There's something about a Katie McGarry book that makes me wanna buy 10 copies and pass them out to all the teens I know. She is the queen of the 'coming of age' genre. I hope my daughter will start to like romance so I can pass all of these along to her.

Violet and Chevy must look inside themselves to find the right path. The decision will not be easy, and will make them question everything they thought they knew about who their family is and why things happened the way they did. So many new revelations that I didn't see coming. But in the end they both have to make tough calls in the name of love and hope they make the right ones.

And now I need the next one.

"We’re like fireworks, Violet. Beautiful separate, but phenomenal when put together. Of course, you can’t have all of that without a few explosions.”

Chevy and Vi have been at odds for quite some time, and it is tearing both of them apart on the inside. Vi can't find a way to forgive the Reign of Terror for ultimately being responsible for taking her dad away from their family, and that meant cutting Chevy and their best friends Oz and Razor out of her life in order to try to protect her younger brother. As they were growing up, they were like the 4 Musketeers and cutting ties with them has been anything but easy, but she sees it as a matter of self preservation and survival. Too bad her heart doesn't seem to want to let her forget Chevy though.

“I never wanted you to walk away. I need you , but I don’t know how to be with you. You need me, but you don’t know how to be with me either. Not while you still want to be a part of the club."

Chevy is struggling with divided loyalties himself. On one hand, he has his mother who raised him on her own and who wants him to walk away from the club to enjoy a normal life for a while. He loves playing football and is the team's star, but they also want him to distance himself from the MC and his ability to play is being threatened if he doesn't show loyalty to the school over the family that raised him. And that family doesn't understand why he is struggling at all which just frustrates him more. In order to have a chance with Vi, he has to choose between the family he knows and loves with all its expectations or the girl he loves more than life who just wants him to put her first for a change. All Chevy wants is a chance to just be a teenager for a while but that seems like too much to ask.

Violet has always been my best friend, but it’s more than that. She’s always been a piece of me, and without her the world was cold— a bitter freeze that cut deep to the bone.

All hell breaks loose when Chevy and Vi have a run in with the rival Riot MC one night. Secrets are revealed that make both of them question what they have known all their lives and they both have to decide what to do with that information and whether to believe it. They try to deal with the fallout separately at first but soon realize they are stronger together. Vi isn't sure she is strong enough to take a chance on having her heart broken a second time, but she can't face the fear that the Riot is inflicting on her by herself either. Can she trust Chevy to finally choose to put her before the club, or are they doomed to repeat history?

I loved these two together! Chevy and Vi have a wonderful base of friendship as a foundation for a bigger relationship and it shines through in every interaction. They have their own means of communicating that they developed as kids with Oz and Razor, and it comes in handy many times throughout the story as they work through how to deal with the threat to their safety. The two MCs have been at war their whole lives, and Vi sees a way to accomplish a feat that the men have not been able to do: end that war. But it means putting her safety and life in the hands of someone else, an unknown variable in this whole mess that could turn the tide or ruin everything. The feels were plentiful as Chevy and Vi reconnected and worked together to face their future. Vi struggled with how to keep her family safe and whether to take a chance on trusting the men who were her family for most of her life when they have given her every reason to distrust them in the past. Chevy isn't much better off as he tries to discreetly discover if the information dropped on him by the Riot MC president is true, only to come face to face with an unexpected connection to his past that rocks his world.

Katie McGarry has written another amazing installment to the Thunder Road series and Long Way Home is a new favorite for me! Two characters from her Pushing the Limits series make an appearance here with unexpected ramifications, and I am definitely going to have to make time to work that series into my reading rotation too. In the meantime, if you have been introduced to the Thunder Road world yet, I highly recommend diving in as soon as possible for some wonderful reads!

Ever since I read Nowhere But Here last year, I’ve been dying for Chevy’s and Violet’s story!! I knew it was going to be filled with angst, it was going to be dangerous, it was going to be thrilling, and most of all, explosive.

Chevy and Violet have always been in each other’s lives since they grew up together surrounded by members of a motorcycle club. They even became a couple, but when Violet’s father dies, Violet breaks ties with Chevy and wants to cut off ties with the MC, Reign of Terror. Violet just wants to pack her bags and leave town so the MC stops meddling in her life. Unfortunately, a rivaling MC, the Riot, threatens Violet’s closest family and in order to save them, she needs to betray someone who was really close with her father from Reign of Terror.

All Chevy has known his whole life has been the Terror. So much so, that he doesn’t even know who he is or what he wants out of life. The pressure is on for Chevy when Violet asks him to help her or to go running off after the Terror. Not only that, his mom is another important person in his life who wants him to draw a line with the Terror and not be so involved with them. And ultimately, Chevy discovers a few secrets about his father that have him questioning everything.

This book started off so good! My heart was beating so fast and I was close to biting my nails. It had this suspenseful feel that had me really interested in the story. Jumping ahead in the story a bit, you know how sometimes there’s this badass scene in a movie and then a rock song follows that keeps you pumped? I imagined a rock song playing in the background when a badass scene happened and I was living it!

Honestly, this book really was great. Chevy and Violet face so many impossible situations. And on more than one occasion, they questioned one another’s loyalty. Both of these characters were great, completely fleshed out and with insurmountable depth. I admired Violet’s strength a lot. She has already gone through so much and then more things keep happening, really horrible things, but she keeps going forward. And Chevy would break my heart. This guy is so loving and devoted to those he loves. What made me ache for him was the fact that he doesn’t let himself make decisions because he thinks he will lose his Terror family in the process. I was happy to see him grow so much in the story and find his voice.

The characters from the previous books in the series, such as Oz and Razor make an appearance and I was so happy!!! I mean, Violet, Chevy, Oz and Razor used to be so very close so to see the gang together was beautiful. Oh, and guess what?! Isaiah and Rachel from Crash Into You make an appearance! And the connection they have to this story will blow your mind.

Long Way Home is full of unpredictable twists, thrills, angst, romance, friendship, family, loyalty, and most importantly, forgiveness. It really has it all!

I am huge fan of Katie McGarry and have been eagerly awaiting this third installment of Thunder Road Series. Violet is a scene stealer, and I have admired her feistiness and take charge attitude since first meeting her in Nowhere but Here. Up until now, there has been hints and limited teasing about Violet's and Chevy's past relationship. I couldn't wait to finally have these two front and center for an entire book to see if they could rekindle their connection.

"Loving him was easy. It's life that's hard."

Violet's struggle for equality in an often sexist motorcycle club world is a prevalent theme throughout the book. She longs to be heard and accepted by a culture that often ignores its female counterparts. From the beginning, it's obvious Violet is strong and has no intentions of allowing the men in her life to dictate her decisions. She can be harsh and unfiltered, but I couldn't adore her more. She is exactly the type of heroine that YA needs to see more of.

"Because the club demands trust, loyalty and respect and I demand the same. I deserve that...."

There are remembered moments, but Violet's and Chevy's relationship is focused on present day events. I had mixed feelings about Chevy in the beginning, but having his point of view made me appreciate his struggles. He has so many burdens and responsibilities for a teenager and future member of the club. He and Violet have such an intense connection, and I couldn't get enough of their banter and chemistry. They are the perfect balance for each another; he is the calm to her storm.

"She's always been the most beautiful creature on the face of the planet, but smiling, Violet is a queen."

I am also a fan of McGarry's Pushing the Limits and was thrilled to see cameos from that series. Chevy shares an important connection with one, and I loved seeing the crossover of the two series. You certainly don't have to have read those to enjoy this one, but it made this book even better having the intersection. I cannot wait for the next installment of this series. It has become a YA favorite and I highly recommend Thunder Road Series to an contemporary romance fan.

Thank you to Harlequin Teen and Inkslinger PR for my advanced copy in exchange for my review.

Violet's and Chevy's book was one of the most anticipated for this series. Since book one, I really wanted Violet's story and to understand why she hated the club so much. True, having a family as part of a motorcycle club can be...stressing at times but too many personal feelings were tested in this book. Not only from Violet's side but also Chevy's.

The story continue's almost after the end of book two but with an explosive start almost from the first chapters. Family and friends are tested and Violet is at the center of this cyclone with almost no way to escape.

I liked her relationship with her brother and how hard she tries to distance herself from the club, even at the cost of her personal feelings for Chevy. He loves her so much, it's painful!

"Long Way Home" is one strong, emotional book and continues strongly the saga of this new series!

* Review published on Goodreads and Blog during tour. Amazon review will post once the book is live.


Living in the shadows of a motorcycle gang is never easy. When you loathe their very existence, it is even more difficult. For Violet – the presence of the Reign of Terror is a constant reminder that her father was killed while doing ‘club business’. No matter how hard Violet tries, she cannot escape the club’s need to raise her as a part of the club. Every reminder of this brotherhood further cements her desire to leave town. The only problem with that plan is her brother Stone.

Violet has loved Chevy for as long as she can remember. The duo always spent all of their free time together. Where you found one, the other wasn’t far behind. Those precious memories are just that….memories. In her quest to escape the binds that the Reign of Terror had over her life, Violet asked Chevy to give up his standing with the club. Choosing love over his legacy. When Chevy couldn’t make the dreaded decision, Violet cut him out of her life. A cut that was so deep Chevy still couldn’t escape it’s mark on his soul.

Now Violet is a pawn between two rival clubs. Evoking a fear that Violet has never known. To protect her family, Violet must rely on everything that she thought she knew about the Reign of Terror. Secrets from the past find their way into Violet and Chevy’s world. Causing each teenager to seek comfort in the one place they can count on….with each other. Who can they trust? Just how far will they have to go to keep those that they love safe from harm? Only time will tell who will be left standing in the end.

Chevy and Violet’s story is finally here!! I have to be honest….I didn’t know what to expect for these two. Everything about their relationship was shattered with Violet’s decision to go ‘all in’, and escape the binds of the Reign of Terror. The disappointment that was felt by both Chevy and Violet after their breakup is evident throughout their time apart. One thing is evident. Both Violet and Chevy have a deep dedication to family and friendship.

The adoration that Chevy shows towards Violet, Stone, his mother and their friends is something that very few find in life. His determination to live his life and fight loyalty to the club was evident throughout the book. Each struggle pulling Chevy closer to discovering that some things from the past will find a way to affect the future.

Both teenagers will travel a rocky road. One that is littered with indecision. Through it all – Chevy and Violet will come to discover that all you really need in life is faith, family, and friendship. Long Way Home has proven to be a journey of strength, honor, and loyalty.

4.5 Stars in my Sky!

Long Way Home is a little different from the previous two books in Katie McGarry's Thunder Road series because the main characters already know each other. The best way I could think of to describe the story is as a contemporary-YA-coming-of-age-second-chance-romance. Yes it's a bit of a mouthful but it works! Violet and Chevy not only grew up with each other and the MC, but were or are each others first love. The book is full of history and drama...

I'm going to start by sharing my mutual love for both Chevy and Vi. To be honest it's rare for me to like main characters equally but Katie McGarry bowled me over with the awesomeness that is Vi and Chevy.

Vi and Chevy have grown up with the Reign of Terror motorcycle club but have been effected by MC life in different ways. Vi lost her father and no longer trusts the club - she wants to keep her brother and mother as far away from Terror as possible. Chevy is expected to join the club and devote his life to the members. He's torn between club life, his love for Vi and being a normal teenager.

We're faced with a lot of revelations, betrayal and secrets but also love, hope and loyalty. I love the mixture of gritty drama and teen angst. It's worth noting that a lot of dark things happen and so I'm posting a potential trigger warning but not in terms of adult romance - Long Way Home is a YA story but the characters face many adult issues.

I was desperate for Vi and Chevy to resolve their issues and to be able to find a balance together...

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review!

My Thoughts:

I fell in love with Katie McGarry's writing when I read her Pushing the Limits Series. Reading the Thunder Road Series has reminded me why I love her books so much, and cemented her into being a part of my top favorite young adult authors list! Ms. McGarry brings readers the "feels," every time, along with breathtaking romance, a pinch of angst, drama, and suspense.

Out of all of the books in the Thunder Road Series, I have been looking forward to reading Violet and Chevy's book the most. It was obvious from the beginning of this series how much these two loved one another and were meant to be together. They grew up from a young age being the best of friends, right alongside Oz and Razor. They were each other's first and only loves. However, the murder of Violet's father, Frat, tore them apart. Violet blamed the Reign of Terror MC for his death, and feared Chevy being a part of an MC that could put their lives at risk.

Chevy has been placed in a tug-of-war. He loves Violet and his mother dearly, but both do not want him to be involved with the Reign of Terror. Yet, The Reign is his family. His grandfather, Cyrus, is the club president, and his uncle Eli holds a prominent and highly respected place in the club. Cyrus and Eli mean the world to Chevy. They were very involved in raising him. Chevy fears losing Violet, Cyrus, and Eli. Therefore, by not making a choice, Violet decided to make the choice for him, and broke it off, leaving him feeling like he was missing a piece of himself.

Chevy and Violet find themselves together at the hands of The Riot. This changes the course of both of their lives and their relationship. It sparks Chevy to have questions about his deceased father, James, his father's secret life, and whether he was loyal to The Reign of Terror. It puts Violet in a position to either betray a close member of The Reign of Terror or put her family in danger of The Riot MC's wrath. Chevy and Violet have been given the choice of two road's, which road are they going to travel?

I loved Violet's character. She was a strong, feisty, independent, and determined lead. Her mother was very co-dependent, and Violet was adamant to be the opposite of her mother in every way. Violet had an edge to her, was very stubborn and resilient. She had a younger brother, Brandon, who suffered many challenges. From the character profile, I would guess that he had high functioning Autism, or Aspergers. My guess is based off of my familiarity with Autism, as my daughter has it, and I was able to recognize the signs and symptoms. Violet was very protective, loving, and patient with him. I loved that Ms. McGarry brought awareness to this condition, as not everyone is familiar with the challenges and fears of seemingly easy everyday tasks that these individuals go through. I adored everything about Violet, and enjoyed reading from her point of view.

Chevy was a gentleman, a great friend, devoted son, and loving boyfriend. He would sacrifice anything for the people in his life, and always put everyone else before himself. This got him into trouble when he couldn't make a decision about joining the club, because he didn't want to hurt anyone that he loved. Violet made him realize that he needed to make a decision based on what was best for him. I loved how dedicated, protective, caring and compassionate Chevy was. He was one of a kind, and his actions throughout the story, made me swoon multiple times!

My Rating:

I am not ready for the Thunder Road Series to end! I am hoping that Addison and Pigpen & Ms. Whitlock get their own stories. I love all of these characters, and feel like I am a part of The Reign of Terror family! I give, Long Way Home, by Katie McGarry, 4.5 Tough Choices, Gravitational Force, True Love, Swoony Romance, Passionate Angst-Filled Stars!!!

I’ve been waiting for this one! After having read the previous book in the series, Walk the Edge, I was completely gutted. My emotions were all over the place, and I freaking LOVED it. Which is honestly surprising because I’m not normally one to enjoy dramatic reads full of angst. But I genuinely enjoyed Katie McGarry’s story-telling, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on more of her work!

*grabbyhands*

Long Way Home is a second chance YA MC romance to remember!! Chevy stole my heart. Violet earned my respect and admiration. And together, they’re perfect. Utterly adorable and perfect.

Every word spoken and every action taken has purpose and passion. Their story will definitely inspire a range of emotions. You’ll probably cry, but you’ll also smile. In the words of Ron Burgundy/Anthony Rizzo, you’ll probably be a “GLASS CASE OF EMOTIONS!” In particular, I found the hide-and-seek scene on Violet’s birthday to be beautiful. At least until it turned to sh*t. But for a good minute there, I was completely full of joy, experiencing the youthful act with them.

But perhaps my favorite part of this story (and series in general) is the journey. It really is a coming of age story, and watching Chevy and Violet learn from each other and their elders and peers is truly inspiring. The decisions they have to make are not decisions to be made lightly. They require an immense amount of bravery, strength, and a true sense of self.

I know this review is really vague, but this is the type of story you have to read and experience for yourself!! I would hate to give anything away. But I will say that while I greatly enjoyed Long Way Home, it still doesn’t hold a candle to Walk the Edge. I have a feeling that Razor and Breanna will own my heart forever (they must get more moments in book #4! If they don’t I think I’ll die!!). Anyways, I’m hoping Addison’s story is up next!

Let's start on a good note, shall we? Oh who am I kidding, it's all going to be good. Want to know why? Because I LOVED THIS BOOOOOOK! I LOVED Violet. I LOVED Chevy. I loved the story, the writing, the mystery and suspense, the character development, the themes. I loved everything down to the punctuation, that's how good this book was.

"We’re like fireworks, Violet. Beautiful separate, but phenomenal when put together. Of course, you can’t have all of that without a few explosions.”

Where were books like this when I was 17? Not only is it insanely entertaining but it deals with some fantastic issues and themes that are important to discuss and think about. Especially at that age! I fell in love with the characters, I fell in love with the story, I fell in love with their relationship and love for each other. So if there's a replica of Chevy out in the real world... I'll be waiting.

All in all, this book comes down to one major theme: Just because you are a woman, doesn't mean you don't have a voice. Use it, yell it from the mountain tops. As a woman or a girl, you will never, ever be less than a man. Your opinions, thoughts and emotions will never be any less valuable. Believe that and surround yourself with those who will yell along side you rather than try to silence your voice. This is exactly what Violet embodies and I couldn't love her more for it.

“Can’t, let and won’t. Three words not to use with me. I’m not asking your permission. I’m informing you of the decisions I’ve made. You don’t see me telling you that you can’t be part of the club or I’m going to let you be part of the club or that I won’t stand for you to be part of the club. You’re a big boy, Chevy. You can make your own big-boy decisions and I’m a big girl and you need to learn to accept my big-girl decisions. You want a dog to order around and be obedient, I bet you can adopt one at the pound.”

Something really exciting about this book is the pacing. There's always something going with the plot or characters so it never lulls and the reader is always engaged. There was more than one occasion where I was on the proverbial edge of my seat, trying not to jump ahead to find answers! And here's my advice for this book: don't start it or read the first few chapters (after that you should be clear! You'll know what I'm talking about when you read it.) if you don't have the time to sit down and dive in. I made the mistake of reading on my lunch break fairly early on and thought that I was going to hyperventilate. I had to get back to work but the characters were in a predicament and I couldn't just leave them there!!! Has that ever happened to anyone else?

"Razor strolls up beside me. Strolls, because I’m angryhobbling and my full throttle is his stroll."

I think part of why this is quite so good is because the author is amazing at creating multidimensional stories. There's many characters and factors at play in each situation. There's always more than meets the eye when trying to dissect the problems. And more than that, it's not a simple conflict that blows up and then gets dealt with at 80-90% mark before a cliched HEA. No no, Katie wouldn't do that to us. The characters are strong but each with their own individual issues that they need to overcome. Whether it's alone or with the help of the entire group, there's never a dull moment because there's just so much to keep your attention. It's interesting and engaging time and time again.

If I could describe Chevy in one word, it would be SWOOOON! My heart just felt for this guy! It was evident how much he loved Violet and how hard their breakup was on him. Can we get a hallelujah for a guy with feelings? *gasp* And I guess he was kind of awesome and tough and protective when he needed to be too. But then with Violet he was tender and loving. He knew exactly what she needed from him and never hesitated. Plus the ending? Oh, don't mind me. I'm just going to clutch this book against my chest and cry some happy tears.

“I couldn’t stop them from [...]. I couldn’t stop them from hurting you, but I can keep you warm. Let me do this. It’s not much, but it’s all I got.”

One of my favourite things about Violet was her strength. She's feisty, independent, loyal and has a take no prisoners type of attitude. But let me go back and reiterate her strength. She was by far, one of the strongest heroines I've ever read, and that's what really made the story for me. She stood up for herself time and time again. She knew what was best for herself and her family, so she worked towards that. She learned to rely on those around her because they'll be there when it counts and she showed the same loyalty and love back to them. All in all, she was pretty kickass as far as fictional characters go.

"The club demands trust, loyalty and respect and I demand the same. I deserve that and you deserve someone who can be happy with the scraps you’d be willing to throw them after you swear your allegiance somewhere else.”

I have never picked up an MC book before, simply because the topic just doesn't appeal to me. When starting this series, I wasn't sure what to expect. Yes, I love Katie and I trust her but this is an area where I've never been before. What do I think now after finishing the third book? Bring on the motorcycles! I loved it! The club dynamic, the bond, the rules, the hierarchy, it was so intricate with layers and layers of detail that I was immediately immersed in their world. I love these characters and I love this series. As long as Katie keeps writing them, I'll keep reading!

"One by one, like dominoes on the downfall, the men gathered around hit their fists against the table. It’s a show of support, a show of brotherhood, and my chest feels tight. Too many emotions flood me and I have to lean back in my chair to keep myself under control. This moment right here—it’s what Mom doesn’t understand. Doesn’t get that I’ve watched this type of solidarity my entire life and all I’ve craved is to be a part of it. To be more than Cyrus’s grandson, Eli’s nephew, James’s ghost in living flesh. More than just being a blood destiny."

The connection and feelings that the two main characters have with each other is practically relationship goals. I'd be fine with that! Chevy is so swoonworthy and Violet can just break my heart with her vulnerability and feelings. These two together are pure magic.

"Loving him was easy. It’s life that’s hard."

Oh and have I mentioned the angst? Um, hello! So, so good.

“I thought loving people was supposed to be easy,” he says quietly. “But it’s the hardest thing I’ve done. I wish I knew how to love you right.”
We stand there, willing the other to relinquish control, but we’re too far on the other side of this war to make concessions. Like being on a carnival ride with no restraints, my heart bounces between being bruised and broken and all combinations in between.

I usually shy away from second chance romances because I have a hard time believing the connection/desire to be together again. I find that quite often it's just a quick way to completely leave out the building of a relationship and go straight from seeing each other straight to being in love. But would Katie do that? Definitely not!! I felt these two growing stronger together. Sure, their feelings never faded but they did break up for a reason. The reader gets to experience Chevy and Violet have their second chance at first love and I believed in every single word.

I may have mentioned already that I love this book, don't worry, I didn't forget. But even just simple things about it like the friendship between Oz, Razor, Chevy and Violet. I love how close and tight knit this group is. How they can communicate with something as simple as a hand signal or a look. How they can understand each other and read between the lines of what they aren't saying. This entire friendship just makes my heart squeeze together in happiness.

"A playful wrestling match that’s half serious, half not, and, at least once, either Razor or Chevy pops up with Oz in a hold and they egg me on to take a swing.
I can’t do much more than laugh as Oz always finds a way to slip out of their hold, but ends up back on the ground. It’s eight all over again. Ten all over again. Thirteen all over again. Sixteen, too. It’s every year, every age, three boys who are becoming men with just enough of Peter Pan in them to keep them young."

Not only one of my favourite previous characters from Katie, but one of my favourite characters EVER graced me with his presence!!!! HELLO Isaiah Walker! My boy! He's back! The twist that he and Rachel added to the story plus how this tied both series together was fantastic. Cameos from other characters are great, but with Isaiah being one of my favs, I was pretty excited to say the least.

I'm a sucker for playlists in books and am always excited to get to the end so I can go through Katie's. Once again, not a single complaint on my end! Not only do all the songs fit perfectly but I love most of them already. Now whenever I hear Where It's At by Dustin Lynch, I'll think of Chevy and Violet. <3

I find that a lot of readers these days aren't huge young adult fans. I understand that you want the steaminess that a romance or new adult read can give you, but I appreciate a well written young adult novel more for giving me the same feelings, intimacy, and making me fall in love with the couple, all without the explicit details. It forces the author to dive deeper with the character's emotions and bring them to the surface, to show the reader how much they're actually feeling. I personally love this about YA and Katie checks every box.

“I got you what you wanted.”
“Are you carrying?” she asks quietly.
“Do you really want the answer?”
“You hate carrying.”
Yeah, but I love her. Never stopped.

On the topic of emotions, it was an extremely visceral feeling I had alongside Chevy and Violet. When they were scared, I was scared. When they were frustrated or angry, I was frustrated or angry. When they were falling in love, I was already there. *Cue the harps playing*. What good is a book of it doesn't make you think? If it doesn't make you feel? Have no fears because Long Way Home will let you do both.

“I’ve got you, Violet. I swear to God I’ve got you.”
And there’s no more thrumming.
Just his heat, warm covers, his heartbeat, his promise, the rise and fall of his chest and my body wrapped around his.
This. Just this. I’m finally home.

I seriously can't state enough how much I loved this book. This series just keeps getting better and better with each addition! Now is it too much to hope for a fourth book? Perhaps Addison and oh, I don't know... Dust? I don't think I'm ready to let these characters go yet! But either way, they're living forever on my bookshelves. I don't know how she does it, but Katie McGarry creates a winner time and time again. Long Way Home is some of her best work to date and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next! Need a fantastically written, swoon worthy, suspense story with themes to make you think? Check out this book and author. You won't be disappointed!

This is another one of McCarry's books I couldn't put down. I don't know what it is about her writing, but it always sucks me in. Even through the grittiness, the tough scenes, and the moments that literally break her characters, I find myself glued to the pages, wanting them to prove the world wrong. There's something about these characters, and the way that McGarry writes them, that I can't help but getting sucked into their world. I find myself easily rooting for them, wanting to cry with them, and laughing out loud with them. I love that while each book is about a specific set of characters, the over all series storyline progresses. Like the stories before this one, there is a lot of realism, and grittiness in it.

I loved Violet. She's a character who doesn't pretend to be anyone but who she is. She's broken, fierce, loyal, independent, stubborn and will do anything for those she loves. She is incredibly strong, and thinks for herself. She doesn't do damsel in distress, and I loved her for that. Though she's broken, and doing the best she can to create a new normal, she has this toughness and drive that can't be broken. I admired her for who she is, who she was, and what she does. I loved that even though she's part of a club that is lead by alphas, this girl has a steely backbone, and isn't afraid to stand her ground, and tell them no.

For as much as I loved Violet, I also loved Violet and Chevy. I loved the way McCarry wrote them. She didn't just write a relationship, she wrote something that made sense. Violet and Chevy have the kind of relationship that when everything else around them is wrong, they are what makes sense. They orbit around each other. They give, and take, and want equally. I loved seeing them together, and work through all that makes their relationship make sense, even when their history and their possibilities for the future make things complicated. Chevy and Violet are my favorite of this series couples. They have a mutual admiration, love, respect, friendship and so much more, for each other. They had me rooting for them they whole time. The way McGarry wrote them felt poetic at times.

Chevy was a character I really enjoyed getting to know more. He is everything Violet needs. Like Violet, he doesn't do fake. What you see is what you get with him. Like Violet, he's also broken, but in a very different way. I loved that he wanted to help Violet, as much as she wanted to help him. While Violet may be firm in knowing who she is, and what she wants, Chevy has a bit of a complication in figuring out which path he wants to take. When Violet comes to a road with two paths, she doesn't take either one, but instead makes her own. When Chevy comes to his different paths, and has to choose one, he has a tug-o-war figuring out which path to take. I liked that McCarry doesn't rush his decisions. I admired that once he made up his mind, he wasn't deterred from his choice.

There's a lot of secondary characters who are just as crucial to the story as the main characters are. Adult wise, I loved Chevy's mom. I get why Violet has always loved her. I also appreciated understanding Violet's Mom, and Eli's reasoning behind their actions, by the end of the book. I LOVED Violet's brother, Stone, and how everyone around Violet treats him. Literally, these moments are so sweet. McCarry stole my heart with Stone, and those moments.

McCarry doesn't hold back in this story. There is so much that happens, that I want to talk about. There's more twists in the history between the two motorcycle clubs, some shocking secrets and a few betrayals. Like each of the stories before this one, nothing is going to be easy for the characters, but some how, they always find a way. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series. There's a few more answers I need.

*There is language, fight scenes, and a few topics/scenes that may not be suitable for younger YA readers.

One of my favorite quotes:
"There are some fights worth fighting, and some fights that need to be let go. And that some times I need to really take a good look in the mirror before I react."

We have seen Violet and Chevy’s roller coaster romance from the views of other people and now we finally dive right into it. Chevy is stuck between the two worlds that he loves so much, the Terror and the one football life. But more importantly between his grandfather and his love for Violet and his mom.

The story kicks right off with a big conflict for Chevy and Violet that ultimately dictates the problems that they both have throughout the rest of the book. The war is brewing and only getting worse between the Riot and the Terror but on the plus side we get the answers to a lot of the questions that we have from the other two books.

There is a surprise, but not so much if you read the other two books, in the Pushing the Limits series. We get to see how both worlds are connected and the connection will absolutely blow your mind. I loved how McGarry was able to connect them while keeping them separate at the same time.

I think that the biggest thing that I pulled from this story is that it’s about both Violet and Chevy finding their voice. Chevy, like Violet said a few times throughout that the book, has a hard time making a decision and telling those around him what he wants. Violet is the opposite. She voices her opinion to anyone that will listen. Only problem is that nobody actually listens. That struggle and frustration that she has comes off ten-fold through the pages that you feel just as frustrated as she does.

The writing that Katie McGarry does something that I haven’t seen in to many other authors. She does get you emotionally attached to the characters (as many authors can do) but she can make you feel what the characters feel. That is beyond just writing down words on page. That writing that doesn’t only paint the picture, but grabs at your heart and tells you which way to feel.

I can’t wait to see where Katie McGarry takes us next, but I know that wherever it’s going to be, it’s going to be epic.

I received a review copy of Long Way Home by Katie McGarry from Harlequin Teen via Inkslinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This has no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book. Don't forget to check out my review for Nowhere by Here and Walk the Edge.

I don’t know how I feel about this book. Katie McGarry is one of my favourite contemporary writers, but Long Way Home didn’t hit that spot and left me disappointed. I was so excited when I was picked to be on the tour, but after reading I was hanging for more.

Long Way Home follows protagonists Violet and Chevy as they both struggle with their lives that they have come to know. The Reign of Terror are both their families, but when Violets’ dad dies, she wants nothing to do with them. However, when everything is on the line including their lives, she might just have to let the terror back in.

What I love about Katie McGarry’s books, is as the series goes on we find out more about the world of the books. Everything isn’t throw at us at once. We also find out about protagonists, before they even star in a book. It’s done so effortlessly. I felt that we already had a sense of Violet and Chevy before the book began, and then as Long Way Home went on, the reader is able to find out more.

Violet and Chevy aren’t my favourite Katie McGarry characters. I didn’t click with both of them. Therefore making it really hard to connect and be invested in their lives. Violet has very strong options about the Reign and why she doesn’t want to be with them anymore. And while it’s totally understandable, it did get slightly frustrating at times. She didn’t want to listen to anyone, even while they were trying to explain and save her life.

Long Way Home A
Images from Pinterest.
While Violet has her troubles with the Reign, so does Chevy. Throughout the whole book, the reader is able to see him struggle. He is stuck between trusting the family that he knows, being by his mother’s side, and losing the girl that he has loved most of this life. It was hard to see Chevy compete with himself and think about what the best thing to do is.

I enjoy the intensity of Long Way Home. Every page there was the treat of something happening. That something is going to blow. The reader doesn’t know who to trust or what to believe, and it’s epic. I love these sorts of books, where you have no idea what is going to happen next.

The romance was one of my favourite aspects of Long Way Home. It’s rare in YA, that you delve into a novel where the romance has already been built. Although Chevy and Violet aren’t together at the start, the reader knows the history. There is already this connection and we don’t have to waste the novel building it up. The reader is able to see that both Violet and Chevy care so much about each other. And would do anything, even if they don’t realise it.

Overall, Long Way Home by Katie McGarry is a novel about family, friendship, love and finding out what happens. And although this one is her best, the plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. And the romance that you cannot help but fall in love with.

I’m telling you right now, Katie McGarry’s writing is downright addictive. This third book in the Thunder Road Series had me completely captivated from start to finish and there was no way I could put it down. Seriously, this is the type of book that gives my blog its name because I found myself falling deeper and deeper into the story and completely ignoring all those real world things that were calling for my attention. They just had to wait.

What Fed My Addiction:

Violet and Chevy.
It helped a lot that I was invested in the romance between Violet and Chevy from page one—they were featured heavily enough in the first two books in the series that I was already rooting for them before I even picked up the book. And I wasn’t let down. The strong bond between these two characters is palpable, and their love and desire for each other is incredibly intense. Of course, this only makes it that much more painful for them (and for the reader) when they face the possibility of truly irreconcilable differences. I wasn’t sure how Violet and Chevy would get past some of the issues in this book, even knowing how much they loved each other.

It’s all a matter of perspective.
The first two books in the series focused a lot on how people misjudged members of the Terror and misunderstood them. But this book feels a little bit different. Violet’s perspective is more critical of the club and the way that they view the women around them. It’s interesting because her dad raised her to be a lot like him, but within the club there isn’t a lot of room for a girl to show independence and demand respect. She has high expectations about the way she should be treated because of her dad, but she often feels overlooked by the very people who helped raise her to be independent and feisty. I love that Violet never backs down from her desire to be given the respect she deserves, but she also learns that she doesn’t need to completely separate herself from the people who love her in order to get it. And Violet eventually learns that it’s okay to rely on family sometimes, but the men in the Terror learn a thing or two about mutual respect from Violet as well.

Chevy’s decisions.
Poor Chevy was stuck between a rock and a hard place through much of this book—he so wanted to make everyone happy, and it was impossible. I felt for him, and I honestly wasn’t sure what Chevy would choose in the end.

Page-turning action.
This book starts out with a bang and never really lets up. The stakes are incredibly high!

Major revelation.
Something is revealed toward the end of the book that took me completely by surprise and I LOVED it! (I’m so glad I didn’t read anything on Goodreads before I read the book because, for some reason, lots of people spoiled this revelation and I MUCH preferred to be surprised.)

What Left Me Hungry for More:

Maybe a bit melodramatic at times?
I mean, I don’t know, maybe this series is a bit of a guilty pleasure and it can definitely be over the top, but considering how completely sucked in I was, I don’t see how I can take away any stars for that. I wasn’t reading this one for it’s deep philosophical views on life (though, to be fair, the book did make me think about gender roles and loyalty).

If you’re a McGarry fan, you won’t be disappointed with this installment. With heart-stopping action, swoony romance and complicated characters, this book lived up to every one of my expectations. I give it 5/5 stars!

On the outside, this whole series seems like such an odd match for me. First of all, I am a woman in my 40's with teenage children. Second, I am not a fan of the motorcycle club movement in books and TV shows and such. However, I am obsessed with this series, and Katie McGarry really outdid herself with Long Way Home.

If you've been reading the series, then you are probably like me and have been begging for Violet and Chevy's story. The tension between them has been stretched throughout the other books. You could feel the heartache that came with every encounter between Chevy and Violet and so far their history has only been hinted at.

Violet carries a lot of hard feelings for the Reign of Terror, the motorcycle club her father was a part of and died serving. The Terror seem to be controlling every aspect of Violet's life and the more she tries to pull away and separate her family from the Terror, the more the leaders seem to tighten the reins. Violet's friends are all loyal to the MC and cannot understand her need to pull away.

Both being children of the Terror, Chevy and Violet have been friends forever. Their friendship grew into a young and passionate love. Things fell apart when Violet's trust in the Terror crumbled and while Chevy's 18th birthday is quickly approaching, he is determined to prove his loyalty to his family and the club.

Long Way Home is an action-packed ride from the beginning. To avoid spoilers, I've only mentioned some of the behind-the-scenes tensions going on in this story, but the real conflict involves The Riot, The Reign of Terror's rival motorcycle club. While the Terror may push some boundaries, they always try to operate within the confines of the law. The Riot has no such convictions and will use threats and violence and whatever else it takes for them to get the revenge they feel they deserve.

As Violet tries to pull farther away from the Terror, she finds herself in Riot territory with seemingly few routes of escape. Chevy and Violet's love for each other is renewed and tested even more than ever before. Their loyalty to their families, the club, and each other is stretched to the limits. With actions that will definitely alienate them from the Terror and the Terror leaders, they both take big risks, but sometimes the right man for the job is a girl.

Katie McGarry knows how to write authentic characters that you want as your own best friends. Their struggles are real and sometimes life-threatening, yet never feel outrageous or overdone. I end every one of her stories with my heart pounding and my soul begging for more.

This books is recommended for Young Adult, New Adult, and Contemporary Romance readers. It's a full 5-Star Read.

5 million stars are not enough!

I remember when Nowhere But Here was published, I was so drawn to its beautiful cover and when I finally had the chance to read it, I LOVED it like crazy, and later i read Walk the Edge and I ADORED it even more. Both books were written masterfully, with amazing complicated stories and loveable characters, and the most amazing HEA… In those books I met with Violet and Chevy, I loved Chevy already and I was waiting for his story but I wasn’t sure about Violet, she was a complicated character, she was antagonistic and always causing troubles, and I had the chance to read a digital sample of Long Way Home last month (Read my early review here) and I still wasn’t sure about her but now I LOVE HER WITH ALL MY HEART!! #VioletisQueen

Remember I was in the verge of dying when I read the sample? Oh. My. God. I can’t even begin to tell you all the emotions I had when I read the entire book. I cried and cried and cried, I yelled, I laughed, I sighed… I fell in love once and again with Chevy and finally understood Violet’s behavior and I totally agree with her. #TeamVioletAlwaysand4ever

Frat raised Violet to be a force of nature. A hurricane that looks beautiful from space, but can be a monster once it hits landfall.

This book… *sigh* this book! My words wouldn’t give justice to the perfection of this book. The story, the rivalry against the motorcycle clubs, the involvement of Violet and Chevy in this war, secrets upon secrets revealed that in the end left everyone happy and standing. I was worried sick for everyone and everything, but in the end everything was resolved and they ended up having what they deserved.

But what I really loved about this book was Violet and Chevy’s relationship. They both needed to be separated to grow stronger, to find themselves and then going back together and be the best other half for each other. I loved reading how respectful was Chevy with Violet, how protective he was from her, but that was one of their problems. But some tough arguments between them made realize Chevy how Violet deserved to be loved and that’s exactly what he did for her.

I also loved the four friends working together and against the bad ones. I wish Katie would write more about them in the future, I totally see them as the new board of the Reign of Terror and Violet as the first woman as official member of the MC, more than just a Terror Gipsie. She is more! She deserves more. *sighs* Like I said: #VioletisQueen #GirlPower

Sometimes the best family is the kind that doesn’t share blood.

I must warn you that despite this series has three books with three different couples, they can’t be read as standalone because the motorcycle club story has continuity and all three stories are connected anyway. So start with from the beginning, okay? Now, go read this series, I’ll assure you will love it as much as I do.

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Review will be posted on Jan 30

OMG Chevy and Violet’s story was so long coming. I feel like this series has been going on forever and it’s only been 2 books prior to this one.

Chevy is weeks from eighteen and getting his patch, Violet is days from eighteen and can’t wait to get out of Snowflake and as far away from the MC life. But when they’re kidnapped by the Riot, Chevy and Violet’s plans are blown into the wind.

The Terror/Riot rivalry has been stressing Eli and the Terror. Emily back in their lives and shunning the Riot only helped in raising the stress level up a notch. Or ten. So with the Riot’s only solution is a criminal one (big surprise there), trying to get Violet on their side is key.

Violet still loves Chevy. She feels she probably always will. She also loves her Terror family, even though she will do everything in her power to break ties with them as it’s her only road to safety and peace.

Both their fathers dead, Chevy is yearning to find out more about his, the truth about his, while Violet is doing her best to keep as much of her father’s love for her close. But while both have differing daddy issues, their mommy issues are so. damn. polar.

While Chevy’s mom will do anything in her power to persuade her son to distance himself from the Terror, not patch in and live a life of a normal teen, go to university and live his life in peace, Violet’s mom lost all confidence somewhere along the line and will throw her life at the Terror’s feet, as long as they take care of her, protect her. She put all her faith in them. There are some soul-searching conversations between both mothers and their children – very important ones, too.

I have to be honest, I had my doubts in Violet throughout the story, up until a certain point in her speaking to Chevy. I also had my doubts she will ever be close to Eli again, but I have to hand it to Eli – he’s a persistent mofo.

I loved the fine line Chevy and Violet walked trying to figure out how to get both their ways while keeping true to themselves. It’s been clear since the very beginning of the series that they love each other deeply. But the conflicts in maintaining one’s own identity within the MC, where pretty much everything is dictated is a tough one.

There’s also a surprise cross over with another one of McGarry’s YA series and the revelations it brings are incredible. In my opinion this crossover is one of the special elements in the book that made it so good.

Long Way Home is my absolute favorite so far in the Thunder Road series. It’s an intense, action-packed, emotional rollercoaster of a story, and it’s worth every second spent reading it.