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jetenold's review
4.0
I liked it. I also liked that the heroine wasn't perfect and had confidence and image issues.
shannon_cocktailsandbooks's review
4.0
I'm not a racing fan and generally don't get into racing books, but this was one that snatches you by the shirt and pulls you in.
Tracey Bradshaw is a young woman trying to get her life back on track. Four years ago, she was at the top of her game as a race car driver until a freak accident almost killed her. She's spent those four years rehabbing her body and mind to get back to that place. And while she might be ready for racing, Tracey has other scars she has to deal with as an aftermath of the accident. She convinced herself that no one will ever want her because of her scars (thanks to her a-hole ex-fiance) so she builds up a wall to keep her heart safe. Too bad that wall not only keeps others out, but also locks Tracey in as well.
Mac Reynolds raced cars for Tracey's team owner until his own terrifying accident ended his career. To pay back a debt to the team owner, Mac agrees to be the Crew Chief for Tracey's team after her chief unexpectedly dies. He finds a kindred spirit in Tracey, but he's also dealing with his own issues of self worth and a wall of shame to hide behind.
Tracey and Mac were, at time, a very exhausting couple. As a reader, you could see how they fit, but the characters could see that so it made you want to scream and shake them until they caught up to you. And while their journey to get to their HEA was emotional and full of obstacles both of them threw in the way, it sometimes made me wonder why either of them would bother continuing on with the chase.
The secondary couple in the story, Matthew and Chelsea were a couple that I enjoyed and didn't have all the emotional baggage Tracey and Mac had. As a matter of fact, when we got the the point of the book where we found out who was behind everything, it was Matthew and Chelsea that had you turning the pages to find out what happened next.
I always like when a book unexpectedly pull me in and this one has all those elements that I like: characters that have really big issues, hot sex and a plot that keeps you guessing.
Tracey Bradshaw is a young woman trying to get her life back on track. Four years ago, she was at the top of her game as a race car driver until a freak accident almost killed her. She's spent those four years rehabbing her body and mind to get back to that place. And while she might be ready for racing, Tracey has other scars she has to deal with as an aftermath of the accident. She convinced herself that no one will ever want her because of her scars (thanks to her a-hole ex-fiance) so she builds up a wall to keep her heart safe. Too bad that wall not only keeps others out, but also locks Tracey in as well.
Mac Reynolds raced cars for Tracey's team owner until his own terrifying accident ended his career. To pay back a debt to the team owner, Mac agrees to be the Crew Chief for Tracey's team after her chief unexpectedly dies. He finds a kindred spirit in Tracey, but he's also dealing with his own issues of self worth and a wall of shame to hide behind.
Tracey and Mac were, at time, a very exhausting couple. As a reader, you could see how they fit, but the characters could see that so it made you want to scream and shake them until they caught up to you. And while their journey to get to their HEA was emotional and full of obstacles both of them threw in the way, it sometimes made me wonder why either of them would bother continuing on with the chase.
The secondary couple in the story, Matthew and Chelsea were a couple that I enjoyed and didn't have all the emotional baggage Tracey and Mac had. As a matter of fact, when we got the the point of the book where we found out who was behind everything, it was Matthew and Chelsea that had you turning the pages to find out what happened next.
I always like when a book unexpectedly pull me in and this one has all those elements that I like: characters that have really big issues, hot sex and a plot that keeps you guessing.
booklovinmamas's review
4.0
Full Review posted at A Book Lovin' Mama's Blog
I figured out towards the middle of the book who was behind trying to harm or kill Tracey. It was given away, but that didn’t stop me from reading it. I needed to find out if this person was finally going to be caught. It’s a dramatic ending, so be prepared for it. I loved how Dee J. Adams closed out this book and can’t wait for the next book in the series. I give this book four stars.
Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Adrenaline Highs series, but I believe these can be read as standalone. Each book follows a new couple in the series.
Steaminess: Very Steamy.
HEA: Yes
Trope: Enemies to Lovers; Workplace Romance
Would I recommend this book? Yes. I would recommend this book to readers who love Romantic Suspense and love sports romance, too. If you are a fan of race car driving, then this book is for you. I loved how this story had the heroine as the race car driver and how determined she was to prove herself. She never gave up.
I figured out towards the middle of the book who was behind trying to harm or kill Tracey. It was given away, but that didn’t stop me from reading it. I needed to find out if this person was finally going to be caught. It’s a dramatic ending, so be prepared for it. I loved how Dee J. Adams closed out this book and can’t wait for the next book in the series. I give this book four stars.
Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Adrenaline Highs series, but I believe these can be read as standalone. Each book follows a new couple in the series.
Steaminess: Very Steamy.
HEA: Yes
Trope: Enemies to Lovers; Workplace Romance
Would I recommend this book? Yes. I would recommend this book to readers who love Romantic Suspense and love sports romance, too. If you are a fan of race car driving, then this book is for you. I loved how this story had the heroine as the race car driver and how determined she was to prove herself. She never gave up.
emilyhei's review
4.0
Race Car Driver Trace Bradshaw was at the top of her game when a horrible crash halted her future. Despite the odds, Trace was never one to give up, four years later she is ready to reenter the racing world and prove she is a serious contender in racing.
As a favor Mac Reynolds has agreed to be the team leader to Trace's team. The friction is instant, Trace likes having things done her way but Mac is no slacker and his only goal is to get Trace to the finish line. When it becomes apparent someone is trying to sabotage Trace, Mac is by her side but he has his own demons that need to be confronted in order to have any type of future with Trace.
Several surprises in this one. I actually have read the third and fourth in the series and not sure if that wavered my thoughts on this book because you do know a bit about the main characters. I thought this was good and can see where the series gets better with each new addition. Trace is not the softest of characters but I think that is because she is driven for a young woman and has not really experienced the normal adolescence you would normally have.
As a favor Mac Reynolds has agreed to be the team leader to Trace's team. The friction is instant, Trace likes having things done her way but Mac is no slacker and his only goal is to get Trace to the finish line. When it becomes apparent someone is trying to sabotage Trace, Mac is by her side but he has his own demons that need to be confronted in order to have any type of future with Trace.
Several surprises in this one. I actually have read the third and fourth in the series and not sure if that wavered my thoughts on this book because you do know a bit about the main characters. I thought this was good and can see where the series gets better with each new addition. Trace is not the softest of characters but I think that is because she is driven for a young woman and has not really experienced the normal adolescence you would normally have.
lizabethstucker's review
3.0
Four years ago, Tracey Bradshaw was in a horrific wreck caused by an unknown man throwing an oil-filled balloon onto the track during practice. Her struggle to return to racing, not gone into here, was long, but successful. Unfortunately it appears that someone doesn't want her to race again.
After the death of Trace's Chief Engineer and team lead, the company owner brings in former race car driver Mac Reynolds to replace him. Sparks fly between headstrong Trace and rule-making Mac. More and more incidents have the pair uniting to investigate what is happening and who is behind it.
Meanwhile, Chelsea Harding is given a tip to check out the newest up-and-comer in the racing circuit. Could she have found her long-lost twin sister? She certainly hopes so, but she definitely didn't expect to find love herself.
The premise was intriguing and definitely had its moments. What was missing was the chemistry needed in a romance. I just found it hard to see Mac and Trace making it as a couple. In many ways, this smacked of an older story, say one from the 1980s to early 1990s, rather than one published in 2011. Perhaps that is when it was written, or perhaps it is just the influence of books from that time, but it just didn't jibe for me.
I think that there was also just too much crammed into one 290 page book. Racing with sabotage, check. Missing twin sister, check. Two concurrent romances, check. Older hero, virgin heroine, check. Sadly obvious villain with mundane reasons to be the bad guy, check. Miscommunications and misunderstandings, check. Honestly, the best parts were on the track itself.
A lot of potential here, but I truly believe that the story would've been improved if the focus had been the suspense rather than the romance. It takes a deft hand to do romantic suspense properly which is why there are so few authors who are successful at it. 3 out of 5.
After the death of Trace's Chief Engineer and team lead, the company owner brings in former race car driver Mac Reynolds to replace him. Sparks fly between headstrong Trace and rule-making Mac. More and more incidents have the pair uniting to investigate what is happening and who is behind it.
Meanwhile, Chelsea Harding is given a tip to check out the newest up-and-comer in the racing circuit. Could she have found her long-lost twin sister? She certainly hopes so, but she definitely didn't expect to find love herself.
The premise was intriguing and definitely had its moments. What was missing was the chemistry needed in a romance. I just found it hard to see Mac and Trace making it as a couple. In many ways, this smacked of an older story, say one from the 1980s to early 1990s, rather than one published in 2011. Perhaps that is when it was written, or perhaps it is just the influence of books from that time, but it just didn't jibe for me.
I think that there was also just too much crammed into one 290 page book. Racing with sabotage, check. Missing twin sister, check. Two concurrent romances, check. Older hero, virgin heroine, check. Sadly obvious villain with mundane reasons to be the bad guy, check. Miscommunications and misunderstandings, check. Honestly, the best parts were on the track itself.
A lot of potential here, but I truly believe that the story would've been improved if the focus had been the suspense rather than the romance. It takes a deft hand to do romantic suspense properly which is why there are so few authors who are successful at it. 3 out of 5.
jadeshea's review
3.0
I thought this book was going to be about a women race car driver dealing with a stalker. While part of that statement is true, I was wrong, it was a whole lot more than just that.
It starts out with Tracey almost dying in a crash in her race car. Four years later she's back to win the race that almost took her life before. But things change when people start dying, and new people come out of Tracey's past that she never knew about.
This book was good. I enjoyed it, a lot but at times I felt like it was almost rushed, and that something was just missing to make it a really good book.
The characters are very easy to relate to, and I love the romance between the main two characters. This book also had a second romance that we get to see, so it was like a "double" dose of romance in this story. It was wonderful. I also enjoyed the fact that Trace was a female race car driver. That just made the story even better, because I've never read a book about a girl racing before, and I loved it.
It starts out with Tracey almost dying in a crash in her race car. Four years later she's back to win the race that almost took her life before. But things change when people start dying, and new people come out of Tracey's past that she never knew about.
This book was good. I enjoyed it, a lot but at times I felt like it was almost rushed, and that something was just missing to make it a really good book.
The characters are very easy to relate to, and I love the romance between the main two characters. This book also had a second romance that we get to see, so it was like a "double" dose of romance in this story. It was wonderful. I also enjoyed the fact that Trace was a female race car driver. That just made the story even better, because I've never read a book about a girl racing before, and I loved it.
franjessca's review
4.0
Full Review posted at A Book Lovin' Mama's Blog
I figured out towards the middle of the book who was behind trying to harm or kill Tracey. It was given away, but that didn’t stop me from reading it. I needed to find out if this person was finally going to be caught. It’s a dramatic ending, so be prepared for it. I loved how Dee J. Adams closed out this book and can’t wait for the next book in the series. I give this book four stars.
Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Adrenaline Highs series, but I believe these can be read as standalone. Each book follows a new couple in the series.
Steaminess: Very Steamy.
HEA: Yes
Trope: Enemies to Lovers; Workplace Romance
Would I recommend this book? Yes. I would recommend this book to readers who love Romantic Suspense and love sports romance, too. If you are a fan of race car driving, then this book is for you. I loved how this story had the heroine as the race car driver and how determined she was to prove herself. She never gave up.
I figured out towards the middle of the book who was behind trying to harm or kill Tracey. It was given away, but that didn’t stop me from reading it. I needed to find out if this person was finally going to be caught. It’s a dramatic ending, so be prepared for it. I loved how Dee J. Adams closed out this book and can’t wait for the next book in the series. I give this book four stars.
Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Adrenaline Highs series, but I believe these can be read as standalone. Each book follows a new couple in the series.
Steaminess: Very Steamy.
HEA: Yes
Trope: Enemies to Lovers; Workplace Romance
Would I recommend this book? Yes. I would recommend this book to readers who love Romantic Suspense and love sports romance, too. If you are a fan of race car driving, then this book is for you. I loved how this story had the heroine as the race car driver and how determined she was to prove herself. She never gave up.
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