Driven

by Lisa Nowak

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

Genres: Young Adult

ebook

First published May 1, 2012

About the author

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

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

Reviews

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this book and I'm actually at a loss for words. It was fantastic. Trying to explain all the plot lines and the way they touched me seems daunting. But I shall try.


First, my attention span is short nowadays. Rarely do I pick up a full length novel and manage to read it without skimming. Too many of them are full of irrelevant, boring details. Not this one. This one grabbed me and held me tight. I didn't want to put it down.

ess is a young teenage girl who loves working on cars and going to the drags/car races. She's got a total loser of a mother. So many times I wanted to beat the crap out of Lydia and leave her body by the side of a road. But her daughter is the total opposite. Where Lydia is a whiny, lazy, alcoholic loser, Jess is just driven.

Imagine being sixteen, building your own car, paying the bills, working two jobs, and in the end, living in that car. All the while, trying to make a name for yourself in the racing world. Some would say Jess is stupid for not asking for help. I said she's got guts and pride.

Full review on Book Babe: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2012/...

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, if you have read my many of my blogs before, you know that I AM A SUCKER FOR SERIES!!! Yes I am! And the Full Throttle series is one that I have enjoyed so much! So when Lisa asked me if I would be interested in being part of her blog tour, I was very excited and honored! I have REALLY enjoyed this series! Trust me, I was totally skeptical when I read the first book. Cars? I thought. Really? How am I going go enjoy a book about cars and racing. BUT I did! I not only enjoyed it, I couldn't wait for the next one! And I sped through it as well. So of coarse, I couldn't wait for Driven to be released! And boy was it totally worth the wait!

In this book, all of the beloved characters are back, only not so much in the fore front. This book is about a teenage girl named Jess and her life and love of the race track. Jess has had it rough for most of her life. Her dad left when she was 8 and after that, her mom turned into a alcoholic and was never able to fight her way out of that addiction. Adding her failed relationships with looser after looser who mistreated her did nothing but add to her reason for depression and continued drinking. This only made life harder for Jess. As soon as she was old enough, she started to work and even began to hide money in a book so that she could help cover the bills if they were ever in a situation where they needed it. Living with her mom was like walking on egg shells. She never knew what her moms mood would be from one day to the next so she mainly just tried to stay away as much as possible. This lead her to the race track where she found herself one Saturday night at the right place at the right time.

She had always had a love for cars, pretty much as long as she could remember. When she was very young, she used to watch her dad work on them and eventually, he gave in and started showing her the ropes. She carried on her love affair with them even after he left and when she was in high school, she even took shop class so that she could learn more. When she got a car of her own, she talked her shop teacher into letting her use the class to change out the motor in her pinto to a 351 Windsor. (OK, so I admit, I have NO CLUE what that is, but it sounds tough.) So as fate would have it, on this particular trip to the track, Jess bought a pit pass instead of a seat in the stands to take a look at the cars before the races began. On this particular night, Teri Sue, a female driver of the baby blue number 70 camaro, was having problems with her car and her crew chief and as it turned out, Jess could help. Before the night was out, Teri Sue had offered her her dream job and what would turn out to be a very special friendship with Teri Sue and her family.

Over the next weeks, Jess became familiar with a lot of the other racers as well, and after an accident with Teri Sue, Cody made his way quickly to Jess's crap list. She even tried to fight him in the pits. She couldn't stand the sight of him, and to make it worse, he started coming around Teri Sue's when she was there working on the camaro. Every time she laid eyes on Cody, her blood began to boil. Why did he have to come around all the time? They had work to do. But then, the more he came around, the more she got to know him and the more she started to realize that maybe he wasn't so bad after all. Maybe she even liked him a little......maybe a even a little more than that. But Jess was such a private person. She was really struggling with letting these people into her life. How could she trust these people she just met, when she couldn't even trust her own parents?

One night after working on the car, Teri Sue invited Jess to a camp out at her house and just as Jess started to loosen up and have some fun, she got a call from her mom. She was in jail for a DUI. How could she tell them what had happened. She rushed off with only a quick goodbye and prayed they wouldn't ask too many question. But with Teri Sue, that was nearly impossible and her questions nearly ended their friendship. But after some time, Jess found herself wanting to open up about it, to of all people, Cody. She had seen how devoted he was to his uncle and had learned a lot about what he had been through due to Race's wreck the year before. She felt like she was safe with him. Before she knew it, she found their relationship getting closer. And things at home were even getting better, until, well, they just weren't anymore. Her mom went from sober back to drunk again before she even realized it was happening. Jess couldn't take anymore and she finally opened up to her mom about how she felt. Only to find herself alone and broke a few days later. Her mom just took off and left her alone. What was she going to do? How could she make it all on her own? She couldn't turn to anyone and let them find out what was going on. She could loose everything she has worked so hard for. But at the same time, she was just a kid, how could she get through this alone? Well, you are just going to have to read and find out.

Like the other books in this series, I really loved Driven. These characters are so full of heart, even behind their tough as nails exteriors. I think that's what makes them so much fun to read about. At first, you only see their tough exterior, but as you read on, the layers begin to peel back and you finally get to see whats really in their heart. Lisa is such a talented writer in this way. To begin with, her characters are the one that if you met them on the street, that would probably be the people that you would love to hate. But if you ever really took the time to get to know them, you would be amazed at how much you will love them in the end. So maybe the next time that you see someone like Jess on the street, shy and closed off from the world, say hi and give them a smile. You never know when they might really need to see that someone cares.

[Book_magic007 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book but book #1 and #2 were better. In this book I really missed Cody's POV. I'm sure my sister got sick of hearing me say 'I miss Cody'. Cody's my boy. This book is good too and Jess is an amazing character but no-one can take Cody's place.

[Melissa Herman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoying thus series! On to the next one.

[Arla (Leave Mommy Alone) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Lisa Nowak for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Driven is hands down my favorite book in the series. Pure literary joy. I didn't think Running Wide Open could be topped. I was wrong. I really couldn't put this one down. I've never given a book higher than 5 stars, but I'm throwing in a plus on this one - I loved it that much.

In book 3 of the Full Throttle series, Lisa Nowak has taken a different approach with her story. Instead of the story being told from Cody Everett's point of view, it's now Jess DeLand's turn. And she does not disappoint! The story is told from her perspective as her world collides with that of our favorite characters' from the previous books. This is a nice change and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story is an emotional roller coaster ride, while being heartfelt, real and relatable, the entire way through.

Jess DeLand has it rough. Her dad walked out when she was 8, leaving her in her mother's care. While not an uncommon situation, this is an extreme hardship on her because her mother is an alcoholic. Jess has endured things no child should have to ever endure. Such as having to go to a bar, at the age of 10, and dragging her drunk mom home because her keys have been confiscated by the bartender. Or having to cut a much needed, much deserved evening with friends short because she has to collect her mom from the police dept. after she's busted for a DUI. Or having to work 2 jobs to help meet their basic needs because her mom can't be bothered to make it to work on time and hold down 1 job.


Luckily, Jess has skills. Before he left, her father cultivated in her a love of automotive mechanics. Her dream job is to work on cars, particularly racing ones. One day, Jess get a lucky break. She's offered the opportunity to live her dream of working on race cars . . . . and getting paid for it. No more flipping burgers for her. The bonus comes as she develops real friendships for the first time in her life. Having to hide her mom's abusive, neglectful and alcoholic tendencies has meant she could never make friends for fear her secret would be discovered and she'd end up in foster care. But, her new boss, teenage race car driver, Teri-Sue Cline and her younger brother Rhett, become the siblings she's never had. What she also wasn't expecting was the attention of one Cody Everett. After she takes a few swings at his head in a fit of rage, he can't seem to stay away from her.


Things are far from normal or easy for her. She's trying to find balance in her life, and it's proving to be a difficult task. Especially for someone who isn't accustomed to asking for help from anyone, no matter how dire her circumstances become.


What I most enjoyed about this book, is how all my favorite characters are incorporated into Jess' life, in addition to the new ones. Cody's and Jess' worlds mesh perfectly and we get what we loved about the previous books with a new, equally endearing story and protagonist. Although their relationship starts off on a hostile note, Cody and Jess compliment each other beautifully and find that they have a lot more than a love for the race track, in common.

"I understand how it is, not knowing what's gonna happen to you because your parents are too messed up to put you first." - Cody


Lisa's characters have tugged at my heartstrings since book 1. They are lovable and endearing as well as infuriating. I find myself wishing some of these people were real and that I was part of their inner circle. Their devotion to each other melts my heart. While some are selfish, flawed, and deeply troubled, others are fiercely loyal, sweet, vulnerable, dependable and sincere. As always, both sides of humanity are displayed. You have those who practice unconditional love and those who can't see past their own wants and desires. They elicit a wide range of emotions from the reader.

It's no secret I'm a huge fan of Lisa Nowak's. She's easily one of my favorite authors. She has a way of telling a wonderful, compelling story with incredible depth and humanity. This enables her to pull the reader in and make you care as if you've become a part of her characters' family. Her writing style is completely enjoyable. It's easy and flows effortlessly, never distracting from the storyline. If anyone has been on the fence about this series, I guarantee this book will seal the deal.

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[Cody]

Reading review assignment
If you like cars and reading about the stories of people working on them then the read Driven Full Throttle book three of a four book series. This book is about the life of Jess deland and how working hard can get you places in life. Always strive for something bigger.
Jess Deland is sitting in the stands of Eugene raceway. Today she decided to spend 12 dollars instead of the normal seven and got a pit crew pass. She could walk about in the pits and look at all of the cars she sees racing. There are two classes the limited sportsmen or super stocks. The super stock racing is for those who can heavily modify there cars, have the money to modify and the experience to drive them so once they build there cars they don't ruin all the hard work they have done. The limited sportsmens is for people who are just getting into the sport and just want to see what it is about, there are limits on what you can do to the car or vehicle that you are running in this class. As jess is walking past some super stock cars she hears “son of a gun”(nowak 2) and there is one of the pit crew guys working on one of the drivers cars. The car she is looking at is Teri sue’s. Teri sue needed help so jess helped her and then teri sue asked jess if she wanted a job working on her car. Jess quit her local job at the burger king for a better paying job and for a profession that she liked. Jess didn't tell her mom she quit working at the burger king because her mom suffers from alcoholism and doesn't want her to get mad.
Jess started her new job and met this kid named cody. Cody was living with a so called legend named race and his girlfriend Kasey who owned Eugene custom classics. Jess and Cody are starting to get feelings for each other so Cody brings Jess around the house. Jess drives a pinto which she restored herself. Kasey asks jess to see if they can go look at the pinto. Jess replies with “can i see your charger first”(nowak 110). They walk out and go look at Kasey charger. The first thing jess asks is it a hemi because that was the motor to put in a car like that if you wanted to go fast and have a lot of horsepower. Now jess shows kasey her pinto and kasey can't believe that she did this all by herself and offers her a job working at Eugene Custom cars. Jess doesn't know what to say to the offer because this is what she has been working so hard to get a job at a actually shop and has been trying to prove her keep. Jess comes home and notices something different. Her mom has made a meal that hasn't been made in a while and notices her mom is acting strange. When they sit down and talk her mom tells her she has gone to AA to get help with her addiction.
Jess moved out of her mom's house and gets an apartment. She has to save all of the extra cash she has to pay for the monthly rent. One night she comes home and goes to put her money away and noticed some missing. A good amount of money was missing from her stash and she blames it on lydia her mom. She believes she took it to go buy booze. So now Jess is screwed out of money and can't pay rent. Jess decides to pack up and move out and not live anywhere and she will just sleep in her car. Jess goes work that afternoon helps kasey out for a little bit then goes and watches the races. “ i still hadn't worked out the details of sleeping in my car”(nowak 190). Jess was worried about where to park without being caught or having the cops called on her. No one noticed that she was exhausted and not doing well but cody he saw right through it and kept asking her what was wrong and she kept lying to cody. It was hot during the summer in Eugene, oregon. It got up to about 90 degrees midday. The heat and fighting with cody about there relationship was taking its toll on jess. Jess was working two jobs to get the money she needed to pay for an apartment. Teri sue called kasey and told her that jess was having a hard time. Kasey then cut her hours down from 30 hours a week to 20 hours. Jess got all upset and went and talked to jess about getting her hours back.
As you can see from the information presented, above if you like driving and reading about cars and just an all around gear head read this series of books. This books is filled with great action parts and some romance with cody and jess falling into love. The other books in the series are called running wide open, getting sideways, driven and then redline. I highly suggest reading these if you like cars and automobiles.

[Sandy S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stars: 3.75

DRIVEN (YA) by Lisa Nowak

DRIVEN is the third book and May 2012 new release from Lisa Nowak’s Young Adult series. Driven focuses on Jess Deland, a shy 16 year girl trying to keep up appearances in a world full of betrayal and shame. Knowing your mother is a drunk and thinking your father never wanted you forces Jess to put all of her time and effort into her studies and re-building cars. But when she meets Teri-Sue Cline and Cody Everett at the local speedway, she doesn’t know how her life is about to change.

Jess knows how to keep secrets. For years her mother’s drinking has forced the young girl into being the parent. But when Teri-Sue Cline, a beautiful, young amateur racecar driver offers Jess a position with her pit-crew, she jumps at the opportunity to earn more money-and the fact that she will be working on racecars makes it the best job (ever).

Cody Everett is a fellow amateur racecar driver. But living in the shadow of the infamous racecar driver and uncle-Horatio “Race” Everett, places Cody in the unenviable position to try and prove worthy. Cody’s love and worry for his uncle is well placed, following the previous year’s harrowing accident that almost killed the man. But when he sideswipes Teri-Sue’s car on the track, he finds himself the target of a very emotional and pretty 16 year old mechanic. And now his prime motivation will be to meet and get to know-Jess Deland.

Jess is determined to keep her distance. Hoping no one will discover her family secrets, Jess has few friends and is determined to push Cody away. Teri-Sue’s family has welcomed Jess with open arms, and she is reluctant to accept any favors or gifts. And Teri-Sues younger brother Rhett tugs at Jess’s heart. An easy-going young boy of 10, Rhett’s desire is to have contact with his absentee mother. But a horrific accident has placed the Cline’s family at odds with each other, and Jess seems to be the only person who is able to break through Rhett’s façade. And Jess soon learns that appearances are not always what they seem. She is not the only person to keep secrets buried. Cody’s demons ride him hard and it will be a 16 year old girl who will help tame and wipe away the tears of a young man.

Life for Jess is about to change. As her relationship with Cody grows, the relationship with her mother pushes further apart. But finding herself alone and homeless will force Jess to test the limits of her abilities. Keeping secrets and fearing the authorities will take her from the people that she has grown to love, Jess begins to risk her health and her happiness in an effort to keep the others from discovering the truth. But it will be the love of her new family that will help discover the real-truth about her past.

DRIVEN is a fictional young adult storyline. Written in first person POV from the heroine’s perspective, the reader is taken on a journey of discovery into first love and the feeling of betrayal by a parent. The character of Jess was, at first, a little difficult to like with her misplaced anger at Cody Everett, but looking beyond the obvious, Jess is a wounded child hiding a multitude of pain. Anger is an emotion she knows only too well. Driven is a sweet story about accepting who you are and asking for help when the going gets tough.

see all of my reviews at : thereadingcafe.com

[Tiffany Holme · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts just before the last book ends. We meet Jess and start to get a feel for who she is. Not the kind of girl to push to be in the light but mold into the background. She takes a step into the pits for the first time. She had paid the extra to be there and didn't plan on being there long but Teri Sue's drawl drew her in. That's where our story starts but far from what it is really about.


Jess our protagonist is somewhat of a tom boy. She lives and breathes to work on cars. Not that she had ever worked on a race car but she dreams of it. The one time she takes a chance everything seems to settle right into place for her. Living the life she has though , she has many worries. It's hard to keep all your secrets locked up when your employer is as friendly and as straight forward as they come. When she lands not only 1 but 2 of her dream jobs life seems almost perfect. Life can never be that perfect though can it. I seriously feel for her so much through out the book.


"Prob'ly too busy stuffing big engines in little cars," Teri Sue
said giving me a grin.

Cody is back in this book as well. He is not the main but his and all the characters from the last book are a big part of this one as well. Still dealing with everything that he had to before but now he is trying to catch Jess as well. The connection that the two of them have is something.... What it is I wont say but there is really a lot that they can relate to and because of that Jess may just find someone that she can trust. As much as she likes Teri Sue there just isn't that kind of connection there. I must mention that Cody's shirts also make some appearances in this book.


"Ham and eggs- A days work for the chicken, a lifetime commitment
for the pig."

I am once again completely in love with Lisa Nowak's novel. This book isn't just about a tom boy that wants nothing more than to work on cars but so much more. It's has some down right real life issues that people deal with every day and struggle through themselves. This novel shows the problems that people have with opening up and getting the help they need. The most important thing though is that it shows up that there is hope. No matter what happens there is always someone that cares and there is always hope. I look forward to reading anything else that Lisa puts out!!

[Michelle Cornwell-Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY REVIEW

This is the story of Jess Deland a young woman who is living a difficult life. Her father left when she was young and her mother drinks and will never win parent of the year. Jess works at a job she hates, pays the bills and tries keeping up in school, she is living a life way beyond her years. But things seem to take a turn for the better for Jess; she is given the opportunity to work on a race car and begins to make real friends. Jess also meets a young man and things become even sweeter and more frightening for Jess all at the same time.

I really enjoyed reading this book. This is the second book I have read by Ms. Nowak and it’s just as wonderful as the first time. I enjoyed Driven because not only are the readers introduced to new characters and friends, but also some old friends are brought in, such as Cody Everett and his uncle Race and his girlfriend Kasey! I was so excited at being able to revisit with these characters, as well as seeing them in new situations:)

But I loved Jess, she was strong and resourceful; but I did see the slightly vulnerable side of her, when she was so hopeful regarding believing that “this time” would be different, and that her mother would be serious and remain committed to her sobriety. Jess, simultaneously appeared frighten to believe, and excited about the possibility that it was true!

Ms. Nowak’s writing is clear, concise, strong and flows smoothly…sweeping the reader along through the up’s and down’s of the characters situation. Once again, I enjoyed being swept into the world of stock car racing and seeing it from a female’s perspective is even more thrilling…

This is simply a must read…you will not be disappointed

[Alice Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, and think most readers will too. When Jess DeLand takes center stage as the main character in the third of Lisa Nowak’s Full Throttle series, we are immediately captivated. Jess enters the world of stock car racing to take her place among familiar faces (if you’ve already read Running Wide Open and Getting Sideways). Jess, at sixteen, is smart and savvy with a strong sense of responsibility.

A talented mechanic, Jess is fascinated by cars and the internal combustion engine. Complicating Jess’s life is the fact that her mother is an alcoholic, barely able to keep things together. Stepping into the gap, Jess sees that bills are paid even if the money comes out of her wages at a local fast food restaurant. In a stroke of luck and timing, life changes when she meets Terri Sue Cline, a girl her own age who’s racing at the Eugene Speedway. Being offered a job as Terri Sue’s mechanic is a dream come true. But when her mother deserts her. Jess’s pride is put to the test as she tries to pretend that all is well. Woven into the sometimes dark story line is Nowak’s trademark humor as well as a sensitive depiction of a budding romance. For established fans, Jess’s tale provides new insight into those favorite characters, Cody Everett and his awesome Uncle Race. A delightful addition to the Full Throttle series, Driven is already a hit for old and new readers.

[M.R. Bode · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Jess, I wanted to shake some sense into her, and hold her hand at the same time. Cody, ahh ever the charmer. I really hope the sample of redline becomes a book. I want to know what happens to them!

[Kdmittens]

I loved this book. And this series. It is amazing. I never saw what was coming next.