C2’s review of Slow Ride (Fast Track, Book 5) by Erin McCarthy
Contemporary Romance published by Berkley 4 Oct 11
In Erin McCarthy’s latest NASCAR book, Tuesday Jones (aka racing blogger Tuesday Talledega) gets her chance in the spotlight.
Tuesday Jones meets a handsome stranger as she is leaving her father’s graveside service – and has a breakdown on his sympathetic shoulder. Only later does she realize her good Samaritan is retired NASCAR driver Daniel “Diesel” Lange. Diesel retired from racing after a horrible crash left him with career-ending injuries. He has built a business restoring old cars and has very little to do with the racing world.
Tuesday and Diesel have chemistry and neither is interested in anything serious, so they start casually seeing each other. Of course, casual never lasts long, does it, faithful reader? Soon enough, both realize they are spending way too much time thinking about the other person and anticipating their time together more than a “casual” relationship would explain.
To honor her father’s career (he was a writer and covered racing extensively) and raise money for cancer research – and help her deal with his loss – Tuesday decides to have a charity event and auction and Diesel offers one of his restored cars for the auction. But Tuesday continues to struggle and often finds solace in a wine bottle.
I am sure we, as readers, are supposed to feel sympathetic toward Tuesday, but she is so self-involved and such an obnoxious drunk it is hard to be anything other than annoyed. And the fact that her friends and family are not particularly concerned is baffling to me. Maybe their behavior is supposed to mimic real life? I hope people don’t really do that.
Diesel, on the other hand, would probably be a very nice, not-so-talkative, normal guy in real life – and no one would give it any thought. However, as the hero of a romance novel, he seems lacking. At least he is concerned about Tuesday’s drinking.
I struggled with this book. Tuesday is unbelievable and self-centered with obvious issues and in serious need of therapy. Diesel is really just a normal, boring guy who gets sucked into Tuesday’s crazy world. In real life, couples like this make me scratch my head and wonder how short the relationship will be. That we are asked to believe these characters will live happily ever after (without serious therapy) is surprising. Yes, toward the end, Ms. McCarthy tries to show emotional growth or self-realization or something, but it seems like too little too late.
For a series that started out so well, the last two books of the Fast Track series have been very disappointing (except the covers – they are consistently fab). I am still willing to check out the next book because Elec and Evan’s sister is the heroine and that could be fun…and maybe even get the series back on track? However, my expectations are low.
In the meantime, does this book stand alone? Mostly. It would probably make more sense if you read The Chase – Tuesday’s best friend Kendall’s book. Do I recommend reading The Chase? No. Nor do I recommend this book, unless you are a hardcore fan of the series and have enjoyed all the previous books.
Grade: D
Summary:
As a tribute to her late journalist father, Tuesday Jones is planning a career benefit, auctioning off racing memorabilia and meet-and-greets with drivers. Ex-racing star Diesel Lange has had his own brush with death, and is determined not to waste another minute of his life- especially when he meets Tuesday. He wants nothing more than to shift their romance into high gear, but he knows she’s still grieving. Can Diesel do the one thing he could never do on the track and take it slow?
Read an excerpt.
Other books in the series:
