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.
What I Loved!
Concept- I liked the idea of a road trip with no destination or timeframe. In fact I think if the road trip had been the story with the extra cast fitting in along the way I would have enjoyed the story more.
Side Cast~ Clayton, although ultimately replaced by Blake in Chloe's life I loved this character! He was mysterious in a good way and kept me questioning until the end. Mary and Joe, such lovely parents and good people, loved reading their scenes. I love Josh's banter with Chloe and Blake at work and his general demeanour. I was intrigued by his story with Tommy and I would love to read more from his point of view.
What I Didn't!
Main Characters~ I normally don't mind instalove but this time I found Blake and Chloe irritating together! Their meeting was cute but it was extended into a random breakfast at Clayton's house and some very cringy conversation. I enjoyed their characters separately and together sometimes but mostly Chloe was mysterious and Blake was head over heels.
Plot points~ Just a few annoying points! Blake cheats on his girlfriend who was cheating on him with his best friend but this is never resolved. Hannah and Oliver are never mentioned again except for an episode with Chloe which again never resolved.
I get that Chloe is invisible but there are two young female characters, slutty Hannah and virtuous Chloe.. So many issues are briefly visited and then never explored!
Where the Road Takes Me did keep me reading until the end but I wasn't engaged by the main characters or their romance. If the book had focussed one issue I would have enjoyed it more.
Tall, Tatted and Tempting by Tammy Falker.
She’s locked up tight. But he might be the key.Logan Reed is tall, tatted and tempting. Kit’s a woman with a mean right hook and a secret.Kit wants a tattoo, but Logan sees more than she intends to share in the drawing of the tat she wants. He sees her in ways no one ever has.Logan’s not disabled; but he hasn’t spoken in eight years. He hasn’t needed to. Until he meets Kit.Logan doesn’t know everything about Kit. Kit doesn’t know anything about herself, until she has to sacrifice all she ever wanted to save what’s most important to him.
Reed Family- I loved all of them! Paul was such a good but funny older brother and I liked how he'd stepped up and never complained. Matt, typical 'gentle' brother but I did enjoy reading his interactions with Kit and his determination to live a good life. (?) and Seth (?) were a bit too playboyesque at times but very witty and balanced out the family. I loved how they all adopted Kit but equally warned her not to hurt Logan.
Sign Language- The way they were all so proficient with sign language and teaching Hayley to sign was heart warming and I loved how they translated Logan when he signed in front of Kit especially when it was rude!
What I Didn't!
Cliches- At times the clichés were just too much, like assuming Logan had a daughter and Logan being just so attractive despite the fact he seemed very aloft and rude to outsiders. It also annoyed me that Logan hadn't bothered to speak to his family why? They would have been supportive.
Kit's secret- It was really built up and was anti-climatic! I felt it made Kit seem like a sulky child acting out and I lost some of the respect I initially had for her.
Have you read either of those authors? What do you think? Are you a Reed fan?
Let me know!
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx
