Driven by Lisa Nowak

Driven (Full Throttle, #3) 

by Lisa Nowak

Publisher: Webfoot Publishing

Publication Date:  May 2, 2012

ASIN:  B007ZW06ZK

Genre: YA Contemporary, Coming-of-age

Book Summary:  The last thing on 16-year-old Jess DeLand’s wish list is a boyfriend. She’d have to be crazy to think any guy would look twice at her. Besides, there are more important things to hope for, like a job working on cars and an end to her mom’s drinking. Foster care is a constant threat, and Jess is willing to sacrifice anything to stay out of the system. When luck hands her the chance to work on a race car, she finds herself rushing full throttle into a world of opportunities—including a boy who doesn’t mind the grease under her fingernails. The question is, can a girl who keeps herself locked up tighter than Richard Petty’s racing secrets open up enough to risk friendship and her first romance?

My Thoughts:  Oh - My - Goodness!!!  I did not know things could get any better!!!  After having read the first two books in the Full Throttle series, I thought I had read some awesome books.  Boy, was I shocked when I read this one!!!  Driven is by far the best of the three books!!!  So powerful!!!  I was kept on the edge of my seat throughout the whole thing!!  I did not want to take a break from it.  I have spent the last two days totally wrapped up in the Full Throttle world!!!  I almost hate that I am done with the book.  My mind is still trying to shuffle around everything I have read!!!!


OK, so we are still dealing with the whole racing theme, and relationships - only on a more powerful nature! We are taking all the emotion that we were given in the first two books, and revving  them up  to Full Throttle - literally!!!  We still have our favorite characters from before, but with the addition of Jess, our new protagonist.  She is a 16-year old girl, who herself has had a very tumultuous life - a mother who is an alcoholic, a father who has left, and she is always worried about going into the foster system.  Much to her delight, she sees the light at the end of the tunnel.  She gets an opportunity to do what she loves to do - work on cars - even better - a race car!!!  In doing so, she is introduced to the close knit racing community - such a contrast from her real family.  She also gets the opportunity for her first romance with someone who has had similar experiences - growing up angry at a family that is not what it should be - our one and only - Cody!!


I found myself drawn to Jess.  Her life is a real roller coaster!!!  What a strong young lady to have to deal with everything she has dealt with!  At times, she really made me mad - but in the first book, so did Cody.  But I grew to love them both.  I was so glad that Jess met and could befriend Cody.  What a pair!  Between them, they have had more experiences than anyone should ever have to face.  The fact that Cody has worked through most of the emotions that Jess now has to deal with, makes their relationship one that should truly blossom.  


I would highly recommend the Full Throttle Series to everyone!!!  I am very honored that Lisa Nowak asked me to read her books.  I have not been disappointed at all.  All three books in the series are fabulous!  It has by far been my very favorite series of late.  She is a wonderful author, and I am very encouraged to pick up anything she writes in the future!!!


If you want to find out what others have to say about Driven, click on the tour banner at the top!!!!  

About the Author:  In addition to being a YA author, Lisa Nowak is a retired amateur stock car racer, an accomplished cat whisperer, and a professional smartass. She writes coming-of-age books about kids in hard luck situations who learn to appreciate their own value after finding mentors who love them for who they are. 

Lisa has no spare time, but if she did she’d use it to tend to her expansive perennial garden, watch medical dramas, take long walks after dark, and teach her cats to play poker. For those of you who might be wondering, she is not, and has never been, a diaper-wearing astronaut. She lives in Milwaukie, Oregon, with her husband, four feline companions, and two giant sequoias.

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