He leaves her no choice but to run—again. Or is it already too late? While investigating his sister’s disappearance, Detective Mitch Saunders uncovers a disturbing link to one of his old, and very cold, cases: a young woman who walked out her backdoor and simply vanished. When Mitch discovers she’s been in hiding all these years and living under an assumed identity, he also realizes Laura Macnamara—now Charlie Hart—holds the key to his sister’s safety. Despite the fact that he’s law enforcement and promising protection, Charlie refuses to help him. Between her carefully buried secrets and well-founded fears, her life—and others—will always be in peril. Despite their growing attraction, she knows that to bring his sister home, he’d willingly risk exposing Charlie to danger. When their loved ones become caught in a predator’s twisted trap and they lose faith in each other, Mitch and Charlie must face their worst fears head on. This is a gripping, stand-alone, romantic suspense in which a cold case and a missing persons investigation collide. Buried secrets mean past threats are very much alive and danger lurks at every twist in this on-the-run, woman-in-danger thrill ride! Awards for Runaway: 2016 National Reader's Choice Awards Winner for Best First Book 2016 National Reader's Choice Awards Finalist in Romantic Suspense 2016 International Digital Awards Fifth place in Romantic Suspense 2012 Put Your Heart in a Book Winner in Romantic Suspense For more Romantic Suspense from JB Schroeder: Check out UNHINGED: Book 1 in the Unlikely Series, where Evil lurks in the most unlikely places… ……… Reviews: “A spine-tingling, gritty, edgy, THRILLING Romantic Suspense novel that pulled me in and rattled my bones without the slightest chance of allowing me to put it down!...It's heart-breaking, heart-pounding, haunting, steamy~ an edge of your seat marvel that never misses a beat!” ~Denise Birt, Wild Sage Book Blog "Cleverly written, with a creep factor turned up to eleven, RUNAWAY is unlike anything I've ever read. You will fall in love with Mitch and Charlie in this twisted tale of facing down your worst fears. This book is not to be missed!" ~Joanna Shupe, Award-winning Author “This is a winner! It’s the up all night, edge of your seat, just one more chapter kind of romantic suspense you love. With buried secrets, hidden agendas, and cunning villains, Schroeder deftly creates peril that our smart heroine and protective hero can only escape together. Runaway careens from a cold case to a nail-biter kidnapping as you invest in a determined detective’s investigation to solve this gritty, missing persons drama." ~Savannah Kade, Maggie Award-winning Author of Dark Falls Romantic Suspense “A riveting story that will keep you on the edge of your seat and anxious for more! [Runaway] has a unique plot and strong characters that sucked me in and kept me turning the page… There was a shocking twist I hadn't expected that gave me chills as I read it…” ~Maria K. Alexander, Award-winning Author “JB Schroeder doesn't pull any punches with this gritty novel that explores the darker side of human nature. There is one shocking, distressing, unbelievably eerie scene with such devastating consequences that I had to reread the scene to make sure what I thought was happening really was happening. It isn't often that a scene in a book gives me the shivers, but this one did. RUNAWAY is fast-paced and compelling; Schroeder's masterful writing sucks you in and keeps you there. This is the kind of book that stays with you long after you've read the final page.” ~D.M. Quincy, Bestselling Author “Gritty, gripping, and full of suspense! This intense thriller…will keep you on the edge of your seat! The romance developed in a very realistic way - these characters have some major issues and inner conflicts to match their external obstacles. Taking a journey into the mind of a sick and twisted predator upped the stakes and adrenaline rush for me as a reader. Themes of addiction, life on the streets, and abuse are handled with dignity without diminishing their impact.” ~D.B. Sieders, Award-winning Author . . . . . . Fans of JB Schroeder’s romantic suspense are also reading books by: Rebecca Zanetti, Debra Webb, Toni Anderson, Laura Griffin, Lynn Raye Harris, Kat Martin, Lilliana Hart, Blake Pierce, Christie Craig, Janie Crouch, Trish Loye, Charlee James, Barb Warner Deane, Laylea Cross, Diane Benefiel, Misty Evans, Cynthia Eden, Barbara Freethy, Kathleen Brooks, Kelsey Browning, Karen Robards, Alison Kent, Sybil Bartel, Rachel Grant, Debbie Baldwin, Dawn Altieri, Patricia Eddy, Alex Grayson, Morgan James, Karen Rose, Katie Reus, Jill Sanders Topics: romantic suspense, romance action and adventure, romantic thriller, shocking twists, fast-paced, edge of your seat, couldn’t put it down, justice served, emotional contemporary romance, psychological elements, crime, mystery and suspense, contemporary romance series, new beginnings romance, starting over, fresh start, new path, second chance at love, working together, gritty romance, real romance, real love, true love, missing person, runaway, victim, disappearance, on the run, woman in hiding, investigation, disturbed villain, woman in danger, woman in peril, past secrets, past threats, buried secrets, emotional journey, emotional romance, heartfelt romance, swoon-worthy romance, make your heart race romance, award-winning romance, award-winning author, full-length romance, Poconos, San Francisco, California, happily for now, no cliffhanger, love and loss, strong heroine, independent heroine, waitress, protective hero, detective hero, police procedural romance, missing child, kidnapping, charity work, soup kitchen, homeless shelter, drug abuse, suicide, trust, redemption, Heart racing romantic suspense, emotional romance books, romantic suspense novels, dark romantic suspense, everyday heroes,