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Road to Love #1
Driven to Distraction
A woman's job collecting artifacts comes with a sexy driver and a dangerous enemy in this romantic suspense series launch by a New York Times bestseller.
Mary Daniels doesn't let anything get in the way of her job acquiring rare artifacts for her wealthy boss. But this particular obstacle--huge, hard-muscled, unashamedly masculine--is impossible to ignore. Stuck in a cramped car with Brodie Crews for hours en route to their new assignment, Mary feels her carefully crafted persona--and her trademark self-control--is slipping, and she won't allow it.
Brodie can't imagine what secret in Mary's past has left her so buttoned-up, though he'd dearly love to find out. Maybe then she'd trust him enough to explore their explosive chemistry. But he needs this job, so he'll play by her rules and bide his time . . . until an enemy determined to outwit them strikes and he needs to get close--in every way--to protect her. Otherwise they could lose much more than a precious collectible. They could lose it all.
Praise for Driven to Distraction
"As usual, Foster delivers fascinating characters, intense sexual tension, and suspense that keeps readers glued to the page." --Kirkus Reviews
Mary Daniels doesn't let anything get in the way of her job acquiring rare artifacts for her wealthy boss. But this particular obstacle--huge, hard-muscled, unashamedly masculine--is impossible to ignore. Stuck in a cramped car with Brodie Crews for hours en route to their new assignment, Mary feels her carefully crafted persona--and her trademark self-control--is slipping, and she won't allow it.
Brodie can't imagine what secret in Mary's past has left her so buttoned-up, though he'd dearly love to find out. Maybe then she'd trust him enough to explore their explosive chemistry. But he needs this job, so he'll play by her rules and bide his time . . . until an enemy determined to outwit them strikes and he needs to get close--in every way--to protect her. Otherwise they could lose much more than a precious collectible. They could lose it all.
Praise for Driven to Distraction
"As usual, Foster delivers fascinating characters, intense sexual tension, and suspense that keeps readers glued to the page." --Kirkus Reviews
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 19, 2018
872 people are currently reading
3,578 people want to read
About the author
Lori Foster
440books11.6kfollowersSince first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. Lori has published through a variety of houses, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin, Silhouette, Samhain, and Berkley/Jove. She is currently published with HQN.
Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author� event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.
Each year Lori donates all proceeds from one book to charity. You can see the benefit romance books here:
Career Highlights
•In 2001, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award� for Series Romantic Fantasy.
•In 2002, Lori’s book Too Much Temptation was the top-selling romance title for Amazon books.
•In 2003, Say No To Joe was the second “Bestselling Original Contemporary� romance title for Waldenbooks.
•In 2004, Lori Foster was a clue in the New York Times crossword puzzle.
•In 2004, The Secret Life of Bryan was the “Bestselling Original Contemporary� romance title for the BGI group.
•In 2005, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award� for Contemporary Romance.
•In 2006, Jude’s Law was the “Bestselling Romantic Comedy� romance title for the BGI group.
•In 2007, Lori launched a new “urban fantasy� series under the name L.L. Foster. See more on her “dark side� at .
•In 2007, Causing Havoc was among Amazon’s Top Ten Editor’s picks in Romance.
•In 2008, Hard to Handle made #2 on The New York Times.
•In 2009, Servant: The Acceptance was Amazon’s #1 Editors� Pick in Romance.
•In 2010, Lori was a clue in the USA Today Quick Cross puzzle.
Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author� event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.
Each year Lori donates all proceeds from one book to charity. You can see the benefit romance books here:
Career Highlights
•In 2001, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award� for Series Romantic Fantasy.
•In 2002, Lori’s book Too Much Temptation was the top-selling romance title for Amazon books.
•In 2003, Say No To Joe was the second “Bestselling Original Contemporary� romance title for Waldenbooks.
•In 2004, Lori Foster was a clue in the New York Times crossword puzzle.
•In 2004, The Secret Life of Bryan was the “Bestselling Original Contemporary� romance title for the BGI group.
•In 2005, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award� for Contemporary Romance.
•In 2006, Jude’s Law was the “Bestselling Romantic Comedy� romance title for the BGI group.
•In 2007, Lori launched a new “urban fantasy� series under the name L.L. Foster. See more on her “dark side� at .
•In 2007, Causing Havoc was among Amazon’s Top Ten Editor’s picks in Romance.
•In 2008, Hard to Handle made #2 on The New York Times.
•In 2009, Servant: The Acceptance was Amazon’s #1 Editors� Pick in Romance.
•In 2010, Lori was a clue in the USA Today Quick Cross puzzle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 510 reviews
November 20, 2018
3.5 - "...You are merely the transporter." Stars!
It’s been a while since I have read anything by Lori Foster, and the blurb for Driven to Distraction intrigued me enough to want to dip my toe in Foster’s pond again.
She’d been forever without a man� Why now, and why him..?
The first book in the Road to Love series gives us buttoned-up Mary Daniels and laid-back Brodie Crews� story. They are pretty much forced into close proximity with each other on a regular basis through her boss’s unique, unusual and sometimes not completely legal purchases of rare and specialised collectors� items. Which requires Mary to go and pick them up at a moment’s notice and at times in some inhospitable and slightly shady places. Brodie as the driver should stay in the car, but Mr. Laid-Back also has a protective streak a mile wide, so ends up getting himself into a few situations (along with his dog Howler) in order to keep Mary out of harm’s way.
Every damn thing she said managed to offend him� Or turn him on.
With the addition of a slightly odd villain, and a little suspense thrown in as well, Driven to Distraction is a story that has a little of everything in it. Opposites attract when it comes to Brodie and Mary, and the author wrote some pretty spectacular sexy scenes between the two of them on that front. We also got an introduction to the rest of the Crews family as well which I liked, especially with Jack’s book due next, with Slow Ride releasing April 2019.
"I didn’t expect this�"
"…T?"
"That it could feel so good."
The one negative, and the reason for the 3.5, is that I found the book a little long and drawn out, and a lot of the inconsequential stuff for me could have been pared away, leaving a shorter, sharper and all-round better flowing read. There were parts that clipped along at a steady pace and the dialogue was witty and sharp, then a lot of others where it was more a meandering stroll, with lots of internal monologue (some of it repetitive) which is where I found myself drifting a bit too.
All in all a good start, lots of promise with the Crews family in general, and I look forward to seeing what the author has in store next.
ARC provided by the author via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
It’s been a while since I have read anything by Lori Foster, and the blurb for Driven to Distraction intrigued me enough to want to dip my toe in Foster’s pond again.
She’d been forever without a man� Why now, and why him..?
The first book in the Road to Love series gives us buttoned-up Mary Daniels and laid-back Brodie Crews� story. They are pretty much forced into close proximity with each other on a regular basis through her boss’s unique, unusual and sometimes not completely legal purchases of rare and specialised collectors� items. Which requires Mary to go and pick them up at a moment’s notice and at times in some inhospitable and slightly shady places. Brodie as the driver should stay in the car, but Mr. Laid-Back also has a protective streak a mile wide, so ends up getting himself into a few situations (along with his dog Howler) in order to keep Mary out of harm’s way.
Every damn thing she said managed to offend him� Or turn him on.
With the addition of a slightly odd villain, and a little suspense thrown in as well, Driven to Distraction is a story that has a little of everything in it. Opposites attract when it comes to Brodie and Mary, and the author wrote some pretty spectacular sexy scenes between the two of them on that front. We also got an introduction to the rest of the Crews family as well which I liked, especially with Jack’s book due next, with Slow Ride releasing April 2019.
"I didn’t expect this�"
"…T?"
"That it could feel so good."
The one negative, and the reason for the 3.5, is that I found the book a little long and drawn out, and a lot of the inconsequential stuff for me could have been pared away, leaving a shorter, sharper and all-round better flowing read. There were parts that clipped along at a steady pace and the dialogue was witty and sharp, then a lot of others where it was more a meandering stroll, with lots of internal monologue (some of it repetitive) which is where I found myself drifting a bit too.
All in all a good start, lots of promise with the Crews family in general, and I look forward to seeing what the author has in store next.
ARC provided by the author via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
August 15, 2018
ARC received for review
The story just felt old and it did kinda drag along. Brodie was all kinds of hot. Mary was buttoned up and needed to let loose which Brodie was happy to help with. His brother is hot, too. She had a very weird boss and the bad guy was just as weird and slightly crazy.
The story just felt old and it did kinda drag along. Brodie was all kinds of hot. Mary was buttoned up and needed to let loose which Brodie was happy to help with. His brother is hot, too. She had a very weird boss and the bad guy was just as weird and slightly crazy.
May 24, 2020
I can now say, without a doubt, that I am not straight. Not at all. there is not a single drop of heterosexual desire in my ocean of gay.
This went better than Dirty Millionaire. The story was super, super interesting. I am definitely going to need too explore the romantic suspense genre further. The characters were realistic. Etc.
But the sex scenes were... Unenjoyable. I really only care about the details of the guy. Not the woman and so when those details are shared. I'm just not interested at all.
My conclusion of the Tucker-Reads-Straight-Eroticas experiment is thus:
1) I am gay as f*ck
2) I like romance and don't mind if it's straight but I prefer if it's gay.
| | | | | |
This went better than Dirty Millionaire. The story was super, super interesting. I am definitely going to need too explore the romantic suspense genre further. The characters were realistic. Etc.
But the sex scenes were... Unenjoyable. I really only care about the details of the guy. Not the woman and so when those details are shared. I'm just not interested at all.
My conclusion of the Tucker-Reads-Straight-Eroticas experiment is thus:
1) I am gay as f*ck
2) I like romance and don't mind if it's straight but I prefer if it's gay.
| | | | | |
January 10, 2019
First, I have to say MaryDaniels, has a reallycool job. She works for an eccentric millionaire who likes to bid and collect pieces of art. Her job is to collect the pieces, make payment and deliver them safely. When her boss hires Brodie Crews as the driver to accompany her, Mary’s controlled little world gets turned upside down!
From their first very awkward meet to her attempts at hiring Brodie’s brother instead I knew I was in for a fun ride. While I don’t consider myself to be a prude, even I had my concerns about Brody. Sure the man curls your toes, but I wasn’t at all sure. Even as Mary unwillingly kept checking out his body. LOL. I will say thatFoster soon had me swooning over this brother and his big heart.
Brody and his brother own Mustang Transport Courier Services. Jack, his brother is the suit guy and Brody handles deliveries. Ladies you are going to love these brothers, their office manager and their spitfire mother.
I not only loved Mary’s story, growth and the developing romance but Foster gave us an intense suspense thread, sibling teasing an awesome family and interesting secondary characters. Mary was wonderful and Foster allowed the reader to understand and connect with her. She is complex, confident in some aspects, defensive in others but a good soul. I love when I can picture myself having coffee with a character. We will make Mary’s decaf though. Now Brodie,on the other hand,is laid-back, unless someone or something he cares about is in trouble...then look out. Wait until you meet his furry friend,Howler.
From their first very awkward meet to her attempts at hiring Brodie’s brother instead I knew I was in for a fun ride. While I don’t consider myself to be a prude, even I had my concerns about Brody. Sure the man curls your toes, but I wasn’t at all sure. Even as Mary unwillingly kept checking out his body. LOL. I will say thatFoster soon had me swooning over this brother and his big heart.
Brody and his brother own Mustang Transport Courier Services. Jack, his brother is the suit guy and Brody handles deliveries. Ladies you are going to love these brothers, their office manager and their spitfire mother.
I not only loved Mary’s story, growth and the developing romance but Foster gave us an intense suspense thread, sibling teasing an awesome family and interesting secondary characters. Mary was wonderful and Foster allowed the reader to understand and connect with her. She is complex, confident in some aspects, defensive in others but a good soul. I love when I can picture myself having coffee with a character. We will make Mary’s decaf though. Now Brodie,on the other hand,is laid-back, unless someone or something he cares about is in trouble...then look out. Wait until you meet his furry friend,Howler.
November 20, 2018
I have to hand it to Lori Foster, Driven to Distraction, the first book in her new Road to Love series, is the perfect mix of romance, suspense, and sweet, sexy fun. As with all first books in a series, a lot of characters were introduced and the series was set up, but never once did the romance between Brodie and Mary get lost and for that I give Ms. Foster huge kudos. While the road to love was filled with twists, turns, and a few obstacles, there is no doubt these two enjoyed the ride!
I always love when the hero and heroine don’t hit it off right away and there is a bit of animosity and that describes Brodie and Mary perfectly. Brodie is laid back, confident, and overtly sexual and Mary is buttoned up, controlled, and exudes an air of authority so naturally from the start they are sparring, but beneath that is sexual chemistry that oozed off the page.
Mary works for an eccentric, very wealthy man who liked to collect things; things that are sometimes odd, sometimes a bit illegal, and always expensive and it is Mary who goes out with a driver/courier as her boss’s representative and the “money person.� When Brodie is hired to be her driver, they end up spending quite a bit of time together and sometimes coming up against some interesting people. Their hours of driving also gives them a lot of time to talk and get to know one another and THIS is what I loved so much about this book; the reader really gets into these character’s heads and begins to know what motivates them and why they act the way they do. Oh, and I cannot forget about Brodie’s dog, Howler, who is always along for the ride and his story is equally important to his relationship with Brodie.
We meet Brodie’s brother, his pseudo sister, and his Mom all of which are entertaining and fascinating and while I’m sure she has stories planned for Jack and Charlotte, I do hope she writes one for their mom, Ros as well who is so deserving of her own happy ever after. I honestly can’t say enough about Ros and the men she raised, the way she treats Charlotte as her own, and the way she gave Mary something she never had and needed so very badly.
With characters that come to life on the page, an engaging plot, a fantastic dog, and lots of sizzling chemistry Driven to Distraction was a perfect romance and is Lori Foster at her best!
December 21, 2022
I enjoyed this story, but some of the other characters weren't it for me. Howler was the star of the show, and Brodie's interactions with his dog were everything.
September 19, 2018
“Driven to Distraction� starts Lori Foster’s Road to Love series. When a book has a great beginning, you hope the rest of the book lives up to the expectation. This one does!
Mary Daniels is the liaison for a collector and her boss needs a new driver. Brodie Crews, of Mustang Transport, is the guy her boss wants to hire.
Mary is buttoned-up, using her clothes and hairstyle, as a way to protect herself.
Brodie is laid back and casual. And completely into Mary. He tries to get her to open up and trust him.
Their chemistry is intense, their intimate scenes flaming hot.
“Driven to Distraction� does have a light suspense thread running through it like most Ms. Foster’s books tend to do. However, this story focuses more on the characters than the plot and, for me, is reminiscent of Ms. Foster’s previous works like “Getting Rowdy� and “Fighting Dirty�.
They are also my favorite books by this author and “Driven to Distraction� has been added to that list.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the next in the series, “Slow Ride�.
Mary Daniels is the liaison for a collector and her boss needs a new driver. Brodie Crews, of Mustang Transport, is the guy her boss wants to hire.
Mary is buttoned-up, using her clothes and hairstyle, as a way to protect herself.
Brodie is laid back and casual. And completely into Mary. He tries to get her to open up and trust him.
Their chemistry is intense, their intimate scenes flaming hot.
“Driven to Distraction� does have a light suspense thread running through it like most Ms. Foster’s books tend to do. However, this story focuses more on the characters than the plot and, for me, is reminiscent of Ms. Foster’s previous works like “Getting Rowdy� and “Fighting Dirty�.
They are also my favorite books by this author and “Driven to Distraction� has been added to that list.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the next in the series, “Slow Ride�.
November 28, 2018
Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.
Lori Foster is that rare breed of romance writer that infuses her wonderful romance plots with a bit of mystery/suspense and takes what would be an ordinary romance over the top. I loved it from the very first scene to the last, although, I have to be honest and tell you the middle got a little high on the angst meter. I'm looking forward to the next book, Jack's story, should be great.
Mary Daniels had a tough childhood and as a result has grown up to be the consummate professional. She works for Therman Ritter, a wealthy eccentric, acquiring rare items for his various collections. The ethics and legality - well, let's just say sometimes it's a little murky. Hence the need for the Mustang Transport courier service. The new driver, hunky Brodie Crews, is just the man Therman wants for the job. Mary, well she has a deep, visceral reaction to sexy, hunky Brodie, which is both good and bad.
You only get one chance to make a first impression. Unfortunately, sometimes that impression can shade everything that follows. Brodie has a lot to live down from his first encounter with curvaceous Mary and he is determined to keep his own visceral reaction in check and prove to the buttoned-up but luscious Mary that he can do the job and then some. When it becomes more than a job, both professionally and personally, Brodie will do everything he can to protect Mary and make her see there is more to life than a job.
Lori Foster is that rare breed of romance writer that infuses her wonderful romance plots with a bit of mystery/suspense and takes what would be an ordinary romance over the top. I loved it from the very first scene to the last, although, I have to be honest and tell you the middle got a little high on the angst meter. I'm looking forward to the next book, Jack's story, should be great.
Mary Daniels had a tough childhood and as a result has grown up to be the consummate professional. She works for Therman Ritter, a wealthy eccentric, acquiring rare items for his various collections. The ethics and legality - well, let's just say sometimes it's a little murky. Hence the need for the Mustang Transport courier service. The new driver, hunky Brodie Crews, is just the man Therman wants for the job. Mary, well she has a deep, visceral reaction to sexy, hunky Brodie, which is both good and bad.
You only get one chance to make a first impression. Unfortunately, sometimes that impression can shade everything that follows. Brodie has a lot to live down from his first encounter with curvaceous Mary and he is determined to keep his own visceral reaction in check and prove to the buttoned-up but luscious Mary that he can do the job and then some. When it becomes more than a job, both professionally and personally, Brodie will do everything he can to protect Mary and make her see there is more to life than a job.
June 4, 2024
I've given this a B+ for narration and a C+ for content at AudioGals.
Lori Foster’s Driven to Distraction is the first book in her Road to Love series which features the two Crews brothers � Brodie and Jack � who run a high-end transport and courier service. It’s a fairly run-of-the-mill affair overall; we’ve got a buttoned-up heroine meeting a laid-back, super-hot hero who is determined to unbutton her, but the plot is sparse, the pacing drags in the middle and there are just too many tired clichés in evidence for this to be a truly riveting listen.
Mary Daniels has an unusual job working for Therman Ritter, a wealthy collector who sends her all over the country to pick up the various unique, valuable � and sometimes not completely legal � items he buys at auction. These trips are frequently last minute and can sometimes take Mary into some dodgy locations, so she is usually accompanied by a driver. As the story begins, she’s making her way to the office of the Mustang Courier Transport Service, which is the new firm her boss has decided to use to ferry Mary to wherever she needs to go.
When she arrives, the first thing she sees is a gorgeous, half-naked man working under the hood of a car while he’s ogled and (to Mary’s disgust) fondled by the young woman who’s practically draped herself over him. (Was she was looking for his torque-wrench?!) Mary isn’t impressed; the man is too casual and arrogant and flirtatious � and nowhere near as charming as he thinks he is� but of course, he turns out to be the guy her boss wants to be her driver.
Brodie Crews recognises a challenge when he sees it � and Mary Daniels is definitely one of those. He can’t help wondering why she’s dressed in shapeless clothes when she’s clearly got fabulous� assets (yeah, he thinks“great rack�) and why she’s wrestled her hair � which from what he can see is a glorious shade of red � into an ugly knot at the back of her head, but ultimately, it’s not his job to wonder, it’s his job to drive her to where she needs to be.
Needless to say, this pair of opposites gets off to a rocky start. He thinks she’s a prude, she thinks he’s a Neanderthal although of course, at the same time, they’re both eyeing each other up and the mental lusting has begun. Even so, Mary tries not to look at Brodie’s handsome face and fit bod and drool, because for her, sex has never been enjoyable or fun and she does the best she can to suppress that side of herself, deliberately trying to draw attention away from her appearance for reasons which are easy to guess but are explained later on.
I wasn’t sure I was going to like Brodie at first, because he comes across as smug and condescending, but in his favour, when Mary points out he’s being a dick and asks him to stop, he takes her comments on board and regulates his behaviour accordingly. And the more we get to know him, we realise his attitude was a reaction against what he perceived as Mary’s looking down her nose at him. As the trip progresses, the pair becomes comfortable with each other, although they still clash over Brodie’s protective instinct when Mary has to go into some potentially risky situations.
The suspense element of the story gets going during their second trip out some days later, when Brodie and Mary realise they’re being followed and then a deal doesn’t go according to plan. Neither of them has any idea of what’s going on or who might be trying to steal from Ritter, but Brodie is determined to keep Mary safe at all costs, no matter if sometimes that means he has to go against her wishes. This is the least successful part of the book; there’s no real sense of danger or suspense and the villain is fairly ineffectual. In an unusual move for contemporary romance, the story is told from three points of view � Mary’s, Brodie’s, and the villain’s, and from his PoV, we know he’s not particularly enthused by the tasks he’s undertaking. So why do them? It’s all pretty wishy-washy.
I enjoyed Mary and Brodie’s scenes together, and the author does a good job, through their various conversations, of bringing them closer together emotionally, so that when they do embark on a sexual relationship, there’s the sense that they’re beginning to know one another beyond that initial physical attraction. There is, however, that whole never-had-good-sex/an-orgasm-before-the-hero thing on Mary’s part, which tends to make me roll my eyes a bit when it comes up in the very small number of contemporaries I read or listen to, and while I appreciated her decision, late in the book, to finally stop hiding and own herself and her sexuality, it’s a bit heavy-handed. There’s an entertaining secondary cast, and Ms. Foster draws some strong family dynamics between the Crews brothers and their mother, and between Ritter and his staff � and I can’t finish this part of the review without mentioning Brodie’s faithful dog, Howler, who I’m sure will appeal to listeners who appreciate a side-helping of lumbering, slobbering mutt with their romance!
Some of my fellow Gals have listened to narrator John Lane before, but I haven’t � or, rather, IthoughtI hadn’t, because it only took me a few seconds to realise that Lane is an alias for a prolific and experienced performer I’ve listened to on several occasions, and whose narrations have worked for me on some levels and not on others. Checking the reviews here at AudioGals, mention has been made of some odd pronunciations � but I’m pleased to report that I didn’t notice anything like that here, so either 1) he’s corrected it, 2) the words or words like them weren’t present, or 3) I was too busy drowning in that deep, sexy voice to notice (most likely option 3 ;) ). And speaking of that deep, sexy voice, that’s what carried me through the more repetitive portions of the story. The positive things I’ve noted about his other narrations are all very much in evidence though; he’s a terrific vocal actor, his female voices are very good indeed � never pitched too high or overdone � and he differentiates effectively between all the characters, performing them appropriately according to age and gender. He performs the steamier scenes confidently and without going over the top and delivers a solid and entertaining performance all-round. It’s the best thing about this audiobook, although even Mr Lane’s vocal assets can’t really turnDriven to Distractioninto much more than an average listen.
Lori Foster’s Driven to Distraction is the first book in her Road to Love series which features the two Crews brothers � Brodie and Jack � who run a high-end transport and courier service. It’s a fairly run-of-the-mill affair overall; we’ve got a buttoned-up heroine meeting a laid-back, super-hot hero who is determined to unbutton her, but the plot is sparse, the pacing drags in the middle and there are just too many tired clichés in evidence for this to be a truly riveting listen.
Mary Daniels has an unusual job working for Therman Ritter, a wealthy collector who sends her all over the country to pick up the various unique, valuable � and sometimes not completely legal � items he buys at auction. These trips are frequently last minute and can sometimes take Mary into some dodgy locations, so she is usually accompanied by a driver. As the story begins, she’s making her way to the office of the Mustang Courier Transport Service, which is the new firm her boss has decided to use to ferry Mary to wherever she needs to go.
When she arrives, the first thing she sees is a gorgeous, half-naked man working under the hood of a car while he’s ogled and (to Mary’s disgust) fondled by the young woman who’s practically draped herself over him. (Was she was looking for his torque-wrench?!) Mary isn’t impressed; the man is too casual and arrogant and flirtatious � and nowhere near as charming as he thinks he is� but of course, he turns out to be the guy her boss wants to be her driver.
Brodie Crews recognises a challenge when he sees it � and Mary Daniels is definitely one of those. He can’t help wondering why she’s dressed in shapeless clothes when she’s clearly got fabulous� assets (yeah, he thinks“great rack�) and why she’s wrestled her hair � which from what he can see is a glorious shade of red � into an ugly knot at the back of her head, but ultimately, it’s not his job to wonder, it’s his job to drive her to where she needs to be.
Needless to say, this pair of opposites gets off to a rocky start. He thinks she’s a prude, she thinks he’s a Neanderthal although of course, at the same time, they’re both eyeing each other up and the mental lusting has begun. Even so, Mary tries not to look at Brodie’s handsome face and fit bod and drool, because for her, sex has never been enjoyable or fun and she does the best she can to suppress that side of herself, deliberately trying to draw attention away from her appearance for reasons which are easy to guess but are explained later on.
I wasn’t sure I was going to like Brodie at first, because he comes across as smug and condescending, but in his favour, when Mary points out he’s being a dick and asks him to stop, he takes her comments on board and regulates his behaviour accordingly. And the more we get to know him, we realise his attitude was a reaction against what he perceived as Mary’s looking down her nose at him. As the trip progresses, the pair becomes comfortable with each other, although they still clash over Brodie’s protective instinct when Mary has to go into some potentially risky situations.
The suspense element of the story gets going during their second trip out some days later, when Brodie and Mary realise they’re being followed and then a deal doesn’t go according to plan. Neither of them has any idea of what’s going on or who might be trying to steal from Ritter, but Brodie is determined to keep Mary safe at all costs, no matter if sometimes that means he has to go against her wishes. This is the least successful part of the book; there’s no real sense of danger or suspense and the villain is fairly ineffectual. In an unusual move for contemporary romance, the story is told from three points of view � Mary’s, Brodie’s, and the villain’s, and from his PoV, we know he’s not particularly enthused by the tasks he’s undertaking. So why do them? It’s all pretty wishy-washy.
I enjoyed Mary and Brodie’s scenes together, and the author does a good job, through their various conversations, of bringing them closer together emotionally, so that when they do embark on a sexual relationship, there’s the sense that they’re beginning to know one another beyond that initial physical attraction. There is, however, that whole never-had-good-sex/an-orgasm-before-the-hero thing on Mary’s part, which tends to make me roll my eyes a bit when it comes up in the very small number of contemporaries I read or listen to, and while I appreciated her decision, late in the book, to finally stop hiding and own herself and her sexuality, it’s a bit heavy-handed. There’s an entertaining secondary cast, and Ms. Foster draws some strong family dynamics between the Crews brothers and their mother, and between Ritter and his staff � and I can’t finish this part of the review without mentioning Brodie’s faithful dog, Howler, who I’m sure will appeal to listeners who appreciate a side-helping of lumbering, slobbering mutt with their romance!
Some of my fellow Gals have listened to narrator John Lane before, but I haven’t � or, rather, IthoughtI hadn’t, because it only took me a few seconds to realise that Lane is an alias for a prolific and experienced performer I’ve listened to on several occasions, and whose narrations have worked for me on some levels and not on others. Checking the reviews here at AudioGals, mention has been made of some odd pronunciations � but I’m pleased to report that I didn’t notice anything like that here, so either 1) he’s corrected it, 2) the words or words like them weren’t present, or 3) I was too busy drowning in that deep, sexy voice to notice (most likely option 3 ;) ). And speaking of that deep, sexy voice, that’s what carried me through the more repetitive portions of the story. The positive things I’ve noted about his other narrations are all very much in evidence though; he’s a terrific vocal actor, his female voices are very good indeed � never pitched too high or overdone � and he differentiates effectively between all the characters, performing them appropriately according to age and gender. He performs the steamier scenes confidently and without going over the top and delivers a solid and entertaining performance all-round. It’s the best thing about this audiobook, although even Mr Lane’s vocal assets can’t really turnDriven to Distractioninto much more than an average listen.
May 26, 2021
Foster never disappointments me. She always, but always give me a tried and true romance book with a strong alpha, and in this case a heroine over coming an awful childhood.
I love how her characters come together. You could feel their chemistry and sexual tension from the start, and Foster always gives you an amazing relationship build-up. I never feel like the relationships are shallow or one-sided. This was a medium burn, with a little bit of mystery in the background of this romance.
While Mary had her own issues because of the way she grew up, Brodie was in it from the get go and worked his ass off to get past her walls. I do love a man who is all in from the start!
Not to take away from how much I enjoyed this couple, but seriously Howler totally stole the show and had me looking at puppies today. I really need a big dopy dog to love.
I did the audio and it was an amazing way to get through the day, as usual with Lori Foster!
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I love how her characters come together. You could feel their chemistry and sexual tension from the start, and Foster always gives you an amazing relationship build-up. I never feel like the relationships are shallow or one-sided. This was a medium burn, with a little bit of mystery in the background of this romance.
While Mary had her own issues because of the way she grew up, Brodie was in it from the get go and worked his ass off to get past her walls. I do love a man who is all in from the start!
Not to take away from how much I enjoyed this couple, but seriously Howler totally stole the show and had me looking at puppies today. I really need a big dopy dog to love.
I did the audio and it was an amazing way to get through the day, as usual with Lori Foster!
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November 20, 2018
Driven to Distraction is the start of a new series by Foster, and I loved both Brodie and Mary. The family relationships, the friendships - it was all very good.
Slow burning romance, a little suspense, and some fantastic characters is the recipe for a fantastic series in my opinion.
Slow burning romance, a little suspense, and some fantastic characters is the recipe for a fantastic series in my opinion.
October 17, 2018
I’ve always loved Lori Foster, and her newest Road to Love series is a perfect reminder of why. It’s the perfect blend of sweet and spicy with characters you instantly fall in love with. Brodie and Mary’s story proves the road to love may be rocky and strewn with obstacles but, oh what a sweet destination!
Brodie was so easy to love. Who doesn’t love a man that loves his dog so much? He was such a laidback, carefree guy. So confident. He appreciated the good times in life and didn’t worry over the bad. I had to get to know Mary and her struggles in life to appreciate her. She hadn’t had the close and loving family Brodie had. And because of that, she kept herself apart from others. Even those who cared about her.
The two of them dancing around each other was a real treat to watch. At first glance, Mary thought Brodie was a Neanderthal covered in grease, and he thought her a stiff little prude. Regardless, they were both attracted. Though Brodie was unashamedly masculine and had a casual rudeness and disregard for propriety, he turned her on. He was so sure of himself. She envied that. Mary had carefully crafted her persona of self- control but Brodie threatened that. He read her so easily. She was a different person around him. And with each trip to add to her boss’s collection, he chipped away at her misconceptions about him. Brodie thought Mary was too uptight and straight laced. She needed to loosen up and he enjoyed taunting her. Her ballsiness and fiery temper fascinated him. Even the way she dressed to hide her body intrigued him. The more she covered, the more he wanted her. And her buttoned up and cold demeanor only tweaked his interest and made him want to protect her.
As always, Lori Foster nailed it with this book. Seriously though, has she ever written a bad one? Driven to Distraction was romantic, a little suspenseful, sweet, and just plain fun. The whole adventure had a real Romancing the Stone vibe to it. And like Joan Wilder and Jack Colton, Brodie and Mary’s chemistry really sparkled. Most of all, I enjoyed the humanity and ease to their relationship. Brodie was fun and outrageous at times but he really was a perceptive, responsible, and caring man. I loved how he patiently worked and waited for Mary to open up. And I loved that Brodie made her want to take that step out of her comfort zone and allow herself to feel and experience all the things she’d wanted but lacked in life.
If you’re looking for a read to warm you up on these cool fall nights, you’ll find it in Driven to Distraction. Equal parts sweet and sizzling romance and adventure, this is one ride you’ll want to never end.
Brodie was so easy to love. Who doesn’t love a man that loves his dog so much? He was such a laidback, carefree guy. So confident. He appreciated the good times in life and didn’t worry over the bad. I had to get to know Mary and her struggles in life to appreciate her. She hadn’t had the close and loving family Brodie had. And because of that, she kept herself apart from others. Even those who cared about her.
The two of them dancing around each other was a real treat to watch. At first glance, Mary thought Brodie was a Neanderthal covered in grease, and he thought her a stiff little prude. Regardless, they were both attracted. Though Brodie was unashamedly masculine and had a casual rudeness and disregard for propriety, he turned her on. He was so sure of himself. She envied that. Mary had carefully crafted her persona of self- control but Brodie threatened that. He read her so easily. She was a different person around him. And with each trip to add to her boss’s collection, he chipped away at her misconceptions about him. Brodie thought Mary was too uptight and straight laced. She needed to loosen up and he enjoyed taunting her. Her ballsiness and fiery temper fascinated him. Even the way she dressed to hide her body intrigued him. The more she covered, the more he wanted her. And her buttoned up and cold demeanor only tweaked his interest and made him want to protect her.
As always, Lori Foster nailed it with this book. Seriously though, has she ever written a bad one? Driven to Distraction was romantic, a little suspenseful, sweet, and just plain fun. The whole adventure had a real Romancing the Stone vibe to it. And like Joan Wilder and Jack Colton, Brodie and Mary’s chemistry really sparkled. Most of all, I enjoyed the humanity and ease to their relationship. Brodie was fun and outrageous at times but he really was a perceptive, responsible, and caring man. I loved how he patiently worked and waited for Mary to open up. And I loved that Brodie made her want to take that step out of her comfort zone and allow herself to feel and experience all the things she’d wanted but lacked in life.
If you’re looking for a read to warm you up on these cool fall nights, you’ll find it in Driven to Distraction. Equal parts sweet and sizzling romance and adventure, this is one ride you’ll want to never end.
November 21, 2018
Driven to Distraction is a romantic, suspenseful, sweet start to Lori Foster’s new Road to Love series. I really enjoy an opposites-attract love story, but I’m not sure I’ve ever come across two such opposites as Brodie and Mary. Brodie is your quintessential Foster hero- a loving, caring family man, with a fun-loving naughty side. He is all male, in all the best ways. Mary is pretty buttoned-up, and not just in the clothing sense. She’s very straight-laced, professional, and doesn’t suffer fools gladly- which causes some strife between her and Brodie at their first meeting, and that may be putting it mildly!
I found the storyline pretty intriguing and enjoyed the way the mystery aspect played out. Mary’s boss Therman puts her and Brodie in some very precarious positions in his quest to collect rare artifacts, causing Brodie’s protective nature to kick in.
I got a kick out of Brodie and the way he pushed Mary’s buttons, without overstepping (too much, anyway). He was very gentle and patient with her when needed, doing his best to get her to open up about her life. I must admit, I had a hard time warming up to Mary at first. It helped when we finally learned why she carried herself the way she did, why she was so stand-offish, although it took a bit to get to that point. Mary really came into her own when she realized she no longer needed to let her past dictate her future. She had a whole lot of people that cared about her, and it was great to see her finally recognize that.
Once again Ms. Foster has created a wonderful cast of characters and I'm looking forward to more of the Crews crew!
I found the storyline pretty intriguing and enjoyed the way the mystery aspect played out. Mary’s boss Therman puts her and Brodie in some very precarious positions in his quest to collect rare artifacts, causing Brodie’s protective nature to kick in.
I got a kick out of Brodie and the way he pushed Mary’s buttons, without overstepping (too much, anyway). He was very gentle and patient with her when needed, doing his best to get her to open up about her life. I must admit, I had a hard time warming up to Mary at first. It helped when we finally learned why she carried herself the way she did, why she was so stand-offish, although it took a bit to get to that point. Mary really came into her own when she realized she no longer needed to let her past dictate her future. She had a whole lot of people that cared about her, and it was great to see her finally recognize that.
Once again Ms. Foster has created a wonderful cast of characters and I'm looking forward to more of the Crews crew!
November 22, 2018
I haven’t read or listened to a Lori Foster book in a few years. WHY the heck not. I forgot how much she makes me feel by the time I am done I always have a feel good feeling like a big hug.
I really enjoyed this unique job Mary Daniels has. She works for a millionaire who likes to collect the really strange and weird things.
I liked that she was so put together, she is a pretty straightforward gal and it takes a lot to ruffle her and ruffle her Brodie Crew’s does.
I loved the tension between these two; oh they try and fight it but its enviable when they are thrust together so much.
Brodie’s protectiveness shines through as well and I enjoyed that more than I thought I would.
I wasn’t really sure if these two were just too different but they work, and Mary isn’t a pushover at all which I love. But neither is Brodie and if he wants something bad enough he goes for it.
I really liked the narration, I think this might be a first for me by John Lane but it won’t be the last, even the “female� parts had me engaged.
I really enjoyed this unique job Mary Daniels has. She works for a millionaire who likes to collect the really strange and weird things.
I liked that she was so put together, she is a pretty straightforward gal and it takes a lot to ruffle her and ruffle her Brodie Crew’s does.
I loved the tension between these two; oh they try and fight it but its enviable when they are thrust together so much.
Brodie’s protectiveness shines through as well and I enjoyed that more than I thought I would.
I wasn’t really sure if these two were just too different but they work, and Mary isn’t a pushover at all which I love. But neither is Brodie and if he wants something bad enough he goes for it.
I really liked the narration, I think this might be a first for me by John Lane but it won’t be the last, even the “female� parts had me engaged.
November 26, 2018
Mary Daniels and Brodie Crews are two opposites forced to come together and work to complete a mysterious (on Brodie’s end) job for an eccentric millionaire. Mary is supper buttoned up and Brodie is a fun-loving person with the best dog who he speaks to in baby talk and is completely into Mary � no games.
I really connected with Brodie at first because Mary was so hard to get to know. We know that something must have happened to her for her to be they uptight person that she is, and Brodie is super patient in the way he got her to warm up to him and tell him her background. Mary does her best to resist Brodie, but � really � who can resist a hot genuine guy who tries to get you better. They chemistry is just off the charts!
Aside from the romance, there was plenty of mystery and suspense to keep the pages turning. We really got to see Brodie’s protective side when things did not go as planned.
We got introduced to a varied cast of people that I hope we come back to in the upcoming books of this new series because I feel like there were some questions that were not answered.
Lori always writes a great story and I am always super excited to enter any of the worlds that she creates.
*I received an advanced copy of my book for an honest review.*
I really connected with Brodie at first because Mary was so hard to get to know. We know that something must have happened to her for her to be they uptight person that she is, and Brodie is super patient in the way he got her to warm up to him and tell him her background. Mary does her best to resist Brodie, but � really � who can resist a hot genuine guy who tries to get you better. They chemistry is just off the charts!
Aside from the romance, there was plenty of mystery and suspense to keep the pages turning. We really got to see Brodie’s protective side when things did not go as planned.
We got introduced to a varied cast of people that I hope we come back to in the upcoming books of this new series because I feel like there were some questions that were not answered.
Lori always writes a great story and I am always super excited to enter any of the worlds that she creates.
*I received an advanced copy of my book for an honest review.*
August 27, 2018
Wow! Wow! Wow! Lori Foster NEVER disappoints!!! Drive to Distraction is the beginning of a whole new bookverse. This book draws you in from the first page and keeps you enthralled until the end, then has you looking for more. Once you get started you won’t be able to put it down, because you are always wanting to know what happens next.
The characters are well developed and seem to balance each other out. The sarcasm and banter are perfect and will have you laughing out loud to where those around you are questioning your sanity. The chemistry between Brodie and Mary is a perfect should we or shouldn’t we. And when they finally give in to the attraction it is HOT!
Brodie comes across as the everyday kind of guy that most women are looking for. A guy who loves his family, protective of those that seem weaker even when he knows it annoys them. Brodie is also an animal lover and what could be better than that. His relationship with Howler makes you want to cry and laugh at the same time. Trust me you won’t be disappointed when you dive in the pages of this book. It gives you romance, family and mystery…a perfect combination!
I received an ARC from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
The characters are well developed and seem to balance each other out. The sarcasm and banter are perfect and will have you laughing out loud to where those around you are questioning your sanity. The chemistry between Brodie and Mary is a perfect should we or shouldn’t we. And when they finally give in to the attraction it is HOT!
Brodie comes across as the everyday kind of guy that most women are looking for. A guy who loves his family, protective of those that seem weaker even when he knows it annoys them. Brodie is also an animal lover and what could be better than that. His relationship with Howler makes you want to cry and laugh at the same time. Trust me you won’t be disappointed when you dive in the pages of this book. It gives you romance, family and mystery…a perfect combination!
I received an ARC from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
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May 18, 2023This was fun. Parts at the end were lack luster and a little cheesy but I totally enjoyed myself. Looking forward to know Jack better in the next book.
August 23, 2018
Brodie is a transport driver and meets Mary when she goes to hire him for her eccentric boss Therman. It’s Lust at first sight for both of them. Brodie can’t keep his hands to himself. When things get hairy on a job with a competing collector, Brodie takes the opportunity to tell Mary how he feels. This book was great and I can’t wait for the next one.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Readers Copy
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Readers Copy
February 6, 2019
Brodie is a sleek man that packs a powerful punch in the looks department and in action. I adore his sweet heart, his love for people and animals. Brodie being a ladies man liked his ladies blonde and sleek, so imagine his surprise when a short curvaceous red head crossed his path and turned his world upside down. Can Brodie convince Red that he is worth the chance to get to know?
Mary is such a strong power pact heroine, she has a wounded heart after the bad upbringing she had. I just could not get enough of her. Mary worked for Therman for three years and never once did she encounter a driver such as Brodie Crews, that man is frustrating and sexy as hell, she will either strangle him or sleep with him. He wanted things from Mary that she did not know if she was capable to give.
There is heat between Brodie and Mary from their first interesting meeting. Mary trying hard to hide in sedate clothing, so not to draw the wrong attention to her self the only problem was Brodie seen right through that. Now that Brodie caught her attention, he needed to play it safe with her and the trouble that seemed to have found them. Will their passion ignite?
Supporting characters (Mary’s adopted Family as well as her boss) Therman, Vera, Jolene, Burl are all amazing character’s that will always stay with me as well as Jack, Charlotte and Ros (Brodie’s Brother, adopted Sister and their amazing Mom.) They all contributed to an already amazing plot. Lori Fostergave the bad guys just enough to make them interesting. Ms. Foster never disappoints me. I am always happy to see her releasing new works as I do enjoy revisiting her older works. The Road to Love Series is going to be a huge hit I have no doubts. I do hope we see Brodie and Mary’s life expand as well as the other characters in future books. The plot has a homey feel with a touch of suspense. There are a few tissue moments for me. As I said if anyone deserves to be love it’s Mary aka Red.
Rated 5 Stilettos and a Recommended Read by Deb!
Mary is such a strong power pact heroine, she has a wounded heart after the bad upbringing she had. I just could not get enough of her. Mary worked for Therman for three years and never once did she encounter a driver such as Brodie Crews, that man is frustrating and sexy as hell, she will either strangle him or sleep with him. He wanted things from Mary that she did not know if she was capable to give.
There is heat between Brodie and Mary from their first interesting meeting. Mary trying hard to hide in sedate clothing, so not to draw the wrong attention to her self the only problem was Brodie seen right through that. Now that Brodie caught her attention, he needed to play it safe with her and the trouble that seemed to have found them. Will their passion ignite?
Supporting characters (Mary’s adopted Family as well as her boss) Therman, Vera, Jolene, Burl are all amazing character’s that will always stay with me as well as Jack, Charlotte and Ros (Brodie’s Brother, adopted Sister and their amazing Mom.) They all contributed to an already amazing plot. Lori Fostergave the bad guys just enough to make them interesting. Ms. Foster never disappoints me. I am always happy to see her releasing new works as I do enjoy revisiting her older works. The Road to Love Series is going to be a huge hit I have no doubts. I do hope we see Brodie and Mary’s life expand as well as the other characters in future books. The plot has a homey feel with a touch of suspense. There are a few tissue moments for me. As I said if anyone deserves to be love it’s Mary aka Red.
Rated 5 Stilettos and a Recommended Read by Deb!
May 26, 2020
A nice book about family, and the baggage that you parents leave us with.
Mary had baggage. Issues from her childhood that left her a bit headstrong and buttoned up. She focused so much of her energy on being a good employee that she didn't leave herself room for more. Brodie was.. well a bit perfect. He was charming, disarming, and laidback. He was possessive, protective and when it came down to it totally absorbed in Mary.
I thought this was just going to be another 'she wants relationship, he wants no strings sex, he convinces her but they end up falling in love' But it wasn't. Sure, Brodie wanted her, but he wanted to get to know her too. It was Mary who struggled to stay unattached.
Over all, it was a good story with medium burn (not slow or fast), with an interesting badguy and a loveable group of side characters! I'm excited to see what's in store for Brodie's brother!
Mary had baggage. Issues from her childhood that left her a bit headstrong and buttoned up. She focused so much of her energy on being a good employee that she didn't leave herself room for more. Brodie was.. well a bit perfect. He was charming, disarming, and laidback. He was possessive, protective and when it came down to it totally absorbed in Mary.
I thought this was just going to be another 'she wants relationship, he wants no strings sex, he convinces her but they end up falling in love' But it wasn't. Sure, Brodie wanted her, but he wanted to get to know her too. It was Mary who struggled to stay unattached.
Over all, it was a good story with medium burn (not slow or fast), with an interesting badguy and a loveable group of side characters! I'm excited to see what's in store for Brodie's brother!
September 30, 2018
Mary is a woman who works for Therman picking up collectibles he has bought . Brodie is the man Therman has chosen to drive Mary to make these transactions . When Mary sees Brodie she is totally against him being the driver and tries to talk Therman out of this . There is attraction between the two. Mary is a gorgeous red head who has childhood issues that she has worked to over come . Brodie is a protective guy who always protects his family and anyone who needs it . Howler is a dog that Brodie rescued and shows what a compassionate man he is . This story is about compassion and had me in tears a few times with its caring . It is beautifully written and conveys the characters and what they feel .
November 20, 2018
I enjoyed the first 60% of Driven to Distraction then I was driven to distraction by everything else around me when I tried to finish. I was reading in the fast lane for most of the book but then it kind of slowed down for me. Not sure where I took a detour. The characters were great, the romance was hot, but the reason they were thrown together (their work) and the suspense thread that was loosely woven into the plot is probably what had me down-shifting, making me take longer to get to the finish line.
Driven to Distraction was an ok (for me) start to the new Road to Love series by Lori Foster, but it won't keep me from reading the next installment.
Driven to Distraction was an ok (for me) start to the new Road to Love series by Lori Foster, but it won't keep me from reading the next installment.
July 22, 2020
3.5 stars. A bit of danger. Likable characters. Forgettable plot.
September 14, 2018
I received this arc from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
Lori Foster is my auto buy romance writer. And she didn’t disappoint with her brand new series. I love the little town of Red Oak and the closeness of it all.
Brodie had me hooked from the first chapter if I’m being honest. And he has a dog he loves very very much?? Ugh yes.
I loved Mary. I connected with her a lot. And I understood her story and the struggles she went through.
The storyline had me hooked. I wanted to see how things played out. Especially with Thermans collection at the end.
Overall this book was fabulous and I love the tension and the way Brodie has such a protective streak.
Lori Foster hit this story out of the park!
Totally pick up this book when it’s available November 20th!
Lori Foster is my auto buy romance writer. And she didn’t disappoint with her brand new series. I love the little town of Red Oak and the closeness of it all.
Brodie had me hooked from the first chapter if I’m being honest. And he has a dog he loves very very much?? Ugh yes.
I loved Mary. I connected with her a lot. And I understood her story and the struggles she went through.
The storyline had me hooked. I wanted to see how things played out. Especially with Thermans collection at the end.
Overall this book was fabulous and I love the tension and the way Brodie has such a protective streak.
Lori Foster hit this story out of the park!
Totally pick up this book when it’s available November 20th!
November 20, 2018
***ARC Provided by the Publisher via NetGalley***
1.5 Stars
This book was not what I was expecting. I like books where there is a forced proximity relationship, and I was expecting this from the book...but, this wasn't quite like that and it didn't entirely work for me.
The blurb, treasure chasing and a driver, the idea of a chase and looking for the items, getting away from the "bad guys" should have been a lot of fun. But, this didn't really work. The book had an odd feel to it, and it felt a little forced to me. It also never really felt real, and I never totally believed the characters in the book were actual, real people. They felt like caricatures, and they felt over the top. I kept expecting characters from Monty Python (or maybe Tim Curry) to leap into the picture and yell "this is what really happened".
So, to say that this feeling didn't lead itself well to a romance, that is not much of an exaggeration. I never felt the romance with the characters, and I was not engaged with Brodie and Mary.
I am not able to recommend this title.
1.5 Stars
This book was not what I was expecting. I like books where there is a forced proximity relationship, and I was expecting this from the book...but, this wasn't quite like that and it didn't entirely work for me.
The blurb, treasure chasing and a driver, the idea of a chase and looking for the items, getting away from the "bad guys" should have been a lot of fun. But, this didn't really work. The book had an odd feel to it, and it felt a little forced to me. It also never really felt real, and I never totally believed the characters in the book were actual, real people. They felt like caricatures, and they felt over the top. I kept expecting characters from Monty Python (or maybe Tim Curry) to leap into the picture and yell "this is what really happened".
So, to say that this feeling didn't lead itself well to a romance, that is not much of an exaggeration. I never felt the romance with the characters, and I was not engaged with Brodie and Mary.
I am not able to recommend this title.
November 30, 2018
Originally posted on
* A copy of this book was and provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review. All conclusions are my own responsibility and I was not compensated for this review.
Like It? Hate it? Love it? Why? It’s been a while since I picked up a book by Lori Foster and Driven to Distraction was a great book to jump back in with. It had a bit of action, a bit of suspense, a dash of drama, and plenty of chemistry to go around.
First impressions are important and Mary had a 50/50 impression on me. I half liked her and half didn’t. The thing about her is that she’s so uptight in the beginning that she’s no fun. She takes offense at almost everything and she’s too serious. But I gave her a fair shot and after a bit, I understood why Mary chose to play it safe and professional and I understood it to a point. I do feel she was a tad too unrealistic and uncompromising especially after Brodie proved time and time again that not only was he a good guy, but a trustworthy one, even with his flaws. She didn’t cut him enough slack until dang near the end. I loved her independence but sometimes it was less about her being independent and more about her just being too stubborn to accept help when she needed it.
Brodie I loved. He was charming, silly, sweet, caring, and he had a dog. You know I’m a sucker for a guy who has a dog and not only did Brodie have a dog, he rescued the dog and talked baby talk to his dog. *melts* And Brodie had this really sweet way of getting his dog to eat too. He honestly won me over really quick. Brodie knows he has an effect on women but he isn’t one to treat a woman cheaply, he loves his mama but isn’t a pushover with her either. To me he had a great balance of lovable playboy and family man. He’s fully capable of loving the people in his life. Definitely book boyfriend material.
Brodie and Mary are definitely an opposites attract case because he’s laid back and open while she’s uptight and wary. But they did work, and I enjoyed watching these two find ways to give a little and compromise as they developed feelings for one another. Their relationship felt a bit more real and fleshed out because of those small, subtle scenes that showed them butting heads and then finding a way to meet in the middle, though sometimes it felt like Brodie did more giving than Mary. I felt that by the end of Driven to Distraction Mary had come a long way but was still a WIP as a character.
Click It or Skip It? Click It. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Lori Foster or looking to try a new author, this is a good book to start with. I can’t wait for Jack’s story.
* A copy of this book was and provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review. All conclusions are my own responsibility and I was not compensated for this review.
Like It? Hate it? Love it? Why? It’s been a while since I picked up a book by Lori Foster and Driven to Distraction was a great book to jump back in with. It had a bit of action, a bit of suspense, a dash of drama, and plenty of chemistry to go around.
First impressions are important and Mary had a 50/50 impression on me. I half liked her and half didn’t. The thing about her is that she’s so uptight in the beginning that she’s no fun. She takes offense at almost everything and she’s too serious. But I gave her a fair shot and after a bit, I understood why Mary chose to play it safe and professional and I understood it to a point. I do feel she was a tad too unrealistic and uncompromising especially after Brodie proved time and time again that not only was he a good guy, but a trustworthy one, even with his flaws. She didn’t cut him enough slack until dang near the end. I loved her independence but sometimes it was less about her being independent and more about her just being too stubborn to accept help when she needed it.
Brodie I loved. He was charming, silly, sweet, caring, and he had a dog. You know I’m a sucker for a guy who has a dog and not only did Brodie have a dog, he rescued the dog and talked baby talk to his dog. *melts* And Brodie had this really sweet way of getting his dog to eat too. He honestly won me over really quick. Brodie knows he has an effect on women but he isn’t one to treat a woman cheaply, he loves his mama but isn’t a pushover with her either. To me he had a great balance of lovable playboy and family man. He’s fully capable of loving the people in his life. Definitely book boyfriend material.
Brodie and Mary are definitely an opposites attract case because he’s laid back and open while she’s uptight and wary. But they did work, and I enjoyed watching these two find ways to give a little and compromise as they developed feelings for one another. Their relationship felt a bit more real and fleshed out because of those small, subtle scenes that showed them butting heads and then finding a way to meet in the middle, though sometimes it felt like Brodie did more giving than Mary. I felt that by the end of Driven to Distraction Mary had come a long way but was still a WIP as a character.
Click It or Skip It? Click It. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Lori Foster or looking to try a new author, this is a good book to start with. I can’t wait for Jack’s story.
October 3, 2018
Brodie Crews is used to getting what he wants. He would never call himself a ladies man but eh if the shoe fits…� When Mary Daniels clomps her way up his stone steps he know right then and there that he will have her. Getting her to agree on the other hand may take a little more effort on his part.
Mary Daniels has worked hard to make a name for herself, damn hard. No thanks to her mother who dragged them both through the mud when she was younger. She grew up and got out as soon as she could, only returning to her childhood home when her mother overdosed. She tried to change her town’s opinion of poor little Mary but she failed, so she decided she needed to stay away. Now she works exclusively for the elusive Therman Ritter and he wants to hire the Mustang Transport company, specifically Brodie Crews, to help transport some of his most precious finds. Now if she could just get her lady parts to heel anytime she is in the vicinity of Brodie she could focus and get on with her job.
Brodie and Mary set off on adventure after adventure accruing collectibles for Therman’s growing collection. After one exchange results in gunfire, Brodie makes it known to Therman that he won’t stand for any more shady dealings. His brother Jack will handle routing to ensure his and Mary’s safety during the exchanges. That doesn’t sit well with Mary who feels like Brodie is undermining her abilities and lets him know that. Brodie stresses he only wants to protect her and isn’t saying she couldn’t do the job. Slowly he wears down her protective shell and she starts to let him in.
Brodie and Mary have undeniable chemistry from their first meeting, even though he is not completely struck by her beauty at first but works at pulling her from her shell. He gets her to open up about her past and let herself relax a little in life. Realizing that true beauty isn’t just skin deep.
Mary has never had a real family, or so she thought, but she realizes the people she works with have been more a family to her than blood relatives. She is finally home.
Another great series starter from Lori Foster, a 4 ½ star read, can't wait for the next book in the series to come down the pipeline. I received an advance copy without expectation for review. Any and all opinions expressed are my own.
Mary Daniels has worked hard to make a name for herself, damn hard. No thanks to her mother who dragged them both through the mud when she was younger. She grew up and got out as soon as she could, only returning to her childhood home when her mother overdosed. She tried to change her town’s opinion of poor little Mary but she failed, so she decided she needed to stay away. Now she works exclusively for the elusive Therman Ritter and he wants to hire the Mustang Transport company, specifically Brodie Crews, to help transport some of his most precious finds. Now if she could just get her lady parts to heel anytime she is in the vicinity of Brodie she could focus and get on with her job.
Brodie and Mary set off on adventure after adventure accruing collectibles for Therman’s growing collection. After one exchange results in gunfire, Brodie makes it known to Therman that he won’t stand for any more shady dealings. His brother Jack will handle routing to ensure his and Mary’s safety during the exchanges. That doesn’t sit well with Mary who feels like Brodie is undermining her abilities and lets him know that. Brodie stresses he only wants to protect her and isn’t saying she couldn’t do the job. Slowly he wears down her protective shell and she starts to let him in.
Brodie and Mary have undeniable chemistry from their first meeting, even though he is not completely struck by her beauty at first but works at pulling her from her shell. He gets her to open up about her past and let herself relax a little in life. Realizing that true beauty isn’t just skin deep.
Mary has never had a real family, or so she thought, but she realizes the people she works with have been more a family to her than blood relatives. She is finally home.
Another great series starter from Lori Foster, a 4 ½ star read, can't wait for the next book in the series to come down the pipeline. I received an advance copy without expectation for review. Any and all opinions expressed are my own.
November 19, 2018
I have to hand it to Lori Foster, Driven to Distraction, the first book in her new Road to Love series, is the perfect mix of romance, suspense, and sweet, sexy fun. As with all first books in a series, a lot of characters were introduced and the series was set up, but never once did the romance between Brodie and Mary get lost and for that I give Ms. Foster huge kudos. While the road to love was filled with twists, turns, and a few obstacles, there is no doubt these two enjoyed the ride!
I always love when the hero and heroine don’t hit it off right away and there is a bit of animosity and that describes Brodie and Mary perfectly. Brodie is laid back, confident, and overtly sexual and Mary is buttoned up, controlled, and exudes an air of authority so naturally from the start they are sparring, but beneath that is sexual chemistry that oozed off the page.
Mary works for an eccentric, very wealthy man who liked to collect things; things that are sometimes odd, sometimes a bit illegal, and always expensive and it is Mary who goes out with a driver/courier as her boss’s representative and the “money person.� When Brodie is hired to be her driver, they end up spending quite a bit of time together and sometimes coming up against some interesting people. Their hours of driving also gives them a lot of time to talk and get to know one another and THIS is what I loved so much about this book; the reader really gets into these character’s heads and begins to know what motivates them and why they act the way they do. Oh, and I cannot forget about Brodie’s dog, Howler, who is always along for the ride and his story is equally important to his relationship with Brodie.
We meet Brodie’s brother, his pseudo sister, and his Mom all of which are entertaining and fascinating and while I’m sure she has stories planned for Jack and Charlotte, I do hope she writes one for their mom, Ros as well who is so deserving of her own happy ever after. I honestly can’t say enough about Ros and the men she raised, the way she treats Charlotte as her own, and the way she gave Mary something she never had and needed so very badly.
With characters that come to life on the page, an engaging plot, a fantastic dog, and lots of sizzling chemistry Driven to Distraction was a perfect romance and is Lori Foster at her best!
I always love when the hero and heroine don’t hit it off right away and there is a bit of animosity and that describes Brodie and Mary perfectly. Brodie is laid back, confident, and overtly sexual and Mary is buttoned up, controlled, and exudes an air of authority so naturally from the start they are sparring, but beneath that is sexual chemistry that oozed off the page.
Mary works for an eccentric, very wealthy man who liked to collect things; things that are sometimes odd, sometimes a bit illegal, and always expensive and it is Mary who goes out with a driver/courier as her boss’s representative and the “money person.� When Brodie is hired to be her driver, they end up spending quite a bit of time together and sometimes coming up against some interesting people. Their hours of driving also gives them a lot of time to talk and get to know one another and THIS is what I loved so much about this book; the reader really gets into these character’s heads and begins to know what motivates them and why they act the way they do. Oh, and I cannot forget about Brodie’s dog, Howler, who is always along for the ride and his story is equally important to his relationship with Brodie.
We meet Brodie’s brother, his pseudo sister, and his Mom all of which are entertaining and fascinating and while I’m sure she has stories planned for Jack and Charlotte, I do hope she writes one for their mom, Ros as well who is so deserving of her own happy ever after. I honestly can’t say enough about Ros and the men she raised, the way she treats Charlotte as her own, and the way she gave Mary something she never had and needed so very badly.
With characters that come to life on the page, an engaging plot, a fantastic dog, and lots of sizzling chemistry Driven to Distraction was a perfect romance and is Lori Foster at her best!
November 19, 2018
[I received a digital ARC for an honest review]
Driven to Distraction by Lori Foster is the first book in her new series Road to Love.
Brodie Crew is all man and I could just eat him up. He is a bit cocky but not in a bad way, more of a take me as I am way. He will always stand up for what's right and is a complete sweetheart with his dog Howler. Mary Daniels is the opposite of Brodie in the fact that she not quiet comfortable in her own skin. She wears clothes to hide her curves and keeps her hair back to avoid attention. She is focused and dedicated to her job, so she tries to ignore her physical reaction to Brodie. Mary has some emotional baggage and feels unwanted, unloved and alone in life. Brodie has to proceed slowly in his pursuit of her and show her he cares without stepping on her independence.
Mary's boss has hired Brodie as the transport driver for his transactions which requires them to spend a lot of time together. Brodie chips away at Mary's walls, and she grows to feel safe with him. The job seems to be going great until a transaction goes bad and Mary and Brodie are being watched and followed.
Overall, Driven to Distraction by Lori Foster was a highly entertaining read that had just the right amount of action and suspense. I'm looking forward to reading more releases in this new series.
Driven to Distraction by Lori Foster is the first book in her new series Road to Love.
Brodie Crew is all man and I could just eat him up. He is a bit cocky but not in a bad way, more of a take me as I am way. He will always stand up for what's right and is a complete sweetheart with his dog Howler. Mary Daniels is the opposite of Brodie in the fact that she not quiet comfortable in her own skin. She wears clothes to hide her curves and keeps her hair back to avoid attention. She is focused and dedicated to her job, so she tries to ignore her physical reaction to Brodie. Mary has some emotional baggage and feels unwanted, unloved and alone in life. Brodie has to proceed slowly in his pursuit of her and show her he cares without stepping on her independence.
Mary's boss has hired Brodie as the transport driver for his transactions which requires them to spend a lot of time together. Brodie chips away at Mary's walls, and she grows to feel safe with him. The job seems to be going great until a transaction goes bad and Mary and Brodie are being watched and followed.
Overall, Driven to Distraction by Lori Foster was a highly entertaining read that had just the right amount of action and suspense. I'm looking forward to reading more releases in this new series.
"He needed to get Red naked and agreeable. But even more than that, he wanted to get to know her, the real her."
"Shivering anew, she clenched her hands and tried not to think what it would be like to open herself up to him. Dangerous. To her plans, her feelings. To her very soul."
4/5🌟
September 12, 2018
I received this ARC for a fair and honest review.
Mary Daniels is about to have her prim and proper world turn upside down by one Brodie Chews.
Mary works for Therman and he is a collector of rare and unique and sometimes ill gotten gain such as an Oscar. She is calm, business like, straight laced and by the book. She is strong and independent because he past was such that she needed to learn to be strong and independent and she needed to learn how to exude confidence. She managed all of this and went on to work for Therman.
She meets Brodie in the parking lot of his courier business, he owns it with his brother Jack and Charolette who is like a sister to Brodie and Jack.
Brodie speaks his mind and doesn't mind his manners, not around Mary anyway. He is immediately taken with her but she is a tough nut to crack. As he begins to open her up we find out why Mary is hell bent on not showing off her incredible beauty. Brodie teaches her all about love and family.
All the while another collector is hot on their heels trying to sway Brodie from going to pick up one last item that is important to the other collector who is not quite what he seems.
I loved this story. Brodie is possessive, strong, caring, and has a heart of gold but he is also humble and sexy as hell. He is the opposite of Mary and the two of them crate sparks. She is a lonely girl who grew up to exceed all expectations of what people in her town thought she would be. She defied the odds and is a fighter in her own quiet way.
There are such great characters whom will get to know better as this is just the first book in the series. I loved all of the characters as each is quirky and interesting in his or her own way. But the one character who to me stole the show was Howler. You will just have to read to find out who or what he is. He is the best. He like Brodie is loving and loyal and very protective with great instincts and like Mary he is very smart and perhaps a bit sassy.
I really enjoyed reading this book. Ms. Foster has not disappointed me yet. The book was sexy, sweet, a little sad, exciting and very satisfying. Kudos.
Mary Daniels is about to have her prim and proper world turn upside down by one Brodie Chews.
Mary works for Therman and he is a collector of rare and unique and sometimes ill gotten gain such as an Oscar. She is calm, business like, straight laced and by the book. She is strong and independent because he past was such that she needed to learn to be strong and independent and she needed to learn how to exude confidence. She managed all of this and went on to work for Therman.
She meets Brodie in the parking lot of his courier business, he owns it with his brother Jack and Charolette who is like a sister to Brodie and Jack.
Brodie speaks his mind and doesn't mind his manners, not around Mary anyway. He is immediately taken with her but she is a tough nut to crack. As he begins to open her up we find out why Mary is hell bent on not showing off her incredible beauty. Brodie teaches her all about love and family.
All the while another collector is hot on their heels trying to sway Brodie from going to pick up one last item that is important to the other collector who is not quite what he seems.
I loved this story. Brodie is possessive, strong, caring, and has a heart of gold but he is also humble and sexy as hell. He is the opposite of Mary and the two of them crate sparks. She is a lonely girl who grew up to exceed all expectations of what people in her town thought she would be. She defied the odds and is a fighter in her own quiet way.
There are such great characters whom will get to know better as this is just the first book in the series. I loved all of the characters as each is quirky and interesting in his or her own way. But the one character who to me stole the show was Howler. You will just have to read to find out who or what he is. He is the best. He like Brodie is loving and loyal and very protective with great instincts and like Mary he is very smart and perhaps a bit sassy.
I really enjoyed reading this book. Ms. Foster has not disappointed me yet. The book was sexy, sweet, a little sad, exciting and very satisfying. Kudos.
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