Retro Friday is a weekly meme hosted at Angieville and focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc.

Riding her motorcycle from LA to Brooklyn, Jimi Hamilton needed an escape from her high pressure life as a paparazza. What she didn’t know was that she would be robbed of both her bike and her camera equipment on the way, and so close to her final destination. After tracking the thief and stealing something of his as the ultimate payback, Jimi may be in deeper distress than in the life she left behind.

Contractor Caleb is small town born and bred. Known for using fists to solve his problems, his chiseled and inked physique fits the profile. But Jimi does her best not to judge him, and when they first meet, she sees Caleb’s kind, harmless interior from his rough exterior. Although he may only have the care of limping, beaten Jimi on his mind, Caleb has his own skeletons in the closet, and big town Jimi just may be the girl to unleash them.

To be honest I didn’t know what to expect when I opened Whiskey Road by Karen Siplin. From the trite subtitle which may as well read “I’m a romance novel” to the ho-hum photo cover, I was receiving mixed messages. Thankfully it was not fluff, nor did it have spelled out sex scenes. In spite of the inherent violence in the plot, Whiskey Road is a quiet, character driven novel told in alternating perspectives. Caleb, Jimi, and their individual, complex pain are well drawn, and it’s refreshing to see both sides of their relationship equally as it develops. There are a few twists though and some action too for those who prefer more plot-driven novels.  Most rewarding is seeing how far they’ve come in the end, which doesn’t seem like much, but for people as broken and dysfunctional emotionally as Jimi and Caleb are, breaking the cycle of pain is often the hardest step and what makes their small leaps great bounds.

What I did like about the cover is that the model posing for Jimi is noticeably black. At first glance Caleb and Jimi are complete opposites in everything from race to class and economic status. Later, when we learn of their shared love for motorcycles, the gap begins to close. I don’t have any experience with the small town rural America who discriminates against Jimi for being black, a biker chick, and an outsider, but it felt alarmingly real. It’s sad to be reminded of how far we have not come, and how controversial black/white couples are still treated. There is also some serious creep factor in Caleb’s brother Morgan, who is an ex-con. I still shudder when I think of him. The subdued, sweet ending made up for it though, appropriately fitting the slow burn of Jimi and Caleb’s relationship. Overall, Whiskey Road is not-your-average contemporary romance in the best way. It was easy to fall into, it held my interest, and I closed it with a dreamy smile on my face. I’ll definitely be coming back for more, and I hope others will give this a try, too.

Note: I read this as a readalong with Chachic and Janice, who also posted their reviews today. Make sure to check them out!

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