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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
I had so much fun with Fast Track by Julie Garwood. I’ve always enjoyed when she dives in to her contemporary series and this had some of my favorite characters from earlier books, Cordelia and Aiden. Because they two were introduced in earlier stories and you see a lot of repeating secondary characters I do recommend reading some of the books earlier in the series but this could be read as a stand-alone. Cordelia has had a crush on her best friend’s older brother for years but he doesn’t seem to notice her. When Cordelia loses her father and learns some unsettling truths about her family, Aiden becomes an unexpected friend to turn to. As he helps her unravel the mystery of her family Aiden suddenly sees Cordelia as more than his little sister’s best friend. But with danger tracking them both will they finally be able to realize the romance between them? Really fun read and I enjoyed seeing Cordelia and Aiden getting their HEA.
Thank goodness for Alec Buchanan. Without him, I don't think I could have made it through this book, as he provided more laughs and personality than a few other characters combined.
While the romantic pairing of Cordelia and Aiden was teased at the end of Murder List, which came out a decade ago, their long-awaited tale was a little lackluster. Cordelia as okay as a heroine, but the reader barely gets to know Aiden, as he is literally a man of few words and very little of the story is told from his POV, or at least little of the character-defining moments are told from his POV.
I've been reading Julie Garwood books for half my life, but over the last few years, the stories and characters have become less and less engaging, making me wonder how many of her books I will bother to read in the future.
While the romantic pairing of Cordelia and Aiden was teased at the end of Murder List, which came out a decade ago, their long-awaited tale was a little lackluster. Cordelia as okay as a heroine, but the reader barely gets to know Aiden, as he is literally a man of few words and very little of the story is told from his POV, or at least little of the character-defining moments are told from his POV.
I've been reading Julie Garwood books for half my life, but over the last few years, the stories and characters have become less and less engaging, making me wonder how many of her books I will bother to read in the future.
Lame. Julie Garwood's later novels are just so not good. They seem sexist (to me) and just overall boring. Wasn't really interested in the storyline. I thought the characters were boring. There just wasn't a lot of depth there.
I had never read any of the other books in the Buchanan-Renard series so I was a little scared I might be all confused but this book can be read as stand alone.
I wasn't confused at all and I absolutely love this book even though this isn't what I would usually read. It is very well written and you can very well imagine the characters and what is going on. I read this yesterday and I just couldn't put it down. I liked the book so much that I put all the other 11 books in this series on my extra long wish list.
I highly recommend.
I wasn't confused at all and I absolutely love this book even though this isn't what I would usually read. It is very well written and you can very well imagine the characters and what is going on. I read this yesterday and I just couldn't put it down. I liked the book so much that I put all the other 11 books in this series on my extra long wish list.
I highly recommend.
(Originally posted on Michelle & Leslie's Book Picks)
Some mild spoilers.
Julie Garwood's historical romance novels were one of the first I read when I discovered romance novels at the age of fourteen. I read them one after the other because they were so addicting. I think she went on a bit of a writing hiatus and do not write historical romances anymore. I wanted to check out her newer titles (Garwood is writing romantic suspense these days) so I picked up Sweet Talk in 2012. Unfortunately, I didn't particularly enjoy Sweet Talk.
When I got a chance to review Fast Track I was excited but apprehensive... am I going to like it or will it be a lukewarm experience like Sweet Talk was?
But before I get into all that, I want to clarify some things. The book's description basically said that a corrupt congressman was after Cordelia after Aiden made him angry. And that's a big NO. There was a corrupt congressman and Aiden did make him angry, but he was not after Cordelia at all. Actually, his character had nothing to do with Cordie at all. The congressman storyline had very little to do with the main plot. It could've been taken out of the story entirely and it wouldn't have made a difference.
The main plot line had to do with Cordelia's mother. At her father's deathbed, he revealed that Cordie's mother was actually alive. Of course, Cordie wanted to meet and learn more about the woman and why she left Cordie to be raised by her dad. She found out (along with other secrets) that her mom currently lives in Sydney. Cordie wanted to go, if only to see the woman in person. Aiden insisted (he was being an alpha--there was no "railroading") that she take his private jet along with him. But Cordie's mom didn't want to be found and that's when the trouble (and danger) started.
The story wasn't quite the way the description described but I am happy to say that I liked Fast Track! I gave it 3.5/5 stars (I rounded up here on Goodreads).
Okay, so I wasn't wowed by it or anything. It's not particularly memorable either. However, Fast Track was very, very entertaining nonetheless. I enjoyed it so much more than I did Sweet Talk and I was pleasantly surprised by how fast I read it. It was one of those books where when I look down at the page number, I'd be pleasantly surprised to see that I've read 40 pages in a seemingly short period of time.
I really enjoyed Cordelia's character. She had a good head on her shoulders, she acted her age and her reactions to the situation she found herself in were believable. When she found herself in dangerous situations, she screamed and called for help. I get so irritated with heroines who are "strong, independent women" who put themselves into dangerous situations to prove they're strong and independent (they're otherwise known as TSTL heroines). But not Cordelia. She acted rationally and I really, really liked that about her.
I liked Aiden's character too. He's a good guy. He liked having things his way but he wasn't too overbearing. But nothing really stood out about his character--in a line-up of romance novel heroes, he would fade in the background.
I do wish we see more of a progression in their relationship though. Cordelia and Aiden have known each other forever and had an established friendship. Cordelia has had a crush on Aiden since she was a little girl and she's trying to get over him. But circumstances forced she to spend a lot to time with him and depend on his help. Then, they fell into bed and... well, I feel we didn't really get to see much of a development of their romantic relationship.
What this novel lacked was deep emotion and heart. While I liked the all the characters, I didn't have any strong feelings for them. Like I said enjoyed Fast Track, I was entertained by it and I really have no issues with it but there was nothing remarkable about it. Fast Track was ultimately a fluffy, easy breezy read.
**Fast Track is #12 in the Buchanan-Renard series but it can be read as a stand-alone.
Some mild spoilers.
Julie Garwood's historical romance novels were one of the first I read when I discovered romance novels at the age of fourteen. I read them one after the other because they were so addicting. I think she went on a bit of a writing hiatus and do not write historical romances anymore. I wanted to check out her newer titles (Garwood is writing romantic suspense these days) so I picked up Sweet Talk in 2012. Unfortunately, I didn't particularly enjoy Sweet Talk.
When I got a chance to review Fast Track I was excited but apprehensive... am I going to like it or will it be a lukewarm experience like Sweet Talk was?
But before I get into all that, I want to clarify some things. The book's description basically said that a corrupt congressman was after Cordelia after Aiden made him angry. And that's a big NO. There was a corrupt congressman and Aiden did make him angry, but he was not after Cordelia at all. Actually, his character had nothing to do with Cordie at all. The congressman storyline had very little to do with the main plot. It could've been taken out of the story entirely and it wouldn't have made a difference.
The main plot line had to do with Cordelia's mother. At her father's deathbed, he revealed that Cordie's mother was actually alive. Of course, Cordie wanted to meet and learn more about the woman and why she left Cordie to be raised by her dad. She found out (along with other secrets) that her mom currently lives in Sydney. Cordie wanted to go, if only to see the woman in person. Aiden insisted (he was being an alpha--there was no "railroading") that she take his private jet along with him. But Cordie's mom didn't want to be found and that's when the trouble (and danger) started.
The story wasn't quite the way the description described but I am happy to say that I liked Fast Track! I gave it 3.5/5 stars (I rounded up here on Goodreads).
Okay, so I wasn't wowed by it or anything. It's not particularly memorable either. However, Fast Track was very, very entertaining nonetheless. I enjoyed it so much more than I did Sweet Talk and I was pleasantly surprised by how fast I read it. It was one of those books where when I look down at the page number, I'd be pleasantly surprised to see that I've read 40 pages in a seemingly short period of time.
I really enjoyed Cordelia's character. She had a good head on her shoulders, she acted her age and her reactions to the situation she found herself in were believable. When she found herself in dangerous situations, she screamed and called for help. I get so irritated with heroines who are "strong, independent women" who put themselves into dangerous situations to prove they're strong and independent (they're otherwise known as TSTL heroines). But not Cordelia. She acted rationally and I really, really liked that about her.
I liked Aiden's character too. He's a good guy. He liked having things his way but he wasn't too overbearing. But nothing really stood out about his character--in a line-up of romance novel heroes, he would fade in the background.
I do wish we see more of a progression in their relationship though. Cordelia and Aiden have known each other forever and had an established friendship. Cordelia has had a crush on Aiden since she was a little girl and she's trying to get over him. But circumstances forced she to spend a lot to time with him and depend on his help. Then, they fell into bed and... well, I feel we didn't really get to see much of a development of their romantic relationship.
What this novel lacked was deep emotion and heart. While I liked the all the characters, I didn't have any strong feelings for them. Like I said enjoyed Fast Track, I was entertained by it and I really have no issues with it but there was nothing remarkable about it. Fast Track was ultimately a fluffy, easy breezy read.
**Fast Track is #12 in the Buchanan-Renard series but it can be read as a stand-alone.
3/5 ⭐️
After re reading this book yet again I find that the writing is too simplistic and the characters feel 2D. I also don’t feel the connection between the main characters as much as I did the last times I’ve read it. I think mostly because i have read more romance and know what i like out a romance book.
5/5⭐️
*re-read*
I think this might be my 3rd re read but I’m not sure. This is another romance I really enjoy. For the most part it think it’s a fun time and one I was looking forward to after reading books where these main characters made an appearance. This book stars Aiden and Cordelia (Cordie). Cordie has been crushing on Aiden for years but after her dad dies she decides to move on with her life and give up her crush. After learning a death bed secret from her dad she travels to Australia to see her mom. Little does she know she’s not going alone. Aiden insists on taking her and accompanying her and I’m sure you can guess where the story goes from there.
This is a man who wants to have everything in this place and have control of a situation and Cordie is the exact opposite of that so it’s fun to see their interactions.
After re reading this book yet again I find that the writing is too simplistic and the characters feel 2D. I also don’t feel the connection between the main characters as much as I did the last times I’ve read it. I think mostly because i have read more romance and know what i like out a romance book.
5/5⭐️
*re-read*
I think this might be my 3rd re read but I’m not sure. This is another romance I really enjoy. For the most part it think it’s a fun time and one I was looking forward to after reading books where these main characters made an appearance. This book stars Aiden and Cordelia (Cordie). Cordie has been crushing on Aiden for years but after her dad dies she decides to move on with her life and give up her crush. After learning a death bed secret from her dad she travels to Australia to see her mom. Little does she know she’s not going alone. Aiden insists on taking her and accompanying her and I’m sure you can guess where the story goes from there.
This is a man who wants to have everything in this place and have control of a situation and Cordie is the exact opposite of that so it’s fun to see their interactions.
2.5 stars. To say this was published in 2014 is a shame. Probably would have been better off if written in historical romance genre. Overbearing, rude, chauvinistic male protagonist and the female protagonist does not mind at all. No depth and just lust to love to marriage transition with some suspense. I used to love JG books about a decade ago. This did not cut it.
Once again the romance doesn't make a lot of sense. The men are super controlling and the women have pretty much no choices. Much of the mystery is a bunch of dudes being all, Oh, you wait and see! We have a plan, you'll just have to be surprised. Okay?
It succeeds in having a cute family of choice. While the romances are all quick and imo kind of weak, it is lovely to see these three women and how their husbands become a part of the unit and they're all close and care for one another.
It succeeds in having a cute family of choice. While the romances are all quick and imo kind of weak, it is lovely to see these three women and how their husbands become a part of the unit and they're all close and care for one another.
A pleasant addition to Garwood ' s FBI series. I liked the characters, yet I didn't really feel like I could connect with them, especially Aiden. There wasn't enough back story to him, which made him pretty one dimensional. A nice read but a disappointment in comparison to her previous three books.
I loved it and can't wait to read more in the series.