Title: The World Traveler
Author: Claire Castle
Publisher: Amazon/Kindle Unlimited
Length: 234 Pages
Category: Contemporary
At a Glance: I recommend this one for those looking for a simple but enjoyable read, because that is what this book is.
Reviewed By: Carrie
Blurb: Charming Taylor Samuels doesn’t expect his sister’s video audition for the reality television show The World Traveler to result in anything. But when they’re chosen to compete, he can do nothing but hope for the best.
Adam Scott’s best friend wants them to try to get on The World Traveler, and so Adam reluctantly agrees to make him happy.
As the reality sets in that they’ll competing, Adam tries not to panic too much.
Little do they know that a twist in the show will see Taylor and Adam’s worlds collide in a way they never imagined.
Will everything go horribly wrong, or could this be the perfect beginning to a wonderful journey?
Review: Do you watch The Amazing Race? I’m a faithful, so when I found a book supposedly based on the premise of the race, I had to read it. Castle has created a fun read which uses the race as a literary vehicle in which to bring her two MCs together—two very different men from opposite sides of the country who would never have met if not being chosen to run the race. Just like The Amazing Race, The World Traveler is a race around the world. Teams of two are selected, and they travel from country to country completing “tasks” and overcoming obstacles to get to mini-finish lines which are established in each new country they travel to. Fail on your tasks or to overcome the preordained obstacles, and you are sent home if you are last on the mat at the end of the day.
Adam is running the race with his best friend, Anderson. Taylor is running the race with his sister Jessica. That is, until they report for the first day of the race and find out that this season features a “twist” that has the teams being split up and matched with other contestants. Suddenly things are looking up for these two guys, who were dragged onto the race originally. Taylor especially cannot believe his luck that the hottie from across the room is now his partner for the entire race. An almost kiss and insane physical attraction happen pretty much immediately, and that’s before they hit the starting line.
Adam’s best friend talks him into it. Who knew when he agreed to make the audition tape that they would actually be chosen? Not Adam, a guy who prefers his Kindle and watching the race on TV from his couch, with a beer in his hand. Adam calls himself adorkable, and that is pretty much what he is. Out and proud, his favorite t-shirts all have gay sayings on them. While being quiet is his norm, Adam has a quirky personality that really comes through the longer the race goes on. He’s not a pushover, and his strengths start to shine the longer he and Taylor race together.
Taylor is a workaholic. Starting a website design company with his sister has been his whole existence for a while now. When Jessica suggests they audition for the show The World Traveler, Taylor makes the audition tape as a way to appease his sister, not really thinking anything would come of it. Being thrown out by his father for being gay means Taylor keeps that knowledge close to his vest—he’s not exactly in the closet, but he’s standing in the doorway, for sure. Part of the problem is Taylor has never found someone worth coming out for…. Until he sees Adam.
This is a low angst, from insta-lust to insta-love story. It’s written in the alternating first person, so we get everyone’s thoughts and feelings right up front. On the whole the story paces well, and that is thanks to the premise of the race—there is always the next day or the next challenge for our MCs to overcome together. Make no mistake this is a romance not a sightseeing tour; the focus is on Adam and Taylor, not on the race, and I appreciated that.
I recommend this one for those looking for a simple but enjoyable read, because that is what this book is. Castle has a simplified writing style which you either appreciate or you don’t. There are no deep characterizations, but she sets her scenes well and the story does move—maybe a little too fast in terms of the connection between the MCs. Like I said, I do recommend this one for being a simple, cute love story that’s very easy to read.
You can buy The World Traveler here:
[zilla_button url=”http://authl.it/B07CWVYMHL?d” style=”blue” size=”large” type=”round” target=”_blank”] Amazon/Kindle Unlimited [/zilla_button]