Before You (Choc Lit)

This was my first by Kathryn but it surely won't be my last! Great characters and a happy ending? What could be better.

Loved it! So fun getting a glimpse into the racing world in addition to watching the relationships unfold. I loved the added storyline of him finding where his brother fits into his life.

As a girlfriend of a Formula One and Nascar-Fan I was quite familiar with the topic. In my opinion Kathryn Freeman, the author, did a really good job with this book. While reading it I was drawn into the story of Aiden and his press officer Mel. There is this tension when Aiden is in a race. There are his struggles when it comes to his father, a very successful racing driver and multiple time worldchampion. Aidan, the womaniser, falls in love with his press officer, who is afraid of being hurt again. A mother who doesn't care about her eldest son and abandons her 10 year old son Tom, Aiden's half-brother. Suddenly, Aiden has to look after his brother, whom he left after his birth in order to turn the back on his unloving mother - midway through the racing season.

I'm a bit book hangover now as always when I finish a really good book.

Before You, (Choc Lit),  Kathryn Freeman
 
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:  Romance, 
 
I’ve read and enjoyed several books from Choc Lit now, it seems what they publish almost always suits what I want to read – that makes choosing so much easier :-) This one proved a hit too.
 
Mel was a great lead – I really liked her. She’d been through a lot with her parents both dying when she was just 18, she’d not got any other family, but instead of curling up and giving in she pulled herself through and has been working as PR rep for Delta. After dating a top racing driver and finding he was a jerk, catching him cheating on her, she’s vowed to stay well away from any in future. Her heart won’t stand the stress.
 Then she meets Aiden when he comes to Delta and – well, he’s all she’s come to expect from racing drivers but still she can’t help being attracted.

Aiden is used to just instant gratification – the ladies throw themselves at him, he doesn’t have to do anything, but when he meets Mel somehow she’s different. She makes it clear she’s not interested, that he’s just a manwhore, typical of the racing set, and it makes him  look at himself. He doesn’t like the image Mel has of him, and he’s intrigued by her more and more as they have contact through work. Of course sooner or later things go bang and when they get together its sensational. He wants more but Mel announces it was a mistake and she just wants to be friends. She’s got to him now though and he tries hard to show her he’s changed.
 
Of course he has issues too, living up to his world famous racing driver father, and now he’s racing for the same team the hype and questions are endless. The view the media and public have of their relationship though isn’t the real one. He died when Aiden was very young and his treatment and basic neglect of Aiden left him feeling angry at him, but he works hard at keeping his true feelings hidden while relating the usual spiel about their relationship. It’s all pressure in a year he doesn’t need it and then...well, something further happens that adds to that pressure, that causes problems but also bring him and Mel closer. Can he break through and persuade her that they can be together, can he still win the championship or will it all collapse.

Overall its a fun romance, enough drama and plots to kkeep me reading and intersted roght to the end. Felt very real, I know nothing about racing but was “there” with them, and enjoyed that Aiden wasn't automatically the winner in each race, that things went wrong, he made mistakes, that Mel struggled with her feelings for him fighting the conflict of her vow to keep away from racing drivers, especially those who play the field so openly as he does. I like to feel there's a chance they won't make it togheher even though I know they will come through ;-)  

Stars: Five, a real fun read.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publisher

I thoroughly enjoyed this book despite not being a racing fan! The author brought to life a world I knew very little about and drew me in with the exotic locations that were so much a part of the story. An extremely handsome, charming hero with emotional baggage from his difficult childhood, I fell more than a little in love with Aiden. Melanie has sworn off becoming involved with any of the drivers she works with after being humiliated by her ex-boyfriend, another champion driver. But the couple are drawn together by more than their obvious physical attraction when Aiden’s kid brother comes on the scene and their desire to help him becomes a part of their own emotional journey.

A great view of a car racing schedule and the strains on both the individual and a potential relationship. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and it was written so the reader wanted to keep at it until the end. Total engrossing and a perfect read! Thank you for the opportunity to have read this book before the official release!

A Formulae One racing season is not the usual backdrop to a romantic novel, but in Before You, it works perfectly by adding tension, an enormous legacy and seemingly insurmountable barriers both emotionally and physically for Aiden Foster, racing driver, and Melanie Hunt, the Delta Team’s press officer, to overcome if their relationship is to stand a chance.

Both have unknowingly built protective walls around their hearts, and both have to learn how to take them down. Luckily they can learn from each other and the reader is with them every step of the way.

This is a peep behind the curtain of the public image of Formula One, where we get to learn about the nomadic lifestyle of a racing team, where work colleagues become closer than family and all types of tensions run high…and I’m not necessarily talking about who is going to win a race.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes contemporary romance and a peep into a world we rarely get to see.

I follow F1 so was familiar with the car talk, the romance was an added bonus. This is a well written book but the cover in my opinion needs a little oomphing up a bit, I don't know if its the font that doesn't quite draw my eye to the cover or not. Its a shame as the content really is quite good.

Melanie has been through a a lot and she is finally getting over a relationship that cut her deep. She is not dating and its not on her radar and she is ready to take her job as a publicists for the best racing team to the max and show the newest racer life can be great with them. Aiden is following in his dad's footsteps or at least thats what everyone keeps asking him. To Aiden he is doing what he loves and enjoying life. When life hands him a bunch of distractions he wonders if he could balance it all and win a championship and find the girl of his dreams or will he loose it all?
This book was all about racing and the lifestyle that seems to follow it. The book was a fun read and keeps you drawn in wanting to know whats going to happen and the craziness thats just around the corner. I loved the chemistry in the book between Mel and Aiden and the love from Frank and Nancy to Melanie. I really enjoyed the bond between Aiden and Tom, the relationships built in this book was and seemed very genuine and it was very enjoyable it truly felt like it was all playing out in front of you and not in a book. This book is so worth the read. The book does contain some adult language so it may not appeal to all readers.

I always jump for joy when a new Choc Lit title appears and, as always, I wasn't disappointed. Kathryn is obviously a lover of F1, as am I, and I loved this book set against a season in the racing calendar.

Poor Melanie is the press officer for Delta Racing and has been hurt by a previous relationship with a driver. But she can't deny her attraction to the handsome and charming Aiden Foster, the new driver with Delta. And fears to get involved because of her past experience.

Aiden is carrying the burden of a father, 5 times F1World Champion, a sad childhood and the resentment that goes with all that. The saying that resentment is like buying poison and then drinking it oneself really applies to him!

But Mel can see through the veneer of his charm and realises he hurts. When he realises this, it in turn attracts Aiden to Mel. They are so tentative around each other, I felt like knocking their heads together! When more problems with Aiden's family rear their ugly heads, Mel is there to help and support. And Tom is one of the best characters I've come across - Kathryn has got him spot on 😊

Throughout the book, Kathryn builds the tension brilliantly. Both on the race track and off. It's a real "Will they, won't they?" And "Will he, won't he?" story!

Lovely main characters that are strong and believable. And a host of friends, team members and relatives that add to the story so well.

A champion book!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What do you do when your a professional race care driver and everyone compares you to your father who died when you were really young? Aiden I felt sorry for him but then there are times I wanted to just yell at him! Mel his press officer and has a crush on Aiden but knows his type well she think she does. Should Aiden confide to Mel? Should Mel put her boards down for Aiden? Drama, little suspense. Great romance novel ! Loved the ending! 5/5 I reviewed this for a unbiased review

Before you is a fun read that I enjoyed very much. The story and characters were enjoyable. I loved the characters and the relationship between the two main characters.

I whizzed through this life-affirming book. It has all the elements of a good love story, and I really liked the way each of the characters moved forward, tacking their own demons and affecting each other in unexpected ways. I know almost nothing about motor racing, and found the details of the sport, and life on the road, fascinating. The vivid descriptions of the grand prix locations were hugely enjoyable too and I was gripped by the race scenes. All of these details were integral to the story, so there was no sense of being deluged with technical information. Everything just moved the plot forward, whilst providing extra interest. All in all, it was a great, involving read, with a thoroughly uplifting ending.

I should probably mention before I get into the review proper that I am a huge romance book fan in addition to being a massive Formula 1 fan, and so to have them combined in the way they have in this book has been brilliant for me.

This is one those books that really resonated with me on a few levels, partly due to my love of Formula 1 and sexy racing drivers are always a bonus, partly due to trying to move into a publicity role myself, so could understand elements of Melanie's job, and also because like Aiden I don't have the best of relationships with my mother.

In fact its the range of depth to Aiden's personality that really impressed me, for the press he is charming, giving light hearted answers, but in private he is a loving man, who is finding himself very attracted to Melanie, his press officer. His family issues that he jokes about on the surface run deeper than you may expect but as he gets to know Mel more, you can get the feel of his life.

The level of realism in this story from the racing point of view, is brilliant, at a guess I would say based on various references as an amalgam of elements from the 2013-15 seasons, since there was a reference to the quieter engines, and the tracks were mention in all their glory, as well as the destinations, even if you don't really get to see those, as its not really a holiday.

Melanie has been burnt before by a relationship with a driver so she is determined to hold Aidan at arm's length, while he is attempting to win a world championship, and hopefully start to lessen the comparisons between his and his father's racing careers.

There is a clear chemistry between Melanie and Aiden which is great to see and read about, given at one point they seem to want to drive each other crazy. And their feelings deepen when Aiden gets some phone calls that will produce more distractions in this critical season for him.

I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of Before You, and found it to be a fast adrenalin filled story that any F1 fan would love. Even if you aren't keen on motor sport, there is still plenty of great story in this book, to keep you entertained. This is the second book I have read by this author and is definitely my favourite by far, will definitely have to look out for more future releases by Kathryn Freeman.

Thank you to Choc Lit and Netgalley for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.

Great story. I loved the plot and the characters. Perfect holiday read.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading Before You by Kathryn Freeman. It's the first time I've read story that is set in the world of Formula 1 racing and it was well researched and staged. The characters Mel and Aiden are dimensional and interesting and very likeable.
An excellent summer read.

I give this book 5/5 stars. Let me tell you why.

This book follows the story of Melanie Hunt, a press officer for one of the F1's team Delta, She has to deal with nosy journalists and all but she finds herself pulled out of her comfort zone when the newest racer of the team, Aiden Foster, son of F1 Legend, Seb Foster, joins. Both Melanie and Aiden have been through their own amount of bad things but they somehow end up being exactly what eachother need.

I must say I am really surprised of how this book went out. As a F1 fan myself, I kinda knew a bit of the racer talk, but instead of having like loads of of technicalities (and I think it still was the fair amount, so maybe if someone not very familiar with it reads the book, they wouldn't feel it overwhelming) you find yourself into the races, travelling all around the world with the Delta team, wanting them to win but most of all, see Mel and Aiden work it out.

I think both of them are really well written, there were sometimes where I wanted to slap Mel so she could pull her stuff together, but it was real as well, when you've been hurt once, you don't actually want to venture again in a relationship. Aiden, on the other hand, I don't think I could be in his shoes, constantly compared to his father and what he did as a F1 driver.

The rest of characters, like some Delta crew members, Mel's best friend and Tom, Aiden's little brother are fantastic companions. There is enough amount of angst and enough amount of laughs and I think this book is a good choice if you want a perfect balance.

Melanie’s been burned before and she’s not looking for a repeat performance. Her job dealing with publicity for the Delta racing team puts her in close contact with some of the hottest, most intense and death defying, danger loving men around. And while the newest team driver might be charming, sexy and pull on her emotions a bit – she’s not going down that road with another driver ever again.

Aiden is chasing an elusive dream. He needs a Formula One Championship. He’s lived in the shadow of his legendary father his entire racing career and if he is to ever get out from under that legacy he has to focus and win. Yet it seems Fate has other plans.

Even though it’s the last thing she wants to do, Melanie finds herself pulled into Aiden’s life. She really doesn’t want to get to know the man behind the public face, the one who makes jokes at his own expense, the one with the look in his eye that says all is far from fine. But the attraction is there and it won’t be denied much longer – hard to hide from anyone in the enclosed world of a racing team during the season.

Aiden has long fought issues and when a young boy is tossed carelessly into his world, Aiden has to make decisions – really hard decisions. The kind that could give him everything he ever wanted off the track, but cost him everything he’s fought for on the track.

Before You is such a well researched, well defined story, one that will put you right in the middle of a Formula One racing team and you’d best hold on tight. Now, full disclosure here, I am a NASCAR girl – born, bred and probably will be until my dying day – but I’m not a racing snob, I’ve enjoyed Formula One very much over the years. Each sport has its own unique intensity and draw. Truth is if it has four wheels, an engine and runs around an oval or a winding road – I’ll watch it and love every adrenaline filled moment. I’ve followed many racing dynasties over the years, and there is nothing like watching a legend’s son (or daughter) move up the ranks getting nearer to dad every race.

Kathryn Freeman created a familiar world and added to it. Aiden is fighting demons and rarely wins against the memories and the legacy that he can never match. His mother is a piece of crap who shouldn’t be allowed to have children – and she’s not done with her shenanigans. With Melanie he has something different to fight for, something that will outlast any championship – he has a woman who would stand at his side through thick and thin. While there were moments when I wanted to shake a bit of sense into each of them, their story is rich in emotions, vivid in the depiction of the craziness of a racing team and heartwarming in showing two people what truly matters in life. Their love.

An intense, believable glimpse into a world most of us will never see, Before You is one of those stories that will draw you in and have you wrapped up tight in the characters’ lives. This is one of those stories that should be on your reading list.

*I received an e-ARC of Before You from the publisher, Choc Lit and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

Yay! Another summer read to add to your pile if you like romance with a good bit of story attached. Before You by Kathryn Freeman is perfect for reading at the beach or the park or perhaps on your deck or patio with a nice beverage of your choosing.

Melanie Hunt is a publicist with Delta, a formula one racing team. Aiden Foster is their new driver, coming over from another team to join the one his father drove for years earlier. His goal is to finally win a championship; hers is to stay as far away from him as possible since her last romance, which ended with her broken heart, was with a handsome driver and she believes that Aiden is cut from the same cloth.

This is the second book I've read from the Choc Lit publishing team and it won't be the last. They seem to understand that readers want an interesting story attached to the romance and not just angst with some kissing, etc. thrown in.

In fact, I am not a race car fan by any means (please do not hate me oh-so-many Nascar and racing fans out there), but I found Freeman's knowledge of the sport and obvious research intriguing. It was completely refreshing to read a romance by an author who had spent time learning about the world she was going to write about and then brought it to life for her readers.

The characters were all plausible, too, which is again refreshing. Just when it seems that Melanie might be going off the deep end emotionally, Freeman reels her back in and Melanie chides herself for her reaction, which, as a reader, I like because there are too many romance heroines who seem to sulk at the slightest provocation without demonstrating any self-awareness.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Makes such a nice change to read a book set in a different setting to the norm and this was a treat from start to finish!

The world of F1 racing has always been a male dominated sport, something Melanie Hunt knows too well as a female press officer and having to deal with the egos and attitudes of all those involved in the sport. But she's learnt to stand up for herself and always does her best not to get involved. But there seems to be something different with the new Delta team driver, Aiden Foster, and she soon struggles to separate business from pleasure.

Aiden has always been around F1 as his father was a World Champion so he has always had to live up to the comparisons, so he's built up a hard exterior to deal with the constant attention and he seems to love to play up to his image as a playboy and joker. But you also get the impression that there is more to him than meets the eye and maybe this 'jack the lad' exterior is hiding some hidden feelings.

I loved the banter in this book between Aiden and Mel. She doesn't seem to behave like a lot of the females he encounters as the races travel round the world and he seems to have met his match with Mel, and it becomes so obvious that they are meant to be together, especially as they have sadness in their past that seems to bring them together. But they are both scared of taking things further and there always seems to be something in the way or their own fears that stop them fully admitting to themselves how they really feel

Aiden is aware of letting things distract him from his focus of winning races, and this is really put to the test when family problems arise and once again Mel seems to be there to make him see what is important in his life and get past the reputation that he has built up over the years.
Really loved reading this book as it seemed to have everything from romance, to overcoming the past and to the thrill of life on the F1 scene. Enjoyed every single page!!

Really loved this book. I enjoyed the chemistry that went between Mel and Aiden. They both had childhood problems and worked through them together. I'd never read a book about F1 racing before. But can honestly say that I loved it. I also loved the way the secondary characters were blended into the story, including young Tom - Aiden's little brother. This was one novel I would highly recommend.

Aiden was definitely an interesting character, it as gratifying to see how he changed over the course of the book. And Melanie was lovely. Honestly, they both changed for the better as their relationship evolved. The character development was done well and it added depth to the story that made it feel worthwhile as well as enjoyable.