Run To You Part I: First Sight

Deception So #0.1

by Clara Kensie

Winner of the 2015 RITA© award for Best First Book

***NOTE: The RUN TO YOU series, originally released as a six-part serial by Harlequin Teen, has been compiled into two full-length books: Run to You Book One: DECEPTION SO DEADLY and Run to You Book Two: DECEPTION SO DARK. The serial installments are no longer available***

Part One in the riveting romantic thriller about a family on the run from a deadly past and a first love that will transcend secrets, lies and danger…

Sarah Spencer has a secret: her real name is Tessa Carson, and to stay alive, she can tell no one the truth about her psychically gifted family and the danger they are running from. As the new girl in the latest of countless schools, she also runs from her attraction to Tristan Walker—after all, she can’t even tell him her real name. But Tristan won’t be put off by a few secrets. Not even dangerous ones that might rip Tessa from his arms before they even kiss…

RUN TO YOU is Tessa and Tristan's saga—two books about psychic gifts, secret lives and dangerous loves. Each book is told in three parts: a total of six shattering reads that will stay with you long after the last page. Book One is First Sight, Second Glance, and Third Charm. Book Two is Fourth Shadow, Fifth Touch, and Sixth Sense.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Contemporary, Fantasy, Thriller

Unknown Binding

First published February 1, 2014

About the author

Winner of the 2015 RITA Award for Best First Book!

Clara Kensie, author of dark fiction for young adults
…don’t forget to breathe…

Clara Kensie grew up near Chicago, reading every book she could find and using her diary to write stories about a girl with psychic powers who solved mysteries. She purposely did not hide her diary, hoping someone would read it and assume she was writing about herself. Since then, she’s swapped her diary for a computer and admits her characters are fictional, but otherwise she hasn’t changed one bit.

Today Clara is an award-winning author of dark fiction for young adults. Her debut, the super-romantic psychic thriller DECEPTION SO series, was named an RT Book Review Editors Pick for Best Books of 2014, and Deception So Book One: DECEPTION SO DEADLY, is the winner of the prestigious 2015 RITA© Award for Best First Book.

The first two books in the DECEPTION SO series, originally released as a six-part serial titled Run to You, are now compiled into full-length novels, DECEPTION SO DEADLY and DECEPTION SO DARK (Snowy Wings Publishing).

Clara’s critically-acclaimed novel AFTERMATH (Simon and Schuster), a dark, ripped-from-the-headlines drama about hope, healing, and triumph over tragedy in the tradition of Room and The Lovely Bones, is on Goodreads’ list of Most Popular Books Published in November 2016, and Young Adult Books Central declared it a Top Ten Book of 2016.

Her most recent book is KILL ME ONCE, KILL ME TWICE, a dual-POV, dual-timeline, dual-romance, dual-mystery/thriller with elements of magical realism.

Clara’s favorite foods are guacamole and cookie dough. But not together. That would be gross.

Reviews

[Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect blend of mystery, romance, paranormal thrills, and danger. Run To You part one was a read that kept me on the edge of my set the entire time I read it. I was pleasantly surprised with this book, as I didn't except to read this in one sitting. Nor did I except to be as hooked as I was with it. The writing, the characters, the plot twists, and the way the story flowed were all great. Everything Clara incorporated into her story worked beautifully together. I got to a point where I seriously couldn't stop reading it. I had to know what was going to happen next. Wow, a lot happens.

Tessa's family is far from normal. Her family members have some pretty cool paranormal powers, but they come at a cost. Constantly on the run, her family is never truly safe despite her father's telekinetic ability. Being able to see danger before it arrives Sarah's dad is always keeping an eye on his family, and the possible threat of the man who's after them.

I liked Tessa. It was easy to see how rough it was to constantly live on the edge. Being that her family is always on the run from danger, there's never enough time to make friends, to feel like she really belongs any where, and because they want to blend in and stay off the radar, there's never telling anyone her real name, or does she get to have all the things normal teens have. She basically lives out of a bag, like the rest of her family, so they can pick up and go on a moments notice. Not only that, Tessa is the only member of her family who doesn't have any paranormal powers. None.

Once again Tessa and her family find themselves in a new town, surrounded by new students, at a new high, and they have to do the best they can to blend in. Things start to get complicated when Tessa meets Tristan. There's something about him that draws them together. I loved him and Tessa together. He would not take no for an answer from her, as she kept trying to not let him get together. After being on the run so long, that came as second nature to her. His pursuit of her was sweet. I can't wait to see what happens with them as the series continues. I will say, while Tristan seems like a fabulous guy, there is something about him I can't quite figure out. He's got this air of mystery about him, like he's hiding something. I'm really curious to find out more about him as the series goes on. Regardless of my conflict over him, I loved the chemistry that he and Tessa have.

What a great way to kick off a series. Run To You part one was a great read. It has suspense, romance, action, and a whole lot more that kept me hooked the whole time. This is a great first book in what has the makings to be a fabulous series. There are plenty of secrets to still be unlocked, and I'm guessing those will only lead to heartache, and trouble. I can't wait! I'm looking forward to reviewing books two and three in this series.

[Mary Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book knocked my socks off. To the point where I hunted the author down on Twitter and capslocked her mention feed. A brief transcript of what I wrote:

@ClaraKensie OMFG. NO. WAY. #RunToYou

Then a little later...

@ClaraKensie You are killing me. You are freaking killing me right now. I'm about to strangle certain characters. #RunToYou

Then when I finished the third installment, I almost broke Twitter's DM function with my squee and angst. Poor Clara was a trooper about it. She patted me (virtually) on the head and said "there, there" in a very soothing way.

Seriously, this story totally rules. And the way it's broken up into serialized installments reminds me of a really good television show, like SCANDAL or VAMPIRE DIAIRIES, complete with OMGWTFBBQ endings. You don't want to miss out on this one. It's an emotional rollercoaster that will take what you think you know and twist it completely inside out. Awesome, awesome story.

[Seahorse Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

In all honesty, I was beginning to lose interest by part 3… I think I’d prefer to sit down and read a book in one big stint, as opposed to that book being broken up into 6 parts. It makes the book feel longer and more effort than it probably is.

I have enjoyed the first three parts, but I won’t continue reading. Maybe some other time I’ll come back to it.

My Verdict – Did Not finish

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Sight is the first part of a serial about a family with psychic powers who are on the run. In the opening chapter, Tessa gets a call from her mom that's just one word: run! She grabs her stuff, and runs out the classroom, along with her two siblings. Apparently, they've been hiding from one man who wants them all dead for what they are. It's been eight years and they can't seem to shake him, but now it's time for them to move and get new names. Home #19 is in Chicago, and Tessa is now Sarah. Sarah keeps her head down, so no one notices her, but then she literally runs into Tristan.

I was expecting First Sight to be a bit more suspenseful. Tessa's family is always on the look out (her dad's ability allows him to see through others eyes, including their terrorist), and are constantly rehashing the fact that they're in danger. But I never felt it, since most of this part seemed to be about Tessa's loneliness and establishing the romance. She never, ever makes friends, since she can't stand to build relationships on lies. Plus she's going to leave them within a few months, so why bother? But something is different with Tristan and they immediately click, so Tessa puts herself out there. I did like how their relationship developed over weeks rather than minutes, but I would have liked a bit more about why the family is being hunted.

I did enjoy First Sight. It was quick and interesting and did leave me wanting to learn more. I have lots of questions though, since we're not told much about why this family has abilities, or how this man found out about them, or why he wants to murder them all. I could understand experimentation, since they're different, but something must have happened if he wants them all dead.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Run to You is one of those special sort of books. It speaks to you, and works its way into your heart right away. One part Clarity by Kim Harrington with a huge dose of thriller and a lot of emotions, and you have Run To You. This first part blew me away and I cannot wait to finish the next 2 parts!

This book. I just can't even. It was just so cute. Tristan and Tessa are way too perfect together and watching them grow together was precious. Tessa gives off a Ron Weasley / Neville Longbottom vibe in the sense that she is the one who isn't as special or gifted as the rest of the family and they don't look to her for help as much. While in some situations this can make characters whiny and undesirable, Clara Kensie writes Tessa perfectly. I was able to relate to her with ease and just really enjoyed her commentary. Plus, she's a vegetarian and that is just awesome. Tristan also is from Wisconsin, which you know, makes him instantly awesome in my eyes as well.

I had all the feels reading this one. That's when I know a book is truly awesome. And First Sight was just awesome. (I just realized I've used that word quite a bit in this review, but oh well) I loved the refreshing, dynamic plot. I'm really curious to hear more of Tessa's story in the next two installments of her story, since the bits and pieces that are revealed in First Sight were fascinating. The story is so intricately woven and I cannot wait to hear more.

Run To You was just excellent, and First Sight had me smiling the entire time I was reading. Clara Kensie has hit this one out of the park with First Sight and I cannot wait to continue on with Tessa's story in Second Glance and Third Charm.

[Jessica *The Lovely Books* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was mesmerizing! I'm part of the blog tour for all three books so my whole review for the trilogy will be up then.

Part l was good and I know it's only going to get better. This is a paranormal family. They are telekinetic and the dad has a "mobile eye" meaning once he has physical contact with someone, he is able to be with them forever. And he does that by "looking" through their eyes. Tessa, the main character is the only one with no powers.

The family is on the run from a very bad man that wants them dead. I'm so glad to have the second book because I seriously love the book.

Perfect amount of romance and mystery and thrills!!

[Martina Boone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: Just reread all three of the digital installments again. WOW! Even better than what I wrote below:

So now I can brag about this book, right? Because I was lucky enough to read it several times as Clara's CP, and I LOVE that it ended up being a serial. It was so smart of Harlequin to do that with this book--with the heart-pounding, heart-aching cliffhangers, it's perfect for serialization. From that heart-pounding opening to Tessa's very real sense of isolation at living a lie, to her sense of not being good enough, to not wanting to fall in love because--hello? living a lie?--you're not going to put this one down. And then there's Tristan Walker. Clara does romance so beautifully!

[What Makes Patri · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club, to know more about this book, listen to my playlist for the book and see my dream cast, go to the post in our website:

Run To You by Clara Kensie

If you are interested, you can visit our website:

The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club

The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club's Review:

Rate: 5 stars

Review:

Run To You is a series that would blow your mind. It kind of reminded me to much sweet, romantic and girly version of Heroes, without losing the deadly, dangerous and mysterious touch. I'm a fan of Heroes a fan of romantic and dangerous stories and mostly YA stories. What can I say? It's like Clara Kensie wrote this series specially for me to adore and love to the point of wanting to re-read Tessa's stories again and again.

To sum up a little bit the three first books in this mind-blowing series without giving anything away, I'd only say that Sarah Spencer has a huge secret: her name is Tessa Carson. She and her family are in constant danger because they are a gifted family and because of it they are always running, changing names, cities, friends and homes. Her sister and brother can be normal, can have friends, she cannot. She has a scar to remember her every time she arrives a new town what could happen if she draw too much attention. He would find them all and will kill them.
Her plan worked until she moved one last time. She found Tristan Walker at TLC and couldn't keep her eyes away from him. And more important, she couldn't convince him to stay away. For the first time, Tessa has the desire to tell all her secrets, to stop being Sarah Spencer when she's with Tristan. But her world would not only become more dangerous than before, but there'd be unraveling truths, secrets that would destroy Tessa's world and that could make her lose everything. Even Tristan.

Run To You Part One: First Sight, shows us Tessa's world: in constant running and fear to be discovered. Living like fugitives and being the only one in her family even more different than the rest of them makes her life even more difficult than the rest of them.
To me, Tessa is the strongest characters of them all. She has a quiet personality that makes her suffer in silence for the benefit of her family. That's simple admirable. She's sixteen and she wouldn't need to confront her nightmares in silence, yet she does. She's definitely the strongest of them all and throughout the three books she proves us that she's also in the heroine category, with or without special abilities.
Tristan is the boy that makes Tessa forget, that makes her happy.

"The first reaction you have to anything is fear."
A tear rolled down my cheek.
He wiped it away with the back of his finger. "You try to solve all your problems by running away."
I stared into his eyes, wide and soft and full of love.
"See? I do know you well enough to love you." He tucked my hair behind my ear. "But the only thing I need to know is that the only time you're happy is when you're with me."

Run To You Part Two: Second Glance, continues exactly where First Sight ends. With the unexpected, yet desired ending in the first book, Tessa and Tristan become an inseparable item and their relationship grows stronger. However, at the same time, Tessa's life becomes more complicated and dangerous and ends up bringing Tristan to the darkest parts of her world.
I could say that Second Glance is the prelude to the climax of the story, when everything falls down. And even when you don't know what's going to happen, you feel it while reading this book. You know that what will happen in this book would lead to the betrayal and the danger that the synopsis of Third Charm promises. And this book has the power to do that.

We were meant to find each other, so he could keep me safe.
"You're a superhero." I laughed. "My own personal superhero."
Grinning, he gave a mock bow. "At your service."

Run To You Part Three: Third Charm, also picks up where Second Glance left and, to me, this book was the most heart-breaking, unraveling and mind-blowing of them all. I finished the second book, holding my breath, and didn't even have time to blink when I was starting eagerly the third book. The synopsis promises betrayal, a heart broken and more danger than before for Tessa, but it goes beyond that. This is the book when everything makes sense. When all the secrets and lies are revealed and when Tessa's world tumbles down for good. It also is the book where Tessa finds who she really is. And I think that's one of the reasons I loved this book more than the other two (not that I didn't love the other two).
With everything that's going on in this story, you're holding your breath and you keep reading, captivated by the change in the story and without truly believing the amount of lies and secrets.

"(...) You didn't have to stay down here with me, but you did. You never left me. Not for one second. That's how you proved you love me."

Overall, Clara Kensie created an exciting and amazing world full of danger, lies, secrets, powers and one fight, where there was no place for love, yet the main character finds it. And it's one of those stories that you know that they will fight until the end to be together. Making it impossible to the reader to not fall in love with it and to want to read more.
The characters have their own personality and they don't give anything away that would make you think who the bad guy's in the story. Meanwhile, the plot is well-built, easy to follow and has the perfect amount of drama, romance, paranormal, secrets and danger that makes the reader addicted to the story and the characters. The story was really short. To my taste, way too short, since I enjoyed it so much. I easily finished the three books in a few hours.
The ending is a great one. It was well thought, since it's still open, but it's also an ending that leaves the reader satisfied and also a little bit freaked out by knowing that the books will continue and that this end may change. So, yes, it could be considered a good ending.
I would love to read more about Tessa's brothers and how things go after the ending of Third Charm with Tessa and Tristan.
I highly recommend these books. Not one, but the three of them. And I can assure you that I will keep an eye on the following ones. I can't wait to see what happen to Tessa and Tristan and to Tessa's sister and brother. One of indicator that I truly loved the books, beyond the five gorjuss dolls, is to see if I chose a Dream Cast and I couldn't resist this time. I had it clear since I read the description of both characters.
So, yes, you have to read this book and yes, you're gonna love it, Book Addicts.

*I have to thank YA Bound for letting me be part of this tour and to Clara Kensie for writing such an amazing story for each book. Each story with its special touch that made me want to keep reading until the end. And say that I was given this ARCs for an honest review. Being in the tour does not change my opinion about these stories for a second.*

Dream Cast:



Lyndsy Fonseca as Tessa
Liam Hemsworth as Tristan

[Virginia Boylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t want to put this book down. It’s not only so well written, but its characters are convincing, even with their paranormal skills. If I hadn’t read the back-cover hints about Tessa’s own gift, I’d still have expected she’d develop her own paranormal ability. The way it happens, however, is so well detailed that its long delay is completely believable. Along with Tessa, I wanted to believe in her parents, but even their descent is understandable, human nature being what it is. Well done, Ms. Kensie! I’m eager to read the next book.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank Harlequin Teen for asking me to read and review some of their first digital only galley's! What an honor! When I was contacted and given the blurb for this series, there was no way I could not review. I love anything that is Xmen like and this one certainly fits that bill: kids and adults with special powers? YUP! Right up my ally for sure! Receiving these books for free has in no way altered my opinion or review.

Blurb from Goodreads:
Part One in the riveting romantic thriller about a family on the run from a deadly past and a first love that will transcend secrets, lies and danger…
Sarah Spencer has a secret: her real name is Tessa Carson, and to stay alive, she can tell no one the truth about her psychically gifted family and the danger they are running from. As the new girl in the latest of countless schools, she also runs from her attraction to Tristan Walker—after all, she can’t even tell him her real name. But Tristan won’t be put off by a few secrets. Not even dangerous ones that might rip Tessa from his arms before they even kiss…

This book has the perfect blend of romance and sci-fi for me! First off, almost all the characters have some kind of ability: moving things with their minds, being able to track people just from having touched them once, being able to manipulate people's organs. WOW! Not only did the book start off with a bang, it just kept running! Danger was possible at every turn, and my heart was often in my throat as I wondered how things would work out, how people would get away!

Tessa Carson (aka Sarah Spencer) is an interesting character. She has many secrets she has to keep but yearns to be just a normal girl, with a normal family. She wishes she could stay put and not have to ever move again. Poor girl had it so rough, she thought people were going to turn on her around every corner and felt like there was no one she could trust. And not being able to tell anyone about her past was just eating away at her insides. And then she meets Tristan Walker....
Tristan is an immediately likable character. He takes an instant liking to Tessa and you can feel their attraction. And no matter how much Tessa tries to stay away from him, she keeps bumping into him around every corner. He pays attention to her and of course he's totally swoon worthy. And Tessa just wants to be normal, after all, so liking a boy and dating is something high on her list. However, there's something about him from the start that I can't put my finger on. Something that is not right and Tessa's trust in him makes me nervous.

I like how Kensie kind of puts a witness protection program spin type thing on this book. The family on the run, constantly moving from town to town whenever the bad guys get close. Trying their hardest to hide from the bad guy, but never quite succeeding. I spent much of this first part of the book expecting the bad guy to jump out at any moment. The suspense was definitely there in every chapter. And Kensie leaves small clues throughout this first part that shows perhaps the family is not as safe as they think they are.

Kensie also has a great way with her writing. The pacing is perfect and there's not a huge amount of info dump. She plays her characters off each other well and I can really picture them all, despite only being in Tessa's head.

I'm exciting for the next installment!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa. Whoa. WHOA. That opening? Talk about heart-pounding, action, and suspense! Clara Kensie engaged me from the very first page! I could NOT stop reading these books. To be honest? If I had to wait any amount of time between them I probably would have been rocking in a corner crying.

All it takes is one phone call and one word to set things in motion. When the Carson kids receive that phone call and hear that one word, "Run", they know it's time to get the heck outta Dodge. Having done this 13 times, you would think that word wouldn't carry as much meaning as it did in the beginning. On the contrary, it still sends fear down their spines and they are thrown into survival mode. I can't even imagine what that's like- never setting down roots or getting too comfortable in one place, as they must always be ready to leave at a moment's notice. It certainly has deprived Tessa, Logan, and Jillian a normal childhood.

However, the Carson family is special. They have paranormal abilities that help keep them safe from the man that is hunting them. The most useful would have to be their father who has remote vision. Once he touches someone he can keep track of them and always be on the lookout for them. He is the one who constantly watches out for Dennis Connolly (the man who is hunting them).

Our main character Tessa is 16 and has no abilities. She was attacked by Dennis Connolly when she was 8 and has the scars on her stomach to prove it. Tessa is shy, hates attention, introverted, and skittish. She won't form attachments, because of those reasons above, as well as because what's the point if you're just going to have to leave again? Her siblings Jillian and Logan, have no problem fitting in at their new schools. They want to make Tessa feel more comfortable, so they work together to find friends for her to spend time with.

Now living in Illinois under the aliases of Shelby, Scott, and Sarah- they are worried for their father, as his health is deteriorating. His remote vision is taxing because he's trying to keep an eye out for his family, as well as Dennis.

It is here we meet Tristan Walker. Oh my. Tristan is so amazing that Jen from Jenuine Cupcakes and I are going to have to share visitation rights on this boy. Tristan is a runner like Tessa and keeps her from falling one day while on her run. After discovering they attend the same high school, Jillian asks him to show Tessa around. He is kind, sweet and tries his best to integrate Tessa into his group of friends.

I loved Tessa and Tristan's burgeoning relationship! It was adorable and really sweet. He genuinely likes her and slowly but surely manages to work his way past her defenses. He is observant and tries his best not to put her in an awkward or uncomfortable position. The two end up falling for each other and Tessa reveals something about herself that could jeopardize their lives. I was heartbroken for Tessa. She doesn't want their relationship to be based on lies, so she decides to tell him one true thing about herself- thus potentially putting her entire family at risk.

This was such a great beginning to this book and I really like this serial book idea!

*Received a copy of this book via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.*

[Caitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT OF THE FAB RUN TO YOU SERIES GIVEAWAY (OTHER PRIZES INCLUDE: Pushing the Limits PRINT - Indigo Awakening PRINT, Soul Screamers Vol. 1: My Soul to Lose • My Soul to Take • My Soul to Save PRINT and ALL THREE ebooks of the RUN TO YOU SERIES BY Clara Kensie ENTER NOW TO WIN! :) - http://bit.ly/1hlM66L


Review originally posted here: http://artisticnonsensedaily.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/run-to-you-series-book-tour-ya-bound.html#links


As someone who goes through books quite quickly, I'm usually not a big fan of short novellas. I tend to just breeze through them without noticing and before I even get the chance to collect my thoughts, the book is over. To my surprise, this series however doesn't waste time with introductions, it just jumps right into the action, and even though all 3 of them are rather short, I did really enjoy the format. Now, while a full-length novel would've been nice, in this case, it wasn't necessary to go all out. The Run To You Series pulls you in from the very first page and takes you effortlessly to part III without needing to exceed standard novella length.

Now let's not kid ourself here, we've all thought about having super powers at least once or twice in our lives, am I right? (Yes, yes I am.)
So, yes, the supernatural element of the series was what appealed to me the most when I first heard of it, but it is as much a story of loss and forbidden romance as it is an adventure. And a darn good one at that.
Clara's storytelling is smooth and it becomes very easy to see through the eyes of the protagonist, Tessa, young a girl troubled by her past and her present. Riddled with secrets and her own darkness, Tessa flies through one bad experience after the other. Never resting, never feeling safe, just waiting for the signal to run, again.

Sarah Spencer, or Tessa Carson is the daughter of not one, but two physically powerful people and both her siblings, Logan and Jillian are gifted too, yet, Tessa is the only one in her family without powers. I mean, it sucks enough to be labeled as the ordinary child, but that? That's gotta hurt, but as happens, that is exactly what made her so loveable. Not because she was the 'wounded, poor mortal' but because she doesn't take shit from anyone and despite all of her her differences, she just gets on with her life. She's caring and kind and that is was makes her so attractive.

As mentioned before, the story was packed with action and in terms of mystery and suspense, Author Clara Kensie did not disappoint. With secrets flying at you left, right and centre, I found it very difficult to sit still, let alone turn off my e-reader.

And let's face it, who needs sleep if you have a book like this?

[Kimber Wheaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received these books from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I'll try to keep spoilers to a minimum.

Run to You is a collection of serial novellas, the first YA serial to be released by Harlequin Teen. I like the idea of a serial, reminds me of favorite TV shows we get an episode at a time. But I wasn't sure how that would translate to reading. I hate cliffhanger endings—seriously, they're the bane of my literary existence. Since I received all three books at once, the plan was to read one on Friday, one Saturday, and one Sunday. Each is 90 or so pages, so about an hour of reading time. Didn't happen. Don't know why I thought it would... I read them all back to back and couldn't put them down. They were that good.

In Part I, we're introduced to the Carson family who've been on the run for the last eight years. Bad people are after them. They manage to escape right before the monster arrives, a total of thirteen times in eight years. Each new place comes with a new identity for Tessa, brother Logan and sister Jillian. The horrible monster chases them with psychotic relentlessness, creating a terror in Tessa and her siblings akin to the Bogeyman.

Even though Part I ends in mid-scene, I liked the cut. It was well done. Part II picks up again mid-scene with Tessa realizing that romantic interest Tristan has wormed his way past her barricades and into her heart. I admit, I fell in love with Tristan too. He's just too good to be true. Tessa begins to open up to Tristan because she hates lying to him. She feels safe with him, especially after he reveals a secret power he possesses. But all good things... well you know the rest.

Part II ended with quite the cliffhanger. It was a good thing I had Part III in hand, or I would've been quite disgruntled. I couldn't devour the third part fast enough. So many revelations, lies, secrets, betrayals—it was thrilling. I didn't see it coming, not even once. How fantastic is that? I enjoyed the ending for Part III, it was satisfying enough to make waiting for Parts IV-VI bearable.

I loved this series. The characters were well-developed. It was tiny things that connected the reader to the characters: a pair of pointe shoes, a saxophone, missing artwork... Little things that meant the world to three teens whose lives have been anything but normal. It amazed me how I could start out liking a character, only to despise them by the end. Ms. Kensie's writing elicited strong emotions from me—I felt Tessa's emotions right along with her. The pacing of the story was also well done. Like I said earlier, I couldn't put it down.

Run To You is an amazing novella series. Part romance, part mystery, part paranormal, and part psychological thriller, it will keep you reading well into the night. I highly recommend adding this series to your TBR list. It's on my rather short list of favorites on Goodreads. It's appropriate for teens, adults and precocious preteens. I can't wait for Parts IV-VI!

[Taschima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Run to You started out really fast and it instantly captures your attention. Soon enough you want to know everything there is to know about this family with super powers. Why are they running? Who are they running from? I can honestly say it got me interested from the get go and I will definitely be buying the second installment in this weirdly fascinating set of stories. The 100 pages or so just flew by...

A story about a superpower family who is constantly hiding, running, from a mysterious man who wishes to do them harm. Part one of this story is all about getting to know the family, their powers, and their situation. The main character's name is Tessa, and she is the ONLY one in the family who seems to have no super powers what so ever and because of this everybody in her family has always babyed her. Though she does needs to be babied a bit giving that the guy who is chasing them has powers that make me think of him as Sylar The Second (Heroes). Tessa has a big sister, Jillian, who actually acts like a big sister and is there for her. Her little brother Logan acts like if he WAS Tessa's big brother, he is controlled and strong and loves Tessa to pieces. They all love and protect each other to the best of their abilities making this one of the few families that stick together in the YA universe.

I loved the family dynamic, and I sympathized with Tessa. She is the one ordinary among the extraordinary, which makes her stand out among the sea of YA super heroines. She is a normal girl in a supernatural life, and it sucks to be her. She is the one person in her family who would be fine having a normal life, and yet she can't have it. She pushes everyone away because she doesn't find the point in making friends when she is just going to leave. Until Tristan tripped into her. Tristan, the broad shouldered ray of sunshine. He is the one person who has tried to really get to know Tessa, so far we don't exactly know if this is a genuine attraction or if he is incognito... I can't wait to read the rest of the parts to find out.

The ending was a little sad. The last line made me want to hit Tessa right upside the head, and yet I still sympathize with her. She only wants someone to know her true self, even though she knows she can never let anyone truly in. I need to know who is bad guy is, and why he is chasing them. He really reminds me of Sylar from Heroes... we haven't even seen him but by the way Tessa and her family react to just his name you know he is a nightmare.

Buying part two know, need to keep reading!

PS; I like this whole dividing the novel into parts. It lets people put their pinky toe into the waters, see if they like the book before continuing it. At the same time it means the book needs to capture your attention within 100 pages, and sometimes some books only really get real good after those 100 pages. It is a toss up.

[Dani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tess Carson (current alias, Sarah Spencer) has been on the run from a killer for half her life. Her family marked for death, they move from town to town across the United States, ever-vigilant, always prepared to run the moment he finds them again. And he always manages to find them. Thanks to her dad’s supernatural gifts, however, they are always able to stay just one step ahead, evading capture and certain death. It’s a pretty terrifying, transitory way to grow up. While her brother and sister never seem to have any trouble fitting into new environments and making new acquaintances where ever they go, Tessa shies away from developing relationships, not wanting to lie to the people she could potentially care about, the people she’ll be forced to leave. And then she meets Tristan, and everything begins to change.

Tessa proved to be a pretty interesting character, when all was said and done. She’s not a particularly strong character in the first novella — the only member if her family to be entirely without a paranormal power she depends heavily on her family to keep her safe– she’s not extremely self-reliant, she’s a bit of a shrinking violet, is almost always afraid, and often feels inadequate and separate from the rest of her super-charged family. All of which could provide a great potential springboard for some fantastic character development for Tessa in subsequent novellas.

While this little novella definitely has things going for it — the super powers, a mysterious villain, interesting characters — I do have a few issues with it. I know this series is classified as a “romantic thriller” and I love romance, however, I can’t help but wish that his first installment had been a little less romance focused, and that more focus on the thriller part — backstory/world/plot development — had occurred. While we’re given a vague explanation as to why the Carson’s live in this constant state of terror, it doesn’t seem quite enough to explain it. I know it’s all probably coming, and the story is still interesting, but somewhat missing that prevalent sense of urgency and danger that it felt like it was trying to convey. I also didn’t quite understand the overprotective parents’ encouragement of outside relationships when it was clear that those could be extremely dangerous. And the romance, while cute, escalates rather quickly with a chunk happening off-page, which was a little unsatisfying and prevented me from being fully invested in Tessa & Tristan’s relationship. Given the blurbs of the next two novellas, I have a feeling Kensie developed the romance quickly for a specific reason, but it left me feeling a little detached in this first one.

Overall. A good beginning. There’s definitely a lot of potential here.

[Lori Palle · Rating 4 out of 5]

“All I wanted was to be invisible.”—Tessa

With a single phone call, sixteen year old Tessa knows she and her family will have to start over again. New names. New place. New home. Survival. In the past eight years, it’s happened thirteen times. In this new place, something’s different. There’s a boy here who might be her first real friend in eight years—possibly even more than just a friend. She and her family might have finally found a place to call home—as long as the man hunting them doesn’t find them first…

“They never asked me to help, because they didn’t think I could help.”—Tessa

This is a great young adult read and seems perfect for the target audience. Tessa has to deal with very relatable feelings as the middle child in her family. However, there’s the added twist that her family is paranormal with special abilities. Well, all of her family except one. I’m sure you can guess who that one is. So, the normal teenage insecurities are added by the fact that she’s seen as the defenseless and weak one, which does wonders for her self-esteem. Coupled with the fact that she was attacked as a child by the man hunting them, Tessa has to also deal with crippling fear born out of childhood trauma from a monster that is still hunting them.

In a way, the TV series Heroes pops into mind where you have the mysterious Sylar hunting people in season one. We don’t know much about the villain in this installment, only that he is very good at hunting them and killing those that help them. We see the strain on the family and despite all the craziness, how the stressed out parents are still trying to give their children as close to a normal life as possible. We also have teenagers wanting to be teenagers, particularly Tessa’s siblings. This installment is a very good set up and sets the stage for the story.

Despite the air of danger and fear, there’s also spots of hope and love as the siblings try their best to take care of Tessa—which includes interference in getting her to acknowledge and accept Tristan’s interest. The two teens have great PG chemistry and the relationship is very sweet. I love how Tristan pursues her and Tessa gets the strength to fight for something that she wants. Unfortunately, she’s fighting her parents in a very understandable rebellious stage. As the installment comes to a close, the family dynamics shift and there’s an air of foreboding for the future. Overall, this installment is a 4 out of 5 for me!

(Originally posted on my blog; I received a Netgalley copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is for Run To You parts 1, 2 and 3. This is a serial series, and so far the first three parts were released together. The next three parts (parts 4, 5, and 6) will be coming out together in June 2014. Each of the three parts is short, like a novella, but together they made a good sized book. I am loving this series! I would easily read right on to the next three parts back to back (to back) if I had them. It is addictive. I felt like I was on a netflix binge and I just couldn't stop watching the next episode.

Run To You features a family that has different psychic abilities, that is on the run. Tessa is the only one without any gifts and even though she is the "normal" one of the family with the least to hide, she is the most guarded of the bunch. She never gets close to anyone. I loved getting to know her whole family and learning about each of their gifts. But soon the focus of the story shifted to Tristan. He is always so kind and great to Tessa, or Sarah, as he knew her. I loved watching her become close to someone outside of her family for the first time ever. Their romance was just so sweet and full of promise and hope. All the exciting things from a first love.

The cool thing about this series is that you get two great stories. You get the sweet and adorable romance and you also get the pulse pounding mystery/action/intrigue plot from the family always on the run from this Dennis Connelly. I can't tell which aspect of the story I enjoyed more. If I had to pick, I would say the romance because Tristan just melted my heart.

Parts 1 and Part 2 each ended with a bombshell dropping. I didn't really see either of them coming, which was such a great surprise for me. And the cliffhanger ending of the second part set up what pretty much the whole third installment would be about. It was like a mini mystery in and of itself. While I did kind of see where the third book was going, it was still full of twists and turns and information reveals for me to be totally riveted. This book was different than anything I have read in a while, and I absolutely loved that about it. This is a series that I will be continuing for sure. I highly recommend it.

[cagla tastemur · Rating 5 out of 5]

After receiving this novellas I planned to read in 3 night. But I failed. I love the story so much I couldn't stop reading them and ignoring my moms word I stay all night read all three.
While reading these novellas I was extremely excited.
In First Sight we are introduced Tessa's family. Her brother Logan,Her sister Julian and Her Parents Wendy and Xander( if his name wrong,sorry).
They all escaping someone monster Dennis Connelly...a monster.
Eight years,thirteen different places.
New identity for new places.
In this new place Tessa meets Tristan. Oh God You immediately fell in love to him.
Tessa doesn't wanna be close to Tristan because they'll have to escape again.
In Second Glance, God it was all shock but mostly thrill. Action was very excited.My sleep came but I resist. It was 02:00 am and I prepare a big cup black coffee. OMG! Drinking Coffee so early in the morning... well I couldn't sleep after that :D
In this novella They confessed each other. I thought it was all good. They will beat the monster and after that happily living.. But NO! It was all shock! Tristan lied so much! But I never believed. He is no matter what nice young man. He is Dennis Connelly's son...The Monster's Son. I was break into pieces after Second Glance...what a cliffhanger. It turns out Tessa's family.. The Parents OMG! It was really a big shock!
In Third Charm, it was really charmy. I already have the feeling about Tristan so it's all up to Tessa. It turns out her parents the guilty one. They are murderer. OKay there's a thing Her mother is totally bitch and I think her mother spelled him to do bad things more. I'm feeling all his regrets. After captiving them Julian and Logan escape somehow and they are missing. After learning the guilty one was her parents,Tessa's only desire now finding her brother&Sister.Thankfully The Author didn't left us with a cliffhanger but I'm extremely tense about last three novellas.

I rated this three novellas with a lot *5 truthful stars*

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved, loved, loved this series of novellas about Tessa and Tristin. Their worlds overlap and then collide in this original story of coming of age while on the run. The stories are fast paced and well written, and the novellas blend seamlessly together to create a thrilling mystery you can’t put down.

The Carsons are an extraordinary family with varied psychic abilities: moving objects with the mind, memorizing facts with a wave of the hand and observing others with a remote eye. The youngest child Tessa, however, is not gifted with these abilities and must keep up with her psychic parents and siblings as they try to stay one step ahead of a killer. Without supernatural help, Tessa has a routine to avoid unwanted attention that may blow their cover: "make no eye contact, speak as little as possible, hide behind a textbook." As an introvert who frequently moves from state to state, its no wonder Tessa is a painfully shy girl with no friends.

When Tristin takes an interest in her, she tries to discourage him, but she eventually opens herself up to friendship and then dares for something more. Only problem is that Tristin knows her as Sarah, her most recent alias in a very long string of cover stories.

Keeping her family's identity and paranormal gifts a secret while getting closer to Tristin is a challenge, and Tessa must choose between loyalty to her family and personal happiness. The story that follows is AWESOME!

Look at the covers: Book One - Tristin pursues Tessa; Book Two – Tessa confides in Tristin; Book Three – they face off/see eye to eye... but I don't want to give anything away - the twists and turns are so unexpected and thrilling. I highly recommend you buy these books and enjoy the ride! - kris

*I received Parts 1,2 and 3 in exchange for this honest review.

[chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read by Clara Kensie. While I DO NOT have any problems with the book it’s self, I problems with the amount of book there are in this series..
Let me start off by telling you: This book is amazing!! It is the first book of six. Yes, six books, and it’s only 110 pages long. (way too short for me) Within the sixteen chapters there was definitely some character development from the main characters. I loved how interesting and fast pace the book started! It feels like you just got thrown into it, but not where you are confused and cannot understand what’s going on.
I absolutely love the way the character thought. She’s so selfless, and smart. She truly cares so much about everyone else around her but she also know when to put her foot down and stand up for herself. Some where deep inside of her hidden is a badass. I loved the dialogue and relationship between the family. The plot, and what it is all focused around. It just makes the whole book so suspenseful and entertaining. I must admit, I was on edge for half the book, and the other half I was just melting away in a puddle of mush. This has one of the cutest and most innocent romance in all the history of books! And don’t you just love books like that? Where the guy is clearly a good guy, and respects her and you can truly see he cares for her beyond belief.
Over all, I loved this book so much. It was pure beauty from beginning to end. Completely captivating me and leaving me craving for more. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy paranormal, and romance! I can’t wait to read the rest of the books. I truly wished there weren’t six books that are all 110 pages. I’d truly appreciate 3 normal length books! But other than that, I’m truly happy with this read, I think it’s underrated and everyone should check it out!! :)

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!

*taps microphone* THE LINE FOR TRISTAN WALKER BEGINS RIGHT BEHIND ME.

Action, Suspense, Romance and Swoon!

RUN TO YOU is a new serial series Harlequin TEEN is launching and if you're like me and unfamiliar with serials, they're much like your favorite T.V. show. Each episode is it's own unique story but continues the plot into the next week.

You know how sometimes you pick up a book (or a Nook in my case) and think you'll just read a few pages and then before you know it, you've reached the end? Well, that's pretty much what happened to me with this book.

Action, suspense, romance and swoon, Tessa's story pulled at my heartstrings in ways I didn't expect. All Tessa wants is for her family to be safe, to be able have some semblance of a normal life. But that's hard to do when there's a killer after you, especially one you can't see coming until it's almost too late. That's one of the reasons why Tessa spends most of her time trying to be invisible. It's just easier that way.

And then she meets Tristan. Tessa does everything she can to avoid him, but to Tristan, Tessa is all he can think about. His pursuit of her is sweet, respectful and exactly what she needs. Even her family starts to relax a little, encouraging her to give him a chance but Tessa fears allowing herself to care for Tristan will not only endanger her family, but him as well. That's not a risk she's sure is worth taking, but if Tessa's not careful, she may not get the chance to find out.

What Left Me Wanting More: I'm really glad I had the next installment in this series queued up and ready to go because I HAD to know what happened next. HAD.TO.

Final Verdict: Read it. Love it. The line for Tristan Walker starts behind me.

[BookLoversLife · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this!! Tessa Carson has spent most of her life running! Her family is unique, her mother, father, brother and sister all have physic powers.Her father was an Investigative Reporter and exposed some secrets from some very important people. A hitman was hired to kill them but thankfully they escaped. Every town they move to Tessa hopes is the last but she knows it wont be. She hates lying so keeps a very low profile. She knows the rules and has learned to be invisible. That all changes when they move to the new town and she meets Tristian. She tries to stay away but he gets under her skin and they become friends.

For such a short book this really packed so much into it. Tessa is the only "normal" in her family. The rest all have different powers and tend to treat her like she is breakable. Her life is nothing but lies and she hates it.

Tessa was a really easy character to like. She was insecure but also brave. She tries to stay away from Tristian but their chemistry was evident from the start. She has so many secrets that she doesn't want him falling for Sarah, she wants him falling for Tessa!! I loved their relationship. They are both so sweet and complement each other. Tristian as well was a wonderful character, he is so kind and caring and doesn't push Tessa. He is so understanding that Tessa starts to trust him but is it a mistake? Will she have to run again? How can she leave him now?

Run To You : First Sight was packed with suspense, romance and mystery. From the get go you are immediately drawn into this world of secrets and lies. I loved the world the author has created and devoured this book within a few hours. This is a must read!!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Run to You is a serial novel released in parts. This format works really well for the book and adds to its fast pace. If you're a writer looking to explore pacing and first chapters, this is an interesting one. The action starts from the very first page, with subtle hints to the larger picture of what's going on. It's not a book that stops to explain very often, and yet it still works with context and leaving a bit of mystery.

Tessa's identity changes frequently due to her family relocating whenever the mysterious man hunter her family gets close to finding them. Her parents have a run-and-leave-nothing-behind exit plan they've instilled in Tessa and her brother and sister. We don't know why they are being chased, though it has to do with Tessa's family's psychic and telekinetic abilities. All abilities Tessa doesn't have herself.

In a new town, and new school once again, Tessa is conflicted about letting herself get close to a boy she meets on the running trail near her house. While her older sister flirts and dates without shame, she's seen the heartbreak it caused when their family had to flee. There are no goodbyes in their world. Only new identities, hotels and rental homes paid in cash, and fires set to their old belongings.

This is a really fun series and one of the first YA thrillers I found truly engaging. I'm only on part one! All three parts are now out (having each been released in subsequent weeks this month). At $1.99 for each part as an ebook, it's a pretty great deal too.

[n🫶🏽 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has an abundance of 4 and 5 star ratings, so I figured it would be good.

But it wasn't.

The characters were all flat and one-dimensional. They didn't seem real at all. Tessa was the worst of them all…even though the book was told in her POV, everything still seemed fake and I felt so disconnected from her feelings.
Also, the romance? Ugh. Tessa and Tristan had no chemistry AT ALL. They had this love at first sight thing going on, and that's a huge turnoff. Tristan is almost as bad as Tessa- he has no personality. None. Zip. Zero. Zilch. I suppose it's only natural that he loves Tessa since she has no personality either.

The world building-- or lack thereof-- sucked. Big time. And not many things made sense because they weren't explained well. There is a difference, dear author, between keeping people in suspense and not explaining anything. This is what I know about the book.
~Some guy is after this family
~Everyone in said family has paranormal powers, except for Tess
~This family moves a lot because they're running away from said guy

And that's about it. We don't know why the guy is after the family, why they have powers, why Tessa doesn't, or anything. Or maybe these things were stated, but I missed them. I get that there are more books after this, but really, it doesn't matter. This book was not good.

[Jess at Such a Novel Idea · Rating 4 out of 5]

For this review & more, visit Such a Novel Idea.

*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

I've never read a serial series before, so I was quite interested in this story for that angle. Plus the story idea sounded like it would be intense and compelling. Boy, was it.

From the first few pages, I had an emotional connection with Tessa. She just spoke straight into my heart and I found myself wanting to hug her. Her life is pretty rough: they've lived in 13 places in 8 years, having a new identity at each place. She can't do the things she loves (like art) because they can't leave behind anything personal, and she is the only one in her entire family that doesn't have psychic abilities. Oh and someone is trying to kill her.

When she met Tristan, she was very resistive. I didn't blame her, she's had a tough life. I was kind of peeved at her family for pushing her, because her reasons for not getting close to people were valid. However, it all worked out, because she fit with Tristan.

For the rest of this review, visit Such a Novel Idea.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed RUN TO YOU by Clara Kensie. It was the perfect balance of romance, mystery and action. I can't wait to read the newly released full versions of the six part series!

The story follows Tessa and her paranormal family, who are running from a man hunting them for their abilities. Tessa is the only family member that doesn't have an ability, and often feels left out and useless because of it. But what I loved about Tessa is that she wasn't whiny or resentful for it -- she respects and loves her family for what they can do, even if it does at times make her feel left out.

A mysterious man named David Connely is hunting them, and has been for years. Tessa is left with scars and nightmares from a past run in with the mysterious villian, and her family is never able to settle in one place for fear that he will find them again. Tessa does her best to remain invisible and unattached to the people she meets in each new city they move to, because she knows she will inevitably be forced to leave again. But when she meets Tristin, sparks fly and Tessa can't deny her feelings for him.

I can't wait to see where the part two of the story takes me. If it's half as good as FIRST SIGHT, then I'm already hooked.

[Margarita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clara Kensie knows how to write an emotional thrilling romantic mystery! It's a good thing that this is a digital book, I believe I would have ripped pages if it was on paper! I couldn't read fast enough, Tessa's story is so deep and personal. You will not be able to put this down and you will definitely be craving to get to parts 2 and 3 right away...

Tessa's whole life is based on lies. But she has no choice. The lies keep her and her paranormal family safe from the bad man. They must flee every time he gets too close. New names, new home, new school... secrets must be kept and the family rules must be obeyed: never be left alone, do not attract attention, do not leave any traces behind. No one can ever know who she is, or her family's powers.
No one.

And then she meets Tristan.

Can Tessa allow herself to trust someone outside of her family? Can she let herself relax and enjoy a little bit of peace that she has finally found in her chaotic world?

This is definitely a story not to be missed!!!
Stay tuned for my next review of part two, Second Glance, to be posted next week!!!

[Movies, Shows, & Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received a free copy for an honest review*

This is just the first part of a serial novel! What an opening to a riveting romantic thriller! Wow! I literally couldn't put the book down. I was absolutely engrossed with Tessa(Sarah) and her family's story. It definitely had the elements of mystery, romance and espionage. A definitely amazing & thrilling read!

As the synopsis states, Sarah (Tessa) and her family is on the run. Each place they moved to starts new lies they have to tell with new names. One truth is that Sarah's family is gifted. Sarah works hard to stay invisible until she meets Tristan...and it all changes. It seems that there is more to this family than what is revealed in this first part of the Run To You serial! I was completely on edge with each turn of the page. At the end, I found myself holding my breath! Well, on to Part 2: Second Glance.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5

Run to You is a serial novel consisting of three parts released a week apart, each one delving us deeper into the life of Tessa and her family as they try to stay one step ahead of a hired assassin. A serial novel is somewhat of a unique and different reading experience, forcing us to examine the story in sections rather than as a whole, something that can be a bit tricky given an element or two that may bother us in the first installment could very well be remedied in the second–therefore becoming an irrelevant complaint overall–but because we approach each piece of this puzzle individually we’re left with our emotions a bit more in flux...

Full review available at: http://supernaturalsnark.blogspot.com...

[Hmr28 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not sure what to give this one. Based on writing and my enjoyment of the story it would be a 5. Based on the fact that this is apparently a serial (and a serial novella that basically ends in the middle of a scene at that) which was not made clear I would give it a 1. Soo...a three it is. However; I am not going to pay 1.99 for a part of a book and since this book apparently has 6 parts...ummm absolutely not.Too bad I'd like to read the rest of them. If they were .99 cents or sold as an actual book for 3 or 4 bucks sure but at 1.99 for a piece of a book...no.