Books & Spoons Review for CHASING DREAMS by Nancy Stopper

24/3/2018

He's a single father. She's a former ballerina. Can they risk getting involved when a little girl's heart is involved?

Isabella Harper lived in the bright-lights of New York, a performer at the top of her field until a career-ending injury drove her home to find a new dream. If she can’t dance anymore, at least she can open a studio and help other dancers find their own dreams.

Tanner Ross has been burned before, left to raise his daughter alone. He won’t consider a relationship with anyone who has their eyes on the horizon, unwilling to risk his or his daughter’s heart by falling in love with someone destined to leave again. He had no plans to get involved… and then he met Izzy.

A few stolen moments turn serious quickly, and neither of them knows how to react.

Just when she thought she’d built a new life for herself, Izzy receives an offer she cannot refuse. Tanner's hopes of building a future with someone are dashed. Will she stick around or will the draw of the spotlight be too much to resist?

The well-written, ardent, and passionate stories from the Oak Grove introduced the author Nancy Stopper to me, and the first installment of the Harper Family series is delivered with the same smooth and fluent way that pulls you into the life of The Harper's and their friends while telling an entertaining and enjoyable story.
Isabella Harper and Tanner Ross's story is a steamy, erotic, passion-filled tale of falling in love and learning to trust again despite the past hurt. There is a lot of intriguing drama happening in the background of Isabella and Tanner's lives, yet most of the focus of the story is in the instant, strong, even at times overpowering physical attraction between Tanner and Izzy.
Izzy's eating disorder, challenging dancing career, issues with abusive relationships, her father's infidelity and alcoholism, her ex's verbal abuse, the way she had to retire from the stage, have all shaped her mind to be careful who she trusts. Some of those issues that were introduced were not dealt with, mostly regarding the family, and I am assuming they will be handled in the future installments of the series.
Tanner is a hero easy to admire because of his dedication and loyalty to everything he holds dear. There is nothing he wouldn't do for his daughter and the center for the youth and the well-being of the young people participating there are close to his heart. His attraction to Izzy is detailed and overwhelming at times. This story is much steamier than I remember the Oak Grove series being, and I felt that I really didn't need to know each and every hard-on he got while being enamored with Izzy. [Of course, that is a personal preference, and the whole issue, if too many sex scenes are even a possibility, will be debated as long as romance novels will be written. As long as the sex scenes contribute to the plot and show the growing emotions and commitment between the couple, I am all for them, just for the sake of having them is not necessary, in my opinion.]
The fluid flow of the tale was inviting, enticing the mind and engaging it in the story. With just enough drama and trouble, ardent attraction, and cute as can be puppy moments the story was well balanced, seductive, and charming. Can't wait for the continues of the series and to find the destinies of Izzy's siblings.
~ Four Spoons

Living in beautiful northern Virginia, Nancy dreams of small-town living where the everyone knows everyone else (including their business) and neighbors wave when you pass. Since she doesn’t live in one, she creates them for everyone else to enjoy through her books.

She’s a mom to (almost) 2 college students and 1 middle schooler who has spent more hours at the baseball field and the dance studio than she cares to admit. With her husband, her primary goal is to finish raising her 3 kids into productive adults!

Nancy writes small-town contemporary romance with sexy heroes and strong heroines. Her books tug at your emotional heartstrings and leave you with a warm feeling that lingers long after the last page. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Washington Romance Writers, and Virginia Romance Writers.

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