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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
2.5 Stars - OK, so I loved McGarry's Pushing the Limits series (probably one of my favourites) but this new series of hers. . . no. The first one was just dull and the characters were stupid and everything could have been avoided if people just told the fucking truth. Which then transferred over to this one. And while the two characters were better than Oz and Emily, the plot and pacing ruined them. It went too slow, then too much happened in the end just to wrap things up and it just didn't read well. I am also really tired of the shy, quiet good girl and the dangerous, brooding bad boy trope that this series is presenting so far. If it was done well, I wouldn't mind but it's just too cliche at times.
But the major issue I have is the motorcycle club dynamic. I would probably kill someone if they kept secrets like this from me - people who were supposed to be family - and if they expected blind obedience, blind trust, blind faith without really giving it in return. I saw no evidence of the loyalty of the club, which makes it hard for me to buy into it. Maybe if we had more of a background and examples - that didn't revolve around secrets - I could stomach that aspect of the club more (probably not). It's just who I am - you have to earn all that, and it's a two-way street, no matter who you are. And the blatant sexism against the wives and girlfriends of the members? I couldn't ever deal with that, with knowing my boyfriend would be keeping important things from me all the time. That's not how relationships work. I don't know how realistic a depiction McGarry gives but it's definitely not for me, not even to read about.
So I don't know if I want to read the third book even though I think I would enjoy Violet and her story considering she's probably the best thing I've noticed in this series. We'll see. But if McGarry goes back to her other series, I'll read those.
But the major issue I have is the motorcycle club dynamic. I would probably kill someone if they kept secrets like this from me - people who were supposed to be family - and if they expected blind obedience, blind trust, blind faith without really giving it in return. I saw no evidence of the loyalty of the club, which makes it hard for me to buy into it. Maybe if we had more of a background and examples - that didn't revolve around secrets - I could stomach that aspect of the club more (probably not). It's just who I am - you have to earn all that, and it's a two-way street, no matter who you are. And the blatant sexism against the wives and girlfriends of the members? I couldn't ever deal with that, with knowing my boyfriend would be keeping important things from me all the time. That's not how relationships work. I don't know how realistic a depiction McGarry gives but it's definitely not for me, not even to read about.
So I don't know if I want to read the third book even though I think I would enjoy Violet and her story considering she's probably the best thing I've noticed in this series. We'll see. But if McGarry goes back to her other series, I'll read those.
Fun read. The author's sense of humor manages to make the ultra-sleazy hero amusing instead of infuriating or just gross, and the heroine has the backbone to stand up to him despite their mutual instalust. Hero is a real idiot () but he gets it right eventually. And I appreciate that at least there's an attempt at safe sex.
A note on infidelity: the hero is engaged to another woman when he meets and seduces the heroine before she (the heroine) finds out and ditches him. But the fiancee seems to be fine with his womanizing ways (she's not into sex with him anyway and they're obviously not in love) so, though it isn't directly stated, I would consider that more an open relationship than cheating. The hero was still wrong for not being up front about his engagement and intention to install the heroine as his permanent side-piece when she made it clear she wasn't into that, but I'm not so bothered by the infidelity itself. He never cheats on the heroine.
Spoiler
just one example: the scene when she's trying to tell him about her pregnancy and takes off her coat so he can see her bump but he's too busy staring at her breasts to noticeA note on infidelity: the hero is engaged to another woman when he meets and seduces the heroine before she (the heroine) finds out and ditches him. But the fiancee seems to be fine with his womanizing ways (she's not into sex with him anyway and they're obviously not in love) so, though it isn't directly stated, I would consider that more an open relationship than cheating. The hero was still wrong for not being up front about his engagement and intention to install the heroine as his permanent side-piece when she made it clear she wasn't into that, but I'm not so bothered by the infidelity itself. He never cheats on the heroine.
I really loved my first experience with the Thunder Road world in Nowhere But Here so I was definitely ready to dive back in with Walk the Edge. And it had Razor as a main character so that made me even more excited. I was so happy that it didn't disappoint. It had everything I loved about the motorcycle club from the first book and added to the world and added characters that fit in nicely.
It was the bad boy/good girl trope with a twist that Katie McGarry does so well. Breanna was always the responsible one and I felt an instant connection with her. She was smart, always sacrificing for her family, definitely way under appreciated by them, and I found it impossible not to like her. I also really liked that the fear she had of Razor and the motorcycle club at the beginning didn't just disappear when she realized Razor was a good guy. Razor was a character I already knew I liked and now it was his turn to really shine. And he did. He was still grieving his mother's death, he was cold, he definitely had the air of bad boy danger to him. But he was also sweet to Breanna and he cared about his Terror brothers. Again, impossible not to like.
As a couple, they worked so well together. There was definitely an attraction immediately but not insta-love. They brought out of different side in each other, a side that allowed them to be free of all the other stuff going on in their lives. It was definitely a case of they shouldn't work, they were too different, but actually perfect for each other.
The main plot, other than the romance, was the cyber-bully blackmail and Razor finding out new information about his mother's death. These events pushed Razor and Breanna closer together and they work with each other to help each other with their problems. I really enjoyed the whole thing. The romance was great, the character growth was great, and the flow of the book was so well done. It didn't feel slow and there were moments of definite nail-biting.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
It was the bad boy/good girl trope with a twist that Katie McGarry does so well. Breanna was always the responsible one and I felt an instant connection with her. She was smart, always sacrificing for her family, definitely way under appreciated by them, and I found it impossible not to like her. I also really liked that the fear she had of Razor and the motorcycle club at the beginning didn't just disappear when she realized Razor was a good guy. Razor was a character I already knew I liked and now it was his turn to really shine. And he did. He was still grieving his mother's death, he was cold, he definitely had the air of bad boy danger to him. But he was also sweet to Breanna and he cared about his Terror brothers. Again, impossible not to like.
As a couple, they worked so well together. There was definitely an attraction immediately but not insta-love. They brought out of different side in each other, a side that allowed them to be free of all the other stuff going on in their lives. It was definitely a case of they shouldn't work, they were too different, but actually perfect for each other.
The main plot, other than the romance, was the cyber-bully blackmail and Razor finding out new information about his mother's death. These events pushed Razor and Breanna closer together and they work with each other to help each other with their problems. I really enjoyed the whole thing. The romance was great, the character growth was great, and the flow of the book was so well done. It didn't feel slow and there were moments of definite nail-biting.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book was so good and so enjoyable! I think I even liked it more than the first in this series. The motorcycle club is still a big part of this one but in a much different way than the first. It felt almost a little overpowering in the first one but definitely took a back seat to the romance in this one. And while there is still plenty of drama here, it again seemed less overwhelming than the first one. The first one, which I really liked, was just drama from the start and everything was life or death. This one still had a little of that but felt almost a little more realistic in its approach. If that makes sense. The troubles happening with Breanna and Razor and their inner struggles were much more relatable than the constant threat of death from motorcycle clubs in the first one. Still, McGarry fans will not be disappointed. The main characters, Breanna and Razor, are so likable and cute together and I loved their romance and the way they worked together. The drama and Reign of Terror and swoon and chemistry is all there. If you weren't a huge fan of the first one, I'd definitely give this one a try. I really enjoyed it and I hope you guys will too!
Check out this review and more at On the Wings of Books
• When I read Nowhere But Here (the first in this series) it was hard not to compare it to Pushing the Limits, while I still loved Nowhere But Here it was missing that something extra. Walk the Edge made up for that in spades. I started reading this before bed and ended up finishing it at 1:30 in the morning.
• McGarry does it again and hits me in all the feels. I felt emotionally connect to the characters from the beginning and it didn't wane at all throughout the book.
• Razor and Breanna's relationship is a slow burn. You can feel the attraction, but they don't jump and act on it right away, they dance around each other a bit.
• Despite Razor's rough edges it's impossible not to like him. Everyone sees him exactly as he wants them to - bad and not to be messed with, but he goes out of his way to make them see him that way. He knows what he wants, to be a part of the MC, but in know way does that make him as bad as he thinks he is. He's struggling to find his place in the MC and dealing with his mother's death.
• Breanna has a totally different situation. She is the middle child in a large family and doesn't seem to fit in with the older kids or younger kids. She often feels left out and is struggling to find her place in her family and the world. I found her parents to be quite frustrating at times they way they dumped on her, but I also get that with that many kids things like that happen. They weren't awful parents or anything just... absent for Breanna.
• I loved the way that Breanna and Razor officially meet. Her ride is late so she is stuck at school and it's getting late and dark. Breanna is obviously scared of Razor, but also sees a different side of him. This meeting is also hilariously awkward, which I always appreciate.
• There is quite a bit going on in Walk the Edge, but I the aspect I liked best was how they dealt with their growing attraction and how other people acted towards it. As Razor is the "bad boy" they all think he can't possibly be good for her. There is also a lot of hatred towards their relationship. It was also a struggle for Breanna to accept some of the things that come along with Razor being part of the MC.
• Breanna really comes into her own and takes a stand in many ways as to what she wants and what she deserves. She also ultimately steps up in a situation that many people would have just accepted.
• I would love for Breanna's friend Addison to get her own story. She has quite a few of her own problems and definitely needs a happily ever after in her life.
Overall if you love contemporary young adult books than Walk the Edge is definitely for you!
What I Thought...
• When I read Nowhere But Here (the first in this series) it was hard not to compare it to Pushing the Limits, while I still loved Nowhere But Here it was missing that something extra. Walk the Edge made up for that in spades. I started reading this before bed and ended up finishing it at 1:30 in the morning.
• McGarry does it again and hits me in all the feels. I felt emotionally connect to the characters from the beginning and it didn't wane at all throughout the book.
• Razor and Breanna's relationship is a slow burn. You can feel the attraction, but they don't jump and act on it right away, they dance around each other a bit.
• Despite Razor's rough edges it's impossible not to like him. Everyone sees him exactly as he wants them to - bad and not to be messed with, but he goes out of his way to make them see him that way. He knows what he wants, to be a part of the MC, but in know way does that make him as bad as he thinks he is. He's struggling to find his place in the MC and dealing with his mother's death.
• Breanna has a totally different situation. She is the middle child in a large family and doesn't seem to fit in with the older kids or younger kids. She often feels left out and is struggling to find her place in her family and the world. I found her parents to be quite frustrating at times they way they dumped on her, but I also get that with that many kids things like that happen. They weren't awful parents or anything just... absent for Breanna.
• I loved the way that Breanna and Razor officially meet. Her ride is late so she is stuck at school and it's getting late and dark. Breanna is obviously scared of Razor, but also sees a different side of him. This meeting is also hilariously awkward, which I always appreciate.
• There is quite a bit going on in Walk the Edge, but I the aspect I liked best was how they dealt with their growing attraction and how other people acted towards it. As Razor is the "bad boy" they all think he can't possibly be good for her. There is also a lot of hatred towards their relationship. It was also a struggle for Breanna to accept some of the things that come along with Razor being part of the MC.
• Breanna really comes into her own and takes a stand in many ways as to what she wants and what she deserves. She also ultimately steps up in a situation that many people would have just accepted.
• I would love for Breanna's friend Addison to get her own story. She has quite a few of her own problems and definitely needs a happily ever after in her life.
Overall if you love contemporary young adult books than Walk the Edge is definitely for you!
I don’t read a lot of contemporary romance, even in YA books. (Though, I feel like I have been reading more lately…) And I really have no interest in motorcycle clubs, I tried watching Sons of Anarchy but it didn’t hold my interest. So imagine my surprise when I sat down to start reading Katie McGarry’s Walk The Edge with the intent of “just one chapter” and ended up reading the first six instead. And I would have kept going, had it not been so late at night. This book is a page turner.
Despite being a book about a guy in a motorcycle club, something I don’t really ‘get’, I loved this book. The characters, Thomas aka “Razor” and Breanna, are both so real. They’re flawed and relatable and I was rooting for them the entire time.
“There are lies in life we accept. Whether it’s for the sake of ignorance, bliss, or, in my case, survival, we all make our choices.”
Razor is “the boy everyone sees but nobody knows.”
Born to ride with the Reign of Terror motorcycle club, Razor is one of the newest members, but the club is keeping secrets from him. They say once he’s proved he trusts the club, the club will then trust him in turn with its secrets. This doesn’t sit well for Razor. His mother drove off a bridge years earlier and everyone in town says she killed herself to get away from Razor’s father and his club. Razor wants the truth, and he’s afraid the Terror played a role in his mothers death.
“I’m overjoyed by their faith in me, but on the inside I’m a rose wilting fast forward on the vine.”
Breanna is “the girl who everybody knows, but nobody sees.”
She refers to herself as “5 of 9” because she is the 5th child in a family of 9 kids. Her older siblings do their thing, her younger siblings do theirs. Then there’s Breanna, alone in the middle. She’s the responsible one, often left to parent her younger siblings. She’s never fit in due to her uncanny ability to remember and regurgitate random facts. Once a puzzle is in her head, she can’t move on until she’s solved it. She’s a freak and has been treated as one by everyone her entire life, including her siblings. She just wants to be accepted.
Razor finds Breanna’s brain remarkable, but she’s too good to be with a guy like him.
Though he starts as just her bodyguard, Breanna quickly realizes there’s more to Razor than meets the eye, and she’s falling for the boy her parents would never allow her to be with.
When these two unlikely people come together, will they find what they need in one another?
“Yeah, I know. I’m supposed to be this twenty-first century woman and obsessed with a man desiring me for my massive intellect. I am woman, hear me roar, and all that stuff, but once, it would have been pretty freaking awesome to be the girl in the pretty dress let alone with the gorgeous bad boy who wants to kiss me.”
“She should be worried,” he breathes into my ear.
“Why?”
“Because you’re alone with me.”
If you’re in the mood for a realistic romance between total opposites who compliment each other perfectly, this is the book. If you’re looking for a romance that also has a bit of a mystery to uncover, again, this is it. If you’re looking for a book with characters who grow and change as the story progresses, look no further.
This is the second in a series, and I have not read the first. Everything was set up so the book can be read as a stand alone. I plan to get my hands on the first book eventually, as well as the third book when it releases sometime in 2017.
So far, this is one of my top picks for 2016. Go grab a copy!
* I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher via Goodreads First Reads
Despite being a book about a guy in a motorcycle club, something I don’t really ‘get’, I loved this book. The characters, Thomas aka “Razor” and Breanna, are both so real. They’re flawed and relatable and I was rooting for them the entire time.
“There are lies in life we accept. Whether it’s for the sake of ignorance, bliss, or, in my case, survival, we all make our choices.”
Razor is “the boy everyone sees but nobody knows.”
Born to ride with the Reign of Terror motorcycle club, Razor is one of the newest members, but the club is keeping secrets from him. They say once he’s proved he trusts the club, the club will then trust him in turn with its secrets. This doesn’t sit well for Razor. His mother drove off a bridge years earlier and everyone in town says she killed herself to get away from Razor’s father and his club. Razor wants the truth, and he’s afraid the Terror played a role in his mothers death.
“I’m overjoyed by their faith in me, but on the inside I’m a rose wilting fast forward on the vine.”
Breanna is “the girl who everybody knows, but nobody sees.”
She refers to herself as “5 of 9” because she is the 5th child in a family of 9 kids. Her older siblings do their thing, her younger siblings do theirs. Then there’s Breanna, alone in the middle. She’s the responsible one, often left to parent her younger siblings. She’s never fit in due to her uncanny ability to remember and regurgitate random facts. Once a puzzle is in her head, she can’t move on until she’s solved it. She’s a freak and has been treated as one by everyone her entire life, including her siblings. She just wants to be accepted.
Razor finds Breanna’s brain remarkable, but she’s too good to be with a guy like him.
Though he starts as just her bodyguard, Breanna quickly realizes there’s more to Razor than meets the eye, and she’s falling for the boy her parents would never allow her to be with.
When these two unlikely people come together, will they find what they need in one another?
“Yeah, I know. I’m supposed to be this twenty-first century woman and obsessed with a man desiring me for my massive intellect. I am woman, hear me roar, and all that stuff, but once, it would have been pretty freaking awesome to be the girl in the pretty dress let alone with the gorgeous bad boy who wants to kiss me.”
“She should be worried,” he breathes into my ear.
“Why?”
“Because you’re alone with me.”
If you’re in the mood for a realistic romance between total opposites who compliment each other perfectly, this is the book. If you’re looking for a romance that also has a bit of a mystery to uncover, again, this is it. If you’re looking for a book with characters who grow and change as the story progresses, look no further.
This is the second in a series, and I have not read the first. Everything was set up so the book can be read as a stand alone. I plan to get my hands on the first book eventually, as well as the third book when it releases sometime in 2017.
So far, this is one of my top picks for 2016. Go grab a copy!
* I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher via Goodreads First Reads
I think I expected too much, like someone else said as well. It was good but there was so much angst. I feel like all of the problems in the book were because of the parents which was frustrating because then Razor and Breanna had to attempt and solve everything on their own. Which they were almost able to do...but at the very end her parents FINALLY GOT INVOLVED BUT BLAMED RAZOR!!!!!!!! Like are you kidding me...HE WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THIS ENTIRE TOWN WHO CAME TO HER DEFENSE...YOU ARE MAKING THINGS EVEN WORSE. I went to mom after reading this and was like If something like this ever happens to me and you ignore my pleas for help and then decide THAT MY BOYFRIEND, THE LOVE OF MY LIFE, THE ONE PERSON WHO ACTUALLY HELPS ME GET OUT OF THIS MESS IS BAD NEWS AND YOU NEVER LET ME SEE HIM AGAIN... THEN I AM LEAVING YOU AND NEVER LOOKING BACK. END OF STORY. That's why I am giving this book three stars. Clearly it was very good and I am incredibly emotionally invested but I hate how the entire plot revolves around awful parents and secrets and not paying attention until it is too late. Also I don't understand her mother in the end. At all. I do not sympathize with her whatsoever. Do they ever realize how Breanna was dealing with. Blackmail and bullies for MONTHS!?!? And what about that bomb that Bre drops to both her mom and Clara about how much that attempted suicide affected her. They put way too much on their middle child at all times. And what does it say about society (I think mcGarry brings up a great point) about how a motorcycle club is not only welcoming to Breanna but they defend her when she is almost killed, when her own family refuse to listen to her even when she begs and they never trust her boyfriend...the only one who jumps to her defense. Ever.
And I wonder what happens with Breanna and Addison. Once she got a bf it seems like she just dropped her. Is Addison allowed to visit her at school? I like to imagine Razor will bring her to visit Breanna.
And I wonder what happens with Breanna and Addison. Once she got a bf it seems like she just dropped her. Is Addison allowed to visit her at school? I like to imagine Razor will bring her to visit Breanna.
This book was classic Katie McGarry. She can do no wrong, seriously. I loved this book and breezed through it in a couple of days. I'm going to make this one short and sweet.
I loved the characters and I love how this series is set around the Reign of Terror MC. When I read these books, I feel the emotions, I can't wait to turn each page and I have to know whats going to happen. There's sweet moments, funny moments, oh crap moments, theres everything.
Love love love.
I loved the characters and I love how this series is set around the Reign of Terror MC. When I read these books, I feel the emotions, I can't wait to turn each page and I have to know whats going to happen. There's sweet moments, funny moments, oh crap moments, theres everything.
Love love love.
To be honest, this book didn't grab me immediately. It was fun and interesting and I was shipping the two characters pretty hard, but I wasn't wowed. It wasn't until about 250 pages in that I was addicted and desperate for more. So yes, for Katie McGarry novels, this is slow. But it was still awesome.
I really liked Breanna and Razor as characters. Breanna was insanely smart--and I mean that almost literally. Her brain is "wired" different then everyone else, and she is able to remember facts, no matter how uninteresting, but it made her a target for bullies. She's misunderstood and hiding from everyone, even her family. She feels like she doesn't belong, that she can never truly be herself. Who can't relate to that? And Razor was so multifaceted. He's smart and curt and intimidating, but he's broken and vulnerable. He blames himself and everyone else for his mother's death, and that blame cripples him. I have to admit, I craved being inside of his head more than Breanna's because of his complicated conscience.
And just as I liked them apart, I loved them together. Their chemistry was amazing, and their love was slow and fast at the same time. The thing about Katie McGarry novels, is that often the characters fall fast, but in the course in the novel, it feels so natural. It doesn't feel like instalove at all--and it's not. It's beautiful and beautifully planned.
They both had intense and crazy relationships outside of each other as well. Breanna's family was just...terrible. They were selfish and judgmental and just straight-up mean. She was an outsider within her family, and that is something that should never be. Razor struggled with his Dad as well, and with the Reign of Terror MC as a whole. He didn't trust them as he should have--as he was supposed to. It was a driving force in the novel, and done very well. I like it when books are not just about the relationship between the main characters, but their families as well.
The writing was true McGarry style: simple, well executed, and full of curse words. God, I love that her characters swear--and swear a lot. It makes me so happy. She also writes love and lust like no one out there. The scenes have me fanning myself and grinning like a fool.
As I said earlier, this isn't my favorite of her novels, but it's still very enjoyable and captivating.
I really liked Breanna and Razor as characters. Breanna was insanely smart--and I mean that almost literally. Her brain is "wired" different then everyone else, and she is able to remember facts, no matter how uninteresting, but it made her a target for bullies. She's misunderstood and hiding from everyone, even her family. She feels like she doesn't belong, that she can never truly be herself. Who can't relate to that? And Razor was so multifaceted. He's smart and curt and intimidating, but he's broken and vulnerable. He blames himself and everyone else for his mother's death, and that blame cripples him. I have to admit, I craved being inside of his head more than Breanna's because of his complicated conscience.
And just as I liked them apart, I loved them together. Their chemistry was amazing, and their love was slow and fast at the same time. The thing about Katie McGarry novels, is that often the characters fall fast, but in the course in the novel, it feels so natural. It doesn't feel like instalove at all--and it's not. It's beautiful and beautifully planned.
They both had intense and crazy relationships outside of each other as well. Breanna's family was just...terrible. They were selfish and judgmental and just straight-up mean. She was an outsider within her family, and that is something that should never be. Razor struggled with his Dad as well, and with the Reign of Terror MC as a whole. He didn't trust them as he should have--as he was supposed to. It was a driving force in the novel, and done very well. I like it when books are not just about the relationship between the main characters, but their families as well.
The writing was true McGarry style: simple, well executed, and full of curse words. God, I love that her characters swear--and swear a lot. It makes me so happy. She also writes love and lust like no one out there. The scenes have me fanning myself and grinning like a fool.
As I said earlier, this isn't my favorite of her novels, but it's still very enjoyable and captivating.