Stevie‘s review of Hard and Fast (A Fortis Novel, Book 2) by Raven Scott
Contemporary Romantic Suspense published by Dafina 29 Dec 15
I’m wary of motorsport romances by new-to-me authors. I don’t tend to follow US motorsport series, and I’m cautious of jumping into series romances partway through. However, I put all my reservations aside when promised a story with an engineer heroine. I even forced myself not to get too cross with the author’s apparent fear of the word ‘said’ and the apparent swallowing of a thesaurus that had been required to fill all those otherwise empty dialogue tags. So was it worth it?
Sadly, for the most part the answer is no. Alex (or Lex, depending on setting) is a very contradictory heroine. She doesn’t want to appear feminine or to hang out with female friends, yet the first time we meet her, she’s wearing thigh boots with uncomfortable heels – while out at her friend’s bachelor party. Why, oh why, if we’re going to have a non-feminine heroine with blokes for friends, can’t we also see her out on the town in jeans and Doc Martens – or chinos and Chelsea boots if something a little more formal is required? She and Lucas, the hero, have an instant attraction, which they fail to act on. Quite fortunate really, since the next day Lucas finds out that the Lex he met socially is actually Alex the engineer and part of the team he’s supposed to be guarding.
Alex and her team have developed a potentially world-changing electric engine and plan to enter a car fitted with the prototype in an upcoming race. Their work is sabotaged, but Alex is convinced she can rebuild the engine – by herself, no less – in time for the race. Alex, as the developer, is obviously the only trustworthy member of the team. She, Lucas and Lucas’ colleagues move to a safe house where Alex can get on with her work and angst over whether or not to act on the attraction we keep being told she and Lucas have for each other. I really didn’t get any impression of where this attraction came from, to be honest.
Alex is convinced that any relationship that might develop with Lucas won’t last, because she’s never met a man who can cope with a woman like her. Lucas, meanwhile, has a whole heap of angst of his own, alongside the occasional lapse of judgement that could almost put him into the ‘Too Stupid To Live’ box if I’d ever seen that used for heroes rather than heroines.
Besides not believing in the protagonists’ feelings for each other, I find it very hard to get a handle on their defining skills. Lucas is supposed to be a brilliant coder as well as a security specialist and fighter, but mostly we see things not going his way. Alex has invented this amazing engine which she can rebuild all by herself away from the car, but I couldn’t get a handle on what aspects it has that are better than or different from either the hybrid engines used in F1 or the all-electric engines used in Formula E. I won’t be picking up any more from this series, I’m afraid.
Grade: D
Summary:
A covert ops specialist, a cyber-surveillance expert, and an unmatched international security and recovery pro. These are the men of Fortis. When money is no object, discretion is essential, and the police are not an option, the wealthy and powerful call on this trio of former government agents with elite military training—not to mention charm and good looks…
With his tech brilliance, lethal physical abilities, and easygoing manner, Lucas Johnson is a triple threat. And that’s exactly what Magnus Motorsport needs to protect their game-changing engine design, and its engineer, Alex Cotts, from hackers and saboteurs. Lucas isn’t expecting any surprises—until he discovers Alex is actually a sexy, irresistible woman…
In a male-dominated industry, Alex has always tried to hide her alluring femininity. But Lucas has no trouble seeing her beauty—or her stubborn streak. Alex is convinced she doesn’t need him to babysit her—or distract her with his sex appeal. Yet when a suspicious fire destroys Alex’s work, she finds herself turning to him. In the face of increasing danger, soon Lucas must keep her alive, as his client—and as the only woman he’s ever truly wanted…
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
