PLEASE STAY FOR ME
Book One in the Brotherhood Series
Love is the last thing on Avery’s mind when she arrives at Oxford University to study abroad for the summer. She’s only looking for a change of scenery to satisfy her obsession with photography. Hiding behind a lens is much easier than facing reality. After a second-chance meeting with Liam, she finally puts away her camera and faces the music. But summer flings never last, do they? Especially when she returns home to the States.
Liam fell in love with the violin long before he became lead singer of Brotherhood, an unknown indie-rock band from Oxford. As Brotherhood quickly gains notoriety, he’s torn between staying with the band or pursuing his lifelong dream of attending Juilliard. Fate intervenes when Avery comes into his life, capturing more than just his photograph.
Can Liam convince Avery that not all summer flings have to end? She says they’re an ocean apart, but to him, it’s only a pond.
“Please Stay for Me” features a sweet M/F love story between a British musician who hides Jane Austen books in his bedroom and an American photographer who believes cheese danishes should be a food group. There’s also a twenty-one-pound cat named Beethoven, stolen vintage band T-shirts, and friends who create their own family. It is the first book in The Brotherhood Series.
“M.W. McKinley’s novel, Please Stay for Me (The Brotherhood Series), is a romance story with an artsy twist. Two creative minds interact more than once in their lives and, as the plot thickens, one wonders if this meeting of creativity is meant to last.… Dialogue effectively helps move the story forward and adds a touch of reality to each scene, along with compassion and a bit of humor. This is a comforting read, with lots of visual and musical arts instilled to give it an exotic air." (Emily-Jane Hills Orford, Readers' Favorite Book Review)
"I loved the passion the author communicates from Liam and Avery for their art, the violin, and photography. Even Avery's deep appreciation for music is strong and the way she connects to music through memories of her family is poignant. This is a story for those who enjoy summer romances that are built upon strong character backstories and feature character relationships heavily." (Rachel Barnard, Reedsy Discovery)
"…McKinley’s story unrolls as quickly as Cleopatra in Caesar’s carpet. In true YA form, it’s got relatable characters and more family drama than the Kardashians.… The characterizations are a very strong pull here, each one having a clear backstory and unique role in the plot’s unfolding." (The Flying Librarian Blog)
Please Stay for Me is a cute, clean, and quirky read... M.W. McKinley gives us a sweet love story carried by the vibrant tones of music, photography, and displays what truly makes a family. A thoroughly enjoyable read, I highly recommend it for teens and above. (Amazon Reviewer)
The writing is polished and beautifully descriptive. Our main characters are young adults, and the story reflects their youth as they both work to process past sorrows while falling in love. As their story spools out, we see how hard it is to mesh the parts of their lives to be together. There are some familiar tropes, but they receive a new treatment. Our rockstar, Liam, is also a violin prodigy. Our heroine, Avery, finally opens her heart to love. The complexity is unusual in a first book and so satisfying to read. (Amazon Reviewer)
It is everything you are looking for in YA romance fiction. It is a sweet, innocent love story between two young people. I love all the character development. I really feel like I know them especially Avery and Liam but also I feel like I know the other characters well too which I love in a book. I also love the diversity in the characters and their stories. I was fortunate enough to have spent time in Oxford and I can really picture and "feel" the places the author describes. This book takes on both Avery and Liam's perspectives and you can always tell whose perspective you are reading and you get such a fuller story being able to hear from both characters. I'm so excited to read the next book to see where this amazing story goes next! (Amazon Reviewer)
“Where words fail, music speaks.”