Book Review | Grip – Lacey Black (The Driven World)

Grip
By: Lacey Black

Series: The Driven World
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Trope: Single Father, Second Chance, Racing,
Publisher: Lacey Black Books
Release Date: October 4th, 2020
My Rating: ✮✮✮✮
Format: Kindle eBook (Advanced Copy)

Blurb:

Lacey Black’s Grip is a second-chance, surprise-baby contemporary romance written in K. Bromberg’s Driven World project.

Mack
I live to race. It’s in my blood—the smell of dirt and gasoline, the fast cars, the screaming fans. I was the king of a small track in Missouri with the world at my fingertips. I even had the girl, until a call came from the infamous Colton Donavan. I had a choice to make: my dream or the woman I loved. I couldn’t have both.

When an unexpected surprise shows up on my doorstep in the form of a baby, there’s only one woman I trust enough to help me. Lena Stanley, the one I left behind. But being in close proximity to her reminds me of what we used to have, and what I still want. Her.

Lena
The day he walked away to chase his dream was the hardest day of my life, but I powered through. I could never ask Mack to choose between me and the opportunity of a lifetime.

That’s why I pushed him toward the latter, despite the heartache it caused.

Now, he needs my help. The problem is it’s hard to keep old feelings buried. Despite my best efforts, our connection is too powerful to deny. However, as our short time together draws to a close, I have another difficult choice to make. Only this time, I’m not just walking away from him, but his son too.

I am loving the Driven World. It’s great to go back and experience different authors tell stories that take place in the world I love so much. Hat’s off the K. Bromberg for opening this platform. I’m loving all the new adventures! Of course seeing glimpses of Colton and Rylee is an added happy surprise.

In My Own Words:

Grip by Lacey Black is a novel that takes place in K. Bromberg’s Driven world. This single father, second chance, racer heartthrob romance can be read as a standalone and is told from both, Mack and Lena’s point of view.

Mack is in hot water! Not only is his racing standing score slowly plummeting, but now he finds out he’s the father of a three week old baby (Oliver) and Oliver’s mother has recently passed away. He’s looking for help and he’s needing that helping hand now. Which leads him to picking up the phone and calling the woman who has owned his heart since they were young. He calls Lena.

Lena gave Mack her heart when she was a kid. Back then things were easier, she watched him race and there was nothing they couldn’t achieve together, in Brenton. But Mack’s dreams were too wide for small town living. He had to leave to reach for the stars, and Lena had found her roots in her hometown. She didn’t want to live another round of constant travel. She was meant to settle down and in this situation you have to listen to your heart.

Now, three years have come and gone, Lena gets a text message late one night from a number she hasn’t seen in a long time. I need your help, is all the text says. She hops on the first flight she can to help out her old friend. Shock hits her heart and soul when she realizes Mack has a three week old son.

My Thoughts:

I’ve read a few novels from Lacey Black in the past, and I love her writing style. I love the fact that she tells romance from both sides. You can feel the turmoil, the emotions, and the truth from start to finish. 

Mack and Lena’s story punched me in the heart. She’s a small town girl looking to stay where she is, and he’s a small town boy looking to spread his wings and fly. 

I honestly believe my heart was broken within the prologue. It’s always difficult to see a relationship end. Lena wanted what was best for Mack, and she knew going with him would just hold him back. Plus, at a very young age, she lived the life of a traveler. She was always on the move with her dad, who was a crew chief at the time, going from state to state. It was her time to grow roots and stay where she was always meant to be. I loved the fact that Lena was true to herself throughout this novel. She was true to what she wanted and who she was. There was never a single moment of doubt when it came to her character.

Mack was a man on a mission. He grew up as the underdog with a mother who abandoned him as a kid and the only support he had came from an alcoholic father. Until he met Jim Stanley and his daughter Lena. Jim became the father role Mack should have always had. I admired Jim for stepping up to the plate and being there for this kid, while raising a daughter on his own. It goes to show, families come in different forms. I loved this tight knit group of people. And what Mack learned about becoming a father, he learned from Jim. 

Now let’s talk about sweet baby Oliver. I loved his place in all of this. I loved Lena’s connection with him and the heartbreak she felt when coming to terms with her life plans and what SHE really and truly wants. I also loved Mack’s sexy single father vibes, a man with a baby is a lethal combination. The emotions and the connections were a vital part to this story, and Oliver seemed to be in the center of it all. What can I say, I’m a sucker for a single parent romance….. Ah, the swoon, the sexy vibes, and the fear of the unknown. It’s all I’ll ever need and all I’ll ever want.

Do I recommend this novel?

Lacey Black wrote her heart out with Mack and Lena’s story! Of course I recommend this one! If I can have a slight moment to be critical on why I rated this one a four instead of a full five star rating. I have to say I wish there were a few more flashback scenes, I would have loved to see more conversations between Jim and Mack. But that just goes to show how selfish I am about these relationships in this story. I wanted to see more of the fatherly vibe and advice Jim gave. I would have loved to see a little more of Mack and Lena growing up together, I think that would have added an extra bonus to their relationship. But like I said, that’s me being selfish. Overall, this was a great heartwarming romance. I couldn’t put it down! 

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Amazon: https://amzn.to/3L08jt3
Amazon World: https://mybook.to/griplbpb

Peace Love and Happy Reading,