Adventure Blake "Blaze" Hunziger has returned to his hometown of Whisper Shores, a tourist town on Lake Michigan. Determine to shed his footloose, irresponsible image, he looks forward to finding a job, settling down and proving to his family and neighbors that he's finally grown up, even if he hasn't quite made his peace with the unexpected death of his star football player brother six years ago.

Autumn Kingsley can't wait to leave Whisper Shores. She's been here all her life, held back first by her father's untimely death and then by the family inn which her mother turned over to her to manage. Autumn loves Whisper Shores but she's got wanderlust and wants the chance to live out her childhood dream in Paris. Before she can leave, she hopes to work out a deal to keep the family inn, now in disrepair, running, but she has to spruce it up before the potential investor arrives for the Christmas festival, a festival Blake has been drafted to organize.

Like Hatfields and McCoys, Hunzigers and Kingsleys don't mix, haven't for many years, so when Blake offers to help Autumn with her repairs in exchange for her help with the festival, will it be possible for them to pull off both tasks and meet both goals without their families declaring war?

Melissa Tagg first introduced Blake in her debut novel, Made to Last, where he nearly stole the show from main character, celebrity homebuilder, Miranda Woodruff. Having left Miranda in the arms of her real love, Blake is now rudderless. What is his purpose? What's he supposed to do with himself? Tagg has crafted a hero who reeks of charm and wit, one who is handsome and handy with tools, i.e. the perfect guy. Except he's not perfect because the demons of his brother's death haunt him, threatening his happiness and his future.

Similarly, Autumn is haunted by the death of her father and her desire to flee for far-flung parts of the world is in part homage to him. Yet, she wonders whether doing so really is what God has in store for her. HERE TO STAY is about forgiveness, contentment, purpose and destiny as it relates to God's call upon one's life. Both Blake and Autumn grapple with these issues and in doing so, each learns the path he must take.

Tagg's writing is sharp and witty, enveloping the reader in the thoughts and feelings of her characters such that it seems as though the story has swallowed one whole. She masterfully places the reader squarely in the midst of the unfolding drama and paints such a delightful picture of bucolic Whisper Shores that one wishes to make travel plans for the next Christmas festival. HERE TO STAY is a sophomore release that more than lives up to the success of the preceding debut novel. Melissa Tagg, inspirational romance author, is here to stay.