Book Review – Falling Free

15 Friday Jul 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Book Review, Falling Fast series, Falling Free, Tina Wainscott

Falling Free

A Falling Fast Novel

by Tina Wainscott

The bestselling author of Falling Hard (“An addicting read!”—Jen McLaughlin) returns to the racing hotspot of Chambliss, Florida, where the only thing faster than the cars on the track is the surge of chemistry in the stands.

Ever since she was a teenager, Grace Parnell has had one ambition: to prove her father’s innocence and overturn his prison sentence. That drive led her to become a tough, compassionate lawyer—until the case hits a heartbreaking end. Now Grace is adrift, with no idea how to rebuild her life. It’s certainly not the time to fall in love. But from the moment she meets Artemis Tanner, their instant connection is undeniable.

A motor-sports pioneer, Tanner has come to this little coastal town for the racetrack—but he’s staying for Grace. Even though the standoffish attorney seems determined to stay out of reach, Tanner doesn’t need a law degree to tell that their attraction is very, very mutual. As her visits to the track become more frequent, and as Tanner learns more about Grace’s troubled family, he starts to pry open the tiny cracks in her controlled demeanor. Hidden beneath, there’s an incredible passion waiting to be set free.

Returning readers will already know that there is more to Grace than what she shows the world but I hurt with her when she gets her heart broken at the beginning of this story. There’s so much to why she is the way she is and it is no wonder that she’s a little off-kilter. It shakes her world and has her rethinking so much, especially the handsome stranger she meets at a bar. And while it doesn’t work out so well, Wainscott delivers one of the best journeys ever as they meet again, become friends and then even more.

Tanner has some history of his own that has him keeping things light and not getting too settled in anywhere but seeing Grace again has him happy to be in the area for a little while. And the more time they spend together the more he’s evaluating if he might want to stay around for good. While his hang-ups aren’t as complex as Graces, and he seems to handle them easier, they still have quite the impact on him.

They are so much fun together – cute, funny, and just down-right adorable. Both have their difficult histories, which causes them to distance themselves from deeper relationships. But being so similar helps make it easier to face their troubles and own them.

Wainscott just keeps producing winners with her Falling Fast series. I wasn’t sure that I was going to like Grace – she sometimes came across as a little harsh in the other stories – but I have to admit she’s one of my favorite heroine’s from any author. And Tanner is absolutely a definite for anyone’s book boyfriend list.

(While this is part of a series, it can stand on its own. Wainscott does a great job of developing characters and plot so that you can start right here & be good.)

Book Review – Falling Hard

01 Friday Jan 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Book Review, Falling Fast series, Falling Hard, Tina Wainscott

Falling Hard

A Falling Fast Novel

by Tina Wainscott

In bestselling author Tina Wainscott’s gritty, emotional small-town romance—perfect for fans of Jasinda Wilder and Colleen Hoover—passions run high as a reformed bad boy reconnects with an old enemy . . . and gets her engine revving.

There’s no one Pax Sullivan wants to run into less than Gemma Thornton. Back in high school, she revved his heart more than street racing. But she picked his clean-cut brother over him—only to accuse Blake of an unforgivable crime. Eventually the charges were dropped and Gemma left town, but the hard feelings lingered . . . along with Pax’s gnawing “what-ifs.” Seven years later, just as he quits the police force to open a racetrack, Gemma’s back—and their chemistry is more combustible than ever.

If it were up to her, Gemma would never lay eyes on another Sullivan. She hates them, and they hate her—even Pax, who just so happens to be fixing up her father’s B&B. But the more time she spends with the lean, hard-bodied ex-cop at the inn and on the track, the more Gemma sees that Pax is nothing like his brother. Despite their anguished history, she’s tempted to take their relationship into high gear . . . if she can face the past and risk her heart.

After reading Falling Fast I knew I had to read Pax’s story. He was such a fantastic supporting character – full of strength & conviction and was such a supportive friend. You get a little of his history in the first book, but it isn’t a requirement that you have to have read it to enjoy Falling Hard. But it helps because you’ll have already started your crush on Pax and get that ahhh feeling when he finally gets his moment 🙂

I wasn’t sure where Wainscott was going to go with Gemma’s story. We only got a little bit of it before so I wasn’t sure how it was going to play out but I was thrilled with what she did. The struggle that Gemma goes through, when no one believes her story, is heartbreaking. It’s a horrible thing to have happen but to have every think that she’s lying is just … unbelievably awful. And to have to come back and face those people is so intimidating but she handles it with her head held high. Even though she’s had some therapy, rape is going to have a lot of long reaching impacts so I admire her grit as she works through it.

Pax proves himself to be the wonderful man that returning readers knew he would be. He uses his head and logics though everything that he sees & knows, so that he starts to acknowledge the truth of what happened all of those years ago. But it is terrible how much he has to pay for it. He’s already being treated poorly by his family for some of his other decisions but he’s man enough to follow what he knows is right and not give in to others. Of course that’s one of the reasons we love him so very much.

Falling Hard isn’t an easy story to read, because of some of the bad things that happen to good people, but I think that makes it that much more worth the effort. As Pax & Gemma work their way to the truth, not only about their history but about their feelings today, readers are given a very satisfying and enjoyable read.

Book Review – Falling Fast

30 Tuesday Jun 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Book Review, Falling Fast, Falling Fast series, Tina Wainscott

Y’all, you have got to check this one out – I absolutely loved it!

*****

Falling Fast

Falling Fast # 1

by Tina Wainscott

Releasing June 16, 2015

Loveswept

Blurb:

Fans of Jasinda Wilder and Colleen Hoover will adore this emotional new small-town romance—a smoldering tale of first love and long-awaited redemption from USA Today bestselling author Tina Wainscott.

Raleigh West works in an auto shop day and night, trying to put his broken past out of mind. It’s been seven years since the fiery crash that landed his teenage sweetheart in the hospital . . . and him in jail. In an instant, he lost everything: his passion for racing, his hope of escaping his father’s shameful legacy, and the only girl he ever loved. Raleigh hasn’t seen her since that awful night. Never got a chance to apologize. And never forgave himself, either.

When brave, beautiful Mia Wentworth returns to the Florida coast for the first time in what seems like forever, it’s not to see Raleigh. Even so, the moment she arrives she can feel his presence like a gust of wind that gives her goose bumps. Opening her heart to him again seems impossible. But staying away? That might be harder still. Lucky for them both, Mia’s never been the kind of woman to take the easy way out.

Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/03/falling-fast-falling-fast-1-by-tina.html

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23510311-falling-fast?ac=1

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/147390-falling-fast

Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo

*****

Excerpt:

The director gestured for everyone to take a seat, and Mia settled onto the chair at the outside edge. She scanned each and every person.

No Raleigh.

He’s not coming. Get over it already.

The director, who knew Nancy from their volunteer work, welcomed everyone and said how touched she would be by the turnout. He introduced Mia and her parents, then spoke at length about the wonderful and sweet and feisty Nancy.

As Mia teared up over his sentimental words, she saw him. She blinked, just to make sure, but her heart knew immediately. The director’s voice faded into the roar of blood in her ears.

Raleigh.

He stood behind the last row of chairs next to the thick trunk of an oak tree, in khakis and a maroon button-down dress shirt. His hair was trimmed, and he was clean-shaven. Not an ounce of fat on him judging by the way his shirt lay flat against his stomach. She gripped the edges of the chair as the ground tilted. Or was she tilting? God, don’t let me fall off the chair! No, you’re dizzy because you, uh, forgot to breathe!

Carefully, she pulled in a long, deep breath. Then another. The world was still blurry, and she wiped at her eyes to clear them—and found Raleigh in her sights. Which was even more startling, because she was pretty sure he was looking right at her.

She forced herself to breathe again, to shift her gaze to where it should be. The director invited people to come up and share a story or their thoughts. There was no hesitation as the first person stepped up to the microphone stand positioned in front of the chairs.

Several people spoke from their hearts over the next twenty minutes, and everyone dabbed at their eyes, including Mia. She wrestled with whether to go up, but to put herself on display was more than she could bear. Her father went up and sounded like a politician as he thanked everyone for coming. The director made one last call, and Mia’s eyes went to Raleigh again. He leaned forward, his hand clenched on the tree. He clearly wanted to go up, but he looked at her father. Then at her. Then he rocked back on his heels again, his face tight with the war inside him.

Come up. I want to hear what you have to say. About Grandma. About your friendship with her.

I just want to hear your voice.

He remained in the shade of the tree. Mia certainly couldn’t think him a coward, not when she, too, was afraid to go up and speak. Facing cancer and burns wasn’t as hard as facing people, she mused. Wasn’t that crazy?

But then she stood. Walked to the microphone and fumbled as she adjusted it to her height. Cleared her throat and tried hard not to look at Raleigh. Instead, her gaze skipped across the rows and the ribbons dancing in the breeze.

“Thank you all for being part of her life. I . . .” Her eyes betrayed her, zeroing right in on Raleigh. Her thoughts froze. Time was suspended, everyone—every single person—focused on her. She cleared her throat, heat rising up her neck. “I’m jealous that you all got to spend time with her. To know her as a friend.” Her gaze went to Raleigh again. “Thank you,” she said again, thrashing herself for the impulse as she took her seat.

She would have no regret, though. If all those weeks and months and years of hospital stays had taught her anything, it was to let no opportunity slip by. Especially the ones where you left words unsaid. Important, life-changing words.

She searched through the people all getting to their feet. Raleigh leaned against the trunk now, his head tilted back. As though it were all too much to bear. The impulse now was to go to him.

But the director asked everyone to form a line to pay their respects before the casket was lowered into the ground. Mia had to follow her parents to form a reception line, where everyone offered their condolences before stepping up to the casket. Mia’s heart squeezed so tight that she could hardly breathe. Would Raleigh shake her hand? Hug her? Say in a low, intimate voice how very sorry he was for their loss? Their loss, because it was as much his as hers. Maybe more so.

As she accepted handshakes and hugs, she realized that she was so wrapped up in where he was that she wasn’t worried about anyone seeing her up close. The line was dwindling, and she couldn’t see him anywhere.

“Mia.”

*****

Review:

As I was reading this I kept thinking that these two just can’t catch a break. But the interesting thing was the difference in attitude that all the hardships they’ve encountered have given them. Now, granted Raleigh’s past has a darker tone, but they both have dealt with their own struggles. And while both of them have grown into great people – kind, caring, giving, loving … the difference is that Raleigh doesn’t expect life to do anything but to continue to push him down. But that definitely has something to do with the types of things he’s dealt with. The fact that he’s survived to be such a good and well-loved person, shows a definitely depth of character. Mia’s also had her share of struggles but she’s learned to embrace life a little more easily. She could easily have given up at any moment or at least turned bitter, but she’s definitely taken the higher road.

I loved these two together and the entire book gave me a warm and squishy, even while I was upset at the newest curveball life had thrown at them. Just plain heart-warming (and a little heart-breaking), Falling Fast is one of those delightful feel good reads that leave you smiling at the end … and I can’t wait to see what’s Waincott’s bringing next!

*****

Author Info:

USA Today bestselling author Tina Wainscott has always loved the combination of romance and suspense, because nothing complements falling in love better than being hunted down. The author of more than thirty novels and novellas, Wainscott creates characters with baggage, past hurts, and vulnerabilities. They go through hell, find love, and, at the end, find peace in who they are and everything they’ve gone through. And isn’t that what everyone wants?

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

*****

Giveaway:

Loveswept Mug, Flirt Mug and Select Ebook Bundle

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/235babe7228/

*****

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