Reviews

Just Drive by L.A. Witt

nicki_theoverflowingbookcase's review against another edition

5.0

Wow, what a powerful story about dealing with responsibilities while falling in love. The heartbreaking decisions that Sean and Paul had to deal with because of the Navy made me feel so much for them. Finding love was just what they both needed but the obstacles in their way made their love even more stronger than the average couple. The sex was hot and the story was a quick read, alight ugh the ending left me wondering if it actually could happen in the Navy. I recommend it to any reader.

annapendred's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

missysreadingcorner's review against another edition

3.0

I just re-read this story in 2023 and my thoughts have changed a lot since my initial read through. I enjoyed the book and the chemistry between the MCs. It’s rare to see an age gap where the younger half of a couple is depicted as the more dominant half. Even though Sean was significantly younger than Paul, Paul never dismissed Sean’s opinion for that reason. So often you read stories where the older partner will say, “You’re young. What do you know about struggle?” Or something along those lines. I took off one star because I would’ve preferred to have more scenes of them outside of sex to help me understand why they fell in love and why Paul gave up his career for Sean. Regardless of my criticisms, I still enjoyed the story.

iguana_mama's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

missawn's review against another edition

3.0

In the end, this book did not work for me. The chemistry just wasn't there and the angst felt superficial and forced. This book also treads precariously when it comes to inappropriate relationships ... I had a hard time reconciling the impacts of this on character development and how the story ultimately progressed. If you are bothered in anyway by inappropriate relationships (age/professional), I would probably give this book a pass ...

I also did not understand the connection -- other than both MCs being extremely attractive -- there really didn't seem to be very much else going for them and I struggled to remain emotionally engaged. I enjoyed the dialogue but thought that the inner monolog was tediously overdone. The tone of the inner monolog did not ring true for what you would expect from a Navy CO with an extensive and distinguished military career. Paul seemed quite insecure and lost given his "advanced" age and experience -- and yet, I also resented that mid-forties was considered to be "old" -- especially when they started talking about "heart attack" risks and retirement. Oh my! I know mid-forties is considered "old" for this genre -- but, this really did not help reconcile the age gap by making Paul appear so much older than he actually was. I would think being CO of a Navy base in your 40s is an impressive feat and young esp. someone openly LGBTQ ...

The tension suffered from a heavy-handed approach that leaned heavily on telling vs. showing. I also had concerns about both MCs motivations going into what was obviously an inappropriate relationship to begin with. I found the ending was a hard sell. I think that I'm a little too jaded to buy into the HEA ending without a bit more substance to carry the weight of the circumstances presented ...

clairehods_'s review

3.0

2.5/5

litloulou's review against another edition

4.0

I really liked all the dynamics of this one. Lately I have been a sucker for an age gap.

Reread: yup.

mariam27's review against another edition

3.0

It took me four and a half goddamned decades to find you, and you’d better believe you were worth the wait.

This was a cute, hot and definetly a book that says: fuck pacing. Although it wasn't as steamy as I was hoping, the book was more emotionally deep than I was anticipating either.

I enjoyed the conflict of this book mainly because it felt REAL. The regrets made, the mistake of the past, the fatigue and exhaustion and our leads trying and saying they're going to pull and yet everytime they do, they come back together whether it be fate's own curse or of their own actions.

A lifetime of trying to do the right thing and toe the line of being a Navy dependent should’ve stopped me, but none of that held a candle to how much I wanted and needed Paul. Doing the right thing could wait a little longer.

Again, it wasn't as steamy as I would hoping it would be. I saw a lot of reviews saying this book was super hot and yeah, their initial sex scenes were

enemies2lover's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

franie's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5