Romance

Review: Will to Run by Kelly O’Reilly

September 23, 2026

Synopsis:

Jaxon

Getting involved with a runaway bride is dumb, even for me.
I tell myself that offering a stranger a place on my ranch to ride out a storm is simple Wyoming hospitality, and I want to show her that there is still good in this world.
It has nothing to do with the fact that the world blurs at the edges when I look at her.
But after a few short interactions, I know it’s no longer a question of if I’ll hold out, it’s how long. Even I know whatever is happening between us doesn’t happen twice in this life.
When I accept that Amberheart Valley is more than just a stopover, it’s where she’s meant to stay, I quit fighting my feelings and start fighting for hers.

Della

To secure my family’s livelihood, I’m supposed to say I do to the man my father chose for me.
Instead, I run before I make it to church.
When I get stranded for three days in a tiny western town, the last thing I expect is to crave the comfort of a gorgeous rancher with warm eyes who offers me a soft place to land when everything is falling apart.
Turns out, cowboys do it differently.
When he makes me feel desired instead of disdained, and cherished rather than conquered, Jaxon Wills becomes a temptation I simply can’t resist.
Soon my freedom no longer looks like running, and with every sunrise, I discover that losing everything is the key to finding myself.
My future was never mine to begin with, but when the lie it’s build on unravels, will I be brave enough to choose the life I want?

Review:

We meet Della, who is a runaway bride and meets a handsome cowboy when the weather forces her to make an unplanned stop. He offers her a place to stay for a few days, and it ends up becoming a much longer stay.

The story is not bringing completely new ideas to the table. Not every story has to, as long as it is told in a way that makes me feel connected to the characters and invested in their outcome. This is exactly what this book did. Della was someone who never put her own needs first. The marriage would have been one of convenience, and when her future husband made a huge mistake, she took it as a sign to run, wanting more from life. The handsome cowboy, Jaxon, felt instantly connected to her and wanted to be her saviour. He was a walking green flag and gave her the moral support she needed.

This was a story about standing up for yourself, looking for more in life, and finally finding yourself. To get there, you need a lot of chaos or a lovely group of friends who look out for you and make you feel appreciated.
I love a good romance, and this one felt like a true feel-good story that gave me a warm hug. Some parts felt a bit much for me, but in the end, I didn’t mind them. The family dynamic and the women standing up for each other were among my personal highlights.

🌙 Recension: Will to Run (Heart of Will #1) by Kelly O’Reilly
📚 Genre: Dark Romance
📅 Release Date: September 23, 2026
📖 Publisher: Romance
📱 Read as: Kindle
📗 available in various formats – included in Kindle Unlimited
💸 I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 416
⭐️ 3.5/5