Elle Kennedy is endlessly talented, and when I saw that she was going back to Briar University with a new sports romance series, I jumped ALL OVER the chance to read and review it for my blog. I mean, I freaking LOVE her writing anyway so I was totally not going to miss out whether I got an Early Release Copy or not. And can I just say that while I love everything she writes, her Briar Hockey boys have owned me since the release of The Deal in February 2015… and all cards on the table, that was my first Elle Kennedy book. Now she’s got a superfan, cause I one-click everything she writes even if I can’t read it right away. When I added The Chase to my TBR, she hadn’t even released the synopsis, but in my world as an avid reader and a blogger, that’s trivial at times. I have read awesome books that don’t have a blurb that sells me on the book, and books that have incredible blurbs and the book stinks. Also, in this review, I am not going to bore you with my rendition of the synopsis for The Chase, because Elle Kennedy nailed that one! But I will tell you why The Chase is such an incredible story.

I have several subgenres and tropes that I am all about, and sports romance is definitely a huge one for me – especially if its Hockey or MMA. So, this frenemies-to-lovers Hockey Romance was undeniably appealing! In true Elle Kennedy Hockey Hotness fashion, The Chase is a combination of many essentials. The story is beautifully written, as is all of Elle Kennedy’s work. It’s told in duel perspectives which is my favorite way to read a romance. The Chase has a storyline that is fun and fresh while still following true to the previous Briar hockey books. I don’t think the pace of the story could have been any more perfect either! Another important distinction about this book is the direction Elle went with Summer’s character. As a heroine, Summer has several factors that make her more realistic and relatable. Elle Kennedy wrote a beautiful woman who is imperfect, but her “flaws” lay in learning delays and insecurities. As a woman, I definitely can appreciate many of Summer’s insecurities. But the addition of the ADHD to her character made her a terrific heroine; she’s stronger than she gave herself credit for and I really loved who she was! The banter between the characters is priceless and you’ll find yourself chuckling for sure! The dynamics that exists within the story is about more than just a love match, you’ll find yourself appreciating all the secondary characters in Fitzy and Summer’s social circle.

Not everyone is a fan of series books, but I for one am a huge fan of standalones within a series. The Chase is a spin-off of a previous series that Elle Kennedy wrote and not only does the story offer cameos of characters that I previously loved, it introduced me to new ones that I can’t wait to see more of! If you have read the Off-Campus series, you have already met the hero, Fitzy. And the heroine, Summer is little sister to Dean from The Score (Off-Campus Book 3). This pair is complete opposites and I loved the sparks they set off with one another. Fitzy my kryptonite in almost every way – the tatted-up, geek that’s also an athlete! Summer is an heiress and ex-sorority sister, who’s got no filter and isn’t afraid of having a goodtime. Oh, and I loved her sass and spunk! Elle Kennedy writes some seriously hot books, anyone whose read her would agree and The Chase in no way disappoints. Sure, it’s a bit of a slow burn, but damn… the heat is off-the-charts! Its also a bit of a love triangle. The angst is fairly light, but since it’s a YA romance, you can definitely expect some. Of course, since this is a standalone romance, you can expect the drama to iron itself out in the end and Fitzy and Summer get a beautiful HEA! Really, The Chase offers sooo much that I loved, and nothing that I would change. After it was over I immediately started plotting ways to reread the Off-Campus series when I have gaps in my blogs schedule. Oh yeah, and you can bet that Elle Kennedy definitely left me jonesing for the next book in the Briar U series, The Risk!

Purchase Links:

Amazon: http://geni.us/TCAmz
iBooks: http://geni.us/TCiB
Kobo: http://geni.us/TCKobo
Nook: http://geni.us/TCNook
Paperbacks coming soon!!

 

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