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Run to You
Alissa Layton leads a dull and ordinary life, safe in routines, with no plans to escape. But when she meets businessman, Janos Kovaks, and is introduced to his kinky lifestyle, Allissa’s entire world changes…
Alissa uncovers a hidden world of secret assignations and kinky meetings between like-minded high fliers at an exclusive hotel. The businessman Alissa spies on seems far too handsome, sexy and worldly for someone like her, and he's into the kind of things she's not sure she can do.
Janos Kovacs has spent so long indulging in emotion-less dalliances that he's forgotten what real passion is. But the more time he spends with Alissa, the less control he has over himself. By the time he's finished teaching how deliciously naughty sex can be, he might be the one learning the lessons …
From Charlotte Stein, author of best selling Mischief titles Power Play, Deep Desires and Make Me.
Alissa uncovers a hidden world of secret assignations and kinky meetings between like-minded high fliers at an exclusive hotel. The businessman Alissa spies on seems far too handsome, sexy and worldly for someone like her, and he's into the kind of things she's not sure she can do.
Janos Kovacs has spent so long indulging in emotion-less dalliances that he's forgotten what real passion is. But the more time he spends with Alissa, the less control he has over himself. By the time he's finished teaching how deliciously naughty sex can be, he might be the one learning the lessons …
From Charlotte Stein, author of best selling Mischief titles Power Play, Deep Desires and Make Me.
186 pages, ebook
First published July 25, 2013
29 people are currently reading
954 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Stein
117 books2,127 followersCharlotte Stein is the RT and DABWAHA nominated author of over fifty short stories, novellas and novels. When not writing deeply emotional and intensely sexy books, she can be found eating jelly turtles, watching terrible sitcoms and occasionally lusting after hunks. For more on Charlotte, visit: www.charlottestein.net
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
August 15, 2013
When Alissa Layton's roommate decides to up and leave for an extended vacation to the Mediterranean, she finds herself snooping. Alyssa just wants to get a piece of the excitement Lucy lives. She compares Lucy's life to that of technicolor and her's a pale stripe of gray. Everything about Alissa is sensible and responsible...sensible clothing, sensible job, BORING. Lissa stumbles upon Lucy's date diary and can't help but sneak a peak. Every third Friday there's one appointment that seems to stick out in crimson red- Assignation at a place called The Harrington. Alissa's curiosity gets the best of her and she decides to "keep Lucy's appointment." When she arrives at The Harrington she, in true Alissa form, stumbles into the lobby and is gracefully intercepted by a very handsome man with a distinct Hungarian accent....a man that screams Hugo Boss model. He doesn't even notice her, simply assists her from falling flat on her face then moves about his day......No surprise as nobody ever notices her.
Alissa checks in and sneaks into Lucy's reserved room just in time to hear footsteps approaching. She slips quickly into the closet only after noticing the various "implements" on the bed...red ribbon, a cane, handcuffs. Wow, what has Lucy been up to all these months? She about faints when, through the crack of the door, she finds her sexy tall, dark accented savior from the lobby. He stays for a bit and then exits.....with a note left behind....a note for her.
On the back of the business card is his name and contact information. Can she resist calling him? How did he know she was in the closet?
Again, Alissa is painted as a rather meek, almost mousey heroine. She's clearly got zero self esteem but something inside of her is aching to be set free. She can't resist the pull of this strikingly handsome stranger from The Harrington. Things between them start out as long cat-and-mouse type phone conversations. She is notorious for not saying how she truly feels and Janos is somehow very in-tuned with what she really feels.... What she really wants to say. He's also drawn to something about her. He has scheduled Assignations at the Harrington but hasn't touched a woman in years. He sits back and simply watches or comments during these encounters. But something about Alissa he can't stop himself- he needs to reach out to her both figuratively and physically. Can he resist not touching her intimately when everything has always been no-touching for so long? Are his walls going to crumble for this quiet, introverted woman?
Wow! What a refreshing new take on a rather overused scenario in the erotic genre.....billionaire meets meek girl, insta-love...blah blah. I really liked this one! The actual timetable of the book I doubt extends past a week or so in time but it delves deep into their chemistry and their breaking down of walls each have formed from the world and relationships. Sometimes the dialogue was very, shall we say, difficult to pick up on their meaning. They did a lot of dancing around in the beginning and not clearly stating anything between each other. At times I got a bit distracted. This is a book to read without many distractions around you. It's beautifully written, almost poetic. I read an arc and found zero editing issues.
The chemistry between these two....WOW! The author can take a scene and literally make it last ten pages. It's a slow, torturous, fidgety build. If I had to use one word to describe my state in the bulk of this, it would be fidgety. Add a little tension....and steam. Shoot, there's three words. This is my first read for this author and I wonder why I haven't read more. She sets the pages on fire!
I know a lot of people shy away from weak heroines. I too struggle with that but Alissa didn't drive me crazy like most do. Yes, she's got zero self esteem and is running scared but she's willing to push her boundaries to experience all that's Janos... And he's something to experience! I don't know specifically what a Hugo Boss model looks like (I sure can guess), but I know what one likely SMELLS like (the cologne is DEVINE)....add that deep sultry Hungarian accent..... Any warm blooded woman would be SOLD!
Arc provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Alissa checks in and sneaks into Lucy's reserved room just in time to hear footsteps approaching. She slips quickly into the closet only after noticing the various "implements" on the bed...red ribbon, a cane, handcuffs. Wow, what has Lucy been up to all these months? She about faints when, through the crack of the door, she finds her sexy tall, dark accented savior from the lobby. He stays for a bit and then exits.....with a note left behind....a note for her.
On the back of the business card is his name and contact information. Can she resist calling him? How did he know she was in the closet?
Again, Alissa is painted as a rather meek, almost mousey heroine. She's clearly got zero self esteem but something inside of her is aching to be set free. She can't resist the pull of this strikingly handsome stranger from The Harrington. Things between them start out as long cat-and-mouse type phone conversations. She is notorious for not saying how she truly feels and Janos is somehow very in-tuned with what she really feels.... What she really wants to say. He's also drawn to something about her. He has scheduled Assignations at the Harrington but hasn't touched a woman in years. He sits back and simply watches or comments during these encounters. But something about Alissa he can't stop himself- he needs to reach out to her both figuratively and physically. Can he resist not touching her intimately when everything has always been no-touching for so long? Are his walls going to crumble for this quiet, introverted woman?
Wow! What a refreshing new take on a rather overused scenario in the erotic genre.....billionaire meets meek girl, insta-love...blah blah. I really liked this one! The actual timetable of the book I doubt extends past a week or so in time but it delves deep into their chemistry and their breaking down of walls each have formed from the world and relationships. Sometimes the dialogue was very, shall we say, difficult to pick up on their meaning. They did a lot of dancing around in the beginning and not clearly stating anything between each other. At times I got a bit distracted. This is a book to read without many distractions around you. It's beautifully written, almost poetic. I read an arc and found zero editing issues.
The chemistry between these two....WOW! The author can take a scene and literally make it last ten pages. It's a slow, torturous, fidgety build. If I had to use one word to describe my state in the bulk of this, it would be fidgety. Add a little tension....and steam. Shoot, there's three words. This is my first read for this author and I wonder why I haven't read more. She sets the pages on fire!
I know a lot of people shy away from weak heroines. I too struggle with that but Alissa didn't drive me crazy like most do. Yes, she's got zero self esteem and is running scared but she's willing to push her boundaries to experience all that's Janos... And he's something to experience! I don't know specifically what a Hugo Boss model looks like (I sure can guess), but I know what one likely SMELLS like (the cologne is DEVINE)....add that deep sultry Hungarian accent..... Any warm blooded woman would be SOLD!
Arc provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 25, 2013
Of course this is five stars. It's Charlotte. Fucking. Stein.
Charlotte Stein is for people whose favorite Austen is Persuasion, amirite? I know I'm right.
Charlotte Stein is for people whose favorite Austen is Persuasion, amirite? I know I'm right.
August 5, 2016
This is my fifth book by this author and once again, I find myself unsure of how I should rate her book.
Warning: Alissa’s POV/inner dialogue can either put you to sleep or captivate you. It really depends on whether you tune into Stein’s writing style and the uniqueness of her storytelling. It is experimental.
The keywords in the blurb like businessman, dull heroine, and kinky lifestyle sorta turned me off so I was worried this would be one of those typical plotlines with billionaire H/naive h that gave me tons of eye-roll moments. No worries, the story is erotic and different. I am glad I took the chance.
Warning: Alissa’s POV/inner dialogue can either put you to sleep or captivate you. It really depends on whether you tune into Stein’s writing style and the uniqueness of her storytelling. It is experimental.
The keywords in the blurb like businessman, dull heroine, and kinky lifestyle sorta turned me off so I was worried this would be one of those typical plotlines with billionaire H/naive h that gave me tons of eye-roll moments. No worries, the story is erotic and different. I am glad I took the chance.
October 20, 2020
This book is what 50 Shades of Grey wished it was. Sexy, dangerous, awkward, funny, sweet, charming. It's extremely similar on the surface, but you know... this one is actually good.
#sorrynotsorry
#sorrynotsorry
September 7, 2016
Hope is the thing that keeps you going when everything is awful and dark and you don’t know which way to turn.
This book is different, that it puts a unique twist on the stereotype fictional billionaire mad man lol.
and the hero here is nothing like that.
it seems most contemporary books have this typical wealthy hero that has his fare share of dark past that turns to ruin and intrigue the story isn't it, but Janos is nothing of the sort.
‘I don’t know why I am the way I am.’
‘I was going to guess childhood trauma.’
‘No, no childhood trauma. No terrible event in my teens, no sudden grief that forever formed me into this closed-off creature...’
and that's why its more interesting, you get into the mind of the heroine figuring out what Janos is up to, assuming things but likely not getting close to what will happen next but oh sooo good when it happened in a much better way.
Alissa has an extreme inferiority complex that might irritate a reader but to me it was something different and for her to do things and wanted change for a little bit and having the courage to take the plunge was amazing and Janos has a little bit of loosing up too especially his control, to see him tearing up his layers of sophistication and wealth was beautiful. They both let themselves undone by each other physically and emotionally.
The chemistry of both the H/h was heart felt and you wanted them to be together, that luxury and ordinary life might be two worlds apart but everything is possible if you hold that hope in you.
I love this book, yes it was written in heavy narrative its hard to digest at first but since I re-read it, it flows freely and I love the execution of the story.
The sex scenes, the conflict and the romance was well versed it made my heart ached in the last few pages.
November 21, 2013
I'm going to write an author review for this one.
I think, I’ve read about 80% of Charlotte Stein's books. I loved all of them. Some, I like the storyline more than others, but most have been a 4 star read for me.
Stein writes erotica, and not just any, she deals in kink. All kinds of kink. And each book explores a different one. Anything... the act of storytelling, male twins, male sub, voyeur, strangers on a train... And they never feel like just an erotica, there's always a story, always an in-depth look at the reasons behind the the kink.
It's not just the kinks and the description that gets me, it's her writing style. It's rich with inner-monologue but it's not boring, the dialogue is sweet and satisfying. I want to devour her words, literally bite into them. Oh, and it's not just the words I want between my teeth. Bloody hell, the men... the men in her books are wonderful. Most of the time, they are big European men, and I mean really big, big hands, big shoulders, big everything. They are sweet and kind and generous, beautiful, edgy and alluring.
Therefore, I will read anything this woman writes.
I think, I’ve read about 80% of Charlotte Stein's books. I loved all of them. Some, I like the storyline more than others, but most have been a 4 star read for me.
Stein writes erotica, and not just any, she deals in kink. All kinds of kink. And each book explores a different one. Anything... the act of storytelling, male twins, male sub, voyeur, strangers on a train... And they never feel like just an erotica, there's always a story, always an in-depth look at the reasons behind the the kink.
It's not just the kinks and the description that gets me, it's her writing style. It's rich with inner-monologue but it's not boring, the dialogue is sweet and satisfying. I want to devour her words, literally bite into them. Oh, and it's not just the words I want between my teeth. Bloody hell, the men... the men in her books are wonderful. Most of the time, they are big European men, and I mean really big, big hands, big shoulders, big everything. They are sweet and kind and generous, beautiful, edgy and alluring.
Therefore, I will read anything this woman writes.
Read
November 22, 2016This is a hard to rate book for me. Because it's a good book. In fact it's a lot better than a lot of exploratory BDSM books I've read. I have to give it a lot of props. It's sexy and well written. It explores the feelings behind the heroine's discovery and her growth as a character. It's a fascinating character study.
And that's the problem for me. It's so much a character study, and that's just not what I'm looking for right now. We're so deep into Alissa's (I think that's her name, we're in her head so much we barely know) thoughts, emotions, and feelings that I'm having trouble pulling out the story.
Because what I want right now is a romance. Pure and simple. I think there's probably a great romance in this story somewhere, but we're buried in Alissa, and her journey, that I'm not sure I can see it. I can't see enough of the hero to follow along, and - no matter Alissa's growth - her responses to his callous and disregarding actions makes her seem like too much a doormat. That probably changes by the end of the book, so I don't really hold it against her (or the book), but it's hard for me to read.
I spent a lot of years being a doormat for a man. He conditioned me that way - to always look towards pleasing him, to always structure my life to his wants, needs, and whims. Alissa consistently says that she can't possibly know his thoughts, or responses, because he's so self-contained, but she constantly makes assumptions about what he's really feeling.
Like, he had sex with her, then before she even turned around walked out and left. But he must really be having some incredibly strong, unsettling feelings for her that he just can't deal with and that's why he left. Yeah, he probably is, because this is a romance, but honestly. Actions speak. Listen to them. Listen to the words he speaks. LISTEN.
This review makes me sound more frustrated than I am. I'm not. I think this book is an excellent look at one woman's journey to self-discovery and empowerment (probably). And I was (mostly) enjoying myself while reading it. It is fascinating. But it's not what I need or want right now.
I'm going to leave a star rating off because I feel any rating I give it would be disingenuous.
And that's the problem for me. It's so much a character study, and that's just not what I'm looking for right now. We're so deep into Alissa's (I think that's her name, we're in her head so much we barely know) thoughts, emotions, and feelings that I'm having trouble pulling out the story.
Because what I want right now is a romance. Pure and simple. I think there's probably a great romance in this story somewhere, but we're buried in Alissa, and her journey, that I'm not sure I can see it. I can't see enough of the hero to follow along, and - no matter Alissa's growth - her responses to his callous and disregarding actions makes her seem like too much a doormat. That probably changes by the end of the book, so I don't really hold it against her (or the book), but it's hard for me to read.
I spent a lot of years being a doormat for a man. He conditioned me that way - to always look towards pleasing him, to always structure my life to his wants, needs, and whims. Alissa consistently says that she can't possibly know his thoughts, or responses, because he's so self-contained, but she constantly makes assumptions about what he's really feeling.
Like, he had sex with her, then before she even turned around walked out and left. But he must really be having some incredibly strong, unsettling feelings for her that he just can't deal with and that's why he left. Yeah, he probably is, because this is a romance, but honestly. Actions speak. Listen to them. Listen to the words he speaks. LISTEN.
This review makes me sound more frustrated than I am. I'm not. I think this book is an excellent look at one woman's journey to self-discovery and empowerment (probably). And I was (mostly) enjoying myself while reading it. It is fascinating. But it's not what I need or want right now.
I'm going to leave a star rating off because I feel any rating I give it would be disingenuous.
August 1, 2013
I can't decide between four and five stars; I'll go with five for now.
My full review at "Dear Author": http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/ov...
My full review at "Dear Author": http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/ov...
March 17, 2014
Ooo I did like this. Such gorgeous writing, every word hits the mark. The story is a different take on 'the young and gorgeously handsome billionaire chaining up the average-Jane in his dungeon'. There's enough of that to give the Fifty-shades crowd a look-in, but there's also plenty beyond. It's the first Charlotte Stein book I've read and it certainly won't be the last.
August 2, 2013
I loved the idea of the hero in this one, but I kept getting lost in all the prose. For me it just seemed to ramble and meander. I found the heroine's long internal musings distracting.
August 4, 2013
I think Stein is one of finest erotica writers but I do wish sometimes she would lean into the erotic romance spectrum more as she did in Sheltered. I thought that book was sensational. Run to You had the hallmarks of being just as good but the romance aspect gets fumbled a bit at the end and the book feels stunted and the pay off of the ache of being human that Stien does so well and that the reader experiences viscerally is lost without being able to enjoy the couple once they truly elect to be together. This happens is a number of Stien's books This lack of delivery and a rich and explored HEA (there is a an HEA) keeps this book from being excellent for me to merely being good.
I won't likely reread this one again and again knowing how all the wonderful moments weave into a powerful love.
Our heroine is emotionally shut down with fierce inner life. The first person writing allows us to see her grow.
Janus is a very compelling hero but because of the the first person pov we don't get to see growth as personally.
The sex advances the plot and is revealing.
I do recommend this book. Its gripping and achey and about wanting more. I am just a little sad because I know it could have been even better.
I won't likely reread this one again and again knowing how all the wonderful moments weave into a powerful love.
Our heroine is emotionally shut down with fierce inner life. The first person writing allows us to see her grow.
Janus is a very compelling hero but because of the the first person pov we don't get to see growth as personally.
The sex advances the plot and is revealing.
I do recommend this book. Its gripping and achey and about wanting more. I am just a little sad because I know it could have been even better.
July 31, 2013
First, I'll start by saying, the cover is hot, but is not representing of Janos. Because Janos is a MAN!!!!! Rawr.
I think one of the only authors in existence today can write a book with only 2 characters. Run To You is just that. 95% (plus) of the book is Allison and Janos. The dialogue, the insanely smart and eloquent inner musings, the way the plot just carries itself forward. Sheer brilliance.
Allison's friend disappears on a self imposed vacation/escape/whatever and all is left is her diary. In that diary Allison finds one repeated appointment that has no details, just one word: Assignation. And doesn't just this word make you want to know what is going on? Allison clearly feels the same way as she goes to the next one, in her friend's stead. What she finds is a luxurious hotel room, a riveting stranger and a closet.
But when I dare to look again, the room is empty. He wasn't going for the closet, I realise. He was going for the exit. He came to meet his lovely Lucy, and, once he realised she wasn't here, he made a call to the complaints department of the Assignations Bureau, before taking his leave."
I think there's an Allison is practically each and every one of us. Yes, even us smut addicts. And her insecurities, her self doubts, the way she under-appreciates herself, is personal to many women. Additionally, Allison is clearly a funny girl. I could've highlighted the entire book where her musings are concerned just so I can go over and laugh at her ridiculous (and SO REAL) thoughts.
Janos is a Hungarian man. A manly man. He's big, burly, hairy, handsome, and aloof, a little brooding, quite cold and seemingly unreachable. Oh, and mui RICH! Problem is, ladies, he only has eyes for little, shy Allison.
There's this one part at the end of the story, where a third character enters for a few small moments. And what this character said is just perfect:
"Don't pretend it doesn't matter, so you no longer have to hope and believe that it does. Hope isn't poison, Lissa. Hope is the thing that keeps you going when everything is awful and dark and you don't know which way to turn." <--- RIGHT?
I loved the book. I loved the characters. I loved the language, the writing, the cleverness, the intense emotions, the way the story hit just right, the humor, the fact the 2 characters are all it takes to write a brilliant story and the fantasy it pretty much planted in my head. Now... waiting for my very own Janos.
I think one of the only authors in existence today can write a book with only 2 characters. Run To You is just that. 95% (plus) of the book is Allison and Janos. The dialogue, the insanely smart and eloquent inner musings, the way the plot just carries itself forward. Sheer brilliance.
Allison's friend disappears on a self imposed vacation/escape/whatever and all is left is her diary. In that diary Allison finds one repeated appointment that has no details, just one word: Assignation. And doesn't just this word make you want to know what is going on? Allison clearly feels the same way as she goes to the next one, in her friend's stead. What she finds is a luxurious hotel room, a riveting stranger and a closet.
But when I dare to look again, the room is empty. He wasn't going for the closet, I realise. He was going for the exit. He came to meet his lovely Lucy, and, once he realised she wasn't here, he made a call to the complaints department of the Assignations Bureau, before taking his leave."
I think there's an Allison is practically each and every one of us. Yes, even us smut addicts. And her insecurities, her self doubts, the way she under-appreciates herself, is personal to many women. Additionally, Allison is clearly a funny girl. I could've highlighted the entire book where her musings are concerned just so I can go over and laugh at her ridiculous (and SO REAL) thoughts.
Janos is a Hungarian man. A manly man. He's big, burly, hairy, handsome, and aloof, a little brooding, quite cold and seemingly unreachable. Oh, and mui RICH! Problem is, ladies, he only has eyes for little, shy Allison.
There's this one part at the end of the story, where a third character enters for a few small moments. And what this character said is just perfect:
"Don't pretend it doesn't matter, so you no longer have to hope and believe that it does. Hope isn't poison, Lissa. Hope is the thing that keeps you going when everything is awful and dark and you don't know which way to turn." <--- RIGHT?
I loved the book. I loved the characters. I loved the language, the writing, the cleverness, the intense emotions, the way the story hit just right, the humor, the fact the 2 characters are all it takes to write a brilliant story and the fantasy it pretty much planted in my head. Now... waiting for my very own Janos.
July 31, 2013
Janos and Alissa
Another winner by Ms. Stein. I love her voice and tone. And nobody can out dirty Charlotte Stein. It is a gift. Full review on Fiction Vixen Book Reviews
Review: Run to You by Charlotte Stein
July 30, 2013 By Jen 1 Comment
Alissa Layton leads a dull and ordinary life, safe in routines, with no plans to escape. But when she meets businessman, Janos Kovacs, and is introduced to his kinky lifestyle, Alissa’s entire world changes…
When Alissa finds the diary of her friend and see the word “Assignation’ written in red she must answer to that word. Her friend has left her for an exotic vacation and she has nothing but her colorless, empty world to muddle around in.
“I have a sensible job at a sensible company, and every night I eat sensible meals in my sensible flat, before retiring at a sensible hour.
The red word speaks of something she has to be a part of, so she does. She goes to the place where the meet would be, she finds the room, but then chickens out. When she hears someone coming she hides in the closet. From her place in the closet she can see a beautiful man, one that she ran into in the lobby, and she doesn’t dare step out. She is not the sort of person he would go for. She is too messy, clumsy and inept. She waits until he leaves but when she crawls out of her hiding spot she is shocked to see a business card with the words:
“To the girl in the wardrobe” “Call me”
Run To You has two very different parts. For the first half of the book, Alissa is the one doing to the pursuing. Yes, Janos called her bluff by contacting her but he only knew who she was because she had already made the effort. She called his number several times and hung up but that left her callback number for him to see. Janos is very emotionally closed off and cannot handle the depth of feelings that he is experiencing around Alissa. Thus we see him walking away, we see him putting up walls, we see him struggle with things he really wants but has never had. Baby step by baby step Alissa pulls him out of his comfort zone but once he is out, he is all in with their relationship.
Around the time Janos gives in to Alissa, she has a her freak out. A real date with Janos means she is in his world, with his fancy people, his stunning home and cultured everything. That is so not her and she doesn’t think she will ever fit in. Alissa doesn’t even know if she wants to fit in. Fitting in means changing who she is and she likes that person, she doesn’t want to change. It is up to Janos to convince her that she is not that different and if she is, so what? Different is good for him. Different brought him out of his shell for the first time.
“You already know why- you just refuse to hear it. I could say “because you are different” a thousand times and in a thousand different ways, and I doubt you’d listen. To you, difference from some elegant ideal is wrong, and unappetising. but to me…to me your differences are a delight. They fill my life with the unexpected.”
There is something about the words that Ms. Stein puts on a page that makes them different, for me. They are simple sentences and phrases but they are so loaded when I read them. They are sexy, dirty even filthy most of the time, and they have me riveted to the story. She has a way of placing me in her heroines head and forcing me to feel what she is feeling, to agonized over the choices she makes and the words she speaks. Everything comes across as so suspenseful, like I need to hold my breath for fear of what will come next…but this isn’t suspense. It is only the story of Alissa and Janos. Only about them meeting, being stripped bare and then falling for each other. The writing is just that dramatic and compelling that I feel like it was so much more when in reality it is just a simple love story.
As with pretty much all of Ms. Stein’s books, this one kept me up late. Once I started, it demanded that I finish. It is dirty, sweet, heartfelt and full of awesome. Now to count days until her next release. Heh. Final grade- B+
Favorite Quote:
“Hope is the thing that keeps you going when everything is awful and dark and you didn’t know which way to turn.”
Another winner by Ms. Stein. I love her voice and tone. And nobody can out dirty Charlotte Stein. It is a gift. Full review on Fiction Vixen Book Reviews
Review: Run to You by Charlotte Stein
July 30, 2013 By Jen 1 Comment
Alissa Layton leads a dull and ordinary life, safe in routines, with no plans to escape. But when she meets businessman, Janos Kovacs, and is introduced to his kinky lifestyle, Alissa’s entire world changes…
When Alissa finds the diary of her friend and see the word “Assignation’ written in red she must answer to that word. Her friend has left her for an exotic vacation and she has nothing but her colorless, empty world to muddle around in.
“I have a sensible job at a sensible company, and every night I eat sensible meals in my sensible flat, before retiring at a sensible hour.
The red word speaks of something she has to be a part of, so she does. She goes to the place where the meet would be, she finds the room, but then chickens out. When she hears someone coming she hides in the closet. From her place in the closet she can see a beautiful man, one that she ran into in the lobby, and she doesn’t dare step out. She is not the sort of person he would go for. She is too messy, clumsy and inept. She waits until he leaves but when she crawls out of her hiding spot she is shocked to see a business card with the words:
“To the girl in the wardrobe” “Call me”
Run To You has two very different parts. For the first half of the book, Alissa is the one doing to the pursuing. Yes, Janos called her bluff by contacting her but he only knew who she was because she had already made the effort. She called his number several times and hung up but that left her callback number for him to see. Janos is very emotionally closed off and cannot handle the depth of feelings that he is experiencing around Alissa. Thus we see him walking away, we see him putting up walls, we see him struggle with things he really wants but has never had. Baby step by baby step Alissa pulls him out of his comfort zone but once he is out, he is all in with their relationship.
Around the time Janos gives in to Alissa, she has a her freak out. A real date with Janos means she is in his world, with his fancy people, his stunning home and cultured everything. That is so not her and she doesn’t think she will ever fit in. Alissa doesn’t even know if she wants to fit in. Fitting in means changing who she is and she likes that person, she doesn’t want to change. It is up to Janos to convince her that she is not that different and if she is, so what? Different is good for him. Different brought him out of his shell for the first time.
“You already know why- you just refuse to hear it. I could say “because you are different” a thousand times and in a thousand different ways, and I doubt you’d listen. To you, difference from some elegant ideal is wrong, and unappetising. but to me…to me your differences are a delight. They fill my life with the unexpected.”
There is something about the words that Ms. Stein puts on a page that makes them different, for me. They are simple sentences and phrases but they are so loaded when I read them. They are sexy, dirty even filthy most of the time, and they have me riveted to the story. She has a way of placing me in her heroines head and forcing me to feel what she is feeling, to agonized over the choices she makes and the words she speaks. Everything comes across as so suspenseful, like I need to hold my breath for fear of what will come next…but this isn’t suspense. It is only the story of Alissa and Janos. Only about them meeting, being stripped bare and then falling for each other. The writing is just that dramatic and compelling that I feel like it was so much more when in reality it is just a simple love story.
As with pretty much all of Ms. Stein’s books, this one kept me up late. Once I started, it demanded that I finish. It is dirty, sweet, heartfelt and full of awesome. Now to count days until her next release. Heh. Final grade- B+
Favorite Quote:
“Hope is the thing that keeps you going when everything is awful and dark and you didn’t know which way to turn.”
July 28, 2013
I love Charlotte Stein’s voice. I love her heroes. I love her heroines. I love how deep we go into the heroine’s head. I love how filthy her books are and how the characters explore their emotions, insecurities, love and self esteem through sex. In Run to You, Stein gives us a burly, hairy Hungarian hero. Can we just take a moment to let that sink in. Take a long moment, because you will need to absorb this next passage as well…(it’s in regards to his manly bits..)
I still moan excitedly at the sight of his greedy gaze and his frantic, fumbling hands.
Then louder, for his gorgeous cock.
It’s just like the rest of him: too big and too solid and too everything. He could probably beat me to death with it, if he was so inclined – and, judging by the look of him, he might well be.
Death by cock! Only in a Charlotte Stein book. *wink*
You know how you can see a stranger that intrigues you just by the way he or she looks? And then you can daydream a crazy scenario where you actually interact with this person and they may fulfill some secret fantasy you have…this book is that scenario, except it happens to the heroine in real life. Alissa is a very shy, awkward woman with little self esteem. She sees herself as dull and leads a very safe life. Her roommate though has adventures, and Alissa has always secretly been obsessed with what and where her roommate goes. After her roommate disappears on some crazy vacation, Alissa does a little snooping and notices her roommate often goes to this very fancy hotel for ‘assignations.’ Feeling completely impulsive, Alissa decides to take her roommates next appointment pretending to be her, and soon finds herself at a very fancy hotel, feeling vastly out of place.
It is in this lobby she sees a huge man that fascinates her. When she gets to the hotel room, and then sees bondage stuff on the bed, she starts to freak out. Right when she is about to leave, she hears someone coming in, and hides in the closet. Who walks in, but the man from the lobby. Apparently her roommate must meet men for kinky sex, but Alissa is too scared to come out. This man leaves, but before that he leaves a note, hinting that he knows she is in the closet along with his phone number. Days later after calling and hanging up several, times, he finally calls her, and the game is on.
This is a book about a girl with no self esteem who looks up a physically strong, solid man and looks to him to give her confidence. And he does. But what Charlotte Stein loves to do is present a very insecure heroine who you think can only find confidence through the hero, but then she twists the hero around to have him have to lean upon the heroine to help him with his problems. I love this about Stein’s books. Janos can give Alissa physical pleasure, but he is terrified of intimacy. For as big and solid a presence that he is, he can’t look her in the eye after they have sex, he has to run away. Alissa has it built up in her head that she is the one with the ultimate fantasy of being with this delicious man, but she comes to learn, he thinks he is living the dream.
I think the beginning of this book is a little bit slow, but it picks up speed in the second half. And I thought the end was very adorable and romantic. Now to wait for the next release.
Rating: B
I still moan excitedly at the sight of his greedy gaze and his frantic, fumbling hands.
Then louder, for his gorgeous cock.
It’s just like the rest of him: too big and too solid and too everything. He could probably beat me to death with it, if he was so inclined – and, judging by the look of him, he might well be.
Death by cock! Only in a Charlotte Stein book. *wink*
You know how you can see a stranger that intrigues you just by the way he or she looks? And then you can daydream a crazy scenario where you actually interact with this person and they may fulfill some secret fantasy you have…this book is that scenario, except it happens to the heroine in real life. Alissa is a very shy, awkward woman with little self esteem. She sees herself as dull and leads a very safe life. Her roommate though has adventures, and Alissa has always secretly been obsessed with what and where her roommate goes. After her roommate disappears on some crazy vacation, Alissa does a little snooping and notices her roommate often goes to this very fancy hotel for ‘assignations.’ Feeling completely impulsive, Alissa decides to take her roommates next appointment pretending to be her, and soon finds herself at a very fancy hotel, feeling vastly out of place.
It is in this lobby she sees a huge man that fascinates her. When she gets to the hotel room, and then sees bondage stuff on the bed, she starts to freak out. Right when she is about to leave, she hears someone coming in, and hides in the closet. Who walks in, but the man from the lobby. Apparently her roommate must meet men for kinky sex, but Alissa is too scared to come out. This man leaves, but before that he leaves a note, hinting that he knows she is in the closet along with his phone number. Days later after calling and hanging up several, times, he finally calls her, and the game is on.
This is a book about a girl with no self esteem who looks up a physically strong, solid man and looks to him to give her confidence. And he does. But what Charlotte Stein loves to do is present a very insecure heroine who you think can only find confidence through the hero, but then she twists the hero around to have him have to lean upon the heroine to help him with his problems. I love this about Stein’s books. Janos can give Alissa physical pleasure, but he is terrified of intimacy. For as big and solid a presence that he is, he can’t look her in the eye after they have sex, he has to run away. Alissa has it built up in her head that she is the one with the ultimate fantasy of being with this delicious man, but she comes to learn, he thinks he is living the dream.
I think the beginning of this book is a little bit slow, but it picks up speed in the second half. And I thought the end was very adorable and romantic. Now to wait for the next release.
Rating: B
July 31, 2013
Stein came out with a new book and you know I’ll be all over that once it released. I was looking forward to this book since Stein has a very unique voice, so I wanted to see what she would conjure out of the hat this time. Stein takes a relatively overuse trope of a wealthy businessman and a vulnerable, but also strong heroine and makes it her own.
Right from the beginning, I wondered where Stein would take this storyline. Alissa Layton is just a normal girl who doesn’t seem to know how to get out of a routine. When she meets Janos Kovacs, a rich and sexy Hungarian business man, this starts a series of conversations that are just as sexy as the sex scenes. I find that Stein has a particular talent with words. She is able to take an ordinary hero and heroine and create magic through their dialogue. It’s always flirty, fun and what’s even better is the fact that the heroine’s aren’t pansies through it all. They actively take part in the conversation, teasing just as much as the hero does. I like that in a book. I like that a lot.
While I do think the latter half of the book is better than the first half, Stein spends a lot of time inside of Alissa’s head, going over her thoughts, her feelings, her observations of Janos through her eyes. One thing I know I will love about a Stein book are the heroines. Alissa is far from perfect. She doesn’t see herself as the gem that Janos sees, but through the sex and through their conversations with one another, he SHOWS her. Sometimes, it can come across subtly, but it’s there.
On the flipside, Janos is a man who is ready to give Alissa his cock, but not offer any other intimacy than that. Soon, it almost becomes a game. Who will break first? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
Of course, no Charlotte Stein book would be complete without the mention of dirty talk and the sex scenes. The sex felt different in this book. It’s all from Alissa’s POV and she likes to predict what Janos will do next, or what he will say next. I like how she tries to figure him out like a puzzle, but I also don’t think we got much of a background check on Janos very much.
If I were being picky and had to find something that I wanted more of from this book, it would be that we didn’t see who Alissa and Janos were before they met. I found myself wondering a little about that after I finished reading.
I read this book in one sitting and found that it flew by with lightning speed. If you’re looking for another wealthy businessman erotica, Stein has you covered – but she just does it better!
*Review Copy provided by author
February 21, 2017
Charlotte Stein has done it again. She dragged me into another of her fantastic stories and made me swoon.
Gorgeous. Filthy. Love story.
She does it brilliantly!
‘What would I be without you?’ Oh, Janos. Sigh.
Gorgeous. Filthy. Love story.
She does it brilliantly!
‘What would I be without you?’ Oh, Janos. Sigh.
March 15, 2023
Charlotte Stein is so good at conveying emotion and heat. This was one propulsive read! Alissa is a bit of a blank slate and yet this didn’t stop me from feeling the immediacy of her plight as she and Janos got to know each other. It’s one thing to want to know someone and be known by them in return but it’s a whole other matter when it actually happens. I loved how the plot grappled with how scary opening yourself up to love can be. Also: the snowglobe!
Characters: Alissa is a customer service representative. Janos is a white Hungarian CEO and Dom. This is set in London.
Content notes: workplace abuse, past accidental death of pet mouse, fatphobia, unsafe sex practices (first time anal sex without lube), on page sex, D/s, impact play, sensory play, bondage, rimming, edging, exhibitionism, elevator sex, limo sex, phone sex, alcohol, gender essentialist language, ableist language, mention of ex who fatshamed
Characters: Alissa is a customer service representative. Janos is a white Hungarian CEO and Dom. This is set in London.
Content notes: workplace abuse, past accidental death of pet mouse, fatphobia, unsafe sex practices (first time anal sex without lube), on page sex, D/s, impact play, sensory play, bondage, rimming, edging, exhibitionism, elevator sex, limo sex, phone sex, alcohol, gender essentialist language, ableist language, mention of ex who fatshamed
July 26, 2013
Oh, Charlotte Stein, you've done it again. I must admit upfront that I am a huge Stein fangirl. Her writing is unlike any other I've ever read, full of wit and heart and utter, mind-shattering brilliance. And Run to You is no exception.
Hm, what is it about Run to You that works so flawlessly? Believable heroine? Check. Hot Hungarian sex god? Check, check, double check. Panty melting sex? There aren't enough checks in the universe. But there is so much more.
Alissa is accustomed to invisibility. When her friend Lucy vanishes to a sun-bathed island with no more than a note left behind, Alissa stumbles upon her datebook and the mysterious "assignation" appointments every third Friday. Curious, Alissa shows up for Lucy's appointment and, quite literally, runs into a certain sexy Hungarian in the lobby. Little does she know that her life of invisibility is about to disappear. ;)
I wasn't at all sure what to expect when I first read Janos, but, oh man, did he ever exceed my every expectation. He was big and deliciously hairy and smart as a whip. And his fabulously filthy mouth didn't hurt. After all, I'm nothing if not for a complete and utter fool for dirty talk. And Janos brings it. Oh good gosh, does he ever bring it.
But he's more than just a large, wooly, filthy talking smarty. He was an onion and my mouth fairly watered to watch as his layers were stripped away. His feelings were real, as were his vulnerabilities. And the care and tenderness he showed toward Alissa was swoon-worthy. That's right, I swooned.
And speaking of vulnerabilities, Alissa has her fair share too. What I love about Stein's writing is that she has this impeccable way of creating characters who are flawed, but in the most relatable, endearing way. There's no, "Oh I'm broken. Cry for me, weep with me! Flail!" Instead, I find myself nodding and thinking, "Oh my, Charlotte, how have you wriggled your way into my head once more?" I swear, in every book of hers I've read, so many of her heroines' thoughts have run through my own mind on more than one occasion. All the fears and insecurities and worries are so very real. And all the while, Stein is showing you these flaws in the most ingenious way. For example: "Or maybe I'm just really easy to read. I'm a neglected book that's been left somewhere damp, swollen to twice its size and suddenly filled with enormous words. Most of them probably ask for help. Some might mention loneliness. All of them must be hidden, immediately."
See? Brilliant.
The love story between Janos and Alissa is ripe with smoldering sexy-times. The sex scenes are literally toe-curling and I found myself going back to reread certain sections because once simply wasn't enough. But the real heart of the story is, of course, their budding relationship. I loved watching the give and take as one doubted, and the other stood strong, only to have them swap rolls. Both Janos and Alissa had some emotional barriers to overcome, and I melted as I watched the mutual support they provided as they fought their way to each other. The progression of their feelings for one another was authentic and I was fairly drooling to see their HEA.
In short, I loved Run to You. If you're looking for a smart, witty, heart-warming, smoking hot read, this one's for you.
Hm, what is it about Run to You that works so flawlessly? Believable heroine? Check. Hot Hungarian sex god? Check, check, double check. Panty melting sex? There aren't enough checks in the universe. But there is so much more.
Alissa is accustomed to invisibility. When her friend Lucy vanishes to a sun-bathed island with no more than a note left behind, Alissa stumbles upon her datebook and the mysterious "assignation" appointments every third Friday. Curious, Alissa shows up for Lucy's appointment and, quite literally, runs into a certain sexy Hungarian in the lobby. Little does she know that her life of invisibility is about to disappear. ;)
I wasn't at all sure what to expect when I first read Janos, but, oh man, did he ever exceed my every expectation. He was big and deliciously hairy and smart as a whip. And his fabulously filthy mouth didn't hurt. After all, I'm nothing if not for a complete and utter fool for dirty talk. And Janos brings it. Oh good gosh, does he ever bring it.
But he's more than just a large, wooly, filthy talking smarty. He was an onion and my mouth fairly watered to watch as his layers were stripped away. His feelings were real, as were his vulnerabilities. And the care and tenderness he showed toward Alissa was swoon-worthy. That's right, I swooned.
And speaking of vulnerabilities, Alissa has her fair share too. What I love about Stein's writing is that she has this impeccable way of creating characters who are flawed, but in the most relatable, endearing way. There's no, "Oh I'm broken. Cry for me, weep with me! Flail!" Instead, I find myself nodding and thinking, "Oh my, Charlotte, how have you wriggled your way into my head once more?" I swear, in every book of hers I've read, so many of her heroines' thoughts have run through my own mind on more than one occasion. All the fears and insecurities and worries are so very real. And all the while, Stein is showing you these flaws in the most ingenious way. For example: "Or maybe I'm just really easy to read. I'm a neglected book that's been left somewhere damp, swollen to twice its size and suddenly filled with enormous words. Most of them probably ask for help. Some might mention loneliness. All of them must be hidden, immediately."
See? Brilliant.
The love story between Janos and Alissa is ripe with smoldering sexy-times. The sex scenes are literally toe-curling and I found myself going back to reread certain sections because once simply wasn't enough. But the real heart of the story is, of course, their budding relationship. I loved watching the give and take as one doubted, and the other stood strong, only to have them swap rolls. Both Janos and Alissa had some emotional barriers to overcome, and I melted as I watched the mutual support they provided as they fought their way to each other. The progression of their feelings for one another was authentic and I was fairly drooling to see their HEA.
In short, I loved Run to You. If you're looking for a smart, witty, heart-warming, smoking hot read, this one's for you.
February 13, 2015
3.5 stars
This one has me a little torn. I didn't care much for the first half of the book and almost DNF'd a couple times. I wasn't a fan of the kink going on and was put off by the hero's emotional disconnect. But I finally managed to pick it back up and the second half turned the whole thing around for me. Finally, Janos breaks out of his shell and actually becomes quite swoon worthy. Also, the weird kink kind of goes to the wayside and I could get more invested in the story. Overall, enjoyed but not as much as the other's that I've read by this author.
This one has me a little torn. I didn't care much for the first half of the book and almost DNF'd a couple times. I wasn't a fan of the kink going on and was put off by the hero's emotional disconnect. But I finally managed to pick it back up and the second half turned the whole thing around for me. Finally, Janos breaks out of his shell and actually becomes quite swoon worthy. Also, the weird kink kind of goes to the wayside and I could get more invested in the story. Overall, enjoyed but not as much as the other's that I've read by this author.
Read
September 9, 2017So, I didn't finish this book.. just got to like halfway through or something! The problem was .. THERE WAS TOO MUCH INNER DIALOGUE! I didn't feel like there was much happening .. it just felt like pages and pages of inner dialogue! Also, Kovac's character was a bit... shallow? I didn't really feel too engaged in the whole plot .. tho the story itself had a lot of potential!
November 1, 2015
reread 10/2015
April 27, 2014
I need more dialogues. Really. This bored me to death. It's too heavy with all ramblings from the heroine's POV, and she isn't funny or strong or whatever. Flat. Ugh.
March 11, 2016
유 Janos Kovacs
웃 Alice Layton
Read 25 July 2014
~ ★★½
웃 Alice Layton
Read 25 July 2014
~ ★★½
November 16, 2017
I read this Charlotte Stein in one sitting and it was so good! Awesome characters I was invested in instantly and I loved the frisson-storyline. So hot.
Read
September 3, 2013Janos is such a different and unique character when you line him up with Charlotte's other men. (Well, they're all unique in their own way. This is where Stein excels - realism and individuality) Janos is fun, but serious at the same time, without being over-the-top with dramatics or heaviness. He's careful and attentive. . .heck, where does he live, I need to meet him. LOL. Recline on his therapy couch and spill my guts to him. I think he'd listen and give fabulous advice without saying much at all.
Alissa - sweet Alissa. She made me cry sometimes, the thoughts she had about herself and the constant conflicts she wrestled with, internally. Wanting, but unable to take. Needing, but unable to say. Constant barriers, but an beastly curiosity inside that drives her forward on a subconscious level.
Charlotte has a vivid vocabulary. Beyond that: she uses idioms and metaphors like a master. She's really able to dig in, and describe physical sensations and emotions, and how they effect the body and the mind. This is difficult for authors to do, and for me, I often read stories, like the characters, like the events, but I'm emotionally detached. Like - I'm usually intrigued, but not sucked into the characters. I know they FEEL tense, but I usually don't FEEL their tension. I know they're scared, but I don't feel their fear.
I don't have that problem when it comes to Steins writing, maybe that's why I like her too much for my own good.
Like this line from Chapter 4:
"He's so correct it's painful. I think he's starting to pull my fillings out."
- and in this scene, up to this moment, there's no contact between the two, there are only words. He's not actually pulling her fillings out. They're talking. Not only are they just talking, but she's sitting in a chair and he's not even near her. :) Yet, I know exactly what Alissa means when she describes her response to his intuition this way. It hurts for someone to take notice of you - when all your life you think you've been so invisible there's nothing to see.
This imagery is fabulous, too - Chapter 14 I think:
"I wish that thought wasn't quite so electric. It sizzles and pops in a hundred weird places, like inside my gums and behind my knees, and the second I start to feel it I almost fall face down into his enormous bed."
Now if that just isn't a delicious way to say 'make me weak at the knees' I don't know what is...and I'll take whatever she's having.
I'm not even sure Stein realizes she applies these things so effectively, it's just part of who she is as an author and it comes out very well. As a result - her sex scenes have this extra sultry under layer. It's almost like an undergarment of hotness that some erotica authors simply forget to put on. You know: it's like the sexual innuendos are the shirts, and the physical actions are the jeans. . .those sharp emotional pangs she causes are the undergarments. Without those, things slip where they shouldn't be, and nothing fits quite right.
There were several twists in this story, and by not finding out things right away, my curiosity was so peaked I had to read it straight through. I've never been so wrapped up and insanely curious about what *someone else* was doing. LOL. Lucy, Lucy, Lucy. . . and on this note, every new experience Alissa went through, I wondered how it applied to Lucy. :)
This book definitely is on my 'love to read' shelf. I've read it several times since I bought it. Is their a Stein rehab program? I'm a junkie. . .I promise, If she writes a 3-star ho-hum book, I'll be honest and rate it 3 dang stars. She's yet to do so. She's not a ho-hum author. My 4's and 5's are actually hard earned. She just appeals to me on a long lasting level, she's earned them all.
Bravo, Stein, well done :)
Alissa - sweet Alissa. She made me cry sometimes, the thoughts she had about herself and the constant conflicts she wrestled with, internally. Wanting, but unable to take. Needing, but unable to say. Constant barriers, but an beastly curiosity inside that drives her forward on a subconscious level.
Charlotte has a vivid vocabulary. Beyond that: she uses idioms and metaphors like a master. She's really able to dig in, and describe physical sensations and emotions, and how they effect the body and the mind. This is difficult for authors to do, and for me, I often read stories, like the characters, like the events, but I'm emotionally detached. Like - I'm usually intrigued, but not sucked into the characters. I know they FEEL tense, but I usually don't FEEL their tension. I know they're scared, but I don't feel their fear.
I don't have that problem when it comes to Steins writing, maybe that's why I like her too much for my own good.
Like this line from Chapter 4:
"He's so correct it's painful. I think he's starting to pull my fillings out."
- and in this scene, up to this moment, there's no contact between the two, there are only words. He's not actually pulling her fillings out. They're talking. Not only are they just talking, but she's sitting in a chair and he's not even near her. :) Yet, I know exactly what Alissa means when she describes her response to his intuition this way. It hurts for someone to take notice of you - when all your life you think you've been so invisible there's nothing to see.
This imagery is fabulous, too - Chapter 14 I think:
"I wish that thought wasn't quite so electric. It sizzles and pops in a hundred weird places, like inside my gums and behind my knees, and the second I start to feel it I almost fall face down into his enormous bed."
Now if that just isn't a delicious way to say 'make me weak at the knees' I don't know what is...and I'll take whatever she's having.
I'm not even sure Stein realizes she applies these things so effectively, it's just part of who she is as an author and it comes out very well. As a result - her sex scenes have this extra sultry under layer. It's almost like an undergarment of hotness that some erotica authors simply forget to put on. You know: it's like the sexual innuendos are the shirts, and the physical actions are the jeans. . .those sharp emotional pangs she causes are the undergarments. Without those, things slip where they shouldn't be, and nothing fits quite right.
There were several twists in this story, and by not finding out things right away, my curiosity was so peaked I had to read it straight through. I've never been so wrapped up and insanely curious about what *someone else* was doing. LOL. Lucy, Lucy, Lucy. . . and on this note, every new experience Alissa went through, I wondered how it applied to Lucy. :)
This book definitely is on my 'love to read' shelf. I've read it several times since I bought it. Is their a Stein rehab program? I'm a junkie. . .I promise, If she writes a 3-star ho-hum book, I'll be honest and rate it 3 dang stars. She's yet to do so. She's not a ho-hum author. My 4's and 5's are actually hard earned. She just appeals to me on a long lasting level, she's earned them all.
Bravo, Stein, well done :)
August 3, 2016
I had a difficult time rating this book because for the most part, I enjoyed the book, it was just that in a moment of weakness and unneeded drama that the heroine's wild imaginings decided to drum up, this book quickly went from really amazing to really frustrating for me.
Run to You details the curious exploration of Alissa Layton's desires, with the big, burly and ever so rich Janos Kovacs as her more than willing partner. While it started off slow and was somewhat frustrating with hardly any dialogue and Alissa's wild imaginings to contend with, the story picks up momentum when Alissa confronts Janos with his need for control and ultimately breaks him, forcing him to face the stark realisation that this mere girl brings him to his knees. And what absolutely had me rolling in a delightful tizzy was that once he makes this realisation, he stays for the ride, even though it makes him uncomfortable at times.
And can I just take a minute to gush over my feels for Janos cause honestly, Janos is so unbelievably appealing. Big, massive hunk of a man who has a habit of switching to his mother tongue when he gets lost in pleasure, with just the right amount of dominance that has you shuddering in anticipation. Excuse me while I die of feels for a completely fictional character.
What threw a spanner in my glorious feels was the heroine's move towards the end. I could deal with the self-deprecation, I could deal with her awkwardness and her inability to communicate adequately at times, I could deal with her anxieties, but what I absolutely wanted to beat into a bloody pulp for messing up my feels was the cowardly way that she ran away towards the end. Alissa is her very own worst enemy, so intent on being forever alone despite having such an attentive partner who thousands of women would kill to have. And while I could spare her some slack seeing as she has some serious self-esteem issues, this isn't explored in depth by the author; you don't get this third dimension to this character that makes you feel for her. All you get is this negative nancy that likes to keep people at an arm's length because she had three loser boyfriends that she moved on from really quickly and God forbid she ever let herself be happy.
And as if that wasn't bad enough, Alissa dumps her problems on her friend Lucy, who is mentioned once in the beginning of the book, and who is also on vacation. Their relationship was somewhat confusing to me because Alissa never mentions her at all, except to say that she pretended to be her in the beginning of the book and that she sent her a postcard and used her as an excuse to run away, so that when I found out that they really have a close relationship and that Lucy knows Alissa so well, I'm frustrated because it makes Alissa seem like the type of friend that only knows you when they want something. And at this point, I really don't want to be thinking that way about her. But then, when its all said and done and the mcs get their HEA, I realised its because Lucy was the one that fixes the problem Alissa dumps on her when she gate-crashes her holiday.
Overall, I think this is a solid three stars book. Its got a lot of heat that will leave you scorched (Limo and Elevator, you'll understand once you get to it), and I really did get into it once it picked up. I just wished that the female mc could have had a bit more of a back bone when it came to dealing with situations, rather than succumbing to her knee jerk reaction of running away.
Run to You details the curious exploration of Alissa Layton's desires, with the big, burly and ever so rich Janos Kovacs as her more than willing partner. While it started off slow and was somewhat frustrating with hardly any dialogue and Alissa's wild imaginings to contend with, the story picks up momentum when Alissa confronts Janos with his need for control and ultimately breaks him, forcing him to face the stark realisation that this mere girl brings him to his knees. And what absolutely had me rolling in a delightful tizzy was that once he makes this realisation, he stays for the ride, even though it makes him uncomfortable at times.
And can I just take a minute to gush over my feels for Janos cause honestly, Janos is so unbelievably appealing. Big, massive hunk of a man who has a habit of switching to his mother tongue when he gets lost in pleasure, with just the right amount of dominance that has you shuddering in anticipation. Excuse me while I die of feels for a completely fictional character.
What threw a spanner in my glorious feels was the heroine's move towards the end. I could deal with the self-deprecation, I could deal with her awkwardness and her inability to communicate adequately at times, I could deal with her anxieties, but what I absolutely wanted to beat into a bloody pulp for messing up my feels was the cowardly way that she ran away towards the end. Alissa is her very own worst enemy, so intent on being forever alone despite having such an attentive partner who thousands of women would kill to have. And while I could spare her some slack seeing as she has some serious self-esteem issues, this isn't explored in depth by the author; you don't get this third dimension to this character that makes you feel for her. All you get is this negative nancy that likes to keep people at an arm's length because she had three loser boyfriends that she moved on from really quickly and God forbid she ever let herself be happy.
And as if that wasn't bad enough, Alissa dumps her problems on her friend Lucy, who is mentioned once in the beginning of the book, and who is also on vacation. Their relationship was somewhat confusing to me because Alissa never mentions her at all, except to say that she pretended to be her in the beginning of the book and that she sent her a postcard and used her as an excuse to run away, so that when I found out that they really have a close relationship and that Lucy knows Alissa so well, I'm frustrated because it makes Alissa seem like the type of friend that only knows you when they want something. And at this point, I really don't want to be thinking that way about her. But then, when its all said and done and the mcs get their HEA, I realised its because Lucy was the one that fixes the problem Alissa dumps on her when she gate-crashes her holiday.
Overall, I think this is a solid three stars book. Its got a lot of heat that will leave you scorched (Limo and Elevator, you'll understand once you get to it), and I really did get into it once it picked up. I just wished that the female mc could have had a bit more of a back bone when it came to dealing with situations, rather than succumbing to her knee jerk reaction of running away.
July 31, 2013
I'm a fan of Charlotte Stein for sure. I love her writing style and her story telling.
While I liked this story, I didn't find myself loving it... which is unfortunate. In discussing with my smut BFF cosmo, we both felt like it gave us flashbacks to her last book Deep Desires.
That said, I really loved the premise of this story.
Allison is living her life day to day... waking up, working, going home and starting all over again the next day. She struggles with her insecurities and her doubts and that is something that I could identify with and made me like her so much more.
The sudden departure of her roommate has left her a bit lost. When Allison happens upon a dayplanner that the roommate left behind she notices a repeated appointment identified by only one word - Assignation. Her curiousity soon gets the best of her because she decides to show up at the next one on the calendar.
Enter Janos.
Janos is of course handsome but intimidating and so instead of reveal herself upon their first meeting, she hides in a closet and observes. When he leaves, there is a surprise for Allison.
So starts an intense and slightly awkward relationship where Allison is forced to face her insecurities and realize that they are hers alone.
But of course Janos is not perfect either, and I think that is what Charlotte Stein does wonderfully. She can write the heck out of imperfect characters and make you fall for them anyway.
I also think that Ms. Stein has a wonderful way with her heroines. They usually have incredibly entertaining inner monologues and Allison is no exception ... these girls think the way real women think and I can appreciate that.
If you're looking for a quick, satisfying read I can't recommend this book or pretty much anything from Charlotte Stein!
This review can be found on my blog, Fic Fare:
While I liked this story, I didn't find myself loving it... which is unfortunate. In discussing with my smut BFF cosmo, we both felt like it gave us flashbacks to her last book Deep Desires.
That said, I really loved the premise of this story.
Allison is living her life day to day... waking up, working, going home and starting all over again the next day. She struggles with her insecurities and her doubts and that is something that I could identify with and made me like her so much more.
The sudden departure of her roommate has left her a bit lost. When Allison happens upon a dayplanner that the roommate left behind she notices a repeated appointment identified by only one word - Assignation. Her curiousity soon gets the best of her because she decides to show up at the next one on the calendar.
Enter Janos.
Janos is of course handsome but intimidating and so instead of reveal herself upon their first meeting, she hides in a closet and observes. When he leaves, there is a surprise for Allison.
So starts an intense and slightly awkward relationship where Allison is forced to face her insecurities and realize that they are hers alone.
But of course Janos is not perfect either, and I think that is what Charlotte Stein does wonderfully. She can write the heck out of imperfect characters and make you fall for them anyway.
I also think that Ms. Stein has a wonderful way with her heroines. They usually have incredibly entertaining inner monologues and Allison is no exception ... these girls think the way real women think and I can appreciate that.
If you're looking for a quick, satisfying read I can't recommend this book or pretty much anything from Charlotte Stein!
This review can be found on my blog, Fic Fare:
August 1, 2013
I’m pretty burnt out with 1st person POV in erotic romance especially when it’s the heroine’s POV. But Charlotte Stein has a way of getting inside the heroine’s head that draws you in and won’t let you go.
Alissa is used to being invisible. She lives her life by blending in. When her roommate takes off for a holiday and leaves her diary behind, Alissa does a little snooping and discovers that Lucy has a standing appointment at a fancy hotel. Alissa goes in pretending to be Lucy. While there she literally runs into a burly, sexy man. Alissa is mesmerized by him. And she’s not completely invisible to him.
I loved Run to You from start to finish. My favorite parts involved the sexy and revealing phone conversations between Alissa and Janos. Alissa is such a likable and relatable character. She has low self-esteem and finds her confidence and sexiness with Janos. Alissa is constantly questioning if she’s good enough for Janos, who’s a successful businessman. When they’re out in public, she sees the looks that women give Janos and then her, as if to say that Alissa has no business being with anyone so sexy and successful. The tables eventually turn when Janos intimacy issues are revealed. He’s used to not being close to a woman but Alissa changes all that.
There’s no question that the sex scenes in Run to You are stupid hot! You can always count on great sex scenes in a Charlotte Stein book and this one does not disappoint. I loved watching Alissa come into her own. The characters’ layers are slowly revealed and you can’t help but root for them.
Run to You is a great story about a girl who finally shakes off her invisibility. I loved the ending. It was so romantic. I think I squeed while reading it. Don’t let the hint of BDSM scare you. This book is so much more than that.
Alissa is used to being invisible. She lives her life by blending in. When her roommate takes off for a holiday and leaves her diary behind, Alissa does a little snooping and discovers that Lucy has a standing appointment at a fancy hotel. Alissa goes in pretending to be Lucy. While there she literally runs into a burly, sexy man. Alissa is mesmerized by him. And she’s not completely invisible to him.
I loved Run to You from start to finish. My favorite parts involved the sexy and revealing phone conversations between Alissa and Janos. Alissa is such a likable and relatable character. She has low self-esteem and finds her confidence and sexiness with Janos. Alissa is constantly questioning if she’s good enough for Janos, who’s a successful businessman. When they’re out in public, she sees the looks that women give Janos and then her, as if to say that Alissa has no business being with anyone so sexy and successful. The tables eventually turn when Janos intimacy issues are revealed. He’s used to not being close to a woman but Alissa changes all that.
There’s no question that the sex scenes in Run to You are stupid hot! You can always count on great sex scenes in a Charlotte Stein book and this one does not disappoint. I loved watching Alissa come into her own. The characters’ layers are slowly revealed and you can’t help but root for them.
Run to You is a great story about a girl who finally shakes off her invisibility. I loved the ending. It was so romantic. I think I squeed while reading it. Don’t let the hint of BDSM scare you. This book is so much more than that.
August 4, 2013
3.5 Stars!
This had a historical romance feel to me for some reason, which is not a genre I prefer. This is also my first book by this author and I think she has a unique writing style. It was kind of hard to get in to. It was almost like the writing was too descriptive and too internal maybe. It's all told from the heroine's POV, Alissa and it felt like it was a lot of her internal thoughts versus actual dialogue and conversation so it made it hard to connect to the characters.
We also don't get a lot of back ground on the main characters so I wasn't able to develop much of a connection with them or empathize with their feelings and emotions. The story starts off with Alissa discovering that her roommate, Lucy, has left town unexpectedly. In an effort to determine why, Alissa reads her roommates datebook and sees that she has monthly appointments at a place called The Harrington. Her curiosity gets the best of her and she shows up as Lucy at her next appointment. What she discovers will open up Alissa to a whole new sexual world.
There Alissa meets Janos. Until showing up for this appointment Alissa's life has been pretty boring and predictable. Janos is anything but. Normally Janos is a hands off, likes to watch kind of guy....until he meets Alissa. And so their "relationship" begins. Again it was hard to relate to this because we don't get a lot of background on Janos or Alissa. Ultimately they end up falling in love with each other though it is hard for both to admit doing so. Alissa because of her own insecurities and Janos because of his lack of desire for intimacy.
The interactions between Janos and Alissa were definitely hot and of the kinky variety. I would have just liked a bit more character and background story development. This was a standalone with a HEA!
This had a historical romance feel to me for some reason, which is not a genre I prefer. This is also my first book by this author and I think she has a unique writing style. It was kind of hard to get in to. It was almost like the writing was too descriptive and too internal maybe. It's all told from the heroine's POV, Alissa and it felt like it was a lot of her internal thoughts versus actual dialogue and conversation so it made it hard to connect to the characters.
We also don't get a lot of back ground on the main characters so I wasn't able to develop much of a connection with them or empathize with their feelings and emotions. The story starts off with Alissa discovering that her roommate, Lucy, has left town unexpectedly. In an effort to determine why, Alissa reads her roommates datebook and sees that she has monthly appointments at a place called The Harrington. Her curiosity gets the best of her and she shows up as Lucy at her next appointment. What she discovers will open up Alissa to a whole new sexual world.
There Alissa meets Janos. Until showing up for this appointment Alissa's life has been pretty boring and predictable. Janos is anything but. Normally Janos is a hands off, likes to watch kind of guy....until he meets Alissa. And so their "relationship" begins. Again it was hard to relate to this because we don't get a lot of background on Janos or Alissa. Ultimately they end up falling in love with each other though it is hard for both to admit doing so. Alissa because of her own insecurities and Janos because of his lack of desire for intimacy.
The interactions between Janos and Alissa were definitely hot and of the kinky variety. I would have just liked a bit more character and background story development. This was a standalone with a HEA!
November 2, 2014
"I think you do a lot of dishonest things to get what you want."
"It's true. I have. I do. And yet not with you."
"Why not with me?"
"Because you are already sure everything is a lie. My only defence is the absolute truth. And if I keep telling it, eventually you'll believe."
This book was so beautifully written. It also managed to poke some fun at other billionaire romance books out there, and I loved that. :)
Oh, it wasn't perfect. It may not be for everyone, but every word shot straight to my heart. I would've liked to learn more about Alissa and Janos before they met- who they they were, what made them that way. I felt that there were so many layers to them that I couldn't help but wonder what they experienced that influenced their thoughts and actions.
Despite her insecurities, I was never mad at Alissa. If anything, I wanted to hug her even though she was giving off negative vibes a mile away. Janos started off as being startingly perceptive when it came to Alissa. But despite his wealth, I appreciated that he was still flawed and vulnerable as a character. He was amazing, and my heart melted near the the end with that beach scene.
I didn't realize this was written in present tense until I've almost finished. There are some books where I find present tense really distracting, and it didn't bother me at all in this book.
I loved Run to You. :D It was such a nice surprise, and the way it was written was so powerful and captivating. Will definitely be reading more from this author.
"It's true. I have. I do. And yet not with you."
"Why not with me?"
"Because you are already sure everything is a lie. My only defence is the absolute truth. And if I keep telling it, eventually you'll believe."
This book was so beautifully written. It also managed to poke some fun at other billionaire romance books out there, and I loved that. :)
Oh, it wasn't perfect. It may not be for everyone, but every word shot straight to my heart. I would've liked to learn more about Alissa and Janos before they met- who they they were, what made them that way. I felt that there were so many layers to them that I couldn't help but wonder what they experienced that influenced their thoughts and actions.
Despite her insecurities, I was never mad at Alissa. If anything, I wanted to hug her even though she was giving off negative vibes a mile away. Janos started off as being startingly perceptive when it came to Alissa. But despite his wealth, I appreciated that he was still flawed and vulnerable as a character. He was amazing, and my heart melted near the the end with that beach scene.
I didn't realize this was written in present tense until I've almost finished. There are some books where I find present tense really distracting, and it didn't bother me at all in this book.
I loved Run to You. :D It was such a nice surprise, and the way it was written was so powerful and captivating. Will definitely be reading more from this author.
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