Road Tripped by Nicole Archer Review

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5 Smooches!

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Synopsis

What’s worse than losing everything? Try driving a phallic-shaped RV across the country with a vile womanizing coworker.

Copywriter Callie Murphy has a bad attitude, a vicious tongue, and a serious aversion to Shimura Advertising’s resident manwhore, Walker Rhodes. Know where he can stick his good looks and Southern charm? She can think of a few creative places. Avoiding him wouldn’t be a problem, except her boss threatens to fire her if she doesn’t go along with him on their RV client’s cross-country tour.

Burnt-out art director, Walker, is sick of his job, tired of women, and in a big old creative rut. The upcoming client road trip is just what he needs to shake things up and rediscover his lost passion. But his plans go south when his partner drops out at the last minute, and Callie, the foul-mouthed tiny terror, takes her place. Unless he can find a way to thaw his icy coworker, he’s looking at two month’s of pure hell.

On the road, they experience one hilarious misadventure after another and soon find themselves on a life-changing journey. But when their paths veer off in different directions, will they hit a dead end?


Road-Tripped is a stand-alone novel and the first book in the Ad Agency Series.
Adult language and situations.

 

REVIEW

This is my first time reading anything by Nicole Archer, and shoo… let me tell you, people, I was truly impressed with this author and this book. Immediately upon finishing, I sent an IM to my blogger bosses, Amie and Miranda, to tell them that they needed to read this book—not sure they believed me, so I’m hoping that this review will convince them that I’m not fooling around here. I’m going to start this review out a bold statement, perhaps the boldest statement that I’ve ever made in a review. Ready? Here we go: Road-Tripped by Nicole Archer is unquestionably among—possibly even THE—best written romantic comedy I have ever read. Yep. See, I told you, bold. Read on, and I’ll explain why.

First off, I was astonished by, well, pretty much everything about this book. I mean, this is her debut novel. Seriously?! With how well written this book was, how richly developed and well plotted the story was and how completely fleshed out the characters were, it would not have surprised me in the slightest if I Googled Nicole Archer and found a backlist of 763 books. Everything about this story just jumped off the page, almost taking on life, as if it were happening around me. And then there were the unique little finishing details, often overlooked by much more seasoned authors, that were meticulously chosen for inclusion and did their parts well to enhance the overall reading experience. Things like the well placed, quirky and oh-so-fitting little quotes interspersed within the chapters to break up scenes or the exceptionally thoughtful and really kicka$$ playlist. I always check an author’s playlist out should one be included in a book; sometimes I’ll listen and sometimes I won’t, but this particular playlist provided the absolute perfect soundtrack (I mean, hello! The Stones?! ELO?!! Rupert Holmes!! – FABULOUS!) to this phenomenal romcom and is totally worth the listen.

The heroine, Callie Murphy, was a filter-less, foul-mouthed, feisty woman who doesn’t hesitate to speak her mind, and I have to say, I loved this about her. She’s got one heck of a fiery temper, and as a woman fresh off a devastating break up that culminated in a frantic half-country relocation, she’s a touch on the angry side. She does have a tendency to let her sarcastic tongue do the talking for her, and it can lash out whip-quick with snarky, biting commentary that skirts right there on the edge of mean-girl viciousness. A copywriter working for her friend’s ad agency in New York, she’s been assigned to a client’s cross-country camper campaign, and Callie is none-too-pleased at her road trip partner pairing.

Walker Rhodes is man on the edge. Or in this case, the verge – of quitting his job. He is d-o-n-e, DONE. It turns out that the office’s rumored manwhore has a true calling in life, and it is photography. This cross-country camper trip desperately appeals to him as the much-desired chance to get his creative juices flowing again by getting out there on the road with his camera. Gentlemanly and so handsome he renders much of the female population stupid with his good looks, Walker is actually a really great guy, albeit a bit misunderstood. He needs this trip, and he’s not going to let it be ruined by Callie.

This book was positively brimming with laugh-out-loud moments and so much hilarity, it’s nearly impossible for me to pick one, two or even three top favorite moments. The banter between Callie and Walker was the stuff of Hollywood-movie scripts. The creative license the author took with the English language in coining her own words and phrases never failed to fill my eyes with tears of laughter. I can guarantee some of those words will become permanent fixtures in my vocabulary, so thanks for that Ms. Archer.

I loved Callie and Walker together. Both of them began this trip a bit world weary, a bit jaded in their own ways and definitely not looking for romance and certainly not with–gasp!–each other. They had to first bridge an uneasy, cantankerous work relationship to friendship, which they did spectacularly, before it morphed into more. Ultimately, though, what they found on that trip, and in each other, is what great romcoms are all about, and I couldn’t help but root for them.

Nicole Archer is an incredibly talented author, and she used her words carefully, chose them precisely, and in doing so, she was able to paint vividly detailed pictures of not only the places they visited, but the entire story. This book was so smart, it was so very witty, it was charmingly sweet yet somehow complex and it was very sexy. I honestly had no expectations going into this book, beyond just hoping that I’d at least enjoy it. Well color me surprised, because I can honestly say that I not only thoroughly enjoyed this book, but it was also well beyond anything I expected. I was so truly impressed by Nicole Archer’s writing, and Road-Tripped was absolutely everything I hope for and want in a romantic comedy. This book was a brilliant breath of fresh air! Without question, it very deservedly and wholeheartedly gets 5 smooches from me!

~ Danielle Palumbo

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1 comment

    • Lena on September 15, 2016 at 10:05 AM

    Stumbled onto your blog a few days ago and can already tell that it’s going to be my favourite. Read road tripped yesterday and really enjoyed it. Keep the great reviewing up, it’s really appreciated here. 🙂

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