The Lies We Believe • Walk the Edge (+ Giveaway)

Honestly, I thought Nowhere But Here might have been a fluke. I've never really been interested in motorcycle clubs in any form of media, and even though I really liked that book, I wasn't sure that feeling would stick around for Walk the Edge, the next in the series. Fortunately, this is one of those instances where I have (happily) been proven wrong! Walk the Edge was just as compelling as its predecessor. I found it impossible to put this one down once I'd started it. I was completely swept up in Razor and Breanna's story, and I definitely think a lot of readers will like this one as much as I did!

Breanna has always been the good girl - reliable, smart, responsible. But she's always longed to be more. On the one night that she decides to explore her adventurous side, she ends up having a compromising photo taken and being the victim of a cyber-bully who uses it to blackmail her. But not all that happens that night is terrible; it also brings Thomas "Razor" Turner into her life. And so begins a relationship that neither of them expected to flourish into a full-blown romance, especially when they're both dealing with their own individual problems.

Basically, this novel has three distinct plots: Razor's desire to discover the truth about his mother's death, Breanna's efforts to deal with her classmate blackmailing her to help him with his papers and how these two meet and fall in love. Even though it's a lot to juggle in one novel, McGarry did a great job fleshing out and weaving together these three main plots.

But the main reason that Walk the Edge really ended up getting my seal of approval is because of the characters. I'll say it now: I freaking loved Razor and Breanna. I was fascinated by how Breanna's mind worked (and I'm admittedly a little envious of how she can solve puzzles and break codes), and I could definitely relate to her desire to be seen and appreciated for who she was. Her issues with her family felt really authentic to me as well. I really loved Razor, who was both tough and vulnerable. His kindness, his loyalty, his desire to do the right thing and take care of the people he loves - it was all too easy to love him. Honestly though, what makes these two even better is the fact that they aren't perfect. They both make mistakes, they both have skewed perspectives of the world and their lives. But they do learn and they do grow, and I might have loved their individual growth even more than seeing them fall in love with each other.

Then again, together, these two make for such a well-suited couple! They really complement each other, and I love that they were always communicating. It was just nice to see that they could bring out the best in each other, and love each other through the worst. That is part and parcel of any romance, and it was really wonderful to see how McGarry put that in place. I was definitely swooning over their flirtatious banter and their romantic moments.

Walk the Edge also touches on family and friendship, and what it means to be in both those types of relationships with people (whether by blood or by choice). I feel like this was a touch more well-developed on Razor's end, since readers really get to see how his relationship with his father and the club goes through a lot. Breanna's situation is also mentioned, but I felt like it was slightly underdeveloped when compared to Razor's. Still, it was nice that McGarry managed to include other relationships in her story, even though the romance is the obvious standout.

With Walk the Edge, Katie McGarry has again written a story that rings with authenticity and easily engages readers. I was hooked on discovering what would become of these characters and the difficult situations they found themselves in, and reading their story was so worth it. If you're hesitant about giving another YA motorcycle club book a shot, let me tell you this: trust Katie McGarry. She knows what she's about. I'm so glad I continued on with the series, and I can't wait for the next book!

Walk the Edge by Katie McGarry

Series: Thunder Road #2 | Previous Book in Series: Nowhere But Here

Publisher: Harlequin TEEN | Publication Date: March 29, 2016

Source: ARC from ALA Midwinter 2016 (Thanks!)

Smart. Responsible. That's seventeen-year-old Breanna's role in her large family, and heaven forbid she put a toe out of line. Until one night of shockingly un-Breanna-like behavior puts her into a vicious cyber-bully's line of fire—and brings fellow senior Thomas "Razor" Turner into her life. Razor lives for the Reign of Terror motorcycle club, and good girls like Breanna just don't belong. But when he learns she's being blackmailed over a compromising picture of the two of them—a picture that turns one unexpected and beautiful moment into ugliness—he knows it's time to step outside the rules.

And so they make a pact: he'll help her track down her blackmailer, and in return she'll help him seek answers to the mystery that's haunted him—one that not even his club brothers have been willing to discuss. But the more time they spend together, the more their feelings grow. And suddenly they're both walking the edge of discovering who they really are, what they want, and where they're going from here.

As part of the blog tour, there are three (3) finished copies of Walk the Edge up for grabs! US Only, I'm afraid, so bear that in mind before you go about filling out the Rafflecopter form below.

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