Average romance novel ,unfortunately it was so boring and unappealing that it was hard for me to finish it. I respect the author’s work and I obviously want to say thank you for the chance of reviewing it,but it’s my honest opinion .

Alexa Aston has intrigued me with a U.S. Historical Romance…usually not my thing but I gave it a try because of the author…she did not disappoint! You will be swept away into the injustices of love and kept entertained from cover to cover. What more can you ask for?

4⭐️

This was my first book by Alexa Aston and I really enjoyed it!!! Can a runaway heiress and a detective open their hearts to love? Two strangers who end up living in the same house what are the chances? Read and enjoy!!!

Loved the heroine and how she was so independent from the beginning. The hero was an intriguing guy as well. So when they crossed paths they certainly had perfect chemistry. I haven't read a western romance in a while and I'm glad I picked this one! #netgalley #runawayhearts

Runaway Hearts, by Alexa Aston. Good googly moogly. What has this book done to my emotions. I am beyond ecstatic about this book. The writing was a thousand percent awesome.
I know that there’s no such thing as a thousand percent, but if there was, this book deserves it. I loved the characters. Every single one of them, including that psycho John. This book read like a soap opera. I was having flashbacks of Dallas. Every line oozed with mouth dropping secrets that had my eyes bulging out of their sockets. I found myself asking, now where did the heck that come from? It was one surprise after the next. Hit after hit. I was like a kid in a candy store.
You know the one who has the cheeks out too there, chewing on massive amounts of Bazooka gum. Yep! That was me, because this book was juiccccyy! The drama was in hyper mode. Every character brought trouble to world of Emma and Rye, except for Eddie.
He was a blessing really. The book spoke to me with so much realism. I felt comfortable and content. I enjoyed the few funny moments and the story. That helped with part of the entertainment.
The other part I hold hands down to the Queen herself of temper tantrum’s, Ms. Renata. Whew! That woman was a huge cup of, get that crazy nit wit lady out of here! This book has people being kidnapped. An evil, supposed cousin. Business men out to make a profit. A well known Italian opera singer. Two where for out tho’ brothers. Two handsome rugged detectives and one strong, independent woman who was pulled into this chaotic world. Then imagine in this so called world a lonesome detective cowboy stops to admire a woman smiling joyfully as she reads her book at the train station.
Yes. I give this book two snaps and a, “George, if you know what’s good for you, I wouldn’t untie that rope.” Until next time my fellow readers… read on!

This checked off everything I look for in a book. Was not disappointed. Really enjoyed this book. I will read more from this author.

Runaway Hearts is a very exciting story about Emma, an heiress that inherits her father's wealth when he dies. The day of his funeral, she overhears her sweetheart talking to her stepmother, and discovers that they are actually lovers, an are planning her death so they can obtain the inheritance. So Emma flees. At first she doesn't know where she will go, so she gets on a train and heads west. On that train is an opera troupe heading to Denver. She befriends a handsome young man named Rye, and some of the troupe fall ill, including the star. They get off of the train to recover, an she helps them with their recovery. When they get to Denver, they stay with the owner of the theater, when the star is kidnapped. Eventually, Emma is kidnapped also, by her former sweetheart who has tracked her down. Rye, who is actually a Pinkerton agent, has to find her before anything bad happens to her. Great story that is exciting to read, and only one detailed love scene that they could have left out. Except for that one scene, it would have been a clean read, but I enjoyed the story anyway.

Another winner from Alexa Aston. I am glad I requested this from NetGalley and got approved. I have been reading Western romances lately and this one did not disappoint.

The hero had a difficult childhood but he was able to make something of himself. The heroine is a resourceful and smart woman. The way they meet is simply romantic. No booming fireworks display but just a very profound connection between the hero and heroine. He was tasked to complete a journey. And the heroine needed to go escape a potentially dangerous situation after her father died. Fate just threw them together. The innocent and talented heroine and the honorable hero. There were twists and turns and family surprises. A villain who gets their comeuppance and the very happy ending. There were sexy scenes but nothing overly graphic or erotic. Maybe 3 out of 5 heat level. There is humor in the book too. And the ending is just sublime.

Have you ever imagined a soap opera set in the post-civil war west? If so - this book fully realizes that vision.

Emma Bradford is one of those heroines who is beautiful, good, and pretty much good at everything she touches. During the book she is shown to have a good head for business, a strong knowledge of nursing, and an incredible singing talent. Not to mention she is rich, well read, and beautiful. She is also, the survivor of a serious carriage accident, a plot to steal her money by marriage, and a double kidnap victim. Yes - all of that in one book.

All of that is MORE than enough - but we haven't even talked about Rye. Rye is a civil war veteran who's brother died saving his life, he is also not the natural son of his parents - instead, his aunt was his actual birth mother, and is now a Pinkerton agent There is quite a lot of drama related to that in the book as well.

Overall - I loved the time period the book was set in and the plot related to the opera diva was very interesting - but the book just suffered from a case of the TOO MUCH syndrome. There was just so much going on - I didn't feel any depth about the various parts. I almost would have liked the book to be separated into separate adventures for Emma or something like that.

As a result - I just didn't connect with the book and I'm not sure I'd truly recommend it.

I received this as an ARC from Net Galley, but these opinions are all my own.

Runaway Hearts by Alexa Aston is a historic cowboy novel taking place mostly in Denver. As I am familiar with Aston as a writer of Regency romance novels, this was a departure I was excited to pursue. I found to be a fruitful journey. Rye Callahan is a Pinkerton agent, having joined after his sojourn in the Union Army during the War Between the States. As he arrived "home," he was informed by his bitter "mother" that she was not his mother, but his aunt, his mother begin his father's sister, Adeline. She was not kind in her delivery of this information. Upon leaving the tenement, his "father" suffered an attack and died. So much for going home. Emma's father had just died when she overheard her stepmother, Louisa, and her cousin, John, Emma's supposed suitor, planning to kill her and steal he fortune. Louisa has not been satisfied with her bequest. She knew she had to get out of this situation and determined to leave immediately. She enlisted the aid of her maid, Molly, and they formulated a plan, which fell apart when John raped and murdered her. It was only luck that saved her from his clutches.

Rye was a man certain of what he wanted and was able to give. Turns out he was wrong. He was intelligent and brave and was extremely surprised to find himself enraptured with Emma, encouraging her and protecting her. He and his friend Eddie were Pinkerton's representatives to protect a traveling opera singer, who really didn't need it, but better safe than sorry. She was difficult. He was strong with patience. Emma did not have high self-esteem despite the fact she was over-burdened with talents. She had spent her life shadowing her father so knew everything there was to know about running their mill. She had also received an education typical of the day so she had many feminine skills. This was a pretty good story, with a few surprises before Rye and Emma got together. It was a good novel, keeping me interested the entire read. The characters were excellent and the plot was decent. It was overall a good read. I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Runaway Hearts by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #runawayhearts

Runaway Hearts is a relatively clean and sweet tale, in spite of how the book jacket describes it. Much of the promised drama never unfolds, and instead you get a pretty basic novel that's worth the read but isn't one for the keeper shelf.

I don't read very many historical western romances, so I was looking forward to something a little bit different from the usual story of a roguish duke/earl/viscount who falls for a bluestocking. However, this book could easily have taken place in England; aside from a few references about how things are much more casual in the west, nothing else set this book apart from a Regency novel. Make Emma a cit and Rye a Runner, and you'd be good to go.

Anyway, while I liked both Emma and Rye, I wasn't entirely sure that I saw any chemistry between them. Perhaps if they'd spent more time together or had shared some of their secrets, it would have helped. It just felt as if there were too many subplots vying for space for Emma and Rye's relationship to really develop.

With that in mind, I felt like the book had an awful lot going on considering that nothing really happened. There was a lot of promise: a murderous ex, a secret past, a temperamental diva, baby Denver, Pinkerton agents, hidden talents... But maybe it would have been better if the author had picked one or two instead of trying to fit all of them in.

For readers who enjoy a slow (but not boring) pace and are looking for a book that's light on the sexy stuff, this book may be a good choice.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!

I just finished reading Runaway Hearts by Alexa Aston. What a wonderful first in series, Lawman of the West. I really liked Emma & Rye. They make a wonderful couple. There was just enough intrigue to keep the story interesting. The only complaint I have about this book is that there wasn’t an epilogue. I always love a good epilogue. Thank you net galley for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. 4.5 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

“Runaway Hearts” is the first book in Alexa Aston’s Lawmen of the West series.

The Heroine: Emma Bradford - sweet, pampered heiress running from trouble

The Hero: Rye Callahan - broody, sad, emotionally scarred Pinkerton whose still loveable.

I generally enjoy these types of stories where the danger should be palpable with twists and turns. I feel that in this specific story the plot fell a little short. I found some of the twists to be somewhat convenient to the story and not the most believable. I might even say that the bow in this story was tied too perfect for it to feel authentic.

Putting the plot issues aside, I liked the characters and thought they worked well together. I enjoyed the hero’s story and would have loved to unpack that more to get to the heart of why he is the way he has become.

*I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
#RunawayHearts #NetGalley

Wonderful story from Alexa Aston.

This novel was fabulous with great characters, an engaging storyline, villains, a sexy hero, and a snappy heroine. I enjoy stories about the American west IF they are well written and entertaining, this story was both. It grabbed and held attention from page one, the plot moved along very nicely and was believable but had twist and turns.

I absolutely recommend Runaway Hearts💕!

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and Oliver Heber Books and am volunteering an honest review. #RunawayHearts #NetGalley

This was a really cute read. It was a different kind of historical romance that had nothing to do with dukes and viscounts!

I loved the instant connection between Emma and Rye. They made such a sweet couple. You really rooted for them.

As always this author writes amazing female characters. Emma was fiercely independent and I was here for it

But Rye was the star for me in this book. The way he protected Emma and how devoted he was to her. Even when he was conflicted about if he could be the man for her. You still swooned.

The main thing I have to say about this book was there was soooo much going on. There were a few places that I got confused with the characters or plot points.

But seriously this was a fun sweet overly dramatic romance, so if that’s your thing definitely pick this book up!

🌟🌟🌟/5

There is truly nothing better than a historical western romance and Alex Aston has penned it beautifully! From medieval to contemporary, she continues to amaze me with her wonderful characters and heart winning storylines.

She was on the run, getting away from an a devious plot for her fiance and stepmother to steal her inheritance and take her out of the picture. Permanently.

He was on the same train going west, undercover, protecting a demanding opera singer. Well demanding is a nice word for her! But then he meets her. She's beautiful and her tries to keep her at arms length.

Then the adventure really begins! I seriously could not read it fast enough!! Cannot wait until the next in the series comes out. SIgn me up.

I'm really not sure what to write in my review for this one. It wasn't bad, but it also wasn't good. Despite finishing this 20 minutes ago, I'm already forgetting the plot, which is never a good sign.

Based off the cover, I really expected this to be a quick smutty read, which was what I was in the mood for. Instead, i got a 300 page book of clean romance and opera singing. I don't mind a clean romance if I like the characters, but these characters didn't have any substance.

I also had a problem with the usage of tropes in this one. Mainly, the kidnapping plot. Why does every historical romance feature a kidnapping?? I can list 10 or more with this trope just off the top of my head, and they're all used in the same way. I'm tired of this plot device, especially when it adds nothing new.

Like I said earlier, I didn't dislike this. I just don't remember anything about it. It wasn't a memorable read, and I spent the entire time wanting it to be done.

Thanks to Alexa Aston and Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review

I needed to escape into a good book, and this book fit the bill—the lawman and the heiress in the 1870’s American west. I was hooked from page one until the end, with plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing and reading. I recommend this engaging story with wonderful characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oliver Heber Books for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.

As a prolific reader, it is very unusual for me to not enjoy a book. Runaway Hearts is the exception. I struggled to finish it and skipped pages at a time. Although Emma is a sweet heiress, she shares way too much information for a person who is trying to disappear temporarily. For a while, I thought this book might be mislabeled and should be a Teen novel, except for the sex. There is way too much going on in this book, way too many coincidences, way too many odd situations. I actually like the H, h and secondary characters and believe with some work this novel is redeemable. Just slim down the constant coincidences.

Runaway Hearts is a great Western historical romance read that takes place in 1878. The story features Emma Bradford, who resides in Plainfield, Connecticut on a large estate owned by her wealthy father. After his recent death, Emma overhears her supposed fiancé and step-mother conspire to remove her from the picture in order to access her late father's fortune. Rye Callahan is from New York but has taken up an assignment that leads him West to protect an Italian opera singer who has risen to fame. Their chance meeting at a train station leads to unexpected, blossoming love as she flees to the West to escape her fiancé.

The story starts a bit slow but as the adventure and plot thicken it will keep you intrigued till the end. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters Alexa Aston created, especially the Italian opera singer Renata who drove everyone insane with her diva tantrums. This a book I would definitely recommend for those who enjoy romance filled with deception, scorned lovers, and a thrilling adventure.