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Riley's Peak #1
Chasing Symmetry
Someone had been trying for the perfect shade of red . . .
When art professor Bianca James tries to save a dying woman, the grudge-holding chief of police is all too quick to catapult her to the top of the suspect list. As if that isn’t enough, her ex-boyfriend’s younger brother, Finn Tierny, is assigned to the case, and she’s faced with a trilogy of dilemmas: go head to head with the chief, stop a cold-blooded killer on her own, or trust another Tierny.
Finn’s return to Riley’s Peak is bittersweet. He’s flooded with memories, both good and bad, as he battles doubts about being a cop, a cantankerous father, a jealous brother, and a drug dealer with a rap-sheet longer than the list of addicts he’s been supplying.
Threats escalate, the suspect list grows, and it becomes clear—the murderer’s resolve to kill Bianca is almost as strong as Finn’s desire to keep her alive.
Almost.
When art professor Bianca James tries to save a dying woman, the grudge-holding chief of police is all too quick to catapult her to the top of the suspect list. As if that isn’t enough, her ex-boyfriend’s younger brother, Finn Tierny, is assigned to the case, and she’s faced with a trilogy of dilemmas: go head to head with the chief, stop a cold-blooded killer on her own, or trust another Tierny.
Finn’s return to Riley’s Peak is bittersweet. He’s flooded with memories, both good and bad, as he battles doubts about being a cop, a cantankerous father, a jealous brother, and a drug dealer with a rap-sheet longer than the list of addicts he’s been supplying.
Threats escalate, the suspect list grows, and it becomes clear—the murderer’s resolve to kill Bianca is almost as strong as Finn’s desire to keep her alive.
Almost.
316 pages, Paperback
Published June 14, 2016
50 people are currently reading
1095 people want to read
About the author
Tempeste Blake
4 books65 followersWhen Nancy Smith and Cat Trizzino met in an online writers’ group, their individual styles blended to a shared vision. Though they live in different states, Nancy in Michigan, Cat in Maryland, their passion for well-crafted stories makes the physical distance irrelevant. Tempeste Blake is the result of their combined voices, an author who writes grab-the-tissue-box, heart-in-your-throat romantic suspense and loves to throw her characters into the deep end to see if they sink or swim.
Chasing Symmetry is Tempeste’s first novel.
Please stop by www.tempesteblake.com to chat about the story, characters, or whatever. And if you’d like to share your opinion with other readers in a review on Amazon or Goodreads, well, there’s a double dose of good karma coming your way.
Chasing Symmetry is Tempeste’s first novel.
Please stop by www.tempesteblake.com to chat about the story, characters, or whatever. And if you’d like to share your opinion with other readers in a review on Amazon or Goodreads, well, there’s a double dose of good karma coming your way.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 23, 2016
Bianca James has a duck problem. Like her father before her, she’s an artist with a goal of winning the Wildlife Conservatory competition. After her mother died, her father had dreamed of winning with his painting of a solitary duck. Now an art professor herself, Bianca has inherited that dream and wants to win for both herself and her dead parents. Her entries feature two ducks, but she hasn’t been satisfied with any of her efforts so far. Her ducks just don’t seem to be a true pair. Perhaps her inability to project a sense of symmetry is due to the problem she’s always had with perspective—calculating those lines and angles makes her eyes glaze over.
Art—the one constant place she’s looked for peace—has failed her. Maybe it’s the problem with her ex-boyfriend Dylan, caught in a downward spiral of guilt and drink after he injured a young boy and lost his job on the police force. Maybe it’s her complicated feelings for Finn, her former student, and Dylan’s younger brother. Or maybe it has something to do with the young woman brutally attacked a few feet from where she was working on campus, who died in her arms. Oh, yeah. Maybe that.
When I started reading Chasing Symmetry, I already knew it was the joint effort of two different writers, and I wondered if they would find symmetry and a cohesive voice. The answer is that yes, the writing came together beautifully and with a terrific sense for pace and character development. Certain phrases captured moments in almost poetically spare language. “Emotions played over her face, misty-edged and cobbled, that finally angled toward yes.”
As Bianca becomes target of a murder investigation, and of a murderer, she and Finn cautiously explore the minefield of mutual attraction. Finn, who has returned to the local police force in order to be near his terminally ill father, is also dealing with his own conflicts—a vindictive boss, a self-destructive brother, and an unwilling attraction to that brother’s former girlfriend.
There were several things I really liked about this book. The authors played fair with the genre and their readers. Every clue (and a respectable number of red herrings) was put out there so readers could guess the killer, if not the motive. Even better, most of the main characters had the same motive (which I can’t reveal without going to that special level of hell…) BUT each dealt with that in their own way. Only one of them turned to murder.
“It wasn’t about circumstances, Bianca was coming to realize, but how you played the cards you’d been dealt. She also knew that what you sometimes see in someone else is actually yourself, and it was as if some part of his situation was plucking a harmonious chord within her.”
Then there were a few things that bothered me. As a personal note, I really, seriously, totally hate the love triangle. Then there is Finn’s role as a cop. In a town large enough to have both uniforms and detectives, it seems extremely unlikely that a regular police officer would be investigating a crime, let alone one that involves his close family and brother’s girlfriend. Also, there is the offhand reference to an adoptive mother as being unfit, but the only information we’re given about her is that she’s a lesbian.
But overall, Chasing Symmetry is a well-paced thriller with a nicely developing romance and compelling, believable characters. I would happily recommend it to anyone looking for a fun mystery/romance read, and look forward to the next book in the series, Dylan’s story in Chasing Gravity.
***I received this book for free from the publisher or author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.***
Art—the one constant place she’s looked for peace—has failed her. Maybe it’s the problem with her ex-boyfriend Dylan, caught in a downward spiral of guilt and drink after he injured a young boy and lost his job on the police force. Maybe it’s her complicated feelings for Finn, her former student, and Dylan’s younger brother. Or maybe it has something to do with the young woman brutally attacked a few feet from where she was working on campus, who died in her arms. Oh, yeah. Maybe that.
When I started reading Chasing Symmetry, I already knew it was the joint effort of two different writers, and I wondered if they would find symmetry and a cohesive voice. The answer is that yes, the writing came together beautifully and with a terrific sense for pace and character development. Certain phrases captured moments in almost poetically spare language. “Emotions played over her face, misty-edged and cobbled, that finally angled toward yes.”
As Bianca becomes target of a murder investigation, and of a murderer, she and Finn cautiously explore the minefield of mutual attraction. Finn, who has returned to the local police force in order to be near his terminally ill father, is also dealing with his own conflicts—a vindictive boss, a self-destructive brother, and an unwilling attraction to that brother’s former girlfriend.
There were several things I really liked about this book. The authors played fair with the genre and their readers. Every clue (and a respectable number of red herrings) was put out there so readers could guess the killer, if not the motive. Even better, most of the main characters had the same motive (which I can’t reveal without going to that special level of hell…) BUT each dealt with that in their own way. Only one of them turned to murder.
“It wasn’t about circumstances, Bianca was coming to realize, but how you played the cards you’d been dealt. She also knew that what you sometimes see in someone else is actually yourself, and it was as if some part of his situation was plucking a harmonious chord within her.”
Then there were a few things that bothered me. As a personal note, I really, seriously, totally hate the love triangle. Then there is Finn’s role as a cop. In a town large enough to have both uniforms and detectives, it seems extremely unlikely that a regular police officer would be investigating a crime, let alone one that involves his close family and brother’s girlfriend. Also, there is the offhand reference to an adoptive mother as being unfit, but the only information we’re given about her is that she’s a lesbian.
But overall, Chasing Symmetry is a well-paced thriller with a nicely developing romance and compelling, believable characters. I would happily recommend it to anyone looking for a fun mystery/romance read, and look forward to the next book in the series, Dylan’s story in Chasing Gravity.
***I received this book for free from the publisher or author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.***
January 27, 2019
An engrossing love triangle, wrapped in a crime thriller and tied with an art metaphor. Blake has created a whole community of characters whose tangled history gradually unfolds with each clue. I wasn't surprised to learn that there's a sequel.
The opening crime and it's subsequent solving is well written, even given that I found the reveal scene a little narrative heavy, but it's in the love story that this book finds its strength. A fun and compelling read.
The opening crime and it's subsequent solving is well written, even given that I found the reveal scene a little narrative heavy, but it's in the love story that this book finds its strength. A fun and compelling read.
July 12, 2016
Wonderful! I was instantly engrossed in the story and characters. Just when I thought I had things figured out, there was a new unexpected turn. I highly recommend this book!
January 7, 2019
An amazing start to a great series!
Tempeste Blake has a unique and impressive style. She has a gift for analogies and paints a true picture with her words, which makes it ironic, perhaps, that the female lead is an artist. All of the characters are realistic and relatable, but I think I enjoyed Bianca the most.
We get into the action of the story right away with a crime scene and the politics of a small town dealing with a murder. Not to mention the sticky history between the mains. As their chemistry comes to a slow boil, so does the murder investigation and the stalker-like behavior of the killer.
I could tell Blake did a lot of research geared toward crime writing. I’ve watched and written enough police procedurals to spot when the clues well before they were revealed, but I really enjoyed the way Blake portrays the inner workings of a small town police station. Art and law are two very different worlds, but she captures both effortlessly. Also worth mentioning is the skill with which she handles the themes of alcoholism, terminal illness, traumatic shock, and grief.
I really enjoyed this book and will be adding this author to my follow list!
Tempeste Blake has a unique and impressive style. She has a gift for analogies and paints a true picture with her words, which makes it ironic, perhaps, that the female lead is an artist. All of the characters are realistic and relatable, but I think I enjoyed Bianca the most.
We get into the action of the story right away with a crime scene and the politics of a small town dealing with a murder. Not to mention the sticky history between the mains. As their chemistry comes to a slow boil, so does the murder investigation and the stalker-like behavior of the killer.
I could tell Blake did a lot of research geared toward crime writing. I’ve watched and written enough police procedurals to spot when the clues well before they were revealed, but I really enjoyed the way Blake portrays the inner workings of a small town police station. Art and law are two very different worlds, but she captures both effortlessly. Also worth mentioning is the skill with which she handles the themes of alcoholism, terminal illness, traumatic shock, and grief.
I really enjoyed this book and will be adding this author to my follow list!
June 27, 2016
I just finished “Chasing Symmetry,” by Tempeste Blake and was blown away at how fantastic this novel was! Let me begin by saying that Tempeste Blake is actually a collaboration between two writers Nancy Smith and Cat Trizzino who met in an online writers’ group, but there is not one moment in the novel where you would ever guess that this was co-authored. “Chasing Symmetry” is part romance, part crime, part suspense and is an absolute finish in one sitting read.
I hate to do a bulleted list but there are several characters and they are all important, so here is a quick run down!
Bianca James – an art professor at Brookefield college, used to be in a relationship with Dylan Tierny
Finn Tierny – a local cop in Riley’s Peak, helps take care of his ailing father
Dylan Tierny – was a cop until there was an accident that caused him to quit the police force and turn to drinking and being crazy.
Mack Tierny – Finn and Dylan’s father, used to be a cop, has brain tumor, his wife Rose left them when the boys were young
Chief Carmichael – Chief of police in Riley’s Peak, married, not nice
Tucker Baranski – a local cop in Riley’s Peak, close friends with Dylan, works with Finn, hearty eater
Maris Romero – Bianca’s best friend, also a professor at Brookefield
Jewel Glasser – shrink at Brookfield, dating Dylan Tierny
Charity Beacham – prissy, high-society woman in Riley’s Peak
Helen – Bianca’s elderly and eccentric neighbor
Back to the novel, Bianca is in her classroom at Brookefield one evening when she discovers a woman bleeding and dying in the storage room. Although Bianca tries to help save her, she dies, and Bianca lands at the top of Chief Carmichael’s suspect list. Bianca learns that Finn has returned to Riley’s Peak and their police force, and she quickly realizes how intent he is on protecting her. Everyone seems to have an opinion on the murder and while the investigation is under way, strange and threatening things start happening to Bianca. The more Finn tries to protect her and find the murderer, the more they realize they have feelings for each other.
The reason I list all of the characters is this… This novel is a page-turner from the first word making you wonder “whodunnit” and why. There are so many characters intertwined in various ways, that the authors make it impossible to figure out who has done which things (murder, breaking and entering, creepy phone calls, etc.). There are other creepy characters,and not-so-creepy characters that are very important to the story, but those listed above are either trying to solve the murder, are suspected of murder or other strange happenings, being questioned, helping Bianca, or trying to kill her. There is also – of course – a love triangle involving Dylan, Bianca, and Finn. Bianca ended things with Dylan when he started drinking and acting a fool. Now Bianca and Finn are falling for each other, but Dylan is still in love with her and trying to clean up his act. Then don’t forget Jewel, who is in love with Dylan, but she is nothing more than an on-again, off-again thing to him. This all equals romance, tension, excitement, and anger all wrapped up together.
Overall, I thought Tempeste Blake’s first collaboration, “Chasing Symmetry,” was outstanding. This novel is a shining example of incredible, suspenseful and engaging writing. There are enough clues and side-stories to avoid frustration in trying to figure everything out, but yet you will still be shocked several times as the characters continue to unravel. As you read you will quickly cheer for Finn and Bianca, hoping they end up with their happily ever after, and you also grow attached to Dylan as he’s trying to turn his life around. There’s just enough of romance, suspense, family, hardship, and victories to make this a close to perfect book! “Chasing Symmetry” is a must read novel and Tempeste Blake is an author to watch!
Want to learn more about Tempeste Blake? Visit: http://www.tempesteblake.com/
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I hate to do a bulleted list but there are several characters and they are all important, so here is a quick run down!
Bianca James – an art professor at Brookefield college, used to be in a relationship with Dylan Tierny
Finn Tierny – a local cop in Riley’s Peak, helps take care of his ailing father
Dylan Tierny – was a cop until there was an accident that caused him to quit the police force and turn to drinking and being crazy.
Mack Tierny – Finn and Dylan’s father, used to be a cop, has brain tumor, his wife Rose left them when the boys were young
Chief Carmichael – Chief of police in Riley’s Peak, married, not nice
Tucker Baranski – a local cop in Riley’s Peak, close friends with Dylan, works with Finn, hearty eater
Maris Romero – Bianca’s best friend, also a professor at Brookefield
Jewel Glasser – shrink at Brookfield, dating Dylan Tierny
Charity Beacham – prissy, high-society woman in Riley’s Peak
Helen – Bianca’s elderly and eccentric neighbor
Back to the novel, Bianca is in her classroom at Brookefield one evening when she discovers a woman bleeding and dying in the storage room. Although Bianca tries to help save her, she dies, and Bianca lands at the top of Chief Carmichael’s suspect list. Bianca learns that Finn has returned to Riley’s Peak and their police force, and she quickly realizes how intent he is on protecting her. Everyone seems to have an opinion on the murder and while the investigation is under way, strange and threatening things start happening to Bianca. The more Finn tries to protect her and find the murderer, the more they realize they have feelings for each other.
The reason I list all of the characters is this… This novel is a page-turner from the first word making you wonder “whodunnit” and why. There are so many characters intertwined in various ways, that the authors make it impossible to figure out who has done which things (murder, breaking and entering, creepy phone calls, etc.). There are other creepy characters,and not-so-creepy characters that are very important to the story, but those listed above are either trying to solve the murder, are suspected of murder or other strange happenings, being questioned, helping Bianca, or trying to kill her. There is also – of course – a love triangle involving Dylan, Bianca, and Finn. Bianca ended things with Dylan when he started drinking and acting a fool. Now Bianca and Finn are falling for each other, but Dylan is still in love with her and trying to clean up his act. Then don’t forget Jewel, who is in love with Dylan, but she is nothing more than an on-again, off-again thing to him. This all equals romance, tension, excitement, and anger all wrapped up together.
Overall, I thought Tempeste Blake’s first collaboration, “Chasing Symmetry,” was outstanding. This novel is a shining example of incredible, suspenseful and engaging writing. There are enough clues and side-stories to avoid frustration in trying to figure everything out, but yet you will still be shocked several times as the characters continue to unravel. As you read you will quickly cheer for Finn and Bianca, hoping they end up with their happily ever after, and you also grow attached to Dylan as he’s trying to turn his life around. There’s just enough of romance, suspense, family, hardship, and victories to make this a close to perfect book! “Chasing Symmetry” is a must read novel and Tempeste Blake is an author to watch!
Want to learn more about Tempeste Blake? Visit: http://www.tempesteblake.com/
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2018
Romantic crime fiction with an edge, this gently-built novel ticks a number of boxes.
Bianca is shocked enough to find a dead woman in her office, but throw in a chief of police with a grudge, a self-imploding ex-boyfriend, and Finn, said ex’s brother, and your have a perfect storm of mayhem and romance to add to your murder…
The plot was decent, the characters interesting, and the structure flowed well. Slow, simmering, and tense, this was a little over-dramatic for my realist tastes but, if you don’t mind some slow-build mystery in your romantic suspense, this could be the one for you.
*Thank you to the author for my free review copy via Rosie's Book Review Team.
Bianca is shocked enough to find a dead woman in her office, but throw in a chief of police with a grudge, a self-imploding ex-boyfriend, and Finn, said ex’s brother, and your have a perfect storm of mayhem and romance to add to your murder…
The plot was decent, the characters interesting, and the structure flowed well. Slow, simmering, and tense, this was a little over-dramatic for my realist tastes but, if you don’t mind some slow-build mystery in your romantic suspense, this could be the one for you.
*Thank you to the author for my free review copy via Rosie's Book Review Team.
November 12, 2016
Enjoyable romance with an art-related mystery driving the story.
April 23, 2018
“The wind bullied a fern hanging from the porch eaves..."
This line jumped off the page early in the plot. While romance may not be my genre of choice, I was swept into this story by the flow of carefully and expertly crafted phrases. Blake sets the stage so the reader is caught up in the story, putting her at the top of her genre. An intelligent read with a suspenseful plot that keeps you engaged.
This line jumped off the page early in the plot. While romance may not be my genre of choice, I was swept into this story by the flow of carefully and expertly crafted phrases. Blake sets the stage so the reader is caught up in the story, putting her at the top of her genre. An intelligent read with a suspenseful plot that keeps you engaged.
May 31, 2018
A well-written, cohesive, and entertaining drama. Although similes and metaphors abound, they are implemented in a creative manner that makes this work an enjoyable read.
December 11, 2017
Bianca James thinks she has her life together. She teaches art at the local college, dotes on her car Picasso, and she has a wonderful best friend. But when Bianca discovers a murdered woman in the school’s storage closet, things become a bit more complicated.
Finn Tierny has returned to Riley’s Peak to help take care of his father. He joins the police force and is part of the crew that responds to the murder scene. He is surprised to see Bianca, his former art teacher and his older brother’s ex-girlfriend.
Bianca begins to receive threats after the murder and Finn does all he can to keep her safe. The two begin to fall for each other, even with Finn’s brother Dylan trying win Bianca back.
Everything comes crashing down and Bianca’s life is put in danger in a clever twist of an ending.
Chasing Symmetry started off really strong, I flew through the first few chapters with the murder investigation and then it started to slow down. I had to put it down and come back to it later.
Chasing Symmetry stands as a murder mystery and a love story. Police are trying to find the murderer and Finn is in love with Bianca and wants to keep her safe.
As a love story, it wasn’t believable for me. Bianca is caught in two interconnecting love triangles. One with brothers Dylan and Finn, the other with Dylan and his now girlfriend Jewel.
Finn comes back to town and is immediately protective of Bianca (obviously he’s already in love with her). And to be honest, he’s in love with a person he barely knows. The attraction seems to be all physical and that is a shallow base for a love story. Not to mention that she was his art teacher AND it’s his brother’s ex-girlfriend.
The murder mystery was a little on the slow end in the middle (hence my original 3 star review), but the clever twist at the end upped my rating. The author introduces several characters that have the potential to be the murderer. It kept me guessing through the whole book and the ending totally blew me away.
If you are a murder mystery fan, definitely give this book a try and see if you can figure out the ending better than I can!
Chasing Symmetry gets 3.5 starts.
Thank you to BookGobbler for sending me a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Finn Tierny has returned to Riley’s Peak to help take care of his father. He joins the police force and is part of the crew that responds to the murder scene. He is surprised to see Bianca, his former art teacher and his older brother’s ex-girlfriend.
Bianca begins to receive threats after the murder and Finn does all he can to keep her safe. The two begin to fall for each other, even with Finn’s brother Dylan trying win Bianca back.
Everything comes crashing down and Bianca’s life is put in danger in a clever twist of an ending.
Chasing Symmetry started off really strong, I flew through the first few chapters with the murder investigation and then it started to slow down. I had to put it down and come back to it later.
Chasing Symmetry stands as a murder mystery and a love story. Police are trying to find the murderer and Finn is in love with Bianca and wants to keep her safe.
As a love story, it wasn’t believable for me. Bianca is caught in two interconnecting love triangles. One with brothers Dylan and Finn, the other with Dylan and his now girlfriend Jewel.
Finn comes back to town and is immediately protective of Bianca (obviously he’s already in love with her). And to be honest, he’s in love with a person he barely knows. The attraction seems to be all physical and that is a shallow base for a love story. Not to mention that she was his art teacher AND it’s his brother’s ex-girlfriend.
The murder mystery was a little on the slow end in the middle (hence my original 3 star review), but the clever twist at the end upped my rating. The author introduces several characters that have the potential to be the murderer. It kept me guessing through the whole book and the ending totally blew me away.
If you are a murder mystery fan, definitely give this book a try and see if you can figure out the ending better than I can!
Chasing Symmetry gets 3.5 starts.
Thank you to BookGobbler for sending me a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.
December 26, 2017
Tempeste Blake kindly offered me a copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my opinions of this novel. They are my own and no one else's.
Now that the disclaimer is done, let's dive in shall we!
Chasing Symmetry is a standard murder mystery with a really enjoyable romance thrown in. You follow along with Bianca James, an art teacher, who stumbles over a dying woman, attempts to save her, and then tries to keep the chief of police from convicting her of the crime by finding out who killed this woman and why! Add in some tension between her ex-boyfriend and his sexy brother who just may be stealing her heart and you get a highly enjoyable novel.
The plot was an expected formula of most murder mysteries. Woman becoming amateur sleuths to solve a murder before it happens again and/or they get convicted of the said crime. That in no way makes this book bad, just familiar. There were plenty mild twists and turns that kept you glued to your seat and wondering what will happen next.
The characters were strong. You had your two main characters that drove the plot and all of the side characters played their roles perfectly. Bianca was a strong character and I liked her. Albeit I did feel a bit like her reactions to things were hardly relatable, but I also feel that this is a pretty standard trope for these types of novels. If the leading lady reacted in any way relatable she wouldn't exactly be solving murders now would she? xD Now for Finn, oh Finn. I do believe he stole my heart. He was my favorite character and the one I most enjoyed. I loved his POV sections and he just felt real to me. I think Finn could definitely be a real person!
I can't say too much about the ending, but I do want to say that it was THE reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 3! I was so stunned, I had no idea that the outcome was even a possibility! Great job ladies! I will be picking up the second book, I am looking forward to seeing if Dylan gets his life together!
I definitely recommend if you are interested in a quick and enjoyable little suspenseful romance.
Jackie
Now that the disclaimer is done, let's dive in shall we!
Chasing Symmetry is a standard murder mystery with a really enjoyable romance thrown in. You follow along with Bianca James, an art teacher, who stumbles over a dying woman, attempts to save her, and then tries to keep the chief of police from convicting her of the crime by finding out who killed this woman and why! Add in some tension between her ex-boyfriend and his sexy brother who just may be stealing her heart and you get a highly enjoyable novel.
The plot was an expected formula of most murder mysteries. Woman becoming amateur sleuths to solve a murder before it happens again and/or they get convicted of the said crime. That in no way makes this book bad, just familiar. There were plenty mild twists and turns that kept you glued to your seat and wondering what will happen next.
The characters were strong. You had your two main characters that drove the plot and all of the side characters played their roles perfectly. Bianca was a strong character and I liked her. Albeit I did feel a bit like her reactions to things were hardly relatable, but I also feel that this is a pretty standard trope for these types of novels. If the leading lady reacted in any way relatable she wouldn't exactly be solving murders now would she? xD Now for Finn, oh Finn. I do believe he stole my heart. He was my favorite character and the one I most enjoyed. I loved his POV sections and he just felt real to me. I think Finn could definitely be a real person!
I can't say too much about the ending, but I do want to say that it was THE reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 3! I was so stunned, I had no idea that the outcome was even a possibility! Great job ladies! I will be picking up the second book, I am looking forward to seeing if Dylan gets his life together!
I definitely recommend if you are interested in a quick and enjoyable little suspenseful romance.
Jackie
June 28, 2016
Bianca James has a steady job and a steady life, even if her love life is a shambles. But when she finds the dead body of a woman at the college where she works, a normal life is no longer an option. Murder is not a regular occurrence in the small town of Riley's Peak, and it sends shock waves throughout the community. But with a Chief of Police who bears a grudge against Bianca, an ex-boyfriend who is self-imploding, and a murderer who has set his sights on her, everything has become a lot more dangerous and sinister. At least she has the friendship of her ex-boyfriend's younger brother Finn, a cop, who has recently returned to Riley's Peak. But he has his own problems, one of which is his desperate need to keep Bianca alive.
Finn Tierny is unsure whether he made the right decision in coming back home. With a boss who wants to make him suffer for having the Tierny name, a brother who is falling apart at the seams, and a father who is ill, this was never going to be plain sailing, But when Bianca becomes a suspect for murder, he knows he must help her, and as the danger starts to threaten her, Finn will do whatever it takes to catch the killer.
CHASING SYMMETRY by Tempeste Blake is a murder mystery with a romantic edge. With plenty of action and engaging characters, I enjoyed this exciting novel. At times the pace was a little slow for me, and I wanted it to speed up so I could see what would happen next, but that didn't detract from the story. Overall, CHASING SYMMETRY by Tempeste Blake is an entertaining, romantic suspense, and I look forward to the next tale from Riley's Peak.
Finn Tierny is unsure whether he made the right decision in coming back home. With a boss who wants to make him suffer for having the Tierny name, a brother who is falling apart at the seams, and a father who is ill, this was never going to be plain sailing, But when Bianca becomes a suspect for murder, he knows he must help her, and as the danger starts to threaten her, Finn will do whatever it takes to catch the killer.
CHASING SYMMETRY by Tempeste Blake is a murder mystery with a romantic edge. With plenty of action and engaging characters, I enjoyed this exciting novel. At times the pace was a little slow for me, and I wanted it to speed up so I could see what would happen next, but that didn't detract from the story. Overall, CHASING SYMMETRY by Tempeste Blake is an entertaining, romantic suspense, and I look forward to the next tale from Riley's Peak.
February 7, 2018
Chasing Symmetry by Tempeste Blake is a marvellous nail-biting contemporary murder mystery that intrigues from the start.
Lives are easily shattered. The novel explores how a traumatic event can have far reaching effects. "He couldn't stop blaming himself." Unable to face the future except by looking through the bottom of a glass. Trauma changes lives.
Mothers are important. When mothers leave - either through choice or death - families are changed. Children need their mothers. Husbands need their wives. A mother is the glue that holds the family together.
Life can be cruel. Cancer robs us of our loved ones. Sometimes even before death as their personalities change. It is hard to watch as they slowly slip away.
The world sees one face but people are different behind closed doors. "The world was full of people hiding their true identities." Many people are nursing secrets.
There is power in prayer. "If you pray... pray. If you don't, you might want to start." Many turn to prayer in a crisis. For others it is a default setting.
Chasing Symmetry's plotline was well thought out and cleverly constructed. The ending was jaw dropping. I did not see it coming but was totally brilliant. I was engrossed and guessing throughout.
The characters were well drawn and realistic with their unique strengths and weaknesses. The main characters were very likable.
Chasing Symmetry is a brilliant read. It would translate perfectly into a movie. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.
I won a copy from The Book Gobbler.
Lives are easily shattered. The novel explores how a traumatic event can have far reaching effects. "He couldn't stop blaming himself." Unable to face the future except by looking through the bottom of a glass. Trauma changes lives.
Mothers are important. When mothers leave - either through choice or death - families are changed. Children need their mothers. Husbands need their wives. A mother is the glue that holds the family together.
Life can be cruel. Cancer robs us of our loved ones. Sometimes even before death as their personalities change. It is hard to watch as they slowly slip away.
The world sees one face but people are different behind closed doors. "The world was full of people hiding their true identities." Many people are nursing secrets.
There is power in prayer. "If you pray... pray. If you don't, you might want to start." Many turn to prayer in a crisis. For others it is a default setting.
Chasing Symmetry's plotline was well thought out and cleverly constructed. The ending was jaw dropping. I did not see it coming but was totally brilliant. I was engrossed and guessing throughout.
The characters were well drawn and realistic with their unique strengths and weaknesses. The main characters were very likable.
Chasing Symmetry is a brilliant read. It would translate perfectly into a movie. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.
I won a copy from The Book Gobbler.
October 14, 2017
I love a mystery that is solvable. This was a cleverly plotted whodunit, layered with drama, and romance. The pace is perfect, tension steadily building with both the mystery and danger it adds, as well as the relationships both dramatic and romantic. This story was filled with so much emotion.
The characters, primary and secondary are rich, dimensional, and felt real. I was instantly drawn in by both Finn and Bianca. Finn spoke to my heart as I grew to know him- a good man with a haunted past, and a stack of problems aside from needing to solve a murder that targets his brother’s ex, his love. Bianca is an equally complex character with deep hurts that make her a strong yet vulnerable woman. Her ex, Finn’s brother rounds out the love triangle, though his relationship with Bianca is over before the story begins, there are still unfinished emotions to deal with there. In addition to each other, the three face issues with family, work, and past baggage that I won’t give away.
I found this to be such an enjoyable read. Style and story meshed into a perfect escape. I love these characters, their world, and look forward to reading more about them. It makes me happy to see there is already another part available. Highest recommendation.
The characters, primary and secondary are rich, dimensional, and felt real. I was instantly drawn in by both Finn and Bianca. Finn spoke to my heart as I grew to know him- a good man with a haunted past, and a stack of problems aside from needing to solve a murder that targets his brother’s ex, his love. Bianca is an equally complex character with deep hurts that make her a strong yet vulnerable woman. Her ex, Finn’s brother rounds out the love triangle, though his relationship with Bianca is over before the story begins, there are still unfinished emotions to deal with there. In addition to each other, the three face issues with family, work, and past baggage that I won’t give away.
I found this to be such an enjoyable read. Style and story meshed into a perfect escape. I love these characters, their world, and look forward to reading more about them. It makes me happy to see there is already another part available. Highest recommendation.
February 6, 2017
I love murder mysteries! When I was contacted about reading this book, I was beyond excited! And then when I received it in the mail along with a note and special little "gift" from the author, I was ecstatic! I wanted to dive right in... but, sadly, my TBR list was ridiculously long so I had to wait a while.
So, the time came that I could get into this book and I wasn't disappointed! I am usually pretty good at figuring out 'who done it' but not this time. I was wrong! Very wrong. This book is full of surprises and keeps you guessing the whole time.
Now, I could have done without the 'romance' things in this book. And, honestly, the choice words were a bit much for my liking. Those were the only reasons that I chose to give Chasing Symmetry 4 stars instead of 5.
I will definitely be recommending this book to fellow mystery lovers! Chasing Symmetry will be a book that I keep for my collection!
*Note: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
So, the time came that I could get into this book and I wasn't disappointed! I am usually pretty good at figuring out 'who done it' but not this time. I was wrong! Very wrong. This book is full of surprises and keeps you guessing the whole time.
Now, I could have done without the 'romance' things in this book. And, honestly, the choice words were a bit much for my liking. Those were the only reasons that I chose to give Chasing Symmetry 4 stars instead of 5.
I will definitely be recommending this book to fellow mystery lovers! Chasing Symmetry will be a book that I keep for my collection!
*Note: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
November 28, 2017
Small Town, Twisted Tale
Art instructor Bianca James discovers a woman’s body in her class storage room. When the police investigation begins, she becomes caught in a web of lies, threats, vengeance and madness.
This story centers around Bianca and her relationships with two brothers. Dylan, her drunken, angry ex-lover and ex-cop, wants her back, but she is fighting her feelings for his younger brother Finn, a former art student and now one of the cops investigating the murder. Surrounding this core triangle are a volatile mix of characters, each with their own agendas, but all centered on Bianca. Her life is in danger, but she can’t figure out who is out to get her and why. Every twist reveals another suspect with a motive, but who can be trusted? The suspense builds to a confrontation that blindsides everyone, followed by an even more powerful bombshell that impacts everyone. Very good read!
Art instructor Bianca James discovers a woman’s body in her class storage room. When the police investigation begins, she becomes caught in a web of lies, threats, vengeance and madness.
This story centers around Bianca and her relationships with two brothers. Dylan, her drunken, angry ex-lover and ex-cop, wants her back, but she is fighting her feelings for his younger brother Finn, a former art student and now one of the cops investigating the murder. Surrounding this core triangle are a volatile mix of characters, each with their own agendas, but all centered on Bianca. Her life is in danger, but she can’t figure out who is out to get her and why. Every twist reveals another suspect with a motive, but who can be trusted? The suspense builds to a confrontation that blindsides everyone, followed by an even more powerful bombshell that impacts everyone. Very good read!
November 6, 2017
Chasing Symmetry by Tempeste Blake is a venture into the world of art, academia, and intrigue. It is a world filled with interesting characters like Bianca, the art professor and unwilling crime scene investigator; Finn, the tough cop caught between his feelings for his prime suspect and his loyalty to his brother; and Helen, the ageless hippie/mystic next door. The story kept my attention from the beginning, making me look for excuses to pick up my Kindle again. I was a little disappointed in the climactic scene because many of the mysteries were exposed and explained through narrative rather than action. Still, it was a great read, and I look forward to reading Book 2 of the Riley’s Peak Series.
November 10, 2017
A murder mystery with a strong romantic component. The romance was enjoyable, with well developed characters. The mystery had a lot of good twists, and kept me guessing.
January 31, 2019
A good balance of romance and mystery
This murder mystery romance starts out strong with Bianca, an art professor, discovering a murdered woman in her classroom supply closet. On top of being fresh out of a relationship with Dylan, a police detective ruined by an unfortunate accident, and the sudden reappearance of Dylan’s intriguing younger brother, Finn, Bianca’s life quickly devolves into confusion and chaos.
It doesn’t help that the town’s grouchy police chief seems to want to pin the murder on her. With suspects ranging the gambit, odd happenings all around, and the complication of Bianca and Finn falling for each other in less than ideal circumstances, there is plenty to love about this story.
While the writing is good and the characters are well developed, the pacing did slow down a bit in the middle, but the ending brought things together nicely. I thought I had the culprit pinned but, even though it turns out I was right, it was far more complex than I could’ve guessed. A good balance of romance and mystery, this was a very entertaining read.
This murder mystery romance starts out strong with Bianca, an art professor, discovering a murdered woman in her classroom supply closet. On top of being fresh out of a relationship with Dylan, a police detective ruined by an unfortunate accident, and the sudden reappearance of Dylan’s intriguing younger brother, Finn, Bianca’s life quickly devolves into confusion and chaos.
It doesn’t help that the town’s grouchy police chief seems to want to pin the murder on her. With suspects ranging the gambit, odd happenings all around, and the complication of Bianca and Finn falling for each other in less than ideal circumstances, there is plenty to love about this story.
While the writing is good and the characters are well developed, the pacing did slow down a bit in the middle, but the ending brought things together nicely. I thought I had the culprit pinned but, even though it turns out I was right, it was far more complex than I could’ve guessed. A good balance of romance and mystery, this was a very entertaining read.
March 31, 2019
This is my second Tempest Blake novel, and just like the first, it did not disappoint!
I adore Tempeste’s writing style, as it makes you feel as if you are right there alongside the characters! The world is rich, and the characters well developed and layered.
Bianca James lives in the small town of Riley’s Peak where she works as an art teacher. She stumbles upon a dead body of a woman at the college where she works, and her life starts to unravel as Bianca becomes a sleuth intent on solving the murder of which she has become the main suspect.
The Chief of Police holds a grudge and is determined to pin the murder on Bianca, but her ex-boyfriend’s brother who is also a cop comes to the rescue and will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.
I loved Bianca, her apartment, the piles of books and plants and her ginger cat Picasso! I would love to have a coffee with her!
Tempeste ties everything up nicely and then floors you with the surprise ending you did not see coming!
I am definitely picking up the second book! Well done!
I adore Tempeste’s writing style, as it makes you feel as if you are right there alongside the characters! The world is rich, and the characters well developed and layered.
Bianca James lives in the small town of Riley’s Peak where she works as an art teacher. She stumbles upon a dead body of a woman at the college where she works, and her life starts to unravel as Bianca becomes a sleuth intent on solving the murder of which she has become the main suspect.
The Chief of Police holds a grudge and is determined to pin the murder on Bianca, but her ex-boyfriend’s brother who is also a cop comes to the rescue and will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.
I loved Bianca, her apartment, the piles of books and plants and her ginger cat Picasso! I would love to have a coffee with her!
Tempeste ties everything up nicely and then floors you with the surprise ending you did not see coming!
I am definitely picking up the second book! Well done!
April 22, 2018
Wonderful First Book
The writing style of Tempeste Blake is a style onto her own. Her first book Chasing Symmetry is a glimpse into Romantic Mystery in a small town of Riley's Peak. Her portrait of an independent artist with a full range of emotions and to also include a difficulty written character fighting a debilitating disease and how she was able to accurately show the family effected by that illness impressed me. I will be adding all of her books to my library as they come available. As a new writer she completely blew me away.
The writing style of Tempeste Blake is a style onto her own. Her first book Chasing Symmetry is a glimpse into Romantic Mystery in a small town of Riley's Peak. Her portrait of an independent artist with a full range of emotions and to also include a difficulty written character fighting a debilitating disease and how she was able to accurately show the family effected by that illness impressed me. I will be adding all of her books to my library as they come available. As a new writer she completely blew me away.
November 8, 2018
Chasing Symmetry is the first book in the Riley’s Peak Series by Tempeste Blake. I love a good mystery. One that keeps you guessing until the very end. The storyline was well written and creative, full of mystery, suspense, with some romance in the mix. I couldn’t put it down. This was a fantastic read and highly recommend. I’m ready for the next one
October 18, 2019
An engaging mix of mystery, suspense and romance — all the right ingredients for me. The writing is vibrant and full of intriguing characters; the twists and turns kept me guessing to the very end, and I’ll definitely be reading more books by this author.
March 13, 2024
Such a great read!! Blake does an amazing job with her characters— their personalities jump off the page and they really do feel like real people. The character work makes it so much easier to engage in the novel because you really connect with the characters and want the best for them (or worst in certain cases lol). I was guessing up until the very end. A perfect mixture of romance and mystery! My only critique is the pacing of the reveals was slightly off. Some of the twists lost some shock value due to the pacing but was still enticing and surprising nonetheless.
May 8, 2020
This book took you on a wild ride. It was the change of pace I needed for the "pure" romance I had been reading. It was the perfect combination of mystery/thriller with a side of romance.
Bianca's life has been turned upside down by a murder that occured in her college classroom. Who did it? Was it a mistaken identity? Did she do it? All these questions emerge as the story develops. There are plenty of amusing and fun side characters and others you would like to kill off yourself.
Finn, one of the small town officers on the case, who happens to be a former student and younger brother of Bianca's ex. How does that sound for future problems as feelings begin to develop?
This is a slow burn romance as they don't want to share their feelings for fear of being hurt and hurting Dylan. Their attraction builds as they try to trust one another. With the whole town gossiping, they can only trust each other. Right?
Let's mix in Dylan (the jealous ex), his new girlfriend, the town socialite who hates Bianca, the police captain who thinks she's guilty, and a few sporadic characters to try and figure out who done it and why?
The one thing that bothered me was Bianca's refusal for self preservation. At every turn she was refusing help to keep her safe. Change her routine? No. I won't let anyone dictate my life. WHAT???
There are so many moving parts to the story, it is hard to go into it without spoiling so I will just say, GO READ IT!
Bianca's life has been turned upside down by a murder that occured in her college classroom. Who did it? Was it a mistaken identity? Did she do it? All these questions emerge as the story develops. There are plenty of amusing and fun side characters and others you would like to kill off yourself.
Finn, one of the small town officers on the case, who happens to be a former student and younger brother of Bianca's ex. How does that sound for future problems as feelings begin to develop?
This is a slow burn romance as they don't want to share their feelings for fear of being hurt and hurting Dylan. Their attraction builds as they try to trust one another. With the whole town gossiping, they can only trust each other. Right?
Let's mix in Dylan (the jealous ex), his new girlfriend, the town socialite who hates Bianca, the police captain who thinks she's guilty, and a few sporadic characters to try and figure out who done it and why?
The one thing that bothered me was Bianca's refusal for self preservation. At every turn she was refusing help to keep her safe. Change her routine? No. I won't let anyone dictate my life. WHAT???
There are so many moving parts to the story, it is hard to go into it without spoiling so I will just say, GO READ IT!
Read
December 7, 2021DNF'd at 33% and then I read from 80% to the end. Too much focus on the romantic aspect, even though the love triangle is just bad. And the end isn't even remotely surprising. I saw it coming about ten miles away which is why I skipped to the end. The writing style is also a mild issue here. This is written by two different people under one pseudonym, and while it doesn't necessarily read as two different people, it does read as unnatural in places, and I just wasn't invested enough in the story to care. I genuinely didn't care about either Bianca or Finn, and since they're the focus, I didn't care about the story.
April 12, 2017
An intriguing, romantic book that is full of suspense! This book had me constantly guessing. I love these types of stories where you are never sure who to trust in a plot that twists and turns. Also, there is excellent character development. I felt connected to the main characters and their growth. Furthermore, the personalities of the supporting characters and the relationships are described very well. I definitely recommend this book. I've already started reading the next one!
August 15, 2016
Loved this book! Loved the characters. Would love to sit and chat with each one of them. Story had some great twists. My prediction on who done it was wrong and I loved the surprise. Highly recommend this one.
December 28, 2016
This is a really good mystery -- lots of twists and turns and so many suspects! The characters are interesting, and the details about art - one of the main characters is an artist - ring true and add considerable interest to the story. I didn't care so much for the romance aspect of the novel.
May 16, 2019
Chasing Symmetry is so compelling, you'll be hooked from the first paragraph.
Blake's writing is clever, creative, intriguing, and engaging. The writing is so descriptive that I could truly 'see' this story unfold as I read. The dialogue is exceptional: it reads so well, playing out like a real-time conversation.
This book is incredible and I am so impressed by its style and tone. There's drama, mystery, intrigue, suspense, and romance-- everything a good story needs. I am hooked on this series and can't wait to read the next instalment.
Blake's writing is clever, creative, intriguing, and engaging. The writing is so descriptive that I could truly 'see' this story unfold as I read. The dialogue is exceptional: it reads so well, playing out like a real-time conversation.
This book is incredible and I am so impressed by its style and tone. There's drama, mystery, intrigue, suspense, and romance-- everything a good story needs. I am hooked on this series and can't wait to read the next instalment.
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