Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Kris – ☆☆☆☆☆
I really enjoyed Eric's story! He seemed like the total lackadaisical f'up of the group. Just floating on through life. He and Nell lost the baby that was a total accident to begin with and while Nell ended up back with her estranged husband and is pregnant again (with the right guy this time), everyone feels like Eric didn't feel anything about what happened. He's just a playboy. Vapid, superficial, and really not interested in relationships. Hitting on yet another female customer at the Dive Bar, Eric finds this woman, Jean, quite stunning. Nell lets him know that Jean is hands off, she's a friend who's come to start over in a new town... and she's pregnant. Very pregnant, and very alone.

Eric, trying to show Nell and his other friends he's decided to turn over a new leaf (after they gang up on him with a "intervention"), decides to give up sex completely and become "friends" with Jean. Just friends.

I love the "just friends" premise because it has awesome buildup to near certain steamy scenes! Chaser doesn't let you down. Eric gives us his sweet side in this book and redeems himself to readers and characters alike. Jean is a good mix of vulnerable yet strong and has no issue telling people to butt out! The two have wonderfully written sensual chemistry! Sweet moments stolen between newborn's naps and late nights at the Dive Bar. I'm really enjoying the Dive Bar series, we get a glimpse of the rock stars from her other series too at the end too. I miss them!


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆☆
Eric, bar owner, totally hot, good time guy, lady killer, and a little selfish. He is also completely adorable. In spite of his experience with women and unreliability, Eric has an innocence and honesty about him that I couldn’t resist.

I fell in love with Eric right from the first chapter, so when the people in his life are giving him a hard time and are putting him down, I felt very protective of him. I was wondering when all these characters I previously loved became so mean. Nell in particular was horrible. It has been a long time since I hated a character as much was I hated her in this book. But maybe that is me being protective of Eric.

When heavily pregnant Jean moves in above Dive Bar and into Eric’s life, things start to change and his whole view of the world shifts when baby Ada arrives. I just loved watching Eric fall in love with Jean and Ada. I love the way he gives so much of himself to them, offering friendship to Jean when he wants more but doing his best to do the right thing. And his conversations with little Ada are just brilliant.

Funny, romantic, sexy, and a bit angsty too, Chaser is fantastic. I think readers are going to go absolutely crazy over Eric. Never mind all these stories about single dads, the story of a man falling in love with a single mum and her new baby is so much better!


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the third book in the series – and whilst I think you would enjoy reading them all in order, I do think that you can enjoy this in its own right too.

Eric is surrounded by friends who are settling down, but he continues to prefer hookups, fancy clothes, and the fun of being the part owner of a successful bar and restaurant. He struggles a bit with Nell and her attitude towards him, but mostly he refuses to consider the need to grow up as she suggests. An encounter with a new face in the bar changes everything... although it is a very slow and carefully paced out process.

I did feel that there was a lovely story here, between two people who were finding their way in a new reality. Jean, as a single mum and away from her unsupportive parents, and Eric, fed up of being cast as the careless playboy, trying to tone down the flirting and be celibate for a while. Jean gets nothing but support from her new friends, whereas Eric is somewhat ridiculed by his friends. Slowly he gains Jean's trust and a firm friendship develops.

Maybe reaching their happy place could have come sooner, and with a little less introspection from Eric – hopefully that will be more of their relationship shown a future installment.


Lee’Anne – ☆☆☆
I enjoyed this book, but my biggest complaint was not being a huge fan of the slow build between the two main characters. Their relationship growth is almost excruciatingly slow, and I found myself skimming the middle so I could get to where they’re actually together. I did find the plot to be interesting and definitely original!

Eric is manwhore who is doing his best to change his ways – though his friends and family don’t believe it at all. When Eric first meets Jean, he has thoughts of her as another of his conquests but once he realizes she’s very pregnant and very much his new neighbor, his mind is quickly changed. Though the attraction is there between the two, Jean has a lot going on preparing for motherhood and Eric is trying to prove himself to his friends. Once the baby is born, Eric winds up pitching in to help Jean a ton and their friendship slowly becomes something more.

I haven’t read the previous books in this series and maybe that’s why I didn’t like the surrounding characters, Eric’s “friends” are douche bags. I found myself mad at them half the time – they’re just a-holes to Eric most of the time and I really found it hard to accept that he wanted to stay friends with them. That put aside though, I really loved both Jean and Eric’s characters – the book has a good plot pace but again, the romance has an extremely slow progression. Probably not going to check out more from this series but will definitely be looking for more of this author’s other work.


Shannan – ☆☆☆☆
Chaser is book 3 in the Dive Bar series. It can be read as a standalone, but it so much better read in the order the author intended.

Eric is the playboy. Always a different woman, no feeling just sex. His friends are all starting to mature and settle down, except Eric. He doesn't feel bad about his manwhoring ways but wants to show his friends he can grow up too.

When Eric notices a beautiful woman coming into the bar, he takes it upon himself to woo her with his charms. He thinks he feels a connection when he finds out Jean is going to be his neighbor. Wooing a single woman at the bar is one thing, but seeing her day in and day out has him questioning himself. He finds out she's not only his neighbor but pregnant and trying to start over. Can Eric keep his distance?

I really enjoyed Eric and Jean's story. The buildup between the two is slow but so worth it when they finally get together. I loved that Chaser is all in Eric's point of view. If anyone can pull off an all-male point of view, it's Ms. Scott! Eric and Jean have a real chemistry about them that isn't forced. It was a fun read and I can't wait for more.

Eric Collins isn’t known as the most responsible person at Dive Bar. Between random hookups and constantly showing up late, he’s quickly becoming the resident screw up.

Until the day when a girl that he’s never seen before walks into the bar. She’s drop dead gorgeous, whip smart and speaks her mind with no holds barred – and she’s also very pregnant.

“Come on, man,” said Joe, being serious. “It’s Thursday night, you’re behind the bar, and the place has been pumping all night. And you look like a kid whose puppy died. What gives?”
I sighed again, my shoulders slumping. “I don’t know … just something Nell said today. Well, she’s been on me for a while.”
Joe and Alex exchanged looks.
“It’s nothing really. Stupid. Don’t worry about it.”
“Okay,” said Alex before taking a sip of beer.
“But, you know … just out of interest,” I said. “Do you think I’m a manwhore with no concept of responsibility, incapable of having a meaningful relationship, who just uses women because I wouldn’t know real commitment if it bit me on the ass?”

Jean Antal came to Coeur d’Alene to start over. Being single and pregnant didn’t exactly go over well with her conservative parents back in Florida so with a little encouragement from her friend Nell, she now calls the small town home.

The very last thing she needs is to get involved with a player like Eric. But there’s just something in the way that he looks at her that makes her question everything that people say about him. He was the one to stand beside her during the birth of her daughter and she has to admit that seeing them together does some serious things to her heart.

But what starts out as something purely physical between them soon becomes an obsession that they cannot live without. And it’s something that they both want to hang on to – forever.

“You don’t constantly think about us having sex, do you?” I asked, already knowing the answer. Because Jean might have flirted with me at first, but those days were long gone. “I rest my case.”
Her mouth opened, then closed, her brows drawing closer together. “I’m too tired to think about sex.”
“Exactly.”
“Besides, look what sex did to me.” She stroked Ada’s cheek with a finger. “It gave me this beautiful, wonderful, incredibly high-maintenance baby girl. Excuse me if I take a break from all things naked and horizontal for a while. I only just got to stop sharing my body with a little being. I’m not sure I want to open it up to anyone else anytime soon.”
“Fair enough,” I said. “Now stop saying ‘sex.’”
“You stop saying ‘sex.’”
“I swear, it’s all you ever think about, you ladies.”

Chaser is the perfect ending to the Dive Bar series! It’s both sweet and satisfying with just a touch of Kylie’s special heat that will have fans swooning from the very start.

But it’s the bonds between the characters that prove to be the most memorable. Through thick and thin, they have endured and found a way to love each other in spite of it all. And that’s a very rare thing indeed…

Rating 4.5 out of 5

I came at this book with so much enthusiasm and excitement because of how much I've enjoyed the first two books of the Dive Bar series. Kylie Scott made me a fan when I first read DIRTY and then when I read TWIST. This is a series I've come back to again and again. I even reread DIRTY right before starting CHASER just because I love it so much.

I like that CHASER is told from Eric's point of view. In DIRTY and TWIST, he's not shown in the best light and has some major growing to do. When he meets Jean, he realizes it's finally time to do just that. To slow his roll and become a friend. He begins taking life and his role in the Dive Bar more seriously and it's wonderful to experience this through his perspective.

I LOVED Jean. The women of the DIVE BAR series know what they want and don't put up with what isn't working in their lives. They certainly don't need anyone to save them and Jean is no different. She's making a new life for herself and her baby.

Together, Eric and Jean are magic.They have an easy way of being around each other - the openness in conversation and the honesty that comes from friendship. It's not super angsty and there is a slow build, and I couldn't wait for them to get together.

There are so many things I love about this book - the sense of community, the friendships, the brutal honesty, Joe's and Eric's interactions (especially with their mom), and the appearances of the other characters from the previous books and the opportunity to see that they're up to. And I need to know more about this Mal character because he sure is full of himself. I guess it's about time I picked up the Stage Dive series.

Like the other books in this series, I'm know that this is one that I will be a go-to read when I need a swoony book. Seriously I'm ready to read it again. I LOVED IT!!

What a stunning, funny, surprising turn of events read that stole my very breath and made me smile. I have to admit, Kylie Scott is a favorite of mine for entertaining reads, but somehow, someway, Chaser still managed to not only surprise me, but to delight the hell out of me!

I loved that our playboy Eric became a parent with Jean. His once carefree lifestyle turned around the moment Eric rescues her as she goes into labor and he became someone truly dependable, sweet, and the ultimate hero in my eyes! I laughed a lot with this book, but there was also so many heartfelt and really sexy ones too that made my clothes feel tight on me. The heat level in this book is a steady 5 and the characters, I can't get enough of them! Miss Scott hit this one out of the stratosphere!

Chaser gets a PERFECTLY ENTERTAINING FIVE SHOOTING STARS!

Eric has been a source of disappointment to his family and friends for years. He has been called everything from manwhore to playboy to irresponsible jerk, and for the most part he has done quite a bit to deserve those titles. Eric loves life and enjoys the heck out of being able to do what he wants when he wants. He also enjoys the heck out of the ladies, but he always makes sure he is upfront with them regarding his complete lack of expectations or interest in commitment. When things got a little more complicated than he was ready for with Nell last year, reality came crashing down and forced him to rethink a few things in his life but he is still the same fun-loving carefree Eric most of the time- which is something Nell never lets him forget no matter what he does.

When a pretty new face walks into the Dive Bar and catches the attention of every male there including Eric, he is mentally preparing his approach. Then you can practically hear the screeching brakes sound effect when she stands up to greet Nell like she has known her forever (danger sign #1) and he sees a significant baby bump (danger sign #2). Babies and Eric are not a combination he wants to even think about, and he goes from smooth operator to dumbass in 2.2 seconds.

Jean finds herself on the opposite side of the country chased away from her home and family and soon to be a single mom thanks to a guy a lot like Eric, so she is in no rush to put herself in close proximity to him by any stretch of the imagination. Yet he shows glimpses of being a great guy between the moments of being a complete jerk so she doesn't write him off completely. Nell's warning to stay away from Jean serves only to wave a red flag in front of a bull when it comes to Eric, but Jean is a shock to him too. He never expected to find himself wanting to spend time with a woman who is 7 months pregnant; usually his interactions with females are of the one night or no strings attached variety only. The more time he spends with her, the more he finds himself actually enjoying a platonic relationship with a woman which is a first for him. That's not to say there isn't plenty of attraction to go around between them though.

Dismayed by the fact his own brother cannot deny that Eric is not viewed favorably by pretty much anyone in their family or group of friends, he decides to take a break from his usual lifestyle and embrace celibacy for awhile to see what happens. He makes a conscious effort to be more responsible and act like an adult, and you can see him starting to mature over time. Of course for every step forward there is at least 2 steps back that make you shake your head and roll your eyes, but he is trying! At the age of 30, he is still a lost little boy in a lot of ways who doesn't know what he wants from life. Ada's birth is an eye opening experience for him though, and the good guy with a big heart that hides beneath the jerk-ish exterior starts to shine through. Of course Nell is a thorn in his side who quite frankly really got my blood pressure up, constantly chirping at anyone who would listen to be sure they know what an irresponsible manwhore she really thinks Eric is. Fortunately Jean is strong enough to make up her own mind without being unduly influenced by her friend, and I really enjoyed their journey from friends to lovers. An appearance by the beloved Stage Dive crew was a highlight for me, especially when my favorite BBF ever Mal made things interesting! All in all, Chaser was well worth the wait so go get your 1-click on and get ready to roll your eyes, laugh and swoon for Eric and Jean!

The Good, The Bad, and Everything In Between
The Good
Eric is a charming rogue and he sold this romance all by himself. The story is told strictly from his POV and, while I missed hearing from Jean, I think Eric is funny enough and charming enough make this work. I have a soft spot for loveable rogues, because their emotional journeys can be so satisfying when done well. Eric has spent quite a bit of time being the self-involved asshat of the group, so I wasn’t sure if it would work, but seeing him try to be a better man (without losing his personality in the process) was fun.

The Bad
That first person POV isn’t easy and sometimes, especially here, left me wanting to get into Jean’s head and know what she was thinking. It wasn’t especially clear and while I was convinced of Eric’s love for her, I wanted to be as sure of her feelings for him. But this is a personal preference of mine. I know plenty of readers who love first person POV, and from that perspective, I think Eric is a solid character.

Everything in Between
This can work as a standalone, though you’ll miss out on alot of the developments between the friends and the reasons Eric gets ALOT of shyte from his friends, especially Nell. If you haven’t read the earlier books, let’s just say if there was one person who has solid reasons for getting on his case, it’s Nell. Frankly, he’s earned all of their doubt, so I didn’t have a problem with it. I think it was an effective way to get a longtime reader like myself on his side, because he needed some humbling moments to make up for his selfishness in previous books.

The Bottom Line
So far, this is my favorite Dive Bar novel, and trust when I say I wasn’t expecting that. I still adore the Stage Dive series with one of my OG BBFs, Mal in it. If you like Mal’s personality type for a book-boyfriend, I think you’ll love Eric and Jean’s romance. I know I did.

Jean is looking to start over and put her mistakes behind her. She may be starting from scratch, but her friendship with Nell was enough to make her move cross country to build a new life.

Eric is notorious as a womanizing, commitment phobe. He goes from one woman to another without looking back or considering the consequences.

I loved watching the friendship between Jean and Eric build. When Eric decided he couldn’t go after Jean, he recognized there was still something between them, even if he thought it couldn’t be something physical. As the friendship built, Eric did the growing up and changing that his friends had already gone through in order to redeem himself (in my eyes) from some of the events he precipitated in previous Dive Bar books.

Along the same vein, I loved watching the changes to Eric’s outlook. He had a lot of making up for his mistakes to do. He had hurt friends with his actions, and while he may have seen the things he didn’t necessarily like about himself in Twist and Dive, he finally had the chance to act on that knowledge in Chaser.

Eric and Jean build a friendship that both come to rely on for so many things. Though they know the value of their friendship, some of their friends have a hard time seeing the benefit of Eric and Jean relying on each other and malign the budding relationship. There were times I just wished Eric’s friends could see the changes that readers could, or would accept that changes as truth rather than an act.

This was a slow build up, in that Jean and Eric build a strong friendship before they muddle with anything physical. I actually really liked that it was a slow burn in this case, because Eric had a lot to atone for. I enjoyed the story arch and it kept me reading to watch how Jean would adjust to life in Idaho and how Eric would adjust to life near an infant.

I was gifted a copy.

If there was ever a writer that I wanted to write my inner monologue it would definitely be Kylie Scott. She has this unique way of writing her characters and their inner monologues that just fits my personality. Her writing style is wickedly funny and just plain down-to-earth; you can’t help but fall in love with every character and story she writes.

“I always say: life is like taking off a girl’s bra. You never know exactly what you’re gonna get, but however it turns out, it’s basically awesome.”

Chaser is Eric’s story. I wasn’t sure if Kylie could make me love the womanizing man whore, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I truly enjoyed Eric in all his glory. In previous stories in this series we see just how self-absorbed and egotistical Eric is, but Chaser goes there and beyond. We see Eric grow and develop into someone who wants more than one night, and believe me when I say it’s amazing to witness.

Don’t get me wrong, when Eric decides to change his scandalous ways things don’t go the way he planned. We see the bumps in the road, but eventually he figures it out.

“Fake it ’til you make it and all that. One thing was for certain, this personal growth thing hurt.”

When Jean enters the picture Eric slathers the “every woman wants me” attitude on thick, but in the end he was left embarrassed and Jean was left pretty entertained. When Eric finally notices that Jean’s pregnant he vows to stir clear of the pregnant hottie, even though she’s everything he could possibly want in a woman, minus the pregnancy of course.

In the end and possibly due to the fact Eric quickly became her birthing partner when she went into labor early, they become friends. Watching Eric, not only with Jean, but with her child was funny in a heartwarming kind of way. He’s clueless, but learns as he goes and it kinda just works for him. I think I fell in love with Eric hard when he sings her to sleep using his own tunes instead of the “normal” baby songs, haha.

Throughout this whole story I fell deeper and deeper in love with Eric and Jean as a couple. The kind of fell into each other and the way it happened was so addicting to read about. Everything Eric goes through is believable; I understood his whole “make it up as you go” mentality when it came to his relationship with Jean and her daughter, Ada. We get to see his mess-ups and him navigating his way through falling in love with a single mom. It was endearing and I loved every single minute of his story.

Overall, Kylie captured my heart yet again. She doesn’t just give you a genuine love story, but she gives us glimpses into the lives of some very dear characters, if you’ve read her other series). I loved everything about it.

Kylie Scott books are always funny, flirty and sweet with just the right amount of angst to keep things interesting and Chaser was no exception!
It was an awesome, light, sweet, funny read that kept me turning the pages and smiling.
There was even a cameo slot with the Stage Dive guys - and gals - so I was extra smiley!

I really liked reading about Eric's evolution from flighty manwhore to dependable and steady and thought that Jean and her daughter were a perfect fit for the man he becomes. However, I really didn't like one of the main supporting characters - aka Nell - for she was a right raging bitch and never cut Eric any kind of slack. I know their history is heartbreaking but there was just no need to be so frigging nasty and it got on my nerves to the point it impinged on the happy reading and spoiled the book, just a little bit, for me.
Beyond that, it was great fun and I really hope to see a little something featuring Andre in the future!

This is my first time reading anything by Kylie Scott, and I'm eager for more.

Written entirely from Eric Collin's POV, Chaser was so much more than I expected. Eric mainly wants a good time, though lately, he's searching for something else deeper. He's eager to prove he's not the total charming-but-I'm -a-douche-bag character that everyone seems to think he is. Falling for Jean, a new arrival in town and a mother-to-be, doesn't fit his plans, nor makes sense for many reasons. Yet, Eric can't stay away from Jean & baby Ada, no matter how many evasive tactics he tries. Accepting that love & family can sometimes find you when you least expect it is a lesson both Jean & Eric learn as they navigate their not-so-normal relationship.

I really liked how Kylie Scott made us "feel" Eric's frustrations. I felt that she had a good handle on all his emotions, and I liked how she was able to turn his character around from zero to hero in a believable & heartwarming way. His growth and transformation are nothing short of swoon-worthy. The way he was with Ada was adorable! I enjoyed his internal dialogue - it was insightful, as well as hilarious.

This is a great read.

I voluntarily read & reviewed an ARC of this book.

THE ERIC COLLINS HAS BEEN TAMED, y'all!

Eric has been having second thoughts about his lifestyle and none of them are pretty. All his friends are sure he can never clean up his act and lead a monogamous life. Determined to prove his friends wrong he decides to get sober and leave behind his philanderer ways.

Then Jean moves into town and his plans seem to rattle. Not only she has zero interest in him, she is also heavily pregnant. This puts an obvious damper on his ego but he's determined to be a good friend to her. Too bad his heart did't get the memo.

Now he's not only falling for Jean but also her beautiful little baby who Eric can't help but adore. Can Eric convince Jean that what he feels and wants is true and forever?

GOSH Chaser was the cutest story. I adored Eric's bond with Ada, Jean's kid because it was quite possibly the sweetest purest thing I had ever witnessed. I wanted and craved more of it because it generally made my insides very happy.

Eric's character development deserves a standing ovation because that man stood up and took charge like no one else. I loved how he supported and protected Jean. He just really genuinely loved her and wanted to make her happy. I swooned so much.

This story is told entirely from Eric's PoV so you don't get to hear Jean's side but I actually really like her character. She is a sweet woman who just wants to have the best for her baby. Also, she stood up for our boy Eric and I LOVE THAT.

I liked this book a little less than the previous in the series. No specific reason but it just didn't get me there. Still, I enjoyed it a lot and can't wait to see whose book is next!!

This was brilliant! Kylie Scott rocks the male POV! I thought Eric had the best voice, I couldn’t get enough! Page after page I was smiling and feeling emotional all rolled into one. This was so sweet, funny, and charming. My absolute favorite in the series!

I loved this slow burning romance between Eric and Jean. They had a wonderful building friendship and it just filled me up and made me happy. It was really entertaining seeing certain things through Eric’s eyes and the thought process he went through while he figures himself out. I thought Eric had the best internal dialogue ever! I’m totally in love with him and his life crisis. All of Eric’s epiphanies made my heart swell. I kept falling more in love with him as the story went on. This is all Eric's POV and very much his story but I loved the feelings I'd get from Jean, the looks and that contemplation I could feel from her. I really liked her a lot.

I loved seeing all the characters from this series and enjoyed their interactions together, it made for some really funny moments! I also adored some crossover characters too, it made it that much more special. And the baby! Oh my. Eric with the baby pretty much made me melt, those scenes were so heartfelt and sweet, it was awesome. I loved Joe and Eric and their brotherly ways. All the different friendships and dynamics, even the rocky ones. There was a really tense side story happening that stressed me the heck out, I got it and understood, but man was it full of angst. I am super happy with how that all played in the end.

I love a story that makes me feel, that makes me smile and laugh and cry. That fills me up and has me on the edge of my seat waiting for my HEA. This story absolutely did that! Chaser was an engaging, fun, and sweet with the best male POV. Seriously fantastic! I could not get enough of Eric. A must read for sure!

Chaser by Kylie Scott is the third book in the Dive Bar Series. The previous books are Dirty and Twist. Every book can easily be read as a standalone, yes there are a few cross-overs, but it´s easy to dive in and understand the story.
Eric is one of the co-owners of the Dive Bar, he´s responsible for the Bar operations. He has a hard earned player reputation. He´s chauvinistic and narcistic as they come and everytime he opens his mouth, something unexpected comes out.
Jean is new in town a soon a mom to be. She changed her lifestyle and has to start over. Eric doesn´t fit into her new life, not at all.
But Eric wouldn´t be Eric if he didn´t find a way in Jean´s life. If it´s necessary he steamrolls his way into it.
Chaser is written solely in a male POV and I loved it. You can´t put Eric into a box, he´s a unicorn. Honest to a fault and has his very own Eric way of life.
The writing is great and I connected immediatedly with the characters. Jean´s characters is a bit waek, but hey, it´s Eric´s book. I was greatly entertained and I give 5 stars.

Eric, He's kind of a ladies man, man whore, whatever. He owns it. At least he did. Jean comes into town 7 months pregnant just wanting to start a new life and be the mom she never had growing up. Eric knows he should steer clear, but you have a help a pregnant woman in need. Now, there's chemistry.

This is a sweet romance. You don't really expect. You don't really see this kind of thing happen. I always enjoy when an author mixes it up.Keeps you coming back for more.

Such a great story about being at the right place at the right time and never knowing when you could find love.

There seems to be a bond between them now, but is it enough? And can Eric give up his manwhore ways to be the man Jean needs?

AMAZON | AMAZON CA | AMAZON UK | iBooks | Books A Million | Indiebound



Review
I have to be upfront and say that I really didn’t have much of an opinion on Eric Collins, even though his manwhore ways were on grand display in the previous two stories. Perhaps, I just accepted him as the quintessential player who is all about a good time with zero complications because that’s how all of his friends categorized him, and even though things got complicated when he and Nell had a one-night stand, I still wasn’t surprised when he screwed up and let those closest to him down…that is the man Eric has been portrayed as throughout the entire series, and it’s the man I’ve grown to accept quite frankly because that’s the only image he seemed to fit…there wasn’t too much to him besides his need to find ‘next piece of ass’ and focus on having a good time with none of the responsibilities of a meaningful relationship.

But then Kylie Scott wrote Eric’s story, and not only did she provide insights into the player himself, but Scott also told Chaser solely through Eric’s point of view, and in my opinion, that was the game changer. That was the reason I began to see the man behind the pussy parade that he always seemed to be following. Of course at the beginning of the book, he’s still the man who dealt with past situations abdominally and seemed to still want to run away at times, but he’s also the man who starts to realize how others have seen him for all of these years, and while it definitely was a blow to his ego to hear their abysmal sentiments about his life choices, it actually forced him to take a hard look at himself and decide if it was time for a change.

Now let me tell you, Eric’s transformation didn’t happen instantaneously; in fact, like Nell, I was a little hesitant to even believe that Eric could change his ways, but unlike Nell, I kept an open mind and allowed this new version of Eric, Eric 2.0, to prove to readers, to his family, to his friends, and more importantly, to himself, that he could be a reliable human being…that people could depend on him…that he wouldn’t cut and run when things got a bit too difficult, and I can say with 100% certainty that the man Eric becomes due to his feelings for Jean and Ada was is the man that was always within him but just needed a reason or two to surface.

Jean and her baby girl, Ada, are absolutely essential to the storyline, but this is most definitely Eric’s story. These two women help to change his life for the better, but it’s his actions and his thoughts and feelings that make him the right man for this young woman and her baby. I love the fact that at the beginning, Eric saw Jean as nothing more than a piece of ass because it shows that his new self didn’t occur simply from Jean’s entrance into his life. But, even after he had his normal reaction to a pregnant woman, there was always something about Jean that kept Eric’s interest and made him do uncharacteristic acts that everyone else noticed but him.

I love that Kylie Scott gave readers Eric’s story. It’s clear that Eric is not perfect, but no one is. Altering one’s life is not an easy feat, especially for someone like Eric who has lived the last 15 years a certain way, but all it takes is someone worth changing for, and in Eric’s case, it’s two people, who help him to change his ways and give him a life worth making permanent and difficult regardless of how complicated and messy it could be.

4.5 Poison Apples

Storyline: 5
Angst: 1
Tissue: 0
Value: 5
Panty Scorching: 5
Over All Rating: 4.25 Stars
Kindle eArc provided by Netgalley

Bartender Eric Collins has been getting a rough time from his friends lately about his bad boy ways. Deciding it’s perhaps time to settle down, he turns his eyes to new girl Jean. But there’s one issue. She’s pregnant. Not sure if he is ready for all of that, Eric tries to be just friends but things still seem to drawing them together. Will Eric be able to be the man that Jean deserves?

“Obviously tired and in pain, she was still so damn pretty propped up on the hospital bed with her baby in her arms. The most perfect thing I’d ever seen.

And my heart hurt. It fell swollen and sore like it was about to explode. Maybe I was experiencing cardiac arrest or something. If so, totally in the right place.”

What a cute story! Eric is a bit of a manwhore but when Jean comes to town and the apartment across from his, Eric starts thinking about changing. Not to mention Jean is seven months pregnant. I loved the genuine attraction and just the easy friendship these two had from day one. None of Eric’s friends seem to think he can change and you’d think they’d realize when you finally meet the one…you just do! Nell drove me crazy…she’s supposed to be a Eric’s friend but she dogs him constantly. Friends just don’t do that so I don’t think after what happened between the two that I would consider them friends anymore. At least not at that point. My heart was just really touched with the slow burn this book took from friendship to lovers. The entire story and both characters were just really sweet.

If you are a fan of the Dive Bar series, this one definitely will give you the warm fuzzies. And we get a glimpse of our favorite guys from Stage Dive. Mal is still causing all sorts of trouble, and I really missed him pushing everyone’s buttons.

Eric is frustrated, his own friends do not give him credit for life, considering him only an inconsequential f-boy who only thinks of women. Trying to change this image, he begins to consider the inconceivable: get a fixed girlfriend, but his attempts do not work the way he expects and he ends up approaching Jean.
Jean is the new tenant of the building and has just moved to have a fresh start of life. After an unexpected pregnancy and without parental support, she plans to change her life to take care of her baby.
A beautiful and sweet love story, where friendship has strengthened little by little, where Eric really shows his maturation and strength. Narrated in the first person by him, I followed his journey to the happy end. I connected too much with him and I hoped for everything to happen as he wanted.
I loved the cover and the remarkable presence of this badboy transmitting well the personality of the protagonist. I loved the writing of Kylie Scott and the way she builts the plot from the male point of view and left me in suspense about Jean's feelings until the end.

Gah, I’ve been waiting for Eric’s story since the whole Nell/Pat situation. As such, I sat and read Chaser in one sitting!

I was immediately drawn into Eric and Jean’s story. Of Jean’s attempt to jumpstart her life—one that will include being a single mother. She’s been through the wringer and is hoping that the big move to Coeur d’Alene from Jacksonville, Florida is just what she needs to make a fresh start. What she didn’t count on was the instant spark, the instant connection with Eric.

With Jean, Eric wants to be a better person. A better man who treats women as they deserve. And he wants to do that with Jean. But the pregnancy is a bit of a hindrance, but once the baby arrives there’s no keeping him away. Now if he could just convince the little bundle of joy’s mother that his interest is sincere and real, and more than just a friendship, he'd be even happier.

Oh Eric. You’ve been through a whole lot of upheaval these past couple of years. And you’ve tried to cure your loneliness by plowing through all the available women for a thirty mile radius. I love how you instantly connected with Jean. And that she was relatively immune to your charms. Jean was fun to see come out of her shell—come out and live and enjoy life. And accept help when she needed it as a single mom. Their romance was a lovely slow burn, that really was fun to watch. And the scenes with Eric and the baby are so damn cute too. He's amazing with kids—prepare your ovaries!

But there were some aspects of this book that really hindered my enjoyment—mostly the harping on Eric by Nell and his brothers. Nell came across as a bit of a shrew, never giving Eric the benefit of the doubt and truly being a royal bitch to him. Sure, their shared history isn’t the happiest, but move on and accept some of blame, too, Nell.

Though I’ve greatly enjoyed all these Dive Bar Series stories, I have to admit Chaser isn’t my favorite of the series, but I am hoping for more! 3.5 stars

3.5 stars. This was a pretty good book! This is Eric and Jean's book. Eric is a bartender, manwhore, and part owner of the Dive Bar with his good friends. Lately, he feels like he is missing out on something as most of his friends have coupled up and he is left single. He thinks he might like to try a relationship and then he meets Jean. New to town and living in the apartment upstairs from the bar next to Eric's apartment, Jean is friends with Nell and 7 months pregnant. She met Nell on a pregnancy forum, as Nell is now pregnant with her boyfriend's baby. Eric is very interested in Jean until he realizes she is pregnant. He has a few issues with pregnancy and babies, because last year Nell was pregnant with his baby from a one night stand but had a miscarriage. Still, he likes Jean and they become close friends. Eric is great with her baby, when she is born, and becomes a father figure. But he is very sensitive to her situation and does not pursue her, until Jean decides that she wants to take their relationship to the next level. The three of them, Eric, Jean and the baby become a great team and cute little family.

This was a cute, easy read. I just expected more depth and emotion from this storyline. I felt like it was just kind of a fun, surface read. I enjoyed it and was entertained, but it wasn't anything extra special.

I liked Eric and Jean. Eric is the most similar character to Mal that I have read. He felt like "Mal lite". I liked him. He's funny, but immature. I liked that he was a sweet, loveable, cute but clueless about relationships, well-meaning but a bit careless, type guy. I didn't love that the whole book is in his POV, because he was just a bit much to take without a break. I think I would have felt more chemistry and love between them if I had been able to read Jean's POV. Eric does mature a lot in this book and by the end, I felt like he was finally acting like a grown up and I liked him much better that way.

This book was a little slow moving and definitely slow burn. Nothing much happened in the first half of the book. They first kissed at 66% and continued a very casual relationship until almost the end of the book. But overall, they had an easy relationship with no pushing away.

I didn't like Nell's part in this book. She was brutal and mean to Eric and I didn't understand why. What did he do wrong? He was her good friend and co-worker. They both got drunk and slept together one time, resulting in a pregnancy (in previous books in the series). He supported her throughout the pregnancy and then Nell lost the baby in a car accident. She liked him fine before, but now treats him horribly and acts like she hates him. It was out of place and unnecessary, IMO. It never is resolved either. There is no discussion between her and Eric hashing it out; she just starts treating him better.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, I just wanted a little more depth, emotion and chemistry. Still, this was a fun and cute, easy read. I was definitely entertained. I look forward to more from this series and from Ms. Scott!

Eric's your typical bar owner hottie. He loves women, and spending time with them, intimately. I really thought I was going to hate Eric based off of that persona as well as how his friends and family perceived him. I could not have been more wrong. After watching his brother find a happy ever after, Eric's beginning to see things in a different light. Meeting Jean, wasn't the plan to fall for her. A night of passion, yeah, but finding out she's pregnant can stop any man in his tracks. But there's a connection between them. Eric is able to just be himself without the judgement he's used to. And when Jean's baby arrives a whole new side of Eric opens up. He's still carefree and lovable but Jean and her daughter give him something to be proud of.

I was honestly taken by surprise with how emotional this book made me feel. There's no terrible past from Jean about her child's father. There's no cataclysmic event to force Eric to decide what he wants. This a story about two people (technically three with the baby lol) who fall for each other all out of order. But who are we to judge. You never know what a relationship looks like to the two people in it. And Chaser is the soothing balm after the rough and rich stories of Vaughn and Joe. Scott couldn't have done a better job on Eric's story!