"Where the Road Takes Me" by Jay McLean

Chloe has one plan for the future, and one plan only: the road. She’s made a promise to herself: don’t let anyone in, and don’t let anyone love her. She’s learned the hard way what happens if she breaks her rules. So she’s focused on being invisible and waiting until she can set out on the road—her dream of freedom, at least for a little while.

Blake Hunter is a basketball star who has it all—everything about him looks perfect to those on the other side of his protective walls. He can’t let anyone see the shattered pieces behind the flawless facade or else all his hopes and dreams will disappear.

One dark night throws Chloe and Blake together, changing everything for Blake. For Chloe, nothing changes: she has the road, and she’s focused on it. But when the so-called perfect boy starts to notice the invisible girl, they discover that sometimes with love, no one knows where the road may lead.

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Where the Road Takes Me by Jay McLean
Completed: 30.03.2015

*I received this book from Amazon Publishing via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Where the road takes me was a much more difficult read for me to actually get into, there were a lot of issues for me, starting with the connection between Chloe and Blake, I really could not relate to the attraction that Blake had for Chloe. There was a lot of indecisiveness on Chloe's half, she kept pushing him away, and to be frank, I don't believe any guy has the patience for the amount of 'running away' that she does.

Chloe as a character did not have that reader-character connection for me, I guess it was mostly due to her general attitude towards life? I'm not too sure. But I did take a liking to Blake further on into the story, he would come up with the most cliche things to say, some were sweet, and some were just a little bit too corny for my liking.

The story in general was alright, and had so much going for it. I'm still at a loss as to why I couldn't get into it, as I normally do with other books. There were a few inconsistencies in the writing, that really threw me off, and the story did not flow nicely throughout the book, and has taken me this long to actually finish reading it.

Overall, I am so disappointed with this book, as I was so excited to read it as the blurb made it sound like such an amazing story. I really hate to give such a negative review, especially to authors like Jay McLean who has written such excellent books, I'm a huge fan of her More Than Series, but this just did not cut it for me.

Three Stars.

"True Blue" by Jules Barnard (Blue Series Book #3)

In the Blue Series, love in Lake Tahoe means looking beneath the surface.

Mira Frasier survived a dark childhood. Now she’s in trouble and forced to live with Tyler Morgan, the boy whose heart she broke in high school. Something’s going to crack. Will it be Mira’s hold on a haunted life, or Tyler’s self-control for the girl he never got over?

"This story of Mira and Tyler is one filled with misunderstandings, heartbreak and passionate love. I thought the characters were well defined, and the book flowed through the plotline seamlessly. A sprinkling of danger, powerful punches of lust were what held my interest throughout the book." -- Deliciously Wicked Books

Mira Frasier has worked hard to pull herself out of the darkness of her Tahoe reservation childhood, but rough beginnings shape a person in all the wrong ways. Mira gets mixed up with shady people while trying to bail out her destitute mother—and now Mira’s life is in danger. 

Tyler Morgan grew up a star athlete and scholar, but a tragedy he hasn’t dealt with has him regrouping in his home town of South Lake Tahoe. The last person he expects to see is Mira, the girl he lost his virginity to in high school, and the only woman who ever took a piece of his heart. He’d rather live in a tent than do what his sister asks and stay with Mira while they figure out how to keep her safe from the men who attacked her. 

To ensure Mira remains in his past where she belongs, Tyler agrees to look out for her temporarily until she’s safe enough to move out on her own. And if he has to push that process along by snooping around and figuring out what she’s hiding, he’ll do that too. Only, Mira is still beautiful, and she’s feisty as hell, and she has all his attention—just like she did six years before.

Mira is driving Tyler crazy, the tension between them off the charts while they’re trapped under the same roof. Something is going to crack. Will it be Mira’s last hold on a haunted life, or Tyler’s self-control around the one girl he’s never been able to get over?

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True Blue by Jules Barnard
Completed: 31.03.2015

* I received this title from the author via [New Adult Book Club] on Goodreads as part of the Read It Review It programme, in exchange for my honest opinion.

I've really been on a role with receiving books by authors that I have never read. True Blue was no exception, it was perfectly written with just the right amount of 'pazzaz' in all aspects, you want thrilling moments? Check. Swoon worthy male? Check. A kickass female lead? Check. I could go on and on, naming things to check off your list, but you get my flow.

I found myself flying through the pages, wanting to know more, needing to know more with every single page. It follows the story of Mira and Tyler, two individuals battling demons of their own, and by a twist of fate are thrust back into each others arms in the most unexpected way. It is a story about second chances, and shows just how deeply first love impacts a person, however, the underlying fear of losing those you love, especially on a family level really hit me hard. However, towards the end I found myself disappointed with the lack of action happening, especially after the building tension that I felt throughout the whole book. I wish the author would've added a chapter or two just to satisfy the readers' budding tension.

Nevertheless, True Blue was an enjoyable read, and I love love loved the relationship and electricity I could feel through the pages of my e-reader every time Mira and Tyler came into contact. Do prepare yourself for moments where things turn in the complete opposite direction, and you're left slack-jawed in complete disbelief, and you may experience moments where you feel like throwing a tantrum because of something someone does, that completely ruins everything you anticipated.

Four stars! I will definitely be getting myself a copy of the first two books in the series!

PS: Thank you so much, Mrs. Barnard for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book :) 

"Safe at Home" by Christina Kirby (The Warm Springs Trilogy Book #1)

"Driven by fear and desperate to protect her family, Samantha is forced to leave Chicago and everything she’s worked to achieve, only to start over by tossing a dart-at-the-map. The Georgia townsfolk’s true Southern charm is the unexpected prescription needed to heal her soul, and the sexy carpenter who touches her heart are distractions she didn’t plan on, but they might offer her a chance at a new life, if she can let go of her past. 

Town heartbreaker, Spencer Malloy, isn’t looking for anything serious. His days are perfect working as a contractor, attending his nephew’s baseball games or taking him fishing. He never expects to fall for the big city girl, Samantha. She’s not his type, timid and closed off, but in her unguarded moments, he’s intrigued by the woman he can’t get out of his mind. The urge to get closer to her grows stronger each day, and when the shadow of evil resurfaces, he vows to protect Samantha, even if it means abandoning his home and joining her on the run. 

When confronted by the man who’s bent on revenge, Samantha must choose between running again to save the people she loves, or if she has the strength, to stay and fight for her new life."

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Safe at Home by Christina Kirby
Completed: 03.03.2015

This is the first book I have ever read by Christina Kirby, and I must say, I am so glad I got myself a copy of Safe at Home. This book follows Samantha, who finds herself in danger from a psychopath (no, really. He's a frickin psycho!), and in order to keep those she loves safe she leaves her hometown and starts a new chapter in a completely new town, where she can hide herself. Enter bad boy, Spencer Malloy, this guy had me swooning throughout the whole book. I couldn't even think of anything else but the electric connection between Samantha and Spencer.

The book was written beautifully from the descriptions to the interactions between all characters in the book. I don't think I've ever had as many emotions as I did reading Safe at Home... So much feels, bad and good, EVERYWHERE. I thought the book would have been one of those easy going romance reads, however - I found myself stuck in the middle of a freaking thriller. I always wanted to know what happens next, I like the element of a psychopath as well, not because I like psychopaths, it's just that it adds so much more flavour to the book, and is essentially what set it apart from all the other books I've read recently!

I am so satisfied with this read, and can't wait for the next book in the Trilogy!!

FOUR STARS!
:)