REVIEW: Loving the Chase by Sharla Lovelace

In Loving the Chase (Heart of the Storm #1) by Sharla Lovelace, Zach Chase knows the dangers of his family’s storm chasing ways, having lost his father to a huge tornado years ago. So he’s always looking for a way to both get that rush of being in the action as well as using the information they collect to keep people safe. But when Zach approaches his family with the idea of a reality show that was just pitched to him, not everyone’s on board. And things get more complicated when the production assistant turns out to be the love of his life, his former fiance Maddi Hayes.

‘She was all he ever wanted, and he lost her. To a storm. No. He lost her to being stupid.’

Maddi could use the boost that overseeing this latest reality project could give her career, but working with the Chase family might be a bad idea. She left behind that chapter of her life after Zach put her second to chasing a storm one too many times. Especially since that last storm nearly killed her. Maddi becomes hopelessly drawn back into the Chase’s chaotic life once more when she and her crew go on site to film the pilot. The magic is still there between her and Zach. But will history repeat itself, with Zach leaving Maddi behind to watch him chase after danger again?

‘It would always be that way–Zach running off to dance with some storm. She knew that. They were like magnets that pulled at him.’

What a wild adventure we go on in Sharla Lovelace’s newest book, Loving the Chase. It was tough to decide what the most exciting part was: the storm chasing, the family drama, or the second chance romance between Zach and Maddi.

I was really impressed with the premise for not only this book but for the series as a whole. Storm chasing isn’t a new concept, but a reality show featuring a family where everyone participates in the activity, as well as the fact that their goal is to help keep others safe, certainly is. The Chase family itself had some pretty interesting dynamics that seemed realistic to me. And it’s plain to see that the sibling rivalry, while steeped in genuine affection, will continue into future installments.

Being the first book in the series, this of course introduced us to the whole Chase clan and other key players. Figuring out how everyone worked (or didn’t work) together and giving their background might slow things down for some, but I love that getting-to-know-you part. Ultimately, though, this was Zach and Maddi’s story. An epic reunion, as it turns out, which is one of my favorite tropes. Their breakup seven years earlier is shown to us through flashback scenes which I thought worked perfectly the way they were woven in to the storyline.

As far as our hero and heroine go, Zach and Maddi were equally likable and down-to-earth people. Zach was a bit of an adrenaline junkie when it came to chasing storms, but he was all about his family, too. He was charming, handsome, and a lot of fun. A perfect trifecta. And Maddi was caring, wicked smart, and adored Zach and the Chase’s completely. The love, thankfully, never faded between our protagonists and kept building through the story until it finally couldn’t be ignored, culminating in a memorable scene during a thunderstorm. Be on the lookout for that one…it changed everything. 😉

The Heart of the Storm series is setting up to be a wonderful mix of intense and fun moments. With characters you just can’t help but love (and a yummy recipe included at the end of the book!) I highly recommend Loving the Chase to romance fans.

Book Info:

Published August 25th 2015 | by Montlake Romance | Heart of the Storm #1

Charming, adventurous Zach Chase has always craved the spotlight, and now he’s on the hunt for publicity for his family’s storm-chasing business. So when a reality TV network approaches him with the idea for a show profiling their work, he can’t resist. But the last person he expects to walk into the meeting is the former love of his life.

Production assistant Maddi Hayes was once engaged to Zach—until she was almost killed by a tornado he was out chasing. She walked away from her fiancé and their future together, convinced she’d always come second to his dangerous career.

Dreading the show and anxious over working so closely with Zach, Maddi also knows this project could mean big things for her career. If only Zach weren’t still so infuriating…and so infuriatingly sexy. Can they finally let go of their stormy past? Or will the passion still raging between them win in the end?