Rating: 5 stars
Buy Link: Amazon | iBooks | Amazon UK
Length: Novel
Pete and Ash have been together for six years and their love and commitment are solid. They have gone through so many struggles, but rise up each time. This time however, Pete is struggling. Life has hit him particularly hard recently and he spends most of his time working. Ash is there for Pete, but Pete won’t talk about anything with Ash, especially the secret he’s keeping.
Ash will never give up on Pete, but he misses their time together and their relationship is showing signs of strain. A new friend and a road trip could be exactly what the men need to find their way back to each other fully once more.
This cover stopped me in my tracks. Sure, it’s a great looking photo, and the author of the book, Garrett Leigh, always does an exceptional job with cover design, but it was something else that stopped me. It was the three words on the cover, a Roads Story, because say what now, Ash and Pete are back? That is exactly what it means. Ash and Pete are indeed back, and so this cover for several reasons worked perfectly for Judge a Book by its Cover Week. And, I’ll give you a hint upfront, it’s not just a good cover, it also a damn good book.
This series has always been character driven and this book stays on course. It also has had a harsher, more somber edge to it and that also stays on course, although there are a few more moments of lightness here.
This book shows the guys together for six years now. Ash has come so far and it was amazing to see where he is. He still has his demons to wrestle with, but he’s successful in ways he never imagined. Pete, on the other hand, is struggling and it’s not in his nature to reach out. He was always the strong one and he doesn’t want Ash to see the darkest parts of him.
The book opens with the guys working through custody arrangements for Liam, Pete’s nephew, but that in no way takes over. Family is an important aspect throughout the book, but it’s Pete and Ash that remain the heart of the story. I’m not going to go into any specifics at all about what these guys are dealing with and it’s best to ride along with them as they take a much needed road trip where they meet up with Jeb and Max from Leigh’s other book, Only Love. Do not be concerned if you haven’t read that book as Leigh ties them in effortlessly.
Leigh is not specifically known for explicit scenes, but Pete and Ash have always been special and she captures them with a real rawness that shows their vulnerability as they take each other apart while they build each other back up and their chemistry and need for each other is still insane. The nickname they have for each other still remains and no one else can get away with affectionately calling each other “fucker” quite like these guys can, and it remains an entertaining highlight. I also started thinking about the structure of this book and where Leigh had to go to pull this one together and to get back into their mindset and I will offer a bravo for a finely crafted story.
The epilogue was about as close to perfection as I’ve seen in a book. Pete and Ash don’t just simply find their way, they grab hold of each and every drop of good in their life and you may just get choked up at the happy. The title is also perfect and this was an amazing way to complete their journey. These books need to be read in order and while there are certain part of the series that may be more difficult to move through, the final scenes make it entirely worthwhile.
This review is part of our Reading Challenge Month for Judge a Book By Its Cover Week! Leave a relevant comment below and you will be entered to win a prize pack from Interlude Press that includes a signed, print copy of Not Your Villian by C.B. Lee, plus e-book copies of some of their award-winning books. Commenters will also be entered to win our amazing grand prize sponsored by Dreamspinner Press (a loaded Kindle fire filled with DSP books!). You can get more information on our Challenge Month here, and more details on Judge a Book By Its Cover Week here, including a list of all the books in this week’s prize.
Looks like I need to read this series!
It worked for me!
I’ve read and enjoyed other books by Garrett Leigh. This sounds like a great addition to a wonderful series — these will be going on my wishlist. Thanks, Michelle.
And this final book gave them such a great ending.
Just read the reviews for the previous two books in the series, I hope to start reading this series soon. Reading challenge month should come with a warning: Hide your wallets. Thank you for your review.
Thanks Sofia. I read some great books during this year’s challenge. Enjoy the series if you get to it.
LOL!
Oh, I didnt read this whole review, I have wanted to read this series for a long time and don’t want to be spoiled for the book before (even if that’s not what I’m getting, I can’t risk it) however from the small part I did read I really need to get the books I own and start them, the first has been sitting on my bookshelf for awhile now
Enjoy the ride!
I just recently got started on Slide (#1). It looks like I’m in for a treat. 🙂
Ooohh yay! Book 3 was quiet perfection.
I have the other Roads books, but I’ve yet to read them. This book being in KU might just get me to pull them out of the TBR pile.
Sounds like a great plan!
I also didn’t read past why you chose this book for the challenge because I don’t want any type of spoiler. I look forward to reading this next chapter in Pete & Ash’s journey. Thanks for sharing!
There aren’t any spoilers but I like to go in fresh as well. Enjoy it when you get to it.
I haven’t read this series !! So I am trying not to read the review because I’d like to keep myself surprised. Cheers
Thanks Ami.
I think I need to read the first two again first.
Certainly couldn’t hurt to get back into their world.
I haven;t read this series yet and I keep putting it off. I like the cover but I’m not sure why I keep putting it off since the series sounds fantastic.
Do it. Read it. Lol.
Oh, yeah! I can totally relate with that. I’ve been waiting for this one since forever, you know. Glad that we got to meet Ash & Pete again. ?
Thanks James.
Great review. I haven’t read the other books in this serie yet but ater reading your review on Circle i think i will have to remedy that and start this serie soon.
Thanks Angela.
Thank you for the great review. I haven’t read this series yet, but Garrett is one of my favourite writers, since I read Only Love (which I recommend), every single one of her books has become a must read for me
Besides knowing that there is a glimpse at Jeb and Max makes it even better….
They get worked in well.
Great review. I’ve read Misfits and really liked it. Now I’ll have to add this one to the list!
Thank you. Sounds good!
I keep meaning to get to Garrett Leigh (I think I may have read one??), but it hasn’t happened yet. I love that note about the epilogue. I think it’s an art form unto itself, so I’ll just have to read the rest of the series to feel the full impact of this one!
Amazing epilogues are…well…amazing. You would have to read the series to get the full impact here but it most definitely delivers!
I prefer new relationship stories so maybe I’ll try the first in the series
Oh my god, now I have to read the whole seriess all over again. It’s 3 years since I read them and sadly I have a bad memory for the specifics of stories. But I do remember I loved the series 🙂
Thanks for the review. I think I need to read this series now. It sounds really interesting.
Thanks for the great review, Michelle. I’ve always like stories about more mature relationships – what happens after the HEA. And character driven as well. So this goes on my tbr.