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Chasing Red
Ryder Redmond can’t wait to begin her new life in New York City, with her first real job after college. But the big city gets a little more complicated once she meets the charming and mysterious Damian Wolfe. On the surface he seems perfect, but her friend Hunter is suspicious of his all-too-straight smile and his motives towards Ryder. With her heart on the line, Ryder will have to decide just how much she trusts the handsome city slicker.
240 pages, Paperback
Published April 11, 2017
6 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Winder Farnsworth
3 books54 followersLauren Winder Farnsworth was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is an avid reader, a chocolate enthusiast, and a CPA with a slight alternative music obsession and dreams of one day becoming a gourmet chef. She obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Accounting from the University of Utah, went to work as a financial statement auditor, and then decided that since creative accounting wasn’t an option, creative writing would have to do. As a nice compromise, accountants tend to crop up in her stories (since she believes they’re shockingly under-represented in literature anyway).
Having obtained two degrees from the same institution has made Lauren somewhat of a compound collegiate fan, and the only entity that holds more of her heart than the University of Utah is her hunky husband, Bryan. Lauren currently lives in South Jordan, Utah, where she spends entirely too much time watching Gilmore Girls and looking for excuses not to clean. She loves hearing from her readers at www.laurenwinderfarnsworth.com.
Having obtained two degrees from the same institution has made Lauren somewhat of a compound collegiate fan, and the only entity that holds more of her heart than the University of Utah is her hunky husband, Bryan. Lauren currently lives in South Jordan, Utah, where she spends entirely too much time watching Gilmore Girls and looking for excuses not to clean. She loves hearing from her readers at www.laurenwinderfarnsworth.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
October 25, 2017
Okay, the premise is stupid and it seriously hampers the story when you have Red dating Wolfe with Hunter watching nearby. I mean, seriously, how can you possibly not know that Wolfe is a bad guy and Hunter the good guy and Red the innocent idiot destined to be threatened and saved? Which means the whole framework of the story is known in advance.
Which could have been fine if the story were told better or there were interesting twists or something else to glom onto to hold you through. And really, Farnsworth very nearly pulls it off. I mean, Ryder is fun. I really liked her gumption and dedication and her ability to roll with everything thrown at her. Farnsworth stumbles a bit making her inordinately stupid in places (New York elevators aren't that hard to figure out) but for the most part, Ryder is good people and I enjoyed her willingness to see the good side of others and work hard in a demanding field to achieve the things she wants.
Coloring that, and dragging this story way, way down is that for the story to work, she has to be a complete moron about Damian (Wolfe). He's an obvious snot-weasel and that she can't see it is beyond frustrating. I get looking for the good in others, but her willful blindness compromised my ability to take her character seriously even a little bit. It was frustrating and since it comprises the bulk of the story it felt interminable. Worse, .
Anyway, I stuck with this for Ryder being fun (when not canoodling with the idiot). I admit I skimmed some near the end, and really, I want my romances to have more with the primary couple interacting in them. So this is maybe 2½ stars but if so, only just. Certainly not enough to round to 3. I really wish the author hadn't tried to crib from such a weak source. Some of the secondary characters were nearly as strong as Ryder and I can't help but feel that Farnsworth would do much better without being tied to a weak framework.
A note about chaste: There's ample kissing, but not with the right guy. Which is a lot of what sucked because we know he's not the right guy, even before the oily starts to show. It never goes any farther, though with the frame story being what it is, you know there's going to be some tense moments near the end...
A note about LDS: This is a fundamentally LDS story with lots of behavior informed by LDS beliefs and without much explanation for outsiders. It's almost too LDS because some of the shallower moments felt like they were cribbed from lessons to young people not to misbehave. Or the dangers of not being careful enough. Which. Just. Ugh...
Which could have been fine if the story were told better or there were interesting twists or something else to glom onto to hold you through. And really, Farnsworth very nearly pulls it off. I mean, Ryder is fun. I really liked her gumption and dedication and her ability to roll with everything thrown at her. Farnsworth stumbles a bit making her inordinately stupid in places (New York elevators aren't that hard to figure out) but for the most part, Ryder is good people and I enjoyed her willingness to see the good side of others and work hard in a demanding field to achieve the things she wants.
Coloring that, and dragging this story way, way down is that for the story to work, she has to be a complete moron about Damian (Wolfe). He's an obvious snot-weasel and that she can't see it is beyond frustrating. I get looking for the good in others, but her willful blindness compromised my ability to take her character seriously even a little bit. It was frustrating and since it comprises the bulk of the story it felt interminable. Worse, .
Anyway, I stuck with this for Ryder being fun (when not canoodling with the idiot). I admit I skimmed some near the end, and really, I want my romances to have more with the primary couple interacting in them. So this is maybe 2½ stars but if so, only just. Certainly not enough to round to 3. I really wish the author hadn't tried to crib from such a weak source. Some of the secondary characters were nearly as strong as Ryder and I can't help but feel that Farnsworth would do much better without being tied to a weak framework.
A note about chaste: There's ample kissing, but not with the right guy. Which is a lot of what sucked because we know he's not the right guy, even before the oily starts to show. It never goes any farther, though with the frame story being what it is, you know there's going to be some tense moments near the end...
A note about LDS: This is a fundamentally LDS story with lots of behavior informed by LDS beliefs and without much explanation for outsiders. It's almost too LDS because some of the shallower moments felt like they were cribbed from lessons to young people not to misbehave. Or the dangers of not being careful enough. Which. Just. Ugh...
April 16, 2017
There are some fairytales that I love more than others and Little Red Riding Hood isn't at the top of my list. However, I thought this modern version was very, very well done and I absolutely loved it!
I'm not an adventurous person. Back in my single days, I would have loved to move to a big city and have new experiences, but I'm a chicken. I admire Ryder's bravery to do just that. Ryder is a contradiction, which makes her likable. She's brave and hardworking, yet she's totally clueless. Damian is a charming and everyone can see that he's no good for Ryder--well, everyone but her. She's so overly trusting and drawn in by that charisma. Am I the only one who's been lured in by someone like Mr. Wolfe? It's much easier to see things clearly when it's not happening to you. I sure wanted to do something to wake her up from her oblivion.
As for the content, it's a good balance of romance, friendship, lurking danger, loyalties, and learning experiences. I love Ryder's two best friends--fellow co-worker Hunter and roommate Lily. The three of them have a fantastic dynamic, full of sarcasm, wit, and true friendship and I adored them all! These characters are written in ways that bring them to life and really made me feel like I had the experience of living a part of my life in a dream world, without actually having to leave my comfort zone.
I didn't realize there was a mystery, of sorts, looming on the horizon until the culmination of events, but it really added that extra sprinkle of sugar to the top of a fun and entertaining story. I love the way it all ends and really enjoyed my time with these characters in New York City. This author is quickly becoming a favorite for these modern re-tellings and I can't wait for more.
Content: mild moment of violence (near attack, fight); mild romance (kissing, some innuendo); mild religious elements (some characters are LDS, but nothing preachy--just talking about morals/values, for the most part).
*I received a copy through the publisher, which did not affect my thoughts. All opinions expressed are my own.*
I'm not an adventurous person. Back in my single days, I would have loved to move to a big city and have new experiences, but I'm a chicken. I admire Ryder's bravery to do just that. Ryder is a contradiction, which makes her likable. She's brave and hardworking, yet she's totally clueless. Damian is a charming and everyone can see that he's no good for Ryder--well, everyone but her. She's so overly trusting and drawn in by that charisma. Am I the only one who's been lured in by someone like Mr. Wolfe? It's much easier to see things clearly when it's not happening to you. I sure wanted to do something to wake her up from her oblivion.
As for the content, it's a good balance of romance, friendship, lurking danger, loyalties, and learning experiences. I love Ryder's two best friends--fellow co-worker Hunter and roommate Lily. The three of them have a fantastic dynamic, full of sarcasm, wit, and true friendship and I adored them all! These characters are written in ways that bring them to life and really made me feel like I had the experience of living a part of my life in a dream world, without actually having to leave my comfort zone.
I didn't realize there was a mystery, of sorts, looming on the horizon until the culmination of events, but it really added that extra sprinkle of sugar to the top of a fun and entertaining story. I love the way it all ends and really enjoyed my time with these characters in New York City. This author is quickly becoming a favorite for these modern re-tellings and I can't wait for more.
Content: mild moment of violence (near attack, fight); mild romance (kissing, some innuendo); mild religious elements (some characters are LDS, but nothing preachy--just talking about morals/values, for the most part).
*I received a copy through the publisher, which did not affect my thoughts. All opinions expressed are my own.*
April 18, 2017
Okay, first I have a confession. I had no idea when reading this book that it was a Little Red Riding Hood re-telling. Yeah, I know. It's written right on the cover of this book. Even when reading it I made no connection. I live in la-la land apparently. Looking back now it's so obvious. I mean OBVIOUS. (just look at the names, for goodness sake!) I feel like an idiot. ha.
Moving on from my idiot-ness.
Ryder is a small town girl headed to the big city. She is almost instantly swept off her feet by the charming Damian. Ryder is a sweet girl who looks for the good in everything and everyone. It makes her likable. Yes, she is a bit naive, but she is also courageous and I loved her for that.
At first, this book may seem like a fluffy romance, but as you go along you get hints of something more going on until by the end you have a full blown, behind the scenes mystery. Everything and everyone are definitely NOT as they seem. It was so fun! I really enjoyed this book.
Content: LDS fiction (characters attend church, some mention of morals and values associated with LDS religion although nothing preachy), an almost rape scene, mild violence, some kissing.
Moving on from my idiot-ness.
Ryder is a small town girl headed to the big city. She is almost instantly swept off her feet by the charming Damian. Ryder is a sweet girl who looks for the good in everything and everyone. It makes her likable. Yes, she is a bit naive, but she is also courageous and I loved her for that.
At first, this book may seem like a fluffy romance, but as you go along you get hints of something more going on until by the end you have a full blown, behind the scenes mystery. Everything and everyone are definitely NOT as they seem. It was so fun! I really enjoyed this book.
Content: LDS fiction (characters attend church, some mention of morals and values associated with LDS religion although nothing preachy), an almost rape scene, mild violence, some kissing.
April 17, 2017
Ryder is one of the kindest, most trusting young women out there. She has just moved from her home town of Salt Lake City to New York City. She looks for the best and sees the best in everyone and in every situation. People who are downright rude to her, she finds a reason why they may be behaving that way and tries to be friendly.
Being a new innocent girl in a big city makes her a target for some unsavory characters. She was fortunate to meet Lily immediately on her arrival. They create a unique dynamic. I would say that they mix salt and sweet, somehow it works. Ryder also meets a great friend at work, his name is Hunter and he is her champion. He watches out for her and does his best to protect her from harmful people and circumstances.
Her love interest is Damien Wolfe. He is handsome, wealthy, and charismatic. He sweeps her off of her feet. He does and says all of the right things that make her appreciate him, but at the same time, all of her family and friends dislike him. I was looking over friend reviews and noticed that someone mentioned that this could be a twist on the Red Riding Hood fairy tale. I didn't notice that when reading, but I can see in hindsight the possibility. (His last name is Wolfe, she has red hair, that should been a major clue.)
There is a lot more to the story. I don't want to say much more because I feel that I would be giving away too much and spoiling the book for potential readers. I will add that there is some excitement, suspense, and mystery to the book. I did not see those events coming. I thought it would be a straight forward romance.
The book contains kissing, a little bit of violence including an attack of a sexual nature, and some innuendo. The book also has religious references. It mainly deals with her upbringing and character. I didn't find it to preach, just give background info for her situation.
Source: I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher for a book blog tour.
Being a new innocent girl in a big city makes her a target for some unsavory characters. She was fortunate to meet Lily immediately on her arrival. They create a unique dynamic. I would say that they mix salt and sweet, somehow it works. Ryder also meets a great friend at work, his name is Hunter and he is her champion. He watches out for her and does his best to protect her from harmful people and circumstances.
Her love interest is Damien Wolfe. He is handsome, wealthy, and charismatic. He sweeps her off of her feet. He does and says all of the right things that make her appreciate him, but at the same time, all of her family and friends dislike him. I was looking over friend reviews and noticed that someone mentioned that this could be a twist on the Red Riding Hood fairy tale. I didn't notice that when reading, but I can see in hindsight the possibility. (His last name is Wolfe, she has red hair, that should been a major clue.)
There is a lot more to the story. I don't want to say much more because I feel that I would be giving away too much and spoiling the book for potential readers. I will add that there is some excitement, suspense, and mystery to the book. I did not see those events coming. I thought it would be a straight forward romance.
The book contains kissing, a little bit of violence including an attack of a sexual nature, and some innuendo. The book also has religious references. It mainly deals with her upbringing and character. I didn't find it to preach, just give background info for her situation.
Source: I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher for a book blog tour.
April 22, 2017
Sometimes we choose to view things and people not as they are, but as we perceive them. In fact, sometimes we are blinded by what we want rather than what is the truth. This is a strong theme in Chasing Red by Lauren Winder Farnsworth. A fun, engaging, and funny read, Farnsworth draws readers into her Little Red Riding Hood retelling from page one. The story keeps readers attached and wanting to read more to find out what will happen next in the relationship of the main character Ryder and her boyfriend Damian Wolfe. A fun and sweet romance, readers will not want to put this exciting read down.
Genre: contemporary, romance, fairytale, retelling, LDS
Publisher: Cedar Fort
Publication date: April 11, 2017
Number of pages: 240
Content Rating: PG
Book Rating: 5 stars
A review copy of this book was provided by Min Reads and Reviews. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
Genre: contemporary, romance, fairytale, retelling, LDS
Publisher: Cedar Fort
Publication date: April 11, 2017
Number of pages: 240
Content Rating: PG
Book Rating: 5 stars
A review copy of this book was provided by Min Reads and Reviews. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
April 19, 2017
CHASING RED is a funny and very clever re-telling of Red Riding Hood. I had a smile on my face the whole time I read. Ryder is hilarious and quirky. She is someone I would want to be friends with. Ryder is an all-around good person. The ending is absolutely amazing and it blew me away! At first
I wondered why a certain thing happened, which led to another huge reveal, but once that ending came, it made it all work it. Her roommate, Lily, was a fun surprise, as well as Hunter. I loved how it all ties together and how Ryder finds herself along the way. I was happy that the author had her make mistakes, learn from them, all of those things help her find out the truth about Mr. Wolfe. She needed those experiences and I felt they helped her grow even more. Ryder's parents were delights. I loved all supporting characters, almost as much as Ryder. One character in particular was a great addition to the story.
5 out of 5 stars. Lauren has another win on her hands!
Received a review copy, all opinions and views expressed are my own.
I wondered why a certain thing happened, which led to another huge reveal, but once that ending came, it made it all work it. Her roommate, Lily, was a fun surprise, as well as Hunter. I loved how it all ties together and how Ryder finds herself along the way. I was happy that the author had her make mistakes, learn from them, all of those things help her find out the truth about Mr. Wolfe. She needed those experiences and I felt they helped her grow even more. Ryder's parents were delights. I loved all supporting characters, almost as much as Ryder. One character in particular was a great addition to the story.
5 out of 5 stars. Lauren has another win on her hands!
Received a review copy, all opinions and views expressed are my own.
April 19, 2017
CHASING RED was a evenly paced story about a woman reaching for some independence and trying to prove to herself and others that she can not only reach it, but thrive in it. It was about hard choices, hard work, making new friends, keeping old ones, and finding romance in unexpected places. A thoroughly enjoyable story for sweet contemporary romance and LDS romance readers!
First off, I love the title and cover for this one! It fits the story so well, it being about Ryder who is stretching her wings, really for the first time, by moving to the other side of her home in Utah to New York City to be an accountant in a big firm. I thought the author did a marvelous job of conveying all her insecurities of being in such an unknown city, among strangers, starting a new job. I also loved how much these characters literally popped off the page for me. I adored Lily, Hunter, and Ryder's family, and of course I loved Ryder (even when I was frustrated with her and her willful blindness). I loved Ryder's confidence and cheer even when faced with hard things. I also loved how she settled in and how even her best friend from home could see that New York had become a home to her and a place she loved.
I liked that the author didn't try to change any of her characters unrealistically. Sometimes I feel like some authors try to make everything end unrealistically with everyone being converted or everyone changing who they are, but the author didn't try to force that here. The characters were presented quite honestly. Lily is who she is and she happens not to be Mormon. Ryder is who she is and is Mormon. They were honest in how they didn't understand each other or have the same values, but still accepted and respected each other. There was a natural progression and a real friendship formed and I really liked that nothing was ever pushed. There also wasn't an overly religious element to the story, so anyone who enjoys contemporary romance on the sweet side would enjoy this.
The story was fairly steady the whole way through. I did get slightly disengaged towards the middle because there wasn't any tension or chemistry or any particular pull one way or another for a little stretch. However, that didn't last very long as some twists and turns pop up. I knew who I wanted Ryder to end up with. I knew something was up, but I didn't know exactly what all was going on and how the story would arrive at where I wanted it to. I'm quite happy that it did arrive, and did so with a very sweet and fully satisfying ending.
In the end, was it what I wished for? I really enjoyed this one. The characters, setting, and twists in the story kept me reading and the ending was perfect. Overall, an very enjoyable read!
First off, I love the title and cover for this one! It fits the story so well, it being about Ryder who is stretching her wings, really for the first time, by moving to the other side of her home in Utah to New York City to be an accountant in a big firm. I thought the author did a marvelous job of conveying all her insecurities of being in such an unknown city, among strangers, starting a new job. I also loved how much these characters literally popped off the page for me. I adored Lily, Hunter, and Ryder's family, and of course I loved Ryder (even when I was frustrated with her and her willful blindness). I loved Ryder's confidence and cheer even when faced with hard things. I also loved how she settled in and how even her best friend from home could see that New York had become a home to her and a place she loved.
I liked that the author didn't try to change any of her characters unrealistically. Sometimes I feel like some authors try to make everything end unrealistically with everyone being converted or everyone changing who they are, but the author didn't try to force that here. The characters were presented quite honestly. Lily is who she is and she happens not to be Mormon. Ryder is who she is and is Mormon. They were honest in how they didn't understand each other or have the same values, but still accepted and respected each other. There was a natural progression and a real friendship formed and I really liked that nothing was ever pushed. There also wasn't an overly religious element to the story, so anyone who enjoys contemporary romance on the sweet side would enjoy this.
The story was fairly steady the whole way through. I did get slightly disengaged towards the middle because there wasn't any tension or chemistry or any particular pull one way or another for a little stretch. However, that didn't last very long as some twists and turns pop up. I knew who I wanted Ryder to end up with. I knew something was up, but I didn't know exactly what all was going on and how the story would arrive at where I wanted it to. I'm quite happy that it did arrive, and did so with a very sweet and fully satisfying ending.
In the end, was it what I wished for? I really enjoyed this one. The characters, setting, and twists in the story kept me reading and the ending was perfect. Overall, an very enjoyable read!
April 21, 2017
When Ryder Redmond sets off for New York City with luggage and a job in hand, she has no idea what she is headed for. A romance with a gorgeous investment banker certainly wasn't in her plans. Nor was a roommate looking for a shot at a Broadway career. And the protective lawyer from work certainly complicates things.
Ryder is a fun character who has made me smile from the first page. I've also found her experiences in reaching New York fun to read about, both the good ones and the bad ones. The other characters are also all really interesting as well, especially Ryder's roommate, Lily. Hunter was my pick out of the guys from the very beginning.
Damian is gorgeous with a great job and a wealthy family and he's a member of Ryder's church. To Ryder's way of thinking, he's perfect! And he's interested in her! But things get more and more frustrating and confusing as almost everyone who cares about her warns her away from him. As the relationship continues to develop it becomes obvious to both the reader and everyone else in Ryder's life that it's not a good relationship and that something is off about Damian. But Ryder has blinders on and refuses to listen to anyone, even her adored father.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, except for the times I wanted to smack Ryder upside the head for not listening to those who cared about her. Even her own discomfort at trying to fit into Damian's world gets pushed aside in the face of her infatuation. But her relationships with Lily and Hunter are delightful and fun. The details about life as an accountant were surprisingly interesting so I wasn't surprised to discover that the author has training and experience as one. I also enjoyed Ryder's adventures and misadventures adjusting to life in a big city and an incredibly demanding job. And her snarkiness was certainly amusing at times.
All in all a great contemporary read that I highly recommend to those who enjoy clean romance with some great plot twists.
Ryder is a fun character who has made me smile from the first page. I've also found her experiences in reaching New York fun to read about, both the good ones and the bad ones. The other characters are also all really interesting as well, especially Ryder's roommate, Lily. Hunter was my pick out of the guys from the very beginning.
Damian is gorgeous with a great job and a wealthy family and he's a member of Ryder's church. To Ryder's way of thinking, he's perfect! And he's interested in her! But things get more and more frustrating and confusing as almost everyone who cares about her warns her away from him. As the relationship continues to develop it becomes obvious to both the reader and everyone else in Ryder's life that it's not a good relationship and that something is off about Damian. But Ryder has blinders on and refuses to listen to anyone, even her adored father.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, except for the times I wanted to smack Ryder upside the head for not listening to those who cared about her. Even her own discomfort at trying to fit into Damian's world gets pushed aside in the face of her infatuation. But her relationships with Lily and Hunter are delightful and fun. The details about life as an accountant were surprisingly interesting so I wasn't surprised to discover that the author has training and experience as one. I also enjoyed Ryder's adventures and misadventures adjusting to life in a big city and an incredibly demanding job. And her snarkiness was certainly amusing at times.
All in all a great contemporary read that I highly recommend to those who enjoy clean romance with some great plot twists.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2017
I really liked Ryder in this book! I liked that she has a huge independent streak. She moves, by herself, from Utah to New York to be a CPA in a large firm. I really enjoyed the part where she was moving, it was fun to see that while she was independent, she was also vulnerable just like anyone would be in this situation. I also really enjoyed seeing her relationships with people around her grow and change throughout the book, especially her mom.
I really liked her roommate, Lily, she's got some attitude and a huge personality that jumps off the page at you. I'm hoping for more of her story in another book!
You would think Red's life as a CPA would be a bit boring, but you'd be wrong! I loved reading about how goes about her daily routine, especially her first day when nothing turned out how she expected it to. I loved her attitude, she was always cheerful and helpful to others, even when she knew they would be neither to her. That actually saved her in one part.
The plot of this one is great! I loved that it's basically a light romance, but there are some parts near the end that I didn't see coming. At. All. I was kept guessing throughout the whole book as to just what would happen, and I really loved it!
This is a cute book, once you start reading you won't want to stop until you've read the whole thing! I know I didn't!
I really liked her roommate, Lily, she's got some attitude and a huge personality that jumps off the page at you. I'm hoping for more of her story in another book!
You would think Red's life as a CPA would be a bit boring, but you'd be wrong! I loved reading about how goes about her daily routine, especially her first day when nothing turned out how she expected it to. I loved her attitude, she was always cheerful and helpful to others, even when she knew they would be neither to her. That actually saved her in one part.
The plot of this one is great! I loved that it's basically a light romance, but there are some parts near the end that I didn't see coming. At. All. I was kept guessing throughout the whole book as to just what would happen, and I really loved it!
This is a cute book, once you start reading you won't want to stop until you've read the whole thing! I know I didn't!
April 14, 2017
Chasing Red is a very entertaining read. I was somewhat taken in by Damian and his charm (who wouldn't want to catch the attention of a gorgeous, successful man?), but I did have some concerns about him. However, I'll be honest that right from the beginning I wanted Ryder to end up with Hunter. That wasn't even a focus, but he just seemed like such a nice guy and good office friend.
I really liked Ryder's roommate, Lily. What a funny, quirky girl, who was really a blessing to Ryder. The relationship Ryder and her dad had was great and I liked how the story worked on repairing relationships that weren't so great. I'm glad Ryder held true to her convictions although I worried a few times.
I didn't realize that this was a re-telling of Little Red Riding Hood before I read it. Seeing that on the cover now though (I don't really notice covers when I read eBooks) everything makes sense. I'm laughing at myself now when I type the characters names and see how they each fall into their roles.
I loved the inclusion of accounting in this story. I just took business law and accounting classes, and it was fun to see aspects of those classes included in the story.
Chasing Red is clean and a book I'd read again.
I really liked Ryder's roommate, Lily. What a funny, quirky girl, who was really a blessing to Ryder. The relationship Ryder and her dad had was great and I liked how the story worked on repairing relationships that weren't so great. I'm glad Ryder held true to her convictions although I worried a few times.
I didn't realize that this was a re-telling of Little Red Riding Hood before I read it. Seeing that on the cover now though (I don't really notice covers when I read eBooks) everything makes sense. I'm laughing at myself now when I type the characters names and see how they each fall into their roles.
I loved the inclusion of accounting in this story. I just took business law and accounting classes, and it was fun to see aspects of those classes included in the story.
Chasing Red is clean and a book I'd read again.
October 24, 2019
Sweet, well-edited, boring
There's not much else I can say about the book. It's well-written. The heroine is likeable. The romance is so sweet it makes my jaw ache. And the story bored me to tears. DNF.
There's not much else I can say about the book. It's well-written. The heroine is likeable. The romance is so sweet it makes my jaw ache. And the story bored me to tears. DNF.
May 28, 2017
I kept reading this book hoping it would get better. Instead it got worse. By the end of the book I didn't really care who Ryder ended up with.
January 14, 2022
I’ll admit it took me a couple of chapters to get into this book. At first it seemed a bit too cliché. Innocent, naive, Utah “Mormon” girl, moves to big city, blah, blah, blah. But then I got caught up in the characters and the story drew me in. It was a bit unexpected and that’s why I loved it. Couldn’t put it down!
June 22, 2017
This was a great story with cute correlations to Little Red Riding Hood. I don't always love contemporary romance, but this was a fun one that kept me guessing till the end!
July 5, 2017
It was okay. The ending seemed a little melodramatic: too many people knew things they really shouldn't have known. Very true to the "Little Red Riding Hood" fairy tale.
August 4, 2018
I think this authors first book ‘Keeping Kate’ ruined me forever. It was so amazing and still one of my favouritest contemporaries ever by an LDS author. I wasn’t much of a fan of the last book that came out, and so was hesitant to invest in this story ‘Chasing Red’. Great premise, and concept though a little lengthy and monotone for a good chunk - if you’re not really into the NYC professional scene you’ll probably find issue with the storyline. It makes sense. We need some longevity to the relationships being established. I didn’t mind it so much, and can accept it for its place in the story. At times I struggled feeling much emotional attachment for Ryder. Her personality is a little all over. Really great friend one minute, a little conceited at others. I felt like the author did write the conflict really well, though it made little sense why so many people had such an instant dislike for Damian so quickly. All will be revealed, so it will come together. Looks & behaviors can be deceiving and this story is a good illustration of that. Often we are probably far too trusting of those in our church environment, and a little caution can go a long way. The rating for this book is based on the last 1/3 of which I enjoyed the most. I didn’t feel like the assault near the end ‘fit’ and was a little extreme. But, illustrates I guess that you can never know what lies beneath anyone. Though he would have been first class fool to think he would get away with it.
May 11, 2017
I'm a little torn how to write this review. Let me just start by saying I loved this story, and by the end I was satisfied with how it all turned out and I didn't feel I wasted my time reading it. Oh, but during the reading I was filled with ... AH... moments! It wasn't a comfortable read for me. Not because there was anything inappropriate, but I just was anxious and wanting Ryder to make good choices and do good things, and it was just...AHHHH. I know, I'm not explaining it well. I was joking with my sister that I was filled with angst while reading this and I just can't read too many books like that. My body can't handle it :) However, I had calmed considerably by the end and I've already gone back and re-read the parts I liked.
The cover says that this is a re-telling of Little Red Riding Hood. I love re-tellings. I'm not going to say that I recognized that this was a retelling though. Maybe I'm just not familiar enough with the Red Riding storyline, but it wasn't readily apparent to me. Looking back I suppose in one part of the story particularly I can see the fairy tale. It was just a little obscure...for me anyway.
I would definitely read more from this author, I'll just make sure I have my non-anxious books to break up the tension for me :)
*I received an eCopy in exchange for an honest review
The cover says that this is a re-telling of Little Red Riding Hood. I love re-tellings. I'm not going to say that I recognized that this was a retelling though. Maybe I'm just not familiar enough with the Red Riding storyline, but it wasn't readily apparent to me. Looking back I suppose in one part of the story particularly I can see the fairy tale. It was just a little obscure...for me anyway.
I would definitely read more from this author, I'll just make sure I have my non-anxious books to break up the tension for me :)
*I received an eCopy in exchange for an honest review
March 15, 2019
Seriously cute. I want sure i could get into a story about an accountant in the big city.... but i throughly enjoyed it. Somewhat cheesy/ corny, it took me an embarrassing long time to recognize the fairy tale retelling. It was well done.
I didn't like that somethings were swept aside and normalized... but i guess it's more a reflection of current social reality than what's "right".... ugh... i can't do my thoughts on this justice without giving away spoilers.... but perhaps it's important to know this book may trigger strong emotions related to sexual assault. The book is totally "clean", but it deals with an assault experience, and doesnt address it well, in my opinion. Hence the lower star rating.
I didn't like that somethings were swept aside and normalized... but i guess it's more a reflection of current social reality than what's "right".... ugh... i can't do my thoughts on this justice without giving away spoilers.... but perhaps it's important to know this book may trigger strong emotions related to sexual assault. The book is totally "clean", but it deals with an assault experience, and doesnt address it well, in my opinion. Hence the lower star rating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2018
I was excited for this book because I really enjoyed her others, but this one didn't stand up against those. It was soooo slow until about halfway through. I found myself not caring about the people, places, and situations. I debated about not finishing it. It irritated me that everyone called Damian a jerk, but wouldn't tell Red why. That forced me to figure out the plot way before it was over so I would have a reason for Red to stop dating him. Also, I wasn't surprised she didn't know about his alterego. They barely spent any time together throughout the entire book. I liked that it was clean. I liked Will a lot. And Red's roommate. I wouldn't read this one again.
May 20, 2025
Loosely follows the plot of Little Red Riding Hood. Ryder Redmond is a business major gets a new job in NYC and audits in a huge firm. Her roommate is a fun actress who is a friend and protector. Damian Wolfe was so well written, I knew he was supposed to be the villain only because of his name. Hunter was also cleverly written, I was expecting him to save Red at some point but did not see how until it was revealed.
Red is confident and funny and kind and real. The romance was believable, in all it's manifestations. There is good chemistry between all the right characters.
WARNING: There is talk of sex, some drinking, and an attempted rape no details and fairly clean.
Red is confident and funny and kind and real. The romance was believable, in all it's manifestations. There is good chemistry between all the right characters.
WARNING: There is talk of sex, some drinking, and an attempted rape no details and fairly clean.
September 26, 2017
I saw this one on my library's "hot titles on order" list. I've been trying out lots of the books on that list, and some have been hits, some have been misses. This one was definitely a hit! I'm into fairytale re-tellings lately and this was a delightful read. Great characters, great setting, great humor... yep, all great things. I'd definitely recommend it.
November 13, 2018
Couldn’t decide between 3 or 4 stars. Maybe 3 1/2?? I thought this story was good-ish. However, it seemed a little slow and monotonous through most of it. And I didn’t feel like it was too much like little red riding hood, besides the characters names (Red, Damion Wolfe, Hunter). It was predictable, I was just waiting for Red to figure it out but it took the entire book.
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August 2, 2020I love a good fractured fairy tale but I'd never read a Mormon fiction one, lol. I'm not gonna rate this because modern mo fiction isn't my fav genre and I don't want that to inaccurately reflect the quality of the book. But this was as good as any and I'd recommend to me mum. Fun quick read. Loved all the clever ways the Little Red Riding Hood story was worked in through names and plot.
May 8, 2017
Another entertaining read by Lauren! Witty characters, a fun twist at the end that was completely unexpected, and a love triangle that you can't quite decide who you want Red to end up with. Best Mormon lit out there!!
July 23, 2017
Red Riding hood!
I did not get much sleep, but I read this book in a 24 hour period! I loved the strong female characters and their handsome man friends! The storyline of little Red with a contemporary twist is perfect for a clean romance!
I did not get much sleep, but I read this book in a 24 hour period! I loved the strong female characters and their handsome man friends! The storyline of little Red with a contemporary twist is perfect for a clean romance!
November 29, 2017
Ryder is a girl from Utah who decides to take a job in New York City at a big accounting firm. This was a cute retelling (loose) of Little Red Riding Hood. The characters were interesting and made me want to keep reading. I would recommend this one.
July 28, 2017
Finally a twist on Red Riding Hood, complete with a wolfish villain and this time a team of supporters for our Red. This novel was truly fun and unique, from its take on the fairy tale to placing it in a business setting that taught as well as provided for a fun background. A must read
August 13, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. My review for the Deseret News can be found here: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/86...
June 23, 2025
Cute little romance-Utah girl moves to New York City and finds herself, a gorgeous man to date, and eventually, her soulmate.
I thought it was almost exactly like the happily ever after LDS romances I read back in the 1980’s!
I thought it was almost exactly like the happily ever after LDS romances I read back in the 1980’s!
June 10, 2017
Couldn't put it down
This is the perfect summer read! All the right elements to make you feel happy! Thanks Lauren for giving me a great start to summer!
This is the perfect summer read! All the right elements to make you feel happy! Thanks Lauren for giving me a great start to summer!
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