Kindle Edition Download to your Nook (eBook) Download from Apple iTunes (eBook) Download from Smashwords (eBook) Amazon Barnes & Noble.com Universal Reader Link Category:  Romance Publisher: Indie Published Type: Fiction Pages: 445 Copyright: March 10, 2020 ISBN-13: 9798622022708 Price: $4.99 (eBook) With some new attention from the hottest guy she’s ever met, Ginger can’t help but wonder…is this all too good to be true? Chased by a group of angry men. Saved by quite a hunk. This is not the résumé Ginger Halloway ever imagined having. But thanks to a miracle pill, which makes her size 22 body instantly sexy, that’s what happened. Yet, now Lance Franklin is showing interest in her, and she can’t figure out if he really likes her for her, or if it’s just because of a bizarre drug. And her wild bunch of friends, The Misfits…well, they’re always getting her into some interesting situations. So, yep, business as usual. Except for the guy. What the hell should she do about him? As for Lance, he believes he’s lucky to have found Ginger. But can he convince her they should go for it? With some new attention from the hottest guy she’s ever met, Ginger can’t help but wonder…is this all too good to be true? (CONTENT WARNING: Watch for foul language, steamy scenes, and a pesky yet messy ability to choke on your dinner while laughing. If you’ve come expecting just a lighthearted, slapstick romance, you may not get that here. The author approaches sensitive topics in the best way she knows how. Just be prepared for all the feels to be deeper than usual for this genre – an emotional romantic comedy. No unruly cliffhangers, HEA guaranteed.) Excerpt Never one to waste an opportunity when she had it, Ginger ducked under his outstretched arm and beelined around the crowd in the opposite direction. Though there was only one exit, she hoped the man might get stuck by the traffic jam in the main aisle. Once on the sidewalk outside, she ran as fast as her legs would take her in those stupid high heels on the hard pavement. This was insane. Surely InstaSin hadn’t caused such chaos? She couldn’t believe that. Maybe it was just poor planning. A guy might take it the wrong way if you went ahead and set up another date after him. Still, most men knew those dating sites weren’t exclusive. So, why get too possessive? The ownership on all their faces was worrisome, to say the least. She’d never met them before today and could just remember a handful of names. Thank God surnames were concealed on the site, or she’d be in real trouble once she got out of this. How many G. Halloway’s could exist in San Francisco? After a couple blocks, Ginger paused to take a breath or two. But they’d give up by now, right? Hell, maybe it was paranoia and all those men weren’t after her. Of course not. This was just a bizarre mix-up… “Ginger! Stop!” She looked over her shoulder and froze. Sure enough, almost two football teams had come after her. Dressed in various types of attire, from dress casual to ultra-casual, with the same hard look on their faces. It was all about the prize. She hadn’t wanted this, though. There was an obvious hunger in their eyes too. The dangerous kind. Nausea shifted through her belly, threatened to evacuate the diet sodas she’d had at work, and Ginger veered off to the right. She didn’t know where she was heading, but couldn’t wait to get in a cab and speed toward her apartment. This unique experience wasn’t relished at all. Chapter Two A scream tore out of Ginger as someone snagged at her hair, and she yanked away, stumbling across the street. The pull on her scalp was nothing compared to the panic she felt now. She doubled her efforts as she raced down the pavement, feet pounded in her green heels. Please, please, God. I’ll never use a dating site again if you just get me out of this right now. A hand shot out, grabbed her arm, and she screeched again. “Darlin’, come on,” a male voice coaxed, and a wonderful scent drifted in her nose. But everything happened so fast, she couldn’t register what it was. “There’s no time. You’ll be safe in here.” The voice was soothing. Ginger calmed at once and found she was led up a short stairway into a tall, light gray structure. Inside, she backed away from the glass a little, breathed a sigh of relief as she saw the group pass by after a few moments. Each breath was labored, and her forehead, upper chest and lower back were sweaty. Her feet and legs ached. She felt like this when she visited the gym, exhausted, practically passed out, draped over the treadmill’s handlebars. Now, each breath hitched in her chest. And the boob pain wasn’t a joke. She winced, passed a hand down her face, and turned to confront the new threat. He was a looker, for sure, with deep brown, spiky hair and nice blue eyes. The man wore a gray business suit. He’d obviously just come from work. And Jesus, he was tall and muscled, topped six feet no problem. He had handsome features, with a Roman nose and somewhat full, made-to-be-kissed lips. Get ahold of yourself, Ginger. His eyes widened as he took in her appearance. “Not you too,” she moaned. But hell, for all she knew, maybe he’d never seen a melting green marshmallow before. “Are you okay, ma’am? Why were those men chasing you?” She managed, “I don’t know.” That was the truth. They hadn’t warned InstaSin would be like this, and it was just twenty-four hours in. Extreme sexiness? Check, if the response she’d received was any indication. Grounds for a restraining order? Nope. They certainly hadn’t covered this in the drug’s description.

A fun rom-com with great messages
Chasing Ginger is a fun and entertaining romantic comedy about a woman who takes a pill that is supposed to make her instantly sexy to men. When a date night goes chaotically and dangerously wrong, Ginger is rescued by Lance, who is instantly smitten with the voluptuous beauty. However, does Lance really like Ginger, and how will he react when he learns about her miracle pill?

Ginger is such a relatable character. She is smart and independent. She looks good and feels good, but she doesn’t fit the societal mold. She isn’t thin, and she doesn’t have a perfect body. Ginger deals with self-esteem issues, self-doubt, and insecurities. As a plus-size woman, Ginger faces prejudice and judgment, and, because of the life-long shame that comes with being a big woman, she often questions her worth. She basically resigns herself to the fact that she will end up alone because she believes men don’t find her body attractive.

As a curvy woman myself, I totally relate to the conflicting emotions that Ginger often feels. Confidence is very easily stripped away when people constantly consider you less than because of your weight (or for any other reason). However, between Lance and The Misfits, Ginger slowly tries to see herself as others see her – as a beautiful, vivacious woman. This proves difficult, considering the years of shame and judgment she’s experienced even at the hands of her family.

The way Lance feels about Ginger and the way that he talks about her is positively swoon-worthy. He is sure of what he wants, and, intuitively, knows he must be patient. I love how much Lance admires Ginger and how attracted he is, not just to her body, but to her. He sees the whole woman, and he likes what he sees. In turn, Ginger sees more than just a handsome face and money, which is a change for Lance. As a wealthy man, he often attracts the wrong kind of woman, and he finds Ginger refreshing, honest, and sincere. What’s interesting is that Ginger and Lance both feel undeserving of each other and have to examine these feelings before they can truly give their hearts to each other. They make a wonderful pair, and I love their budding relationship.

Ginger also receives support from The Misfits, a fantastic group of loyal and supportive friends. I love this unique group of women. They are all unique and dynamic individuals, and they are a strong and supportive unit. I can’t wait to learn more about each woman in the future books in this series!

This is a fun contemporary rom-com with great characters and a sexy romance.

-from Julie Petitbon on Amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars Does a dress Size make a person? I don’t think so, but let’s hear from Ginger’s Point of view!!
What will you like? Emotional struggle, romantic, funny, and enduring. The storyline is fantastic, addressing an age-old problem that many women have struggled through and shows that it can be different. Many of the issues that women have with weight are addressed and done in a forthright manner. It is a shame that the world, in general, is not taught from a young age, that weight should not be a factor. The heart is the most beautiful thing in a person and we should all judge from that and not the dress size. I loved the way the author addressed all those problems and showed the effects that they have on a person. Awesome read!!!

-from DD Gott - Donadees Corner

From ?wazithinkin - Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog
Ginger Halloway is desperate enough for a male companionship to sign up for an experimental drug testing program, for a new drug called Instasin. The doctors report the pill contains pheromones to attract the opposite sex. Her only obligation is to keep a journal while taking the pills. After three months the guinea pigs would report back with their findings.

Ginger is a smart, savvy, and mostly comfortable in her plus size body. She has beat down her insecurities about her weight, instilled from her parents while growing up. She tries to look at things through realistic eyes. When she meets Lance through happenstance she is immediately smitten. When Lance seems to be pursuing her, she writes it off as ‘the instasin’ effect. There is no way an intelligent, handsome, rich man could be interested in her.

“Chasing Ginger” is a unique, intelligent story that will capture your heart. Their journey together and apart shows character growth and acceptance. Ginger’s group of close friends, the Misfits, add levity and a sense of realism. Ms. Lavender takes a serious subject and has written an entertaining tale with smart dialogue and heart.