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Jessie McBride barely survived the unexpected death of her loving parents. Forced to fend for herself with few to depend on while raising her younger cousin, Jessie learned to be self-sufficient. Kept few friends close and pushed the rest of the world away, not wanting to ever be that helpless, dependent girl again. Been there, done that and she never wanted do it again.

It works until Henry Green enters her life, with sentimental tales of his grandpa and family. Jessie is drawn in as Henry strives to take care of the man who raised him. But while Henry is putting things in place for his grandpa to retire, his well-intended controlling ways are smothering Jessie.

Can Henry’s invitation back to life and love tempt Jessie to drop the emotional wall, or will Henry give up on chasing the girl she once was?

Unknown Binding

First published November 1, 2011

71 people want to read

About the author

Keri Ford

30 books174 followers
Keri Ford brings sexy contemporary romance to the American South. With a sprinkling of men in suits and women in high heels, you’ll most likely find four-wheeler riding, ball cap wearing fellas trying to sweet-talk sundress wearing ladies in Keri’s books. Glass of sweet tea at your elbow while you read is not required, but strongly recommended.

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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Profile Image for Mandi.
2,358 reviews733 followers
November 30, 2011
I have enjoyed these quick, sexy novellas in Keri Ford’s Apple Trail series for the most part, and Chasing Her Trail, might be my favorite of the group.

Jessie likes to do things on her own as she has something to prove to herself. A few years ago, after her parents died, she fell apart and was unable to do anything but just sit and stare into space for months. Her cousin, whose parents also died in the accident, took over and did everything for her. Also around that time, she was tricked by an old boyfriend into a one night stand, which ended very badly. All of this is a time that Jessie wants to forget – but she also wants to prove to herself and to her friends that she is in a place where she is capable to live her own life now.

Living in her parents very old and run down home, she spends her time working at the local feed store and taking care of the 200 acres that was left to her. One day, a man shows up on her property with a proposal that shocks Jessie. Henry has an elderly grandfather who raised him. Henry will do anything for his grandfather, and has decided he wants to build his grandfather a log cabin like he grew up in, and Jessie’s land, with all of the trees is the perfect spot. At first Jessie is totally against the idea, but when she learns it is for his grandfather, aka family – something she can totally relate to, she gives in. She agrees to lease part of her land to Henry to build his house, for his grandfather to live in and she gets to know Henry when he moves into an RV on her property as construction begins.

Chasing her Trail is a sexy and cute novella. Henry kind of falls between the alpha and beta roles. He has his moments of being all male, yet he is a little slender and wears wire-rimmed glasses. Excuse me while I swoon. He was raised to take care of women and protect them, and this is where he starts to butt heads with Jessie. Jessie is very attracted to him, but is very independent. She doesn’t want Henry doing things for her – which totally baffles him.

As the story progresses, she starts to give in a little, and he starts to learn that he doesn’t have to always be the one to do everything. They have a sweet chemistry and there are some sexy romance scenes throughout. For fans of the series, we see some of the other characters, and they all come together for the epilogue, but this can also be read as a standalone. In the past with some of the books in this series, I was disappointed with a rushed ending, or a great build up of sexual tension and then not much payoff. But in this one, everything works really well.
Profile Image for Baba  .
858 reviews3,998 followers
November 20, 2011
“Boredom is an emptiness filled with insistence.”
- by Leo Stein -

When I was 56 % done with Chasing Her Trail I just had to cave in. Honestly, I’m not interested in wasting my time with such a story. I’m sorry that I had to use Leo Stein’s quote again. But it is so appropriate.

I was totally bored. The writing style is dull and tedious. Chasing Her Trail is a cheesy story with a too weepy heroine. Additionally, the hero is too pale and uninteresting. I wasn’t invested in the story and didn’t care about the characters. On top of everything the chemistry was totally lacking. In fact their whole “relationship” development felt kind of odd and didn’t ring true to me. This is labeled as erotic romance. Seriously, I couldn’t find anything erotic or sensual about this story.
Profile Image for Nikki .
804 reviews114 followers
November 15, 2011
The cousin of the worst mistake in Jessie’s life needs a favor? Oh no, she thinks not. No way in hell is she going to sell off some of her daddys hard earned land and what she has fought for years to achieve to no cousin of Quinn, aka, the jerk. Henry has his work cut out for him if he plans on getting land to build his aging grandfather a home. The fiery landowner, Jessie, doesn’t seem to like him much or his ideas on how his plan can help them both out.

Jessie has a house falling in around her, a yard that desperately needs cut and acres upon acres of land to keep an eye on. She doesn’t have time to help out someone else as long as she is trying to help herself out. No matter what amount of money Henry throws in front of her. When he tells her of his plans for his grandfather though, that hits a nerve. Who is she to deny something she was never given a chance to have…family. Slowly Henry and his high handed ways are wearing her resolve down. Maybe her problem wasn’t depending on other people…but who she had depended on in the past.



I will admit, I’m sad. I am totally sad that Chasing Her Trail is the last in the Apple Trail series that introduced me to Keri Ford. It’s one of those series you just don’t want to end. You know it has too, because at some point you’re going to run out of residents to write about…but when the time comes it just brings you down. I love this series. It’s honest, real and makes my heart go pitter patter. Having said all that, Keri Ford has given us an ending fitting to her series. I think I say this with each book of hers I read, but this is her best work yet!

I absolutely adored Henry and Jessie together. I mean, I wanted to knock their heads together a few times, but I did love them! Poor Jessie was just to headstrong for her own good. I mean geez woman, when your house is literally falling in around you, admit defeat and let someone help you! If that someone happens to be an incredibly hunky guy that has money to throw around, can give you amazing orgasms and is a family man too…well isn’t that just icing on the cake? Stop being so stubborn woman and let him in!

And Henry, goodness gracious man, if you are falling for a woman with a past like Jessies and you know she hates people doing things for her, don’t go doing things without asking first! Let her think everything is her decision..even if you really know it’s not.

These two both needed their heads examined. Each getting on the other nerves by simply being who they are. Funny thing about that though, once they came together, the sparks flew and there was no turning back for either of them. I loved how Keri had them slowly see that what they thought as their attributes really might have been hindering their success all along.

Another thing I love about this series is the crossover characters. We are treated to a good size epilogue at the end of the series that ties everything up neatly and I enjoyed that. I do love a happily ever after and Keri Ford gave me what I wanted. Not to fear though, we will get to go back to Apple Trail in some degree with her new Roughnecks trilogy coming out next year!

Keri Ford is an incredible author and an amazing woman. Her characters are real and the emotion jumps off the page. She combines awesome story lines with a down home southern charm that will reel you right in and keep you hooked through six amazing novellas! I have really enjoyed watching her grow with her first series and I now know that the sky is the limit with her. There are amazing things to come from her…she is an auto buy author for me and I think, given the chance, she’ll be one for you too!



I give Chasing Her Trail by Keri Ford 5 stars!
Profile Image for Julie.
535 reviews142 followers
November 29, 2011
Posted at http://yummymenandkickasschicks.com/?...

Chasing Her Tail is the sixth and final book in Keri Ford’s Uninhibited in Apple Trail, Arkansas series. I read the first book and really liked it and now I’ve read the last book. Someday, I’ll get to the others – because I really want to. I like how Keri writes and I smile while I’m reading her books.

I really enjoyed the first book, Through the Wall. It was cute and spunky and made me giggle often. While I did like this latest installment, I didn’t feel as strongly for it as I did the first. The reason: I didn’t quite click with the two main characters. Jessie lost her parents and raised her young cousin who also lost her parents. She has always been in charge: In charge of her life, of her surroundings, of her decisions. But a traumatizing event left her emotionally damaged and completely dependent on someone else for a while. Once she got past that event, she decided that she was never going to rely on anyone else ever again. She convinced herself that she didn’t need help because she was strong enough to take care of everything.

Henry is the opposite. He’s been taken care of so well by his grand-father during pretty much his whole life that he just wants to take care of someone else that way. When he meets Jessie and starts ‘taking care’ of her the way he feels he should, it goes against her plans of not accepting help from anyone. There are many arguments and many make-up sessions in this book, let me tell you.

I didn’t click with Jessie as much as I wished I had because I never really understood why she was so reluctant to accept help. Yes, she went through a terrible ordeal, but I didn’t see how it would make her so fanatical about accepting help. She sleeps in a house that is literally falling apart, with no heat. Her roof is patched with pieces of an old above-ground swimming pool and glue! Unfortunately, I wanted to smack her a little. I also wanted to smack Henry a little. I understand what he was trying to do with Jessie but I didn’t agree with how he was going about it. He just came in and started ordering her around. Yes, he was telling her things she should have known and things she should have been doing, but you don’t go in and talk to any woman like that. Ever. She is going to kick you in the goods. Guaranteed. Of course they eventually learn to listen and compromise and all that jazz, but it’s such a hard road getting there.

I did really like Henry’s grandpa. He’s really only in one scene but I found him to be just adorable. I can see how Jessie eventually fell for Henry – there’s just something about a man who loves his grandpa. I also liked the little glimpses of the characters from the other books. It made me excited to read their stories. And fans of this series will appreciate the epilogue. It puts a nice pretty bow on this series. I believe if you’ve read all six books, you’ll love it.

Overall, I found Chasing Her Tail to be an entertaining read. I may not have fallen for the main characters but they did have their good moments. I did enjoy this book and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Profile Image for Simply Love Book Reviews.
7,046 reviews870 followers
February 27, 2012
This review posted on Guilty Pleasures

4.5 Stars

Chasing Her Trail is the last installment of the Apple Trail series and that makes me sad. I have grown to love this town and its inhabitants.

We first met Jessie way back in the first book, Through the Wall, and I have to admit I’ve been waiting for her story. Jessie and her cousin, Tiffany, both lost their parents when Jessie was just 18. She took responsibility for raising Tiffany and keeping up her mother’s house and her father’s land. She’s had very little over the years but she’s proud that she’s never had to sell any of the land. Jessie has been in charge for a long time and decided long ago that she was never going to rely on anyone especially a man following a personal tragedy a few years back.

Henry just happens to be the cousin of Jessie’s lying ex-boyfriend. Henry has taken care of his grandpa who raised him for many years and now wants to build him a house like the one he grew up in to live out his last years. Trouble is, he wants some of Jessie’s land to build it on. Henry isn’t like the other men in this series; he’s not the uber alpha male.He seems more sensitive and caring. Don't get me wrong, he's still a hot blooded male but he's different. He wants to take care of Jessie and it drives him nuts that she won’t let him.

I loved these two characters together despite that, at times I wanted to choke them both! Jessie was so headstrong and refused to admit she needed the help that Henry continued to offer. Henry despite uncovering why Jessie had control issues just kept on trying to make decisions for her. This leads to many, many knock down drag out fights and some even better make up sex! Keri does a great job of showing these two the error of their ways and both of them do learn to give in a little. One of my favorite scenes is when Henry brings his Grandpa to see his new house.

I really loved this book but one of the best things about it was the extended epilogue that caught us up with all the other couples from the first five books. I was so glad to get a glimpse at how their relationships were progressing and how all of their lives are intertwined. This series was basically Keri Ford’s first foray into romance and thankfully not her last. Next up is her new series, The Roughnecks, which also takes place in Apple Trail. I can’t wait!
Profile Image for Dahlia (yadkny).
943 reviews141 followers
February 1, 2012
Jessie McBride has been through hell and back – a few times. Life hasn’t been very fair or kind to her, which has hardened her resolve to remain the fiercely independent woman she is. She keeps herself selective of a few friends and Tiffany her remaining family member. This way there’s no messy entanglements and life is peaceful with only her job and work on her home and land to worry about. However, the little mundane existence she’s created is about to get a bit more crowded.

Henry Green was raised by his grandpa to be a knight-in-shining armor and an all around good guy regardless of his parents’ decision. There is a special chink in his armor for damsels-in-distress though and it’s clear by Jessie’s house alone that she’s in distress. Except this damsel won’t let Henry do what comes naturally to him and instead he’s met from the start with resistance from a woman he finds impossibly stubborn yet undeniably irresistible.

I very much enjoyed the sixth and final installment in the Uninhibited in Apple Trail, Arkansas series. I was eager to read Jessie’s story and the author does not disappoint in delivering her emotional tale and ultimate happily-ever-after. Henry is hard not to like right from the beginning. His patience and attentiveness is just what Jessie needs, while Jessie’s down-to-earth personality is just what Henry needs. They are very compatible characters, so the romantic elements in the story heat up rather quickly after they meet. The story is very character driven and focused mostly on Jessie and Henry with a few minor appearances by some familiar faces from the series.

The characters, the setting, and the emotions are believable and realistic. Each story in the series gets better and better and I can’t wait to read what the author does with the spin-off series. If you haven’t read any of this author’s work yet, make sure that you do. This sexy and fun series is not to be missed!

Review soon-to-be posted @ Night Owl Reviews
Profile Image for Romancing the Book.
4,420 reviews221 followers
January 6, 2014
Reviewed by Stephanie O.
Book provided by the publisher for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book

First of all I want to give this book some cover love. Honestly, this is just a beautiful cover. Even though we are told to not judge a book by its cover, in this case . . it’s ok! The story that is found following that beautiful cover is just as beautiful.

Jessie has been to hell and back through her life, and now all she wants is to be left alone. Her dreams aren’t big. Jessie wants to rebuild the house that was her mom’s; she wants to tend to the land that was her dads. None of which will harm anyone, that is unless you try to come between her those dreams. Her friends and family all know when to give her space and do so accordingly. Yet, when she comes face to face with a piece of her past suddenly her space is getting a little cramped.

Quinn did her dirty and he knows it. Without telling of his wrong doings he takes Henry out there to meet her anyway. Henry has a plan, a plan to give his grandfather a gift of a lifetime. To do it, he is going to need the help of Jessie.

Can Jessie get past the dirty deeds of Quinn to help Henry out?

This has to be my favorite book so far by Keri Ford. It was so well written. Packed with emotion, drama, and having the right amount of romance. This read is very well balanced. Jessie is such a strong woman, and one that stands up for what she believe is right. Henry is a good ole boy; sometimes it’s almost too much. By the end of the book you will find yourself turning the pages with fingers crossed. Hoping that these two can figure out what we already see. Together they are unstoppable.
Profile Image for Kelly at.
1,145 reviews13 followers
December 17, 2011
Love Keri and her Apple Trail Series.. I am so sad that this is the last book in the series. But SO looking forward to the next adventure she will take us on.

Chasing Her Trail is book 6th and final book in Keri Ford’s Apple Trail series. I am truly sad that this series is coming to a close, but very excited about Keri’s new project. I have loved all of Keri’s stories.

In Chasing her Trail we get to meet Jessie McBride again. The tough talking, takes no crap, needs no one but herself cousin of Tiffany McBride (from Making Her Nights). Jessie has been taking care of herself and Tiffany since their parents passed away so many years ago. But Jessie’s life is about to be completely blown away when a very familiar face from the past show up at her door step.

As I said before I have loved all of Keri’s Apple Trail stories. If you have not visited Apple Trail, Arkansas I would highly recommend a visit.

Profile Image for Mandy.
1,073 reviews93 followers
May 14, 2012
3.5 stars ;)

Was glad that we got Jessie's story. She was definitely harder to connect with than the others but that's just the character I guess. Glad that we got more on the other couples too. Sad that the series is done but looking forward to the 2nd book in the new series.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews

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