Summary
Driven by K. Bromberg explores romance and sports, focusing on the relationship between Rylee Thomas and Colton Donavan. Set in the car racing world, the narrative examines themes like love, healing, and redemption. Rylee, a social worker, is cautious due to past experiences. She encounters Colton, a race car driver who disrupts her controlled life. Their chemistry drives the story.
Plot
In Driven by K. Bromberg, Rylee Thomas, a social worker, and Colton Donavan, a race car driver, meet at a charity event. Colton rescues Rylee from a panic attack, leading to an immediate attraction. Rylee, dealing with her late fiancé Max's death, becomes involved with Colton, who struggles with issues from his childhood and adoption.
Colton claims he can only offer Rylee physical intimacy, anticipating eventual separation. However, he complicates their relationship further by bidding $25,000 for a date with Rylee at the auction. Their interactions involve vulnerability and resistance. Rylee aims to understand Colton's emotional barriers, recognizing his softer side beneath a tough exterior. Colton's erratic behavior both attracts and troubles Rylee. Despite this, her affection for him grows, even as he warns of possible heartache.
The story reaches a peak when Colton invites Rylee to his home, a personal gesture he has not extended to others. A nightmare later causes Colton to withdraw emotionally, leaving Rylee distressed. The narrative concludes with unresolved tension, as both characters confront their pasts that hinder their search for trust and redemption.
Characters
Rylee Thomas: Rylee works as a social worker, focusing on helping orphaned children at a non-profit organization. Her structured life changes when she meets Colton Donavan, leading her to face her fear of losing control. Despite her past, she influences Colton's life significantly.
Colton Donavan: Colton is a famous race car driver known for his charm and confidence. His public and private recklessness stems from a troubled history. While he avoids close relationships, he finds himself drawn to Rylee.
Haddie Montgomery: Rylee's best friend Haddie provides comic relief and consistent support in Rylee and Colton's relationship. As Rylee's confidante, she offers advice and helps Rylee manage her emotional challenges.
Zander: Zander, a child in Rylee's care, illustrates her nurturing nature. His relationship with Rylee emphasizes her commitment to supporting and improving the lives of those she serves.
These characters add depth to Driven, exploring themes of love, control, and redemption in their interconnected lives.
Themes
Driven by K. Bromberg examines themes of control, vulnerability, identity, emotional healing, and resilience within the interactions of Rylee Thomas and Colton Donavan. Rylee leads a life governed by order, while Colton thrives in unpredictability. This contrast reveals their struggle with vulnerability. Rylee's past relationship trauma makes her hesitant to give up control. Colton's turbulent history hinders him from embracing vulnerability.
The narrative follows both characters as they confront their fears, aiming for emotional healing and resilience. Rylee gains strength by nurturing Colton's softer side. The story shows that love can help individuals overcome personal challenges and build meaningful connections.
Style of writing
K. Bromberg's writing in Driven presents a narrative that explores the emotional landscape of its characters. The style involves internal monologues to examine the thoughts of the characters. Rylee’s introspections help to explain her internal struggles and vulnerabilities. Colton’s reflections help to describe the complexities he faces. These insights contribute to the depth and tension of the narrative.
The emotional impact of Driven stems from Bromberg's balance of detail and narrative pace. Her selective use of descriptive elements means that readers remain aware of the characters' surroundings and emotions without excess detail. This balance allows the story to maintain its momentum while immersing readers in the protagonists' journey.
Comparison with similar books
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James: Driven and Fifty Shades of Grey both focus on complex relationships involving a dominant male lead and a woman drawn to his enigmatic personality. Colton Donavan and Christian Grey are affluent figures with troubled histories that impact their romantic lives. Fifty Shades centers on BDSM as a key theme, while Driven focuses on emotional healing and redemption. This means that love plays a transformative role in Driven.
Crossfire Series by Sylvia Day: The Crossfire Series and Driven both tackle themes of emotional challenges faced by protagonists seeking authentic connections. Gideon Cross and Colton Donavan are depicted as charismatic yet troubled, both grappling with their pasts. The female leads, Rylee and Eva, display strength and vulnerability, showcasing their resilience in complex relationships. Both narratives emphasize the journey toward emotional empowerment within intense romantic contexts.
Quick facts
Driven by K. Bromberg reached #2 on the New York Times bestseller list.
The book was adapted into a film series by Passionflix in 2018.
Colton Donavan, the protagonist, is portrayed as a famous race car driver, wealthy entrepreneur, and notorious playboy.
Rylee Thomas works for a nonprofit organization that supports orphaned and traumatized children, highlighting her empathic nature.
The story features intense emotional depth, exploring themes like love, healing, redemption, and vulnerability.
The series delves into serious topics such as survivor’s guilt, past traumatic experiences, adoption, and abuse.
The first meeting between Rylee and Colton occurs during a charity auction, setting the stage for their dynamic relationship.
The book concludes with a significant cliffhanger, seamlessly leading into the next book "Fueled".
Superheroes and racing terms are recurring motifs throughout the series, symbolizing resilience and hope.
"Raced," a novella in the series, offers chapters from Colton's perspective.
K. Bromberg has sold over 1.5 million copies of her books internationally.
The narrative maintains high sexual tension and chemistry between the main characters, contributing to the emotional engagement.
TV adaptation
Passionflix adapted Driven by K. Bromberg into a series in 2018. The streaming service focuses on popular romance novels. Olivia Applegate plays Rylee Thomas and Casey Deidrick portrays Colton Donavan. The adaptation closely follows the book's storyline. It maintains the chemistry and tension between the protagonists. The series includes race sequences that are central to the narrative. The adaptation received positive reactions from fans of the book series.
About the author
K. Bromberg writes contemporary romance. Her career began when her husband's frequent travel led her to focus on writing. Her debut novel, Driven, reached readers and introduced strong, independent heroines alongside complex male protagonists. Bromberg's work includes the Driven series, translated into 18 languages with over 1.5 million copies sold. Her novels appear on bestseller lists such as The New York Times, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal.
Bromberg balances writing with motherhood, crafting stories amid her family's daily routine. Her journey from kitchen counter writing to established novelist shows her commitment to creating stories that connect with audiences.
