The SEAL's Runaway

Alaskan Guardians #1

by Theresa Beachman

As danger closes in, a former SEAL is her only hope.

In the heart of the Alaskan wilderness, Coast Guard rescue swimmer Caleb Meyer lives a solitary life with his dog, haunted by the ghosts of his past. But when he nearly runs over a mysterious woman in the middle of the forest, his world is turned upside down.

Veterinarian, Grace Bailey is desperate and on the run from her controlling ex-boyfriend who will stop at nothing to get her back. With a broken-down car and nowhere else to turn, she reluctantly accepts Caleb's help. Hidden away in his isolated cabin, she struggles to trust him, but soon she discovers beneath his gruff exterior beats the heart of a loyal and fierce protector.

As the attraction between them ignites, Grace begins to trust Caleb with the secrets of her past. But when armed men close in, determined to drag her back to her ex, their bond faces the ultimate test.

Caleb must call upon all his SEAL training and experience as a Coast Guard rescue swimmer to keep Grace safe.

Failure is not an option, and he's willing to risk everything to protect the woman who has captured his heart.

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

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 23, 2024

About the author

If you're the kind of reader who loves high-stakes romance grounded in real-world research—with damaged military heroes, complex plots, and women who won't be rescued—hello. You're my people.

I write intense, tightly plotted protector romance with covert ops, real-world threats, and hard-won love. My heroes have protection in their bones and loyalty in their hearts. My heroines are smart, self-reliant, and ready to fight—for others, for justice, for love.

Still mad Ripley never got with Hicks? Me too. So I fix that—with heat and redemption.

Find bonus epilogues and more at theresabeachman dot com.

Reviews

[RateTheRomance]

DNF at 78%

this story had so many massive glaring plot holes i finally gave up. there are entire scenes that just abruptly stop with no resolution and no explanation. there is no chemistry between the leads. they feel like strangers the entire book. at multiple points the FMC sustains massive injuries and the next day she's just better and we never hear of them again

honestly, just a very poorly written book

[Nanadeb]

Caleb & Grace's Story.

Supposedly Caleb had been a SEAL so I was disappointed that he didn't anticipate more of the dangers. Also, he was seriously taken down a couple of times. A SEAL? 😒 Hmmmmm?

This book had quite a few plot holes:
1. Why didn't Caleb realize after taking Grace to the diner a lot of people could identify her?
2. If Caleb was putting in overtime when he met Grace, why didn't he work a day afterward, keeping her safe? *(We did find out at the end that he had the weekend off, but we didn't know that and it seemed we were reading their story for more than a couple of days? Hmm.)
3. If Grace had been a veterinarian before, why when she hurt her hand didn't she seem to know what to do? Was she really an animal doctor? He took her to another vet to get her checked, X-rayed, and taped up in secret.
4. Why didn't Caleb warn his family away from his place after the killers invaded? They were all very close, had keys to each other's places, and could've been severely hurt. I kept worrying about that.
5. We never got any background info for Grace either. Did she have any family? Someone to care what happened to her? It was never mentioned.
And there was some more that I can't remember.

The plot suspense kept me intrigued, but there were a few problems. They did get a Happy For Now ending. Will I keep reading? Not sure. 3.5 🌟 stars. Sorry.

[MammaDi3Gatti]

3.75 stars

So, I got a copy of this book for free from a stuff-your-e-reader promotion (my review reflects my honest opinion though), and I'm mixed about. The beginning was so good, and I was already planning on purchasing the next book in the series and preordering the third, now I'm not a hundred percent sure. Somewhere in the middle, the suspense jumped ahead a few steps, and I wonder if there was content left on the cutting room floor. Some of the non-suspense parts felt that way too. I feel like Grace's past has holes, and other parts, like her career as a veterinarian, were glossed over when they could have been a really interesting part of story. Time also seems a little off. But then it ended it with a bang that I really appreciated.

I've read this author's books before, and I've had a similar reaction; they are just a hint on the wrong side of being total keepers (like Toni Anderson or Rachel Grant), but that still puts them on the sunny side of things. So, I'll probably take the leap and hope for the best.

[Stephanie Rose]

I really enjoyed this story the most when Caleb found Grace after a sudden accident in the middle of winter with snow pouring down around her. They both have things they don’t want to talk about, and it was interesting how Caleb just helps those who need it. He really was a great person to be a coast guard after the time he passed as a Navy Seal — will say though that there is nothing that clearly says Navy Seal, it just mostly says military which just seemed a bit off for those who have actually served in one of the military branches, but it does have Seal a few times, those creature are the part of the Navy. Anyways, I really recommend giving this story a go. There are great timings of twists and turns, and the fact that Caleb’s doggie Dolly is his sidekick just makes it even better!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tesh]

This was such a fantastic book. Lots is action, drama, danger and intensity.

This was about Grace who was running from her ex when she gets protected by Coast guard swimmer Caleb when she is being pursued.

Grace and Caleb had a fast connection and a baptism by fire pretty much as trouble sets in. Their romance was strong and their chemistry definitely hot. I liked how Caleb was with her and how easily he went into Protector mode.

Very well done, with this the first in the series, it was a brilliant start and can't wait for more to come. The writing was great, easy to read with a well done plot and truly likeable characters that I want to know more about in other books.

Great work!!

[Judy Gittleson Hendrickson]

Grace is running for her life when her car hits black ice and crashes. She hides in the woods but needs help desperately. Caleb is part of the Coast Guard Rescue and when he sees something near the road, he goes to help it, thinking it is an animal. He finds Grace and protects her from the men coming after her. Can she trust him? If she keeps most of it secret, can she keep him and his family safe from her mess. Characters with great backstories, strength, deep feelings and protective sides. Loved getting to know his family and their support system. The storyline sucks you in immediately with danger, twists, surprises, wonderful Dolly, threats, intricate escapes and more. Great ending.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nancy Koske]

Grace is running and hiding to stay alive. Her ex, Hudson, has controlled her life for years until she discovered what he did for a living. Time to turn him in; he has the funds to find her somehow. She has made it to Alaska; hoping to stay alive to testify at his trial. Caleb is a former seal and now works for the Alaskan Coast Guard with a couple of his brothers. As he drives home, he hits his brakes to avoid what appears to be a deer running across the icy road, but he realizes that it is actually a woman before she disappears among the trees. What is she running from? Can he help her? Will he learn her secrets? And he have secrets of his own?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vickie Chaisson]

The Seal's Runaway

This book is first and foremost about love and family. The storyline is intense and succinct as Grace runs for her life. You will fall into this story of abuse, angst,drugs, evil ex's, suspense and romance and love. The characters are amazing and make this story flow. You will not be able to put this book down. Caleb is an ex Seal and Grace is on the run when her car breaks down. The chemistry between them builds and they are perfectly matched. They both have hurt in their past and have trust issues. This author makes you feel as if you are right there in the room with the characters and feel all of their emotions. I totally enjoyed this book and it was nice to meet the other members of the family.

[SassyCM]

What to say about this book?! It kind of had it's ups and downs which makes it hard to sum it up.
The beginning and end of the book was total page turner material. They were full of action and had me sitting at the edge of my seat.
It's the in-between I have a few problems with. Some parts of the book didn't feel believable enough to me. Also the title is a wee bit misleading. Yes, the MC used to be a SEAL but it didn't seem to influence anything about him as part of the storyline. It was more of a mentioned bullet point from his CV.

If I could I would give 3,5 stars. It is a solid start into a new series with some space for improvement.

[Victoria]

4.25 stars.

This is a new author for me and I have enjoyed getting to know her characters. The connection and chemistry was written well between Caleb and Grace, it balanced well with the danger, secrets and suspence that surrounded them. Their individual pasts made them who they were today, influenced them, and allowed them to connect on another level. I can honestly say that once I started to read this time just disappeared, my focus was on them and their journey. I am looking forward to seeing whetr this series will go.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shazza]

I absolutely loved everything about this book. The forced proximity and "grumpy meets sunshine" dynamic inside that isolated cabin is pure perfection. It is so rewarding to watch a fierce, protective hero completely melt for the heroine and go full-blown alpha mode to keep her safe.The author expertly balances heart-pounding suspense with incredibly high-heat romantic tension. It gives you all the butterfly-inducing romance you want while keeping you totally glued to the page with adrenaline. Plus, the main character's dog completely steals the show lol! It is the ultimate romantic suspense read and a total 5-star masterpiece.

[Cynthia Khan]

This is Book 1 of Alaskan Guardians starring Coast Guard rescue swimmer Caleb Meyer and Veterinarian Grace Bailey. WOW talk about an adventure with danger and in the midst of it all love and respect. I have to say this story is one of true love and determination to protect that one person and to hold them close and share in your joys and fears. These two are perfect examples of what drama and danger can’t destroy but help it grow into overcoming anything.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara]

This romance book is utterly intoxicating, passionate and one heck of a great book. This is my first time reading something by Theresa and man can she write a book that grabs you from the first paragraph. Your heart will pound in your chest and there is nothing sexier than a coast guard rescue swimmer/seal team military man and by the looks of the cover HOLY HOTNESS I have died and went to heaven. I will definetly be reading the next book in this Alaskan Guardians series because Theresa has hooked me BIG TIME.

[Anne (Izzie)]

This is the first time I have read a book by this author, but it won’t be the last. Caleb, a former SEAL now a Coastguard rescue swimmer is on his way home one night when he thinks he almost hits a deer, soon realising that it was in fact a person. Grace is running away from her very controlling boyfriend. Their story is well worth reading as they discover more about each other and Caleb keeps her safe. Looking forward to more in this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mary]

This is the first story in the new "Alaskan Guardians" series. This is a fast paced, slow burn romance about Caleb and Grace. The story has suspense, action, mystery, intrigue and an interesting setting. I like how the story develops. The characters are strong with strong chemistry. Grace is a vet whose on the run. Caleb isolated and in a remote cabin with his dog, Dolly. He finds her during a snow storm after she has an accident. He rescues and tries to keep her safe. What an adventure and thrilling ride these two go through.

[lf]

Dolly saves the day

The SEAL's Runaway is the first book I have read by the author, Theresa Beachman. I was not sure what to expect, as I don't always mesh with author's writing and story-telling styles. But I thought the book description was good and the story could be an exciting read. I quite enjoyed the story about Grace Bailey and Caleb Meyer. This is one romance mission that was thrilling and entertaining, with likeable characters, a solid story-line and some heat and swirling passion. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

[BecReadReview]

Caleb & Grace give us a slow burn that has a hot sizzle of attraction & chemistry. You feel the conflicting emotions both of them feel to take a risk & to protect each other. Brilliant sibling banter leaves you laughing. The climax gives us nail biting action. Definitely looking forward to each sibling's story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kimberley Foucher]

I really enjoyed this book. It starts off strong and careens along to a satisfying conclusion. The characters were realistic and I was rooting for their success. Theresa Beachman fans will recognize some secondary characters from The Engineer. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to all romantic suspense fans! I am looking forward to more Alaska Guardians!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Charmaine Nouwen]

The SEAL's Runaway is a romantic suspense story of Caleb and Grace..A former SEAL and now a Coast Guard rescue swimmer lives a solitary life with his dog and haunted by the ghosts of his past...A Veterinarian running away from her controlling ex who will do anything to get her back..An engaging,exciting,with action,angst,danger,steam,romance and hea..

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nate]

This was Caleb and Grace’s story. In the heart of the Alaskan wilderness, Coast Guard rescue swimmer Caleb Meyer lives a solitary life with his dog, haunted by the ghosts of his past. Until he nearly runs over a mysterious woman in the middle of the forest. Veterinarian, Grace Bailey is desperate and on the run from her controlling ex-boyfriend who will stop at nothing to get her back. With a broken-down car and nowhere else to turn, she reluctantly accepts Caleb's help. Hidden away in his isolated cabin, she struggles to trust him, but soon she discovers beneath his gruff exterior beats the heart of a loyal and fierce protector. They had steamy chemistry. A suspenseful read. And voluntarily leaving this review.

[Onlybehappy (Jewels)]

I only made it 14% before deciding this isn’t for me. It’s ultra descriptive. The opening scene is Caleb’s coast guard team doing a rescue filled with in my opinion, too much description. It has a bunch of technical terms and talk that people in that career path use. I appreciate when books are descriptive but this type of writing just isn’t for me. And I’m only just starting but there’s two repeated grammatical errors in the span of 2 pages.

[LA FITCH]

Just love this book. Caleb and his two brothers are hunky Coast Guards and Grace is the runaway FBI witness in her ex-boyfriends' trial. She is in Alaska hiding from his as he is trying to kill her. This is full of action and romance. Add in Dolly Caleb's rescue dog and this is a must read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[JM G]

I enjoyed reading this book. Once I started reading The SEAL's Runaway, I didn't want to stop reading. The characters are great and the storyline grabbed my attention from the start. I don't want to spoil this book for anyone so I won't give details. Please read the book blurb for that. I recommend reading this book.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Niki]

Loved this book and start to this series, Caleb just wants live his life with his dog. however when Grace comes crashing in to his life the last thing he expects is to want to keep her around, especially when her ex's men come looking for her.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cherie Alvaro]

This is my first time reading this author books. I found it to be extremely well written with a great plot and well-developed characters. Caleb and Grace's story was a delight to read, and I had difficulty putting it down. I hope the author continues this as a series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Will]

I really wanted to like this story more, but when a Seal is taken down so easily, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. The characters were likable, the action well choreographed and believable, and the spices were hot enough to melt paint off the walls. All in all a good story and a hot romance with an HEA.

[Sue]

This was an excellent read that takes place in Alaska. Grace is on the run and ends up there, this is where she meets Caleb after her accident. He's a Coastie. There is danger, suspense and heat. Loved Dolly is dog. HEA.

[Hanna Giesen]

This was a very basic and quick romantic suspense. There wasn’t anything too special about it and I’ll probably forget about it soon but I had a good time reading it and liked the character dynamic.
3⭐️ 🌶🌶🌶🌶

[K. Robinson]

Worth the price and more

I usually only download free books. I decided to try this author even though I had to pay a little for the book. I was certainly worth every penny. Plenty of action and romance. I highly recommend this one!

[Shirley]

definitely an interesting read ,
excitement fear, courage and finding love thru it all...