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His Daddy's Eyes #2
Back in Kansas
You're not in Kansas anymore...
For too many years Claudie St. James has kept her past -- with its dark secret -- to herself. Now she's met the most wonderful man in the world -- Robert Lester, known to his friends as Bo. But before she can allow herself to fall in love, she has to go back to Kansas to confront the family she hasn't seen in nearly 20 years....
So one evening she leaves her California home without telling a soul. But she'd underestimated Bo's skill as a private investigator. He tracks her down and joins her. Together they travel east, stopping to look up the brothers and sisters Claudie barely recognizes. Till they reach Otter Creek, Kansas...
Suddenly, as she prepares to right an old wrong, Claudie's very grateful that Bo is with her....
For too many years Claudie St. James has kept her past -- with its dark secret -- to herself. Now she's met the most wonderful man in the world -- Robert Lester, known to his friends as Bo. But before she can allow herself to fall in love, she has to go back to Kansas to confront the family she hasn't seen in nearly 20 years....
So one evening she leaves her California home without telling a soul. But she'd underestimated Bo's skill as a private investigator. He tracks her down and joins her. Together they travel east, stopping to look up the brothers and sisters Claudie barely recognizes. Till they reach Otter Creek, Kansas...
Suddenly, as she prepares to right an old wrong, Claudie's very grateful that Bo is with her....
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
About the author
Debra Salonen
98 books211 followers- Born and raised in Brookings, South Dakota. Youngest of five (much youngest). A Baby Boomer who married her high school sweetheart (our lockers were side-by-side). Mother of two, grandmother of three darling princesses, dog mother of 2.5 mutts.
- Graduate of South Dakota State University with a Master’s degree in Geography and History.
- Job history: taxi driver, flax seed counter, cartographer, rural mail carrier, substitute teacher, secretary/community liaison for Merced College’s Child Development Center, bookkeeper, journalist, author.
- First sale story: June, 1999, to Harlequin Superromance. Total number of books sold to Harlequin =27.
- Honors and awards: Romantic Times BOOKreviews, 2006 Series Storyteller of the Year. Winner: Best Superromance of 2010: Until He Met Rachel. Nominated for Desert Quill in 2008.
- First book published by Tule Press, summer 2014: Cowgirl Come Home. The Big Sky Mavericks series opens Aug. 2014 with: Nobody's Cowboy.
- Graduate of South Dakota State University with a Master’s degree in Geography and History.
- Job history: taxi driver, flax seed counter, cartographer, rural mail carrier, substitute teacher, secretary/community liaison for Merced College’s Child Development Center, bookkeeper, journalist, author.
- First sale story: June, 1999, to Harlequin Superromance. Total number of books sold to Harlequin =27.
- Honors and awards: Romantic Times BOOKreviews, 2006 Series Storyteller of the Year. Winner: Best Superromance of 2010: Until He Met Rachel. Nominated for Desert Quill in 2008.
- First book published by Tule Press, summer 2014: Cowgirl Come Home. The Big Sky Mavericks series opens Aug. 2014 with: Nobody's Cowboy.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 9, 2025
Who would have thought a former prostitute and a private investigator would make a perfect match and yet in Runaway Girlfriend Claudie and Bo prove that it’s possible. These two are not instantly a match made in heaven. At different points in their story, each of them pushes the other away, despite their obvious love for each other. Claudie and Bo are both strong characters, but they each have their flaws, mostly driven by the father figures in their backstories. For Claudie, it’s Garrett, her stepfather and the man who raped her ten years earlier, forcing her to flee home and turn to prostitution because of her low self-esteem. Reconnecting with her half-brothers and sisters and forgiving her stepfather is central to her journey. For Bo, it’s his businessman father, who was not the connected father-figure Bo needed. His devotion to money-making and his regular cheating on his loving and tolerant wife have engendered Bo’s disgust and loathing. Forgiving his father is necessary if Bo is to move forward, but it’s a struggle.
I was so engaged with Bo and Claudie and so determined to see them achieve their happy ever after. I have battled health issues over recent weeks and was so frustrated at the way these impacted on my finishing this book. I desperately wanted to find out how things ended up. The delay was a blessing in disguise as I had time to process events and think about how they impacted on Bo and Claudie. Having finally finished this book, I am happy to report that not only does it deliver a compelling romance but also posed questions for readers to consider in terms of how our families impact on our own behaviour and life choices. This is a novel with many layers and in that respect, it’s a great read regardless of whether you want an escapist and engaging romance or want to be challenged to think about how our families and our pasts shape the way we engage with our futures.
I was so engaged with Bo and Claudie and so determined to see them achieve their happy ever after. I have battled health issues over recent weeks and was so frustrated at the way these impacted on my finishing this book. I desperately wanted to find out how things ended up. The delay was a blessing in disguise as I had time to process events and think about how they impacted on Bo and Claudie. Having finally finished this book, I am happy to report that not only does it deliver a compelling romance but also posed questions for readers to consider in terms of how our families impact on our own behaviour and life choices. This is a novel with many layers and in that respect, it’s a great read regardless of whether you want an escapist and engaging romance or want to be challenged to think about how our families and our pasts shape the way we engage with our futures.
October 13, 2025
Runaway Girlfriend is a powerful novel about forgiveness and overcoming your past! Not forgiving someone hurts you more than it does them, but forgiveness does not come easy for either of these characters. This well written book took over my life while I was reading it. I was on the road with Bo, then with Claudie and Bo and lastly with Bo in New York. Claudie and Bo are my new favorite couple. I was in awe of their strength as I watched them fight their demons and forgive their tormentors. Ms. Salonen's books always stay with me for days after I finish one. This awesome book can be read by itself, but I loved catching up with the girls at One Wish House and with Sara, Ren and Brady! I look forward to seeing more of Bo's cousin Matt in a future book.
September 16, 2025
Another amazing read. The depth of the characters kept me totally engaged. I thought book one, “His or Hers”, was excellent .. this one took me to a whole new level. Debra’s writing is getting better with each book. I hope the next book keeps us informed on Ren, Sara, Bo and Claudia’s relationships. Can’t wait to read it!
June 16, 2022
honestly when i purchase this, i really think that this book would be interesting and boom! it exceeded more than my expectations.
i genuinely like the characters, how they created. the lines? fantastic! the plot? so good. it’s easy to read but it surely will leave a mark on ur mind.
claudine suffers a lot and she deserves a happy ending more than the other characters do. i feel connected to her and she gives me so much comfort, not rlly because we have common when it comes to trauma but yeah i love her so much!
this book talks about relationships, friendship, abuse, trauma and lesson.
debra salonen never lied, this story is emotional, exciting and unexpected!
i genuinely like the characters, how they created. the lines? fantastic! the plot? so good. it’s easy to read but it surely will leave a mark on ur mind.
claudine suffers a lot and she deserves a happy ending more than the other characters do. i feel connected to her and she gives me so much comfort, not rlly because we have common when it comes to trauma but yeah i love her so much!
this book talks about relationships, friendship, abuse, trauma and lesson.
debra salonen never lied, this story is emotional, exciting and unexpected!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2020
This was a fun, quick read. I admired Claudie for taking the steps to turn her life around, including forgiving those who hurt her.
October 6, 2025
Runaway Girlfriend by Debra Salonen, book two in the Secondhand Hearts series, is a wonderful, heartwarming, sweet story about forgiveness, and dealing with and overcoming their pasts. This is a protector, opposites attract, road trip romance.
Claudie met Bo, “Cookbook man” when he was working for Ren and trying to learn about Sara. Claudie left her home and half-siblings in Kansas after a brutal incident with her step-father; living on the streets, earning money any way she could. After she started working for Sara she became determined to improve herself, earning her GED, helping Sara with little Brady, and later, with Ren and Sara’s help opening a home for women trying to get off the streets and improve their lives. Bo, a former cop and not PI, is a recovered alcoholic who became friends with Ren during their school days. Bo had a difficult relationship with his father and avoided spending time with him in New York. He loved his mother, but didn’t understand how she could stay married to a man who cheated on her. Spending time together Claudie and Bo become friends, despite the chemistry sizzling between them.
Claudie realized that her baby sister was now the same age she was when she fled and worried that her father would do to her sister what he did to her. Determined to prevent that from happening, Claudie embarks on a road trip, visiting her other siblings along the way. When Bo learns of her absence, he goes crazy, flying off to NYC to get help from his cousin in finding her. What follows is a grand adventure of resolving angst and revisiting memories from their past. After Bo and his cousin find her, Claudie learns, with Bo by her side, that her step-father became a changed man, a man of the cloth, totally regretful and sorrier than she could believe, for doing what he did. While there, Bo’s dad falls, hitting his head on cement, and was in an induced coma. Between the anger Bo had for his father and doing the right thing, Bo stays until his father recovers enough to move to a rehab facility, as well as understanding him, and finally forgiving him.
Returning to California, Bo is hoping Claudie forgives him and willing to give them a chance; after all they shared on the road. This was a wonderful, heartwarming story about people changing, finding forgiveness, as well as building a loving and trusting relationship. I love catching up on Ren, Sara and Brady and meeting Matt, Bo’s cousin. I can’t wait to see what’s next in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book prior to purchase.
#RunawayGirlfriend #SecondhandHearts # DebraSalonen
Claudie met Bo, “Cookbook man” when he was working for Ren and trying to learn about Sara. Claudie left her home and half-siblings in Kansas after a brutal incident with her step-father; living on the streets, earning money any way she could. After she started working for Sara she became determined to improve herself, earning her GED, helping Sara with little Brady, and later, with Ren and Sara’s help opening a home for women trying to get off the streets and improve their lives. Bo, a former cop and not PI, is a recovered alcoholic who became friends with Ren during their school days. Bo had a difficult relationship with his father and avoided spending time with him in New York. He loved his mother, but didn’t understand how she could stay married to a man who cheated on her. Spending time together Claudie and Bo become friends, despite the chemistry sizzling between them.
Claudie realized that her baby sister was now the same age she was when she fled and worried that her father would do to her sister what he did to her. Determined to prevent that from happening, Claudie embarks on a road trip, visiting her other siblings along the way. When Bo learns of her absence, he goes crazy, flying off to NYC to get help from his cousin in finding her. What follows is a grand adventure of resolving angst and revisiting memories from their past. After Bo and his cousin find her, Claudie learns, with Bo by her side, that her step-father became a changed man, a man of the cloth, totally regretful and sorrier than she could believe, for doing what he did. While there, Bo’s dad falls, hitting his head on cement, and was in an induced coma. Between the anger Bo had for his father and doing the right thing, Bo stays until his father recovers enough to move to a rehab facility, as well as understanding him, and finally forgiving him.
Returning to California, Bo is hoping Claudie forgives him and willing to give them a chance; after all they shared on the road. This was a wonderful, heartwarming story about people changing, finding forgiveness, as well as building a loving and trusting relationship. I love catching up on Ren, Sara and Brady and meeting Matt, Bo’s cousin. I can’t wait to see what’s next in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book prior to purchase.
#RunawayGirlfriend #SecondhandHearts # DebraSalonen
November 1, 2025
Runaway Girlfriend ~ Secondhand Hearts #2 by Debra Salonen
Blurb:
She’s built walls to protect her heart. He’s the only man who’s ever made her want to tear them down.
Review:
It's a heartfelt story that’s been written beautifully. I love reading Debra Salonen’s books — her writing truly brings the characters to life.
Bo, the private investigator, and Claudie, who has overcome a troubled past and is finally finding peace, make a compelling pair. When Claudie discovers her younger sister is in danger, she’s forced to face her fears and take action. But can she reach her in time? And will Bo catch up with her and help before it’s too late?
I loved this story and was engaged from the very start. It’s an excellent addition to Debra’s new Secondhand Hearts series, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys heartfelt, emotional romance with strong, relatable characters.
Blurb:
She’s built walls to protect her heart. He’s the only man who’s ever made her want to tear them down.
Review:
It's a heartfelt story that’s been written beautifully. I love reading Debra Salonen’s books — her writing truly brings the characters to life.
Bo, the private investigator, and Claudie, who has overcome a troubled past and is finally finding peace, make a compelling pair. When Claudie discovers her younger sister is in danger, she’s forced to face her fears and take action. But can she reach her in time? And will Bo catch up with her and help before it’s too late?
I loved this story and was engaged from the very start. It’s an excellent addition to Debra’s new Secondhand Hearts series, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys heartfelt, emotional romance with strong, relatable characters.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews