This was a terrific book! It had a little different feel to it than your average romance. Part of it was the maturity of the characters and I think part of it was the aura of the location created by Ms. Osburn. The setting was an island off of the coast of the Carolinas. The isolation was fairly unique and lent a different feel.
Liza and Kendall were well developed characters whose romance was held at a slow burn for most of the story. You could feel them overcome their dislike for each other and the beginning of something special that developed with respect for the other person. The secondary characters were just as entrancing as the main and actually played a huge part.
I haven't read many books by Ms. Osburn, but this was by far the best. I received this book via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

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

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.

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!

arc from NetGalley and publisher for an honest review

5 Stars ... I could not put this book down!

Liza is struggling with writing her second novel after the first one was a hit. In order to pay the rent, she takes a job writing an older man's life story and in order to do that, she goes to live with him for a month, on an exclusive island. She is met at the ferry by a very large man who seems to be mad at the world. When Kendall's father died, Kendall took over his job of looking out for Ray. Kendall wasn't sure of all the details, but it didn't matter ... he loved the island as much as Ray did, so he stayed. Kendall doesn't understand why Ray wants to tell his story after all these years, but he's going to try and scare off the writer so that Ray can stay safe from his past . But Kendall is not prepared for the beautiful writer that he meets at the ferry and his plans begin to unravel as he gets to know Liza.

The characters in this book just drew me in and wouldn't let go! I found myself turning the pages well into the night ... actually until I finished the book. This is a heartwarming love story that will make you laugh, cry and swoon. I could just picture Kendall as the gentle giant and Liza as his one weakness. And even though Liza was scared of just about everything, she didn't let that stop her from living her life. I found myself rooting for them from the beginning. This is a great story that shouldn't be missed.

I received an early copy courtesy of Montlake Romance through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

So sweet. I couldn't put it down. Kendall is all man but he's got a sweet side that charmed me right along with Liza.
Liza is in for the ride of her life and falls for the gruff man that is annoyed she's on the island in the first place.
I enjoyed how Osburn threw the reader into the scene of island and brought it to life. The descriptions and feel made me nearly want to pack everything up and move my family there myself!
This standalone has all the feels and will keep you in suspense until the end.

I’ve always enjoyed Terri Osburn , and this book was no exception. The story and characters were entertaining. Liza was a little hard to take at first, but so was Kendall ! Keep reading ! You will grow to like them both. The author really knows how to bring her characters to life. And the story really draws you in. Thanks for the chance to read an early copy Netgalley.

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.

This story packed one heck of a punch. While it started out slow for me, at one point the story took a twist and I was left gaping at my kindle. At that point I did not want this story to end while at the same time needing to know what happened. It’s a slow burn romance mixed with finding family you never knew you had or wanted. A very enjoyable story that will have you feeling things and appreciating all you have. I look forward to more from this author.

Ask Me to Stay is a very good book. I enjoyed the plot, setting and characters. The author really has a way with the written word. I highly recommend this book. I received an arc from Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

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.

This was the first book by this author and I loved the story!!!! I adored the characters and I loved the setting of the story!!! Highly recommend....

3.5 Stars- This has all the makings of a saga. An author with a bit of writer's block, an offer to do a memoir which has a big, hefty check attached and an interesting subject. Add the actual subject of the book, throw in a man who feels he needs to make sure no one is taking advantage of the book's subject.

There are conflicts, chemistry between the two people who are working with Ray... and the island even feels like a character. This is complex yet also has a plot which is easy to see ahead.

Those who enjoy angst, family intrigue and secrets and romance will be pleased.

Ask Me to Stay was a very good story. I enjoyed reading how Kendall and Liza fell in love. I liked how they start off as not liking each other, to becoming friends then lovers. The chemistry between them was so good. Liza calls herself an introvert, but spending time at the island made her feel at peace and soon realizes that this is where she belongs. Of course life gets in the way and the reason for why she is hired to write Ray's memoir made for an interesting climax in the story. I did get a little teary eyed towards the end.
This story had many well written characters and I'm hoping we get more books from some of them. It would be nice to read more about Haven Island's residents.

What an amazing book! I was hooked from the moment I started Chapter 1. This book has so many wonderful elements & characters. I was drawn in by the island & kept intrigued by the mystery & budding romance!

This book started very slowly and in fact it took me multiple times to get far enough to finish. It’s a very relaxed book with characters who unfold slowly. Honestly, I struggled with the pacing but the characters were interesting and the plot not your typical romance.

You know that Liza and Kendall are going to fall in love and you, like me, might guess Ray's secret early on but that doesn't diminish the pleasure of reading this nicely written romance. Liza's been hired to ghost write Ray's history- he has a long story to tell even though he's been sitting on Haven Island for the last 30 years. She's not sure why and neither is Kendall, the veteran who works for Ray. It's classic family secrets and lies time, along with a HEA- and wait.....a dog named Amos. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A nice guilty pleasure read.

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.

3.5 STARS
This is the story of Liza Teller and Kendall James . Liza is a writer who has been hired to be a ghostwriter to Ray Wallis, a recluse on an island off South Carolina. Kendall , a former military man, works for Ray. He is suspicious of the city gal and is determined to protect Ray from her. But he is also intrigued by this beautiful woman.
As time goes on the attraction between Liza and Kendall grow. In the midst of the secrets and island living, will the attraction continue or will if fizzle out at the end of Liza’s stay?
For me the plot was a little slow moving but the magic of the island and seeing these two complicated individuals “finding “ themselves, made it enjoyable. I loved Amos, the dog.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

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.