Customer Reviews

The Rookie (Harlequin NASCAR)

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

 

 

Everyone knows opposites attract. You just never imagine yourself being half of one of those match-ups! So when you start with one rather rumpled rookie NASCAR driver who doesn't care much about appearances (except those that take place in the winner's circle) and add in a pampered-against-her-will supposedly rich girl who knows nothing about racing or doing PR work for a racing team, it seems unlikely at best that these two should come together. But they do! And how.

Maddie Felton has brains aplenty--she's just never been encouraged to use them. Her mother's death when Maddie was nine has caused repercussions in the family for the last fifteen or so years. Her father, Louis and brothers Dave and Steve have gone out of their way to shelter the little girl and protect her from life, and possibly even from herself. Dad is the owner of the Sleep EZ Motel chain which has signed on as a sponsor of the #76 car, driven by a promising rookie, Tucker 'Bed Head' Macray.

Now that she's an adult and wants to be on her own and prove she's capable of maintaining that lifestyle for herself, Dad thinks that maybe she could handle the PR work for the #76 car. How hard can that be, anyway? It's mostly a cream-puff type job, anyway, isn't it?

Not quite. Be part of the crew as these two young people from opposite sides of the track learn about racing and each other, abetted by the excitement of racing in the big-time world of NASCAR, visiting all the tracks, and the unbelievable popularity of the homespun young rookie, along with the ladies that come with him (not by his request, you understand) plus the rampant jealousies that exist in such tight quarters, and you'll find yourself in the middle of an engaging story that gains and holds your interest until the final checkered flag.

This was a good book with well developed plot. However, it's completed G rated, Disney version of a harlequin with barely a kiss scene.

Maddie Felton has let her overprotective father and brothers keep her from becoming independent for too long. When she asks to join the family business, she is expecting something small, for example a PR job. Instead she gets to be the liason between her father's business and the NASCAR driver they are sponsoring. Tucker Macray believes NASCAR driving saved his life. No way will he let some spoiled rich girl/rookie-around-the-track mess up his concentration. Too bad he cannot get Maddie's ginger hair or amber colored eyes out of his head.

There were many things I loved about this book:
- Tucker was average in looks. Let's face it, most NASCAR drivers are not gorgeous. I know most of us daydream about tall,dark, and handsome but Tucker's appearance made this novel feel so much more realistic. And thus more enjoyable.
- Maddie was independent and efficient. She did not whine when things went wrong, when she was accused of playing a trick that could have killed Tucker, or when her family kept thinking she was just like her unstable mother.
- Tucker and Maddie helped each other grow emotionally. They were better people because of one another.

The few things I did not like include:
- Both main characters' love for silence. Okay, sitting on the balcony is nice occasionally but, as a favorite pastime, it is dull.
- Tucker made a huge mistake but did not fully make it up to Maddie, at least not in my opinion.

I truly enjoyed this book. If you are a fan or racing oriented romance, this is a good pick.

Over the objections of her two older brothers, wealthy Maddy Felton is elated that her businessman father has placed her in charge of public relations for their rookie NASCAR driver, Tucker Macray. This is her first job ever and her knowledge of NASCAR is noisy and dirty.

Maddy gets off to a bad start with Tucker when she recommends he sees her stylist to fix his hair, which she realizes is why he is called "Bed Head Macray." However, as they go around the Atlanta Speedway together with his hair a mess and she proving to be a klutz, they fall in love.

Although this reviewer agrees with Maddy's siblings that she should not be in charge of PR for Tucker as the only business she has run is credit card bills for other businesses, THE ROOKIE is a fine contemporary NASCAR romance. The lead pairing of the rich girl who never gets down and dirty getting down and dirty for the driver who never has a strand of hair in place ready to go to the salon for her makes for a fun team. Fans will enjoy their laps around the speedway with their hearts racing as they find an oval path to love.

Harriet Klausner