Review: The Good Chase by Hanna Martine

The Good Chase
(Highland Games #2)
Author: Hanna Martine
Release Date: December 2, 2014
Publisher: Berkley
Source: Berkley
Review by: Jenn

Gleann, New Hampshire’s annual highland games always deliver the best of Scottish culture—rowdiness, rugby, whiskey, and unexpected romance…

Even though Shea Montgomery’s swanky bar and distinguished palate have made her a highly regarded whiskey connoisseur, she’s happiest bringing her favorite spirit to various highland games around New England. Her demanding ex made her wary of men obsessed with money and status, and she’s now more comfortable in the country than in the city. Still, when a gorgeous rugby player straight from Wall Street barrels into her whiskey tent, she’s tempted to change her mind…

J.P. Byrne went from poor beginnings to international high roller by using his charisma and wit, and holding fast to his dreams. A strong, independent woman like Shea is exactly what he’s looking for, only he has no idea how to prove he’s more than his three-piece suits—especially when he’s spent years doing just the opposite.

But as Shea and Byrne battle old demons, they discover together that the best remedy for past pain is a good, stiff shot of present pleasure…

4 stars out of 5 stars

*I received an early copy of this book from the publisher, but it did not influence this review in any way.*

I was extremely happy when I first got this book in the mail. I've been looking for an adult book to read and from the synopsis, The Good Chase sounded like an interesting concept. The main character, Shea, is basically a whiskey connoisseur and that little difference made me pick up the book. Reading the way we book lovers and bloggers do, we seem to find ourselves in a rut and reading the same thing over and over again. But even the little difference of a job, say Shea being a whiskey connoisseur, makes things all the more fun. I found that detail, so fascinating because, while I'm a wine lover, I've been so scared about whiskey because it more a "man" drink but after this book, I'm definitely willing to try some whiskey.

We first meet Shea as she running a whiskey tasting booth in a highland game and in comes tall, sexy, rugby playing Byrne and *fans self* woah baby. The sexual tension between Shea and Bryne is so palpable that Shea has to try to talk herself out of her attraction towards him. I personally think she was crazy but once we learn of her reasons why, I can see where she was coming from. What follows is some extreme flirting and UST that had me wanting to do this:

When they finally did come together? DEFINITELY made up for all the wait. Both Shea and Byrne are very independent and not afraid to take charge of their life and decisions. So seeing them both come to the realization that depending on one another wasn't such a bad thing. They slowly learned, through both of the messes that blew up at them, that they were stronger together. 

Hanna Martine managed to create a story I simply could not put down. I read The Good Chase in just a couple of hours in the afternoon because it was so good. The ending felt a little too perfect and cliche, but it left me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. I truly hope that Ms. Martine write another book in this universe. I want to go back and read the first book in series because The Highland Games left me wanting more of these rugby men. And I think that's never a wrong thing.