I enjoy a slowburn. Sometimes. This was too slow to be a slowburn. The one thing I liked about this book was that it was not predictable at all.

Gus Quinlan still goes to the competition garage is the other Merrick, Harper the daughter who left her father’s team. Gus still works for the father and when they are talking he gives her a name for an engineer he knows Mia St. James. He met her in college and has not stopped thinking about her. When she takes the job she moves in with Gus because her house is not ready. They both have feelings for each other but Gus has issues with his past because of his father. After he and Mia kiss they realize something is there he must work it out now. A good book.

Love a good sexy read. The steam was real in this one! Had such a great time. It wasn’t a very serious read but an entertaining one!

Clever Girl
3 Stars

Clever Girl is a well-written book, but not to my taste. I'd compare this book to a full-blown automobile collision, where my feelings are the collateral damage. I'm left feeling bruised and unsatisfied with the HEA. You can only put one's characters through so much trauma and drama. So, when I closed the book I was completely done.

My biggest issue with this book is the pacing. It took so long for the plot to move in any direction. Because of this, I almost gave up reading it several times. I personally feel this would have made a better novella. I'm positive this book is very long. Think Lord of the Rings, the movie version, where it could have ended 3 times. I noted several places where a better ending could be had. That said, I feel there's a group of readers that will love it; Netflix binge watchers, for example. For that reason, I'm listing Pro's and Con's to Clever Girl.

Pro's

~ If you love high drama shows, this is the book for you.
~It's not predictable
~Our female lead is funny, intelligent, and independent.
~I learned something new about stock racing.
~An All Ladies race team. Go Girl power!
~The love interest shares great chemistry and banter.
~This book definitely evokes emotions.
~Mild Spicy
~Gus finally got his head out of his ass. Much too late IMO

Con's

~Pacing issues… So, So slow.
~Gus and Mia don't have a mature relationship.
~YA may be a stretch for Gus.
~I didn't like the manipulation of friends and family pushing these two together (Gus's mom, his friends)
~Gus is a child throwing a tantrum.
~Gus, Gus, Gus ~I didn't like him by the last page
~I didn't connect with a few key characters.

Overall, everyone's mileage varies. I prefer more mature relationships. Clever Girl isn't that! Our couple isn't even in a relationship for over half of the book. Their "just" friends seeing other people. I'm too old for commitment-phobic guys. Lastly, if a man ever spoke to me the way Gus did with Mia in the hospital. He would be missing his front teeth.

Thank you, NetGalley and Caffeinated PR, for an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.


*The formatting of this book was horrible. Through the NetGalley app, it cuts off several sentences on every page. I had several issues with this book and I'm not sure why. I couldn't highlight, and pages flipped backwards. I didn't deduct stars because of frustration.

The hero and the heroine have a past connection that dwindled after a certain delegation of their relationship. Yet such a connection is renewed years later when the hero and the heroine shared hearth and the professional racing world. Both are attracted to each other, and their relationship changed with one sizzling kiss. Yet will the couple have their happy ending when one misstep brings this new romance to an indeterminate future.

This is the third in the Driven World series. It features strong women and the men who loves them. Each book can be read by itself within the series, though to get a better image about secondary characters in this book that were mentioned in the previous books, readers should basically read the whole series. I enjoyed the information about the racing world, and how the women in this world are faring. As for this couple, I liked the heroine more than the hero, but their journeys towards becoming who they are at the end of the book was an entertaining journey to read. I also enjoyed a lot of the secondary characters that were mentioned in this book, especially when they are helpful in the main couple's journey towards their happy ending. Overall, I found this an engagingly entertaining romance book and I look forward to reading more Laraylyn Doran books in the future.


** Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own. **

I really thought this was a wonderful book! Exciting, entertaining, with pace but also with depth in the story. The characters are realistic, human and flawed.
Gus and Mia have known each other since high school, and meet again after being apart for many years. As you read on, you find out why they haven't been in touch for years. Anyway, now they renew their friendship, but neither of them realizes that they are secretly developing feelings for each other. Besides, Mia thinks she's not his type, that Gus will never be attracted to her. And Gus thinks Mia just sees him as a superficial womanizer. At the same time, the idea of the other person in a relationship is not something that makes them happy. So what will happen next?

This book is very well written, with details about how things sometimes go in everyday life (which we all recognize from our own lives), like stumbling out of a car in a very unladylike manner…

_I just barely managed to get my luggage secured in the back of the cab before using the running board along the side of the truck to launch myself into the front of the truck. My brother chuckled as I resembled a toddler trying to get in a chair unassisted. Once I righted myself, I threw him a glare and reached to put on my seatbelt._

…to apologizing to other people without reason.

_“Don’t apologize. Own your worth,” she said, before putting the pita in her mouth. And then took a bite as if she hadn’t uttered five words I had always needed to hear. Those words would have probably saved me a lot of heartache if I’d only taken them to heart sooner._

The most beautiful scene was the description of the atmosphere at CJ and Davy's wedding, you could just feel the love, but what is so great that this book goes further than the superficiality of just being in love.

_“I came across this excerpt from Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and thought it really fit these two and the advice I would give them. It spoke of love not being like a volcano of emotion but the intertwining of roots that could never be untangled and furthers the depths of passion.” Sadie continued, talking about love being what is left when the romance of love—the glory and fever of it—has disappeared._

The secondary characters are also great. I love Gus’ mother; she secretly tries to play matchmaker, which made me laugh. There are several characters from the previous books but that isn’t a problem; this book can be read as a standalone. But I will definitely get the previous books because this writer is amazing! And I hope the next book will be about Shaw!

The storyline of the racing world is very original, well defined and makes the story exciting. I found it refreshing, interesting and fun to read. It is a very good read and I can highly recommend it!

Quick Summary: A friends to lovers in the fast lane romance

My Review: Clever Girl by Laralyn Doran was a top-notch read. With likable characters, a great emotional arc, and realistic conflicts, it was a hit with this reader.

About the Book: After facing a betrayal of the very worst kind, Mia St. James needed a change. When a friend from her past name drops her to some very important people, unbeknownst to her, she's granted an opportunity that she cannot pass up. When she arrives at her new life destination, she is greeted by none other than August Quinlan.

Gus Quinlan was happy with the life he'd carved out for himself. He had his dream job. He was surrounded by people who loved him as is. Still, something within him was unsettled. Something was missing. After hearing about the situation his old friend found herself in, he knew he could help. The question was what did he want to get out of the situation he now found himself in?

What I Loved About This Story:

- I loved the friendships and family bonds that were represented in the lives of both Mia and Gus. The love, loyalty, and protective natures were evident.

- I loved the fact that Mia and Gus were able to reconcile their friendship, even after not having had closure from what happened in the past. (Time, growth, experience, and communication are critical with cherished friendships.)

- I loved that Mia and Gus, quite obviously, felt an attraction for each other. The slow burn heat between them was palpable.

- I loved being able to see the strength and yet the vulnerability in Gus. It made him more endearing. It showed that he was imperfect, even as he was genuinely a caretaker to the special women in his life.

- I loved that Mia was intelligent, skilled, and capable in her field. I appreciated that she did not need a man to prop her up. Also, I loved that she didn't back down from speaking up when needed.

- I loved Gus' mom. She had goals.

- I loved Shaw. He has to get his own story! He was... He stole my heart. I want to know about the one who got away.

- I loved all of the other couples.

The Scenes That Took My Breath Away: (Coded to avoid spoilers)

- The Sighting
- Car Love
- That First Kiss
- Daytona
- The Bachelorette Party
- Auntie's Gift Bags
- Wild Horses
- All of Me
- Books, Water & Memories
- The Asinine Mistake
- Fighting for Forever

My Final Say: This romance gets a hidden gem rating. It started a little choppy with a tell vs show approach, but the author quickly found a show not tell rhythm that allowed the story flow to smooth itself out. Readers should definitely give this book a chance.

Other: Although this story can be easily read as a standalone, it is actually the third installment in the Driven Women series.

Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Chemistry: 🌶🌶🌶
Status: 💎

I voluntarily read this title via NetGalley. The words I have shared are my own. Appreciation is extended to the author and to the publisher, who provided access to this work in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 3rd book of Driven Women series, it can be read as stand alone. My first in this series and this book is good. Gus and Mia know each ther for long time. Gus has feeling to her but he is in denial, ignore his feeling and think Mia just friend, deep down he feels not enough for her. Once Mia hear Gus said she just friend and not think more than that, its broke Mia heart make her leave without saying good bye. Years past Gus still thinking about Mia and recomend her to Harper team (Harper from Driven Women book 2, Boss Lady). Their reunion so sweet, Gus still in denial and Mia scare her hewrt broke again. With Gus mother meddling they have to share house for a while.

I love how Gus want to open up to Mia, his jealousy so sweet, and he taking care of Mia. I understand how confuse Mia is, not blame her to put distance between them. Shaw finally who push Gus to make a move, now i curious about Shaw story!

Thank you to NetGalley for provide this book, it is pleasure to review this book.

#CleverGirl #DrivenWomen #LaralynDoran #CaffeinatedPR # #ARCProvidedbyVictoryEditing #VictoryEditing #NetGalley #NetGalleyCoop #ARC

I loved this book. The story was fast paced and kept my interest. The characters were well developed and had the perfect amount of sass, snark, steam and humor.