Various NASCAR Race Tracks - Present Day

Isabel Turner is a PR executive for her uncle's company, presently representing NASCAR's top drivers. Her uncle saved Isabel from drug using, abusive parents, and now she tries everything she can to be worthy of taking over his position when he retires. Except, last year, when she had a one-night-stand with top racer Cade Garrison. After that, she worked with the National Football League, but now she's back working the NASCAR circuit and trying to stay away from trouble by the name of Cade.

Cade also is working for his family; his older brother, father and grandfather are all legends in NASCAR. But a year ago he...well, he punched out his top sponsor and was demoted from running in the Nextel Cup Races to driving in the Busch Series. Cade's just a good ole' boy looking to win fast races, drink, and score with beautiful women; what else is there in life? His older brother Bryan injured himself and is no longer racing, and he's generally grumpy, especially since his wife divorced him. Trying to regain his family's respect and get back in the Nextel Cup series is what Cade now strives for, hopefully any relationship between him and Isabel, the PR for another racing company, won't cause any trouble.

Cade is portrayed as an immature man wanting to return to the Nextel series and start a relationship with Isabel, and yet he believes all things should be given to him because of his family. He wants to embrace his bachelor friends and their lifestyle, but believes linking up with Isabel will solve his feelings of lust. Isabel knows an association with a driver could be detrimental to her career if it comes out she is showing favoritism. As all immature people think, if they just keep the relationship "discreet" nobody will ever find out. Yeah, we all know someone who's tried that before. The big question is whether Cade will mature into a man and not a spoiled brat, and whether Isabel will decide what she wants, job promotion or a relationship with Cade.

The maturing of Cade in all areas of his life will warm your hearts, and yet Isabel's refusal to acknowledge their love will irritate us as we hope she doesn't give up everything for her job. By portraying their relationship from both sides, the authors draw us in with all the nuances of their love, and we see what influence their past experiences have made on their present lives.

Liz Allison and Wendy Etherington certainly have given me more information about NASCAR that I never knew. Apparently, going from the Nextel series to the Busch series is a demotion, and hurt Cade's pride. And all the publicity talks, interviews, autographs, and public appearances would get on anyone's nerves -- how do they stand it? As with many people in the public eye, the drivers merely put up with the PR because they love the racing.

Cade's divorced father trying to live the single life at fifty-five and his divorced mother trying to keep her children a part of her world are both characters that confound Cade; he is upset at their divorce, and can't understand why. Why didn't Dad spend more time with Mom, and after so many years, why didn't Mom understand the pressures of the racing business? Cade's sister Rachel is his manager and keeps him on time and on the straight and narrow. Even the sponsor Cade punched, Parker Huntington, asks to sponsor Cade again, but Cade is worried about his reasons, is the jerk attracted to his sister Rachel?

NO HOLDING BACK is a must read for all you NASCAR enthusiasts, and you know who you are. Much more behind the scenes information is given, especially in the publicity area, and the reader will end up with lots of knowledge of how NASCAR works. Start your engines and drive to the bookstore and get NO HOLDING BACK now!

Carolyn Crisher