Tracked by Jenny Martin

Title: Tracked 

Author: Jenny Martin

Publisher: Dial Books

Publishing Date: May 5th 2015

Pages: 400

Genre: YA Sci Fi Thriller

Series:  Tracked #1??

Source: Hardcover

 

On corporately controlled Castra, rally racing is a high-stakes game that seventeen-year-old Phoebe Van Zant knows all too well. Phee’s legendary racer father disappeared mysteriously, but that hasn't stopped her from speeding headlong into trouble. When she and her best friend, Bear, attract the attention of Charles Benroyal, they are blackmailed into racing for Benroyal Corp, a company that represents everything Phee detests. Worse, Phee risks losing Bear as she falls for Cash, her charming new teammate. But when she discovers that Benroyal is controlling more than a corporation, Phee realizes she has a much bigger role in Castra’s future than she could ever have imagined. It's up to Phee to take Benroyal down. But even with the help of her team, can a street-rat destroy an empire?

This book wasn't on my radar until I was contacted by the publisher for a review. I am glad I chose to read it. The book was a good read. It was pretty fast paced and had a very interesting story line and pretty cool characters. I was quite thrilled by the read.

Phee is a racer, an illegal racer. She gets caught and then blackmailed into racing for a big wig company that has many secrets. Secrets that are dangerous. Secrets that will change Phee' life forever. There is racing, there is romance, there is betrayal. There is oppressed government. There is thrills and chases and kisses and such to enjoy.

So this was a very interesting book. I can honestly say that it was a new kind of read for me. I really didn't know what to expect. I thought it sounded good but all I could think was speed racer. Honestly I still think speed racer but its much more than the racing. I was surprised by that fact. I though the book was mainly about racing and really its not. There is bad government bad money makers and bad guys in general and it is not limited to a country or even a planet it's pretty much universal. Everyone controlled by evil corporations, The racing is kind of on the forefront but in the background. The real story is what lies in between. That story I loved.

The characters were pretty amazing too. I really liked Phee. I didn't connect with her right away. She grew slowly on me. I felt she was a bit selfish and whiny at the very beginning and I didn't like the way she dismissed her best friends feelings for her.

(side rant) Speaking of her best friend. He has feelings for her but their relationship was hard for me to get. I didn't feel it. (side rant over)

 But... In the end I liked her. I got her. I was happy to know her. She quickly became a heroine in my eyes and a real fighter. I got her and I connected.

My favorite character...Cash. I loved Cash. He was charming and genuine and had a few tricks up his sleeve. He came off as laid back but he was quite the fighter. Just a sly and sneaky fighter that jumps out at ya, screams, and beats you up. He had a great personality and the relationship he has with Phee I felt. I got it.

So the romance.... Not a huge strong presence but it as pretty explosive and passionate and needy and greedy. It was just like I liked it. SO the romance was good. There was a bit of a love triangle but not a bad one. One that made sense. There was Bear (the best friend) and Cash (The hot bad boy) There was feelings of loyalty and desire to stay close to one you know and then there was the my body is on fire with attraction to you and I don't know what to do with it. The love triangle never went anywhere. It was put to an end pretty quickly. so it fit and made sense and didn't linger. Didn't mind it at all.

So the only issue I had with this book was the pacing. For the most part it was paced pretty good. But.... It had some slow moments and the actual story line seemed to progress slowly. It really picked up to ultra speed close to the end. That is where it all happened. I could see where it was all leading it was just a tad slow getting to the point. There was racing and although it was exciting I felt the racing scenes were a bit drawn out. That being said the story did capture me. I feel like the issues were just the first book in a series issues, It was a builder and I can't wait to read more.

A very good read. A great start to what I think will be an awesome series. 

Jenny Martin is an author, librarian, and Beatle-maniac. Her first novel, Tracked, is available now, from Dial, an imprint of Penguin Random-House.

She lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with her husband and son, where she hoards books and writes fiction, and hangs out with people who like those things, too.

And yes, she’s still on a quest for the perfect pancake. (Maybe you can recommend the perfect short stack?)