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Speed can be dangerous. Letting your past catch up with you is deadly.
An ex-con bad boy is brought to his knees in K.C. Harper’s contemporary debut, perfect for fans of Lauren Asher’s Dirty Air series.
Xavier Bosch has yet to find a rally-car course he can’t handle—or a woman he wants to share the road with. He’s worked hard to keep his criminal record a secret, but when the news breaks that his abusive father will soon be released from prison, his past threatens to catch up fast. Letting a woman into his world would only make her a target.
But when a nasty crash brings Ryah Nolan into his life, all bets are off.
Psychology student Ryah Nolan doesn’t trust easy. Not with a professor determined to make her life hell, an ex-boyfriend who isn’t quite an ex…and a terrifying stalker no one but her best friend takes seriously. Letting someone in is a risk. But despite his gruff exterior and need for speed, Xavier makes her feel safe.
The closer Xavier and Ryah become, the more they want to put their pasts in the rear view. As they race the clock and the dangers they’ve run from give chase, one thing is certain—they will win or lose together.
An ex-con bad boy is brought to his knees in K.C. Harper’s contemporary debut, perfect for fans of Lauren Asher’s Dirty Air series.
Xavier Bosch has yet to find a rally-car course he can’t handle—or a woman he wants to share the road with. He’s worked hard to keep his criminal record a secret, but when the news breaks that his abusive father will soon be released from prison, his past threatens to catch up fast. Letting a woman into his world would only make her a target.
But when a nasty crash brings Ryah Nolan into his life, all bets are off.
Psychology student Ryah Nolan doesn’t trust easy. Not with a professor determined to make her life hell, an ex-boyfriend who isn’t quite an ex…and a terrifying stalker no one but her best friend takes seriously. Letting someone in is a risk. But despite his gruff exterior and need for speed, Xavier makes her feel safe.
The closer Xavier and Ryah become, the more they want to put their pasts in the rear view. As they race the clock and the dangers they’ve run from give chase, one thing is certain—they will win or lose together.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 12, 2025
2 people are currently reading
772 people want to read
About the author
K.C. Harper
5 books100 followersK.C. Harper grew up on Canada's east coast and spends her time plotting to destroy the happiness of her characters. She’s an avid reader, developmental editor, and a full-time human servant to a 4.5 lb teacup Chihuahua.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
August 10, 2025
2 ˖⁺‧✮
this books was a lot and i don’t even know where to start. the whole read felt very short and abrupt but at the same time millions of events were happening every chapter.
the plot overall had a great premise and even beginning. it hooked me with a great first 4 chapters and a what seemed like complex storyline. both characters had a great background building and likable personalities. they felt realistic and compatible. but that is it. nothing else in this book was good or enjoyable.
the plot became not so unpredictable but weird. my face was like 😐 the last 20% of the book. i didn’t catch
why, what happened, happened. maybe it skipped my mind but why did that character was so obsessed with her? it was predictable from the first page. (the stalker) but still i wished for a more developed version of his reveal. it felt very rushed and narrow.
the relation between the main character was so sudden. i’m not saying it’s unrealistic to fall in love so fast, but they saw each other not more than 10 times. their feelings weren’t described as deep and the whole attachment was flat. they fit together, that’s for sure, but why making it their whole personality?
the conflict of that article was unnecessary. like, at all. it had no base to it. what i mean is, they never talked about being in relationship before that article. it made no sense for her to be upset.
omggg, the darlin’ and my dream girl nicknames almost killed me. they were used EVERY SENTENCE. i have only 2 reasons to how this happened. mmc forget her name or the editor is blind for those words. how is using darlin 3 times on one page is okay? they were cute but they felt tooooooooooo much.
Thank you to hqn shamelessromantics for providing me with an arc.
this books was a lot and i don’t even know where to start. the whole read felt very short and abrupt but at the same time millions of events were happening every chapter.
the plot overall had a great premise and even beginning. it hooked me with a great first 4 chapters and a what seemed like complex storyline. both characters had a great background building and likable personalities. they felt realistic and compatible. but that is it. nothing else in this book was good or enjoyable.
the plot became not so unpredictable but weird. my face was like 😐 the last 20% of the book. i didn’t catch
why, what happened, happened. maybe it skipped my mind but why did that character was so obsessed with her? it was predictable from the first page. (the stalker) but still i wished for a more developed version of his reveal. it felt very rushed and narrow.
the relation between the main character was so sudden. i’m not saying it’s unrealistic to fall in love so fast, but they saw each other not more than 10 times. their feelings weren’t described as deep and the whole attachment was flat. they fit together, that’s for sure, but why making it their whole personality?
the conflict of that article was unnecessary. like, at all. it had no base to it. what i mean is, they never talked about being in relationship before that article. it made no sense for her to be upset.
omggg, the darlin’ and my dream girl nicknames almost killed me. they were used EVERY SENTENCE. i have only 2 reasons to how this happened. mmc forget her name or the editor is blind for those words. how is using darlin 3 times on one page is okay? they were cute but they felt tooooooooooo much.
Thank you to hqn shamelessromantics for providing me with an arc.
July 2, 2025
Perhaps one of the stamps of a good sports romance is the reader left feeling like they want to learn more about the sport... on that note, I have now subscribed to WRC on YouTube and am working my way through their videos.
This book, set in Canada, was a wonderful surprise. Everything about this book was a wonderful surprise. I dare say, it might even be a 2025 favourite. I finished this a few days ago, and still, when I think about it, I smile. There were moments and phrases in this book that directly reminded me of my own husband (one of our first dates was also a snowmobile trip with a hot dog roast), and that greatly impacted my enjoyment overall. Yes, there were things about it that weren't great (the exorbitant use of "darlin" and "dream girl") and the number of times the FMC looked "up through her lashes". But my enjoyment of the overall plot and romance was able to carry me past those.
As for the suspense plot, I believe there are two ways to get engagement from the reader. First, the reader is trying throughout the book to solve the mystery themselves, engaging them in the plot. Second, it is easy for the reader to peg early on whodunit, and now they are engaged with the characters as they try to solve the mystery themselves. This is the latter. The first time we met the big bad character, I called it immediately. But I found it engaging to watch the characters learn and also to see the little breadcrumbs of it being revealed.
If you're looking for a sports romance (for a sport rarely, if ever, seen in the romance genre), with a substantial suspense plot, look no further. The primary setting for romantic suspense are stalkers, women on the run, security agencies, law enforcement, or bodyguards. While this one does have the stalker, it completely deviates from the security agency and law enforcement trope.
Thank you to Carina Press and NetGalley for a digital advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book, set in Canada, was a wonderful surprise. Everything about this book was a wonderful surprise. I dare say, it might even be a 2025 favourite. I finished this a few days ago, and still, when I think about it, I smile. There were moments and phrases in this book that directly reminded me of my own husband (one of our first dates was also a snowmobile trip with a hot dog roast), and that greatly impacted my enjoyment overall. Yes, there were things about it that weren't great (the exorbitant use of "darlin" and "dream girl") and the number of times the FMC looked "up through her lashes". But my enjoyment of the overall plot and romance was able to carry me past those.
As for the suspense plot, I believe there are two ways to get engagement from the reader. First, the reader is trying throughout the book to solve the mystery themselves, engaging them in the plot. Second, it is easy for the reader to peg early on whodunit, and now they are engaged with the characters as they try to solve the mystery themselves. This is the latter. The first time we met the big bad character, I called it immediately. But I found it engaging to watch the characters learn and also to see the little breadcrumbs of it being revealed.
If you're looking for a sports romance (for a sport rarely, if ever, seen in the romance genre), with a substantial suspense plot, look no further. The primary setting for romantic suspense are stalkers, women on the run, security agencies, law enforcement, or bodyguards. While this one does have the stalker, it completely deviates from the security agency and law enforcement trope.
Thank you to Carina Press and NetGalley for a digital advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
dnf
July 5, 2025***Thanks to the publisher for the e-ARC on NetGalley***
DNF @ 12%.
Content warnings are listed at the start of this book.
I was so onboard with a sports romance book about a sport I don’t know anything about but there does seem to be a bit of a balancing act with the sports part of this with a suspense subplot regarding the MMC’s father and the FMC’s stalker.
This book takes place in Canada (just mentioned West Coast up to the point where I was reading) and the FMC (Ryah) is 23 and the MMC (Xavier) is 24. This book is written in alternating POV first-person past tense.
The thing that throws me off the worst is that Xavier keeps calling Ryah “darlin’” like how authors write guys from Texas and he’s supposed to be Canadian? It’s super cringe to me but some readers like that I guess. Would’ve worked better as a cowboy book in this context I think.
I think the two leads are white but the best friends are BIPOC. It’s unclear if there’s more books planned with the best friends or not? One is already engaged so I’m not sure where that’s going. I’m kind of iffy on the rep we’ve seen so far so I’m more leaning towards not having sequels for the best friends in this case.
The suspense aspect of this can be hit or miss. I guessed the minute the person appeared on the page who the stalker was (I checked the end of the book after I DNFed) so I don’t know, maybe I read too many mystery books but it was too obvious for me and seems annoying I could figure it out so fast. But I know there are readers who would rather have it be super obvious so they can spend the rest of the time not on high alert on who the stalker might be. So, again, how this book handles it isn’t quite my thing but it could be yours.
And regarding the stalker situation...this person has been harassing Ryah for two years and the cops won’t do anything about it (obviously) and she has no idea who it is. BUT the minute she meets Xavier, who is a foot taller than her and big, she just gets into the car with him and his friend with no cares in the world?? Yes, she needs to go to the hospital and might not be thinking straight after a bicycle collided into her, but her best friend just lets them take her??
Taking pictures of their faces and getting their names (which by the way, how’d she know they weren’t lying) and a snap of the license plate isn’t going to do anything if Ryah is DEAD. Absolutely ridiculous situation and what made me DNF. I think this could have worked in a paranormal romance or something that could explain away the instant trust Ryah had for Xavier but in a normal contemporary context, no.
Also, the prologue is confusing to me because there was no reasoning behind that car chase that got him sent to juvie besides him showing off his driving skills and giving him a criminal record for the sake of the story? He could’ve just stayed put in my opinion and his dad would still have been carted off. I know I’m more used to reading dark romance but I don’t really think this counts enough for ex-con behavior to make Xavier out to be this ~bad boy with a dark past~ he now has to hide from his rally racing sponsors like the book wants me to believe. If he killed his abusive father, sure. But as it is? I’m left baffled.
DNF @ 12%.
Content warnings are listed at the start of this book.
I was so onboard with a sports romance book about a sport I don’t know anything about but there does seem to be a bit of a balancing act with the sports part of this with a suspense subplot regarding the MMC’s father and the FMC’s stalker.
This book takes place in Canada (just mentioned West Coast up to the point where I was reading) and the FMC (Ryah) is 23 and the MMC (Xavier) is 24. This book is written in alternating POV first-person past tense.
The thing that throws me off the worst is that Xavier keeps calling Ryah “darlin’” like how authors write guys from Texas and he’s supposed to be Canadian? It’s super cringe to me but some readers like that I guess. Would’ve worked better as a cowboy book in this context I think.
I think the two leads are white but the best friends are BIPOC. It’s unclear if there’s more books planned with the best friends or not? One is already engaged so I’m not sure where that’s going. I’m kind of iffy on the rep we’ve seen so far so I’m more leaning towards not having sequels for the best friends in this case.
The suspense aspect of this can be hit or miss. I guessed the minute the person appeared on the page who the stalker was (I checked the end of the book after I DNFed) so I don’t know, maybe I read too many mystery books but it was too obvious for me and seems annoying I could figure it out so fast. But I know there are readers who would rather have it be super obvious so they can spend the rest of the time not on high alert on who the stalker might be. So, again, how this book handles it isn’t quite my thing but it could be yours.
And regarding the stalker situation...this person has been harassing Ryah for two years and the cops won’t do anything about it (obviously) and she has no idea who it is. BUT the minute she meets Xavier, who is a foot taller than her and big, she just gets into the car with him and his friend with no cares in the world?? Yes, she needs to go to the hospital and might not be thinking straight after a bicycle collided into her, but her best friend just lets them take her??
Taking pictures of their faces and getting their names (which by the way, how’d she know they weren’t lying) and a snap of the license plate isn’t going to do anything if Ryah is DEAD. Absolutely ridiculous situation and what made me DNF. I think this could have worked in a paranormal romance or something that could explain away the instant trust Ryah had for Xavier but in a normal contemporary context, no.
Also, the prologue is confusing to me because there was no reasoning behind that car chase that got him sent to juvie besides him showing off his driving skills and giving him a criminal record for the sake of the story? He could’ve just stayed put in my opinion and his dad would still have been carted off. I know I’m more used to reading dark romance but I don’t really think this counts enough for ex-con behavior to make Xavier out to be this ~bad boy with a dark past~ he now has to hide from his rally racing sponsors like the book wants me to believe. If he killed his abusive father, sure. But as it is? I’m left baffled.
July 16, 2025
ARC Review: Rear View
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
This was such a solid debut! If you’re into protective, broody MMCs with messy pasts and major “falls first” energy—Xavier’s your guy. And Ryah? Loved her. She’s been through a lot but still keeps pushing forward, even when it feels like the world’s against her.
There’s a good mix of heat, heart, and just enough suspense to keep things interesting. Their connection feels natural, and I really enjoyed watching them figure things out together—flaws, fears, and all.
Some moments were a bit predictable, but honestly, it didn’t take away from how invested I was. Definitely worth picking up if you like your romance with a side of danger and a whole lot of emotional payoff.
Thank you to @hqn_shamelessromantics @kcharper_author and @netgalley for providing me with an ARC to review!
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
This was such a solid debut! If you’re into protective, broody MMCs with messy pasts and major “falls first” energy—Xavier’s your guy. And Ryah? Loved her. She’s been through a lot but still keeps pushing forward, even when it feels like the world’s against her.
There’s a good mix of heat, heart, and just enough suspense to keep things interesting. Their connection feels natural, and I really enjoyed watching them figure things out together—flaws, fears, and all.
Some moments were a bit predictable, but honestly, it didn’t take away from how invested I was. Definitely worth picking up if you like your romance with a side of danger and a whole lot of emotional payoff.
Thank you to @hqn_shamelessromantics @kcharper_author and @netgalley for providing me with an ARC to review!
August 10, 2025
Loved it. It's not overly sporty, but gives enough context and info on rally driving to be entertaining. Xavier and Ryah both have tragic back stories, and you gain more knowledge throughout so it keeps it intriguing. There is a great balance of drama, tension and mystery, with Ryah's threatening mysterious stalker, and the danger from Xavier's father.
Their romance is so wholesome, it's a combo of insta love with him falling first, but with a patient slow burn at Ryah's own pace.
I loved Xavier's protective energy and it balances so well against the chaotic possessiveness of the stalker, and I enjoyed how Ryah gains her confidence and voice.
If you want a high stakes mix of thriller and sports romance, full of emotion and intrigue give this a read!
Their romance is so wholesome, it's a combo of insta love with him falling first, but with a patient slow burn at Ryah's own pace.
I loved Xavier's protective energy and it balances so well against the chaotic possessiveness of the stalker, and I enjoyed how Ryah gains her confidence and voice.
If you want a high stakes mix of thriller and sports romance, full of emotion and intrigue give this a read!
July 23, 2025
My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Not to be punny, but that was a super fast read! The pace just kept revving up and I couldn’t put it down. I hope Miles, Zoya, Yara and Juan get their own books.
August 6, 2025
Now it has been a while since I read a book where I zoomed through it in the beginning. Even more so when I create an aesthetic board and playlist🎶
Lately reading has felt like a chore and for the most part I have missed reading cute romance reads that have me in my feelings. This one was a great one…until I got to the 60% mark. It became a bit repetitive and I found Xavier’s nickname to Ryah quite annoying. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to whiteout my kindle of the word ‘Darling’ as much as it was mentioned in this ARC. I will admit that after processing my thoughts I have concluded that this read was a bit too insta love and I would have loved to see both MCs build a relationship rather than rush into it. Especially with Ryah’s past experience and how she is now more of a cautious person. It just didn’t align with her character and growth IMO. As someone who was not familiar with what a rally car driver was it was refreshing to read and get a great explanation and examples of the sport. Loved how the author gave the right amount of insight and detail without feeling like I was scratching my head trying to figure out the square root of sports.
I will say that I have read my fair share of thriller reads and the mysterious stalker was a bit too obvious. One thing that kept on getting on my nerves was the fact that the ex boyfriend Christian, knowing the trauma that Ryah experienced, does NOT respect her boundaries and just storms into her space. The fact that he would continuously invade her boundaries and she would brush it off like nothing until she got with Xavier just irked me. I would have love to seen more growth with her and for her to use her voice a bit more and COMMUNICATE her thoughts/feelings.
Other aspects that had me questioning certain scenes included where Xavier’s father and uncle waltzed into his events like nothing. As if they are VIP and champagne is waiting for them. Why couldn’t Xavier request a no contact order for both of them? I just kept on pausing and thinking over everything which defeated my mood. Even though it was a bit long there was still missing information. The way the plot was executed just wasn’t it. The dialogue as well was a bit off. Almost unnatural how someone in the real world would speak. Overall I think I spent a bit too much time on questioning events/scenes/thoughts/feelings that occurred once I hit the 60% mark rather than continue to enjoy my read and zoom past it.
Lastly, I was disappointed in the ending and felt that it was rushed. Would have loved to seen a glimpse of Ryah’s character growth and how Xavier and the gang are all doing. Overall it was a 3.5 ⭐️ read. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Lately reading has felt like a chore and for the most part I have missed reading cute romance reads that have me in my feelings. This one was a great one…until I got to the 60% mark. It became a bit repetitive and I found Xavier’s nickname to Ryah quite annoying. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to whiteout my kindle of the word ‘Darling’ as much as it was mentioned in this ARC. I will admit that after processing my thoughts I have concluded that this read was a bit too insta love and I would have loved to see both MCs build a relationship rather than rush into it. Especially with Ryah’s past experience and how she is now more of a cautious person. It just didn’t align with her character and growth IMO. As someone who was not familiar with what a rally car driver was it was refreshing to read and get a great explanation and examples of the sport. Loved how the author gave the right amount of insight and detail without feeling like I was scratching my head trying to figure out the square root of sports.
I will say that I have read my fair share of thriller reads and the mysterious stalker was a bit too obvious. One thing that kept on getting on my nerves was the fact that the ex boyfriend Christian, knowing the trauma that Ryah experienced, does NOT respect her boundaries and just storms into her space. The fact that he would continuously invade her boundaries and she would brush it off like nothing until she got with Xavier just irked me. I would have love to seen more growth with her and for her to use her voice a bit more and COMMUNICATE her thoughts/feelings.
Other aspects that had me questioning certain scenes included where Xavier’s father and uncle waltzed into his events like nothing. As if they are VIP and champagne is waiting for them. Why couldn’t Xavier request a no contact order for both of them? I just kept on pausing and thinking over everything which defeated my mood. Even though it was a bit long there was still missing information. The way the plot was executed just wasn’t it. The dialogue as well was a bit off. Almost unnatural how someone in the real world would speak. Overall I think I spent a bit too much time on questioning events/scenes/thoughts/feelings that occurred once I hit the 60% mark rather than continue to enjoy my read and zoom past it.
Lastly, I was disappointed in the ending and felt that it was rushed. Would have loved to seen a glimpse of Ryah’s character growth and how Xavier and the gang are all doing. Overall it was a 3.5 ⭐️ read. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2025
(ARC REVIEW) A unique mix of sports romance/romantic suspense.
A rally car driver with a career on the rise falls for a grad student who has made her life small because of a stalker, both hiding secrets from their past that could ruin everything.
There’s a lot of things I enjoyed about this. I liked the contrast of a man who is daring enough to drive in a dangerous sport with a girl who has become hyper cautious of her personal safety. I appreciated that Ryah’s wardrobe becomes a metaphor for her journey to being seen and living in the world again.
I don’t follow rally car racing so I can’t vouch for accuracy, but I am familiar with other racing sports. I had no complaints about that part of the book. Things were explained clearly but didn’t feel like it was too much or overly technical.
While I enjoyed it, I didn’t connect with the writing style and that’s ultimately why it’s three stars for me. The dialogue doesn’t quite feel natural. The use of nicknames is very repetitive (‘Darlin’ is used 100 times alone, and that’s just one of few). The romance is insta-love that borders on cheesy. It relies heavily on Ryah instantly trusting Xavier (despite her suspicion and fear of other people), a point that is acknowledged, but brushed past without any deeper reflection. This fits with the lighter tone of the writing, but I found it unrealistic in a way that I couldn’t move past.
That being said, this book did hook me around the 40% mark. The suspense portion is done well and once that started escalating I was invested. There’s a lot of different moving pieces and suspects, although I did correctly guess who the stalker was early on.
I’d recommend this to other readers. It’s entertaining, easy-to-read even with darker subject matters, and adds more variety to the sports romance section. I don’t think I would ever reread it, but it wasn’t a chore to finish it.
Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.
A rally car driver with a career on the rise falls for a grad student who has made her life small because of a stalker, both hiding secrets from their past that could ruin everything.
There’s a lot of things I enjoyed about this. I liked the contrast of a man who is daring enough to drive in a dangerous sport with a girl who has become hyper cautious of her personal safety. I appreciated that Ryah’s wardrobe becomes a metaphor for her journey to being seen and living in the world again.
I don’t follow rally car racing so I can’t vouch for accuracy, but I am familiar with other racing sports. I had no complaints about that part of the book. Things were explained clearly but didn’t feel like it was too much or overly technical.
While I enjoyed it, I didn’t connect with the writing style and that’s ultimately why it’s three stars for me. The dialogue doesn’t quite feel natural. The use of nicknames is very repetitive (‘Darlin’ is used 100 times alone, and that’s just one of few). The romance is insta-love that borders on cheesy. It relies heavily on Ryah instantly trusting Xavier (despite her suspicion and fear of other people), a point that is acknowledged, but brushed past without any deeper reflection. This fits with the lighter tone of the writing, but I found it unrealistic in a way that I couldn’t move past.
That being said, this book did hook me around the 40% mark. The suspense portion is done well and once that started escalating I was invested. There’s a lot of different moving pieces and suspects, although I did correctly guess who the stalker was early on.
I’d recommend this to other readers. It’s entertaining, easy-to-read even with darker subject matters, and adds more variety to the sports romance section. I don’t think I would ever reread it, but it wasn’t a chore to finish it.
Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.
August 8, 2025
2 stars
This was a weird one for me. I wanted to try something different and with both MCs having a rough past, I thought this could be interesting. But it all felt like too much and also written too casually. The FMC was definitely an unreliable narrator because every man was acting creepy. Her ex/best friend? Her teacher? The campus security? And the ER doctor in front of the MMC? Sorry but no, I don't see that happening. And then just weird things would happen like she moaned in a sexy way while putting on too-large winter gloves before snowmobiling with a group? Huh? The PR lady wants your man...why? The non-dialogue writing was written as dialogue too which was odd, like where was the creative writing? Why are we using "kinda" and "outta" outside of the dialogue? Plus the FMC once said "I could care less" and that is such a pet peeve of mine. I don't think the stalker reveal made sense. And why would you keep someone in your life if they abandoned you in your scariest time? Ew leave you coward ex/best male friend.
Today I saw 2 TikToks about male POVs in romance books being too lustful and it hit such a nerve because the MMC was too lustful! COnstantly but the most egregious use of it was in the hospital room as she is laid up in a cast from foot to hip and he says something like "This cast is really going to make bedning you over this hospital bed difficult." SHE ALMOST DIED GIVE IT A REST!
But also I did want to keep reading so an additional star for that.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC.
This was a weird one for me. I wanted to try something different and with both MCs having a rough past, I thought this could be interesting. But it all felt like too much and also written too casually. The FMC was definitely an unreliable narrator because every man was acting creepy. Her ex/best friend? Her teacher? The campus security? And the ER doctor in front of the MMC? Sorry but no, I don't see that happening. And then just weird things would happen like she moaned in a sexy way while putting on too-large winter gloves before snowmobiling with a group? Huh? The PR lady wants your man...why? The non-dialogue writing was written as dialogue too which was odd, like where was the creative writing? Why are we using "kinda" and "outta" outside of the dialogue? Plus the FMC once said "I could care less" and that is such a pet peeve of mine. I don't think the stalker reveal made sense. And why would you keep someone in your life if they abandoned you in your scariest time? Ew leave you coward ex/best male friend.
Today I saw 2 TikToks about male POVs in romance books being too lustful and it hit such a nerve because the MMC was too lustful! COnstantly but the most egregious use of it was in the hospital room as she is laid up in a cast from foot to hip and he says something like "This cast is really going to make bedning you over this hospital bed difficult." SHE ALMOST DIED GIVE IT A REST!
But also I did want to keep reading so an additional star for that.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC.
July 2, 2025
I’m quite surprised how much I enjoyed this! I requested this on a whim because the cover was cute and I saw the Dirty Air series mentioned which I loved.
The stalker plot line was done well. The stalker was easy to figure out but I didn’t mind it. I’ve read some books with this trope and the stalker comes out of left field and doesn’t make sense so I liked that it was kinda in your face.
I liked the family dynamics as well. Xavier grew up in a tough situation so for him to find a girl who has such a great loving family made me happy.
Xavier and Ryha were really great together. Both of them had their past and secrets but when it all came down to it they trusted and loved each other which is all you need.
I’m definitely interested in picking more up from this author and hoping there’s a sequel for either Zoya or Miles.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc for my honest review!
The stalker plot line was done well. The stalker was easy to figure out but I didn’t mind it. I’ve read some books with this trope and the stalker comes out of left field and doesn’t make sense so I liked that it was kinda in your face.
I liked the family dynamics as well. Xavier grew up in a tough situation so for him to find a girl who has such a great loving family made me happy.
Xavier and Ryha were really great together. Both of them had their past and secrets but when it all came down to it they trusted and loved each other which is all you need.
I’m definitely interested in picking more up from this author and hoping there’s a sequel for either Zoya or Miles.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc for my honest review!
August 11, 2025
Rear View was a super cute contemporary romance about Xavier, an ex-con rally race driver and Ryah a psychology student who is struggling with a clingy ex and a scary secret. Ryah has a stalker and letting people in is not easy. She is beyond careful, no social media, and definitely no dating. But when Xavier helps Ryah after an accident, Xavier falls hard and his dream girl is in his sights.
This story was fast paced and fun. Xavier and Ryah are the cutest and even though they both have trust issues and secrets, they give each other their best. As they both begin to open up about their dark pasts, those pasts threaten to break them down, but together they will try to overcome it all. The undercurrent of mystery and suspense keeps the story moving along and the end their story is really sweet. Xavier and Ryah have great chemistry and their banter is flirty and sexy. If you’re looking for a fun, quick contemporary read, I can recommend Rear View.
This story was fast paced and fun. Xavier and Ryah are the cutest and even though they both have trust issues and secrets, they give each other their best. As they both begin to open up about their dark pasts, those pasts threaten to break them down, but together they will try to overcome it all. The undercurrent of mystery and suspense keeps the story moving along and the end their story is really sweet. Xavier and Ryah have great chemistry and their banter is flirty and sexy. If you’re looking for a fun, quick contemporary read, I can recommend Rear View.
July 19, 2025
Thank you Net Galley and the publishers for the ARC for an honest review.
Xavier definitely falls first and fast and hard. He is very smitten by dream girl and he is so cute! By the end of the book he have a found family and all the love he deserves.
Ryah definitely is the shy type and reminds me of me. She blossoms in this book and by the end I’m happy she got her happily ever after.
The twist is kinda blind sighted and the end definitely feels kinda rushed but I loved getting to know the characters. I hope we get a book with the other characters because we never hear from them at the end of the book.
Xavier definitely falls first and fast and hard. He is very smitten by dream girl and he is so cute! By the end of the book he have a found family and all the love he deserves.
Ryah definitely is the shy type and reminds me of me. She blossoms in this book and by the end I’m happy she got her happily ever after.
The twist is kinda blind sighted and the end definitely feels kinda rushed but I loved getting to know the characters. I hope we get a book with the other characters because we never hear from them at the end of the book.
August 22, 2025
This was a great sports romance that was hard to put down. I loved following Ryah and Xavier in this book and having both their POVs. I loved how Xavier was immediately protective of her. I loved the cast of characters, the romance, and the suspense. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one and recommend checking it out. Heads up that this book does have content warnings.
Read this if you like:
📖 He falls first
📖 Touch her and die
📖 Rally driver MMC
📖 Stalker
📖 Spice
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted copy.
Read this if you like:
📖 He falls first
📖 Touch her and die
📖 Rally driver MMC
📖 Stalker
📖 Spice
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted copy.
August 17, 2025
Rear View has a lot of great elements within the romance and the storyline, but as a whole it didn’t feel as developed or thought out as I would have liked.
The romantic connection here is very insta-love. While that is not my cup of tea, I can appreciate it if the emotional connection between the main couple grows and shows depth over time. There were moments towards the end where Ryah and Xavier did explore their emotional connection, but a lot of the story was them holding back on opening up because they didn’t want to scare each other. This made their connection feel solely physical for a long time.
Both of the characters have gone through incredibly traumatic events, but their every day actions and the events in the books didn’t align with it. The impacts of these traumas should be felt in the little moments as well, and not just in the larger conflicts. For example, Ryah is still in the thick of dealing with a stalker. Due to this, she struggles to trust new people and has become an introvert for her survival. However, upon meeting Xavier, she immediately trusts him without any explanation. There’s no push or pull, or earning her trust, she lets him in no questions asked. This felt really glossed over and unrealistic considering the circumstances.
Additionally, and this could be the thriller reader in me, but I expected the stalker to haunt the background of the story a bit more. Ryah is able to go on multiple dates and outings before hearing a peep from the stalker. The times she does hear from the stalker, the messages are quite repetitive until everything just boils over suddenly. The stalker aspect was initially was really drew me into this story so I would have liked to have a slow, but consistent increase in the intrusions & messages instead.
The writing in general was repetitive at times, i.e., Xavier’s inner thoughts had the same formula (“Christ, did it feel good”, “damn, did she smell good” or “and hell, if it didn’t feel nice”). I love a nickname, but they can and often are over used. Unfortunately, “Darling” is a culprit of that. There were some plot inconsistencies, such as Xavier driving 2 hours only to leave after 10 minutes and Ryah texting someone her location only for that same person to ask where she is not long after.
Overall, this spicy and suspenseful story was a good contemporary romance debut from K.C. Harper, but there is room for growth in the writing and plot development. Readers looking for a fast-paced, spicy romance will likely enjoy this novel.
Thank you, Harlequin, for providing a copy of this book!
The romantic connection here is very insta-love. While that is not my cup of tea, I can appreciate it if the emotional connection between the main couple grows and shows depth over time. There were moments towards the end where Ryah and Xavier did explore their emotional connection, but a lot of the story was them holding back on opening up because they didn’t want to scare each other. This made their connection feel solely physical for a long time.
Both of the characters have gone through incredibly traumatic events, but their every day actions and the events in the books didn’t align with it. The impacts of these traumas should be felt in the little moments as well, and not just in the larger conflicts. For example, Ryah is still in the thick of dealing with a stalker. Due to this, she struggles to trust new people and has become an introvert for her survival. However, upon meeting Xavier, she immediately trusts him without any explanation. There’s no push or pull, or earning her trust, she lets him in no questions asked. This felt really glossed over and unrealistic considering the circumstances.
Additionally, and this could be the thriller reader in me, but I expected the stalker to haunt the background of the story a bit more. Ryah is able to go on multiple dates and outings before hearing a peep from the stalker. The times she does hear from the stalker, the messages are quite repetitive until everything just boils over suddenly. The stalker aspect was initially was really drew me into this story so I would have liked to have a slow, but consistent increase in the intrusions & messages instead.
The writing in general was repetitive at times, i.e., Xavier’s inner thoughts had the same formula (“Christ, did it feel good”, “damn, did she smell good” or “and hell, if it didn’t feel nice”). I love a nickname, but they can and often are over used. Unfortunately, “Darling” is a culprit of that. There were some plot inconsistencies, such as Xavier driving 2 hours only to leave after 10 minutes and Ryah texting someone her location only for that same person to ask where she is not long after.
Overall, this spicy and suspenseful story was a good contemporary romance debut from K.C. Harper, but there is room for growth in the writing and plot development. Readers looking for a fast-paced, spicy romance will likely enjoy this novel.
Thank you, Harlequin, for providing a copy of this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2025
I love how this book dealt with the FMC’s trauma of being stalked. The fact that it was included is great in an often overlooked topic. That said, I just didn’t buy the insta-love a deeply traumatized girl has. This would have been a much more plausible story had it not included this trauma in the way it did. Plus, “I Love You” on the second or third date? Please. She’d been basically hiding for a year, it’s just not believable. The MMC’s accent drove me freaking nuts the way it was written, it was annoying. I liked the idea of the book, I just didn’t love the execution. The writing also lacked any description of the world they’re in, it was very Rush said this…Xavier said that. No details that paint a picture of them or the world they are in other than shocker, bad boy has tattoos.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2025
Rear View was an okay read, but still a good one overall. Ryan and Xavier made a great couple, and I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop. The romance mixed with a bit of suspense kept the story moving, even if some parts were predictable.
Ryah’s family was especially welcoming, which added a nice dynamic and helped explain why Xavier felt so protective. The connection between Ryah and Xavier felt genuine, and that was one of the highlights for me.
While it didn’t completely blow me away, it had enough heart and charm to make it a good read.
Ryah’s family was especially welcoming, which added a nice dynamic and helped explain why Xavier felt so protective. The connection between Ryah and Xavier felt genuine, and that was one of the highlights for me.
While it didn’t completely blow me away, it had enough heart and charm to make it a good read.
August 2, 2025
I liked a lot of things about this book. I enjoyed X as a concept. I liked the found family aspect. And I thought the FMC/MMC relationship dynamic was cute.
However, some things didn’t really add up.
The colloquial of both of the main characters doesn’t lineup with their backgrounds. It was very difficult to place them as characters when their race, their socioeconomic status and their life experiences felt unnecessarily vague / like they were at odds.
I first thought the MMC was Black or Brown, but then he is described as having ice blue eyes. That combination of features is very rare and I don’t think the author was making a statement about unique genetic combinations when she created this character. He also speaks in a very POC type of slang and carries the kind of energy that suggests he grew up in a similar type of community, so it’s either an oversight or a true work of fiction where characters are built on dreams and desires with little basis in reality. You can’t contribute the juxtaposition of behaviors and personality traits to Juvie, because his personality was like this from the beginning of the book.
The key problem, for me, is a lot of this book is “real,” considering the severity of the topics covered. So it’s confusing to use less realistic characters to speak to these complex situations.
Considering Xavier’s experience with the legal system as a teen for instance — I think the lack of clarity leaves a significant gap in understanding why these things happened to him, and how they played out.
It sounds as if X grew up in an upper class neighborhood; his father was charged for white collar crimes. Yet, a lot of what he went through presumed a lack of innocence and suggested he was a threat to society. It is difficult to believe the cards would have been so stacked against him when he lives in a world where you are inherently given the benefit of the doubt as a non-POC. Not to mention that he had been reporting the domestic abuse since childhood, his brother committed suicide, and his mom went into self-imposed hiding. This is all supporting evidence for his case; at the very least, to help position this as an isolated incident. In terms of framing his father…who is to say he didn’t have access to his father’s computer at home? There is room for plausible deniability when it comes to how he got his hands on his father’s documents, especially considering his friends who had the know how were never caught or charged. Plus, the documents were real, and the loophole he used to lead to the arrest is legal. His father was guilty of those crimes. It just doesn’t make sense to me how he gets pinned as a bad person who needs to be ashamed of his actions through adulthood.
The FMC’s ex-boyfriend is such an idiot, and that also doesn’t make sense; if he was paying so much attention to her, then how even to the last moments when things grew extremely clear, did he overlook every sign of danger? I understand that he is meant to be a bad match for her, but he was also a close friend so it’s really confusing. It seems that he kept tabs on her, but was just too scared to be there for her and too indecisive/selfish to avoid leading two girls on. However, those actions suggest a notable difference in character vs. the way he was portrayed. To me, his character did not make much sense and served to push the plot forward / muddle reader predictions about the perpetrator.
I also was really uncomfortable with all the mentions of moans that made no sense. Why is she moaning in front of strangers and in front of her freaking family?
Both main characters had sex appeal, but the book struggled with sexy scenes. They felt very contrived and almost at odds with the situation at hand. For a character to be so anxious and to be stalked in the way that she was…it is very interesting that she would have been so comfortable—without even an internal nod to the fact that she had extremely relevant anxieties—during intimate scenes that occurred in adjacency to a number of recent triggers. I understand that hypersexuality can be a reaction to this kind of trauma, but that is not what it was giving. She was shy and almost naïvely or childishly portrayed throughout the book.
There are multiple other points that gave me pause, but I feel like these were the primary aspects that caused me to struggle while reading this book.
Ultimately, there were just too many questions for me to really sit back and enjoy the story. I had a hard time perceiving any of the characters as real, and I only felt emotionally gripped during the last chapters of the book. Considering I also was recently stalked and harassed, I assumed that this book would have felt more familiar. I did get emotional towards the end because I understand the struggle of having no help and being left to resolve, document, argue everything on your own. Ultimately, this book comes across as a work of fiction with limited connections to real life.
However, some things didn’t really add up.
The colloquial of both of the main characters doesn’t lineup with their backgrounds. It was very difficult to place them as characters when their race, their socioeconomic status and their life experiences felt unnecessarily vague / like they were at odds.
I first thought the MMC was Black or Brown, but then he is described as having ice blue eyes. That combination of features is very rare and I don’t think the author was making a statement about unique genetic combinations when she created this character. He also speaks in a very POC type of slang and carries the kind of energy that suggests he grew up in a similar type of community, so it’s either an oversight or a true work of fiction where characters are built on dreams and desires with little basis in reality. You can’t contribute the juxtaposition of behaviors and personality traits to Juvie, because his personality was like this from the beginning of the book.
The key problem, for me, is a lot of this book is “real,” considering the severity of the topics covered. So it’s confusing to use less realistic characters to speak to these complex situations.
Considering Xavier’s experience with the legal system as a teen for instance — I think the lack of clarity leaves a significant gap in understanding why these things happened to him, and how they played out.
It sounds as if X grew up in an upper class neighborhood; his father was charged for white collar crimes. Yet, a lot of what he went through presumed a lack of innocence and suggested he was a threat to society. It is difficult to believe the cards would have been so stacked against him when he lives in a world where you are inherently given the benefit of the doubt as a non-POC. Not to mention that he had been reporting the domestic abuse since childhood, his brother committed suicide, and his mom went into self-imposed hiding. This is all supporting evidence for his case; at the very least, to help position this as an isolated incident. In terms of framing his father…who is to say he didn’t have access to his father’s computer at home? There is room for plausible deniability when it comes to how he got his hands on his father’s documents, especially considering his friends who had the know how were never caught or charged. Plus, the documents were real, and the loophole he used to lead to the arrest is legal. His father was guilty of those crimes. It just doesn’t make sense to me how he gets pinned as a bad person who needs to be ashamed of his actions through adulthood.
The FMC’s ex-boyfriend is such an idiot, and that also doesn’t make sense; if he was paying so much attention to her, then how even to the last moments when things grew extremely clear, did he overlook every sign of danger? I understand that he is meant to be a bad match for her, but he was also a close friend so it’s really confusing. It seems that he kept tabs on her, but was just too scared to be there for her and too indecisive/selfish to avoid leading two girls on. However, those actions suggest a notable difference in character vs. the way he was portrayed. To me, his character did not make much sense and served to push the plot forward / muddle reader predictions about the perpetrator.
I also was really uncomfortable with all the mentions of moans that made no sense. Why is she moaning in front of strangers and in front of her freaking family?
Both main characters had sex appeal, but the book struggled with sexy scenes. They felt very contrived and almost at odds with the situation at hand. For a character to be so anxious and to be stalked in the way that she was…it is very interesting that she would have been so comfortable—without even an internal nod to the fact that she had extremely relevant anxieties—during intimate scenes that occurred in adjacency to a number of recent triggers. I understand that hypersexuality can be a reaction to this kind of trauma, but that is not what it was giving. She was shy and almost naïvely or childishly portrayed throughout the book.
There are multiple other points that gave me pause, but I feel like these were the primary aspects that caused me to struggle while reading this book.
Ultimately, there were just too many questions for me to really sit back and enjoy the story. I had a hard time perceiving any of the characters as real, and I only felt emotionally gripped during the last chapters of the book. Considering I also was recently stalked and harassed, I assumed that this book would have felt more familiar. I did get emotional towards the end because I understand the struggle of having no help and being left to resolve, document, argue everything on your own. Ultimately, this book comes across as a work of fiction with limited connections to real life.
August 8, 2025
I liked the idea of this book but the actual story, not so much. It has a young (first?) love story, some danger, some excitement, and some spice. I liked the idea of pairing a book-smart postgraduate psychology student (who has a stalker, no less!) with a super tough, street smart rally car driver hiding his criminal past. I liked Ryah and Xavier fine and the supporting cast of his friends and her family (plus one ferocious BFF). However, for me the insta-love was way overdone and the plot way too melodramatic. Maybe there’s an audience of those who watch “reality” dating/love shows who could be into it.
Notes:
The villains are stereotypical, two-dimensional caricatures and their dialogue is laughably trite. If you ever watched Scooby Doo, you’ll immediately know who the “mystery” big bad is.
From their very first encounter, Xavier is calling Ryah “Darlin”. Constantly. I’ve met outrageously charming Texans who’d never do that. She’s obviously shy and skittish; how is instantly using an affectionate pet name not Cringe? Referring to her as “my girl” to other people was just disrespectful and aggravating. And she jumped into a car with this stranger and his friend? WHAT?
Also, for a “perfect” revenge plan two years in the making, how/why do you let yourself get caught so easily? Why is the 911 call placed While You’re Still Home? How did you learn to drive like that (or at all) given the situation? Why are your friends even in the car? Why are you risking your lives in a car chase? Inquiring minds are… super annoyed.
Ryah veered really hard between terrified/panicked/frozen little mouse and Sassy Girl. It was jolting, to say the least. I realize the writer was trying to make a point about her horrific past experiences with men and how quickly she feels safe with this great guy she Just Met, but it’s so extreme and unbelievable. It was irritating to read.
Again, I liked the idea of the story, but sadly, not the execution. In the future, a good editor to clean up inconsistencies, repetition, over-exaggeration and contradictory logic would be very valuable. There’s too much drama, but also potential, I think. Best of luck to the writer, I’ll be watching for her next book.
2.25 / 5 stars.
Thanks to Harlequin - Romance | Carina Press and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an ARC. Thoughts and opinions are all mine.
Notes:
The villains are stereotypical, two-dimensional caricatures and their dialogue is laughably trite. If you ever watched Scooby Doo, you’ll immediately know who the “mystery” big bad is.
From their very first encounter, Xavier is calling Ryah “Darlin”. Constantly. I’ve met outrageously charming Texans who’d never do that. She’s obviously shy and skittish; how is instantly using an affectionate pet name not Cringe? Referring to her as “my girl” to other people was just disrespectful and aggravating. And she jumped into a car with this stranger and his friend? WHAT?
Also, for a “perfect” revenge plan two years in the making, how/why do you let yourself get caught so easily? Why is the 911 call placed While You’re Still Home? How did you learn to drive like that (or at all) given the situation? Why are your friends even in the car? Why are you risking your lives in a car chase? Inquiring minds are… super annoyed.
Ryah veered really hard between terrified/panicked/frozen little mouse and Sassy Girl. It was jolting, to say the least. I realize the writer was trying to make a point about her horrific past experiences with men and how quickly she feels safe with this great guy she Just Met, but it’s so extreme and unbelievable. It was irritating to read.
Again, I liked the idea of the story, but sadly, not the execution. In the future, a good editor to clean up inconsistencies, repetition, over-exaggeration and contradictory logic would be very valuable. There’s too much drama, but also potential, I think. Best of luck to the writer, I’ll be watching for her next book.
2.25 / 5 stars.
Thanks to Harlequin - Romance | Carina Press and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an ARC. Thoughts and opinions are all mine.
November 8, 2025
Ryah is close to graduation and trying to finish her thesis. Her life is boring except for having a stalker. She isn’t looking for a relationship because she has trust issues. Xavier had a bad childhood that led to him going to jail. Now he is a successful competitive rally driver. He is totally focused on his career. Ryah and Xaiver seem like they’d be too different to work as a couple. Can two such different people find their way to a lasting love?
Ryah’s stalking case is a good element of the story. She might be smart and careful but the stalker is out of her control and driving her crazy. The author did a good job showing how Ryah is trying to deal with the situation and why she is so frustrated. It is set up very early in the story that the police officer assigned to her case is not going to help her. That creates the situation that occurs at the culmination of the story. Ryah doesn’t have a big growth curve instead the author chooses to focus on Ryah opening herself up to Xavier and surviving being stalked. Xavier didn’t grow up in a good household. He ends up in jail after trying to deal with his home life in a way only a teenager would think is good. Xavier is determined to be the best rally driver around. He takes his responsibility to his team very seriously. He doesn’t have a big growth curve instead the author focuses on his burgeoning feelings for Ryah and him worrying that his past is catching up to him. They make a good couple with a lot of room to grow together once the bad guy is stopped.
There is a bad guy in this story. The author leaves readers guessing for quite a while about the identity of the stalker. The ending was very good. The author chose to go big and it was very satisfying.
This is a young adult contemporary romance with a stalker mixed in. It is a high adrenaline story. I enjoyed it and I will read more from this author in the future.
Ryah’s stalking case is a good element of the story. She might be smart and careful but the stalker is out of her control and driving her crazy. The author did a good job showing how Ryah is trying to deal with the situation and why she is so frustrated. It is set up very early in the story that the police officer assigned to her case is not going to help her. That creates the situation that occurs at the culmination of the story. Ryah doesn’t have a big growth curve instead the author chooses to focus on Ryah opening herself up to Xavier and surviving being stalked. Xavier didn’t grow up in a good household. He ends up in jail after trying to deal with his home life in a way only a teenager would think is good. Xavier is determined to be the best rally driver around. He takes his responsibility to his team very seriously. He doesn’t have a big growth curve instead the author focuses on his burgeoning feelings for Ryah and him worrying that his past is catching up to him. They make a good couple with a lot of room to grow together once the bad guy is stopped.
There is a bad guy in this story. The author leaves readers guessing for quite a while about the identity of the stalker. The ending was very good. The author chose to go big and it was very satisfying.
This is a young adult contemporary romance with a stalker mixed in. It is a high adrenaline story. I enjoyed it and I will read more from this author in the future.
July 10, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! Rear View is a gripping, emotional, and refreshing take on the sports romance genre - something truly different and unexpected. K.C. Harper masterfully blends adrenaline, heartache, and hope into a story that had me hooked from the first chapter.
Xavier Bosch is not your typical hero - he’s a rally car driver chasing speed and danger, haunted by the loss of his brother. His past is dark and complicated, shaped by a history of abuse and the drastic decision he made to put his father behind bars. He’s gritty, layered, and deeply human.
Ryah Nolan, a psychology student, has been stalked for two years. Her story is heartbreaking and terrifying - she’s done everything right, documented every incident, but the system has failed her. When fate literally crashes into her life in the form of a bike courier, Xavier steps in like a quiet storm, offering her protection, patience, and something she never thought she’d feel again: safety.
Their connection is instant, but their relationship takes time to grow. With trust issues, trauma, and a fair amount of chaos standing in their way, watching them slowly come together felt real and incredibly rewarding. The chemistry is there from the start, but it's the emotional depth and gradual build that makes their romance unforgettable.
There’s drama, suspense, romance, and healing all woven together seamlessly - and their happily ever after is so well-earned.
Rear View isn't just a romance - it's a powerful reminder that even in the aftermath of pain, we can still find joy, connection, and the courage to move forward.
I was grateful for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and shared voluntarily.
Xavier Bosch is not your typical hero - he’s a rally car driver chasing speed and danger, haunted by the loss of his brother. His past is dark and complicated, shaped by a history of abuse and the drastic decision he made to put his father behind bars. He’s gritty, layered, and deeply human.
Ryah Nolan, a psychology student, has been stalked for two years. Her story is heartbreaking and terrifying - she’s done everything right, documented every incident, but the system has failed her. When fate literally crashes into her life in the form of a bike courier, Xavier steps in like a quiet storm, offering her protection, patience, and something she never thought she’d feel again: safety.
Their connection is instant, but their relationship takes time to grow. With trust issues, trauma, and a fair amount of chaos standing in their way, watching them slowly come together felt real and incredibly rewarding. The chemistry is there from the start, but it's the emotional depth and gradual build that makes their romance unforgettable.
There’s drama, suspense, romance, and healing all woven together seamlessly - and their happily ever after is so well-earned.
Rear View isn't just a romance - it's a powerful reminder that even in the aftermath of pain, we can still find joy, connection, and the courage to move forward.
I was grateful for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and shared voluntarily.
July 8, 2025
I would like to thank KC Harper for the opportunity to arc read her book and in exchange here is my honest review.
It was refreshing to read a sports romance that’s isn’t your typical sport and that I had fun learning about. I also really enjoyed that the book is set in Canada, maybe I’m biased because I’m Canadian. 😂
This was a fast, steady paced read. This is marketed as a slow burn, but to me this is more of an insta love, the relationship moves quite quickly the MMC (Xavier) falls first but the FMC (Ryah) stumbles right after. I think the whole time line of the book is a month, definitely not a slow burn, but it works with the story. The relationship felt easy there wasn’t a lot of conflict, some readers may enjoy that but other may want a little more drama within their relationship to make the romance worth it. Xavier is really sweet but also very protective and gives off touch her a ☠️ vibes. My biggest complaint about the MMC is his over use of the nicknames Darlin’ and Dream Girl. It’s takes away from the cuteness that a nickname is suppose to portray. The FMC starts off scared and self conscious but who can blame her with a stalker after her. I love seeing Ryah’s character growth as she slowly starts to take back her power and stand up for herself.
The stalker plot line is predictable but I was okay with that, I don’t feel the predictability took away from the story line and allows the reader to just sit back and enjoy the book and watch the characters try to figure out the mystery.
If you’re looking for a book to just vibe with or a palette cleanser between heavier reads this book would be perfect.
2.5 🌶️🌶️
It was refreshing to read a sports romance that’s isn’t your typical sport and that I had fun learning about. I also really enjoyed that the book is set in Canada, maybe I’m biased because I’m Canadian. 😂
This was a fast, steady paced read. This is marketed as a slow burn, but to me this is more of an insta love, the relationship moves quite quickly the MMC (Xavier) falls first but the FMC (Ryah) stumbles right after. I think the whole time line of the book is a month, definitely not a slow burn, but it works with the story. The relationship felt easy there wasn’t a lot of conflict, some readers may enjoy that but other may want a little more drama within their relationship to make the romance worth it. Xavier is really sweet but also very protective and gives off touch her a ☠️ vibes. My biggest complaint about the MMC is his over use of the nicknames Darlin’ and Dream Girl. It’s takes away from the cuteness that a nickname is suppose to portray. The FMC starts off scared and self conscious but who can blame her with a stalker after her. I love seeing Ryah’s character growth as she slowly starts to take back her power and stand up for herself.
The stalker plot line is predictable but I was okay with that, I don’t feel the predictability took away from the story line and allows the reader to just sit back and enjoy the book and watch the characters try to figure out the mystery.
If you’re looking for a book to just vibe with or a palette cleanser between heavier reads this book would be perfect.
2.5 🌶️🌶️
July 30, 2025
Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin, KC Harper and shameless romantics for this ARC!
What to expect:
🏎️romantic suspense
🛞touch her and die
🏎️ rally driver MMC
🛞 found family
🏎️ he falls first
🛞bad boy
🏎️slow burn 🔥
🛞 spicy
Rear View is a fast paced romantic suspense following Xavier and Ryah. Xavier is a rally driver who races cars and Ryah is a graduate student. Xavier has a rough past but is determined to move past it and live life to the fullest. I loved his character. He was so strong and really cared about the people in his life that he loves. Ryah was a shy young woman who was living life in hiding. She was dealing with an emotional problem that overtook her life for the last two years, and didn’t see a way out. The way she thought of everyone before herself was so sweet. I really enjoyed learning about rally driving. It was a different sport that I don’t see too often in romance! Xavier was perfection. He said what he meant and he was so down bad for Ryah. I love a man that loves his woman unapologetically and will move mountains for her.
This book was the perfect combination of romance, sports, and suspense. The story pulled me in from the prologue and I was hooked. Devoured it within a day. Will definitely buy this book to have in my collection!
TW description from the author-
Rear View contains descriptions of sexual content, cursing, domestic violence, blood, mild gore, discussion of suicide and stalking.
What to expect:
🏎️romantic suspense
🛞touch her and die
🏎️ rally driver MMC
🛞 found family
🏎️ he falls first
🛞bad boy
🏎️slow burn 🔥
🛞 spicy
Rear View is a fast paced romantic suspense following Xavier and Ryah. Xavier is a rally driver who races cars and Ryah is a graduate student. Xavier has a rough past but is determined to move past it and live life to the fullest. I loved his character. He was so strong and really cared about the people in his life that he loves. Ryah was a shy young woman who was living life in hiding. She was dealing with an emotional problem that overtook her life for the last two years, and didn’t see a way out. The way she thought of everyone before herself was so sweet. I really enjoyed learning about rally driving. It was a different sport that I don’t see too often in romance! Xavier was perfection. He said what he meant and he was so down bad for Ryah. I love a man that loves his woman unapologetically and will move mountains for her.
This book was the perfect combination of romance, sports, and suspense. The story pulled me in from the prologue and I was hooked. Devoured it within a day. Will definitely buy this book to have in my collection!
TW description from the author-
Rear View contains descriptions of sexual content, cursing, domestic violence, blood, mild gore, discussion of suicide and stalking.
July 4, 2025
5⭐️
I knew from the first chapter I was going to love this book and it did not disappoint! This book seriously has a bit of everything - Found family, MMC with a troubled past, FMC with a stalker, touch her and die MMC, racing, and so much good chemistry.
I loved the different story lines from Xaviers troubled past with his father and him going to jail to Ryah's stalker and trying to live a normal life. Seeing how these two meet and how he literally would go to the ends of the earth for her and to protect her was just so much fun to read. Plus, I love stories that have a suspenseful side where I can try to put the pieces together to figure out "who did it" especially for who Ryah's stalker actually is.
The chemistry Ryah and Xavier have made this book so much fun to read. They both are different in what happened to them in their past but they both have an understanding with similarities of what they've gone through. They both truly see one another and bond over that and watching that connection between them bloom was so great. Plus, I'm a sucker for a protective MMC who listens and goes out of his way to make sure the FMC is cared for and that is exactly what Xavier does. Add in a racing storyline and this book has it all.
This was such a great read that is for sure going on my re-read list.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!
I knew from the first chapter I was going to love this book and it did not disappoint! This book seriously has a bit of everything - Found family, MMC with a troubled past, FMC with a stalker, touch her and die MMC, racing, and so much good chemistry.
I loved the different story lines from Xaviers troubled past with his father and him going to jail to Ryah's stalker and trying to live a normal life. Seeing how these two meet and how he literally would go to the ends of the earth for her and to protect her was just so much fun to read. Plus, I love stories that have a suspenseful side where I can try to put the pieces together to figure out "who did it" especially for who Ryah's stalker actually is.
The chemistry Ryah and Xavier have made this book so much fun to read. They both are different in what happened to them in their past but they both have an understanding with similarities of what they've gone through. They both truly see one another and bond over that and watching that connection between them bloom was so great. Plus, I'm a sucker for a protective MMC who listens and goes out of his way to make sure the FMC is cared for and that is exactly what Xavier does. Add in a racing storyline and this book has it all.
This was such a great read that is for sure going on my re-read list.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!
August 31, 2025
4.5 stars
Okay, this book was honestly so surprisingly good!!! I am just getting more into racing and F1 books, so they aren’t necessarily a favorite yet but this book might have changed that.
The FMC was a beaten down woman who was afraid of her own shadow because of the stalker that she had been dealing with over the last two years. She had limited her life so much because of her stalker that she barely left her apartment. I feel like the author was able to accurately show how woman in positions with a stalker really do feel left alone by the people put in place to protect them, and that the stalker actually had more protection than she does.
We see her meet cute with the MMC and I will admit this book is almost instalove. Or insta-obsessed one could say. It was a fun meet cute, one that I can say that I have not read before which was another plus.
The MMC is a racer and has a dark past that has made him mildly morally gray.
This book gives me a Catherine Cowles or Devney Perry vibe with the romance with mystery subplot. I love reading these types of romances as it gives you a little more plot than just day to day things.
The only reason this wasn’t a full 5 star is because I didn’t love the nicknames and sometimes the way the MC’s hid things due to their own insecurities was kind of annoying lol.
Okay, this book was honestly so surprisingly good!!! I am just getting more into racing and F1 books, so they aren’t necessarily a favorite yet but this book might have changed that.
The FMC was a beaten down woman who was afraid of her own shadow because of the stalker that she had been dealing with over the last two years. She had limited her life so much because of her stalker that she barely left her apartment. I feel like the author was able to accurately show how woman in positions with a stalker really do feel left alone by the people put in place to protect them, and that the stalker actually had more protection than she does.
We see her meet cute with the MMC and I will admit this book is almost instalove. Or insta-obsessed one could say. It was a fun meet cute, one that I can say that I have not read before which was another plus.
The MMC is a racer and has a dark past that has made him mildly morally gray.
This book gives me a Catherine Cowles or Devney Perry vibe with the romance with mystery subplot. I love reading these types of romances as it gives you a little more plot than just day to day things.
The only reason this wasn’t a full 5 star is because I didn’t love the nicknames and sometimes the way the MC’s hid things due to their own insecurities was kind of annoying lol.
June 30, 2025
✨REAR VIEW✨ by @kcharper_author out: 8/12/2025
4.5/5 stars
What a high speed, quick moving, instantly lovable romance story 😍 Ryah and Xavier delivered!! They both have pasts that were following them throughout this story and it was only a matter of time before everything came to a head. I love Xavier. Literally the perfect MMC. He’s straightforward, loyal, and committed and I loved how he was determined to get ryah to start living life again despite what had happened in her past. I loved the thrill and mystery tied into these pages and after after these characters have been through/all the dark times, there’s no one that deserves a happier ending more than these two. Ryah is such a sweet and genuine FMC that’s so easy to relate to. And the way they burned for each other?! Yep, this is a must read yall.
About this book:
❤️🔥FMC has a stalker
❤️🔥found family
❤️🔥opposites attract
❤️🔥traumatic pasts
❤️🔥slow burn
❤️🔥touch her and d*e
❤️🔥he falls first/ calls her “darlin” and “dreamgirl” 🥰
❤️🔥read TW
Thank you so much @harlequinbooks @hqn_shamelessromantics and @netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review! 🫶
#books #book #romance #igreads #bookworm #bookstagrammer #harlequinbooks #bookrecs #bookreview
4.5/5 stars
What a high speed, quick moving, instantly lovable romance story 😍 Ryah and Xavier delivered!! They both have pasts that were following them throughout this story and it was only a matter of time before everything came to a head. I love Xavier. Literally the perfect MMC. He’s straightforward, loyal, and committed and I loved how he was determined to get ryah to start living life again despite what had happened in her past. I loved the thrill and mystery tied into these pages and after after these characters have been through/all the dark times, there’s no one that deserves a happier ending more than these two. Ryah is such a sweet and genuine FMC that’s so easy to relate to. And the way they burned for each other?! Yep, this is a must read yall.
About this book:
❤️🔥FMC has a stalker
❤️🔥found family
❤️🔥opposites attract
❤️🔥traumatic pasts
❤️🔥slow burn
❤️🔥touch her and d*e
❤️🔥he falls first/ calls her “darlin” and “dreamgirl” 🥰
❤️🔥read TW
Thank you so much @harlequinbooks @hqn_shamelessromantics and @netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review! 🫶
#books #book #romance #igreads #bookworm #bookstagrammer #harlequinbooks #bookrecs #bookreview
July 5, 2025
This book had an engaging plot to figure out the mystery behind the stalker. Could it be her ex, could it be her professor, or could it be a stranger? We are trying to figure that out. For a psychology major, she really wasn’t using her degree to calm down her lambic system and activate her parasympathetic system. There were a few characters that felt like they fit because they didn’t respect any boundaries Ryah had; her ex would just show up and get through the door by following a delivery person? AND SHE LET HIM ENTER THE HOUSE?? Her amygdala was in control then because there is no way she could say that was a logical choice.
I did find it hard to remember the setting of the story because Xavier kept using words with southern twang to them such as “Darlin” but then they had a snowmobile. I also felt like his problems took a back seat to her problems.
Also, the car chase at the beginning seemed a little ill planned? I get it sets his future up for him, but they have the rest of the way he will destroy his father’s life but not this one. Also, why was his father and his uncle just allowed to show up and speak with him at his races? Could he not have requested a no-contact order?
I did find it hard to remember the setting of the story because Xavier kept using words with southern twang to them such as “Darlin” but then they had a snowmobile. I also felt like his problems took a back seat to her problems.
Also, the car chase at the beginning seemed a little ill planned? I get it sets his future up for him, but they have the rest of the way he will destroy his father’s life but not this one. Also, why was his father and his uncle just allowed to show up and speak with him at his races? Could he not have requested a no-contact order?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2025
Just watched the new F1 movie (LOVED), so naturally I had to dive into Rear View by K.C. Harper right after and let me tell you, rally car romance? Yes, please.
As a massive Formula 1 fan, I was so excited to see racing take center stage in a romance. The setting was unique and the racing terminology was surprisingly well explained. I actually learned stuff, which made my little motorsport heart happy.
Now, let’s be real: I could’ve lived without the excessive use of sexual terms on repeat, because it was just TOO much, and I am a smut queen. Also... why was our Canadian rally driver talking like he was a cowboy from Texas? “Darlin’” every other line? Kind of distracting.
But even with those hiccups, I still enjoyed the story. Xavier and Ryah had real chemistry, and I appreciated the mix of romance and suspense. The stalker subplot added just enough tension to keep me flipping pages. Plus, the way the title tied into the story? Clever!
It’s not a podium finish, but still a solid race weekend read. Fast paced, heartfelt, and fun but just don’t expect a perfect lap.
🏁💥 Would recommend for anyone looking for something quick, adrenaline filled, and emotionally driven.
Thank you to NetGalley, K.C. Harper, and Carina Press for the eARC of this book.
As a massive Formula 1 fan, I was so excited to see racing take center stage in a romance. The setting was unique and the racing terminology was surprisingly well explained. I actually learned stuff, which made my little motorsport heart happy.
Now, let’s be real: I could’ve lived without the excessive use of sexual terms on repeat, because it was just TOO much, and I am a smut queen. Also... why was our Canadian rally driver talking like he was a cowboy from Texas? “Darlin’” every other line? Kind of distracting.
But even with those hiccups, I still enjoyed the story. Xavier and Ryah had real chemistry, and I appreciated the mix of romance and suspense. The stalker subplot added just enough tension to keep me flipping pages. Plus, the way the title tied into the story? Clever!
It’s not a podium finish, but still a solid race weekend read. Fast paced, heartfelt, and fun but just don’t expect a perfect lap.
🏁💥 Would recommend for anyone looking for something quick, adrenaline filled, and emotionally driven.
Thank you to NetGalley, K.C. Harper, and Carina Press for the eARC of this book.
July 10, 2025
Thank you to K.C. Harper for sending me an ARC of your book!
Rear View will be available on August 12th
🛞
Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
🛞
I really loved this book, from the prologue to the epilogue I was on the edge of my seat. This book was full of action, and suspence and the best amount of steamy romance! The book follow Xavier and Ryah as the navigate their trauma together and forge a beautiful romantic bond together. Xavier is a rising star in the rally car industry and is trying to leave his violent family drama behind him, but the family wont leave him behind. Ryah is a University student finishing up her thesis while trying to live with the trauma of dealing with an active stalker the local police refuse to help her do anything about. Together Xavier and Ryah fall hard and fast and support each other through their struggles.
🛞
I would not classify this book as having a third act breakup, there is plenty of miscommunication, but not unreasonably so. Thoroughly enjoyed this blending of murder mystery and romance.
🛞
🛞 Strangers to Lover
🛞 Sport romance/rally car
🛞 Touch her and die MMC
🛞 Stalker
🛞 Domestic violence in the MMC's past
🛞 Physical assault in the FMC past
🛞 LGBTQ+ side characters
Rear View will be available on August 12th
🛞
Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
🛞
I really loved this book, from the prologue to the epilogue I was on the edge of my seat. This book was full of action, and suspence and the best amount of steamy romance! The book follow Xavier and Ryah as the navigate their trauma together and forge a beautiful romantic bond together. Xavier is a rising star in the rally car industry and is trying to leave his violent family drama behind him, but the family wont leave him behind. Ryah is a University student finishing up her thesis while trying to live with the trauma of dealing with an active stalker the local police refuse to help her do anything about. Together Xavier and Ryah fall hard and fast and support each other through their struggles.
🛞
I would not classify this book as having a third act breakup, there is plenty of miscommunication, but not unreasonably so. Thoroughly enjoyed this blending of murder mystery and romance.
🛞
🛞 Strangers to Lover
🛞 Sport romance/rally car
🛞 Touch her and die MMC
🛞 Stalker
🛞 Domestic violence in the MMC's past
🛞 Physical assault in the FMC past
🛞 LGBTQ+ side characters
Read
August 1, 2025This was an incredibly addictive read! The suspense and action wove perfectly with the romance. It was fast-paced and an easy read, even though there were some pretty serious topics that the story centered around. My favorite aspect of the book was the fact that we have a rally driver MMC! I'm a huge rally fan and was super excited when I came across this book. The sport was explained well without being overly technical and I loved that there were event scenes. No background knowledge is needed for this, but I highly recommend watching stage rally to get the vibe! We really need more rally in the sports romance genre, it's so fun!
Ryah's and Xavier's relationship was so sweet and I loved getting to see their personal growth and relationship develop through their POV's. There was some repetitive dialogue but I was just so honed in on the story that I did not care one bit. As for the other subplots, they were done well and definitely added to the story! There was the overarching feeling that at any moment, things could go wrong. The reveal worked and I think it was guessable enough to make sense to the story without being too obvious.
Overall I really enjoyed this! I will definitely be reading more from this author.
ARC provided for an honest review.
Ryah's and Xavier's relationship was so sweet and I loved getting to see their personal growth and relationship develop through their POV's. There was some repetitive dialogue but I was just so honed in on the story that I did not care one bit. As for the other subplots, they were done well and definitely added to the story! There was the overarching feeling that at any moment, things could go wrong. The reveal worked and I think it was guessable enough to make sense to the story without being too obvious.
Overall I really enjoyed this! I will definitely be reading more from this author.
ARC provided for an honest review.
August 10, 2025
✨ ARC Review
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🌶️🌶️🌶️
“Grip the back of the couch, darlin’. I’m going to need both hands for this.” 🔥
The tears haven’t stopped since I finished reading this.
The character building was phenomenal—Xavier and Ryah felt so real, so relatable, that I couldn’t help but root for them.
Xavier—tragic past, ex-con, and now a rally car racer (which is definitely a sport I need to read more of 👀).
Ryah—living with a terrifying secret… she’s had a stalker for two years.
Even when law enforcement let them down, their love for each other gave them the strength to face anything.
And that Canadian twist? Snowmobiles, bonfires, and s’mores—chef’s kiss. The perfect balance of heart-pounding suspense and heartwarming moments.
Tropes you’ll love:
🔥 Slow burn
💘 He falls first (and hard)
👨👩👧 Found family
🛑 Touch her and die
⚡ Opposites attract
This is a sports romance wrapped in high-octane romantic suspense, and I freaking devoured every page. I can’t wait to read more by KC Harper! 🚗💨
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin for providing me with a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🌶️🌶️🌶️
“Grip the back of the couch, darlin’. I’m going to need both hands for this.” 🔥
The tears haven’t stopped since I finished reading this.
The character building was phenomenal—Xavier and Ryah felt so real, so relatable, that I couldn’t help but root for them.
Xavier—tragic past, ex-con, and now a rally car racer (which is definitely a sport I need to read more of 👀).
Ryah—living with a terrifying secret… she’s had a stalker for two years.
Even when law enforcement let them down, their love for each other gave them the strength to face anything.
And that Canadian twist? Snowmobiles, bonfires, and s’mores—chef’s kiss. The perfect balance of heart-pounding suspense and heartwarming moments.
Tropes you’ll love:
🔥 Slow burn
💘 He falls first (and hard)
👨👩👧 Found family
🛑 Touch her and die
⚡ Opposites attract
This is a sports romance wrapped in high-octane romantic suspense, and I freaking devoured every page. I can’t wait to read more by KC Harper! 🚗💨
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin for providing me with a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
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