Nowhere But Here (Thunder Road #1)
by Katie McGarry
Publisher – MiraInk/HarperTeen
Release Date – June 4th 2015
Buy – Amazon | Book Depository
An unforgettable new series from acclaimed author Katie McGarry about taking risks, opening your heart and ending up in a place you never imagined possible.
Seventeen-year-old Emily likes her life the way it is: doting parents, good friends, good school in a safe neighborhood. Sure, she’s curious about her biological father—the one who chose life in a motorcycle club, the Reign of Terror, over being a parent—but that doesn’t mean she wants to be a part of his world. But when a reluctant visit turns to an extended summer vacation among relatives she never knew she had, one thing becomes clear: nothing is what it seems. Not the club, not her secret-keeping father and not Oz, a guy with suck-me-in blue eyes who can help her understand them both.
Oz wants one thing: to join the Reign of Terror. They’re the good guys. They protect people. They’re…family. And while Emily—the gorgeous and sheltered daughter of the club’s most respected member—is in town, he’s gonna prove it to her. So when her father asks him to keep her safe from a rival club with a score to settle, Oz knows it’s his shot at his dream. What he doesn’t count on is that Emily just might turn that dream upside down.
No one wants them to be together. But sometimes the right person is the one you least expect, and the road you fear the most is the one that leads you home.
Katie McGarry is back once again. Oh did I love having her back in my reading world. Why I didn’t read this sooner I don’t know. But she is back in a full force with a brand new series and a brand set of hot, sweaty leather bound bikers, what more could you want? There will be moments where you will laugh and you will cry I assure you of that. But what Katie hold’s dear to me is she knows how to create a stronger classic novel of relationship and family. Oz and Emily are only just the beginning…
Florida girl Emily, has lived her life with one mum and one dad. Her dad adopted her when she was little as he fell in love with her and her mum, Meg. She couldn’t be happier. At ten years old, Emily’s biological father, Eli who lives in Kentucky, got in in touch and since then he has custody to see her once a year on a shopping trip. When an email is sent to her dad that Eli’s mom, her grandmother, Olivia has died her insists that she has to go. Emily doesn’t want to, she has a fear of dead people and when her grandmother wakes up in the casket at her wake she thinks she’s in some freak show. But it’s only just begun. Eli is a biker who belongs to a security company, known as the Reign of Terror. They are a brotherhood, a family and they are completely legit. However when there are good guys, you’ll have the bad guys not far behind, The Riot. So when his daughter is in town they want nothing more than to try and take her to cause trouble for Eli and his brothers.
Living two lives, two aspects of your personality must be hard and I really felt for Emily. She was curious of the unknown of the family she never knew. Though she was scared out of her wits being in a foreign place. I felt that even though she could be quite moany in the beginning, she really had to just suck it up if I’m honest and that is what she did. She became stronger, she let herself go a bit, she opened up to things. The world is certainly a scary place but one she get there you and I know it’s the best feeling in the world. What I loved is that even though there is a fine line between two of her persona’s, overall she created something brand new in herself, she was able to be someone that everyone can love. But being with Oz, this physical attraction to one another, she was able to find herself. Oz made her realise the little things she hasn’t discovered yet.
Oz isn’t the most easiest person to really describe. His passion lies in his position in the club as well his family and Olivia. Granted he is a smoking hot biker so who wouldn’t want to get to know him. But when someone tries to inflict pain and hurt on his family, he tends to judge first and ask questions later. Whilst I loved seeing his POV I felt that I was more in tuned with his emotions and more with his character. I saw how much he adored his family, that he would do anything for them, that he was raised by the person who is leaving him so soon. He see’s how one person can lighten up a whole room and how one can destroy. What I see through him is unknown world to me but one I really want to explore myself. I’m falling for what’s inside of him and around him the most. When he gets to know Emily, this is only amplified and it’s just beautiful to see.
The romance in this novel was of the slow burning kind and that was okay by me. Occasionally I thought that it could’ve have been shortened with some of the pace and length issues of the novel. However I did feel that Oz and Emily’s relationship was only just a aspect that Katie explores. Hot kisses and scenes passion is only a just the surface of what they are together. They really do fit together perfectly what I think it was the attraction and friendship that mattered the most as it really affected them different and greatly as individuals more. It was more of a sideline romance when I felt the family, brotherhood and growing bonds between characters was far more important and added more depth when told through their perspective.
What really got me the most in Nowhere But Here was the relationships. Not just Oz, but with Olivia, the change in her mum and dad, finding out she had a cousin, Chevy and friends like Violet. Getting to know Eli, for the first time. But one character that never ceased to inspire me was Olivia. Seeing Olivia slowly deteriorate in her health was so sad and quite emotional but if I’m honest it was only until the very end that you really saw her for that. She was bright, a classic woman, a fireball of love and protection for the ones she loves. Each moment between Emily spends time with her is precious and a delight to see because she is finally getting her wish, to get to know and spend to with her granddaughter. Olivia was the soul of the book if I’m honest, she brought Oz and Emily of their separate paths to collide with each. Whether they liked it or not, they had far more in common.
“This is your family … If you learn to love us then you will forever have our love in return.”
Katie McGarry’s, Nowhere But Here is a journey of self-discovery. Whilst there was a little pacing problem in the middle and certainly found that book was a bit long in places, she still managed to get me She has created a brand new series completely separate from Pushing the Limits but has the same addictive writing, hot, steamy romance and a true, beautiful message behind it. I was ready for another adventure of Katie’s and I can’t wait to read the next installment.
Rating – 4.5
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I'm glad to see that you really liked this one! I've been seeing it around a lot which makes me really want to read it. Plus, I keep seeing tons of rave-reviews! I love books about self discovery, so hopefully I get around to this one soon. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Krystianna @ Downright Dystopian
I really enjoyed this as well! It wasn't my favorite McGarry but it also wasn't as cheesy as I was expecting. Her books are so readable so I'm curious to see what she comes up with next. Great review, Emma! 🙂
I enjoyed this one, surprisingly enough. Her PtL is just so angst-ridden for my taste. I like how easy on the heart this one is. 🙂
I think slow-burn romances are often better – it feels more realistic. To be honest, I haven't read anything by this author. I know so many people love her but none of the books really stick out. I'll have to try something though!
Very glad to hear you also loved this one, even if it felt a lil slow at times! I still haven't read anything by here, but I really should at some point!
I'm reading this now and loving the slow-burn romance. And the characters are so vibrant! Glad you enjoyed it, I can't wait to see how it ends.
Great review! 🙂
Yes! I loved this one too although some things did bother me, overall this was an amazing story! Great review!!
I need to read this too – I've heard both good things and some not so great, so naturally I'm curious. The setting is very attractive to me, since I was a huge SOA fan 🙂
I enjoyed the slow romance as well
Yay! Glad you enjoyed this! I loved the family aspects in the book & the loyalty aspects too – it was beautiful. Great review! <3
WOO HOO!!! So glad you loved this Emma, I can't wait to meet Oz. Slow burning romances are my very favorite kind, and Katie always does those so well. Really looking forward to all the relationships you mentioned, it sounds like this is a well-rounded story:)
This sounds like a really good McGarry book! I've given up on her other series, but would love to try this one out, especially since many have said it's lighter than the usual angst.
Faye at The Social Potato