Ryan Harding. He’s running royalty. The guy I’ve been following online since I started this sport. Sure, I’ve got a crush on him, but so does nearly every other runner in the country. I’m an unknown in this world, it’s not like the prince of distance running is ever going to notice me, which is for the best. I’ve been down this road once before with the Mr. Perfect type, and I’m not doing it … again.
Indigo Adams stood out the moment I saw her cross the finish line. She’s not only got a gorgeous stride and stellar kick, but possesses the tenacity and drive required to reach the top. She’s the perfect fit for our newly-formed team in Colorado, though her running potential isn’t the only thing that’s captured my attention. Indigo seems skeptical of our selection of her and even more skeptical of me and my intentions. What will it take for her to see she belongs here in Brockton, on this team… and with me?
(This is a spinoff from the Pepper Jones series but can be read as a standalone.)
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Fantastic, new-adult, sports romance
Twenty-five-year-old Ryan Harding is an Olympic-caliber runner who is the top American distance runner. His father is a famous, University of Colorado running coach, and Ryan is following in his father’s footsteps, creating a brand-new running team in the fictional small city, Brockton, Colorado, near Denver, where Ryan has lived the past eight years since his senior year in high school. With his father’s input and support, Ryan has brought together a small, tightly knit team of young, elite runners whose members live together in a big house. All of the members are coached by Ryan in order to achieve their ambitious running goals.
Twenty-two-year-old Indigo Adams (Indy) did not start running until her freshman year at Pittsburgh State University (PSU), which is a late start for a runner with professional ambitions. But even though, in the year since she graduated from college, she has been on her own, acting as her own coach, Indy has made amazing progress.
Ryan spots Indy running her first half marathon and is immensely impressed by her energy and power. She’s running as fast in that race as Pepper Jones who, like Ryan, is an Olympic-quality runner. Indy locks in a qualifying time for the Olympic Trials and wins a sizeable monetary prize. Ryan is equal parts impressed with her win and attracted to her as a vital, lovely woman.
Indy spots Ryan at the marathon and is blown away by how gorgeous and charismatic he is in person. She’s been following his running career the past five years and has had a fangirl crush on him all that time. Indy is stunned when Ryan approaches her, gives her his card and invites her to consider joining his newly formed, elite, running team in Brockton. Overcome with awed disbelief at such an impossibly prestigious offer for a nobody like her, instead of hanging around to make connections with potential running sponsors, which might have enabled her to quit her menial job at a coffee shop and run full time, Indy flees back home to the fictional town of Hamden, Pennsylvania. She lives there with her single mother in the double-wide mobile home she grew up in. Her hard-working mother, who is a young-looking, attractive 42-year-old, is kind, affectionate and very supportive of Indy’s running. Indy is very grateful for how hard her mother worked to support Indy and her sister after their father died of an undiagnosed heart defect when Indy was four and her older sister, Candy, was six. Indy is extremely close to her mother and sister, and though she would desperately like to accept Ryan’s astounding offer, she believes it would be very wrong of her to do so, because she assumes that her mother would be heartbroken if Indy moved away and left her behind.
Unfortunately, an unpleasant feature of life in Hamden is Liam Hood, Indy’s ex-boyfriend, who is a graduate student at nearby PSU. She started dating Liam when she was 18, was with him three years, and finally broke up with him two years ago. During her time with Liam, a positive feature was that he got her into running, because he was an elite runner, and both became stars on their mutual running teams at PSU. But her years with Liam, who was intensely controlling of her every move and emotionally abusive, left her low in self-esteem and high in distrust of the male gender in general. In the two years since ending her relationship with Liam, Indy has not dated anyone else, and Liam has not stopped acting like it is inevitable that they will eventually get back together. Lately, his clinging to her has escalated to the point that it resembles stalking. Ultimately, Liam makes life for Indy so unbearable, it finally gives her the excuse she needs, escaping Liam, to overcome her filial guilt and accept Ryan’s fantastic offer to come live and train in Brockton.
Life in Brockton on Ryan’s team is a dream come true for Indy. Her teammates are great, and Ryan treats her really well. But the emotional wounds from Indy’s domineering ex go very deep, and Indy’s inability to trust Ryan puts at risk her position on the team, which requires that she believe in and follow his leadership as her coach.
I very much enjoyed this New Adult, sports romance. Indy and Ryan are wonderful romantic leads. They are both strong, capable and compassionate people, and each has found a worthy partner in the other. There are also multiple, lovable, well drawn fellow runners, including a welcome cameo appearance by Pepper Jones. The two story villains are also believably presented.
This story is a slight departure for the talented author, Ali Dean, in that she normally writes Young Adult (YA) novels. The main difference is that this is a New Adult (NA) novel, and these protagonists are adults. Healthy, consensual sexuality is a normal part of adulthood. However, the few sex scenes included in the book are not graphic and are very tender and moving. Unlike most college-based NA novels, because these athletes are clean living as part of their training, there are no wild, drinking parties which, frankly, I much appreciated.
As always, the portrayal of life as an elite runner, as in the Pepper Jones series, is extremely well done. It is fun and fascinating to read about Indy’s struggles and triumphs as an Olympic-caliber runner.
Similar to the final book in the Pepper Jones series, this book includes a delightful, happily-ever-after epilogue set 17 years in the future.
Ali Dean is a terrific writer on every level, and this story flows well with never a dull moment.
This book is a definite keeper for me and, as for all of Ali Dean’s other books, I am sure I will re-read it many times.
As a final note, the Kindle version of this book is extremely well edited and beautifully designed. The cover is outstanding.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 5 stars
Hero: 5 stars
Subcharacters: 5 stars
Setting: 5 stars
Romance Plot: 5 stars
Sports Plot: 5 stars
Villain Plots: 5 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars
Love love love this book! I was completely addicted from the first page! You get a taste of romance, suspense, jealousy, and passion. Those are just a few to name, but much more goes on within this book.
Watching Indigo transform into the person she really wanted to be was incredible. She overcame the challenges that faced her and achieved the goals she made.
And of course we can’t forget about Ryan. He makes a point to not only help Indigo achieve her goals but he also finds himself in the process. Finding that he actually might be ready for the real deal with a girl, not just a 3-4 month fling. Not wanting to give too much info away without giving it away but this book is all sorts of steamy
This book is a must read, especially if you’ve read the Pepper Jones series. She might make an appearance or two in this book! Ali is my favorite go to author! I can’t wait for more!
This book was absolutely wonderful! A perfect follow up to the Pepper Jones which was my favorite series read this year. We were left with the question, does Ryan get his own HEA. Well, Indy was perfect for him. I admit that I didn’t love Indy from the start, mostly due to her skeptical attitude but she grew on me and I enjoyed her character development. I already knew Ryan so well from Pepper Jones and he was his amazing self in this book. I recommend reading Pepper Jones first even though its not absolutely necessary, I feel like it will add context. Overall, wonderful read and I am so happy to see Ryan finally get his own HEA.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
If you’ve read the Pepper Jones series you have been introduced to Ryan and I am SO glad that we got to learn more about him. Though, if you haven’t read Pepper Jones you can still read this book and be perfectly okay and know what is going on.
Ryan is a world famous long distance runner, Olympic caliber good. Indigo Adams is new to the running scene and definitely made a lot of great first impressions at her first event. She really got the attention of Ryan and he knew there was something special about her.
I loved the instant connection Ryan felt towards Indy. Of course, Indy has had a major crush on Ryan for years, but who didn’t in the running world. I loved Indy, she was so real and down to earth. Of course, despite their connection their relationship was full of ups and downs. They had to learn to navigate their roles as coach/athlete and boyfriend/girlfriend, but also with Indy’s past with her ex.
This was a sweet story and it slightly broke my heart when it came to Indy’s background and what her jerk of an ex did to her. Though, Ryan more than makes up for it by just being himself. I enjoyed this book and I truly hope we get to see more of these characters in the future.
I love a good sports romance, and Chasing Indigo was great! I had never read a running romance and I loved that It was the chosen sport. I felt like we got a real look into the world of training for long distance running.
I liked that the whole focus of the book wasn’t on Indigo & Ryan’s relationship. I thought we got to see Indigo’s progression of not believing in herself to her acceptance that she was actually an elite runner.
I also liked that there were a couple aspects of drama that moved the story along but didn’t make it angsty or drag the whole book down.
Loved this slow burn sports romance!
I must admit that I wasn’t a big fan of Ryan Harding in the Pepper Jones series, but that was mostly due to the fact, that I was shipping Pepper & Jace all the way 😉 But having read Chasing Indigo, I became a fan of Ryan and Indigo as well. Ali Dean has the talent to create down to earth and relatable characters, which made me enjoy the book even more. I also loved the fact that other characters from the Pepper Jones series besides Pepper / Jace made appearances in this book and how Ryan’s and Indy’s relationship grew over time.
This book is a standalone with a HEA but I would definitely recommend reading the Pepper Jones series first – even if you don’t, you’ll want to afterwards, trust me 😉
received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Great story. Was so happy for Ryan to have his own hea! More then what I expected!. Indigo was Ryan’s perfect match from the start and it was so clear to me. I loved the epilogue and was giggling hearing about the next generations antics. I hope there is going to be more stories based around Ryan and Indigo and Pepper and Jace and their offspring!
I absolutely loved this story!!! It was a fantastic read! It pulled me in from beginning to end. The characters are very well written and relate able. This is a stand alone book though it is a spin off from the Pepper Jones series. This takes place after that series and does stand on its own. If you’ve read that series though, you will know some of the characters from this one. I loved Ryan and getting to know him so much better. Ryan and Indigo pull you in from the very beginning. Indigo wants to give running a go after college and try and make it a career but she doesn’t have the money to do so easily and is trying to do so on her own. She has a great race, which Ryan sees, and gets an offer about coaching. She ends up with several and ends up giving Ryan Harding a call and taking the offer. I loved the set up of this story and the pacing. It flowed so well. Things kept moving forward in the story but it’s slower for Ryan and Indigo. Indigo had a bad relationship and it has made her wary. Ryan takes his time and builds trust with her and a friendship. I loved it! This story just made me feel good while reading it. It was adorable in so many good ways. This story would be in the New Adult genre as there is some explicit sex/foreplay. Nothing over the top. It is done very well and it blended right in to the story. I loved the action that we got. There are problems that Ryan and Indigo have to overcome in order for things to work for them. I really hope that we got more of these characters!!! This story does end with a HEA, I just wasn’t ready to say goodbye!
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
I have loved all of Ali Dean’s books. This book does not disappoint. I love how this book gives glimpses of Pepper’s life to tie in the timeline. I have loved every book of this series. This one is no exception.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ali Dean masters the craft of writing relatable and likeable characters. When Ryan Harding was introduced in the Pepper Jones series, I always hoped that he would get his own book. Luckily, Ali blessed us with this and it completely met all of my expectations and then some. Ryan and Indigo challenge each other in a way that is refreshing, believable and entertaining. Their personalities are endearing and you can’t help but love them both. You also get a feeling of the passion that burns between them both with their running goals and with each other. It’s infectious. The mornings that I ran on my treadmill while reading this, actually helped push me to run a little bit harder/longer than normal. Lol. Plus, I loved being able to view the growth throughout this book by Indigo. All of the hardships and obstacles that she faced was a true testament to what anyone can overcome if they are determined enough to do so. This book is not only inspirational, but it leaves the reader craving more.
Andddddd Ali Dean does it again! I’m not exaggerating when I say that I devoured this book in a matter of around 3 hours. I just couldn’t put it down. If I could give this book a billion stars, it wouldn’t be enough to describe how great this storyline and writing is. I loveee that we got to see a little bit more background on some of the other characters in the Pepper Jones series. I loved Indigo and Ryan and fell in love with another book couple all over again! Thank Ali for another awesome read!!
Ali Dean did it again. This is Ryan’s from the Pepper Jones series story. Ryan is ready to settle down but is looking for that spark. Indigo, has a past and is mistrusting. Can Ryan win her heart and trust? This was an easy quick read with a great story line. The detail
Ali puts into the story regarding the different sports she writes about is amazing. I highly recommend this book. It can be read as a stand-alone or after the Pepper Jones series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.