Wednesday, February 18, 2009

A LONG, HARD RIDE - coming soon from Alison Kent - there's a giveaway!




I adore Alison Kent's work and I’ll be the first to admit that I could probably be drawn into a dishwasher repair guide if she wrote it. Early March will bring the next in a long line of Blazes by Alison and I was fortunate enough to get an early copy (Thank you, Alison!). This is an excellent book with smart, fun-loving characters, long-standing southern tradition, witty dialogue and steamy sex. No details on the steamy sex except to say that Alison has written some of the most satisfying shower scenes ever (THE SWEETEST TABOO, anyone?), and this one doesn’t disappoint!
Here’s a blurb:
Cardin Worth is ready to tune up her engine—with Trey, her former crush! However, he’s a Davis—one of her car-racing family’s bitter rivals. But she might be able to create peace, and also get some sizzling sex on the side…
… if Trey pretends to be her fiancé, that is!
Having a little fun on those steamy Southern nights seems like a great idea. Just to patch up the feud, of course. Then Trey’ll be leaving town again—this time for good.
But Cardin s not sure she can relinquish the superheated sex… Because Trey s the most talented, uh, mechanic to ever look under her hood!
From 0–60: Going from “Hello” to “How was it?” doesn’t have to take long!
And a link to a great excerpt!
My review:
Rolling into the small town of Dahlia, Tennessee as crew chief for the Corley Motors team at the Farron Fuel Spring Nationals, and subsequently winning, is as natural as breathing for Trey “Whip” Davis. Seeing Cardin Worth leaves him breathless. Whip and Cardin went to high school together, him being a couple of years older, but they never dated; never really even shared a conversation. What they did share was an undeniable, unspoken heat of the most basic kind. They both felt it but Whip left town before they could do anything about it.
Whip has personal business to attend to in Dahlia as well. After his father’s death six months ago, he's decided it’s time to clean out and sell his father’s home and he stays behind when the race team pulls out. When Cardin approaches him indicating that they need to talk, with a subtle promise of more than just talk, he’s unable to resist.
Cardin has her own issues to get straight - namely getting her recently separated parents back together. Their conflict is causing everyone distress, but they both refuse to budge. Cardin understands that their problems run deep and with their stubbornness it won’t be an easy fix, but she has a plan. She’s hopeful that Whip will buy into the fake engagement she’s hashed out, never doubting that the two of them will be convincing, given the emotions they’ve shared for so long.
It doesn’t take long for Whip and Cardin to feel comfortably at ease with the engagement ploy and they quickly realize that those early sparks, although never before acted upon, were simply a promise of things to come. But long-held traditions and grudges are slow to die and family secrets soon threaten to shatter the love that these two have just begun to discover.
I truly think this may be the best Blaze I’ve read to date. You might be thinking the false engagement premise has been done before and you find the notion silly or immature. I guarantee that Alison has done it right and you won’t be disappointed. The reactions to and the results of it are key to the story and it works, plain and simple. The racing lingo is understandable and not over-used, and the southern style and mannerisms of the characters is honest and accurate.


To help celebrate Alison’s book, I’ve decided to do a giveaway for two copies of A LONG, HARD RIDE. I’ll be drawing names prior to the book’s release so as to not interrupt those ever-important early sales, but obviously the winners won't get their books until I’m able to get my hands on them. If you’re interested – and who wouldn’t be, right? – just leave a comment here. You can talk about the usual things, favorite book, character, cover, etc. or chat about something fun on Alison's website or blog. Send a friend who mentions you and I’ll throw your name in an extra time. I’ll draw two names on Friday, February 27th – be sure and check back to see if you won because I won’t track you down!
If you want to pre-order so Amazon will send your copy on release day, pop over here for a copy. Thanks for stopping and thank you again, Alison, for allowing me to read and review A LONG, HARD RIDE for you!
Laurie

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

love her books, the cover is so damn hot love a man good with his hands. great rreviews alison
great givaway as always.
love her blazes, lve the sexyg irl gears series. she writes great stores aand both hot and storng heroes and heroions

kh

Fedora said...

Alison's fabulous! Her Blazes are terrific, and I also love her SG-5 series... Do you know whether she has plans to write dishwasher repair guides? I'd totally buy it! ;)

Laurie G said...

I agree! Never read a book of hers that I didn't like.

Favorite: Girl Gear's Wicked Games with Kinsey & Doug!!

Cheryl said...

Oh, yeah! A book by Alison coming out soon . . . I've been waiting. Can't get enough of her writing. Count me in, please.

Cheryl S.

Anonymous said...

Her books are great and so is this cover - hot, hot, hot and the exerpt ain't too shabby either. LOL.

Count me in please.

Pat L.

CrystalGB said...

I love Alison's Blaze books and her SG-5 series. A Long, Hard Ride sounds great. :)

cutelilVictoria said...

I love Alison's books. She's probably the first author I read who got me into the whole romance genre.

Dena said...

Great review Laurie! I have liked every book that I've read of Alison's and this one sounds like another great book. The cover is HOT too!

Maureen said...

This new book looks like a great story. I do enjoy Alison's books and seeing what she has to say on her blog.

December said...

I'd love to get my paws on this - thanks for the great teaser!

tetewa said...

Sounds good, I enjoy this line!

Estella said...

I love Allison's books!

Anonymous said...

I love Alison's books and can't wait to read this Blaze by her. It sounds really good!

Diana

Jane said...

I love Alison's books. My favorites include "Larger Than Life" and "The Bane Affair." Looking forward to the release of "A Long, Hard Ride."

Anonymous said...

Hawt cover!

Karen B said...

Love her books - please enter me!

mindy said...

sounds wonderful thanks for the giveaway

Angela C said...

I read the excerpt. I'm looking forward to reading the book If I win or not.

scottsgal said...

She's an author I always try to read her books. I'd love to win this one - count me in. msboatgal at aol dot com

silverhartgirl said...

i love the cover

Unknown said...

This sounds like a great book! Thanks for a chance to win.

Lori Ann said...

I love the SG-5 series. I think Alison is an awesome writer. I always look forward to her new releases. My favorite book is probably The Shaughnessey Accord.

robynl said...

oh la la on the cover; I love the 0-60 quote on the cover.
The book sounds like a great read. Do enter me and thanks.

Judy F said...

That cover is smoking hot. I love Alison's books. NOt a bad one in the bunch..

Barbara said...

Great review Laurie. Don't enter me in the contest though. Just wanted to say hey.

Alison is on my MUST BUY list. She is an author who is always taking chances in her writing.

Julie Doe said...

Found my way here from Allison's blog. I love her books, and I'd be hard pressed to name a favorite. This one sounds awesome. Please enter me in the contest.

Karin said...

I love Alison's books. I've been eagerly anticipating this release for a while now and look forward to reading it.

Lady Roxi said...

Love to have this.

Thanks,

darkfyre1(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I'd love to win her book - been a fan for several years of her writing. cntryfan24 at aol dot com

A Reader said...

My friend Mindy sent me to your site.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Kimspam66(at)yahoo(dot)com

bluecat said...

Spicy cover! I'd love to be entered in your contest.

The Brunette Librarian said...

Isn't she just fabulous??? :) Love it!