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Ask Me to Stay
From Wall Street Journal bestselling author Terri Osburn comes a bittersweet romance about discovering the past, if only to finally let it go.
Author Liza Teller’s new book is something of a mystery. She’s been hired to ghostwrite the memoir of Ray Wallis, an elderly stranger eager to share a very personal and surprising life story. The moment Liza arrives on beautiful Haven Island off the South Carolina coast, she has to Out of all the semi-successful writers with stalled careers in the world, why her?
Kendall James, the dedicated ex-military man in Ray’s employ, has the same question. Why is this New Yorker in a frilly blue dress so important to Ray? But as protective and suspicious as he is, Kendall can’t help falling for the tempting outsider. And he isn’t falling alone.
As Ray’s life story unfolds, Liza and Kendall’s chemistry ignites. And all of it could be explosive. On an island this small, Liza soon discovers that there isn’t much room to hide—from the secrets of Ray’s past or from her desire for a man unwilling to give her the one thing she truly wants.
Author Liza Teller’s new book is something of a mystery. She’s been hired to ghostwrite the memoir of Ray Wallis, an elderly stranger eager to share a very personal and surprising life story. The moment Liza arrives on beautiful Haven Island off the South Carolina coast, she has to Out of all the semi-successful writers with stalled careers in the world, why her?
Kendall James, the dedicated ex-military man in Ray’s employ, has the same question. Why is this New Yorker in a frilly blue dress so important to Ray? But as protective and suspicious as he is, Kendall can’t help falling for the tempting outsider. And he isn’t falling alone.
As Ray’s life story unfolds, Liza and Kendall’s chemistry ignites. And all of it could be explosive. On an island this small, Liza soon discovers that there isn’t much room to hide—from the secrets of Ray’s past or from her desire for a man unwilling to give her the one thing she truly wants.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2019
976 people are currently reading
3263 people want to read
About the author
Terri Osburn
35 books931 followersBestselling and award winning author Terri Osburn writes contemporary romance with heart, hope, and lots of humor. She fell in love with the written word at a young age and the genre of romance beckoned during her teen years. Since her debut in 2013, her work has been translated into five languages, and sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide. Terri resides in Pittsburgh, PA, with a menagerie of high-maintenance pets. You can learn more about this international bestselling author by visiting her website at www.terriosburn.com.
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January 18, 2019
Ask Me to Stay, by Terri Osburn, is the third book I’ve read by this author. I have also read a short story she did for an anthology. This one has a different feel to it than the others I’ve read which is a good thing. It keeps things interesting. I would categorize this as a slow burn romance with a twist. It has a hero and heroine you can’t help but to love and an assortment of quirky secondary characters to make it fun. Read on and I’ll tell you all about it.
Liza Teller always wanted to be an author. Her first book somehow became a best seller but since then, she hasn’t been able to come up with a single idea for a second book. She lives in New York in a tiny apartment she inherited from her Grandmother and is currently working on trying to mend her relationship with her estranged father. Her mother has passed away. Liza’s agent and best friend received an offer for Liza to ghost write a memoir for an elderly man that has lived the last thirty years on Haven Island, South Carolina. She would live on the island for a month while working on the book. She has no idea why Ray Wallis requested her for this project. She has never written a memoir before but she has a keen interest in history and she can’t wait to hear all about his life.
Even though Liza is an introvert, she is used to the noise of New York. So her first steps off the ferry onto the island remind her of every scary movie she’s ever seen. There are no cars on the island, only golf carts. And the place seems deserted. Although she is surrounded by nature’s beauty, she is imagining all sorts of scenarios and wonders if maybe she made a mistake. Especially when her ride finally shows up, a huge hulk of a man with a very scary looking dog in the back seat. And the man seems to dislike her on sight for some reason.
Kendall James works for Ray Wallis just as his father did. Kendall spent his youth living between his father on the island and his mother on the main land. But once he returned from serving in the military, his life has been on the island. Ray is like a surrogate grandfather to him and he is fiercely protective of him. He is completely against Ray divulging his life story to this unknown writer. To say that his relationship with Liza got off to a rough start would be an understatement. But that spark was also there, it just took them both awhile to recognize it for what it was.
Liza would never have imagined that she would fall in love with this island and all it’s beauty. Liza even fell in love with Kendall’s dog, Amos, the smiling pit bull, even though she had never interacted with a dog before. She is fascinated with Ray”s story. He was born in the twenties and had so much history that he had lived through. It was obvious, though, that there were some things she didn’t yet understand. What was the relationship between he and Kendall? And why did Ray suddenly decide to live this life of solitude on this island?
The relationship between Liza and Kendall grew every day. Neither were the one night stand sort of people. Liza lived in New York and Kendall lived here. There was no hope of anything permanent developing so they would have to be happy with just being friends. But with the sparks flying between them, that becomes impossible. Liza also found the flood gates opened in her imagination with all sorts of book ideas as she met the other residents of the island. She could barely concentrate on the job she was here for while all these ideas kept popping out of her head.
This really was such a good book. I loved watching the relationship develop between Liza and Kendall. I also loved getting to know Ray and couldn’t wait to find out what secrets he was hiding. The adorable smiling dog, Amos, was a scene stealer. I am also a very introverted person and I have to admit that life on this island is so appealing to me. I could definitely picture myself loving this life except for the millions of dollars it would take to purchase a home there. I did feel like there was more to tell, though, at the end. Who made the mysterious offer on Kendall’s house? And who will inherit all of Ray’s holdings? If you are looking for a sweet romance with a bit of intrigue, then you will enjoy this book.
For more about this book and so many more, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/44036...
Liza Teller always wanted to be an author. Her first book somehow became a best seller but since then, she hasn’t been able to come up with a single idea for a second book. She lives in New York in a tiny apartment she inherited from her Grandmother and is currently working on trying to mend her relationship with her estranged father. Her mother has passed away. Liza’s agent and best friend received an offer for Liza to ghost write a memoir for an elderly man that has lived the last thirty years on Haven Island, South Carolina. She would live on the island for a month while working on the book. She has no idea why Ray Wallis requested her for this project. She has never written a memoir before but she has a keen interest in history and she can’t wait to hear all about his life.
Even though Liza is an introvert, she is used to the noise of New York. So her first steps off the ferry onto the island remind her of every scary movie she’s ever seen. There are no cars on the island, only golf carts. And the place seems deserted. Although she is surrounded by nature’s beauty, she is imagining all sorts of scenarios and wonders if maybe she made a mistake. Especially when her ride finally shows up, a huge hulk of a man with a very scary looking dog in the back seat. And the man seems to dislike her on sight for some reason.
Kendall James works for Ray Wallis just as his father did. Kendall spent his youth living between his father on the island and his mother on the main land. But once he returned from serving in the military, his life has been on the island. Ray is like a surrogate grandfather to him and he is fiercely protective of him. He is completely against Ray divulging his life story to this unknown writer. To say that his relationship with Liza got off to a rough start would be an understatement. But that spark was also there, it just took them both awhile to recognize it for what it was.
Liza would never have imagined that she would fall in love with this island and all it’s beauty. Liza even fell in love with Kendall’s dog, Amos, the smiling pit bull, even though she had never interacted with a dog before. She is fascinated with Ray”s story. He was born in the twenties and had so much history that he had lived through. It was obvious, though, that there were some things she didn’t yet understand. What was the relationship between he and Kendall? And why did Ray suddenly decide to live this life of solitude on this island?
The relationship between Liza and Kendall grew every day. Neither were the one night stand sort of people. Liza lived in New York and Kendall lived here. There was no hope of anything permanent developing so they would have to be happy with just being friends. But with the sparks flying between them, that becomes impossible. Liza also found the flood gates opened in her imagination with all sorts of book ideas as she met the other residents of the island. She could barely concentrate on the job she was here for while all these ideas kept popping out of her head.
This really was such a good book. I loved watching the relationship develop between Liza and Kendall. I also loved getting to know Ray and couldn’t wait to find out what secrets he was hiding. The adorable smiling dog, Amos, was a scene stealer. I am also a very introverted person and I have to admit that life on this island is so appealing to me. I could definitely picture myself loving this life except for the millions of dollars it would take to purchase a home there. I did feel like there was more to tell, though, at the end. Who made the mysterious offer on Kendall’s house? And who will inherit all of Ray’s holdings? If you are looking for a sweet romance with a bit of intrigue, then you will enjoy this book.
For more about this book and so many more, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/44036...
April 3, 2019
This book is available on Kindle Unlimited and well worth the read. This is a new author for me and I look forward to reading more stories from her.
Liza is a writer who has received an advance to write a memoir. This will require her to spend a month on Haven Island that at first glance looks deserted. She is met by a big, brash, and burly man, named Kendall, who is supposed to take her to her destination, which is the home of her subject for her book. There first meeting is not good and both will keep their distance to "keep the peace". Liza's subject, Ray, is a 93 year old man who has a story to tell, but he is going to give her a little bit of information at a time as he wants her to slowly process the details. So far, her impression is very good and she is growing fond of Ray. Liza and Kendall cannot avoid one another and soon their icy exterior begins to fade. Kendall has let it slip that he hopes Liza doesn't go through with the book and if she decides to, could she omit or edit certain details? This piece of information puts Kendall on high alert and wants to know what Ray is hiding. As the story unfolds, Liza is exposed to the habitants of the island and learns that Haven Island is actually a beautiful haven for the wealthy who want a bit of solitude, but are also connected like a big, happy family. The characters are funny, witty and the banter is fun.
The story takes a turn when the secret is revealed and while you suspect leading up to the reveal, there is another twist that is heartbreaking. This truth tests the feelings that Liza and Kendall have and they have to decide if they have the courage to see it through.
This story had a few layers that in time developed into a nice pace of storytelling. Wonderful characters and good banter that continued to keep you engaged until the end.
Liza is a writer who has received an advance to write a memoir. This will require her to spend a month on Haven Island that at first glance looks deserted. She is met by a big, brash, and burly man, named Kendall, who is supposed to take her to her destination, which is the home of her subject for her book. There first meeting is not good and both will keep their distance to "keep the peace". Liza's subject, Ray, is a 93 year old man who has a story to tell, but he is going to give her a little bit of information at a time as he wants her to slowly process the details. So far, her impression is very good and she is growing fond of Ray. Liza and Kendall cannot avoid one another and soon their icy exterior begins to fade. Kendall has let it slip that he hopes Liza doesn't go through with the book and if she decides to, could she omit or edit certain details? This piece of information puts Kendall on high alert and wants to know what Ray is hiding. As the story unfolds, Liza is exposed to the habitants of the island and learns that Haven Island is actually a beautiful haven for the wealthy who want a bit of solitude, but are also connected like a big, happy family. The characters are funny, witty and the banter is fun.
The story takes a turn when the secret is revealed and while you suspect leading up to the reveal, there is another twist that is heartbreaking. This truth tests the feelings that Liza and Kendall have and they have to decide if they have the courage to see it through.
This story had a few layers that in time developed into a nice pace of storytelling. Wonderful characters and good banter that continued to keep you engaged until the end.
March 11, 2019
Liza has been hired to ghostwrite the Ray's memoir, a reclusive old man who lives on a remote island off the coast of South Carolina. When she arrives on Haven Island she is collected by Kendall, a man who is determined to protect Ray's secrets and is very much opposed to the memoir.
Liza and Kendall immediately butt heads but as the weeks pass their attraction to each other builds. But can their budding relationship survive Ray's big secret.
There are enough clues in Ask Me to Stay that I was able to work out some of the secrets quite early in the book. That said, they are not mine to reveal so I'm not going to say anything more on that.
And honestly, Liza and Kendall's story is the main show. It's a gentle feel good love story, it's the very best of contemporary romance and did I mention the dog.
There's a dog!
Liza and Kendall immediately butt heads but as the weeks pass their attraction to each other builds. But can their budding relationship survive Ray's big secret.
There are enough clues in Ask Me to Stay that I was able to work out some of the secrets quite early in the book. That said, they are not mine to reveal so I'm not going to say anything more on that.
And honestly, Liza and Kendall's story is the main show. It's a gentle feel good love story, it's the very best of contemporary romance and did I mention the dog.
There's a dog!
February 20, 2019
Ask Me to Stay is a tender hearted book that is a wonderful blending of family secrets, mystery and love. I felt connected to the characters, Liza, Kendall, and Ray with all their imperfections and insecurities, but mostly because of their capacity to love and to belong.
March 5, 2019
I'm so glad I picked this book up, I wanted a better than "good" story and that's exactly what I got.
Liza is a best selling author who is stuck and when summoned to write a strangers memoirs of his life, her agent gives her the nudge. Sent off to an isolated island off the coast of south Carolina she's unhappily greeted by the surliest, grump ever to grace the pages of a book. What a piece of work he is! Kendall doesn't understand why his long time friend Ray, who is so hell bent on writing his life story and expecting to pick up a man from the ferry and instead gets Liza, he's totally thrown off his game, and even more angry. Liza is too attractive and gives him every bit of sass right back at him.
We watch their story unfold as well as meeting the other folks who live on this small island. And the mystery behind who Ray is and why he's called Liza to write down his life story. This story kept me turning pages and just couldn't put it down. It's got everything you want from a book and low angst which is perfect for me. Plenty of kindle tossing moments, courtesy of the grumpy Kendall and laughs courtesy of his dog.
A fantastic read!
Liza is a best selling author who is stuck and when summoned to write a strangers memoirs of his life, her agent gives her the nudge. Sent off to an isolated island off the coast of south Carolina she's unhappily greeted by the surliest, grump ever to grace the pages of a book. What a piece of work he is! Kendall doesn't understand why his long time friend Ray, who is so hell bent on writing his life story and expecting to pick up a man from the ferry and instead gets Liza, he's totally thrown off his game, and even more angry. Liza is too attractive and gives him every bit of sass right back at him.
We watch their story unfold as well as meeting the other folks who live on this small island. And the mystery behind who Ray is and why he's called Liza to write down his life story. This story kept me turning pages and just couldn't put it down. It's got everything you want from a book and low angst which is perfect for me. Plenty of kindle tossing moments, courtesy of the grumpy Kendall and laughs courtesy of his dog.
A fantastic read!
January 7, 2019
Ask Me to Stay I must admit was not what I was expecting at all. I honestly can't say why but it just felt very different to me than what I am used to from this author. I did enjoy this book, at first it felt slow to me, a bit like the movie Groundhog Day, but then it picked right up, and I really started to get into it. I did figure a few things out rather quickly though. No spoilers here, sorry.
L.R. Teller or Liza is an author, she is a definite introvert. She lives in N.Y. City in a tiny apartment her grandmother left to her. She has had one best-selling book but now her idea well has totally dried up. With no ideas and nothing else to do she has taken on a job to write the memoirs of a man named Ray Wallis who lives on an island named Haven Island, which is off the coast from South Carolina. That is all she really knows except for the huge advance she got for coming here to do this and that he requested only her be the one to do it.
Kendall James has been living on the island since he was a little boy. Well he lived both on the island and off with his mom. His mom didn’t like living on the island, but his dad did. Plus, his dad worked for Ray. So, his dad set his mom and him up in a house off the island, but he would come and stay with his dad from time to time. He is the handyman on the island. He owns rental properties as well as takes care of and watches out for Ray Wallis.
Liza comes to the island with a few suspicions, while waiting for her ride she finds the island a bit odd. But she needs the job, so she goes with it. Kendall is the one that is going to pick Liza up at the dock, but he thinks she is a man. Imagine the surprise when he finds out she isn’t. Not to mention he doesn’t want Ray to do this book at all. Seems there are secrets that are better left in the past, but even Kendall had no idea about some of them and how big they are.
Kendall and Liza spar like crazy when together. But there is an undercurrent of attraction there as well. Liza starts the interview with Ray and as she gets to know him, she really starts to like him. She also notices that he is not all that well. He goes from being chipper to being in bed and ill. He also asks her many questions about her family while she asks him her questions. The longer she is on the island the more she loves it. She also starts to get along with Kendall and they both are attracted to each other. But neither want a short-term thing. When Liza first landed on this island she couldn’t wait to leave. Do the job go home. Now, she finds herself wondering if she could live there. She has found the people to be wonderful, and there are things to do. Plus, if you need to eat out or have more to do take the ferry across and you can do all things you want to. It is like having the best of both worlds. Liza has changed, but when she finds out why she was the one picked for this job her whole world will be thrown upside down. She must leave the island, feeling she can’t stay in Ray’s house. When Kendall finds her and finds out she is leaving, she is secretly hoping he will ask her to stay with him, will he? She is so crushed by everything she has learned. Will they get their stuff together? Will Liza forgive Ray what he has done and told her before it is too late.
The island and its people which are great are changing Liza, or is she changing being around them? The sparring between Liza and Kendall kept me laughing, it was the perfect mix of being drawn to each other and trying to keep away. Her relationship with everyone was very down to earth, real. She herself was a bit over the top at the beginning, but she was an introvert after all. The chapters ran well, the characters were developed and help make the book entertaining. The ending was perfect. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.
“I received a free, advance copy of this book via NetGalley. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.”
L.R. Teller or Liza is an author, she is a definite introvert. She lives in N.Y. City in a tiny apartment her grandmother left to her. She has had one best-selling book but now her idea well has totally dried up. With no ideas and nothing else to do she has taken on a job to write the memoirs of a man named Ray Wallis who lives on an island named Haven Island, which is off the coast from South Carolina. That is all she really knows except for the huge advance she got for coming here to do this and that he requested only her be the one to do it.
Kendall James has been living on the island since he was a little boy. Well he lived both on the island and off with his mom. His mom didn’t like living on the island, but his dad did. Plus, his dad worked for Ray. So, his dad set his mom and him up in a house off the island, but he would come and stay with his dad from time to time. He is the handyman on the island. He owns rental properties as well as takes care of and watches out for Ray Wallis.
Liza comes to the island with a few suspicions, while waiting for her ride she finds the island a bit odd. But she needs the job, so she goes with it. Kendall is the one that is going to pick Liza up at the dock, but he thinks she is a man. Imagine the surprise when he finds out she isn’t. Not to mention he doesn’t want Ray to do this book at all. Seems there are secrets that are better left in the past, but even Kendall had no idea about some of them and how big they are.
Kendall and Liza spar like crazy when together. But there is an undercurrent of attraction there as well. Liza starts the interview with Ray and as she gets to know him, she really starts to like him. She also notices that he is not all that well. He goes from being chipper to being in bed and ill. He also asks her many questions about her family while she asks him her questions. The longer she is on the island the more she loves it. She also starts to get along with Kendall and they both are attracted to each other. But neither want a short-term thing. When Liza first landed on this island she couldn’t wait to leave. Do the job go home. Now, she finds herself wondering if she could live there. She has found the people to be wonderful, and there are things to do. Plus, if you need to eat out or have more to do take the ferry across and you can do all things you want to. It is like having the best of both worlds. Liza has changed, but when she finds out why she was the one picked for this job her whole world will be thrown upside down. She must leave the island, feeling she can’t stay in Ray’s house. When Kendall finds her and finds out she is leaving, she is secretly hoping he will ask her to stay with him, will he? She is so crushed by everything she has learned. Will they get their stuff together? Will Liza forgive Ray what he has done and told her before it is too late.
The island and its people which are great are changing Liza, or is she changing being around them? The sparring between Liza and Kendall kept me laughing, it was the perfect mix of being drawn to each other and trying to keep away. Her relationship with everyone was very down to earth, real. She herself was a bit over the top at the beginning, but she was an introvert after all. The chapters ran well, the characters were developed and help make the book entertaining. The ending was perfect. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.
“I received a free, advance copy of this book via NetGalley. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.”
January 31, 2019
This book had a quiet quality about it, maybe it was the setting and slow pace of the island, or it could be the way that the story rolled out. Sure you could guess parts of it, but I found myself rooting for Ray, for him to win Liza over so that when he spilled the big secret things would have gone well. While waiting for that to happen we had the connection between Liza and Kendall. I loved the back and forth between these two, how things went from annoyance to attraction.
The ending went about how I expected, with the exception of Liza's visit to her father. I think she made the right choice there, she also made the right choice to go back to the island, along with her travelling partner. While the ending had some sad parts, it ended with happy parts too.
The ending went about how I expected, with the exception of Liza's visit to her father. I think she made the right choice there, she also made the right choice to go back to the island, along with her travelling partner. While the ending had some sad parts, it ended with happy parts too.
February 22, 2019
Terri Osburn, Author of “Ask Me to Stay” has written an endearing, heartwarming, entertaining and captivating novel. The Genres for this Novel are Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Romance, and a touch of Mystery and Suspense. The timeline for the story is in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the events or characters in the story. The Author describes her characters as complex and complicated.
Liza Teller is an author with a writer’s block. Her last book was quite successful, but she can’t move beyond that, and is given a chance to be a ghost-writer for a memoir of an older man, Ray Wallis. This takes Liza to a small and exclusive island off the South Carolina Coast. The author vividly describes the landscape and people who live in this area. There are beautiful views of nature, and the people who seem to live here are very wealthy. Liza wonders why Ray Wallis wants her to help write his memoir.
When Liza arrives on the island, she is picked up by Kendall James, and his dog, who seem to be working for Mr. Wallis. Kendall is not happy at all that Liza will be writing this book. Both Liza and Kendall seem they don’t get along at all, or do they??
There seem to be secrets, and mysteries that surround Mr. Wallis and the other characters. I highly recommend this hard to put down novel for readers that enjoy a romantic, mysterious and suspenseful story. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
Liza Teller is an author with a writer’s block. Her last book was quite successful, but she can’t move beyond that, and is given a chance to be a ghost-writer for a memoir of an older man, Ray Wallis. This takes Liza to a small and exclusive island off the South Carolina Coast. The author vividly describes the landscape and people who live in this area. There are beautiful views of nature, and the people who seem to live here are very wealthy. Liza wonders why Ray Wallis wants her to help write his memoir.
When Liza arrives on the island, she is picked up by Kendall James, and his dog, who seem to be working for Mr. Wallis. Kendall is not happy at all that Liza will be writing this book. Both Liza and Kendall seem they don’t get along at all, or do they??
There seem to be secrets, and mysteries that surround Mr. Wallis and the other characters. I highly recommend this hard to put down novel for readers that enjoy a romantic, mysterious and suspenseful story. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
February 22, 2019
Terri Osburn, Author of “Ask Me to Stay” has written an endearing, heartwarming, entertaining and captivating novel. The Genres for this Novel are Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Romance, and a touch of Mystery and Suspense. The timeline for the story is in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the events or characters in the story. The Author describes her characters as complex and complicated.
Liza Teller is an author with a writer’s block. Her last book was quite successful, but she can’t move beyond that, and is given a chance to be a ghost-writer for a memoir of an older man, Ray Wallis. This takes Liza to a small and exclusive island off the South Carolina Coast. The author vividly describes the landscape and people who live in this area. There are beautiful views of nature, and the people who seem to live here are very wealthy. Liza wonders why Ray Wallis wants her to help write his memoir.
When Liza arrives on the island, she is picked up by Kendall James, and his dog, who seem to be working for Mr. Wallis. Kendall is not happy at all that Liza will be writing this book. Both Liza and Kendall seem they don’t get along at all, or do they??
There seem to be secrets, and mysteries that surround Mr. Wallis and the other characters. I highly recommend this hard to put down novel for readers that enjoy a romantic, mysterious and suspenseful story. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
Liza Teller is an author with a writer’s block. Her last book was quite successful, but she can’t move beyond that, and is given a chance to be a ghost-writer for a memoir of an older man, Ray Wallis. This takes Liza to a small and exclusive island off the South Carolina Coast. The author vividly describes the landscape and people who live in this area. There are beautiful views of nature, and the people who seem to live here are very wealthy. Liza wonders why Ray Wallis wants her to help write his memoir.
When Liza arrives on the island, she is picked up by Kendall James, and his dog, who seem to be working for Mr. Wallis. Kendall is not happy at all that Liza will be writing this book. Both Liza and Kendall seem they don’t get along at all, or do they??
There seem to be secrets, and mysteries that surround Mr. Wallis and the other characters. I highly recommend this hard to put down novel for readers that enjoy a romantic, mysterious and suspenseful story. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
August 3, 2023
I enjoyed this book - got sucked into the story and the setting immediately. It was a slow burn romance, which felt appropriate considering the quiet and slow setting of the island. I liked that it was more than just a romance. You also had the relationship between Liza and Ray, which added extra layers to the book. And it was about family as much as it was a love story - the family we choose and the family we are born into.
January 27, 2019
I am giving this a 3.5 stars but rounding up to 4. I really enjoyed this story. It was a romance for sure, but not overly cheesy or cringeworthy. I liked that it told the story of the fictional island as well and that it had an underlying plot regarding the mysterious past of an elderly gentleman. There was great development in the history of the characters with my only critique on that point is the military history of the male protagonist not being delved into enough. Other than that I think the author did a great job at making them all well rounded and likeable and I would definitely read more books about the island community if this were to become a series. My only one other negative critique is the overuse of the words "Babe" and "Honey". It felt too forced and intimate for two people who were practically strangers. By the way, the dog was amazing and I loved how he became a whole character unto himself!
May 19, 2019
It has been a while since I read this author for two reasons, after her great first series, the second one was disappointing and her last series was about rock-stars (a genre I mostly avoid). Unfortunately, although Ask Me to Stay wasn't bad, it was just very boring for me to read. I never connected with the characters and the hero's stupid reasons for not leaving the island just made me roll my eyes. The romance was next to negligible and I didn't see the heat between them. All in all it could be a case of just me!
March 8, 2019
Ask Me To Stay by Terri Osburn
Layered lovely story of a ghost writer who gets much more than she bargained for when she heads out to write Ray Wallis’s memoirs. She finds a place she feels at home, makes true friends that she has not found in the city, realizes she is not really against dogs after all, manages to break through her writer’s block and finds a man to fall in love with. Who does she fall for? Kendall James. He picks her up at the pier but is an abrupt grumpy huge man that I slowly warmed up to just as Liza did. I don’t want to give away the story that unfolds so beautifully so will say that I truly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Layered lovely story of a ghost writer who gets much more than she bargained for when she heads out to write Ray Wallis’s memoirs. She finds a place she feels at home, makes true friends that she has not found in the city, realizes she is not really against dogs after all, manages to break through her writer’s block and finds a man to fall in love with. Who does she fall for? Kendall James. He picks her up at the pier but is an abrupt grumpy huge man that I slowly warmed up to just as Liza did. I don’t want to give away the story that unfolds so beautifully so will say that I truly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
March 5, 2019
This was a nice slow build romance where the pace of the story seemed to match the slower pace of the idyllic island setting. Liza Teller comes to Haven Island to help Ray Wallis write his memoirs. She's not sure why he picked her to do it but she plans on giving it her all. Ray is very welcoming but Kendall James, the former military guy working for Ray, not so much. For some reason he doesn't think Ray's story should be told. Sparks fly between Kendall and Liza but as Ray's story is told and secrets revealed their newly budding romance may not have a chance to grow.
Definitely a book I recommend.
Definitely a book I recommend.
January 22, 2020
Enjoyable story about family both blood and not. The story is set on an island off South Carolina. The main character is writer who has been hired to write a memoir for a 93 year old man who has secrets. The book was a quick easy read.
dnf
March 8, 2019This was dull.
The H was a rude judgemental ass.
The h seem dumb.
The H was a rude judgemental ass.
The h seem dumb.
March 5, 2019
I've been reading Terri Osburn's novels since her 2013 debut, enjoying the humor, heart, complex characters, and deep emotion in each story. All of those characteristics are on display in Osburn's newest book, Ask Me to Stay, though the feel of this standalone women's fiction/contemporary romance blend is different from anything Osburn has previously published. Set on a remote, private island off the coast of South Carolina, the slower pace of this story matches the ambiance of the state's Lowcountry. But don't mistake slow with boring. This story is anything but. It may evoke the soothing feeling of floating down a lazy river on a sultry, summer day but, just as with those lazy rivers, unseen secrets lurking beneath the surface keep this story moving forward and kept me fully invested in Osburn's intriguing characters and their winding journey.
In a story such as this, it's imperative that the characters are interesting, engaging, and capable of pulling readers into their world. Osburn does a masterful job of doing just that. There are no superfluous characters in this book. Each one - whether primary or secondary - is brought to life through their words and actions, creating conflict, eliciting emotion, and pulling me deeper into their story with each revelation. I loved the push and pull between Liza and Kendall and I enjoyed their gradual evolution from adversaries to friends to much more. Their banter sparks and their chemistry sizzles but there's plenty of sigh-worthy tenderness there too. I love how Osburn opens a window into her characters' emotions, fears, and vulnerabilities though their interactions with others, not telling but showing, as we see during Liza's appearance at the island's book club meeting or her interactions with Kendall's dog, Amos. No mere canine wallpaper, the affable Pit bull is integral to Liza's evolution, her relationship with Kendall, and her overall journey. I adored him.
Ray is the linchpin that pulls this story together and could easily blow it apart. It's no easy feat to reveal the truth of his life while still making him a sympathetic character that readers will forgive and accept into their hearts. Ray took me through a range of emotions from sweet affection, to curiosity, to disbelief, to anger, to eventual forgiveness. And tears. Such a flawed character Osburn created but she made me care about him despite his flaws and she made me cry. I love when an author can do that.
Ask Me to Stay has my enthusiastic recommendation. I hope it won't be Terri Osburn's only foray into this type of women's fiction/contemporary romance story. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
4.5 Stars
In a story such as this, it's imperative that the characters are interesting, engaging, and capable of pulling readers into their world. Osburn does a masterful job of doing just that. There are no superfluous characters in this book. Each one - whether primary or secondary - is brought to life through their words and actions, creating conflict, eliciting emotion, and pulling me deeper into their story with each revelation. I loved the push and pull between Liza and Kendall and I enjoyed their gradual evolution from adversaries to friends to much more. Their banter sparks and their chemistry sizzles but there's plenty of sigh-worthy tenderness there too. I love how Osburn opens a window into her characters' emotions, fears, and vulnerabilities though their interactions with others, not telling but showing, as we see during Liza's appearance at the island's book club meeting or her interactions with Kendall's dog, Amos. No mere canine wallpaper, the affable Pit bull is integral to Liza's evolution, her relationship with Kendall, and her overall journey. I adored him.
Ray is the linchpin that pulls this story together and could easily blow it apart. It's no easy feat to reveal the truth of his life while still making him a sympathetic character that readers will forgive and accept into their hearts. Ray took me through a range of emotions from sweet affection, to curiosity, to disbelief, to anger, to eventual forgiveness. And tears. Such a flawed character Osburn created but she made me care about him despite his flaws and she made me cry. I love when an author can do that.
Ask Me to Stay has my enthusiastic recommendation. I hope it won't be Terri Osburn's only foray into this type of women's fiction/contemporary romance story. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
4.5 Stars
February 28, 2019
I have read and loved all of Terri Osburn's previous novels, so I was thrilled to be chosen to review an ARC of her latest, "Ask Me to Stay." This book was just as well-written as all of Osburn's previous efforts, though I must admit that it took me a bit longer than usual to get into it. I would describe the romance as a "slow burn," which I usually enjoy, but this time it almost seemed like there was a genuine dislike underlying the main characters' relationship at first. Once Kendall and Liza got over their initial dislike and started to realize their attraction for one another, I found myself relaxing into the story and it was tough to put the book down.
The secondary plot involving Ray's desire to tell his life story, and for Liza to write a book about it, was quite engaging, though I was able to guess the "twist" pretty early on thanks to the clues that were dropped along the way. I still enjoyed reading along and trying to figure out how everything would be revealed, plus Ray himself was a pretty interesting character. While it may have been difficult for his loved ones to understand why he did what he did, his love for his family seemed clear to me, and overall, I found him to be a pretty likeable guy. Sometimes good people find themselves in bad situations, and maybe that's what happened to Ray here.
The other secondary characters, particularly the residents of Haven Island including Francine, Aadi, and Larimore, were also charming and added a lot of depth to the story. As I read, I found myself hoping that Larimore would get a story of his own in the future. Fingers crossed, maybe we'll have the chance to revisit Haven Island at some point!
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The secondary plot involving Ray's desire to tell his life story, and for Liza to write a book about it, was quite engaging, though I was able to guess the "twist" pretty early on thanks to the clues that were dropped along the way. I still enjoyed reading along and trying to figure out how everything would be revealed, plus Ray himself was a pretty interesting character. While it may have been difficult for his loved ones to understand why he did what he did, his love for his family seemed clear to me, and overall, I found him to be a pretty likeable guy. Sometimes good people find themselves in bad situations, and maybe that's what happened to Ray here.
The other secondary characters, particularly the residents of Haven Island including Francine, Aadi, and Larimore, were also charming and added a lot of depth to the story. As I read, I found myself hoping that Larimore would get a story of his own in the future. Fingers crossed, maybe we'll have the chance to revisit Haven Island at some point!
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 27, 2019
I am giving this a 3.5 stars but rounding up to 4. I really enjoyed this story. It was a romance for sure, but not overly cheesy or cringeworthy. I liked that it told the story of the fictional island as well and that it had an underlying plot regarding the mysterious past of an elderly gentleman. There was great development in the history of the characters with my only critique on that point is the military history of the male protagonist not being delved into enough. Other than that I think the author did a great job at making them all well rounded and likeable and I would definitely read more books about the island community if this were to become a series. My only one other negative critique is the overuse of the words "Babe" and "Honey". It felt too forced and intimate for two people who were practically strangers. By the way, the dog was amazing and I loved how he became a whole character unto himself!
March 14, 2019
This is a hard review to write because I really wanted to like this book. I won a copy in a Goodreads giveaway and I feel guilty that someone else might have won the book instead and really loved it.
Sometimes you pick up a book and you are engrossed from page one. Other times the book just falls flat. For me this book was flat.
I never cared for Kendell or Liza, wanting more emotion, more back story, just more. Ray could have been so colorful and fun to read about his antics, but we were only allowed a few glimpses into his world.
Haven Island is full of all these wonderful odd people and a few sentences here and there just did not cut it for me. There is a really wonderful book here just waiting to come out. But it never eally does.
The fullest character was Amos. He had personality and really came to life on the page.
The last 50 pages of the book were better then the first part. But I hate to admit, the only reason I finished this book was because I had won it. Had I borrowed it from the library I would have returned it after chapter two.
Sometimes you pick up a book and you are engrossed from page one. Other times the book just falls flat. For me this book was flat.
I never cared for Kendell or Liza, wanting more emotion, more back story, just more. Ray could have been so colorful and fun to read about his antics, but we were only allowed a few glimpses into his world.
Haven Island is full of all these wonderful odd people and a few sentences here and there just did not cut it for me. There is a really wonderful book here just waiting to come out. But it never eally does.
The fullest character was Amos. He had personality and really came to life on the page.
The last 50 pages of the book were better then the first part. But I hate to admit, the only reason I finished this book was because I had won it. Had I borrowed it from the library I would have returned it after chapter two.
May 19, 2019
I really enjoyed reading "Ask Me To Stay".
I loved Terri Osburn's writing style, particularly the author’s descriptions of the setting. She made life on the fictional Haven Island, which is off the coast from South Carolina, so appealing to me.
The journey I took was quite special as I followed the lives of the main characters, the introvert and author/ ghostwriter Liza and Kendall James, the islander. It was glorious to read as I watched the progression of their relationship.
This book was so good that I will be adding Terri Osburn to my list of newly discovered authors, for sure!
If you are looking for a sweet romance with a bit of intrigue, then you will enjoy this book.
Thanks to NetGalley, Montlake Romance and the author, Terri Osburn for my complimentary copy of Ask Me To Stay. My honest review is entirely voluntary.
I loved Terri Osburn's writing style, particularly the author’s descriptions of the setting. She made life on the fictional Haven Island, which is off the coast from South Carolina, so appealing to me.
The journey I took was quite special as I followed the lives of the main characters, the introvert and author/ ghostwriter Liza and Kendall James, the islander. It was glorious to read as I watched the progression of their relationship.
This book was so good that I will be adding Terri Osburn to my list of newly discovered authors, for sure!
If you are looking for a sweet romance with a bit of intrigue, then you will enjoy this book.
Thanks to NetGalley, Montlake Romance and the author, Terri Osburn for my complimentary copy of Ask Me To Stay. My honest review is entirely voluntary.
April 23, 2019
An emotional read that I could not put down. Author Liza has been asked to write the memoirs of Ray. Not sure why she was asked but she was willing to give it a try. Ray lives on a remote island, Haven Point off the coast of South Carolina. Here she meets Kendall and Amos (Kendall's dog). Kendall also lives on the island, along with a few other diverse residents. Knowing Liza is only there for a short time, is he willing to open his heart out to her. They are a close knit community. Ray is a mystery to all, but soon the secrets will come out.
This is a slow paced story that I did not want to see end. I laughed many times and shed many tears. This is more of a women's fiction with elements of romance and mystery. This is a well written book that I highly recommend.
This is a slow paced story that I did not want to see end. I laughed many times and shed many tears. This is more of a women's fiction with elements of romance and mystery. This is a well written book that I highly recommend.
February 5, 2019
"Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review"
3.5 stars
An entertaining story with a complicated man as the hero and a heroine who has insecurities and a sense of inadequacy and fear/avoidance of social situations that make her quite real and human and relatable. Their first encounters are awesome, the animosity blending with the attraction
With an interesting mystery slowly unraveled, bringing old, hidden secrets to the surface, and a group of strong side characters (including the dog, Amos), “Ask Me to Stay” is also a story about a magical place – Haven Island –, its beauty and tranquility sublimely rendered by the author.
I enjoyed the take on the creative writing process, and the foray into relations between author/readers’ expectations/characters, it gave Liza’s character so much depth.
Perhaps our taciturn hero, Cranky Kendall, lost his moodiness too fast, surrendered to Liza’s authenticity. I really enjoyed his tough guy persona, although I admit the caring and sweet side is alluring too.
3.5 stars
An entertaining story with a complicated man as the hero and a heroine who has insecurities and a sense of inadequacy and fear/avoidance of social situations that make her quite real and human and relatable. Their first encounters are awesome, the animosity blending with the attraction
With an interesting mystery slowly unraveled, bringing old, hidden secrets to the surface, and a group of strong side characters (including the dog, Amos), “Ask Me to Stay” is also a story about a magical place – Haven Island –, its beauty and tranquility sublimely rendered by the author.
I enjoyed the take on the creative writing process, and the foray into relations between author/readers’ expectations/characters, it gave Liza’s character so much depth.
Perhaps our taciturn hero, Cranky Kendall, lost his moodiness too fast, surrendered to Liza’s authenticity. I really enjoyed his tough guy persona, although I admit the caring and sweet side is alluring too.
March 6, 2019
I really enjoyed this story. Liza is going to Haven Island to write the memoir of Ray Wallis. He is a delightful old man who wants his story told. Kendall is against Ray having his story written and does everything he can to get him to change his mind. That is until he meets Liza. As Kendall and Liza grow closer, they are thinking of changing their lives. She lives in New York and he will stay on Haven Island until Ray dies. He promised his father he would stay with Ray until the end. Will she wait for him? He won't ask her to stay on the island because of what happened with his parents. The problem is, Ray holds a secret that can change their lives. It could be a change for the good or the bad
March 4, 2019
Terri Osburn is a relatively new to me author, but her lyrical prose has me hooked. Ask Me To Stay is a poignant story of love lost and found and what people will do for family. Haven Island is peopled with diverse characters that quickly feel like friends. Osburn’s writer heroine is spot on, while her billionaire hero is delightfully understated. This stand-alone novel is perfect for fans of Hope Ramsay, Kieran Kramer, and Nancy Naigle, though the heat level is slightly higher than a couple of those authors.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.
August 10, 2019
It must be me
With so many good reviews it pains me to have to put up a bad one, but this story just fell flat. With so many ways the story could have gone, parts that should have been fleshed out weren’t and other parts seem to be too much. I never felt the spark between Kendall and Liza and the end seemed too rushed.
With so many good reviews it pains me to have to put up a bad one, but this story just fell flat. With so many ways the story could have gone, parts that should have been fleshed out weren’t and other parts seem to be too much. I never felt the spark between Kendall and Liza and the end seemed too rushed.
August 19, 2020
Pretty good book
This was a pretty good book to listen to. I was not crazy about the narration but got used to it. The lady paused when I didn't feel like she should. The story was more about Liza and Kendall than I expected. Overall a decent book.
This was a pretty good book to listen to. I was not crazy about the narration but got used to it. The lady paused when I didn't feel like she should. The story was more about Liza and Kendall than I expected. Overall a decent book.
February 14, 2019
This book has all the ingredients for a great contemporary romance. Mystery, great characters, romance and more.. 5 stars from me on this. It truly is a treat to read.
March 7, 2019
An emotional read that I could not put down. Author Liza has been asked to write the memoirs of Ray. Not sure why she was asked but she was willing to give it a try. Ray lives on a remote island, Haven Point off the coast of South Carolina. Here she meets Kendall and Amos (Kendall's dog). Kendall also lives on the island, along with a few other diverse residents. Knowing Liza is only there for a short time, is he willing to open his heart out to her. They are a close knit community. Ray is a mystery to all, but soon the secrets will come out.
This is a slow paced story that I did not want to see end. I laughed many times and shed many tears. This is more of a women's fiction with elements of romance and mystery. This is a well written book that I highly recommend.
This is a slow paced story that I did not want to see end. I laughed many times and shed many tears. This is more of a women's fiction with elements of romance and mystery. This is a well written book that I highly recommend.
March 21, 2021
I borrowed this one from Kindle Unlimited because I have liked other Terri Osburn novels. This one is totally different from the other books I have read by Ms. Osburn. This is a story of long held secrets, bittersweet memories, a love story that seems doomed from the start, and a very much needed reconciliation and a chance to love again.
Liza Teller has written one novel that did well but has hit a writer's block with her follow up novel. She is hired to ghost write a memoir for a mysterious elderly gentleman who requires her to travel to a small coastal island off the coast of South Carolina to do the interviews for the memoir. Liza is not too impressed with the man sent to pick her up from the jetty at the private island. Moody, rude, tall dark and intriguing is not someone Liza should be interested in. She is there to do a job and get paid well for doing it.
Kendall James has served his time in the military and come back to the island to protect and serve Ray Wallis just like his father before him. Kendall is very protective of the elderly Ray but can't figure out why he has chosen this time to tell his real life story to a stranger who tempts him greatly.
As Liza starts to learn Ray's story, Kendall tries to convince her to not tell the story. Ray finally reveals the deepest darkest secret he has kept for over thirty years to Liza which sends her reeling from the shock of it. She flees back to New York to try to reconcile this deep dark secret while leaving her heart behind on the island.
This is a well told story with many twists and turns. I started out reading the book and switched over to the audio version so that I could listen to the rest of it while doing some handwork. I honestly did not want this one to end.
I am looking forward to more novels in this different style from the linked Anchor Island ones that Ms. Osburn writes just as well.
Liza Teller has written one novel that did well but has hit a writer's block with her follow up novel. She is hired to ghost write a memoir for a mysterious elderly gentleman who requires her to travel to a small coastal island off the coast of South Carolina to do the interviews for the memoir. Liza is not too impressed with the man sent to pick her up from the jetty at the private island. Moody, rude, tall dark and intriguing is not someone Liza should be interested in. She is there to do a job and get paid well for doing it.
Kendall James has served his time in the military and come back to the island to protect and serve Ray Wallis just like his father before him. Kendall is very protective of the elderly Ray but can't figure out why he has chosen this time to tell his real life story to a stranger who tempts him greatly.
As Liza starts to learn Ray's story, Kendall tries to convince her to not tell the story. Ray finally reveals the deepest darkest secret he has kept for over thirty years to Liza which sends her reeling from the shock of it. She flees back to New York to try to reconcile this deep dark secret while leaving her heart behind on the island.
This is a well told story with many twists and turns. I started out reading the book and switched over to the audio version so that I could listen to the rest of it while doing some handwork. I honestly did not want this one to end.
I am looking forward to more novels in this different style from the linked Anchor Island ones that Ms. Osburn writes just as well.
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