Not If I Save You First, written by Ally Carter, reviewed by Stephanie Wilson

Summary: Maddie and Logan thought they would be best friends forever. That was before Russian operatives nearly kidnapped Logan’s mom six years ago. Maddie now lives off the grid in the Alaskan wilderness. Logan is world famous for his good looks and his penchant for breaking the rules. Logan’s dad sends him to Alaska as punishment. Maddie and Logan suddenly find themselves living in close proximity and working through their complicated feelings for each other. Logan and Maddie struggle to get along after six years of separation. When Russian operatives kidnap Logan, Maddie realizes she is the only one who can save him. She just has to survive first. Maddie’s survival skills are first rate. She can build a fire without matches, knows how to layer clothing like a pro and navigate a frozen wilderness without the assistance of GPS. Maddie is in a race against time to save Logan before the kidnappers fly him out of Alaska. Logan is not completely helpless. He has spent the last six years learning the Russian language. Maddie and Logan soon realize they will need to work together if they want to survive. Not if I Save You First is equal parts an adventure tale and a romance.

Straight Talk for Librarians: Not if I Save You First is an entertaining book but not serious literature. Ally Carter spends roughly two chapters on Maddie and Logan’s backstory. She effectively tosses the reader directly into the action of the novel. It moves the plot along but sacrifices character development in the process. The plot pushes the bounds of credibility. The juxtaposition of romance and action never truly coalesces into a cohesive whole. The novel contains numerous scenes of violence: including physical assault, use of guns, knives and attempted murder. The novel is not recommended for sensitive readers or readers under the age of fourteen. The novel works best as entertainment reading. Fans of Ally Carter and romances will love this novel.