Review: Nestled in a Book's Review of Nowhere but Here
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 27, 2014
I don't know what I was expecting when I started this book, but what I got wasn't it.  I slept on this review and I still don't know if I'm going to be able to make it coherent. When I finished the book last night I was such a swoony puddle of gooey mush that I could barely form a coherent thought, much less an entire review. To say that I loved Nowhere but Here would be a dramatic understatement.I don't know if I've been living under a rock or Renée Carlino has just been a well-kept secret. I'd heard of her and of this book, her other book Sweet Thing has been on my To Be Read shelf for a long time, but I feel blindsided. I don't understand how everyone isn't shouting from the rooftops about this book! How did it take me this long to read one of her books?Nowhere but Here is on my All-Time Favorites list, no question about it. I'm going to have to get a graphic made for 6 stars, because this book deserves it. I never saw this story coming. Like I said: blindsided. There are books you read that you know are going to be fantastic. Then there are books like this one that catch you when your guard is down and completely knock you on your butt. Even 30% in, I was loving it, but I didn't know how very much I was going to fall in love with it.The characters in this book were so relatable and easy to love.  Actually, "easy to love" is ridiculous.  They demanded to be loved and I had no choice in the matter.I felt immediately absorbed into Kate's life.  She never knew her father, lost her mother very young, just recently lost the only person resembling a family member, and her boyfriend is a complete toolbag.  She has no one and has always reminded herself of the fact that the only person anyone ever really has is themselves.Her boss knows that something in her is missing and she's not the same girl that he first met.  She's uninspired, both at work and by life.  When the opportunity to interview the notoriously private R.J. Lawson presents itself, he takes a chance on giving the interview to Kate, hoping to stoke the fire in her once again.She happily takes the assignment and hops a plane to Napa, desperately needing the break from her life and a chance to find the meaning of it once again.  Her trip gets off to a rocky start when she pulls into the drive of the estate and plows directly into a truck being driven by Jamie, an employee of the winery.  Due to this collision, she arrives late for her interview with R.J. Lawson after being told repeatedly that he loathes tardiness, and she discovers that the guy is a huge jerk.  He claims to have a hand in everything and is quick to take credit for any work done, but seemingly does nothing aside from drink wine and throw money at the problems he wants to make disappear.  He's a massive jerk to Kate and she's left trying to figure out how she's supposed to write a glowing article about R.J. Lawson and his beautiful winery (with the most delicious wines ever!).  Not to mention, she's supposed to be there to uncover some of his illusive secrets, and the guy remains a closed book.Kate is at least able to find the silver lining in the fact that she gets to stay at this beautiful estate.  Plus, there's Jamie.  Jamie is adorable, just quirky enough to make him cute, and off-the-charts sexy.  He also can seemingly do it all, as in every job that could possibly need to be done.  He can do it.  Jamie shows her all over the property and their processes, but his panty-melting good looks and swoon-worthy personality, along with his seemingly endless knowledge and skills around the winery leave her more confused than ever.Jamie isn't shy about showing his immediate attraction to Kate, but as she's just broken up with King Jackass, she's not looking for a weekend fling with the handyman.As Kate attempts to uncover secrets and spends more time with Jamie, the time comes for her to go back home and she's left with more questions than answers.I was intrigued by the mystique of R.J. Lawson and completely wrapped up in the mission to uncover his secrets. I fell in love with Jamie, and completely connected to Kate.  I want to live in this book!  I don't know how to express anymore clearly how much I loved it.  Renée Carlino has gained a lifelong fan in me.  You have to read Nowhere but Here.  You just have to.