Chasing Indigo by Ali Dean

---

Age: 17+ (some mature content)

Plot Development: A

Character Development: A+

---

A small time runner, Indigo Adams, gets scouted by one of THE BIGGEST names, Ryan Harding, in running and she takes a leap of faith not only for her career but for her heart. Indigo finds herself running one of her best times in competition beating out some of the best in the industry. Little does she know that Ryan Harding, who is "running royalty" is completely blown away by her skill...and her looks.

Unlike alot of the other runners, Indigo has no sponsors and works at Starbucks to support her running career. She began running in college but only because her "perfect" (at the time) boyfriend was on the college team. After the relationship turned messy and they split up, a couple years prior, he still makes it a point to be in her life despite her never ending attempts to say "NO". Ryan offers her the chance of a lifetime to begin her professional running career with some of the elite. Indigo is hesitant at first but accepts and takes the biggest risk she ever has.

Though the course of the book, Indigo fights so hard against what she feels for Ryan for a number of reasons: 1) She wants to focus on proving her best time wasn't a fluke 2) Her last relationship with a "Mr. Perfect" ended horribly 3) Ryan's dad is the coach of the team and Ryan is kinda the unofficial coach of the team -- YIKES!

This isn't a 1-2-3 easy as that fall in love romance. Indigo has both internal roadblocks and external roadblocks fighting against her. But no matter what, she always keeps her running a priority, which is huge because it shows girls they don't have to give up everything to date and find love. The book switches between Indigo's and Ryan's points of view which definitely adds to the story and Ali Dean pieces the parts together very well. For someone who doesn't like sports books, I have to admit, I was drawn in from page 1!