Hot Lap (Arkadia Fast),

by Leslie Scott

Publication: The Wild Rose Press, Inc (March 6, 2019)

hot lap

About the book:

Starting a new life isn’t easy when the skeletons locked in her closet are the notorious town drunk for a father and a haunted past. But, Hadley Morgan isn’t one to shy away from second chances or giving them either.

When a young, single father wrapped up in an octane fueled package takes particular interest in her, she begins to dream. But well-known drag racer Aiden Casey is also her boss, making her hesitate to grab at her chance at happiness.

Will her secrets shatter their chance at love or will his past come back to destroy both of them?

My Review

First of all, let me begin by apologizing to Leslie Scott for just now getting to this amazing, sexy, exciting, and romantic read! I was thrilled to read and review this for her, however, I am becoming more scatter-brained by the day as far as keeping up with my TBR and review dates!

Anyway, this book is about the ultra sexy, romantic, masculine specimen called Aiden and a little crush that develops between his employee/tenant/sister’s best friend, Hadley. Recently divorced Aiden has two adorable babies, Logan and Molly, as well as, emotional baggage from his ex-wife and the death of a friend. Hadley has spent a life of mostly turmoil, trying to re-invent herself separate from her alcoholic father that forever changed her life years ago. When one day, out of the blue, she gets up the nerve to be a bit flirty and Aiden flirts right back, things quickly change between the two of them. However, both of their pasts come back to haunt them and test how they really feel and how committed they truly are.

Never have I ever read a book of any genre that was about racing, specifically, street racing. Who knew that I would like it so much? So, I must say that the bulk of my enjoyment revolved around the main characters, their romance, challenges, etc. But damn if the racing parts weren’t exciting too! Unfortunately, I have not read The Finish Line, which was the first in this Arkadia series, nor had I read anything by Leslie Scott, but now I’m completely hooked.

Besides the excitement, drama, steamy scenes, and so forth – here is what I loved about this book… First and foremost, it was completely addictive from the first word to the last. I carried my iPad around while I was doing laundry and feeding the dogs because I could not put it down.

Secondly, for a fairly new author, Leslie Scott is a master of imagery. Whether it involved setting, characters, sights, sounds, smells, or anything in between, the author propelled me into the story making me feel as if I were there experiencing it all myself, rather than reading about it.

Lastly (though not really because I loved a million things), was the beautiful portrayal of the themes involving love, friendship, lack of judgment regarding our pasts and/or family, and most of all – family does not have to be genetic. We have the amazing opportunity to love and be loved by anyone, whether blood-related or not.

Hot Lap was beyond my expectations and I so regret not reading it earlier. Aiden, Hadley, their family, and their children will be on my mind for days. What a fabulous book!

*Thanks to Leslie Scott for providing this review copy in exchange for my honest review!

Purchase Hot Lap on Amazon!

About the Author

Leslie spends most days attempting to wrangle the voices in her head and often wishes she could clone herself so that their stories get told faster. She loves words, romance, and characters that feel like family and spends almost all of her free time with her own family; including a boisterous eleven-year-old that she homeschools and an assorted cast of rescue pets. She lives her own happily ever after with her soul mate and best friend in the northern part of Alabama and hopes you enjoy reading her stories as much as she enjoys writing them.

Leslie Scott on the internet:

Website: http://lesliescottromance.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/leslieSwrites

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lesliescottwrites/

Youtube Playlists: http://bit.ly/2O6IDea

Excerpts

I had to force my gaze out the window. Private conversations in a confined space with Aiden meant thinking way too much about how long it had been since I’d been intimate with anyone. Not to mention how nice the warmth of his hand had been on my skin. Even if the touch was fleeting.

“For almost sex, it wasn’t half bad.” I tried to make light of the situation and failed.

Aiden’s ocean colored gaze caught mine. Whatever good humor he’d had before had vanished. The air grew thick and hard to breathe as he looked right through me.

He stripped me bare. If he could do that with such ease, I was way out of my league. No man I’d ever met sent me reeling so easily.

“For almost sex, Hadley, I can do way better than that.”

“Oh, wow.” I swallowed a mouthful of air.

“All you have to do is say the word”—he wheeled the truck into what would now be my driveway—“and I’ll prove it to you.”

Aiden obliged me everything, letting me do as I wished. I gave to him, anything to erase the pain and worry etched on his face.

“Hadley.” When it was over, Aiden shook my tangled hair free from his fingers and pulled me close.

“Never”—he whispered in the dark, hands stroking my back—“have you been more beautiful to me than you are right now.”

“You can hardly see me,” I whispered, his breath warm against my mouth.

His gaze caught mine and held. The sorrow gone from his face. “I always see you.”