Book Review: Nowhere But Here

Synopsis From Goodreads: 

Seventeen-year-old Emily likes her life the way it is: doting parents, good friends, good school in a safe neighborhood. Sure, she's curious about her biological father—the one who chose life in a motorcycle club, the Reign of Terror, over being a parent—but that doesn't mean she wants to be a part of his world. But when a reluctant visit turns to an extended summer vacation among relatives she never knew she had, one thing becomes clear: nothing is what it seems. Not the club, not her secret-keeping father and not Oz, a guy with suck-me-in blue eyes who can help her understand them both. 

Oz wants one thing: to join the Reign of Terror. They're the good guys. They protect people. They're…family. And while Emily—the gorgeous and sheltered daughter of the club's most respected member—is in town, he's gonna prove it to her. So when her father asks him to keep her safe from a rival club with a score to settle, Oz knows it's his shot at his dream. What he doesn't count on is that Emily just might turn that dream upside down. 

No one wants them to be together. But sometimes the right person is the one you least expect, and the road you fear the most is the one that leads you home.

Review

Nowhere but here is probably your most typical average teenage story, until suddenly its not.

I truly enjoyed "Pushing The Limits" and the follow up books in that series. Therefore, I happily started this book. I was excited and happy to get into it. I was intrigued at the beginning.

Emily believes she is the product of a one night stand, and therefore has no love for her biological father, and hates anything that has to do with him. Him consisted of a crazy and terminally ill mother, a boisterous but loving bikers club and his over protectiveness. She is hurt and angry, though it's rarely acknowledged every move she made seemed to be out of fear or pain.

There were so many lies. A background story no one knew the whole truth about. A story that didn't surface until the very end of the book.

Oz played his role perfectly. He was tough, because his father was in the motorcycle club. (slight role of the eye) But sensitive, because Olivia, the bikers club designated club mom pretty much raised him. He's fun to read about, but sort of forgetful.

I am a strong believer that outside influences affect your opinion of a book. And this book felt recycled. It was entertaining while in front of me, but not the level of good to keep me up at night. Especially coming from Katie McGarry. Maybe she set the bar too high with Pushing The Limits. Maybe, if another author wrote this as her debut novel I'd be less critical. But in the end, I was left with an OK feeling.