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Running Scared
#1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson draws readers into a tension-filled story of suspense, as a woman’s secret past returns with a vengeance . . .
Kate Summers’ teenage son, Jon, has been having nightmares. Someone is chasing him, the footsteps drawing relentlessly nearer. Jon can’t see the man’s face. He only senses that danger is coming—and there’s no way to stop it.
“Never tell anyone he’s not your boy,” was the warning. And Kate hasn’t. Not since the day fifteen years ago when she was offered what she most wanted—a healthy newborn baby. He was hers to keep, provided she moved far away, for good. She’s kept her word, raising Jon in a small Oregon town, lying to him for both their sakes. Despite his gift—or curse—of premonition, Jon hasn’t divined that he was adopted illegally. But now Kate’s long-ago choices are engulfing the life she’s tried to build.
Daegan O’Rourke has come to this remote corner of the Pacific Northwest to find answers only Kate can give. He understands why she’s wary of him, but there’s a far greater threat at hand. Someone is tracking Jon down—ready to kill him and anyone who gets in the way. And convincing Kate to trust him, even once she knows the whole shocking truth, is Daegan’s only hope of keeping them alive . . .
Kate Summers’ teenage son, Jon, has been having nightmares. Someone is chasing him, the footsteps drawing relentlessly nearer. Jon can’t see the man’s face. He only senses that danger is coming—and there’s no way to stop it.
“Never tell anyone he’s not your boy,” was the warning. And Kate hasn’t. Not since the day fifteen years ago when she was offered what she most wanted—a healthy newborn baby. He was hers to keep, provided she moved far away, for good. She’s kept her word, raising Jon in a small Oregon town, lying to him for both their sakes. Despite his gift—or curse—of premonition, Jon hasn’t divined that he was adopted illegally. But now Kate’s long-ago choices are engulfing the life she’s tried to build.
Daegan O’Rourke has come to this remote corner of the Pacific Northwest to find answers only Kate can give. He understands why she’s wary of him, but there’s a far greater threat at hand. Someone is tracking Jon down—ready to kill him and anyone who gets in the way. And convincing Kate to trust him, even once she knows the whole shocking truth, is Daegan’s only hope of keeping them alive . . .
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
2238 people are currently reading
10815 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Jackson
271 books9,489 followersLisa Jackson is the number-one New York Times bestselling author of over ninety-five novels, including the Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya Series, the Pescoli and Alvarez Series, the Savannah series, and numerous stand alone novels. She also is the co-author of One Last Breath, Last Girl Standing, and the Colony Series, written with her sister and bestselling author Nancy Bush, as well as the collaborative novels Sinister and Ominous, written with Nancy Bush and Rosalind Noonan. There are over thirty million copies of her novels in print and her writing has been translated into twenty languages.
Before she became a nationally bestselling author, she was a mother struggling to keep food on the table by writing novels, hoping against hope that someone would pay her for them. Today, neck deep in murder, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.
With dozens of bestsellers to her name, Lisa Jackson is a master of taking readers to the edge of sanity—and back—in novels that buzz with dangerous secrets and deadly passions. She continues to be fascinated by the minds and motives of both her killers and their pursuers—the personal, the professional, and the downright twisted. As she builds the puzzle of relationships, actions, clues, lies, and personal histories that haunt her protagonists, she must also confront the fear and terror faced by her victims and the harsh and enduring truth that, in the real world, terror and madness touch far too many lives and families.
Visit http://www.LisaJackson.com where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.
Before she became a nationally bestselling author, she was a mother struggling to keep food on the table by writing novels, hoping against hope that someone would pay her for them. Today, neck deep in murder, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.
With dozens of bestsellers to her name, Lisa Jackson is a master of taking readers to the edge of sanity—and back—in novels that buzz with dangerous secrets and deadly passions. She continues to be fascinated by the minds and motives of both her killers and their pursuers—the personal, the professional, and the downright twisted. As she builds the puzzle of relationships, actions, clues, lies, and personal histories that haunt her protagonists, she must also confront the fear and terror faced by her victims and the harsh and enduring truth that, in the real world, terror and madness touch far too many lives and families.
Visit http://www.LisaJackson.com where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 465 reviews
August 9, 2021
In this book 15 year-old Jon Summers, unknown to himself, was adopted at birth in unusual circumstances. Jon has visions of the past and future and talks about them, so of course he's bullied at school.
The crux of the story revolves around Jon's birth grandfather trying to track him down and get him back so the family fortune can pass to him. Other familiy members - wanting the fortune themselves - aren't so keen on the idea. The story involves some not so savory family interactions ( a little incest anyone?). An average suspense thriller.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
August 15, 2022
This had me on the edge of my seat. Kate takes in a baby to claim as her own. She wants a second chance as a mom and this seems to be the best opportunity having lost her own less than a year before. She knows the adoption may be crocked but how can she deny a baby and an opportunity to restart her shattered life.
Unbeknownst to Kate, her son become the only pawn of a very weird family hunting excursion. After a decade and a half, Daegan is hired to search for the baby that is to inherit the family dynasty. Deagon was hired to eliminate this heir by Jon's biological mother but Deagan can't follow through because he has grown extremely fond of both Kate and Jon.
Love this author!!! She really creates spectacular characters. Daegon is really easy to hate but one comes to sympathize and understand what made him into the hardened man he has become. But no matter how jaded he is, everyone just wants to love and be loved in return. This is a story that really allows one to not only believe in love but second chances.
Unbeknownst to Kate, her son become the only pawn of a very weird family hunting excursion. After a decade and a half, Daegan is hired to search for the baby that is to inherit the family dynasty. Deagon was hired to eliminate this heir by Jon's biological mother but Deagan can't follow through because he has grown extremely fond of both Kate and Jon.
Love this author!!! She really creates spectacular characters. Daegon is really easy to hate but one comes to sympathize and understand what made him into the hardened man he has become. But no matter how jaded he is, everyone just wants to love and be loved in return. This is a story that really allows one to not only believe in love but second chances.
July 3, 2018
Not her best but not her worst.
January 31, 2011
I normally like Lisa Jackson's books and was excited to see this "new one" at the library. But when I started reading it I almost immediately elt, "Something is wrong with this. The pacing is off. There are scenes that don't fit. It's like it's been padded out with extra material to make it longer than it ought to be."
Then I looked at the author's note in the front of the book and discovered that this is exactly what happened. The original book was published under the title WISHES. It went out of print, and the publisher agreed to republish it if the author added more chapters and "notched up" the characters and the action.
Good try, Lisa, but "longer" isn't always "better." It's tough on an author when she/he is forced to do this. I bet I would really have enjoyed the original version. I got bored with this one.
Then I looked at the author's note in the front of the book and discovered that this is exactly what happened. The original book was published under the title WISHES. It went out of print, and the publisher agreed to republish it if the author added more chapters and "notched up" the characters and the action.
Good try, Lisa, but "longer" isn't always "better." It's tough on an author when she/he is forced to do this. I bet I would really have enjoyed the original version. I got bored with this one.
September 10, 2014
Couldn't finish it. Failed to grab my attention and the writing seems a little off. Ex: "She reached for the coffee pot on the stove and burned her fingers....she added warm coffee to her cup..." Um, warm coffee burns your fingers? Too many others on the shelf to keep going with this one. One Star
June 3, 2019
Kate summers has just illegally adopted a baby boy named Jon who she realizes later on had a gift-or curse-of seeing into peoples past and futures. Now fifteen years later jon has a nightmare of his own future, hes running from a man that reeks with danger. Shortly after, Daegen O'Rourke comes to town seeking answers only Kate can give, and is suspiciously interested in Kate and Jon's life. What does this mysterious stranger want? And who is the man that's after Jon.
My thoughts:
I went into this booking thinking it was going to be something completely different then it was. This is the first book I've read by Lisa Jackson and I LOVED IT! They're were so many characters in this book and the author made it very easy to remember who was who. It had just the right amount of likeable and unlikable characters that it balanced out nicely, though Daegen was my altime favorite. The characters were very well written with lots of backstories. It was a great story, lots of family drama and lots of love, though it was a little fluffy for a thriller novel. It also dealt with aspects like incest, child abuse, and violence. The ending was AMAZING!! This was a great read.
My thoughts:
I went into this booking thinking it was going to be something completely different then it was. This is the first book I've read by Lisa Jackson and I LOVED IT! They're were so many characters in this book and the author made it very easy to remember who was who. It had just the right amount of likeable and unlikable characters that it balanced out nicely, though Daegen was my altime favorite. The characters were very well written with lots of backstories. It was a great story, lots of family drama and lots of love, though it was a little fluffy for a thriller novel. It also dealt with aspects like incest, child abuse, and violence. The ending was AMAZING!! This was a great read.
January 19, 2020
Incredibly awful. Another case of seeing an audiobook at the library by an big name author I’ve never read so I gave it a try and was really disappointed. Poor plotting, cliches, paper cutout characters, melodrama. Skip this one.
March 21, 2014
I've never really read a romantic suspense before, so I'm not sure if I don't like the genre, or if I just don't like this book. I thought the plot was too unbelievable and I didn't really like any of the characters. I also felt like the story needed to be edited by about 10-15% to keep it from dragging. I listened to this on audiobook. The narrator has a great voice, but he read the whole thing in a movie announcer voice, which made the story sound cheesy. In addition, the author used soooooo many cliches to describe people that I found myself rolling my eyes constantly.
November 16, 2021
Σαν γραφη δεν παρουσιαζει κάτι ιδιαιτερο,βέβαια μπορεί να φταίει η μετάφραση...Πλοκή ενδιαφέρουσα.Στις τελευταιες 60- 70 σελιδες του βιβλιου η συγγραφεας δειχνει μια παράξενη βιασύνη με αποτελεσμα να χαθούν οι άριστες εντυπώσεις που ειχα αρχικά.Λες και γραφτηκε απο άλλο πρόσωπο .3.5 αστεράκια απο μενα .
October 31, 2019
This book was okay. Not great. The story was good, but it turned out to be chick lit. Too much sexual tension throughout the book, especially when the reader knows how it’s going to turn out. I also thought that the book was long for the storyline (413 pages). Not sure that I’ll rush back to this author.
January 6, 2019
Purchased audiobook WORST BOOK EVER.
SERIOUSLY. Constantly hearing “Who are you? He’s my son... “. don’t waste a minute of time on this one.
1/2 the book could of been removed an would have never been missed.
SERIOUSLY. Constantly hearing “Who are you? He’s my son... “. don’t waste a minute of time on this one.
1/2 the book could of been removed an would have never been missed.
October 11, 2021
Kate beginnt nach dem Unfalltod ihres Mannes und ihrer kleinen Tochter ein neues Leben. Ihr einziger Trost ist ihr Baby Jon - doch es liegt auch über diesem Glück ein Schatten: Kate hat das Baby illegal 'adoptiert' - unter der Bedingung, dass sie niemandem gegenüber auch nur ein Sterbenswörtchen über seine Herkunft - über die sie selbst nur sehr wenig weiß - verraten. 15 Jahre später taucht ein Fremder in Hopewell auf der sich um Freundschaft zu Kate und Jon bemüht und zu dem sich beide auf magische Art und Weise hingezogen fühlen. Doch Daegan O’Rourke birgt ein finsteres Geheimnis, und Kate und Jon werden in die üblen Machenschaften einer psychotischen Familie Sullivan hineingezogen.
Ich hatte einen spannenden Thriller erwartet, aber ich kann schon direkt sagen das dies kein Thriller ist. Für mich ist das eher ein Familiendrama gewesen, der ganz nett zu lesen gewesen ist. Mehr aber auch nicht.
Die Geschichte war nett zu lesen, da der Schreibstil sehr flüssig gewesen ist. Aber die Geschichte wie auch die Charaktere bleiben nur oberflächlich, sodass ich keine Verbindung entwickeln konnte. Sehr schade. Denn hätte das Ganze etwas mehr Tiefe gehabt, hätte ich auch darüber hinwegsehen können, dass dies eher ein Roman ist, der mich unterhalten konnte. Aber naja.. Ist eben nicht so gewesen. Dann kommt noch hinzu, dass die ganze Geschichte einfach so typisch amerikanisch ist und sich an typischen Klischees bedient. Das hat mir nicht gefallen.
Das Ende ist total realitätsfern gewesen und mein Augenrollen ist vorprogrammiert gewesen.
Insgesamt war es halbwegs ok gewesen, ich kann es aber nicht weiterempfehlen.
2,5 von 5 Ottis
Ich hatte einen spannenden Thriller erwartet, aber ich kann schon direkt sagen das dies kein Thriller ist. Für mich ist das eher ein Familiendrama gewesen, der ganz nett zu lesen gewesen ist. Mehr aber auch nicht.
Die Geschichte war nett zu lesen, da der Schreibstil sehr flüssig gewesen ist. Aber die Geschichte wie auch die Charaktere bleiben nur oberflächlich, sodass ich keine Verbindung entwickeln konnte. Sehr schade. Denn hätte das Ganze etwas mehr Tiefe gehabt, hätte ich auch darüber hinwegsehen können, dass dies eher ein Roman ist, der mich unterhalten konnte. Aber naja.. Ist eben nicht so gewesen. Dann kommt noch hinzu, dass die ganze Geschichte einfach so typisch amerikanisch ist und sich an typischen Klischees bedient. Das hat mir nicht gefallen.
Das Ende ist total realitätsfern gewesen und mein Augenrollen ist vorprogrammiert gewesen.
Insgesamt war es halbwegs ok gewesen, ich kann es aber nicht weiterempfehlen.
2,5 von 5 Ottis
August 14, 2011
Lisa Jackson was asked to re-write her 1999 novel "Wishes" and to give the readers more suspense and deeper and meaningful characters and if you are a fan of her later work , then you will really enjoy this book. The novel starts in 1980, when young widow Katie was about to leave her work and was given the opportunity of a lifetime. Take a newborn baby and raise it as her son as the Child's birth family wanted nothing to do with it , after losing her husband Jim and daughter Erin in a car crash -it was like a dream. Fast forward , Fifteen years and the boy whom she called Jon is fifteen years old and Katie has provided all for him and has traded her law-firm skills to being a teacher. Jon however as Katie learnt over the years has a special gift, he has visions and premonitions and a new one is starting and it shows that him and Katie are in danger and somebody wants to Kill him. Katie and Jon soon learn that his biological grandfather is dying and has left a fortune and now in order for others to collect it, Jon must be Killed. Not only that, Jon's father Daegan has turned up and wants to know his son and as we soon learn the gift Jon has is hereditary . Can Katie save Jon and then open her heart and home to Daegan ?
Find out in Lisa Jackson's revised and re-edited novel "Running Scared".
Find out in Lisa Jackson's revised and re-edited novel "Running Scared".
July 5, 2022
I loved this book. The plot was creative and the romance between the characters was like being swept away into a movie-like tale of lovers - I rooted for them to work out. The mix between mystery and romance was a great combination for this book.
February 5, 2022
Is there such a genre as a romance-thriller? If so, that's where this one fits squarely. With overtones of psychic powers.
Kate Summers, in an impulsive and desperate act, agrees to give a home to a newborn baby boy. The only caveat? She must disappear so no one will find her. And she does so surprisingly well. It's the '80s, so there's no Internet trail to leave behind her.
Until 15 years later, when all of a sudden people are looking for her and her boy (who is the one with the precognition, if you're keeping score). His grandfather, his uncle, other relatives -- oh, and his birth father, who only learns of the boy's existence at the beginning of the book.
Originally published as Wishes, but "retooled," according to the author, to amp up the suspense, this book was not entirely successful for me. I'm not a romance fan, so found those parts (presumably the focus of the original book) tedious and not quite believable. The suspense bits were fine, though, and there are lots of plot twists on the bumpy road to the end.
Kate Summers, in an impulsive and desperate act, agrees to give a home to a newborn baby boy. The only caveat? She must disappear so no one will find her. And she does so surprisingly well. It's the '80s, so there's no Internet trail to leave behind her.
Until 15 years later, when all of a sudden people are looking for her and her boy (who is the one with the precognition, if you're keeping score). His grandfather, his uncle, other relatives -- oh, and his birth father, who only learns of the boy's existence at the beginning of the book.
Originally published as Wishes, but "retooled," according to the author, to amp up the suspense, this book was not entirely successful for me. I'm not a romance fan, so found those parts (presumably the focus of the original book) tedious and not quite believable. The suspense bits were fine, though, and there are lots of plot twists on the bumpy road to the end.
March 22, 2011
This is the first Lisa Jackson book I've read. Wasn't thrilled with it, but it was a good solid read. I think the major drawback was that there were lots of scenes thrown together in each chapter. Too many interruptions and ruined the flow a little.
I thought the sexual tension was excellent, which is after all what we want in a romantic suspense, so this kept me reading. Not so sure about the whole incest type relationship resulting in a child. I know it happens, but it made me feel a little uncomfortable, especially as it was the HERO who was involved. At least they were only half-cousins. Another reason I marked it down, but this might not bother others.
All in all, a good read and one I was glad to spend some time with.
I thought the sexual tension was excellent, which is after all what we want in a romantic suspense, so this kept me reading. Not so sure about the whole incest type relationship resulting in a child. I know it happens, but it made me feel a little uncomfortable, especially as it was the HERO who was involved. At least they were only half-cousins. Another reason I marked it down, but this might not bother others.
All in all, a good read and one I was glad to spend some time with.
June 9, 2019
PLOT SPOILED so you don’t have to read. You’re welcome.
I can’t remember the last time I was flummoxed by such an awful plot. Here’s the Reader’s Digest version of the plot:
Kate’s husband and baby die. She works for a sexual harassed corrupt attorney who gets her to illegally adopt a baby and move to Oregon.
Flash forward 15 years, Jon is a psychic bullied by his peers. Unbeknownst to him, he was conceived after his bio parents, cousins got drunk, forgot they were cousins and slept together. His wealthy bio mom wants to be sure her fiancé doesn’t find out about Jon so she calls baby daddy Daegan, tells him about the baby and says make Jon disappear so fiancé never finds out.
Daegan and Kate fall in love, turns out bio dad is a good person. Bad guys get their just desserts. The end.
I can’t remember the last time I was flummoxed by such an awful plot. Here’s the Reader’s Digest version of the plot:
Kate’s husband and baby die. She works for a sexual harassed corrupt attorney who gets her to illegally adopt a baby and move to Oregon.
Flash forward 15 years, Jon is a psychic bullied by his peers. Unbeknownst to him, he was conceived after his bio parents, cousins got drunk, forgot they were cousins and slept together. His wealthy bio mom wants to be sure her fiancé doesn’t find out about Jon so she calls baby daddy Daegan, tells him about the baby and says make Jon disappear so fiancé never finds out.
Daegan and Kate fall in love, turns out bio dad is a good person. Bad guys get their just desserts. The end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2020
This book was a long longer than it needed to be. There was so much repetitiveness, cliches and over descriptive unnecessary paragraphs. I should have counted how many times he said she had "whiskey coloured eyes."
The plot was good, although the supernatural element was, to me, a bit odd. It was predictable and there is no way you cannot foresee how this fairy tale ends.
The incest surrounding the story is...different. Consensual incest - nothing like a bunch of cousins all attracted to each other.
The book could easily have been at least 100 pages shorter. It was just okay. It took me a long time to get into it, and I don't think I ever really got fully invested into it.
The plot was good, although the supernatural element was, to me, a bit odd. It was predictable and there is no way you cannot foresee how this fairy tale ends.
The incest surrounding the story is...different. Consensual incest - nothing like a bunch of cousins all attracted to each other.
The book could easily have been at least 100 pages shorter. It was just okay. It took me a long time to get into it, and I don't think I ever really got fully invested into it.
October 15, 2020
Another book from my mom's library that reminds me how good writers put the story together. This thriller, with an unlikely love interest, keeps you on your toes to the end.
Plot holds. Characters are totally different yet each one is realistic. Interesting to see all the changes in technology since this was written.
Plot holds. Characters are totally different yet each one is realistic. Interesting to see all the changes in technology since this was written.
June 21, 2021
This was the first book I have read by Lisa Jackson. I was surprised to read at the beginning that it was a rewrite of a previous released book and made more suspenseful. It was pretty good but I was not keen on the romance bit. That is my personal preference. I think her writing is stronger without it and it felt like filler to me.
August 7, 2021
Kate Summers, whose husband and young daughter have been killed in an accident, agrees to adopt a baby boy - in an unofficial transaction arranged between Kate's lawyer boss and the baby's grandfather. The illegality of this comes back to haunt Kate fifteen years later when the grandfather, dying and without a male heir, decides he wants the boy back. A fast moving and enjoyable story .
December 31, 2015
Long winded but I liked the overall story. There was a heavy does of "Soap Opera Drama" in the book
January 24, 2019
This was a good story. It was well written, with well developed characters, and a decent plot. The action remains constant throughout the story. I enjoyed this book.
October 22, 2020
Lisa Jackson never disappoints! Yet another thrilling ride!
January 5, 2021
Genre is a thriller but only the beginning is. Alot of incest sexual filled chapters.
January 18, 2021
Very long
Read
January 22, 2021blahhh these really aren't my types of books so I don't feel right rating them but my aunt sent me 3 to read and im reading them for her but they just aren't doing anything for me
January 20, 2022
This book started out Good and then became kind of Slow, However so GLAD I Kept with it... Excellent Ending, Brought Tears to my Eyes!!!!!
July 9, 2020
This book was previously published under the title Wishes. It was much shorter and details had been added to create a more intense story, as a matter of fact outside of the first chapter, I would not have recognized it as a story I had already read.
Kate Summers previously lost her husband and young daughter in an accident; now, all she wants is to start over, far away. On her last day of work, her boss approaches her with an offer she won't refuse... a newborn baby boy needs a home, his wealthy family wants nothing to do with him. The adoption, as such, will occur immediately and she must leave the Boston area, never breathing a word to anyone about the baby.
So, the past fifteen years have not been totally sweet. Kate's son is seen as a freak because there are times when he can see into a person's heart and mind, revealing their inner most secrets. Lately, instead of seeing into someone else's mind, he is seeing into his own future; one bleak, terrifying and leading to his own demise.
When sexy, bad boy Daegan O'Rourke arrives on scene, Kate looses her heart and her son Jon finally finds a friend; but there is more to O'Rourk's appearance than chance.
But, when Jon disappears, Kate will learn the truth. Will they be able to save Jon? How willo the truth that faces them ever be overcome?
Kate Summers previously lost her husband and young daughter in an accident; now, all she wants is to start over, far away. On her last day of work, her boss approaches her with an offer she won't refuse... a newborn baby boy needs a home, his wealthy family wants nothing to do with him. The adoption, as such, will occur immediately and she must leave the Boston area, never breathing a word to anyone about the baby.
So, the past fifteen years have not been totally sweet. Kate's son is seen as a freak because there are times when he can see into a person's heart and mind, revealing their inner most secrets. Lately, instead of seeing into someone else's mind, he is seeing into his own future; one bleak, terrifying and leading to his own demise.
When sexy, bad boy Daegan O'Rourke arrives on scene, Kate looses her heart and her son Jon finally finds a friend; but there is more to O'Rourk's appearance than chance.
But, when Jon disappears, Kate will learn the truth. Will they be able to save Jon? How willo the truth that faces them ever be overcome?
February 25, 2020
I liked the story overall but I didn’t think the sexual details added anything to the narrative. Like fine they can have sex of course but the minute details didn’t really help the story along at all. Adding: the young boy in the book is a horrible person. Sure, he’s a teenager, but I don’t believe teens are this stubborn and idiotic.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 465 reviews