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Racing Storms: The Chasing Desire Trilogy
Decoursey dreads the upcoming weekend. A big NASCAR race is taking place at the speedway near her home--and her abusive, murder-threatening ex-husband just so happens to be a member of a NASCAR pit crew. Determined not to let her ex-husband have a decent opportunity to make good on his threat, Decoursey puts an ad online, hoping to find some security in the form of a guy needing a place to crash. Enter Kennan, a storm chaser looking to get away for a few days. Fresh off a failed storm chase, Kennan doesn't make the best first impression. But that quickly changes as Decoursey gives Kennan a chance and finds the recently broken heart of a gentleman hidden beneath the surface. As sparks fly, so do hopes that they can dream of romance once again. But when their newfound trust is broken, will Decoursey and Kennan weather the storm to find a love that lasts? Racing Storms, the exciting debut in Sara Russell's Chasing Desire trilogy, will get your heart pumping all the way to the finish line.
194 pages, Paperback
Published April 25, 2017
257 people want to read
About the author
Sara Russell
18 books32 followersSara Russell is a near-native Texan who sees nothing wrong with using “y’all” in formal conversation.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 24, 2018
Easy read and a great book!!! I can’t wait for the other 2 to come out!!!
September 25, 2017
Let me just start by saying that I love this title. It's witty! The crazy, stalker ex-husband works for NASCAR; the love interest is a storm chaser. So, Racing Storms... Get it? Get it?! Amazing, I know. Just like the rest of the book.
The main character, Decoursey, is instantly likeable. She's not perfect, tall, and blonde. She's not working at her dream job and she's certainly not making perfect decisions. Then you meet Kennan, who is hanging with some very real and douchey guys. He is also not so perfect in the sense that he fails to physically fulfill Decoursey's ideal (read: tall or big enough to ward off the crazy ex).
If you read romance books at all, you can kind of guess where this is all going, and you'd be right. But how it all goes down would surprise you. And that's what reading these lovely books is all about, right? It's about the journey. And where I really applaud Russell, is that she doesn't give us the obvious where she clearly could have. And she doesn't pull the rookie mistake of throwing complete curveballs either. Every moment of tension between Decoursey and Kennan is completely believable, because they as characters are believable.
There is no suspension of disbelief necessary to imagine this curvy, down-to-earth girl who enjoys things your grandma likes to do - there's been a revolution of these retro lovelies if you haven't noticed. And while it's all so dreamy to imagine the hunky guy who got his broken by the gorgeous ice princess, I know a few of those as well. Ok, maybe one. But the point is, he's real too. And in my imagination, I want those two to get together as well.
Russell's writing is flawless. No need to reread passages that confuse or mucking through clunky dialogue. I can hear these character's voices in my head perfectly. The whole book actually played out as a nice little movie in my head.
Some scenes are spicy enough to make you need a cold beer, but overall it's a safe read while in the waiting room or taking a break from work. I cannot wait for the next installment. I look forward to anything else this author writes.
The main character, Decoursey, is instantly likeable. She's not perfect, tall, and blonde. She's not working at her dream job and she's certainly not making perfect decisions. Then you meet Kennan, who is hanging with some very real and douchey guys. He is also not so perfect in the sense that he fails to physically fulfill Decoursey's ideal (read: tall or big enough to ward off the crazy ex).
If you read romance books at all, you can kind of guess where this is all going, and you'd be right. But how it all goes down would surprise you. And that's what reading these lovely books is all about, right? It's about the journey. And where I really applaud Russell, is that she doesn't give us the obvious where she clearly could have. And she doesn't pull the rookie mistake of throwing complete curveballs either. Every moment of tension between Decoursey and Kennan is completely believable, because they as characters are believable.
There is no suspension of disbelief necessary to imagine this curvy, down-to-earth girl who enjoys things your grandma likes to do - there's been a revolution of these retro lovelies if you haven't noticed. And while it's all so dreamy to imagine the hunky guy who got his broken by the gorgeous ice princess, I know a few of those as well. Ok, maybe one. But the point is, he's real too. And in my imagination, I want those two to get together as well.
Russell's writing is flawless. No need to reread passages that confuse or mucking through clunky dialogue. I can hear these character's voices in my head perfectly. The whole book actually played out as a nice little movie in my head.
Some scenes are spicy enough to make you need a cold beer, but overall it's a safe read while in the waiting room or taking a break from work. I cannot wait for the next installment. I look forward to anything else this author writes.
September 20, 2017
In Racing Storms, Decoursey and Kennan embark on a whirlwind courtship set in motion by Decoursey’s need for protection against a dangerous ex husband and Kennan’s need for a place to stay in a fully booked Dallas/Fort Worth because of the NASCAR race at Texas Motor Speedway.
When these two come together, look out! Instead of simmering or ambling along at a snail’s pace, this budding romance takes off at race-car speed and with tornado intensity. Even though the romance is front and center in Racing Storms, the story does touch on some interesting and serious issues, such as the dangerous and debilitating consequences of concussions and the crippling and often paralyzing effect of not letting go and moving on from failed relationships.
While the overall story is quick paced and fun, I wanted the romantic aspect to slow down a bit to avoid falling into that unrealistic trap. I was already skeptical of a single woman having enough trust to put out an advertisement for a man to stay with her over the weekend (background check notwithstanding) for protection against her dangerous ex husband, so having them behave as if they had been dating for months on the very first night made my head spin. Not that I'm complaining too much, of course.
The good news is that the mushy sweetness and subsequent steaminess of their immediate physical attraction are tempered by three things: Decoursey’s ex husband, the tornado that wreaks havoc at the end of the story, and the Jolly Roger doily that Decoursey is crocheting.
When these two come together, look out! Instead of simmering or ambling along at a snail’s pace, this budding romance takes off at race-car speed and with tornado intensity. Even though the romance is front and center in Racing Storms, the story does touch on some interesting and serious issues, such as the dangerous and debilitating consequences of concussions and the crippling and often paralyzing effect of not letting go and moving on from failed relationships.
While the overall story is quick paced and fun, I wanted the romantic aspect to slow down a bit to avoid falling into that unrealistic trap. I was already skeptical of a single woman having enough trust to put out an advertisement for a man to stay with her over the weekend (background check notwithstanding) for protection against her dangerous ex husband, so having them behave as if they had been dating for months on the very first night made my head spin. Not that I'm complaining too much, of course.
The good news is that the mushy sweetness and subsequent steaminess of their immediate physical attraction are tempered by three things: Decoursey’s ex husband, the tornado that wreaks havoc at the end of the story, and the Jolly Roger doily that Decoursey is crocheting.
July 13, 2017
I don't read a lot of romance, but I'm a weather geek so when I found out this book involves storm chasers I knew I had to read it. I wasn't disappointed at all. I devoured it in two days. The characters are lively, interesting and nuanced. The weather geekery is on point, so it's clear that Ms. Russell did her research! This is a fast-paced, steamy read that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone.
May 7, 2017
I received this book via Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.
Loved this book's plot and characters. The author is new to me and I enjoyed her writing. I look for to more books in this series.
Loved this book's plot and characters. The author is new to me and I enjoyed her writing. I look for to more books in this series.
July 27, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. I loved how Decoursey and Kennan became such fast friends. And how kennan risked his life to check on decoursey and his friends backed him up.
I recommend this book it is well worth the read.
I recommend this book it is well worth the read.
February 10, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It is based partly in Oklahoma and partly in Texas. I live in this area so it was fun knowing exactly where the characters were. I loved the sweet romance with a bit of suspense!
September 13, 2017
A delightful and entertaining debut romance novel! I couldn't put it down! Great job, Sara Russell!
April 25, 2018
Great fast paced romance novel. I look forward to reading the next book in the Chasing Desire trilogy!
November 25, 2017
Memorable Quotes
"This filthy-looking, finger-flipping bum was Kennan McGregor."
"Doubt burned through the happy glow like a morning mist evaporated by merciless sunlight, revealing the hard edges of her perspective."
"It wasn’t all of a sudden. It was like being on a slope so gradual that you don’t notice how you’re picking up speed toward something, and that something is you going over a cliff, and you’re midair before you even realize you fell off the mountain."
"Did she at least give you back the ring?" "Ha!" said Kennan. "She didn’t even offer, and I didn’t ask. I didn’t want it back anyway. She can wear it to hell."
"Survivor sex. It was hot, desperate, unlike anything she’d ever experienced; an affirmation of being alive, with the knowledge that although the end comes eventually, this time they’d thumbed their nose at the Reaper and laughed in his face."
"It’s sort of a short-term forecast with a 100 percent chance of love."
March 26, 2017
netgalley
3.5 stars
good debut. I liked this book.
3.5 stars
good debut. I liked this book.
April 19, 2017
As a fan of both motorsport and wild weather, this book sounded right up my street. And, for a debut, it certainly has an interesting premise. However, if you're here for NASCAR, you will be disappointed, but I still found it readable and easy enough to get through. Yet there were also a few things that stretched my credulity quite a bit.
Firstly, since Decoursey is willing to move halfway across the country to get away from her ex, you’d think she’d pick somewhere that didn’t have a speedway right on her doorstep. Secondly, she’s terrified of one guy, so she arranges for a complete stranger to come and stay for the weekend. Yikes! This seemed especially daft, since she has a habit of dwelling on disastrous scenarios at the drop of a hat. Her lack of a freak out until after she’d arranged things with Kennan seemed a bit late for me.
I also wasn’t sure about Decoursey at first. Her fears over her ex-husband were real and terrifying, but aside from that I found her a bit judgemental and picky and not entirely likeable. I’m not sure I really needed to dwell on the pattern she used to make her aprons for so long, but it certainly fit with Decoursey’s character at times – focusing on the little things in order to avoid facing the bigger picture. Thankfully, she either grew on me, improved or just relaxed more as the book went on.
Kennan is okay, though a bit aimless. I’m not sure what I expected from him, but maybe a bit more excitement and weather action.
The two of them seem good together, although they didn’t really talk about their interests much, focusing more on their previous dating history and giving into their attraction. They’re both nice people, but neither was particularly fascinating in their own right.
Of course, the whole book is rather overshadowed by the risk of Decoursey’s ex. Will he show up? When will he show up? What will he do? Will he do anything? Is he even there? I kept expecting him to leap out from behind a bush or appear on the steps or something, which definitely distracted me from anything else going on, because I was waiting, waiting, waiting all the time for something interesting to happen. I also found it hard to get over the fact that Decoursey kept Kennan in the dark about the danger. She wasn’t willing to stay with her friends for fear of risking them, but some random, innocent dude is fair game? Not cool, Decoursey.
So my feelings are a little mixed. I didn’t mind the lack of motorsport, but I would have liked a bit more weather, and while there is a bit of excitement towards the end, most of the book meanders along, with two nice strangers sharing space, getting along and being normal. For the vast majority of the book it’s fairly standard romance fare, just with a speeded up timeline and a couple of strangers coming together with a threat lurking in the background. It’s part suspense, part romance, but didn’t quite deliver on either for me. Having said that, as a debut it definitely shows promise and if you don’t mind love appearing out of nowhere and a bit of suspense in the mix, then you might want to give it a go.
(ARC provided by the author via NetGalley.)
Firstly, since Decoursey is willing to move halfway across the country to get away from her ex, you’d think she’d pick somewhere that didn’t have a speedway right on her doorstep. Secondly, she’s terrified of one guy, so she arranges for a complete stranger to come and stay for the weekend. Yikes! This seemed especially daft, since she has a habit of dwelling on disastrous scenarios at the drop of a hat. Her lack of a freak out until after she’d arranged things with Kennan seemed a bit late for me.
I also wasn’t sure about Decoursey at first. Her fears over her ex-husband were real and terrifying, but aside from that I found her a bit judgemental and picky and not entirely likeable. I’m not sure I really needed to dwell on the pattern she used to make her aprons for so long, but it certainly fit with Decoursey’s character at times – focusing on the little things in order to avoid facing the bigger picture. Thankfully, she either grew on me, improved or just relaxed more as the book went on.
Kennan is okay, though a bit aimless. I’m not sure what I expected from him, but maybe a bit more excitement and weather action.
The two of them seem good together, although they didn’t really talk about their interests much, focusing more on their previous dating history and giving into their attraction. They’re both nice people, but neither was particularly fascinating in their own right.
Of course, the whole book is rather overshadowed by the risk of Decoursey’s ex. Will he show up? When will he show up? What will he do? Will he do anything? Is he even there? I kept expecting him to leap out from behind a bush or appear on the steps or something, which definitely distracted me from anything else going on, because I was waiting, waiting, waiting all the time for something interesting to happen. I also found it hard to get over the fact that Decoursey kept Kennan in the dark about the danger. She wasn’t willing to stay with her friends for fear of risking them, but some random, innocent dude is fair game? Not cool, Decoursey.
So my feelings are a little mixed. I didn’t mind the lack of motorsport, but I would have liked a bit more weather, and while there is a bit of excitement towards the end, most of the book meanders along, with two nice strangers sharing space, getting along and being normal. For the vast majority of the book it’s fairly standard romance fare, just with a speeded up timeline and a couple of strangers coming together with a threat lurking in the background. It’s part suspense, part romance, but didn’t quite deliver on either for me. Having said that, as a debut it definitely shows promise and if you don’t mind love appearing out of nowhere and a bit of suspense in the mix, then you might want to give it a go.
(ARC provided by the author via NetGalley.)
April 24, 2017
Racing Storms by Sara Russell......This was a fast paced entertaining read and kept me turning pages. I enjoyed watching the story be told for Decoursey and Kennan. I can't wait to read more by this author. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
April 27, 2017
Loved this story! Very easy to get involved in the story, and great for a rainy day. Can't wait for the next one!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews