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kzimm2024's review
4.0
4.25- its still a good story and very interesting! It just doesn't have the depth that Cal & Norahs story did. I love the auto aspect, and the traveling across the US in such rough times was a fun read. I like cars so that may have something to do with it.
Jamie and Caro- lovers, and I mean lovers, when she was 19. She got shipped off to Europe and I do not know why the tainted woman that scarred many a girl never got attached to her. Maybe since she didn't end up pregnant, the family could cover up the scandal. Anyway, it suits this stories purposes.
Caro and Percy, her cousin, embark on this race from St. Louis to Denver and of course, mayhem happens:
"If she shouted a complaint, and if Percy even heard her over the sound of engine, wheels, and wind, he’d tell her to be grateful for the superior craftsmanship that had gone into the vehicle and its door latches, and if he did that, she’d beat him over the head with that small valise and precipitate an accident that would kill them all."
Percy ends up crashing and along comes Jamie:
"An hour in Caro’s company was an unexpected gift and more than enough time to remind him why he had avoided her for the past six years and needed to continue doing so for the next sixty."
They find time to reflect on how their relationship ended and I thought this was interesting, Caroline's introspection:
"Maybe she would have begged him anyway if she’d never heard his ideas about how people trapped themselves in poverty. They married with grand hopes—and then the babies came, or illness, or injury. The time to get ahead was before taking on those responsibilities, and he had wanted desperately to get ahead."
-----------
"Caroline stared at the checkerboard of fields passing by. She had expected him to be furious, but except for a little yelling through the door at the barber’s, his usual good nature had prevailed. She had forgotten that about him, how fast his temper disappeared, how he never carried grudges."
And of course some banter:
“Sure you are, but for now sit by the fire. Once you warm up you won’t need to smother yourself like that.”
“There’s nothing to sit on.”
“That’s why the Lord put extra padding on your backside, darling. Sit on that.”
If looks could kill, he’d be a hundred times dead and moldering in the grave, but she sat.
------------
He opened his eyes and rolled his head toward her. “A man’s pride can be a selfish thing. I’m sorry I didn’t swallow mine.”
One of the conditions Jamie had to fulfill was to write a journal and Caroline took to that immediately:
“There is no kindly widow. Maura is doing all the nursing herself.”
“I know that, and you know that, but a kindly widow makes a better story.”
Jamie muttered, “Better story my arduous burden.”
Caroline pretended not to hear. If he wanted to criticize, he could speak more clearly.
They meet up with unsavory sorts of men along the way:
“Doesn’t your hand hurt?”
“Like fire, but I could hit him with the other one.”
“Or you could kick him. We could both go back and kick him a few times.”
So much for worrying he had frightened her or that she would be afraid of him after seeing that bit of violence.
I was surprised by the reaction from bother hers and his family, and they were too. So they ran off for their own HEA:
"You’re mine now, Mrs. Lenahan, and no one can take you away again.”
At his words all Caroline’s reserve dissolved too. She pressed her forehead against his shoulder.
“You’re mine now too, Mr. Lenahan, and I love you.”
Jamie and Caro- lovers, and I mean lovers, when she was 19. She got shipped off to Europe and I do not know why the tainted woman that scarred many a girl never got attached to her. Maybe since she didn't end up pregnant, the family could cover up the scandal. Anyway, it suits this stories purposes.
Caro and Percy, her cousin, embark on this race from St. Louis to Denver and of course, mayhem happens:
"If she shouted a complaint, and if Percy even heard her over the sound of engine, wheels, and wind, he’d tell her to be grateful for the superior craftsmanship that had gone into the vehicle and its door latches, and if he did that, she’d beat him over the head with that small valise and precipitate an accident that would kill them all."
Percy ends up crashing and along comes Jamie:
"An hour in Caro’s company was an unexpected gift and more than enough time to remind him why he had avoided her for the past six years and needed to continue doing so for the next sixty."
They find time to reflect on how their relationship ended and I thought this was interesting, Caroline's introspection:
"Maybe she would have begged him anyway if she’d never heard his ideas about how people trapped themselves in poverty. They married with grand hopes—and then the babies came, or illness, or injury. The time to get ahead was before taking on those responsibilities, and he had wanted desperately to get ahead."
-----------
"Caroline stared at the checkerboard of fields passing by. She had expected him to be furious, but except for a little yelling through the door at the barber’s, his usual good nature had prevailed. She had forgotten that about him, how fast his temper disappeared, how he never carried grudges."
And of course some banter:
“Sure you are, but for now sit by the fire. Once you warm up you won’t need to smother yourself like that.”
“There’s nothing to sit on.”
“That’s why the Lord put extra padding on your backside, darling. Sit on that.”
If looks could kill, he’d be a hundred times dead and moldering in the grave, but she sat.
------------
He opened his eyes and rolled his head toward her. “A man’s pride can be a selfish thing. I’m sorry I didn’t swallow mine.”
One of the conditions Jamie had to fulfill was to write a journal and Caroline took to that immediately:
“There is no kindly widow. Maura is doing all the nursing herself.”
“I know that, and you know that, but a kindly widow makes a better story.”
Jamie muttered, “Better story my arduous burden.”
Caroline pretended not to hear. If he wanted to criticize, he could speak more clearly.
They meet up with unsavory sorts of men along the way:
“Doesn’t your hand hurt?”
“Like fire, but I could hit him with the other one.”
“Or you could kick him. We could both go back and kick him a few times.”
So much for worrying he had frightened her or that she would be afraid of him after seeing that bit of violence.
I was surprised by the reaction from bother hers and his family, and they were too. So they ran off for their own HEA:
"You’re mine now, Mrs. Lenahan, and no one can take you away again.”
At his words all Caroline’s reserve dissolved too. She pressed her forehead against his shoulder.
“You’re mine now too, Mr. Lenahan, and I love you.”
inescapably's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
setaian's review
4.0
Many years earlier, Caroline and Jamie were deeply in love, but her parents opposed a marriage to an Irishman and bundled her off to Europe leaving her heartbroken and him bitter.
When she arrives in St Louis for the Great Plains Automobile Race, she fully expects to enjoy a breezy drive to Denver via Nebraska and Wyoming in her brother's Pierce-Arrow. She very quickly discovers that her brother's idea of breezy is closer to break-neck and even worse he won't let her drive.
Jamie joins the race but is less interested in winning than finishing in one piece and delivering the Franklin he is driving to its new owner in Denver. When he comes across the Pierce-Arrow crashed into a field he agrees to take Caroline to the next town and send help back.
As they continue the race, circumstances take over and they find themselves driving ever onward towards Denver. Within the race they form a partnership as they ford rivers, battle belligerent farmers and slowly begin to repair their own damaged relationship. But the real question is can a relationship they forge in the race survive their return reality.
Another great story from Ellen O'Connell. Well written period romance set in the early 20th century.
When she arrives in St Louis for the Great Plains Automobile Race, she fully expects to enjoy a breezy drive to Denver via Nebraska and Wyoming in her brother's Pierce-Arrow. She very quickly discovers that her brother's idea of breezy is closer to break-neck and even worse he won't let her drive.
Jamie joins the race but is less interested in winning than finishing in one piece and delivering the Franklin he is driving to its new owner in Denver. When he comes across the Pierce-Arrow crashed into a field he agrees to take Caroline to the next town and send help back.
As they continue the race, circumstances take over and they find themselves driving ever onward towards Denver. Within the race they form a partnership as they ford rivers, battle belligerent farmers and slowly begin to repair their own damaged relationship. But the real question is can a relationship they forge in the race survive their return reality.
Another great story from Ellen O'Connell. Well written period romance set in the early 20th century.
nelsonseye's review
4.0
This was a quick and fun read. While not as dramatic or involving as some of the author's other works, I still enjoyed it a lot. Part of that is definitely due to the fact that I was on my own road trip this past summer and could sympathize with the characters' experiences. But, I also genuinely liked Jamie and Caro, and I also liked how they discussed their problems/past. It was also great to see characters from previous books in the series; Cal and Norah are definitely among my favourite historical romance couples.
ela_35's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This book was fine but not much happened.
The plot was fine but not much happened and I was bored in some places.
There are some side characters but if any of them appear, it’s always in short scenes where they aren’t developed.
I still want to try other books by this author, but this series wasn’t for me as even though this series is called Sutton Family, the main characters never really interact with other characters.
aimee70807's review
5.0
The historical road race was very interesting and fun. The final romance quarter or so felt a little bit tacked on --- unusual for this author --- but not enough so to drop her below her usual five stars or drop her out of my favorite-author category. As always, I'm hungry for her next book as soon as I turn to the last page.
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