What do you think?
Rate this book
Ellen Martin Disasters #1
Chasing Heart
What the critics are saying:
"Mark Lingane excels at characterisation, dialogue and fast paced action. But he is just as good at tender romance and volcanic passion."
"An absolute page-turner that hooks you in from the beginning. Once you pick it up, you will not put it down..." - theIndieTribe
"A thrilling ride of a novel!"
“You’re from one of those European countries, aren’t you, Ellen?”
I looked around wondering whom the great Peter Cowley may be addressing. There was no-one else. Must be me.
Close, I thought. “I’m from the Bible-belt.”
“I mean your heritage. Your roots, my dear girl.”
“Weeeell, if you go back far enough. Aren’t we all?” I replied.
“That’s that spirit.”
“But, wait, I...”
“Here is your ticket to Columbia. You change at L.A. and Bogotá, then a quick hop over to Barrancabermeja.”
“Where?”
“I’m sure you’ll sort it out on the way.”
“What? Again, why am I going?”
It’s the mid-90s and ELLEN MARTIN has a soaring corporate legal career in Chicago’s powerhouse firm Cowley&Tate. She is handpicked to perform a pro bono case in the sweltering Colombian town of Barrancabermeja. However, it is a place where she is not welcome, and soon events conspire against her to push her into a downward spiral of trouble and desperation.
She is kidnapped, arrested shot at, chased by the police, the military, a corrupt government, revolutionary groups, librarians and common criminals while civilisation crumbles around her.
Revolution comes to the small city and threatens the stability of the whole country. Her only help is Alex Heart, the musician housemate of the gay architect nephew of her personal trainer. Alex turns into her knight in shining armour while she tries to find out who is behind her predicament. Not is all as it seems. As Ellen's life falls apart the events spiraling around her become more fantasy-like.
Chasing Heart is a modern day fairy tale.
"Mark Lingane excels at characterisation, dialogue and fast paced action. But he is just as good at tender romance and volcanic passion."
"An absolute page-turner that hooks you in from the beginning. Once you pick it up, you will not put it down..." - theIndieTribe
"A thrilling ride of a novel!"
“You’re from one of those European countries, aren’t you, Ellen?”
I looked around wondering whom the great Peter Cowley may be addressing. There was no-one else. Must be me.
Close, I thought. “I’m from the Bible-belt.”
“I mean your heritage. Your roots, my dear girl.”
“Weeeell, if you go back far enough. Aren’t we all?” I replied.
“That’s that spirit.”
“But, wait, I...”
“Here is your ticket to Columbia. You change at L.A. and Bogotá, then a quick hop over to Barrancabermeja.”
“Where?”
“I’m sure you’ll sort it out on the way.”
“What? Again, why am I going?”
It’s the mid-90s and ELLEN MARTIN has a soaring corporate legal career in Chicago’s powerhouse firm Cowley&Tate. She is handpicked to perform a pro bono case in the sweltering Colombian town of Barrancabermeja. However, it is a place where she is not welcome, and soon events conspire against her to push her into a downward spiral of trouble and desperation.
She is kidnapped, arrested shot at, chased by the police, the military, a corrupt government, revolutionary groups, librarians and common criminals while civilisation crumbles around her.
Revolution comes to the small city and threatens the stability of the whole country. Her only help is Alex Heart, the musician housemate of the gay architect nephew of her personal trainer. Alex turns into her knight in shining armour while she tries to find out who is behind her predicament. Not is all as it seems. As Ellen's life falls apart the events spiraling around her become more fantasy-like.
Chasing Heart is a modern day fairy tale.
280 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2013
675 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 23, 2013
The first few chapter, the characters are being revealed separately. I was wondering why there are no connection from one person to another. However, later part in the novel you will be able to see the connection created by the author between Ellen Martin and other characters in the book.
Ellen Martin, as a corporate lawyer in firm Cowley & Tate was asked to help Ricky Martinez by her boss in Colombia, a country which practices a different law from in States. This had made poor Ellen to get into trouble and became a suspect of murder case and fire starter , and a hitchhiker. A hero always appeared every time she needed someone by her side. What so in coincident is that Sol, the cousin of Sam( her trainer) wasn't there every time she phoned him as he is the only person she can contact with, and her hero answered to her call. In a place where Ellen was unfamiliar and the situation was endanger to her, Alex become her rescuer, a person she can rely on.
Is Ellen the one who feel something to Alex or both of them has the same feeling?
Will they be save from this plot?
Who are the people behind the plot?
Believe me, there are some part which is very funny when Alex and Ellen were interacting and you surely will want to keep in pace to read this novel.
Ellen Martin, as a corporate lawyer in firm Cowley & Tate was asked to help Ricky Martinez by her boss in Colombia, a country which practices a different law from in States. This had made poor Ellen to get into trouble and became a suspect of murder case and fire starter , and a hitchhiker. A hero always appeared every time she needed someone by her side. What so in coincident is that Sol, the cousin of Sam( her trainer) wasn't there every time she phoned him as he is the only person she can contact with, and her hero answered to her call. In a place where Ellen was unfamiliar and the situation was endanger to her, Alex become her rescuer, a person she can rely on.
Is Ellen the one who feel something to Alex or both of them has the same feeling?
Will they be save from this plot?
Who are the people behind the plot?
Believe me, there are some part which is very funny when Alex and Ellen were interacting and you surely will want to keep in pace to read this novel.
August 7, 2013
I was asked by the author to review this book. I admit, I was snagged when I saw that it takes place in the mid-90s. What can I say? I was a teen then, and nostalgia is a great thing. The 90s were an awesome time, so I figured, "Let's see what this book is about."
To say that this book is amusing is an understatement. As I read this book, I spent the majority of my time laughing at poor Ellen and the various situations in which she found herself. I found myself relating easily to Ellen, as she basically tripped though her time in Colombia getting into trouble without any effort whatsoever.
While Chasing Heart lacks a bit in the editing department, it is overall an excellent read. Lingane work is humorous, and he is adept in keeping the reader's attention (which, let's face it, not all writers are able to do). I read this book in a few hours. It kept me laughing, and the plot itself was nicely paced with action and a bit of romance.
If you are looking for a fun, entertaining, or quick read, I recommend Chasing Heart. Don't expect to discover the meaning of life in this book, but be prepared to find the humor in Ellen's "little" mishaps and misadventures.
See the review at www.bookscompletemeunlimited.com
To say that this book is amusing is an understatement. As I read this book, I spent the majority of my time laughing at poor Ellen and the various situations in which she found herself. I found myself relating easily to Ellen, as she basically tripped though her time in Colombia getting into trouble without any effort whatsoever.
While Chasing Heart lacks a bit in the editing department, it is overall an excellent read. Lingane work is humorous, and he is adept in keeping the reader's attention (which, let's face it, not all writers are able to do). I read this book in a few hours. It kept me laughing, and the plot itself was nicely paced with action and a bit of romance.
If you are looking for a fun, entertaining, or quick read, I recommend Chasing Heart. Don't expect to discover the meaning of life in this book, but be prepared to find the humor in Ellen's "little" mishaps and misadventures.
See the review at www.bookscompletemeunlimited.com
August 3, 2015
Audiobook
Narration - Cynthia Hemminger - Pretty Good
Ellen Martin is a corporate Lawyer who pretty much bungles her way through her job assignment in Barrancabermeja. This book is witty, and while I wouldn't classify it as a comedy, it's a humorous book and the narrator does a great job of capturing the sort of snarkiness of Ellen. Well, maybe snarky isn't the right word. Sarcasm? Cheeky? A lot of Self-deprecation maybe?
Beneath it all, there's a big mystery to be solved, and while Ellen certainly trips her way into the middle of her share of danger, she's by no means stupid.
There's a little bit of romance, but the main focus of the book is the danger that seems to be arrowing directly toward Ellen! There's a lot of characters and in the beginning you learn several different stories that all end up colliding together at some point, so to me, that's always an entertaining way to get my story!
Really was an enjoyable listen.
I received this audiobook free of charge from audiobookblast in exchange for an unbiased review.
Narration - Cynthia Hemminger - Pretty Good
Ellen Martin is a corporate Lawyer who pretty much bungles her way through her job assignment in Barrancabermeja. This book is witty, and while I wouldn't classify it as a comedy, it's a humorous book and the narrator does a great job of capturing the sort of snarkiness of Ellen. Well, maybe snarky isn't the right word. Sarcasm? Cheeky? A lot of Self-deprecation maybe?
Beneath it all, there's a big mystery to be solved, and while Ellen certainly trips her way into the middle of her share of danger, she's by no means stupid.
There's a little bit of romance, but the main focus of the book is the danger that seems to be arrowing directly toward Ellen! There's a lot of characters and in the beginning you learn several different stories that all end up colliding together at some point, so to me, that's always an entertaining way to get my story!
Really was an enjoyable listen.
I received this audiobook free of charge from audiobookblast in exchange for an unbiased review.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews