Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Where The Road Takes Me by Jay McLean Book Tour: Review, Excerpt, and Giveaway!


Meet Blake & Chloe in Where the Road Takes Me
in this new coming of age novel by
Jay McLean

AVAILABLE NOW!
Blurb
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.

Teaser Quote
"Because over the years of building walls and living my life one day at a time, I’d learned to accept my fate and never hope for more than what I had. I’d never questioned the way I thought about my life. But Blake—he made me question it. He made me want to change it. To change my outlook. And to change myself. But I couldn’t. And I wouldn’t. Because one day, sooner rather than later, I’d be gone. And I’d leave them all behind.”

My Review
5 out of 5 RED stars

Here is a quick list of things to look out for in the book before I begin my review:
1. The color red and its meaning
2. The magnets
3. The basketball game with Blake, the mom, and Chloe
4. Josh just because he is amazing
5. Blake's thoughtful heart

If you haven't read Jay McLean's books then I encourage you to stop what you are doing right now and go get one of her books. I guarantee that you will devour it in one night. Now as for this book in particular, it surprised me a little but Jay always does that to me. I thought I knew Jay's writing and her books, but I was wrong. This book is something that I was not expecting from her. At first, it took a little while to adjust because it was so different from her other books, but I soon came to love it.

The Characters

Chloe: Ok, so this was a little confusing to me at first so I will let you in on a little secret; Abby is a fake name. If I would have known that, everything would have been less confusing but I found it quite funny to so I'm okay with it now. Hmm...so Chloe was a hard one to relate to because she was so separated from the world. She was placed in a foster home after she lost her mom and then a short time later her aunt. She wants to be invisible and she doesn't want to make connections with anyone. I understand that she has had a hard past but how can you not let anyone into your life? Ok, so maybe I lied. She did let one person into her life. His name is Clayton. They practically grew up together in the foster home but that doesn't count because she needs more deeper connections. I mean like for her to let actual friends and happiness into her life. She just doesn't do it. When I read this book I couldn't relate to her. Now, I completely relate to her because I have had the worst week of my life. I feel like I totally want to push everyone away from my life just like Chloe did so I can't get hurt. But that is no way to live so I would like to thank Jay and Chloe because without their words and story I probably would push people away. I learned that it is not the way to live. I need a Blake in my life though. So lets move on to him.

Blake: He is a complete sweetheart and I love him. When you learn his situation it is sad but it I think he handles it well. The one thing that was to quick for me was his relationship with Chloe. He was taken by her immediately from their first encounter. I like that Blake was who he was. He never abandoned his friend Josh, who I will soon talk about so don't worry. It was the little things he thought and the caring things he did for Chloe to make her happy that drew me in. He wanted to help others and make Chloe happy at the same time and I think he accomplished it. One thing I loved about him was that his mom was an author and he read every single one of her books. That right there makes me melt.

Josh: The funniest person in the book and you will understand why if you read it. Let's just say it has to do with him getting a little high. I love Josh and if it wasn't for Blake I would definitely go for him. He is unbelievable. He is a skater which is quite yummy. Josh is a single dad after the mother ran away not even caring for the child. I mean she has no communication with him. How could someone do that? I love Josh just for that reason. His love for his son just pours out and that is absolutely heart warming. Also when Josh lets loose is amazing because you see this funny guy who turns calm and relaxed. He is one of my favorites.

The Story

Ok so now that I have talked about the characters I am moving on to the story as a whole. The writing and the story line were so different than what I am used to from Jay, so DO NOT expect a similar style from her More Than series. This is different and it might take some time to get used to but it was a great story. A powerful story for me. Ok so we all know that Chloe doesn't want to make connections so she has this plan to be on The Road after graduation. She will just travel, not make connections, and eventually die. That is what she wants and she is close to doing that until the has that encounter with Blake, which changes everything.

When they meet they start seeing a lot of each other and Chloe can't help but start to form a connection with Blake, and Josh by default since he is friends with Blake. So Blake does everything to try to be with her all the time, but Chloe tries to avoid that because of The Road. She doesn't want anyone changing her mind about leaving and Blake is just the person for that. So just know that my favorite part was the basketball game with Blake, Blake's mom, and Chloe was hilarious. Watch out for it because it is so funny (scroll down for an excerpt for a sneak peak). Ok so a lot of stuff goes on that I won't go into detail. This is so you can get the full experience of the book.

Hmmm let me think...Ok, something else that is so significant in this book is the color Red. It will change your outlook on the world. Well it did for me. It was so powerful and emotional that it left me thinking about a lot of things in life. This book will make you laugh real hard and cry just as much, so be prepared! Go order this now, I am sure you will not regret it! #turnmyworldred

Excerpt #1
Chloe lifted her gaze and locked it with mine. She shook her head again and groaned, “Fine.” Then she took off her shirt.
My jaw dropped.
My hands had touched her bare skin, the curve of her hips, and her tiny waist, but I’d seen her body only once, when she was in a bikini, and that had been for only a minute. But that was nothing compared to seeing her like this. Up close. So close her sports bra–covered breasts were just under my nose.
“Blake?” she whispered.
I struggled to take my eyes off her chest, but I finally made it to her face. She had her hair tied up in a messy knot on top of her head, like she often did. But a few strands were stuck on her neck and on her face . . . and a little sheen of sweat covered her arms and her stomach, her chest, her breasts . . .
“Blake,” she repeated, and I trailed my eyes back to hers again.
She pouted before she said, “Give me the ball?”
I shook my head and hid the ball behind my back.
She pouted again. “Please?” she whispered. Then a hint of a  smile broke through.
“Are you trying to seduce me into giving you my ball?”
About Jay McLean
Jay McLean is the author of the More Series, including More Than This, More Than Her, More Than Him and More Than Forever. She also has two standalones coming soon titled Where The Road Takes Me, and Combative.
Jay is an avid reader, writer, and most of all, procrastinator. When she's not doing any of those things, she can be found running after her two little boys, or devouring some tacky reality TV show.
She writes what she loves to read, which are books that can make her laugh, make her smile, make her hurt, and make her feel.



For publishing rights (Foreign & Domestic) Film, or television, please contact my agent, Erica Spellman-Silverman, at Trident Media Group.  





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