorableness! I am sure we will be getting more stories in the WAGs series and I want them yesterday! lol Highly recommend!

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Profile Image for Talia (Red Hot Ink).
561 reviews131 followers
June 20, 2017
5 Instant favorite stars

ARC received in exchange for an honest review

I've made no secret of my encompassing love for this writing duo. Good Boy is one of my favorite from 2017 and the biggest dilemma I have right now is deciding which one I liked the most, if Blake and Jess' story or Matt and Hottie's... eer, Hailey's one.

While Good Boy cashed on its utter hilariousness and Blake's goofy behavior, I found Stay more romantic and hotter. Don't ask me to choose though because I won't. It's in the Fangirl's treaty, page 1 comma C: it's not polygamy if it's fictional.

Now let's get to the good part. Why is this book so awesome?

Evidence numero 1: It stars in medias res. Matt and Hailey already know each other... kind of. They've never met in real life, but they've developed a bond of some sort, a friendship over a virtual chat. I love this trope, if it's even to be considered one. It's one of the reasons The Friendzone by Callihan is another absolute favorite. It has happened to all of us to flirt over texts, to chat, to open up, sometimes even with strangers. It's easy to relate, because we all know the thrill coursing through us when the phone pings.

Matt : I'll be honest. I'd been a bit wary of him because in the previous book he'd sounded so bitter in front of Wesmie's wedding and I'd been afraid he'd be too hung up on his previous relationship to move on and be the hero I wanted him to be. Well, I shouldn't had feared. Matt was soooo over his wife, his marriage. It was lovely seeing him with his daughters, but the romance was undoubtedly between him and Hailey without seconds thoughts of doubts.
He's a great hero. Main chaser and yet understanding, especially at first when Hailey wasn't very at ease in front of her idol, he did his damnedest to make her feel comfortable, to woo her and not rush things (cue, the swooning). Another thing about him: his divorce didn't turn him into a manwhore. This is very unconventional for the genre, given how usually every man after a break up, in romance novels, takes the slutty way through a thousand panties before the heroine chains him down. Well, no. Matt gave himself time for himself, deciding to hold off from relationships and women, not wanting to embark on the drama and not wanting to subject anyone else to the sacrifices his wife always told him she had to make.
Also, his "issue", his fear of not being able to make a relationship work because of his schedule, his being afraid of disappointing his loved ones gave him depth and endeared him to me. Even in the past books, one of the main issues in the relationships was the lack of time the players spent with their families/spouses/partners. It's not something usually addressed in sports romance, but it's a huge part of their lives, the unpleasant under the shiny, the sacrifice behind the spotlight.

Then he leans down and scoops his preschool-aged daughter onto his hip. She slides her arms around his neck and lays one soft cheek on his bare shoulder. Pop, pop! That sound you're hearing is both my ovaries exploding.
"Thank you," he rumbles. "Sorry it's such a chaos here."
Then he smiles and my IQ drops another five points


Hailey . Now, I'm not a sports fan. I get more excited about Curling (the one with the brooms and the bowling stone) than any football or hockey game. Truth. It's not my jam. I don't have athletes idols, and yet I don't think I could remain nonchalant if I were to actually meet one. In sports romance novels, almost all heroines are so aloof and kind of unimpressed when it comes to meeting and dealing with super-star players, which is nice, but unrealistic. Hailey instead was very human. Being a super fan, she couldn't understand how she could ever be with someone like Matt Eriksson. THE Matt Eriksson she'd had a crush on since forever. But not in a "I'm so average, pity me!", rather in a "how can I measure up to him?" So at the beginning it's awkward and I appreciated it because it was so easy to imagine and it felt real.
Hailey's also a successful, ambitious woman. Hard-worker. Dedicated. And I want to say kudos to the authors because we need more women like Hailey in romance novels. Heroines who have big nights in their honor, who have stressful work shifts and long hours, and yet love their jobs and are passionate about it. I didn't mind Jess' indecisiveness about her career, but I undoubtedly connected with Hailey on a deeper level.

Their past relationships . Matt's ex-wife might look and play the part of the bitch very well, but in the end we get to dig a little deeper and find some more human facets. With Hailey's husband, the situation is different. They're business partners and even though they're nothing more than friendly to each other, I loved the balance of their relationships, with spurts of non-romantic jealousy and a dull ache at the memories. It was a believable situation.

The romance I adored the pace of it, how they talked at first, getting to know each other through texts, and then how Matt was the first to make a move, to lure her outside of her self-imposed barriers. He's the main chaser in the relationship, especially at first when Hailey is a bit insecure of how she'd manage to deal with him wanting her, to his experience, to the legend behind the man. It's hard for her to distinguish the two, but it's clear the person she's falling for is not the player but the man. A lot of the book is dedicated to them being together and as per usual with this series, the angst is super low (hell yeah!) and the main issue resolved really quickly.

Now he smiles at me, and my insides just melt. Not because he's handsome, though he's hotter than blazes. But because of the way he looks at me -- like we're sharing a joke and we're the only two people on Earth who know the punchline


The team Seeing them together on poker night, shooting the shit, ribbing each other over their women and being just cute, funny and... dudes had me laughing out loud.

"I'll be there in thirty," I say. "Want me to bring anything?"
"Just your fine ass--" Blake suddenly yelps. "What the what, J-babe! Cheezus! That hurt!"
I hear a muffled female voice in the background. It's Jess, Blake's live-in girlfriend. "Her fine ass?" she asks. "Who are you talking to!"
There's an howl of laughter in my ear. "Eriksson!" Blake shouts between yelps. "I was referring to Eriksson's fine ass!"
"My ass is fine," I agree. "Tell Jess I'd be happy to show it to her when I get there."
"Sure, I'll tell her," Blake's answers cheerfully. "After I chop your balls off and feed them to a sheep."


The little original things . First date at the opera. Now, I'm an opera fan here. I was born and raised backstage so I may be biased... but still, even though every character hated it (which made for a very funny scene), it was unconventional. No dinner and movies for these guys, but rather a posh opera night with the addition of fireworks (metaphorical ones).
Fetch: it's Hailey and her ex-husband baby, aka their business. In a nutshell, they fetch stuff their clients request them and deliver them to their houses or wherever. This is how Matt and Hailey first connected. I loved the idea of Fetch, it made for great comedy, with MrEightInches, Rufus' walks and Jackson's mystery box ;) I usually don't give much thought to the heroine's work place or job. They tend to fade in the background most of the time, but here I was genuinely interested in the ins and out of how such a service worked.

Blake . I was just going through the sentences I'd highlighted and I realized almost each one of them had Blake in it. Love that guy, love his attitude, his jokes, his being completely unaware of how the world works. LOVE. HIM. So, more Blake? Not complaining here.

"My Blakey senses are telling me you're scared of the G-word."
I glance over. "The G-word?"
"Girrrrrrrrlfriend"


Blake's expression softens, as if he's thinking about something truly amazing. Which he is, because in the next breath he brings up Jess. "And then I met Jessie and it was, like, boom! This girl ain't crazy, and she trusts me. I'm going all in."


Blake's mom : Because...

"GET'EM BLAKEY! CARVE HIS TURKEY!"
"YEAH" I [Hailey] belt out. "DROP'IM LIKE A DRESS ON PROM NIGHT!"


In conclusion, Stay is one of the best romances I've read this year, along with Good Boy. Light on the angst, with super relatable and likable characters, hot, sweet and romantic. There's hockey, there're cute kids and a boisterous group of hockey players who still have lots to say. I'm especially curious about a certain manwhore...

He puts his hands up in front of his chest like rabbit paws and starts jumping around like a bunny in skates. It's the dumbest thing I ever saw in my life, but naturally my daughters find this hilarious. Even Hailey giggles. O'Connor has a way with women of all ages, apparently. "I wouldn't have guessed you'd be good with kids, O'Connor," I remark.
"No?" He stops hopping and does a goofy spin. "I'm immature. Ask anyone. How does that not compute?"
Profile Image for Astrid - The Bookish Sweet Tooth.
794 reviews887 followers
June 20, 2017
✮✮✮ 4 STARS ✮✮✮

Review @ Vanilla & Spice Books



"Sluttyflutters"


Hailey's company, Fetch, a virtual assistant service is going well. She runs it together with he ex-husband. Their specialty is it to procure goods and services whenever one of their clients needs one. Hailey highly suspects that one of their hight profile clients is Toronto's famous veteran forward, Matt Eriksson. And wouldn't that be cool? She loooves hockey and she has a bit of a crush on the handsome guy.

Eighteen months ago Matt's wife asked him for a divorce. She claimed she was sick of him hardly being at home, missing out on birthdays and milestones when he was on the road with the team.

Matthew Eriksson folks. Chronic Disappointer of wives.


He moved out and had Fetch furnish his new apartment. He has been a loyal client, having much appreciation for this company whose employees have been life savers on countless occasions.

These days Matt is more of a homebody when he is not on a road trip. He tries to make as much time as possible for his twin girls even though his ex always decides when he gets to see them. Hailey is so different from his wife, not just in the looks department. She is warm and caring. He loves that she is into hockey, they also share their experience of a failed marriage. Yet, Matt knows he will disappoint Hailey at some point and he dreads the day he will see that look in her eyes.

As my ex can attest to, I suck at relationships. My job definitely isn’t conducive to them— the lifestyle, the long absences, killed my marriage. I don’t know what Hottie is looking for with me, but if it's something long term, I’m not sure I’m capable of that.


These two main characters really mesh. Hailey's marriage did a number on her and she gets super nervous around Matt. When she texts him she is full of sass and wit but when she is in the same room with this sexy man she rapidly loses a couple of IQ points. Their make-out sessions tend to end in Hailey awkwardly running away and then finding a hundred stupid reasons why she can't text the guy she starts to fall for.

Matt steers her towards being more comfortable with him. He is a laid-back guy who has a surprisingly bossy side about him in the bedroom. God, that was HOT. His divorce left him with his own hangups about relationships and he is convinced that he'll never be good enough. Or enough per se. It takes him a while to see the light, to realize that he is throwing away a good thing only because of his fear to disappoint.

I loved that there wasn't any extended and over-the-top drama. These two people know what they expect from life. Matt isn't a player, he is so far from the usual jock we get in books, and Hailey is a sweet heroine whose confidence didn't survive her marriage. Under Matt's care and attention she starts to blossom though.

Hailey needs sex. Good sex. And lots of it. I’ve caught glimpses of her steel, her confidence, her sexiness, usually in our online exchanges. But in person, it’s like she’s second-guessing herself all the time. The poor girl needs to get her mojo back, and I’ve decided I’m the man for the job. Just call me Matt the Mojo Maker.



I really loved that he gave her some of that self assurance back. One word about their chemistry in the bedroom...combustible. Seriously, Matt really turns up the heat. It was sweet to watch them fall in love.

“I’m ridiculously attracted to you, Hottie. I figured I should be upfront about that.”
“Shut up and kiss me again, Snipes.”


Again these two authors create lovable characters. I can't repeat it often enough but Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy have the magic touch with their humorous dialogues and engaging story lines. We are able to catch up with Blake and Jess, and get to hang out a bit with Wes and Jamie. We also get a leeeettle teasing glimpse on who will be one of the next couples in this wonderful series. And you bet I will read that one.

“Question,” Hailey whispers after a while.
“Mmh?”
“Do you always hum ‘O Canada’ while you have sex?”
I let out a very unsexy snort, and she giggles. “No. That was special. Only for you.”





Profile Image for Eliza.
661 reviews846 followers
June 20, 2017


★4.5 STARS★

Much like the song, I ain’t too proud to beg when it came to getting my hands on this Bowenndy treat. Like the masters of all-out, feel good novels, Sarina and Elle once again tickle readers into submission with the latest addition in the WAGS series.

STAY focuses on divorced player Matt Eriksson and my new girl crush, Hailey Taylor Emery. If you’ve read Good Boy, you’ll remember Matt was having a hard time dealing with the breakdown of his marriage. It’s here that Hailey steps in, or rather her business Fetch.

Fetch is the ingenious personal (virtual) assistance service set up by Hailey and her now ex-husband. It’s a saving grace to Matt who is frequently on the road. But with Hailey acting as his right hand woman when he’s in a jam, he soon comes to rely on her in more than the business capacity.

Although Fetch offers 100% anonymity, it’s not long before Hailey sniffs out “sniper87” is indeed one of her hockey heroes crushes, Matt. He’s eager to put a face to the name, but she in an effort to keep her business head keeps her attraction on a tight leash.

I on the other hand boundless in my excitement of these two getting together. Matt is an amazing man and father and I thought Hailey equalled him in her likeability factor. As well as being career minded, she’s down to earth and extremely warm. They are equally cautious going in, but what builds kept me glued to the pages and self-appointing myself head cheerleader to their romance.

The WAGS series is another tail wagging hit for this amazing duo, and I’m positively panting for O’Connor’s book.



Profile Image for Optimist ♰King's Wench♰.
1,785 reviews3,904 followers
July 6, 2017
This book was so nice I read it twice! Usually when I finish a book I review it then tuck it away in a folder on my kindle but this one I just couldn’t let go of, so it stayed on my carousel and kept tempting me until I relented and reread it.

The second WAGs book definitely cast its spell on me and I’m eagerly awaiting the next in the series which I’m pretty sure is going to feature the team’s resident manwhore and pretty boy, Will O’Connor. In other words, BIG FUN!



Stay features Matt Eriksson and Hailey Taylor Emery (HTE aka Hottie). Hailey is a superfan of Toronto’s hockey team and in particular, forward Matt Eriksson. She’s also his virtual assistant. She’s adorable and I immediately connected with her flutterstutters when she’s around Matt. One time Papi just walked past me at Wrigley and in my head I was all, PAPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII but what it looked like on the outside was prolly something akin to a mini stroke since I think all that came out of my gaping cakehole was a pathetic and near silent “meep”. So yeah, as a sports fan I got her blushing and dropping IQ points whenever he’s within a mile radius of her.

I warmed up to you the day we met. I melted for you the second you kissed me.


As their relationship evolves she relaxes around him and they click. They have tons of sexual chemistry (and he’s bossy in the bedroom. Just FYI.), his twin 4 yr olds love her, she’s way more understanding of his schedule than his ex ever was and she fits in with the rest of the WAGs. There’s only one little mini-conflict that mostly involves Matt’s ex-wife, Kara. They communicate and handle it like the adults they are quickly and get back to all the adorableness that’s made this an instant comfort read for me.

Overall I think this is a stronger all around book than Good Boy for a couple of reasons: (a) I really enjoyed that the WAGs played a bigger role and how they look out for each other. They’re a bonafide support system for each other and they didn’t play a big role in the first book. (b) The team dynamics were better in this one which is something I always enjoy in a sports romance. The poker night and the whole sexting on the plane/airport were both high points. Then there's the added bonus of Blakey who has a big role which… I’ve made my feels on Blakey quite clear. Repeatedly. He really does amuse me though. Like, a lot.

"I love a chick with three names! Like, um…” He pauses. “James Earl Jones!”




Jenny is also a great secondary character. She’s a great best friend and I hope this isn’t the last we’ve seen of her. And lastly, Rufus. That they’re keeping the dog theme running through the series, or seem to be, makes my heart swell as a dog lover.


AWWWWWWWWW

“The best things in life are the ones you don’t expect,” he says softly.


Highly rec for enormous amounts of good feels!
Profile Image for Corina.
805 reviews2,446 followers
May 26, 2020
So far this series has been FANTASTIC.

Stay (WAGs #2) was an easy, light-hearted and feel-good romance that was swoony and sweet in every way that counted.

Good Boy book 1 in the WAG’s series blew my mind – review can be found here – and I fell passionately in love with Blake Riley. I knew that it would be hard to top him, because he was such an unique character.

For me characters turn a great book into an outstanding one.

Stay was wonderfully entertaining and GREAT in its own right, and it even had some Black Riley scenes for me to enjoy.

Hailey Taylor Emery, part-owner of FETCH, a company that catered to the rich with no time on their hands, had a standing chat going on with one of her clients – the ‘maybe it could be’ one-and-only hockey star extraordinaire – Matt Eriksson.

Since his divorce and with such a busy schedule on his hands, Matt made good use of Hailey’s company. Anything he needed Hailey got for him.

Last minute tuxedo measurements? No problem.
An empty apartment – rest assured Hailey will get it furnished.
Dog needs walking – check!

They started chatting. Neither knew really who the other person was. Hailey kept her fingers and nose out of her client files when 100% privacy was requested, and guessing was so much more fun anyway.

Until the day she got caught on Matt’s security camera walking his dog – and suddenly the game changed – Matt was now hellbent on finding out who the cute dog walker was and if it could have been HoTiE (Hailey Taylor Emery HTE) from FETCH. And Hailey tried to keep her identity a secret since she was the owner of said company and starting something with a client could get complicated.

Those two were just too cute together.

Matt, a newly divorced father of twins, with a wife that was still mad at him for not being home enough. He was sweet, kind, dedicated and devoted to his kids. A guy I wouldn’t say no to myself. He was the total PACKAGE. He had really everything going for him.

Hailey, cute, smart, and feisty, the ultimate hockey fan, also newly divorced, was not looking to date anyone. She was married to her company, silently crushing on Matt Eriksson, and the chatting that she had going with Matt was a wonderful but non-threatening pastime. She didn’t intent to take it to the next level – but Matt certainly was.

Hailey and Matt had enough chemistry and attraction for two couples. They were a match made in heaven. Easy and fun to be around. I especially loved how big of a hockey fan Hailey was. She was HILARIOUS and held nothing back when it came to her favorite team and hockey player. That’s how I imagined a girlfriend of a hockey player should be!!!

I thought Stay (WAGs #2) was a wonderful addition to the series and it just confirmed that Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy are an unbeatable duo and my #1 author collaboration.



ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review.

___________________________________
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Profile Image for Alienor ✘ French Frowner ✘.
866 reviews4,050 followers
June 24, 2017
The moment I started skimming the sex scenes, I just knew. There's nothing inherently bad in this book, but... The scarce smiles never could make me forget that actually, you know what, *high-pitched voice* I don't caaaaaaaaaaare.
Profile Image for Christie«SHBBblogger».
972 reviews1,293 followers
June 21, 2017



Title: Stay
Series: WAGs #2 (Wives and Girlfriends)
Author: Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy
Release date: June 20, 2017
Cliffhanger: No
HEA

This book was just what I needed after the intense fantasy book I had just finished. It was just pure sexy, light and frothy fun. To be honest, since reading Good Boy, I wasn't especially excited about reading Matt's book. In fact, I could barely remember who he was. But it didn't take long for me to this was a special guy with a lot to offer.

The single dad trope is hot right now, but it's not one that particularly draws me. However, Matt's love and devotion to his twin daughters would melt even the most cynical reader's heart. But on top of that, he's just an all-around good guy. Instead of the typical athlete manwhore, what we have here is a man who isn't the slightest bit interested in partying and getting laid on a nightly basis. He's not egotistical, arrogant, or vain. And wow, was that ever refreshing.

Matt is nursing a lot of guilt over the dissolution of his marriage. His ex-wife and mother of his daughters never lets him forget that he was a failure as a husband. Not for a second. Constant time on the road away from his family was a big factor that caused the erosion of their happiness. So the last thing he is interested in is looking for a serious relationship with someone new. It's better off for everyone if he's single, because as far as he's concerned, he would only end up disappointing her. Being alone is a price he grudgingly accepts in order to play hockey and live his dream.

Hailey and her ex-husband are co-owners of the assistance service Fetch. Unlike Matt, she has a very amicable post divorce relationship with her former spouse. They were best friends first, and that's what they remained. At first I thought it was extremely odd and awkward for them to continue to run a business together and see each other on a daily basis. And yes, it might have been a little uncomfortable at times. But overall, it was admirable to see how they could handle themselves with maturity and class. They just realized that their love was not of the romantic or passionate kind and moved forward.

Jackson and I were pals forever. Then we were a couple . One day in high school he kissed me instead of hugging me goodbye . And that was that.

Hailey is highly inexperienced when it comes to men. As in...she's never been with anyone except her ex-husband. So when her athlete crush Matt Eriksson starts using Fetch, their messages online were the perfect safe buffer to ease her into putting herself out there. In their IMs, she can banter with the best of them and hold her own. But get her face to face and it was a whole other story with him. It took her a little while to ease into a comfortable spot with him in order for her to be herself. But I loved how understanding and sweet he was about her nervousness. He made it his goal to not only make her feel comfortable, but confident.

The poor girl needs to get her mojo back, and I’ve decided I’m the man for the job. Just call me Matt the Mojo Maker.

Matt and Hailey had a very straightforward, low drama relationship and I really enjoyed that. His real conflict was in letting go of his guilt and finding a way to balance his career and personal life. There was some minor conflict with both of their exes, but nothing unpleasant or frustrating. As their romance blossomed, she got to meet the WAGs, Matt's teammates, and spent time with his adorable daughters. The story was so charming, and to be honest, much sexier than I had anticipated for some reason. Matt came out of nowhere and cranked up the heat on Hailey like you wouldn't believe.

This fantastic author team really impressed me with the first in the series, but I think this is my new favorite of the two. If you haven't started them yet, don't hesitate! After the hint at the end about who's in line for the next book, I'm more than a little intrigued and ready to sign on for more.

All I know is that I love every second I spend with Matt. He’s so… real. Warm and gorgeous and funny and how the hell did I ever get so lucky?

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Profile Image for MELISSA *Mel Reader*.
1,388 reviews1,454 followers
June 16, 2017
4.5 Stars!

 photo 8B899280-41B8-4D00-94DE-08A0C7F5D3CF_zpsquezcker.jpg

Hailey Taylor Emery is a 29 yr. old woman who married her childhood best friend, & then recently divorced. They had known each other their whole lives and were well suited, but had no spark. Hailey and her ex started a business called Fetch, Inc. It's Toronto's premier virtual assistant company that's open 24/7 & often caters to a wealthy customer base. They offer their clients the option to stay anonymous & have whatever they desire hassle free.

Hailey has been a bit too focused & obsessed with one of her clients. Sniper87 is her favorite client. They chat often since she does so much work for him. She's developed quite the active fantasy life involving him, & thinks she may have figured out his identity. She's pretty convinced her mystery customer is the hot forward for Toronto's professional hockey team, Matt Eriksson. He's her long-time celebrity crush. She's dying to know if it's Matt, but can't cross that line professionally.

 photo BE4C019A-E655-4DF0-94DC-9526F97E023F_zpsjrwj8env.jpg

Matt Eriksson is a hockey star who got divorced last summer after his wife left him. His life now is focused around playing hockey & spending time with his four year old twin daughters. Since he divorced women were no longer a priority. He's not interested in one night stands or anything serious, so he's just not dating. The only person in his life that seems to understand him lately is a woman he's never met. A woman from Fetch that he's been chatting with for almost a year. While she's catering to his every need he enjoys some harmless flirting. Recently his curiosity has taken over, & he's dying to get a glimpse of her in person. He knows she's a huge hockey fan, & he decides to offer her hockey seats to a game so he can finally see her.

 photo 1086FA64-831F-44F8-B32B-1670774A566A_zpskp3sdkuj.jpg

-He makes my body light up in ways so foreign to me that it's clear I've been doing something wrong my whole life.

-I want him all the time.

 photo 74AD0CC1-30E5-42A1-86D0-EBD1E7F991C3_zpszxcmbnxm.jpg

Matt & Hailey finally meet. They both are no stranger to heartbreak & find they have a lot in common. They begin spending time together and Hailey is a ball of nerves. She can't look at the delicious body that's starred in all her fantasies without wanting to touch him. Things soon heat up, & Hailey has never experienced the kind of all consuming passion Matt delivers. Feelings start to develop, but can they get over their past relationship hang ups long enough to have a future together?

I really enjoyed this book! Matt Eriksson was sizzling hot & super swoony!

 photo CE0B163D-1B96-48A0-B37E-23696A25A26E_zpsktgxscm7.jpg
Profile Image for Jacqueline's Reads.
2,926 reviews1,507 followers
May 25, 2017
4 Single Daddy Stars!!!!

Stay is a standalone and is part of the WAGs series. WAG stands for Wives and Girlfriends (I didn’t know, until I saw the commercial for the reality show on Bravo).

This one was pretty cute and I really enjoyed the storyline. Granted this book has a single daddy and twins nonetheless, but still, I love Sarina and Elle’s writing style. They always write instant hits and this book put me in a really good mood.

Hailey is a sassy Heroine. She’s a business owner and loves what she does. She manages a services company, people put in request through an app and she outsources the job. I really liked Hailey, I found her really personable, relatable and real. You do feel bad for her in the sense she works with her ex-husband, but that’s the reality of life right?

Matt is a thirty something hockey player, but playing hockey doesn’t define Matt, nope, being a dad does and I couldn’t find anything more endearing and hot than that! I love that Matt is a single dad and I couldn’t get enough of his interaction between him and his twin daughters. He loves his kids like crazy, but because he works so much he doesn’t get to see them often and so he has a lot of guilt.

To me, Matt isn’t your typical Hero. I never found a Hero that was more empathic and sweet than Matt. You can tell how much he cares for his kids and even when his ex-wife treats him like dirt, he takes it.

I really liked the dynamic between Hailey and Matt. They were cute and I couldn’t get enough of their dialogue and interaction. Matt is one of Hailey’s clients and she often does jobs for him, like walking his dog and getting food for him. I really like how Matt uses Hailey’s company to get in contact with her. I love any relationship that uses some form of technology communication, it’s just like I said cute.

Overall, this book isn’t too angsty and the tension is mild, but it’s a feel good book that will give you a warm fuzzy feel when you finish. The dog is cute too.

An ARC was provided

Good Boy (WAGs, #1) by Sarina Bowen Stay (WAGs, #2) by Sarina Bowen
Good Boy REVIEW | AMAZON
Stay AMAZON
Profile Image for Nicola.
1,395 reviews277 followers
June 15, 2017
3.5 stars.

From the moment I finished Good Boy I've been desperate to get my paws on Matt Ericksson, because single dads and hockey players are like catnip to me.

"You always call me Math when you’re nervous."

As I've come to expect from a Bowen/Kennedy collaboration, Matt and Hailey are a nice balance of sweet and sexy with just the right amount of drama added into the mix. Both divorced, they're naturally a little wary of starting a new relationship and have insecurities, particularly Matt as he has his adorable daughters to consider and an ex-wife making things less than pleasant. But he and Hailey have an easy chemistry and when they cross the line things just seem to fall into place.

"Hailey lets me believe I’m not a lost cause, that my messy life is worth sharing, at least when I can manage it."


In comparison to its predecessors in both the the WAGS and Him series', Stay admittedly is my least favourite of the four and as lovely as they were, Matt and Hailey were fairly commonplace in terms of characters and I was hoping for more depth. But nevertheless, enjoyable, steamy, heartwarming and with laughs provided courtesy of Blake Riley who never fails to make me smiley, for lovers of the series it's a sound addition and I doubt you'll be disappointed.

Copy generously provided by the authors for an honest and unbiased opinion.

description
Profile Image for Diana.
574 reviews18 followers
September 19, 2018
5 Hottie Stars!!

Stay is book 2 in the WAGS series and I absolutely loved this easy going, fun story. There isn’t a lot of angst, but rather a sweet romance. Yes, Matt and Hailey do have a few little bumps in the road, but they aren’t dragged out. Hailey was definitely not TSTL heroine, but I found her very relatable. I think Matt was the perfect boyfriend, even though he didn’t think he was. I loved the sweet relationship he had with his adorable daughters.

I did listen to this one, and I have to say the narrator, Jacob Morgan, was incredible. He could read the phone book to me and I would be a happy camper. Whew, that voice!!!

I did get the hint there may be a book 3. Fingers crossed!!
Profile Image for Aestas Book Blog.
1,059 reviews75.2k followers
August 5, 2017


Can you fall for someone you've never even met?

Awww!! This was a sweet, sexy, swoony romance between a divorced sports star who was father to two adorable little daughters and a divorced heroine who had given up on love. It was a fun, easy, and generally light-hearted read!! I found it so heart-melting to watch this big huge sports star hero be such a loving, caring dad to his little kids!!! I also loved seeing him fall for the heroine and to watch them both dare to take a second chance on love.

I've read both Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy independently, but this was my first time reading one of their jointly written releases and I have to say I really enjoyed it! It always impresses me when two different authors are able to co-write a book such that you would never have guessed that more than one person wrote it. They did a great job!

The story is told in first person from alternating POVs. It can be read as a standalone (that's how I read it) but it is technically the second standalone in a series of standalones following Good Boy. It's totally up to you if you want to read them in order or separately -- it works both ways. I just happened to particularly like the sound of this one when I read the blurb so I decided to dive in and ended up reading it as a separate story without issue.

Speaking of the blurb, this is it:

Hailey Taylor Emery has a hunch that her favorite client at Fetch--an anonymous virtual assistant service--is actually hockey star Matt Eriksson.

Although it's against the rules for her to check his file, she's 95% sure she spends at least part of each day texting with her lifelong crush and catering to his every need. Still nursing a wounded heart thanks to her recent breakup, Hailey is perfectly content with some harmless online flirting...until she has to meet her client. Face to face. Cue: utter panic.

Matt Eriksson is no stranger to heartbreak. He's still not over the destruction of his marriage, and it sucks to be the only guy on the team who knows the truth--that hockey and long-term relationships are a toxic mix. He barely sees his kids, and dealing with his ex makes him feel insane. The only person in his life who seems to understand is someone who won't show her pretty face.

But it's nothing that a pair of fourth row hockey seats can't fix. Hailey can't resist the offer. Matt can't resist Hailey. Good thing he doesn't have to. Fire up the kiss cam!


There's thankfully very little drama in this book. It's primarily just a fun, sweet, sexy, entertaining romance. It's what I'd want to read on a lazy day or maybe after a really emotional or intense read. It's a bit of a palate cleanser.

A reader asked me question that I'll answer here -- she asked if his kids were part of this book since the blurb says that he didn't get to see them much. It's true, his ex-wife was very controlling and gave him minimal time with them, however his kids were still featured in many scenes. They loved their dad so it was really lovely to see them together.

The hero and heroine faced some very real hurdles -- learning to trust again after their respective divorces, the stress of his very public job that kept him gone for so much of the time, working through custody arrangements of his daughters with an ex-wife who wasn't easy to deal with, finding the privacy to just let themselves learn to love again... So it wasn't all light, but it was a very heart-warming read with a quite a sexy side to it in the bedroom. ;)

Overall, this was a really enjoyable read! If you're looking for something new to read and you love sexy sports romances and swoony single dad heroes, definitely be sure to check this book out! Happy reading, everyone!!

Rating: 4+ stars! Contemporary Adult Romance, Can Standalone.


Buy STAY (Kindle)
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Profile Image for Fabi.
1,021 reviews152 followers
June 30, 2017
awwww how much fun was that?!

5 stars!

Another wonderful, feel-good, happy romance from this dynamic duo of authors.

Hailey and Matt are perfect together. We also get to spend time with Blakey baby (I can't stop calling him that) and Wes, and the all the wonderful WAGs.

Very recommended for everyone who enjoys low-angst, happy romance stories.
Profile Image for Kiki ♡.
272 reviews12 followers
May 31, 2021
4.25/5☆
“Las mejores cosas de la vida son las que no esperas”

Stay es el segundo libro de la serie WAGs (Wifes and Girldfriends) , aquí se narra la historia de Matt Erikson, personaje secundario del primer libro y Hailey Taylor. He disfrutado esta historia.

Hailey Taylor es copropietaria de Fitch Inc. , compañía de asistencia virtual, esto junto a su exesposo, aunque están divorciados desde hace un año y medio, se llevan muy bien, ya que se conocen desde niños y siempre han sido amigos, además duraron ocho años de casados, estaban juntos desde la adolescencia. Gracias a esta compañía conoce a Matt Erikson, ya que él es cliente habitual, aunque esto es anónimo, Hailey sospecha que al que atiende es este jugador de hockey. Por medio de esto, gracias a los mensajes que se van enviando, va sucediendo un acercamiento entre ellos hasta encontrarse en persona y hay una atracción latente, pero se tendrán que enfrentar a sus miedos, por parte de Hailey deberá superar el miedo de empezar a salir con otra persona, ya que desde su divorcio no ha estado en citas y siente bastante inseguridad y por parte de Matt siente temor para iniciar una nueva relacion por su trabajo, ya que demanda mucho tiempo y no quiere decepcionar a Hailey con esto, así como sucedió con su matrimonio fallido.

“No quiero fallarle. Puede que no sea capaz de prometer para siempre, pero creo que su divorcio también la arruinó. Creo que necesita pasar tiempo con un hombre que pueda mostrarle lo jodidamente buena que es”

Me ha gustado mucho este libro, lo he disfrutado completamente, Matt y Hailey me han encantado totalmente y como su relación se va fortaleciendo es muy lindo.

Hailey me ha gustado como protagonista, al inicio de la historia era bastante tímida respecto a salir a citas, esto porque siempre estuvo con el mismo chico, su mejor amigo de la infancia, entonces cuando su relación se acabó, tiene bastante inseguridad al respecto de conocer nuevas personas, ya que esto de relacionarse con otros hombres no es su punto fuerte, le cuesta. Además, como su relación con su exesposo era bastante monótona, no se siente tan segura con Matt, siente muchos nervios, ya que todo es más intenso.

Matt, también me gustó, él es jugador de hockey profesional, está divorciado y es padre de dos gemelas, aunque casi no las puede ver, esto porque su relación con su exesposa no es que sea la mejor. Él siente inseguridad en comenzar una nueva relación, ya que se siente culpable por su matrimonio fallido y no quiere volver a repetir el mismo ciclo.
“No puedo apartarme de esos ojos. Siento que algo está sucediendo ahora mismo. Algo extrañamente intimo y terriblemente intenso y, sin embargo, todo lo que estamos haciendo es mirarnos el uno al otro”

La relación de Matt y Hailey me ha gustado mucho, se va llevando poco a poco, primero esa atracción, la tensión sexual intensa y así va avanzando hasta convertirse en una relación bastante fuerte. Se nota la evolución de ellos, esas inseguridades, temores, luego lo van afrontando y superando. El romance entre este par es bastante sexy y dulce, es que la mayor parte del tiempo que estuve leyendo este libro tenia una sonrisa en la cara, es una lectura bastante relajante. Otro punto que me gustó fue la relación de Matt y sus hijas de cuatro años, que ternura, él como papá es un amor, y las niñas tan parlanchinas, además, cuando conocen a Hailey es muy bonito.
“Sonríe, y la imagen calienta mi corazón. Este hombre es tan jodidamente atractivo”

La historia está contada desde los dos puntos de vista de los protagonistas, es algo muy necesario, ya que conocemos los pensamientos de cada uno y porqué actúan de cierta manera, esto es algo que disfruto mucho que tengan los libros, así no estoy tan tensa, XD.

Los personajes secundarios también aportan su granito de arena a la historia, estuvieron muy bien, además, aquí aparece la pareja del primer libro y la cual me encanta muchísimo, cuando aparecían me emocionaba bastante.
Las WAGs son increíbles, este es un grupo de esposas y novias de los jugadores, se dan apoyo cuando lo necesitan, especialmente cuando sus hombres se encuentran lejos por los partidos de hockey. Jess, Katie, Estrella, le dieron bastante apoyo e integraron a Hailey muy bien.

Estas dos autoras se complementan fenomenal y crean personajes masculinos dignos para enamorarse.
“No tiene idea de cuánto significa esto para mí. Pasé el último año y medio creyéndome incapaz de ser la pareja de nadie. Y tal vez sea cierto. Pero al pasar su día conmigo, y su noche, Hailey me permite creer que no soy una causa perdida, que vale la pena compartir mi vida desordenada”

En conclusión, una lectura fácil, entretenida, con sus toques sexys, no tanto drama, una historia que divierte y disfrutas con todos los personajes. Un libro totalmente para desconectar y relajarse. Bastante agradable todo.
Profile Image for Michelle.
1,532 reviews160 followers
May 28, 2017
*ARC provided by the publisher for an honest review*

I need Fetch to bring me a Matt.



I was really looking forward to this book after I had met Matt in Good Boy which is the first book in this series. I was dying to know what had happened in his marriage. Matt is a really nice guy he gets on with al his team mates they got on really well but he is lonely there is only Rufus his dog and him and he's away with the team most of the time. He as his twin girls June and Libby but with Kara is ex wife who is just a pain and just tries to make everything hard. But life take a turn for the better when he uses Fetch service to help him get someone to walk his dog he just did imagine that the Walker would be so sexy and the cover owner of Fetch.



Hailey's life as been a lil al over the place the last year and half her marriage is over and she still has to see her ex husband everyday cause they own the company together but they do get on well still after what happened. The divorce really took its toll on Hailey but one think that alway cheered her up was hockey she's a big fan and a even bigger fan of Matt Eriksson. So when she got a request to fine a dog walkers for Matt's dog she did her job but when it didn't go to plan and they started to message each other back and forth things got a lil heated between them there was no way that they could see where it could go but things weren't use for both of them they had been hurt in different ways and weren't ready for anything serious they just didn't see how good things could be.



I really enjoyed this book i really like that I got more of Wesmie Jess and Blake I m actually looking forward to seeing what's going on with O'Connor there was something goin on with him and I need to know more. There are great character in this book liked Matt and Hailey they are really good together and super hot. I liked Jenny Hailey's bff she has to push her out if her comfort zone sometimes but she does need it and getting more of Blakes craziness is always a good thing and then Wesmie how can u not luv getting more of them. The story was really good I found it funny in parts and sad that they both had to deal with crappy stuff and happy that they found each other they need some good in there lives.



Overall I would highly recommend this book. It was an easy sexy read with loads of hotness with hot hockey players skating around the place and was funny and very entertaining. I really enjoyed it the book flowed well and I m a big fan of these authors together. I can't wait to see what they do next with is series.

Profile Image for Sam (AMNReader).
1,423 reviews305 followers
October 19, 2017
Have I mentioned before that I detest hockey but love hockey romances?

Ah, well...I did always like the hockey players as a teen. Maybe it stems from that. Even though I think hockey, its early practices, its equipment, and the cold arena will forever be unsexy. Even that damn buzzer or the fact the segments are called "periods?"

I digress just a wee bit. You know why? I pretty much loved Matt Eriksson and his dirty mouth. And his maturity. And his teensy shows of possessiveness, like he was all claiming her for the world (subtle hands on necks, kiss on cheeks, direct dealings with exes and potential suitors).

And I'm at the age where I really really like men who want to curl up next to me on the couch, play with their daughters, and don't need to impress their friends anymore. Those types that aren't really playing a game (unless it's hockey!)I don't need no fancy restaurants or clubs. Give me the quiet life with a 29 year old divorcee anytime. Particularly this one. And a dad. Yay for sexy dads!

I have forgotten the heroines name though. I am pretty sure we should just call her Sam. (FINE, It's Hailey, and her nickname is stupid)...

Hailey was an enjoyable character (strong, a little shy and bumbling.) Unfortunately, I was too busy making heart eyes at Matt to notice too much else about her. Maybe she was a little flat overall for me even though I appreciated the quiet strength. Thus, I'm subtracting a star.

This book may be a case of hitting me right at the right time. I swung back to a contemporary mood, and this lit up my brain in all the right ways.
Profile Image for Jen .
804 reviews597 followers
July 28, 2017
2.5 Disappointing Stars

Let me start off by saying I normally adore these authors. Both writing together and separately, my enjoyment of their books has pretty much been spot on.

How’d this one fair, you ask? Well, there was a little bit of this



And some of this



And finally I settled for this.



In case all of the above subtlety was lost somehow, this book bored the ever loving crap out of me.

I hate writing that but it’s the truth. The writing’s not bad in any way, I simply wasn’t feeling the relationship between Hailey and Matt. No chemistry, humor or the oomph in general I’ve come to expect from these two authors. Even the angst is just sorta meh.

So Stay wasn’t quite my cuppa. Se la vie and moving onto the next read.
Profile Image for Geri Reads.
1,232 reviews2,117 followers
June 15, 2017
This is my least favorite book from Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy. They've always been on point for me, always delivering the perfect combination of sexy, funny with heartfelt emotions. So while I did like this one, it wasn't my favorite.

The story was okay. The characters were okay. Their chemistry...? Okay. A bit forced in some places but it was passable.

Passable is a good word for this book. Not bad but not their best either.

ARC provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Elsa Bravante.
1,145 reviews198 followers
June 23, 2017
Segundo libro de la serie Spin Off the Him y me ha gustado, de hecho me ha gustado más que el primero. Las autoras no sorprenden con la historia, todo está mil veces visto, pero el tono es simpático, poco conflicto, fácil lectura y pareja con química. Un rato muy agradable, con el plus de tener un protagonista jugador de hockey con sus correspondientes abdominales.

P.S: Wes y Jamie salen muy poquito, pero cuando lo hacen roban el show!!
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