Another good read from Cassie Connor, "Hot Pursuit" is Lydia and Tom's story of finding love through the lens of a reality game show. The pair had a one-night stand a while back, then somehow become co-workers who then somehow get paired up on a travel type game show. (I did not understand quite how they both ended up on the game show - it seemed like it was a trial run through their employer, but the prizes were real and they were both insurance adjusters???).

Lydia and Tom have good chemistry, though it is interrupted by both of their feelings of inadequacy. Connor does a decent job with issues like child neglect and food hoarding and toxic family dynamics. Lydia is a bit too timid at times, just going along rather than asserting herself and her own wants and needs. Tom is a bit of an a** for the first part of the book, first in pretending not to know Lydia and then how he treats her as the game show adventure gets underway. He does come around, though the impetus for that is more serious than it should have had to be. Still, I rooted for them to win, both the game show and at life.

4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this book. These opinions are my own.

I read this as an ARC on NetGalley
What happens when you end up not only working with your 1 night stand, but also have to compete with him on a reality survival show? Fun, fights and happily ever after! This was the perfect mix of sweet, saucy and sassy!

🌸 Hot Pursuit - Cassie Connor

📝 🎬 🎥 🪨 🌄 🏕 ☕️ 🎒 🏡

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ 3.5/5

Thank you netgally for the arc in exchange for my honest review. ♡

Pub Date Jun 29 2024 

Lydia gets sent on a job on Barcelona, where she is to meet a new colleague to help her with this insurance claim. Only her new colleague is the guy she had a two night stand with eleven months ago that has ruined her for all other men. Tom claims to not recognise Lydia but a few weeks later when their works staff gets put forward for a pilot on a new survival show, they find them self in very close proximity and truths they have never said to eachother or anyone comes to light.
This was super cute. I loved both of their pov and didn't favourite one of the other which is strange for me. I loved the idea of the tv show although I think they cheated a bit 😂 this was an all round cute romance. Enemies to lovers, close proximity, work through personal trauma, family issues kind of story.

I did mark it down a little because I found there to be a few plot holes for me. Nothing major, just didn't add up. But I dont want to give spoilers.

I would have loved to see the conversation between the two mcs and her name though. 🤔 that would have been hilarious.

🤍

"I think it's dried mouse bollocks, which have had a passing acquaintance with a teaspoon of tomato puree."

'Live in the present. Be present.'

"Im not telling you, you already know - it just makes me ... fall a little bit more in love with you."

"You're everything."

Hot Persuit follows Lydie and Tom from lovers, to colleagues, to ramblers and more. I loved the reality television show plot and found the writing of these parts really engaging and different. I found the discussion of Lydie’s trauma quite on the nail, I think the author could benefit from making these parts more implicit.

This was an enjoyable read that I got through in an evening.

"Hot Pursuit" is not the only novel I've read lately about being on a reality show, but I think it's the best.

Lydia Smith, in need of money, signs up for a reality show where contestants must arrive at a destination without being captured to win the big prize. Little does she know her partner would be Tom Dereborn, her unforgettable one-night stand from a year ago. The tension between them is palpable from the start, and watching their relationship evolve under the intense pressure of the game is absolutely captivating.

Connor masterfully balances the high-stakes action of the reality show with the deeply personal journey of her characters. Lydia and Tom both come with their own emotional baggage, and seeing them work through their past and present issues while being chased by hunters keeps you turning the pages.

"Hot Pursuit" is not just about the thrill of the chase but also about the journey of self-discovery and the rekindling of lost love. Connor’s writing is sharp, funny, and touching, making this a standout read in the romcom genre. If you love a good enemies-to-lovers story, this book is for you.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-copy.

I did like watching The Amazing Race on TV, so the tease for HOT PURSUIT felt like it would be similar but grittier and that was appealing.

It was okay. There were some creative twists in the story, but I’m mostly there for the romance and I wasn’t feeling it. Both Tom and Lydia have interesting character traits that I was eager to get to the bottom of, so I didn’t dislike them.

I received an early copy of the book to read and to offer my opinion, for what it’s worth. I recommend you give the book a try - read a preview, for example. It might have the feeling that appeals to you.

A really good premise and fairly easy to read. The dual POV was good and refreshing. Some parts did seem to arrive quite quickly for me and I feel like some more build up and tension in their relationship may have been beneficial but overall a nice read!

Well this story was not at all what I expected!

I was expecting a light, thriller like love story with reality-tv feels and some sexy times, but this book delivered a whole bunch of depth and character development alongside the thrills! I absolutely could not put it down.

The connection and chemistry between characters was delicious and the lovers to enemies to lovers delivered plenty of tension. I loved how the characters challenge each other and all the walls that progressively broke down until they had healed and brought out the best in each other.

The spice was hot, though I wouldn't have minded additional outdoor/survivalist scenes given the premise of the book.

My one criticism is that the first chapters of the book felt jarring - as we dive straight into a lust-driven scene on an insurance adjusting trip - which just felt like an odd way to introduce the premise.

Beyond that, this story was great fun and delivered!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advance e-arc of Hot Pursuit in exchange for an honest review.
Cassie Connor's 'Hot Pursuit' captures readers with its exciting premise and dynamic characters. Lydia Smith, a woman in need of money, joins a reality show that throws her together with Tom Dereborn, her former one-night stand. As they navigate the challenges of the show, their buried emotions resurface, creating a compelling tension.

The book's action sequences are heart-pounding and keep readers on the edge of their seats. The reality TV setting adds a unique twist, making the plot feel both thrilling and grounded. Lydia and Tom are well-developed characters with complex motivations, and their interactions are both believable and engrossing.

However, the banter between the characters sometimes falls flat, lacking the wit and chemistry that could have elevated the romance. The romantic tension between Lydia and Tom is palpable, but it doesn't always translate into the intensity that readers expect from a love story.

Despite these minor flaws, 'Hot Pursuit' is a compelling read that will appeal to a wide range of audiences. Its fast-paced action, relatable characters, and exploration of buried emotions make it an enjoyable escape. While the romance may not be as fiery as the cover suggests, the overall story delivers a satisfying blend of adventure and introspection.
This was a 3.75 Star Read for me!

4.25 stars

Competing in a survival reality show teamed up with a one-night-stand (who ghosted you) turned least favorite co-worker is definitely not an ideal scenario in real life but it makes for a fun romance novel! I really appreciated seeing how two people can both have drastically different upbringings and yet seeing how neglectful parents and over-involved parents can cause similar issues in those children.

Some of my issues with the story: I feel like there should’ve been more rules for how much footage was filmed on the go pro because I don’t know how they could make a whole show of it, the ending felt rushed and like there had to be a third act breakup (which lasted half a page maybe?), the epilogue was also rushed with the parents aspect, and I would’ve enjoyed a prologue with some information about the one night stand.

Overall, I enjoyed it though!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

A game show, enemies to lovers romance with action and plenty of spice! Hot Pursuit follows Tom and Lydia, who spent a firework filled weekend together about a year ago and secretly can’t stop thinking about each other. As the story evolves they eventually end up on a reality show somewhat like the Amazing Race, running from the “hunters” and encountering plenty of ups and downs along the way.

I love the overall plot of the story and of course love the HEA but I do think the pacing of how their relationship professed was a bit abrupt for me. The dual POV was also great but in this ARC copy it seemed like there were some chapters there were split POV which got kind of confusing. Overall though a really cute story. 3.5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and Cassie for the ARC!

Super fun and super unique setting. I enjoyed the book, but I didn’t feel the MCs romance as much as I wanted too.
3.5 stars rounded up

I always love a book about a reality show, and this one was so much fun!

Can you imagine your one-night stand being your partner on a reality TV show?! That is the situation Lydia finds herself in. They faced so many obstacles, and it was fun watching them get through them together!

The idea of this reality show is so interesting—they have to get to London without being “caught.” In this day and age, that would be SO hard.

Overall, they had a “slow burn” romance and overcame their own issues from the past together.

I enjoyed this couple and this read!

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

-Second chance
-Enemies to lovers
-Reality show
-Grumpy sunshine

This was fun! I really liked the idea of this story being set around being in a reality game(?) show. A bit on the unbelievable side but still enjoyable despite it. It definitely made for an entertaining read. I was going to rate this book a solid 3/5 but the last chapters which was surprisingly emotional redeemed it a bit for me. So, 3.5/5!

I think the main reason why I couldn't rate this book any higher is because of the relationship between the MCs. Both Lydia and Tom were interesting on their own...but together? I didn't really feel it. This was a good example of: being told that the characters had chemistry, versus actually reading and feeling that the characters had chemistry (if you know what I mean). Also, Tom was insufferable for the longest time that I wondered how and why Lydia even liked him at all...let alone liked him enough to allow things to progress between them when she did. They happened too fast and not in a natural (or realistic) way. Their relationship by the end was really good at least, but how they got there was too forced for me and I just couldn't let it go.

• Enemies to Lovers • Second Chance • Forced Proximity • Grumpy x Sunshine • Family Drama • Reality TV show

It was an entertaining read. I mean, her real name is Chlamydia which is horrifying. Not banter per se, but there is some chemistry between the two.

It is a dual POV with more Lydia than Tom. They are a previous one (two) night stand, now working together, and then end up on some reality show like man tracker.

It was okay. I maybe didn't really feel the chemistry between them as much as I wanted to, which I sometimes think is a flaw of a second chance romance. The author can write about this insane chemistry they had in the past, and then just imply it's still there, which is a bit how I found this. The reality show aspect seemed like it didn't really affect the plot a ton. There should definitely have been more happening in terms of recording etc. There was decent drama at the end and it wrapped up nicely. Overall, not my favorite, but not bad either! It's not super explicit spicy, but it's got on the page spice.

⭐⭐⭐.5
🌶️🌶️

Lydia is independent and wears her heart on her sleeve. Tom struggles to meet his parents’ expectations and is emotionally unavailable. A year ago, they spent a passionate weekend together and went their separate ways.

🏕️ Forced proximity
🏕️ Slow burn
🏕️ Heightened emotions

Lydia gets picked to be on a reality show where she has to find her way to London without getting caught and gets paired with, of all people, Tom. Money is the endgame. Their feelings for each other never seemed to dissipate over the past year and it all comes to the surface while running for their lives.

As it turns out, we find out that Tom puts up walls because of his childhood. Lydia struggled as a child but in other ways. The emotional instability of both is their downfall. Because of this, I wanted to shake Tom but tell Lydia to speak her mind like she has the rest of the book. I found myself rooting for both of them but frustrated because they both gave each other mixed signals.

This was written with a POV from both characters and the character’s name was at the beginning of each chapter. There were breaks in some chapters that did not make a smooth transition in switching the POV. I had to go back and start at the breaks once I figured out who was speaking.

This is a slow burn romance and emotionally charged. The tension didn’t break until the end. It is relatable and it kept my attention. It didn’t take long for me to finish reading. I wouldn’t mind seeing this turned into a movie. 🎥

Special thanks to #NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for this #ARC to review. Publication date is set for June 7, 2024.

A cute romcom based around a Hunted style reality TV show.
This was as an easy read. The premise was interesting but I did find Lydia abit irritating at times. It would have been nice to see abit more tension between the two prior to the sex scenes as they seemed to just happen out of nowhere.
The plot kept me reading but I would have liked a bit more depth to the characters and their relationship in order to give a higher rating.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love romance novels, and I love race across the world type gameshows, so this book was right up my street.

I really enjoyed the way the two main characters relationship developed. I did feel the MMC was a little unnecessarily mean at times - I love a grumpy x sunshine but this MMC was downright nasty at times. However he did redeem himself in the end!

A great fun read perfect for enjoying on the beach.

This book was amazing and I devoured this book in just a few sittings! I loved the character development and how the story progressed.

I really enjoyed this book! A fun second-chance romance with likable characters, and I especially liked the added suspense without being a thriller.