A meet-cute Christmas novel that was also turned into a Passionflix short- this book is a quick read and just right for a quick escape during the crazy hustle-bustle of the holiday season. I really thought the storyline was cute and who couldn't use a quick read during the holidays. As a longtime fan of Bromberg, this novella doesn't disappoint.

Another K Bromberg book I loved! A strong heroine, a steamy hero...what is not to love?!

Sexy Australian Zane Phillips, works hard and playboys harder...comes to find the spokesmodels for his latest venture, a dating ap called SoulM8, in a unique way. Will his latest success or will he get bored with it and dump it and move on to the next venture? You’ll have to read it to find out because this is a no-spoiler zone!

*** FYI- Think of this book as the director's cut edition extra scenes for the driven series- it is not a novel***

I adored all three books in K. Bromberg’s Driven Series. Those books (Driven, Fueled and Crashed) follow Rylee Thomas, a woman who has buried her past to the point of walking through life numb until she quite literally falls into the arms of smokin’ hot Indy Car driver Colton Donovan. Colton on the other hand is the exact opposite of Rylee. Colton purposely lives life in sensory overload to outrun the demons from a past he is afraid will not just catch up with him- but completely ruin life as he knows it. The series is told primarily in Rylee’s point of view- with a couple of chapters in Colton’s point of view scattered into Fueled (Book 2), and more than a couple scattered into the final book, Crashed (Book 3).

Raced is NOT a novel in the trilogy (obviously since if it were then it technically wouldn’t be a trilogy). Raced is the much-anticipated companion to the trilogy that is entirely in Colton’s point of view. Its chapters revolve around several key scenes/chapters in all three books. Her fans begged for it and Bromberg delivered.

Personally, I had been anticipating Raced greatly after devouring the entire trilogy in a little over a weekend. Was Raced what I expected? Yes and no. Yes in that Colton’s POVs were exactly what I had hoped they would be: raw, honest, and full of the conflict and emotion behind the race-face Colton wears through life. It was exactly what I wanted and what I got in aces (ha- pun totally intended).

What was unexpected? Two things. The first being a sob inducing scene between Colton and his father towards the end of Raced (that is all I will say- spoiler hounds). The second thing- I didn’t expect but totally loved was the author’s description that was before each of the chapters of Raced. These chapters let readers know what she was thinking, or why she picked a particular part of the saga to share in Colton’s voice.

Raced adds a certain richness and emotion to the story told throughout Driven, Fueled, and Crashed. Remember Raced is NOT a stand-alone novel- nor does it claim to be one. Think of it as the extra deleted scenes from your favorite movie that you get when you buy the director’s cut.

I promised myself that I would read Aced slowly- but I just couldn't. By the time I hit midway in the book I was in "must not stop until the end" and I gobbled it up. I was slightly worried starting this book that I would be disappointed...either in the material covered during the book or what happened during the story. Luckily I was not disappointed in the least.

This book carries on a bit after Crashed (book 3) so it is very important the readers be sure to read at least books 1-3 (Driven, Fueled, Crashed) or the book will not make sense.

Trying to remain spoiler-free I can say that this book deals with a particular, common subject that affects many couples very well, and more importantly very realistically. And be prepared because K. Bromberg drives Colton and Rylee through all the emotions; the happy, the excited, the worry, the angry, the caring.

I also loved the extra glances we get at the more cursory characters we have come to know and love, especially Andy and Shane. I definitely loved this and was not disappointed in the least!

Okay seriously I needed to give this MORE than five stars- it was that good!

And finally, there is the last book of the trilogy Crashed. I am going to admit something to you- as much as I was driven (haha pun totally intended) to read this one- to find out what happened on the other side of the climatic end to Fueled but I was also sad because I knew that this incredible journey I had been taken on was ending all too soon when I finished this book. This book starts where the last book ended exactly. I don’t want to give it away but we will just say that Colton is broken.

“Racing’s about eighty percent mental and twenty percent skill Rylee. We’ve got to get his head back in the game, thinking he’s ready, then he’ll be ready.” Beckett, Crashed by K. Bromberg

The characters are what drew me into the series. They are so realistic and well-rounded warts and all. They aren’t too perfect. Both Rylee and Colton have their faults, their issues, their ugly. It’s their fight to tame their personal demons individually so that they can find a life together…or will they? This series takes readers through the paces. There are fast cars (hence why I feel I can include it on my reading list- since I don’t just do NASCAR books) there are SEXy cars (That is NOT a typo if you have read the books you will get it. If not- read the dang books already!) I have to say that I feel I am NOT giving the trilogy justice AT ALL. Much like Pringles, I promise you that you will likely not be able to read just one of them.

I was so sad when the trilogy ended that I started back at the first book and reread it immediately. It's that good. I so can NOT wait for RACED to come out! I have it already preordered! (And Slow Burn to

This is the second book in the series and is even better than the first. The book opens with a resolution of sorts to the cliffhanger we were left hanging with at the end of the first book. Rylee ends up getting a small peek into the demons that Colton is trying so hard to outrun. While the first book is written completely from Rylee’s perspective we get a little bit of Colton’s in this book. This second book is more intense and even frustrating sometimes but in a good way. Us readers can see the good between Rylee and Colton way before they can- as they continue to push and pull towards and away from each other as they fight to make sense of each other, what they need from their relationship- if they can even have a relationship and the baggage they each bring to that relationship.

“No, Colton. No.” I tell him, making sure his eyes are on mine. “You’re not broken, Colton. You’re just bent.” Rylee Thomas in Fueled by K. Bromberg

Rylee is more sure of herself- most of the time. Colton is more trusting- some of the time. It’s a constant battle and struggle but towards the end, they finally seem to be reaching somewhat of a happy place until…yep this one ends on the wrong side of a denouement as well.

I loved this book so much- there aren't enough stars for me to give it!

The first book of the trilogy is Driven. The book opens with our main character, Rylee Thomas, putting on a fundraising soiree for her job. She volunteers to go backstage to fetch some supplies and just grab a minute to herself when she happens upon a couple who has escaped the party to the backstage area as well but for a completely different reason- a romantic rendezvous. Rylee, not wanting to embarrass the backstage lovers, sneaks past them and into the supply closet to get the auction paddles she is looking for when the closet door suddenly closes and locks behind her accidentally. This triggers a claustrophobia-induced panic attack of epic proportions- drudging up memories of a past she spent a little over two years burying deep within her in an effort to be able to function in her world. As she begins to succumb to the memories of the past as she leans against the door after a fit of beating it and screaming to be let out the door suddenly opens and she falls right into the arms of Colton Donovan. Their chemistry is instantaneous and Rylee finds herself confused because she's not used to letting herself feel and here she is suddenly feeling something intensely with a complete stranger whom she quickly realizes was the backstage Romeo she had tried to sneak past. Colton on the other hand is immediately smitten by this girl who fell out of the closet and into his arms. Rylee is not like any of the women in his past because while she may have fallen into his arms she is the first girl to tell him no. And there is nothing renowned race car driver (it never specifically says what kind of racer he is but I believe he’s an Indy Car driver judging by the description of his race car) Colton Donovan loves more than a challenge. Colton himself is dealing with a 737 full of baggage from his past and is used to using women as a way of distracting himself from his past.

“On the track, I can escape the paparazzi, the groupies, my demons. The only fear I have is that which I have created for myself, that I can control with the swerve of a wheel or a press of the pedal…not any inflicted on me by someone else.” Colton Donovan in Driven by K. Bromberg

Rylee finds herself confused by her feelings and Colton’s moods as they try to figure out what this chemistry between them is.

Warning- this book will end on the wrong side of a denouement that will leave you immediately wanting to dive into the next book of the Trilogy- you may as well download all three at once. I promise you will thank me later because you won’t have to wait for it to download between!

Last year I downloaded the DRIVEN series on the recommendation of a Facebook friend with similar interests and fell in love with Colton and Rylee and all of the ancillary characters (even Sammy) that made up this series. I was initially drawn to it as a race fan, but fell in love with the series it as a reader. I have re-read the entire Driven Series (the original trilogy and the companion Raced) multiple times I loved it so much. While I identified mostly with Rylee in the main series I also fell in love with Haddie and her spunk and Haddie-isms throughout the series and was so excited when my pre-ordered Slow Burn finally dowloaded onto my kindle!

Then of course, life got in my way, and I had to put my reading aside but I am finally able to say that I have now finished it and I LOVED Slow Burn.

At first it was very hard for me to put Slow Burn up against the Driven series because I do love that series so so much. When I started Slow Burn I was not enjoying the character of Haddie as much as I wanted to based on my experience with Haddie Montgomery as an ancillary character in Driven- but then it dawned on me that it's kind of like real life- Haddie the staunch supporter of Rylee Thomas (Donovan) is but one small part of Haddie Montgomery- and I think once I, as a reader, came to terms with that- I was able to see Haddie for who she was. I had to change MY "pre-fucking conceived notions" as Beckett once told Colton and once I did that- I was able to fall in love with Haddie for who SHE is and Becks for who he is- as their own people away from Rylee and Colton.

Slow Burn is full of emotion- but is also so different from the Driven series (despite cameos from Rylee and Colton) but if you give it a chance to stand on it's own I think you will like it.

And as always when it comes to K. Bromberg's books, while I was glad the epilogue wrapped up the book, I found it left me wanting more - especially from Mr. Beckett Daniels....

I should probably start my review by stating have read everything K. Bromberg has put out- so I am a fangirl. I initially fell in love with her Driven series and now find my self greatly anticipating each of her books as they come out. Hard Beat was no exception. I could not wait!

Hard Beat is slightly different than most of her other books, because it's completely from the male perspective. I don't know why, but that both surprised and delighted me. It details the story of international journalist Tanner Thomas (who just happens to be the brother to Rylee Thomas- the main female character in the Driven series- but fear not- Hard Beat can be read as a stand-alone novel) and his new photojournalist Beaux "BJ" Croslyn. Tanner can't believe that WorldWide News would saddle him with a complete rookie in the middle east where they wait for stories to break. Tanner and Beaux's relationship both working and personal are tumultuous as Tanner strives to figure out just what Beaux is hiding from him while trying to keep her alive and in a war-riddled foreign country. I found myself trying to figure out what Beaux's "deal" was the whole book, likely because it was written in Tanner's point of view and not hers and soon found my self at the point of that delicious frustration that you get when you know that the truth is in the pages to come- but you just have to keep reading to find out what on earth is going on.

In my eyes, there is just something different about this book when compared to K. Bromberg's other books- and not in a bad way. I don't know if it is because the book was written entirely from Tanner's perspective or because of the gritty subject matter but I will tell you that I devoured this book in a little under 12 hours (always the sign of a great book) and it left me wanting more!

If I could give this book more than five stars I so would. I'm a huge K. Bromberg fan- but I admit I go into each new book with a smidge of trepidation. Will I be disappointed? Have I been so looking forward to to this book that I've built it up so much in my mind that there is no way it could meet my expectations? After finishing Down Shift the answer to both of those questions is a resounding no. And thank goodness because I so needed a good tears racking you as you there in bed late into the night/morning wanting to see how it will play out but not wanting it to end and the same time because you're not quite ready to let this book go quite yet.

Zander and Getty- Oh my goodness!! I wasn't sure how I would feel reading about Zander as an adult when I was first introduced to him as a seven year old boy in Bromberg's Driven series but it truly was a seamless transition. Zander is his own man, his own character, facing his own demons and leaves his family and his career behind to deal with his demons by escaping to an island off the coast of Washington state. He ends up accidental roommates with Getty Caster- a woman who unbeknownst to Zander is on the same island to deal with her own issues. The question is can they help each other heal and move on together or will they end up tearing each other completely apart trying.

The character of Getty is so real to me- something that K. Bromberg is so good at it. All of her characters have pieces in them that make them so true that as a reader I feel they are me or I am them. This holds even more to with Getty. There is just something about her that I identify with down to my core. And then there is Zander, so much like the man who raised him yet so so different as well.

While Down Shift is a stand alone novel that I believe will read just fine on its own, I believe having read the original Driven series gives it such a richness that I am not sure you would get without the background.

If you are on the fence about reading this book? Just jump.

Sigh. I have been hoarding this book. Letting it sit on my Kindle in the carousel but always reading something else since it came out. I was trying to save it- so I had something to look forward to. But I finally caved- diving in with gusto to take a trip to Sweet Cheeks bakery.

This is a completely different realm of characters - no one really from the Driven series is in the book besides a quick mention of an ancillary character that I won't spoil- but will make Driven fans smile none the less.

As a Bromberg fan sure I was a little worried I would have trouble getting into this book with none of the original characters I fell in love with. And of course she proved that I didn't need to worry. This book- which brings readers somewhat less of the angst Bromberg is known for but still manages to work in all of the feels that get you right there- definitely did not disappoint. Let's just say when you are only 19 percent into a book and already fighting the tears...it's got ya!

And that's all I am going to give you- because anything more would be cheating you out of the opportunity to discover Saylor and Hayes (and Ryder!) yourselves and enjoy some cupcakes.

All I can say about The Player is AAAAHHHHHHHHH and I don't even like baseball that much.

I can say however that I absolutely LOVE Easton and Scout! I won't give you any spoilers about cocky baseball player Easton and the tough as nails Scout- the PT hired by the Austin Aces to rehab the injured Easton. I loved the story and the characters were the type of realistic and relatable characters I have come to expect from Bromberg. This book definitely leaves me wanting more at the end!