Review: "Nowhere But Here" by Renée Carlino

"You're all you've got!"

Kate Corbin is a 26-year-old journalist in Chicago who seems to have lost her passion for the things that should matter most. She muddles along, pretending to be okay with writing fluff pieces and being with a man who treats her more like a convenient booty call than a girlfriend. Her mother is gone and so is her guardian (her mother's best friend), their deaths leaving her bereft and very much alone.

"You've lost your spark, Kate. 

Don't come home until you find it."

When she's assigned to exclusively interview R.J. Lawson, a 30-year-old billionaire recluse who made his money as a computer engineering whiz. Not much is heard from him after he sells his shares of the company he started, other than snippets of philanthropic work he's done in Africa. Then, he resurfaces, buying a vineyard, winery, and bed and breakfast, branding them his own and making each one successful.

"...when I was with him, I didn't feel alone."

Upon arriving at the winery in Napa Valley, Kate literally bumps into Jamie, a jack of all trades but master of all he takes on. Aside from being good looking, he's easy to talk to, sweet, intelligent, and witty--the opposite of R.J. Lawson himself, whom Kate is discovering to be a pain to interview. That aside, Kate's time at the location is wonderful and the staff is friendly and accommodating. But it's Jamie who makes Kate begin to feel the stirrings of hope...until certain things come into play and Kate is left heartbroken and, later on, betrayed.

"Don't give up, Kate. Don't stop searching. 

Find him, take care of each other, and never let go."

The book is mostly about Kate's journey of re-discovery and finding purpose in her life. It feels like she's just aimlessly floating by, not really exerting much effort into her work or relationships after the death of the two most important women in her life. It takes meeting Jamie for her to even consider taking a chance on something new. However, not everything is smooth sailing and Kate needs to decide if she's willing to go all in, possibly risking her heart in the process.

"Nowhere but here do I feel 

as whole and most genuinely me."

Renée Carlino certainly delivers an original story that has equal parts romance, courtesy of Jamie, and equal parts angst, courtesy of Kate. Yes, I admit it. I liked Jamie much more than I did Kate. There were times that she seemed to enjoy drowning in her own misery, refusing to make certain concessions, even when the "whispers" she experiences are almost like shouts, trying to get her to listen to her heart instead of her mixed-up head. I get that, after all the loss she's gone through, she believes that she's better off alone than forming attachments. There was just a point wherein she had already made up her mind, then something happens, and then she's back to being unsure again. I was a tad frustrated with her by then. 

The standouts in Nowhere but Here were the characters and the twists. The characters felt like they had a true purpose in the story and not just there for decorative purposes. The others played great support to both Kate and Jamie and their love story, with lines that prompted deep musings. Special mention goes to Jerry Evans, Kate's editor and boss, and Just Bob. Then you have the twists which are commendable because even though I figured out the first one very early on, the others were unexpected and kept the story going in a direction I didn't even consider. 

I'm giving Nowhere but Here 4.5 stars. If you're looking for a romance novel with a few twists and a bit of angst and a swoon-worthy male lead character in Jamie (♥♥♥), give this book by one of my favorite authors a try. Hopefully, you'll like it as much as, if not more than, I do. ♥ 

Date read: 02 September 2014

Learn more about the remarkable Renée Carlino here.

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