The second book in the Whiskey River series a well written story with a very good storyline. I was not putting this book down until I had finished reading. Widower Truett Mahan and runaway Hope Larson's story there is suspense, drama, a community behind her, and a second chance at romance. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

A story that has all the elements for a read that will stay with you long after it ends: romance, tension, suspense, characters with personality to jumps off the page, and best of all a HEA when it seems impossible for it to happen. True and Hope's story will leave you believing that good will always overcome evil, especially when it is hard faught.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

Whiskey River Runaway has been a pleasure to read. The second book in Justine Davis’ Whiskey River series, this is a second chance at love story for hero True Mahan, who lost his wife to cancer.
True is one of those men who are almost too good to be true - a fixer in every sense of the word and humble as well. Hope is feisty and determined, lo6al and caring but it takes a lot to earn her trust. They’re both well developed, believable characters. I liked the way they interacted with each other.
For the most part, this story moved a long at a clipping pace and was an enjoyable read. I felt it dragged a little at the end - the last chapter and the epilogue seemed to last forever, but still a good read.

There was so much to like about this book. I have been a fan of Justine Davis for years, but it has been a while since I read her. I know this is book two in the series, but I didn't feel lost and I definitely want to pick up the first story. I loved the main characters True and Hope, and I liked the other characters as well in their close-knit community.
True, a widower, finds Hope in his friend's cabin and thinks she is a kid. He takes her back to his place to give her a helping hand. Your heart breaks as you find out Hope's story since she has been on the run for years trying to protect those she loves. True helps her find her self-worth and he and his friends help Hope learn there are people out there that she can trust. I rooted for this couple to find their HEA and I think Ms Davis would make a fortune if she could bottle and mass produce wonderful heroes like True in the real world.

I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest opinion.

I'm so glad to be reading Justine Davis again. I'm happy that I found a new series of hers to enjoy. You meet True in Whiskey River Rescue and want to know more about him. He's one of those charcters that stand out and call to you. I love when that happens.

Whiskey River Runaway is the second book in the Whiskey River series and I have to say after reading it I want more!

I really love True. There is just something about him that calls to me. He's such a great guy, one you want to know. He's had a tough few years and you just want him happy again.

Now Hope I wasn't sure about at first but I quickly found that I liked her. I didn't blame her for what she did and how she handled it. She made the best choices for herself and those around her. It took guts for everything she did.

Whiskey River Runaway is a very touching story that pulls at the heart strings. You get to visit with the characters from Whiskey River Rescue which is the prior books. You also meet more characters and get to wonder about them. I can't wait to see who's next.

As much as I enjoyed this story I did have one little issue. I felt what Hope was dealing with at times overshadowed the romance. I wanted them to talk about more then what she was going through. Even with that I enjoyed the story.

True is the town hero. Hope is just someone who is trying to make it a few weeks before moving on again. Typically, when someone is found trespassing they aren't taken in to the finder's home and given trust and a job, but True just has a feeling about Hope.
This book is one of a series, but can stand alone. Suspense, humor, and plenty of love take you through the story.

A story of courage, "Whiskey River Runaway" is also about finding love in the most unexpected place. When Truett Mahan found Hope Larson squatting in one of his renovation projects, he did not know that she will give him a new leash on life and vice versa.

Losing wife several years ago, True would not even give any woman a second look. Having been on the run for some time, Hope never even had any chance to develop any meaningful relationship, whether friendship or romance.

Yet, True and Hope found themselves in love. And being true to her name, Hope was hoping that it can lost forever. But, there are other forces beyond their control that can destroy whatever happiness they have found. The question is, will they fight for it or will they runaway.

A beautiful read that makes you believe in the power of love and friendship. True and Hope will tug at your heartstrings and you will find yourself rooting for them to make the right decision,

"Whiskey River Runaway" is Rated M for Mature due to violence and adult situation. The sex scenes are implied and not graphic.

i am sorry for reason i could not get into this story. sorry once again

Whiskey River Runaway by Justine Davis has all the elements of her first books I remember reading. Mystery, danger, and lonely, wounded souls in need of healing. Those same characters having integrity, deserving and worthy of love. It is all here in this well-crafted story.

Truett and Hope’s story is an emotional well-written read of loss, desperation, helping, healing, hope and finding love. I liked the characters, enjoyed their story all the while rooting for them both to stick together and face what was causing Hope to run.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley.

The hero and heroine, Truett (True) and Hope, both have painful pasts, but True has built a life in his community while Hope is on the run. Although I felt the book bogged down a little in the middle, ultimately I cared about the main characters and enjoyed getting to know others in Whiskey River. I was not familiar with this series by Justine Davis, but after reading this second installment (which stands on its own), I will buy the first to read Kelsey and Declan's story. And I am definitely hoping for Zee and Jamie's story next.

This is the first book I've read by Justine Davis, and although it is the second book in a series, it is not necessary to read the first book in order to completely enjoy this one. The characters from the first book do appear in this book, but everything is handled in such a way that I never felt like I was missing anything by not having read that story first. With that being said, I will add that I enjoyed this book so much--and what I learned about the characters from the first book--that I plan to buy and read the first book (and then probably this one again!). I love a down-on-her-luck but strong heroine, and although she doesn't think she's very strong, Hope is just that. And True is patient, kind, and all kinds of hot. Both characters are very well developed, and the connection with them and between them is intense. The author also creates a strong connection with the secondary characters, to the point that its easy for the reader to become immersed in their world. That was one of my absolute favorite things about this story, and it's what makes me want to go back and read the first story and will have me eager to read the next in the series. My only complaint with this one is that I became frustrated with Hope's back-and-forth thoughts; one minute she was thinking of staying, and then the next, she's convinced she must go. Although this wishy-washiness is understandable to a point, it happened enough times that it started to make things feel a bit disjointed to me. I'm not sure how some of that kind of stuff got past an editor; tightening those pieces up and another good proofread for grammar would make this a 5-star book. Nonetheless, I definitely recommend this one because my small issues may be mine alone, and they certainly are not dominant enough to seriously affect the enjoyment of this wonderful story.

"Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review"
3.5 stars
Another enjoyable story by Justine Davis. I particularly liked the first half of the story, when the main characters are getting to know each other and we have a lot of mystery and gray areas. We have the hero’s point of view, then the heroine’s, and the slow and gradual disclosure was very nice to read.
I always love a tortured hero, and widower True Mahan is a fine example of the emotionally scarred type, in which Justine Davis excels.
But as I was reading I was feeling that True was too perfect and there were too many people praising him at every opportunity – until all this telling became a bit contrived.
As for the heroine, Hope, I never warmed up to her. I think I prefer Davis’ older heroines (and heroes), like the couple in her little-known gem “Second-Chance Hero”.
I enjoyed seeing again Declan, Kelsey and Lisa and meeting characters such as Jamie/Zee, Jack Ducane and Diego Culhane – I hope they all have their own stories.

Whiskey River Runaway is the second book in the Whisky River series, and, because I absolutely loved the first book in the series, Whiskey River Rescue, I couldn't wait to read this one. It's an excellent addition to the series, and I liked it only marginally less than the first book, so it gets a 4.5 star rating from this reviewer.

We first meet the hero, Truett Mahan, when he's checking up on a vacant house that's in need of repair and he soon discovers what he believes to be a kid who'd broken in by breaking a window. He believes that kid to be a 15-year-old runaway, only later, after bringing her home, feeding her and offering her a shower and some clean clothing does he realize that what he believed about the kid being a runaway is the only part of what he guessed to be true. Hope Larson isn't a kid, she's a 23-year-old woman who's been on the run for years, and she's not talking about it. When he sees her all cleaned up, he's shocked at the attraction he feels for her. He hasn't taken an interest in any woman since the death of his beloved wife, who died after a long battle with cancer 6 years earlier.

True is a fixer by nature--since he wasn't able to fix his wife, ever since her death he's felt compelled to fix everything for everyone in town, whether it's a broken fence, an electrical problem, he's on it and it's something that turned into a full-time job, a job he loves. Everyone in the town of Whiskey River adores and trusts him, and slowly but surely, as he tries to fix Hope, the town begins to trust her too.

As I said when I reviewed the first book in this series, and I'll say it again about this one, Justine Davis has a special and unique gift when it comes to creating and writing about the physically and/or emotional wounded, the hopeless ones, those whose spirits are broken. We already know that True was broken when he lost his wife, and he and the reader slowly learn why and what sent Hope on the run, and because True matches his name, we watch him as he tries to get Hope to open up about why she's running and who she's running from, let him fix her problem, and put a stop to her running. In the process, we get to revisit characters we met in the first novel, who are more than willing to help, especially after they see that True is interested in more than just helping Hope. If this book doesn't make you want to pack your bags and move to Whiskey River too, or find someplace just like it, I'll be shocked.

I won't give away Hope's secrets in this review, but there's one reason that I didn't give this wonderful novel a full 5 stars, and it's that when we finally do learn Hope's secrets and she finally decides to meet them head on, I expected a confrontation between the forces of good and the evildoers-- more danger, more suspense, action and drama, but that confrontation doesn't happen on the page, we only read that it did happen and that the danger to Hope is over.

From an author who has never disappointed me yet, never missed dotting an "i" or crossing a "t", it left me surprised at the rather quick and abrupt resolution and HEA ending, when I so wanted to watch Hope stand up for herself and claim a victory over the danger as well as her fears. The fact that the ending didn't happen the way I had anticipated it would isn't a huge point, but I did find it both puzzling and surprising coming from this author. Do not under any circumstances let my slight dissatisfaction with the way the ending happened dissuade you from reading this otherwise top-notch and grippingly addictive romance novel. Ms. Davis does hint at who the next novel in the series will feature, and personally, I can't wait to read it.

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

A woman on the run, a man and a town willing to help her stay and made a stand, plan for a future… if she is willing to take the risk of trusting once again.

While Whiskey River Runaway is fast paced, it never felt rushed to me. Real life often does not take the meandering road but gets straight to the point. Hope has left behind everyone she loves in the belief that she can only keep them safe by remaining on the run. It’s not a pretty life, the fear and loneliness often get to her, yet she feels she has no other choice. Allowing herself to trust in True, in the kind people of this small town is a huge risk but this is a man, if her life were different, she could have seen herself settling happily down with for life. Now she has to make a decision. Trust the man, the love or keep running forever now also leaving her heart behind as well.

I enjoyed my time in Whiskey River once again. Hope and True make a compelling couple. As always the secondary characters bring a book to life and I have hopes of seeing them again, perhaps in their own stories. I’d happily recommend this story and the series to any Romance reader who enjoys realistic couples, issues to be dealt with and lively secondary characters.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This book started off well with the hero, Truett Mahan, finding Hope Larson hiding out in a house he’s going to be repairing. He realizes right away that she’s running from something and is afraid so he offers her a meal, a place to stay, and a job. There is some suspense as you wait to find out what she’s running from.

Truett is just about too good to be true. He is the nicest guy and admired by everyone. His beloved wife died of cancer and everyone hopes that he’ll find someone special again . The town is ready to welcome Hope.

We’re supposed to believe that Hope has been on the run for four years and has never stayed long in any one place. But it’s not clear at all what she’s been living on. She hasn’t, apparently, had a job and all we read about is one guy who gave her $100. If the author is going to set up such a situation, she could at least provide some background.

Then, after setting up the suspense and tension about Hope’s past, it all gets wrapped up quickly and easily. I just felt that there should have been more of a payoff for that build-up.

I was given a free ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

True is a man who lives up to his moniker. The who!e town of Whiskey River loves and respects him, so when he happens upon a young woman, Hope, in a rundown house and he helps her out , the entire town accepts her. Hope, has given up all hope. She witnessed something horrible and has been running ever since. She doesn't trust anyone, so when True offers her help, she believes there is more to his offer than meets the eye.
As they live together and she helps his sister with work, they get to know one another. True has a heartbreaking past and hasn't opened up his heart since. She doesn't trust easily, so they agree she will work for two weeks and move on.
While getting to know the other, they both start letting the walls crumble, but in order to protect him, she believes she has to leave. Can True get her to believe him when he tells her he will help her? Can Hope find faith in a manage just met? Even though it was a small amount of time that passed in the book, it didn't feel rushed.
I can't wait for the next in the series. I hope it is about Zee and Jamie. I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

I LOVED this story. It's emotional, heartwarming, and hopeful. Tru and Hope are two characters that live up to their name. This is a wonderfully written story that you don't want to miss.

Tru has loved and lost. Now he lives his life to help others trying to make up for not being able to help his wife. When he finds Hope injured and bloody he knows she has troubles and he can't help himself, he has to help her. Hope has witnessed something that changed her life. Now to protect those she loves she has to keep moving. Staying in Whiskey River isn't an option no matter how much she falls for the town and Tru. Can these two come together and find a way to heal each other?

A recommended read!