Racing the Sun: A Novel

I absolutely loved Racing the Sun by Karina Halle. In this story Karina takes the reader on a beautiful journey through Italy and makes you feel like you are really there experiencing the journey with the characters.

Amber Maclean is a 24 year old American girl who has been traveling the world for the last few months. She is running out of money and needs to figure out how she is going to afford a plane ticket home. She starts looking for a job and ends up answering an ad for a teaching position. She has to travel to the island of Capri for the job interview and when she arrives she is completely mesmorized by Derio. She is unsure if she wants to accept the position because the children are unruly and Derio seems very cold and distant. She knows that this may be her only chance to make money to afford a plane ticket home so she accepts the job. Shortly after she starts her new teaching job the full time nanny and housekeeper quits and Amber ends up getting more than she bargained for. Will she continue to work for Derio or will she take off once she can afford a plane ticket home?

“I should have known from the start that this man was going to give me a reason to stay.”

Derio is a 29 year old man who went from having two loving parents to becoming a parent to his two younger siblings when his parents died unexpectedly. He is very depressed but refuses to get help for his issues. He mostly keeps to himself and makes his nanny take care of his brother and sister. He wants them to learn better English so her hires Amber to help them. He is very rude to Amber when he first meets her but only because she makes him feel things that he hasn't felt in quite a long time. As they spend more time together they both admit their feelings toward one another. Will Amber be able to break down Derio's walls and get him to believe in love again?

"You know, sometimes I feel so trapped. So lost and alone. And then I look at you and feel found.”

I loved the deep connection between Derio and Amber. The secondary characters added lots of depth to the storyline. This book is about learning to face your fears and learning how to live again after tragedy strikes. This book had me sucked in from the very first page and I will definately be adding Italy to my bucket list!! I can't wait to see where Karina will have us traveling to next!!

4.5 Stars

Amber recently graduated college and is backpacking through Europe when she runs of out money. When the story begins she is in Italy with little funds and no idea how she is going to get home when her travel visa expires. Desperate for work she interviews for a job teaching English to two children, that’s where she meets Derio.

Derio is a broken man. In the last two years he went from having parents who love him, a successful career and wife to nothing. Within months he lost his parents in an accident leaving him the guardian of his twin siblings, his wife to another man and his career to an injury. He is depressed, grumpy and easily agitated when he meets Amber.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. That’s basically how Derio ends up hiring an inexperienced young woman and Amber begins working for the sexy, grumpy man.

Thankfully, it doesn’t take long for Amber and Derio to find some common ground and begin to respect each other. That respect forms a bond and before you know they are spending time together, and getting to know each other. The build up is always my favorite part in a story. I loved the chemistry between Derio and Amber, I could feel their longing for each other.

Racing the Sun is a beautiful love story set in paradise, Capri. Karina Halle’s words paint a gorgeous picture of the perfect place to fall in love. Then the actual love story, perfect. My favorite thing about Karina’s writing, she is never afraid to write the ugly. Like real life things aren’t always pretty, Derio and Amber have to overcome things, learn to live together, learn to live independently and learn to love without fear. Racing the Sun has so much heart. I was immediately drawn in and attached to the characters.

I highly recommend Racing the Sun it’s the perfect vacation read or at least it will make you long for a Italian vacation.

"It's like living inside a painting."

That quote pretty much sums up Racing the Sun. Karina Halle's descriptive writing brought the magnificent setting of Capri, Italy to life. The people, the streets, the architecture, the beaches and sea made Racing the Sea more than just a book, but also a living, breathing entity. I could smell the scents of lemons and espresso. I could hear the sounds of the city as Amber walked its' streets. Everything was so vivid.

From page one I was immediately captivated. I literally stayed awake half the night reading because I just could not stop. I loved it so, so much. The story was fun and adventurous, and when I was introduced to the broody Derio the story also became sexy as hell. Oh my gosh, that man! I wanted to wrap him up, slap on some postage, and mail him to my doorstep. My very own Italian Stallion! He rides a Ducati, smokes, swears, and broods for crying out loud! On top of that he can be sweet and caring.

Racing the Sun had everything I was looking for in a terrific summer romance read. The writing was really good, all the characters touched a part of me, the setting was exotic, and the story was fun, fresh, and sexy. The ending came way too soon though. I didn't want the book to be over. I didn't want to stop living in Amber and Derio's world. Although I may never have the chance to visit Italy, it seemed I was actually there by reading this book. That is more than you can ever hope for when diving into a new novel.

After months of traveling across Europe Amber's wallet finally gave out. With not a cent to her name Amber is suck in southern Italy. She has no way to pay for her plane ticket home. Now, there are worst places to be stuck. But after backpacking and only three months left on her travel visa Amber needs to find a job and save up enough money to get home.

She wasn't picky, she only needed a job, so when she saw an ad for being an English tutor for a pair of siblings living on Capri. Seemed easy enough. Until she met Desiderio, the older brother and the guardian of the twins she was hired to tutor.

The Larosa family has been through so much tragedy and has left the older brother scarred. He's broody, damaged, and reclusive. He hasn't left the island in over a year. Not since the accident. But for some reason, there is something about Amber that Derio finds himself drawn to. In a way, Amber calms him and his demons. She awakes something inside of him that hasn't awoke in over a year.

These two are H-O-T, HOT! They're chemistry, tension, and dynamics are all on point. I loved every moment of them being together, whether it was something sexual happening (which let me tell are are steamy) or if they were just taking a walk or riding around on Derio's bike. The pair was sexy and sweet. I couldn't stop fangirling over them.

Amber was only hoping to find a job to get her back home, what she wasn't banking on was falling for Capri, the Larosa twins, or their older brother. She went on a backpacking trip looking to find herself but instead she found a whole lot more. She found a family, a sense of belonging, and that it's okay not to be all grown up. It's okay to still be in your early twenties and figuring out life as it happens.

Racing the Sun is the second book in the author's Where Sea Meets Sky series but this book can be read as a standalone. I haven't read WSMS yet, but I plan on soon. I'm on such a hunger for all of Karina Halle's work.

Karina Halle feeds my wanderlusting soul. I've always wanted to travel around the world, to go to different countries and have some memorable adventures, but until I can finically afford all my traveling dreams, I have her books. Racing the Sun made me want to travel to Capri, find all the lemons, and meet a sexy, broody Italian of my own.

If you like traveling, sexy men, books about finding yourself, or just want to escape into another part of the world, learning about another culture then I highly recommend this book for you.

3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Francesca and posted at Under The Covers Book Blog

I was sold on this story from the moment Karina Halle announced she would be traveling to Italy to do the research for this story. That’s my hometown! I had to see what she did with it. I am pleased to find that Ms. Halle captured the true essence of Italy and the people, without shoving the stereotype easily found everywhere else down our throats.

Now onto the story. We meet Amber in WHERE SEA MEETS SKY, she’s the heroine’s cousin traveling around the world from the US. You can tell she has some issues at home and then there’s the fact she sort of developed a crush on the hero of that book. We know how that ends up. So she continues her travels alone, and ends up in Italy. At first, I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact this woman was traveling alone and quite literally without money. She’s run out of funds and her parents are not sending her any more and she finds herself stuck in Italy without a way to even buy her return ticket home. My brain cells couldn’t cope!

So she has to take on a job in order to save up money to leave before her visa expires and that’s where she meets brooding (to everyone but her it seems) Desiderio Larosa. Color me happy because I loved this hero. Yes, maybe it’s the Italian playboy thing, or maybe the fact he rides a fast bike, but he pushed most of my buttons. ? I can definitely say the hero of this story was the best part for me. He’s struggling with so many things that I don’t want to get into so I don’t spoil the story. It was really nice to see him get to a point where he could start healing.

Amber on the other hand I found a bit immature for my taste. See my previous issue above. But her attitude at times was a bit childish and got on my nerves. Their romance however developed nice and steady. Nothing too rushed. But an immediate sizzle that quietly grew to explosive. Something Ms. Halle knows how to write well.

As much angst as these two could pack in their romance, it was an entertaining read once it got going. A bit slow for me to start and get into it. I would’ve liked to see a better ending, it all sort of rushed to a conclusion after a problem was thrown in. I didn’t buy that quick resolution.

We’ve been on a wild ride with these characters and their adventures around the world. Although I still prefer LOVE, IN ENGLISH to this new series, there is one thing I have come to love. Being totally transported to another place. A place you may have always wanted to explore. And these books can give you that. All in a quaint and romantic way. Even if they carry a bit of unnecessary angst to go along with them. I am looking forward to seeing what this series will bring next.

Racing the Sun is one of those perfect summer reads that leaves you utterly satisfied. Karina Halle whisks us away to Italy and makes us feel like we were literally right THERE. She makes us fall in love with Capri, with the land, the people and - most of all – with her characters. Amber is an awesome heroine who’s just trying to find her way in the world, away from her parents and what they think she should do - and is willing to fight for what she really wants. And Derio, my sweet, damaged and grumpy Derio who carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. He’s a classic hero with a twist and you won’t be able to not fall in love with him.
Highly recommended!

I just love Karina Halle’s books. (Her contemporaries, anyhow. I’ve been too much of a chicken to read her horror series. One of these days…) I fell head over heels in love with Love, in English when I read it last year and I’m thrilled it has spun off into what’s essentially a standalone series. Love, in Spanish was a wonderful conclusion to Vera and Mateo’s story. Vera’s brother Josh’s story, Where Sea Meets Sky, made me want to embrace my own inner wanderlust and travel the world (and, you know, hopefully find love in the process). With Racing the Sun, it’s time for Amber’s story and I couldn’t wait to learn more.

We originally met Amber in Where Sea Meets Sky. I liked her character in that book, but she wasn’t the main focus so I didn’t form any strong attachments to her. In this book, however? I absolutely adored her. I found it so easy to get inside her head and experience the story from her perspective. She was a strong, smart woman and I found it really easy to be in her corner for the duration of the book. I loved her journey and how she matured over the course of this story.

Derio. Oh, Derio. How does Karina write such amazingly complicated, wonderful men every single time? How can you not fall for the quiet, brooding, sexy older brother of your charges? As much as I loved this guy though, I also wanted to smack him silly at times. He was so completely clueless about how his actions affected Amber sometimes. His life was on hold for a few years because of circumstances out of his control, so I felt like he should have been more aware that he was pretty much doing the same thing to Amber.

I really enjoyed how the romance progressed between Amber and Derio. It wasn’t something that happened overnight, but over time. It felt real. It was romantic and sexy. I enjoyed their banter and the oodles of chemistry between them. Their love was complicated, but there was no doubt it was also real. This book was sexy at times, but it was also quite emotional. I was so invested in Amber’s character and her relationship with Derio that there were definitely tears. This is definitely a book of the “feel all the feels” variety.

Racing the Sun is another beautifully-written novel about complicated love and everything that comes along with it. Karina’s writing style is such that not only do I feel every emotion the character is feeling, but it’s like I’m right there with them. Her descriptions of the settings and scenery are so detailed, so vivid, that I don’t even need to have prior knowledge of a place to be able to picture it fully. I just love her attention to detail when it comes to setting the scene for any one of her books. She always has a way of making me want to get a passport, jump on a plane and never look back.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

“Did you feel anything?” I ask softly, hopefully.
He shakes his head ever so slightly, his forehead damp against mine. “No,” he murmurs. “I felt everything.”

This book was Perfect.
This book is hands down my favorite from Karina Halle by far!
It was so beautiful and touching, yet still had the mystery and angst.
I loved Derio! He was so closed off it made him all the more intriguing. I just had to know his story. He’s was so hot and cold he would give me whiplash but when he finally opened up everything else just fell away. I wanted him for myself.
I LOVED this book and I highly recommend it to EVERYONE!

I love Karina Halles previous work but this one was just ok for me. It felt more like a travel brochure at times rather than novel. Don't get me wrong, I love all things Italy and Europe but at times the details seemed to be overly abundant and took away from the storyline. My only other complaints are the price......This book was no where worth its current listing price of $7.99 to me.....sorry. Also, the epilogue was a huge disappointment. upon closure I am more frustrated then anything. It was an ok romance but nothing memorable. I expect a lot of people to click the "not helpful" button on the store, because Halle does have quite a following, but I just have to say this was my honest review and I wasn't impressed. I will still check out anything this writer publishes however.

A modern version of Jane Eyre/Beauty and the Beast set on the wonderful island of Capri. You'll be hooked from the first page of the story that follows Amber MacLean, a California girl traveling around the world, who after many adventures finds herself in an unusual situation and meets two spoiled bambini, their brooding but sexy older brother (aka the Italian Stallion ;)) and one mysterious resident of the beautiful villa owned by the unhappy and alienated Larosa family. It might seem like a light and funny romantic comedy but it's so much more: a story full of heart and passion, hope and angst, set in a paradise-like place, perfect for summer! This book will captivate you and make fall in love with the characters and Italy <3

Favorite quotes:

"You know, sometimes I feel so trapped. So lost and alone. And then I look at you and I feel found."

"You erase my fears. You give me life from all the death."

4.5 Stars

Karina Halle continues her legacy of making readers fall in love not just with the characters but with the location of the story. Capri stole my heart in Racing the Sun. Amidst the romance and the beautiful description of Italy, Karina Halle added real-life dilemmas and lessons in her works, establishing a normalcy in a fictional story. Studded with rich characters that clawed through my heart, Racing the Sun is a must-read for every reader who knows about fears and conquering them, hope, and love.

The story started and seeped slowly for me, but towards the end, I was hit big time and loved it completely! KHalle's enchanting prose always entertains, her words knowing their way to a romance reader's heart.

Beautiful Cover on this book, love Karina's travel romance novels. Amber MacLean has found her self in Positano Italy at the end of her money and the end of her 6 month travel adventure. She needs a job just to buy ticket back home to California. Amber finds a job in Capri teaching children English. Desiderio Larosa (Derio) is a former motorcycle racer who is the guardian of his two young twin 7 yr old siblings but he has closed himself off from everyone and the world. Derio is angry and lonely. I love how their friendship builds slowly as well as gaining the kids trust. They suffered an unimaginable loss but as her role changes from teacher to nanny Amber becomes a part of their lives. It was fun to google all the locations in the book so I could not only imagine but see it all. I loved this slow building romance and the Italian is just beautiful to read. Swoon.

Racing the Sun is a heartwarming tale that will capture your heart with its poignant love story and captivate your senses with its stunning scenery. Karina Halle provides the ultimate escape from reality with eloquently described scenes and charming characters you can’t help but love.

I enjoyed Amber and Derio immensely. They were likeable characters with vulnerabilities that gave them depth. Amber was carefree and adventurous while Derio was isolated and hardened by the circumstances of his life. Their chemistry was undeniable and the passion was overwhelming when they finally succumbed to the magnetism.

Racing the Sun spoke to my heart and I was completely enthralled with this story. Though heartbreaking at times, I was utterly content in the end. I have added Capri to my bucket list of places to visit before I die and I have Karina to thank for that addition. The experience was unforgettable and Racing the Sun has been added to my list of favorite reads of 2015.

I was provided a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

If you have never read anything by Karina Halle, you are in for a real treat. Karina always takes you on a trip, whether its through the jungles of Honduras, or trekking through New Zealand, you will fall in love with her flawless writing and she takes you on a trip to boot. We've met Amber previously, and this time Amber is paired with the brooding, hunky Derio! Get the book, read it, you'll love it!

Falling in love in another country, with foreign guys like Derio, is my new favorite kind of love story. I don't even wanna read the ones taking place in the US. I'm a big travel fan. I've been wanting to travel like Amber for the longest time, but haven't had the chance.

I completely fell in love with Amber in WSMS, but RTS doubled that. Her story was beautiful and I loved every second of it. I loved her inappropriate thoughts towards her 'boss'. Even when he wasn't that anymore, I still loved them. The twins though, they were the highlight of the story. I cried for them and I laughed for them and I loved for them and I already miss them. They're gonna break hearts themselves one day.

★★★ 3.5 Stars ★★★

No one can argue, Karina Halle is maddeningly flawless with her ability to create fantastical imagery. Her innate ability to transport her readers to exotic places, seeing everything through the eyes of her characters, is her gift.

This gift was overwhelmingly evident in Where Sea Meets Sky. The artistry of her writing was inspiring, but unfortunately the plot could not keep up. It was good, a nice story, but the strength of her descriptives smothered it. It was missing something, It needed something. A plot to match the power of her writing.

Racing the Sun got it right! I was engaged in the plot just as much as I was with the beauty of her writing. When reading a book, sometimes it’s painfully obvious that the author is trying to tell a story. The effort is obvious. Karina Halle doesn’t try, she is telling a story.

I hate comparing books to other novels, but in this case I do it with the most positive of intentions, with the intent of expressing the stories classic romantic feel intertwined with a uniquely written modern day romance. Derio and Amber’s story was reminiscent of a mixture between Beauty & The Beast and Jane Eyre. I really couldn’t put it down.

The tension. The build. Did I mention the tension?

It wasn’t without flaws. However, they didn’t tarnish my overall feel for the book. I was left with a few unanswered questions about “the accident” and the ending’s resolution did transpire a little quickly. I understand how the “tragic event” made Amber re-evaluate her issues with their relationship, but her one-eighty was rather abrupt. She just seemed to drop her concerns without any real resolution.

Maybe I’m being selfish. In fact, I know I am, but I also wish we could have gotten more out of the epilogue. I guess I just needed more Derio and Amber. See. Selfish.

Overall, I found this to be a great summer read. Truly engaging and enticing. I seriously couldn’t put down. In fact, I may have to go read it again.

READ ON!

I LOVED THIS BOOK. Hilarious, sexy and that angst was on point. My heart is still racing. I loved Amber just as much as Derio. All the feels, heartbreak and laughter perfectly mixed. What I found most surprising was how much I fell in love with the entire family, Annabelle, Alfonso, Felisa. I became a member of their Italian sitcom and was honestly sad to see this book end.

Gah, Karina Halle you just get me. You know exactly how to mold relationships to the point that I crave. Where my heart is fluttering around, I'm chewing on my bottom lip, I am breathing way faster than should, and I'm a bit tingly (but maybe that's from the hyperventilation). I love romantic build up. I love feeling them fall in love and actually believing it. That's the sizzle I need to feed my addiction. And this book has it all. My little heart is feeling mighty full and content right now. Thank you!

It starts like the classics, like "Jane Aire" or "The sound of music" : a nanny that comes to take care of an angry man's children. But that doesn't last long, it changes to love story. I liked it that it was kind of real, nobody's perfect, they both have faults Her body isn't perfect and his character isn't perfect. I didn't like the fact he was treating her like she was only the help... but all in all it was fun reading, and it makes you want to go visit Capri

I have loved Karina Halle's writing , especially On Every Street & the trilogy that followed , & Love in English & Spanish....but the last three books I have tried to read The Pact & The Offer, I diidn't finish either . Racing the Sun was another disappointment. I returned it after I had read several chapters . I didn't feel there was much depth to the characters nor did I really come to c are about them or where the story was going .... maybe it is just me ...I was only going to give 2 stars but changed it to 3 because her work is so much better than a lot that is is available to read ( and I read 5-7 books a week) I am about to read Dirty Deeds & Dirty Angels..loved the character , Javier, from the " trilogy" .. hopefully they will restore my appreciation of Ms Halle's writing again !

This was a really great book written by Karina Halle. The story was engaging and I fell in love with the characters instantly. Plus, Italy is one of my top favorite countries in the world (one of the main reasons why I read this book). Karina Halle did a great job describing the scenes located in Italy (because it's actually true!)
5 stars!

I absolutely loved this one! So witty and hilarious. The scenery was amazing. I fell in love with all of the characters...the brooding Italian God, the girl next door, and the precocious twins. One of Karina's best!

1.5 stars rounded up to 2.

**Potential spoilers. Read at your own risk.**

Ugh! I've had such a bad reading week. Someone help!!

I am new to Karina Halle, so I went blindly into ‘Racing the Sun’, not knowing what at all to expect. Though there is no question that Ms. Halle can write, unfortunately this book did not work out for me.

I felt nothing toward Amber and Derio's story, their chemistry lackluster at best. Though Ms. Halle can (to a certain degree) create a scene, the words felt stilted, kind of like she was trying WAY too hard to compete in a genre in which she is not completely in tune with, does not wholeheartedly feel herself.

I’m not sure if I am explaining it the right way, but considering numerous friends insisted that her writing, plotlines, and characters bordered on the more edgier side, I was severely let down when I found RTS treading the cookie-cutter-ish line, the first page to the very last closely resembling something in which Nicholas Sparks would write. That's not to be taken as a compliment because (from my vantage point) it is not, Sparks' writing is some of the worst, clichéd, subpar drivel in the romance genre. Not to say Ms. Halle's writing was the worst I have read, as it certainly was not, but I guess between the glowing reviews and a ton of my friends raving about her un-uniformed writing style, and gritty, raw, and real thick, rich plotlines, my hopes were set a little too high for the mediocre story I received. The mediocre story I received for $8.00, no less.

Between Derio’s tighta**, snooty attitude in the beginning and the ending feeling rushed, everything wrapped up in a tidy, red bow come the final page, I didn’t buy a word of it. On top of all of this, the increasingly bad purple prose offered up some of the cheesiest inner monologue and conversations I have ever read.

"He has one lovely neck, the kind you want to suck on for a moment or two. I bet he tastes like spices." That sounds absolutely...delicious? I get that the book is centered in Italy, but the first thing that crossed my mind when I came across that line was a greasy, sloppy Margarita pizza.

"I wonder what it would be like to kiss him?" Well, my sweetest Amber, you're a big girl. Surely you are old enough to have experienced a kiss. What do you "think" it would be like to kiss him?

"I raise my brow. Is he asking me to sit on his face? Because I would totally do that." I think I said the same thing to myself the first time I encountered this exact, same problem, somewhere around the age of, I don't know, seventeen!! Argh! Is Amber seriously 24 years old or not??

"I want him to overcome his issues, his dark demons...Isn't that what every woman wants? To heal the bad boy?" Let's get this straight right now. Derio is not, I repeat, is NOT, by any means, a bad boy. Not even remotely close.

Caleb (from Captive in the Dark), on the other hand, was a bad boy. Derio is not a bad boy, but instead a man whom is simply struggling with the loss of his parents to a tragic boating accident. Was this a terrible turn of events in his and his siblings lives? Yes, absolutely. But, at a certain point, he just needed to get over it, his woe-is-me attitude taking up way too much of the plotline. We get it! You miss your parents, and you are overwhelmed with having to fend for your younger, twin siblings. But seriously, dude. You must man-up and start moving along, the pity-party over within a few weeks or so.

A slow burn into the romance department is something I genuinely appreciate. Besides making me want our leading man that much more, one too many times I have read a novel where the H&H are getting down and dirty within the first chapter. That having been said: for me, the slow burn in RTS was a little too slow, the race toward the bedroom more like a snail trying to slip under the sheets. And believe me. Once we got there, the sex scenes weren't anything worth writing home about, the lack of emotion fizzling every, agonizing second of it.

Someone had mentioned this book being reminiscent of a mixture between Beauty & The Beast and Jane Eyre...? No. No way. Why? Because Derio locked himself away in the library half the time while Amber tended to his twin siblings? I don't think so.

Would I reread this book? No. Would I recommend this book? Yes, to those looking to do some research on certain areas located within Italy. That's what this tale felt like: a tourist sideshow, one fully equipped with the broken hero, naïve, needy female lead, and a pair of bratty twins.

Sorry girls. I tried. I honestly did.

I was absolutely charmed by this wonderful story, perfect summer reading! Karina Halle weaves her story magic once again as protagonist Amber is running short on travel funds and must consider employment - enter random job posting for nanny and the beauty of Italy...and enjoy the unfolding of people both facing their own fears and finding their own worth, and love, of course, love. This story is filled with warmth and humor (several LOL moments!) and compassion. I loved it.

What a wonderful story! Amber (the backpacking American) and Derio (the broody and gorgeous Italian) are fascinating characters that come to life in Karina Halle's Racing the Sun. Mix in two kids (who I thought were adorable) and life in Capri, and you have a tale of learning, strength, and courage in the midst of trial by fire. Loved this story! LOVED LOVED LOVED this story!