REVIEW: Kensie Garrett has built an impressive life on her own terms. She is a social media influencer, a doctoral degree holder, and the author of a bestselling self-help book empowering women to find love without losing themselves. She is intellectual, driven, and deeply intentional about everything she does — which makes one reckless, unforgettable night with Canaan Jackson, the infuriating race car driver she has despised since college, the ultimate disruption. When a private video from that night leaks, threatening everything both of them have worked for, Canaan does the unthinkable — announces their engagement at a live press conference. What begins as damage control under the scorching Miami sun, in the months leading up to his first Formula One race, becomes something neither of them planned for and neither of them can contain. MADLY DRIVEN is an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish, and I was completely along for the ride.
Kensie is exactly the kind of heroine I love. She is not just smart — she is formidable. A social media influencer with a doctorate is not a combination you encounter often in romance fiction, and Tiye gives her the full complexity that combination deserves. She is driven and boundaried, honest about what she wants and fiercely protective of what she has built. Watching her navigate a fake engagement with the one man who has always gotten under her skin — while also reckoning with vulnerability, growth, and what she actually needs versus what she has always told herself she wanted — is an absolute pleasure.
Canaan is her equal in every way. He is passionate and authentic, a man who leads with integrity even when it costs him. What makes their dynamic so compelling is that Tiye never lets either of them be simply right or simply wrong. They challenge each other. They have deep conversations. They grow — individually and together. The mutual respect that develops beneath all the tension and history gives their relationship real weight, and when the walls finally come down, it feels completely earned.
What elevates MADLY DRIVEN beyond a brilliant enemies-to-lovers romance is its thematic depth. Tiye weaves in honesty, forgiveness, healing, and the importance of genuine friendship and support systems with a relevance and care that makes the story linger long after the last page. Kensie and Canaan do not just fall in love — they come full circle. They complement and complete one another in the truest sense. This is thought-provoking, emotionally rich romance at its very finest. Tiye has a new fan, and I will be reading everything she writes. A resounding A+.
1st June 2026 | romcol@caribsurf.com | romcol1962@gmail.com
Kensie is exactly the kind of heroine I love. She is not just smart — she is formidable. A social media influencer with a doctorate is not a combination you encounter often in romance fiction, and Tiye gives her the full complexity that combination deserves. She is driven and boundaried, honest about what she wants and fiercely protective of what she has built. Watching her navigate a fake engagement with the one man who has always gotten under her skin — while also reckoning with vulnerability, growth, and what she actually needs versus what she has always told herself she wanted — is an absolute pleasure.
Canaan is her equal in every way. He is passionate and authentic, a man who leads with integrity even when it costs him. What makes their dynamic so compelling is that Tiye never lets either of them be simply right or simply wrong. They challenge each other. They have deep conversations. They grow — individually and together. The mutual respect that develops beneath all the tension and history gives their relationship real weight, and when the walls finally come down, it feels completely earned.
What elevates MADLY DRIVEN beyond a brilliant enemies-to-lovers romance is its thematic depth. Tiye weaves in honesty, forgiveness, healing, and the importance of genuine friendship and support systems with a relevance and care that makes the story linger long after the last page. Kensie and Canaan do not just fall in love — they come full circle. They complement and complete one another in the truest sense. This is thought-provoking, emotionally rich romance at its very finest. Tiye has a new fan, and I will be reading everything she writes. A resounding A+.
1st June 2026 | romcol@caribsurf.com | romcol1962@gmail.com
