CHASE 'N' ANA - Ciana Stone

Hot in the Saddle, Book 1

Ellora's Cave - www.ellorascave.com

ISBN: 1-4199-0837-8

January 2007

Erotic Paranormal Romance

Rated E-rotic

Arizona - Present Day

Ana Stillwater is having a horrible day. On the run from an abusive husband, the only company Ana has is her familiar, Fergi, and what little possessions she took. Things go from bad to worse when her car breaks down, and some truck decides to run her over. The next thing Ana knows, she's waking up in the hospital with a handsome cowboy sitting on the bed with her. Too bad he happens to be the driver of said truck that threw her up in the air. At first she's pretty ticked off at Chase Hawks, but she realizes how badly she's behaving, and comes to see that Chase's offer of help is genuine, and just what Ana needs. But how will he take to having a witch on his ranch?

If it hadn't have been for his dog Cody, Chase wouldn't be in the predicament he finds himself in. At first, he just wants to make sure the lady isn't going to sue him for all he's got. But just a few minutes in Ana's presence, Chase surmises that this is a woman who's had a rough go of things, and needs all the help she can get. Sure, she's sexy to look at, but she's a few sandwiches short of a picnic. Still, Chase finds himself drawn to this woman who seems to have a way not only with him, but with animals as well. Could her ramblings of witchcraft really be true?

Chase isn't the only one chasing after Ana. Her husband is hot on her trail, seeking to drain her of her powers, and Ana will have to trust Chase with her life, and her secret, if she hopes to survive.

With such a great premise, I was expecting CHASE 'N' ANA to be a fun-filled romp full of magic, both in and out of the bedroom. Instead, I found myself wondering if I had missed a previous book, since Ana speaks to the readers as though we should already know why she has a familiar, and what kind of witch she is. The first chapter is a rather abrupt beginning, and I never felt like it ever evened out. Still, the characters of Ana and Chase are well-written, and their erotic interludes, while a bit clichéd, will likely cause some to reach for a cup of ice.

Ciana Stone's latest is the beginning of the Hot in the Saddle series, which no doubt will follow the stories of Chase's brothers, who make an appearance in this book, and are just as flirty and charming as their brother.

Courtney Michelle