#Review of The Perfect Lap (a Racing Hearts in Serenity Romance #2) by Sedona Hutton w/a rafflecopter giveaway! @SedonaHutton

The Perfect Lap

by Sedona Hutton 

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GENRE:  Contemporary Romance

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BLURB:

His job is to drive fast. Hers is to put the brakes on him. When sparks fly, will love cross the finish line?

AJ Ryan is a publicity nightmare. After a questionable photo surfaces and his biggest sponsor threatens to pull out, the NASCAR champion admits it might be time to hit the brakes. Thankfully, his new no-nonsense image consultant knows just where to start… too bad she revs his engine so loudly he can barely think straight.

Ella Fisher’s career is a welcome distraction from her poor taste in men. Fresh off another easily avoidable heartbreak, rehabbing AJ’s career is just the diversion she needs. But when the pulse-pounding client actually listens to her advice, Ella wonders if there’s more to the man behind the hot mess.

When Ella is granted guardianship of three boisterous children under the misconception that she and AJ are a couple, AJ surprises her by going along with the charade. Before long they find themselves in a make-shift family that feels more real than pretend.

As their professional relationship takes a hard turn for the personal, a single overheard conversation could make it all go up in flames. Will Ella and AJ’s romance hit the wall, or will love take the checkered flag?

The Perfect Lap is the second standalone novel in the Racing Hearts of Serenity romance series. If you like bad boys with a heart of gold, strong women, and love stories with a new age twist, then you’ll adore Sedona Hutton’s fun, sexy tale.

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Excerpt One:

“I bet you have a beautiful smile,” he drawled, then lowered his mouth to hers.

She should have pulled away—she didn’t know this man from Adam. But everything inside her protested. After gazing into each other’s eyes, she felt like she knew him intimately.

His lips were warm and tingly, his kiss pure perfection…and he drew back way too quickly. He blinked those deep blue eyes and gave her a lazy grin. “I knew it.” He rubbed the pad of his thumb over her lower lip. “Beautiful.”

That’s when she realized she was smiling.

He rose, and she gave him a quick once over, taking in the sexy stubble on his face, the taut muscles of his chest, his lean physique. As good old-fashioned lust rolled through her like a quick-moving thunderstorm, she silently bemoaned her situation. This was a hell of a time to have a newly implemented man-ban.

“Keep smiling.” Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he winked at her. “It suits you,” he added in that low, sexy drawl. Then he sauntered off.

Her breath caught as she spun around to gape at him. He’d just kissed her and now he was leaving? She contemplated calling him back, then reconsidered. She had other fish to fry.

Even so, she couldn’t stop herself from tracking his every move as he swaggered toward the party, his backside looking every bit as fine as the rest of him. Pressing a hand to her chest, she let out a slow exhale. Even though she was one-hundred percent committed to her man-ban, she could admit—at least to herself—that the sexy, charming stranger had intrigued her.

This book is just what I needed to read over the weekend.  After a brutal week with 1st-3rd graders in PE, outside for 3 days and dealing with it still hot in Texas, I needed to read a feel-good story about a NASCAR driver, a PR woman that honestly got hosed and 3 adorable children that needed to be loved.  A book to get lost in, fall in love with and go to bed with a huge smile on my face.

Most people don’t know that I love NASCAR.  I have my favorite drivers and I’ve actually been a race weekend near my house.  One of the most fun and interesting times of my life.  I really loved how Ms. Hutton did her research on the sport.  Most people would have glossed over it but she really went all out with it.  BTW, my dream track is Poconos.  Never been but it’s on the bucket list for sure.  A lot of the book was not at a track but you got to understand the lifestyle of the drivers and what their friends and families go through during race season.

AJ is a lot of fun in the book but he is also tired.  Tired of having to be right with the sponsors (like no pictures of him eating meat-sponsor is vegan), not having a good time and having things posted on social media and then, just tired of not feeling grounded in his daily life.  I understood his need for some stability in his life.  His sponge of a stepbrother, a mother that only cares about his ability to pay for things and then seeing his friends find love and feeling left out.  So when he meets Ella, he sees a challenge but also a way for him to finally figuring out what he truly wants in life.

Ella could have come off as a doormat but when she finally realizes that she will NEVER measure up to her folks; she takes a stand and lets them know exactly what she thinks.  Bravo.  It needed to be done and I applaud her for it.  Ella and AJ are fun together.  They actually communicate with each when it comes what they want from each other and actually learn from one another.  Watching them with the kids is awesome.  I’m not a New Age parent (I’m old-52) but some of the things that Ms. Hutton talked about makes a lot of sense.  I look to incorporate some of that in my classroom.

The kids in the book have had it rough.  An absent mother, raising themselves and then being put with Ella and AJ and trying to figure out their lives without there mother.  It could have been heartbreaking but once again, Ms. Hutton slowly rebuilds their trust and lives with the love and support of Ella and AJ.  And they are cute, too.  Not overly but clearly lovable.  Was the transition easy?  Not but Ms. Hutton did her job and letting the reader know that foster care and placement isn’t always easy.

The romance in the book is a slow build but realistic.  Considering that Ella has been burned by men in the past so her trust issues are real.  AJ and his inability to not date every one around him and finally deciding to date Ella and try to have a real relationship with her.  Again, it was completely relatable and fascinating to read.

I really enjoyed reading Ella and AJ’s story and it was great seeing Nora and Davey again and how they help Ella and AJ with the kids and also their romance.  I can’t wait for CC’s book when it comes out.  So do yourself a favor and pick up this book.  It’s sweet, inspiring, and a love story about two people and 3 children that find hope, their own voice and realize that family doesn’t have to be blood-related.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Author Sedona Hutton finds inspiration in the beautiful Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, where she lives with her husband and curly-coated retriever. In addition to writing, she’s a Reiki Master and a certified Chopra Center Meditation instructor. She enjoys reading, yoga, gardening, and experiencing the great outdoors on boats, motorcycles, and Jeeps. Sedona pens a “Peace, Love, & Joy” blog on her website. Visit her at www.SedonaHutton.com, Twitter @SedonaHutton, Facebook @SedonaHuttonAuthor, and Instagram @SedonaHutton.  

Sedona’s debut novel, Cloud Whispers, was a Finalist in the 2018 Readers’ Favorite Contest, an Official Selection in the 2018 Summer eBook Awards for New Apple Literary, and Shortlisted for the Books Go Social Best Book of 2018.

Links:

Website: https://www.sedonahutton.com/

Blog: https://www.sedonahutton.com/blog

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SedonaHutton

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SedonaHuttonAuthor/

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sedonahutton/

Amazon page: www.amazon.com/author/sedonahutton

 

Goodreads Author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17837575.Sedona_Hutton

 

Short link to Goodreads Author page: https://bit.ly/2GxDDQ7

Book purchase links:

 

Amazon Purchase Link for Cloud Whispers: https://goo.gl/N9aC38

Amazon Purchase Link for Nora’s Promise: https://tinyurl.com/y7vqz3t9

Amazon Purchase Link for The Perfect Lap: https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Lap-Racing-Serenity-Romance-ebook/dp/B07R92KSFX

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Sedona Hutton will be awarding a $30 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway ”