Running from Strangers

by C.C. Harrison

Child advocate Allie Hudson made some powerful enemies when she began calling for public oversight on police corruption. Barely escaping a vicious attack, she finds herself running for her life with Davey Lopez, a seven-year-old child in her care. Fleeing from unknown pursuers, she runs to the only man she can trust,a man whose name she's whispered into her pillow a thousand times. All she has to do is find him, then hope he'll forgive her for leaving him without a word twelve years before.

Running from Strangers is a fast-paced suspenseful search for the truth that sweeps the reader across the country to a secluded wild horse refuge and a trendy resort town in the Rocky Mountains. But there is no sanctuary from evil. Against the stunning backdrop of beautiful southwest Colorado, courageous and engaging characters bring this story of love and survival to a terrifying conclusion.

Genres: Romantic Suspense

301 pages, Hardcover

First published September 17, 2008

About the author

I knew I was going to be a writer when my mother took me to the library for the first time as a child. Since then I've written five award winning novels. My newest book, a cozy, mystery "Death by G-String, introduces the Coyote Canyon Ladies Ukulele Club whose first place win in a folk music competition is jeopardized when their star player is strangled to death with a ukulele G-string.

I like writing books in small towns, the kind of small town people run away to or hide out in. The secrets and misbehaviors are so much more interesting. I know. I've lived in them.

My newest book "Death by G-String" is a 2019 Colorado Humanities Book Award winner, an American Fiction Award finalist, a Colorado/New Mexico finalist, and was short listed for a Mystery and Mayhem Book Award.

With no previous musical training, I came to the ukulele later in life and fell in love with it instantly. I now own five ukuleles, two guitars, and two dulcimers. I made my coffeehouse debut and I play at all my book signings. So now I can honestly say I WAS BORN TO BE A ROCK STAR, BUT I WRITE BOOKS INSTEAD.

Currently I'm at work on a new mystery, "Death of a Two-Timing Man" and book two of the Coyote Canyon Ladies Ukulele Club series, "Don't Fret the Small Stuff."

I'm also a reviewer for the New York Journal of Books. When I'm not writing, I can be found in the desert, the mountains or some far-flung corner of the Southwest.

I love to hear from readers. You can reach me at ccharrisonbooks@gmail.com. Check out my website, too. I'll be updating it soon. www.CCHarrison-Author.com

Reviews

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

In her job as child advocate, Allie Hudson can't stand the thought of sending Davy Lopez back to his prostitute mother and drug addicted father, so Allie decides to circumvent the system and keep Davy with her until after the weekend. When Allie returns home, a message from Davy's mother warns her of coming danger and asks her to take Davy and run. Allie does the only thing she can think of and rushes back to her hometown and Beck Williams, the only man she has ever loved. Leaving Beck broke both their hearts, so Allie has to hope that he will still be willing to help her.

Much of Running from Strangers reflects the year it was written, 2008, and unfortunately it has not aged well. Negative stereotypes and poor pacing make this story a less than enjoyable read. Also, the protagonists are not well developed and some of the choices they make are questionable at best. The novel does begin with an interesting premise involving the judicial system and its care of minors, but it quickly devolves into a story where the main character must turn to an old boyfriend for help. In addition, the protagonists cheat on the boyfriend's fiance, while never really addressing that issue. Overall, Running from Strangers is a disappointing romantic suspense novel.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

she works for cps after losing her lawyer privlidges. the same judge ordered her to return the small boy to his druggie parents. instead she took him away for the night in order to have her judge friend recind the order, but her friend died in a car accident.

she got a phone call from the boys mother telling her to take the boy and protect him. she was on the run after men tried to get her.

she went to her x boyfriends ranch but a woman caught up with her. she is clueless about why they are after her or the boy. the x boyfriend got mad when he forced her to tell him what happened the night his dad died of a heart attack. she told him the dad tried to rape her and he didnt believe her. he has a girlfriend but she is out of state on a job.

the bad guys kidnapped the boy, she found the key the mom had given him. she found the box it went to and the dvds and money it contained. she used the key to get the boy back but was kidnapped herself

the fbi was on the case already and raided the place. they were saved along with all the children

she got her law licesne back, becks sister confessed she saw her dad try to rape allie and then beck believed her. they were going to adopt the boy and move back to the ranch

[Sandy Carmichael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good mystery, romance story

[Penny Ramirez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book #3 to read for 2009 Aspen Gold competition.

Not off to an auspicious start - I hate hate hate typos! They yank me from the story and cause me to mutter obscenities while trying to eat lunch, oftentimes startling my coworkers. Sigh.

At least this is a short book.

8/29 - I hate this book, and I hate that I have to read it.

There are too many implausible circumstances, and far too many plot complications for any decent resolution in this short (301 pages) book.

Once I got over my typo rampage and settled into the plot, I had been enjoying it - but about halfway through, it took a turn for the worst.

I'll finish it, because I'm reading it for a writer's competition, but if it hadn't been for that, I would have ditched it looooong ago!

8/30 - done. ugh. total star trek ending - all loose ends neatly skipped over. skips from final plot complication blow up to 3 months later, without use of the word "epilogue."

Contained the following plot complications: abandoned child, faulty court system, faulty child protective services, corrupt cops, murder, suspicious "church", missing money, kidnapping, attempted rape by father of love interest, and last but not least, kiddie porn.

[Lena Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A winner! Action packed you won't want to put this book down!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a terrific book. Keeps you turning the pages and on the edge of your seat. It is a bonus for me that it is set in the mountains on a wild horse refuge!