Pull Me Close was one of my favorite reads of 2016 so I could barely contain my excitement for Matt's story. If you haven't read Pull Me Close, Make Me Stay can be read as a standalone but both are so amazing, you'll want to pick up both.

Matt has been pulling double duty as a lawyer during the week and helping run Panic on the weekends with his twin brother, Nick, and his father. When June walks into the club and proceeds to pour her drink over some guy's head, he's captivated and determined to spend time with her. They have an amazing five months together and then the Moreno family is arrested and June disappears. When Matt sees June again and discovers that she is a cop, he feels played and is ready to never see her again. But the love between them was strong and the connection was real. Can they move past the past and rebuild?

I didn't think I would love a character as much as I loved Nick but then I was introduced to Matt. He's romantic, passionate, patient, and hands down a great guy. I felt the entire spectrum of emotions during this story. I was pulling for April and Matt every second. I'll be looking forward to meeting more characters from Panic!

*This is my voluntary review of an advanced reader copy*

Wow!!! I thought Book 1, Pull Me Close, was intense and emotional, but this one was even more so! Make Me Stay has it ALL….secrets, betrayals, love, sex, forgiveness, and second chances. This book is about Matt, Nick’s twin. A year ago he was madly in love with June, but she broke his heart when she left without a trace. The feelings never died for him, so when he recognizes her on the street, all those feelings, now combined with anger and hurt, are pushed to the forefront.

June aka April had to leave Matt for his own protection, and like Matt, she never stopped loving him either. She tries to make amends and hopefully have another shot with him by being honest, but he wants no part of that. However, when she is hurt, and he may be her only way of healing and regaining her life. He decides to do whatever is possible to help her. Can he ever trust her again? Can they find their way back to one another?
This book was soooo emotional! As always, Halston tackles important issues in her novels, and this one was no different. I don’t want to spoil anything but just know it’s a fascinating and different topic. I have never read a book that has discussed this health issue, and it was very informative.

Halston always finds a way to connect me with her characters, and Matt and April were no different. I learned so much about them through the first portion of the book about how they met and how things ended. I loved how with each chapter they learned something new about one another. They are really getting to know and fall in love with each other all over again. The climax toward the end of the story is INTENSE! That is putting it mildly. It threw up a MAJOR roadblock in the way of their journey back to one another!

My favorite thing about this book is there was indeed a HEA, but it wasn’t perfect, just like real life. Another great book by one of my favorite writers!!!!!

***Read and Reviewed for Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews***

the panic series continues with make me stay, and we spend some time with mateo moreno before his father's bust and afterwards. and the woman who is mixed up in all of it, june simpson aka april white.

she was undercover and she shouldn't have let things get as far as they did. she had a job to do. but she fell in love with matt. and her disappearance devastated him. he was so lost and hurt without her that drugs and drinking and basic debauchery became his life. his brother was so determined to build their nightclub back up without his input. and there was nothing left for him. june was gone.

and then he saw her. she looked different, but he knew it was her. in his bones he knew. and when she finally clued him in on what was happening, the betrayal he felt goes beyond words. but then she is injured while off duty, but because of her job. and she remembers nothing, but matt is familiar. at least, he seems to know more about her than anyone else does. because even though she met him while undercover, what she shared with him was real. she was her truest self with him. even trusting him enough to share the truth about her battle with krohn's disease.

a fact that helps save her during her hospital stay. matt is conflicted. he doesn't know april. and yet, he does. he still feels something for her no matter what her name. but is it anger? love? passion? it doesn't matter because it's something. it's better than the numbness and pain he felt after june left his life. and maybe it's worth exploring to see if the good outweighs the bad.

matt and april have so much baggage between them, that it's not a straightforward path to a happy ending. they have anger and resentment and hurt and lies a plenty. but there is also love and connection. and there is something they can build up. they just both have to want it. they have to give each other a reason to want it.

First book of this author and I can say it was a pleasant surprise. You know that story was the first but not the last for sure? As is the case here.The story here is told in two parts and I generally don't like this dynamic, but here made perfect sense and this Division was necessary to show the dynamics between our protagonists.The story is quick to read and the plot soon gets you intrigued. Our protagonists are great and the chemistry between them to be felt the kilometers of distance.Oh and it is a story of second chances.. and I love one . Make me stay is a great story filled with mystery, suspense, romance, second chances and left me intrigued until the end,

Romantic second-chance romance that was a really good fast read -- this is the second book in this series and you'll recognize some of the characters from the first book and you could read this as a standalone, but I would suggest you read the first book because it's just as good! Good balance of romance and suspense with a twist! Would definitely recommend if you like romantic suspense reads.

This is the second book in this series, and I have read and reviewed the first book also. It takes place at a nightclub in Miami and when I first started reading it, I didn't quite remember the first book, but it felt very familiar. The time lines are not linear, so things that happened in the first book, haven't happened yet when the book opens. This is not to say this book is not a standalone because it totally is. I am just saying that these books can be intertwined. Both books involve twin brothers, Nick and Matt who along with their father own the most popular club in Miami. This book centers on Matt and his HEA. I liked Matt, and loved June (April). The plot was engrossing and kept my attention as I tried to figure out what was going on. Once the big reveal happens in the middle of the book, the rest gives us the aftermath. One of the things I have really liked about these books are that each deal with a disability that the girls have, and these are life long disabilities that they live with. To me this makes the story more believable and heartwarming. Really enjoyed this one and looking forward to the next book in the Panic series. Thanks as always to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this for an honest review.

Make Me Stay is book 2 in the Panic series. This is the story of Matt and April, aka June. It is not an easy story to read, it is full of angst, anger, bitterness and feelings of betrayal. Split into two parts, this book introduces us to these characters when they are first getting to know one another as Matt and June; then Part 2 comes and gives us Matt and April, and we get to see them discover each other all over again. Their relationship was a strong one, even though it all started as a lie which is where the angst and betrayal and bitterness comes in on part 2. It also brought on a twist that I did not see coming . Oh its angsty and full of will they or wont they. I did love Matt and April’s love story. Its wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns but full of suspenseful drama and secrets-just remember things aren’t always as they appear. I enjoyed how Ms. Halston wrote this beautiful and deep 2nd chance romance story. I now an eagerly awaiting Fox’s romance story.


My Rating: 4.5 stars *****
"I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

It pains me to say this, but I didn't love this book. I have devoured all of this author's other books, but this one just didn't do it for me. Maybe because so much took place in the past, a past that I have read about previously. I found the twist at the end to be trite and too easily so.ved. Not my favorite by far.

Make Me Stay by Sidney Halston
Book #2: The Panic Series
Source: Netgalley and Purchase
My Rating: 5/5 stars
My Review:

I don’t even know where to start with this ball of awesome! I read this book twice before sitting down to write this review and I still have no idea where to begin . . . .
If I must pick a starting place, I think I’ll go with my weakness, characters 😊

Matt: Simply put, the universe hates Matt Moreno. Though he likes to believe he’s in control, if he’s honest, he’s never been in control of his own life. From birth, his father has groomed he and his twin, Nick to take over the family business. While Nick got a business degree, Matt was shuffled off to law school and as their father begins to age, the twins are taking over more and more of the nightclub’s running and responsibilities. For Matt, that means a full work week at the law firm and then endless hours at the club over the weekend. Matt’s burning more than one candle at both ends and eventually, something’s got to give. The only bright spot in Matt’s life is June, the gorgeous raven-haired beauty who walked into his life five months past. Just when Matt thought the universe was finally throwing him a bone, June disappears without a trace just as Matt, his brother, and father are arrested for a myriad of crimes.

One year later . . . . .

June/April: Matt Morena was both the best and worst thing to ever happen to June/April. He was strong and sexy, smart and successful, and cared for her unconditionally. Walking away from Matt was the hardest thing June/April has ever had to do and the betrayal is more than she can bear. As it happens, Matt isn’t the only person who feels betrayed by June/April which is how she finds herself in a hospital room surrounded by complete strangers. In fact, there is nothing in June/April’s memory, at all. When Matt shows up in her hospital room, the only emotion she has toward him is complete confusion. Her body recognizes Matt instantly, but her mind just won’t recall who he is or why on earth he is so very angry with her. Even more confusing, this man who seemingly hates her is taking her home to aid in her recovery.

The Plot: This is the first time (if memory serves) Halston has split one of her books into two distinct parts and it’s pure genius. Though Matt’s woman occupies a single body, her story is really that of two distinct women and two very different periods in her life. In fact, even as the plot unfolds and the reality of the whole June/April situation becomes clear, it is hard to see the two characters as a single individual – one playing a role and one real. Though there are certainly shared characteristics between June and April, they quite impressively read as two distinct and separate characters. This sort of distinction creates a very rich, very deep plot with characters far more complex than the synopsis implies. Though there is some plot overlap from the first book (Pull Me Close) it is told from a completely different perspective. In fact, it’s told from three completely different perspectives, Matt’s, June’s, and April’s.

The Bottom Line: The very nature of this book - two distinct parts, two distinct characters in a single body, and one very angry man – likely would have gotten away from a less experienced, less talented author. Furthermore, without careful planning and some crafty plotting, Make Me Stay could have become nothing more than a repeat of book one in the series. Instead, Make Me Stay is strong standalone title that shares characters and some plot points with book one, but is in no way a repeat or even a lame rehashing. Matt is by far my favorite of the primary characters and he tugged at my heartstrings from start to finish. Even in his angrier moments, I still wanted all the best in the world for the poor bastard. I found June incredibly difficult to like (to be fair, June felt the same way), but April was so very easy to like and feel for. To see how Matt reconciles the knowledge and reality of these two women in one shared body was really one of the highlights of the read and made me like him all the more. As always, the inclusion of older characters into this story was quite welcome and certainly helped round out the cast and enhance an already excellent story.

Truthfully, I was a little hesitant to read this book after meeting Matt in Pull Me Close. I wasn't sure he would be the type of hero I would like. I've liked every other book I've read by this author so I decided to take a chance on this one and I'm so glad I did! I went into this book without reading the description so I was a little surprised by June/April's secrets. This book is broken into two parts, the past and the present. Matt and June met and developed feelings for each other. June disappears after they've been together for 5 months. The second part of the book picks up around a year later. Matt has hired a private investigator to find her without success. When they finally do see each other again, it is explosive and not in a hot and sexy kind of way. Matt is angry because of the lies, secrets and feelings he can't let go of. There is so much more to this book and I don't want to give away anything else but I will say that the second half of this book was super angsty and different than I was expecting. I really enjoy this authors writing - it had me hooked from the prologue and I didn't want to put this book down. I can't wait for the next book in this series!

When I read Pull Me Close last year it ended up being one of my favorite reads. So I was super excited to get my hands on book two and Matt's story. Unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to the greatness that was book one. I am not a fan of books that go back in time, and part one does just that. I found myself bored and skimming to get through it so I could get to part two and the present-day part of the story.

Part two was certainly the better part of the book. We get a good amount of angst and drama. But I just never warmed up to Matt. He was nowhere close to being as amazing as Nick was. In fact, I found him whiny and childish in his behavior for a 33-year-old man (snorting cocaine in front of the heroine because he was angry) and his anger lasted way too long (basically right until the end of the book).

So ya, wasn't a fan of this one. That said I am still onboard to see what the author throws at us for book three.

4.5 Stars

I loved the thrill of the unknown from the first half of the book because I didn't know June's secret. I should have read the blurb first as it gives this away but I think I liked it even better that I didn't know this because it was a lot more suspenseful and mysterious this way.

This book was about Matt, Nick's brother from Pull Me Close (a must-read book!!), who we know as a fun, partying womanizer, who's also kind of reckless compared to his serious and responsible brother Nick.

But as usual, with the right woman, Matt yearns for things he didn't knew he ever wanted and everything that seemed important to him so far turned insignificant.

Matt was put through a lot in this book because of April. And after everything was discovered he had a hard time telling right from wrong and sorting through his feelings.
But when I got to know everything about April, I couldn’t be mad at her and started hoping that she and Matt would sort everything out between them.

The Story:
Although the different hair and clothes, he just knows that she's his June. He knew the second he heard her voice and saw her blue eyes. But why does she look so different? Why did she run away and even the hired PI's couldn't find her?

Matt was always the partying guy and there were always women offering themselves to him but the second he sets eyes on the fiery dark haired beauty, he's a goner. It's like a magnet pulling him to her and he knows that he needs to have her close. This had never happened to him before and although she is as sexy dressed as all the other women in Panic, she stands out.

Matt would have never thought to settle down but June does something to him. She makes him yearn for things he didn't even think of wanting.
He never missed anything in his life but when June made him feel all this emotions and then suddenly disappears, he realizes that he is now missing out on an amazing future with her.

When she suddenly reappears in his life with a different name and looks the anger of her deceiving and betrayal mixes with his love for her. But then something unexpected happens and he's torn between turning his back on her or giving in and helping her.

Thoughts:
Like I mentioned above, as I haven't read the blurb before reading the book, there was always something mysterious about June, and Matt felt this too. So it was for me the same as it was for Matt since we both were in the dark for a long time about what June/April did.
My thoughts were running wild about what it could've been which made it much more interesting.

On the other hand, since I didn't know she was working undercover, something always felt off with her, although I really liked her. I had a feeling that she was on to something not good.

I really liked Matt. I've always liked him actually. I never really thought that he was a bad guy or anything despite him taking drugs occasionally at first; maybe because nothing bad had ever happened. I was glad that he stopped taking though.

I liked the story a lot. It had a good flow, great pace and I liked Matt's witty comments and retorts. He's such a great, caring and fun character. You wouldn't have believed this probably in the first book.

The author found a great way in the second half of the book for the characters to slowly approach each other again emotionally without making it feel unreal. It was a slow and painful process for them which made it much more interesting and believable. I really loved how everything turned out and where the story led them even though it was a rough path.

Even before I read the acknowledgement I knew there was a hint to another story. I'm excited for Kiss Me Back and to find out more about mysterious Lola.

Was It All a Lie Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
Terrible things go on everyday in this world and using Undercover Police is one of the ways to stop these things. They somehow blend into the "target's" place of business or life gathering evidence to mount a case. When the information they have gathered adds up to enough to arrest, the force will go in and round up the suspects. The undercover agent then moves on to another case.

But what happens when the agent/police officer becomes entangled with a target..one who is clean and not doing any of the actions of the others... Is there any way for these two people to have any type of relationship once all of this comes to light...

That is the major question of Make Me Stay (Panic, #2) by Sidney Halston. Last year I read her first entry in this series and was quite impressed. She gave us twin brothers raised in Miami by a father who had THE CLUB for years. The father was getting up in years so the sons returned to help keep the club happening. Little did they know, their father was not the person they thought...and the club was raided for drugs and sex trade.

Everyone was arrested..The brothers were proved to have absolutely nothing to do with any of the illegal actions and were released....But the damage was done. Nick and Matt saw who their real friends were, Matt lost his place at the Law Firm due to the "Bad Publicity" and the Club needed to be saved.

But even with the father being convicted and sent away, Matt's pain was magnified by June Simpson's disappearance out of his life.

Matt had fallen hard for this woman and thought they had a chance of being the Real Deal. She had come into the club, caught his eye from the start and slowly they started to learn about each other. Matt was this guy who always held his feelings in...putting out this happy, easy way. He worked extremely hard, doing his law practice in one place and then coming to Miami on the weekends to assist in running the club with his brother Nick.

These men were striking and Matt was never in need of companionship...but when this woman, June walked in his club...She was a force of strength, beauty and he could not look away.

This June was there because of her job...and once she started to connect with Matt in more than a Target way...Things became complicated...Feelings started to crossover...Being June with Matt was not exactly what she wanted... She was falling hard and towards the end...Loving Matt was what happened...

This couple has all the intensity and hotness you could want... but there is a type of loving coming from Matt which is so sweet, yet masculine... that will make you want Matt for yourself.

We experience all of this and much more. These characters both are full of feelings and issues...They loved each other, lost each other and then are confronted with the challenges of whether...

They can rebuild on a shaky foundation...
Either can let go of guilt, anger and pride...

I will say the journey Matt takes us on will be hard...He has a huge mountain to climb...Being able to trust, being able to let go...he could be inconsistent at times...But overall he comes out of the darkness ready to be the man he wants to be...

There are other elements to this tale. This series has taken on the challenge of presenting situations people live with everyday that are difficult to manage. This book has this element too. It is worked in as part of June's character and doesn't feel forced at all.

There is another entry coming and we are teased a bit with who will be the focus. Naturally it revolves around Miami's hottest club, Panic.

A gifted copy was provided by Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept via NetGalley for an honest review..

A true romance for the ages. Make Me Stay is one of my new favorite books. This story is captivating, enthralling and vivid.

A nightclub where the women are sexy, the men are gorgeous, and things aren't always what they seem. Matt is having a bit of a hard time adjusting his two job, and the loss of his lady. Once he's found her again it will take a lot of pleading and forgiveness before their relationship can get back on track. I love these two together. I recommend this book, but be sure to read the first book, Pull Me Close.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Review by Leah for Love Romance Books

I was asked by the author for an honest review.

3 Stars

Welcome back to Miami and Panic in the second installment of Sidney Halston's Panic Series. I read the first book as an ARC and was very impressed with it. Unfortunately, this book didn't quite hit the mark for me. This book predates the first book by about 18 month and we get some of the backstory prior to the Federal bust at the club. "June", actually April, an undercover detective, was not only on the case, but the one to actually gain entry into the upper reaches of the business. All she had to do was sex-up Matt, one of the owners and a lawyer, as her way in, but she disappeared just before Matt's world came crashing down. Fast forward one year after those events and Matt almost makes her on the street; things are about to get real.

I thought the premise of the story was good, but April's affliction seemed contrived. I think the author floundered and had to figure out an illness or event that would add authenticity and a way to force Matt and April into close proximity for an extended time. While what happened is possible, I expect Police Officers, especially those that had been undercover for some time, to have better situational awareness. As to the characters themselves, Matt's missing of the clues while April was undercover is understandable. Those in love, especially the first bloom therein, have a tendency to now see what is in front of them. I was surprised by Nick's, Matt's brother, reaction and calm acceptance of the events that transpired though. Overall, it wasn't a bad book, but Pull Me Close definitely outshone Make Me Stay.

Ughhhh!! I love this series! Matt he was so loving and he fell fast for June/April so much so that I was shocked. He hasn't dated before June/April. I don't know if I could have forgiven June/April b/c it's just so much hurt that was caused even though it wasn't really her fault. The was Matt treated her was understandable. I want more of this series. The only reason it's not 5 stars is because one sentence they would be in a restaurant and then jump right to the bar. But it's an unedited version so that's understandable. Thank you for allowing me to review.

Make Me Stay
Panic #2
Sidney Halston
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is Matt and April's story. Matt meets April while she is undercover. Although he doesn't know that she is an undercover cop. He falls for her but she is gathering evidence against his dad.
After disappearing for a year, April returns to Miami and runs into Matt. Matt finally puts two and two together after seeing a news report. He is so angry with April.
April gets attacked and now has amnesia. Matt takes her home to help her heal and recover her memory. Even though he still hates her for what she did. After spending more time with her, Matt realizes he is still in love with her.

This was such a cute romance. I enjoyed reading this one. I will be recommending this to my reader friends. Can't wait for the next Panic story to come out.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

When I met Matt in Pull Me Closer, I loved him and I couldn't wait to read his story. The story was totally worth the wait! I don't want to give any spoilers about the actual story, so I'm going to make this brief. The writing and story was perfect. I loved reconnecting with the characters that we met in Pull Me Closer, although you could read this as a stand alone book. Matt turns out to be the guy that I imagined him being and I fell head over heals for him as he works through so tough things. Great read!!!