In Chase Me If You Can by Heather Frances, For six weeks every spring, Sloane Michaels trades out photographing indulgent weddings for racing across the plains and the southwest to 
chase storms, hoping to get the perfect nature pictures. Being a bit of a meteorology nerd goes hand in hand with it–and helps to keep her as safe as possible out in the thick of it all. Her mother and brothers love to give her a hard time, calling it her dangerous “hobby” and reminding her she should focus on her wedding photography business year-round instead. But Sloane would love to spend even more time out on the back roads, following storms and tornadoes across this beautiful country. Something that some of her friends and fellow chasers do every year.
He’s grinning like he’s just been handed the keys to the kingdom.
“You want to team up?”
“Want is a strong word,” I grumble. I’m careful. He’s reckless. Chasing together probably won’t go well, and yet here I am, making the offer anyway.
One such photographer and chaser, “Wild” Wes Talbot, has been a thorn in Sloane’s side for years. He seems to delight in aggravating her at every turn. So, when she drives up to his nearly wrecked SUV on the side of the road and sees Wes a bit bloodied but still wearing that big old smirk that makes her eyes twitch, Sloane knows she should leave him there to deal with the consequences of his reckless behavior. But she can’t do it. And she finds herself offering to not only help him get his car fixed but she also suggests teaming up to hunt down storms. Not her best moment. However, as Sloane and Wes get used to their new setup, she’s surprised that there’s a lot more to the wild Texan than she originally thought. And that’s potentially even more dangerous than the tornadoes they dream of photographing.
“Maybe you should worry about finding a shirt. Seriously, who cooks bacon without a shirt?’
“If it’s not a little dangerous, are you even living?”
There’s the Wes I know and want to push in front of a tornado.
An impressive contemporary romance debut that included oh so many subjects I enjoy–storm chasing, meteorology, photography, music, to name a few–CHASE ME IF YOU CAN had something for nearly every reader. And on top of that, author Heather Frances told this story through heroine Sloane’s POV with transparency and honesty, showing the raw emotions she felt through every situation she came up against. And she went through a lot. But I thought Sloane flourished under all the changes and stress, both as a photographer and as a woman.
‘If we can put our lives on the line for tornadoes, surely it’s worth risking my heart for love.’
Sloane and her frenemy “Wild” Wes had a snarky relationship when they crossed paths either out on the plains chasing storms or at various events tied to their friends in common, Matt and Tracy. Their banter was hilarious. It was clear that Wes loved to get Sloane fired up. And it wasn’t difficult to do considering they were just about polar opposites–aside from their love of storm chasing and being photographers. Their approach to their hobby-slash-job was very different as well. Wes was known for taking chances most others wouldn’t, hence his nickname. Sloane had a short window of time to chase in the spring, so she was more regimented. Well, as much as one can be regimented and make plans when dealing with Mother Nature.
The big surprise was how much I came to adore Wes. He’s a prime example of a hero with hidden depths. I won’t give his backstory or his true personality away. But I can say that when he was with Sloane, Wes was a totally different guy than his persona let on. And I was there for every second of how protective and sweet he was as he and Sloane traversed the plains and southwest following the storms. They did both (unfortunately) have family drama to overcome not only in their pasts but also while they teamed up for the storm season after Wes nearly wrecked his SUV trying to get a good camera angle. But it felt like because of everything they had been through in their lives, Sloane and Wes were great support for each other. They *got* where their trust issues and forced independence came from. So, they were able to step in to either support one another or give helpful tips on how to handle family issues as they came up.
TROPES/VIBES:
🖤 Hero with hidden depths
💪 Capable heroine
🌪️ Twister-movie vibes
📸 Photography competition drama
🔥 Fun & sexy banter
CW: View Spoiler »
Between the exciting, dramatic storm scenes, the intense and sensual romance, and the fun back-and-forth between the main characters, CHASE ME IF YOU CAN was an absolute pleasure to read. I’m already looking forward to what Heather Frances brings us next.
QOTD: Sloane & Wes hilariously “debated” whose storm chasing playlist was better. If you were on the road chasing storms, what would be on yours?
Book Info:
Publication: Published June 23rd, 2026 | Penguin |
Wedding photographer Sloane Michaels spends most of her year chasing brides, but she lives for the six weeks each spring she chases tornadoes instead.
When a prestigious nature magazine announces a storm-cover contest, Sloane knows winning could be her best chance to break into landscape photography.
The last thing she needs is distraction in the form of reckless storm-chasing legend “Wild Wes” Talbot. Her close, personal frenemy for a decade, Wes is also the man to beat.
Sloane isn’t surprised when Wes gets in an accident that jeopardizes his chances of winning. But when an active weather pattern emerges, she doubles down on her need to win fair and square and begrudgingly invites him to join her for the rest of the season.
As they race through hail, high winds, and stormy skies, Sloane realizes Wes might be more than the rich, flirty wildcard she thought she knew—and that the feelings brewing between them are even more charged than the storms they chase.
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