When his father announced his engagement to a gold-digger with a lying, scheming fourteen-year old daughter, seventeen-year old Tripp Warner left Warner Ridge Ranch and never looked back. Until the day he got the phone call that his father had died unexpectedly. Reggie Reed lives with her guilt every day but can't quite work up the courage to track down the son of the man who raised her as his own.
When Tripp shows up at his father's funeral eleven years later--and a hell of a man to be reckoned with--he has no interest in her too-late apology. Worse, they've inherited half shares of the family ranch-but only if they work together to catch Mason's Gold, the stallion a young Reggie let escape and made sure Tripp took the blame for.
Tripp proposes a secret competition to the beautiful witch who stole his whoever catches the stallion first gets the ranch all to themselves. It sounds simple, but once they're out on the range, tempers and passions flare in the Texas heat and nothing goes as either of them expects.
"I have a proposition for you."
She couldn't help it, her gaze went straight to the bed. Just as fast she snapped it back up to his face. "A what?"
He lifted one nicely muscled shoulder in a careless gesture that didn't fool her one bit when she considered the calculating gleam in his eyes.
"Maybe competition is the better word."
"And what exactly would we be competing for?" she asked.
"The ranch."
Reggie would've laughed, except he was dead serious. She crossed her arms. "What have you got in mind?"
Her stomach gave a sickening lurch. This is why he agreed to the terms of the will. She knew he'd flipped to the other side too fast. But Ernesto hadn't lied when he said she'd been trying to catch the stallion for years, though how he knew about it, she'd love to know. No way did she want to go up against Tripp like this, not with the ranch at stake. Mason was smarter than any horse she'd known.
Tripp stepped closer, crowding her personal space as he leaned in and taunted, "Afraid you can't catch him?"
Wisconsin native Stacey Joy Netzel fell in love with books at a young age, so for her the graduation to writing them was natural. A member of Romance Writers of America (RWA) and Wisconsin Romance Writers (WisRWA), she credits her parents for encouraging her dreams of becoming a published author, as well as the very talented friends she’s made in WisRWA since joining in 2004. Her Christmas anthology, MISTLETOE RULES, took 1st place in WisRWA's 2010 Write Touch Readers' Award. Check out her romantic suspense Colorado Trust Series, Trust in the Lawe, Shattered trust, and Shadowed Trust. Other titles include: Lost In Italy, Ditched Again, Welcome to Redemption Series, Chasin’ Mason, Dragonfly Dreams, If Tombstones Could Talk.
An avid reader and big fan of movies with happy endings, Stacey lives in Wisconsin with her husband and three children, a couple horses and some barn cats. She works part-time as a travel agent, and in her limited free time she enjoys gardening, canning, and visiting her parents in Northeastern Wisconsin (Up North) at their cabin on the lake.
I want to start off by saying I am a huge fan of another book Stacey wrote called Lost in Italy. I have been eager to find out if I am in love with the writing style of Stacey or simply in love with the story she told. Now that I have Chasin' Mason under my belt I can assure you it is the writing style of Stacey Joy Netzel that captivates me, and her art of telling a great romance story.
Chasin' Mason is one of my favorite kinds of romances, a romance where the leading characters start of hating each other. I love it I just eat it up! I enjoy a good conflict in my romance novels, and what better conflict then hating the very person you love? I feel like in a “hate romance” you as the reader see the good in both characters, but you read in anticipation as they learn the good in each other. Mentally I am yelling at my book “No! He doesn’t mean it”, but of course my characters aren’t listening. Reggie and Tripp have a long history of hate only making this story more interesting.
Tripp leaves home at the young age of seventeen, haunted by the memory of a young girl named Regan who took over his life. When Tripp returns home eleven years later to the funeral of his father he discovers that Regan is still in his house, most likely happy to collect his father inheritance money. Tripp's father has the last laugh when the final portion of his will states that if Tripp and Regan do not go on a mission to bring home Mason a wild house that ran away, then the ranch would be sold, and the money given away. Regan who has lived at the ranch is on a mission to save it, while Tripp is on a mission to get payback.
Regan is a rough tough cream puff, with an overwhelming sense of guilt, and a troubled past. I loved Regan, she isn't the kind of girl to take no for an answer, even when her own safety is on the line. Tripp, oh Tripp, he is this rugged sexy man in tight jeans on a horse. Does it get any better than that? I don't think so.
So with all of the above said, do I really need to tell you that I recommend this book? Well if you didn't get it from the review then yes, I do recommend this book. I was given this book from Stacey Joy Netzel but I loved it so much I wanted to show my support for the author, so I purchased my own copy.
I enjoyed this story right from the start. Tripp and Reggie are both great characters with believable flaws and a past marred by conflict and misunderstanding. The characters are well-drawn and there's off-the-charts sexual tension and just plain good sexy fun. Oh, and there are horses and a contemporary western backdrop too! Tripp is one very sexy cowboy, and I liked that Reggie was his equal in every way.
What a fun read! I fell in love with the characters and conflict from the opening pages. Not only does this romance evolve around an exciting plot, but even the humor interwoven throughout scenes and dialogues will keep you turning the page. What a fun read!
For some reason, this book was not what I was expecting. I can't quite put my finger on why, though. At the age of 17, Tripp Warner caught Regan freeing Mason (his father's new stallion). Regan, the 14 year old brat of his father's girlfriend, ran crying to Judd Warner and blamed Tripp. Having enough of her, Tripp decides to leave and never looks back. He has blamed his father and the Princess for 11 years until he returns back to the ranch after the death of his father.
When Tripp decided to come back to the ranch, he has a chip on his shoulder the size of Texas. And rightfully so, Regan was a bitch when she did what she did. Yeah, she was only 14, but she also admits to him that she never told his father the truth. That's just wrong. Deep down, I think I was rooting for Tripp to win their little competition and win the ranch. Of course, they fall in love instead. I loved the scenes of the two of them in the tiny, one room cabin...especially when Tripp is washing and brushing Regan's hair. As for Regan, of course she regrets what she did and appologizes profusly. However, if I were Tripp, I don't think I could have forgiven her that quickly. The scenes of Tripp asking his father's friends and employee if Judd talked about him broke my heart. The joy Tripp felt when someone finally said yes, Judd did talk about him gave him the freedom and resolution that he seeked. Aww...
I really enjoyed the book. I would love to live in the country side that Stacey created. She also created two characters that had depth and were strong willed. I do wish the book was a little longer so Regan could grovel a bit more and their new relationship could develop more. I felt that it wrapped up a little quick. I look forward to reading more of Stacey's books.
This was a great book. It was part of the Sugar and Sin boxed collection. It is the story of Tripp and Reggie. They haven't seen each other for 11 years and their parting was on bad terms. As they try to work together to keep control of the ranch after Tripps father dies, they struggle to not give in to the feelings they have for one another. Its a good read
Another excellent book by Stacey Joy Netzel! She has become one of my favorite authors! She has a way of holding your attention to a point where I did not want to put the book down. I look forward to reading more of her books!
This is a very good read. They hate each other, then they love each other. Emotional ride! There were times I was clenching my teeth and others when I had little tears. I enjoyed it.
You know when you read a good book and then kind of forget about it, only to randomly months or years later remember a tiny part of the plot, and suddenly you need to find that book, but the title, the author, all are nowhere to be found in your memory. That was this book for me. I think I got a while back on my nook, which means searching my kindle doesn't do much. Happens more often than I'd like to admit (and if it was from library or KU, well out of luck). In this case, I remembered Ernesto's name and that the father died. No other concrete details. I found this book again on bookbub, and it is better than I remembered. With self publishing, we get more lenient with authors having lazy plots or cardboard characters. Finding a nice, well written story without the perfect heroine or hero is a wonderful change of pace. In this story, not one person is perfect, and neither are there comically evil villains or "other women" to bash the heroine. It is a very quick read, and it is unique. For lacking a maniacal character, the pacing stays enticing, very little skimming in the middle. That said, I didn't give five stars because there seemed a missing element. It might be simply because the setting is the same place, the ranch for 99% of the book. I think introducing even a friend or outside influence would have fleshed out the story a bit more, let us see other sides to the characters. Again, this is why I didn't give it 5/5, but that drawback is really not a deterrent on the story. I definitely recommend this book. I also seem to have a few other books by this author I have enjoyed, as well, so if this book doesn't float your boat synopsis-wise, I think it is worth checking out the other books
Reggie was horrible as a 14 year old who lied to get her way. Tripp left home at 17 because of it. Eleven years later, his dad has died and he's back to make sure the daughter of his dad's former girlfriend doesn't get the ranch. People change and Reggie is a different person who feels guilty over her actions.
The story was good but it bothered me that his dad never reached out. Tripp was only 17 and Reggie should have told the truth at some point. His dad should have at least left a note. This has an HEA but real closure for Tripp would have made the story sweeter.
Upon the death of Regan (Reggie) Reed’s stepfather, Tripp Warner, her stepbrother came home to bury his father. Years before a sibling rivalry between the two forced him to leave the family ranch and pride and hurt kept him away until this last goodbye. Judd Warner was the father she always wanted and she was grateful for his love and support. Reggie, however, felt shame about her part in his departure and wished she could turn back time but what was done was done and she would have to live with it and try to make amends. After the funeral and the will is read, she was given a large sum of money and half interest in the ranch. Tripp was given the other half interest with the stipulation that they run the ranch together. In reaction to this seemingly impossible partnership, they made a bet; winner takes all. A wild horse named Mason had eluded all efforts to capture. The one that catches this wayward stallion gets the ranch. There is a thin line separating love from hate and these two are about to trip over it. As they both try to catch the illusive horse their lives move closer together pushing their quest into the background as their feelings, desires and passions take center stage. The Texas Panhandle is the perfect backdrop for this refreshing high plains romance. Pride pitted against love and desire doesn’t stand a chance.
Reviewed by: JoAnne Book provided by: author Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
This was a nice story set in the west on a ranch with cowboys – what more could you want? There was love and hot sex made hotter when neither one liked the other but were only together to satisfy a clause in a will of who would inherit the ranch. There was family, anger, sadness, laughter and some tears due to years of bad memories, antagonism and hatred.
There were many layers to Reggie and Tripp but it was fun to watch them get to know each other and put the past behind them. They also tended to grow closer when one or the other or both let their guard down without realizing it.
Netzel is a new to me author and I enjoyed this book from start to finish. Although there was closure I wish it could have gone on a little longer. I look forward to reading other books by her and will add them to my TBR pile. There was a nice excerpt in the back of the book for Lost in Italy.
I found this book fascinating and I loved the storyline. Many years ago Tripp's father was in love with a Gold-digger who had a scheming fourteen-year old daughter, Reggie. Reggie succeeded in tormenting Tripp and getting him in trouble for things he had not done until she ran him out of his family home. Now his father had passed away and he is returning home. What he finds is a gorgeous, grown-up Reggie. Thank goodness his father never married the girl's mother.
Beautiful Reggie Reed lives with guilt every single day. What she did to Tripp was inconceivable and she lives with so much guilt, pain and regret. After all, she is the young woman who stole his life and planted herself in the space Tripp had occupied in his father's heart.
Now Tripp finds out his father has left them equal shares in the family ranch. How will these two work out their partnership?
What a fun and intriguing read. I highly recommend this book.
A very good contemporary romance that held my interest throughout the entire story. It is also part of the Sugar and Sin bundle that includes titles from five other authors.
Tripp and Reggie haven’t seen each another for over eleven years. Now they are enemies and will own his father’s ranch equally. They both want it but there is no way they are willing to share, so they agree to a competition to determine who will be the sole owner. The first one to capture the stallion wins, and the loser will walk away. Tempers rise while they are searching, but they are beginning to realize that the tension is not from anger but from the chemistry that is forming between them.
I own an e-copy of this title, and I also received a copy of the Sugar and Sin bundle for free from the authors in exchange for an honest review.
This book was fun. The last book I read that took place in Texas, Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas, I loved so I was really hoping this would be a nice follow up. The authors are different but I was optomistic. I was wrong. It just didn't have the depth that Kleypas' books have. It was a fun story and the characters definitely have chemistry but it was WAY too predictable. I gave it 3 stars because as long as it's entertaining and steamy it meets my expectations for a romance novel. However, in my opinion there is a big difference between a 3 star romance and a 4. If you want a quick read with a nice story and some steam mixed in definitely pick up Chasin' Mason but know that's all you're really going to get.
I love a story with a sexy cowboy. Although just a tad predictable I thought it was very entertaining the things we learn about each character and why they are the way they are. I loved Reggie and Tripp's getting to know each other again and Reggie getting to apologize and Tripp learning a lot of why things happened the way they did. very sweet and romantic read with a tad sexy in it. Gotta love Mason that tough free stud that he is. 4 stars review by Nanee At upallnightreadallday.blogspot.com
I've read books by this author before and really enjoyed her. My problem is that I have a friend whose situation was similar to Tripp's at the beginning of this book. I guess I'm too familiar with the reality of a sibling being maliciously displaced by a step-sibling to enjoy a fiction. I wanted to see Reggie lose the ranch, not get an HEA.
I got this as an e-ARC (electronic Advanced Review Copy) and I'm glad I did. It was part of the Sugar and Sin collection. This was my first time reading something by author Stacey Joy Netzel. She did a great job writing believable and lovable characters. I fell in love with them right away and enjoyed their journey to falling in love with each other. It had a really sweet ending and I would love to read more about them.
This book proves that things are not always as they seem. Tripp left his father and never looked back but when his father dies unexpectedly Tripp comes home. Regan has changed and regrets when she did eleven years ago. A stipulation in the will means these two have to work together for a common cause. This was a great story and I couldn't put it down. Tripp turned out to be a nice guy and Regan was so down to earth. Stacey Joy Netzel has another winner here!
SWEET LOVE STORY, MILDLY SEXUAL, A BIT REPETATIVE AND A LITTLE SLOW. IT REALLY SHOWED HOW HOLDING ONTO ANGER CAN DAMAGE YOU MENTALLY EVEN IF YOU HAVE A VERY SUCESSFUL LIFE. HATE IS SUCH A DESTRUCTIVE EMOTION, IT MAKES YOUR LIFE A LIVING HELL. ;D
Father's will gives a task to be completed by estranged son & daughter like woman.
Not enough character development for me just the mistrust that lead to the quest. Then jump in the sack & instant love. Father kept tabs but didn't contact or leave letter.