Format:
ebook & audiobook
Publisher’s Synopsis:
The Chase boys. Ridiculously hot and notoriously single.
When landscaper Kyle Chase takes notice of Maggie Wright, all of Petal, Georgia, wonders what the quiet schoolteacher is hiding underneath her tight bun and boring blouses. Even Maggie doesn’t quite get it, but after a failed relationship and a disastrous attempt to get back out there, she’s no match against the famous Chase charm, and Kyle has it in spades.
Kyle wants Maggie in his life—and in his bed—and he doesn’t mind getting down and dirty to prove it. For years he’s avoided the kind of trouble that comes with “good girls” like her, but Maggie’s the best trouble he’s ever been in. He craves more of it. And more of her.
But even as their love grows into thoughts of forever, a hidden danger from Maggie’s past threatens to tear them apart. And when Maggie suddenly disappears, Kyle must put his faith in his family and race to save the love of his life before he loses her forever.
Point of view:
3rd. Alternating perspectives.
Rellim’s Thoughts:
Giving Chase kicks off Lauren Dane’s Chase Brothers series. Maggie has been beaten down emotionally by her mother and it means she’s completely unaware of what she has to offer the world. No fear – buddy Liv will give her a makeover and the guys will take notice. The Chase brothers are the town hotties and have women falling all over themselves (and acting pretty catty) to snag one.
This is one of those audiobooks that I listen to over and over… but it still has some things that don’t quite sit well with me. I think the biggest drawback to this is that, in order to set up for later events in the book/series – Maggie dates another guy, then oldest brother Shane, before finally finding her match with Kyle. It’s 35% into the book before they have their first date. This doesn’t leave a lot of time for them to build a relationship and there’s a lot of time jumping.
Maggie’s mom, sister, and several of the women in town are OTT immature and catty in how they behave. Like not even remotely realistic. I’d say it was like high school, but even my teens weren’t like this.
I do like when Kyle & Maggie are together. Kyle is a sweetheart and they have good chemistry. Several steamy sex scenes bring heat to this book. There’s also a short but well done suspense element when Maggie is kidnapped by her stalker ex. I enjoyed the ending and the epilogue is so sweet.
Content Warning (spoilers):
There’s a fairly descriptive kidnapping and sexual assault sequence.
Narration:
Aletha George is great. I love her narrations. She does a great job of giving everyone a distinct voice. She’s also a master at really packing a punch with the emotional parts. There’s still spots where I cry every time I listen.
About the author:
The story goes like this: While on pregnancy bed rest, Lauren Dane had plenty of down time so her husband took her comments about “giving that writing thing a serious go” to heart and brought home a secondhand laptop. She wrote her first book on it before it gave up the ghost. Even better, she sold that book and never looked back.
You can connect with Lauren Dane here:
Rellim Reads 