Chasing Trouble

by Sonia Stanizzo

Her instinct is to run.
His instinct is to let her.

Ten years ago, secrets and lies caused Ava Cardona to walk away from her hometown, family and the man who broke her heart… Nick Williams.

Now she’s back and stranded on Nick’s farm with animosity still burning between them. But behind the hateful stares and cold shoulders, old attractions are igniting.

It’s wrong that she still wants him. He hurt her once, there’s no way she’ll let him do it again. But the way he looks at her… touches her… he’s making it difficult to resist him.

She must guard her heart and push him away.
He’s not letting her.

Just when she believes she can forgive past hurts, Ava learns of a devastating new secret, one Nick has kept from her, and she does what she does best… runs.

Will Ava get far, or will she decide that it’s time to stop running and instead chase love?

Genres: Romance

244 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2021

About the author

Sonia Stanizzo is a contemporary romance writer who lives in the beautiful South Coast of New South Wales with her childhood sweetheart/husband and their three children. When she’s not dreaming up stories about couples and their road to finding love, sometimes bumpy but always a lot of fun, she can be found taking pole dancing lessons, reading, and writing.

Reviews

[Jo - •.★Reading Is My Bliss★.• · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book from this author and already I can see how far she has come since her first book release.

Ava has begrudglingly returned to her hometown after receiving a call from her younger sister. It sounded urgent so even though it pains her to return she needs to get there as soon as possible.

The last person she wants to see is her ex Nick Williams, the boy who ditched her after a whirlwind summer romance when they were young and caught up in the excitement of first love. However, she bumps into him on her first night in town and ends up needing his help.

Ava is no longer the girl Nick remembers, she is smartly dressed in designer shoes and swanky car, she obviously is doing well for herself. She left town to pursue her dream career and it looks like she has done just that.

Ava is not surprised to see that Nick looks just the same, albeit even more handsome. He still drives the same truck and dresses like the farm boy he is. There is something different about him though but she can’t quite put her finger on it.

Ava is the one that got away for Nick, he thought that their love would be enough but she left him heartbroken. Now that they are forced to spend time together, the feelings from all of those years ago begin to seep back in. The attraction between them has never wavered and before long they give into their desire.

Nick knows that Ava is only in town for a short amount of time so a bit of harmless fun won’t do any harm right? It turns out that a lot can happen in one week and a lot of secrets and hidden truths begin to emerge that have both of them second guessing everything they knew about each other.

I really enjoyed this small town, second chance at love romance.

[AND 1515 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great emotional story....
by and1515

They'd once been something until she left and he did nothing.
Then one day she reappeared and that was just the beginning.
Unfortunately Ava had some really strong negative feelings towards her father which often tended to effect how she interacted with others.
But when you do the same thing over and over expecting to have a different out come, well yeah not gonna happen.
Sometimes you just need to bite the bullet and ripe the band-aid off and get down to the nitty gritty and move in a different direction.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Maddison Michaels · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome book! I really enjoyed Nick and Ava's story - and I was hooked from the first page. Nick is just swoon worthy - and I loved the writer's voice. She had such a way of really getting into her character's skins, that I felt like I was there with them on their romantic adventure. It was a great romance, with enough tension, that for a moment there I was wondering if Nick and Ava would actually get their HEA! And did I say how much I loved Nick... lol!

[Alex T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing and swoon worthy!I really loved the book,the drama chemistry and love were so good.This is the second book I have read by the author and absolutely enjoyed it.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tracey Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I read if Sonia’s & she’s now been added to my favourite Authors list!

A well written romantic story that grabbed me from the opening & cost me a couple of late nights as I just couldn’t put it down.

It was easy to fall in love with characters and the story line kept you guessing.

Thanks Sonia for a wonderful read. TP

[Davina Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really fun racy read, with lots of action and chemistry. I loved the fact that the plot didn't stall but kept the pace up throughout and there was plenty of fun as well as sizzle. My only gripe, I would have liked it to be longer so I could get to know all the characters in more detail. Looking forward to more sexy romps from Sonia Stanizzo

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chasing Trouble by Sonia Stanizzo is a second chance romance. Ten years ago, Ava Cardona walked away from her family and the man who broke her heart, Nick Williams. A call from her sister has Ava back in her hometown for the first time in a decade and the last person she wanted to see on her first day back was Nick. Due to unfortunate circumstances and bad weather she is stranded on Nick’s farm with him.

I am not exactly sure how I feel about this book, it was well written but I just wasn’t really convinced of their chemistry and I am honestly not a fan of Ava. I know that there was a misunderstanding between the two but at times I felt like Ava was so…entitled.

I felt like it was more lust than love. There was a lot of “you broke Nick’s heart when you left town” and a lot of sex but I didn’t feel like there was a real connection. I don’t know there was just something missing. I feel like I didn’t really know the characters well enough I guess. Or maybe all of the secrets and extra drama kind of took away the romance.

Chasing Trouble is the second book of the Trouble In Love series and it can be read as a standalone. Also written in third person pov.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A feisty second chance romance
A second chance love story. Nick and Ava were high school sweethearts, but some untruths had her fleeing their small town for the city with a broken heart and him nursing feelings of betrayal and thinking her a coward who runs so when she arrives back for a visit many years later the anger is still there simmering close to the surface.
The book details them forgiving past hurts and letting the love that still exists fight to the surface and shape their future with some hilarious scenes along the way.
This is not the first book of Sonia’s I have read, while it is the second in this series, it is a standalone where the first is not necessary for background. I really like Sonia’s writing style, it’s descriptive in that the words paint the picture (and I could image the scenery clearly while reading) but not so that you get bogged down in detail, and I really loved the feistiness she created between these two. The banter, both when they are snarling at each other and when they’re not, is impressive…. So well written, I loved reading every minute of it!

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, I will have to look for more books by this author as her style is so descriptive. I love the storyline of second chance love. Ava and Nick were a couple, but 10 years ago, secrets and lies caused Ava to leave. In the book she is returning to her hometown, but Nick is still angry from her leaving. She gets stranded on Nick’s farm but the animosity still continues. Finally, they began forgiving past hurts and lets love through. There are some funny scenes which caused me to laugh. The book is a stand-alone even though it is the second in the series. Things begin to fall apart again, but you will have to get the book to find out. I recommend reading this book as this second chance in love is truly worth it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Terri Zumbrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

If couple in love told each other the truth and didn’t deceive by omission, books like CHASING TROUBLE would be very short.

This second chance at love story keeps its secrets for a good portion of the book allowing Ava and Nick to stop insisting they hate one another. Secrets that caused Ava to run from Nick ten years ago are at work and more recent developments are forces trying to keep them apart.

Ava and Nick have a fierce chemistry and I enjoyed the book although it took them awhile to stop making the same mistakes again.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in this amazing series and is Nick and Ava’s journey. These two were high school sweethearts until lies has her fleeing town broken hearted. Now 10-years later Nick and Ava cross paths again and have a love/hate relationship going on. This is a well written story which is a great 2nd chance romance story, with secrets, lies, animosity, family, humor, witty banter, forgiveness, truths, guilt, heartbreak, emotions, and love, which leads to an entertaining and addictive page turner. I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
I received a free copy of this book via Give Me Books and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although well written and edited, I found I couldn’t get into this story and skimmed a lot. I think it was because it’s all about long burning anger, lies and resentment and complete lack of communication (as so many of these second chance romances are!). I started off not liking Ava’s character much - so snarly and bad-tempered and somehow my view of her persisted throughout the book even though, at the end, there was forgiveness and redemption all around.

I received this as an ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily

[Carol Ball · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to read with a reasonable storyline albeit a little predictable. What I would call a classic holiday read. The main characters were relatable and I was an easy to follow story.

I did however sometimes feel like the author was a little confused between love and lust. It either needs to be a lot more spicy (so not a typical love story) or a lot less sex/lust (so more of a love story).

Nothing special or different which was a little disappointing.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Brenda Moser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a second chance romance between Ava and Nick. Once high school sweethearts now have more of a hate relationship. Both have their own problems and secrets which forced them apart ten years ago. The author brings strong characters and weaves an entertaining story filled with humor as well as the romance. I enjoyed reading and watching them come together.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Esme Greiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nick and Ava were high school sweethearts until they broke up because of lies and she left town. Ten years later she is back in town and they still have strong feelings for each other but it looks more like hatred. You know what they say...there is a fine line between love and hate. Will they get through what happened in the past to see what the future might hold for them?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Maja · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. The only problem I had with this story was that it was told in the third person point of view which is a deal breaker for me. Other than that I loved the story and most importantly I loved the characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[BusyM3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in this series Trouble in Love. The story flows well, the characters are likeable and fit well together. This is a new author for me and I am looking forward to read more.

I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[M.W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! Such a great book! I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read this book. I would definitely recommend it!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Melody Nz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5⭐️

[Whitewolfaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book was fantastic! I was pulled quickly into the story and was rooting so hard for a great HEA. This book does not disappoint in ANY way! I will be reading everything by this author immediately!

[Elizabeth Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original review can be found at: http://www.nerdprobs.com/books/book-r...

**A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**

I am not sure what drew me to this book when my editor asked me if I wanted to read it. I have found as I have gotten older the “fluff” books that I originally turned my nose up at have gotten more and more traction on my reading lists. With that being said I have begun to read more Contemporary Romance novels.

Ava has returned to her hometown at the bidding of her younger teenage sister Bella. She dreads returning home. She doesn’t have a great relationship with her father and her mother killed herself in a drunk driving crash. While some of her memories are happy, most of them are not. She is sitting in a diner eating and fending off the advances of a cute guy when she feels a tingle go up her spine like someone is watching her. She turns around and sees her old boyfriend, Nick, shooting daggers at the back of her head from a distance. She and Nick were inseparable when they dated 10 years prior. Her father told her that Nick took the money he offered him to break up with her and never look back. While driving home in a horrible storm Ava gets stranded on the side of the road when her car breaks down. The person that rescues her is none other than Nick. Nick offers to drive her home and finds the road flooded. He takes her back to his house until the storm passes and the road clears. Ava and Nick are finally able to have that talk that they never had 10 years prior. Will the truth come out about her leaving? Will sparks fly between them once again?

I absolutely adored this book. I have added the author to my reading list for her next books. I will say it did take me a minute to figure out some of the lingo as the story takes place in Australia. I will actually admit that once I realized that I did “read” the character’s voice with an Australian accent. The characters are well rounded and the family issues that Ava’s family has are something that you can see a normal family having. Nick’s family is the same as they deal with the grief from the loss of a loved one. As for the romance part of it, they were fairly clean. They do kiss and make out, there is the occasional undressing but the rest is all up to your imagination.

[🤍 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️’s

“𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝔀𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷 𝓱𝓪𝓭 𝓸𝔀𝓷𝓮𝓭 𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓽 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓪𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂’𝓭 𝓶𝓮𝓽, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓫𝓮𝓵𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸𝓰𝓮𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻.”

Tropes:
🩵 Second Chance
🩵 Enemies to Lovers
🩵 Forced Proximity

I adore second chance romance so I thought I’d dip my toes into this! I found this to be well written — overall it was an enjoyable and fast read with light angst. Nick and Ava were torn apart from lies made years ago and I felt bad for the years they had spent living without one another. Despite the time apart could just feel the chemistry between them both! I’m happy that they both were able to receive there happy ending 🩵

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, excellent read and I'm looking forward to reading the next one