From the Bookshelf of ROBUST…

LE MANS a novel

Dakota Franklin

Start date: June 6, 2013

Finish date: June 6, 2013

Discussion: Reviews

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 61 topics — 982 comments total

Reviews

* RECOMMENDATIONS
By Andre Jute · 6 posts · 16 views

last updated Mar 21, 2013 04:08PM

* Book and film reviews, post them here, discuss them here
By Andre Jute · 105 posts · 51 views

last updated Apr 25, 2013 12:24PM

showing 8 of 8 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Feb 23, 2012 Sharon Tillotson rated it really liked it

I knew I had to read this novel the moment I first saw the cover. I knew it was going to the top of my To Be Read pile when I read the description. I knew it would be good when I read the bio of the author.

And it did not disappoint.

The novel had it all. Adventure, suspense, and a woman race-car driver. Though set in the stratosphere of high finance and even higher social life, the characters are likeable and relatable. Mallory is an auto designer who has aspirations to, as she puts it, ‘get a I knew I had to read this novel the moment I first saw the cover. I knew it was going to the top of my To Be Read pile when I read the description. I knew it would be good when I read the bio of the author.

And it did not disappoint.

The novel had it all. Adventure, suspense, and a woman race-car driver. Though set in the stratosphere of high finance and even higher social life, the characters are likeable and relatable. Mallory is an auto designer who has aspirations to, as she puts it, ‘get a ride’ in the heady company of race-car drivers. Getting a ride, we soon come to know, is the term for being hired as a driver of the car in a race.

The story begins with Mallory in hospital after a near-fatal crash where she got a ride from a less-than-honorable owner who hired an incompetent mechanic. Rather like honor in the Mafia, honor is a big thing in the world of auto racing. Lying in her hospital bed with tubes sticking out all over and multiple broken bones, Mallory does not think she will ever race again. But she soon gets a visit from Charlie Cartwright, a decent, honorable Englishman who can (and does) be as ferocious as a Mafioso. Charlie was behind her in the race and admired her driving skills. He also saw that her brakes failed thanks to the incompetent mechanic. He offers her a job and tells her to work hard on her recovery, which he has every confidence she will accomplish, and then call him. Five grueling months later when she takes him up on the offer, she is thrust into the glorified world of not only racing for a top team, but having a hand in the design of the cars she will ride. Little does she know cars are not the only ride she will have.

I had just read a novel which had a romance between a strong female lead and a wonderful, steadfast carpenter. I decided he was the perfect model for a mate. I was surprised at how fickle I could be when the love-interest Richard entered the picture. Richard is a famous cello player, and a brilliant choice for the author to make. He is the perfect, albeit offbeat, foil for Mallory. Smart, elegant, decisive, modest in all but his confidence in his art. Mallory swooned. I swooned. I now have a new perfect model.

The writing – in first person - was crisp, with the kinds of esoteric words and phrases often found in UK writing: a twee little hall; German portmanteau words which uniquely encompass an idea that English requires half a dozen words to describe. There are several main characters and the author has a good eye for describing and integrating them into the story so that none are left begging. The suspense was just right, the description of the world of racing so detailed one can only imagine the author, Dakota Franklin (herself an auto engineer), has intimate knowledge of it. Ms Franklin states that the series was 15 years in the making. Extra Kudos to her for keeping it current (especially the techie stuff).

This is a story that should appeal to all: male, female, young, older. Though set in the world of a sport that is edgy and dangerous, the author skillfully sprinkles in only one or two coarse words – just enough to convey that such words would be used in such conversation but not enough to make it inappropriate for younger readers.

Ps. Regarding the cover – the beautiful woman depicted is none other than the author.
...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 23, 2012 K.A. Jordan rated it really liked it

A richly detailed, auto-racing Cinderella story.

Mallory's 'rags to riches' adventure starts with her waking up in the hospital, broken and unemployed. The reader follows Mallory into the world of Cartwright-Armitage - and gets to share in the adventure of a life-time.

No spoilers from me, you'll have to see for yourself.

I thoroughly enjoyed the racing-sequences, because I've always secretly wanted to be a race-car driver. (And I have the speeding tickets to prove it.)

Though I had my doubts when ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 20, 2011 Claudine marked it as to-read

Dec 22, 2011 Dakota Franklin added it · (Review from the author)

Jan 08, 2012 Andre Jute rated it it was amazing

Group Home Bookshelf Discussions

Photos Videos

Send invite Members Polls