Rush to the Altar

by Jamie Carie

Madeline Goode is devastated when her husband dies in a car accident. After moving back in with her parents with her two year old son, Max, she attempts to put the pieces of her life back together. But she didn’t plan on meeting Jake Hart, the star NBA player that she keeps bumping into at her new job as a charity coordinator for the Racers. And she certainly didn’t plan on learning that her husband’s accident may have been no accident at all. Will Jake stick around while her life gets complicated? And if she gives in to her heart, will she just be making another mistake? Rushing to the Altar may be the most daring and risky move of her life.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Sports, Contemporary, Christian Fiction, Christian, Adult

270 pages, Paperback

First published February 13, 2013

About the author

Born and raised in Vincennes, Indiana, Jamie is a preacher’s daughter. Road trips with her dad—to and from Bible studies across Indiana—were filled with talks of things beyond earth’s bounds – creation and the fall, God and Jesus and the rapture, the earthly walk compared to the spiritual walk, and how we are born for more than what we can see or touch. The highlight of those nights was stopping at a truck stop in the middle of the night where her dad spent a little of the offering basket on two slices of pie and a couple of Cokes.

And nothing could stop the writing pouring out of her.

Piles of poems, short stories, skits and song lyrics later, Jamie grew up and married. When her eldest son turned five she decided to try her hand at novels. Eight years and lots of rejection letters later, Snow Angel was published and won ForeWord Magazine’s Romance Book of the Year, a USA Book News “Best Books 2007” Awards winner, and 2008 RITA® Awards Best First Book finalist. In 2010 Wind Dancer was a finalist in the Indiana State Library Best Books of Indiana. It was the beginning of her dream career.

With seven books currently in circulation and her first three book series coming in 2012, Jamie has made an impressive contribution to the inspirational, historical romance genre featuring heroines who are fierce in their beliefs and love. Romantic Times exclaimed, "Carie is a welcome new voice in the inspirational fiction market." And, "Carie writes with her heart on every page of her books." Jamie has a passion for history and believes in the power of love stories. She lives with her husband and three boys in Indianapolis, Indiana.

If she could only say one thing to her readers it would be, “Live the dreams God has destined you for!”

Books:

Snow Angel
The Duchess and the Dragon
Wind Dancer
Love's First Light
Angel's Den
Pirate of my Heart
The Snowflake (a Christmas novella)

Coming in 2012:
The Forgotten Castles Series (A continuous series to be read in order)
The Guardian Duke
The Forgiven Duke
A Duke's Promise

Contacting Jamie:

Jamie's website - http://www.jamiecarie.com
Jamie's blog - http://jamiecarie.com/blog
Jamie's Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/jamie.carie
Jamie's Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/jamiecarie

Jamie's email: jamie@jamiecarie(dot)com

Reviews

[Brooke (i blog 4 books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I REALLY wanted to like this book. The premise was interesting, and knowing that this is Jamie Carie's first venture into self-publishing made me anxious to support her. Unfortunately, Rush to the Altar was a big disappointment for me.

The story was intriguing and started off strong. However, as the book went on, it became a bit much. It was just too much for me to really believe what was going on. (Yes, it's fiction, and sometimes suspending belief is important, but this was more than that.)

Character development was lacking. And I believe that the book would greatly benefit from a round or two of editing. Grammatical errors abound, and there are quite a few plot errors that made it difficult to understand what was happening. (For instance, the characters enter a restaurant, then are in a hotel room, and then are in a cab on the way to the restaurant. Yes, the same restaurant they were just in a few paragraphs prior.)

One last thing to point out. Jamie Carie has written Christian fiction in the past. I didn't really feel like this book was written in that same vein. It's a clean book, but not one I would classify as Christian.

Would I recommend this book? Not really.

Would I read another book by Jamie Carie in the future? Possibly. Her track record is strong, which makes me hope she has another awesome story in her. [2 stars]

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read several of Ms. Carie's previous books, I was anxious to read this.

The love story between Maddie Goode and Jake Hart was adorable, a true love not found every day. The betrayal by Maddie's late husband and his mistress was an unexpected twist, and I found myself hoping and praying that Jake would stick by Maddie's side and their love would survive.

I really enjoyed the story! I, however, had a difficult time with some grammatical and other mistakes. At one point, Maddie and Jake enter a restaurant, then are back in their room and taking a cab to the restaurant. This didn't take away from the story itself, but it takes away from my enjoyment of the book.

All in all, I did enjoy the romance and wouldn't hesitate to continue reading Ms. Carie's books!

[Sofia Lazaridou · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice story.Not a waste of my time or money though I would like to see more of Marcus and Sasha's story.

[Callie · Rating 2 out of 5]

***"Rush to the Altar" by Jamie Carie is, at the time of this post, only $4.99 at the Kindle Store. Clicking on the picture above will redirect you there.***



I have pretty much read all of Mrs. Carie's works, and they have been ok, but sometimes a bit 'intense' in some cases. This book was over-the-top in these areas. Let me explain the characters, and then I will get to the pros and cons.



Maddie Goode is a single-mom with a two-year-old son named Max. Her husband, Brandon, was killed in a car accident six months before. She is out of work. Maddie's friend Sasha wins a radio contest that gets them tickets to the next basketball game in town. Maddie isn't a huge basketball fan, but her friend convinces her to take the night out. (Maddie and her son are currently living with her parents.) Through a series of extremely unlikely events, Maddie lands a high-position job for the basketball team. The whole events leading up to her landing this job were so unrealistic it was comical. Suffice it to say, she gets the job and runs into the "hot" basketball players on the team.



Jake Hart is one of those players. He runs into Maddie holding his underwear for a job interview (don't ask). That is pretty much how they meet, and seeing how this is a romance novel, you can probably guess the rest of the story. However, there are several huge plots twists that come along, so don't just take my review for it.



Now, for the pros and cons:



Pros:



This was a cute story.



Cons:



Swear words were used twice throughout the book. And not just "So-and-so swore under his breath"; no, the actual word was printed in the book.



Drinking heavily to the point of insulting Maddie was in the book, but only once. However, characters are shown-er, written- as drinking several different alcoholic drinks for different reasons through the book. (I.e. in anger, at a party, in celebration, etc.)



Kissing was heavy in this book and made it appear less "sacred" than I believe it to be. Sometimes things got a bit too passionate for my taste.



Sex was shown as something done just, well, because so-and-so was a couple, even when they weren't married. Now, I realize that some people may not share my same opinions on this, and how far is "too far", but for this to have been written by a self-proclaimed Christian, this was too much, a stumbling block, if you will. (Note: the actual act is not written about, just referred to)



SPOILER: Maddie and Jake get married on a whim without consulting or even telling their parents (or Max).



SPOILER: Maddie's first husband had a mistress.........while he was married to Maddie.



In addition to those "personal" cons, there were also several noticeable grammatical errors, and more than just "a few" mistakes.



As for character development, I personally didn't think it was all that great. Only the two main characters were really focused on, leaving you to wonder what was happening with the others, including Maddie's son.



All in all, I realize this was Mrs. Carie's first try at something other than historical romance, but I really didn't like it. It's not one I would read again or recommend. However, this book is marketed for general contemporary romance, not inspiration/Christian romance. This apparently changes the standards of the content.



Thank you so much to Mrs. Carie for providing me with a copy of "Rush to the Altar" to review.

[Alison (Ali's Books) Flores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clean romances are harder and harder to find it seems. “Sex sells” is a phrase we’ve all heard! Some definitely agree, but there are still many that would strongly disagree. With that in mind, I quite enjoyed this particular clean romance. This book has a very contemporary feel, and yet you’re not gonna find a single sex scene or any foul language. There’s a little bit of making out, but that’s as extreme as it gets. There is a very slight Christian element to the story, but it is VERY slight. I wouldn’t consider it enough to sway me to read it for the Christian viewpoint or vice versa.


Maddie is newly widowed. She’s just trying to make a fresh start for herself and her son. Sasha, Maddie’s BFF, convinces her to attend an NBA game with her one night, and that starts the ball rolling (no pun intended) for her new life.


Jake Hart, NBA star, has been content on his own. He’s never understood how some of his fellow teammates got themselves weighted down in a marriage. Aren’t all women gold diggers? That all changes when he meets Maddie, though. He’s just got to convince her!


When I got to the half-way point of the book, I thought it was going to be extemely easy for him to convince her, too. That’s just because I wasn’t expecting the big WHOPPER of an issue that’s thrown into Maddie’s lap at that point – she wasn’t expecting it either! Things seem to spiral out of control quickly. Are they a mistake that never should have happened? Or can their love survive anything?


I have to admit that at the beginning I really felt like this was just your average highly-predictable romance. That wasn’t the case, however, and that fact definitely redeemed the book for me. I was beginning to get annoyed with the “rushed” romance and the seemingly obvious direction that story was taking. But, when I saw the real direction the book was taking, it all made sense for me. The romance still seemed “rushed”, but that was the point. Bottom line – it worked for me.


It was an easy and quick read. The characters were well-developed, and the plot made complete sense. I found myself laughing often. There were also times when I was swooning or the exact opposite – completely aggravated with one of the characters.


I’m gonna have to say that it definitely needed some more editing. It wasn’t so bad that I couldn’t keep reading, but there were times when it was hard to get through a particualar section. I could make sense of what it was saying, but I found myself focusing more on the mistakes than what I should have been reading.


Overall, I enjoyed the story. It was a low 4 stars for me. It had some issues as I mentioned, but it was still definitely worth the read for me – especially since I think clean romances are so hard to find now. I also really liked some of the wisdom being shared concerning new relationships. This was my first Jamie Carie novel, and I look forward to reading more from her!!

[Danica is Booked · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimers: I received a copy of this novel for review from the author in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not obligated to write a good review nor did I receive any compensation for writing this review.

An Overview of the Novel: Madeline's husband just died and she's devastated, but her friends and family are right, she needs move on. She just can't.

That's where Jake Hart enters the scene. Something about Madeline draws him. She's made it clear that she's not ready to date again, but Jake isn't about to take now for an answer. But then Madeline gets mixed up in the middle of a crime investigation and suddenly it might not be such a good idea for Jake to be around her.

My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: Jaime Carrie has a way of creating characters that catch your attention. I loved the characters in this novel from the first page to the very last page. Jake and Madeline had excellent chemistry.

The writing was cute, a little cheesy, but cute. I loved how Jamie developed her novel. She's always been a skilled writer and certainly knows how to craft her story.

This novel had elements of suspense but I wouldn't classify it as suspense. And while, the events that happened in this novel might have been unrealistic and a little bit unbelievable at times, I still really liked the novel.

It was a cute read and one that had me laughing and smiling the entire time I was reading it. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to fans of this genre.

So why 3.5 stars? It was a cute, funny, enjoyable read that left me entertained and amused. Jaime's writing was incredible and I loved the story.

In Summary: Jamie has done it again. She's written another novel that I loved reading. If you're looking for a cute, fun read, then look no further than Rush to the Altar.

Warnings/Side-notes: Nothing comes to mind.

The Wrap-up: Like I've said, this was a cute book that I enjoyed reading. I've loved every single book I've read by Jamie and plan on keeping close tabs on her and her future writing.

Love,

Danica Page

[G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong Christian Romance

Madeline is attempting to put her life back together after the death of her husband in a car accident leaving her living with her parents and her two year old, Max. After a job appears to drop out of the sky with a professional basketball team, she feels like she is back on track. Then, a basketball player begins to play lots of attention to her. When a strange woman shows up telling her things she never knew about her husband, she is not sure what steps to take.

I have enjoyed other Jamie Carie novels, but this one really seems to be a step above the others. Carie’s ability to provide good settings really add to her novels, and she writes well developed characters. The story is fun, and interesting, and provides enough Christian principle to make the book heart rending, but not overly sweet or preachy. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy good clean romances that provide you with enough interest to keep you up reading beyond your bedtime.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Indiana, Rush to the Altar is a story about a young widow, Maddie Goode and a NBA Basketball star, Jake Hart. Maddie is still in shock from the sudden death of her husband in an auto accident leaving her a single Mom to their son Max. She suddenly found she was an unemployed single Mom and had to move back to her parent's home.

After an incident at a Racer's game she becomes a charity coordinator for the Indiana Racers NBA team, until the truth about her late husband comes to light. A weekend trip to New York, a Las Vegas Elvis wedding and the truth about Brandon Goode becomes public and pressure from the team give the newly wed couple a very rocky start. Can they overcome all the obstacles and will the marriage survive?

Rush to the Altar is a good romance and full of sports action, plus an interesting plot full of public pressure for this talented pair.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maddie is a widow and mother to two year old Max, after the death of her husband Brandon she moves back in with her parents. She finds a job working for the Racers a basketball team where she meets Jake one of their famous and seriously hot players, both Jake and Maddie feel the attraction but will anything come from it, especially when Maddies past comes hurling into her future.
This is a easy read, a little far-fetched and silly in places but it's nice enough, Jake and Maddie are both likable and Max is just adorable, it's free as well.

[Sarah Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

My only complaint ... after Jake randomly proposes, the book goes down hill. Honesty I thought this book would get a solid three stars but after that it was just, WTH!!! Their announcement of love for each other fell so flat I was surprised I didn't trip over it. And then the ending! God, don't get me started. There was so much back and forth on who deserved blame I was just like, Whaaaa?

I was looking forward to this book, and was enjoying - hell, who doesn't like an awesome sports hero book? Especially if they're yummy and famous ; )
But urg this book frustrated me.

2 stars

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about a woman who falls in love with an NBA star. Some Christian elements. And poor Maddie goes through a lot of embarrassing moments, from performing in a half time show with a group of overweight ladies in tight leotards and sweat bands, to getting caught holding a pair of men's underwear in the locker room, Maddie's misfortunes will keep you laughing and cringing. Overall, a cute story, but not one that I loved.

Content: no swearing, some drinking, a mistress in the story, and a nude picture scandal.

[Cheryl Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complications arise in Madeline's and Jake's romance and don't you just love a man that stands by his woman! I know I do! At least Jake is trying to but Madeline isn't making it easy for him as her past creeps up and causes all kinds of trouble. The story line and character development was very smooth. Thank you Jamie Carie for a fantastic romance with a little intrigue mixed in.

[Cyndi Hackett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet story. I enjoyed the idea of second chances and awaking to a new life. I was so hoping the things about her husband were untrue that maybe it was a ll a set-up. But it did add a new spin on the overall story. The half-time dance show was truely funny. I could not stop laughing. I would recommend this story to a friend.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story with an interesting plot twist.

Maddie is struggling to raise her son on her own following her husband's death. Maddie comes across basketball star Jake Hart and finds that there is more to him than meets the eye. The past haunts Maddie and when it threatens to intefer with her relationship with Jake she's left with some difficult decisions.

A good, easy read.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this! Maddie came across 'poor little me' at times, but in the end it worked. Also, great insights to the world of pro basketball!Would love to know how you did your research, Jamie, ha ha!

[Sharon L. Smith]

More then a Love Story.......

Because of the storyline was extent, down to earth, just more then a love story. Trust, Faith, in a marriage Fast read, you didn't want the story to end...

[Cici · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whole package!

This is an interesting tale. It starts with a typical scenario. Love at first sight. It grows with modern day problems. The characters are interesting! The romance has chemistry and well done. It is clean. And there are enough twists to keep you guessing.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great love story, but a little too much unbelievable drama for me.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, it was clean and funny, with real life thrown in there as well.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5 stars

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly liked it. Some interesting twists.

[Tammy Sotela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jamie Carie tells every girl's dream story of a very romantic, swept away type of love story, but adds conflict to keep it interesting. Adding Elvis was just icing on the cake.

[Jamie]

Won this book in the Goodreads giveaway program! Very excited to read this 'New Adult' book.

[Angie Hulsman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started well, but then felt rushed. I felt like the story line bounced around and never really settled.

[Janna Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book. A little disjointed... The singing in the bar scene came out of no where... But overall it was a flirty romance with all the improbable happening to one girl the whole time.

[Kellie Humphrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice clean book about love family and happiness. I enjoyed reading this book it made you feel good when reading it

[Rauna Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun book! :)

[Alisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick, fun, clean romance that made for an enjoyable read. Loved the unexpected twist and how everyone handled it. Looking forward to reading more of this author.

[Michele bookloverforever · Rating 3 out of 5]

trials and tribulations.