In the Fast Lane

Hard Driving #1

by Audra North

LIFE IN THE FAST LANERacing cars is in Kerri Hart's blood--literally, since it's the family business. But Hart Racing is in dire financial straits, and as the only female rookie driver, Kerri's sponsorship offers always tend to be of the unzipped racing-suit variety. It's a message she'd rather not sell to her young fans. But how can she afford not to?LOVE ON OVERDRIVERanger Colt knows how to make a woman's heart race. But when his voice pops up on Kerri's headset--while she's in mid-tailspin--she's in no mood for his charms. Colt Hardware now has a significant stake in the Hart family business, and Kerri has no choice but to work with him. But when her ex-boyfriend makes a very public, tabloid-fodder scene that threatens to tarnish her image, it's Ranger who comes to the rescue. Pretending to be engaged to generate some good publicity seems like a good plan. In fact, it works--all too well. What begins as a ruse is revving up to feel a whole lot like the real thing. Will Kerri and Ranger's fake-lationship take a wild turn. . .and lead them toward the finish?"The type of book that keeps you up late into the night, In the Fast Lane is utterly addictive and completely satisfying. Audra North has her finger on the pulse of contemporary romance-flawless writing, smart heroines, and sexy-as-sin heroes."- Lauren Layne, USA Today bestselling author

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Adult, Sports Romance, Sports, Racing

170 pages, ebook

First published July 14, 2015

About the author

Audra North is a contemporary romance author of more than twenty romances, including the Stanton Family series from Entangled Publishing, the Hard Driving series from St. Martin’s Press, and the Pushing the Boundaries series from Samhain Publishing. She is the owner and publisher of Pink Kayak Press, which focuses on the publication of diverse romance works. Winter Rain, a Pink Kayak Press anthology, won a gold medal in the 2015 Independent Publisher Awards.

Audra enjoys speaking to writing groups and at industry conferences. She is also an avid jogger and loves running marathons. She has three children and lives with her family outside of Boston.

For more about Audra, and to sign up for her newsletter, visit audranorth.com.

Reviews

[sraxe · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is definitely a case of it's-not-you-it's-me. If you like instalust or don't mind it, this book might be up your alley, but for me? This book is like a 101 on all the reasons why I absolutely can't stand instalust.

Right from their introduction, which is when they're talking before having met in person, they're super attracted to one another. This is Kerri's reaction to just HEARING the dude speak:

The line crackled loudly in her ear, then Kerri heard a grunt … a faint pop … and then …

“Hey, sugar,” a strange voiced drawled into the earpiece. A strange, deep voice made out of honey and sex. “You’re doin’ just fine. Don’t listen to old Grady here. You’ve got everything under control.”

That honey and sex voice stroked over her. Soothed her angry fear. She pumped the brakes a bit, finally wresting control over the wheel. The car stopped spinning, moving backward down the lane, but at least it was slowing.

“That’s it. Atta girl. Take it nice and slow.”

Oh, for God’s sake. Whoever had taken over the headphones had somehow turned their channel into a phone sex line. This guy would be as useless a crew chief as Grady.

Though maybe she should hire him to—

Focus, Hart! Focus! Kerri took a split second to assess the situation. She guessed that the car was now moving at a mere sixty miles an hour. Time to bring this show to a close.

“We’ve cleared the track, sugar. You’re not gonna hit anything or anybody. Just push the brake all the way down, now. Push it in—” ...

The stranger laughed. Kerri couldn’t help the shiver that went through her at the sound, so low and intimate in the tiny space of her helmet.

And then his reaction to her:

By the time he was standing right next to the driver’s side, she’d recovered. The netting came down. The visor came up. Big hazel eyes in a band of smooth skin stared at him in frank appraisal.

He’d known she was pretty.

But none of her photos had captured the feeling he got from actually seeing her, of being caught in the path of that fiery gaze. The full force of it nearly knocked him back. This woman was one hundred percent passion. Damn. He couldn’t be thinking about that kind of thing right now.

Chapter Two starts again with Kerri:

Kerri stared at the big, snarling, impossibly sexy jerkoff standing just outside her window. This had to be the man behind the voice on the channel just now, the one who’d been stroking her ears and making her feel all kind of things that she had no business feeling in the middle of controlling a potential crash.

Earl had damned near killed himself. Grady had panicked himself into uselessness. Now this man was ordering her around? She was surrounded by men almost twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and sometimes she really hated them.

“Well?” The jerkoff did something weird with his neck, tightening it or something, that made his head snap forward and his brown eyes spark. It should have made him look grotesque, but somehow the tension only accentuated the broad set of his shoulders, the dark thickness of his hair despite its military-style buzz cut, and a jutting chin that balanced his otherwise too-big nose.

She wanted to grab him, throw him in the car, and ride away like a highway bandit, drunk off the spoils of a wild, moonlit robbery.

With this stranger, who was staring at her as though he could see her very thoughts? Who didn’t break eye contact even when he pushed that ridiculously out-of-place suit jacket open to place long-fingered hands on attractively slim hips? Whose name she still didn’t know. ...

The thing was, trying to intimidate a guy this hot meant that, after a few tense seconds of holding his smoldering dark gaze, she found herself breathing a little faster, unable to look away.

Shit and damn. How was she supposed to run off this idiot asshole when she was probably flushed and definitely panting with this strange attraction?

The pit was strangely quiet, given how much work there was left to be done before the race, but it was nice to have a second of relative calm before the storm. She squared her shoulders, steeling herself against the cold-hearted villain who wanted to take away everything that she held dear. But when she turned, she found herself so close to that hard body that she could pick up the woodsy scent of his aftershave through the smells of grease and burnt rubber—the usual hallmarks of her life. Heat invaded her body, the lines of his muscles through his clothes drew her eyes, and—

Damn her treacherous body. Despite her mental resolve, her libido seemed determined to ignore everything except the desire to put her mouth on this man’s neck and scrape her teeth over the light stubble.

Which was probably why her words came out all breathy and weird. “I’m out of the car. Now what?” She hated the way she sounded, like a fangirl meeting a celebrity crush.

And above he said he couldn't be thinking about this kind of think right now...except he can and does keep thinking about it. His thoughts continue to Chapter Two:

He’d thought she was beautiful in photos. The publicity glossies he’d seen featured a petite, slender woman with great legs and long light brown hair that curled a little at the ends. The slight squaring of her chin—a stubborn chin, he knew now—in her otherwise delicately curved face offset a pair of full, lush lips.

In person, her eyes were even more incredible. Alive and full of fire. He’d already been surprised enough at the difference from her photos that he’d gotten distracted by the force of his own reaction to her. And when she took off her helmet, it only amplified. All the blood rushed to his groin and he had to jump-start his thoughts a couple of times before his brain reluctantly kicked in again. He almost wished she’d left it on.

“Why should I trust an overdressed, soft-handed corporate suit like you?” ...

But there was something about that fire that was getting to him, despite that she’d just insulted him. He ignored the temptation to reach out and touch her, to show her that his hands weren’t soft, but if she begged nicely, they could be gentle in just the right ways… ...

“Trust has nothing to do with this. I own that car behind you.” He gestured to her Chevy. “Hell.” He let his eyes flick over her body, trying not to linger on the curves of her breast under that tight jacket. “I even own that racing suit you’re wearing.” He reluctantly brought his gaze back up to her face. Her eyes were narrowed and she looked like she was about to deck him. For some reason, it made him grin. “But why should you trust me? Because I’m real good at what I do,” he murmured, not taking his eyes off hers for a second.

Things continue just the same in Chapter Three.

Nothing like a near-death marriage proposal, the loss of the majority share of the family business to a company she hated, and a blazing, soul-consuming attraction to a total stranger within a span of five minutes to make a girl feel sick to her stomach.

But the scent of him … oh, Lord. And the warmth of his body against her side. It had made her dizzy and achy in places that she hadn’t even known she had. The way he’d looked at her, all smoldering and suggestive, hadn’t helped her own internal temperature, either. ...

It wasn’t clear yet exactly how much of Hart Racing he owned, but certainly enough to make him act like he owned her.

Did he always act like that? Was it just a part of who he was?

The way he’d ordered her out of the car … his eyes like a predator’s, watching her bend and twist her body through the window … Was he always that domineering? If they’d been alone, would he have ordered her to strip out of her suit and get on her knees—

Anyway. I'm sure you get my point. And this is just two chapters and the beginning of the third. The instalust also gets in the way of certain reactions, imo. When one of the reporters asks if Ranger's going to shut down Hart Racing, something that's "her whole life" and "had been since she was a kid, and she hadn’t bothered with school." She gasps after she hears the question, feeling as the "shock reached her toes, turned, and bubbled up again," and she still takes the time to mention his "luscious mouth." She talks about his voice being "soft and tender, soothing over the space between them, and [having to] close her eyes against a shudder of renewed arousal."

I just couldn't take it anymore after passages like this:

He watched her lick her lips and wanted to groan with the desire to grab her and rip that racing suit off her body, push his trousers down, and fuck her against the wall. ... He couldn’t stop his voice from going deep and guttural when he’d said that. On all levels. The thought of her on her knees, her mouth level with his cock, stroking it with those delicate fingers before licking the—

And:

She was so responsive and tasted so sweet, and she certainly gave as good as she got. And damn, did he want to give her everything he had. He wanted to pull her down on the hard tiled floor and push his throbbing cock deep inside of her.

And that's finally where I DNFed (just a little bit into Chapter Four, which was about a quarter of the way in). I kept hoping things would stop with the instalust, or at least slow down, but it just got worse and worse. Look, I don't mind a great attraction between characters, but it's too fucking much when you're even telling me that the hero is finding that "even her handshake felt passionate."

Did I mention that all of the above is less than 30 minutes into them first meeting? Well, it is.

Like I said in the beginning, this might be for someone who likes instalust, but it's definitely not for me. I need more to the relationship than them just wanting to fuck.

[Linda (un)Conventional Bookworms · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received a free ARC of In the Fast Lane from St. Martin's Paperbacks via Netgalley in exchange of an honest and unbiased review*

In the Fast Lane is definitely a very hot romance, and having the heroine being a race-car drive just made her all the more interesting.

This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews

[Alaina]

rtc

[Isha Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

READ AND REVIEW: IN THE FAST LANE BY AUDRA NORTH  
 
IN THE FAST LANE BY AUDRA NORTH
 
Release Date:  July 14, 2015
 
SYNOPSIS
 
LIFE IN THE FAST LANE
Racing cars is in Kerri Hart's blood--literally, since it's the family business. But Hart Racing is in dire financial straits, and as the only female rookie driver, Kerri's sponsorship offers always tend to be of the unzipped racing-suit variety. It's a message she'd rather not sell to her young fans. But how can she afford not to?
 
LOVE ON OVERDRIVE
Ranger Colt knows how to make a woman's heart race. But when his voice pops up on Kerri's headset--while she's in mid-tailspin--she's in no mood for his charms. Colt Hardware now has a significant stake in the Hart family business, and Kerri has no choice but to work with him. But when her ex-boyfriend makes a very public, tabloid-fodder scene that threatens to tarnish her image, it's Ranger who comes to the rescue. Pretending to be engaged to generate some good publicity seems like a good plan. In fact, it works--all too well. What begins as a ruse is revving up to feel a whole lot like the real thing. Will Kerri and Ranger's fake-lationship take a wild turn. . .and lead them toward the finish?
 
BUY LINKS
 
Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Fast-Lane-Hard-...
 
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-th...
 
Google Play Books: https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
 
Itunes/Ibooks:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/in-t...
 
Kobo:  https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebo...
 
REVIEW:  IN THE FAST LANE BY AUDRA NORTH
 
In the Fast Lane by Audra North
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
In the Fast Lane is a sexy, adrenaline pumping romance that will send romance lovers in a tail spin. It was great to see a strong female character taking the wheel in a male driven sport. Kerri made no apologies for being herself and doing what she loved to do. When faced with prejudices and obstacles she stood her ground and voiced her opinion. LOVED THAT! Ranger and Kerri are a lethal combination. They don't see eye to eye and push each others buttons. Yet put them in a room together and the tension and sparks are evident from the first meeting. In The Fast Lane is anything but a smooth ride but the end payoff is definitely worth the trip. I received an ARC of this novel for an honest review. (www.goodreads.com/review/list/2555691...)

[Kassiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-1/2 stars.

I think this is the first book by Audra North that I've read, but it definitely won't be the last. I really love the whole "Let's pretend to be engaged/in a relationship for whatever reason and eventually realize we're perfect for each other" trope. And this story has a perfect spin on it because it's pretty much taken every other book you've read with this trope and flipped it around. Rookie racecar driver Kerri Hart's family business needs some capital. It's supplied by the sexy Ranger Colt's family's business. After Kerri's ex stirs up trouble for her, Ranger offers to step in and pretend to be her fiancé. Of course you know what happens. Kerri and Ranger can't keep their hands off each other and soon their fake relationship becomes all too real.

This story was fast paced and fun. Kerri's sassy personality combined with Ranger's sexy confidence made for some off-the-charts chemistry. I loved them and loved the way their relationship developed. They respected each other, and I found that refreshing. I also enjoyed how dedicated they both were to their families. The racecar setting was realistic and just plain fun. I can't wait to read more from this series!

Strong characters, chemistry for days, and a fun storyline made In the Fast Lane a fabulous read. Grab it!

[Maria Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This exciting and sexy story pits Kerri and Ranger at odds with each other as Ranger takes over Kerri's family racing business, much to her dismay but ultimate reluctant acceptance due to their dire financial straights. But even worse, an ex- boyfriend has made her tabloid fodder again. something Ranger aims to fix by giving her love life some stability in order to lure in the sponsors, an easy task if they can pretend that an engagement between them has been in the works in secret. But their clashes are just a front for the smoking hot chemistry between them and suddenly things are heating up as their fake love life becomes a little too real. When Ranger realizes that his initial agenda for taking over Hart Racing is no longer driving him, will it be too late to convince Kerri that he's in it for the long haul?

What a fun ride! I enjoyed so many things about this story. First and foremost, it was great to see the racing world through the eyes of an experienced and charismatic female driver. Kerri's sex is obviously the story here, as the female in a man's world. Her difficulties in being taken seriously make her work twice as hard as anyone on the track and off of it. She doesn't want to be seen as a sex symbol, and sponsors who offer her faint praise damn themselves by wanting her in low cut suits and sexy smiles to sell their products. She's an advocate for girls rights and won't do anything that doesn't make her a star in their eyes too. Secondly I thought that the whole business of racing was really well explained, from the pit stop action to the race day scenes and the duties of everyone involved in making a winning team. And third, Kerri's family, her mother, and two brothers Grady and Lee are integral to the story and I really enjoyed their close family relationships with the camaraderie and banter between them. Kerri's success as a racer is dependent on the support of her family and though they sometimes butt heads and disagree with each other, it's a sign of a normal family, if one that is more in the spotlight than the norm.

Ranger is equally interesting as a tough, confidant businessman. He's self made, after the abandonment of his father at a young age, a man who has since made his way back into his life and given him this job, to make Hart Racing into a lucrative business again under the Colt name. While Ranger wants to do this to get back at his father initially , it doesn't take him long before he's caught up in the family business and wants to make it a success as much as Kerri and her brothers do. Of course, his attraction to Kerri doesn't hurt either and it's not long before they end up in bed together in some steamy scenes.

When Ranger realizes that he's going to have to choose soon whether he's going to move on to the next business like the shark he's always been or stay where his heart has him trapped, it's a tough choice for sure. But it's a romance, so the happy ending is satisfying and heartfelt. I enjoyed everything about this story and I can't wait to see more from this racing world! 5 stars.

Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.

Note 2: this review appears as a blog post at: http://straightshootinbookreviews.com...

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Fast Lane gets a fast but decent 3.75 stars from me. The story was short compared to the length I normally read but I did like what was on the pages. The hero was entertaining and had a sexy drawl to him. The heroine was one to admire in that she was in a man's world but held her own. I liked it but felt it was rushed which is easy to understand considering the book's short length. I will probably end up reading Audra North's next book just because I did like her writing style and her industry of choice.

[Chachic · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this one based on Laura Florand's recommendation. A female race car driver was so intriguing as an MC! I tried a sample and liked it well enough to buy the ebook. It started off strong and I really enjoyed the early chapters. But I felt like it faltered a bit towards the end, I just wasn't as into the story as I wanted to be.

[Christa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short book was a good start to a series. I really liked the Hart family's racing team. All of the characters were good ones, and I thought the two main characters, Kerri and Ranger, were especially great. I enjoyed the fast paced storyline. It had plenty of action and kept me interested. The romance between Kerri and Ranger was good, and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Christi Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review:
I love the premise of this story...an up and coming stock car racer who's female. That's Kerri and she drives for her family team that her dad started when he was a driver. Unfortunately, the team is struggling with finances a bit now and that's where Ranger comes in.

Al Colt, Ranger's dad, owns a very powerful company. He bought out 80% of the racing team and puts Ranger in charge of turning their finances around. That's fine...Ranger can do this, except he knows nothing about racing. He knows nothing, but holds all the power. Kerri grew up at the track and is the number one driver but it always overlooked in the sport because she's female and has a reputation for being a hotheaded witch with a b (censored for Amazon). Yeah, there's going to be some conflict between these two, but it's not as bad as I expected it to be (the conflict). Ranger is a smart guy. He knows that he's out of his element here so he listens and tries to learn everything. I liked that about him. He knows and acknowledges his shortcomings in this situation. He's very straightforward about it all.

To complicate things, they are trying to salvage Kerri's reputation. Making her and Ranger engaged is a valid solution. It's not like they won't be spending all their time together anyway. I liked the two of them together. There are certain characteristics you expect them to bring to this relationship with the set-up of the book, but they were better than those expectations. These are two characters who yes, have conflict, but they are mature adults with huge responsibilities that take precedent over that conflict. I liked how they balanced all that in the story. Otherwise it could have easily become a book full of eye-rolling. The author didn't go that route...YES! And that made it a great romantic read. There's a respect between the two MC's that you don't get in a lot of romance novels and it made me like the story even more.

Once upon a time I was a huge NASCAR fan, so I really enjoyed this book. There's a scene where everyone is chiming in on Kerri's radio when she's trying to race that had me rolling because I could see that really happening. I love it when other drivers butt in on discussions during races. The Hart family is one that I love. I like the way this first book sets up the entire series. Family is important to racing, even though this is high stakes sport. The author managed to convey that balance beautifully in this first book in the series and I really enjoyed reading it. I'm looking forward to more from the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read by Audra North and it won’t be my last. From page one, I was hooked and I can’t wait to read more stories from her!

This story is about Kerri Hart doing whatever she can to keep her family racing business a float without having to sell herself. Being the only woman in racing makes it really hard to get sponsors. Add to the fact that the media has made her look like a hot head, has only made things even harder.

So when she found out her brother sold most of shares of the business to Cold Hardware, she is beyond pissed. Add to that, the owner’s son Ranger Cold is not only ruggedly handsome, he seems to have this crazy idea for them to be pretend to be engaged. If this is the only way she can help save the business, what’s a girl to do?

Ranger is determined to get Hart’s Racing back to its glory days to prove to his father he’s worthy of his love and respect. Then he meets Kerri Hart and he’s whole world gets turned upside down. What the hell was he thinking? Having them pretend to be engaged, now’s not the time to think with his dick!

Though they are both trying to save Hart Racing for two very different reasons, never did they expect the feelings that start to surface. When the lines start to blur?

Will Kerri and Ranger be able to accomplish both their goals and still be in once piece at the end? Or will trying to make their dreams come true cause them to crash and burn?

Audra does a great job of keeping the story fast paced so that you’re constantly wondering what’s going to happen next with Kerri and Ranger. Also, though I love those steamy scenes, sometimes a little goes a long way, and Audra does a beautiful job of it. If you’re looking for a book that will give you all the feels, this is definitely a book for you. I can’t wait to read more from Audra North!

**ARC was provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

[Sultan * Baby Mama Smut-a-teer* · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Fast Lane was my first book by this lovely author. I enjoyed myself immensely The story of Kerri and Ranger (wow hot name right?!) was one of such understanding and beauty. Kerri got Ranger even when he didn’t get himself. That’s what we ladies do. We are perceptive when it comes to our men. Knowing what makes them tick, when to push, and when to stay silent. Kerri knew that Rangers hurt in life was justified and he deserved his revenge, but she also knew he was better than that, and deserved better than that.

I’ve said it many times and I’ll say it again, fake relationships are one of my favorite genres in the world of books. I just love that moment when hero and heroine first kiss, or touch, and they both feel that spark, that electrical current that runs through them. They can try to deny it all you want; pretend it was static cling, or just the effects of a full moon. It seems the only explanation they never give is the truest reason of all, fate.

Watching Ranger and Kerri find their balance in their unique relationship just made me smile. I loved how honest Ranger was with Kerri from the start. Yeah, he has some stupid male moments, but what man do you know doesn’t? My only complaint is that I wish it was longer and an epilogue would have just made my day. I would have loved to see what’s going on in the world of Ranger and Kerri a few years down the road. However, I’m holding out hope we get more of those two crazy in love kids, in the next installment of this wonderful series. When I saw there was going to be a book two, my mind wondered as to who it will be about. Gosh I hope it’s that sexy as sin driver Ty Riggs!! I recommend this book to anyone looking for love in the fast lane, with a sexy, dirty talking hottie!

[Katrina Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Bookish Things & More Review
In the Fast Lane is a fast paced book that will have you flipping the pages.

The story line takes place over a couple of months which makes for a quick and fun romance.  I loved the idea of a race car driver and owner forming a relationship.  They both have their issues with the other, but there are soooo many sparks that make it an awesome journey.

Kerri is now driving stock cars after racing in the indie league.  She has many obstacles to overcome since she's the only female driver.  She's not pleased with the person who bought over half the share in her racing team.  She has to fight hard to show those in the racing world that she's as capable as them behind the wheel, while still remembering that she is a girl, and wants a family, and all the other things.  I had a love hate relationship with Ranger.  He's sweet sometimes and has a connection with Kerri.  He's got things that happened  when he was young that he has to get over, and a hate of his father.

Both Kerri and Ranger have to overcome their dislike of each other amidst the chemistry.  I love books where sparks fly, and the characters can't stand each other in the beginning.  It's always awesome.  And the racing story was amazing too.  I loved everything about these characters.

 

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kerri and Ranger I thought had a good relationship, I mean Ranger took everything she said and made it pervy but it was funny at times:
A surprised laugh escaped her. “Your head is ridiculously huge, you know that?”
“Which head are you referring to, exactly?” He waggled his brows, leering at her.
Kerri that girl knew how to get her man's juices aflowing and it was funny to see him get riled, "where are we going, anyway?” She rubbed Ranger’s thighs and laughed when he grunted and tried to shift away." I liked this book the characters were developed and the storyline was interesting.

[Bette Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!! A fabulously strong female lead character and great writing made this one quite enjoyable. Kerri Hart is working hard to get the respect and recognition Hart Racing deserves, but every sponsorship deal that is offered want her to play up her sexy side rather than her racing abilities. Since Kerri won't play that game, Hart Racing is in serious financial shape. When, unknown to Kerri, Colt Hardware makes a large financial investment in Hart Racing, Kerri is left to find a way to deal with Ranger Colt. Their relationship gets very interesting very fast!!

This book has a great fresh storyline that makes it one you don't want to miss. I highly recommend it.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Loved In the Fast Lane!

What a fun and entertaining read. It had the perfect amount of drama and it wasn't overly done. There was just enough to keep you interested in both main characters.

I enjoyed how the author developed the romance between Kerri and Ranger and how she incorporated all of the secondary characters into the storyline.

Overall a good afternoon read, highly recommend In the Fast Lane!

Thank you St. Martin's Press via Netgalley for the advance copy.

[Laura Trentham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this one! I've never read a book set in the world of racing, much less with a female driver. It was a fascinating glimpse into that world, but really the book was about family. I especially enjoyed how things played out with the hero and his father at the end.

I could definitely sense some hero material brewing from the cameos of a couple of the other male drivers. Can't wait for their stories:)

[Tina J · Rating 4 out of 5]

IN THE FAST LANE (A Hard Driving Novel)
by Audra North
July 14, 2015
St. Martin's Paperbacks
approximate pages: 170
Romance: Contemporary, Sports > Racing


** Provided by Publisher via Netgalley in Exchange for an Honest Review. **


-- MY THOUGHTS --
Judging a Book by it's Cover:
Color scheme is eye-catching however, I do not feel that it compliments the synopsis. Story line is not entirely original, but there is a key switch-up.
Looking Deeper:
Alternating third-person POVs from Ranger and Kerri's perspectives. She's the rookie stock car racer in the family, he's the suit who's dad just landed them an 80% buy-out. They come from two different worlds, but suddenly discover they have one common goal: Make Hart Racing a *raging success*. Both lead characters are assertive, dominant, stubborn; which normally makes for a caustic, volatile relationship. And although there's that stereotypical "instant attraction" thing going on, it was difficult to believe in any real chemistry and compatibility after peeling away the farce. It's not until later, that their truer natures are able to be revealed that you begin to see the relationship take on a more real quality. The secondary characters are good. Dialogue is natural feeling. The overall plot has been used in various forms many times over, but Ms. North makes it unique by creating a role-reversal; providing new gender-specific challenges in a plot that flowed quickly and smoothly. There were some conflicts that were, for the most part, handled efficiently and maturely. Predictability was present in a few places, but there was also a twist that some may not see coming. The conclusion felt a little rushed and unfinished. I strongly feel that it could have greatly benefited from an Epilogue describing the outcome of the season - for both Kerri and Lee, the future of Hart, maybe even expand on Ranger's situation with Al. Overall, it was a decent quick, fast, easy read with a fun cast of characters.
----------------------------------------------------------
Heat Level: ~ Score: 3.7 ~ Stars: 4
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-- REVIEWER INFO --
Tina J / Happily Ever Chapter
This review can be found, in it's entirety or reformatted by myself to fit the guidelines imposed, at any or all of the following locations (determined by availability): Happily Ever Chapter, Tangled Hearts and Boxer Briefs, Smut Book Junkie Book Reviews, Goodreads, Netgalley, Edelweiss, Amazon, BN, Kobo, iTunes. Copies may also be distributed to the publishers, authors and/or promoters - depending on requirements at the time.

[ItsAboutTheBook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review can be read at It's About The Book

I really enjoyed reading about Kerri Hart and Ranger Colt, the female Indy race car driver and the business executive who’s taken over her family’s company in this turbo-charged, hot and sexy romance. What’s not to love? You’ve got a gorgeous, accomplished woman who’s got adrenaline in her veins and a love of family in her heart clashing with an alpha man who needs control to feel alive, who’s all about the bottom line–money. Match made in heaven? Or going by their hate-at-first-sight, match destined to fail? You be the judge.

Kerri’s family has had a hard time coping since her father’s death. It’s made her brother Grady, who’s been in charge of the racing business, have to make some drastic changes–one of which has really put her in a bind. Grady’s sold part of the business to Colt Enterprises–a company she hates because when they’d asked to sponsor her earlier, they’d wanted her to glam it up–something she’d hated the thought of. She just wants to be able to race! Being the first female race car driver carries a lot of responsibility–and using her femininity wasn’t part of it. She wanted to prove that women could do the same things men did because of their strengths and skills–not that women were pretty and needed to be objectified. She wanted to stress that her SKILLS had gotten her where she was, not her looks. So she’s appalled when she finds out what Grady’s done. Meeting Ranger is a surprise, and she’s relieved when she finds out this deal is different. But when Ranger suggests an unusual strategy to help rehab her image in the public’s eye, she absolutely hates it…kinda.

Ranger Colt has an ax to grind–he’s out for revenge against his father, who’d abandoned him and his mother when he was a baby. Left dirt poor, they’d struggled until he’d been able to get a job and take care of them. Now he’s very successful, and through a series of events, he’s working for his dad. He’s just this close to a coveted promotion, and he’s sent to make-over this failing racing car company. What? Before long, he’s reveling in the family atmosphere that surrounds this company and falling in love with the beautiful driver. But he’s got to leave when the company is fixed. What then? And what about his plans for getting back at his dad?

Find out how these two characters who are seemingly looking for such different things find their answer in…each other? Maybe?

Loved the writing, the plot, and the smoking hot sex. This book is a winner from start to finish line! Thanks.

[Michel Reinhard (Saucy Southern Readers) · Rating 3 out of 5]

*** 3.5 Stars ***
In The Fast Lane by Audra North was a fun book. I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet romance.

Kerri Hart is working in man’s world. She is the only rookie driver that is female. Her family is a legacy in the racing world but their team is in trouble financially. When Colt Hardware tries to buy into sponsorship for the racing team she flat out refuses because of their conditions. She is perceived by the media and fans as a hot headed woman. It is farther from the truth. She has ethics that she lives by. Being the only woman in her field puts her in the spotlight and her behavior is blown out of proportion.

When Ranger Colt shows up and states that he now owns Hart Racing, Kerri is beyond angry. She is upset with her brother for selling out. She is upset that Ranger Colt is too sexy for his own good. She is upset that she has to pose as his finance in order to keep her reputation clean. What she is most upset about is falling for the sexy new owner. Ranger Colt has her heart racing and panties melting.

Ranger Colt looked upon his promotion as a road block. He had no interest in turning Hart Racing into a profitable business. He is only doing it to prove to his father that he is better than him. He has an ax to grind. If it takes turning Hart Racing around, he will do it. What he didn’t count on was losing his heart to the beautiful, dynamic driver on his team. Kerri is making his head spin and heart beat faster.

Kerri and Ranger are doing more than burning rubber. They are burning up the sheets. The only race they are losing is their hearts.

These two will have to give and take. They will have to learn what is more important.

Audra North wrote an entertaining and sexy romance in her new series. I look forward to more books in this series.

Read In The Fast Lane by Audra North. It won’t disappoint!

[bookaholic ge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kerri Hart eats, sleeps, and breaths racing. After years of putting her life on hold for her career she is very upset to find out that her life is basically twisted upside down in one day.

First she gets a proposal from an Ex- boyfriend in front of everyone that she broke up with months ago...so clearly she was not interested. Second she finds out that her brother has sold a large portion of their racing company. Third Ranger Colt, the son of the man that her brother sold the company to, is popping up on her headset while she's prepping for a major race, she's pissed, which leads to her telling him to get off her channel!

Ranger Colt is a man on a mission, his plan is to sweep in and show his father that he can handle their newest company take over, proving that not only does he deserve a promotion... but that he is a better man than his father could ever be. So when Kerri tells him to get off of her channel, he waste no time informing her that he is now the owner of "her" channel!

Can Kerri and Ranger work together to get the her company back out of the red and on top of the score board or will Kerri and Rangers power struggle hurt not only their companies... but their heart? Read and find out!

I received this book as an ARC from Net Galley for my honest review.

I loved this book it was funny, inspiring and heart breakingly romantic with a lot of heat. I really liked that Kerri and Ranger perfectly balanced each other and overall made each other better.

I loved that Kerri was so strong and she was willing to fight for her dream. Ranger was also very strong and once you understand his past you get why he behaves the way he does and that just makes you want them to end up together even more.

Great job Audra North for addressing how hard it is for a female to make it in what many consider a "mans sport" with out making the book feel heavy or making Kerri into this "woe is me" kind of character.

This book is selling right now for 3.99 on Amazon Kindle and I think that is a very fair price. I recommend this book and this author.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review*

In The Fast Lane is the first book in the Hard Driving racing series by new-to-me Audra North for St. Martin's Press. In the book, racecar driver Kerri Hart is forced to work with Ranger Colt, of Colt International, to improve her team's financial situation and repair her image so she can pick up some well-paying sponsors. She never dreamed feigning a relationship with Ranger would work so well for them, and yet, it does.

Oh, man, but I loved this book. It was fun, with a lot of emotional depth and heart. It was also surprisingly sexy, with lots of sizzle and heat packed inside its pages. And the writing, characterization, and story fit together so seamlessly, and flowed so well, this became a quick, easy, thoroughly enjoyable read for me.

I loved the introductory scene between Kerri and Ranger at the track because it's fresh, unique, and memorable. Ranger's quick-thinking saved Kerri's tail, though her anger over the sale of part of her racing team-and at her ex-boyfriend's disastrous decision to cause a spectacle-almost got in the way. And then came the fake romantic relationship, which became all too real for both of them and made me smile.

Pretend relationship stories have been among my favorite books to read for years, and I'm happy to say, this book is a fantastic addition to my growing keeper's list. I loved every single word of it, and let me just say right now, that Ranger Colt is one hot, sexy hero. I loved him like mad!

In The Fast Lane is an extremely well-written, engaging, sexy and fun, fast-paced read that contemporary romance readers are sure to love, and it's an excellent start to what promises to be a fantastic new racing series. Audra North made me a fan!

[Kryska14 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hart Racing was having cash, image and management problems and Colt International owned by Al Colt offered Kerri Hart the sexy siren hard ass woman who was famous for her brash temper a sponsorship contract.

Ranger Colt who was ruthless in business was put in charge of Hart Racing’s business by his father Al Colt challenging him to make it a success and in exchange for a big promotion. Ranger’s father was non existent in his life choosing to run his empire over family. This was a chance to prove to his father that he would succeed! Money and revenge against his father was his motivator. This was personal for Ranger; father against son!

What Ranger didn’t count on was his physical reaction to Kerri, he had seen her in pictures but when standing in front of her for the first time she nearly knocked him to his knees. Kerri’s reaction to Ranger was just as electrifying as Ranger’s was to her, his honey sex voice with a face and body made for the front page of a GQ magazine made her feel things she felt she had no business in feeling.

What started out as an opportunity to help Hart Racing, ended up as an eye opener for Ranger, learning about truths of his own family that he never knew. As for Ranger and Kerri’s forged relationship, well let’s just say that it was a ‘Raging Success!’

Ranger and Kerri characters are fantastic making this romantic story super hot and sexy and an absolute joy to read!

An advance reading copy of 'In the Fast Lane' by Audra North was provided to me from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Alima Livzletlivz · Rating 4 out of 5]

“In The Fast Lane” by Audra North is fast paced with racy passion and heartwarming love. With racing in her blood and soul, Kerri Hart is racing against time to save her father’s legacy Hart Racing from folding. As the only female rookie driver on the circuit, sponsorships are laced with sexism and her only savior is Ranger Colt.

Considered as a ruthless business man, Ranger Colt is on a mission to prove himself to get the coveted position in his company and as a part of the deal Colt Hardware buys into a major chunk of Hart Racing, setting Kerri’s blood racing and heart pumping with anger, passion and lust.

To salvage Kerri’s reputation in the kingdom of males, Kerri decides to team with Ranger as his fiancé. But fake relation turns into attraction leading to love. But with misunderstandings and insecurities making their way into this relationship, Ranger has to decide what’s more important in his life and Kerri has a race of a romance to win at any cost.

Nice, fast and furious, Audra North narrates “In The Fast Lane” with zeal and sizzle. Kerri is just a firecracker and adorable as the only female driver trying to make her presence felt and motivate the ladies that they can become anything that they desire with hardwork and dedication in any field. Ranger is just an ultra nice guy with a big heart cloaked in expensive suits, yet supportive and lovable.

A definite feel-good-makes-you-smile romance!

Received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley for an honest review.

[Lisa F · Rating 4 out of 5]

first off I want to apologize by judging this book from the first few pages and the use of the word sugar, I was dreading that it was going to be a pet name constantly being used but thank god it wasnt.
maybe it's just me but being an English girl I haven't come across anyone who says sugar and pulls it off so I find it a hard bug bare but anyway despite that I loved this book.

from the get go I loved Kerri, she's a spunky, hard-working, loyal and family orientated girl. the whole crew and their closeness reminded me a bit of fast and furious and how much family means which I loved.
Ranger funny enough I wasnt as excited about in the beginning I was purely seeing him as the big bad wolf but as the story went on I think as Kerri fell for him so does the reader.

apart from the fast cars and money this story centres around family, that family is more important than money, yes we need money but we also need family and Ranger is an example of someone who is lacking the family element yet craves it without realizing.

the family crew won me over big time in this book, I loved seeing from Rangers POV what it's like to be included in a family like that, how much they all enjoy the sport and graft hard to accomplish what they do for each other aswel as for themselves

[Nadine Bookaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This might be the first book I have read but it won't be my last!
Race car driver Kerri Hart has always dreamed of being a racer, now that she is sponsors want her to sex it up and that is something she refuses to do. Hart Racing is in trouble the question is will Kerri stand by her beliefs or will she do what is best for the company? Ranger Colt is there to make sure that Kerri does what needs to be done to get the company out of the red and back into black. When he gets there he see's that he has his work cut out for him after Kerri's ex-boyfriend makes a spectacle of things and the only way to get things back on track is to fake an engagement between Ranger and Kerri....well; now doesn't that just open a lot of doors for fun. The sparks fly between the two and that makes for some great press which helps with her bad girl image. This was a great read, I look forward to reading more books by Audra North.

***I have received this book from St. Martin's Press through netgalley in exchange for my honest review*** https://www.netgalley.com/

[Jin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for ARC

Life in Fast lane and love on fast lane as well.
Kerri Hart is a strong headed, independent race car driver who isn't afraid of anyone. She meets her match when she meets Ranger. Ranger was taking over her racing company. Ultimately, Ranger wanted to take over his father's Colt international. Ranger wasn't planning to have a relationship with Kerri but when he saw Kerri on racetrack, he comes with a plan, being a fiancee for show.. Hart racing was struggling with sponsors and Kerri wasn't having a very good PR with public. So he decided to give positive image. They were show couple but they slowly falls for each other..
But Ranger has his own revenge plan against his father and Kerri knew he would leave after promises are met..
love between Kerri and Ranger on fast track but....
His father coming to visit him and giving him what he wanted but would he leave everything behind or will he stay with Kerri??
I enjoyed reading this book.. It was fun.. I love the fact Kerri was strong female lead and she didn't take any crap from anyone. She was a race car driver.. It was different from other sports. Plus plenty of love scenes and sexy as hell.. I recommend anyone enjoys reading sports and romance.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC through NetGalley from St. Martin's Press for an honest review. This was a fast-paced book and great introduction for me to Audra North's writing. I follow NASCAR and I felt like she really captured the basics of stock car racing without it ever feeling like an info dump of the sport. (The jerk driver (Nolan)... well, a few current drivers immediately came to mind.) Kerri was a little too alpha for me in the beginning, but that quickly changed as we saw a more human and relatable side as her relationship with Ranger developed. The author did a great job keeping the storyline moving so we skipped over her being too stubborn and giving into the fake fiancee angle for the press early in the story. Once their battle with each other eased, I was drawn into their personal issues and rooting for both characters and their HEA. The supporting characters were great and provided lighter moments to the story. I especially liked Lee, her younger brother and up and coming driver. He's a little young in this book, but I'd love to see his story as well as the other rookie (and surprisingly a genuinely nice guy), Ty.

[Ashley - Book Labyrinth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely closer to three stars, but it was still just *ok*. I like racing romances and I love that the driver in this book is female, and the male is the one with no racing knowledge at all. That part worked really well, but I didn't feel like the romance had much development at all. They were attracted to one another and then all of a sudden time moved forward and they were In Love. I expected a more drawn out transition from semi-dislike to love, but this was a quick read, so the pacing suffered a bit.

I also have to admit I was very annoyed at the main character re: her stance on a makeup company for her sponsor. I get that she's had a tough time being taken seriously as a woman in a male dominated sport, but I find it annoying when women are so down on anything that's seen as particularly feminine. These sponsors weren't asking for anything bad (like companies in the past wanting her to sex it up), she just couldn't make a decision right away simply because it was makeup. Lady, your team is struggling financially and you're potentially turning down millions of dollars just because it's a makeup brand?! Wake up to reality!!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Fast Lane is a sexy, fast paced, story about Kerri and Ranger. Kerri is a female race car driver with racing in her blood. Her family business is racing, so when Ranger comes in to run Hart Racing and save it from bankruptcy Kerri is not happy about it. Kerri has always struggled in the male dominated world of racing and the tabloids don’t make it any easier because they are more concerned with what she wears and who she is dating instead of her wins. So, when Ranger decides that they are going to have a fake engagement to help her reputation, things become even conflicted between the pair – in a good way.

I enjoyed the sexual tension between Ranger and Kerri. She is a hothead and he is a power hungry businessman. I especially love how Kerri does not back down and cower to Ranger but stays true to herself and her personality. Yes, things get tense and angst-y between them, but their act like mature adults and do the right thing. I, also, love how the author balanced the steamy sex with a good story to balance out the entire book. Job well done!

Overall, this is a great, quick, fun, read for anyone!

*A copy of this book was provided for review.