REVIEW: Driving in Neutral by Sandra Antonelli

Driving in Neutral by Sandra Antonelli: Olivia Regen has led an interesting life, married twice, divorced twice. A race car driver, then a speck test driver now in order to help her best friend have the wedding of her dreams a translator. She is pretty tired of hurting though and hasn’t proven to be the best judgment maker so currently her focus is on making her best friends wedding perfect, just for her. Then like so often happens rain blows through Chicago and changes everything.

Emerson Maxwell is a big man, big in height and personality and he has one big fear. He is claustrophic and does not handle it well. So when a storm traps him in an elevator he starts to panic a bit and then a bit more.

When Olivia and Emerson meet you know this is going to be no ordinary journey. After all how can it be when you end your first meeting with one person half dressed and one person half covered in sweat and not for the “right” reasons. As the situation continues and things get more and more out of hand all Olivia can do is hang on for the ride and try to drive with the curves.

This isn’t your typical love story, nor is it a typical chick lit novel, in many ways it’s a combination of both while being lighthearted enough to be considered a beach read. Confused? So was I after I read it, I wasn’t sure what it was but I knew I liked it.

The players are a bit older than I typically read both in their forties but in that they brought experience to the story that many don’t have. The writing was humorous without being overdone and real in a way that you don’t often read. While I wish I had Olivia’s patience I know I wouldn’t have had her strength especially not to kill Ella. This is an interestingly lighthearted read and certain to bring a smile to your face.

Book Info:

Publication: September 1st 2014 by Escape Publishing

A new, quick-witted, quip-heavy romance for grown-ups from Sandra Antonelli about facing your fears — because love is the greatest risk of all.

Levelheaded Olivia Regen walks away from her car-racing career and the wreckage of a bad marriage to take on new work that’s far removed from the twists of racetrack. Her new life is about control, calm and the good friends that she adores.

But her first task on her very first day involves getting up close and too personal with her claustrophobic boss, alone in a broken elevator. Her unconventional solution for restoring his equilibrium shocks them both and leaves Olivia shaken.

Determined to stick to her plan, Olivia drives headlong into work and planning her best friend’s wedding, leaving no room for kissing, elevators, or workplace relationships. But Emerson is not one to be out-manoeuvred. Can he convince Olivia that her fear of falling in love again is just another kind of claustrophobia – one that is destined to leave them both lonely?