Briar Thompson had it all. The right clothes, the right friends, the right car. Being popular was all that mattered. Her parents were rich and treated like royalty throughout the community. She thought her senior year of high school was going perfectly, until the night her drink was spiked at a party by one of her so called friends.
That was the night she met Chase McCree.
Chase wanted to go back to Montana. To the ranch and the wild, wide blue sky that went on forever. He wanted nothing to do with flashy cars or spoiled rich kids. But he found himself head over boots for the quirky cheerleader who turned her back on her social status. She befriended him when no one else would.
Shunned and hurt by the people who were once her friends, Briar flees with Chase to his family ranch in Montana. There she discovers another world, and apart of herself she never knew.
When I first saw the cover and the cowboy boots, I knew this was a different kind of love story. I have never seen a cowboy romance in the YA category before. My first thoughts were aprehensive because I’ve never been into the cowboy thing. I was SO proved wrong; while being a cowboy is a big factor in the plot it also made it interesting and I ended up loving it.
Our main characters Briar Thompson and Chase McCree we both pretty solid characters. The cover displays them as opposites, but really that is just a one dimensional portrayal of who they become. Briar was a really relatable. She is a girl that is trying to fit in and realizes how much of herself is compromised in the process. Her growth is a journey I enjoyed reading about and felt connected to her, as everyone goes down that path at some point. Chase is pretty sure of himself for a kid, but the thing is, he had to grow up fast so he has to become a man early on . He was perfect to help Briar learn how to trust herself.
I really loved the way J.C. Isabella proved that love can be innocent and still have killer chemistry. This is the kind of romance I would be comfortable giving to a younger teen. I liked how Chase treated Briar, he wasn’t possessive and bossy. How awesome is it that there is a YA lovestory showing a healthy relaionship?!?!
My only complaint about “Chasing McCree” was the pacing felt off sometimes. I found there to be themes that dragged a little. I’m a little biased, I prefer fast pacing when I’m really into a story like I was with this one.
Overall I would reccomend this to everyone. Please don’t dismiss this because of the cowboy, you would be making a BIG mistake. This book changed my outlook on cowboys and I am really glad I got a chance to read it.
You can learn more about J.C. Isabella here and purchase “Chasing McCree” here.
