Review: Racing Hearts by Ann Adams
Thank you Dell Romance for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
I was intrigued by this book from the description and cover the moment I saw them. I grew up with a dad who rowed crew seriously so I knew a lot about the sport and I was excited for a female perspective on the sport! The cover looks sweet and spicy, and while the romance definitely had those elements, it’s a story that delves deep into sport psychology. forgiveness, and intuition.
Synopsis:
“Katherine Parker doesn’t just dream of rowing in the Olympics. She has a carefully crafted plan. With a strict training schedule, a meticulous diet, and no one else in her boat to slow her down, she’s as good as gold.
Then her boyfriend breaks up with her at the starting line of a big race and Kath comes in dead last. She’s swiftly kicked off the team and out of the Olympic Training Center—the only place she’s ever felt at home.
With one shot to win back her spot, Kath returns to her hometown to train with a new coach. The upside? Coach Adrian is hot. The downside? Instead of letting Kath follow her own training regimen, Adrian pushes her outside her comfort zone, urging her to try new things and let go of control.
With her Olympic dreams on the line, Kath will have to choose: stick to her perfect plan, or find out if the key to winning—and happiness—is to embrace the part of rowing that makes it fun, one sweaty, sexy training session at a time.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Romance Stakes—I liked this take an the athlete/coach dynamic. There was constant discussion on consent and what they were to each other professionally. It kept things from inching forward inappropriate to me.
The Discussion of Mental Health—It SO SO important for athletes to have a team around them that they trust but also that don’t let them hide how they’re really feeling. I liked that aspect of the story a lot.
The Writing—I found the description of the sport of rowing to be engaging and fascinating. It’s not easy to keep a reader interested but I thought Adams did a great job with making things accessible and picturesque.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
The Pacing—Things felt a little slow at points for me and it made it tough to hold my attention.
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 2/5 Overall Rating: 3.75/5
Content Warnings:
death of a parent, discussion of food + calorie consumption, injury