Review - Going the Distance by Julianna Keyes

Title: Going the Distance by Julianna Keyes

Publisher: Omnific Publishing

Publication Date: January 27th, 2015

Paperback/Hardcover: 260

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

Find it at: Goodreads  

Summary:  

Olivia Clarke’s fall from pretty, perfect and popular happened in an instant. With her life in tatters, she impulsively accepts a teaching job in the small city of Lazhou, China. Three months in, she’s ready to admit she made a huge mistake. She doesn’t speak Mandarin, the teachers at her school refuse to include her in anything, and she spends her nights watching counterfeit DVDs in her twin bed. Alone.

Jarek McLean is a loner. He’s not looking for friends, and he’s definitely not looking for love. The former army interrogator works as a carpenter for a small construction company rebuilding a travel office in Lazhou. When he meets Olivia he knows immediately she’s too wholesome to be his type, but when he discovers the pretty kindergarten teacher is hiding a secret, his inquisitive side rears its nosy head and demands answers.

Olivia isn’t interested in a one-sided interrogation, and makes her position clear: if Jarek wants to ask questions, he’ll have to answer some, too. Jarek’s never let anyone in—not into his apartment, not into his life, certainly not into his heart. But the closer he gets to Olivia, the more he falls for her, and suddenly the man who doesn’t do relationships finds himself in a most unexpected one. When he reluctantly admits that this could be love, he’s faced with the most terrifying question of all: What the hell does he do now?

Review:   

I have received this book as part of a blog tour in exchange of an honest.

After her life is turned upside down and after being offered a job in China, Olivia decides she is ready for an adventure. Is not easy being a foreigner in China, though, and Olivia feels increasingly alone. That’s when the mysterious and seemingly dangerous Jarek enters the picture and the chemistry between them becomes impossible to ignore.

I have previously read Just Once by Julianna Keyes and really enjoyed it so I was happy to read Going the Distance as well.

In the beginning I really didn’t know what to think of Jarek and didn’t like him that much but he grew on me as the book went on. He really doesn’t know what to think about Olivia and is so scared of the things she makes him feel, it’s almost funny. He can be a real jerk sometimes but, every now and then, we get to see the best side of him.

One thing I enjoyed about Olivia and Jarek’s relationship was the fact she gave it as good as she got.  She knew how to hold her ground around Jarek and make him feel off balance and confused.

The relationship between Olivia and Jarek develops nicely and the chemistry between them s good. The book is well-written and the pace is just right.

All in all, Going the Distance is an interesting and different book any contemporary romance fan will be able to enjoy. 

Rating: Somewhere between Readable and Worth Your Time ( 3 ½ Stars)