Unable to perform her duties in the army after a twelve-month deployment to Afghanistan that leaves her with scars no one can see, Sera Cavins returns to her hometown hoping that some time alone will help her find her way back to being the girl everyone once knew. That is, until she finds herself sharing a house with the man who left her heartbroken merely weeks before her deployment.
Tyler Creech made it to Nashville and even earned a number one hit, but being a rising country music artist isn’t as easy as he thought. He’s back in Cobb City, Kentucky, looking for something to ease the stress of his next release. He discovers it standing on his mom’s and stepdad’s lawn when Sera, the girl he once planned to marry, shows up.
They’d been perfect for each other, until the strain of Sera’s deployment and pressure of Tyler’s career drove them apart. Now with neither of their lives going the way they anticipated, both are fighting different yet similar demons.
But change is good, and sometimes going a little crazy is too. Sometimes it’s what keeps you sane.
Dena grew up in Central Texas, but has lived in the foothills of Kentucky, with her husband and two sons, long enough to consider it home. She enjoys road trips with her family, watching her husband race at one of the local dirt tracks, and a good cup of coffee. When she's not doing one of those things, you can find her with her nose in a book (and 2 or 3 in her purse).
She loves writing small-town stories of happily ever after and has an affinity for all genres of music, but is partial to her southern roots.
Such a great romance story. Life takes two lovers from a small town in KY in different directions, but it also brings them back together. Sera returns home to KY after her military experience has totally changed her life to find Tyler has returned home also. They're both trying to save their sanity only to discover they're romance is the only road that will drive them sane. Great read Dena & I'm looking forward to reading more from you in the future.
This novel, like any good relationship, it’s the little details that matter. They’re the ones that tug at your heart. Rogers portrays them and transmits them to her readers beautifully. You’ll be reading a very touching scene, and a little something that catches your attention will make it that much better. I found myself picturing the surroundings that Rogers creates without realising that she’d stopped to describe them. I was also completely enmeshed in the unique and stunningly captivating storyline. I couldn’t wait to get to the end of this one, yet at the same time I never wanted it to end.
The main characters in this novel were explosive together. I absolutely loved it. It was impossible to ignore the chemistry and love between them. I felt like I was on the same emotional rollercoaster as these two. I also got to know them quite well as individuals. As they rehashed their past, to come to an understanding readers get to learn what makes these two tick. The interactions between these two were fantastically realistic. I appreciated the subtle role reversals from the norm of the genre, giving it that extra hit of originality.
This novel definitely left me with happy tears at the end. It is full of hope and promise. It was fantastic.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
Drive Me Sane is certainly not typical of your average 'second chance romance' trope. Both of the main characters are dealing with their fair share of problems but it's the female protagonist, Sera, who is battling PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) that really tugged on the heart strings. How easy it would have been for the author to largely ignore or skim over the lasting effects of this illness, but she didn't. Dena Rogers tackles the subject beautifully, providing no 'quick-fix' or miraculous recovery. Drive Me Sane is realistic and does an exceptional job of highlighting how devastating PTSD can be.
The characters of Sera and Tyler are well developed and the chemistry they share is so much more than that of past lovers. Tyler really cares for Sera and his compassion toward her left tear streaks on my face.
"I never wanted it easy. Easy get's boring."
She looked down at her hands.
He continued. "You kept me on my toes. Every minute I ever spent with you was worth it. Yes, sometimes you can be a pain in the ass, but with you, I never for a moment doubted that you loved me."
The love that they shared never faded and the road they take to rekindle what they once lost had me intrigued, wanting to know what would happen next. Sera is traumatized and, as such, she finds it difficult to communicate, however Tyler remains patient and sympathetic but he also has the career of his dreams to worry about - a career that will take him away from Sera.
As a debut novel, Dena Rogers has a lot to be proud of. Her vivid detail, sensitivity and stellar writing resulted in a book I thoroughly enjoyed. The outstanding storytelling mixed in with solid dialogue makes this review an easy one.
Drive Me Sane is a well written novel and a wonderful debut for Dena Rogers. Great character development in Tyler and Sera, believable story, and Dena’s depiction of small town country simplicity is spot on making this book an enjoyable read. I have only read a few books that would fall into the romance category and I honestly wouldn't know one genre or subgenre of romance from another. What I do know is the story captivated me from beginning to end.
I've become friends with the author through social media and had bought this book months ago for my wife. I decided to read it myself and am so happy I did. Dena’s website mentions stories of happily ever after and without any spoilers, this book delivers. That’s not to say everything is rosy. There were a few moments in the book that had me mad at both Sera and Dena. In the end, that only impressed me more with Dena as a writer. Great read and I look forward to what’s next!
Sweet romance novel that's well written with well developed believable characters. I enjoyed this story from beginning to end. Not one for romance books since I tend to lean towards darker books, Dena Rogers writes in a way that makes you feel as if you're a part of the story, feeling every emotion. I recommend this book and am looking forward to the authors next book.
It was all too much for Tyler and Sera, and ultimately drove them apart. Which was so sad to read about. Not that their present relationship was any better, but that was only because there was so much left unfinished between them.
My jaw dropped when I read Sera's initial reaction to seeing Tyler's truck. Then I laughed and thought, "Holy shit! She is all kinds of crazy!"
It wasn't long before I stopped laughing though. Her reaction was, yes, slightly over the top but it was also somewhat warranted given Tyler's last message to her before they officially ended. Sera was dealing with a lot more than surprise over seeing Tyler again. She was hurting and struggling to cope with her PTSD. She didn't know how to talk about it, didn't know how to ask for help. She shut Tyler out when she should have let him in. She gave up when she should have fought for them.
To be fair, Sera wasn't the only one suffering. Tyler was all up in knots over seeing her again, and that came after he was trying to choose a follow-up song and dealing with the stress of being on the road. When he realized the magnitude of Sera's emotional and mental burden, he took it upon himself to shoulder that load for her. It only added to the heaviness he already carried, and stretched him even further.
It was funny how they came full circle. They dealt with the awkwardness of seeing each other again, hashed out as best they could the problems of their past, even got to a place in their relationship where the world was right and it seemed like their problems were finally behind them. But then they found themselves in that same place they'd been years before and it was, once again, time to choose. His career meant the world to him but she meant even more. If he left again, would she come with him? Or would she stay?
I thought it was over. It felt like it. She stayed, he went. His career, her fears. I wanted to slap them both, demand they get their heads in the game before they ended up losers. I didn't have to though, thank God, because one of them found the courage to fight for both of them.
Best. Decision. Ever.
Love makes you do crazy things. They don't make sense to others. Hell, they may not even make sense to you. But you know that what you're doing is right because you gain your other half instead of losing them. A love that strong doesn't happen often. When it does, it's worth holding onto with everything you've got. Tyler and Sera foolishly gave up their first chance at happily ever after, but they were smart enough to not let the second chance pass by. Call it age, call it maturity, call it destiny. Whatever you want to call it, it gave them a chance at a future that'd been postponed for far too long.
Deeply poignant without too much angst, Tyler and Sera's story is a wonderful debut for Ms. Rogers. Her writing is clear, her characters complex without being overly so, the situations they face relative. She pulled me in with a shotgun beginning and kept me enthralled until the very end. I hope she continues to write stories like these. I can't wait to read what she writes next.
I received a signed copy of this book through a giveaway on the internet, and the following is my honest opinion.
While this story takes place in a small hometown atmosphere in Kentucky I can see it happening almost anywhere. In “Drive Me Sane” we are introduced to a young teenage couple, Sera Cavins and Tyler Creech, who are deeply in love with each together. In fact, they’ve even considered getting married to each other. But unfortunately, a strong, burning desire to become a country music singing star for one, and a stint in the military for the other for the other, acts like a huge saber bringing conflict and an unexpected changed to their relationship. They both go their separate ways with the love they’d once shared still part of their essence; with neither one expecting how fate would one day come along them together in a surprising set of circumstances.
The interesting about all this is the atypical role reversal we find here is that Tyler’s the one who wants to be the country singing star and she’s the one who’s off for a deployment in Afghanistan.
When her deployment is over, Sera needs to have some time and find a safe haven where she can recover from the deep psychological scars of war she’s suffered, scars which she’d never thought would have such profound effect on her psyche. The only place she can find this sanctuary is back in her uncle’s house in the small town she once lived.
While Tyler has had one hit song, he hasn’t made the impact he’d envisioned he would. This has caused him to become frustrated, and to lose his desire to do any more writing or singing. His only thought is to return home to the same small town as well, and due to an unexpected family development he winds up in the same house as Sera.
Being brought back together by fate, they begin working together to resolve the problems each are now dealing with, as well as those they once had.
Did their efforts prove successful in not only bringing their former selves back the way they’d once been, but improving on it? The answer to this can be found in this endearing, and at times, tear producing book. And for having my heartstrings plucked, I’m happy to give Dena Rogers’ debut romance novel 5 STARS.
Robin Leigh Morgan is a prize-winning Flash Fiction writer who's the author of "Micro Fiction - An Anthology," as well as the author of a MG/YA Paranormal romance novel entitled, "I Kissed a Ghost."
Drive Me Sane begins with Sera going to stay at her uncle's house while he's out of town after getting out of the army. She has a lot of problems she's trying to work through, and she doesn't need to have to deal with her ex boyfriend. The boy she loved than anything who broke her heart. Tyler is still trying to make it big with the music he's singing and writing, but lately he just hasn't felt up to it. So he thought he would go to his mom and new step dad's house to spend some down time there. He never expected to see his ex, the woman who he was still in love with, at his mom and step dads.. But that is what happened. Now these two are forced to spend time together trying to work out their own issues, and maybe work through the problems they had when they were together...
I really did like this book. It has very interesting characters, and nice easy plot to follow. There were even a few really sad parts too, and it ended very nicely. The only issue I really had with the book was it just felt like there was something missing with it. I'm not exactly sure what it was, but it was something that made it less intense that I really think it should have been. Other than that this ways a nice short easy read, that had lots of drama, and a sweet romance. I do recommend this story to help pass the time by!
What a wonderful novel!! I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. While addressing serious topics as a result of the war, ones occupational change and other life issues, Dena Rogers writes a wonderful novel with some twists and turns that will lead to a heartwarming and wonderful ending.
Sera and Tyler's relationship seems to hit the skids from the beginning due to a long standing misunderstanding by both of them many years ago. Family issues and their current status aside, Tyler and Sera have seemed meant to be...or maybe not. They seem to love as much as they seem to fight. And all along neither of them is truly stating what they truly feel or think or taking the time to clarify themselves or what the other is saying or doing. Yet, somehow Tyler is able to help Sera with her PTSD in a way others have not, and often doing so unknowingly. Meanwhile, Sera seems to be helping Tyler figure out what he does and doesn't like about being a famous musician, unbeknownst to her. And somewhere along the way they seem to find a happy medium...
A truly fun and heartwarming read, with real life issues thrown in to create a lot of strife and angst within their relationship.
A definite must read for those who want a laugh, some fun, and a feel good novel filled with some twists and turns and an interesting ending...
Review: I was given a complimentary copy of Drive me Sane by the author for an honest review. I liked the cover. It was cute and tasteful. Sera is unable to perform her duties in the army after a 12 month deployment in Afghanistan and it leaves scars that no one can see but her. Sera returns home hoping that she will be able to find her way back to the girl she used to be. It won’t be easy but she needs some peace. Then she finds herself sharing a house with a man who has left her broken hearted before she left on her deployment.
Tyler made it to Nashville and had a number one hit. But becoming a rising star wasn’t easy. He’s back in Kentucky and looking for something that will help him loosen up. He runs into Sera the girl he was going to marry. They used to be perfect for one another. But Sera’s deployment and Tyler’s career drove them apart. Their lives aren’t going the way they wanted. Will they be able to make things work out this time? Their lives are pulling them in different directions. What will they choose? I really enjoyed this book. It was different and I enjoyed the romance and seeing what was going to happen next. I liked how things played out. I think that Dena did a good job in writing this book and it was done well. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars!
Before Drive Me Sane, I tended to go for lighter reads when choosing contemp romance - you know, one where there's been a misunderstanding previously and they sort it all out and bada boom bada bing, all is rosy. Life is hard sometimes so a lot of us reader types like to escape into a book that is light and fluffy. This is not one of those books.
This book is one that sheds light on a condition that is very real and very serious for a lot of people and I loved reading something so emotionally raw and so honest. Add to that a fantastic story and interesting characters with scorching hot chemistry and you get this book, Drive Me Sane.
I thoroughly enjoyed following Sera and Tyler on their journey. It helped that Tyler is smokin hot and sweet as hell. Sera has many problems to overcome and there's no getting around that but the way in which Tyler helps her to work through them choked me up. There are plenty of moments that choked me up. Sympathy for both Sera and Tyler as well as some heart swelling and eye welling. I look forward to future books by Dena Rogers.
Drive Me Sane is a very emotional and romantic journey as Sera faces her PTSD head on to live the future she always dreamed of. Returning from The war in Afghanistan after a bomb explosion that has left Sera with both emotional and physical injuries and the guilt she feels for her injured comrade and friend Rollins, she heads to her uncles house to recover only to find her ex fiancé and music star Tyler has had the same idea. Such a believable and heartwarming story, it had me captivated from the very start and I truly felt like I had become a part of the story. Very highly recommended, I will definately be reading more books by Dena Rogers.
Big thanks to goodreads First Reads where I won a review copy of this book.
I was so excited to be one of the select few asked to review and rate this book. I was honored to be reading such a fine piece of work. The penmanship entailed in this book was enthralling and captivating. I was easily able to identify with the characters and the setting. You did a wonderful job on this masterpiece. I loved every aspect of the story and lacked absolutely nothing with satisfying a "good read" book! It is a wonderful story and grasps your interest from the very first page through to the last. We'll done Dena, WELL DONE! I loved it! I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
My Thoughts: Guess what book worms?? this book was in that narrative way that you know I always complain about it because it doesn't captivated me that much, but Dena Rogers lovely and well written story was the exception for me. Its was amazing how hooked up I was with the story of Tyler and Sera. It make me believe again in soul mates those that even when they didn't know what happened or how long apart they have been when is meant to be is just like that. Is such a fast paced and turn on pages that in a blink of your eyes you'll be done and wanting to listen to Tyler singing box of regrets.
This romance novel comes with a little twist, our female lead has PTSD. Our male lead is the small town boy makes good in Music. They have issues for a spell, then are thrust together to work thru them. It's nice to read both sides and get in each others head. Gives this guy an insight to how the woman thinks and sees her reality. There's a sex scene or two, not much violence, and a lot of introspection. Well done. I read this and viewed it as a play / movie with 2 starring roles and assorted cast members. Grab this up and sit back with some sweet tea and smell the bluegrass of Kentucky.
I normally am not a romance reader at all... but from the very start of this book I was enthralled and could not put it down. Loved the characters and a great story line with a great insight into real life issues with military people... I laughed and cried and associated myself as well with the lead character! Love Love Loved it! P.S. I received an ARC copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This was a cute, well-written romance that I breezed through. I enjoyed the setting of a small, Kentucky town and the reunion of two people still in-love after life has taken them in drastically different directions. I would have enjoyed more development or insight into Sera's background in the military; I feel like it would have connected me more to her storyline. Overall, I liked this book and definitely recommend it if you're looking for an easy romance novel.
I loved this book, from the beginning Dena hade me. I don't like romance books but this was a believable story. This story was told as any love story should be told, as if you are apart of the story. This story could be about your friend or someone in your family it just has a ring of truth to it. I am waiting to see what Dena Rogers has next. Read it you'll love it.
I thoroghly enjoyed reading Drive Me Sane by Dena Rogers. Following the twists and turns of Sera and Tyler's love story as well as their personal journeys kept me engaged throughout the book. I got caught up in rooting for their relationship. The story wrapped up with a great ending leaving me feeling hopeful. That's exactly what I like in a book! Great read!
I took a break from my own writing a couple of weekends ago to read a book that had been recommended to me and I, in turn, would like to recommend it to you...DRIVE ME SANE by Dena Rogers...Her debut novel from Crimson Romance entwines PTSD and a rising country music star into a sensual love story. A must read for all you romance readers out there!
This book is phenomenal. Awesome plot with just enough to keep you wondering what is next. Hoping for a sequel or more from this author. I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review
I absolutely loved this book. I started it & fell asleep. I couldn't wait to read it the next day! The characters are so real & true to life. Very good book!!!
I really enjoyed this book! It was well written and I loved the story line. The author did a great job with capturing the emotions of the characters. I could feel the anxiety, the tension, and love. I'm a sucker for a happily ever after and this was a great read. I look forward to reading more from this author.
This was such a great book! It's a twist on the usual story of a couple being separated by deployment and their relationship falling apart. In Drive Me Sane, it's the female lead, Sera, who goes away to war. I love the dynamic between Sera and Tyler and I loved watching their story unfold. I can't wait to read more from this author!