I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
The Chase
by
Erin McCarthy
contemporary romance in Paperback edition that was published by Berkley on April 5, 2011 and has 280 pages.
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Other books by this author which I have reviewed include High Stakes, My Immortal, Bit the Jackpot, An Enchanted Season, Fallen, The Taking, Bad Boys of Summer, Bled Dry, Flat-Out Sexy, Sucker Bet, Hard and Fast, Hot Finish, When Good Things Happen to Bad Boys, First Blood, Slow Ride, The Night Before Christmas, Out of the Light, and into the Shadows, Jacked Up, A Date with the Other Side, Heiress for Hire, Bad Boys in Black Tie, True, Seeing is Believing, Believe, Shatter, Sweet, Burn, Gone with the Ghost, Murder Drama with Your Llama
Fourth in the Fast Track racing romance series based on a group of drivers on the stock car circuit and set in North Carolina. The couple focus is on Evan Morgan and Kendall Holbrook.
My Take
It’s an interesting look behind-the-scenes of stock car racing at the PR considerations as well as the unique perspective we get from Kendall as the lone woman.
It’s role reversal time as Evan is the one who wants the relationship. Wants to get married. And Kendall is the one who’s more interested in her career and just having a good time. It certainly was sweet of Evan to give Kendall the lowdown, opening her eyes to the realities of driver commodities. I certainly enjoyed the improved dialogue on their commercial shoot!
I’m giving this a “4” primarily for the unique take McCarthy is using in her switch with the usual gender roles.
The Story
There’s a reason we have friends as Kendall Holbrook finds out. Tuesday Jones is determined that Kendall and Evan have it out as to why they broke up 10 years ago. Especially when she learns just how Kendall broke it off and the torch Evan still carries.
Seems that all of Evan’s friends and family knows how he feels, and it’s a watchful crowd as Evan maneuvers around Kendall’s fears. The past has had a major effect on Kendall and her attitude. But when Evan breaks the ice, Kendall isn’t that reluctant to take advantage. It’s afterwards that she backs off fast.
Then it’s back and forth in their personal lives as well as their business lives as Eve sticks her oar in to her detriment, and Carl has his own restrictions that he lays down. Unfortunately for Carl, he’s forgetting the personalities of his own drivers.
The Characters
Evan Morgan is having a lousy season on the stock car circuit; even worse, Kendall Holbrook has just made it onto the team as a driver, and he still hasn’t gotten over her dumping him 10 years ago.
Kendall Holbrook has a chip on her shoulder bigger’n Texas. She wants to be taken seriously on the stock car circuit and not have to play to being a woman. Tuesday Talladega is the nom de plume for Tuesday Jones (I was wrong…), Kendall’s best friend who writes a racing blog focused on the social antics of the racing crowd. Tuesday has no brake on her mouth. Frankie Halliday is Kendall’s personal assistant with a eye for what’s good for her boss.
Carl owns Hinder Motors and drivers and publicists alike are sure to keep him happy so they can stay on the team. Eve is Evan’s sister and has her own bête noir.
Sara is a complication when she shows up pregnant. Nikki’s friend, she came along on the camping trip Ty set up in Hot Finish. Cameo appearances with Ryder, Hunter, and Ty and Imogene with our own introduction to Kendall’s family. They certainly didn’t help with that chip on her shoulder. Elec and Tamara play a small but pivotal role.
The Cover and Title
The cover would have been sexy except for the guy’s bare chest. Yeah, it’s muscled but in a plasticky Ken-and-Barbie kind of style. Leaning against a yellow stock car in his brand new dark blue jeans, he’s got an arm around a jeans-clad, cropped tank wearing woman.
The title is a bit of a misnomer as both parties involved are trying so hard to not Chase each other.
