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Art of the Chase
From a USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon bestselling author comes a Gilded Age series, The Bostwicks of Trillium Bay. “Brogan brings her signature wit and whimsy to this delightful trio of historical stories.” — USA Today bestseller Elizabeth Essex
Above the glistening waters of Trillium Bay, the majestic Imperial Hotel awaits its first guests. It’s the summer of 1888, and names like Carnegie, Astor, Pullman, and Bostwick line the premier resort’s registry as society’s elite gather on its grandiose front porch to see – and be seen.
But Chase Bostwick isn’t interested in being seen. As the second son of a wealthy financier, he’s only interested in work – in Chicago – so being tasked by his father to chaperone his wearisome mother and boisterous little sister during their Michigan summer holiday is Chase’s personal purgatory masquerading as paradise – for never was a man more ill-suited to leisure.
Emerson McKenna isn’t interested in being seen, either – but she does want her artistic talents to be noticed. As the illegitimate daughter of a renown portraitist more infamous for his romantic dalliances than for his work, Emerson has schemed her way into a position at the hotel teaching doe-eyed debutantes to paint. She says her goal is to commission enough portraits from the resort’s wealthy patrons to finance her dreams of studying in Paris.
But Chase has his suspicions…
Thinking to ease his ennui, he sets about to unravel the mysteries of this enigmatic Miss and her tattered satchel full of secrets, but what he learns – from her questionable marital status right down to the potentially felonious embellishment of her artistic credentials – leaves him feeling captivated. And protective. When his misplaced chivalry sets in motion events which may do more harm than good, Chase and Emerson must work together to keep her safe – and in his arms.
"Whether writing contemporary rom-com or light-hearted, gilded age historicals, Brogan always delivers!" — USA Today, bestselling author Alyssa Alexander
Above the glistening waters of Trillium Bay, the majestic Imperial Hotel awaits its first guests. It’s the summer of 1888, and names like Carnegie, Astor, Pullman, and Bostwick line the premier resort’s registry as society’s elite gather on its grandiose front porch to see – and be seen.
But Chase Bostwick isn’t interested in being seen. As the second son of a wealthy financier, he’s only interested in work – in Chicago – so being tasked by his father to chaperone his wearisome mother and boisterous little sister during their Michigan summer holiday is Chase’s personal purgatory masquerading as paradise – for never was a man more ill-suited to leisure.
Emerson McKenna isn’t interested in being seen, either – but she does want her artistic talents to be noticed. As the illegitimate daughter of a renown portraitist more infamous for his romantic dalliances than for his work, Emerson has schemed her way into a position at the hotel teaching doe-eyed debutantes to paint. She says her goal is to commission enough portraits from the resort’s wealthy patrons to finance her dreams of studying in Paris.
But Chase has his suspicions…
Thinking to ease his ennui, he sets about to unravel the mysteries of this enigmatic Miss and her tattered satchel full of secrets, but what he learns – from her questionable marital status right down to the potentially felonious embellishment of her artistic credentials – leaves him feeling captivated. And protective. When his misplaced chivalry sets in motion events which may do more harm than good, Chase and Emerson must work together to keep her safe – and in his arms.
"Whether writing contemporary rom-com or light-hearted, gilded age historicals, Brogan always delivers!" — USA Today, bestselling author Alyssa Alexander
381 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 5, 2023
247 people are currently reading
1531 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Brogan
25 books1,328 followersUSA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon Publishing bestselling author Tracy Brogan writes happily ever after stories full laughter and love. A three-time recipient of the Amazon Publishing Diamond award for sales exceeding three-million copies, a three-time finalist of the RWA® RITA award for excellence in romantic fiction, and a winner of the Booksellers Best award, Brogan’s books, including both the Bell Harbor and Trillium Bay series, feature re-imagined versions of her favorite Michigan locations and have been translated into more than a dozen languages worldwide. Although best known for her laugh-out-loud contemporary romantic comedies, she’s currently at work on several historical projects including a gilded age series set in Trillium Bay, the long-awaited sequel to Highland Surrender, and a dual-timeline rom-com that just *may* include ghosts. (Psst… it totally has ghosts.) Find out more about Brogan at tracybrogan.com.
Tracy Brogan Books. Witty. Whimsical. Wonderful.
Tracy Brogan Books. Witty. Whimsical. Wonderful.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
December 10, 2023
This is a little scandalous since the heroine is married to another man, but don’t worry, everything turns out well in the end.
Jo is an in-house art teacher in a fancy hotel, Chase is one of the wealthy hotel guests. Since she’s married there’s gossip, a scandal brewing and a general air of “we shouldn’t”. However, as we all know, things that shouldn’t be done can be done if you really, really want to do them. And Chase and Jo really want these things 😏
There was some miscommunication/withholding information, which was frustrating, and a lot of self-sabotage on Jo’s side which was completely unnecessary and lasted way too long. However overall it was a very well paced book with a great set of supporting characters (I can’t wait to read Daisy’s book!) and a captivating storyline. The relaxed holiday setting worked well too and I will definitely continue with the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Jo is an in-house art teacher in a fancy hotel, Chase is one of the wealthy hotel guests. Since she’s married there’s gossip, a scandal brewing and a general air of “we shouldn’t”. However, as we all know, things that shouldn’t be done can be done if you really, really want to do them. And Chase and Jo really want these things 😏
There was some miscommunication/withholding information, which was frustrating, and a lot of self-sabotage on Jo’s side which was completely unnecessary and lasted way too long. However overall it was a very well paced book with a great set of supporting characters (I can’t wait to read Daisy’s book!) and a captivating storyline. The relaxed holiday setting worked well too and I will definitely continue with the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
March 23, 2025
Tropes: Class difference; MFC with Big Secrets; clandestine relationship
Steam level: 1-2 (kissing but sex is described in just a few sentences in one scene and is off-page the rest of the book)
First in a series
Someone recommended this author to me and I'm really glad. This is one of those books I'd call "thoroughly delightful", even though it sounds like a reviewer blurb. Tracy Brogan's writing style is so appealing and accessible that even if you're not into HR's you'll like this one (which also sounds like a blurb, lol, but I mean it). The world building is wonderful-I believe the hotel here is modeled off of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island?-and I loved the comparisons between Chicago and upper Michigan. Plus the secondary characters who work at the hotel, and Ruth and Daisy, are well done. I could visualize the scenes so well that I could imagine this as a movie.
The tone is light in general but there is tension toward the end, as the MC's are separated by an incident in Chase's family and some gossipy sniping. A lot of the comic relief comes in the form of a couple of high-energy doggos; I have to admit their scenes with Chase are very cute.
The MC's, Chase and Jo, are genuinely appealing. I especially liked how they met, and while Jo is attracted to Chase from the beginning, once he falls for her, he falls hard. (The scene when Chase got the photos toward the end is a good example of this writer's ability; it's quiet but very well done.) They each have their flaws, to make them believable, but I was completely rooting for their HEA. I'm not a huge fan of the Big Secret trope, and I did think that Jo should have talked with Chase about her past before or at least right after she divulged to a friend, but her insecurities are understandable.
My reasons this is 4 stars and not 5? I felt that everything was wrapped up a bit too quickly and neatly in some respects. At the same time, there was no closure with Chase's mom. "Mean mom/mom-in-law" is one of my least favorite tropes, and I never got a good handle on the mom's treatment of Chase, although her attitude toward Jo is more understandable, I guess. The last thing, and this is more of a nitpick, but while the Dutch guys seem to be there for comic relief, I wasn't a big fan of the phonetic dialog. These brothers were just caricatures.
Overall: this is a charming, sweet HR.
Steam level: 1-2 (kissing but sex is described in just a few sentences in one scene and is off-page the rest of the book)
First in a series
Someone recommended this author to me and I'm really glad. This is one of those books I'd call "thoroughly delightful", even though it sounds like a reviewer blurb. Tracy Brogan's writing style is so appealing and accessible that even if you're not into HR's you'll like this one (which also sounds like a blurb, lol, but I mean it). The world building is wonderful-I believe the hotel here is modeled off of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island?-and I loved the comparisons between Chicago and upper Michigan. Plus the secondary characters who work at the hotel, and Ruth and Daisy, are well done. I could visualize the scenes so well that I could imagine this as a movie.
The tone is light in general but there is tension toward the end, as the MC's are separated by an incident in Chase's family and some gossipy sniping. A lot of the comic relief comes in the form of a couple of high-energy doggos; I have to admit their scenes with Chase are very cute.
The MC's, Chase and Jo, are genuinely appealing. I especially liked how they met, and while Jo is attracted to Chase from the beginning, once he falls for her, he falls hard. (The scene when Chase got the photos toward the end is a good example of this writer's ability; it's quiet but very well done.) They each have their flaws, to make them believable, but I was completely rooting for their HEA. I'm not a huge fan of the Big Secret trope, and I did think that Jo should have talked with Chase about her past before or at least right after she divulged to a friend, but her insecurities are understandable.
My reasons this is 4 stars and not 5? I felt that everything was wrapped up a bit too quickly and neatly in some respects. At the same time, there was no closure with Chase's mom. "Mean mom/mom-in-law" is one of my least favorite tropes, and I never got a good handle on the mom's treatment of Chase, although her attitude toward Jo is more understandable, I guess. The last thing, and this is more of a nitpick, but while the Dutch guys seem to be there for comic relief, I wasn't a big fan of the phonetic dialog. These brothers were just caricatures.
Overall: this is a charming, sweet HR.
December 4, 2023
Art of the Chase is the first book I've picked up by Tracy Brogan and it won't be the last. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more by her.
Our fmc in this book is Emerson McKenna (Jo) and she has not had an easy time of things lately. She's in Trillium Bay for a job at the majestic Imperial Hotel but she's doing it a bit under the radar. They offered the job to her well-known father by the same name but he's since passed away and she sees this as her one opportunity to get some money so she can go to Paris to study her art further.
Chase Bostwick is driven. As the younger twin in a competitive family, the last thing he wants to do is be in Trillium Bay babysitting his mother and younger sister while his twin brother gets to work and show how valuable he can be to his father and their business. Never mind that his brother recently got engaged to a beautiful socialite Chase had an eye on and ultimately lost. Now he's just trying to find a way to keep busy while waiting for the go-ahead to get back to Chicago.
The way our characters meet was well-done and how their relationship builds throughout the book was wonderful. Emerson is down on her luck and Chase does whatever he can (he says just because he's bored) to help her get what she needs all along the way from the minute she's covered in mud to the very last page.
I loved how Brogan not only built out these characters and their relationship but also those secondary characters around them. Chase's mother and sister, the missing Mr. Talbot (and what his story is), Ruth...and so many more had such an impact on the story and how Jo and Chase's story moves forward. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely pick up more books by this author in the future.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
Our fmc in this book is Emerson McKenna (Jo) and she has not had an easy time of things lately. She's in Trillium Bay for a job at the majestic Imperial Hotel but she's doing it a bit under the radar. They offered the job to her well-known father by the same name but he's since passed away and she sees this as her one opportunity to get some money so she can go to Paris to study her art further.
Chase Bostwick is driven. As the younger twin in a competitive family, the last thing he wants to do is be in Trillium Bay babysitting his mother and younger sister while his twin brother gets to work and show how valuable he can be to his father and their business. Never mind that his brother recently got engaged to a beautiful socialite Chase had an eye on and ultimately lost. Now he's just trying to find a way to keep busy while waiting for the go-ahead to get back to Chicago.
The way our characters meet was well-done and how their relationship builds throughout the book was wonderful. Emerson is down on her luck and Chase does whatever he can (he says just because he's bored) to help her get what she needs all along the way from the minute she's covered in mud to the very last page.
I loved how Brogan not only built out these characters and their relationship but also those secondary characters around them. Chase's mother and sister, the missing Mr. Talbot (and what his story is), Ruth...and so many more had such an impact on the story and how Jo and Chase's story moves forward. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely pick up more books by this author in the future.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 4, 2023
An epic love story. Two people from opposite ends of the social spectrum with so very many obstacles between them and a happily ever after yet somehow they manage to overcome. I loved this trip back in time to a resort island and summer love that becomes so much more. It’s a story that’s as unlikely to occur in real life as marriage to a handsome prince, yet the fantasy makes it all the more sweet and special. A wonderful bit of escapism to a time long past with colorful characters and love that we all dream about finding.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 13, 2023
I loved Art of the Chase. Author Tracy Brogan revisits fictitious Wenniway Island again, where her Trillium Bay contemporary series is set, but
goes back to 1888 when the Imperial Hotel was first open for business. The resort island
is based on Mackinac Island in Michigan, so some of the settings are familiar to me, as a Michigander. Chase Bostwick is sent to the island with his mother and younger sister for the summer. He would rather be home in Chicago working for the family business, but his father feels that Mrs Bostwick needs supervision. Once on island, he literally runs into the Imperial Hotel art instructor, Mrs. Emerson Talbot(Jo). Chase and Jo cross paths frequently, and sparks fly, but this being the 19th century, society frowns on romances between wealthy young men and hired help with a mysterious past. Their story is amusing and enjoyable, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
goes back to 1888 when the Imperial Hotel was first open for business. The resort island
is based on Mackinac Island in Michigan, so some of the settings are familiar to me, as a Michigander. Chase Bostwick is sent to the island with his mother and younger sister for the summer. He would rather be home in Chicago working for the family business, but his father feels that Mrs Bostwick needs supervision. Once on island, he literally runs into the Imperial Hotel art instructor, Mrs. Emerson Talbot(Jo). Chase and Jo cross paths frequently, and sparks fly, but this being the 19th century, society frowns on romances between wealthy young men and hired help with a mysterious past. Their story is amusing and enjoyable, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
March 11, 2024
Jo McKenna's dream is to study art in Paris. To fulfill her dream she needs money. With a little help from Chase Bostwick and a white lie, she has a summer job teaching art at the Imperial Hotel on Trillium Bay. Too many secrets in her past discourage her from looking to a future with Chase. He's in love and determined to right the wrongs that prevent her from being his wife. He won't give up! Mild descriptive sex.
VICTORIAN ROMANCE
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.
VICTORIAN ROMANCE
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.
January 7, 2024
This book is highly entertaining. The characters offered as much humor timed to the plot and sub plot. I love the fact that this book is an enjoyable page turner. I loved the humor and the sweet innocence of love between two people who are very charming and likable.
April 25, 2024
Such a fun, witty book with characters you love or love to despise. Always a joy to read a book by Tracy Brogan. She never disappoints
December 12, 2023
Tracy Brogan uses charm, laughter, heart-tugging emotion, and an immersive sense of place to bring the Gilded Age version of her popular Trillium Bay to life in Art of the Chase, book one of her new historical romance series: The Bostwicks of Trillium Bay.
If you've ever visited Mackinac Island, stayed in the Grand Hotel, or viewed it in photos - or on the big screen in Somewhere in Time - you will no doubt recognize it's elegant influence on Trillium Bay's Imperial Hotel. Brogan brings every nook, cranny, sweeping lake-front lawn, and iconic front porch niche to life in her fictional version, evoking sweet memories for those of us who have visited the real thing and vivid mental paintings of how it - as well as her fictional version - might have been in years gone by. The hotel, like the island itself, is a nuanced character is its own right in this book, helping to offer insight into the lives and personalities of both hard-working staff and privileged guests.
As for the actual characters, Brogan offers up a collection of diverse, well-developed individuals who open windows into the lives of the rich and famous of the time and those whose job it is to serve them. There's the snobbish society maven, who may or may not be more complex than she seems, a teen society miss with a kind heart and unexpected ambitions, a supercilious desk clerk, hyper social director, business-savvy hotel owner, awkward wallflowers, and more. But at the heart of the tale are Chase and Jo (Emerson), two characters from different social classes with more in common than one would imagine, an undeniable attraction, and future plans that do not include the other. I really enjoyed the deft touch Brogan used in bringing them to life, how she slowly unfurled their layers, allowing us into their thoughts and hearts as they, and their relationship, evolved; the light hand she used that celebrated the laughter and joy of falling in love while at the same time keeping the realities of their situation firmly in play. It's a delicate balance between the magic of a summer romance on the island and the reality of city life within an elite society that is likely to never accept the choice of Chase's heart.
Art of the Chase is a story that is charming, humorous, thought provoking, glittering, heart-tugging, and utterly romantic. I turned the final page with a smile on my face, a happy sigh in my heart, and eagerness for the next chapter of The Bostwicks of Trillium Bay.
*Advance copy received. Fair and unbiased review.
If you've ever visited Mackinac Island, stayed in the Grand Hotel, or viewed it in photos - or on the big screen in Somewhere in Time - you will no doubt recognize it's elegant influence on Trillium Bay's Imperial Hotel. Brogan brings every nook, cranny, sweeping lake-front lawn, and iconic front porch niche to life in her fictional version, evoking sweet memories for those of us who have visited the real thing and vivid mental paintings of how it - as well as her fictional version - might have been in years gone by. The hotel, like the island itself, is a nuanced character is its own right in this book, helping to offer insight into the lives and personalities of both hard-working staff and privileged guests.
As for the actual characters, Brogan offers up a collection of diverse, well-developed individuals who open windows into the lives of the rich and famous of the time and those whose job it is to serve them. There's the snobbish society maven, who may or may not be more complex than she seems, a teen society miss with a kind heart and unexpected ambitions, a supercilious desk clerk, hyper social director, business-savvy hotel owner, awkward wallflowers, and more. But at the heart of the tale are Chase and Jo (Emerson), two characters from different social classes with more in common than one would imagine, an undeniable attraction, and future plans that do not include the other. I really enjoyed the deft touch Brogan used in bringing them to life, how she slowly unfurled their layers, allowing us into their thoughts and hearts as they, and their relationship, evolved; the light hand she used that celebrated the laughter and joy of falling in love while at the same time keeping the realities of their situation firmly in play. It's a delicate balance between the magic of a summer romance on the island and the reality of city life within an elite society that is likely to never accept the choice of Chase's heart.
Art of the Chase is a story that is charming, humorous, thought provoking, glittering, heart-tugging, and utterly romantic. I turned the final page with a smile on my face, a happy sigh in my heart, and eagerness for the next chapter of The Bostwicks of Trillium Bay.
*Advance copy received. Fair and unbiased review.
November 28, 2023
What a delight this book was right from the witty intro through to the heartmeltingly romantic finale. Tracy Brogan has a witty way with words that reminds me of P.G. Wodehouse and in Art of the Chase, she has crafted a tale full of unpredictable twists and turns and peopled by a cast of humorously drawn characters that is every bit as entertaining as a Wodehouse classic.
Charles (Chase) Bostwick has been “all but marooned” on a tiny resort island off the coast of northern Michigan, having been sent to act as chaperone to his mother and sister, “all because of just fourteen damnable minutes (…) that had forever relegated him to being the second son”. This means that his twin brother, Alex, always gets all the breaks, like winning the girl they both liked and being able to stay at home in Chicago while Chase is stuck playing nursemaid at the Imperial Hotel in Trillium Bay. After only four days, Chase is already missing the bustle and excitement of his work in Chicago and feeling thoroughly bored. So, when he bumps into the lovely and mysterious Emerson Joan (Jo) McKenna, sending her and her belongings flying into the mud, he is inspired to help her clean up and get through her interview with the insufferable hotel manager.
As for Jo, her life has recently “shifted seismically from comfortably predictable to thoroughly precarious”. She has signed a contract to be the artist in residence at the hotel, knowing full well that they were expecting her father, a well-known artist who recently died, rather than his unknown and penniless daughter. And arriving wet and muddy, with all her things in disarray, would not create the right impression. Only she is wary of trusting this handsome young man who is offering to help, for life has taught her such men “are naught but the source of trial and strife”.
And thus begins a beguiling story that kept me guessing right through to the end. What a great read: highly recommended! Can't wait for the next one!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Charles (Chase) Bostwick has been “all but marooned” on a tiny resort island off the coast of northern Michigan, having been sent to act as chaperone to his mother and sister, “all because of just fourteen damnable minutes (…) that had forever relegated him to being the second son”. This means that his twin brother, Alex, always gets all the breaks, like winning the girl they both liked and being able to stay at home in Chicago while Chase is stuck playing nursemaid at the Imperial Hotel in Trillium Bay. After only four days, Chase is already missing the bustle and excitement of his work in Chicago and feeling thoroughly bored. So, when he bumps into the lovely and mysterious Emerson Joan (Jo) McKenna, sending her and her belongings flying into the mud, he is inspired to help her clean up and get through her interview with the insufferable hotel manager.
As for Jo, her life has recently “shifted seismically from comfortably predictable to thoroughly precarious”. She has signed a contract to be the artist in residence at the hotel, knowing full well that they were expecting her father, a well-known artist who recently died, rather than his unknown and penniless daughter. And arriving wet and muddy, with all her things in disarray, would not create the right impression. Only she is wary of trusting this handsome young man who is offering to help, for life has taught her such men “are naught but the source of trial and strife”.
And thus begins a beguiling story that kept me guessing right through to the end. What a great read: highly recommended! Can't wait for the next one!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 20, 2023
Art of the Chase is such a clever title for this book because the main male character's name is Chase, and the main female character, Jo, is an artist!
Straight away I was captivated by the story when Jo has a run-in with Chase and ends up in the mud. It wasn't a romantic way of meeting but the attraction was definitely there despite the circumstances!
Jo is a married woman, although separated from her husband and under false pretences she accepts a job teaching art in a very exclusive hotel. A job that was meant for her father, a well-known artist who passed away before the job offer reached him. Desperate for money Jo decides to take the job herself as she is an equally good artist.
Chase is staying at the hotel with his mother and once he and Jo meet there is no stopping their romance despite all the reasons it shouldn't happen. They are a well-matched couple and I enjoyed reading how their relationship developed and couldn't wait to see how they would get their happy ending. At one point I wasn't sure it could happen, but of course, it did, and it was both believable and wonderful.
The setting of the hotel and its grounds made for a really interesting read and I particularly liked reading about the types of entertainment and games that the hotel provided as the author writes in her notes that they were actual games of the era! I enjoy books that can teach me something as well as provide a sigh-worthy love story.
There were some particularly nasty characters in the story, not least Jo's estranged husband, and Chase's mother. Chase was more than ready to champion Jo which made him a real hero in my eyes. His relationship with Jo, even though it reached the bedroom stages, was beautifully written. The passion was obvious but it was described without being too descriptive which was perfect.
I loved this story and am very much looking forward to the next one in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Straight away I was captivated by the story when Jo has a run-in with Chase and ends up in the mud. It wasn't a romantic way of meeting but the attraction was definitely there despite the circumstances!
Jo is a married woman, although separated from her husband and under false pretences she accepts a job teaching art in a very exclusive hotel. A job that was meant for her father, a well-known artist who passed away before the job offer reached him. Desperate for money Jo decides to take the job herself as she is an equally good artist.
Chase is staying at the hotel with his mother and once he and Jo meet there is no stopping their romance despite all the reasons it shouldn't happen. They are a well-matched couple and I enjoyed reading how their relationship developed and couldn't wait to see how they would get their happy ending. At one point I wasn't sure it could happen, but of course, it did, and it was both believable and wonderful.
The setting of the hotel and its grounds made for a really interesting read and I particularly liked reading about the types of entertainment and games that the hotel provided as the author writes in her notes that they were actual games of the era! I enjoy books that can teach me something as well as provide a sigh-worthy love story.
There were some particularly nasty characters in the story, not least Jo's estranged husband, and Chase's mother. Chase was more than ready to champion Jo which made him a real hero in my eyes. His relationship with Jo, even though it reached the bedroom stages, was beautifully written. The passion was obvious but it was described without being too descriptive which was perfect.
I loved this story and am very much looking forward to the next one in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 2, 2023
1888
Charles (Chase) Bostwick, 25, has a twin brother, Alexander, who was born first and has recently become engaged to Isabella Carnegie, a beautiful woman whom Chase also desires. Chase and Alexander both work for their super wealthy father, A. J. Bostwick, in Chicago. Now, Chase’s father has decreed that he spend the summer escorting his mother, Constance, and sister, Daisy to the Imperial Hotel on Wenniway Island. As Chase loves his job, he is very bored.
While walking his mother’s two dogs in the rain, he bumps into a young woman knocking a box of art supplies from her hands. Apologizing, he offers to get a carriage to take her to the Imperial Hotel where she says she is the new artist in residence.
Emerson Joan McKenna Talbot goes by the name of Jo. She will be offering drawing and painting lessons for residents of the hotel. She says she is married but secretly after her father died, her husband vanished. As Jo settles into her new job, she finds many people who want to take painting lessons with her. Daisy is quite enamored by Jo and loves her painting lessons. She also gains the admiration of Chase who likes her take on life.
I absolutely adored this story. The building of a love story is told so well and the characters are so real. Ruth’s friendship with Jo is solid and I especially loved Daisy with her intelligence and zest for life. I can certainly say that I cannot wait to read more of the books in this series. A delightful book. Enjoy!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Charles (Chase) Bostwick, 25, has a twin brother, Alexander, who was born first and has recently become engaged to Isabella Carnegie, a beautiful woman whom Chase also desires. Chase and Alexander both work for their super wealthy father, A. J. Bostwick, in Chicago. Now, Chase’s father has decreed that he spend the summer escorting his mother, Constance, and sister, Daisy to the Imperial Hotel on Wenniway Island. As Chase loves his job, he is very bored.
While walking his mother’s two dogs in the rain, he bumps into a young woman knocking a box of art supplies from her hands. Apologizing, he offers to get a carriage to take her to the Imperial Hotel where she says she is the new artist in residence.
Emerson Joan McKenna Talbot goes by the name of Jo. She will be offering drawing and painting lessons for residents of the hotel. She says she is married but secretly after her father died, her husband vanished. As Jo settles into her new job, she finds many people who want to take painting lessons with her. Daisy is quite enamored by Jo and loves her painting lessons. She also gains the admiration of Chase who likes her take on life.
I absolutely adored this story. The building of a love story is told so well and the characters are so real. Ruth’s friendship with Jo is solid and I especially loved Daisy with her intelligence and zest for life. I can certainly say that I cannot wait to read more of the books in this series. A delightful book. Enjoy!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 22, 2024
I read all three of Tracy Brogan's contemporary Trillium Bay novels when they came out a few years ago. I don't read a ton of contemporary romance, but Mackinac Island (*cough*, excuse me, Wenniway Island) is always a fun setting, and I enjoyed them. So, when I saw Tracy had a Gilded Age historical set on the Island coming out, I knew I was going to read it.
I was expecting to enjoy spending time at The Grand (excuse me, The Imperial Hotel). I was not expecting to find Chase and Jo as adorable as I did. He's the rich boy who actually enjoys his job at the family firm and can't believe he's been sent away to babysit his mother and younger sister on vacation for a whole summer. She's the semi-respectable daughter of a famous artist who has talked herself into a job teaching art classes at the newly-opened hotel. They have a meet-cute involving two dachshunds in the rain -- and the story takes off from there.
I just completely fell in love with both of these characters and wanted them to get their against-the-odds happy ending. It was like Dirty Dancing meets Somewhere in Time, with maybe a dash of a slightly less spicy Hotel of Secrets.
At the moment, I am having a hard time believing I will be able to get as invested in the next book, featuring a second Bostwick sibling, but, you better believe I will be reading it when it comes out.
I was expecting to enjoy spending time at The Grand (excuse me, The Imperial Hotel). I was not expecting to find Chase and Jo as adorable as I did. He's the rich boy who actually enjoys his job at the family firm and can't believe he's been sent away to babysit his mother and younger sister on vacation for a whole summer. She's the semi-respectable daughter of a famous artist who has talked herself into a job teaching art classes at the newly-opened hotel. They have a meet-cute involving two dachshunds in the rain -- and the story takes off from there.
I just completely fell in love with both of these characters and wanted them to get their against-the-odds happy ending. It was like Dirty Dancing meets Somewhere in Time, with maybe a dash of a slightly less spicy Hotel of Secrets.
At the moment, I am having a hard time believing I will be able to get as invested in the next book, featuring a second Bostwick sibling, but, you better believe I will be reading it when it comes out.
February 5, 2024
I really loved this new series set in the Golden Age of the turn of the Century in America (think Gilded Age the show). All the action takes place on a fictional island fashioned after Mackinac Island in Michigan, where the elite of Chicago go to vacation during the summer. Jo, a down on her luck, dare I say “starving” artist, has a last chance in the form of a job at the posh Imperial Hotel on the island. The only problem is that she may have told a white lie to get the position. Then she quite literally runs smack into the very handsome Chase Bostwick, of THOSE Bostwicks of Chicago, and lands on her behind in the mud, in her nicest interview dress. However all hope is not lost as Chase feels responsible for the accident and helps Jo, even though they are both wondering why he is assisting her.
There is a lot of intrigue because Jo is actually hiding a lot about herself, and Chase’s mother has plans for him to marry very well, not some no name art teacher. But there is a lot of comedy as well, especially with Daisy, Chase’s very fun teenage sister.
This is a great start to the series and I can’t wait to read more about Chase’s twin brother in the next book.
There is a lot of intrigue because Jo is actually hiding a lot about herself, and Chase’s mother has plans for him to marry very well, not some no name art teacher. But there is a lot of comedy as well, especially with Daisy, Chase’s very fun teenage sister.
This is a great start to the series and I can’t wait to read more about Chase’s twin brother in the next book.
November 24, 2023
I was excited to read this book. The description sounded so good. But when I opened the book to read it I found myself less, than captivated by it.
Now the story was great. The writing was wonderful, and the characters had depth. I just found myself bored with it. I had to force myself to read it and I do not know why. I just could not stay focused on it I found myself simply wanting to put it down and walk away.
That said, the book was well written. It had romance, mystery, and great characters. I just was bored. It was like watching a movie by your favorite actor but not finding the movie interesting. That is how I felt about this book. Overall, there was nothing wrong with the book I just wasn't interested in it once I started reading it. It just did not reach out and grab any attention.
From the reviews I read it was a personal thing and not an author thing. So I would recommend the book as it may be something someone else would love to read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Now the story was great. The writing was wonderful, and the characters had depth. I just found myself bored with it. I had to force myself to read it and I do not know why. I just could not stay focused on it I found myself simply wanting to put it down and walk away.
That said, the book was well written. It had romance, mystery, and great characters. I just was bored. It was like watching a movie by your favorite actor but not finding the movie interesting. That is how I felt about this book. Overall, there was nothing wrong with the book I just wasn't interested in it once I started reading it. It just did not reach out and grab any attention.
From the reviews I read it was a personal thing and not an author thing. So I would recommend the book as it may be something someone else would love to read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 5, 2023
Art of the Chase is the first of The Bostwicks of Trillium Bay series and I just LOVE it!!!!!
It’s a lovely story, full of romance, funny parts and great characters.
Charles Bostwick or Chase as his family calls him is this workaholic and competitive person who suddenly has the dull task to bring his mother and younger sister to a holiday in Wenniway island. One a rainy night, he physically collides with Emerson Joan McKenna who is the daughter of a famous deceased painter hired as painting teacher at the Imperial Hotel.
Their different backgrounds, and past presents obstacle after obstacle threatening their happy ending.
The descriptive way in which the story is narrated helps you feel so immersed in the book that at times you feel like traveling in time. The final chapter and epilogue is enough to let every reader feel satisfied with the ending of the story but also excited about the following books in the series. I personally can’t wait for the next book.
Thanks NetGalley for allowing to read an early copy.
It’s a lovely story, full of romance, funny parts and great characters.
Charles Bostwick or Chase as his family calls him is this workaholic and competitive person who suddenly has the dull task to bring his mother and younger sister to a holiday in Wenniway island. One a rainy night, he physically collides with Emerson Joan McKenna who is the daughter of a famous deceased painter hired as painting teacher at the Imperial Hotel.
Their different backgrounds, and past presents obstacle after obstacle threatening their happy ending.
The descriptive way in which the story is narrated helps you feel so immersed in the book that at times you feel like traveling in time. The final chapter and epilogue is enough to let every reader feel satisfied with the ending of the story but also excited about the following books in the series. I personally can’t wait for the next book.
Thanks NetGalley for allowing to read an early copy.
January 10, 2024
I very much enjoyed Chase and Jo's story in Book 1 of this series! I had read Tracy Brogan's Highland Surrender a few years ago and wanted to read more of her books. This one during the Gilded Era did not disappoint! Chase and Jo are a wonderful couple who were not looking for love. Chase is upset that his father has 'forced' him to accompany his mother and sister, Daisy, to Trillium Bay for the summer when he would rather be in Chicago with his father and twin brother managing their business. Jo is the daughter of a famous artist, and she too is quite talented. While she was married before, she hides many secrets and finds herself unwillingly falling in love with Chase. With the help of Daisy, hotel staff, and two pampered dogs, Chase and Jo will find that they don't want the summer in Trillium Bay to ever end.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
January 10, 2024
I very much enjoyed Chase and Jo's story in Book 1 of this series! I had read Tracy Brogan's Highland Surrender a few years ago and wanted to read more of her books. This one during the Gilded Era did not disappoint! Chase and Jo are a wonderful couple who were not looking for love. Chase is upset that his father has 'forced' him to accompany his mother and sister, Daisy, to Trillium Bay for the summer when he would rather be in Chicago with his father and twin brother managing their business. Jo is the daughter of a famous artist, and she too is quite talented. While she was married before, she hides many secrets and finds herself unwillingly falling in love with Chase. With the help of Daisy, hotel staff, and two pampered dogs, Chase and Jo will find that they don't want the summer in Trillium Bay to ever end.
November 26, 2023
Hard-working Chase is bored vacationing for the summer with his wealthy family. Then, he crosses paths with secretive Jo, who's teaching painting classes at the resort. Chase is drawn to uncover the mysteries surrounding her absent husband. As the bond between Chase and Jo develops, can they overcome the obstacles presented by their class differences and Jo's past to build a future together?
This is a compelling and unpredictable novel for fans of forbidden love. Jo and Chase are complex and very different people who push each other to grow. The storytelling is brilliant and the side characters add richness and a hint of fun.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This is a compelling and unpredictable novel for fans of forbidden love. Jo and Chase are complex and very different people who push each other to grow. The storytelling is brilliant and the side characters add richness and a hint of fun.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
November 29, 2023
Enjoyed!
Although I generally don't read this genre, I enjoyed this novel set in the Gilded Age. Everything is fancy, everyone is civilized and shows no imperfections (in public, anyway), and the rich and famous are VERY rich and famous!
Emerson McKenna is a woman whose ideals are more suited to present day than the day she was born into. While she is completely different from the women he normally is attracted to, Chase Bostwick finds himself drawn to Emerson. Alas, she is married and out of bounds.
I enjoyed the interactions between Emerson and Chase, and their story. I will be looking forward to the next book in this new series.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.
Although I generally don't read this genre, I enjoyed this novel set in the Gilded Age. Everything is fancy, everyone is civilized and shows no imperfections (in public, anyway), and the rich and famous are VERY rich and famous!
Emerson McKenna is a woman whose ideals are more suited to present day than the day she was born into. While she is completely different from the women he normally is attracted to, Chase Bostwick finds himself drawn to Emerson. Alas, she is married and out of bounds.
I enjoyed the interactions between Emerson and Chase, and their story. I will be looking forward to the next book in this new series.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.
December 3, 2023
Jo and Chase have an interesting meet cute with his mother’s dogs knocking her into a mud puddle in the rain. She tells one lie after another about the job and her husband but Chase soon realizes this is because she has to. But he doesn’t accept one of her prior dishonest actions later on not realizing it’s for the same reason. They have an affair to the delight of his sister and anger of his judgmental mother. Their forbidden romance has it’s share of ups and downs but it makes him realize there’s more to love than just a pretty face like his soon to be sister-in-law he was jealous of his brother for. I enjoyed reading about all the ways Jo set up drawing and painting classes for her students at the hotel.
December 4, 2023
The hero is a second son from a rich and powerful Chicago family. He has been sent by his father to look after his mother, sister and two dogs. He resent that as he is a workaholic. The heroine is a poor aspiring artist who is married with an absent husband and has a deceased artist father. The hotel thinks she is her father and so she has a problem right off the bat. They meet when she bumps into the hero walking his mother’s dogs and he feel compelled to help her. How they get together makes for an interesting story. His sister is a welcome breath of fresh air. I received an ARC for an honest review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 5, 2024
The word that kept crossing my mind as I read this latest offering by Tracy Brogan was delightful. She set this historical romance on an island in upper Michigan at a luxury hotel with an extremely likable, recently wronged artist, Jo McKenna. She is as plucky as she is resourceful, fighting her way to solvency and the right kind of recognition. Chase Bostwick has been sentenced to a summer on the island where he is managing his boredom, taciturn mother, and irrepressible sister, Daisy. From their first encounter, the reader is eager to see how these two very different people will come together and ease each other from the safety of their preconceived notions. Brogan’s writing is delightful, witty, and true to the time period. I very much look forward to the next book in the series.
December 4, 2023
Art of the Chase is a very cute historical romance set on a fictional island that is based on Mackinac Island in Michigan. Being from Michigan and having been to Mackinac Island many times, this was a very fun surprise!
Chase and Jo are both great characters and have a lot of chemistry between them. I loved seeing their story unfold.
The only thing keeping this book from being 5 stars for me was the fact that it took a long time for me to connect with and feel invested in Chase and Jo as characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Chase and Jo are both great characters and have a lot of chemistry between them. I loved seeing their story unfold.
The only thing keeping this book from being 5 stars for me was the fact that it took a long time for me to connect with and feel invested in Chase and Jo as characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 5, 2023
Art of the Chase is utterly charming and a lovely diversion from everyday life.
Ms. Brogan's writing style is delightful. This is the first I have read of her work, and I will definitely be reading more!
From the moment they met, I knew Chase and Jo's story would be a joy to read. I was right. It has a wonderful balance of romance and humor as the two fall deeply in love despite their very different stations in life. Add in the bonus of a wonderful set of supporting characters, and I can't help but be delighted that this is the beginning of a series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ms. Brogan's writing style is delightful. This is the first I have read of her work, and I will definitely be reading more!
From the moment they met, I knew Chase and Jo's story would be a joy to read. I was right. It has a wonderful balance of romance and humor as the two fall deeply in love despite their very different stations in life. Add in the bonus of a wonderful set of supporting characters, and I can't help but be delighted that this is the beginning of a series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 30, 2023
Well written story!
I really enjoyed this novel!
She is a struggling artist with a dark past, he is a rich businessman. After the two collide (literally) Chase helps Emerson out of a jam. When the two are continually thrown together, will they find something much more than ever thought possible?
I really loved this book! My only critique is the romance was a bit heavy for my taste. I felt like the story took a turn and moved into only about hooking up and not the story itself.. I would probably recommend to my friends and family.
I really enjoyed this novel!
She is a struggling artist with a dark past, he is a rich businessman. After the two collide (literally) Chase helps Emerson out of a jam. When the two are continually thrown together, will they find something much more than ever thought possible?
I really loved this book! My only critique is the romance was a bit heavy for my taste. I felt like the story took a turn and moved into only about hooking up and not the story itself.. I would probably recommend to my friends and family.
December 3, 2023
A fun, enjoyable read set in 1881 in northern Michigan.
Chase, wealthy financier, is tasked with keeping his mother and sister out of trouble on vacation, while his father and brother remain in Chicago working. He's rich, handsome and bored not being in the city. He meets Emerson, an artist who's hired by the hotel to teach patrons to paint. It's an entertaining setting and the side characters are so fun. It's a great start to a new series. Excited to see more from this series.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.
Chase, wealthy financier, is tasked with keeping his mother and sister out of trouble on vacation, while his father and brother remain in Chicago working. He's rich, handsome and bored not being in the city. He meets Emerson, an artist who's hired by the hotel to teach patrons to paint. It's an entertaining setting and the side characters are so fun. It's a great start to a new series. Excited to see more from this series.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.
December 3, 2023
A fun, enjoyable read set in 1881 in northern Michigan.
Chase, wealthy financier, is tasked with keeping his mother and sister out of trouble on vacation, while his father and brother remain in Chicago working. He's rich, handsome and bored not being in the city. He meets Emerson, an artist who's hired by the hotel to teach patrons to paint. It's an entertaining setting and the side characters are so fun. It's a great start to a new series. Excited to see more from this series.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.
Chase, wealthy financier, is tasked with keeping his mother and sister out of trouble on vacation, while his father and brother remain in Chicago working. He's rich, handsome and bored not being in the city. He meets Emerson, an artist who's hired by the hotel to teach patrons to paint. It's an entertaining setting and the side characters are so fun. It's a great start to a new series. Excited to see more from this series.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.
November 12, 2023
Tracy Brogan delivers a heartful love and mystery that leaves me to appreciate a Gilded Age era. I would rather take scenic romance in England, but she delivers a story for the ages that bonds people together only to prompt them with differences and her books give many different perspectives. I appreciate her writing and it was an amazing overall story that I enjoy very much. This is my added book to my list of releases to a great ending 2023 year of wonderful books.
10/10
10/10
November 19, 2023
An enjoyable read. There was a nice touch of humour, a well worked romance and some intrigue. It highlighted how money buys you privilege yet how sometimes people who have money may look respectable but the origins of their wealth is mired in injustice and crime. I liked the characters, especially females, the sister of the male lead was bright, spoiled, caring and intuitive. This was well worth a read.
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