Author submission in exchange for an honest review.
Title:
Four Thousand Miles
Author:
Jesi Lea Ryan
Release Date:
October 7, 2010
Publisher:
DCL Publications
Word Count:
approx. 95,000
Purchase Links:
Author's Website:
Description:
When Natalie Spencer loses both her career and marriage in the same morning, the emotional shock sends her on a spontaneous journey to England. There, she is nearly mugged in a Tube station, but an introverted songwriter named Gavin Ashby scares off her attackers. Recognizing Natalie’s fragile state, Gavin offers help and invites her to recuperate from her trauma at his country home.
As she adjusts to her new role and surroundings, Natalie finds healing by helping others. Gavin and his family begin to accept Natalie into their hearts, leading her to a choice…abandon her old life in the States and trust in a new chance at love, or flee once again?
Joey’s Review:
Natalie Spencer is having a really lousy day. She's just lost her job, comes home to find her perfect hubby in a compromising position with his best friend, and her absentee mother isn't making life any easier.
What to do. Well, Natalie, in total shock, grabs her passport and heads to London. No bags, no plans, no logic. She just hops a plane and flees from all her problems.
Cue handsome Brit Gavin Ashby to save her from her a bad situation and carry her off to care for her in his brother's London flat. Despite her apprehension, Natalie decides to stay in Gavin's company when he invites her to join him at the family homestead outside of London.
I wondered if this would be a formulaic story of girl-goes-abroad-to-find-herself. And there is that element to the story. But what I really liked was the part where Natalie realizes that she just needed to step away from her claustrophic problems to get perspective. Her marriage is over, that much is clear. Hubby, it turns out, isn't a fan of the ladies after all. There's no going back. Natalie takes the time to lick her wounds, but I was pleasantly surprised to find these wounds weren't so dramatically (for the sake of drama) deep. She realizes that she knew things were not all right, on some level. Natalie's reactions are very human, and rather dignified at that.
Now, the part that has me over the moon: Gavin and Natalie keep things platonic. They declare themselves friends as they get to know each other, and soon view each other as best friends. There isn't the typical public display of sexless friendship while one or both privately fret and beat their breasts over their unrequited love. Gavin and Natalie really are friends. And I loved their burgeoning lust-free friendship.
Don't get me wrong. I yelled at my iPod several times for Gavin to just KISS her already. Or for Natalie to check out his abs. The author hooked me good, ladies and gents. She made me root for these people on an organic level. They were great friends. They clicked on a very basic level, and I wanted more for them long before they began to consider the notion themselves.
Bloody brilliant.
At the end of the story I had something I often wish for and rarely get. I know who Gavin is and what makes him tick. I know who Natalie is and what makes her tick. And I was sorry to see the story end, because I could keep on reading and reading.
I wavered a bit on rating only because there were some editing issues I wish were caught, an issue that is often the case in eReads. But then I made my decision.
I chose my final rating because of one key factor that allows me to know I've read a real winner in eBook format: I desperately wish I could get my claws on a paperback copy so I can read it again and again and loan it out to friends. That, my friends, is a clear signal that I'm in love with a story. Escapism at its finest.
What to do. Well, Natalie, in total shock, grabs her passport and heads to London. No bags, no plans, no logic. She just hops a plane and flees from all her problems.
Cue handsome Brit Gavin Ashby to save her from her a bad situation and carry her off to care for her in his brother's London flat. Despite her apprehension, Natalie decides to stay in Gavin's company when he invites her to join him at the family homestead outside of London.
I wondered if this would be a formulaic story of girl-goes-abroad-to-find-herself. And there is that element to the story. But what I really liked was the part where Natalie realizes that she just needed to step away from her claustrophic problems to get perspective. Her marriage is over, that much is clear. Hubby, it turns out, isn't a fan of the ladies after all. There's no going back. Natalie takes the time to lick her wounds, but I was pleasantly surprised to find these wounds weren't so dramatically (for the sake of drama) deep. She realizes that she knew things were not all right, on some level. Natalie's reactions are very human, and rather dignified at that.
Now, the part that has me over the moon: Gavin and Natalie keep things platonic. They declare themselves friends as they get to know each other, and soon view each other as best friends. There isn't the typical public display of sexless friendship while one or both privately fret and beat their breasts over their unrequited love. Gavin and Natalie really are friends. And I loved their burgeoning lust-free friendship.
Don't get me wrong. I yelled at my iPod several times for Gavin to just KISS her already. Or for Natalie to check out his abs. The author hooked me good, ladies and gents. She made me root for these people on an organic level. They were great friends. They clicked on a very basic level, and I wanted more for them long before they began to consider the notion themselves.
Bloody brilliant.
At the end of the story I had something I often wish for and rarely get. I know who Gavin is and what makes him tick. I know who Natalie is and what makes her tick. And I was sorry to see the story end, because I could keep on reading and reading.
I wavered a bit on rating only because there were some editing issues I wish were caught, an issue that is often the case in eReads. But then I made my decision.
I chose my final rating because of one key factor that allows me to know I've read a real winner in eBook format: I desperately wish I could get my claws on a paperback copy so I can read it again and again and loan it out to friends. That, my friends, is a clear signal that I'm in love with a story. Escapism at its finest.
Joey's Rating:
Thats a great way to loook at it. If you want to read it again and again. I'll have to take a gander
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