Review: One Sweet Ride by Jaci Burton

Gray Preston was born into money, but he’s built his racing empire on hard work and muscle. And now that Gray has millions of fans, his senator father sends one of his aides, Evelyn Hill, to elicit Gray’s help in garnering votes for the upcoming national election. Gray wants nothing to do with his estranged father’s campaign, but Evelyn can be pretty persuasive. She’s willing to learn about racing, and maybe even get a little dirty.

Evelyn’s number-one goal is politics, which makes working with Gray difficult, because his only passion is fast cars. As she and Gray spend time together, he teaches her about the sport he loves, and she learns a lot about the man behind the wheel. The more she learns, the more she wants him. But any desire that threatens to derail the carefully laid plans for her future is a dangerous one.

With the passion Gray and Evelyn share running hotter than either imagined, one of them is going to have to compromise, or else run the risk of losing more than their hearts.

One Sweet Ride continues the Play by Play series Ms. Burton began with The Perfect Play.  This book, however, is the first not to feature a Riley as the hero or heroine.  There's a different feel to the story because of that, but it's still a typical Jaci Burton romance. 

Gray Preston and his father do not get along.  His father had one idea of Gray's future, and Gray had another.  Because of this, the two men don't speak or have a relationship.  Evelyn Hill works for Gray's father in Washington, D.C.  She has been tasked with bringing Gray into his father's campaign for vice president in the hopes Gray's fans will support his choice of political candidate.  Of course, sparks fly between Gray and Evelyn as she learns more about him and tells him how his father has changed. 

I liked One Sweet Ride because it is a Jaci Burton romance, and I know what to expect from those.  I did miss the camaraderie and family involvement as portrayed by the Rileys in the previous installments.  Perhaps that is the reason I couldn't connect with Gray and Evelyn as much as I wanted to.  Gray's sister, Carolina, and Gray's college roommate Drew will be featured in Melting the Ice (February 2014).