Run Baby Run

This book was so sick but I just couldn't put it down. I'm seriously questioning my sanity. And was I crazy for rooting for Mason.

What in the holy effed upness did I just read? I couldn’t decide if I loved it or if the H was just too crazy for me. I honestly still don’t know, yet I found myself going straight to search book two. He is a whole lot to take in, yet they manage to make him seem vulnerable as well. You want him to get the girl at the same time you want the girl to run for the hills. Even though I’m still not sure how I feel, I went searching for book two, lol.

I'm trying to sort out in my mind just how to review this one. I've read the one author (Don Both) before, specifically her 'Tristan Wrangler' series & loved them. BUT, for those not familiar with Ms. Both's writing style, I think it is fair to provide some FYI about it. *** Although please be aware these are IMO:a) the author is European, so the writing style is slightly different than an American author (not bad, at all; merely slightly different)b) A lot, if not most, of the story is told via the character's internal thoughts/musings (normally I don't care for this, but I find I do not mind it at all in Ms. Both's books)I found this one about Mason (anti-H) & Emilia (anti-heroine) to be fascinating & one I could NOT put down.BOTH Mason & Emilia are tortured, dark, extremely dysfunctional people, albeit for different reasons. Mason due to DNA as well as his natural personality & Emilia due to an abusive past.Looking for stability, goodness & light for her future, Emilia happens to meet Riley, Mason's half-brother, who is the polar opposite of Mason.Mason is prone to rages, is emotionally uncontrolled, acts on impulse, acts out, has no ambition, does drugs & has s*x with a constant stream of women for whom he has no regard & at 23 lives in the basement of his parents' house.Riley is controlled in word & deed, has always been a natural over achiever, never acted up or out & became an attorney.But then Mason & Emilia meet & dark calls to dark.Mason is an extremely egotistical & dominant man who finds himself irresistibly drawn to the submissive Emilia physically. But as their illicit affair explodes, both Mason & Emilia find they not only cannot stop their trysts, they do not want to stop. Mason is a cruel dominant who loves to torment & emotionally torture the submissive Emilia & finds any excuse to punish her. He requires her instant obedience & compliance to all his demands, no matter how outrageous or how they might endanger her relationship with Riley.And while Emilia constantly reminds herself the good man for her, the right man for her, is Riley, she absolutely cannot resist her intense emotional & physical NEED for Mason & his dominating control.There is A LOT of angst in this one. A LOT. Neither Mason or Emilia are good people: they are dark, dysfunctional, selfish & consumed by their own wants & needs. BUT. They ARE fascinating characters & the reader slowly receives more & more insights into their personalities & in Emilia's case, how she came to be the person she is.And in the background, Mason & Riley's father, Keaton (of whom we receive highly intriguing peeks), keeps an eye on his combative sons & is ready to step in between them if necessary. And Keaton is especially focused on Mason, very well aware of Mason's nature & proclivities as they mirror Keaton's own.So, while neither Mason or Emilia were particularly appealing people, their story WAS beyond fascinating. I found I could NOT put this one down, I felt compelled to keep reading to see just what the h*ll would happen next. And, I was surprised to find that by the end of the book, while I still had my lingering 'hmmm' feelings about Mason & Emilia, I DID better understand what drove them & just how uncontrollably obsessive their bone deep need & desire for the other was.This one is intensely emotional, is intensely dysfunctional, is intensely fascinating. I found it sucked me deep into the story as well as the characters, & I for one, cannot wait for the sequel to continue their story.NOTE: 'Obsessed' & 'Possessed' by Don Both & Maria O'Hara, is the story of Mason's parents, Keaton & Olivia.

Okay this review already got so many editing for my real review got the boot and won't posted.So,..Overall, like the plot. Mason definitly not a sweet boy. But he's not the villain also. Emilie please grow some back bone.But the way the authors write this book....definitly need adjusting for readers like my self. Cause I never read a book that's read like a letter. I mean, when you get Mason's pov, the authors write it like he was talking to Emilie. And vice versa. Not sure why the authors do this but I found it's bit uncomfortable for I'm not used to it and change reading in my head to be first person POV

Played out as the inner thoughts of characters speaking to their most significant other, unwittingly this story seeks your attention like tentacles until you're captured for a roller coaster of a ride. Darkness, obsession, compulsion, and dysfunction characterize this story, a love triangle really, featuring Mason (antihero) and Emilia (heroine) and Riley (hero?), primarily set within home of Mason and Riley's parents. These parents, however, may seem conventional, but even their relationship hints at something darker.The book portrayed the evolution of a (self) destructive, toxic relationship. Emotionally explosively, there were extreme highs and lows, yet undeniable magnetism, analogous to the same polarity in forced, desired proximity. The storyline felt like a combination of a play, a stream of consciousness, and a book that did not delve into their day to day activities -- professions, interactions with characters outside of this mix, but rather their personal feelings, impressions, reactions. To a degree some characters were unlikable, even if redeemable. Dark humor in the inner dialogue though had me chuckling often. All characters had some darkness to their personalities, some unleashed, others controlled or disguised, and yet others complete light unless provoked. From Mason's often childish recklessness to Emilia's dishonesty to Riley's seeming virtuousness, they all sparked strong feelings while I was reading, even pity. LoL.Written in second person, a tale of toxic attraction smothered in darkness.

.....finish reading this....mess. It may be a good read, but the writing style was very off putting for me. I tried for 3 days to read it...just couldn’t do it.

Wow. This was a heavy, anxiety laden read. Emilia meets Riley and they start dating. Once she meets the family, she begins having an affair with Riley's brother Mason. Mason is dark, damaged, and abusive and Emilia reveals abuse from her childhood. He and Emilia develop a very abusive and dark pattern. Emilia is torn between the good and bad brother. The parents get involved. The father understands Mason's darkness and tries to help, while the mom keeps her head in the sand. Very dark read about very damaged people. It ends in a good spot but the story does continue with Mason and Emilia.

Dark dysfunctional and so twisted the twists are in awe. Mason & Emilia are crazy good characters. I didn't know what to expect starting this book and my first read from author(s) so I will definitely be looking for more because this story left me craving more.I received an ARC for an honest and voluntarily review.

Omg this family!!!!!Mason is so his father it's unreal. This follows on from Possesed and it's even darker. But oh so good.Mason ,Emelia and Riley are in a triangle, is it love omg yes but in a seriously dark way.

So dark , it's thrilling and very time interesting me to read what happens next . I cant wait to read book 2 . What's going to happen next ?

When a story takes a chokehold on you, this was unexpectedly so intense and just broken , loved it.Told in first pov, it's about the dark and painful parts of love. How love can be uncontrollable and hurt not only the people in it but the others around those in love.

Book : Run Baby RunAuthor : Don Both and Maria O' HaraRating : 4.5/5One of the best dark romance novels I have read. The book is full of drama and suspense.It's a very interesting one I found . Seriously I would like to appreciate the work done by both authors.