Rating: 4.5
Steam: 3
PoV: dual, 1st person
Series: Possum Hollow #3
Genre: dark romance, MM
Tropes / tags: age gap, abuse / trauma, small town
“You’re terrible. I can’t decide which is more concerning: the catatonic version of you that makes me worry so much I might drive into a ditch, or this version,” he says, gesturing at me vaguely. Then he smiles, leaning into the ever-shrinking gap between our faces. “You’re dangerous, little one. You know that, right?”
Oh wow. Okay. Tobias and Gunnar’s story wasn’t entirely what I was expecting – it was far grittier and more brutal than I anticipated, and came with a truckload of emotional impact.
I probably should have seen the abuse and trauma coming from seeing Tobias in 68 Whiskey, but it was a lot to read about it from his and Gunnar’s PoV. The situation Tobias was in was complex, at times felt completely hopeless, and it was definitely difficult for me to read through certain scenes. It broke my heart, but I also felt appreciative that the author didn’t soften the blows when it came to Tobias’ situation; he was in deep and there was just no easy way out for him.
I loved their connection, and how determined Tobias was that Gunnar was the one for him. He needed a soft spot to land after everything he’d been through, and the whole “I feel safe with you” hit all the right feels for me. Gunnar had his reservations considering Tobias’ trauma and the age difference between them, but he couldn’t fully hide just how smitten he was, and once Tobias stumbled through his door he didn’t really stand a chance.
Running Feral was the darkest story so far in the Possum Hollow series, and it was raw and full of gritty and seemingly hopeless situations, but also sweet hurt / comfort and heart-warming moments. I have to admit that even if I knew that there would be a HEA, I had my doubts how they’d get there as things seemed very bleak at times. It was definitely a hard earned one, and totally worth the emotional rollercoaster that was Tobias and Gunnar’s story!
I wish I could spill everything right now. I want to tell her how Gunnar is the closest thing to a real person in my life, outside of her, that I’ve ever had. I want to tell her how much she’d love him and how I’m desperate to make him a permanent part of my existence.
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