Flat-Out Sexy is flat-out fabulous with a To Die For beta hero who can more than rev a woman’s engines, he’ll make her fall in love.

I’m not into the whole NASCAR scene and I haven’t read any romances set against that backdrop of professional racing. After reading Flat-Out Sexy I seriously wondered if this is what I’ve been missing out on. However, that kind of thinking is not fair to Erin McCarthy who could have told this sexy, humorous, emotional story against any backdrop and sucked me in just the same.

When Tamara Briggs’ race car driver husband died in a race two years ago, she’s left with two children to raise by herself. She never intends to open herself up to that kind of pain and loss again but when she meets gorgeous rookie driver, Elec Monroe at a party, the attraction is mutual, instantaneous, and combustible.

Things between them get hot...fast. Too bad for Elec, Tamara isn’t looking for anything long term because he’s fallen for her hard. She balks when he meets her kids and wants to keep him at arm length…beyond the bedroom doors. Can he convince this gun-shy widow that his love is a risk worth taking?

What can I say about Elec except I absolutely loved him! He’s super sexy and sizzling hot. But even more appealing is the fact he’s a great guy. And not in the nice guy finishes last kind of way. No, not even remotely. He’s not afraid to put his feelings out there and not afraid to put it all on the line. He knows what he wants—one Tamara Briggs—and he goes after her.

A prime example of the caring side of Elec is when Tamara has to break a date with him because her kids come down with chicken pox. Yes, of course he was looking forward to a hot lovemaking session, but his main concern is for her and what he can do to make her day easier. With advice from his mother, he arrives on her doorstep unannounced with dinner and toys for the kids.

Now the impromptu visit to her house doesn’t go over super well with Tamara, but she sees what a natural he is with her kids, which scares her even more. He’s a race car driver. He puts his life on the line every time he climbs into his car. He’s also six years younger. He can probably have any woman he wants, including the woman he dated briefly who keeps sending nude pictures of herself to him on his cell phone. Tamara wonders why he wants her, a woman whose breasts and stomach have been through two pregnancies when he could have the kind of flawless perkiness of the woman he used to date.

Which leads perfectly into the reason I really loved Tamara. She is so genuinely ‘real’. While Elec sees the beauty in her—because she is beautiful—she sees her flaws. Watching her slowly lowering her guard as she begins to trust enough in Elec’s feelings for her, was emotionally moving. She’s an easy character to connect with.

Flat-Out Sexy is the first in Erin McCarthy’s Fast Track series and in this book we’re introduced to all the players in the next two books. Tamara is a sociology professor, and her teaching assistant and friend, Imogen Wilson lusts after Ty McCordle, who is another race car driver, currently dating probably the stupidest most vapid woman to ever grace the face of the earth. Scenes with Nikki speaking are high entertainment indeed. Imogen and Ty’s romance is featured in book two, titled Hard and Fast. I can tell you now, I read it and loved it!

Suzanne Jefferson is Tamara’s good friend and was once married to Ryder Jefferson, who is Ty and Elec’s friend and fellow race car driver. Suzanne and Ryder have been divorced for two years but you can tell there are many unresolved issues between them. Their book, Hot Finish, is the last in the series and I for one cannot wait to read their story.

If you love sexy, hot, fabulous contemporary romances, you need to pick up this book. Actually, I’d encourage you pick up Flat-Out Sexy even if you’ve never read one before. This would be a wonderful introduction to the genre, I guarantee. ;) ~ Beverley