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Different Roads
It's been said that when we look back over our lives, we are able to recognize the pivotal moments that in some way, shape, or form have led us to where we are today.
When Jacqueline Carter is fifteen, she crosses paths for the first time with Seth Thomas, a young man who unwittingly alters the direction of her life forever.
Jaq plans to break-up with her boyfriend on her sixteenth birthday. Instead, she is date-raped, and left emotionally broken. She builds a wall around her heart and begins spiraling downward on a road filled with drinking, drugs and physical abuse.
When Seth re-enters her life a few years later, the walls around her heart slowly come down and the two of them fall in love.
Unfortunately sometimes, fate has other ideas, and we're forced down a different road from which we initially set out.
When Jacqueline Carter is fifteen, she crosses paths for the first time with Seth Thomas, a young man who unwittingly alters the direction of her life forever.
Jaq plans to break-up with her boyfriend on her sixteenth birthday. Instead, she is date-raped, and left emotionally broken. She builds a wall around her heart and begins spiraling downward on a road filled with drinking, drugs and physical abuse.
When Seth re-enters her life a few years later, the walls around her heart slowly come down and the two of them fall in love.
Unfortunately sometimes, fate has other ideas, and we're forced down a different road from which we initially set out.
177 pages, Nook
First published January 22, 2013
6 people are currently reading
629 people want to read
About the author
Lori L. Clark
19 books322 followersLori L. Clark currently resides in Hazelwood, MO with her fur kids... a two-year-old Min Pin mix named Rubble, a 5-year-old Min Pin named Mini, and an owner surrender affectionately known as Lacey the Biting Min Pin.
When Lori isn't listening to the voices in her head, waiting for the next creative inspiration to hit, she also loves to read, run, paint pet portraits and rescue dogs.
Email Lori at LLClark.author@gmail.com
When Lori isn't listening to the voices in her head, waiting for the next creative inspiration to hit, she also loves to read, run, paint pet portraits and rescue dogs.
Email Lori at LLClark.author@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
January 28, 2013
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If there was ever an ending I didn’t see coming in a book, it would be this one. Wow is all I have to say. I just finished the book minutes ago and am still in shock over how it ended. I just wasn’t expecting it AT ALL.
Different Roads by Lori L. Clark is about Jacqueline, a girl who makes every wrong decision possible. Maybe because of her parents’ divorce at an early age, maybe because she was raped by her boyfriend, or her insane drug and alcohol use. Jac was going down the wrong path for a very long time. Jac reunites with a boy she met when she was just 15 years-old years later. He was never a boyfriend but Jac was always very intrigued by Seth and his amazing blue eyes. Now the two are both single and begin a relationship, finally and Jac is in a good place in her life. It is sweet and tender, loving relationship. I loved the two together. Sometimes good things end for no reason and Jacqueline is left heartbroken. She begins to date Damon; the town’s bad boy with good looks who gets Jac’s mind off of Seth. I honestly felt sorry for her. Losing her virginity the way she did, losing her good friend Brad in an accident, losing Seth and ultimately being with Damon. The cards were stacked against her.
Different Roads deals with real issues such as death, date-rape, and domestic violence. It is a tough read with topics you do not read about often. I devoured this book in less than two hours, I couldn’t put it down. I just kept waiting for Seth to return to Jacqueline so she can finally be happy. I wasn’t crazy about any of the characters, they are drank too much in my opinion. Jacqueline wasn’t my favorite female lead but I will say this book is real in every way, as real as any book could possibly be. I am still in utter shock over the ending, seriously… wow…. The book is worth reading just for the ending alone.
I give Different Roads 3.5 Stars.
** This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review **
If there was ever an ending I didn’t see coming in a book, it would be this one. Wow is all I have to say. I just finished the book minutes ago and am still in shock over how it ended. I just wasn’t expecting it AT ALL.
Different Roads by Lori L. Clark is about Jacqueline, a girl who makes every wrong decision possible. Maybe because of her parents’ divorce at an early age, maybe because she was raped by her boyfriend, or her insane drug and alcohol use. Jac was going down the wrong path for a very long time. Jac reunites with a boy she met when she was just 15 years-old years later. He was never a boyfriend but Jac was always very intrigued by Seth and his amazing blue eyes. Now the two are both single and begin a relationship, finally and Jac is in a good place in her life. It is sweet and tender, loving relationship. I loved the two together. Sometimes good things end for no reason and Jacqueline is left heartbroken. She begins to date Damon; the town’s bad boy with good looks who gets Jac’s mind off of Seth. I honestly felt sorry for her. Losing her virginity the way she did, losing her good friend Brad in an accident, losing Seth and ultimately being with Damon. The cards were stacked against her.
Different Roads deals with real issues such as death, date-rape, and domestic violence. It is a tough read with topics you do not read about often. I devoured this book in less than two hours, I couldn’t put it down. I just kept waiting for Seth to return to Jacqueline so she can finally be happy. I wasn’t crazy about any of the characters, they are drank too much in my opinion. Jacqueline wasn’t my favorite female lead but I will say this book is real in every way, as real as any book could possibly be. I am still in utter shock over the ending, seriously… wow…. The book is worth reading just for the ending alone.
I give Different Roads 3.5 Stars.
** This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review **
February 8, 2013
SHUT THE FRONT DOOR
THAT ENDING........
I just don't understand...
Must think on this one.....
THAT ENDING........
I just don't understand...
Must think on this one.....
February 4, 2013
*NOTE: We (The Readdicts) received a copy of Different Roads from author Lori L. Clark in exchange for an honest review. We thank Lori for the book!
Oh God. Oh my God. Different Roads has been one of the most disgusting, depressing, disorienting and dazzling book I've read. It is one of those books that I don't know whether to love or hate.
Different Roads reminded me of two books I have previously read and it's safe to say that the book is Lisa Luedeke's Smashed and Kelley York's Hushed (my review) put into one and because I love it when one book reminds me of another book, I really really liked Different Roads.
In spite of my previously cited mixed feelings, I am going to have to lean more toward love when it comes to Different Roads, because- call me a psycho, but- I love angst, drama, intensity and insanity. And Different Roads has it all. All of it. Really.
I knew the moment I read author Lori L. Clark's email that I was going to like this book and like it I did.
It is truly a splendid read in the most horrible way imaginable.
To say that the book is majorly messed up would be an understatement. Excuse me for my use of words, but it is majorly fucked up.
Different Roads can easily be read in a matter of hours, but I couldn't do it. It was too much to take in at once and I needed a pause to gather my thoughts and think through things before I moved ahead with it.
Jaq, the protagonist in Different Roads plans to break up with her boyfriend on her 16th birthday because, in her own words, this is exactly what she feels-
"It's been said that if you love two people at the same time, choose the second. Because if you really loved the first, you wouldn't have fallen for the second."
Jaq has no clue what mischievous, mysterious and utterly menacing plan her boyfriend already has for them.
From there begins Jaq's journey down the road of drugs and drinking. She decides to be one of the guys and loses her best guy friend in an accident. Her life keeps moving down a slope and she keeps going down and down.
Then begins her walk of shame from one abusive relationship to another and the worst relationship she ever had pays her back in the most gruesome way possible. Ugh. I hated that.
This was where I really didn't understand Jaq and yet, it was so easy to understand her. I didn't like her and yet I felt so bad for her. I thought she was weak and yet she remained strong.
Different Roads was full of crap and craziness. Author Lori L. Clark has written a fierce novel that is really intricate and exquisite in it's own ingenuous, harsh and hard-hitting way.
This is a highly formulated and intoxicating story that has moved me. I can't even explain the exorbitance and immense emotion of Different Roads. It is so hard to put into words the depth of the story. It is so raw and ruthless.
Overall, Different Roads is a moving tale of relationships and how, a relationship might seem to be something but in reality, it is another thing altogether.
Oh God. Oh my God. Different Roads has been one of the most disgusting, depressing, disorienting and dazzling book I've read. It is one of those books that I don't know whether to love or hate.
Different Roads reminded me of two books I have previously read and it's safe to say that the book is Lisa Luedeke's Smashed and Kelley York's Hushed (my review) put into one and because I love it when one book reminds me of another book, I really really liked Different Roads.
In spite of my previously cited mixed feelings, I am going to have to lean more toward love when it comes to Different Roads, because- call me a psycho, but- I love angst, drama, intensity and insanity. And Different Roads has it all. All of it. Really.
I knew the moment I read author Lori L. Clark's email that I was going to like this book and like it I did.
It is truly a splendid read in the most horrible way imaginable.
To say that the book is majorly messed up would be an understatement. Excuse me for my use of words, but it is majorly fucked up.
Different Roads can easily be read in a matter of hours, but I couldn't do it. It was too much to take in at once and I needed a pause to gather my thoughts and think through things before I moved ahead with it.
Jaq, the protagonist in Different Roads plans to break up with her boyfriend on her 16th birthday because, in her own words, this is exactly what she feels-
"It's been said that if you love two people at the same time, choose the second. Because if you really loved the first, you wouldn't have fallen for the second."
Jaq has no clue what mischievous, mysterious and utterly menacing plan her boyfriend already has for them.
From there begins Jaq's journey down the road of drugs and drinking. She decides to be one of the guys and loses her best guy friend in an accident. Her life keeps moving down a slope and she keeps going down and down.
Then begins her walk of shame from one abusive relationship to another and the worst relationship she ever had pays her back in the most gruesome way possible. Ugh. I hated that.
This was where I really didn't understand Jaq and yet, it was so easy to understand her. I didn't like her and yet I felt so bad for her. I thought she was weak and yet she remained strong.
Different Roads was full of crap and craziness. Author Lori L. Clark has written a fierce novel that is really intricate and exquisite in it's own ingenuous, harsh and hard-hitting way.
This is a highly formulated and intoxicating story that has moved me. I can't even explain the exorbitance and immense emotion of Different Roads. It is so hard to put into words the depth of the story. It is so raw and ruthless.
Overall, Different Roads is a moving tale of relationships and how, a relationship might seem to be something but in reality, it is another thing altogether.
February 4, 2013
I will be upfront and let you know that I received a free copy of Different Roads from the author in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. And that I shall give....
While I won't go as far as to say that this should be required reading for every seventeen or eighteen year-old girl, I will propose that it might be helpful for many of them. Jacqueline (or Jaq) is a lesson all unto her own on how bad decisions can and will change your life irrevocably. On more than one occasion, I wanted to go and just lock the girl up in her room and keep her there, but more often than not, I wanted to give her a hug and be a friend to her. Not that she didn't have good friends; she just didn't listen to them. And then there's her Mom....
I knew how much you wanted to see "Wicked" so I bought the tickets and asked Rick if he would take you. What you do after the show of course is up to you.
Okay Mom, she's turning sixteen, not eighteen. Even though Jaq made a whole hell of alot of poor decisions, I still wonder how many could have been prevented if her mom wasn't a little more watchful(?) when she was young. I can't judge, especially since this particular character and her relationship with Jaq wasn't fully explored and of course, no one is perfect so there's that. So it's probably better if I jump off my soapbox now, before I fall off....
Anyway, Different Roads is a quick read; maybe a little too quick, in my opinion. I didn't feel I had time to really get to know most of the characters, except for Damon Blackwell, who is one "bad boy" I hope to never come across. Or anyone else even remotely like him.
Yeah. Believe me Jaq, do yourself a huge favor and stay away from Damon Blackwell. He's the worst kind of bad news. Trust me...
Okay, when the guy's sister is warning you away, it's probably a good idea to go running in the other direction...and not look back.
All in all, I think Ms. Clark did a good job with a story that there is no doubt in my mind was very difficult to write. I can't say anything further without giving away the goods, so I'll just shut my trap now and let the story speak for itself.....
nevaehnewadultbooks.blogspot.com
While I won't go as far as to say that this should be required reading for every seventeen or eighteen year-old girl, I will propose that it might be helpful for many of them. Jacqueline (or Jaq) is a lesson all unto her own on how bad decisions can and will change your life irrevocably. On more than one occasion, I wanted to go and just lock the girl up in her room and keep her there, but more often than not, I wanted to give her a hug and be a friend to her. Not that she didn't have good friends; she just didn't listen to them. And then there's her Mom....
I knew how much you wanted to see "Wicked" so I bought the tickets and asked Rick if he would take you. What you do after the show of course is up to you.
Okay Mom, she's turning sixteen, not eighteen. Even though Jaq made a whole hell of alot of poor decisions, I still wonder how many could have been prevented if her mom wasn't a little more watchful(?) when she was young. I can't judge, especially since this particular character and her relationship with Jaq wasn't fully explored and of course, no one is perfect so there's that. So it's probably better if I jump off my soapbox now, before I fall off....
Anyway, Different Roads is a quick read; maybe a little too quick, in my opinion. I didn't feel I had time to really get to know most of the characters, except for Damon Blackwell, who is one "bad boy" I hope to never come across. Or anyone else even remotely like him.
Yeah. Believe me Jaq, do yourself a huge favor and stay away from Damon Blackwell. He's the worst kind of bad news. Trust me...
Okay, when the guy's sister is warning you away, it's probably a good idea to go running in the other direction...and not look back.
All in all, I think Ms. Clark did a good job with a story that there is no doubt in my mind was very difficult to write. I can't say anything further without giving away the goods, so I'll just shut my trap now and let the story speak for itself.....
nevaehnewadultbooks.blogspot.com
February 21, 2013
Please, please don't waste your fucking money on this goddamned book.
first of all, she was date raped in the very beginning, it's mentioned once and never talked about again. it barely touched on the fact that it damaged her for at least three years of her life. then when we met her best friend, he dies in the next chapter, and if course we aren't allowed to see and if the emotional shit behind that other than the fact that she had to be heavily sedated.
As soon as one good thing comes into her life, we fast forward and only see the end of it (again, without and fucking emotion). for the majority of the book, all we get to see is how fucked up her new damn boyfriend is, who abuses her and she won't do anything about it until Shelley and Seth make her. she then precedes to run straight back to him as soon as she sees him again. "he's changed, he's trying really hard to be good and not beat my fucking face in!!"
naturally, she sees Seth again the day after Shelley finds out and of course he then tells her he loves her and he made a mistake (he's already taken folks, the priest at the altar said so). yes and this makes her desperate to change her ways. though as soon as she grows the balls to tell her abusive boyfriend that it's over, he beats her to death.
what message does this send to women in abusive relationships everywhere? Stay with your abuser because if not, he'll slam your head into the floor repeatedly.
One star. I don't believe I need to give a summed up reason as to why this book sucked.
first of all, she was date raped in the very beginning, it's mentioned once and never talked about again. it barely touched on the fact that it damaged her for at least three years of her life. then when we met her best friend, he dies in the next chapter, and if course we aren't allowed to see and if the emotional shit behind that other than the fact that she had to be heavily sedated.
As soon as one good thing comes into her life, we fast forward and only see the end of it (again, without and fucking emotion). for the majority of the book, all we get to see is how fucked up her new damn boyfriend is, who abuses her and she won't do anything about it until Shelley and Seth make her. she then precedes to run straight back to him as soon as she sees him again. "he's changed, he's trying really hard to be good and not beat my fucking face in!!"
naturally, she sees Seth again the day after Shelley finds out and of course he then tells her he loves her and he made a mistake (he's already taken folks, the priest at the altar said so). yes and this makes her desperate to change her ways. though as soon as she grows the balls to tell her abusive boyfriend that it's over, he beats her to death.
what message does this send to women in abusive relationships everywhere? Stay with your abuser because if not, he'll slam your head into the floor repeatedly.
One star. I don't believe I need to give a summed up reason as to why this book sucked.
January 25, 2013
I devoured this book in a matter of hours. It was full of passion, emotion, trauma, and craziness and I couldn’t put it down.
It’s difficult to put into words how I feel about the book. In some ways, it was a complete and utter train wreck. In other ways, it was full of love and passion. The characters are great and terrible at the same time and constantly made terrible decisions that I both hated and understood. It was an edgy read because the characters and scenarios resembled real life and watching people drink themselves silly and make terrible decisions was nerve wracking. But the characters aren’t completely terrible that they are annoying. They all have redeeming qualities. Which is why it was so frustrating!
Fans of Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire will probably love this book. It’s full of that kind of edgy, nerve wracking train wreck passion. Terrible things happen to Jaq, but she’s resilient and even when she’s making terrible decisions, she’s feisty and wonderful. There are heartbreaking moments and steamy moments and it was the kind of book that tugs you every which way. I definitely recommend it to fans of the New Adult Contemporary genre. It’s a relatively new term, but this book fits right in as an edgy and mature story involving young characters trying to begin their lives as adults.
I loved the Dedication:
“Dedicated to fans of fast cars and hot men, and the men and women everywhere who like to read about them.”
It’s difficult to put into words how I feel about the book. In some ways, it was a complete and utter train wreck. In other ways, it was full of love and passion. The characters are great and terrible at the same time and constantly made terrible decisions that I both hated and understood. It was an edgy read because the characters and scenarios resembled real life and watching people drink themselves silly and make terrible decisions was nerve wracking. But the characters aren’t completely terrible that they are annoying. They all have redeeming qualities. Which is why it was so frustrating!
Fans of Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire will probably love this book. It’s full of that kind of edgy, nerve wracking train wreck passion. Terrible things happen to Jaq, but she’s resilient and even when she’s making terrible decisions, she’s feisty and wonderful. There are heartbreaking moments and steamy moments and it was the kind of book that tugs you every which way. I definitely recommend it to fans of the New Adult Contemporary genre. It’s a relatively new term, but this book fits right in as an edgy and mature story involving young characters trying to begin their lives as adults.
I loved the Dedication:
“Dedicated to fans of fast cars and hot men, and the men and women everywhere who like to read about them.”
May 8, 2013
Review posted at: http://bookcrushbookreviews.com/2013/...
Rating: 4.0 stars
I finished this book over 30 minutes ago and had to give myself a breather because WTF, Lori??!! What a whirlwind of a book this was. I was so up & down with Jacqueline (Jaq), I thought I was becoming bi-polar. Jaq doesn't make the best of decisions (saying so mildly) and she has the best of a friend in Shelley (no enabler there). I thought Jaq just kept picking the shit end of the stick, but at times it wasn't her picking, its what she was unfortunately dealt. Jaq knows what she wants and I give her credit for that, but seeing all she goes through makes my heart hurt. Brad-what a sweet soul, I'd love to make his ears turn red. Damon-can I say I'd love to strangle him with my bare hands? Cause thats stating so mildly. Seth, Seth, Seth--so the saying is true: you're not sure of what you had till its gone. My heart hurts for him too as he was obviously struggling with some pretty difficult things in his life and had to make some tough decisions. This book was a helluva roller coaster ride. This is not a light read, so if you like dips, curves, and crazy turns--Give it a try!
Rating: 4.0 stars
I finished this book over 30 minutes ago and had to give myself a breather because WTF, Lori??!! What a whirlwind of a book this was. I was so up & down with Jacqueline (Jaq), I thought I was becoming bi-polar. Jaq doesn't make the best of decisions (saying so mildly) and she has the best of a friend in Shelley (no enabler there). I thought Jaq just kept picking the shit end of the stick, but at times it wasn't her picking, its what she was unfortunately dealt. Jaq knows what she wants and I give her credit for that, but seeing all she goes through makes my heart hurt. Brad-what a sweet soul, I'd love to make his ears turn red. Damon-can I say I'd love to strangle him with my bare hands? Cause thats stating so mildly. Seth, Seth, Seth--so the saying is true: you're not sure of what you had till its gone. My heart hurts for him too as he was obviously struggling with some pretty difficult things in his life and had to make some tough decisions. This book was a helluva roller coaster ride. This is not a light read, so if you like dips, curves, and crazy turns--Give it a try!
August 30, 2013
I laughed...I cried...I remembered times of my past. 4x4's, bonfires, many hot guys and lost loves, new loves and forgotten loves. I related to Jaq in the sense of the fire she had inside of her, her boyish ways, and yes the working in the auto field though I love my trucks not cars ;) And I choose to drive not co-pilot :)
I truly do believe this is a heart wrenching beautiful story. A story of reality, a story of believability. Most people don't fall in love with one person and live happily ever after though we all want that break from reality when we read but sometimes we need to read a book that is what reality could be and this book truly does it. Different kinds of love & a different kind of life.
The open road, the dirt road, the tight trails avoiding ruts, tree stumps, mud pits that beg to stop you dead and make you stuck until some one comes along to pull you out. I've always had my phone at ready but when theirs no signal because your so far off the beaten path and you stay their stuck in your minds wrath what else is there you have but yourself to get you out? This book reminded me of that. Reminded me you always have to stay strong and never let that fire inside you burn only with embers. Let yourself blaze.
I truly do believe this is a heart wrenching beautiful story. A story of reality, a story of believability. Most people don't fall in love with one person and live happily ever after though we all want that break from reality when we read but sometimes we need to read a book that is what reality could be and this book truly does it. Different kinds of love & a different kind of life.
The open road, the dirt road, the tight trails avoiding ruts, tree stumps, mud pits that beg to stop you dead and make you stuck until some one comes along to pull you out. I've always had my phone at ready but when theirs no signal because your so far off the beaten path and you stay their stuck in your minds wrath what else is there you have but yourself to get you out? This book reminded me of that. Reminded me you always have to stay strong and never let that fire inside you burn only with embers. Let yourself blaze.
February 3, 2013
WOW. This was a great book. So many real emotions and the ending was not the usual happy ever after.
February 7, 2013
It was different... I did enjoy it, but to me it felt rushed... Start out at 15, then 17, then 19 all in a matter of a couple chapters... Overall I did enjoy it and I liked the ending!
July 27, 2015
I'm going to say right off the bat that I hate that I didn't like this book. I really wanted to like it, but--I just didn't. It was awful.
You guise have read the summary, so you sort of know what this is about. The story starts off with Jaqueline, known to her friends as Jaq, who has been dating her boyfriend for several months. They've been planning the night they would finally have sex (on her sixteenth birthday) for quite some time, but shortly before that, Jaq meets Seth at a party. She's attracted to him, and that makes her realize that her feelings for Rick are not strong enough to give up her virginity to him.
That's all fine and good. I think that girls often change their minds about when they are ready to have sex. Considering that Jaq was only 15, I'm really happy that she decided to wait. What happens next, though, is deplorable, and I feel that the author really did a disservice to women everywhere with the date-rape scene described in this book. Before that, though, Jaq's mother gives her a box of condoms and basically tells her to "have fun." I was shocked.
Even after she has decided to break up with Rick, she still allows him to believe that they are headed to a hotel to have sex when he picks her up for their date that night. He even mentions using "a dozen" condoms. She leaves with him knowing they are going directly to a hotel. Not to the theater. Not out on a date. Once they get to the hotel...
After that scene, there is a huge jump in time and Jaq is in college. She seems pretty promiscuous to me, quite unlike someone who would have a hard time trusting guys. Of course, I realize that not everyone is going to react to being raped in the way that I would think they would. But what I would expect is for her to have at least thought about what an impact Rick made on her life. We don't get to see any of the aftermath of her dealing with the rape, what she did or didn't tell her mother, or anything. Just...next trauma!
After meeting Damon, a guy she knows is bad news, she runs into Seth again and the two quickly become intimately involved. Then, with no apparent reason and no warning, he pretty much vanishes, and Jaq turns to Damon. Their relationship is pretty ridiculous and outright unbelievable. She tries to sort through her way in life without really dealing with anything that is going on with her.
I think that Lori L. Clark had some great ideas here, but definitely fell flat with the execution. There's drug use, date rape, domestic violence, the list goes on and on. But nothing is dealt with. Jaq just allows herself to be a victim with no thought or action to getting out of her situations. There's even an accident that involves a friend, but even that, though it's sad, barely makes sense in the way it fits into this book.
I felt no connection to these characters whatsoever. I didn't get a chance to root for Jaq to make things better for herself before something else terrible happened. I didn't like any of the guys she was with and honestly could not understand what Jaq saw in any of them, except Rick (the boyfriend at the beginning). It was a clusterfuck, to be honest. The ending was par for the course--shocking and sensational. Personally, I'm glad it ended the way it did.
You guise have read the summary, so you sort of know what this is about. The story starts off with Jaqueline, known to her friends as Jaq, who has been dating her boyfriend for several months. They've been planning the night they would finally have sex (on her sixteenth birthday) for quite some time, but shortly before that, Jaq meets Seth at a party. She's attracted to him, and that makes her realize that her feelings for Rick are not strong enough to give up her virginity to him.
That's all fine and good. I think that girls often change their minds about when they are ready to have sex. Considering that Jaq was only 15, I'm really happy that she decided to wait. What happens next, though, is deplorable, and I feel that the author really did a disservice to women everywhere with the date-rape scene described in this book. Before that, though, Jaq's mother gives her a box of condoms and basically tells her to "have fun." I was shocked.
Even after she has decided to break up with Rick, she still allows him to believe that they are headed to a hotel to have sex when he picks her up for their date that night. He even mentions using "a dozen" condoms. She leaves with him knowing they are going directly to a hotel. Not to the theater. Not out on a date. Once they get to the hotel...
After that scene, there is a huge jump in time and Jaq is in college. She seems pretty promiscuous to me, quite unlike someone who would have a hard time trusting guys. Of course, I realize that not everyone is going to react to being raped in the way that I would think they would. But what I would expect is for her to have at least thought about what an impact Rick made on her life. We don't get to see any of the aftermath of her dealing with the rape, what she did or didn't tell her mother, or anything. Just...next trauma!
After meeting Damon, a guy she knows is bad news, she runs into Seth again and the two quickly become intimately involved. Then, with no apparent reason and no warning, he pretty much vanishes, and Jaq turns to Damon. Their relationship is pretty ridiculous and outright unbelievable. She tries to sort through her way in life without really dealing with anything that is going on with her.
I think that Lori L. Clark had some great ideas here, but definitely fell flat with the execution. There's drug use, date rape, domestic violence, the list goes on and on. But nothing is dealt with. Jaq just allows herself to be a victim with no thought or action to getting out of her situations. There's even an accident that involves a friend, but even that, though it's sad, barely makes sense in the way it fits into this book.
I felt no connection to these characters whatsoever. I didn't get a chance to root for Jaq to make things better for herself before something else terrible happened. I didn't like any of the guys she was with and honestly could not understand what Jaq saw in any of them, except Rick (the boyfriend at the beginning). It was a clusterfuck, to be honest. The ending was par for the course--shocking and sensational. Personally, I'm glad it ended the way it did.
June 3, 2013
Back in May I was contacted by Lori and she offered to provide me with a copy of Different Roads to read and review. I checked out the blurb and happily jumped on the chance to read it. It sounded like an amazing story and I felt it had true potential. After reading it I was sadly disappointed.
We start off meeting Jaq at age fifteen and experience with her one of the most traumatic things that can happen to anyone, being raped. Jaq goes to this party with her boyfriend and best friend, during this party she meets Seth briefly, and then later that night sadly suffers being raped by her boyfriend. The book then jumps forward a few years and we see how this has affected Jaq, causing her to spiral into this self destructive negative pattern. She's drinking, doing every drug you can think of, and sleeping with every Tom Dick and Harry she sees. All of this is explained within one chapter and then we're told at the age of eighteen she finally realized she wasn't helping herself and needed to get it together. I really would have liked to see her more and experience the 'after' with her rather than just be told how she acted. I think I could have emotionally connected with her more than I did. After this chapter it's awhile later, I'm not exactly sure how old she is at this point but I think it's eighteen, and thankfully Jaq has gotten her act together and straightened her life up. She is now working at a garage and has become one of the boys in the little family within her work place and is soon moving in with her best friend Shelley. Shortly after this we find her going to another party and experiencing yet another really awful tragic event. At this point I felt she should just stop going to parties because they obviously were no good for her. Throughout this night she sees Damon Blackwell, a guy she met earlier on, and THE Seth from the night of her rape. She ends up going home with Seth and that's when all shit really hits the fan again. I'm not going to ruin the story for others but because of what happens Jaq slips into a sort of depression and Seth is there for her through it all, even if it is from a distance at times. Over time she moves on from the tragic event she was mourning and ends up dating Seth. This is when we experience insta love and it definitely was not my cup of tea. They've met all of two times and yes Seth was sort of there for her during a hard time but I don't feel like enough happened between them for them to be madly in love. There wasn't enough relationship building for me. For whatever reason later on in the book Seth and Jaq break up and she ends up going out with Damon Blackwell, who is a disgusting piece of shit to say the least. Lori definitely portrayed his abusive and aggressive character well but I also feel like this relationship along with Seth and Jaq's relationship was just skipped through. We only got to see little snippets and there wasn't really any build up. One second Damon and Jaq were having awesome sex and she was doing okay the next he's beating the shit out of her apparently? It came out of nowhere and wasn't explained very well.
How Lori wraps this story up was definitely not something I expected and it was really sad. The epilogue was okay for me, I could feel that Seth loved Jaq through it but then that brings me back to the insta love problem and also, why didn't he try to fix their relationship earlier on if he loved her so much? I wanted to like this book and I felt like it had great potential because Lori managed to write very raw when it came to the difficult subjects but it just felt very rushed and lacking with relationship building and explanation/detail. This might be the perfect tragic story for someone else but it just wasn't for me.
We start off meeting Jaq at age fifteen and experience with her one of the most traumatic things that can happen to anyone, being raped. Jaq goes to this party with her boyfriend and best friend, during this party she meets Seth briefly, and then later that night sadly suffers being raped by her boyfriend. The book then jumps forward a few years and we see how this has affected Jaq, causing her to spiral into this self destructive negative pattern. She's drinking, doing every drug you can think of, and sleeping with every Tom Dick and Harry she sees. All of this is explained within one chapter and then we're told at the age of eighteen she finally realized she wasn't helping herself and needed to get it together. I really would have liked to see her more and experience the 'after' with her rather than just be told how she acted. I think I could have emotionally connected with her more than I did. After this chapter it's awhile later, I'm not exactly sure how old she is at this point but I think it's eighteen, and thankfully Jaq has gotten her act together and straightened her life up. She is now working at a garage and has become one of the boys in the little family within her work place and is soon moving in with her best friend Shelley. Shortly after this we find her going to another party and experiencing yet another really awful tragic event. At this point I felt she should just stop going to parties because they obviously were no good for her. Throughout this night she sees Damon Blackwell, a guy she met earlier on, and THE Seth from the night of her rape. She ends up going home with Seth and that's when all shit really hits the fan again. I'm not going to ruin the story for others but because of what happens Jaq slips into a sort of depression and Seth is there for her through it all, even if it is from a distance at times. Over time she moves on from the tragic event she was mourning and ends up dating Seth. This is when we experience insta love and it definitely was not my cup of tea. They've met all of two times and yes Seth was sort of there for her during a hard time but I don't feel like enough happened between them for them to be madly in love. There wasn't enough relationship building for me. For whatever reason later on in the book Seth and Jaq break up and she ends up going out with Damon Blackwell, who is a disgusting piece of shit to say the least. Lori definitely portrayed his abusive and aggressive character well but I also feel like this relationship along with Seth and Jaq's relationship was just skipped through. We only got to see little snippets and there wasn't really any build up. One second Damon and Jaq were having awesome sex and she was doing okay the next he's beating the shit out of her apparently? It came out of nowhere and wasn't explained very well.
How Lori wraps this story up was definitely not something I expected and it was really sad. The epilogue was okay for me, I could feel that Seth loved Jaq through it but then that brings me back to the insta love problem and also, why didn't he try to fix their relationship earlier on if he loved her so much? I wanted to like this book and I felt like it had great potential because Lori managed to write very raw when it came to the difficult subjects but it just felt very rushed and lacking with relationship building and explanation/detail. This might be the perfect tragic story for someone else but it just wasn't for me.
June 25, 2013
To say that Jacqueline Carter has had a hard life would be an understatement. Date-raped on her 16th birthday by her then popular jock boyfriend sets off a chain of bad choices, which include drinking, drugs, sex, and abuse. After the incident on her 16th birthday Jac set up walls around her heart, sealing off her emotions as best she could, not wanting to get hurt again. Seth Thomas is a hottie who Jac has a soft spot for. He appeared in her life once, and now several years later, he is here once again, at a time in her life when tragedy strikes and catches her off guard. She lets the walls down, almost fearful that she has found happiness, feeling almost like she doesn't deserve it, and her worst fears always seem to have this terrible habit of coming true. Enter into her life Damon Blackwell. If there was ever a sexy bad boy, Damon Blackwell fits the bill. He has a dark side though. One which Jac soon becomes up close and personal with. Caught on a never-ending emotional roller coaster, Jac finds herself in repeating cycle of destruction.
Despite all Jac has gone though, and though I really want to love her, I didn't. I felt sorry for her and I got really angry at her and the choices she made, and can't imagine some of the things she went through, but I didn't love her. One of the grounding factors in her life was her friend Shelley, who tried her best to help her. I really did like Shelley's character, but unfortunately, no matter how Shelley tries to help Jac, ultimately it is Jac who must choose for herself the road she is going to take. Seth pops in and out of her life on multiple occasions. I really liked him a lot in the beginning, but he had his own demons to deal with. Unfortunately, we never did really find out what those were or why he chose the path he took, and even though he winds up being her knight in shining armor more than once, I couldn't bring myself to like him again. In fact, I found myself very angry with him, almost blaming him as much for things as I did Jac and her poor decisions. Nevertheless, I was hoping for the best for them. Then there is Damon Blackwell, I hated him, which is exactly what the author intended, and Lori Clark did a very good job in developing his character as such.
Different Roads is not one of those fairy tale books where everything magically works itself out by any means. It is real, raw, and emotional. I didn't like the ending, but for some reason, it didn't catch me off guard as much as I thought it would have. The reason I didn't like it is because I am a fan of those HEA's where everything magically works out. Different Roads is not that, nor is it meant to be. Despite the fact that I didn't like it, the ending was inevitable and fit the circumstances in the story well. Is it one of those books I am going to gush over and say I really loved? No. Is it a book that is well written and portrays an excellent message with real life situations and events that will leave you emotionally wrought and stay on your mind long after you turn the final page? Absolutely.
Despite all Jac has gone though, and though I really want to love her, I didn't. I felt sorry for her and I got really angry at her and the choices she made, and can't imagine some of the things she went through, but I didn't love her. One of the grounding factors in her life was her friend Shelley, who tried her best to help her. I really did like Shelley's character, but unfortunately, no matter how Shelley tries to help Jac, ultimately it is Jac who must choose for herself the road she is going to take. Seth pops in and out of her life on multiple occasions. I really liked him a lot in the beginning, but he had his own demons to deal with. Unfortunately, we never did really find out what those were or why he chose the path he took, and even though he winds up being her knight in shining armor more than once, I couldn't bring myself to like him again. In fact, I found myself very angry with him, almost blaming him as much for things as I did Jac and her poor decisions. Nevertheless, I was hoping for the best for them. Then there is Damon Blackwell, I hated him, which is exactly what the author intended, and Lori Clark did a very good job in developing his character as such.
Different Roads is not one of those fairy tale books where everything magically works itself out by any means. It is real, raw, and emotional. I didn't like the ending, but for some reason, it didn't catch me off guard as much as I thought it would have. The reason I didn't like it is because I am a fan of those HEA's where everything magically works out. Different Roads is not that, nor is it meant to be. Despite the fact that I didn't like it, the ending was inevitable and fit the circumstances in the story well. Is it one of those books I am going to gush over and say I really loved? No. Is it a book that is well written and portrays an excellent message with real life situations and events that will leave you emotionally wrought and stay on your mind long after you turn the final page? Absolutely.
April 26, 2013
This book isn't easy to review because it is not an easy book. In fact, it is an extremely rough ride with a disturbing ending waiting for you. I had to think about it for quite some time to make up my mind about it.
The book is short ( I read it in two hours) and very to the point. Sometimes even moving a bit too fast. I totally understand why Clark has Jaq lose her virginity when being raped by her first boyfriend. It sets off a chain of events that seem to be this character's destiny. "Life isn't always beautiful" as Gary Allan has already sung and that's true.
It's very hard to read about Jaqueline's life, wondering how anybody could cope with that. Especially her birthday seems to be truly cursed.
The writing of Different Roads was really pleasant, easy to read with a nice flows. But then, there are a few chapters that just retell some happenings and offer us every single conclusion the reader could have made herself on a silver platter. I don't like that, but look for yourselves:
"After what happened with Rick, I drifted in and out of relationships going from one guy to the next in the amount of time it takes most people to smoke a cigarette. Truthfully, they were more like one-night stands than real relationships. I didn't want to hurt anymore so I blocked out all of my feelings, staying numb and distrustful seeming easier than taking a chance on becoming vulnerable all over again."
I mean, that is someone one could figure out when getting to know a character better. But it's hard not to feel sympathy for Jaqueline so I stayed with her, no matter what. I didn't like the way she talked about drugs helping her through that period in her life or the way she handled alcohol. But hey, again, this is not some sugar-coated love story, this is reality.
If you're out looking for a painful but real story, then you have found a good one right here. I'm sure Lori L. Clark will also mature in her writing and her technique and I will like her next novel even more!
The book is short ( I read it in two hours) and very to the point. Sometimes even moving a bit too fast. I totally understand why Clark has Jaq lose her virginity when being raped by her first boyfriend. It sets off a chain of events that seem to be this character's destiny. "Life isn't always beautiful" as Gary Allan has already sung and that's true.
It's very hard to read about Jaqueline's life, wondering how anybody could cope with that. Especially her birthday seems to be truly cursed.
The writing of Different Roads was really pleasant, easy to read with a nice flows. But then, there are a few chapters that just retell some happenings and offer us every single conclusion the reader could have made herself on a silver platter. I don't like that, but look for yourselves:
"After what happened with Rick, I drifted in and out of relationships going from one guy to the next in the amount of time it takes most people to smoke a cigarette. Truthfully, they were more like one-night stands than real relationships. I didn't want to hurt anymore so I blocked out all of my feelings, staying numb and distrustful seeming easier than taking a chance on becoming vulnerable all over again."
I mean, that is someone one could figure out when getting to know a character better. But it's hard not to feel sympathy for Jaqueline so I stayed with her, no matter what. I didn't like the way she talked about drugs helping her through that period in her life or the way she handled alcohol. But hey, again, this is not some sugar-coated love story, this is reality.
If you're out looking for a painful but real story, then you have found a good one right here. I'm sure Lori L. Clark will also mature in her writing and her technique and I will like her next novel even more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2013
Did I enjoy this book: I’m not sure if enjoy is the word I would use. The first two things that came to mind when I finished this book were “WOW!” and “Holy Crap!”
The “WOW!” came out because the author wrote the abuse wonderfully. I know that sounds awful but the author really did a great job with that. She nailed how some, if not most, victims feel when in an abusive relationship. I could understand how Jaq reacted, how she felt, how she rationalized everything. I’ve heard these stories from many people before in my former profession. Ms. Clark did a great job putting it in writing.
Actually, I was unsure about how I liked this book while I was reading it. It was hard to be sympathetic towards Jaq throughout most of the book. Even when she began to turn things around, I still didn’t care that much for Jaq. She had a bad attitude, bad behavior, constantly down on her luck but she thinks she deserves it. I understand why she was this way, but she was a tough character to get behind.
I adored Seth from the beginning. I hated Rick. I could see where Damon was headed. I almost wanted to know what happened to Rick after that night. More curious than anything else.
The “Holy Crap” came out at the end. I did not want to see that happen. I saw it coming but I was hoping for a different outcome.
It was a good read but it is definitely not a happy ending.
Would I recommend it: If you don’t mind a true-to-life, no sugar-coating book about relationships and abuse, then yes, this is a good read. If you are looking for a feel-good, leave you smiling story, then no, don’t read this book.
Will I read it again: I will not.
(I received a copy of this book for review purposes.)
http://everyfreechance.com/2013/06/bl...
The “WOW!” came out because the author wrote the abuse wonderfully. I know that sounds awful but the author really did a great job with that. She nailed how some, if not most, victims feel when in an abusive relationship. I could understand how Jaq reacted, how she felt, how she rationalized everything. I’ve heard these stories from many people before in my former profession. Ms. Clark did a great job putting it in writing.
Actually, I was unsure about how I liked this book while I was reading it. It was hard to be sympathetic towards Jaq throughout most of the book. Even when she began to turn things around, I still didn’t care that much for Jaq. She had a bad attitude, bad behavior, constantly down on her luck but she thinks she deserves it. I understand why she was this way, but she was a tough character to get behind.
I adored Seth from the beginning. I hated Rick. I could see where Damon was headed. I almost wanted to know what happened to Rick after that night. More curious than anything else.
The “Holy Crap” came out at the end. I did not want to see that happen. I saw it coming but I was hoping for a different outcome.
It was a good read but it is definitely not a happy ending.
Would I recommend it: If you don’t mind a true-to-life, no sugar-coating book about relationships and abuse, then yes, this is a good read. If you are looking for a feel-good, leave you smiling story, then no, don’t read this book.
Will I read it again: I will not.
(I received a copy of this book for review purposes.)
http://everyfreechance.com/2013/06/bl...
April 13, 2013
What the @#@! was that?
When I read the blurb I was expecting a book where you will feel an emotional connection to the main female lead. But from the first moment that doesn't happen and the time jumps don't help at all.
So if you read the blurb you know that Jacq is date raped. What you don't know is that this happens in the first 20 pages.
Before that there are 3 scenes: one conversation with her best friend (where we discover Jacq is a tomboy, 15 and a virgin), a party (where she crosses her eyes with Seth) and a conversation with her mom (where she gives her condoms for her 16 b-day). And then she is date raped by her boyfriend.
The author didn't let me get create a connection with Jacq and something horrible had already happened. At this point I thought ok, it's a pretty messy start but now we will get to discover who Jacq is. Bull@#@#!
I turn the page and 2 years are gone. I don't know what Jacq is feeling, only that she had lots of 1 night stands and that she is doing drugs. And then in the same chapter she tells us 3 years are gone and decides to clean her act, but let us know she doesn't regret taking drugs because they helped her understand herself.
Good for u girl, no one else understands and what is worse I don't even care enough to start getting angry for you being a too stupid to live kind of character.
Then she gets into an abusive relationship, which she describes as her addiction. Do you really need to get more details? Trust me you can imagine how it goes.
I was surprised about the ending. It was REALISTIC, not what you usually get in books. Not enough to save this mess of a book however. Seriously, don't waste your time!
When I read the blurb I was expecting a book where you will feel an emotional connection to the main female lead. But from the first moment that doesn't happen and the time jumps don't help at all.
So if you read the blurb you know that Jacq is date raped. What you don't know is that this happens in the first 20 pages.
Before that there are 3 scenes: one conversation with her best friend (where we discover Jacq is a tomboy, 15 and a virgin), a party (where she crosses her eyes with Seth) and a conversation with her mom (where she gives her condoms for her 16 b-day). And then she is date raped by her boyfriend.
The author didn't let me get create a connection with Jacq and something horrible had already happened. At this point I thought ok, it's a pretty messy start but now we will get to discover who Jacq is. Bull@#@#!
I turn the page and 2 years are gone. I don't know what Jacq is feeling, only that she had lots of 1 night stands and that she is doing drugs. And then in the same chapter she tells us 3 years are gone and decides to clean her act, but let us know she doesn't regret taking drugs because they helped her understand herself.
Good for u girl, no one else understands and what is worse I don't even care enough to start getting angry for you being a too stupid to live kind of character.
Then she gets into an abusive relationship, which she describes as her addiction. Do you really need to get more details? Trust me you can imagine how it goes.
I was surprised about the ending. It was REALISTIC, not what you usually get in books. Not enough to save this mess of a book however. Seriously, don't waste your time!
June 15, 2013
www.shhmomsreading.com
I'm not sure how I felt about this one yet. It started off really hard to read for me and I almost put it in the DNF pile but I wanted to give it a try as I was given this book as part of a blog tour.
I'm sorry to say that I didn't really connect with the characters. I felt sorry for Jaq when she was younger - the situation that her boyfriend put her in was a horrible situation for a 15 year old to experience.
Everything changed for her that day and she went on a downward spiral into drugs and drinking and one night stands - her innocence was lost and I mourned that for her.
At 19 years old, she decided to clean up her life and went back to school to study auto repair. She started out as this tough chick and I really admired that about her.
But as life continues and her best friend Brad passes, she looses the one guy who she really loved, she starts to date Damon Blackwell.
Now I started off liking Damon but as their relationship progressed I hated him more and more and could not stomach the way he acted towards her. And the girl who I thought Jaq was became this shell of herself and didn't know how to stand up for herself and I was just so disappointed.
On a side note - I hated the "inner slut" and "inner sex goddess" comments.
The end surprised the hell out of me and I am still thinking about it....
So right now I would say that this book was a 3 for the end only. It was the best part of this book.
This was my first time reading this author and I would be interested to see more from her to see how her writing technique progresses with experience.
I'm not sure how I felt about this one yet. It started off really hard to read for me and I almost put it in the DNF pile but I wanted to give it a try as I was given this book as part of a blog tour.
I'm sorry to say that I didn't really connect with the characters. I felt sorry for Jaq when she was younger - the situation that her boyfriend put her in was a horrible situation for a 15 year old to experience.
Everything changed for her that day and she went on a downward spiral into drugs and drinking and one night stands - her innocence was lost and I mourned that for her.
At 19 years old, she decided to clean up her life and went back to school to study auto repair. She started out as this tough chick and I really admired that about her.
But as life continues and her best friend Brad passes, she looses the one guy who she really loved, she starts to date Damon Blackwell.
Now I started off liking Damon but as their relationship progressed I hated him more and more and could not stomach the way he acted towards her. And the girl who I thought Jaq was became this shell of herself and didn't know how to stand up for herself and I was just so disappointed.
On a side note - I hated the "inner slut" and "inner sex goddess" comments.
The end surprised the hell out of me and I am still thinking about it....
So right now I would say that this book was a 3 for the end only. It was the best part of this book.
This was my first time reading this author and I would be interested to see more from her to see how her writing technique progresses with experience.
May 8, 2013
I can honestly say I don't have words for this yet. So bear with me. I am still pretty mad after reading this book. Not that it wasn't a good book, it was, but it elicited so much anger from me. And I mean like I wanted to throw down and fight for this girl. I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake some sense into her. Some strength.
I swear our Jaq is like an asshole magnet. It starts from her first, and all the players just roll in from there. Our good guys don't seem to stick around for too long... circumstances don't allow for it. But then she meets Seth and things are supposed to change. I should be happy, right?!!? Wait for it... Wait for it....
I'm not telling if it made me happy, because I'm not truly sure. I'm still trying to figure it out. But after Seth, we meet Damon. The typical bad boy. Except this bad boy is the reason for my anger. YOU NEVER HIT A WOMAN! ugh! Seth always seems to save her, he's her white knight. I found myself looking for him at every turn. But by the time we really need him, it may be too late. She is sucked into the tornado called Damon. I can say I was angry. I am pretty sure I still am. I am angry at her for taking it and making excuses for it to be ok. I am SUPER angry at him for laying a finger on her. I am even angry at her friends for one tiny lapse in time. I am angry at Seth for walking away. This is seriously how I felt at the end. Like I could stomp my feet and scream.
I will leave it at that. Yes, I was even mad at the end. I think I stayed in a constant state of mad.
I swear our Jaq is like an asshole magnet. It starts from her first, and all the players just roll in from there. Our good guys don't seem to stick around for too long... circumstances don't allow for it. But then she meets Seth and things are supposed to change. I should be happy, right?!!? Wait for it... Wait for it....
I'm not telling if it made me happy, because I'm not truly sure. I'm still trying to figure it out. But after Seth, we meet Damon. The typical bad boy. Except this bad boy is the reason for my anger. YOU NEVER HIT A WOMAN! ugh! Seth always seems to save her, he's her white knight. I found myself looking for him at every turn. But by the time we really need him, it may be too late. She is sucked into the tornado called Damon. I can say I was angry. I am pretty sure I still am. I am angry at her for taking it and making excuses for it to be ok. I am SUPER angry at him for laying a finger on her. I am even angry at her friends for one tiny lapse in time. I am angry at Seth for walking away. This is seriously how I felt at the end. Like I could stomp my feet and scream.
I will leave it at that. Yes, I was even mad at the end. I think I stayed in a constant state of mad.
June 15, 2013
I was highly disappointed in this book. I received a copy in exchange for an honest review, and honestly I really didn't like it. This is my first one star review. I'm sorry, I don't like writing this, but have to put it out there.
There's a brutal honesty in this book that is a bit too hard for me to swallow. There is one thing when you write a dark novel, there's usually some ups and downs, or some kind of balance involved. This was darker, then dark, a little light, then dark and then darker even. It was utterly depressing. Jaq was raped at 15, then was a drug addict, then much later got in an abusive relationship. The ending is one in which you wouldn't expect, and I give it to Clark, it definitely would teach the reader a lesson. But it I think the lesson could've been accomplished in a better way.
Other than that, the MC was just wishy-washy to the point of annoying. Not inspiring, never learned her lessons, and had an insane idea of life and how to go about it. I could not connect with her at all. The time frame wasn't consistent, and the writing lacked the details that would normally draw you into the novel. Overall the premise of the book could end up being a great novel, but the delivery just wasn't there for me.
I wouldn't say to NOT read this book, but I would definitely recommend other books beofre this. If you want a dark, short, realistic read than you could give this one a try.
There's a brutal honesty in this book that is a bit too hard for me to swallow. There is one thing when you write a dark novel, there's usually some ups and downs, or some kind of balance involved. This was darker, then dark, a little light, then dark and then darker even. It was utterly depressing. Jaq was raped at 15, then was a drug addict, then much later got in an abusive relationship. The ending is one in which you wouldn't expect, and I give it to Clark, it definitely would teach the reader a lesson. But it I think the lesson could've been accomplished in a better way.
Other than that, the MC was just wishy-washy to the point of annoying. Not inspiring, never learned her lessons, and had an insane idea of life and how to go about it. I could not connect with her at all. The time frame wasn't consistent, and the writing lacked the details that would normally draw you into the novel. Overall the premise of the book could end up being a great novel, but the delivery just wasn't there for me.
I wouldn't say to NOT read this book, but I would definitely recommend other books beofre this. If you want a dark, short, realistic read than you could give this one a try.
February 7, 2013
I honestly don't even know where to start with this one....
Its the first book in a LONG time to leave me utterly speechless. After an ending like that it took everything in me not to just throw my kindle across the room. I'm angry, frustrated and heartbroken all rolled into one. Even after all of that, I think this book is one of the most REALISTIC books I have read in a long time. Not everything is all rosy and peaches. Sometimes things don't always work out the way you want. One decision can impact the rest of your life in ways you can't even imagine. Life happens and you just have to take it one day at a time. With that being said, I recommend this book to those who don't mind going an emotional rollercoaster. There will be yelling,crying, and more yelling.
Its the first book in a LONG time to leave me utterly speechless. After an ending like that it took everything in me not to just throw my kindle across the room. I'm angry, frustrated and heartbroken all rolled into one. Even after all of that, I think this book is one of the most REALISTIC books I have read in a long time. Not everything is all rosy and peaches. Sometimes things don't always work out the way you want. One decision can impact the rest of your life in ways you can't even imagine. Life happens and you just have to take it one day at a time. With that being said, I recommend this book to those who don't mind going an emotional rollercoaster. There will be yelling,crying, and more yelling.
June 22, 2013
Different Roads is all about a girl and the things that make her who she is. Jaq goes through a lot during her life and a lot of it isn't good. In fact she deals with way more than any girl should have to deal with.
Different Roads is a good story that touches on a lot of emotional and difficult topics such as rape, drugs, drinking, death, and abuse. I read Different Roads in just a few hours because I had to know what fate awaited Jaq. After going through so much she was really due a happy ending.
While I felt bad for Jaq throughout most of this book I was never really able to connect with her on an emotional level. I felt like the author told us Jaq's story instead of letting us feel the story. While the story line was excellent I felt the execution was slightly lacking.
Different Roads is a good story that touches on a lot of emotional and difficult topics such as rape, drugs, drinking, death, and abuse. I read Different Roads in just a few hours because I had to know what fate awaited Jaq. After going through so much she was really due a happy ending.
While I felt bad for Jaq throughout most of this book I was never really able to connect with her on an emotional level. I felt like the author told us Jaq's story instead of letting us feel the story. While the story line was excellent I felt the execution was slightly lacking.
March 25, 2013
I'm 26% into this story and, to be frank, I'm having a hard time reading it. Honestly, it feels rushed and emotionless. Case in point: she's date raped on her 16th birthday, but it's not dealt with at all, except she tailspins into drugs and stuff for the next couple of years that fly quickly by within a chapter or two. Not feeling any connection whatsoever to the characters.
Tried to finish this one, but I'm leaving it unfinished. I would give it maybe 1.25 stars, but I'm being generous and rounding up, based solely on what I've read so far.
Tried to finish this one, but I'm leaving it unfinished. I would give it maybe 1.25 stars, but I'm being generous and rounding up, based solely on what I've read so far.
March 24, 2013
I don't know if there are any proper words to use for this book. It was amazing. When it comes to the end I felt my heart stop beating and could just imagine this be a true life story. I felt some of thestuff through out the book could have been written in a different way. Some parts didn't always flow. I felt that you could have just read the epiluge and you would bawl your eyes out not knowing the rest of the story.This was one of those books you thought about a few days after reading and still can't get the images out of your mind.
February 22, 2013
Wow, I am so torn on this review. Breaks my heart, so it was hard to give it more than a 3. Couldn't put the book down much. I really liked the main character, but I just kept waiting for things to work out for her and it just didn't. I gave it a 3 cause I was just hoping for more happy positive parts in the book. The author showed raw true to life things that happens in the world through this story.
March 11, 2013
Hmmm...this is a difficult book to review. Jaq had a lifetime of misery andshe never dealt with it wel. I hoped with every page that she'd get her stuff together. Her best friend Shelly stuck with her throughout...loved her. Seth seemed to be capable of healing her and loving her. I NEVER expected the events at the ed of the book. I am not a fan of books that end without an HEA.
February 16, 2013
I am so upset with how this book ended! the book was good but gave no explanation on why jaq and Seth couldn't be together. I thought the ending was too abrupt after having spent all that time developing the characters. overall, it was ok.
March 1, 2013
Like was not expecting that love this book but wish went another direction great writing loved Seth and jaq characters I haven't read a book that ended like this book did and I probably will read it again
July 11, 2016
I don't know how I fell about the ending.. Abusive relationships are awful but they're real and this is the first book I read where she stayed in the abusive relationship... I didn't like how Seth left the picture didn't make sense...
December 29, 2014
What the hell???!
What a heartbreaking ending! >.<
Review to follow.
What a heartbreaking ending! >.<
Review to follow.
February 11, 2013
depressing.. a book where no one wins
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