Running to You

Okay, so a couple of things about this book. It wasn't my favourite by Andrew Grey, I'm not saying it was bad, because it wasn't, but I've read other works by the same author that were better. That being said, I loved how this story gripped you right in the first chapter. In mere moments of reading, you're already invested in Billy Joe and trying to figure out what he saw which made him take his son and run away from home as far and fast as he can. As I went on through the story I found myself wishing that the characters would do things a bit differently when it came to how they handled the negative people in their lives, however, ultimately I was happy with how things ended and while I'm not necessarily wanting more from these characters specifically, the happy ending after a book of angst made me want to read more from Andrew Grey.

As usual Andrew Grey wrote another beautiful romance.
Billy Joe was raised in a white supremacist family in Mississippi one night he sees something that makes him certain he needs to get out of there. He doesn't want his son raised with that attitude. He gets some supplies, silently packs up his son and slips out in the middle of the night heading as far as he can. He ends up in Pennsylvania in a snowstorm and his car dies. A nice man stops and helps him get it going and finds him a place to stay overnight.

Carlos knows what Billy Joe is going through having done the same six years prior. He helps Billy Joe get settled in the apartment and find a job. They become close friends.

I absolutely loved this story. It started off with a touch of mystery making you not want to put down the book. It is a real page-turner. I loved Tyler, Billy Joe's son. My only issue with the story was Tyler seemed much older than 2 going on three. That said, I adored him and he made the story. The connection with Carlos and Billy Joe is great as well.
If you are looking for a good friend to lovers, coming out, cute kids, and all over great romance I highly recommend this.

Running to You is one of my favorite Andrew Grey novels and it has a very compelling story.

Billy Joe comes from a small Mississippi town and has been closeted knowing his family and their cronies would never accept him. After he witnesses a horrific crime, it propels him to run from his family and the only life he’s ever known in order to protect himself and his two year old son Tyler.

After breaking down in Pennsylvania, Billy Joe and Tyler are rescued by Carlos, who not only gets Billy Joe’s car to work, but finds them a furnished apartment to stay in temporarily and then recommends Billy Joe for a maintenance job at the University where Carlos works as a Librarian.

What began as an accidental meeting turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to them. Carlos and Billy Joe quickly fall for one another recognizing a kinship in each other and a need for family and love.

Running to You is well written, with a lot of elements driving the plot forward. I liked the dual POV, and how Carlos and Billie Joe supported each other so much.

The narration by new-to-me narrator Jack Richmond was okay, and he does provide character voices, which makes it easy for a listener to follow along, but he needs to work on his pacing and timing, and work on his pauses. This is one of those rare times I had to speed up the narration to 1.15 times the regular pace.

I think this audio would appeal to those who like less of a “performance”, and more of a straightforward narration of the text without a lot of emotional embellishment.

Reviewed by Jenn for Diverse Reader

Andrew Grey always manages to pull at my heartstrings in so many ways. This book is no exception, the story of Billy Joe, Carlos, and Billy Joe’s son, Tyler is so moving.

Billy Joe is raising his son in Mississippi, in a town where his father has a lot of influence...too much influence. One night, after witnessing something he can’t unsee, Billy Joe packs up Tyler and sneaks away from his parent’s house like a thief in the night. He has reached his limit and knows that in order for Tyler to stand a chance of being a good person, he must go. This was tough for me, as a mom and grandparent, I couldn’t imagine ever putting my child in the position to make this choice. You come to see though that Billy Joe had no choice, he had to flee.

Carlos is living in Pennsylvania, working as a librarian at a college in town. One snowy night, he stops to help a stranded stranger stuck on the side of the road. Billy Joe is cautious of strangers, especially with Tyler around, but cannot deny the help he is offered. Carlos sets them up with a temporary place to live after getting to car working. Carlos seems almost too good to be true, but his willingness to help Billy Joe is simply Carlos being Carlos. As these three slip into a nice routine and start getting to know each other, their pasts come calling. Now we have to see how much they are willing to stand up for themselves and for each other.

This really is a great book, though some of it is hard to read. Andrew Grey does a great job of showing us both the best and worst of humanity in Running To You. This story is so relevant to our world today, I found myself comparing some of the bully tactics used here to ones we see every day on the news. That’s something I love about this book, while some of the characters may be a bit extreme, unfortunately, I can recognize them. The relationship between Carlos, Billy Joe and Tyler is all that you’d come to expect and is full of everyday moments that feel so authentic. I highly recommend this book, it’s a really good read.

A little instaloveish, but written really well! <3

✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ FOUR-STAR ✩ REVIEW ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩

> > Judging a Book by it's Cover < <
The cover intrigued me because it's different from the covers Mr. Grey usually has. The synopsis grabbed and held onto me.

> > Looking Deeper < <
POV ~> Third-person

Billy Joe takes his two-year-old son, Tyler, from their Mississippi home (that they shared with Billy Joe's parents) in the middle of the night, fleeing for their safety and a better life, after witnessing a horrific event.
An early snowstorm halts any further progress in his journey and if not for the kindness of a stranger, Carlos, Billy Joe and Tyler may well have been in danger once again.
Together, they slowly build a friendship then relationship, earning trust and respect, learning that despite their outward differences they shared several similarities.
I liked Carlos as a character but was on the fence about Billy Joe sometimes. Tyler had some adorable moments but his dialogue did not always feel genuine to his age. Chemistry felt natural. Secondary characters spanned a wide range from completely lovable to absolutely deplorable.
The story was good but I did not feel this was one of Mr. Grey's stronger books. The conflicts felt too manufactured or forced and the resolutions were in plain sight and should have been more effortless. Predictability was moderate. The conclusion was abrupt and vague, not really giving a true HEA but rather a barely implied one.
Overall, it was not a bad story. It just was not a fan favorite for me.
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Rating: [R] ~ Score: 3.875 ~ Stars: 4

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⭐ ⭐ **** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review - nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". ***** ⭐ ⭐