Nowhere to Run

by Samantha Baca

Welcome back to the town of Nowhere, where people come to be forgotten...

A woman who thought she left her past behind finds it staring her in the face when her ex-husband's best friend shows up in the small town she's been hiding in

219 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 25, 2026

About the author

Samantha lives in the southwest with her husband and two children, where she enjoys writing, drinking iced coffee, and watching the greatest show of all time—Friends. With over 30 books published, Samantha enjoys writing across several different genres, from steamy romantic suspense to laugh-out-loud spicy romantic comedies. She also has a sweet spot for holiday stories, so grab a blanket and get ready to binge some of the sweetest—yet spicy—holiday romance your heart can handle!

Samantha loves connecting with her readers, so here’s a list of where you can find her:

Facebook Reader Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/29457...

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSamant...

Instagram:
https://instagram.com/author_samantha...

Webpage:
www.samanthabaca.com

Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/authorsamant...

Books2Read:
https://books2read.com/ap/RQAYK9/Sama...

Reviews

[Kaylyn Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance reader copy from author.

This is book 2 in this romantic suspense series (is recommended to read in order). Samantha has a love to torture you while reading. (It’s not super extreme, but she does love to keep you at the edge of your seat and play with your heart strings.)

If you like a woman who has a past that has made her the woman she is today, she can defend herself, and stand on her own but will also let a man tend to be her needs as she sees fit, then you will love Jo!

If you like a man who will do anything for the woman he loves and is a protective hero, has no care of the consequences, then you will love Dom!

This story kept me invested from the beginning and was hard to put down when I had to complete my daily adult tasks, like go to work. I will say check your triggers/content warnings.

This book is dual POV
He falls first
One Bed
Smalltown (not country)
Forced proximity
He is her ex-husband’s best friend

[Mimi Dyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dom, Jo’s ex-husband Tray’s best friend has come to Nowhere, Colorado to warn her that her ex is determined to kill her, and Dom, who vows keep her safe, wants to help by providing insider info. But within 24 hours they are sharing a bed and a whole lot more, especially when Dom professes his love for her and confesses that he is working with the FBI to take down Tray’s network and save his sister Lauren who is being held hostage.

But imminent danger lurks, so they retreat to Dr. Foster’s mountain cabin, hoping for a safe haven, but one night someone sneaks in and shoots Jo. After surgery to stop the hemorrhage, they seek asylum in a hotel where they learn that Lauren has been delivered dead to Jo’s clinic. Then, Dom surprises Jo by showing her a picture of her daughter she had to leave behind fifteen years ago.

Wow, another nail biting thriller from Samantha Baca! Jo and Dom’s story is complicated, compelling, dangerous, and passionate, all at the same time, with intense highs and lows and an unexpected conclusion that will leave readers breathless. While this book can be read as a standalone, I suggest checking out Nowhere to Hide, the first in the Nowhere series, to enhance your reading experience. You won’t regret it.

I received this book as an ARC reviewer and voluntarily leave my honest opinion.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, my goodness this book was everything I wanted and more. Jo the FMC in this book became one of my favorite side characters from the previous book. I knew something had happened in her past to make her as strong as she was and being able to recognize when someone needed help. She was ready to step in the line of fire for any woman she knew had been hurt by someone. This book we find out why Jo is the way she is and all she has gone through and it was heartbreaking, but she didn't let it bring her down she rose above it all. I am so glad Dom showed up in her life, she didn't think she did, but he was what she needed. Jo deserves an HEA even if it takes some challenges to get there. Dom was dealing with his own stuff and having Jo next to him helped a lot. Dom was so good about knowing when to let Jo fly and when he needed to handle something for her.

This author writes some of the best characters along with the main characters and the side characters add just as much. The people that were included in the first book come back in the second and we are introduced to a couple of very important people to Jo in this book. I was completely shocked by one person who pops up in this book.

My ratings:

Enjoyment: 5/5 I will reread this and recommend for people to read

Spice: 3/5 it is open door, descriptive, dirty talking and hot

Humor: 3/5 the banter between the MMC/FMC, Jo is also a total smartass sometimes and I would crack up at some of the things she would say

[Lauren Adkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 in this series and it's just as feisty and brilliant as the first. Nowhere to run is Jo's story, one of the characters from Nowhere to hide with her own past full of mystery.

This was written really well, there's a lot of heavy topics and darkness in this one, but the relationships, loyalty and humour keep it on the lighter side.
Dom is Jo's ex husband's former best friend back from the past to try and save her life. However she's not going to be the damsel in distress and wants to fight and kick and scream every step of the way against Dom.

I love how these two interact with each other, he knows her and as much as she wants to deny it she needs him and wants him in her life. Lots of the usual characters of Nowhere coming back in this book and great to see a continuation of the storylines throughout.

[Stephanie Bates · Rating 4 out of 5]

JO & DOM HAD ME HOOKED!

I loved getting to follow Jo’s story from Nowhere to Hide into Nowhere to Run, and OMG—I loved her even more in this one! Jo is STRONG, stubborn, and absolutely not about to let Dom walk all over her, and I was HERE FOR IT

And listen… the ex’s best friend trope?! Yeahhhh, that definitely didn’t hurt! The chemistry and back-and-forth between Jo and Dom kept me completely invested. I especially loved the way Dom knew her—the little things, the deeper things, all of it. Their dynamic was just SO GOOD.

There are definitely some darker topics throughout, so check your triggers before diving in, but this story had the chemistry, emotion, tension, and characters I wanted. I had such a good time with this one!

[Linda V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nowhere to Run is book #2 in the Nowhere series. Jo is a nurse in the small town of Nowhere, Colorado. She has lived a hard life full of childhood trauma and an abusive ex-husband that she still hides from. When Dom turns up on her radar, she's wary of his intentions as he was her ex-husband's best friend. Dom has secrets that he's not sharing, but he's definitely not hiding his long ignored feelings for Jo. This story was intense and intriguing from start to finish. We got all the characters from the first book, so if you start this series now, don't worry. You get enough backstory to not feel lost, but not enough to be spoilers! All I can say is that if I have to snowed in anywhere, I want it to be in Nowhere!!

[Karrie Lynn]

I love romantic suspense and a woman in hiding. This story follows Jo a woman living in Nowhere after escaping her abusive ex husband who was inti shady dealings with her now deceased uncle. Jo knows its a matter of time before Tray cones to find her and boy does her world get flipped when Dom, Trays best friend shows up. Obviously she thinks Dom is here to rat her out but the twisted take is deeper than she knows and Dom is here to shed light on it. These two fall hard while trying to keep Jo safe from her past while planning for a future.

[Emily Busick]

Jo and Dom rank in my top 10 of characters. They don't let their shitty past keep them down; they use it to build themselves back stronger. And together they are unbeatable.

It takes a hot minute to be absolutely sure that Dom is, in fact, the good guy in this story, and he sure does keep us guessing for a while. But once we know, we know.

This book keeps you on your toes, never letting you fully settle, and I love it.

Also, Samantha, really? The ending? What are you doing to your readers?

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Angee Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha Baca has a way with characters and storylines. This is the second book in this romantic suspense series, and it is a masterpiece. The FMC, Jo, is a strong character which I love. She can take care of herself if need be. Dom, the MMC, is a protector and will burn the world down for the woman he loves. He also falls first (swoon). The action in this story will keep you on the edge of your seat. You will want to read this series in order but you will not be disappointed.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the return to Nowhere. I liked Jo and Dom. Jo has went through so much and I liked that she got her happy ending. The suspense was good as was the storyline. I really like the characters and the town and am looking forward to the next book. Overall this was a good story I read in a couple hours.

[Amanda M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book and loved the storyline. The suspense in this was incredible. It's a thriller that had me on the edge of my seat reading it. It is dark, gritty, and raw. It draws you in from the first chapter and hooks you. The story is packed with just enough details to keep you engaged till the very end. So darn good.

[Liz Ranne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! It's Jo & Dom's story & it was awesome! He comes looking for her, which she's wary of because he's her ex's best friend. He has secrets of his own but neither of them can deny the chemistry between them. There's a lot that happens here & I loved it! The spice was fantastic! Recommend this book & author!

[Torey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story. There was so much to unpack in this expertly packed book and I loved every second of it. Jo is such a phenomenal character with superhuman strength. She has been through so much and just continues to be such a good, caring person.

[Paige Davila · Rating 4 out of 5]

We're back in Nowhere, Colorado where people go to hide. I love Jo, she's strong and takes no bull. Even when she's trying to protect everyone else. Her ex is hunting her... she knows he'll never stop looking. Dom shows up, he wants to protect Jo. He's her ex's best friend, she's not sure if she can trust. He was once her friend too. Can Dom protect Jo and prove she can trust him?