Reviewed by Annika
TITLE: Stay With Me
SERIES: PI Guys #1
AUTHOR: S.E. Harmon
NARRATOR: Michael Stellman
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 9 hours, 59 minutes
RELEASE DATE: January 20, 2015
BLURB:
Private investigator Mackenzie Williams’ newest client is everything he’s looking for in a guy–charming, beautiful, intelligent, and successful. There’s only one itty bitty problem: the guy’s not exactly gay. In fact Jordan Channing is looking for a PI to follow his fiance. The smart thing would be to thank Jordan for his time, turn Mr. Perfect away (don’t let the door hit you on the rump, thank you very much), and forget he exists.
Of course Mackenzie has never been accused of doing the smart thing. Being a smart aleck is more his MO. Relationships aren’t up his alley, never have been. So why’s he so inexplicably drawn to his new client?
Jordan has always been the high achiever, a man who lives in a focused, controlled, and carefully constructed manner. But for the first time in his life, he has to admit the impossible: another man is getting his engine running on all cylinders. Despite Jordan’s denial, it’s not long before he can no longer resist the strong undercurrents pulling them together. Now Jordan must decide if he can go against everything he’s ever known to have the only love he’s ever wanted.
REVIEW:
Stay With Me is a relationship driven story, well in the sense of that it deals mostly with Mac’s relationships, past and present. Everything else happened in the periphery. He has a lot of baggage from his past relationships and does not trust easily – or at all. So when his latest client hires him to follow his (female) fiancé, and Mac can’t keep his eyes or hands off said client, we know things are about to get messy – because let’s not forget that Jordan wasn’t gay…
This book wasn’t a hit for me and I think most of it stems from my issues with Mac. I didn’t find him funny or witty as I think he was supposed to be. Instead he was childish and selfish and it was always “my way or the highway” with him. And we can’t forget about the no communication part, jumping to conclusions or running for the hills.
For me there was one particular cringe-worthy moment that felt so wrong to me. I rarely talk about sex scenes in any greater details, because for me they are unimportant and something I’d gladly leave out. This time I have to. Mac was a bottom, and very vocal and bossy about it too, that doesn’t mean he didn’t top, but he definitely preferred it the other way. So in a fit of insecurity, maybe even jealousy he, and he alone, makes the decision it’s time for Jordan to bottom – to prove that he really did love Mac. There was no conversation leading up to it, as far as I know the possibility of him bottoming had never even been discussed prior to that day – or after. That whole scene made my skin crawl it felt so wrong. Jordan’s apprehension and I would also say reluctance was clear, but was Mac there for him – talk him through it, encouraging? Nope, a snide remark and it’s a go. I think it was supposed to be sexy, him taking charge. But it really wasn’t. My toes are curling even as I write this, and not in a good way.
The second thing that didn’t sit well with me was the whole Jordan engaged situation. I mean the man was engaged to get married, planned a future with a woman he supposedly loved. Yet still he pursued Mac and a relationship with him – before ending it with his fiancé. I honestly don’t know when he left her – or if she left him, as far as I can tell that part was left out, but I do know it wasn’t soon enough. Cheating in books isn’t the end all for me as it is for others I know. But I don’t like it when it’s drawn out. When the ties aren’t cut and Everything is just dragged on for no good reason.
I enjoyed listening to Michael Stellman‘s voice. It was deep and pleasant and he hit the right notes and tone of the book. For me he was the highlight of the book. He added a lot of feeling to his narration and even though he didn’t distinguish between the characters it was a nice enough listen.
Looking around it seems like this book is a hit or miss for people, so if the story intrigues you, give it a try you might end up loving it.
RATING: 
Story: 1.5 hearts
Narration: 3.5 hearts
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