Review: 4.5 Stars for Nowhere but Here!  Hesperia Loves Books review.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 5, 2014
4.5 Stars.  Sweet Thing, the first novel published by Renee Carlino, rightfully earned a spot on my list of favorite novels for 2013.  I found the main characters to be refreshing and connected with them instantly, which made Sweet Thing an extremely satisfying read.  I appreciate the opportunity to review an advanced reader copy of the new contemporary romance from Renee Carlino, Nowhere but Here, which has been provided to me by her publisher through NetGalley.  This is my honest review.Kate Corbin no longer has any living relatives.  She has struggled since the death of Rose, a childhood friend of her mother who ended up raising her.  Her mother passed away when she was eight without telling her the name of her father.  She is currently going nowhere in a relationship with Stephen, who doesn’t seem to love her or even care about what is going on in her life.  Kate has turned to a homeless man who calls himself “Just Bob” for advice, whose first piece of advice to her was, “You’re all you’ve got!”Kate has lost all motivation for her career as a journalist and has struggled with her job for several months.  Her boss at the Chicago Crier newspaper, Jerry, gives her an assignment with substance, hoping to ignite her spark.  She is to spend a week in Napa, California, to interview and write an article about R.J. Lawson, the reclusive owner of a vineyard.  This interview has been highly sought after by journalists, yet none could obtain it until now.  R.J. Lawson is a billionaire – a computer engineering prodigy who made all of his money in the technology industry.Upon arrival at the vineyard, Kate has an automobile accident, running her rental car straight into a truck driven by a handsome work hand and maintenance man named Jamie.  After her accident, Jamie sends her off to her interview with a warning that R.J. can be difficult to deal with.  Kate ends up in an argument with R.J. Lawson, essentially failing at her interview, but Jamie and the other employees of the vineyard step in to help her enjoy the rest of her weeklong visit.  Jamie gives her a tour around the vineyard, and this is when things start to become interesting between the two of them.  The two of them have an undeniable attraction for each other.  Although Jamie continues to work very hard while she is there, he makes time for Kate and is focused on her needs.  When the two of them are together, their personalities just seem to spark.  It doesn’t take long for Jamie and Kate to begin developing feelings for each other.  As they start to open their hearts up to one another, Kate begins to realize that Jamie is holding back information about himself.  And then he disappears without a word of explanation.Nowhere but Here is more than just a contemporary romance.  It is a story of self-discovery – about realizing how much you really do have as an individual, making the best of your own situation, and finding your own place in this world.  In this novel, Renee Carlino focuses on gratitude and healing, the concept of discovering who your family really is, and learning to believe in the power of love.  It is full of underlying lessons which made this love story even more special for me.  It is obvious that Renee Carlino completed some extensive research before writing this novel - research which assisted in making this a unique, creative and interesting story.  If you are looking for a beautifully written contemporary romance, I recommend Nowhere but Here!