Chase Me If You Can
I like road trip stories and this one has storm chasers which made it even more exciting! Having lived on a farm in Kansas, I’ve seen firsthand the devastation tornados leave behind. This story follows a couple that are part of a lighthearted group of chasers. It was a quick, easy read and other than a third act-breakup, I enjoyed the lively characters and Twister vibes.
Sloane is a wedding photographer for most of the year, but for six weeks in the spring, she’s a storm chaser. She joins her best friend, April, and others to track storms and map out routes, hoping to catch the best storm shot. Her dream is to win a cover contest for Nature Shots magazine.
Wild Wes is her nemesis and is a legend in the world of storm chasers. He comes from a wealthy Texas oil family and is known for being reckless and taking chances. He is flirty with her and she is pretty snarky with him – but when his SUV is damaged in an accident, they decide to team up and chase storms together.
The best part of the story is the witty banter and playful teasing between them which kept me smiling. Wes loves to push her buttons with his smooth, Texas charm and Sloane matches him with sarcastic comebacks. Their chemistry feels natural and it’s spicy when Sloane gets to see his lightning bolt tattoo!
Both Sloane and Wes have family drama they are working through. Sloane has always been the one to help her needy and helpless mother, and she is wary about asking her brothers to help out while she’s gone. Wes was neglected as a child, and while he appears confident about his photos, he is insecure about his feelings for Sloane. I admired how protective he is when they find themselves in sketchy situations. The descriptions of the landscape were so beautiful as they traveled through tornado country that I felt like I was there with them. I appreciated how the author shows us both the wild beauty of the storms as well as the devastation that can happen when they touch down.
I enjoyed the humor and the lighthearted teasing in their group. The third act misunderstanding felt a bit awkward, but the story is full of action, great camaraderie with friends and a sweet romance. I loved it and look forward to seeing what Heather Francis does next!
by Kayne Spooner