If I Could Stay

by Annette K. Larsen

They killed her mother, and if they find her, Leila could be next. Being pursued from one state to another, she has learned to constantly look over her shoulder, and when necessary, to become someone new. She’s burned through four cities and four identities, always managing to stay one step ahead.

Now Leila is left with nothing. No car, no money, and no choice but to trust the man who finds her, half frozen, wandering the back roads of Missouri.

Despite the fact that Jack seems to genuinely care about her, Leila knows all too well the danger she poses to anyone brave enough to get close to her. Her growing feelings for Jack force her to make a choice. She could risk staying and hope she’s not found, or she could do what she’s always done, and disappear.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Fiction, Clean Romance

215 pages, ebook

First published February 15, 2018

About the author

I love words. I always have. In songs, in poems, in books, in movies—words move me. In my younger years, I dabbled in writing as a therapy and an escape, but I never expected it to become more than that. While deep in the depths of mommying several small children, I took seven years to write my first book, Just Ella. During that time, I taught myself how to write a novel through a whole lot of trial and error. Not the most time-efficient method, but it gave me an education I wouldn’t have received from a class or a how-to book. Something about the struggle of writing without a formula or rules worked for me. I wrote for me. I wrote from my heart space, and I think that’s the reason that Just Ella has found room in so many of my readers’ heart spaces.

I write clean romance because I love it. I love the discovery of new love. I love the relationship building that’s done with looks, words, brushing fingers, and tentative kisses. Jane Eyre is the hero of my youth and taught me that being true to yourself and clinging to your convictions will be hard, but it will bring you more genuine happiness than giving up on yourself ever can.

I am an extraordinarily happy wife, and a mother of five kids. I’ve lived in Utah, Arizona, Missouri, and Virginia, but my heart is now firmly ensconced in Idaho where we’ve built a home and a community.

I love chocolate, waterfalls, pretty teacups, the sight and sound of ocean waves, and most especially my husband and my five littles. I love books that leave me with a sigh of contentment, and I aspire to write stories that do the same for my readers.

Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annetteklar...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoraklarsen
Follow me on twitter: @AnnetteKLarsen
Contact Me: http://www.annetteklarsen.com/contact...

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jumpin Genres! Wow, what a leap.
I loved Annette's Books of Dalthia Series. They were Squeaky Clean Romances with a very fairy tale like feel to them. I had no idea what I was getting myself into with If I Could Stay. Since I hate spoilers, I didn't even read the entire summary before starting it. I based bumping it to the top of my long to-read list on the fact that Annette wrote it. I wasn't wrong in that choice. I loved this book.

The fact that Annette made the jump to Romantic Suspense so easily shows what a great writer she is.
I have company in town and other things I could have been doing today but ended up spending most of the day finishing this book because I didn't want to put it down. A sure sign of a great book!

Jack makes a perfect hero and Leila is a very strong heroine. I loved watching the relationship slowly develop in this book.

Content: clean (a couple mild expletives)

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annette is one of my favorite authors so I was very excited to read her new book, but it is probably one of my least favorite kind of books besides murder mystery's. I don't like the anxiety I feel, I put myself too much in books and the blood and gore never appeal to me. From the first few pages I knew I was going to enjoy this one! Gosh I loved the way it began and just told a great story. The back and forth from past to present was so well done! I loved that it was so realistic. The main characters were both great. Jack is my new book boyfriend;] Gosh he was amazing! The Heroine has had a tough go of it so her character was very right on with a lot of trust issues. I love a book with characters that don't give up on each other. I thought I would be a little disappointed with the middle of this book when there were some major changes, but I ended up loving it so much! The whole book built well to a very intense ending. I never guessed all the twists and turns!The ending was perfect. I wanted a little more but it probably would have been too much. I'm telling you this author writes books just for me:}

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one really hit the spot for me. It starts off right in the thick of things- we literally just jump right into the story. I honestly couldn't put it down! I loved the slow unraveling of the back story and the light suspense that had me completely drawn in. It's one of those situations where you just KNOW something is coming, something is going to happen, but you just don't know when or how. And when it does come? A bit surprising. I liked that. Sometimes with stories like this, the plot outweighs the characters but I felt like this book was a good balance of both. I'm so happy with this author's jump into contemporary! Yay! I hope there will be more to come!

I picked this one up on KU.

Content: mild swearing, violence, kissing

[ach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it.
I loved the MC, i liked how strong she was even though her life sucks and her father is a criminal asshole.
I loved Jack, he cared about the h from the moment he saw her and was always there even after hearing about her family and secrets, plus he was so sweet and swooon worthy.
And finally, i freaking loved the suspense, it's what kept me going.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. I guessed totally wrong a bunch of times. It was good. Liked the characters and the plot.

Moral Note: Some mafia type violence and criminal activity. Clean romance - a handful of language (dang, heck & a$$)

[Mary Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay. Just finished this book and IT. IS. AMAZING. It's my first from Annette K. Larsen, and now I'm going to have to look up her other ones because if she can do this with romantic suspense, what will she do with fantasy?? ;)
So, without giving too much away:
The characters: So real and detailed, I felt as if they really existed. Most of the side-characters were well fleshed out too.
The romance: OH MY WORD. Genuine, warm, complicated, REAL. Clean and oh, so swoony!!! The romance built up gradually but that made it all the better. I was giggling like a teenager at times.
The plot: Warm, poignant, hilarious, achingly sad, happy by turns. Clever, with some very good twists. I was genuinely surprised at times.
It really runs you through a gamut of emotions. I laughed, I cried (and I almost never cry with books), and I sighed in bliss.
To sum up? It's going down as one of my favourite books ever, and that's saying a LOT. If I could I'd give it 10 stars. Read - and enjoy!!! :)

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you need to sleep don't start this book haha seriously I couldn't put it down from page one!! I Love authors that capture the reader so quickly in the story and Annette Larsen truly has a talent for doing just that! The story was intense from the onset and I really felt connected to the main character. I also really loved Jack and LOVED how she found out his profession in the beginning... I seriously laughed out loud in the motel scene; just very well written & well-rounded! I can't wait for more from this author!!!

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fabulous story! It has two of my favorite elements -action and romance. The author starts your right off in the thick of things, on the edge of your seat. I loved the way our two main characters met! The tension between them was palpable at times, yet stayed clean. I really enjoy this author and can’t wait for more swoon-worthy romances from her. I hope this is the beginning of many more contemporary romances!

[Linda Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I have read by this author, so I can’t comment on the genre shift, but I loved how well the author created realistic dialogue between the characters. The story was well paced and had enough romance to stay true to the author’s apparent beginnings, but didn’t dilute the suspense in a cheesy way. A really enjoyable read.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Good story, but the middle section was just a bit slow for me. I really loved the first half of the book, though, with Jack and Leila meeting and their interactions. I was immediately pulled into the story and wanted to know what would happen with them. The middle was just not as exciting. Overall, I enjoyed this one.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was something totally different from Annette Larsen but she proved her talent as a writer with a fantastic story. I don’t usually read many novels with suspense and criminal intrigue but this one sucked me in right away. The great chemistry between Leila and Jack didn’t hurt either. ;) I love to see an author I’m already attached to branch out and do it so well. I look forward to what’s next from Annette.

[Sara Po’oi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this assuming it would be just like all those other thrill stories of someone in hiding, probably because I recently finished Stephanie Meyer’s new book. But it turned out to be more exciting, with different twists along the way. I’m excited to see what is next now that we know Annette can master other genres as perfectly as romance!

[Becky Helvig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always nervous when my favorite authors start to cross genres, but was not disappointed with this book. Annette has a knack for creating intricate plots and lovable characters, this story was no exception. I appreciated the humor interspersed with all of the suspense. I also loved all of the twists that kept me on the edge of my seat! Such a fun read!

[Holli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept me hooked

This book had suspense & romance and kept me up late because I wanted to see what would happen next.

[wisegirl3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annette writes clean romance which I love that I don't have to worry about there being anything inappropriate in her books. This was a very different story than her others, but it was unique to anything I've read.

[Valerie Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good romantic suspense.

[Jae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took 1Star away just cuz I prefer my romance dirty and this one was.... not. But it was acceptable considering that the heroine was 21.

Still, the suspense part was very intriguing. I enjoyed this.

[Pascale’s*ARC,Unwind,Read,Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

-‘...The darkness left me with nothing but my fears for company, whispering sweet nothings in my ears.’-
-‘“Please stay here and let me protect you.” This time it was me that framed his face with my hands, making him look at me. “I know you’d do everything in your power. But this is bigger than you, and I can’t watch you get hurt.”’-

This was my first time reading a novel by this author. I had seen the description of the book before it came out and I was dying to read it, based solely on the brief description. I wasn’t disappointed. I borrowed this on Kindle Unlimited and I loved it so much I’m sure I will purchase it sometime and read it again. This happens to be my favourite genre: clean romantic suspense. Ms Larsen is clearly a gifted writer and I was completely absorbed into the storyline. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down and I spent an entire, rainy, grey day with my nose stuck in the Kindle until the very end.
There were a few twists and turns and the story is very well-written. I did not notice any glaring errors, it was well edited. My first experience with the author’s work and I will be sure to look for more, especially if she decides to write in this genre again. Highly recommended reading.

[Shirley Bouwhuis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put it down

I always know I’m going to be reading a good book when I see that the author is Annette Larsen. I was curious about the change of genre for this book. But wow this was a book I couldn’t put down. I loved it, especially the part with the voice mails between the H and h. I laughed out loud they were so cute and touching. Jack was such a sweetheart. Someone complained about Leila’s over reactions in parts of the book. I think her reactions were right on and exactly how someone in her situation would act. She was on the run from a evil father who had spies everywhere so she couldn’t trust anyone. I would overreact and freak out over every little thing too. I thought it was written just how the situation would be in real life. The only thing I would have loved was an epilogue with them a few years down the road. But even without one it was soooo good and I enjoyed it so much.

[Denita Whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! This is different from what the author has previously written, but it just shows how versatile her writing styles can be. I could not put this book down. It evokes all emotions into one exciting book. I can't wait to read it again!

[Cindy Steel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabbed my attention from the very first page. I loved the tension, the sweet romance, and I appreciated that the heroine was smart and her choices made sense for her character. Loved this one.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept me riveted

This is the kind of story that starts you with a little bit of information and fills you in as you go. I enjoyed learning about Leila's life bit by bit as she navigates life on the run.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

kindle-her father was a criminal. she ran away and changed her name several times. he sent a bad cop to bring her back, she ran again. the car went off the road, she was walking in snow and a man picked her up in his truck. he turned out to be a cop. her car was robbed and torched, by the men after her. now she had no money and needed the cop to find her a job and place to stay

she was kidnapped from the street. it turned out to be her sister, but she didnt want to get into 'the life' with her. so she got her fake id back and went to say goodby to the cop. he really cared for her

she ended up in az and signed up for college. she got a job in a restaurant.

she would call him on a burner phone and leave vm messages they exchanged back and forth

she got a call from her sister that she was in trouble so she dropped everything to go help her

on the way she gets pulled over by the cops and taken in. the cop was there, telling her it was a set up, that her sister was there with her dad and that her dad was the one that killed her mom

they wanted the ledger she took from her dad to get him, but he wanted it too and had killed the friend that made the fake ids for her. the fbi wants her to cooperate.

so she meets with her dad to get her sister, there is a shoot out. she gets her sister out of the car but they both end up in the hospital and her dad is captured. the dad and sister are arrested. she and the cop love each other and she moves to be near him.

[Maria Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't always like suspense and intrigue in books because they are too high intensity for me. But this one was moderate enough even for me. There is an element of intensity but nothing is graphic. No gore. Not too scary. And there is romance but it feels different because the suspense plays such a big part of the story. Instead of being a light and fluffy love story their relationship is grounding to help Leila navigate the difficulties she faces. And her difficulties are traumatic. She has a rough life. I liked both Leila and Jack. He was able to keep his cool so Leila could pull herself together to get through dealing with her father. He was just a good guy.

I think Larsen navigated through this genre well. It is quite different than the other books of hers I've read. I enjoyed it.

My one negative about the book is that I wondered why Leila wasn't put under protective custody until after her father's trial. It seemed to me that if he was so all powerful and controlled so many people that he could have manipulated the system to get free or remove evidence or even take out his daughter. But maybe that is just a thing I got from watching too many movies...

Sex: some kisses
Language: A few times. mild
Violence: some but most is talk about previous violence. No graphic descriptions

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the better romantic suspense novels I’ve read, and I’ve read a lot of them. A LOT. Like I literally couldn’t count them even if I wanted to.

I liked the balance of the relationships and the suspense side, and even though all the characters seemed a bit too perfect, they were still interesting and kept me engaged.

There was a hint of insta-love; not a lot but it was there. But I believed the relationship, and it’s hard to make me believe in insta-love. Jack and Leila were adorable together—especially toward the latter half of the book. I loved their phone conversations. So much. They were adorable and endearing and I couldn’t stop smiling.

I did think that the pop culture references were a little off, especially with the characters’ movie tastes. It felt like the author was self imposing her own opinions into Leila and Jack, and I’ll have you know that Warm Bodies is by no means a chick flick. And it wasn’t just that I (and my brothers) love that movie, but that the overall feel of it was just so...forced? I don’t know. I obviously can’t explain this very well, but that was my only concern with the genre shift.

But, again, I still really loved this book—and I bet you would too.

[Kristine Bullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

All her books are amazing and I'm picky

I was looking for something new when I came across Just Ella. I loved it so much I ended up reading all the books in that series even though it wasn't a genre I usually read.

Then solely because her writing was sooo good, I decided I had to try out the other two books as well.

This book was one if the best clean romantic suspense books I've read and I've read a lot.

I wouldnt mind a sequel to this book...just saying. Annette, I hope you keep writing because I am now an avid fan and I think there are only a handful of authors that have won me over book after book. Annette Larsen doesn't disappoint. If you are debating reading her stuff, I promise you won't be disappointed.

I am only disappointed that I only have one more book left to read. Hoping for more from her soon.

[Nari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so enthralling! My interest was captured from the first page. I was wondering if I was going to like this book because it is very different from the other books the author has written. I loved it as much if not more than the other books she has written. Annette Larsen is amazing at writing real characters who weather life storms and come out stronger. The romance between Leila and Jack was developed over time through simple little things that are true to real life. The chemistry between the two was also strongly felt through out the story. I highly recommend this book.! It will be in my favorites list for the year.

[Our Book Confessions · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I Could Stay has all the love and laughter and suspense of her other books with a contemporary setting. Annette writes with such heart and emotion that you instantly connect to the characters. She is an expert at romance and knows how to build a relationship that grows over time keeping you invested in the outcome from start to finish.

All of her Dalthia books have a little scheming and intrigue in the plot, and this one was no different. I kept trying to out guess her, and failed miserably, which is just the way I like it. This quickly became one of my favorite books; a make you sigh and make you smile kind of book.

https://bookconfessionsblog.wordpress...

[Jaithra Kakarla · Rating 3 out of 5]

The starting of this novel was very interesting, I was eager to know the protagonist's story, the author created lot of suspense around the novel, and the snippets of the protagonist's past makes the reader eager to complete the story. As the story built up, the protagonist's past story was revealed and this killed the suspense of the novel. The problem was revealed and after a lot of unnecessary story, the problem fixing came. Again at the end, I felt interested as the conflict was finally being solved. Overall, the book is good, if during the conflict and conflict solution, the novel could have finished faster, then the reader would stay interested.

[Heather Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This was such a fun, wild ride. There were unexpected twists and turns and I loved the characters. I felt their emotions, sadness, insecurities, joys, successes, and innocent first loves. Of course, Jack was my favorite. He was the sweetest, most patient and understanding man. What a sweetie. I loved it and didn't want it to end. I would have given it a 5, but there was some language. I was surprised by that because I thought this author was LDS. I hate it when I start to feel like I have to screen authors I thought were okay. Otherwise, it was clean. No sex. I was glad about that. I would probably read this one again. So good.