Now it’s time for my review of If I Stay.  You can check out the original guest post from author Tamara Morgan here, which also has an excerpt and buy links.

*****

Ryan Lucas would rather be anywhere but Ransom Creek, Connecticut. After losing his high-adrenaline career as a Hollywood stunt driver, he’s had to tuck his tail between his legs and take up employment as a chauffeur for the Montgomerys, a wealthy hotelier family.

Amy Sanders has returned home to Ransom Creek to take over her mother’s former position as nanny to the Montgomerys—bringing her close to dashing Jake Montgomery once again. She grew up with a major crush on Jake, and it’s not easy to leave those feelings behind, even though her friendship with the hard-edged family chauffeur, Ryan, has a sizzling undercurrent of undeniable attraction.

Amy’s determined to prove to Ryan that life at Montgomery Manor isn’t all bad, but each time they draw closer Jake swoops in. Amy is torn between two men—and two worlds. And Ryan is rapidly coming to learn that if he wants to make Amy his, he’ll have to prove to her that life downstairs can be everything they both want.

This one is a bit like a soap opera – it’s a little insulated world, full of quirky characters and each has his own closely guarded secrets.

I really liked both Amy and Ryan. She’s got such a wonderfully upbeat personality, although that also makes her want to avoid any form of confrontation. She’s the perfect person to be the nanny for toddlers, bubbly and happy and constantly looking at the bright side. Ryan’s world has imploded and he’s biding his time with the Montgomerys until he can find a way back to his old life. He’s drawn to the sunshine that is Amy, the perfect foil to his moodiness and solitude. Together they are funny, charming, and tender – each giving the other a different outlook on the world and I really like how they compliment each other.  He watches out for her, while she brings him out of his shell and makes sure that he has fun.

We also get to know one of the Montgomery kids when Jake comes back home.  He’s got so much going on underneath his carefree exterior that I know that his story is going to be fantastic.  And since the house is like a world unto itself, we’re given glimpses into the other players as well.  But unfortunately that’s about it – we’re left with a lot of questions just like any good daytime soap, which also means we’ll be seeing their stories as well.  And I’ll be right there in line for all of them.

Full of humor and heart, with fun characters and an entertaining storyline, If I Stay is totally addictive.