Chase Me: A Broke and Beautiful Novel

Roxy has hit rough times and is the cliché starving actress struggling to land a job. In order to make ends meet, she takes a job singing telegrams, but never thought she’d have to sing a song in honor of a man’s, ahem, manliness, in a bunny suit, no less! No, that’s not humiliating at all…

When Louis opens the door and sees a hot bunny on his doorstep, he at first thinks he’s hallucinating. He gets a song of praise for his endowments, and you’d think that make a guy happy, but not so much when it’s a judgmental, sexy bunny singing the song. And not so much when you’re instantly attracted to the sexy, sassy bunny because having your one night stand send a singing telegram to your manhood doesn’t exactly make the best first impression:

"Why? If you like what you see, will you invite me inside? You haven't even showered off the last girl yet." He actually had the grace to look a little ashamed. “I—“
Roxy didn’t give a s*** about his answer. “Would you expect me to be flattered?” She clutched her chest dramatically. “Please, oh keeper of the golden penis, let me worship at your flawless phallus.”

Lol! So, yes, not the best first impression there, but they do manage to share a smoldering kiss. Sounds like a weird thing to happen, but it works in this context, and Louis can’t get Roxy out of his mind. Soon he’s chasing her all over the city to win her over and make her give him a chance.

Roxy doesn’t want to get hurt, and Louis definitely seems like a love-them-and-leave-them type of guy, so she keeps her shields up just in case. That’s a little difficult when she starts to realize he’s not the manwhore she thought, but actually a nice guy. I laughed at the whole roommates “syncing” scene where Louis came in and handled things like a pro with two broody and emotional females:

“What else you got in that bag, Mary Poppins?” Roxy’s curiosity got the best of her, so she hopped up on one of the kitchen stools and reached into the bag. “Three…no, four Snickers bars,” she announced. “A bottle of wine. Tylenol. People magazine.” She peered further into the bag. “And Bridesmaids on DVD.”

Louis realizes that the way they met would make Roxy doubt his intentions, but he’s determined to change her opinion. He wants to get close, get to know Roxy, wedge himself into her heart bit by bit, because no one has ever affected him the way she does.

I adored Chase Me! It was such a fun and sexy story. The clever banter, the deeper emotions and the amazing sexual tension all added up to a satisfying romance. Roxy and Louis get to know each other better, all the while sharing lusty kisses, and passionate encounters. Tessa Bailey excels at writing super hot sex scenes, but she definitely built up my anticipation, making me hot and bothered in the process!

I love Tessa Bailey’s writing and I’ve already got the next installment, Need Me, locked and loaded on my kindle!

Tessa Bailey is one of my FAVORITE authors ever – NO ONE can do dirty talking, alpha-male heroes like she can!!! So OF COURSE I was so excited to read Chase Me, the first book in her new Broke and Beautiful series. And yes, it’s another winner! Hilarious, witty, sexy, and so much fun, Chase Me is a book you won’t want to miss!

Chase Me is a new adult book, so it’s got a different feel than Tessa’s adult books. What stands out about this book? The. Humor. Oh my god, I was laughing so, so much while I was reading this. All of the characters are hilarious and endearing – I adored them all! The humor in this book made it so easy to like the characters and enjoy the story. I was practically giggling throughout the entire book. You honestly can’t read this book without a grin on your face.

Roxy, the heroine, is an aspiring actress, but she’s running low on money. She decides to make some quick cash by performing singing telegrams, and her first client is a hot, sexy lawyer named Louis.

"Her sarcastic thought bubble burst over her head when the door swung open, revealing a guy. A hot-as-hell guy. A naked-except-for-unbuttoned-jeans guy. Being the shameless hussy she was, her gaze immediately dipped to his happy trail, although, on this guy, it really should have been called a rapture path. It started just beneath his belly button, which sat at the bottom of beautifully defined ab muscles. But they weren’t the kind of abs honed from hours in the gym. No, they were natural, I-do-sit-ups-when-I-d*mn-well-feel-like-it abs. Approachable abs. The kind you could either lick or snuggle up against, depending on your mood."

Ooooh, the second Louis showed up, I totally loved him and his approachable abs. He’s got that charming, easy-going personality that meshes perfectly well with his giant sex appeal. Louis and Roxy are instantly attracted to one another but even though they have the best kiss of their lives, their first meeting doesn’t exactly end with great first impressions. But neither of them can get the other out of their mind…

"There had been one weak moment in the shower this morning when he’d considered trying to re-create the kiss with the back of his hand. It had been a d*mn close call."

Louis is determined to find Roxy again and make her give them a chance. Roxy is a lot less eager to form any kind of relationship with him – she doesn’t even like getting close to people in general. Despite Roxy being a closed-off person, I adored her character. She’s just so fun, relatable, and hilarious. Her determination to be an actress is admirable too. She tries to resist Louis, but when they’re together, they give off massive amounts of sexual tension… and when they finally come together, it’s EXPLOSIVE.

“I was going to use my mouth on you the first time. How dare you take that away from me. … How dare you drive me so out of my mind that I have to pound you against a f*cking file cabinet.”

GAH. As hilarious as this book is, it’s also SMOKIN’ HOT (which is the perfect combination, if you ask me)! If you’re wondering whether there’ll be the usual Tessa Bailey heat in this book since it’s new adult, you don’t have to worry. You’ll be fanning whenever Roxy and Louis get together.

I loved the way Louis and Roxy’s relationship grew, though they do have some bumps along the way. I adored their witty banter, their hot chemistry, and their sweet moments. I honestly enjoyed their story so much. And what makes their story even better are the secondary characters! Roxy gains two new roommates, Honey and Abby, who manage to also worm their way into her heart. We meet Louis’s two best friends, Ben and Russell, who had me in stitches, I was laughing so hard. The next book in the series will be about Ben and Honey – their book CANNOT get here quick enough!

I adored Chase Me. This book is pure FUN. I highly recommend this funny, sexy, light-hearted novel.

The moment that Roxy Cumberland stepped into the hallway with her pink bunny costume and then sang an ode to Louis McNally’s penis (courtesy of his latest one-night-stand), bantered with him (“Please, oh keeper of the golden penis, let me worship at your flawless phallus.”), then impressively kissed the hell out of him, I was hooked. Yep, it was a case of instant-attraction for me …

Roxy drops out of an acting program at university to pursue an acting career in New York. I loved the realistic look on her struggles with getting a worthy role, that her auditions are not always a success. But at the same time, Roxy has that positive attitude in her, even if she is at the lowest point of her ‘career’, which involves her taking a strip-o-gram offer just to get enough money to pay for a dream apartment. I loved this girl so much – she keeps her wit and integrity come rain or shine.

While Louis McNally the Second – he doesn’t feel like a Louis to me though – is more than just another traditional rich boy who works as a lawyer in one of his father’s friend’s firm. Yes, Louis doesn’t have steady relationship and he sleeps with many different women (and doesn’t remember their names the morning after!), but Louis is more than meets the eyes. I loved Louis’ genuine passion for pro bono work. For him, helping those who are in actual ‘need’ brings more satisfaction than the ones with actual money. I wholeheartedly admired Louis for that – we need more lawyers like that in this world. Louis also has a way of dealing with women in mood-swings, thanks to being a little brother to two terrifying (and awesome) older twin sisters. So, Louis is actually a darling under that playboy personality.

These two characters charmed their way out of me. I found myself crackling in delight on more than one occasion with every refreshing situation and the amusing repartees between them.

About the last quarter of this book, I started to feel rather annoyed though. I felt that Roxy’s insecurity about whether she was just another notch in Louis’ bedpost, or him being an Ivy League boy, as repetitious. It didn’t exactly ring true with the young woman who was confident enough wearing a pink bunny and Lady Liberty costume, fighting other contenders for a cheap apartment-sharing in Chelsea, or channeling her inner Jersey girl when dealing with rejection. It became another obvious “you’re kind of out of my league” theme, which I am not particularly fond of.

Then the ending felt rather lacking in closure – Roxy and Louis’s professional future is up in the air, and I wonder if it means it will be settled in the next book.

Despite my fussing, Chase Me is a buoyant romance with an independent heroine and kind-hearted hero. The chemistry between Roxy and Louis is unmistakable; I loved them individually and together. I’m sure readers will enjoy watching these two working things out despite the misunderstanding and miscommunication. In addition, Louis’ two best friends and Roxy’s two new-roommates are definitely a wonderful bonus, since I’m sure they will end up as couples as well. I definitely can’t wait for the next book in this series.

Chase Me is the first book in author Tessa Bailey’s new series, Broke and Beautiful, and kicks off the series with one hell of a start! Different from Tessa’s other works, this series was a brilliant mix of sassy and sexy and had me alternating between laughing and fanning myself with the heat that only Tessa can bring!
If you had told Roxy Cumberland that at one point she would be dressed up in a pink bunny suit performing a singing telegram to a stranger about his, um, package, she would have laughed in your face. And yet here she was, in that fluffy pink monstrosity, dying at the thought of having to sing for this man…who happened to be drop dead gorgeous. Figures. But alas, the acting business wasn’t working out at the moment and she needed a paycheck. What Roxy doesn’t realize is that this chance meeting would turn out to change her life in the best way possible…
If you had told attorney Louis McNally II that he would be opening the door after a night of partying to a pink bunny singing about his manhood, he would have laughed in your face. And yet here he was, listening to the sexiest voice he’d ever heard and he immediately knew he needed to see who was under that funny head….and the minute he sees her face, he’s a goner. Now, after a scorching kiss-and-flee, he’s determined to track down bunny girl and own these feelings she’s stirred up in him…
An unlikely encounter that seems as funny as it is ridiculous puts two people together who never would have met otherwise. Two people who, in the end, couldn’t be a better match despite their many differences.
Ok. So I know you all must be tired of me telling you how much I adore Tessa and her work, but you’re going to have to bear with me again while I sing her praises in this review. This book really shows her diversity in her writing. The humor and sass in this book was freaking brilliant. Roxy is a real spitfire with determination and spunk that had me loving her from the very opening line of this book….which I can still quote after reading this book months ago. Honestly, if you see me at a con, ask me, and I’ll give it to you without hesitation. That’s how great Roxy is. I love her tenacity and willingness to do what it takes to follow her dreams and still be true to herself. Now, onto Louis. Dear all that’s holy, he is lickable. Smart, sexy, successful, and with a heart as impressive as his seranadeable package, he is smoking hot all around. He can go from sweet to dirty in a heartbeat and who doesn’t love that in a man? Oh, and he also had me laughing my arse off too many times to count…when you read this and get to the part where he’s talking to a cheat, you’ll have laughed too many other times to count! Together their chemistry is off the charts and the signature heat that Tessa brings adds that extra spice that rounds out this story perfectly!
Adding to this is the introduction to the other characters who will make up the series: Abby, Honey, Ben, and Russell. I love all of them already. Roxy ends up rooming with Abby and Honey while Louis is buddies with Ben and Russell. Each one of them is unique and incredible with personalities that I can’t wait to see more of. Even from the little taste we get in this story I just know I’m going to love their stories.

To say I’m obsessed with Tessa Bailey’s writing would be a serious understatement. The author has an incredible gift for making me fall in love with each couple she creates to the point where I’m convinced I have a new favorite, only to change my mind with the next release. That’s certainly the case with Chase Me, the first book in her new series, Broke and Beautiful series, which pairs up protagonists, Roxy Cumberland and Louis McNally. From the moment Roxy appears in a pink bunny suit in the doorway of a hungover and unkempt but exceedingly handsome guy, I knew that this hilarious meet cute would be a promising sign of things to come.

For Tessa Bailey’s first romantic comedy, she knocked Chase Me out of the park. This is very much a character-driven narrative that is successful thanks to the instant chemistry between Roxy and Louis. A twenty-one-year-old struggling actress and a well-to-do lawyer may not seem to have much in common at first glance, but, from the get-go, their connection is evident, with a witty and flirtatious kind of banter that ensured there was a smile permanently fixed on my face. Both Louis and Roxy are unapologetically forward without a discernible filter between their brain and their mouth – a fact that quickly elevates an innuendo-laden conversation to a primal and uncontainable physical manifestation of their desires.

From rugged, sexy law enforcement heroes to dominant Alpha males with a taste for kink, the author has a long line of swoon-worthy, dirty-talking male protagonists and her latest addition – a self-assured playboy lawyer – is quite possibly my favorite of the bunch. Louis’s appeal is more quiet and unassuming, what with his ability to transform from buttoned-up to out-of-control faster than you can say bunny suit. I craved the moments when his calm and cool façade gave way to acting out the fantasies thought up in the recesses of his vivid imagination. Louis has a bit of a hero complex, which is an admirable trait in most cases, but it's one that butts heads with Roxy's fierce independent streak. Like Louis, Roxy is confident and determined – necessary qualities for surviving in the cutthroat show business. She's a complex character, conversely vulnerable and steely, exuding a hands-off attitude while still managing to be extremely likable. These two couldn’t be more aptly matched, although there are plenty of obstacles along the way to keep this from being a smooth road to Happily Ever After.

I was pleasantly surprised by how fun and relaxed the narrative was (for the most part), which was a bit of a deviation from the author’s racier, more intense cop hero adult romances. That’s not to say Chase Me doesn’t pack an emotional punch or that’s it not more than sufficiently steamy (because it is). Chase Me is consistently entertaining and unbelievably sensual, with a laugh-out-loud style of humor aided by the characters’ ability to not take themselves too seriously. It’s the type of book you can read no matter what mood you’re in because it has a little bit of everything: comedy, angst, captivating characters and a steamy romance. Not only is it an amazing book, but it’s also the perfect introduction to the Broke and Beautiful series, seamlessly introducing Louis and Roxy’s friends who will be making appearances in upcoming books. Chase Me fed my adoration for interconnected series as does the knowledge that I won’t have to wait long for Ben and Honey’s book.

*complimentary copy provided via publisher in exchange for an honest review

Bailey has another winner on her hands with this book. Chase Me was a fun, hilarious, light-hearted romance read akin to the likes of your favorite RomCom. Filled with witty banter, memorable run-ins, and heartfelt moments, you can’t help but fly through the pages of this book. From hilarious costumes (You read about that pink bunny costume, right?!) to one heck of a chase for the ultimate apartment (crazy what some people, namely Roxy, will do to nab the perfect place), I honestly devoured this gem of a read.

Both characters were great in their own right, but I loved them together. They had such fun dialogue and I loved watching them fall in love. Roxy is independent, strong-willed, and determined. I liked that even though she was at a low point in her life, she still had a positive outlook and did her best to try to achieve her career goals. I do wish the same could’ve been said about her outlook on her love life. I did think she often jumped to conclusions too quickly and she’s one of those girls who goes looking for reasons/excuses for a relationship to fail. Those kinds of girls bug me, but Bailey kept it minimal so I in the end I still really liked Roxy. Louis is just plain awesome overall. He’s a lawyer who actually wants to do good and help those who truly need legal help. He has crazy sisters who he treats with care and respect. And most importantly, he’s sexy, charming, protective, and basically all the things you would want in a guy and in a male lead. He’s definitely not one of those dirty-talkers I’m used to from Bailey, but he’s still just as swoonworthy and I loved how he stopped at nothing to win over Roxy’s heart.

I loved the secondary characters in this book, which were Louis’ friends and Roxy’s roommates. After a chance encounter, I can tell there’s going to be something going on between them all for the rest of the series and I am dying to read it.

If you’re looking for something to ease you into the wonderful writing world of Tessa Bailey, you’ll definitely want to give this book a try. Roxy and Louis will have you laughing and swooning right along with them as they fall in love. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the series will be like.

4 stars--CHASE ME is the first installment in Tessa Bailey’s new adult, contemporary Broke and Beautiful erotic romance series. This is struggling actress Roxy Cumberland and attorney Louis McNally’s storyline

Told from alternating third person points of view the focus of the storyline is the building relationship between Louis and Roxy, as well as Roxy’s struggles to make ends me. Kicked out of her apartment for not paying the rent, Roxy ventures into the world of singing telegrams, which will land her face to face (or bunny mask) with Louis McNally. Louis is intrigued by the sultry voiced woman dressed as a giant, pink rabbit but, in all of the mayhem, he doesn’t ask her name. While Roxy continues to audition for roles and a new apartment, Louis continues to search for the woman whom he can’t get out of his mind.

The attraction between Roxy and Louis is immediate and intense. Neither one is unable to forget about their first introduction or the kiss that Roxy used to put Louis in his place. Roxy is a feisty, independent young woman with dreams of making it big; she wants to succeed all on her own. Louis is a bit of a man-whore but he is a success in the courtroom and knows a thing or two about how to treat the women in his life. The sex scenes are erotic, sultry and hot. Louis likes to talk dirty in bed, on the floor, and up against the wall.

The secondary and supporting characters are colorful and add a little bit of humor and snark to the storyline. We are introduced to Louis’s best friends and beer drinking buddies Ben and Russell, as well as Roxy’s new roommates Abby and Honey. There is an instant connection between Russell and one of Roxy’s friends-I suspect their storyline will be told next.

The world building follows Louis’s career as he is determined to do pro-bono work for the under privileged; and Roxy’s numerous auditions for bit parts and starring roles. Louis’s twin sisters Lena and Celeste play a small role throughout allowing a bit of insight into the McNally sibling dynamics and family love

CHASE ME has a little bit of everything: humor, heartbreak, perceived betrayal, romance, sex and love. Tessa Bailey will captivate your imagination pulling you into her world of provocative and emotional adventures all ending with a happily ever after.

After falling in love with Tessa Bailey in a previous series, I was excited to see she was giving a go at New Adult with CHASE ME. And while the characters may be a bit younger and the scenes a bit cleaner, the same heat and steam swelters on every page.

The hardest part of this book for me was Roxy. It's hard to love a book when you want to constantly strangle the main character. Her bitterness and snark became a deterrent to me as the story progressed. Eventually she grew on me (kind of the way mold grows on bread), but we would never be friends.

Louis on the other hand, I adored. He kept me anchored to this story and I loved reading about him and his friends. I can't wait to visit with them in later books. He definitely kept me ROXY on her toes.

As a whole, this is what you would expect in a New Adult book. There's romance and frustrating misunderstandings, but the huge plus is it also has Bailey's steamy scenes that give it a bit of an edge over the competition.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a light-hearted and funny read that reminded me of what I call a "summer beach read". It was a feel good book, all the way through. This book definitely has a lighter, "younger" feel to it than other books by Tessa Bailey, but no worries -- there's still some hot dirty talking and a sassy heroine.

Louis and Roxy's "chase" was fun to watch. Watching these two trying to figure out relationships was funny at times and a little sad at others. Their chemistry was playful, yet sexy. Louis and Roxy did experience a few communication issues, but hey, that's where the fun and the chase come in. There were a couple of times I found myself smiling and kind of shaking my head at some of their antics. There was just a bit of tension while they were trying to figure things out, but not enough to be considered "angsty".

Looking forward to the next books in this new series!

This book was a complete and utter breath of fresh air. Just what I
needed to fill my heart up with all the good feelings a feel good
romance does when its right. Louis wasn't your average book boyfriend.
He had some flaws being that before he met Roxy he was mainly a one hit
and quit it type of guy. If there is such a thing as soul mates then
that's what Roxy and Louis were lucky to find. Some pretty funny
scenarios that had me in stitches were scattered throughout this sexy
read.

"Who the hell was this guy? The vagina whisperer?"

I really felt the chemistry between these two characters. It lit
up the pages and I wanted to stay totally immersed in their story. Tessa
is by far one of the best when it comes to bringing out such profound
emotions when she writes her scorching love scenes. I loved every
second. 5 solid sizzling stars!

Plot: B
This had a good plot. Roxy, an aspiring actress is doing singing grams to make ends meet. She gets a call to Louis' apartment to do an ode to his junk courtesy of a one night stand. From there back and forth banter, humor, and a merry little chase ensue.
Characters: A
This story had funny, great characters. Louis was sweet, and silly, but also a little dominant at times. He just wanted to be with Roxy, and make her life better any way he could. Roxy was was the hesitant one. She had been hurt in the past, and didn't want to get too involved. Shewas independent, maybe a little too much. But still overall good. There was great chemistry between Louis and Roxy and great interactions.
Heat: C+
A couple of scenes were scorching

I got a little impatient around 75%, and skipped to end, but went back and enjoyed the rest. Solid story. Can't want t for the others in this series.

Spoiler free review.

Tessa Bailey is a skilled author, she writes great humor passages BUT I wish there was more dialogue. Sex scenes were HOT, Louis and Roxy have huge chemistry together, dirty taking was off the charts. His twin sisters are a much welcomed bonus to Chase Me! The main conflict is very predictable and the story does end suddenly, but I had a lot of fun reading this.

I'm looking forward to her roommates's books!

This girl loves her some Tessa Bailey but unfortunately Chase Me was not a Tessa Bailey book that I absolutely adored. Louis didn’t seem like the kind of alpha male that I am used to Tessa writing about and Roxy, well, she just kinda got on my nerves.

I loved how they met – you can’t go wrong meeting the potential one while you are dressed up as a bunny and performing singing telegrams – it’s just funny. And their first interaction set the book up for a really good start. However, Roxy kind of ruined the rest for me. She wanted to be independent and on her own, to forge her own future and fate and she never gave in on anything. Roxy wouldn’t accept handout, help, or even a friendly hand. But there was moment when all of this went crashing down. After Louis and Roxy get into a fight and Roxy goes to rehearsal, there is a scene where she debates giving in and throwing all of her hard work away. It just didn’t seem right that she couldn’t accept any help, from cool roommates to her hot boyfriend, but she would debate on if she was going to sleep with the director/screen writer.

I did like her secondary character that she introduced: Roxy’s roommates and Louis’s friends. I look forward to reading their story.

Great book! Just the kind of sweet romance I like to read where the hero is head over heels in love (and if the hero has heels it only makes the story more interesting!). This heroine was a downer for most of the book, but she bucked up in the end and showed all that character and growth that she claimed to have for most of the book, but showed no sign off. I am off to read the next book in this series.

Newest series by an author I already love! I love Roxy's character! Louis is a little confusing to me because he is a mix of a lot of different types of the male hero(sweet,rich boy,controlling alpha etc) he doesn't seem to have one standard behavior. This isn't a bad thing, but just an observation. The dynamics of the two together is great! I am looking forward to the next book in the series!

This should be called 'Laughing Out Loud' Contemporary Romance! If you love humor/comedy in your romance then definitely grab 'Chase Me'. I haven't laugh so loud when reading a book. Just by reading the description, I knew I was in for a fun read...Just wish it's 100 pages longer but as it is, can't complain b/c it wrapped up nicely at the end.

This was my first Tessa Bailey book and it hooked me. I totally want to check out the next book. She writes very well, the characters were so easy to relate to, and like, although sometimes it got a little too wordy, but that's really the only problem I had. I LOVED that the hero wasn't such an alpha jerk, he was up front and honest.

This is one of those books, and series, that were lingering on my TBR list, and I finally said, enough, I'm reading it. Then life happened, and it got delayed, but, I did not push it away, I left on my of reading it next! So glad I did, because I loved it, from the first bunny to the last, these two enchanted me and had me rooting for them all the way through!