Chasing Desire by Jennifer Domenico Pages: 527
Published by Createspace Independent Pub on June 9, 2014
Genres: contemporary, Love & Romance, New Adult
Source: eARC from Author
**This is a standalone book!**
High on life and all its luxuries, Brayden James has no intention of slowing down. That is until his womanizing ways catch up with him and he gets a much needed wake-up call. Just as he decides to clean up his act, the ultimate temptation enters his life.
When Mackenzie Reed meets Brayden, the attraction is instant and she knows that together they could achieve the kind of career success she’s always craved. But Mackenzie isn’t like most women. She has very good reasons for keeping her heart locked up tight. For her, this isn’t about love. This is about power.
Sparks fly as Brayden and Mackenzie try to avoid the one thing neither of them wanted. Each must choose between the life they’ve worked hard to achieve and the one they never imagined. Will they come to the same decision before it’s too late? Or will a hidden threat keep them apart?
Chasing Desire was my first experience with a book by Jennifer Domenico. I have to say, I was really impressed. Not only is the writing top notch, but the plot of this book was continually evolving. It is so many things. Not only is it a kick ass romance, then it evolves into more of a secrets to overcome book, and then there is a mystery thrown in with a creepy stalker. This book felt long…in an awesome way. Mac and Brayden’s story just kept going and going. It took them a longgg time to get to a good place. Things kept coming up and getting in their way. And I loved every bit of their journey.
I loved that while this book was told in dual narrative between Mackenzie and Brayden, over the first half of the book was just from Brayden’s point of view. It really allowed us to get to know him. And we got to see Mac only from his eyes. She seemed like this out of worldly force. She was always so confident, so composes, and so powerful. It has been a long time like I have seen such a forceful female lead. It was empowering and awesome to read about. She is not afraid to go after what she wants and she is not afraid to be stern at work when she needs to be. She does not care that people will think she is a B (you know what I mean.) And because we only see things through his eyes, we can’t be sure what is running through her head.
The second half of the book Mac gets a chance to show her point of view, and it was from here on that the chapters start alternating between the two of them. I was happy about this because by this time, I really had gotten to know Brayden and I wasn’t ready for his point of views to stop. By the time we got to Mac’s chapters, so much had already gone down between that the two of them that I thought I got a good idea of who they were. We still hadn’t learned Mac’s “secret”, but I still felt like I knew her. And then I heard her voice and she was so different! Her secret transformed her into a completely different person, and it was refreshing to see another level to her.
Jennifer Domenico made such an impressive book! This single book could be a whole season of tv shows. One hour tv shows. That is how much she squeezed into one amazing novel. And none of it felt rushed. Everything was detailed, explained and perfectly paced. We really get to know Brayden and Mac and there is beautiful character development. Not only that, but the romance is so freakin’ hot and the action is intense towards the end. Chasing Desire will leave you guessing, swooning and wanting more.
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Your review has me adding this one to my TBR pile, it sounds fantastic and just like the kind of stories I live for. 😉
This one is good. It just get going and going, and changing and changing. It was pretty cool
I love how developed this is Michelle! Plus I love romances with mystery and secrets. Fabulous review and I am totally adding this standalone to my tbr pile!
It is really well developed Kimba. It was so much more than I thought it would be at first glance 🙂
Thanks for stopping by.
It is nice that this one appealed so strongly to you, Michelle. I love books with dual narrative point of view so I would enjoy that aspect. I will definitely keep this one in mind. Thanks for the helpful review.
Thanks Heidi.
I love dual narrative and this one was unique because it was not split 50/50 at all. So much of the story was focused on Brayden that he felt like the main character, which was extra interesting for me.
I do know that one thing can completely change a person and I like when a book can reflect one real life. And TV shows? Great review.
Yea, the book was so long and so many things happened that I could completely see this being a whole season’s worth of tv shows.
I haven’t heard of this, but I’m sold! I love that it’s told from one character’s POV for half and then switches. That’s such an interesting idea. Plus I love the sound of Mac! Forceful female leads are such fun. 😀 Great review!
I think I will like this one, especially Mac. And I actually like when book are laid out like that as long as the author does it well. I’m going to grab this.
500+ pages of goodness! And what’s even better is that this is a standalone! I appreciate books that makes you just want to keep on reading even though the book is quite thick! Will be adding this book to my TBR list. Thanks for sharing your review.