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Friday, July 5, 2013

SEXY SUMMER SATURDAYS: DRIVEN (DRIVEN TRILOGY #1) by K. BROMBERG



Sexy Saturdays is a weekly post we started to challenge ourselves to read more steamy books and have a lot of fun. Feel free to join in. (let us know so we can add a link to your post).

The Autumn Review
Sim-Sational Books
Paranormal and Urban Fantasy Reviews
Insightful Minds Reviews
My Secret Romance
Globug and Hootie Need a Book


**The books featured on SEXY SUMMER SATURDAYS are for adults. If you are under 18 years of age, or do not like smexy books, please stop here. **


Driven (The Driven Trilogy, #1)Series: Driven Trilogy #1
Category/Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense
Publisher: JKB Publishing
Publication Date: 5/13
Format: ebook
Page: 461
Source: Received from author for review

Rylee Thomas is used to being in control. But she’s about to meet the one man that just might make her enjoy losing it…

I am the exception to the rule.

In a world full of willing women, I’m a challenge to the roguish and achingly handsome Colton Donavan. A man used to getting exactly what he wants in all aspects of life. He’s the reckless bad boy constantly skating that razor thin edge toward out of control, on and off of the track.

Colton crashes into my life like a tornado: sapping my control, testing my vulnerabilities beyond their limits, and unintentionally penetrating the protective wall around my healing heart. Tearing apart the world I rebuilt so carefully with structure, predictability, and discipline.

I can’t give him what he wants and he can’t give me what I need. But after a glimpse beneath his refined exterior into the dark secrets of his damaged soul, can I bring myself to walk away?

Our sexual chemistry is undeniable. Our individual need for complete control is irrefutable. But when our worlds collide, is the chemistry enough to bring us together or will our untold secrets and battle of wills force us apart?
 

Driven is a book I have been anxious to read from the moment I saw it. Several years ago, I loved racing, and c'mon, that cover is pretty cool. When I finally got started, I hoped this book would run away with my heart.

Driven is a story that I enjoyed, though I didn't love everything about it. The story is told through Rylee's point of view, and begins on the night of a "date auction" for the organization she works for. This is also the night she meets race car driver Colton Donovan, and let's just say he makes an interesting first impression. When Rylee literally falls into Colton, the attraction is instant, and he is determined to win Rylee over. And if that doesn't work, he'll push her into spending time with him. Rylee wants to maintain her dignity and is determined she'll never be with Colton. Of course this doesn't last long, and the two are soon battling over a relationship, or the lack of one. Rylee isn't a one-night-stand kind of girl, and doesn't want to be another of Colton's easily discarded girls. Colton maintains that he doesn't do relationships and commitment. The two are determined to have their way, but neither can seem to stay away from the other. It's a battle of wills, and I will admit that though it's fun, the back-and-forth between the two, the negotiations, gave me a bit of whiplash. I think if the story had been a bit shorter (It's listed at 461 pages), it might not have gotten old to me.

Driven had two main characters that I liked. I've read a lot of books with a rich hero, but I don't remember reading any with the hero being a race car driver. Colton Donovan was a man who was not only gorgeous and wealthy, but he is also a man who has a knows how to really work hard on the race track. Colton was also a man that had a backstory that made him a sympathetic character. You know the kind, they may aggravate you with the reluctance to open up, but there's a reason. I also liked Rylee. Like Colton, Rylee has a backstory that made me feel for her, and understand why she is so hesitant to become involved with Colton. Rylee's devotion to running a organization that cares for children with no homes also made me like her.

Though these two did frustrate me with their mixed signals and reactions, I did like them together. The chemistry between them was pretty fantastic, and I loved when they both just let go and gave in to what they wanted. Colton was a little bossy (a big win for me!) without being just overbearing. Rylee had a playful nature that worked to both frustrate and turn Colton on, usually resulting in some nice steamy moments.

There were a couple of little issues with Driven that I personally found a little annoying. The overuse of the word "for" as a conjunction in a sentence became distracting to me. As did the mention of popular songs and lyrics, which honestly is just a personal thing of mine. And despite these issues I've mentioned, I found the writing to actually have an overall sophistication to it.

It did take me a few chapters to get into Driven, but I ended up enjoying it. I will say that it does end in a pretty big cliffhanger, one that had me shutting my kindle and yelling "Really?!?" at my husband. I was frustrated, to say the least, but it also has me very curious as to what happens next for Rylee and Colton in the next book in the series, Fueled. Luckily with an August release date, the wait won't be long.



Favorite Quotes



  "So beautiful," he repeats to me again as he continues his tormenting descent. He stills at the top of my panties and I can feel the smile form on his lips from his mouth pressed against my skin.
  He looks up at me, a mischievous grin lighting his face. "I hope you're not overly fond of these."  ~eARC, 42%


  "I swear to God," he murmurs softly to himself, releasing my hand as he leans back in his chair shaking his head, amusement on his face. I can barely make out his next words when he speaks. "We haven't really even started this yet, and you're already topping me from the bottom."  ~eARC, 84%


 
 
Purchase Driven at:
 
 

About the author:
K. Bromberg was born and raised in Southern California. She graduated from University of California at San Diego with two bachelors—economics and political science—but always loved to write.

K. Bromberg remains in Southern California with her husband and their three young children. When not writing or working her day job, she can be found playing ninjas or power rangers with her son, fixing the hair of her oldest daughter’s American girl doll, trying to potty train her youngest daughter, or listening to any or all of them fight/whine at once. When she needs a break from the daily chaos, you can almost always find her with Kindle in hand, devouring the pages of a good book or mentally outlining her next set of characters.

Driven is K. Bromberg’s first published novel and the first book in “The Driven Trilogy.”
Connect with K. at:
Website  |  Facebook Twitter  |  Pinterest  |  GoodReads


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11 comments:

  1. Wow Andrea
    this looks good but enjoyable
    Though I am not a huge fan of Erotica
    Your reader,
    Soma
    http://www.mediafire.com/?jfax4r9cijwf5u8

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  2. Great review. I'm glad you ended up liking this one despite its flaws, Andrea. Great characters with even greater chemistry can make up for other irritants. ;) Thanks for the warning about the cliffhanger though. I know it's needed sometimes but UGH! I'm glad you won't have to wait long for #2. Happy Saturday!

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  3. That's great you still want to check out the sequel. It does seem to be a bit too long for the type of back and forth the main characters deal with. I actually enjoy song lyrics, etc. mentioned in novels. It dates things...but it's fun! :)

    -Lauren

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  4. This sounds interesting despite the issues, lovely review and 416 pages and a cliffy..WTH?

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  5. I love those quotes! I want to read this at some point, great review! P.s. I feel bad for Same Sex hair getting your book wrath lol

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  6. Awesome Review friend! Yeah, that book sounds a little long, and while I don't mind a little back and forth, too much is frustrating! I can't believe such a looong book would have a cliffy! I can see that you had mixed feelings about this one :( I enjoyed the quotes you chose, and you gave me a really good feel for this book. Thanks for sharing :)

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

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  7. I definitely need to read more smexy books! Love your review, although I'm kind of annoyed with these dark and twisted characters. Sometimes I just really want a straightforward romance.

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  8. Oh this is definitely something I haven't encountered before. I can't think of another book with a race car driver. Although that cliffy sounds frustrating. Great review Andrea!

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  9. Seriously? 461 pages? A little back and forth is okay but I'm thinking no on this one. Great review, pal.

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  10. The first thing I saw with this book was the 461 pages. I rarely pick up a book that's that long anymore unless I'm guaranteed amazingness. Although, Kristen Ashly books are really long and don't feel that way, so I guess it depends. This sounds like a winner to me, but I think I'd wait until all the books are out before picking this up. Great review, Andrea! :)

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  11. I don't mind long books if they are good. Thanks for the great review. Sounds like another steamy one.

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