Seventeen-year-old Emily reluctantly plans a visit to her biological father, who chose his motorcycle-club family over being a real dad. During her extended stay, she falls in love with aspiring Reign of Terror member Oz while searching for clues to her own past. A steamy love story helps overcome a somewhat thin suspense plot in this series-opener. (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

The bad boy and the good girl are staples of romantic fiction, and with feuding motorcycle gangs and secret family histories added in, McGarry has a solid basis for sizzling drama. Emily is a bundle of nerves after a traumatic childhood, and she prefers a safe, predictable life far from Eli her biological father and a member of the Reign of Terror, a motorcycle club that provides security for truckers. Despite her mother's aversion to her biker past, they attend the funeral of Eli's mother. When a rival club tries to snatch Emily, she is brought into the inner circle for protection and soon realizes her mother and Eli have kept secrets from her. Oz, romantic-interest-to-be, is assigned to guard Emily, but he is prickly over her dismissal of biker culture and of Eli, whom he idolizes. As they fall in love, their world views open to new possibilities. This first in the Thunder Road series has likable characters, brisk pacing, and, of course, plenty of steamy scenes.--Hutley, Krista Copyright 2015 Booklist

Launching the Thunder Road series, McGarry (Breaking the Rules) takes her signature brand of dramatic YA romances to the edgy world of motorcycle clubs. Seventeen-year-old Emily barely knows her biological father until circumstances force her to spend the summer with him in the small town of Snowflake, Ky. There, she becomes immersed in biker culture-her father is a high-ranking member of the Reign of Terror, a club that claims to emphasize family and legitimacy over crime and violence. As things heat up with a rival group, Emily is assigned protection: Oz, a sexy guy who has long dreamed of joining the Reign. If he keeps Emily out of trouble, he's in. Opposites attract, and steamy chemistry overrides common sense, leading to an illicit romance that won't end well if their parents find out. The core relationship sizzles and sparks with every glance and touch, and the underlying plot is solid. However, much of the story revolves around the deliberate and frustrating withholding of vital information from a clueless Emily, instead of straightforward answers. Ages 14-up. Agent: Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Gr 9 Up-Emily's world is just the way she thinks she wants it to be.calm, normal, and filled with the love of her mother and stepfather. She denies an interest in Eli's world, her biological father, who is an important member of the Reign of Terror motorcycle gang. While she does seem to have some questions about Eli, Emily doesn't want to explore her dad's world in any depth. When her parents tell her she will be attending Eli's mother's wake, she is not thrilled, but agrees to go. There, she is thrown into a world of feuding motorcycle gangs, family secrets, and complicated feelings for a young man named Oz. One quick visit turns into an extended trip as the teen tries to unravel the mysteries of her parents' pasts, learning her place in two communities, and investigating her growing feelings for Oz. Emily starts to discover there may be more to life than her protected version. McGarry adeptly splits the narrative between the two protagonists and creates a story that readers will not want to put down. VERDICT This novel will be enjoyed by teens looking for a romantic and thrilling escape.-Jessica Strefling, Pepperdine School of Law Library, CA © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.