Thrill of the Chase [Kindle Edition]

Christina Crooks (Author)

Book Description

Sarah's a whiz at tuning engines and winning races. Winning Craig, the local drag race hero, proves more difficult. He only has eyes for gorgeous women who are hot in the sack, not grubby tomboys. Sarah’s world gets an overhaul when her father hires Gordon. Soon she’s torn not only between two men she wants, but between the drag race winner she is and the woman she feels pressured to become.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Sarah Matell isn't a run-of-the-mill romance heroine. She works as a technician in her father's California automotive speed shop, dresses and acts like a guy, and lives for drag racing. Anything female, from makeup to chick flicks, is an anathema to her. Sarah's one concession is her years-long crush on a fellow race-car driver, Craig Keller. Although they are only good friends, she fantasizes that one day she'll outrace him and he'll magically look at her as the love of his life. Meanwhile, Sarah is the apple of her father's eye, but things change when he hires Gordon Devine. Gordon has big plans, and he and Sarah do not get along. Despite the friction, Gordon asks Sarah to drive a prototype he's developed. She'll do anything to win, and soon everything begins to spiral out of control. Impulsive and spoiled, Sarah is both enjoyable and annoying, and readers will sympathize with Gordon in this atypical, up-to-the-minute contemporary romance. 
-- Maria Hatton -- Booklist Review, October 1, 2007

"When I got to the end of Thrill of the Chase, I wanted more. I wasn't ready to let go of Sarah and her world." - The Book Vixen

"There is some great racing action and great character-development on the part of the three main characters. It was really a joy to watch develop." - Crystal, My Reading Room

"Thrill of the Chase is a high octane ride that will throw you for a loop." - J. Thomas, The Long and the Short Of It Reviews

"Let me tell you now that the fun is in the Thrill of the Chase." - Lil, Love Romances and More

Product Details

• File Size: 493 KB
• Print Length: 872 pages
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B003GDJI38
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #280,196 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Racing, romance and great characters December 3, 2010

By Crystal Fulcher VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

First up I will confess I am a NASCAR junkie. This book takes place in the drag racing world. Do you need to have a knowledge of any type of racing to understand or like this book. No, absolutely not. Will you like it if you do have an interest in the racing world, yes, sure. I know little about Drag Racing, it is completely different from NASCAR, but I was never lost in this book. The main thing to realize is no matter what the type of racing it is - it's still a man's sport (and yes I do know Danica Patrick races Indy, but she is an exception) and that is the key to this book.

Sarah is a tomboy - she's grown up in her dad's racing shop and she drag races everytime she gets a chance. She's also been in love with her best friend and fellow racer Craig for forever, she's just waiting for him to notice her as well. Then comes the proverbial monkey wrench (I know poor pun), and he comes in the form of handsome Gordon who is helping out at her dad's shop. When Sarah turns to Gordon for advice on how to be more desirable to a man, she suddenly isn't sure where she stands anymore on who she is attracted to.

Then the story progresses and I don't want to give anything away. I will say the story is well-paced. The sexual tension is perfect, you never quite figure out which man she really wants as she can't figure it out. There is some great racing action and great character-development on the part of the three main characters. It was really a joy to watch develop. This is a great romance and I look forward to reading more of Christina's books in the future.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great romance with a drag racing theme! September 30, 2010

By Lauren Hidden

Format:Kindle Edition

Sarah Mattell is a college dropout who decided she'd rather get her hands dirty in her father's auto repair shop than earn a degree. Drag racing is her passion, and on the track, she enjoys the adrenaline rush of winning, along with the challenge of trying to steer the handsome Craig Keller's attention away from the so-called tracksluts. When Sarah's soon-to-retire father, Red, hires Gordon Devine to bump up the profitability of the shop, Sarah resents Gordon's intrusion into "her business." Gordon isn't too thrilled with this tomboy-with-an-attitude either.

Competitive Sarah moves her racing up another level, starts to admire Gordon's intelligence and competence, and struggles between her pull to be one of the guys and her desire to get in touch with her feminine side. Some sparks fly between her and Gordon, and she wins the attention of Craig, all while her racing career takes off. As some drama ensues, she tries to decide the intentions of each man, and more importantly, what she wants for herself and in a relationship.

Though I found this book had a bit of a slow start, after the first few chapters, I couldn't put it down. The characters believable and complete with flaws, the love scenes passionate, the heroine a strong, feminine figure, and there were enough detours from predictability in plot to keep me interested. Drag racing fans will especially enjoy this book. You really felt like you were at the track!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Thrill of the Chase reviewed by The Book Vixen November 8, 2010

By The Book Vixen

Format:Hardcover

Why I Read this Book: Most of you don't know this but I'm a bit of a gear head. I took 3 years of auto shop in high school, graduated from a 2-year brand-specific trade school and worked in the industry for 13 years (now I'm a stay at home mom). So naturally, when I came across Thrill of the Chase, which features not only a romance story but a chick who's into and works on cars, I knew I had to read this book.

What I Liked: I really enjoyed reading Thrill of the Chase. I loved the love triangle, the tension - lots of built-up tension - and the cars and racing.

Sarah is one of the guys and knows how to mingle with the best of them:

"'The `ho is on the flo',' she announced, trotting past the small group of men gathered around the engine stand gazing at a shiny small-block motor."

And no matter how hard she tried to be more feminine, her inner tomboy always came through:

"She painted her lips "Ripe Berry Red" with more accuracy than she'd managed yet, dropped the tube into the small black tool-bag that she was using as a purse, and opened the door with what she hoped was a serene smile."

Sarah is my kind of girl. Sarah is driven and passionate and when she has her mind set on something she's going for it. She loves to drag race and nothing makes her happier. She's been in love with a fellow racer, Craig, who doesn't see her more than just one of the guys. She's determined that he's the one and tries to gain his attention by pulling out all the stops.

Sarah can definitely hold her own in this male dominated world working as the lead technician in her father's shop. Just when things are looking up, her father hires Gordon to manage the shop (and Sarah). She doesn't take to his superiority well and the two continually bump heads. These two don't seem to see eye to eye on anything. Then Sarah realizes she's attracted to Gordon.

What I Didn't Like: There were a few parts in the storyline where the transition from one scene to another were a bit disjointed. There was one part in particular where I had to go back and re-read it a few times and it still didn't make sense to me.

Overall Impression: Thrill of the Chase is a story about pushing limits and going after what you want, even if the risks are high. There's a lot of shop talk and car jargon but don't let that shy you away from this book. When I got to the end of Thrill of the Chase, I wanted more. I wasn't ready to let go of Sarah and her world.

More About the Author

Christina Crooks is a multi-published author with books for sale in print, electronic and audio editions. Her novels have been published by Kensington, Samhain, Five Star/Cengage, and Books in Motion Audiobooks. Christina currently lives in Portland, Oregon. Her books Rough Play, Hands On, Sweet and Dirty, L.A. Caveman, and Thrill of the Chase are available.

Visit Christina at her website, www.christinacrooks.com.