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The Jolvix Episodes #5
Eve in Overdrive
An edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller novella.
When an outspoken writer buys the car of her dreams, it turns into a full-speed nightmare.
Eve Alexopoulos is a journalist, but you’d be better off calling her what she really is: a professional troll-hunter. For a couple of years now, her column “What’s Your Problem, Bro?” has been exposing some of the most outrageous online trolls to hold them publicly accountable for their abusive behavior.
Her column has been so successful, she got a fat book advance—one big enough to afford a Sunray, the most cutting-edge vehicle available. Sleek, self-driving, solar-powered, with every car custom-programmed by an engineer at the tech goliath company Jolvix.
Too bad the engineer who programmed her new Sunray isn’t a big fan of Eve’s work.
Because now her life’s about to make a sharp U-turn into unthinkable terror.
Eve in Overdrive is one of the Jolvix Episodes, standalone psychological thrillers set in the same universe.
When an outspoken writer buys the car of her dreams, it turns into a full-speed nightmare.
Eve Alexopoulos is a journalist, but you’d be better off calling her what she really is: a professional troll-hunter. For a couple of years now, her column “What’s Your Problem, Bro?” has been exposing some of the most outrageous online trolls to hold them publicly accountable for their abusive behavior.
Her column has been so successful, she got a fat book advance—one big enough to afford a Sunray, the most cutting-edge vehicle available. Sleek, self-driving, solar-powered, with every car custom-programmed by an engineer at the tech goliath company Jolvix.
Too bad the engineer who programmed her new Sunray isn’t a big fan of Eve’s work.
Because now her life’s about to make a sharp U-turn into unthinkable terror.
Eve in Overdrive is one of the Jolvix Episodes, standalone psychological thrillers set in the same universe.
100 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 23, 2023
90 people are currently reading
843 people want to read
About the author
Faith Gardner
20 books930 followersFaith Gardner is the author of adult suspense and YA novels. She lives in the Bay Area with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
March 23, 2023
Update (March 23, 2023):
Bonus Epilogue titled The New Direction is available now. Check the author's website/newsletter. Loved it!
Publication Day! (March 23,2023)
4.5⭐ rounded up!
Eve Alexopoulos is a journalist who has made a name for herself through her column “What’s Your Problem, Bro?” which is dedicated to exposing trolls – not their names per se but details about their true identities and their lives based on information gleaned through some digital sleuthing on her part. Eve does not mince her words and she unabashedly goes after these people in an attempt to humiliate them and shut them down. Her column is successful, has proved profitable for the magazine where she works and garnered a book deal for her but needless to say has earned her a fair share of haters – trolls who just don’t troll her online but leave threats for her both at home and her workplace. Citing a potentially distressing work environment on account of the repeated threats and declining viewership, Eve’s boss decides to kill her column and reassign her to another segment. Dealing with flaming dogshit left at her door in the morning, a bomb hoax at work and now, a difficult conversation with her boss and her column being axed – it hasn’t been a good day for Eve. But she does have something to look forward to! Today is the day she finally gets to pick up her brand new solar-powered, custom-made Sunray – an extravagant purchase made with the advance she received for her forthcoming book. Her very own, self-driven car with all the bells and whistles, fully programmed for all her needs by…..drumroll please…Jolvix! What could possibly go wrong? Well…get ready for a wild ride…. this time, I mean it literally!
The fifth book in the inimitable Faith Gardner’s Jolvix Episodes series, Eve in Overdrive is UNPUTDOWNABLE! I don’t want to give away much more, but I will say that this intense edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller novella packs quite a punch. Eve’s fear is palpable as she fears for her life and her futile attempts to manipulate the situation in her favor dials the tension up a notch. I was actually holding my breath through some of the scenes. Some exceptional writing there! Once again, Faith Gardner gives us a fast-paced, gripping read in a futuristic setting that highlights how technology originally made to make our lives easier can be used as weapons against us. I can’t wait to read more from this immensely talented author in the future.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own!
Bonus Epilogue titled The New Direction is available now. Check the author's website/newsletter. Loved it!
Publication Day! (March 23,2023)
4.5⭐ rounded up!
Eve Alexopoulos is a journalist who has made a name for herself through her column “What’s Your Problem, Bro?” which is dedicated to exposing trolls – not their names per se but details about their true identities and their lives based on information gleaned through some digital sleuthing on her part. Eve does not mince her words and she unabashedly goes after these people in an attempt to humiliate them and shut them down. Her column is successful, has proved profitable for the magazine where she works and garnered a book deal for her but needless to say has earned her a fair share of haters – trolls who just don’t troll her online but leave threats for her both at home and her workplace. Citing a potentially distressing work environment on account of the repeated threats and declining viewership, Eve’s boss decides to kill her column and reassign her to another segment. Dealing with flaming dogshit left at her door in the morning, a bomb hoax at work and now, a difficult conversation with her boss and her column being axed – it hasn’t been a good day for Eve. But she does have something to look forward to! Today is the day she finally gets to pick up her brand new solar-powered, custom-made Sunray – an extravagant purchase made with the advance she received for her forthcoming book. Her very own, self-driven car with all the bells and whistles, fully programmed for all her needs by…..drumroll please…Jolvix! What could possibly go wrong? Well…get ready for a wild ride…. this time, I mean it literally!
The fifth book in the inimitable Faith Gardner’s Jolvix Episodes series, Eve in Overdrive is UNPUTDOWNABLE! I don’t want to give away much more, but I will say that this intense edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller novella packs quite a punch. Eve’s fear is palpable as she fears for her life and her futile attempts to manipulate the situation in her favor dials the tension up a notch. I was actually holding my breath through some of the scenes. Some exceptional writing there! Once again, Faith Gardner gives us a fast-paced, gripping read in a futuristic setting that highlights how technology originally made to make our lives easier can be used as weapons against us. I can’t wait to read more from this immensely talented author in the future.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own!
April 23, 2023
Eve in Overdrive by Faith Gardner is a Crazy, Wild Ride!
Eve Alexopoulos, journalist, columnist, writer, and professional troll hunter is also the proud owner of a brand new Sunray. It's a self-driving, solar-powered vehicle that's fully customized and programmed by an engineer from the tech behemoth, Jolvix.
Today, Eve's day gets off to a bit of a rough start, not a great morning, you might say. She decides to take the rest of the day off to pick-up her new Sunray from the dealership. After she drives off the lot and hits the highway, it turns into a really horrible, terrible, very bad day...
Eve in Overdrive, The Jolvix Episodes #5, is a crazy, wild ride and great way for me to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon. I couldn't and didn't want to stop reading. This is the second book I've read in this series and both have delivered a very different and unique 'near-future' experience.
I don't want to say too much though, as it's best to go in as blind as possible with this whip-fast novella. Do yourself a favor, don't read the synopsis, instead go directly to a book site to download this little gem on your favorite device. Then.Go.Read.It. You can thank me later.
I highly recommend! 4 stars!⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, Mirror House Press, and Faith Gardner for an ARC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
Eve Alexopoulos, journalist, columnist, writer, and professional troll hunter is also the proud owner of a brand new Sunray. It's a self-driving, solar-powered vehicle that's fully customized and programmed by an engineer from the tech behemoth, Jolvix.
Today, Eve's day gets off to a bit of a rough start, not a great morning, you might say. She decides to take the rest of the day off to pick-up her new Sunray from the dealership. After she drives off the lot and hits the highway, it turns into a really horrible, terrible, very bad day...
Eve in Overdrive, The Jolvix Episodes #5, is a crazy, wild ride and great way for me to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon. I couldn't and didn't want to stop reading. This is the second book I've read in this series and both have delivered a very different and unique 'near-future' experience.
I don't want to say too much though, as it's best to go in as blind as possible with this whip-fast novella. Do yourself a favor, don't read the synopsis, instead go directly to a book site to download this little gem on your favorite device. Then.Go.Read.It. You can thank me later.
I highly recommend! 4 stars!⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, Mirror House Press, and Faith Gardner for an ARC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
April 5, 2023
This story was Hell on wheels. 🔥
Faith Gardner is turning into a new go-to author for me as I’ve really been enjoying her stories from the Jolvix series. (bonus: you can read them in any order!)
They are very tech-forward and unique to anything you’ve probably read before.
This was such a readable story and I read it in one sitting!
Who knew self-driving cars could be so sinister?
I encourage my action-packed thriller friends to give this short read a try!
Free for Kindle Unlimited users right now. 😉
Faith Gardner is turning into a new go-to author for me as I’ve really been enjoying her stories from the Jolvix series. (bonus: you can read them in any order!)
They are very tech-forward and unique to anything you’ve probably read before.
This was such a readable story and I read it in one sitting!
Who knew self-driving cars could be so sinister?
I encourage my action-packed thriller friends to give this short read a try!
Free for Kindle Unlimited users right now. 😉
March 13, 2023
Eve is a journalist that makes her living writing a column called "What's Your Problem, Bro?" where she takes down online trolls and gives them a taste of their own medicine. Today is a special day for Eve because today she is picking up her brand new solar powered luxury car, a Sunray. She's worked hard to get to where she is and she's proud of herself for being able to afford such a vehicle.
Everything is a-okay as she's pulling out of the lot. Once she hits the freeway things take turn for the worst when she realizes she no longer has any control of the functions in the car. Then a voice comes through the sound system, "Hello Eve".
Eve's made an enemy and she'll have to keep her wits about her if she plans to live to see another day!
"Twinkle twinkle little star, I am dying in a car."
This novella was loads of fun! Eve is AWESOME!!! I loved her snarky humor. I admit that I have always dreamed of bringing down online trolls. Then I remember what the admirable Michelle Obama once said, "When they go low, we go high" and I immediately keep scrolling before I say something I'll regret BUT I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted. The villain here was so odd and creepy with his love of dollies. He's pretty much exactly what I picture an online troll to be like. Another win for Gardner and another fun spin in the world of Jolvix! 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Mirror House Press for my complimentary copy.
Everything is a-okay as she's pulling out of the lot. Once she hits the freeway things take turn for the worst when she realizes she no longer has any control of the functions in the car. Then a voice comes through the sound system, "Hello Eve".
Eve's made an enemy and she'll have to keep her wits about her if she plans to live to see another day!
"Twinkle twinkle little star, I am dying in a car."
This novella was loads of fun! Eve is AWESOME!!! I loved her snarky humor. I admit that I have always dreamed of bringing down online trolls. Then I remember what the admirable Michelle Obama once said, "When they go low, we go high" and I immediately keep scrolling before I say something I'll regret BUT I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted. The villain here was so odd and creepy with his love of dollies. He's pretty much exactly what I picture an online troll to be like. Another win for Gardner and another fun spin in the world of Jolvix! 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Mirror House Press for my complimentary copy.
March 23, 2023
3.5 stars and NOW AVAILABLE!
KARma
Eve Alexopoulos has made a name for herself by exposing online trolls in her column “What’s Your Problem, Bro?”
In fact, her columns kept going viral last year, allowing her to sign a book deal, and purchase a sleek, self driving, solar powered new vehicle called a Sunray-programmed specifically for her by a engineer from Jolvix.
But, others at “Said” are voicing concerns about working alongside Eve-as her columns are subjecting them to Anthrax scares and bomb threats, so her boss, Viv, has decided to shut the column down.
Afraid, she may have spent her book advance prematurely, Eve decides to take delivery of her new car, and enjoy a ride in it while she till has it- but unfortunately the Jolvix genius who coded the instructions for her vehicle is NOT a fan of her work.
Oh, Eve! You should have listened to your Mama’s advice!
This 59 page novella is part of the Jolvix episodes, stand-alone psychological thrillers which all take place in the same near-future universe, and can be read in any order.
The author, Faith Gardner explains that she enjoys reimagining tropes we have seen before (like Stephen King’s Christine for this one) in a futuristic setting-this time-one with self driving cars and trolls.
Also reminiscent of “The Passengers” by John Marrs, if you enjoyed that one! ❤️
KARma
Eve Alexopoulos has made a name for herself by exposing online trolls in her column “What’s Your Problem, Bro?”
In fact, her columns kept going viral last year, allowing her to sign a book deal, and purchase a sleek, self driving, solar powered new vehicle called a Sunray-programmed specifically for her by a engineer from Jolvix.
But, others at “Said” are voicing concerns about working alongside Eve-as her columns are subjecting them to Anthrax scares and bomb threats, so her boss, Viv, has decided to shut the column down.
Afraid, she may have spent her book advance prematurely, Eve decides to take delivery of her new car, and enjoy a ride in it while she till has it- but unfortunately the Jolvix genius who coded the instructions for her vehicle is NOT a fan of her work.
Oh, Eve! You should have listened to your Mama’s advice!
This 59 page novella is part of the Jolvix episodes, stand-alone psychological thrillers which all take place in the same near-future universe, and can be read in any order.
The author, Faith Gardner explains that she enjoys reimagining tropes we have seen before (like Stephen King’s Christine for this one) in a futuristic setting-this time-one with self driving cars and trolls.
Also reminiscent of “The Passengers” by John Marrs, if you enjoyed that one! ❤️
September 25, 2023
A very short, adrenaline-fueled story.
October 19, 2023
Twinkle twinkle little star, would you let me drive your car?🤩🚘
Eve Alexopoulos has made it!! She bought a brand new luxury "Sunray"; solar power, double battery, self-driving and it comes with all the bells and whistles!
Eve grew up poor, but she's a successful journalist at "Said" digital magazine. Her specialty is online troll hunting with a column she started, "What's Your Problem, Bro?" and has a book deal.
Eve's success comes with a price. She gets death threats, poo on her doorstep, the works. She can handle these things but her boss has decided that her column is done after a bomb hoax that scares other employees. Will Eve get fired? She already paid for the freaking car...!
OMG, this short story is wild! I love Gardner's sharp and snappy writing style. Eve In Overdrive is my 4th story by the author and is part of the Jolvix series that are all standalone stories. I wish the ending wasn't as rushed, but other than that it was quick and entertaining. Check it out if you enjoy light sci-fi psycho thrillers. You better buckle up and hold on tight for this one!
Thank you Mirror House Press for this DRC.
Published March 23, 2023. Now on Kindle Unlimited
February 18, 2023
In a Nutshell: A good novella set in the Jolvix universe. The pace went up and down, but the start was good enough, and the ending were unexpected.
Story Synopsis:
As this book is a standalone novella set in the Jolvix universe, we once again witness the lifestyle that is so dependent on AI. The focus this time is on self-driving cars. As it is, I am not a fan of driverless cars (They freak me out!), and Eve’s experience shows how creepy things can become with an overdependence on AI and technology.
On the pro side, the story is quite quick. This novella is just about 60 pages long, so it won’t take more than an hour at the most to complete it. Most of the plot is dedicated to Eve’s experience in the car, but there are a few flashbacks to help us understand her psyche. The spotlight it puts on trolls and their behaviour is quite interesting.
Eve is not exactly a likeable character; her spunk is balanced by her high-handed attitude. But she is a good lead for this story as we feel torn about how to feel regarding her predicament. Does she deserve it? Was she right in her attitude towards trolls? Should trolls be allowed a voice? Should people stand up to such bullies? Plenty of points to ponder over within these few pages.
Where the novella fails somewhat is in its pacing. When we are in the car with Eve, we feel her panic and worry. But the flashbacks regularly take us into her past, killing the momentum and flow of her present quandary.
The ending was a somewhat unexpected one, which leads me to round up my rating. (This author always surprises me with her unexpected endings.)
Recommended to those who enjoy reading futuristic psych stories. This isn’t Faith Gardner’s best (of the ones I’ve read) but it is worth a read.
3.5 stars, rounding up for its creativity.
My thanks to author Faith Gardner for providing me with a complimentary copy of ‘Eve in Overdrive’ at my request. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
Eve works for a digital magazine, writing a column that hunts online trolls and holding them publicly accountable for their toxic behaviour, but this has come at a cost: she now gets death threats and her office colleagues consider their work environment unsafe. With the huge success of her work having led to a book deal, Eve treats herself to a Sunray – a solar-powered self-driving car with all the latest features and each car being personalised to its owner. Little does Eve know that the engineer who was in charge of customising her car is not among her supporters.
The story comes to us in Eve’s first person pov.
As this book is a standalone novella set in the Jolvix universe, we once again witness the lifestyle that is so dependent on AI. The focus this time is on self-driving cars. As it is, I am not a fan of driverless cars (They freak me out!), and Eve’s experience shows how creepy things can become with an overdependence on AI and technology.
On the pro side, the story is quite quick. This novella is just about 60 pages long, so it won’t take more than an hour at the most to complete it. Most of the plot is dedicated to Eve’s experience in the car, but there are a few flashbacks to help us understand her psyche. The spotlight it puts on trolls and their behaviour is quite interesting.
Eve is not exactly a likeable character; her spunk is balanced by her high-handed attitude. But she is a good lead for this story as we feel torn about how to feel regarding her predicament. Does she deserve it? Was she right in her attitude towards trolls? Should trolls be allowed a voice? Should people stand up to such bullies? Plenty of points to ponder over within these few pages.
Where the novella fails somewhat is in its pacing. When we are in the car with Eve, we feel her panic and worry. But the flashbacks regularly take us into her past, killing the momentum and flow of her present quandary.
The ending was a somewhat unexpected one, which leads me to round up my rating. (This author always surprises me with her unexpected endings.)
Recommended to those who enjoy reading futuristic psych stories. This isn’t Faith Gardner’s best (of the ones I’ve read) but it is worth a read.
3.5 stars, rounding up for its creativity.
My thanks to author Faith Gardner for providing me with a complimentary copy of ‘Eve in Overdrive’ at my request. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
March 23, 2023
4.5🌟
Buckle up, Eve!
Eve is an online journalist who’s become a sensation after devoting her writing to calling out trolls! (You go, girl!) But after a recent bomb scare, her company may have no taste for this kind of heat.
Hey Eve, how about a nice quiet, leisurely drive in your brand new Jolvix car to explore new horizons…so to speak. 😉
Big problem though. The last troll Eve just outed happens to be the same Jolvix engineer who programmed her car! (oh oh!).
If this were a movie, we’d be shouting at the screen, “Don’t do it Eve!"
Once again, Faith Gardner has given us a peek into the future with Jolvix and their latest Sunray solar powered, self-driving luxury car! What an imagination! It’s got just enough sci-fi to scare me silly. But realistic enough to know this indeed may be part of our future. (Not for this gal!)
Amen Maxine remains my favorite of this series. But this latest novella is definitely a close second!
Ok, Faith! I’m ready for my next Jolvix installment!🚗🚘
Thank you to NetGalley and Mirror House Press
Buckle up, Eve!
Eve is an online journalist who’s become a sensation after devoting her writing to calling out trolls! (You go, girl!) But after a recent bomb scare, her company may have no taste for this kind of heat.
Hey Eve, how about a nice quiet, leisurely drive in your brand new Jolvix car to explore new horizons…so to speak. 😉
Big problem though. The last troll Eve just outed happens to be the same Jolvix engineer who programmed her car! (oh oh!).
If this were a movie, we’d be shouting at the screen, “Don’t do it Eve!"
Once again, Faith Gardner has given us a peek into the future with Jolvix and their latest Sunray solar powered, self-driving luxury car! What an imagination! It’s got just enough sci-fi to scare me silly. But realistic enough to know this indeed may be part of our future. (Not for this gal!)
Amen Maxine remains my favorite of this series. But this latest novella is definitely a close second!
Ok, Faith! I’m ready for my next Jolvix installment!🚗🚘
Thank you to NetGalley and Mirror House Press
March 17, 2023
Eve in Overdrive is another installment of the Jolvix series. This is a roller coaster ride from start to finish. Eve’s world is rocked when her self driving car is controlled by someone seeking vengeance and retribution. “Twinkle twinkle little star, I am dying in a car.” I loved Amen Maxine and enjoyed this installment too. Can’t wait to read the other books in this series.
May 3, 2023
"Twinkle twinkle little star, I am dying in a car."
This novella is the is the 5th installment of The Jolvix Episodes which can all be read individually and in no particular order. Faith Gardner is an extremely creative writer and I love that the stories are all so diverse and unlike any other in the series, yet they all have the common thread of the tech company Jolvix. This story involves a self driving car that takes Eve on the ride of her life. 3.5 stars rounded up.
Available in the Kindle Unlimited library. Also, a bonus epilogue is available when you sign up for the author's newsletter.
This novella is the is the 5th installment of The Jolvix Episodes which can all be read individually and in no particular order. Faith Gardner is an extremely creative writer and I love that the stories are all so diverse and unlike any other in the series, yet they all have the common thread of the tech company Jolvix. This story involves a self driving car that takes Eve on the ride of her life. 3.5 stars rounded up.
Available in the Kindle Unlimited library. Also, a bonus epilogue is available when you sign up for the author's newsletter.
March 25, 2023
4.5 Stars. This is the 5th book in the exciting Jolvix series and is available from Kindle Unlimited. Jolvix is the leading innovator in technology in the near future. With the rapid strides we have seen in technical advances, the stories are believable and worrisome. Starting with Amen, Maxine, the author Faith Gardner, manages to put a unique spin on the SciFi genre, with the future almost upon us. She packs more suspense and tension in the short book 'Eve in Overdrive' (96 pages) than most writers manage to include in average-length volumes. This was a propulsive, edge-of-your-seat thriller.
Eve is a journalist who writes a column that expresses her disdain for online trolls who demean and harass innocent people for their warped pleasure. She follows their online presence gathering information to expose them in her articles 'What's Your Problem, Bro?' Although they are not named, there is enough information for people to identify them. Eve's exposures can be very harsh and sarcastic, with the hopes of ending their online cruelty. Now Eve has become the target of anger, a victim of rage, nasty tricks, threats, and vile emails. The news office has received a bomb threat in retaliation for her writings. Her written exposures are to be stopped, and Eve has been reassigned.
She has a profitable book deal to publish her articles in book form. With the advance, she is thrilled to be able to purchase her dream car, an expensive, solar-powered, self-driven Sunray. It is custom-made by Jolvix and programmed with information to respond to her wishes and commands.
She is excited that the car knows so much information about her, is equipped with her frequent addresses and contacts, can charge her devices wirelessly, and has a screen for video chatting while the car drives itself to her destinations.
Everything goes well until the car's programs change, and a man's voice is heard. She is alarmed to find the car is now controlled by a man she humiliated publicly in her column. He is guiding the vehicle remotely from his home. He worked for Jolvix and programmed her car to get revenge. Eve finds herself locked in the vehicle as it proceeds from California through Arizona, Texas and Louisiana. He says he has programmed the car to go cross country to Florida and threatens to kill her. He blames Eve for ruining his life by making him a laughing stock, causing him to be fired, and devastating his mother, with whom he lives.
Eve is now kidnapped and a prisoner in her new car. Her phone no longer charges, so she cannot call for help. The windows are blackened, and the glass is shatter-proof. She must gather all her wits to convince the man to let her go. She responds to his angry and threatening voice by praising him and then with rudeness, sarcasm, pleading, and silence, all to no avail. She can see his mother on screen arguing with him. She is terrified, and it seems hopeless. What will the outcome be?
At the end of the book, there is an opportunity to download a final chapter called ' New Direction.'
Things may not be looking good for Jolvix.
Eve is a journalist who writes a column that expresses her disdain for online trolls who demean and harass innocent people for their warped pleasure. She follows their online presence gathering information to expose them in her articles 'What's Your Problem, Bro?' Although they are not named, there is enough information for people to identify them. Eve's exposures can be very harsh and sarcastic, with the hopes of ending their online cruelty. Now Eve has become the target of anger, a victim of rage, nasty tricks, threats, and vile emails. The news office has received a bomb threat in retaliation for her writings. Her written exposures are to be stopped, and Eve has been reassigned.
She has a profitable book deal to publish her articles in book form. With the advance, she is thrilled to be able to purchase her dream car, an expensive, solar-powered, self-driven Sunray. It is custom-made by Jolvix and programmed with information to respond to her wishes and commands.
She is excited that the car knows so much information about her, is equipped with her frequent addresses and contacts, can charge her devices wirelessly, and has a screen for video chatting while the car drives itself to her destinations.
Everything goes well until the car's programs change, and a man's voice is heard. She is alarmed to find the car is now controlled by a man she humiliated publicly in her column. He is guiding the vehicle remotely from his home. He worked for Jolvix and programmed her car to get revenge. Eve finds herself locked in the vehicle as it proceeds from California through Arizona, Texas and Louisiana. He says he has programmed the car to go cross country to Florida and threatens to kill her. He blames Eve for ruining his life by making him a laughing stock, causing him to be fired, and devastating his mother, with whom he lives.
Eve is now kidnapped and a prisoner in her new car. Her phone no longer charges, so she cannot call for help. The windows are blackened, and the glass is shatter-proof. She must gather all her wits to convince the man to let her go. She responds to his angry and threatening voice by praising him and then with rudeness, sarcasm, pleading, and silence, all to no avail. She can see his mother on screen arguing with him. She is terrified, and it seems hopeless. What will the outcome be?
At the end of the book, there is an opportunity to download a final chapter called ' New Direction.'
Things may not be looking good for Jolvix.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2023
This is the second book I have read of Faith Gardner after ‘Amen Maxine’ and this has a technology & AI backdrop as well. This is a fairly short, easy to read and very entertaining story.
Eve is a journalist with the Said magazine, who has a popular column “What’s Your Problem, Bro?” which calls out online trolls. She does not directly identify them, but posts details of their behaviour. A flashback tells us that Eve was always the bold person – once calling out abusive behaviour on a bus when nobody else was willing to do so or even support her. She receives threats frequently for what she writes. While her column might end soon she has a good book advance, and buys herself a new solar powered, automatic AI powered self-driving car – a Sunray from the company Jolvix. A short while after she takes possession of the car, she is stunned when the car stops responding to her instructions and she hears a voice – Henry, an engineer with Jolvix, one of the people she has written about in her column. A wild ride is to follow.
This is a very entertaining story which sticks to a minimal set of characters and a simple plot. The interactions between Eve and Henry make for interesting reading but fall short of being imaginative. I liked the story for its simplicity, but the novelty element in the storyline wore off past half-way.
A quick light read!
My rating: 3.75 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, Mirror House Press and the author for a free electronic review copy of the book.
Eve is a journalist with the Said magazine, who has a popular column “What’s Your Problem, Bro?” which calls out online trolls. She does not directly identify them, but posts details of their behaviour. A flashback tells us that Eve was always the bold person – once calling out abusive behaviour on a bus when nobody else was willing to do so or even support her. She receives threats frequently for what she writes. While her column might end soon she has a good book advance, and buys herself a new solar powered, automatic AI powered self-driving car – a Sunray from the company Jolvix. A short while after she takes possession of the car, she is stunned when the car stops responding to her instructions and she hears a voice – Henry, an engineer with Jolvix, one of the people she has written about in her column. A wild ride is to follow.
This is a very entertaining story which sticks to a minimal set of characters and a simple plot. The interactions between Eve and Henry make for interesting reading but fall short of being imaginative. I liked the story for its simplicity, but the novelty element in the storyline wore off past half-way.
A quick light read!
My rating: 3.75 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, Mirror House Press and the author for a free electronic review copy of the book.
March 12, 2023
I will say reading the entire series and loving it, this one fell flat. I liked the idea of Eve trying to confront keyboard warriors aka trolls in both the physical and computer aspects and applaud her for that. That concept worked for me, however my pet peeve is rude people and have been in her position(do you say something or be silent), but the idea of Henry and his plight just didn't work for me. I can't put my finger on it but something was amiss for me, maybe because it was a novella. I love this series but if I had to rank this is the lowest out of them all.
At the end the author said she had a crossover character. Can you all help me on that one as I somehow missed. it.
Thank you to Netgalley, publisher and author for my advanced copy.
At the end the author said she had a crossover character. Can you all help me on that one as I somehow missed. it.
Thank you to Netgalley, publisher and author for my advanced copy.
March 31, 2023
A serious and sobering look at the effects of cancel culture on innocent young men trolling women online.
Totally kidding, those dorks got what they deserved!
Eve is having a bad day. She woke up to flaming dog poop on her porch, bomb threats at work, and her troll-hunting column was just canceled by her boss because of the scrutiny and danger it is bringing to the office.
The only highlight is that Eve gets her new Sunray today.. but like everything else in this story, the thrill of the ride has been hijacked by a troll and she's in for one hell of a ride. Or if Mama's listening, one heck of a ride.
Loved this fun and fast read! It ended a bit abruptly and I didn't love it as much as Maxine but I love all of the books in this series and their Black Mirror vibes.
Totally kidding, those dorks got what they deserved!
Eve is having a bad day. She woke up to flaming dog poop on her porch, bomb threats at work, and her troll-hunting column was just canceled by her boss because of the scrutiny and danger it is bringing to the office.
The only highlight is that Eve gets her new Sunray today.. but like everything else in this story, the thrill of the ride has been hijacked by a troll and she's in for one hell of a ride. Or if Mama's listening, one heck of a ride.
Loved this fun and fast read! It ended a bit abruptly and I didn't love it as much as Maxine but I love all of the books in this series and their Black Mirror vibes.
March 25, 2023
A great little escape of a novella on a rainy day!
March 5, 2023
4½⭐
…the bullet points
- short story in the near-future world of the Jolvix Episodes
- sci-fi psychological thriller
- self-driving cars
- Revenge theme
- she nailed the ending!
Short stories don’t always work for me. They either aren’t developed enough or completely flop the ending. This didn’t do either of those. I was actually able to get to know the MC and I found myself thinking that I kind of liked her. I mean she has her flaws, but who doesn’t...and at least she had some growth. While it did have some slight OTT at times it did make up for it by delivering a proper ending. This series can be read in any order and each story is separate from the others. So…if you haven’t tried any of Jolvix Episodes, this could be a good place to start.
...the score
➨ 8.93/10 | Opening-9 | Characters-8.5 | Plot-8.5 | Atmosphere-9 | Writing Style-9.5 | Ending-9 | Overall Enjoyment- 9
…the bullet points
- short story in the near-future world of the Jolvix Episodes
- sci-fi psychological thriller
- self-driving cars
- Revenge theme
- she nailed the ending!
Short stories don’t always work for me. They either aren’t developed enough or completely flop the ending. This didn’t do either of those. I was actually able to get to know the MC and I found myself thinking that I kind of liked her. I mean she has her flaws, but who doesn’t...and at least she had some growth. While it did have some slight OTT at times it did make up for it by delivering a proper ending. This series can be read in any order and each story is separate from the others. So…if you haven’t tried any of Jolvix Episodes, this could be a good place to start.
...the score
➨ 8.93/10 | Opening-9 | Characters-8.5 | Plot-8.5 | Atmosphere-9 | Writing Style-9.5 | Ending-9 | Overall Enjoyment- 9
April 7, 2023
I am a fan of The Jolvix Episodes, and this book was a LOT of action packed into a 98-page novella! The self-driving car concept made me think of The Passengers by John Marrs (which I absolutely loved!)
I don't want to say too much, but I will say that this is an awesome addition to The Jolvix Episodes franchise! (The Jolvix Episodes books can be read in any order!)
I don't want to say too much, but I will say that this is an awesome addition to The Jolvix Episodes franchise! (The Jolvix Episodes books can be read in any order!)
November 21, 2023
Eve Alexopoulos writes a column which goes after online trolls. Called “What’s Your Problem, Bro?” it exposes the trolls' misogynistic & abusive behaviour, & it has been very successful. Successful enough that Eve is about to take delivery of a new top-of-the-range, self-driving solar-powered car - the Sunray, programmed by Jolvix. As Eve leaves the showroom in her new car, things take a sudden turn as the car's system is taken over by an engineer who is definitely not a fan of Eve's work.
Ever since self-drive cars were announced as a possibility, I've wondered about people hacking them & causing mayhem. This is a novella of about 100 pages & the action starts pretty much straight away as Eve is held hostage in her luxury car at the whim of an angry man. The narrative deals with the fact that trolls feel empowered to bully others behind the safety of anonymity & don't like it when the tables are turned. Eve's a difficult character to like at first, she's rather harsh & acerbic, but she's also smart. I liked the odd touches of future technology with 'Mr Droidburger', a fast-food outlet staffed entirely by robots - makes you consider where we are heading.
I enjoyed this one, not as much as Amen Maxine, but it's not fair to compare them really as a full-length novel versus a novella. Looking forward to reading the rest of the Jolvix universe books.
Ever since self-drive cars were announced as a possibility, I've wondered about people hacking them & causing mayhem. This is a novella of about 100 pages & the action starts pretty much straight away as Eve is held hostage in her luxury car at the whim of an angry man. The narrative deals with the fact that trolls feel empowered to bully others behind the safety of anonymity & don't like it when the tables are turned. Eve's a difficult character to like at first, she's rather harsh & acerbic, but she's also smart. I liked the odd touches of future technology with 'Mr Droidburger', a fast-food outlet staffed entirely by robots - makes you consider where we are heading.
I enjoyed this one, not as much as Amen Maxine, but it's not fair to compare them really as a full-length novel versus a novella. Looking forward to reading the rest of the Jolvix universe books.
February 19, 2023
I'm a huge fan of The Jolvix Episodes and this novella was such a wonderful treat! Once again, Faith Gardner delivers a creative premise + razor-sharp social commentary + heart-pounding action + a kickass protagonist in a book you'll devour in no time. I am seriously in awe of the author's ingenuity and how she constantly comes up with such brilliant stories.
A super enjoyable read overall and I can't wait for the next one!
Thank you to the author for a free digital copy via her newsletter.
Favourite quotes:
✨ "Media suffer from a desperate need to be first, to post the first hot take, the first takedown, the first spin on a viral video. But at the wise age of twenty-seven and having worked in the industry now for three years, I've begun to realize that nothing is actually that urgent."
✨ "When you've pissed them off this much, you know you're doing something right."
✨ "So I smile. And I do what most women have learned to do at some point in their life: dissociate. Build a private rocket ship and blast away. Forget you have a body. Because sometime, when someone steals your autonomy, that's all you can do."
A super enjoyable read overall and I can't wait for the next one!
Thank you to the author for a free digital copy via her newsletter.
Favourite quotes:
✨ "Media suffer from a desperate need to be first, to post the first hot take, the first takedown, the first spin on a viral video. But at the wise age of twenty-seven and having worked in the industry now for three years, I've begun to realize that nothing is actually that urgent."
✨ "When you've pissed them off this much, you know you're doing something right."
✨ "So I smile. And I do what most women have learned to do at some point in their life: dissociate. Build a private rocket ship and blast away. Forget you have a body. Because sometime, when someone steals your autonomy, that's all you can do."
November 3, 2023
Title: Eve In Overdrive
Author: Faith Gardner
Publisher: Mirror House Press
Publication Date: February 28, 2023
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Eve In Overdrive is another exciting standalone thriller in the Jolvix Episodes, one of my favorite series by indie author, Faith Gardner. In this episode, we meet Eve Alexopolous-a journalist who has a knack for going after some of the most notorious online trolls and confronting them in her outrageous column, "What's Your Problem, Bro?"and holding them accountable for their disgusting behavior. Her column has been such a great success that it has landed her a huge book deal with a cash advance to match. Eve celebrates her success by purchasing a Sunray, a self-driving state-of-the-art car powered by Jolvix technology. What Eve does not know is that the Jolvix engineer who programmed her new car is not a fan of her column, and now Eve is in for a ride from Hell.
One of my favorite things about this series is that the author expertly incorporates high-tech science fiction while remaining true to the thriller genre. So if you are not a fan of science fiction, please don't discount this series right away! If you are a fan of thrillers and tv series such as Black Mirror, I highly recommend Eve In Overdrive and the entire Jolvix Episodes series.
#eveinoverdrive #thejolvixepisodes #faithgardner #booktok #thrillertok #spookybooks #horrortok #horrorbooks #booksofhorror #bookrecs #bookreviewer #fyp #fypシ゚ #thebookishbitch
Author: Faith Gardner
Publisher: Mirror House Press
Publication Date: February 28, 2023
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Eve In Overdrive is another exciting standalone thriller in the Jolvix Episodes, one of my favorite series by indie author, Faith Gardner. In this episode, we meet Eve Alexopolous-a journalist who has a knack for going after some of the most notorious online trolls and confronting them in her outrageous column, "What's Your Problem, Bro?"and holding them accountable for their disgusting behavior. Her column has been such a great success that it has landed her a huge book deal with a cash advance to match. Eve celebrates her success by purchasing a Sunray, a self-driving state-of-the-art car powered by Jolvix technology. What Eve does not know is that the Jolvix engineer who programmed her new car is not a fan of her column, and now Eve is in for a ride from Hell.
One of my favorite things about this series is that the author expertly incorporates high-tech science fiction while remaining true to the thriller genre. So if you are not a fan of science fiction, please don't discount this series right away! If you are a fan of thrillers and tv series such as Black Mirror, I highly recommend Eve In Overdrive and the entire Jolvix Episodes series.
#eveinoverdrive #thejolvixepisodes #faithgardner #booktok #thrillertok #spookybooks #horrortok #horrorbooks #booksofhorror #bookrecs #bookreviewer #fyp #fypシ゚ #thebookishbitch
August 9, 2023
This was my first book by this author and it definitely won't be my last. Why did I wait so long to read her books. This was so unique, so different from the usual thrillers I read and I am here for it !
This is the 5th installment in the Jolvix episodes and it's a novella. They can all be read in any order. I truly loved the near future aspect of these, how crazy technology is evolving and how scary it's becoming. This book was very unique and I loved it. This is a one sitting bingeable read that you will not want to put down. It's small but packs a great punch.
I went in completely blind and loved my experience, I would recommend everyone to do the same. I was honestly on the edge of my seat through it all to see what the outcome would be.
I loved Gardner's writing style it was so engaging, addictive and easy flowing. This story was fast paced and never let up. I am definitely picking up the others in this series.
If you're looking for a short action packed thriller do yourself a favor and pick up this little gem!
✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @mirrorhousepress & @faith.gardner for my free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the 5th installment in the Jolvix episodes and it's a novella. They can all be read in any order. I truly loved the near future aspect of these, how crazy technology is evolving and how scary it's becoming. This book was very unique and I loved it. This is a one sitting bingeable read that you will not want to put down. It's small but packs a great punch.
I went in completely blind and loved my experience, I would recommend everyone to do the same. I was honestly on the edge of my seat through it all to see what the outcome would be.
I loved Gardner's writing style it was so engaging, addictive and easy flowing. This story was fast paced and never let up. I am definitely picking up the others in this series.
If you're looking for a short action packed thriller do yourself a favor and pick up this little gem!
✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @mirrorhousepress & @faith.gardner for my free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 27, 2023
If you are looking for a fast paced thriller with an awesome female main character this book is for you! This quirky thriller will have you on the edge of your seat!
March 12, 2023
“There is no such thing as the life you had before."
I read Eve in Overdrive back in November when it was offered as a newsletter exclusive but I loved it so much I wanted to read it again. I've always been a fan of Stephen King's Christine and this fast paced novella is a modern, technologically advanced take on that.
Eve has found success through writing her column "What's Your Problem, Bro?", profiling online trolls and exposing who these bullies are in real life in an effort to hold them accountable for their behavior. She has earned such great success that she's offered a lucrative book deal and she uses the advance to buy a Sunray, a luxury solar-powered, self-driving car that's customized and programmed by an engineer at Jolvix.
Not everyone appreciates Eve's column, however, most notably the people she writes about. She's accustomed to receiving death threats and perhaps she's inviting danger into her life but she wants to speak up in the face of unfair treatment instead of remaining complacent. Unfortunately, Henry, the engineer who has programmed her car, is one of the trolls she wrote about.
What a wild ride!! Now Eve is trapped in her car, controlled remotely by this unhinged psychopath, her fate in his hands. The tension never stopped as I took this ride with Eve, constantly wondering what Henry was going to do and what would happen to Eve. What was his endgame? Not only was this story reminiscent of Christine, but I also felt vibes from Speed, a movie I absolutely loved. Would Eve ever escape this madness?
"It occurred to me at that moment that I didn’t understand humanity at all."
I thought Eve was the perfect character for this story, a snarky, determined badass. Despite her predicament, she was strong and fierce and I couldn't stop anticipating how this would all play out. Henry fit the role of online troll well too, morally gray in terms of the things he viewed as wrong as he tried to justify his actions throughout. He was utterly creeptastic and the perfect combination of deranged and intimidating, always seeming to be just one step away from going further off the rails. Buckle your seat belt and get ready for a crazy ride! Another winner from Faith Gardner!
"I don’t know how I could have done the right thing in that situation. Maybe there was no “right thing” to do."
The ending came together in the perfect twist of fate and it made this entire crazy journey all the more worthwhile. Ultimately, this was a story about people taking responsibility for the consequences of their actions. In any situation, when your freedom and autonomy are taken away, hold true to your convictions and fight for what you believe in by using your voice instead of staying silent. And that is how justice will inevitably be served.
** Special thanks to author Faith Gardner, Mirror House Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Quotes subject to change at time of publication. Available March 23, 2023. **
I read Eve in Overdrive back in November when it was offered as a newsletter exclusive but I loved it so much I wanted to read it again. I've always been a fan of Stephen King's Christine and this fast paced novella is a modern, technologically advanced take on that.
Eve has found success through writing her column "What's Your Problem, Bro?", profiling online trolls and exposing who these bullies are in real life in an effort to hold them accountable for their behavior. She has earned such great success that she's offered a lucrative book deal and she uses the advance to buy a Sunray, a luxury solar-powered, self-driving car that's customized and programmed by an engineer at Jolvix.
Not everyone appreciates Eve's column, however, most notably the people she writes about. She's accustomed to receiving death threats and perhaps she's inviting danger into her life but she wants to speak up in the face of unfair treatment instead of remaining complacent. Unfortunately, Henry, the engineer who has programmed her car, is one of the trolls she wrote about.
What a wild ride!! Now Eve is trapped in her car, controlled remotely by this unhinged psychopath, her fate in his hands. The tension never stopped as I took this ride with Eve, constantly wondering what Henry was going to do and what would happen to Eve. What was his endgame? Not only was this story reminiscent of Christine, but I also felt vibes from Speed, a movie I absolutely loved. Would Eve ever escape this madness?
"It occurred to me at that moment that I didn’t understand humanity at all."
I thought Eve was the perfect character for this story, a snarky, determined badass. Despite her predicament, she was strong and fierce and I couldn't stop anticipating how this would all play out. Henry fit the role of online troll well too, morally gray in terms of the things he viewed as wrong as he tried to justify his actions throughout. He was utterly creeptastic and the perfect combination of deranged and intimidating, always seeming to be just one step away from going further off the rails. Buckle your seat belt and get ready for a crazy ride! Another winner from Faith Gardner!
"I don’t know how I could have done the right thing in that situation. Maybe there was no “right thing” to do."
The ending came together in the perfect twist of fate and it made this entire crazy journey all the more worthwhile. Ultimately, this was a story about people taking responsibility for the consequences of their actions. In any situation, when your freedom and autonomy are taken away, hold true to your convictions and fight for what you believe in by using your voice instead of staying silent. And that is how justice will inevitably be served.
** Special thanks to author Faith Gardner, Mirror House Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Quotes subject to change at time of publication. Available March 23, 2023. **
May 16, 2023
This. Book. This. Book! I can’t. I just can’t. It was too good.
Ok, I was not expecting anything less than very good from it, but it was just Too Damn Good.
First, it is a quick read. 100-something pages maybe? A really quick read. A quick fix, if you crave something good and right now.
I might be a little bit biased here, as I have serious issues with everything Faith Gardner writes. I fell in love with her writing from the first pages of her Amen Maxine and that happened almost a year ago. I love both her storytelling and her quirky language. She has her own way with words, and this book might be taking even a step further than her other books language-wise.
The story here… it is a scary one. Or it is super scary just for me because I have serious, serious issues with the idea of any self-driving car, of any self-moving-whatever. I can also be easily frightened shitless if I am sitting next to someone in a car and that someone starts bragging how tHiS cAr iS sO SmArT LoOk nO hAnDs tHe cAr kNoWs wHaT neEdS To bE dOnE. No. Just NO. That is the easiest shortcut to making me feel way too uncomfortable to be driving anywhere with that person again. Or to trust that person for that matter. But would I ever EVER get in a fully automated, fully AI, fully self-driving car? HELL NO. The scenario from this book was not even one to fuel any of my fears there, but this one – yup, welcome, added a new fear to the mix.
But I’m ok, you know. I like scary books and I choose to read scary books, and I like to be frightened BY BOOKS.
This book is not “full of crazy people” like most psychological thrillers are. There is just one crazy person, but this crazy person is so crazy that it is crazy and crazy enough.
Also, another thing I LOVED about this book – the little thing going all through this book, the thing about being a decent human being, about acting like a decent human being, about doing what you believe is the right thing, and having your own voice. LOVED IT.
Ok, I was not expecting anything less than very good from it, but it was just Too Damn Good.
First, it is a quick read. 100-something pages maybe? A really quick read. A quick fix, if you crave something good and right now.
I might be a little bit biased here, as I have serious issues with everything Faith Gardner writes. I fell in love with her writing from the first pages of her Amen Maxine and that happened almost a year ago. I love both her storytelling and her quirky language. She has her own way with words, and this book might be taking even a step further than her other books language-wise.
The story here… it is a scary one. Or it is super scary just for me because I have serious, serious issues with the idea of any self-driving car, of any self-moving-whatever. I can also be easily frightened shitless if I am sitting next to someone in a car and that someone starts bragging how tHiS cAr iS sO SmArT LoOk nO hAnDs tHe cAr kNoWs wHaT neEdS To bE dOnE. No. Just NO. That is the easiest shortcut to making me feel way too uncomfortable to be driving anywhere with that person again. Or to trust that person for that matter. But would I ever EVER get in a fully automated, fully AI, fully self-driving car? HELL NO. The scenario from this book was not even one to fuel any of my fears there, but this one – yup, welcome, added a new fear to the mix.
But I’m ok, you know. I like scary books and I choose to read scary books, and I like to be frightened BY BOOKS.
This book is not “full of crazy people” like most psychological thrillers are. There is just one crazy person, but this crazy person is so crazy that it is crazy and crazy enough.
Also, another thing I LOVED about this book – the little thing going all through this book, the thing about being a decent human being, about acting like a decent human being, about doing what you believe is the right thing, and having your own voice. LOVED IT.
March 12, 2023
Hunka Munka......
This one has teeth.
Faith Gardner does it again with her fourth edition in her Jolvix Series. Gardner has a windstorm of creativity circulating in all the corners and niches in her mind. She can come up with a stellar idea in the time it takes the average individual to replace the cap on the toothpaste tube. Done. Delivered. Top notch.
Eve Alexopoulos arrives at her office building running late and out of breath as usual. There's a load of police vehicles surrounding the building including EMS at the ready. A bomb scare this time. Oh, and the party that flipped the switch on this one begins with a capital "E".
Eve is an investigative journalist at digital Said Magazine. She sniffs out trolls like a dog with a bone. And she makes these bottom feeders pay with outing their identity to the public. "What's Your Problem, Bro?" is a massive success until the blowback is no longer profiting the magazine.
The Troll Nation doesn't like to be outed and they respond with making Eve's life miserable. From exploding dog poop on her doorstep to.....well, yeah, bomb scares.....they've cornered her.
Add to that the fact that that cup of coffee her boss just took her out for had a big price tag. She's fired. Speaking of big price tags, Eve signed on the dotted line for a brand new Sunray solar powered car. And here's where the story starts to bite back. Eve will be the next best thing to a hood ornament on that sleek bolt of lightning on four wheels.
If you haven't had the pleasure of reading a Faith Gardner novel, get crackin'. They all read as standalones. My favorite is Amen Maxine. Gardner is a force. She's the gift that keeps on giving. Grab one immediately if not sooner.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Mirror House Press and the talented Faith Gardner for the opportunity.
This one has teeth.
Faith Gardner does it again with her fourth edition in her Jolvix Series. Gardner has a windstorm of creativity circulating in all the corners and niches in her mind. She can come up with a stellar idea in the time it takes the average individual to replace the cap on the toothpaste tube. Done. Delivered. Top notch.
Eve Alexopoulos arrives at her office building running late and out of breath as usual. There's a load of police vehicles surrounding the building including EMS at the ready. A bomb scare this time. Oh, and the party that flipped the switch on this one begins with a capital "E".
Eve is an investigative journalist at digital Said Magazine. She sniffs out trolls like a dog with a bone. And she makes these bottom feeders pay with outing their identity to the public. "What's Your Problem, Bro?" is a massive success until the blowback is no longer profiting the magazine.
The Troll Nation doesn't like to be outed and they respond with making Eve's life miserable. From exploding dog poop on her doorstep to.....well, yeah, bomb scares.....they've cornered her.
Add to that the fact that that cup of coffee her boss just took her out for had a big price tag. She's fired. Speaking of big price tags, Eve signed on the dotted line for a brand new Sunray solar powered car. And here's where the story starts to bite back. Eve will be the next best thing to a hood ornament on that sleek bolt of lightning on four wheels.
If you haven't had the pleasure of reading a Faith Gardner novel, get crackin'. They all read as standalones. My favorite is Amen Maxine. Gardner is a force. She's the gift that keeps on giving. Grab one immediately if not sooner.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Mirror House Press and the talented Faith Gardner for the opportunity.
July 8, 2023
What a wild ride!
Eve is a journalist who exposes online trolls, mostly ones that viciously attack women through fake accounts. She’s had an insurmountable amount of success from her column, but with it comes risks. She’s constantly getting hate emails, dog poop on her doorstep, and her work building is always receiving bomb threats. Her colleagues and her boss are over it. She still takes pride in the fact that her hard work has granted her enough money to buy a new car — a self-driving one, at that — so after a terse conversation with her manager, she decides to pick it up early from the dealer. What she soon realises, is that she’s now trapped in the car as it’s speeding down the freeway towards god knows where — and one of the trolls she exposed is the one who has programmed her car.
I’ve been enjoying the Jolvix series so much, I had to pick up this one. I liked the fact that it was short, I was hoping it would be fast paced and punchy. This book definitely didn’t disappoint, it was wicked and sweat inducing at times. I do wish there were more moments of the car itself being erratically unstoppable, that would’ve added some frightening elements to it. But the troll behind the programming of the car taunting her along the way was still unsettling.
I DID NOT expect that ending!!!!
My rating went up to a 4/5 because of the ending!
Overall a great short story and perfect for anyone wanting something thrilling to read on a road trip or poolside!
Eve is a journalist who exposes online trolls, mostly ones that viciously attack women through fake accounts. She’s had an insurmountable amount of success from her column, but with it comes risks. She’s constantly getting hate emails, dog poop on her doorstep, and her work building is always receiving bomb threats. Her colleagues and her boss are over it. She still takes pride in the fact that her hard work has granted her enough money to buy a new car — a self-driving one, at that — so after a terse conversation with her manager, she decides to pick it up early from the dealer. What she soon realises, is that she’s now trapped in the car as it’s speeding down the freeway towards god knows where — and one of the trolls she exposed is the one who has programmed her car.
I’ve been enjoying the Jolvix series so much, I had to pick up this one. I liked the fact that it was short, I was hoping it would be fast paced and punchy. This book definitely didn’t disappoint, it was wicked and sweat inducing at times. I do wish there were more moments of the car itself being erratically unstoppable, that would’ve added some frightening elements to it. But the troll behind the programming of the car taunting her along the way was still unsettling.
I DID NOT expect that ending!!!!
My rating went up to a 4/5 because of the ending!
Overall a great short story and perfect for anyone wanting something thrilling to read on a road trip or poolside!
August 8, 2023
Eve in Overdrive is a psychological thriller novella. It’s a quick read (took me thirty minutes) and it’s best to read it in one sitting.
Journalist Eve Alexopoulos doesn’t cover the hard-hitting news as such. However, her column “What’s Your Problem, Bro?” certainly ruffles more than a few feathers as she targets and outs online trolls. The problem is that sometimes the trolls fight back.
When Eve is offered a huge cash advance on a book based on her column, she decides to splurge on a Sunray. The exclusive solar-powered, self-driving, tech-filled car of her dreams. But someone has to be behind the tech, right? And what if that person just happens to be someone Eve exposed...
The author has done an awesome job of setting Eve up and allowing the reader to either back her 100% or say to her to back off. And then placing Eve in a deadly situation. Without giving away any spoilers, you are taken through the physical pain, the psychological terror, and the inevitable “what if” moment.
The author’s writing style is smooth and quick to read, but the lack of commas before direct address became a bit annoying. Overall, though, it’s a ride of the stuff of nightmares with the reliance on tech and the loss of control. This is the second book of hers I’ve read and I thoroughly enjoyed the thought-provoking moments behind both.
Journalist Eve Alexopoulos doesn’t cover the hard-hitting news as such. However, her column “What’s Your Problem, Bro?” certainly ruffles more than a few feathers as she targets and outs online trolls. The problem is that sometimes the trolls fight back.
When Eve is offered a huge cash advance on a book based on her column, she decides to splurge on a Sunray. The exclusive solar-powered, self-driving, tech-filled car of her dreams. But someone has to be behind the tech, right? And what if that person just happens to be someone Eve exposed...
The author has done an awesome job of setting Eve up and allowing the reader to either back her 100% or say to her to back off. And then placing Eve in a deadly situation. Without giving away any spoilers, you are taken through the physical pain, the psychological terror, and the inevitable “what if” moment.
The author’s writing style is smooth and quick to read, but the lack of commas before direct address became a bit annoying. Overall, though, it’s a ride of the stuff of nightmares with the reliance on tech and the loss of control. This is the second book of hers I’ve read and I thoroughly enjoyed the thought-provoking moments behind both.
March 21, 2023
The format of this novella was perfect for Eve's fast paced trip across the country in her new, over-the-top, self-driving Sunray. The only problem? It's a trip Eve hadn't planned on.
Faith Gardner is wonderful at capturing her character's thought processes, be they human or technological. In Eve in Overdrive, she's thought of everything. We get to hear Eve's thoughts and feel her physical discomfort. We are in the driver's seat (or passenger seat, because you know...it's self-driving) and we see everything through Eve's eyes. I don't want to give away spoilers, but I definitely caught myself wondering what I would do if I was in her situation..
FYI, I would not have bought this book if I saw the cover, but as a fan of Faith Gardner's other works (read them!) I took a chance and had an entertaining two hour read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Mirror House Press for the chance to read Gardner's latest in the Jolvix series!
Faith Gardner is wonderful at capturing her character's thought processes, be they human or technological. In Eve in Overdrive, she's thought of everything. We get to hear Eve's thoughts and feel her physical discomfort. We are in the driver's seat (or passenger seat, because you know...it's self-driving) and we see everything through Eve's eyes. I don't want to give away spoilers, but I definitely caught myself wondering what I would do if I was in her situation..
FYI, I would not have bought this book if I saw the cover, but as a fan of Faith Gardner's other works (read them!) I took a chance and had an entertaining two hour read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Mirror House Press for the chance to read Gardner's latest in the Jolvix series!
May 7, 2023
Faith Gardner’s Eve In Overdrive is where Stephen King’s possessed Plymouth, Christine, merges with Kitt of Knight Rider fame. It’s a tale that’s literally one long thrill ride. Eve made a name for herself as a journalist whose goal in life was to hunt down and bring to justice internet trolls. She made enough money to buy the latest state-of-the-art, self-driving car, a sunray. A self-driving car that never had to stop to recharge its batteries because it was solar-powered. Ironically, one troll that Eve took down was also the programmer that wrote the programs for Sunray. When he discovered that Eve, his nemesis, bought one, he programmed it to kidnap Eve, to give Eve a taste of her own medicine. This story ends when.... well, you’ll have to read this page burner for yourself to find out how it ends. All I’m going to say here is that the way it ended took me by surprise.
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