Customer Reviews

Racing Hearts: A Calculated Risk\An Outside Chance\This Time Around (NASCAR Library Collection)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are 3 short stories in this book. Two are ok, but one is fabulous. It's worth buying the book for the one 5-star story.

5 stars for AN OUTSIDE CHANCE by Nancy Warren.

Enjoyable. Delightful. Funny. I was laughing out loud several times. I loved the two characters.

Story Brief:
Lucy is average looking. She dresses fashion show models. She's good at calming them down. Lucy is 32 and feeling like a spinster. She wants to get married and have children. She meets Dan online and goes to Florida to meet him in person. She is angry that Dan is married and lied to her. She meets Sawyer on the beach when she accidentally punches him as he is jogging by. Sawyer is new to NASCAR and is driving in his first race tomorrow. Lucy has a calming effect on Sawyer which he desperately needs, so he invites her to come to the track with him. Lucy believes Sawyer would never be interested in her because he has always dated celebrities and top models.

Reviewer's Opinion:
This story had me laughing out loud several times. A couple of times I was doubled over with laughter. That is so rare for me. I highly recommend this book just for this one short story. I love to laugh like that. It made my evening. This is not slapstick funny. The laughter came from comments or events happening that I wasn't expecting. I can't wait to try other books by this author.

I loved the characters Lucy and Sawyer. The story is a wonderful example of seeing how a relationship develops. It's fun watching Sawyer's actions and reactions to Lucy. Some fun things happened with his family as well.

Data:
Story length: 90 pages. Swearing language: none. Sexual language: none. Sex scenes: none. Setting: current day Daytona Beach, Florida. Copyright: 2010. Genre: humorous contemporary NASCAR romance.

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3 stars for A CALCULATED RISK by Vicki Lewis Thompson.

This was ok, kind of Harlequinish. Nothing really special enough to set it apart from typical romance stories.

Story Brief:
Roni is a mechanic for a NASCAR racing crew. She is in love with the crew chief Judd. Everyone knows this except Judd. She finally decides to fix her hair and dress like a woman to tempt him. He's tempted but he doesn't act on it. He thinks they should not be involved because they work together. Meanwhile, Judd and the driver Tucker have an unresolved conflict related to Tucker making a move on a girl Judd dated three months ago. This conflict could hurt their racing success, and the owner wants it resolved. Roni tries to help. There were no sex scenes, but one was referred to - told, not shown.

Data:
Story length: 112 pages. Swearing language: mild. Sexual language: none. Sex scenes: none. Setting: current day Daytona Beach, Florida. Copyright: 2010. Genre: contemporary NASCAR romance.

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2 ½ stars for THIS TIME AROUND by Dorien Kelly.

Not enough romantic relationship development. Conflicts were predictable.

Story Brief:
Megan is a NASCAR driver who drives for Matt Hammond. Chris is Matt's son. Chris and Matt had a problem and have not spoken to each other for 10 years. Megan and Chris meet, fall in love, and then separate. Megan doesn't know Chris is related to Matt. Chris comes to the race track to see Megan.

Reviewer's Opinion:
We don't get to see the couple's first meeting, getting to know each other, and developing a relationship. Megan breaks up with Chris because she thinks their relationship could not work with their lifestyles. This conflict due to Megan's inaccurate assumptions was not interesting for me. They are both miserable which is where this story begins. From here on, the story conflicts are predictable. Megan is mad at Chris for not telling her he is related to Matt. Chris and Matt have continuing conflicts carried over from prior years. The story was ok, but it was more about resolving these situations than developing and/or experiencing the romantic relationship. There were no sex scenes, but one was referred to - told, not shown.

Data:
Story length: 96 pages. Swearing language: mild. Sexual language: none. Sex scenes: none. Setting: current day Daytona Beach, Florida. Copyright: 2010. Genre: contemporary NASCAR romance.

Originally posted at [...]

Rubbin' is racin'.... so they say. Does that include rubbing to get the man or woman of your dreams? In NASCAR it sure does. But you'll need to read Racing Hearts.

Now I am a NASCAR/racing lover. If it's got four wheels and goes real fast around a track, then I'm all in. When I got this book, I couldn't wait to stat it. But sometimes anticipation dulls the luster of the story.

Harlequin puts out great material and I've loved the previous works by these authors. But in this grouping, I almost felt the stories were rushed into print in order to make them available for Valentine's Day. Is that bad? No, but each story could've been developed more and made into their own separate books.

The first story by Ms. Thompson drew me in quickly. Roni's a mechanic and Judd's the crew chief. She wants him, but he's kind of icy to her because he's not keen on relations between team members. I liked that the plot was plausible. Most workplaces don't encourage romantic fraternization. But where I was a tad confused was the relationship between Judd and Roni. She comes across a bit waffle-esque, like she'll change everything to be with him. I wanted to see a stronger heroine. When Judd has to come clean, it endeared me to him because I felt his inner turmoil. I liked Judd the best in the story.

Nancy Warren captivates me. She writes solid stories that will make you laugh out loud one minute and cry the next. This story is no different. Of the three, this was my favorite. Lucy is an average woman. There is nothing fabulous about her like regular romance heroines and that held my attention. I liked the tension between Sawyer and Lucy. She thinks he's one way, but he's really not and the development of the relationship between them is beautiful. Sawyer is one hunk of a man I couldn't forget. If you want a story that will bring out the best in NASCAR and romance, then this one is it.

The final story by Dorien Kelly left me a bit perplexed. The idea of the plot is tight and right on target. There was a relationship, but it's over. Now it's time to give it another try, but all involved are gun-shy. Okay, I can deal with that. What I had an issue with was the heroine's tendency to waffle. Megan wants to be with Chris. She's in love with him, but her over-thinking gets in the way. I wanted to clock her and say, honey, use your eyes and go with your gut. There is a lot of tension and strife in this story that bogged it down for me. Yes, love isn't always pretty, but then again, it doesn't have to be so complicated all the time.

Despite my reservations, the fact is: I enjoyed this book. So, if you want a trio of race stories guaranteed to make you want to learn more about stock car racing, then you need to read Racing Hearts. If you want romance to warm your heart, then you've found the right collection.

A sweet romance between Crew Chief Judd Timmons and his Car Chief Roni Kenway. Or should I say the newly improved Roni because for two years she had a crush on Judd and went to great lengths for him to notice her via a makeover A Calculated RisK is a great Valentines Day read by the very talented Vicki Lewis Thompson and features a crew dedicated to NASCAR and winning the race.

However, there's one problem, the young driver Tucker and Judd have a problem and it's affecting team. Judd's past girlfriend was nothing but trouble and played each against the other unbeknown to them. The crew has taken Judd's side in the situation and race day is soon approaching and tempers and words have been flying. On top of everything else Roni tries to run interference by setting up a meeting between the two men which leads to harsh words. Can this get solved before the big race? Will Roni get Judd's attention and start a relationship with him?

Clearly, the author has done her research into NASCAR racing. I really enjoyed Roni and Judd's story, it peaked my interest into the sport and I recently watched a race and enjoyed it. I adored the last chapters and how far Judd went to make things right with his driver and how their love story had a happy Valentines ending.

"A Calculated Risk" by Vicki Lewis Thompson. Nomex racing team mechanic Roni Kenway wants crew chief Judd "Iceman" Timmons in a bad way; so much so that she is even is using mascara. Her goal is to make her his Valentine by February Fourteenth though with each lack of reaction by him her hope of showering with him dims.

"An Outside Chance" by Nancy Warren. Behind the scenes fashion dresser nobody Lucy Vanderwal goes from New Jersey to Florida just because her aunt gave her a guidebook Last Chance for Love; Advice for the Over 30 Single Woman. The book encouraged her to take a chance over the net to hook up with Dan the cheater Krankill. Furious the six foot one inch Lucy throws a fist in the air and knocks down jogging NASCAR rookie driver Sawyer Patton, with a solid solar plexus shot. They both know they are attracted to one another, but he is a free wheeler and she believes her biological clock is ticking away.

"This Time Around" by Dorien Kelly. Right before a major race, Chris Donahue returns to town wanting to renew his romance with NASCAR driver Megan Carter. She had moved on so she thought until he came back. Complicating matters is his father is her boss; he does not want his driver and his son seeing one another.

These three NASCAR romantic novellas are fun lighthearted tales starring solid lead characters especially the kick butt women.

Harriet Klausner