Run To You by Rachel Gibson
Contemporary Romance
September 24, 2013
Avon
Reviewed by Tori
Rachel Gibson takes us back to Lovett, TX in this follow up to Rescue Me. Sadie Hollowell is dismayed to learn that she has an illegitimate sister when her father’s will is read. Sadie wants to meet her so her fiancé, Vince Haven, hires an old Navy Seal buddy to locate her. Blake give his ex Marine twin brother, Beau, the job. He locates Sadie’s sister down in Florida bartending in a dive. He figures it’s an easy enough job. Meet the sister, give her Sadie’s information, and leave.
Stella (Estella Immaculata Leon-Hollowell) Leon has always known about Sadie but figured Sadie didn’t want anything to do with her, just like their father. Beau tells Stella that Sadie just wants her to come to Lovett, TX so they can get to know one another but Stella isn’t sure she’s ready to meet her long lost sister. When Stella inadvertently gets on the wrong side of her mob connected boss, she figures a trip to TX maybe just the thing for her. When Beau books her a flight, she lies and claims fear of heights so he’ll drive her and she won’t have to do this all alone. Suddenly, this easy job turns into four days and three nights with one red hot controlling ex Marine and the woman who’s determined to break that control one way or another.
I’ve always been a fan of Rachel Gibson’s romantic contemporaries. Normally her potent mixture of romance, humor, endearing characters, and hints of angst will have you laughing your way to the end. Unfortunately, this installment didn’t elicit much of a reaction either way. I didn’t feel the zing between the our protagonists and the storyline was only mildly entertaining. Every aspect of the story from the characterization the main characters to the plot devices throwing them together felt scripted.
Beau is tactile and quiet, a man of few words. Stella is the opposite with her bubbly and inquisitive nature. Beau has decided to forgo his player ways and choose to remain celibate until he meets the woman he will marry. Stella, a virgin, feels the same way; she’s saving herself for marriage. Communication between them consists of snark and one liners while their actual feelings are verbalized internally. We never really get to know either one of them very well as individuals. Everything we learn about them feels manufactured in order to advance their relationship and the story. While I do understand this is the main goal of a book, it’s normally not so blatant. The main conflicts, the mob fiasco and Stella’s trepidation at meeting her sister, aren’t actual problems at all. The mob storyline disappears and Sadie and Stella bond like two peas in a pod. No conflict or angst. The romance focuses on our couple’s no sex rule so while they are creative in that department, it too felt like another plot device thrown in to up the tension. Even the must have miscommunication scene fell flat. The entire book is just too low key.
Vince, Sadie, and Beau’s brother Blake bring some humor to the table but not enough to fix the lack of sparkle I normally find when I read Gibson’s contemporaries. The ending comes quickly and plays out exactly as we knew it would. Ms. Gibson wraps up the main storyline and we are left a hint towards the hero of the next Lovett, TX adventure. All in all, an okay contemporary that gives what it promises…I just wished it had promised more.
Rating: C-
Previous Rachel Gibson Reviews
I’m a huge Rachel Gibson fan and had been looking forward to the release of this new book. I recently downloaded the sample pages and, unlike every other book of hers I’ve tried, I just didn’t feel compelled to hit “buy.”
Despite her fabulous writing voice, the characters felt flatter than her others, and I just didn’t connect to them or their goals. One issue is that I really didn’t get a sense of the hero in those opening pages, and it is usually my interest in the hero that gets me hooked in a romance. I thought maybe I just picked it up when I wasn’t “in the mood” for the book, but after reading this review, now I think maybe my mood had nothing to do with my reaction.
I will probably buy it and read it, just because I’ve read all of her others. I do tend to cut contemporary romance authors more slack since, unlike historical/paranormal/suspense stories, there are simply fewer and fewer true credible “obstacles” to keep a couple apart these days. Relying on a bit of contrived plot is almost necessary in a world where the old issues that kept couples apart (race, religion, divorce, out-of-wedlock babies, class/economics, etc.) no longer exist.
But at least I’m going in forewarned, and for that, I thank you!
This one was flat character and story wise. I think they stayed too much in their own heads, if that makes since. I hope you enjoy. :)
I’ve wanted to try this author for a while…don’t think this is the one to start on. :(
Start with her hockey team series. I think first one is Truly, Madly YOurs.
The romance focuses on our couple’s no sex rule so while they are creative in that department, it too felt like another plot device thrown in to up the tension
Blerg.
The chemistry was not up to par.
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