Overtaken

by Elisabeth Oliver

When five-time Formula 1 champion and taciturn tabloid magnet Loic Chalumeau trades Monaco for the Midwest in a quest for glory at Indianapolis, everyone in the IndyCar paddock hits the limiter...except for racecar mechanic Cam Wexford. As the sister of Loic's bitterest rival, Cam vows to steer well clear of Loic. But her attempt to remain in the dashing driver's blind spot quickly veers off track. Soon, Cam realizes that the one man she's so desperate to hide from is the only person who truly sees her. Will Cam pump the brakes on her growing feelings for Loic? Or can she let love overtake her?

Genres: Sports

307 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2025

About the author

Elisabeth Oliver is part racecar fanatic, part hopeless romantic. When not at a race track, Elisabeth--who lives in Indianapolis with her husband and their two dogs--enjoys reading, skiing, and riding her motorcycle. Overtaken is her first novel.

Reviews

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a motorsports fan, I am always very picky with my readings as every so often, the realism of it seems lacking, whether it’s a larger focus in the love story and thus, compromising the sport narrative or vice versa. I am happy to inform this is not the case. This book tickled my love for the sport and my love for a compelling love story. It left me hooked from page 1 and that should tell you everything you need to know about this book.

So even if you’re not a fan of motorsport, you will still find this book incredibly interesting. And what a name is Loic Chalumeau.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Leila Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this romance novel set around the Indy 500! I don’t know anything about IndyCar racing, but I was still totally drawn in by the racing storylines and the love story. It had the perfect mix of suspense and romance. Such a fun and unique read!

[Stephanie Castrounis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It’s a super sweet story told with humor and warmth. I really liked the racing element, although you don’t need to be a race fan to enjoy that side of it! Race out to read it today (see what I did there?)!

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me turning the pages and staying awake into the wee hours. Much like Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice (the heroine's favorite book) the two modern-day lovers have superficial societal drawbacks that keep them apart. She is a woman working in a man's world who has given up on real happiness; he is a celebrity race car driver searching for a woman who can love him for himself, not for his stardom (he's also hotter than a ghost pepper and can have any woman he wants). She finds herself yearning for him yet thinking, for several reasons, that she's not worthy because he's perfect and she's not model-pretty and has actual grease under her fingernails. He is happy to help solve her many problems and can't understand why she seems to resist his help. She is grateful but thinks that in a perfect world she should be able to solve her own problems. Plus she is the sister of his former rival, but he's not aware of that complication. They yearn for each other but have difficulty expressing their feelings for all those reasons and more.
And did I mention the world of fast cars, particularly the world of the Indy 500? This was another aspect of the book that kept me turning the pages. As a long-time fan who has attended many 500 races, parades, road course races, community days, and carb days, I know a lot about the track and its history, yet this author was able to take me behind the scenes into places I've never had access to: an actual garage, the commissary, the driver RV area. And the pranks these guys play on each other!
This author gets the parts I know right, so I trust she probably gets the parts I don't know right too.
This is one of those books that cries out for a sequel. I want to see more of Loic and Cam.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good car sport book with a slow burn romance! I’m a Formula 1 girlie and wasn’t sure how I would like this IndyCar story. It was great! I appreciated the crossover of both sports so it’s good for fans of either.

I learned about a new sport with some amazing characters. A badass woman trying to make it in a male-dominated field was what sucked me into the book.

I didn’t agree with the author’s assessment of the lack of fun in F1 — but when I saw how well researched, described and connected to IndyCar she is — I didn’t hold it against her.

It was also very well edited. The characters’ love story was given just as much care as the sport plot. This is more of a love story and only 1/5 on spice. Still, I hope this becomes a series!

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Cam really wanted to race herself, but circumstances eliminated that. She is a mechanic working on cars for the Indy 500. When Loic shows up to race she intends to avoid him but finds him in her space and even requesting she work with him. I loved how he helped her gain respect from the male mechanics and workers. She saw him as a person, not a wealthy race car driver that women could profit from. I enjoyed learning about the racing cultures of both the Formula 1 races and the Indy 500 races. I loved how strong Cam was in making her own way and how patient Loic was with Cam. They talked out their differences so well. Great book with exciting races and a touching romance.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to read this book as an Indiana native and someone who has attended not only the Indy 500 but multiple forms of racing, not to mention plenty of drivers in my TBR and Read lists. I was so grateful to have picked it up, mainly because I didn't put it down again until I was done. The pacing was amazing, the characters were even better (Kimmie and I would be besties for sure), but the perfect mix of explaining the racing terminology and the nuances of IndyCar and culture without being distracting from the great friendship and romance building between these two? It was so well done.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun ride - especially for race fans and anyone from Indianapolis! I not a race fan and am new to romance books, but those are not requirements to enjoy this story. Cam is badass, who is also easy to relate too (always questioning herself). The local references and racing details give a healthy dose of personality - you can tell the author really knows her stuff! I also love the slow-burn pacing at the start that quickens as race day approaches, and then leaves you with a beautiful and satisfying cool down. I saw other reviewers hoping this turns into a series, and I agree. My only note: More Gavin next time!

[Becky Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story about the Indy 500 is not something I would normally choose to read, but it was recommended by a trustworthy friend and I loved it. This book is not just a love story with racing as a backdrop. It explores the difficulties of being a female in a male dominated profession, familial wounds and learning forgiveness. It was sweet and funny and the explanations of race events were interesting and engaging. It made me want to learn more about the sport.
I would not be one bit surprised if this book ends up being made into a movie.
I’m looking forward to Elisabeth’s next book!

[David Carriere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overtaken is a fast-paced, chemistry charged romance set against the high stakes world of motorsport. Elisabeth Oliver blends adrenaline, rivalry, and emotional vulnerability with ease, crafting a love story where tension builds on and off the track. Loic and Cam’s dynamic is electric, full of conflict, proximity, and that irresistible sense of being seen by the last person you expect. A compelling, high octane romance for readers who love their love stories with horsepower and heart.

[Andrea Bair · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book got me out of a reading slump, it’s really good! The characters are smart, witty, and handle their relationship in a very mature way that I enjoyed. While parts of it are typical of the romance genre, I wouldn’t say this book is predictable or cliche. Also as a race fan and particularly an IndyCar fan, the author nails the specifics and has spend a while in the motorsports industry understanding the specifics. Best racing romance I have read, and trust me I have read a lot!

[Bewdeezy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet romance develops between two colleagues. As someone who reads a lot of romance, I’m always looking for good characters who offer something I can root for. Cam and Loic are those kinds of lead characters. Yes, they have some misunderstandings and they each fumble a bit, which made me want to keep reading to find out how they get together. I hope to see more from this author.

[Katie Weitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it in a day! I was hooked from the first page. The characters were so well written and easy to love. The setting was fascinating and a great peek into the world of racing, which I know little about. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes romance with a great plot and a very unique setting.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not get this book fast enough.
This is the first time I've seen an author feature IndyCar as the focus. Most of the motorsports fiction has Formula One (F1) as the topic.
Order this book ASAP.
I made it to chapter 12 at two in the morning and forced myself to stop reading it to get to sleep. That's how good it is.

[Ali Faustino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you’re a racing fan and want to see more books set in the Indianapolis 500/ IMS, or someone who wants to learn a little bit more about IndyCar, or simply someone who likes a good romance novel with a unique storyline, this is one you should grab. Read it in two days.

[Ashley Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED it! Such a great story that surrounds such a historic race, Elisabeth Oliver really knocked this one out of the park.

[Amy Bearinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars because oh my gosh, this is what an IndyCar/500 lifer like me dreams of in a rom book.

[Susan]

As the worlds biggest IndyCar mark I would have liked this book no matter what but it surpassed my expectations. It was well-thought-out, funny, and poignant. Now for a sequel?

[Heidiwelsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, well-written, and unique romance set within the world of motorsports! Motorsports fans and romance fans alike will enjoy this book immensely. No worries if you don’t know anything about racing, this book is accessible to all audiences. Moreover, Oliver’s knowledge and expertise on motorsports (and IndyCar in particular) is clear. I loved this book!!