What makes for a really bad day? Maybe losing your job, your home, even your familiar, that happens to be a hawk. If that isn’t bad enough, how about your ancient car dying on the highway in the middle of nowhere when you were on your way to a better start? If this has ever happened to you, then you have a lot in common with Ana Stillwater, the heroine of Ciana Stone’s newest novel, Chase ’n’ Ana.

Ana’s dreams of finding contentment in married life shatter when Giovanni, her husband, slugs her. It isn’t the first time he’s shoved or pushed her, but he seems determine to make it the last time. The final slugfest occurs over the same sex marriage issue. In the end, Giovanni believes he kills her and rushes off to establish an alibi. Ana manages to dial 911 for help. It is going to take more than bandages and stitches to heal. It isn’t easy letting go of her hopes of companionship and love, but Ana realizes she made a big mistake with Giovanni. Her mistake is in believing that Giovanni is like her because of his magical abilities. The only thing to do is start over, somewhere else, far away from the evil Giovanni because he will never leave her alone until she’s dead.

Chase Hawks, rugged rancher and rodeo star, isn’t looking for trouble; the fact is he isn’t looking at all when he hits Ana as she’s crossing the street. Jason, his cop buddy, warns him that he better turn on the charm to ward off a lawsuit that is sure to follow as soon as the woman finds out one of the wealthy Hawks family members hit her. The only problem for Chase is he doesn’t know what to do with the beautiful stranger until she opens her eyes—then all his thoughts are definitely below the belt, until she goes loco screaming about life and kicking him. His only choice is to take her home until she heals up and is back on her feet. It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact she fits into his arms perfectly and those witchy yellow eyes.

Giovanni wakes up in the hospital after Ana collapses the house on him as she leaves. The little witch thought she hurt him, maybe even killed him, but in the end she did him an incredible favor. The destruction of the house loosed an evil entity chained years ago by Ana’s family. The entity takes possession of Giovanni’s body making him even more evil and, unfortunately, powerful. Besides inflicting pain on whoever gets in his way, the new powerful Giovanni is out to make sure Ana stays dead.

Ana finds herself at peace on Chase’s ranch, which is a healing sanctuary. The harsh beauty of the Arizona countryside enchants her, as much as Cody, Chase’s dog, and Nightmare, his stallion. It could be a wonderful place to charge up her energies. Only a few things are holding her back. One thing is the strange, ambivalent attraction between Chase and her. It is no secret he wants her, but at the same time he accuses her of being a gold digger. Then there’s long, lean, 100% cowboy Chase. Sure, he’s tempting, but how can she be sure he isn’t like Giovanni. Then there’s the issue of Giovanni: a Sardo male doesn’t just let his woman walk away. There will come a time when they’ll meet again.

Chase ’n’ Ana gives the same old formula boy meets girl a new twist with cowboy runs over girl witch and stuff happens. The chemistry between Chase and Ana is profound—some of the best sizzle I’ve read this year. Giovanni is an extreme heavy. I would have liked the marriage explained a bit more. No one usually marries a degenerate on purpose. Then comes the idea if there is magic in Ana’s family why did no one sense the extreme evil in Giovanni?

I would recommend Chase ’n’ Ana for a change of pace. It is fun, fast-paced and very flirty--okay it’s way past flirty. Have fun with it.

Reviewed by Morgan Wyatt
© January 2007