Drive

The Bittersweet Symphony Duet #1

by Kate Stewart

Two days.
One playlist.
And the long road home with her past in the rear-view mirror.

As a music connoisseur, Stella has a song for every day of her life – setting a pace with their rhythms and a tone with their lyrics. But when a heart-stopping phone call rocks the balance, Stella is faced with a long car journey home, and all matters of the heart to play for.

Now a successful journalist, Stella looks back at the life she’s composed and how she is still torn between her two great her fiance and boss, Nate; and Reid Crown, drummer of the Dead Sergeants, and the man who broke her heart . . .

From the bestselling author of The Ravenhood Trilogy comes an angsty, steamy journey filled with love, loss, self-discovery and music.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, New Adult, Second Chance, Music

393 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 14, 2017

About the author

New York Times, USA Today, Amazon Charts, and Internationally bestselling author Kate Stewart, a Texas native, lives in North Carolina with her husband, Nick. Nestled within the Blue Ridge Mountains, Kate pens messy, sexy, angst-filled contemporary romance, as well as romantic comedy and erotic suspense.

The Ravenhood Trilogy, consisting of Flock, Exodus, and The Finish Line, as well as the spinoff series, Ravenhood Legacy, have become NYT, USA Today, and International bestsellers as well as TikTok sensations. The Ravenhood was recently acquired for film adaptation with Kate set to co-write the script, as well as executive produce, which will kickstart her lifelong dream of becoming a filmmaker.

Amongst Kate’s other bestselling works, The Bittersweet Symphony Duet, specifically Drive, was a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist for best contemporary romance of 2017. Stewart’s works have been featured in USA Today, BuzzFeed, The New York Daily News, Huffington Post, Glamour Magazine, and translated into over twenty languages.



More info: https://geni.us/katestewartbooks

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+ stars

Music is the heart’s greatest librarian.

THIS is one of those books that I will be recommending to all of my friends, because Kate Stewart has delivered in a big way with this book! Drive is an epic story of love, self-discovery, and it blew me away! The perfect amount of angst, steam, laughs, and emotion, Drive is my favorite Stewart book to date!

Drive starts with Stella on top of the world. Her career is in the exact place she always dreamed. Her life is where she always thought it would be. Then she gets a phone call that rocks her. She hears a song, and it sends her in the past. We get to see Stella’s story though music. Her story really starts when she’s in college and trying to make it as a struggling music journalist. Love, loss, friendship, and music. This story has it all. It’s a love story, but it’s also a journey.

I’d never felt that way about anyone and knew it could never happen again. He was my once . . .

Stella’s story is written in such a unique way. I love the music throughout the story, the way the chapters go, and just the over-all vibe of the book. This story is so well written, so captivating, and will keep you glued to the pages. The characters will work their way in your heart. Stella just might be my favorite character Kate has ever written. I loved everything about her. And Reid. Sigh. I adored him! Reid is a new book boyfriend for sure. As much as I loved Reid, I loved Nate, too. There were moments I was torn with how I wanted the story to go, but it worked out the way it was supposed to.

In love with two worthy kings, and I was queen of the damned.

For those of you who love Kate’s more angsty and emotional books, you won’t be disappointed in Drive! This book had the perfect amount of angst and gave me all the feels I needed. In true Kate fashion, it also had some laughs.

I can’t remember the last time I was so immersed in a book. Drive hooked me from the start and never let go. It was phenomenal. Stella’s story is completely unforgettable and will be towards the top of my favorites list for 2017! This is one I highly recommend, and it’s a stand-alone (WIN!) Definitely pick it up! It’s a MUST READ!

[A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS



Fucking angst and bittersweet endings.

I’m done with love triangles till the next opportunity for good.

Right now, I hate my masochistic self.



You want to know how I felt when I finished it? Relieved to realize it wasn't real. Just like when you wake up after a bad dream.

Why oh why would I want to feel miserable just because some weak, insecure, selfish heroine can’t make up her goddamn mind and decides to ruin two men while growing up? Because I CRAVE angst, that's why. An error in my DNA, I guess.



And boy can this author write angst.

If you are, by any chance, wondering if this book is worth reading and you happen to love angst and tolerate love triangles in books, STOP wondering.

This book is perfect for you. Beautiful writing, awesome music references, great story. Once you start it, you won’t be able to stop until you finish it.

BUT.

As much as I loved it, I can’t give it 5 stars, I’m sorry. The reason is simple, really:



I'm probably in the minority but the author didn’t convince me the heroine made the right choice. His character was not developed well enough in my opinion. The author kind of neglected him after the first half. He just faded into black and reappeared out of nowhere. Frankly, I never understood what she saw in him in the first place. In my opinion, he never redeemed himself completely.

This book is an angst addict’s paradise. Don't miss it.

Thank you, Jan, for recommending it to me. I had a blast. Pun intended.

QUICK REVIEW:

Enjoyment: 4/5
Writing style: 5/5
Storyline: 4/5
Hero(es): 2/5 and 4/5
Heroine: 3/5
Secondary characters: 4/5
Hotness/steam: 3/5
Romance: 3/5
Angst: 5/5
Darkness level: 1/5
Humor: 2/5
Depth of the book: 4/5
POV: heroine, 1st person
Triggers: love triangle, cheating
Similar rock star romances with a love triangle: Carnage series by Lesley Jones, Songbird series by Lisa Edward

[Archives of Jina · Rating 1 out of 5]

The fact that all of y’all just ignoring the racism in this book. The stereotypes, misinformation and racial slurs used against Mexicans. It’s baffling truly. As someone who WAS a fan of the raven hood series, it feels like a real fck you against Latinx to just read the absolute garbage put in this book. I hope you read this Kate Stewart because you can’t block or delete my comments here. You’re ONE Mexican friend doesn’t speak for all Mexicans. Deleting the words of Latinx calling you out on social media is one gigantic red flag.

[Shabby -BookBistroBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love and rock ‘n’ roll love stories aren’t for the faint of heart.
Ain't that the truth ! They sure are a lethal combination .I have read somewhere- Don't fall in love with a rockstar, you'll never go back to anybody ever again!
Sometimes you come across a story which has a whole spectrum of emotions, you may not be able to grasp all of them , but the magic in the words will forever change you. DRIVE is such a book.
FYI- I went in blind, no reading the blurb or reviews at all !
*Status at 4 pm- [Review to come .gimme a minute to pick myself off the floor at least 😢]
*Status at 7.04 pm -okay , I'm off the floor and with tears encrusted cheeks finally trusting to learn to smile again !
Ms.Kate can reach out from the book and twist your heart in her writer fist till you can't breathe , just by her thoughts alone. They are some mighty thoughts and potent words awright. The bridge she draws between music and the story shows her acute knowledge of the power of tunes and easily translates it to words . She deserves a standing ovation 👏

Because music is the heart’s greatest librarian. A few notes had the ability to transport me back in time, and to the most painful of places. Take any song from the Rolodex of your life, and you can pin it to a memory. It translates, resonates, and there it will remain. And no matter how many of those Rolodex cards you want to rip out and burn like an old phone number to make room for new ones, those songs remain and threaten to repeat.

The pool of NBWs is pretty small in Booklandia. Don't get me wrong , wonderful books are written daily by accomplished indie writers, some have figured out the pulse of readers and their hold onto it, some have honed their craft to perfection, some ride on the success of their trilogy, expanding the kitty by giving associate characters their own books. And they're Good!
But then we have some #NaturalBornWriters or NBWs who have ink instead blood that flows in their veins, the words are the metronome their heart beats to and music their pulse throbs to.
Ms. Kate Stewart is one of this rare breed that was put on this Earth to write, Period.
This is unequivocally my Fourth 6 star book of the year. What a way to end this year on a highest of High notes , still resonating in my heart. The tie-up of music to memories is beautifully portrayed in this book, every moment of Estella Rosa Maria Emerson or Stella, the niña rebelde, who wants to do something amazing, something so groundbreaking, that she's set a timer on herself. she has her priorities lined up, to finish her school, get a job and forget about Don Haley who broke her heart. She moves to Austin and tries to reinvent herself. Her brain runs on music like adrenaline. For her soul, It's like a therapy, a lifeline

Everyone, at some point in their life, breathes and grieves through song, but for me, it was daily therapy. When a certain song plucked those strings in my chest, I felt it all, and it was freedom. Those songs didn’t judge or tell me I was a fool for feeling the way I did. They told me they were with me. It was how I balanced my life and my passion.

She meets Dead Seargents drummer -Reid 'King' crowne and thump goes her heart, beating hard to his rhythm.



The timing couldn't have been more serendipitous , as if written by Fate herself. She literally saves his life by just walking in his apartment one day. Their lives are forever coupled together like chain links from that point on. Stella pushes Reid for a kiss that probably is the most momentous after Juliet kissed Romeo,and their stars realign themselves. Complete transformation of their fates happens , just from the moment their lips meet.



Trouble follows them everywhere threatening to bring their love house tumbling down. They fight, push, repel, compel, pull and drown together
I've often wondered just like Stella or Paige or hundreds of other readers, what would've happened had Stella not pushed for that kiss?
For one we wouldn't have had a love story to dive into and we surely wouldn't be lying on the floor, hurting and bleeding of broken heart. So there's that ! We're suckers like that, lining up to have our souls shattered to pieces by authors and jagged pieces crunching in their inky hands. Here, take my money and kill me !! **smh**

“I’ve never in my life met a woman who needed to know so much.”
“I’ve never in my life met a man who wanted to tell so little.”
“Match made in hell,”

Hell does break loose, and they are tattered. There's no other way to describe it. Their hearts shredded and lives tattered blown away in the winds of time.
I cried.. Soulful, heart wrenching tears, almost gave me a stroke!! Can one die of heartbreak? Apparently one can .....almost!

Heartache has the most annoying sound. It’s an echo. An echo of heartbeats stuck on a loop.

My heart literally was stuck in their misery, nothing consoled me and I sobbed my heart out. OMG ! She is just a girl trying to find her fairytale ........but with the WRONG FUCKING PRINCE!!!
By this point I was so invested in their lives, I was trying to shake the kindle to get some sense into them. Their life is a tragedy of wrong timings.



Reid's abandonment, Nate Butler's companionship and Page's interventions (though from a place of love and care, I still wanted to muffle her Big mouth) are all instrumental and Ill timed in keeping them far apart. Thus far in the book, I'd had enough, I can't take it anymore,that's it- I'm putting my kindle down , after just one more chapter!
I couldn't though, leave it alone or walk away, I couldn't stop reading.......Crying and reading 😭
A palette of Love in all its splendid colours, fluffy blush-pink to jealous reds to sorrowful Greys, you'll see them all in Technicolor. I can't sing enough praises for this book enough. It rightfully sits at the top of 2017 book heap, wearing golden 6 stars embellished crown 👑 and I'm so delighted to have popped my Kate Stewart cherry with such a remarkable book. I'm going to read her entire back collection, as and when I get a break from my tbr.

“Here’s to the bee that stung the bull that got the bull a buckin’, and here’s to Adam who stuck it to Eve that got the whole world a fuckin’.”
Here's to Kate whose words got my kindle-to-wall chuckin'
6 Sissy/Grenade stars
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[Bailee Latham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still God Tier. The best love triangle I’ve ever read, even the second time around.

[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS

"Because music is the heart’s greatest librarian. A few notes had the ability to transport me back in time, and to the most painful places.”



This is my favorite Kate Stewart story to date and this book most definitely is making it on my favorite list of 2017. If there has ever been a book that is written seamlessly with a musical soundtrack this is the book. I dare a reader not to check out the songs that accompany the chapters as our amazing heroine navigates her career, her dreams, and her love life.



Stella is a relatable heroine who can’t create her own music but through her words can relay what she feels and hears gifting her a career sharing what she loves with the world (not unlike us book reviewers). While the story is told in present/past scenarios the author stays the majority in the correct timeline as her love life hits highs and lows and hard pounding crescendos.



There are two men who do hold our Stella’s heart and it isn’t until the end of the story do we know who she forever will be with. Both heroes are well done and for the first time in a love triangle story I didn’t have a favorite only the DRIVE for Stella to make sure she remained true to herself (a lesson in life I have learned the hard way this year) and one her friend explained so easily in one quote.

"Living for a man is the quickest way to get lost.”



The writing provides all the essential words to forgive past hurts, move on, and truly live the story. It’s definitely an angsty, captivating, story that will keep your attention as you DRIVE to the end.

"He was my song, my soul, my everything…”



**ARC won through the fab ladies at The Blissful Bookies & Kate Stewart**

[Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 STARS

He was my song, my soul, my everything, and his love had propelled me forward into the woman I wanted to be. And that woman would burn out with the man who was made to keep her warm.

Wow. WOW. Seriously, wow. This book. This was quite possibly one of the most unique, memorable, and captivating romances I've read in a long while. I have no idea how to even go about reviewing this book because I feel like you really need to go into it completely blind to get the full effect, but I'll do my best.

I used to think I was cursed for having fallen in love with two men. But, in hindsight, I realized what a gift it was. They were my lovers, my teachers, my best friends, and I would love them both until I took my last breath.

There are a few authors I would break my no love triangles rule for, and Kate Stewart happens to be one. Though, I feel it's fair to say, this is unlike any other love triangle I've ever read. It almost didn't feel like one because as you read the story, you feel in your heart who Stella belongs with. I'm not sure how it's possible that you feel her love for the other man as well, but you do. No one is a consolation prize. This was such a powerful and emotional story of love, growing up, and chasing your dreams to that one minute past desperation.

The story is cleverly told in alternating past to present, though the majority takes place in the past. It's interactive with each chapter tied to a song you can play. This made the story that much better.

Young Stella moves to Dallas to chase her dreams as an entertainment journalist. Moving in with her older sister, she experiences life from the bottom up. She works the dead end jobs to make ends meet, she barely has two dimes to rub together, but that never stops her. She's passionate in all things, including chasing her dreams. Along the way she meets two men that irrevocably change her life. Each owning a different piece of her heart equally, though one does it in an overwhelming way. She experiences the rock and roll culture from both sides of the stage. And you experience it right along with her.

It took three seconds to close the distance between us, two seconds to lock together like we’d been doing it our entire lives, and that last second . . . that last second when his lips devoured mine was the second I lost a piece of myself I could never get back.

Stella was such a captivating heroine. Her emotions just roll off of her. She's this combination of strength and fear, love and indecision. You see her grow from a naive girl that knows what she wants to a strong woman that goes after it. You see her fall in love and have her heart shattered. You feel it right along with her.

This isn't a book you read, it's a book you experience. It'll frustrate you, it will anger you, it will make you laugh, cry, and swoon. I have experienced such a myriad of emotions, I was almost exhausted when I got to the end.

You exhaust me. You make me tired, Stella, so fucking tired. I want you and I want to do it right, but I’m so annoyed right now. All I want to do is make you wet and fuck you until it hurts.”

I'll admit, it took a bit to fully get into it. Kate Stewart really takes her time to set the scene with this story, and it was a touch slow going at first. But after the 40% mark, it was completely unputdownable.

If you're a fan of unique, angsty, and captivating romances, this is a book that's an absolute must read. It will be a story that I won't forget any time soon and I'll recommend blindly to ANYONE.

I couldn’t say anything. I was too far gone. Doused in gasoline with no match in sight, the aching, the longing, and the burning all there.

ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review

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[Rachel L · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALL THE STARS!

“Music is the heart’s greatest librarian.”

Top recommendation and one of the best books of the year for me! Drive made me fall in love with the romance genre again. I’m not exaggerating when I say this, since August I have only had one 5 star romance read, and it was MM not MF. I had given up hope on this genre and on the indie romance community but after reading Drive I’m back and ready for more!

Drive is the story of Stella, a music journalist gets some shocking news and decides to drive home instead of taking her flight. Along the way she remembers her past and the events that led to her present circumstances. That’s all I’m going to tell you, I went in blind and I think the experience of reading this book is more enjoyable this way.

“A gravitational pull lured me to him. I wanted inside his head. And that was just the start of what I wanted.”

Kate Stewart is an author I find myself recommending all the time and wish more people would read. Her writing is very versatile, each book a unique and heartfelt experience. Drive follows in the same vein, at the heart of it is music. The songs mentioned at the beginning of the chapters (the ones I knew and didn’t have to look up) I could hear in my mind as I was reading. I don’t listen to music when reading because I find it hard to focus on one or the other, but if you enjoy music while reading, I recommend the spotify playlist Kate made for this book.

This was the book that I wanted to read into the early hours of the morning, the one where I was cursing my job that I love because I wanted to stay up late reading this book but needed sleep instead. It didn’t take me long to realize while reading this book was something special, and I was only halfway through when I started sending book recommendations of it to other readers on Goodreads. This is the book that you know will stay with you forever, the one that when you hear certain songs you’ll remember how you felt when reading it.

Stella is a heroine that is flawed, emotional and beautiful. I loved her outlook on life, that even though bad things had happened to her she tried her hardest and kept going. We see her struggling as a college student, to working her way up the music world. And while this book is a love story, it’s also about how Stella found her way back to her true self. How she picked up the pieces and told the world to go screw itself and fought her way to the top.

Not sure what else to say, it’s obvious I loved this book. If you haven’t picked up a book by Kate yet I want to smack you. Just make sure you don’t end 2017 without reading this book. You won’t regret it.

“He was my song, my soul, my everything, and his love had propelled me forward into the woman I wanted to be.”


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[Just Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

*****4.5 STARS*****

Unfiltered review here https://wp.me/p7ZSCH-45I

Let me warn you that this story is one hell of a love triangle and if that isn’t your thing then this isn’t your book.



This story takes you on a long drive down memory lane of Stella’s love life or lack there of. This drive is Stella’s playlist of her heart and soul. I mean the chick lays her heart out there to bleed. Her drive, listening to her playlist, feeling her feelings on love. . .it was fucking golden. This girl had me in my feelings.

Love doesn’t die, even when you stop feeding it. There is no expiration date on the ache of missing someone you shared your heart, life, and body with. – Stella

At times, reading this book was difficult because the emotions were spilling off of the pages into my mind. I wanted to reach in and find the truth behind the words. I wanted to smack some sense into Stella, Reid, and Nate. I wanted to feel that passion and love that they felt. I wanted it all and then some, yet, I wanted it to stop. That may come across the wrong way here but I wanted it to stop in a good way. There were moments that I didn’t think I was going to make it out okay when story ended.

“If I’m not what you need, then go find it. I bared myself to you, and you didn’t have the decency to fall in love with me. I probably will hate you. I fell for you, scared, but I did it anyway.” – Stella

When I started writing this review, I thought I would go into more depth, but in the end, I didn’t. Trust me. . .there is waaaaaayyyyyy more that I want to say but that might ruin the experience for you and I can’t do that. To make up for that I will leave you with my final thoughts.

Drive is more than a love story, it has personality. There is a heart, a soul, a depth, a life. It gave me life. No kidding here folks. I had not read a book in almost two weeks when I picked this book up. I had been sick and in the hospital. I wasn’t in a good head space to read anything. I am so happy that Drive was the book that I choose to break me out of my funk.

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[Alessandra Torre · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really captured me from the very beginning. I love the way it unfolded, and how the author chose to tell the story. It kept me guessing until the very end - not only how it would end, but also how I wanted it to end.

I was burned by this story, because it was very similar to a real-life situation of my own. I was once in love with a man very similar to Reid. I struggled like this character struggled. And that experience really haunted my reading of this novel.

That's a random personal side note. Ignore it.

I loved this book. It affected me - and that is one of the greatest gifts a story can give us. I highly recommend it, it's one of my top reads of this year. Five stars!

[bruna · Rating 2 out of 5]

i feel nothing but anger right now... seriously, i can’t even put into words how mad this book made me. 😭

rtc? honestly, i don’t even know if i want to write a review. i need some time to think and get my thoughts straight.

───────────

angsty romance? sign me up! 💳😮‍💨 i hope this will get me out of my mini slump 🤞🏼

[Maria✦❋Steamy Reads Blog❋✦ · Rating 5 out of 5]

➦I can't give less than 5 here, people. Because, HOLY MOTHER OF ANGST. If I didn't love my nails so much I would have totally bitten them off.


➦This book has music all over it. It follows a story of a woman who is trying to make a career out of being a reporter and discovering new bands. And her journey is not easy, people. We're talking starting from nothing. And we all know how easy it is to get a foot in the door.


➦I don't think I've ever read a love triangle quite like this one. These three exhausted me to the point where I didn't have a favorite. I kept changing my mind about how I wanted this book to end. And at the end of it all, I don't even care about how it ended, I was just happy to be there for the ride.


➦One thing I will mention is that this book has a bunch of time jumps and those would probably be the only thing that I found distracting. Well, more like... confusing. I love LOVE flashbacks and stories that are told in both past and present but, once too many different timelines get involved, my brain gets a bit hazy. Especially if I have to read the book in multiple sittings. But this is just my personal thaaaang.


➦A definite recommend from me! If you're a fan of emotional reads, rockstar romances, love traingle tropes - this one is a MUST. Best book by Kate Stewart I've ever read to date, for sure.

[Astrid - The Bookish Sweet Tooth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review @ Vanilla & Spice Books


✮✮✮ ALL OF THE STARS ✮✮✮

Love doesn’t die, even when you stop feeding it. There is no expiration date on the ache of missing someone you shared your heart, life, and body with

.


Kate Stewart's star is rising. She is one of the most versatile writers I've had the pleasure to read so far and she always, ALWAYS delivers.

I have read a couple of love triangles in the past and I'm extremely picky about them because I usually don't like them - one of the parties always has their heart broken. But since this is Kate Stewart, how can I refuse? And lordy, thank gaaaaahd I didn't. So let's have a look at the book, shall we?







We all have these songs, the ones that catapult us back into the past and let us re-live it. We remember the people we were with when we listened to them, the places we connect with them, the feelings that were prominent at that time. We remember details like smells and tastes. Some of them are so bittersweet that we feel regret - regret that it's in the past, regret how we handled a situation, regret that things happened as they did or that we did let them happen.



After a phone call that throws her off her game and makes her missing her flight Stella decides to rent a car and hit the road the soundtrack of her life playing on the drive, consciously letting herself slip back into the life she has moved on from. That road was stony, full of obstacles and pain but also love, so much true, unfettered love and passion.

Torn. In love with two worthy kings, and I was queen of the damned. - Stella

Stella is a firecracker with so much spunk I gave her mental high-fives all the time. Her personality is scintillating, sparkly, beautiful yet flawed. She wants to do right by the people she loves but more often than not her emotions rule her and that leads to decisions that, although not necessarily wrong, hurt people and mostly herself.





I loved that looking back at the men in her life she didn't feel regret, she isn't bitter from the sweet. She realizes that they had their time and place in her life and shaped her into the strong woman she is today. Her capacity to feel deeply is never toned down but re-directed. The passion she feels as a young woman is still there when you close the book but so much more mature and refined.

“Because I want to talk to you every day. I want to look at you every day. Because I can’t fucking wait to see what completely inappropriate T-shirt you wear to work next.”
“You like me a lot.” I grinned.
“Enough to risk a nut,” he mused as he poured cheap shampoo into his hand. - Reid

Both men in Stella's life are beautiful in their own way. Reid is the broken guy, the quiet one and loner who suffers alone and is immensely private. Yet in his love for Stella he is so transparent, it is so obvious that his love for her knows no bounds. I loved Reid. LOVED.

...and that last second . . . that last second when his lips devoured mine was the second I lost a piece of myself I could never get back. - Stella

Nate is the guy who lights up a room when he enters. He's as gorgeous outside as he is inside. His love for Stella feels different but is just as strong. It's lighter, brighter, not as desperate and this is the way her love for him feels too. He gives her the freedom to explore, never pushes. I loved Nate. LOVED.

“Because I’ll be goddamned if I let you forget that I’m waiting. I want you to get used to these hands, these arms, this lap. We’ll be around a while. If it happens, it will happen naturally, and we’ll make our own story. If it doesn’t, I’ve got you with me now, and I’m good with that.” - Nate

Yet there comes a point when Stella has to decide which road she takes because sometimes love just isn't enough. For me it would have been impossible to make a choice - Nate and Reid were perfect. Ultimately she chooses herself though and it's everything you can hope for.


I love music, like Stella my taste covers a lot of variety and having links to the songs for every chapter and being able to listen to them right away is awesome and unique. It makes the reading experience interactive and will pull you right into Stella's head and heart.
The story is told solely from Stella's point of view - in many cases that's a problem for me. I need the hero's thoughts, his feelings. Leave it to Kate Stewart to make Nate's and Reid's love shine through Stella. I had no issues at all to believe the depth of their feelings and connection with her.


This story gutted me, wrecked me. My heart is bruised and I hope Kate covers my therapy sessions, it's her fault after all. I have the worst book hangover - how am I supposed to just move on from this epic love story? Seriously, how evil is Kate Stewart to give us two perfect men while she watches our hearts getting punched and battered? I cried. I ugly-cried and I don't do that very often nowadays. I thought I'd given away the book of the year award 2017 prematurely but Drive tied A Charm of Finches. Guess I'll have to give away two books with my end-of-year giveaway.







I know many of us are ambivalent about love triangles. Ultimately this is a story about growth and deciding who you want to be, that love comes in all shapes and forms. That you can give a piece of your heart to more than one man but they will never own the same piece. Give this story a chance - you will drown in the emotions and it will make you hurt for the characters but at the end of the day the road is more important than the destination and the road not taken will always leave you wondering. This story will stay with me for a long time and I'll definitely re-read. Thinking about these extraordinary characters still takes my breath away.

Note to the author: We need Lexi and Ben, Kate, and we need a third story and you know which one I mean - I need to know that he is happy.


All teasers courtesy of the author

[NMmomof4 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars

Overall Opinion: Why, oh why couldn't I get a jump ahead epilogue with more of the couple?! I think after all the angst, tears, and anxious waiting we deserved that! Right?! Maybe I'm just alone in my thinking, but I needed some happiness to go with all the angst! Otherwise, I loved the book. I think if it had a good epilogue and a good concrete HEA I would've been leaning towards giving this 5 stars. Total bummer. I don't have many triggers, and love triangle isn't one of them. If done well, I think they can be the most emotional, tragic, and real books to read. I definitely wouldn't say that it's a favorite theme of mine, but that is mainly because it isn't done well that often IMO -- but I think Ms. Stewart did an awesome job! I also haven't read a rock star book in a while either. I appreciated that we didn't have groupie drama, and I always seem to like the up-and-coming rock star story more than the already uber famous rock star. Overall, a great read for those that can handle love triangles and like a rock star spin.

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Stella's story. I'm going to keep this brief in hopes of not ruining it. She just made a big change in her life and is sleeping in her sister's couch when she meets Reid. Reid is in a major slump in his world, and they butt heads for a while before developing other feelings. Stella dreams of being an entertainment writer and covering up-and-coming bands, and she meets Nate who owns a small paper when she pursues a job with him. Nate is instantly drawn to her, and he never hides his intentions. There are some big life decisions for all of them, some sexy times, some heartbreak...and she gets a HEA ending.

POV: This was told in Stella's POV. I would've liked either of the H's POV, but that's probably me being greedy again 🤷🏻‍♀️

Overall Pace of Story: Good until the ending. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.

Instalove: No, it takes a while to develop stronger feelings.

H rating: 4 stars. Reid. I liked him. He was damaged for sure, but I appreciated how he wanted to be a better man for Stella.

H rating: 4 stars. Nate. I liked him. I liked how he knew that he wanted her right away, and he never hid that from Stella.

h rating: 4 stars. Stella. I liked her. I liked her sass, her optimism, and her drive.

Sadness level: Moderate. I cried, but I never needed any tissues.

Push/Pull: Yes All three push away as well as pursue the relationship at times.

Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.

Descriptive sex: Yes

Safe sex: Yes Mentions of condom use. I don't remember any mention of std statuses or previous practices.

OW/OM drama: Yes Love triangle! Need I say more? 😉

Sex scene with OW or OM: Yes There is descriptive scenes with the h and both of the men.

Cheating: Yes The h has strong feelings for both men. She kisses and loves H while with OM.

Separation: Yes They are separated for a significant time frame. I felt like it was implied that both of them were with other partners during the separation.

Possible Triggers: Yes Love triangle (on page), poverty (on page), mild drug use (on page), ~5/6 year age difference, alcoholic parents (off page - through mentions), and cheating (on page).

Closure: I wanted more!! It didn't have enough time in the end with them as a mature couple! This was full of angst, and I needed some happiness to balance it all out! I would, however, call it a HEA ending they are married.

How I got it: It was part of my kindle unlimited subscription.

Safety: This one is probably Not Safe for most safety gang readers

- Does have cheating
- Does have a descriptive sex scene with the h and OM
- Does have both the h and H pushing away
- Does have a separation between the h and H
- Does Not have abuse
- Does Not have OTT sad parts
- Does have a HEA ending

[Patty ~ Wrapped Up In Reading Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

*****4.5 STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}


It was always the music that reminded me where I’d been and where I was going. Aching from the truth of the lyrics, sweet relief came in the form of the beautiful man who appeared on the other side of the stage. He was desperately searching for someone, for me. I stood waiting, as different tears—tears I’d sworn I didn’t have left—swam in my eyes.

In that moment, I let my love show and tears fall freely as Don’s raspy voice conveyed more to him that I ever could. Because our love was real. It was truth. And I would never take what we had for granted.






I’m sitting here trying to process all of the feelings this story instilled in me. All I can say is that with each book Kate Stewart writes, her talent shines brightly in technicolor. She is the Queen of ANGST. There is so much gut-wrenching angst poured into the pages of this book that I recommend a shot of whiskey before even attempting to dive into this one. Be forewarned that this is definitely a love triangle and that both men are so incredible in their own unique ways that they will both own your hearts and it will be hard to choose between them. I knew that no matter whom the Heroine picked, that my heart was going to feel like it had been ripped to shreds for the man she must end up saying “goodbye” to.




We are taken on an emotional and often heartbreaking journey with the Heroine, Stella Emerson, whose love of music runs deep in her veins. Her life’s playlist has gotten her through her lowest of moments and has even helped her come to deep revelations. Throughout the story, we shift from past to present and I must admit that a few times I was confused as to what point in time in Stella’s life we were at, but this was just a minor hiccup because once I got my bearings the story flowed beautifully for me.







Stella Emerson is a young woman on the path to self-discovery. She’s an extremely passionate woman and her emotions run hot at times. Lost love has shredded her heart over and over. Stella’s ready to put the matters of the heart on hold while she focuses on fulfilling her dream of becoming one of the top music journalists of her generation. While living temporarily with her older sister in Austin, Texas before her college semester begins, she meets the gorgeous and broody Reid Crowne. The animosity that instantly generates between them is a sure fire indication that what’s burning beneath is some blazing hot chemistry.





Life has been one uphill battle after another for Reid and at times it takes everything in him to make it to the next day. Stella comes barreling through his world and while her tenacity to learn all of his truths tests his patience, there is no denying that this impossible woman is stealing his heart, and he’s having the exact same effect on her. Stella and Reid eventually fall into a torrential romance obliterating other friendships/relationships in its path. But neither of them are in the right place in their lives to make this relationship a healthy one and so they go up in flames. This nearly destroys Stella because for the first time she knows that she had the real thing and all those times before were schoolgirl infatuations.





While licking her wounds, she meets Nate Butler, owner of SPEAK, a local newspaper. Their first encounter is intoxicating and Stella’s shocked at how instantly attracted she is to him. I mean the guy is older, gorgeous, and has a winning personality. He gives her what her soul needs at the moment. They fall into an easy relationship filled with friendship and incredible passion.





Things are turned upside down when Reid shows back up in Austin with his band, the Dead Sargeants for an exclusive interview they are only giving to Stella. Now that her past and present are colliding, will she be able to make the right choice? Or will things get so screwed up that she ends up losing both men?





My stomach was twisted up in knots from the 60% mark till the end. I shed quite a few tears and wasn’t sure that my heart would be able to heal once Stella made her choice because I’m not lying when I say that both men were so awesome it was very hard for me to choose between them, but there was one that sort of had a little bit more of my love.




Kate’s writing is absolutely exquisite in DRIVE. I am so very proud of her. I fell in love with so many of her words and I’m sure this book should catapult her to the top of the bestsellers lists. She deserves to be a New York Times Bestseller! Let’s make it happen people!



Here are my overall ratings on the book:

Heroes: 5++++++
Heroine: 4
Plot: 5
Angst: 10
Steam: 5
Chemistry Between Heroes & Heroine: 5++++++



DRIVE is currently available! You’ve seen all the five-star reviews! Don’t wait! One Click Now!

▸ Amazon US → http://amzn.to/2gjkx4I⠀
▸ Amazon UK → http://amzn.to/2yLEitp
▸ Amazon CA → http://amzn.to/2wUVIPC
▸ Amazon AU→ http://amzn.to/2gjHrcr

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 BEAUTIFUL BASTARD STARS!!

DRIVE: Is a standalone contemporary romance novel by Kate Stewart and has just become my one click author!!

Holy shit!! I feel like I've been pulled through a hedge backwards, and probably look like it too!! God this book! At the start of this I went in with eyes wide open, at the end of it I came away loving two men! This book made me feel so much, I cried, I laughed, I loved, I swooned, I listened as I got carried away in the music that accompanied this book. I felt everything this book threw at me. I went in unfeeling and came out feeling so much.



A bittersweet feeling rocked me as I reached the end, sad that it had come to the end of Stella's journey and boy what a journey it was, she'd come full circle and ended up exactly where she should have. But like the greedy bitch I am I just wanted more, I didn't want it to end!!



Sitting here putting my thoughts down in this review I feel like I've lived a life time in the time I spent reading this book, the highs, the lows, the angst, every feeling known to mankind was ripped out of me..To say I loved this book is an understatement, I lived it, I breathed it, I inhaled it!!
Definitely reading more by this author!!

* Teasers used are off the Authors facebook page *

[Shile (Hazard's Version) on-hiatus · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+++++ stars

If anyone tells you a song is important to them, you should turn it up loud, close your eyes, and really listen. Because at the end, you will know that person so much better.

Warning! Quotes and Gushing!

I am all tingly and gooey inside. I am also hurt, I fell in love and got my heart stomped. Gaaah!



My heart! GAAAAHHH!!!

"Just remember when you’re yelling, you’re hurt. And whoever hurt you probably loves you just as much.”



I read MF Contemporary and freaking loved it. GAAAAAHH!!!

“I grew up, my dreams changed.”



Daaaamnnn! This was a freaking good story. I fell in love instantly from the prologue. The author clearly knew what she was doing. That prologue kept me from leaving, Stella persuaded me to stick around and the music connected me to the words. I got a dope Spotify playlist now, courtesy of this book.

In all honesty, I was selfish. Love was selfish.

The story is narrated by Stella. I loved Stella, I felt she was realistic, with real dreams. Fresh from high school, in love with music, armed with the ambition to be a music Journalist. The story is told in present/past format but not like the ones we are used to. This is definitely unique. It maintains one timeline for long, in a way that is not confusing and annoying.

My peanut heart and head were being played with. Stella, Reid, Nate, Paige, Lexi, Ben and every goddamn character in this book, made me feel the feels. It was that good. The character development is amazing, no one was left behind. I remember them all.

“If you leave, I’ll be ruined anyway,” I said, my heart bared.



Gaaah! I love Stella, she had Amy Winehouse and Eagles on her playlist. That alone guarantees my undying love.

You can’t put a price on your dreams, and I learned over the years that sometimes dreams have a way of paying for themselves. Excited for my new adventure, I floored the pedal up and down the steep roads that led to the small town outside the city.

Stella's story is so well written and pulls you in. I still can’t believe how much I ended up enjoying it. I love the fact that it wasn’t predictable. I was dying to know how it was going to turn out. GAAAAHH! It was excruciatingly painful. Stella growth is so amazing. I love the fact that she found herself first and I loved her through, the love, the heartaches, the failed dreams, the realized ones, the confusion, the mistakes and everything in between.

I loved Stella, I loved Reid, I loved Nate, I loved Lexi, I loved Paige and i freaking loved even Ben.



I am so happy I peeked and gave this book a chance. Best MF experience ever.

[Alex ♈ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Double spoiler tag, don't click on the 2nd spoiler, if safety issues are not your triggers!

The book was well written.
IMO it was a love-triangle and it was definitely 2nd chance. Both are not my reading preferences, but I was convinced and tempted by fabulous reviews.

I didn't like any character, main and side ones. But it could definitely be another case of 'it's-not-the-book-it's-me'.

I won't write about my thoughts and feelings, I just point out safety details, which are sufficient to me and some of my friends.

My review doesn't cover emotional level of the book, it's only about the facts.

Don't click on spoiler, if you're not sure.
The book is on KU, read positive reviews and give it a try.

WARNING. SPOILERS.
The book began with h getting a message from her bff, that HE has married. The h took a 20-hours drive and till almost the end of the book it were her flashbacks/memories.

Back to 2005 (I assume the book ended not in 2017, but earlier. Sorry, I didn't quite understand)

h was 19/20.
1st H Reid 25
2nd H Nate 26

She met them both only a couple of weeks apart. Nate was interested, but she rejected him.
Reid was her sister's friend (nothing sexual with her sister).
h threw herself on Reid, even after she met his ex at his apartment, whom he f*cked 'like he hated her' a night before. She overheard their conversation. She and Reid were not together then, but it bothered me, since there was definitely a mutual attraction. Well, to each his own.

Reid and she started to date/sleep together; her sister got mad and 'evicted' her. Short time later Reid left h mostly because of his tortured past and his current situation with his parents (they were alcoholic).

Month(s) later Reid came back and h saw him with other girl. Since Nate made it clear he wanted her and waited for her, she started to date him. A couple of months later Reid came back to speak to her, frish from rehab, but she was already with Nate and she rejected him.

3 years later she was still with Nate. Reid came back again (his band became popular) and made it clear he wanted her back. She sent him to hell, but had major doubts, coz she still loved him secretly. As they said Reid became a better man, gave up his bad habits (but he didn't live as a monk).
h held her past relationship with Reid secret to Nate.

8 months later Nate witnessed the h with Reid and put the dots together. This night h kissed Reid (still being officially with Nate) - I don't put it on cheating-shelf, but IMO it was. Nate left her.
Months later she met Nate again.
Reid called her and said he loved her.

She decided to live for herself, but it included one of the Hs.

I won't spoil whom.

I just say, that a good, IMO, guy got his HEA, I wish him all the happiness and strong and faithful woman, who would unconditionally love him. I hope he would leave his past in the past and gave her his true love.

The book has a 'HEA' with h & one of the men.

h wasn't a strong character, back in the past she was very selfish and didn't improve much toward the end.

I won't read next book about h's BFF and one of the band members: he slept around during separation, got pics with naked OWs online and later on had a kid with this BFF, but they were still not together. Looks like 100% not my coppa.

[Bibi · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @30%

Subpar writing, as well as an eye-rolling cast of characters. What's there to love about this woman that makes two men want her? SMH. I don't get it

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the love of all great stories, where is the pre-order link for book #2 ?!?!

*Me in hysterics*
Five Stars, Five Stars, Five Stars, Five Stars, Five Stars, Five Stars, Five Stars, Five Stars, Five Stars, Five Stars, Five Stars, Five Stars.

*Me having an episode*
I love it. I loved it. I love it. I loved it.

Caution: My most nonsensical ramblings evah.

Day 1 -

It trampled on my heart, crushed my feelings, poked my ulcer, put me short of sleep.



Day 2 - *like a zombie*

Mercy, dear author.



No.

Counting the minutes to my break, grabbed my kindle to feed my obsession, eating is overrated. Got me almost in hysterics, left me out of breath, another blow in my poor heart, overdose of Gaviscon, is there a HEA?

Back to work &%%((#';####@#'@!$%?//??>##
Finished work.
I. Am. A. Lady. On. A. Mission.
And I have a plan.
Dinner will be pizza OR pizza.
Problem solved. Grabbed my kindle for THAT HEA.
But hey!


not just yet. *author probably inserts evil laugh*

Stomped over my heart a little more, just to make sure this time there is nothing left.



People, I truly live for stories like this.



Drive is compelling, refreshing, gripping and emotional.
I was totally consumed by Kate Stewart's words.
And I'll tell you, it fucking hurts but I regret nothing.

Available on Kindle unlimited

[Jenny••Steamy Reads Blog•• · Rating 5 out of 5]

I told myself I wouldn't read triangles anymore. I really did 🙋🏼 yes that was me.. However, I caved, this is the kindof triangle story I like, I can handle these kind, it was good to my heart, and hair =))

Simply beautiful. Amazingly written. Stunningly perfect.
I loved it. It's that simple. I honestly can't say anything bad about it at all. I fully recommend this one to all my GR friends❤️

I fell in love with each character in this book.
Stella was an incredibly strong individual that just continued on with life even when she was knocked down. She was happy, she was carefree. I loved how hard she loved, I adored how much she cared.

Reid was a lost soul that did what he had to do to get back to where he knew he belonged. He was lovable, he was fighting his demons, yet he would do anything to protect the one he loved. He was a gorgeous rock star

Nate was business driven. He strived to achieve goals and was committed to succeeding in his business. However, he gave his love everything she wanted, except the moon. He was handsome and he was so sweet.


Each were perfectly imperfect!!! It ends beautifully and can't say enough how I hope to get more to this crazy group!!!❤️

[TheCrazyWorldOfABookLover · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't for the life of me get into this book and still can't seem to understand where all the high ratings are coming from.
REALLY didn't like the writing.
The story.
The characters.
Nada.




Find Me On:
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[kara · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was so uncomfortable to read wtf. The main girl is Latina but this book is very clearly written by a white women, the “jokes” are not funny and a lot of the time they’re offensive or just so weird. It was just obsessive, I can’t even explain it but I HATED THIS BOOK

Here are some quotes:

“She hasn’t used the tongue enough, and she doesn’t like being half a beaner.”

“Only if you aren’t half beaner.”

“La Migra, La Migra, get down.” “She told them border patrol was here and to get down.”

“No, it’s the Latina Inquisition,” he said with a twist of his lips.”

“How about you kiss my Latina ass?”

“You’re so rough around the edges, my little Latina.”

"Come on, woman, you're half Mexican. You
were born with rhythm." "I'm Latina,”

"A Hispanic girl with long black hair?"
"Latina.”

"GO!" I screamed at the top of my Latina
lungs,”

“It took all my Latina courage”

“"There's the cocky little Latina I know and
love,”

"Paige, I'm fine," I said, trying to keep the
angry, tequila-filled Latina at bay.”

And the entire time the author’s writing this like 👩‍💻👩‍💻👩‍💻

[Malene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate Stewart! She's capable of writing anything and I mean anything. From suspenseful erotica, hilarious romcom to angsty second chance romance. She masters any genre.
Drive nurtured my music loving heart and my love for romance. I was blown away by this epic story and the author's lyrical prose.
Drive has cemented Kate Stewart as an author who writes without restraint. Her love and passion for music shines through every word. I'm in love and on a high.

This is Stella's journey and it was meticulously executed. I felt I lived vicariously through her. I saw myself in her and could relate to her.
Stella says pretty early in the story: "Music is the heart's greatest librarian". That's her in a nutshell.
Her passion and outlet is music. Lives and breathes it which also reflects on her emotionally. She studies journalism so she can capture and share her love for music with the world. Stella has a voice and she wants to be heard.
Stella meets the handsome and brooding drummer Reid who plays for the unknown band Dead Sergeants. Their connection is instantly. Like magnets. Reid has a lot of emotional s**t he's dealing with but their connection is undeniable.
Stella plays a huge part in the birth of Dead Sergeants and them becoming famous. Her faith in Reid and the band is unparalleled. I loved that about her. Her selflessness and also her determination to achieve her goal. Which is writing for the Austin Speaks paper to cover artists and music.

It takes a toll on their relationship when Reid doesn't believe and has faith in his future with The Dead Sergeants. He's also battling his own demons. Feeling that he's not enough for Stella. In his own eyes he's nothing. She just wants him. Their love is a drug. Potent. Like Stella I was addicted to their story, their evolving connection and I also feared that the bubble would eventually burst.
Reid wanted to feel worthy of Stella and that led them both on different paths which only made them grew and change as people.

You have to experience Stella's journey. The secondary characters are just as interesting and complex as Stella and Reid. Especially Lexi and Ben. Gahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I want their story.

When I read the prologue I was intrigued and as the story developed I questioned the why and how. I loved that nothing was certain and how the hell had Stella gotten to that place in the prologue. The story was never predictable and the plot was flawlessly executed with a compelling narrative.

Drive resonated with me because of my love for music and romance. I recognized the artists and references. I was transported into a time warp and I never wanted to leave.
Yes, Drive is about music but this story is so much more. It's about love and what the heart is capable of. Loving two people. Irrevocably and making a choice.
Drive is unforgettable and I was seduced by Stewart's indisputable voice which proves that Drive is in a league of its own. Wow!

5+ BadAssDirtyLookUpStars



Beta-copy provided for honest feedback and review

[Liana Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4 ⭐️ They say that good boys go to heaven but bad boys bring heaven to you. The overwhelming sense of joy and intense passion can cloud our judgement and taint our clarity. But the heart always wants what it wants. The choices we make are our own. It’s the aftermath—the consequences, the price of honesty—that will truly test our limits.

I’d like to begin by saying that a rock’n’roll romance has never appealed to me. I think it’s’ lifestyle (the partial instability of it all) is what never peaked my interest. However, I was drawn to this book because I’m a sucker for a story that promises intense yearning and longing. (Hello have you seen my book choices in that department?) I have been mulling this book in my head for days not knowing how to rate it or how to review it. The more I think about it, the more it’s been growing on me.

The story takes us through a decade of Stella’s life, starting with the time when she was a 19 year old carefree, spontaneous, impulsive girl. She meets Reid Crowne, an inspiring musician hoping to make it big one day in the rock’n’roll world and Nate Butler, an established music journalist who will essentially help Stella jump start her career. She develops major feelings for Reid and eventually they end up dating. Their relationship and eventual breakup is turbulent, chaotic. This affects not only them but those around them, essentially causing rifts in all aspects of Stella’s life.

Reid Crowne was a walking sin, a bright red flag that Stella was completely drawn to. He carried a lot of baggage, a lot of distrust, he is the ultimate archetypal tortured artist. Stella was completely drawn into his world and their relationship was passionate, messy, magnetic. Reid had the power to draw you in but push you away due to fear of intimacy and happiness. I think he saw Stella as his salvation and undoing but couldn’t confront his inner demons so he walked away from her. This broke her spirit and shattered her heart.

Fast forward a few years later, she is now in a serious relationship with Nate, who brings nothing but the best to the table. Nate is everything that Reid is not—he is supportive, steady, he is honest about his feelings. They genuinely had a strong friendship that became the foundation of their growing romance. Having never shared that (Reid) part of her life with Nate, Nate unknowingly tasks Stella with the biggest band interview of her career. She is reluctant but when she agrees, that decision will alter the course of her life. The shadows of Stella’s unresolved feelings for Reid lingered through out the entire book essentially complicating her ability to fully commit.

Sounds messy right?

I honestly don’t even know what to say except that Drive was a story about making difficult choices while enduring the aches of losses. It’s a story about loving two people but having to choose only one. The journey towards closure is never an easy one.

Living for a man (rather than for yourself) is the quickest way to get lost. You will lose your mind, come up short and be left with nothing but a hole in your heart that will always serve as a reminder of him. And this is exactly where such love led Stella to. To a heart wrenching loss that shaped and transformed her in unexpected ways. Grief is the price that we pay for love. But in the end, Stella’s greatest act of courage was choosing herself.

Love is not a possession.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

***IT'S ALIVE!!***

I got the music in me...

I realised something while reading Drive, I’ve never known heartbreak. Sure, I’ve seen the heartbreak and experienced someone else’s heartbreak, but I’ve never been gut-punched by love. I wonder sometimes if we go looking for what we don’t have, or what we haven't had, in our reads. You may think that seems weird to want to read about another's anguish and pain but there seems a lot of fulfilment in coming out of the dark. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve lived in the dark (not really dark, dark, more like dim) but love didn’t put me there. I did have some heart twinges before hubby (Hello, one boyfriend broke up with me on Valentine’s Day…DOUCHEWAFFLE) but they didn’t break me. So, maybe, I read Kate Stewart to understand the dark and emotional heartbreak and experience the joy of finding the light.

It’s hard not to have an opinion when watching someone’s life implode. I honestly felt connected to the characters in Drive. I wanted to be their voice of reason when they were leaping before looking. There were a few times that I shook my head knowing that the repercussions of decisions made, were going to hurt. I felt like a parent wanting to lecture them on making “smart choices” but it wasn’t just parental feelings. I felt like that older friend you have that’s been there and done that a time or two. You listen to them and scoff that you know what you’re doing but afterwards you think about it more. I wanted to be the voice of reason and tell them that in my experience, balance is the answer to happiness and love. It’s important to be true to yourself and make sure to keep your dreams alive. But, compromise and sacrifice is not a burden if it's for someone you love. One without the other is doomed to failure. I think by the end they got it, but watching them suffer and break to find that happiness and love, hurt.

Kate Stewart has again taken me on an emotional journey of discovery. Before I started reading Drive, I was convinced that music hadn’t really played a big part in my life. With each new chapter, and each new song mentioned, I realised I was wrong. I could tell you when the songs mentioned were part of my life and what stage I was at. I knew most of the songs without having to check. I even had my own songs for stages of my life (Valentine’s day break up – Tubthumping by Chumbawamba), some of them good and some of them bad. I grew up in a household of music where we sang and danced like we were on Young Talent Time (Australian show from back in the olden days, google it for a laugh). My poor Dad. The only bloke in a house full of women, he could probably tell you the words to Take on Me by Aha. Music had played a part and it was bigger than I realised. Made me want to spend a few quality hours on YouTube watching video clips and remembering the olden days.

I’m still undecided whether it played out the way I wanted. Do you settle for the safe bet or take the risk? One will leave you happy enough that you can find a level of satisfaction but left feeling like something is missing. The other will give you the freedom to leap into the unknown and hope that the safety net will be there to catch your fall. I’m not sure I’d take the risk, or, be content with the safe. But, this wasn’t my love story. I was just along for the Drive.

Stacey is Sassy, received a complimentary copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.

[Angie - Angie's Dreamy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

OUTSTANDING. RIVETING. HEART-STOPPING. HEARTBREAKING. I’m in awe of Drive. It’s every angst lovers dream.

I don't know where to start with this review. Drive was breathtaking, heart stealing, soul searing goodness that is completely unforgettable. It's a book that hooked me from the start and still hasn't let go. I'm in it's clutches, ruined in the best way by a story that felt so incredibly powerful. It's actually hard to articulate what I'm thinking right now. The thoughts and feelings, it's so much, too much. This book overwhelmed me. Wrecked me. It's stolen all of my attention along with my heart and I can't stress enough how much you need this story in your life. The emotions, the writing, it's another level of perfection. Kate Stewart just showed that she is a master of her craft and she has, in my opinion, out done herself, telling a turbulent story that brings to life one of the most beautiful, heartfelt romances I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Honestly, I'm in awe. Complete awe. This is one of the best romances I have ever read.

Review coming soon.

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 5 out of 5]

FIVE ★'s

Calling all angst lovers....



...and Kate Stewart BROUGHT. IT!! This book is simply amazing!! If you love emotional/angsty books, you cannot let this one pass you by but BEWARE you seriously will not get a thing done once you start reading!

I've always enjoyed her books but when I saw that ALL of my blogger friends were giving it five stars, my heart was all aflutter! I mean this is only my third five star of the year...I was definitely due.

♦ Just a little note...Kate Stewart has the chapters set up with songs that you can actually click on and listen to as you read. That was a little hard for me as I get so immersed in the book that I totally missed the song. BUT...just having the song title gave me enough that I knew what I was in for with the chapter. Cool feature though. ♦

“Look up, Stella.”

So...about the story. It starts off with the prologue that's set in the present and we find out that Stella's career dream is coming true...and we also find out that someone she love(d) has gotten married and it's terribly upsetting. And...that takes us to the past.

Stella has ended up staying at her sister's apartment, sleeping on her couch after her car breaks down and she can't fix it. She's going to start her junior year of college in the same town so it's not really a hardship. This is where she meets Reid...and Nate.

Reid is her sister's (Paige) best friend, neighbor and co-worker. He's also a bit of a bad boy and is a drummer in a band which is a huge draw for Stella since she's a music journalist major.



Music is also how she meets Nate. He's the owner/CEO of Austin Speaks, a free newspaper all about music/bands and she talks her way into a job interview with him. He wants to date her but he also wants some more articles out of her so she makes him wait till she writes them.

♦ Edited: I was going to fill you in a little but I just deleted all that nonsense. Suffice it to say, obviously there are two guys and plenty of love and heartache. There...my job is done.

And even though I did give this five stars, there were a few minor things I didn't like. I'm not a fan of time jumps unless they are very clearly marked and I was happy that this one was flipping back and forth each chapter. I also felt there were some things, some serious things, going on with Stella and Reid that needed more page time...especially Reid.

I also didn't get why she was so upset in the prologue. It seemed things were on good terms? Or it was just made out that way to make you worry. (<-great ploy by the way)

One thing I really loved was how well Kate Stewart wrote Stella...and her Latina roots. Some of the superstitions just made me laugh as I have several Latina/Hispanic friends.

I would just advise you to go in as blind as you can. I had seen a few things but it didn't take anything away from the story for me. This is Kate Stewart in her prime and I LOVED it. I hope you do too!

[Geri Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I get it. I get now why there’s so much hype surrounding this book. And I have to say that that hype was earned. Drive was beautifully written, complex, and engaging. The story about Stella and the two men she loved hits you right in the feels as they say. It really does. It was captivating.

I love how heroine-centric this story is. I tend to prefer dual POVs because I like getting the heroine and hero’s perspective. I did not miss the male POV in this book. Why? Because Stella is such a compelling character and her voice is so strong—or should I say the author’s voice is so strong in that character—that it grabs you from the get go and you just can’t look away. Evocative would be the right word to describe how this character tells her story. I fell in love with Stella right along Reid and Nate.

Another thing I really loved about this book is Stella’s relationships with the other women characters. I mean as much as I loved reading her complicated feelings for Reid and Nate, her relationship with her sister Paige and her best friend Lexi stood out to me. The latter wasn’t perfect, but it felt like the most authentic sibling relationship ever. The former was simply goals. Or should I say best friend goals. I loved how they pulled each other up from the depths of hell they both fell into. Like I said Lexi and Stella’s love for each other was GOALS.

I liked how Ms. Stewart used the music and the carefully curated songs for this book without using it as a crutch. It never felt like the music was used as an excuse not to flesh out the characters. There were times where she would evoke a lyric or a line of a song, but I didn’t feel like it was substituting character development. I liked that.

This was a solid 5-star for me until the last 20 or 15 percent or so where it kind of fell apart for me. And it wasn’t because I didn’t agree with Stella’s choice because either way, I would’ve agreed with her choice whether it’s Nate or Reid because the author did a phenomenal job in developing the two men and their connection with Stella that I would’ve been happy with Stella choosing either of them.

My main issue was how her choice was revealed in the book. It wasn’t in the moment. It was after the fact. It also didn’t help that I thought the prologue was about that certain man only to find out that it wasn’t. It didn’t help when I realized that during that time, in the prologue, she already made the right choice, but I read the book thinking that wasn’t the case. It was, to be quite a honest, a “huh” moment. I’m not saying that huh moment was bad, I’m saying it was anticlimactic. It’s like finding out that that the last piece of the puzzle didn’t quite fit right. It left me feeling unsatisfied because the story was set up so beautifully and I was kind of expecting a more dramatic finish.

I liked how Stella and the man she chose found each other again but I wish I had witnessed it instead of being informed after the fact. It was unfortunate. Of course, it may just be me nitpicking that. But yes, the ending was a bit of a let down for me. Otherwise, this book was perfect.

[Hulya Kara Yuksel · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMFG this book.... This freaking beautiful / spectacular book literally took my breath away... 😍 I mean WOW, I feel like I just run a marathon... :D

Anyway for me this was one of the best book of 2017 and I highly recommend it to you. Maybe just like me, you'll think that you read this type of books earlier but trust me, once you start to read this book, you'll see how different it is... And don't even get me start with the amazing writing style.... It's so unique. Kate Stewart, you are a genius!!! 😘

PLS don't waste any more minute and read this awesome book ASAP! 😁