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Reviewed by Bernadette Longu for Readers' Favorite
Your Pace or Mine by Kim Stephenson is a romance centered around running and, in particular, marathon running and the LGBTQ community, which is often marginalized or left out of sports altogether. The characters take the reader on a journey of training for the London Marathon, which is 26.2 miles. The main characters are a dancer running his first marathon, and a marathon runner aiming to get into the Olympic team, who has to overcome the prejudices of Eric Anders, Head Coach for the Olympic Team. Darius Hewitt and Jamie Carter become friends, but as that friendship develops into something more, like everywhere else in society, one will always find people who are jealous, greedy, and mean. This story takes place over the 16 weeks to the London Marathon and then a further 6 months to the Olympic Games.
In Your Pace or Mine, Kim Stephenson has woven the most delightful story around Darius, Jamie, Jackson Jennings (professional marathon runner), and Jamie's friend, Reggie. This could be a very sensitive subject, but the author handles it well as Jamie and Darius fight for their relationship in the most beautiful and meaningful way. Jamie is running for Haven LGBTQ+ Youth Haven, and Darius takes up the project as well. Then, as the story winds down to the dramatic end that readers will not be expecting, it will bring a smile to their faces. This book will warm your heart and make you smile. It is a must-read for anyone who enjoys romance. I really enjoyed the story and feel it is worth more than one read, especially with the running terminology in the glossary at the back.
