Chasing Desire by Joya Ryan – a Review
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Description:
It’s her best friend’s wedding, and Autumn Lane is trussed up in a pink bridesmaid dress with a big “everything is great” smile plastered across her face. She’s not going think about her life imploding, or spending the next two weeks housesitting in the ridiculously small town of Diamond. No, she’d rather think about the tattooed hottie in the wedding party…and how to turn the wicked way he’s looking at her into a night of intense pleasure.
Huck Galvin is fiercely attracted to his mystery woman’s no-BS attitude, but their one-night-no-strings plan backfires when Huck discovers that Autumn is the out-of-towner he’s “chaperoning” for the next two weeks. Outside the bedroom, the two can’t stand each other, yet Huck can’t deny how much he wants one more night with her. But Autumn isn’t going to make it easy for Huck. Not by a long shot…
Review:
Chasing Desire by Joya Ryan was a steamy, straightforward, easy read about a one-night stand gone “wrong”. Although wrong here translates to bad timing due to the carelessness of previous lovers and absent parents. Joya Ryan has several installments in this Chasing Love series. Now that I’ve caught on, tee hee, I’ll read some more.
“So tell me then,” he said. “With your unbridled honesty, if you don’t have much, what are you looking for?”
Her lips parted, and she looked him in the eyes. There was something deep and dark running within her, and damn if he didn’t want to tap into that.
“I think I just found what I’m looking for,” she said with the slightest breath in her voice. “I’m here for one night.”
“Ah, fate is kind,” he said. “Because so am I.”
Still, one night was the deal. However heavenly, so earth shattering that it would be greedy to ask for more, no more fun can be had. Unless…
Huck and Autumn went for what they wanted, checked their expectations at the desk, and indulged in consensual sex. What I didn’t expect, or like, was Autumn’s sudden distaste/disapproval of Huck. She had zero complaints the night before! It made Autumn petty and immature in an otherwise fun read. But as I already stated, insecurities of not being good (or important enough to stay for) have cemented Autumn’s walls and made her obstinate.
Now pot meet kettle. Huck was dumped unceremoniously and has taken it upon himself to enjoy women, but to keep it temporary. He’s honest and dedicated to a night of pleasure, but always diligent to maintain essential distance. A match made in heaven…if only they’d learn to trust in their feelings…and each other.
Huck’s whining got old fast. First he convinces Autumn to give him a second, entire night, but when Autumn beats him to the door (for the second time), he’s pissy enough to demand another night!
“So what are you looking for this time?” she said. “Round three?”
“I’m after however many rounds it takes for us to get this right.”
Right?! If Ms. Ryan had indulged Huck’s ego so that he could be the one to walk away and call it “even”, I would have considered Chasing Desire a pathetic game of cat and mouse. This is me apologizing, Ms. Joya When Huck and Autumn stopped misreading each other, stopped second-guessing each other’s motives, the heart was finally revealed. And it was lovely.
Did I mention it was steeeeeeamy?? Blush-inducing, my friends. I would have preferred more emotional communication to their physical connection, but you always feast with your eyes first. Or is that about food? You get the gist. 😀
Issues get heavy and it’s not pretty — rattling firmly entrenched boundaries rarely are. But Huck and Autumn fit perfectly and it’s a real joy to see them battle demons and each other to embrace their now.
Reviewed by Carmen
Copy provided by Publisher
