Long Way Home (Thunder Road #3)

Long Way Home by Katie McGarry is a spectacular addition to the Thunder Road series and my favorite yet. It's darker and fiercer then ever, a thrilling ride that challenges love, friendship, and where each character's loyalties lie.

What I Loved:

While Nowhere But Here and Walk the Edge can be read as standalone companion novels, Long Way Home's storyline is set up perfectly to match the puzzle pieces left unanswered from the first two books. It's fast-paced and action-packed from page one, and it doesn't dally much with introductions since at this point we are already familiar with the characters.

This book takes readers deeper into the secrets of the Reign of Terror Motorcycle Club and their long time feud with their rival gang--the Riot. The previous books barely scratch the surface of these clubs as they focus more in the blooming relationships between the main characters of each book, and while we do get some romance, it's not its sole focus. For once, both main characters, Violet and Chevy, are inside the Reign of Terror's circle and they are set on finding answers, for their lives are suddenly at stake.

Katie McGarry, so far, has created excellent characters in this series, but I've noticed that she excels in writing fierce women who don't like to sit down and let men protect them or do their job when they can well do it on their own, like Violet. She's a headstrong, independent young woman who demands and deserves respect. Despite her hurt and her personal issues, at the end of the day she's the kind of person whose instinct is to protect those she loves even if she puts herself at risk, and she's hardly recognized for it until now. Even I failed to notice how amazing she's as a character until I reached her point of view in this book. But now I'm glad to say that Violet is my favorite female character from this series.

We also get great male character leads in the Thunder Road series, but unlike Oz and Razor from the first two installments, I like how Chevy is actually a character torn about the paths he wants to take-- either stay with the Reign of Terror or pursue a life outside the club that includes a college career and football. Chevy is a character who does try to weigh in the pros and cons of either life, and while it does have a toll on him as he battles with himself, he is a lot more open minded than the previous main characters of the series.

And while Violet and Chevy already have history between each other and their relationship doesn't give the opportunity to fall in love with them for the first time, it's really hard not to sigh and wish for a love like theirs. Their feelings for each other runs deeper and stronger than newfound love, and it shows other wonderful aspects in a relationship like trust, safety, friendship and forgiveness. Come to think of it, this also applies with their relationships with friends and family members. Most of these relationships are broken due to lack of trust and misunderstandings, but as the novel progresses, most of them have a chance to heal and a second chance at trust.

What Left Me Wanting More:

While I love how The Reign of Terror is a family made out of friends who deeply care for one another, their old century thinking still doesn't sit well with me. They are surrounded by amazing, independent women and yet they don't like to rely on or trust them. This way of thinking has often risked their well-being from their enemies (the Riot), but I guess that's the price to pay when there's inequality (in this kind of environment). However, things seem to be about to change, and I enjoy every time women prove to these old guys how they can be equally badass.

Also, I'm not going to lie, my favorite couple still is Razor and Breanna from Walk the Edge, so I had hopes to read more about them in Long Way Home. Unfortunately, only Razor and Oz make appearances. I still loved having them around and help Chevy and Violet save the day, but it would have been nice to have more young girl power since Violet was mostly alone in this one.

Final Verdict:

Long Way Home is one of the most anticipated YA Contemporary novels of early 2017 and with good reason. Readers won't be disappointed with Violet's and Chevy's story for not only will they fall in love with them, but they will also come one step closer to uncovering all the Reign of Terror secrets. Now to wait for the next book!

Long Way Home by Katie McGarry is a riveting, engaging novel about love and war, dependence and independence, and family. Reign of Terror may sound like a violent, illegal motorcycle club, but they act and run like a family, making money to protect their people. The Riot on the other hand, they'd go as far as kidnapping two teenagers and giving them one hell of a terrifying night just to turn them against their club. Do they turn? Do they betray their family? Or do they rise up and do what's right, throwing themselves into danger to protect their family at all costs? This novel is their journey, their road to self discovery and letting go of misplaced anger and hatred. Romance, action, and a brilliant journey to discovering more about oneself is everything you'll find yourself loving.

Violet and Chevy are in love. They can't live without each other, but they can't figure out how to be together. They struggle throughout the novel to support and comfort each other without getting entangled in the passions of their hearts. Fleeting touches and heavy gazes can't take away their problems. Their romance is a tale of painful yearning and chemistry so rich you flip through the ages as if all you live for is their love.

"Returning his gaze is a lot like coming home after a long night and falling into bed." (9%)

Violet doesn't just struggle with her emotional connection to Chevy however. Ever since her dad died, she's blamed the club and everyone associated with them. She distances herself from them and attempts to survive through the pain on her own. Being kidnapped messes with her plans and that means having to rely on the Terror for protection. Violet can't figure out how she feels about that. Can she live with being seen as lesser than the men? Can she live with being second to Chevy's mind, for his loyalty, and not first? Does she want to give up her family? Does she want to give up on everything that she and her dad shared and loved just because she can't figure out what to do with herself? Violet has to learn to depend on others, because sometimes life is tough and you need your family to help get you back on track. She needs to discover herself again, and learn to trust. Her growth is slow and realistic, blossoming on the pages like a remedy, a hope for oneself. Her strength and bravery keeps us rooting for her and keeps her character upright, ready for the next hit.

"Someday, I hope to trust me again. Trust my emotions. Trust my instincts. Trust that I'm going to be able to live with the fallout of the choices facing me." (58%)

Chevy can't stand being without her, but he respects her too much to demand another go at their relationship. He leaves it up to her. His issue? He is stuck in the middle. Being kidnapped doesn't change that. In fact, with the few things he learned of his father in that time, it sets him down a whole other path of being pulled in two directions and choosing to stay neatly in the middle so nobody gets hurt. Problem with that is someone always gets hurt. This is his journey to discovering more about himself and his father and his family. Sure, the synopsis claims Violet is the one who discoverers all that about her dad, but they got it wrong. Yes, she does learn some information, but no where near as much as you would expect. Chevy on the other hand, has his world shattered and rebuilt based on all he learns about his father.

The plot relies heavily on character development I found. They get kidnapped, romance, struggle with being okay and with the new information they learned and what they should do with it, romance, start asking around, romance, police, romance, ask more, romance, got a plan, romance, ride plan out, romance, family, romance. With every struggle, every growth and step back, the plot took a turn. The relationship between Chevy and Violet was the main focus however, and though I enjoyed it, I would have liked to have more on Chevy's father earlier on.

Overall, Long Way Home is a rich, thought-provoking novel that will keep you wanting more. This is definitely a book I recommend!