Home to Stay

by Callie James

Matt Brewer returns home from his latest covert assignment determined to fix his personal life and bond with the autistic son he barely knows. But his ex-wife’s wary response to his untimely visit proves this mission might be one he can’t win.

A decade of starts and stops has left Jessie Brewer hanging on by a frazzled, single-parent thread, and when Matt arrives during a critical point in their son’s homeschooling and horse therapy progress, she worries their success will be dismantled by Matt’s traditional, stubborn ways. Could their mutual love for a gifted son lead them to a new beginning?

Genres: Romance, Family, Second Chance, Marriage, Contemporary Romance

209 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2016

About the author

Once an Oregon native, Callie now lives in the Southwest. She enjoys a variety of genres and is a huge fan of paranormal, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, anime, and just plain good writing. When she's not reading or writing, she works at a university and enjoys cooking and spending time with her two domestic house bunnies--Izzy and Remy.

To find out more about Callie, visit https://calliejamesbooks.com/.

Reviews

[Sometime · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice, fluffy story with a couple who divorced 2 years previously because of the H's job and his many absences. They have a 12 year old son with Asperger's (he's very high functioning autistic but still has many struggles). The H realizes that he needs to do everything he can to win his family back.

I liked this book and the story was mildly angsty but still romantic and gave me an HEA. But there were plot holes that pulled me out of the story and other things that annoyed me. If you can get past them, you'll like the book.

For being so in love, these 2 never talk.

The biggest plot hole, the one that pulled me out of the story scratching my head was the job/finance situation. Because they were young and broke, the H enlisted in the military (without talking to his young, pregnant wife about it. Jerk!) and then later took a job as a contractor for some military based organization. Apparently his job pays terrible, or the cost of living in their mythical small town is astronomical, because these two seem to struggle financially and the h also has to work and now runs her own business working 10 hour days while also home schooling her autistic son. Come On! This is so ridiculous that they both play these noble martyrs to support their family but have absolutely nothing to show for it.

The complete oblviousness of the H to anything having to do with his son's autism and behaviors, to his wife's stress levels and health is huge. They've been married for 12 years and known each other since they were kids. But he just walks through life like he knows nothing and cares nothing for the work and sacrifices his wife makes. He's just clueless. And the divorce wasn't a wake up call. Nope, he waits 2 years to come back and demand answers. This guy... Nothing about the timeline made any sense to me.

The wife has PTSD because of the stress of not knowing where her husband is or that he could die at any moment. She's lost weight, she has nightmares, her hair is falling out. What does she do? She starts a business and works herself to death and has no reliable employees to share the burden. That is just dumb. Now that she's a single mom, she can't afford to not look after her own health. This h was a martyr and a half. I have no patience for a woman who would carry the world on her shoulders and nobly go forward despite the fact that she has options, family and friends and employees if she would just use them.

Safety: There was no cheating, the H/h are still in love and never cheated. The h is seeing a widowed man, after the divorce, and she kissed him, but feels nothing. She mostly encourages OM to spend time with her son so he has a male role model since her ex-husband is never around.

[Nerdy Dirty & Flirty · Rating 4 out of 5]

~JANE~
Home to Stay by Callie James is based on real-life issues, love and second chances.

Jessie couldn’t take it any longer. Long blackout periods without any contact from her husband and the constant arguments about his secretive career, never mind the fact her son was suffering severely from the constant lies and letdowns, on top of already having to face unfair struggles, Jessie came to the heartbreaking decision to get a divorce.
Taking a toll, Jessie’s health was suffering. Between raising an autistic son basically on her own, working 10 hour days and struggling with the constant criticism from Matt’s mother and local town folk for pulling her son out of mainstream schooling, she was deteriorating at an alarming rate. When Matt shows up on her doorstep after receiving a message from Jessie’s bestfriend warning him about her health, he is shocked by what he finds, struggling to even recognise her.
Determined to be a better father and prove he can be the husband she wants and needs, he tells her what she has been waiting years to hear, “I’ve retired Jessie”…or at least he will be, especially now his chance to get his wife back has been threatened.
Jessie, although not really moving on with her life has started dating again, going out for coffee a couple of times with Cole, Matt’s bestfriend and local cop. When Cole drops their son off after taking him to cadets, Matt sees the look between Jessie and Cole and he doesn’t like it, not one bit. Jealousy raising its ugly head, Matt isn’t going to stand by and watch his friend move in on his girl…now he is even more determined to prove himself.
This second chance at love and parenthood, along with promoting the challenges of raising a child with special needs, took me into their world from start to finish. A beautiful story with the beginning getting straight into the storyline, it was very well written giving it 4 fabulous stars recommending you give it a well-deserved go.

[Lu Bielefeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK decent reads.
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Apparently, a divorce from Matthew Brewer and a full year away from him hadn’t changed that fact. “Brody isn’t here, Matt. What do you want?”

His career had ultimately cost him his marriage.

She was a single mom and had been at least half of their son’s life. He could hardly pretend to be a fulltime father simply because he’d been available by phone.

“And it isn’t to me? Do you think this is the easier route for me to take? That I like working twelve-hour days while playing the role of mother, teacher, and father to my son?”

To complicate the issue, there remained the matter of his job. The one he hadn’t fully left yet.

“Any time you begin a sentence with you know I love so-and-so, things usually don’t end well. Probably best you don’t finish that statement, Mom. Assuming you don’t want to run Matt off to another war just so he can escape the criticism around here.”

He’d noticed several years ago the differences in Brody from other children, but he hadn’t been able to let go of the idea that if they had tried hard enough, if Jessie had tried hard enough, they could teach Brody to do everything like other kids.

He only wished his eyes had been this open ten years ago. He would have done things differently. He could have—would have—saved his marriage.

[Kimberly Westrope · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are parts of this story I really like. The portrayal of the autistic son. The relationship between mother and son. The friend (I forget his name) who steps in to help her after her divorce. Her ex's family's support.

I guess what I don't like mainly has to do with Matt, the ex-husband. I understand his hesitancy with his son, and I suppose, to a certain extent, I get why he did the last special assignment. What I don't get is that he knew his job was tearing apart his family, did in fact tear apart his family, yet he continued to do it all those years. It's really hard for me to have any sympathy for someone who does that.

Anyway, other than my issues with Matt, I really liked the characters. The writing is good, and the story is well-developed.

[E-Reader Addict · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes books start off at a slow, leisurely pace. They may still draw you in with witty dialog or intriguing descriptions, but the set-up to the plot takes a few pages. Or chapters. That is not the case with Home to Stay.

Jessie opens the door on a rainy night to find her ex-husband standing on the porch. He's been away on a secret military op, they've been out of communication for several months, and she's NOT pleased to see him. Sure, she's used to doing the single-mom thing while Matt's gone for months, but now that they're divorced she's hoping she can finally move on with her life and do what's best for their autistic son, Brody.

Except neither of them has put their feelings for each other to rest, and it's clear there are unresolved issues lingering between them. A husband with an extremely dangerous job - which he can't tell anyone anything about - and having a son with autism, plus poor communication between them caused the demise of their marriage.

But Matt is back now, determined to be an involved father and hoping to maybe get his wife back. It's an eye opening endeavor. He finally sees what the stress of his job has done to his ex-wife, and what a battle Jess faces from both his family and the small town where they live in regards to the choices she's made about what's best for Brody.

Lucky for Matt, he has the support and assistance of a couple side characters who know he and Jessie belong together. As Matt and Jessie begin to work through their new situation of Matt being home, and begin dealing with their past issues, you're pulled into their hurts and heartbreak, and you can't help but root for this sweet couple to find their way back to each other.

This author did a great job weaving two common plot themes - the difficulty of having a military spouse, and the stress of having an autistic child. In all the books I've read, I don't remember ever reading one that combined the two, and think the author did justice to them both. I really hope she continues writing more stories about the residents of Violet Valley!

[Cc]

DNF!!! Can you say book slump? I hate this, it's a perfectly good book but nothing is holding my interest.

[ErinMickC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading the blurb for Home to Stay I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I wasn’t even sure this book was a romance based on the tiny description. The blurb talks about their mutual love of their son, but what about their relationship? Did they ever love each other? Do one or both of them still have feelings for the other? I’m a sucker for taking a peek into long-term marriages in romances so I nabbed a copy of Home to Stay by Callie James hoping that the book wouldn’t be all about a couple’s love of their child (not that loving your child is a bad thing at all). Luckily, this book has some serious romance in it. Like serious, undying love, “he still gives me butterflies” love in it. I now know why the blurb is so cryptic and lacking in details. You kinda just need to read this book to understand the intensity and the romance between Matt and Jessie.

Without giving too much of this book away I’ll say that I’m going to highly recommend it for fans of small-town romances, fans of what comes after the HEA and those who like books with high emotional intensity. This book made me laugh and it made me cry. It made me appreciate my own marriage and reflect on some of my own personal sh*t. Over and over again Home to Stay showed me that marriage is hard. Like really hard. It takes effort on both people’s part and even though a couple may call it quits and divorce, that doesn’t mean that you stop liking that person, loving that person and leaning on them in times of need. Guys, this book is good good good. 4 stars for Home to Stay.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed something light and sweet with a guaranteed HEA after a doozy of a book I'd been reading and I got exactly that with this sweet, second chance romance. Throw in that they'd been married and divorced and .... total catnip!

[Alphas Do It Better Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

This book is one I was very much looking forward to but scared at the same time. Why you may ask? In my "past life," before I became Mom I was a Special Education teacher. This story involves a child on the Autism Spectrum, specifically with Asperger's Syndrome, and I wanted so badly to read a realistic portrayal of not only the child, but of the family and people around him and how they related to him. I was definitely not disappointed! Ms. James wrote it so well and I am happy to say this book was sweet, heartbreaking, intense and at times laugh out loud funny!

I am completely in love with Matt Brewer, Jessie Brewer and of course their son, Brody. From the start you are rooting for this family. You are yelling at Matt when he doesn't do quite the right thing, you are begging Jessie to open up and be honest with Matt and, well, I was loving the honesty that was Brody. Ironic, since we find that one of Brody's major hurdles is chronically lying, but it was so refreshing to see a Mom/Son and Dad/Son whose relationship in this type of situation was realistic.

I don't want to giveaway much, as you all know that is one of my pet peeves in reviews (LOL), but I will say this story is fantastic and will fill you with so many emotions. I look forward to revisiting Violet Valley!

Review by Cara

[Marika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, so call me crazy or whatever ;) but as soon as I read the blurb I new I ended o end this story. first, the fact that the characters, Matt and Jessie are divorced..again, I know, crazy, but even the possibility of a wonderful chance and the work they will have to put in does it r me. Then, child, Brody, and not for the fact that he has autism..I love children in general and I adore them in books..so no brain..needed to read it!
I was not disappointed.. I loved it... straight out and right away..I felt deeply for the characters and found myself emotionally invested for their family and obviously I ad cheering for Matt and Jessie.
As I said, it might sound strange but I love the time and te effort those two had to put into not only themselves but their child and the fact that I still swooned and craved their connection.
IT was a beautiful story, one where the ordinary becomes extraordinary and shows that where love might not always conquer everything, it would if coupled with the willingness and the strength to try and make amends, proving time and again what's worth.

[Despina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 and 1/2 stars

I really, really enjoyed this book. At first I was a bit hesitant...because I'm not a big fan of second chance romances, but this one was really good, because it didn't have any of that going back into the past when the met etc. it was all about what was going on now. I found both H/h really likeable and I thought their son was great, I thought the author did a good job with the storyline and she kept me so interested I didn't want to put the book down. I liked that there was dual POV and that there was no cheating or anything like that while they were broken up. Overall a really good story, well worth reading and I'm looking forward to see if she writes about some of the other characters in the story. One small complaint...I would have like a bit of an epilogue, with the whole family now that dad was home.

[Izzie d · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second chance love story. It's quite realistic. A couple who get divorced due to a lack of real communication. They have a son who has issues which adds extra street to their relationship,this is handled well. The issue I had was I always thought if you had one child with the issues their son has any other children are also likely to have an element of those issues too but this is never mentioned and doesn't seem a concern which if you've had a rocky relationship and stress issues you would have to take that into consideration.

[Talking Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

The synopsis grabbed me, the book cover equally so. There was drama and challenges for the characters and emotional moments written by author author Callie James.
Review copy received via InkslingerPR

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taking on a character with autism, and doing it well is a tough gig, one that Ms. James did wonderfully.

Read full review in the 2016 December issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Ashley Stevenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. This was an emotional and unique story. Love the characters and how everything came together for them.

[Sue Dondelewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm only 1/2 way through but I love the story. I'm so anxious to read more today and see what will happen next!!

[Aleksandra Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet. I really wish it was longer.

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

powerful and emotionally charged