This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Callum: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Elijah: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨✨

First Impressions
Throttled is a standalone but is connection to the Drive Fast duet. This story features the brother of the heroine from Wrecked and Ruined by Veronica West. When the author sent me an ARC, I was more than excited for this one here. I absolutely adored the “Drive Fast Duet” and I just knew that this book would be just as good, and I will be honest in that I think this is the BEST work this author has delivered. Of Course, she is a debut author and still very new so if you aren’t aware of her yet, no worries on that, but if you love contemporary romance with high spice, and enjoy seeing a sport being tackled that isn’t the norm, than I highly recommend this one to you. And just overlooking this book in general as a MM romance, it was utterly delightful. In fact, one of my favorite MM romances I have read in a long time and I have had the pleasure of reading MM romance this year quite a bit of it, and Throttled surely packed a punch in this one. Throttled is a story that tackles a “gay for you” theme here, as one of our main characters is still in the closet, so it definitely will be a story that will have a theme to it. I do recommend if you like reading books in print, get these in print. They are gorgeous editions and I will be grabbing the print copies because they are so well done. We also get this book on the same timeline as the “Drive Fast” duet, so you can read either of these stories as standalones if you would like to.

First Line
I wince at the light pouring through the windows hit my cracked eyes.

Summary
Callum Davis is the bad boy of the NASCAR, he has built his image in being the bad boy of the professional racers. His father died when he was young and he has worked hard to prove himself. But after years of being emotionally abused and manipulated by his mother, he is at the end of his rope, literally until sunshine Elijah Hayes becomes his mechanic and his world will tilt on his axis. Elijah knows cars, and having been raised in a family that live and breathe racing, he can put a car back together with his eyes closed and he is a full fledged gay man and very proud of it. Its still new to the NASCAR world and so its taking some adjustment, but he isn’t ashamed of his sexuality. But when he meets Callum, he is determined to blow his broody exterior to bits and get to the man beneath. He can see the pain and the turmoil that Cal deals with on a regular basis, and even though Eli is more lighthearted in nature, he knows he needs to be something more for this man. And as Eli and Cal delve in secret and start to unleash their feelings for each other, their road isn’t going to be easy, and will be packed with plenty of sharp turns that will challenge them on a deep level…..but they will find a epic love worth fighting for…

What I Loved
Throttled is a story I was easily captivated by and immediately I was so drawn into their romance. I couldn’t let go of Callum and Elijah and I just wanted more of these two. I honestly couldn’t get enough in the way that I would need to force myself to take breaks to eat and things essential like that haha But you know a book is really dang good when you are neglecting sustenance. There is something about Veronica West’s writing style that just draws me so easily into her stories and I find such compelling relationships that I can’t resist but immersing myself in them. In Throttled we have a story that is packed with so much chemistry, it could set the world on fire. Immediately we see how drawn they are together but Elijah has one fight on his hands. Callum isn’t open to what he is feeling and has such thick walls built and the reason behind these walls are very valid. But Eli is able to break down these walls so easily and get to the heart of what makes Cal tick and what he needs. There is so much heart that Callum has but he doesn’t let himself be who he needs to be as he tries to live up to the pressure his mother especially places on his shoulders.

We see what ways that Eli is able to use his charm to work with Callum on and off the racetrack to make him believe in himself and what they can be together. But the fight for it is really tough and my heart just broke for both Callum and Elijah. Because they have such opposite personalities and they are fighting such a big battle to find a relationship that will work for both of them. Callum is much more resistant though as he is still in the closet and he knows what a battle he will have to face with his mother. But with the help of Elijah, his family, Callum starts to believe in having faith in what they have together. But his mother is one piece of work and she really adds such conflict to the story. I really despised this woman. She is so abusive to Callum and I couldn’t believe what she would do to her own son. The romance definitely has its battles, because Elijah is having to work so hard to tear down the walls that Callum has and my heart just broke for Elijah. But his patience and commanding presence that he delivers when its needed is the driving force to get to the heart and soul of Callum. The chemistry was delicious and all the feels in this book just delivered all the way for me. I wanted to consume this story and more. I honestly can’t wait to see what this author delivers next for us.

What I Struggled With
Not me to be honest. This book was everything I could have hoped for and more.

Overall View
Throttled is a story that will challenge you in ways you will want to be on the cheer squad for this pair and see the victory lap that both deserve towards their happily ever afters. It’s a true racing gem that packs a poignant punch where you least expect it!

Favorite Quote(s)
Something inside him calls to me like a ship in the night and I’m his lighthouse, beckoning him to come home.

This is the first time I’ve experienced something like it. this pull towards him–a man. It’s unknown and annoying but the more I spend time with him, the more I want it.

Elijah Hayes has wrecked me for any other—woman or man.

“I’ll always protect you, Eli. You’re too good for this world and I won’t let them tear you down.”

I would die for you, but I need you to live for me. And that’s exactly what I will do. I will live for him, race for him and win for him because even if we can’t be together, he’s changed my life forever. I will show him that our time together made a difference and that living for him is the best decision I could ever make.

Callum is a deeply rooted cancer that has burrowed under my skin and I don’t see him leaving my blood anytime soon.

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance
Character Types: Mechanic, Athlete
Themes: Sports-Racing, Laughs/Giggles, Hot Smexy Times, Gay For You
Tropes: Grumpy Sunshine, Opposites Attract, Forced Proximity

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
A mix of both

Song This Book Inspires
Should I Stay by Gabrielle

Recommendation For Reading Order

Steam/Spice Explanations

Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes. ( )