We are absolutely thrilled to bring you the Review Tour for K.A. Tucker’s CHASING RAIN! CHASING RIVER is a Suspenseful Romance novel, and the third novel in K.A. Tucker’s Burying Water Series, published by Atria books, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster. CHASING RIVER is set to be released July 7, 2015! If you haven’t already, be sure to grab BURYING WATER and BECOMING RAIN, the first two books in this thrilling series!!
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About CHASING RIVER:
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.
Robin’s Review
Author K.A. Tucker’s writing portfolio includes series written in the young adult paranormal fantasy, new adult contemporary romance, and new adult romantic suspense genres. Although I have never read her Causal Enchantment series, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading each of the novels of the Ten Tiny Breathes and the Burying Water series. Much of the Burying Water series is based in a small town named Sisters, Oregon. Chasing River is different because the majority of the story takes place in Dublin, Ireland. If you have read any of the Burying Water series, you may remember Amber Welles is the daughter of retired sheriff Gabe Welles and the twin sister of Jesse Welles. Chasing River is Amber’s story.
On a normal day, twenty-four-year-old River Delaney would be getting up to open his family pub. But today, River is following his brother Aengus into St. Stephen’s Green. It’s only 7:30 in the morning, and Aengus is acting sketchy, carrying a black leather satchel close to his body. When he reaches a field, Aengus kneels down, unzips the satchel and lays a pipe bomb in the grass. When River sees what his brother is doing, he attempts to talk him out it, but Aengus warns him to immediately get out of there. That’s when River notices a woman jogging straight for the bomb.
Amber is on a leave of absence from her work as a nurse. She plans to visit fifteen different countries over a four-month period. After spending three and half weeks in Canada, Amber is now in Dublin, Ireland. She’s running late for a day tour, so she decides to take a shortcut through a field in St. Stephen’s Green. She doesn’t realize it, but she’s jogging towards a pipe bomb that is just about to detonate. Before she has time to process what is happening, a man plows into Amber, sending her flying through the air. He lands on top of her just before an explosion rips through the field. When the dust settles, the man checks to see if she was injured. After he sees that she is okay, he runs off. Amber realizes two things: he was protecting her from the explosion, and she didn’t get to thank him.
Besides the sweet romance between the main characters, what I love most about Chasing River is the history I was able to learn about Ireland. Tucker begins her novel with a three-page author’s note. She addresses the political and religious divisions between Ireland and England, which eventually led to Ireland’s attempt to break away from England. More important to this story is what we learn about the Irish Republican Army (IRA), and the role it has played throughout Irish history. The Delaney family has a long history of being involved with the Irish Republican Army, so pay close attention to the author’s note because what you learn will be very relevant to this story. This Irish history lesson lends to the suspense element in this story, making Chasing River one of the best romantic suspense novels that I have read in recent months.
We also learn more Irish history through River and his family. I really liked how the author shows us how much each member of the Delaney family values his or her Irish heritage. At one point in the novel, Amber sits in a pub and listens to a real Irish storyteller. We are able to enjoy the story as Amber listens to what is being said. I thought this was very creative feature of Chasing River. K.A. Tucker quickly captured my attention with this story. The unique setting of Dublin, Ireland feels very authentic when you combine it with the dialect, expressions and history Tucker includes in her writing.
I was able to discern real character growth in both protagonists, but especially in Amber. Before she leaves on her trip, Amber is encouraged by a friend to step outside of her comfort zone, and I feel there are several times in this story where she does just that. Amber takes a good look at her life, and she realizes that she wants to make the best decisions for her, not based on what others expect of her. I truly enjoyed River and Amber as a couple. Long distance relationships are never easy, and I would love to read more about their relationship in a future novel of the Burying Water series. So far, they are my favorite couple written by Tucker. I also consider 6-star Chasing River to be my favorite novel written by K.A. Tucker, and I am adding it to my list of 2015 favorites!
Michel’s Review
Chasing River is the third book in the Burying Water series by K.A. Tucker. It is my favorite book in the series so far.
K.A. Tucker created an interesting plot and unique set of characters that is original, informative, emotional, and entertaining. This book is not a fast paced high octane story like the other books in this series. It is more of a look into the reality of life in modern day Ireland. She painted a vivid picture of daily life, family dynamics, and the political arena in which most Irish families experience. Living in North America has kept readers removed from the plights of the Irish people. Most of us don’t have an understanding of their politics, their laws, and their convictions. We assume they have the same kind of liberties and values that we have. It is an arrogant assumption and ignorant way of thinking. This book opens the readers eyes and gives them a clear insight while at the same time delivering a beautiful romance.
Amber Welles has lived an enchanted sheltered life in a small town environment. She was the queen of her high school , made good grades, stayed out of trouble, excelled in college, and began making a successful career as a nurse. Her parents gave her an easy life. Her mother was a successful surgeon that taught her to love medicine. Her father was the town sheriff that taught her to live an honest and trouble free life. Unlike her twin brother, she has never been in trouble, never been exposed to people outside her social circle, and most certainly never skirted the law. She has always dreamed of traveling abroad and exploring the world. She has been saving for this dream and plans to take a year off to follow her dreams. After a harsh break up she decides to pursue her dream sooner. She may not have enough money to spend a year abroad but she does have enough to have several months of travel and adventure. Just before she embarks on her trip she makes a bucket list for her adventures.
Her first day in Ireland is beyond the adventure she was dreaming of. She is nearly blown up in an explosion in the park. If the sexy stranger with green eyes hadn’t saved her she would of been seriously injured or dead. Now she wants to find this Irish stranger and thank him for saving her life. When she does find him she gets more than she bargained for. She will find that her world was much smaller than she thought it was. She will find that not every thing is black and white. She will find there are many gray areas that are neither right or wrong. She will open herself up to new people and accept their beliefs. She will discover that old casual acquaintances can become the dearest of friends. Most of all she will find that once in a lifetime love with a man that doesn’t fit into her neat and orderly life. Amber Welles is falling into River. It is up to her whether she wants to sink or swim in the murky waters we call life.
River Delaney is the middle son in your typical Irish family. His family has owned a pub for over 200 years. Their family history is rich with stories of love, passion, heartbreak, struggle, and strife. Their convictions run deep. Their connections to the IRA and RIRA are part of their heritage. It is a dangerous life. His choices have molded him into the man he is today. His family history has made him target for the law as well as RIRA. Falling for an American girl that stirs his soul is not a good idea. The heart dictates what it wants. Their relationship may sink or swim. He may drown from the heartache or sail into a beautiful relationship. Either way, both he and Amber are treading in dangerous waters.
I could not put this book down. Amber and River’s story was beautiful. Both had convictions from their upbringings that should of kept them apart. Both found a love that was pure and beautiful. Both had to make choices that their families had a hard time grasping. In the end they found the once in a lifetime love that was worth sacrificing for.
K. A. Tucker did a thorough job with her research in Irish history. The reader will walk away with a better understanding of Irish heritage that is not leprechauns, rainbows, pots of gold, and blarney stones.
I loved how she incorporated some of the characters from the previous books and gave them a stronger role in the series. Gabe Welles in the kind of father that every girl should have. Ivy Lee is the kind of friend that Amber didn’t know she needed. She proved that beneath the hostility and icy veneer lies a true and loyal soul.
Chasing River can be read as a stand alone or in series order.
I highly recommend Chasing River by K. A. Tucker. It is fantastic.
And don’t forget BURYING WATER and BECOMING RAIN, the first two books in this thrilling series…
BURYING WATER
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BECOMING RAIN
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About K.A. Tucker:
Born in small-town Ontario, K.A. Tucker published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.
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