Previously published; newly refreshed by author The Chase boys. Ridiculously hot and notoriously single. 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, … 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.
This book is approximately 75,000 words
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
The Chase is on. One small town. Four hot brothers. And enough heat to burn up anyone who dares to get close. Don’t miss the other books: Giving Chase, Chased and Making Chase.
Edited by Angela James
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I have reread this series a few times. This story is about Sheriff Shane, the brother I liked least.
Very hard to like Cassie and she is paired with the least likeable Chase brother, Shane.
Cassie has gone through something no one should ever suffer but Cassie was not someone I took to. She is too self-absorbed and her issues are the only ones that matter. Yes, she has valid reasons but will not be able to live her life continually being self-absorbed. At least there is forever closure for her at the end.
We met Shane in book one and he pretty much acted the rude jerk to Maggie. He did not endear himself to me at all then and I was surprised his book was next.
Shane finally meets a woman he wants more than a quick fling with.
I think Ms. Dane failed in making him a likable hero until nearly the end. His behaviour was understandable to a certain extent as he caught his ex-fiancée screwing his ex-best friend a week before their wedding but the abrupt change in personality once he set eyes on Cassie just did not ring true.
From the start of this book, once he stopped believing Cassie was hiding something, he never hesitated in pursuing a real relationship with Cassie. Huh?
I did like that he was treated the way he had treated other women, just used for sex at the start.
I just hate that all the women the Chase brothers, especially Shane, have been with, of which there are many, are treated with disrespect by these men once they meet THE ONE.
Cassie was one special and difficult heroine. Having to redo her whole life and give up such a large part of herself, that of being a surgeon, due to the abuse she endured by her ex, was heartbreaking, saving a child heroic, what she had been through and survived put her up there on a pedestal as a super strong woman but even though I completely understood where she was coming from, she annoyed me with her attitude when it came to refusing any help. Her silly attitude at thinking everyone who wanted to help were MANAGING her, was annoying.
Shane was her boyfriend and the local Sherriff and only a stupid woman would refuse his help! She also kept comparing Shane’s actions with her ex’s most of the time.
Shane also dumped his emotional baggage on her too, when he caught her hugging her brother, so their relationship was not smooth sailing at all but why was Shane the one who always made the effort to patch things up?
Cassie needed to shoulder some of the blame too.
Loved the outcome with the evil ex-husband. Good result after everything he had done.
Polly, Edward and the family are once again their supportive selves and are caring towards Cassie.
My review is for the previous version which I have owned for years. That review was taken down due to a newer version being published. I do not believe this story will have changed very much and I will not be paying twice for same book.
Really annoyed my previous review is missing.
(3.5*, rounded up)
We met Shane in Giving Chase and I knew that Dane was going to have to give him a bit of an attitude adjustment to make him appealing as a hero … I just didn’t expect it to be an immediate about face. In the first book he was pretty much an ass – a jerk to women & completely commitment-phobic, thanks to a previous relationship gone bad. So I expected that Cassie would have to work some kind of magic and slowly get him to change. Nope, pretty much from the beginning he’s over himself and ready to get involved. It would have been great, if it wasn’t for his portrayal in the first story. And I will give Dane credit that she does have his baggage still there, but it is on simmer and not out in front like when we first met him. That aside, though, Shane as a character was great (as long as you forgot that he ever had more jerk-ish moments). He’s caring and, although he stumbles a couple of times, does his best to be sensitive to Cassie’s feelings.
And Cassie definitely has her own baggage! Pretty fresh out of a horrifically abusive relationship, she’s trying to have a fresh start. What she isn’t looking for is attracting the interest of a cop. Luckily for Shane, he’s pretty hard to resist. But it is going to take a lot of patience to work through the scars Cassie past left her with. She’s got a lot of triggers and it might get a bit old for some readers. She’s pretty set on doing things herself and has a hard time separating someone offering help from people trying to manage her. Her ex did a number on her so it’s understandable but it happens a lot. Good thing new Shane is willing to go all in and help her find a balance that can work for them both.
This is a slow burn romance as the two work their way around Cassie’s issues and having to deal with the fact that her ex is still out there in the world. There are a lot of emotional ups and downs as she struggles to figure out what a healthy relationship looks like and Shane tries his best to help without taking over. It’s not easy for him to ignore the cop in him that wants to do everything he can to protect her. Instead he needs to support her as she stands on her own two feet. There is a bit of excitement at the end but overall this is all about the feels, with just a bit of suspense thrown in.
**Review given honestly and freely after receipt of an advanced copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not coerced in any way.**
I jumped right into this re-released series and its second book in the series without having any prior knowledge of the series, and I am glad I did because I really enjoyed the story, the romance, the secondary characters, and I appreciated the way the domestic abuse and recovering of it was done.
The story has a great amount of world-building for the series, and reflection to the past events so I didn’t feel like I had to read the first book to get what was happening now. The only thing that made me go ‘hmm’ several times was the continued references to the hero past behavior towards women.
Shane Chase is a protective, in-charge man, who loves his family, his town, and takes care of people around him. I liked him, he was over the top at times, but he was honest, he was caring, so tender and considerate with Cassie, so patience, giving her the room she needed to heal from the past abuse. It was obvious he had learned some hard lessons, it was clear he was falling in love for the very first time and fumbling with it at times, but he was transparent with his past mistakes, and he was sincere with his feelings.
Cassie Gambol is one strong, fierce, survivor. While my heart broke for her, I admired her immensely. She has lived through the ultimate betrayal by her former husband. The one who is suppose to be there for you and support you do everything in their power to break you. The story is such a strong advocate for surviving domestic abuse, and it is done with the utmost respect towards the survivor. The way the escalation of the abuse is told, and how Cassie survived, and what help there is to seek out if needed, and how long it takes to heal from the physical and mental wounds of the abuse, all told with delicately, respectfully, and carefully, the survivor’s integrity intact.
I liked that the timeline on the developing romance was stretched long enough for Cassie to truly heal, also mentally, from the past, and find her place in the world again. I loved how well Cassie and Shane fit together, there was sizzling chemistry, absolutely, but there was also sweetness, adoration, caring, protecting each other, and supporting each other when needed. They were equal in more sense than not, and they were challenging each other to be their true selves, to be a better version of themselves, and I just fell in love with them, and with the whole Chase family while at it.
With a great mix of small town living, the crazy of a meddling family, adorable, sweet romance developing, and the suspense from Cassie’s ex-husband hunting her, the story was intense entertaining thought-provoking and fear-filled experience that I enjoyed immensely.
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
This is the second book in the Chase Brothers series and features to romance between Shane and Cassie. Both of these characters have painful pasts and they carry the baggage to prove it. Shane has been burned by love. Having his fiancée dump him has left scars, caused him to wall off his heart and yes, often come across as cold, unfeeling, a jerk (as witnessed in book 1). Cassie has not only been hurt emotionally, but also physically by her abusive ex. On the run and hiding out, the last thing she needs is another man in her life. With a well written and very engaging storyline this book is a very entertaining read. Filled with, intensity, drama, humor, danger, suspense and deep emotions this book will touch your heart and keep you turning pages. This is my voluntary, honest review.
Taking Chase by Lauren Dane is book Two in the Chase Brothers series. This is the story of Cassie and Shane. I have read the previous book but feel this can be a standalone book. This is a re-release as the first publishing was around 2007 and does have a new cover.
Cassie was once Carly Sunderland a successful surgeon but back then she had a ex-husband trying to kill her. Now she on the run because he escaped the system and he out to finish what he started.
Now Cassie is hiding out in Petal, Georgia where she meets Shane …there is an immediate attraction. But Shane has a bad break up that left him cold to getting into another relationship….but Cassie makes him rethink that. But she is hiding something and he out to find out.
The notorious Sherriff of Petal, Georgia has taken a fall and much to his dismay has to work pretty hard to win the girl of his dreams’ heart in this heartfelt romance.
Shane and Cassie are two very strong and captivating characters whose romance is anything but smooth, there is lot of ups and downs due to past issues and miscommunication that the story is a kind of emotional rollercoaster. Readers can help but become caught up in their story as Shane works hard to overcome his own issues and find a way to help Cassie overcome hers and let me tell you this story tugs at heartstrings and actually had me crying at a couple of points, which I must say is unusual for me. But since, Lauren Dane creates characters that are easily connected to, I shouldn’t be surprised that I had such a connection to Shane and Cassie.
And if their emotional issues weren’t enough to keep readers enthralled, this story has readers holding their breath in suspense when Cassie’s past comes calling and placing her in danger when adds quite an exciting edge to this romance. Lauren Dane makes it easy to picture each and every scene as it happens which just makes the connection with the characters that much more vivid.
I have to tell you Shane caught my attention in the first book, Giving Chase, when he made a bit of a jerk of himself so I highly anticipating the release of Taking Chase to find out how he fared when came to matters of his heart and I was in no way disappointed as I was completely enthralled with his and Cassie’s book from start to finish, now I just have to wait for Chased and find out which brother will fall next.
ARC – I voluntarily offered to review this book with no obligations and my opinions are honest
Cassie was on the run from her abusive ex-husband.
She knew for sure that if he found her, he would kill her.
She hopes that Petal, Georgia will be a safe haven for her.
Shane is afraid to give love a second chance.
He was dumped by his fiance, which left him with a scarred heart.
Is Cassie the one that will heal Shane’s heart ?
When danger comes will Shane be able to protect Cassie ?
I loved the storytelling + the characters
The storytelling + the character’s build were awesome!