Review: Chasing River, by K.A. Tucker

Amazon

Synopsis

Armed with two years' worth of savings and the need to experience life outside the bubble of her Oregon small town, twenty-five-year old Amber Welles is prepared for anything. Except dying in Dublin. Had it not been for the bravery of a stranger, she might have. But he takes off before she has the chance to offer her gratitude.

Twenty-four-year-old River Delaney is rattled. No one was supposed to get hurt. But then that American tourist showed up. He couldn't let her die, but he also couldn't risk being identified at the scene—so, he ran. Back to his everyday life of running his family’s pub. Only, everyday life is getting more and more complicated, thanks to his brother, Aengus, and his criminal associations. When the American girl tracks River down, he quickly realizes how much he likes her, how wrong she is for him. And how dangerous it is to have her around. Chasing her off would be the smart move.

Maybe it's because he saved her life, or maybe it's because he's completely different from everything she's left behind, but Amber finds herself chasing after River Delaney. Amber isn’t the kind of girl to chase after anyone.

And River isn't the kind of guy she'd want to catch. 

Review

4 out of 5 stars

I always love when there is a new K.A. Tucker book to read.  Her stories are always so unique and captivating.  Chasing River is the story of Amber Wells (who is the sister of Jesse from Burying Water).  After a surprising end to a relationship with the guy she thought she'd be with forever she finds herself on a "trip around the world."  She's taken her life savings, is armed with a travel bucket list and is on an adventure to not only see the world but to find herself.

While on her way to meet with a tour group in Ireland she is literally knocked off course by local Irishmen, River DeLaney.  Other than  a few scrapes and bruises Amber is okay though she cannot help but wonder about the mystery guy who saved her life.  As chance and luck would have it Amber's memory is jogged and she is able to track down River.  Amber and River cannot fight the attraction between one another but what happens when it's time for Amber to move on?  Will she get to mark #1 off of her bucket list or is it possible there's something more to this thing between the two of them?

Unlike some of the other books I've read by K.A. Tucker Chasing River is filled with a lot of history, Irish history to be exact.  No doubt she did her research before penning this story!  While I enjoyed the historical facts weaved into this plot I found it overshadowed the romance, suspense and mystery normally found within the pages of her books.  I enjoyed the overall story and I absolutely loved River and Amber.  I just didn't find myself as connected to them as I have with characters from some of her other books.  Perhaps is't because even though they made an adorable couple I felt the overall build-up of chemistry was missing something.

I will say one of the more enjoyable aspects of the story for me was Amber's interactions with Ivy.  While Amber is light Ivy is a much darker character.  The two of them view one another through clouded lenses and watching the fog clear is downright funny.  It provided the opportunity for us to get to know Amber better.  Not to mention it set the stage perfectly for the next book, Surviving Ice, which will be centered around Ivy.  

I also thought the way K.A. Tucker ended this story was brilliant because it was the perfect way for us to see how Amber's trip around the world-wrapped up.  Chasing River is a fun story and those of you who love watching romance unfold in a foreign country will absolutely want to one-click Chasing River today!