Seducing Chase by Cassandra Carr

 When a researcher disappears with millions, Val Chase, the director of public relations at a hospital, faces the biggest challenge of her career. To make matters worse, the CEO brings in his old college roommate, a crisis management ringer and a man Val is convinced wants to make her look bad. She instantly dislikes the smooth-talking man with the expensive suit who threatens her very livelihood, even as she's drawn to him physically.

Nate O'Halloran is just trying to do a favor for a friend and is caught off-guard by the sexy PR director who's determined to handle this crisis without his help. His eagerness to rush back to his A-list celebrity clientele is waning by the minute, as Val's beauty and fiery personality enthrall him. As Nate gets to know Ms. Chase better, for the first time in his life he sees how empty his existence is and a future that includes a woman.

As things at the hospital go from bad to worse, can he convince Val he's more than a playboy and not out for her job?

I found this to be a rather quick read because not only did we have the beginning of a love story, the author gave us a complicated mystery of a missing doctor and a lot of donated money.  Val was working in the PR department of the hospital; she had a connection to this particular hospital due to her father’s cancer and the cancer research that was done at the hospital.     When the money went missing the press was rushing in, she and Doug the head of the hospital needed answers or at least they needed to know what to tell the press to hold them off. 

Doug brought in his very good friend Nate; a PR person who deals with celebrities whose main goal in life is to cause trouble.  With the appearance of this sexy miracle worker, Val instantly felt her job was threatened and her hostility began to rise. 

We read how Nate tries to break down Val’s walls and prove to her he isn’t interested in her job; he is interested in her body, mind, and soul and wants to have her in his bed.  While the love story is trying to start, we are still involved in the mystery of where the doctor and money is.  As I always love with this author, she keeps things realistic which means not everything ends in a happy ending.  Out of the three, one character will not be as lucky as the other two, but will that devastate a career or a heart or both.

I really enjoy Ms. Carr’s books and this one didn’t let me down.  She created a story and characters that jumped off the page and included us as the reader into part of the story.  We didn’t have to have an excess of drama and angst to make this story one that would keep your interest and make you wonder what will happen next.  I think this is a great afternoon read, don’t miss out on it.