Review Detail

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!