i would say that it felt like insta love, and I wish we had more of a focus on developing the romance and characters. the slight disconnect might be partly because it was in third person so we weren't inside of the characters' heads seeing how they felt about each other so their relationship seemed to develop very quickly. you could tell that they both really cared about eachother though which i did love. because of this I struggled through this one.

3.5 stars!
this was my first racing book ive ever read and i did enjoy it! i would say that it felt like insta love, and I wish we had more of a focus on developing the romance and characters. the slight disconnect might be partly because it was in third person so we weren't inside of the characters' heads seeing how they felt about each other so their relationship seemed to develop very quickly. you could tell that they both really cared about eachother though which i did love. i also liked all the different relationships in this book as they all felt very raw and realistic. i also LOVED the wedding part of the story as the chemistry was so good and jus seeing all the different relationships and characters was very refreshing. but overall i did enjoy it and i would recommend it.

I enjoyed the part of the book set in Scotland and would've loved if the majority of the book was set over that wedding.

All the characters seem like caricatures rather than fleshed out characters. I don't feel like we got to know any of the characters on a deep level, which meant I wasn't connect to them so didn't care what happened to them.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for allowing me to read the book in exchange for an honest review.

I was given an opportunity to read and review “Racing Heart” by Darci St. John. Jordan, whose life is drastically changed after a career-altering race car accident, is traveling to Scotland for his sister’s wedding when he runs into (pun intended) Pearl. Our heroine is reeling from her own familial discoveries and when Jordan asks her to be his date in his sister’s wedding, she readily agrees. What follows is a sweet journey of pivotal growth for both main characters.

Apparently, “Racing Hart” is the second in a series that I didn’t discover about until I was halfway through the book. You don’t need to read the books in order, though the background information on Jordan’s family might have helped. I also admit that I am not a fan of race car driving but fortunately, this book doesn’t dwell so much on that as it does on the blooming relationship between Jordan and Pearl.

This was a quick read but still enjoyable. I would recommend to romance fans, especially those looking for something slightly different.

Thanks to the author, NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book.

Thank you for NetGalley and Darci for the ARC.

When I say I struggled through this book, I really meant it. I tried so hard to connect with this story I felt like I was going everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
There was so much going on and to much focus on side plots that were happening and a lack of on character development to really feel the characters stories.

I enjoy reading a sports romance that is not hockey, baseball, or football (boooringg!). While this was a cute read, I had trouble connecting to the characters. I don't know, I guess they just weren't written well. The story as a whole was good though.

I sure as hell, like it is said about Mia, enjoy all things Scottish. And the cherry on top to this book was that it combined two proffessions I love: race driver and writer.
The books was light, funny, packed with fluffines and honestly very easy to read. I went through the first quarter while doing my skincare. Second quarter I did while packing and just had to seat down and buckle up for the second half.
It was worth it giving it the pole position of my digital TBR list.

As a huge sport romance fan, I wanted to like this book. It had the elements needed for a great book, but I didn't enjoy it. I found it hard to connect with the characters. I think I felt this way because the characters just were not developed enough.

The plot was not well structured. There wasn't any consistency with the writing. It felt almost jumbled together. Lots of great pieces, but the puzzle wasn't put together properly, so it was hard to stay engaged.
I also think it's important to mention that I often felt distracted by secondary plots with minor characters. It just wasn't melded together properly.

I do think this book has the potential to be great if edited again to add more character development and if the plot is structured a bit better.

I do think the author tried to shed some light on the trauma associated with grief, but it didn't quite come through appropriately.

thank you netgalley for the ARC! at times this book felt silly and then would randomly get very serious/deal with a very serious topic? also im not one to say every book i read needs to be realistic--most truly are not. but the insta-love and insta-trust in this random man was truly so unrealistic i couldn't get past it. i had fun reading it but definitely not my favorite

Racing Heart by Darci St. John is a light, enjoyable read with a cute setting and an opposites-attract romance. The story follows Jordan Rubie, a race car driver recovering from a serious crash, and Pearl, an advice columnist. Their spontaneous road trip through the Welsh countryside to a Scottish castle wedding provides a picturesque backdrop for their developing relationship.

While I enjoyed the story, some parts were somewhat predictable, and the character development could be deeper.

Overall, Racing Heart is a fun read for those who enjoy contemporary romance.

ive never been a racing car fan. and so ive pushed myself to read a few romances surrounding that world to put me out my comfort zone. and turns out a good book telling can be about anything and lure you right into it. this book was just as good as the others ive read on the theme. its love, its chemistry and its so sweet.
the two characters had me rooting for them and i loved how they met and then their journey going forward. they were both needing something and healing from something. turns out they could also be needing each other too. the story had a lovely feel and pace to it. and i felt like i was right their amongst them and the side characters. i do love a series where we get to learn about a whole group of people and then their own stories come to the front in their own time. i always think how sad ill be when one ends and dont like it. but then im quickly in love with the next set of stories we are given and that for me is the true sign of a good series, book and characters. because you fall in love all over again with the new couple. but still hold a place in your romance heart for the others and think fondly of them all the way through. this book and series definitely has the potential to be that.
i always then find it interesting to read others who read it and see how we all have our different favorites or swoon moments.

I'm not sure what I was expecting going into this book. After Mia's story in book one, I wasn't the biggest fan of Jordan. This book picks up after the events of book one. Jordan is on his way to his sister's wedding and meets Pearl. Pearl has her own family drama unfolding. The two find a fun respite from their problems in each other.

As I said, I didn't really care for Jordan going into this book, but he definitely has strong character redemption. His character has to face the consequences of his own actions and learn from them. He also faces old traumas. It was such a pleasure seeing how his story unfolded and how Pearl steadfastly stood by him.

I found myself laughing out loud while reading this.... the sheep, Di/Top, and all the other comedic breaks really tied this novel together. It manages to tackle deeply emotional topics while providing an enjoyable read. I do wish it had more racing in it, but understand this wasn't as possible with Jordan's story.

Racing Heart by Darci St. John
⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was pure serotonin. It’s the kind of romance that combines chaos, chemistry, and charm in just the right balance (like an espresso martini you didn’t know you needed.)

Jordan Rubie, a recently sidelined race car driver with a bruised ego and a broken past, crosses paths with Pearl Carrington, an advice columnist whose life gets flipped upside down (literally) after a bombshell family reveal and a stumble across a beach. What follows is a road trip filled with banter, accidental vulnerability, shared flasks, chaotic relatives, and a destination wedding in a literal Scottish castle.

Pearl and Jordan’s chemistry jumps off the page. Their conversations are snappy and flirtatious without losing emotional depth, and I found myself grinning through many of their exchanges. Both characters are flawed in a deeply human way, Jordan’s guilt and Pearl’s identity crisis are written with nuance, and I appreciated that their connection didn’t magically “fix” anything but made space for healing.

Personal note: I’m not usually a fan of third-person present or this particular narrative POV (it tends to pull me out of the story) but I know that’s a stylistic preference, and many readers love this type of perspective. For those who do, it’s done really well here, with clear emotional insight and a distinct voice for each lead.

The settings (beach huts, countryside drives, castle stays) feel cinematic and cozy, and the supporting characters (especially Pearl’s eccentric family) add just the right amount of extra. There’s depth, hilarity, and tenderness in equal measure.

Recommended for fans of: grumpy x sunshine, road trip romance, complicated families, character-driven slow burns with heart, and anyone who loves a good “we definitely shouldn’t be doing this but we are” kiss.

Recommended for readers who enjoy:
- The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary
- Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
- The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams

Content warnings: grief and loss, past injury/accident, alcohol use, complicated family dynamics

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

A heartwarming romance with charming characters and just the right amount of emotional depth. Overall great book and highly recommend

I loved Racing Heart. The character growth that Jordan had from the first book (Crash Into Me) was great and much needed. I thought the meet cute in the beginning of the book was perfect and enjoyed the whirlwind of going to the wedding together. I liked Pearl’s character a lot, I found her to be relatable even with her crazy family story. If there is a third book, I will definitely read it!
Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

2.5 stars for me, rounded up to 3 since we can't give half stars.
I wanted to love this book. It had the elements needed for a great book, but I didn't enjoy it.
I found it hard to connect with the characters. I think I felt this way because the characters just were not developed enough.
The plot was not well structured. There wasn't any consistency with the writing. It felt almost jumbled together. Lots of great pieces, but the puzzle wasn't put together properly, so it was hard to stay engaged.
I also think it's important to mention that I often felt distracted by secondary plots with minor characters. It just wasn't melded together properly.
I do think this book has the potential to be great if edited again to add more character development and if the plot is structured a bit better.
I had a pretty hard time not DNF'ing about halfway through, but held on until the end.
I do think the author tried to shed some light on the trauma associated with grief, but it didn't quite come through appropriately.
Just my opinion. Again, I think there is real potential here, its just not there yet.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Happy Reading!

Darci St. John's Racing Heart is an exhilarating romance that pulses with emotion and energy from the first page. The characters are vividly drawn, and their chemistry leaps off the page, making it impossible to put down. With just the right blend of tension, heart, and triumph, it's a feel-good read that leaves you smiling.

⭐️ 2.75

It's hard for me to not particularly like a motorsports/F1 romance, but this came close.

Racing Heart follows disgraced race car driver Jordan and advice columnist Pearl after they literally run into each other on a beach in England. Jordan invites Pearl as his plus one to his sister's wedding and they quickly realize their feelings for each other.

The story was honestly super cute, but it was a bit too insta-lovey for me personally and I couldn't look past it.

What I liked: I obviously loved the motorsports aspect of the story! And like I said, it was a cute (and at times sad) story

Who I would recommend this book to: Someone who's like me and will read any F1/motorsports romance...but that's probably it lol

That being said, the first book in the series is on my TBR list. Will I go back and read it? ...Yes 😂

As a huge F1 fan, I wanted to like this book. It had all the premises for me to be somenthing I would enjoy, but the story didn’t really come together for me. It felt a bit all over the place, and I couldn’t really get the characters. There wasn’t enough background or depth, so I didn’t fully understand their choices. Writing style was a huge problem for me. I'm so sorry because as I said I really wanted to like this one. Thank you so much to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early. I’m sharing my thoughts voluntarily and with genuine appreciation

I’ll read any racing romance, so I was excited to get an ARC of Racing Heart by Darci St. John. Jordan, an injured racer, meets Pearl on a beach right after her family drops some big drama. One wild night later, he invites her to his sister’s wedding—and she goes.

They’re a great match, more like life rafts than soulmates, and that worked for me. The romance felt real, even without a ton of swoony moments. My only issue was the soap opera-level drama around Pearl’s mom—it took me out of the story a bit.

Definitely curious to read book one next!