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Highland Falls #6
Running on Empty
Whoever said grief wasn’t linear knew what they were talking about. For Logan Traub, the last three years have been his own version of hell with one bright Allyson Murphy.
Logan Traub
Three years ago I moved to the small town of Highland Falls. On the outside, I had everything together. Inside… well, I was a mess. My personal life was summed up in one empty. My wife was gone. My life upended. Hobbies that had brought me joy before only brought grief.
And then I became friends with Allyson Murphy. Training for a marathon with her gives me purpose, but it also lets her worm her way into my life, which brings back too many bad memories to count.
Allyson Murphy
We all have twenty-four hours in a day, right? I think I’ve been shorted just a few. The inheritance my grandma left me was enough to move cross country and buy a café in a town where I knew zero people. Zero. Then Logan Traub and his love of baked goods moved into my life and pushed me to dream of more.
The man cheered me on as I expanded to a second location. Only problem is, you can’t burn the candle on both ends and not pay a price. Logan helps me see that there is more to life than work and proving my parents wrong by succeeding despite their lack of belief in me.
When he lets down his walls, all I want to do is be there when he falls. But how can I catch him when I’m on my way down too?
Logan Traub
Three years ago I moved to the small town of Highland Falls. On the outside, I had everything together. Inside… well, I was a mess. My personal life was summed up in one empty. My wife was gone. My life upended. Hobbies that had brought me joy before only brought grief.
And then I became friends with Allyson Murphy. Training for a marathon with her gives me purpose, but it also lets her worm her way into my life, which brings back too many bad memories to count.
Allyson Murphy
We all have twenty-four hours in a day, right? I think I’ve been shorted just a few. The inheritance my grandma left me was enough to move cross country and buy a café in a town where I knew zero people. Zero. Then Logan Traub and his love of baked goods moved into my life and pushed me to dream of more.
The man cheered me on as I expanded to a second location. Only problem is, you can’t burn the candle on both ends and not pay a price. Logan helps me see that there is more to life than work and proving my parents wrong by succeeding despite their lack of belief in me.
When he lets down his walls, all I want to do is be there when he falls. But how can I catch him when I’m on my way down too?
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 29, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 30, 2023
Running on Empty continues Ryan's Highland Falls series. I really looked forward to returning to this friendly and welcoming small town in Illinois. This series is feel good, comfort reading.
This book features Logan, the Director of the local State Park. Widowed about 3 years ago, Logan suffers persistent grief and struggles to move on with his life. He's truly been running on empty and just going through the motions. At the same time, he's very much attracted to and wants to connect with Allyson, the owner of the Sanctuary cafes in town and at the Park. Friends for a couple of years, they become closer as Logan begins training for a marathon with Allyson.
The story really focuses on Logan's journey as he learns to live with his grief and tries to build a new relationship.
There is a secondary storyline about Allyson's challenges with a growing business and how she needs to learn how to delegate and ask for help.
Because this novel is about grief, the tone is reflective and a bit somber. With Logan still struggling with guilt about his wife's death and the prospect of moving on, it's a very, very slow burn.
This book features Logan, the Director of the local State Park. Widowed about 3 years ago, Logan suffers persistent grief and struggles to move on with his life. He's truly been running on empty and just going through the motions. At the same time, he's very much attracted to and wants to connect with Allyson, the owner of the Sanctuary cafes in town and at the Park. Friends for a couple of years, they become closer as Logan begins training for a marathon with Allyson.
The story really focuses on Logan's journey as he learns to live with his grief and tries to build a new relationship.
There is a secondary storyline about Allyson's challenges with a growing business and how she needs to learn how to delegate and ask for help.
Because this novel is about grief, the tone is reflective and a bit somber. With Logan still struggling with guilt about his wife's death and the prospect of moving on, it's a very, very slow burn.
August 27, 2023
I couldn’t put it down!
Wow, what a wonderful book about love, loss, family, friends and an amazing small town! Oh man, following Logan and Ally through their struggles definitely pulled at the heartstrings but it was well worth it in the end!
Wow, what a wonderful book about love, loss, family, friends and an amazing small town! Oh man, following Logan and Ally through their struggles definitely pulled at the heartstrings but it was well worth it in the end!
August 24, 2023
A beautiful, complex and touching story about grief, friendship and love.
Romantic and real.
Logan is a widower carrying guilt with the grief.
Allyson is his friend and a fellow runner he is coaching for a marathon. Their story is rich, complicated and lovely.
I enjoyed it and couldn't put it down.
Romantic and real.
Logan is a widower carrying guilt with the grief.
Allyson is his friend and a fellow runner he is coaching for a marathon. Their story is rich, complicated and lovely.
I enjoyed it and couldn't put it down.
February 24, 2026
After living in a gray world since the death of his wife, Logan finds himself interested in a woman he has become friends with. But how do you move on from the death of a spouse when you still feel responsible? Allyson feels she has something to prove as a small business owner, and she has no plans to slow down but she does find herself distracted by a good-looking, bearded regular with a carbohydrate addiction. But perhaps it's more than the muffins and scones that keeps him coming in everyday?
Running on Empty is the sixth book in Kat Ryan's Highland Falls series. When I picked this book off the shelf at Our Town Books, I didn't study it closely enough to realize it was part of a series, otherwise I would have started with the first book. However, Kat wrote the series so each book does not depend on the other so you can read in an order that suits you. However, I did feel a tad overwhelmed toward the beginning of the book meeting all of the characters that had been developed previously in the series. I repressed the teacher in me and decided not to make the character map but instead take my chances. I'm glad I pushed through.
Logan and Allyson are definitely a slow burn story; their first kiss(ish) isn't until page 105. Instead of jumping into anything physical; they build their connection on healthy communication, mutual respect, and a fake romantic relationship. The slow burn was worth it to me to see a healthy build between these two relatable characters.
I'm excited to continue my journey of getting to know the couples of Highland Falls and the other numerous writings of the fantastic Kat Ryan.
Running on Empty is the sixth book in Kat Ryan's Highland Falls series. When I picked this book off the shelf at Our Town Books, I didn't study it closely enough to realize it was part of a series, otherwise I would have started with the first book. However, Kat wrote the series so each book does not depend on the other so you can read in an order that suits you. However, I did feel a tad overwhelmed toward the beginning of the book meeting all of the characters that had been developed previously in the series. I repressed the teacher in me and decided not to make the character map but instead take my chances. I'm glad I pushed through.
Logan and Allyson are definitely a slow burn story; their first kiss(ish) isn't until page 105. Instead of jumping into anything physical; they build their connection on healthy communication, mutual respect, and a fake romantic relationship. The slow burn was worth it to me to see a healthy build between these two relatable characters.
I'm excited to continue my journey of getting to know the couples of Highland Falls and the other numerous writings of the fantastic Kat Ryan.
September 16, 2023
Well she did it. Got the eyes leaking a few times!
What an emotional story! The smiles, the tears and all that in between, I just loved this story!!
Logan and Ally worked so hard and their story is a fabulous read.
Definite 5 stars from me!
What an emotional story! The smiles, the tears and all that in between, I just loved this story!!
Logan and Ally worked so hard and their story is a fabulous read.
Definite 5 stars from me!
August 30, 2023
Wow! What an amazingly beautiful book! Love, healing, grief, finding yourself again, this book was beautifully handled and a true delight to read. I have loved all the cast of Highland Falls but boy oh boy did this book just hit in all the right feels!
October 14, 2024
I've read the rest of the Highland Falls series, and Logan and Ally just resonated with me so much! I love the Midwestern small-town setting, of course, and being a runner, I also really enjoyed the running storyline. Logan's sad past is a powerful backdrop to the story, and I appreciate the way he heals through therapy and reliance on loved ones.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews