Blurb:
Tucker Ashford has forgotten who he was. The former rock star – Tucker Ashe – turned social media sensation knows exactly where life took a U-turn. Problem is, he’s convinced it’s too late to circle back. When he needs a ride from Chicago to California for his daughter’s wedding, an eight-state journey with a quirky woman is more than he bargained for, but quite possibly the chance he needs to rewind time.
Mae Fox is ready to discover who she is. After two decades of marriage (gone wrong), motherhood (still going), and a not-so-small business (going quite well), she’s looking for the adventure of a lifetime – alone. However, her well-planned escape of come-what-may down the Mother Road is slightly detoured when she’s asked to haul a grumpy silver fox across the country.
The highway is a melody of cheesy sight-seeing stops, nostalgic locations, and a playlist that rocks as two lonely hearts take a road trip down the path of second chances and the possibility of love over forty.
Trope: later in life romance; second chance romance; road trip romance; travel; dating after loss; dating after divorce
What to expect:
*Grumpy silver fox
*Ray of sunshine
*Cross country shenanigans
*Second chance
*Love over 40
Hauling Ashe is the story of two people who regret decisions they made in their past. Mae Fox gave up many of her dreams to: help her husband advance, take care of her two sons, and concentrate, primarily on being a good wife and mother. The only thing she did for herself was start her florist shop; even that she needed help from her in-laws. This was her life until she found out she was a fool in many ways, including catching her husband cheating.
Tucker Ashe put his life on hold too. He had dreams of being a rock star. He loved music; both performing and writing it. Then his grandfather called him home with a life changing request that he felt obligated to honor. Now a widower, he has a successful business that he sinks every hour of the day into. What is this man hiding that makes him so angry? That is only one of the many questions that Mae wants to know.
I can relate to Dunbar’s stories. She is writing about an over forty crowd. There are many things within Hauling Ashe with which I can share and understand. I appreciate the characters and their decisions. I understand why they keep a part of their thoughts and dreams hidden from others. I can feel their pain and joy.
Hauling Ashe has everything I love in a romance including the road trip. There is a “meet cute” that sets the tone for an enemies to lovers romance. Mae is down in the dumps and rethinking her life decisions. She is on the road literally (Route 66) to rediscover herself. She wants to experience Route 66 as it was before the big freeways bypassed all the quirky little towns and sights. Her family is concerned because she is taking this trip alone, so her sister finagles her into taking Tucker Ashe with her.
Ashe needs to get to California for his daughter’s wedding and father of the bride obligations, but he doesn’t fly. His car service cancels at the last minute which puts him in the situation that he must accept this ride with Mae who he doesn’t like from the start. As unacceptable as this is to Ashe and Mae, he can’t let his daughter down.
From the tension and anger in the beginning to the point where they begin to understand each other to the romance is a beautiful journey. I love how they gradually reveal their secrets and see the heart and soul of each other as they travel Route 66. Ashe wants to get where he’s going, and Mae wants to stop at the many historic locations along the way. She doesn’t bend often, and Ashe begins to see the benefits of the trip. I love remembering some of our family trips across country on Route 66. I recognize many of her stops, even though I was a young girl as I traveled this historical route.
Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed Hauling Ashe. I loved both main characters and their journey in the car, and their reflections on the decisions made in the past. I highly recommend this series.
5 STARS
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