Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Runaway Heart

Rate this book
Running at the first sign of opposition is nothing new to Kyla Parrish. She’s never held onto a relationship for more than a few months, and she’s quit more jobs than most people apply for. Until Will Lachland. He’s the first man who ever made her think of getting serious about something, about putting down roots. But she can’t forget her mother’s ominous warning; Men are users. They take and take and leave nothing but a shell of the woman she used to be.

Fear of losing her heart to anyone or anything has kept Kyla running all her life. This time, she runs from Chicago to the family farm where she spent her happiest childhood summers. A new life and a new chance at romance seem like the answer to her prayers. But things are never as simple as they seem.

Can she find the love she longs for even though she can’t forget Will? Or is something else, something greater, calling her heart toward home?

This unpredictable contemporary Christian romance novel will encourage readers while reminding them how much fun falling in love can be. Perfectly fun weekend read.

319 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 6, 2013

114 people are currently reading
310 people want to read

About the author

Teresa Slack

43 books173 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
128 (50%)
4 stars
69 (26%)
3 stars
49 (19%)
2 stars
6 (2%)
1 star
4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Profile Image for Sonia.
628 reviews
August 2, 2014
I liked the religious undertones of the story, but I really was irritated with the main character. She was too whiny.
530 reviews2 followers
July 29, 2018
I appreciated the fact that there were no f-bombs in this book, and I also appreciated that the author did a pretty good job of constructing her sentences and describing people and places. There were some mistakes in the writing that a good editor should have corrected, but there weren't nearly as many mistakes as many books today have.

Sometimes the author would change the character and the time and place with very little warning. A new chapter or a little more blank space between the changes would have been helpful to the reader.

The sudden jumps from romantic thoughts to religious decisions were distracting and seemed out of character. I think those transitions could have been handled better.
121 reviews
August 20, 2020
Running Home

Kyla has been running her whole life--since her parents neglected their roles as parents by moving a continent apart and uprooting their children with every new romance. The only home she really had as a child was with the grandparents she hasn't seen in ten years. But it's to this home she runs when she panics at the possibility of a future with the man she loves. Here she finally faces her fears and realizes what she was afraid of in the first place. Slack contrasts Kyla's dysfunctional and broken family with the stability she finds with her grandfather's guidance and God's love. The depth of love and patience Will showed were worth waiting for.
57 reviews
July 28, 2025
Engaging Story

I love this story of Will and Kyla! I got frustrated with Kyla at times because it took her so long to open her heart, but it was understandable. The last chapters have some really important lessons on faith and it was a joy to see the journeys Kyla and Will took to get there. The only reason I didn’t give this a five star was because I felt it ended too soon. Just when they are finding their way, it ended. Would have like another chapter or two, or at least an epilogue.
57 reviews
October 18, 2017
Present day fairy tale

I loved this story. It presents real life scenarios in relationships and how surrendering our lives to Christ changes the dynamics in every issue. He alone is our peace.
1 review
Read
August 9, 2019
Awesome Christian novel

I began reading this book before my spring break. I needed peace just like Kyla. This story renewed my faith. Thank you.
Profile Image for Ruth.
49 reviews2 followers
September 24, 2020
Good book

This wasn't what I expected. It is a good book. I did not want to stop reading. Good Clean Romance.
Profile Image for Alyssa.
174 reviews57 followers
March 13, 2015
I liked that this was a story about family. I loved the grandpa and his ornery, grumpy ways. I liked what we saw of Sonny and his wife, though it was such a small part at the start of the book. I like that the girl chose insert-name-here at the end.
However...I confess I skimmed over this book pretty much. It had a pretty interesting start, but somewhere in the seemingly endless narration that occurred for the most part, the book lost me. It's not that I hate narration--on the contrary, I love it. I guess the words felt a bit too dry and the dialogue a bit too winding. I feel like some parts were too jolted and lacked the fluidity if one scene sliding into another, especially when the narrative voice changed character heads. I felt that too much focus was placed on the main character's reflections on her childhood, and there were many times that I wished we had seen a lot more about the other characters, especially regarding the changes that some of them went through.
Profile Image for Cheryl Ellis.
127 reviews4 followers
November 17, 2015
Enjoyable read

I enjoyed this book. At times. I thought the storyline was a bit slow, but overall a good book.
Kyla grew up in a home where a mom went from one man to the next, so not a lot of stability. You see how this affects Kyla as a young woman in a serious relationship. Will grew up opposite of that, a very stable home.
Brandon is the "good neighbor" who is looking out for Kyla's grandfather. Can Kyla figure out who is the right man for her? Or will she settle to be comfortable, but not in love?
Profile Image for Lillie.
Author 21 books44 followers
October 25, 2015
This was a different romance, in that we don't experience the development of their love. The story is about Kyla's fear of committing to a man (or a job or anything else, for that matter). I thought her angst about her mother's dire warnings about men was a little overdone, but her spiritual growth was a positive.
Profile Image for Joleen.
2,669 reviews1,225 followers
November 23, 2014
Nice little book about a girl who is afraid of life long commitments because her mother was a flake and dropped marriages like something hot.
Running away to her grandfathers farm was a life altering experience for several people.
242 reviews1 follower
June 29, 2015
Delightful story

A sweet clean romance. The end was a little more contrived than I usually like, but not so much that I took away a star. The religious references are clear, so if that is not your thing, you won't like this book.
488 reviews2 followers
April 8, 2016
Very enjoyable

I like the way Teresa Slack writes. Her stories have a redemptive quality to them. This is about Kyla and the issues that held/hold her back. The characters are all very real. I do recommend this book.
Profile Image for Heather.
202 reviews5 followers
March 9, 2014
chick lit at its best! this is a fun read but plenty of angst to keep you turninf the
Profile Image for Lauren Watson.
110 reviews3 followers
August 4, 2014
Good book

Good book

this was a good innocent book to read. it was,refreshing to other have to read about all of the sex scenes
Profile Image for Margaret Klein.
109 reviews1 follower
August 8, 2014
Enjoy!

I enjoyed reading this story. Running away is never the solution to your problems, some times it only delays them.
10 reviews
August 4, 2016
Sweet story

There were a few typos & grammar issues, but overall I really enjoyed this story. The characters were believable & funny. A story about family, faith & true love.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.