Reviews

Hot Finish by Erin McCarthy

riskyduck's review against another edition

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2.0

By the end I felt unsatisfied and harassed. Which was sad, because I was looking forward to this book. The story revolves around 2 people who fell out of a marriage and somehow manage to get it back. Yet they are constantly miscommunicating and bickering. It was all just so exhausting. Unfortunately, they are way too much like an average couple with big problems. Although, they do have some funny bantering before the hot sex-a-thon starts.

Suzanne's a guarded, tough gal with a uncontrollable barbed tongue. She spews harsh words for fear of being rejected first. It's a great character to start with, even one I can identify with, but she doesn't undergo growth. By the end, I'm not convinced she can hold onto her HEA.

Ryder's a simple guy. Too simple. His thoughts are, "Suze is hot. She's all I want. I love her. She is so gorgeous." There's a point where those sentiments start becoming boring. I kept feeling like we were getting the dumbed down version of what a woman believes goes on in a lovable jerk's head. Although, I did like Ryder a lot more than Suze. He put himself out there with words and feelings, and once he realized what he was doing wrong, actually set about rectifying it. Plus, he was often adorable when trying to win her over.

The level of conversation throughout is shallow. Then we get bland internal monologuing that pretty much always goes, "Why did I say that? I love him/her so much but I'm too afraid of being hurt so I'll just say mean things instead."

Suze and Ryder didn't identify things they liked about each other that felt genuine and non superficial. Although Suze did go on and on about how great Ryder is in bed.

Ugh, plus there was so much negative crap flying around, especially from the not so funny wedding plot.

Maybe I'll have more luck with another one of Erin's books, but this one just fell flat for me. :(

gypsybaby75's review against another edition

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Suzanne Jefferson is a struggling wedding planner trying to catch a break, Ryder Jefferson is an up and coming stock car driver who is still in love with his ex wife, actually he is still in love with his wife. It turns out that the divorce papers that Suzanne and Ryder signed and dated never reached the court, so when they meet two years later they flabbergasted and secretly thrilled because it turns out that they still have that spark between them and it can no longer be resisted.
Suzanne’s current client is a typical bridezilla whose best man is none other than Ryder Jefferson. Instant chemistry ignites between the two, but the old battles still remain inside the two of them. The problem? Communication, or lack there of. Suzanne always thought her marriage happened because of the unplanned pregnancy and when she miscarried it was a good enough excuse to skedalle from her feelings, years later she is staying away because she is not Ryder’s equal in the money making department.
Ryder’s deal? Expressing his feelings. Typical man trouble. Every time he tries, Suzanne doesn’t want to hear it or something interrupts their time together. To complicate matters, there is a blog that is written it seems to Suzanne expressly exploiting Ryder’s hotel romps by the name of Tuesday Talladega. Cool name huh? And just like a scorned woman, Suzanne believes what she reads on paper and not what she reads in Ryder’s body language. Ryder has been in love with Suzanne since he laid eyes on her, how can he convince her that he still loves her and wants to stay married?
The third in McCarthy’s Fast Track series, Hot Finish is a sizzling must read. If not for the steamy sex scenes alone, then for Ryder’s sincerity. True, Suzanne did seem to take up most of the book with her trust issues and the plot wasn’t all that great, the characters were still interesting enough to keep me turning pages.

McCarthy’s next in the Fast Track series, “The Chase” comes out in March of 2011 with Evan Monroe’s story.

scoutmomskf's review against another edition

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4.0

I enjoyed this book. Ryder and Suzanne were very volatile whenever they got together. They had remained friends after their divorce, but still had unresolved feelings for each other. When they discovered that they were still married, Ryder thought of it as a great opportunity to give their marriage a second chance. Unfortunately, while they were good together in bed, neither had learned how to actually communicate with the other. The whole book seemed to be about them wanting a life with the other, but not knowing how to get it. I was glad to see them work it out in the end. The secondary story of the wedding Suzanne was planning was pretty funny in places.

ive_colon's review against another edition

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3.0

Suzanne and Ryder Jefferson are divorcees (or so they thought) who are reacquainted when Suzanne is the wedding planner for a wedding Ryder is a part of. I liked it but didn't love it. I just couldn't get over the miscommunication and back and forth between the two. I was just ehhh with it. This was my first read with the series (yes I read it out of order) but will read book 1 and hope for a little more excitement. lol

ohhhellawho's review against another edition

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challenging tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I weirdly like this more than the other two because of the tension. Although they didn't really address their issues in this book, hence, the "no character development" choice on my end. I would have love  to see them be more honest. One thing that I noticed with the writer is that she doesn't develop the end a lot, probably because this is a series, and there's a final book that will tie everthing up. Because that's what I want. A clean and clear end for each of the couples. 

kat81's review against another edition

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3.0

I really enjoy the Fast Track series but Hot Finish is def my least favorite so far. There is just so much fighting and bitching going on and the H/h just don't talk to each other but expect the other to know what's going on - it was just so frustrating to read at some points that it made me wanna poke my eyes out! While I could understand where both, Ryder and Suz, were coming from I thought that the whole issues could have been easily resolved. I also didn't really buy the HEA since I don't feel like both learned a lot from the past, they seemed to make the same stupid mistakes until the end of the book.

faustin2nd's review against another edition

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3.0

To be honest, I didn't understand why Ryder & Suzanne didn't get together since the first book. It was so obvious these two weren't over each other.


I read the book because I just wanted to see them work it out, therefore I admit the raunchy bits weren't as interesting to me. I did, however, find Nikki & Jason's wedding shenanigans super amusing. I will keep reading the rest of the series just to find out if Nikki will at least change or if Jason will run out of there like he was meant to the moment Nikki got her hands on him...but this is Romance-land, they might work it out.

kitcat95's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

sandylovesbooks's review against another edition

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4.0

3rd in a series. Just as good as the others.

mags_louise's review against another edition

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4.0

Hot Finish is another great read in the Fast Track series, and I did love Suzanne and Ryder. But to be fair, they did annoy me towards the end just because it's so obvious they love each other yet, just don't say anything and unfortunately by that point it's a bit of a recurring theme. But it is an entertaining read as the pair are fiery when they get together both in and out of the bedroom. And if it wasn't for the horrid Nikki and her wedding I would of rated this story higher.