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A review by kzimm2024
A Grand Race by Ellen O'Connell
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.”