Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  On the Run

AUTHOR:  May Archer

SERIES:  Whispering key

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  329 pages

RELEASE DATE:  December 11, 2020

BLURB:

I was supposed to be partying with a bunch of celebrities in paradise this week, okay?

But then I made one teeny, tiny error in judgement before leaving New York, and suddenly the paparazzi expected me to give a command performance as “the other man” in their straight celebrity “outing” of the week.

Um, no, precious. So much no.

Instead, I did what any self-respecting, secret-keeping man would do in that situation: I cancelled my trip and fled New York to hide out in the last place anyone would look for me–a weird little Florida island where nothing exciting ever happened.

Or at least it didn’t… until I arrived.

Now I find myself shacked up with my fake boyfriend Beale Goodman, Whispering Key’s most adorable, most enormous, most virginal cinnamon roll—a guy who rescues feral cats, believes in soulmates, and talks about happiness like it’s free for the taking.

A guy who nearly convinces me, with every smile and kiss, that it is.

Stranger still? I find myself falling for the people on the island. Fitting in, instead of sticking out. Making, you know… friends. And for the first time ever, I think I’ve found something I want to run to, rather than from…

As long as I can keep my secrets from catching up with me.

REVIEW:

The tiny, laid-back Florida island of Whispering Key is apparently the tropical cousin of Licking Thicket, Tennessee, the zany town in May Archer and Lucy Lennox’s uproarious series by the same name. The Whispering Key series features the same cheeky, fall-off-your-chair-laughing humor. This romantic comedy gem is easily my favorite May Archer solo novel. 

I love the construct of the plot. Archer utilizes a clever storyline to get Toby to Whispering Key while his best friend, Mason, and Mason’s boyfriend, Fenn (the couple from book one, Off Plan) are away in New York, thus stranding him. Snarky, cocky, drama queen Toby finds himself embroiled in a scandal that has garnered national attention, so he impulsively escapes to the safe harbor of Mason and the anonymity the island will provide. Unfortunately for Toby, Mason’s not there and bad luck finds Toby with no credit cards, no phone, and friends and family who would rather see his demise than help him. Fate lands him on the doorstep of islander Littlejohn Jennings (and his SpaghettiOs), who sets him up in Mason and Fenn’s pool house, unbeknownst to Fenn’s cousin, Beale Goodman, who is also staying there house sitting. Get ready for their meet cute entertaining and painful. Beale is shocked to find Toby in his bed (only one bed, of course!) 

Wholesome, sweet, unassuming Beale is Toby’s polar opposite. He has a giant, caring heart and needs to maintain control. His mother gifted him with an interest in, and love of, astrology and crystals, and an almost innocent belief in the Universe finding him a soul mate. Although he’s patiently awaiting that perfect connection, the Universe is taking its sweet ol’ time. 

Come morning, Beale’s brothers, Gage and Rafe, walk in on Beale helping Toby with an innocent, but very suggestive-looking, yoga position and assume they’ve interrupted sexy times. Much to the shock of the three Goodman brothers, Toby unwittingly mentions the magic words “soul mates” while fabricating a story to explain his presence. Knowing Beale’s conviction in the notion of soul mates, the brothers – in an uproarious scene – instantly buy into Toby’s bogus story and manage to convince themselves that Beale and Toby met twelve years prior and have been pining for each other ever since. Meanwhile, Beale has no idea what Toby’s trying to hide.  

Shortly thereafter, Gage and Rafe drag Toby to a café where dozens of locals lay in wait of The New Guy: Beale’s soul mate (word travels fast). In typical small-town fashion – Ms. Archer has a long history of masterful small-town world building – seemingly every resident of the island knows about Toby’s arrival before the crack of dawn. Toby is treated like royalty the moment the islanders meet him. He is fully embraced – literally and figuratively – by nearly everyone within hugging distance the morning after he arrives. The supporting characters are outstanding, including many familiar faces and lots of new eccentric ones, too. New and old, the Whispering Keysters are what bring the charm to the island. Gage, Rage, and their dad, Big Rafe, are adorable and more affable this time around.  

Beale and Toby struggle with poor communication throughout, but do not fear, there’s no Big Misunderstanding. Their interactions are filled with amusing banter and Toby’s biting snark. Toby is a master of deflecting attention away from himself anytime Beale inquires about his life or why he’s hiding out on Whispering Key. But Toby harbors a lot of self-loathing, and it’s not helping that keeping all his secrets is beginning to feel like lying to Beale and everyone on the island. 

Their journey to a happy ending is a bumpy one, but once Toby learns to trust Beale and himself, the road becomes smoother. (Although, they do have to deal with possible penis injuries, naughty plovers, and murder cats along the way.) I highly recommend On the Run as an addition to the series and look forward to the next installment. Rafe and Jay/Jayd hopefully? 

Bonus points for the Les Misérables’ Eponine reference. 

RATING: 

BUY LINKS: 

Amazon