2017 Nominee for Best Contemporary Romance-GOODREADSNamed one of the Top 10 hottest romance reads of 2017 by Huffington Post and New York Daily News!Music . . . the heart’s greatest librarian.The average song is three and a half minutes long; those three and a half minutes could lead to a slow blink, a glimpse of the past, or catapult the soul into heart-shattering nostalgia.At the height of my … heart-shattering nostalgia.
At the height of my career, I had the life I wanted, the life I’d always envisioned. I’d found my tempo, my rhythm. Then I received a phone call that left me off key.
You see, my favorite songs had a way of playing simultaneously. I was in love with one man’s beats and another’s lyrics. But when it came to the soundtrack of a life, how could anyone choose a favorite song? So, to erase any doubt, I ditched my first-class ticket and decided to take a drive, fixed on the rearview.
Two days.
One playlist.
And the long road home to the man who was waiting for me.
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“I used to think I was cursed for having fallen in love with two men. But, in hindsight, I realized what a gift it was. They were my lovers, my teachers, my best friends, and I would love them both until I took my last breath.”
I finished DRIVE at 2:08 in the morning and now I’m laying in bed trying to form the words to express how beautiful this book was.
This story was so much more than a romance and a love triangle. It was a journey of self-discovery and of growth through the power and influence of music. Our heroine, Stella is an aspiring music journalist. She lives and breathes music. Through her we witness heartbreak, struggle, success, friendship, love and loss.
The way DRIVE was written was so different than I’ve ever read before. You will be captivated, sucked in and not able to let go for one second!! The characters will burrow into your hearts. You will fall in love with either Reid or Nate. As for me, I couldn’t be more happy with how this story ended.
If you love angst, the type you feel in your soul then this gem is meant for you!
Don’t miss this!
Just read it! LOVED this book.
I could not put this book down!
This book!! The characters! The music! The heartache! The ending!! I have too much excitement over this book to even attempt to elaborate but I will say this: you HAVE to read this book!
Stella and Reid are HOT together; a hot mess! Stella and Nate share a beautiful love story. It ended just the way I’d hoped it would.
This is my first exposure to Kate Stewart as an author and I’m a fan! The story line, the characters, the emotions; Kate makes you feel it all. Every time I put the book down I wanted one more chapter.
THIS BOOK!!
I truly have no words. The author did an amazing job telling Stella’s story. The emotions from all the characters were right on point, and boy did they make my heart ache. I felt that lump in my throat through the entire book.
Music is plays such a big role in this story, and I do have to say that if you want to experience this story to it’s fullest, make sure you have a listening device close. What the author said right at the beginning of the book is true. I don’t think we realize just how much music plays an important role in our lives. The memories that ONE song can draw back when it suddenly starts playing on the radio.
Close your eyes and listen…the melody, the lyrics…
So much talent wrapped up into what perfect masterpiece.
Amazing author !! I couldn’t put this book down.
FLOVED this story! Magnificent and Transcending.
First- I am one that absolutely loves stories with songs in them that cause me to stop reading, listen to the song, and keep reading. It gives me a stronger sense of what the characters are feeling.
Second- Stella’s journey, the way the story was told with past/present by pressing Play/Pause. LOVED it!!! Uniquely written.
Third- I fell in love so much. With one character, then another, then I was mad and hated that character but then I fell in love again because there was no way I couldn’t. The choices made by every single one of them were good. They needed to find themselves. Follow their dreams. Be the best self they can be. Unfortunately for them TIME stops for no one and you cannot control who the heart wants or when it wants.
The journey of Life, Love, Self discovery and Dreams is a bumpy one. All we can hope for is the happy ending.
QUOTES-
–“If I’m not what you need, then go find it. I bared myself to you, and you didn’t have the decency to fall in love with me. I probably will hate you. I fell for you, scared, but I did it anyway.”…
–“I’m fighting for you, Stella,”…”I keep waiting for you to end it with this guy. You tell me he’s a good man, fine. I say I can be the better man.”…
—Every single day, I take you with me wherever I go…
So gripping! I couldn’t put this story down and it became epic and all consuming and full of great music and true love angst. I loved everything about it and I highly recommend!
I started 2018 with a heart wrenching story close to an ugly cry. Drive made my heart heavy like hell and at the same time it raced miles ahead while turning pages.
Drive is definitely a book where you will suffer from a bad book hangover. Oh did I suffer. But I had no chance not starting a new book while I had a 3 hours train ride ahead of me. Otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to touch another book for days. I’m sure of that.
This book touched my heart on such a deep level, I’m not sure any words I produce here will do it justice. I recommend: read it and see for yourself.
“Love doesn’t die, even when you stop feeding it. There is no expiration date on the ache of missing someone you shared your heart, life and body with.”
While reading Drive I felt mostly something close to being homesick. This quote might explain why. The angst I felt that there is not going the happy ending I want to was almost unbearable. I swore to myself that I won’t jump to the last page to see how it ends. And that I don’t read any reviews because I think the angst you feel while reading is exactly what makes this book so damn special.
“And while his finger explored, his eyes stayed on mine, filling the silence, and in them I saw the piece of me that he took”
This was the part where I definitely knew I’ve fallen for Reid, just like Stella did. He also took a piece of me then. Stella and Reid where perfect together right after their first encounter. Their story is special and I totally understand each decision they made even if it hurt the other. But each decision they made was for the benefit of the other, even if they got hurt in the process.
The thing is, I felt the hurt as much as they must have. It felt so real, and even writing/thinking about this make my eyes water, because my heart remembers.
“I want you to get used to these hands, these arms, this lap. We’ll be around a while. If it happens, it will happen naturally, and we’ll make our own story.”
Nate was almost too good to be true. So naturally understanding. Giving the space Stella needed to figure out her feelings for him. Nate was good for Stella and not just a rebound. Their love was true and obvious, but it was also obvious for me that Stella never stopped loving Reid.
“He was my song, my soul, my everything, and his love had propelled me forward into the woman I wanted to be.”
Don’t underestimate the significance of music and certain songs in this book. Listen closely to the very own playlist on spotify!
“In his warmth, I was forgiven, desperately in love with the love that was embedded before I knew the meaning. The love that waited for me, the love that showed me the way home”
Drive took me on a ride I wasn’t prepared for. I felt things I wasn’t ready to feel. My gut and my heart got wrenched over and over again. I wasn’t prepared for such an incredible, outstanding and unique love triangle. Leaving me almost unable to choose, although my heart did it for me and I’m so glad I got my happy end. However, even if it would have turned out the other way, I would have been happy for Stella, because she loved both man deeply and both of those loved her equally back. I never expected saying “goodbye” to either of them would shred my heart to pieces.
Even if we are only at the beginning of this new year, I definitely know, that this will be one of my top favorite reads in 2018! The bar has been set high now.
Love and rock ‘n’ roll love stories aren’t for the faint of heart.
Ain’t that the truth ! They sure are a lethal combination .I have read somewhere- Don’t fall in love with a rockstar, you’ll never go back to anybody ever again!
Sometimes you come across a story which has a whole spectrum of emotions, you may not be able to grasp all of them , but the magic in the words will forever change you. DRIVE is such a book.
FYI- I went in blind, no reading the blurb or reviews at all !
*Status at 4 pm- [Review to come .gimme a minute to pick myself off the floor at least ]
*Status at 7.04 pm -okay , I’m off the floor and with tears encrusted cheeks finally trusting to learn to smile again !
Ms.Kate can reach out from the book and twist your heart in her writer fist till you can’t breathe , just by her thoughts alone. They are some mighty thoughts and potent words awright. The bridge she draws between music and the story shows her acute knowledge of the power of tunes and easily translates it to words . She deserves a standing ovation
Because music is the heart’s greatest librarian. A few notes had the ability to transport me back in time, and to the most painful of places. Take any song from the Rolodex of your life, and you can pin it to a memory. It translates, resonates, and there it will remain. And no matter how many of those Rolodex cards you want to rip out and burn like an old phone number to make room for new ones, those songs remain and threaten to repeat.
The pool of NBWs is pretty small in Booklandia. Don’t get me wrong , wonderful books are written daily by accomplished indie writers, some have figured out the pulse of readers and their hold onto it, some have honed their craft to perfection, some ride on the success of their trilogy, expanding the kitty by giving associate characters their own books. And they’re Good!
But then we have some #NaturalBornWriters or NBWs who have ink instead blood that flows in their veins, the words are the metronome their heart beats to and music their pulse throbs to.
Ms. Kate Stewart is one of this rare breed that was put on this Earth to write, Period.
This is unequivocally my Fourth 6 star book of the year. What a way to end this year on a highest of High notes , still resonating in my heart. The tie-up of music to memories is beautifully portrayed in this book, every moment of Estella Rosa Maria Emerson or Stella, the niña rebelde, who wants to do something amazing, something so groundbreaking, that she’s set a timer on herself. she has her priorities lined up, to finish her school, get a job and forget about Don Haley who broke her heart. She moves to Austin and tries to reinvent herself. Her brain runs on music like adrenaline. For her soul, It’s like a therapy, a lifeline
Everyone, at some point in their life, breathes and grieves through song, but for me, it was daily therapy. When a certain song plucked those strings in my chest, I felt it all, and it was freedom. Those songs didn’t judge or tell me I was a fool for feeling the way I did. They told me they were with me. It was how I balanced my life and my passion.
She meets Dead Seargents drummer -Reid ‘King’ crowne and thump goes her heart, beating hard to his rhythm.
The timing couldn’t have been more serendipitous , as if written by Fate herself. She literally saves his life by just walking in his apartment one day. Their lives are forever coupled together like chain links from that point on. Stella pushes Reid for a kiss that probably is the most momentous after Juliet kissed Romeo,and their stars realign themselves. Complete transformation of their fates happens , just from the moment their lips meet.
Trouble follows them everywhere threatening to bring their love house tumbling down. They fight, push, repel, compel, pull and drown together
I’ve often wondered just like Stella or Paige or hundreds of other readers, what would’ve happened had Stella not pushed for that kiss?
For one we wouldn’t have had a love story to dive into and we surely wouldn’t be lying on the floor, hurting and bleeding of broken heart. So there’s that ! We’re suckers like that, lining up to have our souls shattered to pieces by authors and jagged pieces crunching in their inky hands. Here, take my money and kill me !! **smh**
“I’ve never in my life met a woman who needed to know so much.”
“I’ve never in my life met a man who wanted to tell so little.”
“Match made in hell,”
Hell does break loose, and they are tattered. There’s no other way to describe it. Their hearts shredded and lives tattered blown away in the winds of time.
I cried.. Soulful, heart wrenching tears, almost gave me a stroke!! Can one die of heartbreak? Apparently one can …..almost!
“Heartache has the most annoying sound. It’s an echo. An echo of heartbeats stuck on a loop. ”
My heart literally was stuck in their misery, nothing consoled me and I sobbed my heart out. OMG ! She is just a girl trying to find her fairytale ……..but with the WRONG FUCKING PRINCE!!!
By this point I was so invested in their lives, I was trying to shake the kindle to get some sense into them. Their life is a tragedy of wrong timings.
Reid’s abandonment, Nate Butler’s companionship and Page’s interventions (though from a place of love and care, I still wanted to muffle her Big mouth) are all instrumental and Ill timed in keeping them far apart. Thus far in the book, I’d had enough, I can’t take it anymore,that’s it- I’m putting my kindle down , after just one more chapter!
I couldn’t though, leave it alone or walk away, I couldn’t stop reading…….Crying and reading
A palette of Love in all its splendid colours, fluffy blush-pink to jealous reds to sorrowful Greys, you’ll see them all in Technicolor. I can’t sing enough praises for this book enough. It rightfully sits at the top of 2017 book heap, wearing golden 6 stars embellished crown and I’m so delighted to have popped my Kate Stewart cherry with such a remarkable book. I’m going to read her entire back collection, as and when I get a break from my tbr.
“Here’s to the bee that stung the bull that got the bull a buckin’, and here’s to Adam who stuck it to Eve that got the whole world a fuckin’.”
Here’s to Kate whose words got my kindle-to-wall chuckin’
6 Sissy/Grenade stars
#BookBistroBlogApproved
5* Heart Stopping Stars
I am not sure what took me so long to read this fabulous heart stopping book. It was everything and more and was unputdownable! I was captured from the first page and the journey it took me on was breathtakingly emotional.
This is a story about falling in love with two very different men, one a tortured rock star drummer and the other a well-grounded and loyal owner of and up and coming newspaper. Both Reid and Nate were gorgeous and sexy. I could see how Stella fell in love with both men. At the end of the day only one heart would conquer and rules hers!
This book was full of angst and anticipation, it was addictive. The authors writing and storytelling brilliant and full of feels! If I could give it more than 5 Stars I would! One of my best reads!
This book was AMAZING!!! Once in a while, I’ll read a book that I’m constantly thinking about, even when I have to stop reading so I can do my normal “adulting,” and I can’t wait to get back to it, and this was definitely one of those books!
This book had everything! It had tons of angst, jealousy, drama, and just everything else I absolutely love. It made me laugh, cry, hold my breath, and totally gave me all the feels, which are my favorite types of books to read. I just absolutely loved every single thing about it. Kate Stewart’s writing is virtually flawless, and I can’t even express how much I love her writing style. I’m not sure what took me so long to read this one, but it is definitely a must read!
Don’t ask me why I love it. Just read it so you can love it too!
One of Michele’s absolute favorite reads!
WOW!!! I’m totally blown away and don’t want this amazing story of love and deep emotions to end!! First I must say that Stella our heroine stole my heart. I loved her completely and want her happiness. While staying with her sister, Stella meets Reid, a gorgeous, tormented drummer for an up and coming band named Dead Sergeants. They don’t get along at first but as time passes they realize how much they have in common with their love for music. Stella’s sister is furious of their union and disconnects with them both. Stella ends up living with Reid for a short while as their love for each other grows. Her sister is sure he will break her heart and he does. Stella gets a job as a journalist for a small paper. The owner, Nate is young, incredibly attractive and is instantly attracted to Stella. Still nursing a broken heart Stella is not interested in a relationship. As time passes, Nate is persistent and wins her over. They have a passionate and beautiful love for each other. They are happy and Nate makes Stella feel safe, but is she really over her love for Reid. The characters are so incredibly real and the story line is flawless. I was swept away with angst, hope and tears never knowing where the story was going. Kate Stewart, you did an amazing job with this book and I am now your forever fan <3
I absolutely loved Drive. Talk about a book hangover! Drive is not one of those stories that you read, enjoy, then blends in with your memories of all the others you’ve read. No, it’s one where you’ll remember the characters and their stories; their heartbreak, loss, their trials, and their love. The angst. It’s a love triangle between Stella, Reid & Nate and timing has so much to do with their circumstance. This story is a demonstration of how a woman finds herself in love with two different men and in the end has to choose. It’s not a MMF story at all. It’s a story of a young woman growing up and having separate relationships with two different men at different times. But time brings them together again and al I can say is I’m glad I didn’t have to choose! Excellent read.
Took me a few days to really think about this book after reading it because I just enjoyed it so much.
It’s the kind of book you don’t want to end. There was so much about it that was sweet, steamy, unique and heartbreaking.
It’s not a heartbreaking book like in the tragic sense but emotionally. You can feel Stella’s confliction about Reid and their whole dynamic was just so full of chemistry it pulled me in to each encounter. I loved all of the special little things that made Stella unique, interesting and likable, such as the lyrics on her converse, ‘Stella look up’, one minute past desperation and her quirky T-shirts.
Reid was the typical emotionally distant and talented drummer that just had this quality about him that was so sexy it draws you in but also makes you feel for him.
Nate was sexy as hell, sweet and loyal. Man, the way he went after Stella, just wow, steamy.
I did not want this book to end. I wanted to cherish each scene, each inner thought of Stella’s, her experiences, her growth. I don’t typically re-read books but I’m thinking this one might be on my re-read list.
I tend to think of myself as a very critical reader. Although there were a few very tiny things that I questioned, it still got 5 stars because it was so good I didn’t care about those little pesky things.
Excellent read.
I loved this book. It was full of emotion and angst and heat and I loved every word. This book had me guessing until the very end how it would end. Kate Stewart is a master at writing a story that is spectacularly satisfying. I will definitely be recommending this book to everyone