Run Away with Me

by Mila Gray

[Sam@WLABB]

When I saw this book, I immediately knew I had to read it. I had enjoyed the previous books in this series, and couldn't wait to see what sort of "Come Back to Me" story Gray had in store for me.
Pro: This is a friends-to-more and sort of second chance romance, which are among my favorite kinds of romances. Although the sparks were just starting to fly, when their worlds were shattered, Em and Jake still held a piece of each other in their hearts for the years they were apart. I couldn't help but ship them.

•Pro: Jake, Jake, Jake. Jake had so many great qualities. I loved how he wanted to make things better for people, and he understood what they needed in order to feel good about themselves. He was very giving and so persistent. He was tender, caring, and a rather wonderful hero. However.....

•Con: Jake made some bad choices. Notice the use of the plural there. For someone, who was very dedicated to his sport, his academics, and doing kind things for others, he just kept getting into one thing or another, which could have cost him his future. I just kept shaking my head.

•Pro: I liked that flashbacks were used to help us understand what happened. I found it more meaningful to get the story from 13 year old Em and 14 year old Jake. It wasn't colored by life experience or time that way, and since that was their last impression of each other, I think it was a great choice. I always love when they are interspersed throughout the story as well, because it keeps us wondering. I wanted to know why Jake left and what happened to Em, but as I got those answers, more questions arose, which were eventually answered in strategic parts of the story.

•Pro: I totally loved Toby, and the role he filled in the story. I thought Shay, Em's best friend, and Em's parents were great too. Em had not had it easy, but she had some great people on her side.

•Con: Jake's "troubles" crossed into OTT (over the top) territory at one point. I think, at one point, I stated, quite loudly, "You have got to be kidding me. " However, when I saw the big picture and figured out what Gray was trying to accomplish, I dismissed my initial feelings, because it did serve a purpose.

•Pro: I appreciated that Gray didn't make it easy for Jake to re-enter Em's life. Given the way he left, the lack of communication, and the betrayals she had suffered, it made sense that she was wary. She made him earned it, and gosh darn it, Jake rose to the occasion.

•Pro: The camping trip!! I am a hopeless romantic, so that stretch of the books like oxygen for me. Absolutely fabulous!

•Pro: I feel like my luck is going to run out soon, because I have been on a roll with endings. Add this to my list of fabulous endings, because I had closure, Gray gave the characters a promising future, and I found tears of joy in my eyes.



Overall: A touching and heartfelt story about friendship, love, and healing. I experienced my romance trifecta: I laughed, I cried, I swooned, and best of all, I was left with happy tears in my eyes.

*I would like to thank the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.

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