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Driving #1

Driving Force

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My career had been built on two things…Fast Cars and Winning. Until a curvy brunette with piercing blue eyes crashed into my life, making my pulse race. Opposites attract... She hides in the shadows not wanting to be noticed. I crave the limelight, the fans and the adrenaline. She wants to take life slower. I live mine in the two hundred mph lane. When my playboy past comes slingshotting into our lives will she put on the brakes? Or could she turn out to be my Driving Force?

212 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 5, 2023

35 people are currently reading
167 people want to read

About the author

Haley Cook

9 books57 followers

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5 stars
44 (31%)
4 stars
53 (37%)
3 stars
26 (18%)
2 stars
11 (7%)
1 star
7 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
Profile Image for Shani (Bttrflymama88).
460 reviews16 followers
August 5, 2023
This book deserves all the trophies!! 🏆🏁🏎💙

🏁 Tinley Cash, I LOVE YOU; I love you more than NASCAR, more than my next breath. You are my entire world. I don’t want to lose what we have because it has been the best time in my life, and you make me want to give you the entire world. And I will if you will let me.

Driving Force by Haley Cook

Tinley & Ryan 💙🏁

Holy smokes! What a way to come out with a debut novel! As soon as I picked up this book I could not put it down! I was hooked from the beginning! The characters, the story, the spice, the chemistry, the instant attraction and pull to eachother! Haley delivered with this book!

Ryan, the hotshot race car driver, unsure of himself in the boyfriend department but willing to put in the work to win his girl! Tinley (love love her name btw!), the quiet bookworm, unsure if she can handle the limelight but willing to work through her insecurities to see where things could go! From different worlds but an undeniable pull that doesn't go unseen from anyone with eyes! Throw in a jealous ex, a little distance, and those media Sharks we all love to hate and you have one AMAZING story!! I wish I could read this book for the first time all over again! 👨‍🍳💋

Can not wait for book 2!! I'm here for the long haul! 🖤
Profile Image for Amy  Crull.
2,446 reviews38 followers
August 10, 2023
I liked the story, the characters are cool and of course the racing aspect. There's just some things I found odd.. One being the way Ryan talked.. I've followed Nascar for a while now and there's just something about some things he said, that I can't imagine a driver talking like. It felt kinda feminine to me, like what girls would say to each other. I mean, I liked that he had a nickname for her. He was sweet to Tinley and treated her very well but how he handled the ex girlfriend could have avoided. He should have known she had an agenda. I like Tinley and it wasn't because she was a book nerd like myself. She was strong and held her ground. I know this is short read and it was good. For a debut author, she did a good job writing this but she needs to catch the little details more.
Profile Image for Michelle Mastandrea.
368 reviews11 followers
August 5, 2023
This is one sweet and steamy story that will drive your heart absolutely wild and have you revved up for more!

What's a sweet and curvy bookish gal to do when NASCAR's hottest driver Ryan McKenzie wants to take her for more than a standard test drive and see if their relationship can cross the finish line into a forever?

This opposites attract instalove story raced its way right into my heart! As Ryan and Tinley fall hard and fast for each other and thier relationship heats up, so do the pressures of dealing with fame, social media, paparazzi, and OW drama. There's nothing I love more than seeing a couple who overcome the obstacles in thier path together and watching as Ryan and Tinley navigate every curve and roadbump thrown their way made the victory of their beautiful HEA so much sweeter!

This was such a fun and enjoyable read with super steamy spice that will certainly get your motor running! I loved taking this ride with Ryan and Tinley and can't wait to see more from this series! Get this debut gem on your TBR NOW! It's a wonderful story you won't want to miss!


*I was generously given an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own *
Profile Image for AddictedToReadingRomance.
771 reviews31 followers
August 14, 2023
sweet and heat

This insta love romance is going to capture your heart. Tinley and Ryan, their met was an accident and was the beginning of an “us” for them. From there everything between them was fire, passion and great chemistry. I love how Ryan see a Tinley that no one haven’t meet, feisty and more… I love how Tinley feels with Ryan, how she is free and how she love herself a little more thanks to him. He falls first, hard and fast, it was cute. The excitement of the car racing was really good. I’m really excited for the next books in this series. This is a debut novel and I’m definitely looking forward to the growth of this new author.
Profile Image for Kayla Pocernich.
1,755 reviews8 followers
August 8, 2023
I loved this book and I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. I was hooked from the very first page and fell in love with Tinley and Ryan right away. I loved the chemistry and attraction that these two had and the banter between them was great. I loved watching there relationship grow and handling the curveballs that were thrown there way. I loved this book and I can't wait to read the next one.
Profile Image for Jamie Stahl.
374 reviews14 followers
August 10, 2023
Excellent debut

I have never watched a NASCAR race, never really thought about the racing world, but I will definitely read more of these books. This book has miscommunication used correctly. And I love a group of fierce friends on both sides.
Profile Image for Jill.
606 reviews60 followers
August 2, 2023
This was such a great read. I really enjoyed Tinley & Ryan’s characters. It was also fun to read about Racing aka the race track. I loved the character development and loved reading more about the racing world. It also has just enough spice in the story as well. I enjoyed reading how much Ryan fell for Tinley. I cannot wait to read more from the Author.
Profile Image for Amanda Davanzati.
690 reviews25 followers
August 5, 2023
Driving Force was enjoyable read about a race car driver and a nerdy book worm. I really did love these characters, I thought they were so fun and brought a lot to the story. I love Ryan and Tinley. The spice and connection between the two were definitely fire.

I enjoyed this read and am curious about the other characters, specifically Matt and Grace! I can’t wait to see what this author has in store next!
Profile Image for Stephanie Hutchison.
542 reviews8 followers
August 13, 2023
A great storyline!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut book from Haley Cook. As a huge racing fan I always enjoy any book that has a racing storyline.

Tinley and Ryan's first meeting was fun and the chemistry between them evident.

I can't wait to read the next book.
Profile Image for Melissa * bookedwithmel.
653 reviews14 followers
August 29, 2023
I wanted so much to love this book. I followed NASCAR for years, I’ve been to a lot of races. The premise of this story is cute, the nerdy bookish girl and the racing star. I finished because I liked the characters. I really wanted to put it down many times because there were so many errors in the book, if it had been longer I would have DNF’d. I know it’s a debut book so I pushed through even though the errors got worse as the book went on.
I really want to continue with this series, but I’m not sure I will be able to if there are just as many errors in the next one.
Profile Image for Shauna Jared.
Author 21 books101 followers
August 11, 2023
Absolutely loved this steamy and sweet romance! The characters were relatable and I loved how hard Ryan fell for Tinley and how he made her the center of his world almost immediately. Loved the racing setting and I’m looking forward to the next books in the series!
Profile Image for Becky.
3,432 reviews142 followers
September 7, 2023
Driving Force is a first book from a newbie author. It shows promise, but...I had issues.

So many things just didn't make sense. I fully admit that some of them are fairly nit-picky. Like why a college student of today is using a One Tree Hill reference as something "everyone" knows. I have a college student, and she has no idea what OTH even is. I read her (my college student) some of the dialogue that that Tinley used, both to her friends and to her love interest, and no, that didn't ring true for my daughter either. Tinley knows *nothing* about NASCAR, but throws terms like "hauler" out there on her first time on the track. I truly know nothing about NASCAR, and I finally ended up looking it up.

Why is Tinley the girl that makes Ryan change his whole life for her? The whole story was one giant cliche to the next, without giving us actual reasons for anything. He was fascinated with her the moment he saw her, but again, why? The whole they're-your-perfect-match and love at first sight and when you meet the right one, you'll know bit is all well and good, but in a 200-page book, I want some substance behind the instalove. Make me see what the characters see in each other. Make me believe. I didn't. It was a book full of cliches and one well-worn trope after another, with very little real storytelling holding it all together and making me want to keep turning the pages. I *love* the quiet bookworm getting the hot guy trope, but I didn't feel it here. At all.

Absolutely OTT drama, and not in a good way. And most of the dialogue was just painful. Forget the college kids don't talk like that comment I made earlier, no one does IRL.

Finally, there are grammar and usage errors. Like--a lot of grammar and usage errors. And some continuity ones, just to keep you on your toes. Occasionally they even changed what was being said or was happening--but even when they didn't, they were very distracting. Especially since a good copy edit and a more reliable proofreader could have fixed them before release day. Given my issues with the story itself it probably wouldn't have resulted in a higher rating from me--I tried really hard not to let the mistakes affect that--but it would have made reading an easier chore.

I can appreciate that this was her first effort, and she truly has nowhere to go but up. But this really should have had a lot more editing and revisions before anyone outside of her close friends saw it.

Rating: 2 1/2 stars / C

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Profile Image for Reading4_Ash.
832 reviews32 followers
July 29, 2023
This book was cute with some spice. :) I loved Ryan and tinley together. Their chemistry was good & I love that he falls first & worships her curves. Definitely recommend.
Profile Image for Jessa.
494 reviews54 followers
November 28, 2024
Driving Force
Haley Cook
212 Pgs
4.5 Stars

"To the ones who want to dream but are scared, take the leap. It will be worth it in the end."

Driving Force is the first racing romance I've read, and man, was it a wild ride. I loved how the story was evenly about the relationship between the characters AND the NASCAR aspect. Haley Cook wrote a fantastic romance that thrust us into the stock car racing industry. Reading about the races and everything the drivers do to prepare for a race was interesting. I never knew they had driving simulators! Haley Cook gave us well-rounded characters, a story that was easy to follow, and a romance that was as spicy as it was sweet. The quick read was entertaining and the perfect start to the Driving Series.

"Tinley has branded my soul and possibly my heart in this moment, and I will never be able to let go. For once in my life, racing isn't the center of my world. Tinley is becoming my driving Force. Will we both be willing to risk it all for love? Or will we crash and burn trying?"

The romance between Ryan and Tinley is a sweet and spicy insta-love that starts with an accidental meet-cute that sets the stage for the rest of the story. Ryan wasn't fearless in going after Tinley and definitely fell first and fell hard. The small love triangle at the beginning made me curious if we'd see Chase later in the series, and I really hope we see him later. I liked how Haley wrote Tinley, feeling like I could connect with her pretty quickly, and it was easy to enjoy her POV. Reading about Ryan's growth from a NASCAR superstar who only cared about winning to someone who cared about Tinley and wanted her by his side was touching, as was watching Tinley blossom into the girlfriend of a NASCAR race driver who didn't mind being in the public eye as much.

Thank you, Haley Cook, for the book! I absolutely loved reading and reviewing it, and all thoughts in this review are honest and my own. I can't wait to see where we go with Matt and Grace in book 2!
1,064 reviews21 followers
January 1, 2025
"To the ones who want to dream but are scared, take the leap. It will be worth it in the end."

This is Tinley & Ryan's love story, and I love them more than I have grown to love Nascar.

Wow, this is one roller-coaster of a debut novel. I have grown to love the racing trope, so as soon I opened this book, I knew I was done for, and I wasn't going to be able to put it down. From the first pages I was lost and done for, I was hooked, and I couldn't put it down. Each character, the chemistry, the banter, the instant attraction, the pull to each other. Haley Cool delivered on everything we could possibly want in this book.

There's Ryan. He's the virtuoso race car driving, and yet he's unsure of himself as a boyfriend. His redeeming quality is that he is willing to put the work in to winning his girl if it is the right girl.

Then we have Tinley, she is the quiet and shy bookworm who doesn't know if she has what it takes to stand out and shine in the spotlight. Thankfully, she is determined to work on herself and the insecurities she has and see how far she can fly.

Even though they grew up very differently, the pull and their chemistry overrides that anyone who see's them together can see that. We do get some OW drama that just makes the story that much better. Putting some distance between Tinley and Tyan just adds to the tension and drama all that much more... then we even get those media sharks that never know when enough is enough and love to hound all our favorite celebs. And with all that wrapped up together in these amazing pages, you have one fantastic read.

And with all that said, I can't wait for the next book. I am here for all of it. Haley Cook can write as many books in this series as she wants, I am here for them all.
Profile Image for Charlene Alana  Henderson .
1,322 reviews33 followers
January 19, 2025
It's my first time reading a book by this author and i must say I'm shocked to find out that this was her debut novel!! I would have never of thought it was, it was amazing. It's book one in the driving series, telling us the story of tinley and Ryan and what a beautiful story it was.

It was a wild ride for sure, with twists and turns you won't see coming. Once I started I couldn't put it down, I was hooked from the beginning, I ate it up!! I just loved the main characters and the side characters, they made me laugh a few times. The chemistry and the attraction between our main characters was oozing off the pages. "Sighs".

"Tinley has branded my soul and possibly my heart in this moment and I will never be able to let go. For once in my life, racing isn't the center of my world. Tinley is becoming my driving Force. Will we both be willing to risk it all for love? Or will we crash and burn trying."

The characters, side characters storyline and plot where wonderfully written and created. It's filled with drama, romance, spice, suspense, friendship and loads more. Alot gets thrown at them, but love can concur all.

Tin is our fmc, she's beautiful, smart, shy, curvy and a major bookworm. Ryan is our mmc , he's sexy, smart, loving and is a NASCAR driver. They are like chalk and cheese but they really work! Ryan falls hard and fast. They're ending was just beautiful 😍 I can't wait to read Matt and Grace's story. Highly recommend!!
Profile Image for KelsBookstagram.
733 reviews24 followers
January 9, 2024
Damn... I devoured this book and honestly in awe that this is Haley's debut book! Haley i think I'm addicted 🙈🥰

Gah Tinley, i am in awe of her. Her love of reading, her passions and yet with the right man a little friggin firecracker!!

Tinley and Ryan hot damn, i love those intense moments where the gaze meets and the reaction they have. It literally makes my heart swell and can we appreciate the smoothness of Ryan!😍

“𝐓𝐢𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐡, 𝐈 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔; 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐑, 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝. 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐞.”

The chemistry, lust and attraction is captured effortlessly. But Ryan being a famous driver has it downfall and damn i wanted to punch her! 👀

The ending *sighs* i am in swoonworthy terroritory😍 I am so friggin excited for book two and all the juicy deets!
Profile Image for Lindsey Riley.
430 reviews8 followers
August 21, 2023
Haley Cooks debut novel is an insta lust that isn’t afraid to heat up the page!
I love an opposites attract and Ryan and Tinley are definitely very different from each other though they certainly have a connection from the start.

I love how Tinley isn’t afraid to be honest and communicate with Ryan as their relationship evolves. With him she comes out of her shell a little more. Ryan is a really caring guy who hasn’t allowed his success with NASCAR to make him arrogant. I honestly wanted to shake him though when he makes some poor decisions, but I can see that he’s the kind of guy who doesn’t see the bad in people or their ulterior motives.

NASCAR is not a sport I have watched before but I enjoyed how the sport was woven into the story and was written in a way that non-fans could understand.
Profile Image for Lynne  Rainbow.
201 reviews2 followers
August 6, 2023
This is the first book from this exciting new author and I was blessed to receive an advanced copy. It’s decently written for a first book, and all authors start somewhere. From the start the world is well crafted and the main characters are relatable and It’s refreshing to see curvy girls get some recognition too.
It’s relatively short and I do wish it was longer. I also wish that some aspects had been delved into in more detail, the angsty parts felt a little rushed over and had the potential to be more developed.
It was definitely worth the read and I feel like this world has a lot more to offer with the promise of future books. I look forward to seeing how this author refines and develops this world going forward.
Profile Image for Bookwormtvaddict.
771 reviews24 followers
September 5, 2023
3.5 stars 3 steamy kisses

This was a sweet instant attraction/love stock car racing romance where the celebrity driver falls pretty hard and quick for the bookworm heroine who lacks some confidence and is a newbie to the world he belongs to. When his past seems to only want to tear them apart these two will be put to the test of whether their love is strong enough. The story to me was on the cheesier and predictable side so I wasn't fully committed to the story right away. I did enjoy the world-building, the side characters, and the well-used miscommunication trope (even though it is a least-liked trope for me). I plan to reread it before the next book in the series comes out.
Profile Image for Ayana Lisbet.
Author 6 books41 followers
September 7, 2023
If I could give this book more stars I would. I highly recommend this book. This book I read from cover to cover and I adore this book so much. As soon as I finished this book I didn't want to stop.

Reading the book, the character were well developed. The spice was amazing.

I love Tinley and Ryan. Tinley the quiet curvy bookworm and Ryan the Nascar racer. I'm not a race car fan but reading this just made me want to read more stories like this.

The chemistry in this book was amazing. I love Ryan and Tinsley chemistry together.
Profile Image for Jordan Fiest.
2,117 reviews31 followers
January 7, 2025
Driving Force is book one in the Driving Series.

Tinley and Ryan go through some troublesome times throughout this book, which could've been avoided if Ryan had picked up the phone instead of waiting or texting. Sometimes people need to hear things from the source and not read them. Minus this fact about Ryan, I did enjoy the book.

Tinley really has some doubts about herself, but I loved her support group she had around her. She made sure she had good people in her corner and I really enjoyed seeing them with her.

The story was fast paced and enjoyable.
144 reviews5 followers
January 13, 2025
Driving Force
Haley Cook
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ryan and Tinley
Ryan, a NASCAR driver and Tinley, who is the English lit major me when Tinley is forced by her girlfriends to go to her first NASCAR race! Will Ryan and Tinley be able to make a relationship work or will there be too many hurdles to overcome? You’re gonna have to read this great story that hold your attention that you want to read all in one sitting. Haley cook you did an amazing job writing the story and I can’t wait to see what you come up with next.
Profile Image for Caitlin.
23 reviews3 followers
January 21, 2025
⭐️ 3
🌶️ 2

Cute story, loved that the FMC was plus size and a book nerd and the insta live with the MMC who has cave man vibes

I did struggle with the read as I found the story line to be predictable and spice a bit one dimensional. I also found it was over too soon and things happened so quick. When I’m reading I can tell who the different characters are by the ‘tone’/way they’re written. Unfortunately I could not with this one as they were the same and this did make the read quite flat.

I did how ever like the cutesy read,insta love with cave man vibes.
Profile Image for Téa Arney.
152 reviews4 followers
September 28, 2024
Genuinely a good story. There were moments that I thought went too fast but overall I enjoyed it!!

The characters were great and it’s was first book that I’ve read along the lines of any type of race care driver. And I’m from NC and have never been too big into NASCAR but now I kinda want any to pay more attention to it 😂

Overall it was a quick and easy read I just kept having to stop reading for other things throughout the week.
Profile Image for Carrie Wild.
68 reviews7 followers
January 13, 2025
3.5 stars. This was a good fast paced steamy book. However the writing was a little offbeat and maybe somewhat a mix of first person and third person pov. More telling than showing of the story I guess like the words would just quickly say what the characters were feeling. The 3rd act breakup was very predictable but I’m glad Tinley went and talked to Ryan about it face to face. I agree that Ryan’s pov kind of felt feminine but idk it was still a good quick read.
Profile Image for Ashley Lutz.
195 reviews17 followers
August 8, 2023
R𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒆: 🌶️🌶️

Who doesn’t love when the guy falls first? Tinley and Ryan have serious chemistry from the beginning. My first NASCAR book and Haley’s debut novel and she did not disappoint. The way the characters came to life through the book and their sweet but spicy romance had me swooning! This is a quick read and one you should add to your TBR now!!!
269 reviews3 followers
January 2, 2025
This was my 1st book from Haley, and I was excited as I started. This book was a fast read. As soon as Ryan saw Tinsley, he was hooked. I hate to admit it, but Tinsley definitely gave Ryan the benefit of the doubt a lot easier than I would have in real life. But that's book life vs real so..... Can't wait to read the next book!
1,156 reviews23 followers
February 11, 2025
Loved this Read!



This is my first time reading from this author. It’s an easy, lighter read. I loved the connection between Tinley and Ryan. You could feel the love developing between them coming right off the pages! The story is engaging, well developed and kept me hooked! I can’t wait to read more of this author’s books.

Profile Image for Samantha.
7 reviews
August 19, 2025
The amount of brain cells I lost while reading this is inconceivable. Easily a day and a half I will never get back. This was pure garbage and your publisher should be ashamed. You both belong in jail. To see the English language decimated like this makes me sick. I hope to god you stopped writing books, Haley. Jesus Christ
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