Chased

An ambitious woman rises through the corporate world while juggling suitors in Elmore-Smith’s novel.

Carmel Delarue is a beautiful, intelligent, and driven woman of color. While her similarly successful friend and coworker Toija has a new man on her arm every week, Carmel is determined to ascend the corporate ladder without any outside distractions––especially dating. While on her way to an important job interview, she gets into a fender bender with a handsome yet infuriating man—who turns out to be the executive vice president of the company she’s applying to work for. Sparks fly when the two meet again during her interview (“I think I have blown my chances here”), but Carmel maintains her professionalism. As she navigates the competitive corporate world, Carmel quickly proves herself to be a standout, bringing innovation, determination, and grace to every challenge. But while her career is on the rise, her personal life is far more complicated: Randall, an ex-boyfriend, wants a second chance; Carmel isn’t interested, but Randall won’t give up so easily. There is also Craig, a former flame who still lingers in her thoughts, and Durrell Chase, her charming boss. She is most drawn to Chase, who challenges her ironclad control every day at work. With suspense, romantic tension, and richly drawn characters, the novel offers a vivid portrait of a modern woman striving to have it all. The premise of a woman balancing career ambitions with complex personal relationships is a familiar but enduringly relevant theme, and the plot effectively establishes Carmel as a character readers will want to root for. Toija is similarly well rendered, with her contrasting approach to life providing a foil to Carmel that adds fun and humor to the narrative. However, the clunky prose sometimes leans too heavily on description and telling rather than showing. Additionally, as Durrell is so clearly the correct choice for Carmel, the inclusion of multiple love interests only bogs down the story.

A captivating blend of romance, ambition, and self-discovery that falters a bit in the execution.