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Tower City Romance Trilogy #1
Don't Run Away
They say you can't run from your problems . . .
But that doesn't stop Dane Montgomery from trying. Bitter, disillusioned, and burnt out, he needs a break and hires Nikki Halstead to be the manager of his running shoe store. Sparks fly, and despite her reluctance and his misgivings, Dane pursues her.
Nikki Halstead swore she would never date her boss, and for a time, she succeeds. But after being involved in a horrifying incident, Nikki is reminded of what matters most and decides to trust Dane with her heart. What she doesn't count on is having to deal with the demons of his past.
When an old flame makes an unexpected appearance, Dane will have to decide if Nikki is worth fighting for, or if he'll keep running and let his past determine his future.
But that doesn't stop Dane Montgomery from trying. Bitter, disillusioned, and burnt out, he needs a break and hires Nikki Halstead to be the manager of his running shoe store. Sparks fly, and despite her reluctance and his misgivings, Dane pursues her.
Nikki Halstead swore she would never date her boss, and for a time, she succeeds. But after being involved in a horrifying incident, Nikki is reminded of what matters most and decides to trust Dane with her heart. What she doesn't count on is having to deal with the demons of his past.
When an old flame makes an unexpected appearance, Dane will have to decide if Nikki is worth fighting for, or if he'll keep running and let his past determine his future.
268 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2020
About the author
Vania Rheault
19 books55 followersVania Rheault has lived in Minnesota all her life. In 2003, she graduated with a BA in English with a concentration in creative writing from Minnesota State University, Moorhead. When she's not writing, she's reading working her day job, or going to movie night with her sister. In 2020 she started writing Billionaire Romance under VM Rheault. You can subscribe to her blog and receive a free book at www.vmrheault.com/subscribe
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 9, 2018
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. It’s my first romance book to ever read, so keep that in mind.
The author is very sweet, but there is a little work to be done on the novel. So, here we go...
The good stuff: As a runner myself, I really enjoyed the running throughout the book. I liked the marathon planning, the running store, and the obvious love for running the author has. I enjoyed the friendship between the protagonist and her bff, but it would never have passed a Bechdel test. Ever. Then again, it is a romance novel. I appreciated a lot of the details in the setting, but I wish there was a bit more. I liked the female protagonist’s background and what she was doing with it. I liked her perspective more than Dane’s.
The not-so-good stuff: The beginning was really rocky. It was painfully clear from the start who our lovers would be. It wasn’t developed enough and there was no patience in it. The two were thrown together and instantly had the hots for one another. It was a little too much too fast. The two main characters were a little shallow. Neither had enough depth to them and their personalities didn’t show up unless the other defined it. They were individuals. They were a means to an end within the plot.
The male protagonist was incredibly unlikeable. He was selfish and didn’t treat women well. The female protagonist was just a hot mess in the sense that she couldn’t make a decision and was flaky.
Overall, the storyline and plot ideas were intriguing and cute. I would have liked to read more, but there just wasn’t enough attention to detail or development.
The author is very sweet, but there is a little work to be done on the novel. So, here we go...
The good stuff: As a runner myself, I really enjoyed the running throughout the book. I liked the marathon planning, the running store, and the obvious love for running the author has. I enjoyed the friendship between the protagonist and her bff, but it would never have passed a Bechdel test. Ever. Then again, it is a romance novel. I appreciated a lot of the details in the setting, but I wish there was a bit more. I liked the female protagonist’s background and what she was doing with it. I liked her perspective more than Dane’s.
The not-so-good stuff: The beginning was really rocky. It was painfully clear from the start who our lovers would be. It wasn’t developed enough and there was no patience in it. The two were thrown together and instantly had the hots for one another. It was a little too much too fast. The two main characters were a little shallow. Neither had enough depth to them and their personalities didn’t show up unless the other defined it. They were individuals. They were a means to an end within the plot.
The male protagonist was incredibly unlikeable. He was selfish and didn’t treat women well. The female protagonist was just a hot mess in the sense that she couldn’t make a decision and was flaky.
Overall, the storyline and plot ideas were intriguing and cute. I would have liked to read more, but there just wasn’t enough attention to detail or development.
April 27, 2026
Great read
This story gave me more than I expected from the beginning. Dane and Nikki were two people that didn't picture love in their futures.
Dane thought he had found love and was excited to share his life with his wife. What he never expected was for his wife to turn into someone he didn't know. She took everything from him and left him worse than ever. He told himself love wasn't for him anymore but there's something in his future that he doesn't know about.
Nikki is fine with how her life currently is. She's single and starting a new chapter in her life with a new job, and new apartment. She feels as if her dream job has finally landed in her lap and can't wait to get started. What she doesn't expect is for her boss to be more than she ever thought possible.
Nikki and Dane didn't ever expect love to hit them in the face so much but will they make it work? How is Dane going to handle a new relationship after his ex-wife? Will Nikki forgive Dane and be everything he needs?
This story gave me more than I expected from the beginning. Dane and Nikki were two people that didn't picture love in their futures.
Dane thought he had found love and was excited to share his life with his wife. What he never expected was for his wife to turn into someone he didn't know. She took everything from him and left him worse than ever. He told himself love wasn't for him anymore but there's something in his future that he doesn't know about.
Nikki is fine with how her life currently is. She's single and starting a new chapter in her life with a new job, and new apartment. She feels as if her dream job has finally landed in her lap and can't wait to get started. What she doesn't expect is for her boss to be more than she ever thought possible.
Nikki and Dane didn't ever expect love to hit them in the face so much but will they make it work? How is Dane going to handle a new relationship after his ex-wife? Will Nikki forgive Dane and be everything he needs?
February 12, 2018
This story is about moving in, learning to love and trust again after your heart has been broken.
Dane is struggling with the aftermath of his divorce. His ex wife made him feel inferior; whatever he did and however much he earned was never enough.
Nikki’s last boyfriend cheated on her and left her for someone Nikki felt she was not, nor ever could be.
I really enjoyed this story. The depth of the characters, the plot line; it was all so much more than I expected. Dane and Nikki’s attempt at a relationship was messy, complicated and real. On the surface they had so much in common, but past hang ups made things difficult. The author really made you feel their anguish.
The only thing that stopped me giving it 5 stars is that the HEA felt a little rushed; it was out of step with the rest of the book. But still a worthy read.
Dane is struggling with the aftermath of his divorce. His ex wife made him feel inferior; whatever he did and however much he earned was never enough.
Nikki’s last boyfriend cheated on her and left her for someone Nikki felt she was not, nor ever could be.
I really enjoyed this story. The depth of the characters, the plot line; it was all so much more than I expected. Dane and Nikki’s attempt at a relationship was messy, complicated and real. On the surface they had so much in common, but past hang ups made things difficult. The author really made you feel their anguish.
The only thing that stopped me giving it 5 stars is that the HEA felt a little rushed; it was out of step with the rest of the book. But still a worthy read.
August 1, 2019
This is book one in the Tower City Romance Trilogy. Meet Dane Montgomery, this guy believes the solution to life and happiness is to run away from your problems then they disappear, right? Wrong! Dane figures the place to start for much needed break is to hire a manager for his shoe store. He hires Nikki. These two have chemistry but they both have the same mentality of 'no crossing the professional line'. This works for a little while until the story takes a twist and a shift and life takes on a whole new meaning. Of course, just when you think all is good in the world, Dane's past comes into his present and may destroy his future with Nikki. This was a very entertaining and enjoyable read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 9, 2018
This author knows how to build characters! If a character can make you despise them, the author did their job-in that respect. The story started off good, but then became long-winded through the middle (padded) only to really pick up near the end and blow your socks off for a fantastic finish. The editing is relatively clean, the story interesting, and the passion flowing. The Kindle edition that I read didn't have a TOC so your location in the chapters is missing, something I rely on to plan my reading times. (MS Word will do that for you automatically, Vania). All in all, a good solid romance and I look forward to more by this author.
August 2, 2019
Dane is coming out a bad marriage and a worse divorce. He hires Nikki to be the manager of his running shoe store. They live on the same floor in the same apartment building, and she might be interested in Dane if he wasn't her boss. As they get to know each other better, it becomes obvious that they'd perfect together. Except for that whole working together thing. I really enjoyed this book - it was fun and easy to read, the characters had immediate chemistry. This is my first read from this author - not the last!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 30, 2019
Dane owns a running shoe store and with the stress of his felled marriage he hires Nikki. Nikki is not looking for a relationship since her last boyfriend cheated on her and Dane has just gone through a divorce. They have a instant attraction they try to fight but eventually give in but things get bumpy. Will they hang in there to make a relationship work?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 1, 2019
A well written story the first book in the Tower City Romance Trilogy series and I know i want to read the next two books. Dane Montgomery and Nikki Halstead will have so much to overcome especially Dane's feels of inadequacy, and his parents and he will have to learn to leave the past behind and move forward as one.I enjoyed reading. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 17, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was a cute and easy read and finished it in one night. This book had realistic problems one might face in a relationship that I really appreciated. It teaches you that no relationship is perfect, and you have to love someone fully, flaws and all. Vania Rheault' s writing is captivating and leave you smiling. If you like chick lit this book is for you.
May 1, 2018
This was a delightful, quick read. I got into the story and invested in the characters of Nikki and Dane quickly. I was disappointed each time I had to put down the book to do something else. The characters were so real to me that I felt like I'd met them somewhere before. I enjoyed reading this love story and would highly recommend it to fans of New Adult and Contemporary Romance novels.
July 31, 2019
I enjoyed Dane's book he is struggling to move forward after his divorce his ex really did a number on him and left him feeling lacking. He meets Lizzie when she comes to work for him she also has some issues from her ex. These two were really well suited and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop it was real and honest and they both needed to deal with their baggage.
August 3, 2019
This is a good start to the Tower City Romance Trilogy. The characters are good and have great chemistry. The storyline is very good and keeps you interested. Will Dane's past relationship issues keep him from having a relationship with Nikki?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 28, 2019
The book is a good romance read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry. The story is an enjoyable fun, and quick romance read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 9, 2019
Amazed
I really enjoyed this story line between Nik and Dane ... True love will always win and it is always worth fighting for
I really enjoyed this story line between Nik and Dane ... True love will always win and it is always worth fighting for
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews