Driven: An Accidental Romance

by Hank Dolworth, Drake Storm

A Recipe For
Take a violent Texas Thunderstorm, add a mistaken Uber, and mix in a jilted young woman and a jaded older man. Set the heat on high. Let them simmer through a road trip halfway across the country. What could happen?

Maddie : I’m at the top of the world after I aced my last college exam. I’m ready to slip into my fiance’s arms and get ready for our wedding. Everything comes to a halt, and I can’t believe what I see and hear in my apartment. Full of murderous rage, I know I have to leave—NOW. I don’t want to go to prison for a double homicide. I have my honeymoon money, so I can fly anywhere in the world if I can make it to the airport. My day goes from worse to horrible as a Texas thunderstorm soaks me to the bone as I wait for my Uber. I want to catch a break. Why can’t something good happen to me?

Elliott : The divorce papers are signed, sealed, and delivered, and I’m ready to change scenery. I need to get out of Texas—NOW. I toss the last of my luggage into the back of my new black SUV and climb into the driver’s seat. The sky erupts, and the storm clouds empty onto the roof of my car. That can’t stop me, lights on, wipers on high, and head toward the highway. Slamming on the brakes, I swear at the figure who just stepped in front of my car. While catching my breath, the shadowy figure opens my door and slides into my back seat. I turn to give the idiot a piece of my mind, and words evaporate when I look into her eyes. Why can't I look away?

Struggling with the end of their relationships, thrust together by the circumstance of weather and too stubborn to admit their mistakes, Maddie and Elliott agree to team up for a drive to California. They can have spicy fun along the way, they don’t have to commit, their agreement has a time limit, and it ends in California.

They just need to get over their hurts and learn to trust again. Everything will be just fine.

Driven is a spicy romance intended for adult readers. It contains scenes of explicit sex between consenting adults, as well as BDSM themes. Reader discretion is advised.

Genres: Romance

268 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 6, 2023

About the author

Hank Dolworth is the nom de plume of a technology educator who had to stop flying around the world and is trapped in his home office attending too many Zoom calls. To cope with this high-stress environment, in his free time, Hank likes to write story-driven erotica and erotic romances.

Hank's spicy stories are packed with sizzling sex, mind-melting orgasms, and heartwarming romance. While not always having a happy ever after, his endings always end up happy for now.

Living in Texas, Hank also enjoys hot, spicy, rich, melt-in-your-mouth barbecue, time with his family, and working with other erotica writers to improve his craft.

Reviews

[SoScorpio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Road trip romance

I enjoy this author’s work and this book is no exception, a newly divorced man suddenly finds himself accompanied by a younger woman falling out of a failed relationship on a trip across country. Events take their course good story, nice characters and a healthy dose of smut. Worth the read.

[Marty Hamrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a prolific reader, I often decide quickly whether to read a book or not; and usually there has to be something about the cover, or the title, or the very quick blurb to tempt me. If I had not recently read several of Hank Dolworth's shorter erotic stories (because I love reading dozens of shorter stories in a week), I may have skipped this one because something about the cover didn't appeal to me (don't judge this book by it's cover!). I had, however, read several of Hank's stories and know him to be very talented, and quite good at writing spice and writing interesting, complex characters even when the page count is very small, so I wanted to give this full length romance a chance, and I'm so glad I did. As the author says in the foreward, it can be difficult for a writer of short form erotica to transition to more standard full length romance under the same pen name, but Hank Dolworth has done an excellent job with this one. It's a slow burn, but brilliantly paced; it's well-developed, well-written, and a fun, erotic, intriguing journey. There is a lot going on in this story, ad I am here for it. The characters grew and changed and came together in ways they clearly didn't anticipate. I definitely recommend this one.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unexpected mixup in a Texas thunderstorm brings Maddie and Elliott together. Will love keep them together?

This book has a LOT going on—slow burn, second chance, billionaire, age gap, DDlg; but I think it all plays well together with each element getting its fair share. I felt the pacing was good, never slumped in the middle as many romances do, and lead to a HEA that was properly satisfying.

The part of the story that stuck with me the most was the development of Maddie as a little. Sometimes we have things that we do or feel that we don’t have words for until somebody else points them out, and then it all makes sense. Watching Elliott do that for Maddie was precious.

I’ve read and enjoyed many of Hank Dolworth’s erotic stories and often wished they were longer. The longer format of the romance novel gives the space for more character development and he’s used it well. I really enjoyed all of the characters in this book.

Hank has built a reputation based on his Texas-hot scenes, and the sexy in Driven was every bit as spicy as his erotic shorts. This book demonstrates to me he’s also got a strong future in high-heat erotic romance.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Douglas Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our hero and heroine are both broken hearted and just want to get away when they are thrown together by a storm (and a few false assumptions). It may not be a very auspicious start, but they have time to realize this might not be a mistake after all.

This is something of a change from the previous books I have read by this author as this is a romance with something of a second chance vibe to it. The story is well written and easy to read. Our cast is well developed and realistic which helps drive this very grounded story. The plot moves at a casual, almost leisurely pace, but remains engaging throughout. I quickly got drawn into the story as I watched their relationship grow. Overall, this was a very enjoyable story and I hope to see more of this sort from the author.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off well

The first 60/70% was quite good, mainly whilst they were on the road. But it seems as if the author didn’t quite know what to do with them once they reached their destination.

Needs some editorial input as numerous silly mistakes - use of wrong pronouns, ‘out’ instead of ‘our’, using wrong name for one of the side characters and so on, plus the blurb is wrong.

In the blurb it says she took the honeymoon money and can go anywhere in the world. Not once during the book did she ever mention honeymoon money. In fact she worried about her finances and stated she had a little money and maybe could get a flight somewhere.

Would have been a nice conclusion if we had seen the ex fiancé and the best friend get their comeuppance and her friends realise the truth.

[Donise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning: This book contains elements of D/s, DD/lg, sadism, and sub drop. Imagine walking in on your fiancé and maid of honor doing things in your bed that you and he never did. Then, when you decide to flee, you hop into a vehicle that turns out to not be your Uber ride, but you stay with the guy anyways. Can a mistaken identity and an unplanned road trip lead to love ever after? You will have to read this engaging book to find out.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Harriet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a good book, well written, descriptive, emotive. Full of romance and some BDSM age gap steamy times.

A big storm, mistaken Uber identity and two people who have been hurt before this book takes you on a journey from Texas to California with many bumps in the road ( some are the fun kind, others not so much) and two lost souls falling hard for each other.

Loved it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

More

I always have doubts about reading a book featuring LITTLES. It's sort of disturbing and I guess I just can't relate
However this was a really good story. Plot, characters and dynamic all so well written.
I always dreamed what it would be like to just run away and find "THE ONE" IT worked for Maddy and Elliot.

My only real complaint is I want more of this story!!

[Kat Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good storyline and lovable characters. This one had it all: jilted engagement, mistaken identity, forced proximity, age difference. Great read with plenty of heat.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tamzin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is very spicy 🌶️, hot and heated and I enjoyed the fast pace. Maddie and Elliott were definitely made for each other.

However there were quite a few editing errors throughout the book but for the most part, the story and sentences still flowed

[Pamela Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kept me hooked to keep reading the relationship between Maddie and Elliot was hot and I couldn’t put the book down..