Gwen’s review of Nobody But You (A Grayson Friends Novel) by Francis Ray
Contemporary romance released by St. Martin’s 3 Mar 09

I discovered something when I read this novel: there’s a whole sub-genre of romance novels for NASCAR fans.  I know!  Go figure!  Not that there’s anything wrong with that (a la Seinfeld), but I was surprised.  I’m not such a big racing fan, so the whole “car thing” was a bit lost on me, but I just imagined he was simply a professional athlete of any sport and I could roll with it.  Read on to see what I wasn’t so successful rolling with…

I’m a sports follower, if that sport is American football, that is.  I love that game.  I’ve been known to watch a golf tournament or two, especially when Tiger is playing – it always amazes me how he can twist his body like that.  I’ve watched a quarter or two of basketball when channel surfing.  Actually been to several pro hockey games.  The one sport I’ve never gotten into is auto racing.  It just always seemed like such a “guy” kind of sport and was loud, and circular, and, well, dull.  (Reading this story in the news from last weekend just shows that God loves to prove me wrong.)

So imagine my surprise when I found myself reading a NASCAR romance.  I enjoyed the book.  It wasn’t great – I had real difficulties with the heroine – but it was different.  Sometimes different is good, sometimes different is average.  In this case, for me, it was average +.

The romance in Nobody But You is lukewarm for me.   The hero is a little too forgiving and the heroine is a little too craven.  This is a story about two people who were in love enough once to make it all the way up until their wedding day.  The bride/heroine left the hero literally at the altar because his profession, professional race car driver, scared her.  Sorry.  But no.  That just didn’t wash with me.  I realize she was traumatized by her father dying in a racing accident.  I realize she was further frightened by witnessing a fatal accident on a track.  What I didn’t buy was the whole “left him at the altar” thing.  I just didn’t see that happening.

Then the heroine falls pregnant and keeps the child secret for almost five years?  No.  Nuh-uh.  I cannot bear a romance character who is so ruled by their fears that they turn their backs, and consciences, on what is right.  Running away never solved anything and it makes me a bit nuts to read about someone who who thinks it does, and then to read about someone who totally forgives such cravenness?  ARGH.  Actions have consequences.

On a positive note, the hero is yummy and his large family brings a bit of “real life” into the fantasy of the romance.  I enjoyed reading about his parents’ dilemma and sincerely hope they have a happy ending eventually.  I also thought the secret son introduced an interesting complication.  This all kept the book out of the lower C rankings for me.

If a long simmering passion, NASCAR, and secret babies are your thing, then this is the book for you.  If, however, you want your heroines to be honest and honorable with themselves and others, then perhaps you don’t want to read this book.

Grade: C+

Summary:
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NASCAR star Cameron McBride is poised to win this year’s Sprint Cup. But being a successful race-car driver comes with a price: His own life. Cameron knows that his profession puts him at high risk. Thankfully, his latest visit to the hospital left him intact. That is, until he bumps into Caitlin Lawrence…and is thrust back into his painful past.
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The one-time love of his life who left him at the altar, Caitlin could never accept Cameron’s fast and furious existence. The threat of losing him on the racetrack was just too much for Caitlin-and the young son Cameron never knew he had. Now that this chance meeting has changed their lives forever, will Caitlin and Cameron find a way to recapture what might have been?
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Read an excerpt.

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