This book was previously published as - The First Dance.

1924: the First World War is over and eleven-year-old Alexa is growing up on the idyllic Cornish coast with her best friend Harvey. But she soon discovers there are secrets at the heart of her family that have been hidden for years. And when her mother dies suddenly, she finds her whole life thrown into turmoil.

1931: Still reeling from the secrets she uncovered, Alexa flees to the intoxicating city of Venice. But her new glamourous life is not what she hoped for and, with dark shadows closing in, she will question everything she thought she wanted.

This story has a dual timeline - the past, 1924, when Alexa was eleven and the present day, 1931, when Alexa flees to Venice. The pace is steady, and the characters are well developed and likeable. Family secrets are revealed. Alexa flees to Venice, but the new life she hoped for is not what she gets. I liked the authors writing style. Set on the Cornish coast and Venice, this well written book pulled me in after reading a couple of chapters. I quite enjoyed this book.

I would like to thank #Netgalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #CatherineLaw for my ARC of #TheRunaway in exchange for an honest review.