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Dion #1

Where Will You Run?

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As a San Francisco homicide detective, Mari Lucas was used to calling in favors to get her sister, Kerry, out of trouble, but this was the last straw. Instead of her usual minor brush with the law, Kerry landed herself in a locked psychiatric ward rambling about vampires who were out to get her. Working in San Francisco, Mari had seen a lot of crazy things, but vampires? Maybe Kerry had finally lost her mind. But when her sister goes missing from the secure psychiatric facility, Mari is forced to investigate her disappearance along with a disturbing increase in missing persons cases among the homeless population. Forced to work the case with an outside detective, Mari will stop at nothing to find her sister. But what she finds will change her life forever.

246 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 17, 2011

4 people are currently reading
157 people want to read

About the author

M.E. Franco

5 books58 followers
After writing poems and short stories for a number of years, I finally got brave and wrote a book which is the first of a series. It's a paranormal romance called Where Will You Run? I live with my amazing husband, 2 crazy kids, my dad, two dogs and the rest of the Franco zoo.

For more information about my books, please see my Amazon author page http://www.amazon.com/M.-E.-Franco/e/...

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5 stars
40 (53%)
4 stars
20 (26%)
3 stars
9 (12%)
2 stars
3 (4%)
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3 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Dionne.
Author 58 books404 followers
January 4, 2013
Where Will You Run is a fast-paced novel that had me turning pages, hungry to get to the end (pardon the pun). The characters were relatable and consistent, and the plot well thought-out—there were a couple of things I did not see coming (I won’t go into details for fear of spoiling things). I particularly enjoyed the banter between characters and the main character’s sense of humour. I enjoyed it so much that as soon as I finished it, I bought the next book in the Dion series. I’m looking forward to more good reads from ME Franco. The only thing that stopped me from giving it 5 stars was the lack of commas at certain points. Because I'm an editor, I find it hard to overlook that stuff and I have to admit, I'm tough when it comes to star ratings, but the book was good enough that I still raced through it, reading it in a day. I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Jeannie Walker.
Author 12 books568 followers
January 27, 2013
I hope all of us remain strangers to mental illness, but unfortunately too many are afflicted these days by this awful disease.
In "Where Will You Run", the author puts one of her characters in a psychiatric ward. Kerri rambles on and on about vampires being out to get her. She has mental problems, but she is not crazy. Kerri is petite and beautiful with soft blue eyes and glowing blonde hair. Her sister, Mari, has black hair, is muscular with an athletic physique. She is anything but petite.
It seems Kerry was always in some kind of trouble and Mari always winds up getting Kerri out of her woes. Mari is determined to find her sister, who has disappeared. Could the increase of missing persons among the homeless, and the disappearance of Kerri have anything to do with vampires?
I am somewhat of a paranormal buff. Although I haven't seen vampires, I can honestly say the spirits of dead people have paid me visits. "Okay, I know this sounds weird. But, believing you are being hunted by vampires would be worthy of admission, wouldn't it? Believe it or not, ghosts could be around you, and you might not know it. So, who is to say vampires don't exist right along with ghosts?"
Okay, I've reminisced enough about my personal experiences with ghosts, so I'm back to reviewing "Where Will You Run". I believe this author has an adorable sense of humor, as well as a lot of talent in creating storyline, characters and a good plot with hooks. I liked San Francisco as the setting for the story, because it is one of my favorite cities. Ms. Franco could also become one of my favorite authors. I really liked this novel.

Jeannie Walker - Award Winning Author of "Thomas, the Friendly Ghost - A True Story of Encounters with Spirits
Profile Image for C.A. Kunz.
Author 7 books309 followers
February 21, 2012
AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME, so loved this book! The characters, the setting, the writing, the plot, everything about this book was wonderful. I can't wait for the next one. Totally love books that hook me from page one and this one had me hook, line and sinker! I couldn't put it down! I will not put any spoilers in here I just hope you read this one because you will definitely want more!
Profile Image for Thomas Amo.
Author 8 books172 followers
January 21, 2012
M.E. Franco's "Where Will You Run" boldly goes where a great deal of writer's and readers have already gone. The idea to wander into the same dark woods, created by such heavy hitters as, Bram Stoker, Anne Rice, Stephanie Meyer, M.E. Franco, steps up to the plate and handles the challenge with the all the finesse required to take on the subject of vampires. As I mentioned the names that precede this amazing first time author, one would probably whisper the advice, "This could be a mistake." Especially whenever you change rules, create new parameters in which the traditionally nocturnal killers can or cannot exist. But hey that's the magic of fiction and imagination. I'm sure, Anne Rice got her initial verbal spankings from the Stoker purists, and then Stephanie Meyer from the Anne Rice purists, and so on, you get it. The whole point is are you telling a good story, an exciting story, are you putting a cool spin someone else hasn't done yet? Then damn the torpedo's and run with it.
And that's exactly what "Where Will You Run" takes it. To another level. Franco's characters are well fleshed out, (No pun intended). She has a writing style that is easy to identify with, at times your given the feeling that Mari her main character is someone you know, perhaps even your own best friend. I very much enjoyed how we get to be inside the head of a woman who lets us know perhaps even for the first time ever..."man thoughts." How she reacts to someone she finds attractive yet feels the need to always compartmentalize his existence and how he fits into her world.

The backdrop of San Francisco provides a rich tapestry for the reader to immerse themselves into. The story moves at a great pace, the dialogue is realistic and at times very witty, but never over the top or out of place. The action is also spot on.
"Where Will You Run" may be considered, paranormal chick lit, but I highly recommend the book to the guys too. Who knows you might learn a thing or two while you getting to know an author who is destined to become a household name.
5 out of 5 stars!
Paranormal/romance/adult themes.
Profile Image for Mireille Chester.
Author 46 books110 followers
January 17, 2012
Wow. Wow. Did I saw WOW? What started out as a fantastic mystery story took a twist that left me with my mouth hanging. Holy crap I did NOT see that coming. I knew something was coming, but not this. lol I refuse to say more on the twist because I hate giving spoilers.

The characters in this story were great. Mari is a homicide detective, a very independent woman who has been taking care of her sister since the day their parents died. She refuses to be weak and feels she needs to prove herself a hundred percent of the time. Raith is the missing person's detective she gets paired with when her sister goes missing. He's protective of her, secure in himself, 6'5 and built like a wall... Yes, I have a new fictional boyfriend. :D The other characters introduced in the story are also great. The bad guys are bad and the good guys are an assortment of quirky, moody, and quiet. The entire mix makes for intense situations as well as hilarious conversations. I can't count the times I burst out laughing while I read this.

So. Do I need to officially put down the star rating for this one? Alright, here it is. I officially give this novel five stars. It was fantastic and I can't wait for the sequel in this series.

Memorable Part (I have to pick two)
1. "What am I supposed to say, Ker? That I believe in vampires based on a snippet of an argument that you overheard? I'm going to bend reality based on ambiguous evidence? That's like me finding a dragonfly wing and suddenly believing in fairies."

2. "Mari, if you were dangerous to me before, you are deadly now," he said raggedly. *fan's self* :D
Profile Image for Jenn Green.
515 reviews23 followers
July 27, 2012
This book was amazing!! It had it all! Bloody-Action, a surprising turn of events half way thru. A kick-ass, sarcastic heroine in Mari. A Superhott Superstrong Supersexy sometimes aggravating Hero in Raith. An interesting variety of supernaturals in his crew -Bohdan, Pierce, Steve, Marco, Aran & Ami with lots of laughs to go around & a villain in Chris Collins who is as crazy & twisted as he is rich & gorgeous which makes for a wicked-bad combination. Throw in a dash or two of heartache & your in for a wild ride!! The ending leaves it open for more books without the all too common cliffhanger that usually leaves me pulling my hair out Lol my only complaint (which isnt really a complaint, just frustration) is the lack of bedroom action. I'll be the 1st to admit I like my books with some spice. I dont HAVE to have it, but I certainly look foward to it ;) this one built up a crazy amount of sexual tension thruout almost the entire book & then closed the door in my face. It didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book at all, it just left me kinda..........twitchy. all in all, a great book I would read again & definitely recommend. Looking foward to more =)
Profile Image for K.R..
Author 9 books20 followers
July 23, 2012
I read the first novel in this series, Where Will You Run by author ME Franco when it first came out and became a fast fan of the series.

I have to confess that from the moment I picked up the book I could not put it down. So there I was at twelve midnight reading, knowing that I had to go to work in five hours, and literally had to force myself to put it down! That first night I read more than half the book.

Right from the beginning the excitement boils with a sneak peak at the history of Reinn. Then we travel through time to the present day and meet our fiery new heroine, Kylee, an independent young woman who knows what she wants!

The intensity continues as we join our captivating supernatural team. True to form their banter mixes beautifully with the powerful action and adventure of this awesome sequel!

All of the characters are well rounded and deeply alluring! In my opinion, if you're looking for a unique action packed novel, then look no further. The events that transpire will blow your mind!

K.R. Jordan

I give Where Will You Run a rating of 5 of 5 stars!
Profile Image for Becky Price.
716 reviews44 followers
January 3, 2012
This was a fantastic story. The characters were all amazing, every single one of them. Each had life and a story behind them that really drew you in and made you care about them. You wanted to know what was going to happen to them and rooted for them like they were real people. I really loved that Mari was such a strong female character. I loved that she wasn't dependent and told people where to shove it. I especially loved that from page one you were sucked into the story and didn't want to put it down. REALLY great story. I recommend this to anyone who loves the paranormal, anyone who likes a little romance in their paranormals, and anyone who has been turned off by adult novels by how boring they are, because this novel will make you realize that some are plain fantastic.
Profile Image for Janna Shay.
Author 1 book90 followers
August 26, 2012
FAST-PACED, ACTION-PACKED AND AWESOME

Where Will You Run is a fast-paced paranormal read with just the right amount of romance. It is an action-packed story filled with adventure, suspense, and a touch of humor. The characters are well-developed and draw you into this awesome story from the first page. The paranormal twists and turns will keep you guessing until the end.

M.E.Franco demonstrates her talent for words as she draws new parameters for the vampire world and transports them to a new dimension. The story will have you on the edge of your seat and turning the pages as fast as you can read. This is one paranormal read you don’t want to miss.
Profile Image for Ann Balambao.
7 reviews4 followers
August 21, 2011
This is a new author so I definitely had no expectations. I was delighted to find I enjoyed reading this book and am looking forward to the second installment of this series. The characters Mari and Raith were developed just enough in this first book to leave me looking forward to more of their back-stories, especially Raith’s. I will tell you I had become bored with vampires but was finally happy to have a different twist on the lore. This is no Twilight. It is better and a little more grown up.

http://www.amanicinsomniacsreadinglis...
Profile Image for Charity Parkerson.
Author 315 books1,426 followers
November 19, 2012
Kerry's ramblings about vampires lands her in the psychiatric ward, but then she disappears, and her sister Mari sets out in search of her with the help of missing person's detective, Raith.
Here are my top three reasons for loving this book:
1.) Vampires-but with new rules.
2.) Raith- sexy, sexy, Did I mention sexy?
3.) Funny- there were several places that I found myself laughing.

Go get this one!
Profile Image for Jean Booth.
Author 21 books30 followers
July 23, 2012
Awesome and suspenseful!
Where will you run for me was an incredibly fast-paced, suspenseful novel. I loved Franco's take on vampires and their personas. The subculture was not unlike the differing subcultures of humanity, yet they were enhanced to the nth degree. This was an unstoppable, exciting book that had me giggling in spots and gasping in others. Buy this book. You won't regret it. :)
Profile Image for Angela.
337 reviews7 followers
August 19, 2014
Mari always protects her sister from trouble, especially now that their parents are dead. Trouble finds Mari's sister Kelly like flies find rotting food. Mari has always been able to maneuver Kelly out of trouble from her connections as a homicide detective. When Kelly lands in the psych ward though, that may not be so easy this time. Kelly was put there for saying there are vampires, they are real, and they are killing people. Mari, like the others, think Kelly may have finally lost it and gotten into something that she can't help her out of. Could her sister finally be broken beyond help? What is Mari to do now? Those worries are replaced soon by new ones when Kelly suddenly goes missing from the psych ward. Mari demands to be on the case and her captain allows it as long as she partners with Raith, the best missing persons detective they have. Mari hates how he makes her feel and hates how male chauvinistic he is, but he is good at his job and she needs his help. All trails are leading to a very prominent and important businessman in their community and Mari knows she can't go near him without help and extreme caution. Things go from bad to worse when Kelly is found dead. Now its a murder investigation. Is there any truth to Kelly's vampire claims? Was she not crazy? Does this main man in the city know a lot more than Mari thinks he does? How the heck can she work with Raith and not get attached to him and fall for him when he makes it so easy to do? Can she find the killer of her sister? What will this investigation really cost her?

Oh my gosh! I just loved this book. Once I started reading it I just couldn't put it down. I found myself reading late into the night, even though I vowed to read only twenty minutes before bed. Not many books completely blindside me in any way. Usually I guess what's going to happen or how things will turn out as I read. This book, however, completely blindsided me! I was reading along and something would happen that I never, in a million years, saw happening and I loved that! This book was full of the mystery I love along with a rare thing for me to find in a book, the element of complete surprise. The plot was amazing and forever kept me guessing. The pace and flow of the book was great, moving along like a raging river. The pages seemed to turn themselves and I just got lost in the book from start to finish. And the characters!!!! Oh my gosh, I fell in love with the characters. They were so easy to like and they really developed a lot in this book from page one to the end. They also were full of surprises and secrets that made me squeal with excitement over them. I am so glad I found this book and decided to read it. It was an amazing read that anyone just has to experience. It has action, mystery, a bit of romance, lots of drama, vampires and other mythological beings, and just all around great writing! A must must must read!!

5/5 Stars!!!
Profile Image for Pamela .
1,438 reviews77 followers
April 16, 2025
Yes, another novel about vampires but before you get yourself in a tizzy, I’m here to tell you “Where Will You Run?” is definitely worth reading. I can’t believe how much I enjoyed it. The novel is chalk full of suspense, action, romance and humour; all of which is combined to bring forth a well-written, fast-paced story that includes some very interesting and intriguing characters. I loved both protagonists of the story; Mari, who is a strong and passionate detective, and Raith, her new partner. Mari’s determined to find her sister’s killer no matter what it takes, sometimes even getting in over her head. She’d like to do it on her own, but try as she might she can’t shake off Raith. Not giving her any choice, and considering he’s drop-dead gorgeous (did you expect an ugly one?), which doesn’t hurt, Mari concedes to work with Raith all the while chanting her mantra, “ugly toes, hair on back”.

What really captured my attention was the villain at the heart of the story, Chris Collins (“Collins”). Granted he’s evil, and of course gorgeous, Collins comes across as charming and debonair. You can’t help but like him.

I wasn’t sure exactly to what degree or where and when the paranormal element would come into play because of the way the story starts, but once it did, not only does the story take off, it sucked me in even more. Just when you think things can’t get any better, new supporting characters are introduced and what a bunch they are. Pierce is quickly becoming a favourite of mine. Talk about twists and turns. And the passion between Raith and Mari, let’s just say the finally get hot and heavy.

I highly recommend this novel to all those who love books of the paranormal genre, especially ones about vampires. I can’t wait to get my hands on the second book in the “Dion” series, “Where Will You Hide?” Lucky me, it’s already out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Denise.
335 reviews106 followers
May 22, 2013
I am so excited to have found a new urban fantasy that pushes all the right buttons for me. Mari is the type of character I love. She has a strong personality with a caring heart and will to what it takes to find the truth and right the injustices. She is the friend I want to get to know and keep checking in with from time to time to find out what adventure she is up to next. Raith is a definitely a bit of the yumminess that we love in the male counterparts of a fun series. Where Will You Run? is a great beginning with all the world building and character history that goes along with beginning of a series. In my opinion it is well written with characters you will love and those you will love to hate. There is a great mix of crime/mystery with the supernatural world mix as homicide detective, Mari Lucas, investigates what she believes is unbelievable and it turns all too personal hitting close to home affecting those she loves. With Raith as her new partner, she starts to see there is a whole other world out there and once she realizes the truth there is no turning back. She is ready to get out there and kick some hinny and I am looking forward to continuing this ride. Definitely recommend this great beginning to what promises to be a fun series.
I received this book from the author with a request for my honest review without any compensation whatsoever, other than the joy of reading a new book.
Profile Image for Kim.
281 reviews16 followers
June 14, 2013
When SanFrancisco homicide detective Mari gets a call that her sister Kerry is in a psychiatric hospital, she can't phantom why. She's always calling in favors to get her out of trouble, but she wasn't looney. Mari left the precinct without telling anyone. She can't believe what the doctor tells her, she has to hear it from Kerry. Kerry tells her she heard Collins, one of the cities richest and sexiest, honorable man in the city was selling humans to other vampires for their blood. She believes Kerry saw something, because she was scared to death. She tells Kerry she will look into it for her.That night Kerry turns up missing from the hospital. When she gets back to the station, the captain calls her to his office. He tells her he knows what's going on because the doctor called him. The captain tells her to stay away from Collins because she won't win, he has friends in high places. This doesn't sit well with Mari. On top of that tells her he's giving her a new partner. His name is Raith, he's a missing persons expert. Mari thinks he's sexy and she also thinks he knows it. Mari isn't in the mood for Raiths egotistic ways. Will Mari take on Raith as a partner or try to loose him in the game. Just download this awesome story to find out. There is so much more to this story, and it's awesome.
Profile Image for Stacy.
Author 179 books1,425 followers
February 11, 2013
Where Will You Run? was a delightfully surprising thrill of a ride! To say that the cover doesn’t do it justice is an understatement. ME Franco is a fantastic storyteller, drawing the reader in from the first page and never letting go. It was one of those books that you don’t want to put down until you get to the end.

The story starts with Mari, a homicide detective who just found out that her sister, Kerry, was admitted to a mental facility for going on about vampires. At first, Mari thinks that her sister might have lost it, but then after Kerry disappears mysteriously, she questions how much of her sister’s story might actually be true.

As Mari goes in search of answers, she’s partnered with the very handsome Raith Macrae who seems to be holding her back in her investigations. Though they drive each other crazy, there’s plenty of chemistry that has you hoping they’ll get together.

This book is full of mystery, suspense, romance, intrigue and humor. It’s a great story that will be enjoyed by paranormal lovers as well as those who aren’t into the genre. The only thing that I can say negative about the book is the editing, there were quite a few punctuation errors. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!
Profile Image for Melinda.
469 reviews7 followers
November 3, 2016
My first thought when reading this book was, "hummm, gotta love family!" ;-)

I started this book, then got distracted by the real world and forgot I was reading it. So what should have been a quick read, took longer.

At the beginning of the story, I was having trouble getting past the sisters' troubles and wondering where the book was going. Then suddenly, we have vampires!

I have to say that Mari was not real smart in her confrontations with Collins, but it does make for a good story. I'm glad she had Raith to back her up and to be her mate and guide at the end. It's too bad that Collins escaped, and I hope that Mari gets her revenge in the end.

I look forward to continuing the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jacqueline Smith.
Author 43 books309 followers
November 24, 2013
Where Will You Run? is an exciting and fast-paced novel for any paranormal reader. As many reviewers have mentioned before me, it follows the story of homicide detective Mari Lucas as she searches for her sister, Kerry, who disappeared from a psychiatric hospital after claiming that vampires were after her. Mari has come to expect irrational and sometimes troubled behavior from her sister, but what she doesn't expect is being partnered up with the excruciatingly handsome and charismatic Raith Macrae. Do vampires really exist? And what did Kerry know about them? You'll have to read it for yourself to find out!
Profile Image for Lisa.
163 reviews5 followers
June 7, 2013
Original books based on vampires are hard to find as so many authors have covered the subject that i didn't think any new ideas were left to be found. This book proved me wrong, it's refreshingly different and a great read.
Profile Image for Tiffany.
112 reviews8 followers
June 4, 2013
All I have to say is “Where have you been all my life?" Why have I never heard of this author! This book was amazing!! Loved every second of it!!
Profile Image for Rae Nellie Redmon.
15 reviews1 follower
October 29, 2013
This book was easy to read and entertaining in a Janet evonovitch (sp?) sort of a way but with vampires. Ok. Would probably read more if needed a filler book.
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