Run to Me in Aussie Readers

Dec 15, 2012 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: aussie-authors, read-on-kindle, net-galley, 2013-release, arc, own-read, thriller

I cannot believe that this is the author’s first novel!

Shyler O’Neil was walking her five-year-old son Jesse home from soccer..they were having some fun along the way, and throwing pebbles into the rushing water of the river beneath the bridge. Suddenly a group of youths appeared, and the horror of the next few minutes changed Shyler’s life forever.

Two years later, divorced and alone, Shyler had retreated to the isolation of a cabin which was left to her by her late father, a place the family h I cannot believe that this is the author’s first novel!

Shyler O’Neil was walking her five-year-old son Jesse home from soccer..they were having some fun along the way, and throwing pebbles into the rushing water of the river beneath the bridge. Suddenly a group of youths appeared, and the horror of the next few minutes changed Shyler’s life forever.

Two years later, divorced and alone, Shyler had retreated to the isolation of a cabin which was left to her by her late father, a place the family had camped at when she was a child. The isolation was complete, with the cabin totally enclosed in woods, and the nearest small town quite some way away. Shyler found a tentative peace working alone in her workshop, creating beautiful creatures and other pieces out of wood, a craft taught to her by her father. She would then barter her items at the local grocery store for food and supplies. Bill was happy to do this for the lady who was reserved, quiet and alone.

When we met ten-year-old Zack Ballinger, he was trying to find food for his two younger foster brothers, Reece and Corey, in the hovel they called home. Their foster parents, the Leary’s, were out drinking and using up all the latest pay packet. In amongst the filth, dirty dishes, and unwashed clothing he found some stale cracker biscuits, plus some suspect cheese, but that’s all there was, and they were starving. The three of them were alone, and lonely, with various reasons for being fostered, but they had developed the closeness of brothers, and Zack, being the eldest, was determined to look after his younger ‘brothers’.

But suddenly, with events moving extremely fast, Zack, Reece and Corey found themselves in trouble. It was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but it was a disaster waiting to happen. On the run for their lives, the three friends managed to stay one step ahead of the thugs, but how long would that last? They were only children after all…..

When Shyler re-entered the picture, she was teetering on the edge of sanity, and upon seeing Zack, she was positive it was her son Jesse. The speed with which things went wrong was incredible, and once again, Zack was on the run, but with different companions this time. Would they escape? Things couldn’t be worse, the fear, the horror, the intensity of the situation!

I absolutely loved this book from the very first page! The extremely fast paced, full on action had me in its grip, and just wouldn’t let go! I felt for the three boys, I sympathised with Shyler, and I loathed the bad guys!! The characters were well defined, very ‘real’, I felt like I was actually ‘there’…

This is a thriller that I would highly recommend to everyone! And I will definitely be looking for more of Diane Hester’s work!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Australia for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
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Mar 17, 2013 Lauredhel rated it really liked it

Shelves: australian-women-writers-challenge, contemporary, disability, netgalley, romantic-suspense, crime, aww2013, thriller, not-for-tansy

Content Notes: children in danger, some child neglect/abuse, vivid description of PTSD symptoms

This is an excellent nailbiter set in the woods of northern Maine. The shifting point-of-view was a bit confusing for me in the galley, but with proper scene breaks it should work well. I liked the moxie of the child protagonist a lot. What I particularly admire was the way Shyler's spirit and courage shone through while she was struggling with severe PTSD. The PTSD rang true to me, which is a tricky t ...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Blue Eyed Vixen marked it as to-read

Shelves: aww-2013

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Jul 16, 2016 Jennifer marked it as to-read

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