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Speed Demons
A year ago, NASCAR star Evangeline Marshall barely escaped death in a tragic crash. Evie is plagued by nightmares and fears racing again, but she doesn’t want to give up her dream. Blythe Pierce, renowned photographer, struggles with her own demons, having worked in one warzone after another.
Blythe witnessed Evie Marshall’s crash through her camera and is impressed by Evie’s courage. She persuades Evie to allow her to document her recovery and return to racing. Blythe finds Evie irresistibly attractive and fears she can’t hide it. Evie in turn is mesmerized by the loving but enigmatic Blythe.
But as Blythe’s past catches up with her and Evie’s fears grow as her first race nears, can they find the strength to triumph over their pasts and find love together?
Blythe witnessed Evie Marshall’s crash through her camera and is impressed by Evie’s courage. She persuades Evie to allow her to document her recovery and return to racing. Blythe finds Evie irresistibly attractive and fears she can’t hide it. Evie in turn is mesmerized by the loving but enigmatic Blythe.
But as Blythe’s past catches up with her and Evie’s fears grow as her first race nears, can they find the strength to triumph over their pasts and find love together?
264 pages, Paperback
First published August 14, 2012
9 people are currently reading
218 people want to read
About the author
Gun Brooke
44 books225 followersGun Brooke resides in the countryside in Sweden with her very patient family. A retired neonatal intensive care nurse, she now writes full time, only rarely taking a break to create web sites for herself or others and to do computer graphics. Gun writes both romances and sci-fi. She is the recipient of the 2009 Alice B. Medal for "body of work."
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 22, 2016
This is my first romance book I've read by Gun Brooke. It is obvious Brooke is a talented writer and that she knows how to write romance.
I liked both main characters, Evie the NASCAR driver and Blythe the photo-journalist. Both characters were dealing with PTSD, Evie much more due to almost dying. And both characters were damaged due to difficult family issues. The fact that both had issues to deal with, gave their characters much more depth. I also thought their romance was believable, none of this love at first site, that can get old in romance books.
While there was some racing evolved, I was glad it was kept at a minimum, as I'm not a NASCAR fan. The story actually centered more on Blythe's photography, which I enjoyed.
I am looking forward to reading more of Gun Brooke's book.
I liked both main characters, Evie the NASCAR driver and Blythe the photo-journalist. Both characters were dealing with PTSD, Evie much more due to almost dying. And both characters were damaged due to difficult family issues. The fact that both had issues to deal with, gave their characters much more depth. I also thought their romance was believable, none of this love at first site, that can get old in romance books.
While there was some racing evolved, I was glad it was kept at a minimum, as I'm not a NASCAR fan. The story actually centered more on Blythe's photography, which I enjoyed.
I am looking forward to reading more of Gun Brooke's book.
July 30, 2012
I'm giving this a 4.5 only because I was hoping for like a 19 car pile up at the end and that didn't happen. HERE'S WHAT YA DO GET!
Two well developed characters who come together and stay together under reasonable circumstances. This story centers around both characters dealing with PTSD; Evie from her crash and Blythe from being a war photographer in the Middle East. Brooke does a great job of showing just how shitty PTSD can be without weighing down the story. She also does a great job of show how finding relief from PTSD comes from interesting places.
The sexing in this book is hot. And I mean HOT. It's not over the top and it flows well with the character development and the plot. I also liked that Evie and Blythe are playful with each other even though they are both dealing with heavy emotional shit. Overall, a great read with a little bit of everything.
Side note: if you've read Erin McCarthy's Fast Track series, I think you will love this book.
Two well developed characters who come together and stay together under reasonable circumstances. This story centers around both characters dealing with PTSD; Evie from her crash and Blythe from being a war photographer in the Middle East. Brooke does a great job of showing just how shitty PTSD can be without weighing down the story. She also does a great job of show how finding relief from PTSD comes from interesting places.
The sexing in this book is hot. And I mean HOT. It's not over the top and it flows well with the character development and the plot. I also liked that Evie and Blythe are playful with each other even though they are both dealing with heavy emotional shit. Overall, a great read with a little bit of everything.
Side note: if you've read Erin McCarthy's Fast Track series, I think you will love this book.
July 27, 2016
My fifth book I've read by this author. Giving this book 4 stars brings my average rating for books read Brooke to 3.5. A far fall from the first book I'd read, or the rating I gave it, 5.5. The 3.5, though, is actually an increase over my previous overall rating of 3.3 for the combined average of the four books read before this one.
I've recently been testing some of those authors I'd somewhat pushed to the side along the way for one reason or another, and found some good things, which is how I ended up reading this book here.
So, what can I saw about this one . . . hmms. Evie is a race car driver on the NASCAR circuit. Blythe is a photojournalist who is doing a photo book about Evie. This is where the book starts. Blythe watches through her camera, then her eyes as Evie races around on a race track in a Dodge Viper. Screaming. Clouds of smoke, flames, crashing explosions – two of Evie’s fellow race car drivers have crashed, and Evie’s right behind them . . . following her pit bosses instructions, going low, until she rams into the side of one of the crashing cars and is herself engulfed in flames. Blythe, who happened to have her camera pointing the right way, keeps pushing the button to take pictures, until she can’t any longer and rushes toward the crash.
The book opens as above. It’s now a year later and the very shy 43 year old Blythe has worked herself up to approach Evie about a proposal – continuation of that book they had been working on, with Blythe following Evie as she attempts her comeback from the tragic accident which had claimed two lives. A certain amount of tension and mistrust occurs, but an agreement is reached. They will continue with the project. This will include some rather close living quarters . . . because that’s just what you do in a situation like this, apparently.
So, while Evangeline ‘Evie’ Marshall is working on her comeback, Blythe Pierce is basically living in her pocket (I’d make a short joke, since Blythe is tiny, but she might gut me – she’s kind of fierce). Certain ‘feelings’ develop.
Meanwhile there are other characters and issues occurring in this book. Family: Evie’s dick of a father and, to a lesser extent (appearance in the book wise), grandfather make several rude snide undermining appearances (Brooke sure doesn’t like father characters); Blythe’s family itself also plays its own little role – well, largely the role being so abusive that roughly 25 years ago, Blythe had to run away. So that’s happening.
Nice enough book. Those looking for detailed long stretches of car racing should look elsewhere. I kind of knew that going in so that did not have an impact on my rating (good or bad). I think I’d rate this somewhere around 3.70 if I still rated using decimals; otherwise this book gets marked as being 4 stars.
July 27 2016
I've recently been testing some of those authors I'd somewhat pushed to the side along the way for one reason or another, and found some good things, which is how I ended up reading this book here.
So, what can I saw about this one . . . hmms. Evie is a race car driver on the NASCAR circuit. Blythe is a photojournalist who is doing a photo book about Evie. This is where the book starts. Blythe watches through her camera, then her eyes as Evie races around on a race track in a Dodge Viper. Screaming. Clouds of smoke, flames, crashing explosions – two of Evie’s fellow race car drivers have crashed, and Evie’s right behind them . . . following her pit bosses instructions, going low, until she rams into the side of one of the crashing cars and is herself engulfed in flames. Blythe, who happened to have her camera pointing the right way, keeps pushing the button to take pictures, until she can’t any longer and rushes toward the crash.
The book opens as above. It’s now a year later and the very shy 43 year old Blythe has worked herself up to approach Evie about a proposal – continuation of that book they had been working on, with Blythe following Evie as she attempts her comeback from the tragic accident which had claimed two lives. A certain amount of tension and mistrust occurs, but an agreement is reached. They will continue with the project. This will include some rather close living quarters . . . because that’s just what you do in a situation like this, apparently.
So, while Evangeline ‘Evie’ Marshall is working on her comeback, Blythe Pierce is basically living in her pocket (I’d make a short joke, since Blythe is tiny, but she might gut me – she’s kind of fierce). Certain ‘feelings’ develop.
Meanwhile there are other characters and issues occurring in this book. Family: Evie’s dick of a father and, to a lesser extent (appearance in the book wise), grandfather make several rude snide undermining appearances (Brooke sure doesn’t like father characters); Blythe’s family itself also plays its own little role – well, largely the role being so abusive that roughly 25 years ago, Blythe had to run away. So that’s happening.
Nice enough book. Those looking for detailed long stretches of car racing should look elsewhere. I kind of knew that going in so that did not have an impact on my rating (good or bad). I think I’d rate this somewhere around 3.70 if I still rated using decimals; otherwise this book gets marked as being 4 stars.
July 27 2016
May 23, 2016
I enjoyed this much more than expected. Gun Brooke has done a wonderful job of writing two very complex and interesting characters as well as creating a very believable love story.
I admit to knowing nothing about NASCAR and was pleased it didn't take up much of the book - just enough to make Evie even hotter =)
Blythe's photography, on the other hand was an excellent medium to help deepen her character and also worked well to help show, not tell, the story.
There is some drama from both parties as well as family/outsiders and not everything is resolved which is another plus from me as this adds more realism to a genre that can lean towards perfection and fluffiness.
Am looking forward to adding more of Brooke's work to my reading list.
I admit to knowing nothing about NASCAR and was pleased it didn't take up much of the book - just enough to make Evie even hotter =)
Blythe's photography, on the other hand was an excellent medium to help deepen her character and also worked well to help show, not tell, the story.
There is some drama from both parties as well as family/outsiders and not everything is resolved which is another plus from me as this adds more realism to a genre that can lean towards perfection and fluffiness.
Am looking forward to adding more of Brooke's work to my reading list.
January 8, 2018
Where other stories may have a lack of depth of character this story does not. The reader learns what "drives" Evangeline Marshall and Blythe Pierce. If you like or want to learn about NASCAR, this is the read for you. If you like romance with two uniquely different people, this is the read for you. If you want to feel good after you turn the last page, this is the read for you.
July 19, 2016
This is one of those books where the summary sounds so much better than the book actually is. The book has a title like Speed Demons and the two main characters are a race car driver and a photojournalist with experience chronicling the Afghan War? I'm expecting some serious energy in the pages. Unfortunately, there isn't much. In spite of the title and Evie's occupation, there isn't much NASCAR in the book. It's not like I'm a huge NASCAR fan; I haven't watched a race since I was in high school (back in the 1990s). But I would like more than one chapter at the end of the book.
Instead, the author chooses to focus a lot on feelings, which can be okay, I suppose, except it just doesn't translate well in this case. It doesn't help matters that the two main characters are so inconsistent in their feelings for one another. Evie, in action if not in words, dislikes Blythe immediately upon officially meeting her for the first time, mainly because of assumptions that aren't true. However, it sure doesn't take Evie long to form a *connection* with Blythe after that, even after saying how crazy (and, implicitly, stupid) Blythe was to climb up a tree to photograph a hurricane in progress. Within a few hours, Evie is smitten with Blythe.
The whole relationship between Blythe and Evie felt forced to me, and the two characters had practically no chemistry with one another. Evie is kind of an okay character, but Blythe, to me, was just completely unlikable, and I spent most of the book wishing that she would morph into someone I could at least tolerate. It didn't happen.
The secondary characters in the book, from Evie's dad and grandfather to those on Blythe's side, were horribly cardboard and two-dimensional.
Not recommended.
Instead, the author chooses to focus a lot on feelings, which can be okay, I suppose, except it just doesn't translate well in this case. It doesn't help matters that the two main characters are so inconsistent in their feelings for one another. Evie, in action if not in words, dislikes Blythe immediately upon officially meeting her for the first time, mainly because of assumptions that aren't true. However, it sure doesn't take Evie long to form a *connection* with Blythe after that, even after saying how crazy (and, implicitly, stupid) Blythe was to climb up a tree to photograph a hurricane in progress. Within a few hours, Evie is smitten with Blythe.
The whole relationship between Blythe and Evie felt forced to me, and the two characters had practically no chemistry with one another. Evie is kind of an okay character, but Blythe, to me, was just completely unlikable, and I spent most of the book wishing that she would morph into someone I could at least tolerate. It didn't happen.
The secondary characters in the book, from Evie's dad and grandfather to those on Blythe's side, were horribly cardboard and two-dimensional.
Not recommended.
January 4, 2016
I enjoyed this one, but didn't love it as much as Course of Action or September Canvas. I did like what Brooke did with portraying PTSD, and I loved that the book had conflict without forcing Blythe and Evie apart.
March 16, 2023
An enjoyable story
Its a very cute, entertaining book but everything seems to happen in like warp speed... Would've loved if the author developed & expounded on the characters & built up the narrative more. Though not achieving all I feel it could've been, this still was an enjoyable read.
Its a very cute, entertaining book but everything seems to happen in like warp speed... Would've loved if the author developed & expounded on the characters & built up the narrative more. Though not achieving all I feel it could've been, this still was an enjoyable read.
June 18, 2018
Gun Brooke is one of my favorite authors I am never disappointed
I have been an avid fan of Gun for many years Protector of the Realm is my favorite
I recommend that and the sequels a must read
I have been an avid fan of Gun for many years Protector of the Realm is my favorite
I recommend that and the sequels a must read
December 23, 2015
From AntonySimpson.com:
Speed Demons by Gun Brooke is quite essentially a lesbian love story.
Evie is a NASCAR Racing Driver that had a crash and is planning a come back. Blythe is a Professional Photographer and was snapping the day of the crash. Blythe has heard about Evie’s comeback and wants to document her journey back to the racetrack in the form of a photography book.
Blythe convinces Evie to agree to the photography book idea and a relationship starts to develop – far to quickly to be believable to the reader. Along with the waves of closeness between Evie & Blythe they both help one another to overcome the current challenges in their lives.
For Evie the challenge is apparent: her recovery and return to the racetrack. In order for Evie to achieve her goal she must undertake her physical training and find a way of dealing with her PTSD. Blythe’s challenge is to deal with her lost family connection and her feelings about it. Blythe feels that her family indirectly blame her for the attack on her brother many years ago.
Evie & Blythe’s characters are well developed with good backstories. Brooke‘s use of character perspectives and of Evie & Blythe psychoanalysing one another makes the reader care about them.
Brooke‘s description was sparse at times and the reader would have benefited from more detail. The are a few sex scenes; I found it strange that Brooke used the word “sex” to describe lady-parts in one part of the book and yet later on used the word “clit” quite blatantly.
The storyline was fair and somewhat predictable. I did find that Blythe’s family challenge felt like an after thought, thrown in towards the end of the book. The ending was reasonable but had a few loose ends – such as Evie’s family approval and a resolution of Blythe’s family issues. The most unsatisfying part of the ending was Blythe’s seemingly sacrificing her life for Evie’s. Overall the ending felt rushed and not thought out.
Yet despite the criticisms it was a reasonable book; by the end of it I found myself wishing there was a gay male version of Gun Brooke writing gay mens love stories.
Speed Demons by Gun Brooke is quite essentially a lesbian love story.
Evie is a NASCAR Racing Driver that had a crash and is planning a come back. Blythe is a Professional Photographer and was snapping the day of the crash. Blythe has heard about Evie’s comeback and wants to document her journey back to the racetrack in the form of a photography book.
Blythe convinces Evie to agree to the photography book idea and a relationship starts to develop – far to quickly to be believable to the reader. Along with the waves of closeness between Evie & Blythe they both help one another to overcome the current challenges in their lives.
For Evie the challenge is apparent: her recovery and return to the racetrack. In order for Evie to achieve her goal she must undertake her physical training and find a way of dealing with her PTSD. Blythe’s challenge is to deal with her lost family connection and her feelings about it. Blythe feels that her family indirectly blame her for the attack on her brother many years ago.
Evie & Blythe’s characters are well developed with good backstories. Brooke‘s use of character perspectives and of Evie & Blythe psychoanalysing one another makes the reader care about them.
Brooke‘s description was sparse at times and the reader would have benefited from more detail. The are a few sex scenes; I found it strange that Brooke used the word “sex” to describe lady-parts in one part of the book and yet later on used the word “clit” quite blatantly.
The storyline was fair and somewhat predictable. I did find that Blythe’s family challenge felt like an after thought, thrown in towards the end of the book. The ending was reasonable but had a few loose ends – such as Evie’s family approval and a resolution of Blythe’s family issues. The most unsatisfying part of the ending was Blythe’s seemingly sacrificing her life for Evie’s. Overall the ending felt rushed and not thought out.
Yet despite the criticisms it was a reasonable book; by the end of it I found myself wishing there was a gay male version of Gun Brooke writing gay mens love stories.
March 7, 2015
This was a nice read, I liked that the leads spent a lot of time together, had a lot in common and discussed things of importance, not just falling into bed together. I also liked that neither character was overtly sexually active. Most books have at least one character who sleeps with everyone, or it's rare that either character goes for more than a month without having sex. These two also only have eyes for each other. My only quibble was that Blythe's family issues seemed a bit rushed but it didn't detract from the rest of the book. This is a sweet love story, with good character development. Worth the read.
May 4, 2016
A tale of 2 wounded souls finding each other. Race car driver Evie is trying to come back from an horrific accident. Photojournalist Blythe had been to war zones and disaster areas and had seen the worst of the worst. Now Blythe is documenting Evie's professional comeback and attraction flares.
The story is written well but I found the pace in some places to be slow. Ironic, considering the title. A comfortable nice read nonetheless.
The story is written well but I found the pace in some places to be slow. Ironic, considering the title. A comfortable nice read nonetheless.
August 21, 2012
3.5 stars
October 9, 2012
I appreciated the characters and the realism of their relationship, but it was TOO realistic for me at some point--too many conversations about FEELINGS, not enough, well, fun.
May 25, 2013
Gun Brooke is one of my favorite authors. She writes excellent novels full of action and is great at character development. This is one of my favorites of her books. Highly recommended.
December 13, 2013
loved it!!! mentioned my hometown of New Haven :)
Read
April 27, 2014This light reading was too lightweight for my taste, even so I'm very tired at the moment. I won't rate it.
October 26, 2015
2012 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
January 29, 2018
A wonderful romance
Gun Brooke is one of my favorite romance novelist. Her character driven stories are the best. From the first page she captures the reader's interest. You truly care for these two characters. A great read for those looking for a little romance in their reading.
Gun Brooke is one of my favorite romance novelist. Her character driven stories are the best. From the first page she captures the reader's interest. You truly care for these two characters. A great read for those looking for a little romance in their reading.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews