He leaves her no choice but to run—again. Or is it already too late?
While investigating his sister’s disappearance, Detective Mitch Saunders uncovers a disturbing link to one of his old, and very cold, cases: a young woman who walked out her backdoor and simply vanished. When Mitch discovers she’s been in hiding all these years and living under an assumed identity, he also realizes Laura Macnamara—now Charlie Hart—holds the key to his sister’s safety.
Despite the fact that he’s law enforcement and promising protection, Charlie refuses to help him. Between her carefully buried secrets and well-founded fears, her life—and others—will always be in peril. Despite their growing attraction, she knows that to bring his sister home, he’d willingly risk exposing Charlie to danger.
When their loved ones become caught in a predator’s twisted trap and they lose faith in each other, Mitch and Charlie must face their worst fears head on.
This is a gripping, stand-alone, romantic suspense in which a cold case and a missing persons investigation collide. Buried secrets mean past threats are very much alive and danger lurks at every twist in this on-the-run, woman-in-danger thrill ride!
Awards for Runaway: 2016 National Reader's Choice Awards Winner for Best First Book 2016 National Reader's Choice Awards Finalist in Romantic Suspense 2016 International Digital Awards Fifth place in Romantic Suspense 2012 Put Your Heart in a Book Winner in Romantic Suspense
For more Romantic Suspense from JB Schroeder: Check out UNHINGED: Book 1 in the Unlikely Series, where Evil lurks in the most unlikely places…
JB lived for Sunday trips to the library growing up, and her favorite subjects were english and writing. She graduated Penn State with a degree in creative writing, then landed a job in publishing in New York City. Production led to design, which fed her creative soul and her bookshelves for a long time...
Now, JB writes romantic suspense and contemporary romance to make your heart race!
Mystery, Tragedy, Trauma, Abduction, Abuse, Romance and a huge big enormous amount of energy in its pages that keep you hooked
Abuse and abduction is not the most "nicest" of subject matter to read, but there is nothing explicit. More the 'hint' factor.
BLURB says :
Sixteen-year-old Laura Macnamara walked out her backdoor and disappeared without a trace
BUT why?
We get to understand why later in the book.
Mitch Saunders is a Detective. He takes some time off because his sister is missing. He remembers the case of Laura years before, he was actually the lead in it, but it was shelved as a "cold case", no sightings, no body, no conclusion.
Now his sister is missing.
He knows she is a drug addict. His Mother and himself have tried all kinds of help to get her off of it, rehab didn't work. Near death experiences didn't either.
We see Mitch hunting his sister down relentlessly throughout the most down and out druggy places you could imagine.
Mitch discovers a familiar connection between the disappearance of Laura years ago and now his sister. There is one person in common with both.
Mitch comes upon Charlie. We learn early on that Charlie is in fact LAURA. The missing teenager from years ago. Mitch has grown fond of Charlie. But will his relationship with Laura [Charlie] stop him from finding his sister?
NOTHING will get in the way of him finding his sister. Nothing at all. Not even Laura's secret.
Not even Laura's hiding. Not even Laura asking him not to.
What will Laura do?
Laura has more than one secret herself.
This book turned out much better than I was expecting , I am not sure what I was expecting really, but I certainly wasn't expecting to be kept awake most of the night finishing this book because I couldn't leave it alone, truly, I stayed up to finish it and was hanging the next day!
If you get a chance to read this, I urge you to as its certainly a full blown story, plenty of action in this one, plenty of things to think about and plenty of different slants on many avenues within the book.
Mitche's mother had my full sympathy when she was blaming herself for her daughters drug addiction.
Like all us Moms, we always blame ourselves don't we.
Fabulous book that brought out emotions within the characters personality that you could visualize. I think that is another reason why I loved the writing so much, the explanations of how the body language was with each feeling with each emotion, yes, this book is high ranking at the top pile.
I'm off to see what else this author has written.
* My thanks to Two Feet Press and the authors for granted me this book to read and review **
JB Schroeder doesn't pull any punches with this gritty novel that explores the darker side of human nature.
There is one shocking, distressing, unbelievably eerie scene with such devastating consequences that I had to reread the scene to make sure what I thought was happening really was happening. It isn't often that a scene in a book gives me the shivers, but this one did.
RUNAWAY is fast-paced and compelling; Schroeder's masterful writing sucks you in and keeps you there. This is the kind of book that stays with you long after you've read the final page.
This is the kind of romantic suspense story that sneaks up on you, grabs you by the hand and drags you along for a wild, sometimes startling ride (just wait until the middle).
JB Schroeder pens a terrific story, with characters that touch the heart and a plot line that is both suspenseful and which has a social conscience. It'll keep you guessing and biting your nails. And, most importantly, satisfied in the end.
Can't wait to see what this author has for us next.
'Runaway' has proven to be exactly what it was meant to be~ a spine-tingeling, gritty, edgy, THRILLING Romantic Suspense novel that pulled me in and rattled my bones without the slightest chance of allowing me to put it down!
JB Schroeder has woven a tale that heightens the emotions to a level this reader has not experienced before. It's heart-breaking, heart-pounding, haunting, steamy~ an edge of your seat marvel that never misses a beat!
Two young women, and on the run, fight against their horrific pasts as their lives collide in the most unexpected ways. Their futures hang in the balance as evil rears its ugly head yet again, in the hopes of claiming them as its own, once and for all...
Deep secrets, life-changing obstacles, and a wickedly twisted predator, make this Award-Winning story an elevated page-turner that will have you in its clutches before you even realize it.
I thank the author for my personal copy of 'Runaway' that has allowed me the opportunity to experience a most compelling, dramatic gem of a story that most certainly has made an impact.
I love finding new romantic suspense authors, especially ones who aren’t afraid to cross that line on sensitive subject matter.
Now how to describe this book as so many of the characters are in no win situations. As I got further and further into this book I couldn’t see how the author was going to be able to save the characters that had found them each in an impossible situation. Without giving away any big spoilers the author chose to give an ugly realistic outcome for one. Now for those that are worried that the author kills off the hero or heroine that does not happen but there is a shocking scene that deeply sadden me but it does unfortunately happen all too often in the real world.
Right from the start you are sucked into the story and I was on the edge of my seat chapter after chapter waiting for what I knew was going to be a shocking climax to the story. I was not disappointed.
This is the first book in what’s going to be a series which has Charlie Hart and Mitch Saunders (main characters in this book) form a private investigation firm called Retrieval, Inc.
Wow! This book was truly amazing and not at all what I expected! There was tragedy, love, romance, angst and everything else that makes a great book.
The two main characters, Charlie and Mitch, are both dealing with horrible situations. Charlie ran away, leaving her past behind her after getting involved with a horribly abusive man who took advantage of her innocence and a difficult situation. Mitch was the detective assigned to find Charlie (Or Lauren) at that time, her case nearly ruined his career when he couldn't find her. Now he is searching again, only this time it's for his younger sister who has run away. In chasing her, he finds Charlie who is initially reluctant to help him find his sister despite the obvious connection the two have.
This book sucked me in right from the first page and was filled with suspense throughout the entire book. I didn't want to put the book down, wanting to desperately know what happened to both Charlie and Tiffany (Mitch's sister).
While this book is the first in a series, it does not contain any cliffhangers.
This book grabbed you from the first page and did not let go until the last. I'm not sure how to dive into this review without spoilers. I don't do spoilers, so please take my word that this was a gripping tale. Suspense, drama, also romance for two deserving damaged, struggling people.
I liked Mitch, a cop who is searching for his missing sister who is addicted to drugs. He carries his own baggage and her case crosses a case that damaged his career and drove him nuts never getting closure. He crosses paths with Charlie Hart and pieces start to fall into place. His past case and his sisters collide with great force. Meanwhile at home secrets best left alone come to light and both worlds collide.
This book was dark and at times sad. But I really love her writing and while some outcomes are painful. Life is not perfect and it fit the story. JB Schroeder is a new author for me and I will be reading more. She has a great voice in romantic suspense genre.
Cleverly written, with a creep factor turned up to eleven, RUNAWAY is unlike anything I've ever read. You will fall in love with Mitch and Charlie in this twisted tale of facing down your worst fears. This book is not to be missed!
This is a very well written book, but I must caution you that if you have problems with child molesters or drug then this is not the book for you. This is an exciting book. There was an evil man in this small Pennsylvania town named Thomas that preyed on young children and then manipulated them. Laura was one of the lucky ones that got away from Thomas before he killed her. The man had a sick mind but was very smart. He worked as a chemist and was able to make his own drugs. Detective Mitch Saunders worked on Laura’s case and she was never found, and he was crucified in the media. My heart broke for him when his sister who was a teenager went missing, and he found out she had been around Thomas. Mitch knew she was into drugs as he and his mother had forced her into a rehabilitation center but it didn’t take. When Mitch got word she may have gone to San Francisco, he took time off and flew out there to look for her. It was so depressing what he went through to try and find her. He did meet some interesting people out there. He met Charlie who helped out at a church food center and he asked her about his sister. He was surprised that she reminded him of someone. The two of them were attracted to each other but there were demons for both of them to work through. I was on the edge of my seat at times. I strongly encourage you to read the book.
Wow!!!!! Buckle up for this one! There is so much nail-biting suspense as the plot develops that you can't possibly prepare yourself for the next shocking twist in this story. Mitch and Charlie's strength and resilience are tested when a depraved madman enters their lives. This gripping tale is not to be missed. The fast-paced drama will sweep you up and command your attention to the last moment of the fiery ending. Really Great Read!!!!!
JB Schroeder’s Runaway is a well-written and compelling story that deals with difficult subject matter. I found the book hard to put down and recommend it to readers who like suspense novels with a romantic twist.
I couldn't put this book down. The plot was gripping and fast-paced. The chemistry between Mitch and Charlie was hot, and the barrier to their relationship seemed almost insurmountable. I can't stand books where the H and h split because of a simple misunderstanding. That certainly wasn't the case here. In addition, the writing, meaning the sentence structures, grammar, and descriptions, was really well-done. This was the first book I'd ever read by this author, but most likely not my last.
I was given a copy of Runaway from NetGalley for an honest review and this is my review. This book was a very well written suspense book with some very heavy subject matter that was handled extremely well. When I read a book that deals with pedophiles I get really nervous about how the author is going to handle it and Schroeder did a great job that added to this book and made me a fan of her writing style. I really enjoyed this book and the story. It was something new and fresh that a lot of authors would not touch in a romantic suspense book and I loved it. The fact we were dealing with a pedophile and also a young drug addict as two characters in this book it was a different level and dimension. Then there was Charlie and Mitch whom I loved together. They were like fire and ice at time but when they got together they were great. I am giving this book four out of five stars and am looking forward to second book in the series.
A fresh voice in romantic suspense, J.B. Schroeder creates a colorful world of terror that has you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Heroine Charlie Hart (formerly Laura Macnamara) ran away from home six years ago to escape the clutches of her sadistic neighbor, villain Thomas Weihle. To save herself and the daughter that she gave up Charlie must return to the scene of the crime and face her greatest fear. Throw is sexy detective Mitch Saunders and you have a recipe for an edge-of-your-seat thriller that kept me constantly wondering what was going to happen next.
Schroeder puts a unique spin on her suspense stories, uping the ante when you least expect it. I couldn't put Runaway down. Very nicely done!
This book was provided to me by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. Although it was tough to get into at the beginning because there seemed to be just one to many coincidences regarding how all the characters tied to each other, I got hooked quickly and was able to get past that. There were a lot of twists and a few completely shocking surprises. This book was very different from others in its genre in that it actually entered the mind of the worst type of criminal- the pedofile. It was difficult to read in some parts and should carry a warning regarding possible triggers.
A riveting story that will keep you on the edge of your seat and anxious for more!
This story has a unique plot and strong characters that sucked me in and kept me turning the page. I was rooting for Charlie as she worked to overcome a devastating past and help Mitch in his journey to find his sister. There was a shocking twist I hadn't expected that gave me chills as I read it. A spine-tingling story that will keep you guessing and wanting more. I look forward to reading more from this debut author!
JB Schroeder creates a great balance between suspense, women’s issues, triumphing over adversity and romance. With a strong heroine who you can’t help but root for, and a diabolical villain who will send CHILLS down your spine, RUNAWAY will stay with you long after you read the stunning and shocking conclusion. I love reading stories that honestly surprise me with unique plot twists and RUNAWAY did not disappoint. I'm looking forward to more stories from this author.
My 25th book of 2020! What a great read and I’m lucky to say the author is a new friend of mine! If the characters are engaging, then I know I’m going to enjoy the book. Runaway did not disappoint. I rooted for Mitch and Charlie theoughout the entire book. I literally hated the chapters involving Thomas because his creepiness oozed through the words/ the pages. And a shout-out for any book with a character named Deirdre!
A chilling read by a debut author! This suspense kept me up reading until late at night. Mitch and Charlie have dark pasts and the reader roots for them until the very end. Twists and turns make for a compelling read. Hard to put down. Recommended!
Now this author I have met, and this is the first book I got of her’s - and it was just as expected - fantastic.
This book has witches, it has magic, it has baked goods, it has a bit of suspense and of course a fabulous love story.
Rebecca and Dru are the epitome of friends to lovers — I loved these characters - and all the others who make this story a joy to read.
There is a bit of suspense, Dru is trying to locate his sister, and comes to Portsmouth on a lead, Rebecca owns and runs a bakery, and her cinnamon rolls are blue ribbon worthy, you can taste them through the book…..
I love the obstacles with family, funny characters, stupid characters and of course you have the jerk —-
This book was so wonderfully written and definitely needed after reading a very dart book….
Go check out Ashlyn - she is a true talent and wonderful human.
When I was first introduced to JB Schroeder's books, it was with her romance books and fell in love. Then I found out about the suspense romance, had to give it a shot and so happy I did. Seriously, what a wonderful author. The story is one that keeps you engaged, wanting and needing to know what happens. How does everything play out while keeping you emotionally invested. This book had me in tears, scared, worried, etc. There were so many OMG moments!!! The characters were amazing together. I look forward to book 2!
After Detective Mitch Saunders sister goes missing and tries searching for her in drug-addicted places he also discovers that an old case of 16-yr old Laura McNamara who walked out of her home and disappeared. Mitch discovers years later that Laura is now known as Charlie Hart and that there are similarities in both cases. Mitch had found that a serial killer known as Thomas had preyed on molesting and killing children except for Laura who escaped. I really enjoyed this suspenseful mystery thriller novel.
Your not kidding. Heart racing suspence at its finest. Totally entertaining. You won't want to set it down. A great story teller. I'd recommend to anyone as long as they can handle it. I didn't like the _____ children ________ but I loved the freedom of their spirits. Heartbreaking as much as it is joyous. Captivating.