Review of Chasing Reese by Imy Santiago

Chasing Reese by Imy Santiago

                                               


5 stars
Reviewed by Candace

Imy Santiago delivers an amazing heartfelt story for her debut novel! This journey takes the reader on many different adventures while tugging at all the emotions possible. At times you’ll be elated with laughter from the antics and jokes of the trifecta, other times you’ll be stricken by sadness as the characters share gutwrenching stories from their past but most of the time you’ll be filled with warmth and happiness as the characters figure out how they are woven into each other’s future. As a debut novel, Santiago has done a magnificent job with her descriptive writing and drawing the reader into the story. Her writing creates a very vivid picture for the reader and allows for it to almost play as a movie as take life as you read them from the page.

The story begins with a prologue showing us what event changed Catalina Pardo’s life four years prior. A tragic event on an icy road shattered her spirit and left her broken and alone without the two people she envisioned her future with. In the present, Catalina’s life remains on hold as the grief of the accident still grips her captive and her life remains in limbo. Santiago gives the reader a very detailed look at how Catalina continues to struggle with her day-to-day life after the accident and sometimes the book seems longwinded at this point. The details are definitely vital to the story but don’t get lost in the emotional toll from these chapters – the best is yet to come!

Catalina Pardo is a journalist who works for a sports magazine and has been bestowed with 3 months of vacation she’s accumulated over the past four years. After deciding to take some time off and spending it with the family that she’s been avoiding for some time, she receives a message from work that they’re in dire need of her assistance. A crew has backed out of an assignment and she’s the only one left in town. Fate seems to step in and put her up against some of her biggest fears – it’s a story about a famous snowboarder named Jackson Reese and she’s going to have to go to Canada. This is not her cup of tea – she avoids winter sports of all kinds and has a phobia to snow and cold weather. How is she going to survive this?

Stryder Martynus is a world renowned sports photographer and also happens to be best friends with Jackson Reese. Stryder has been touring around the world and avoiding women and relationships at all costs. His life was turned upside down and his heart broken when he returned home for a surprise visit to his fiancée where he found her in a risqué position with another man in his own bed. Since then, he’s never really felt settled or comfortable in his own skin as the anger and hurt have taken up residence. He receives a phone call late one night after a random meaningless tryst with a barfly from Jackson asking for a favor – the crew from the magazine backed out and they’ll need a photographer to step in. And Jackson requests none other than his own personal photographer for the job. Stryder jumps at the chance to spend time with his best friend and away from all of the meaningless hookups he seems to have nowadays. But a chance encounter with a raven-haired girl on each step of his journey to see Reese brings a smile to his face. Is it really a chance encounter or does fate have an interesting way of bringing people into our lives at the right time?

Santiago weaves an amazing story about so many different storylines intertwining. Not only do we get a love story about two souls meeting after tragedy and learning how to trust in each other and themselves to find true happiness but we also get a story about overcoming heartbreak and learning to stand again and rise up out of the ashes in order to become the person you are meant to be. The connection between Stryder and Catalina is electric! The spark between the characters is there in every small touch and every time they enter a room they are drawn towards one another. The chemistry is magnetic and happens immediately. But the story is not one of insta-love. Their journey is slow and steady because they both harbor a deep and dark past when it comes to relationships and love. Coming to terms with their feelings takes time, but their inner monologues lets the reader glimpse into their minds and feelings long before they voice it to each other. It’s like being in on a secret and warms your heart. As Catalina and Stryder take this amazing journey, not every step of the way is happy and joyful. The past has its way of allowing doubt, guilt, grief and anger to sink into the cracks and crevices causing obstacles for the couple to overcome. Can they survive this journey and find what they truly deserve?

And on a side note, the author gives us a very unique storyline – not only do we have a hero and heroine but the character of Jackson Reese plays a vital role as best friend to both characters. His interaction with Stryder is imperative for Stryder to come to terms with his feelings and take a chance at something he gave up on long ago. But his relationship with Catalina is extraordinary! The draw between Catalina and Jackson is uncanny. Jackson sees her as someone that will understand him fully and be able to tell his story from the angle that he’s always wanted. But it’s not just about that – he sees her as the sister and confidant he’s always wanted. There bond is unlike anything else I’ve read! The love between Jackson and Catalina wraps its arms around the reader and gives them a hug. I truly believe that people come into our lives at different points in time for a reason. And there is definitely a reason that Catalina and Jackson are meant to be in each other’s life. It’s genuine and pure and solely from a bond of familial love. They carry each other through some of the toughest times of their lives – Jackson helps Catalina realize that moving on doesn’t mean that she forgets her past and Catalina helps Jackson deal with an addiction that he’s been fighting his whole life and never gives up on him.

This book ends on a conundrum – the reader does get a happily ever after in a sense but there is also a cliffhanger that makes you want to know more immediately. I have to say that it left me satisfied as well as yearning for more. I have to applause Santiago for that feat as it’s very hard to bring out that combination of emotions at the end of a book.

I cannot wait to read more about this trifecta in Finding Reese! Stryder, Catalina and Jackson have weaseled their way into my heart and won’t let go. Do not miss out on this journey! It’s one that will remain with you for a long time.


Late Night Books Reviewer Candace