Format:
ebook & audiobook
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Sheriff Shane Chase is drawn to the new girl in town from the moment he lays eyes on her. Not only is she gorgeous, but years on the job have taught him to know when someone is hiding something. And Cassie Gambol is hiding something big. He’s willing to take it slow to find out her secrets, no matter how much he burns to make her his.
Cassie Gambol needs a fresh start, and she gets it by reinventing herself in the small town of Petal, Georgia—a far cry from her life as a surgeon back in LA. A new romance is the last thing on Cassie’s mind, but the impossibly hot town sheriff has her reconsidering her priorities.
But when Cassie and Shane come face-to-face with the reason Cassie’s on the run, only her determination and his instincts can keep her safe from the past—and keep their future from ending before it can even begin.
Point of view:
3rd. Alternating perspectives.
Rellim’s Thoughts:
Taking Chase is the second book in the Chase Brothers series by Lauren Dane. While it might stand on its own – they’re better read in order as events happen in the previous book that impact this one. Starting with Giving Chase.
While they all have some issues, this is probably my least favorite book of the series. Shane is a completely different character than he was in the first book. I expected a redemption/healing/transformation arc of some kind. Nope, he’s just magically fine/healed/over his ex.
While at first I had great sympathy for Cassie as a victim of domestic violence, it grew tiring fast. Anytime she didn’t like something Shane did she would complain about being “managed”. Everything was Shane’s fault. But if it were anyone else doing the same things it was called cajoling or some other friendly term.
Other than saying Shane & Cassie found the other attractive, these two had no chemistry. It was argue, fight, Cassie storms off until Shane apologizes. On repeat with some sex scenes thrown in. This takes place over 18 months and little is done to show the reader these two have worked through any of this in a healthy manner.
While there’s not as much of the catty interactions from the first book, this writing still feels very rudimentary.
Narration:
I continue to enjoy Aletha George’s performance.
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 