Book Reviewed: Bailing Out
Author: Carrie Quest
Book Setting: 2018, Sochi, Russia
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Reviewer: Javelyn Bond
Other books by Carrie Quest: Dropping In (Snow-Crossed Lovers Lovers #1), Wiping Out (Snow-Crossed Lovers #2)
PS: This was an ARC copy given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Summary (Official): “Gabriel Power came to Sochi with two goals: win a medal and track down his ex-girlfriend so he can finally explain the truth about the scandal that came between them. Once that’s done, he’s going to disappear. Snowboarding’s bad boy is tired of the phony photo ops set up by his media mogul father. Getting hounded by reporters and pretending to date supermodels while running errands for Power News cost him the only girl he’s ever loved, and now it’s time to walk away.
Quitting his father will be easy. Bailing on snowboarding will be slightly harder. Getting Belle to forgive him may be impossible, but he has to try.
Isabelle Garland’s Olympic dream died the night a drunk driver plowed into her car and crushed her leg. Sochi was supposed to be her moment of glory, but instead she’s limping around the Village trying to dodge the snowboarder who broke her heart and avoid the interviews her pushy sister-slash-manager insists are vital for building her brand. Belle doesn’t want a brand, she wants a life. Preferably one far away from the rude reporters who keep trying to get America’s Skating Sweetheart to cry on camera by asking how it feels when your entire life is snatched away in an instant.
(Spoiler: it feels like s***. Also, she’s more snark than sweet these days.)
When she runs into Gabe in the basement of her hotel, Belle’s first instinct is to flee. Too bad they’re trapped in a freezing storage room together with no way out and only their chemistry to keep them warm…”
Characters (A Simple Outline):
Power Family:
Gabriel: Older son to Reginald Power and older brother to Jake Power. The badboy, the rebellious and charismatic guy, also a snowboarding champion. He often wishes to get out of his situation but is forced to sit and do nothing until a solution arrives. He cares a lot about Isabelle, and his brother and wishes to help those who he loves.
Reginald: Father to sons Gabriel and Jake. Is a control freak, cares about money only, and controls everyone around him, with dirty tricks up his sleeve.
Jake: Younger son of Reginald Power and younger brother of Gabriel Power.
Garland Family:
Isabelle: Younger sister to Zoe Garland. Is an ex-skater due to injuries, loves her sister and family but also wants out of the nightmares involving her career and life, but till then has to sit back down and wait. She still cares about Gabriel despite previous circumstances, loves her sister Zoe despite her pushing and is protective and independant about her life and the people involved.
Zoe: Older sister to Isabelle Garland. Is the ex-manager of Isabelle’s skating career. She cares about her sister but often puts career first then family.
Other:
Kimmy: A news reporter set up by Isabelle’s sister and manager Zoe to help Isabelle with her career. Can be pushy and willing to push forward her own career.
Catie: A former colleague of Isabelle, she will do anything to sabotage Isabelle and make her career go forward.
Reginald Power’s Wife: Is wife to Reginald Power, mother to Gabriel and Jake. Separated from Reginald and later dead after a serious illness.
Morgan: A former colleague of Isabelle, he supports her during her troubled times. A friend of Isabelle’s as well. A professional skater.
Isabelle Garland’s Mother: Mother to Zoe and Isabelle. Was very involved during Isabelle’s career.
Alejandra Lopez: Acquaintance of Gabriel Power. Influential in Reginald Power’s career through her father.
My Opinion:
What I Liked: There is independence, understanding, loving, funny, sexy moments in this book. Through Isabelle’s eyes we see struggle and freedom of independence which when she’s at a high point in her career, she never gets. I understand that often as we succeed in a certain field or place, there are certain expectations built and then the play is no longer for our enjoyment, but for every public eye to see and critique. We are in pressure and pushed to the highest limits and if we fail in case as Isabelle’s accident, then we are no longer considered normal people, we are either famous or we’re garbage. There’s no way around it.
There is understanding as I see in the book, when Isabelle is finally getting to leave with Gabriel and gets her independence and makes her sister realize as well, that not everything is about career, money or the reputation. They are important factors but at the same time, you have to love to do your job right and to understand that there are other ways to live a happy career or life. And she tries to make this understanding with her sister, who after a few pages in the book, then begrudgingly understands. It’s important that people who are close to us understand what our dreams are too, to really understand us.
The above points also go with Gabriel who is tied with his father’s manipulative and cunning nature. A champion at skateboarding, he’s won but at the cost of losing the one he loved, Isabelle. He only stays with his father as to save his younger brother but then understands that some sacrifices are not just sacrifices but a force against what we believe or love.
And let’s not forget the very mushy but very electrifying moments between Isabelle and Gabriel. Hehe, we all gotta love em. Steamy, spicy and a bit comedic, they are moments which truly tie in with the book.
Things I would love to see: Probably more of Gabriel and Isabelle’s personality as this being a short book didn’t really let us see a lot in the book.
Favourite Quote: “I should tell her that I loved her. That I still love her. That I wanted to come tearing across the world after her.”
My Rating: 4.5/5
Recommendation: Definitely recommend as it provides everything from loveable funny moments, to gain the freedom over ourselves and reach the stars with the person we love, breaking all expectations.
Thank you all for reading.
-J.B
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