Publication Date: 12/03/2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Sensation
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0425261743
ISBN-13: 978-0425261743
(Received for an honest review from Berkley Sensation)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound
Erin McCarthy on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads
Books in the series:
Flat-Out Sexy (2008), Hard and Fast (2009), Hot Finish (2010), The Chase (2011), Slow Ride (2011), Jacked Up (2012), Full Throttle (2013)
Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.
Excerpt from Full Throttle, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.
Synopsis:
Easing into the turns…
As one of only two girls on the tween racing circuit, Shawn Hamby has always run with a fast crowd. But now at thirty-two, she doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone. And she definitely doesn’t need a man bossing her around off of the track…
Putting the pedal to the metal…
But after a silly girls’ night at a fetish club, Shawn can’t get Rhett Ford out of her mind. He’s younger than her, and he’s her best friend’s brother-in-law, which should be red flags. Rhett is looking for someone to lead in bed, but he can’t imagine that Shawn would ever submit to him. Boldly surrendering is more her style. And with Rhett behind the wheel, it’s going to be one wild ride…
Thoughts:
Full Throttle is the seventh book in Erin McCarthy's Fast Track series featuring the racing world. Fast paced and humor laden, this novel packs a real punch. Readers who love steamy love scenes and an arranged marriage plot worthy of historical romance, will love this contemporary spin on a great theme. McCarthy knows how to write strong female characters and she gives readers just what they are looking for in Full Throttle. A great addition to the series!
What I liked:
This was my first read from Erin McCarthy and I was definitely pleased. McCarthy gives us a very strong female lead in Shawn Hambly. A woman who is used to being a part of a man's world. She has a wild side and isn't afraid of what she wants and needs, in and out of the bedroom. I liked the fact that she was head strong, business savvy and in control. But she showed a lot of vulnerability when Rhett becomes the one in the drivers seat.
Rhett has a kinky side. Shawn actually meets him in a fetish club. What's more, he is the brother-in-law of her best friend. He is a complicated man, but loyal and trustworthy. I liked the fact that McCarthy makes him dominant but not overbearing. He understands how to use that quality to his advantage. I liked that he wanted to help Shawn out with her problem and that he was the one that decided he didn't want things to end. That was a nice change in roles in my opinion and McCarthy does well with it.
The two of these characters combined was nothing less than explosive. The love scenes were steamy and are sure to get readers a little hot and bothered. Though they get graphic, I don't think they cross the line into erotica. I liked the energy that pulsed off of this couple, it was electrifying. McCarthy does a fantastic job of making these two passionate characters come to life. Her characterizations were spot on, to what I thought they should be, a strong woman, living and working in a man's world and a dominant man who knows how to please a woman.
The marriage of convenience theme is certainly one of my favorites in historical romance. I was surprised to find it here in a contemporary novel. I liked the way McCarthy uses this theme and how it brings the hero and heroine together. I thought she made it believable and realistic, if perhaps not a great idea! LOL... I loved the humorous situations it provided and the girl talk between Eve and Shawn about the circumstances and the overall outcome was great.
What I didn't like:
This book was set in a racing world. As some of you may know I am a huge NASCAR fan and even used to write for an online magazine about the racing scene, so I was excited about the setting for this. The dirt track raceway provided the background for the story and even the conflict in the stipulation to Shawn's grandfather's will, but that was about it. There was not much on the track action going on and I felt a bit disappointed by that. My only criticism is that I wanted a more balanced story between Shawn's career and her love life.
Bottom Line:
Despite the lack of racing tidbits and info, I still think this was an excellent book. McCarthy writes her characters with passion and strength. I liked the fact that Shawn doesn't have to back down to find love with Rhett and that he accepted her strong minded personality. I also liked that Rhett was dominant, but he had a soft side as well. Overall a very well written book.
Full Throttle is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag.
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