Title: Chameleon Soul
Series: Chequered Flag #1
Author: Mia Hoddell
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
After one fateful night, Raine Wilkins’ life has never been the same…
Two years into a relationship with Formula 1 driver Teo Coates, Raine walks out of his life without offering an explanation. To shield him from horrifying events that are best kept secret, Raine breaks her own heart and the heart of the man she loves. And left with no choice, Teo is forced to abandon Raine to finish his race season.
However, Teo always wins, and losing Raine’s heart has only made him more determined to reclaim it…
Now, a year later, he’s back, and she’s his only goal. But Raine is no longer the same girl he left behind; she’s broken by the past and struggling to cope with each day. Unbearable memories have her nights plagued with fear, while her days are spent deliberately hiding away to avoid triggering full-blown panic attacks. Therefore, when Teo returns as England’s favourite driver, and demands answers, all of Raine’s careful planning is destroyed.
She is thrown into the one place she never wants to be—the spotlight.
Her newfound fame as Teo’s public girlfriend raises old dangers, and exposes her to a group who will stop at nothing to tear them apart. If Raine and Teo are to be together, they must confront their past. However, only Raine knows the truth behind what happened during that sinister night, and revealing her secrets may cause Teo to leave for good.
4 STARS
The first line in this book intrigued me. The author did a great job of teasing the reader throughout the book exactly what happened to shatter this woman. That said, we get to watch this woman deal with her horror and the loyal friends who help her.
I found myself feeling for all the people surrounding her as much as Raine herself. She made a huge sacrifice for the man she loves--even though he didn't know it. She has dealt with her life for a year.
Teo, took her at her word and left when she told him it was over. Now he is back and his Raindrop is not the same woman. What changed her? Why has she kept him away when her brother remains her best friend helping her cope?
Can they find themselves as a couple again? Is she broken beyond repair? Who is responsible for this pain they all have to endure?
I read on having to get my answers and hoping beyond reason the the culprits would get their without destroying Raine, her friends and love.
The answer comes and the author does a great job of ending this story as a complete stand alone while temping us with the next book in the series. I will be reading that one as well. The character has my heart already.
You will feel the crushing fear of Raine, the desperate need to help her deal by her friends, such loyalty is rare. You will love Teo for his tenderness and anger, and want to beat him for being a guy.
Expect your emotions to take a dirt road ride such as those in the hilly desert of Arizona. A strong recommend.
I was provided an ARC for an honest review.
~ Cheri, WTMO Reviewer ~
4 STARS
Talk about an unexpected gem of a book! I was hooked from the very first sentence, until the very last! Chameleon Soul is the first book in the Chequered Flag Series by Mia Hoddell and if the other books are equally as good as this one it’s gonna be one hell of a series!
Raine Wilkins was happy and in a loving relationship for over 2 years with Teo Coates, an up and coming Formula 1 driver tipped for greatness and predicted to become World Champion, unexpectedly leaves him offering no explanation. Not only breaking his heart but her own in the process to shield him from the horrifying events that are best kept secret. Left with no choice Teo is forced to leave Raine behind to complete his race season.
Fast forward a year later and Teo is back, and this time the only thing he is interested in winning is Raine, but she’s not the same girl he left behind. She’s a shell of her former self, broken by the past, struggling to cope each day. Insufferable memories leave her nights tormented with fear, while her days are spent deliberately hiding within her surroundings to go unnoticed to avoid triggering full blown panic attacks. So when she learns of Teo’s return to England her carefully developed strategies go out the window, especially when Teo turns up demanding answers.
In order for Raine and Teo to move forward and rekindle any sort of relationship, they must confront their past, the only problem with that is that only Raine knows the truth behind what happened that night that followed her ending their relationship. Will revealing her secrets cause Teo to leave for good or fight for the girl he loves…?
I really enjoyed this book, the rawness and intricate emotions felt throughout made for an emotive read. I was so engrossed in their journey that I couldn’t help but feel the connection to them especially with how the author baits you the whole way through with regards to the events of that night and executes those details and emotions admirably. I loved the intrigue! I thought the progression of the plot was brilliant, nothing was rushed nor was anything drawn out. Overall a fantastic start to what I can only hope is going to be great series. Oh and the fact that it was set in England was even better, no offence to all you lovely American peeps but it made a refreshing change to read something by a British author and a story that was based in my homeland.
This is the first book I have ever read by Mia Hoddell, prior to this I hadn’t heard of her or any of her work, which is quite annoying and something I intend to rectify. I will definitely be looking into her other books.
I would highly recommend. I’ll look forward to reading book 2 in the series.
** ARC provided in exchange for an honest review courtesy of the Author for WTMO Book Blog **
4 STARS
Talk about an unexpected gem of a book! I was hooked from the very first sentence, until the very last! Chameleon Soul is the first book in the Chequered Flag Series by Mia Hoddell and if the other books are equally as good as this one it’s gonna be one hell of a series!
Raine Wilkins was happy and in a loving relationship for over 2 years with Teo Coates, an up and coming Formula 1 driver tipped for greatness and predicted to become World Champion, unexpectedly leaves him offering no explanation. Not only breaking his heart but her own in the process to shield him from the horrifying events that are best kept secret. Left with no choice Teo is forced to leave Raine behind to complete his race season.
Fast forward a year later and Teo is back, and this time the only thing he is interested in winning is Raine, but she’s not the same girl he left behind. She’s a shell of her former self, broken by the past, struggling to cope each day. Insufferable memories leave her nights tormented with fear, while her days are spent deliberately hiding within her surroundings to go unnoticed to avoid triggering full blown panic attacks. So when she learns of Teo’s return to England her carefully developed strategies go out the window, especially when Teo turns up demanding answers.
In order for Raine and Teo to move forward and rekindle any sort of relationship, they must confront their past, the only problem with that is that only Raine knows the truth behind what happened that night that followed her ending their relationship. Will revealing her secrets cause Teo to leave for good or fight for the girl he loves…?
I really enjoyed this book, the rawness and intricate emotions felt throughout made for an emotive read. I was so engrossed in their journey that I couldn’t help but feel the connection to them especially with how the author baits you the whole way through with regards to the events of that night and executes those details and emotions admirably. I loved the intrigue! I thought the progression of the plot was brilliant, nothing was rushed nor was anything drawn out. Overall a fantastic start to what I can only hope is going to be great series. Oh and the fact that it was set in England was even better, no offence to all you lovely American peeps but it made a refreshing change to read something by a British author and a story that was based in my homeland.
This is the first book I have ever read by Mia Hoddell, prior to this I hadn’t heard of her or any of her work, which is quite annoying and something I intend to rectify. I will definitely be looking into her other books.
I would highly recommend. I’ll look forward to reading book 2 in the series.
** ARC provided in exchange for an honest review courtesy of the Author for WTMO Book Blog **
~ Vickie, WTMO Reviewer ~
“Raine, wait!” Footsteps thundered behind me, forcing me to run faster as my vision began tunnelling. Bouncing off the walls as I rounded corners, I attempted to trace my steps back to the exit through the labyrinth of hallways. I could hear the footsteps growing louder, as if Nadine was right on my heels, but I couldn’t look without losing my rhythm. Abruptly, I was jerked to a stop by a hand on my wrist. I spun at the touch, flinging my back against the wall with a scream. My movements were too fast to take anything in. “What the f*** are you doing here?” The voice that snarled the words was not Nadine’s. Even full of malice I could never forget his tone. Despite that, my brain was no longer thinking logically. I raised my hands instinctively to shield my face, the line between reality and my memories blurring. The brightly lit corridor was too tight and darkness encroached from every corner. I was back in the alley. The rough bricks bit into my spine as I cowered into the building praying I could make myself invisible. “No, not again,” I whimpered, my hands shaking. “Please, not again.” In my mind they were coming at me, closing the distance. No matter how tiny I made myself they could still see me. “Don’t hurt me. Let me go!” White-hot panic rose in my chest, consuming me and fueling the memory. Everything felt so similar, I wasn’t even seeing what was really in front of me.
#1 Amazon bestselling author Mia Hoddell lives in the UK with her family and two cats. She spends most of her time writing or reading, loves anything romantic, and has an overactive imagination that keeps her up until the early hours of the morning.
Mia has written over ten titles including her Seasons of Change series, the Chequered Flag series, the Elemental Killers series, and her standalone novels False Finder, Not Enough, and Bet On Me.
Her favourite genres are contemporary romance or romantic suspense, and with an ever growing list of ideas she is trying to keep up with the speed at which her imagination generates them. She also designs book covers on her website M Designs.
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