Alison Freeman met Keene Marshall because of a dare she wholeheartedly regrets accepting. As her family’s corporate lawyer, Alison discards the idea of love as quickly as she negotiates contracts. Brutally. She realizes she’s been a fool over Keene—who is now intimately embedded in her family. It only adds to the enormity of emotions churning inside about her life. Keene Marshall is arrogant … Marshall is arrogant enough to know his time with Alison left a lasting impression. He has yet to determine what place she’s going to hold in his life, but he knows there will be one. They burn too hot for there not to be.
Having closed himself off from his humanity for so long, finding Alison again presents its own set of challenges. Keene struggles with everything from his family to the walls Alison persistently builds between them. And he can’t handle the emotions that come with being denied what he wants.
Alison’s wary of Keene. Something is holding her back, except every time his lips touch hers, she’s flung into the race of her life for the one thing she claims she never wanted to win.
Although set in the same world as Free to Dream, this is a standalone, contemporary romance with dark and suspenseful undertones
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This is the second book in the series and we get to see another of the Freemans. Alison is so much different then Cassidy, and her other sisters.
Alison is the Lawyer of Amaryllis Events and also the head of many of the problems within the family if you asked her siblings. However most of those problems are because of Keene (Cassidy’s brother).
However, Alison doesn’t believe that there is a problem because she was just trying to do what she has always does and that is to protect those that she loves.
Keene has not known what to really show is feelings since his sister when missing. He is struggling with letting others in and in the process pushing those that he wants close away.
The chemistry between these two is off the charts. Will they be able to get past all the things in their way and have a relationship that neither of them think they deserve?
This book also had some twist that I did not see coming but overall really added to the story.
I can’t wait to read the next in the series.
Free to Run was just as incredible as Free to Dream. I love the way Tracey Jerald tells a story. Her words are magical and transport you directly into the situation. Every emotion from anger, to sadness, to overwhelming joy you feel it.
I was intrigued with Keene and Allison‘s characters in Free to Dream. I’m so excited to finally get the chance to look into their world. Keene and Allison‘s story is a whole lot of push and pull. They’re both dealing with the demons of their past, when it comes to love and trust. I was immersed in there story from the very beginning. I couldn’t read fast enough to find out how their story would unfold and ultimately end. I was smiling from ear to ear at the epilogue.
Free to Run can be read as a stand-alone, but I recommend reading Free to a Dream first. Both books are marvelous.
“Like running, love can happen anywhere. You just have to want to find your course.”
Tracey has done it again! I love love love her words people. If you like romantic suspense this book will deliver 10 fold!!
The way Tracey portrays the back story to these characters blows my mind. I want to know about every single person in this family!! And the tough subject of human trafficking – the healing process of those affected it will just tear at your heartstrings.
Even though this book could be read as a standalone, you meet Alison and Keene in the previous book, Free to Dream. Since I have read the first book I knew going in that this book will pull at my emotions, and let me tell you it really did. Alison Freeman had a horrific childhood, which caused her to not trust men or love at all. Even with the family she’s made, there is still a part of her that feels she is unlovable and easily discarded. It was so heartbreaking to read her thoughts. Then we have Keene, another soul who has hardened his heart from love. Even after finding his sister after 24 years of searching and having the support of his best friend, now brother-in-law, Caleb, he still does not trust it. I knew this was going to be a tough journey for them.
Alison and Keene meet two years earlier and the sparks were flying, From the very first sentence you knew these two had some smoking chemistry. Unfortunately, due to Keene’s issues, it ends very badly and just emphasized Alison’s belief about men. Even though Keene knew leaving Alison the way he did he had lost any chance for the two of them, he still was unable to stop thinking about her. What made it worse was that they were now family so they will be running into each other constantly. And what ensues is their story of angst and misunderstandings, and secrets that just took too long to be shed to light. But once they finally let go of their past and start to believe they are able to love and be loved, their happily ever after was beautiful.
Like in the first book, I wished the secrets were not held for so long. If they had communicated sooner, a lot of the pain was avoidable. I wanted to smack both of them at one point or another. I shed quite a few tears with both their pasts and the consequences of not talking to each other. But once all the truths come out and the family band back together, and hearts are finally free to love, it was spectacular.
All in all I did love it. Both Alison and Keene, even with their issues, they were wonderful. Alison is the type of heroine I love to read about; strong, independent, with a bit of sass and a vulnerability that you can’t help but root for. Keene, as the strong alpha male, but once he lets go and realizes what Alison means to him, he will do anything to get her back. I had a few issues with some of the side characters, some I was really annoyed with and some I absolutely disliked. Like I said emotions were all over the place. This one definitely is a must read, I cannot wait for the next one!
I received an eARC of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
I liked this book.
I haven’t read the first one in the series, so I missed some of the mentions of who the charachters were. It was probably described in the first book.
Anyway it was nothing to worry about.
It was a little confusing at first, but once you get to know her big family you see that they are amazing. They have their issues, but they work through it. Which family doesnt have them?
The book was flowing ok. I loved how there was tension and unpredictability.
The Freemans had it tough in their childhood and met each other in very hard circumstances, but they grew stronger and better because of it.
I love Adison and Keene. They are both stubborn and jumping to the conclusions too fast. Adison is strong, but self consious. While Keene is also strong, he doesn’t let anyone in. So they are a great combination once when they let everything go and just be. To feel the love.
An engaging, enjoyable and emotional read
Book 2 in the series (I don’t see a series name but the titles of both published books as well as the two forthcoming books all start with “Free to…”), I was blown away by book 1–which was this author’s debut work—so I was eager to dive into this. While Free to Run is listed as a standalone, there are spoilers here for book 1, and quite a few references to earlier events, so for maximum enjoyment, I recommend reading Free to Dream first.
Like book 1, I was quickly pulled into the story here and I felt for both Keene and Alison. In fact, I was so emotionally engaged, I *may* have yelled at my e-reader a time or two, and I really didn’t want to put the story down to adult, lol. There were plenty of twists to the plot with some nice suspense elements, and I was never sure just where this story was going to go.
I did miss all the interaction between the Freeman siblings that we saw in book 1, but given the isolation Alison feels, I understand why the author made that choice and it absolutely fit the book. I had more trouble with the lack of detail in Alison’s background with Corinna and Holly. It’s skimmed over very lightly (more tell than show, IMO) and I just didn’t feel the connection between the three of them like I wanted to. It may be the author intends to cover this in one of the forthcoming books (Corinna’s story is next), but I just felt a little something was missing there.
Overall, an engaging, enjoyable and emotional read, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book. 4.5 stars
B2B Kelly
Free To Run is book two in the series. It’s Alison and Keene’s story. I loved it! Ali and Keene had some great chemistry and I loved them together! I loved the push and pull they had. The banter between everyone was great! Love the Freeman family! Looking forward to reading Corinna’s book!
Free to run has been a roller coaster ride of emotions. The shock factor from page one in the prologue will keep you intrigued. Alison Freeman is CFO of Amaryllis Events and Lawyer for the company. Each of her adopted siblings are from rough upbringings. Keene Marshall is a to die for hot ex-military man, who now co-owns Hudson Security.
Alison and Keene’s one night stand at a wedding leads to another chance meeting. That meeting has them both coming back for more even if they try not too. Their chemistry is just too strong to avoid. This story pulls at your heartstrings and keeps you on your toes with the banter and sparks radiating from these two. I didn’t want this book to end. I am definitely excited for the next one in this series. This is a 5+ star read.
Alison and Keene had a one night stand and after he tried to sneak out. Fast forward a few years later and her sister married his best friend and business partner. Can Keene stop being difficult and can Allison forgive him. Great characters and storyline. Highly recommend. Awesome series.
A strong woman overcoming adversity
I loved this story! Of course I loved Free to Dream, and got a good glimpse of Allison and Keene in that story. I’m so glad they got their own! Allison is my spirit animal, I adore her dedication to her work, her family and especially herself. She is a determined woman, who knows the value of her self worth however it took her a hard journey and making hard decisions to really see that and realize the true relationships she had with the people in her life. I think that Keene helped her with that in so many ways, while also battling his own past and letting go of the scars and hurt he has delt with. He has had quite a journey to where he is now and lived with pain most of his life, becoming accustomed to it, until all of the sudden he didn’t have too. Letting that demon go and moving forward in your life is a lot harder than it looks. This book was an overall heartwarming read, and I can only hope that all the Freeman’s get their story!
I love this mish mash family. All of them have had a rough beginning in their lives and faced more than most adults could tolerate yet they have thrived. The love and support is what has kept them. Alison has always been a little different being the attorney and although she loves her siblings she feels alone. Enter Keene, 2 wild hook ups and well it goes from there. We get a peek at these two and their past. Of course it’s much too short because this author makes you want more and keeps you flipping through the book until it’s done. Great read and of course I can’t wait for more on these two.
I just finished and holy wow. Tracey did it again. Reading Keene and Allison’s story is a roller coaster ride from page one. Be prepared for one of the hottest first pages of a book ever. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I was excited for this book before I even finished the first one. And while I loved the first one, I think this one may have been better. I don’t want to spoil anything but I will say that I love a good journey of self-exploration, especially when the character decides to put themselves above all else. Reading about strong women in romance is important and I think Tracey writes them so well. I’m glad to see that the characters stayed true to who they are.
The humor, the banter, the intrigue, the sex, the romance and the mystery all come together in one incredible story. This author has a fan for life and I’m ready for book 3. If you like romance and family drama with a sassy heroine and a vampire prick (read the book for the joke) hero, this one is definitely for you.
*I was lucky enough to buy a copy of the book at a book signing prior to it being published.
I still can’t wrap my mind around the fact that this is only the second book that Tracey Jerald has published. I loved Free to Dream so much and have been dying to read Free to Run. I was absolutely blown away a second time by Tracey’s writing. She is so polished it is like reading books by someone that has been doing this forever. Free to Run was amazing! To say I loved it would be an understatement. I loved the push and pull between Keene and Ali. I loved this book, I love the Freeman family with all of their dynamics and can’t wait to read more.