The complete trilogy · by Bobbie Lynn
Running on Hope
Stolen at nine. Raised by a monster. Saved by the people who refused to give up on him.
★ 4.8–5.0 on Amazon · Mature readers (18+) · Contains dark themes
The trilogy
One boy. One brilliant girl.
One woman who never let him go.
Jesse Treviño was nine when men with rifles came to his family’s home in Mexico. What followed was the “Chain Gang,” a basement “luxurious dungeon,” and a fight ring run by a smiling woman named Georgina who called him Darlin’.
Years later, Jesse is a wisecracking survivor in Houston, on probation and enrolled at an elite prep academy, where valedictorian Rebecca Strelkov wants nothing to do with him. What starts as a rivalry turns into the love story of a lifetime, and it puts everyone Jesse loves in the path of the monster from his past.
- Enemies → loversStreet-smart charmer vs. NASA-bound genius
- Found familyA gruff parole officer, a best friend from juvie, a Texas ranch clan
- Survival & healingTrauma, recovery, and the stubborn power of hope
- A villain you won’t forgetGeorgina. She always comes back.
Book I · 1998 · Houston, Texas
Running on Hope
He escaped his abuser, hopped the border, and talked his way into a school for gifted kids under his parole officer’s watch. Then he fell for the valedictorian who clearly hates his guts.
“That smile could light up the pitch blackness of deep space, though it also felt like a black hole at times, pulling me closer as I struggled to push away.”Rebecca
“Don’t make me regret this, Treviño.” Officer Chavez
“Welcome to the ‘Chain Gang.’” Manny
“One boy who touched all of our lives and merged our worlds together.” Rebecca
“I was always going to end up in the same place. Back in my own personal Hell.”
Book II · 2001 · Houston & the Texas ranch
Running on Hope II
He’s out of rehab. She’s out of grad school. They’re both back in town. One night neither can fully remember turns Becca’s world upside down, and Jesse finally finds the family he lost.
“I promise, no matter how hard life gets, I will never leave you feeling alone.”Becca
“I already knew what right felt like.” Jesse
“You broke free from a worldly evil, and we couldn’t be more thankful.” Jesse’s grandparents
“You mean so much more to me than you know, Becca.” Jesse
“Just about anything beats the hell out of a dungeon, a barn floor, or a jail cell.”
Book III · 2013 · The series finale
Running on Hope III
Life at the Treviños’ was picture perfect, until Jesse’s past came back for his children. With his family’s lives at stake, Jesse, Chavez and Sergei race across the border to end Georgina’s reign of terror once and for all.
“I do know her, and I’m her weakness.”Jesse
“Fight and don’t give up. Your dad and I are going to find you. I promise.” Chavez
“He said sometimes the monsters were trying to get him, other times he was the monster.” Jacob
“’Til death do us part,” she said. “And then some.” Becca
What readers are saying on Amazon
“Takes an unexpected twist that you won’t see coming… I did not want to put it down!”
“The 3rd book was filled with so much emotion! … will have you crying and cheering!”
“I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire read.”
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