Fast Track

I enjoyed reading this book. Cordelia (Cordie) is a great MC. She’s smart, funny and direct. She’s also confident and has good self esteem. I was a bit hesitant to read this book as I don’t like unrequited love. Cordie has been in love with Aiden since she was a kid and he’s clueless. I didn’t want to read about her pining for him. Luckily, this was not the case. She decided to move on and not line for him anymore right from the beginning of the book and is a confident woman when interacting with him, giving him attitude when needed. Aiden is such a strong alpha male. I like their chemistry. My only minor gripe would be that there’s not that much of his POV. Mainly hers. The plot is interesting. Not a ton of action but enough to keep me interested. The chemistry between them is hot, sprinkled in with some tender moments.

Julie Garwood has another winner. Her characters come alive and make you feel like old friends. Her characters keep true to what you remember from previous books. Her stories always have interesting and exciting characters and you feel a range of emotions with some suspense mixed in. A must read!!!!

The story of Cordelia (Cordie), a popular high school chemistry teacher, and resort developer Aiden Madison was good. Cordie was raised by a loving father who led her believe her mother had died in a car accident when she was just a baby. While he lay dying, he revealed the truth, her mother had abandoned them both and was alive and well elsewhere. After the funeral, Cordie tells her friends the bombshell. Her friends include two FBI agents offer to locate the woman. Aiden is the one man she has had a crush on since she was in grade school, but she has decided to move on by moving back east. Unfortunately events put those plans on hold when her mother freaks out when she see Cordie and orders her bodyguards to kill Cordie in order to preserve her reputation An attempt on her life means Cordie is ensconced in Aiden's apartment. But are they safe from each other? They give into their feelings for each other. The bodyguards are eventually caught after further attempts are made. The guilty parties in Australia are also dealt with in a satisfactory manner. Our two friends finally admit their true feelings and have their happy ending. The only thing I didn't like was a large number of supporting characters that I was getting confused of who was who and what they were doing. Other than that it was good and other readers of Julie Garwood should enjoy it as would newcomers to her books.

I have followed J Garwood from Honor’s Splendor through her mysteries. She never disappoints. Although I think The Secret is my favorite.

Reading a Julie Garwood book is always a good time and sure to include an interesting plot with engaging characters. The women are strong and yet very feminine. The men are true alpha males with all of their prideful characteristics on display, and of course you love to read about them. This is just one more in a long line of hits for Ms Garwood. She is one of the best storytellers I’ve had the good fortune to read.

Originally Reviewed For: Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy It's that time of the year and for those of us who wait oh so patiently finally there is hope on the horizon. That's right it's time for Julie Garwood's Annual release. And this year it's a long awaited story. Yep it's time to hear the tale of Cordelia Kane and Aidan Madison... *tosses confetti and runs around screaming*.. Admit it all you Garwood fans, you have been waiting for this one too! Cordelia Kane was raised by her doting father. Her mother had died when she was a child and even though there was that lack, Cordy had a wonderful childhood. An adoring father and two fabulous best friends. Aside from a childhood crush on her best friend's brother that she never really quite outgrew.. life has been pretty darn good. Until her father dies and on his deathbed, rips the rug out from under her feet. Seems her mother isn't dead.. she just left! Aidan Madison is the oldest Madison sibling. Having held his family together he has become something of a workaholic. But he is also a loyal friend, a loving brother and a man of his word. When a corrupt Senator wants to renege on a deal.. he is perfectly fine with that. Not in renegotiating but in walking away. He gave his word and that should be enough on both sides. While he was trying to finagle the deal, Aidan learned about Cordy's father's death and insisted on being there for her. She was a part of his life and he took care of his family and friends. Only it seems that he felt more for Cordy than even he realized. Cordy and Aidan are off on an adventure.. dealing with an evil mother and a horrid family that Cordy is really lucky she never knew and a corrupt Senator should be enough for anyone. Only now they seem to finally be in the same place at the same time and the fire is scorching! I really enjoyed reading how Ms Garwood would bring Cordy and Aidan together. Laughing at poor Aidan's total cluelessness.. and cheering on Cordy as she attempts to get over him. If only Aidan would get with the new program!! As always the subplot of corruption and greed manages to bring the two closer together and not in any way distract from an excellent story! I just sigh thinking about this book! It will go towards the top of my Garwood Favorites! Shauni This review is based on the ARC of Fast Track, provided by NetGalley

This was my first Julie Garwood book and, overall, I really did enjoy it. The premise of the story follows a trio of girls who became friends at an early age and continued to be close into adulthood. Their lives are quite intertwined as you might expect and they remain an extended family of sorts, actually closer than many families are in reality. The main character Cordelia is raised by a lovingly devoted single father and led to believe all her life that her mother died when she was young. Upon her father's death, she learns differently. This creates the dilemma: find out what really happened to the mother or leave things as they have been? Cordelia is feeling out of sorts because everyone has someone important in their lives. She is an intelligent, capable young woman with a lifelong crush on one of her best friend's brothers, Aiden. She determines that she must move on from this crush and start fresh after her dad passes away. Honestly Aiden is really the biggest issue I have with the story. I like him but I don't feel like I understand him at all. He is a little bit older, but the fact that Cordelia has had a crush on him almost her entire life is never addressed. How could he not know that? I don't understand how all of a sudden his sister's best friend is suddenly someone he notices when he never did before? And why not? Aiden needed to be fleshed out a little bit more for me to give this a 5-star rating. There are a lot of sub plots that flow with the main storyline lines (Cordelia's mother and stale love life) which are necessary because there are just so many secondary characters. I don't agree with a lot of the criticism I see regarding these secondary characters. I believe they enhance the story and remind us in this day and age of technology how important friends can be. I don't think they slow the story or cause it to go off course. IMHO they add some flavor! Despite my issues with Aiden, I have to say it was a really well-written story and I absolutely loved it. However, it had the potential to be so much better though and the $10 price (coupled with my misgivings about hunky Aiden) left me wishing it had been the 5-star version.

Cordelia Kane joins her childhood friends Sophie and Regan in a delightful journey perfectly designed by author Julie Garwood. This novel is my favorite (so far) of the friends' adventures since their first meeting in kindergarten. Mystery, danger, romance and adventure also involve Aiden Hamilton Madison, Regan's brother, the head of Hamilton luxury Hotels. The characters are well developed and scenes are vivid. Such an excellent and interesting plot will make you feel like you are part of the action. You will enjoy this book; I recommend it highly and without reservation.