Review: Different Roads by Lori L. Clark – Giveaway + Author Interview

Welcome to my review of Different Roads! you can find the tour schedule HERE!

Different Roads by Lori L. Clark
Publication: January 23rd 2013
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Smashwords

Book Description:

It’s been said that when we look back over our lives, we are able to recognize the pivotal moments that in some way, shape, or form have led us to where we are today.

When Jacqueline Carter is fifteen, she crosses paths for the first time with Seth Thomas, a young man who unwittingly alters the direction of her life forever.

Jaq plans to break-up with her boyfriend on her sixteenth birthday. Instead, she is date-raped, and left emotionally broken. She builds a wall around her heart and begins spiraling downward on a road filled with drinking, drugs and physical abuse.
When Seth re-enters her life a few years later, the walls around her heart slowly come down and the two of them fall in love.

Unfortunately sometimes, fate has other ideas, and we’re forced down a different road from which we initially set out.

My Review:

4 out 5 Goodreads Stars

Different Roads contains difficult subjects to write about, but Clark has done a skilful job in portraying them.

Jaq has been through some tough times. Some very tough times that started when she was younger than me. When I read a book and the main character is a female, roughly the same age as me, it makes me wonder how I would cope in their situations. I can say that in this case, I wouldn’t have been able to be as bright and happy as Jaq was.

Different Roads is a very emotional book. During the ending, I actually teared up.

Jaq was attracted to danger, she wasn’t able to say NO when she should have done. It happens so often in real life and I know that it’s not as simple as walking away from the situation.

Parts of this book did seem rushed. Months would pass by in a paragraph.

And when Jaq first meet this guy Seth, she just looks into his eyes and is captivated and begins to doubt her relationship with her boyfriend. What? Exactly. It was like love at first glance.

Even though I liked this book, some parts happened so fast and some other things were very cliché and for that reason I couldn’t rate it higher than a 3 star. But writing about tricky subjects like, date rape, abusive relationships and death takes some guts. It was pulled off in a very realistic way. Except for the romance at times.

Giveaway:

This blog is giving away one (1) copy of Different Roads. You can enter up to three times.

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Easy peasy!

Second Giveaway:

25$ Amazon Gift Card (INTL)

a Rafflecoptor Giveaway

Interview with Lori 🙂

1. What inspired Different Roads?

I work with some pretty voracious readers, and we’re always talking about books we’ve read. Telling each other, “Oh you have to read this or that.” One day at work, my co-worker Toni says, “Hey, I have a great idea for your next book.” She did a complete rough outline of what she thought would make for a great book. I liked the ideas she presented, so I sat down and the characters began to introduce themselves to me one by one. They seemed very anxious to be heard. Jaq is a rebel with a heart. I think there’s a part of her inside of me. The book isn’t exactly based on one person’s life story, though there are bits and pieces of the book that stem from real life events. For instance, my first car was a Dodge Charger. I like tequila. I loved working on cars. I was not big into underage drinking and I was never involved in an abusive relationship.

2. How often do you write?

I have a full time job, in addition to writing, so I try to sneak in a chapter here and there when I’m able. I write a lot on the weekends. My current work in progress is under deadline for the end of May, so I’ve been committed to sitting down for at least an hour everyday and putting something to paper. Even if it’s awful.

3. Have you always enjoyed writing?

I have always liked to write. I did get some pretty good grades in English class in High School — and wrote several short stories which earned me A’s. Short stories are really not my thing. As you can see, I’m wordy. LOL

4. Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what?

It’s funny. I love music. But I write in silence. I am to easily distracted to listen to anything while I write. Song lyrics do inspire a lot of my writing. Certain songs and artists. But, when I sit down to write, I don’t have anything playing.

5. How long did it take to write Different Roads?

From the first words to final editing, a little over two months. It wrote itself most of the time. I loved writing it and couldn’t wait to sit down to the computer and start talking to Jaq and the gang.

6. What kind of books do you like to read? Has this effected the type of books you like to write?

Honestly, Stephenie Meyer and the whole Twilight craze is what inspired me to start reading again. I devoured everything paranormal that I could get my hands on for awhile. I don’t read much paranormal anymore. Then I read my first New Adult book, (Slammed by Colleen Hoover), and I was hooked on the NA genre. It has affected the type of books I like to write. I prefer to read NA and so that’s what I prefer to write.

7. If Different Roads was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters?

I honestly never thought about that. I would have a really hard time deciding. That’s something the readers would be better at than me.

8. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors out there?

Read everything you can get your hands on. Good, bad, in-between. It’s good to emulate a style, but never let anyone try to change your voice. It’s you. It’s unique. Once you get the voice, the mechanics of writing will evolve through practice. Write your book, re-read and edit it about a million times. Read it out loud. Then, hire a good editor to work with. Whether you choose to self-publish or go the traditional route, you want to make sure you put the best product you possibly can out there for people to read. Never give up, either. If you believe in yourself others will also believe. Where would we be if J.K. Rowling would have listened to the people who told her no one wanted to read about a boy wizard?

9. Would you like to say anything to your readers?

Thank you for reading my books. Seriously, it sounds trite, but it’s true. I love hearing from my readers!

10. And lastly, do you have any other exciting projects coming up?

I am currently working on a New Adult novel. It goes to the editor the first part of June and I’m crazy busy getting it written and editor ready. It’s about a female lead singer in a rock band who is involved in an accident which leaves her speechless. Permanently. The working title is I Breathe You. Watch for a cover reveal to come over the next few weeks.

About Author:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

I read, I write, I run 1/2 marathons for fun. Ten things about me:

1. I’m an only child.
2. I love dogs!
3. I was born in Iowa City, Iowa and lived in Iowa my whole life until January 2007.
4. I worked as a professional psychic reader for 2 years.
5. I’m a Pisces Sun, Leo Moon with Aquarius rising.
6. I’ve written 5 books and am in the process of brainstorming a 6th.
7. I don’t look or act my age!
8. I ran my first 1/2 marathon at age 50.
9. I love 80’s hair band music.
10. My day job is as a claims payment analyst for one of Fortune 500 Magazine’s “Top 100 places in America to work.”