More than anything, I wanted her to stay… If she chose this life, if she chose me, she’d have to be sure. Because the minute she said yes, I’d hold on and never let go.
SQUEEEEE!!! I absolutely loved this book! It had that perfect balance of angsty romance and happy feels that I’d been craving! There were definite enemies-to-lovers vibes going on at first mixed in with an almost-second-chance romance because the hero and heroine had shared a history almost a decade before this story began. The romance was a delightful combination of sexy and swoony, and also very healing by the end.
This was one of those books that I read in one sitting because once I started it I didn’t want to stop reading until I reached the epilogue. So if you’re looking for an amazing new book to read, I would highly recommend this!
Gemma Lane built an empire. Not a small feat, considering her home as a teenager was a makeshift tent in a California junkyard. She’s dedicated her life to turning pennies into millions. She has power, fortune and prestige.
And she’s leaving it all behind.
Gemma is headed across the country in her best friend’s Cadillac when a detour in Montana reunites her with old acquaintances and a man who hasn’t changed. Easton Greer challenges her every word and tests her every limit because he doesn’t believe she’s really abandoned her riches. She ignores his snide remarks and muttered censure—until the day she’s ready to return to the wild highway, and Easton taunts her to stay.
She’ll prove to him she’s not just running back to her wealthy life, that she’s more than her money. She’ll unlock her guarded heart and hope that this time around, he’ll treasure the key.
Now, Wild Highway can be read as a standalone if you want, even though it’s actually part of a series of interconnected standalones: the Runaway series. I read the first book Runaway Road and loved it too so if you have the time, then I’d definitely recommend starting with Runaway Road and then moving on to Wild Highway simply because they’re both awesome reads. But at the same time, if either one of the books calls to you more, then you’re genuinely gonna be fine to just dive into either one.
The whole series centers around a group of adults who had spent years together growing up in a junkyard after running away from home for various reasons. Their friendship had helped them survive and overcome extreme hardship and even though it had been many years since they’d all been together, over a decade later their lives were beginning to reconnect them once again.
The hero and heroine also shared their own history more than a decade before this story began and it had ended badly and with many unanswered questions so when this story began they were at odds with each other. They got under each other’s skin but also couldn’t stay away… It was a constant push and pull with them but no matter how hard they pushed, the pull was always stronger.
She desperately wanted – no, needed – to fit in somewhere and find a home where she truly felt like she belonged. She had all the money in the world but that didn’t matter because what she was looking for was something money couldn’t buy and my heart really broke for her.
I also understood his reluctance to go all in given that he was falling in love with a woman who not only had suddenly left his life once before but who he knew wasn’t staying in town for long.
“Can I make a confession?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“I’m scared to get too close to you because I know you’re eventually going to leave.” It was only a matter of time.
“Where does that leave us?” she asked, not denying what we both knew was the inevitable.
I shrugged. “I don’t have a damn clue. I wish I could say I’d steer clear of you… But I won’t.”
He didn’t want to force her to stay but his heart couldn’t handle falling for someone he knew would be gone soon. But I did really appreciate how straightforward he was.
“You were jealous.”
“Yes,” I admitted. “I have some issues when it comes to men.”
“Let’s get one thing straight.” He clasped my shoulders, looming and waiting until he had my undivided attention. “There are no men. There’s one man. Me. And if you have an issue with me, we’ll sure as fuck talk it through.”
In most reluctant-to-commit circumstances in books, I have very limited patience (if any) but with the way these characters were written, I completely understood where both of them were coming from and as much I wanted to just lock them in a boom closet together until they sorted out their issues it also made total sense given each of their characters and histories that they needed to find their way back to each other the long way around.
“For once, it was nice to see you. The real you without all of” — I flung my wrist, motioning up and down her body — “this.”
“Clothes? Pretty sure you saw me without all my clothes last night.”
“No.” I frowned. “With the armor.”
“Oh.”
“Be real with me.” I inched closer, bringing my hands to her shoulders. “If no one else, be real with me.”
The angst in their relationship though definitely paid off in the end though because you really felt like by the time they were able to sort their lives out that they truly had gotten to the place they both belonged.
Side note: I have to say that I think I’ve come up with the perfect analogy for how I feel about Devney Perry’s books. Her books are like ice cream to me. There’s honestly never a time when I don’t feel like ice cream. And I’m normally a pretty mood-picky reader – like I have to find the right book to suit my mood of the moment but her books are pretty much the only ones where anytime I start one, it just works for me no matter what type of reading mood I’m in… Or at least, that’s been my experience with every book of hers that I’ve read so far – which is all the books she’d released lol. I’m just always in the “reading mood” for her books. It’s so fun to find an author like that!
This was such a gorgeous read! I absolutely loved it. I sympathized with the characters, I was rooting for the romance, I was drawn in by the writing, and I was addicted to the story. If you’re looking for something awesome to read, I would absolutely recommend this!
Rating: 4.5+ STARS! Contemporary Adult Romance, can standalone.
*** RUNAWAY SERIES ***
Series of interconnected standalones. One car. One cross-country road trip.
Five stories about six runaways finally finding home.
Stacie says
“In most reluctant-to-commit circumstances in books, I have very limited patience (if any“. I LOVE how you phrased this bc I too have very little patience with a book that has this! I laughed out loud when I read this, happy that I wasn’t the only reader who did not enjoy this trope! That being said, Devney is one of the very few writers that could get me to bare with her through it!! 😃😃. Can’t wait to dig in! Incidentally, this is one of the reasons I’m a huge fan of Devney and Kristen Ashley. They don’t play around with getting their couples together! 😉. Love this review!
Aestas says
haha yep my patience for that kinda drama is lowwww 😉 It takes a really good author to make me understanding of those kind of situations – but it really worked for this story! Happy reading!
Aestas says
Also yep – that’s one of the main reasons I love these two authors as well 😀