{Blog Tour} Driven by Lisa Nowak *REVIEW*

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






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


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

  "Prob'ly too busy stuffing big engines in little cars," Teri Sue 

said giving me a grin.

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

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

for the pig."

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