Laura J’s review of Flat-Out Sexy by Erin McCarthy
Contemporary romance published by Berkley Sensation 4 Nov 08

Over the last couple of years there has been a surge in books based around the sport of stock car racing. Harlequin has a line of NASCAR books. Kimberly Raye and Pamela Britton have also released books featuring this very popular sport. Erin McCarthy has now jumped onto the scene with this latest featuring a rookie race car driver and the widow of a former race car driver. 

I’m so glad to that Ms. McCarthy is back to writing her contemporary romances. It’s been two years since her last one (I like her paranormals too, but her contemporaries will always be my favorites). Sybil couldn’t believe it took me a week to read this book, but after waiting for so long, I wanted to savor it for a while and after reading the first chapter I knew I didn’t want to rush through this one.

Having lost her husband to the sport two years ago, Tamara Briggs wants no part of a relationship with another driver. She is the mother of two young children and having them lose another father would not only devastate her children, but her as well. Tamara is one of the few heroines that I have read this year that I truly, truly liked. I have liked others, but Tamara felt like a real person. Her fears were real as well as her determination to move past them and feel like a woman again. It was not easy for her and a lot of that determination came after she met Elec and was able to see how he saw her and that he did mean all the things he was telling her.

Elec.  Well, what can I say about him. He is an amazing hero. Caring, tender, funny, patient, understanding, and, of course, flat-out sexy. He was willing to let Tamara direct the relationship to a point because he knew and understood her fears. While he respected those fears he would still gently nudge her toward a more open relationship with him, but even then, if he sensed her unease, he would back off. Elec is definitely in my top ten heroes for 2008.

I really loved all the characters in this book and I am looking forward to seeing more of them. Just in this book alone there is the potential for several more books (read this as I really WANT more books with these characters). The chemistry between Elec and Tamara was hot but tender at the same time as he slowly made her believe how beautiful she was.

There is a teaser at the end of the book for the next one, but no title and no date as yet when it will be out. So yes, I will be stalking the bookstore and websites looking for the release of the unnamed second book.

Grade: A

Summary:

Independent single mother Tamara Briggs wanted to find a new, sexy, no-strings-attached man—just not one as young as NASCAR driver Elec Monroe. But he sure does get her heart racing. And after she’s tricked into a blind date with him, Tamara gives in to her passion. Things screech to a halt, though, when he asks to meet her children. Whatever happened to wham-bam-thank-youma’am? Suddenly Tamara has to decide how much risk she’s willing to take to experience the power of true love.

Read an excerpt here.