Chasing Catherine a Contemporary Romance by Dana Bowen & Chloe Brogan ➱ Book Tour with Giveaway

 

 

Chasing Catherine

by Dana Bowen & Chloe Brogan

Genre: Contemporary Romance

"It was all I could do last night to let you walk away from me. I wanted you to stay so badly. I wanted to sit and talk the rest of the night. I wanted to walk you home." His eyes drag greedily down my body and back up to meet my gaze. "I can't seem to get enough of you. You showed up tonight in that dress, and I thought I was going to have a heart attack." He closes the last bit of distance between us, dropping his hands to rest lightly on my hips.

Chasing Catherine is a Contemporary Romance about escaping abuse, friendship, and finding love after heartbreak. This heartfelt and empowering story follows Catherine Martin after her escape from an abusive ex-boyfriend and her journey to self-discovery. This book is the first of two about Catherine and Nathan, as well as the jumping-off point in the Bethon Grove series. 24 chapters of romance, compassion, self-discovery, drama, family, and friendship.

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Chasing Catherine Snippet #1

Pg. 5

I stand silently in the middle of the road. A single humming street light hangs over me, illuminating the road before me. Snow falls heavily around me as I stand listening to the sound, like the sweet silence of falling feathers. The small puffs, like cotton, are continuously muffled by the next flake. The sound relieves my anxieties as I breathe the frigid air deep into my lungs. The cold burn reassures me that I am, in fact, still alive. 

I watch as the winter wisps continue to fall steadily around me. Glancing back, I see the snow already starting to fill the tracks I had made down the center of the road. The stark quiet the night provides is both unsettling and peaceful. I can hear everything and nothing. As I tread forward again, I imagine the crunch of the snow under my boots slowly stomping out the stress of the last few weeks from my mind. A piece of my memories slip away with every step. 

“What do you think you’re going to do without me?!” A plate sails across the room above my head.

Crunch.

“You would have no friends without me. If you leave they won’t care what you say.”

Crunch.

“No one will ever love you.”

Crunch.

My nose and throat burn from the cold night air. Before I realize it, I am stifling a sob. 

Crunch, Crunch, Crunch.

My legs feel like lead and my eyes sting. Frozen tears leave a trail down my cheeks. I come to a crossroad and look around. I have no idea how long I’ve been out in the cold. As much time as I spent here in Bethton Grove with my Aunt Cici, I have a hard time recognizing where I am with everything layered in white. It takes me a moment to recognize a mailbox on one side of the street, a roofline on the other. I know where I am now. I pull my scarf up over my nose, using the already damp fabric to wipe my eyes as I turn to the left and keep walking. 

When I pull my scarf down and readjust it around my neck, I feel a tingle down my spine; I realize I am not alone. Ahead of me, their footsteps muffled by the blanket of snow, is another wanderer with their back towards me. The figure walks slowly and heavily, shoulders hunched with hands shoved deep into coat pockets as if to send a warning signal to stay away. I hold my breath, willing my feet to fall softer on the ground as I continue down the road. The snow seems to fall heavier as we both trudge down the road, like the weight of both our worlds is falling on us along with the snow.

The sound of my phone ringing in my pocket startles me. I quickly yank it out of my jacket pocket as my aunt's face flashes across the screen. I fumble to pull a glove off and touch the screen to answer the call.

Chasing Catherine Snippet #2

Chapter 4 pg 15

“You’re Cici’s niece,” he says matter-of-factly. He breathes deeply, and his shoulders relax slightly on the exhale. I can see the look in his eyes soften as he takes a moment to study me farther. 

I feel the irritation inside of me stumble as he runs his fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry.” 

The sincerity in his deep, rough voice causes me to pause. ‘Sorry’ is definitely not what I thought he was going to say. 

Before I can answer, he continues. “Last night was not my best moment. I know you don’t deserve the anger that I threw at you. I was walking to clear my head, and I should have just kept my mouth shut. But since my father tends to be one of those drunks who ‘fills your aunt’s pockets,’ I guess I lost my cool.”

I dip my head and stare at my feet, feeling my own discomfort as he uses the words that I said to Cici last night. I understand that from the outside, that may have felt like a really low-blow kind of comment, but when I talk to my aunt, I rarely think to censor myself. I respond in a small voice. “I probably shouldn’t have said that either.” 

He sighs. “It’s okay. I understand the sentiment wasn’t directed at me. Issues with my dad just tend to put me in a bad place, and I don’t always pay attention to who I lash out at.” 

There’s a very small hint of an accent or something that I can hear in his voice, but I can’t quite make it out. I feel the fight leave my body as my stomach finishes its slow descent into my feet. I can remember the venom in his voice the night before. But the abrasiveness is gone today, in its place is a much gentler personality.

His gaze drifts down and my cheeks flush. I can feel heat rush over me and my heart races when I think he may be staring at my breasts. I feel my head spinning, but then I remember the flier I have clenched in my hands. 

His rough fingers graze mine, sending tingles up to my wrist. He studies the paper for a moment. “There’s a table just inside to the left if you’re looking to sign up.” He extends his large hand and gives the paper back to me.

 I take another second to study him. His skin is golden even at the end of January. His eyes are rimmed by dark soft looking lashes. And his body, even under his thick winter gear, looks toned and strong. I doubt he's sporting a full six pack or anything, but I can tell he's probably used to manual labor. His hands are large and callused, and his hair rests across his forehead casually and waves slightly at the ends. It looks soft and clean, and I wonder for a moment what it might feel like if I were to reach out and touch it. 

I’m still unsure of how to process the man before me, but I ask, “What’s your name?”

Something very slight changes in his face, possibly a smirk? He studies me again and I fight the urge to look at my feet. His gaze feels so unnerving and I feel like my body is growing heavier, weighed down by the attention he's giving me.

“Nathan Alvarez.”

“Catherine Martin.”

Chasing Catherine #3

Chapter 15 page 82

“We went to dinner. And I had fun.” I feel my chest squeezing around my lungs. “I know the night didn’t end exactly as planned, and I feel like I may have overstepped this morning…” My voice dies in my throat. I could have sworn there was more between us than the stoic look he is giving me now. For a moment last night I thought he would kiss me. “And tonight, I don’t know what I was expecting. I don’t want to make you think I’m desperate. I’m not. I don’t need anything from you. God, I feel stupid.”

Nathan takes a step toward me, easing into my personal space. I have to tilt my head up slightly to keep looking at his face. Everything inside of me makes me want to close the rest of the distance between us, to thread my arms under his, and around his waist. But I will myself to stay put. 

“You don’t sound stupid,” he says quietly.

I take a shaky breath. I wrap my arms around myself, feeling a slight chill from the turmoil of emotions swirling around inside of me. “I guess tonight I was just confused. You shot away like you couldn’t distance yourself from me fast enough when your family showed up. If you’re uncomfortable with this…” I wave my hand, motioning between us. “I get it. I just don’t want to be left in the dark.”

He catches my hand before it can fall back to my side. A jolt of electricity surges up my arm. “I’m sorry I made you feel that way.” He brushes the back of my hand with his thumb. “I’m apparently not very good at this.”

“Good at what?” My brain is having trouble focusing on his words as he takes another half step closer to me. There’s maybe a hand’s distance between us, and my pulse threatens to overpower the sound of his voice in my ears.

His eyes turn darker. “It was all I could do last night to let you walk away from me. I wanted you to stay so badly. I wanted to sit and talk the rest of the night. I wanted to walk you home.” His eyes drag greedily down my body and back up to meet my gaze. “I can’t seem to get enough of you. You showed up tonight in that dress, and I thought I was going to have a heart attack.” He closes the last bit of distance between us, dropping his hands to rest lightly on my hips.

The pounding of my own heartbeat in my ears is deafening. I press my hands flat against his chest, unable to look away or move. I’m completely paralyzed by the lust dripping from his words.

“Oh,” I exhale. I can’t seem to get enough air in my lungs. The ache I felt before, low in my stomach, starts to resurface again at his touch.

“Oh?” he repeats teasingly. His hands rub slowly up and down my hips and back as if he’s testing the way I feel. I’m trying hard to stay focused, but the longer he touches me, the more I desperately want him to kiss me. He grazes my stomach and chest with his knuckles as he slides a hand up to the back of my neck. “I had to keep my distance tonight because I knew if I was too close for too long, I would not be able to keep my hands off you.” His fingers graze lightly down my neck and across the skin where my breasts swell in my dress. 

I shudder pleasantly under his touch and his eyes drop to where his fingers leave a tingling trail across my skin. 

“You are so beautiful.” The words come out in a low rumble from his chest. 

My eyes drop to his mouth, and I find myself unable to look away from his full lips. His breath catches, and before I can register what's happening, he takes my hand and pulls me down the hall a few feet to the closet where I stashed my coat when I got here. He whirls around on me, closing the door behind us before gently backing me against it. I feel his hand trail down the side of my body before I hear the lock click into place. 

Snippet 5

My breath is like little clouds floating up and away. I feel like a giddy school girl. I can’t seem to settle my nerves as Nathan pulls up in his little blue Civic. 

He steps out of the car, and I head toward him, trying to contain my grin. I can tell he noticed my hair, he’s looking at me intently, but I can’t quite seem to get a read on his expression. 

“Something’s different,” he states, his brows furrowed dramatically as if in thought. I stand before him, and he makes a big show of looking me head to toe. “I’m not sure what it is… Spin for me.” He takes my hand, spinning me slowly under his arm. 

I can’t help but giggle. 

“I know what it is!” he exclaims. “You have on earrings! I don’t think I’ve seen you wear earrings before.”

I place my hands on my hips and sigh dramatically, but I can’t help but laugh. His face lights up, and he steps in close, threading his arms through mine and around my back. 

“Your hair looks amazing,” he says in a low tone, I can feel the vibration of his words flow through his chest, and my heart jumps around in my chest excitedly.

“Thank you.” My words come out breathy. “I needed a change.”

“I like the change, you are glowing.” His words melt my insides, and I wrap my arms around his shoulders, standing on my tiptoes to plant a soft kiss on his lips. He tightens his hold around my middle, pulling me tightly to him as he returns my kiss. After a moment we break away from each other, both seeming reluctant to break the contact.

He turns and opens the passenger door for me. He gives me a little bow and gives his words a slight British accent. “Milady.”

Convince us why you feel your book is a must-read.

I think there is actually a lot to say for this, more than just a rapid fire interview question. We have a very deep connection to this book. When we started out to write this story, it was a bit of a joke. We started writing with all of the classic tropes in mind. Girl meets boy, boy fixes all of her problems, and they live happily ever after.

But something that has been so treasured through this writing experience is how many other forms of love come in this novel. I remember sitting with Chloe sometime after we had really gotten into writing our second draft, and we were trying to think of a name for the book. We dug through a laundry list pile of book names that we either randomly generated or took from key words in the book. But none of them seemed to truly fit with what we wanted to express.

When we spent some time looking through the themes of our book, it became quickly obvious that we had so much more in between the pages than just steamy romance. While steamy romance is amazing and so much fun to write, we really wanted to drive home what it looks like to experience loving relationships with family and friends as well. I think true, loving platonic relationships aren’t showcased enough in literature as it is. And true passion for someone can extend farther than stolen kisses and bedroom eyes. We all love a good whirlwind romance, but my true love for our story lies in Catherine’s relationship with Cici, Amber, and Meghan.

People experience all kinds of love throughout their lives. Familial love, friendly love, and romantic love. Catherine is lifted by the people around her for the first time in her life. It’s an incredibly healing experience to bear your soul to people and have them love you unconditionally. And sometimes it’s those people around you that help you learn to love yourself. A great deal can be said for pursuing your own life, thoughts, and dreams with the support of the important people around you. It was so important by the end of our story that we showed Catherine choosing to chase herself for probably the first time in her life.

I think our book is a must read because of those things. I want people to see the healing that comes from being supported, and I want people to see that even when you’re faced with hard things, toxic people, and your own self doubt. There are people around you that will hold you up. There are people around you who will always help you succeed, and be the support you need. You just have to be willing to ask for help and look around. The world isn’t hopeless.

Dana and Chloe grew up in rural Ohio, and sparked a close friendship in the summer of 2019. When the Pandemic hit in 2020 they saw it as an opportunity to be adventurous. As two young moms, they spent months finding creative outlets through baking and art, but they were running out of things to do. So, when Dana came to Chloe one Friday over coffee and suggested they write a book — it seemed like the next logical step in their endeavors to use their time at home to pursue something they'd always dreamed of doing. The two discovered quickly that they made a great pair, and the story spun itself together almost overnight. The pair plan to keep up the momentum as Indie Authors, exploring all subgenres of romance in their coming stories.

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