Zander Shaw is country music’s hottest star. So, when he singled me out of a packed arena and had me pulled backstage, I should’ve known I wasn’t his forever. One signed NDA later, I was sneaking onto his tour bus, wrapped up in his world, and him. But it ended before it really started when he ghosted me.
Then he shows up on my family’s ranch to film his new music video, a surprise to us both. Now I’m his appointed tour guide around the ranch, stuck sharing all my favorite places with the man who carelessly discarded me.
The more time we spend together, the harder it is to guard my heart because his flirty half-smile makes me forget my anger. But Zander’s made it clear, he’s not looking to ride out into the sunset with anyone. Which would be fine… if I wasn’t carrying his baby.
(ARC Review)
Ohhhh this one had me in a chokehold. I picked up Chasing Home thinking I was in for a fun, flirty country-music fling, and instead it delivered something far deeper and more satisfying than I ever expected . Piper Rayne absolutely had me wrapped up in Zander Shaw and Romy Owens from the very first page.
Zander is country music’s biggest star. He’s charming, magnetic, and completely convinced he doesn’t deserve real love. Growing up in foster care left him without the foundation of family most people take for granted. He never learned what safety in love feels like, only how quickly it can disappear. Because of that, Zander believes the best way to protect the people he cares about is to push them away before they ever have the chance to leave him first. He would rather self-destruct than risk being the one who gets abandoned again. That’s what makes his connection with Romy so heartbreaking—because for the first time, he feels something real, something steady, and it terrifies him.
“Her fierce gaze locks with mine. And just like that, I’m dragged back to the memory of her beneath me as I slid into her. How I wanted to slow down, savor her, memorize every second because I knew even then she was too good for me.”
Romy is his opposite in so many ways. She’s a hopeless romantic with a huge heart and an unshakable belief in seeing the best in people. Being chosen by Zander during their secret whirlwind tour romance felt like a once-in-a-lifetime kind of magic to her, until he ghosted her without explanation. The emotional whiplash of that abandonment cuts deep, and when she later discovers she’s pregnant, it only amplifies every unresolved feeling she’s been carrying alone.
“I want to explain. I do. But what am I supposed to say? That I asked DeSoto to keep her away because I was scared? Because she made the ground shift out from under me? Because she made me question a lifetime of choices and everything I ever thought I wanted?”
So when Zander shows up on her family’s ranch to film a music video, right as she learns she’s carrying his baby, the tension is instant, explosive, and layered with longing, and unfinished love. Now she’s forced into close proximity with the man who broke her heart, sharing her favorite places with him while guarding herself the best she can.
The emotional pull between them is unreal. Every scene is thick with things left unsaid—regret, fear, attraction, and deep, undeniable chemistry. Watching Zander wrestle with his own emotional limitations, his guilt, and his instinct to shield others at the expense of himself was one of the most powerful parts of this story. His need to protect, his fear of wanting too much, and his uncertainty about what he’s capable of giving create a constant, aching tension that kept me completely invested.
And the shift in him once the reality of impending fatherhood settles in? It’s layered, complicated, and incredibly compelling. His instincts, his past, and his fears all collide in a way that adds so much emotional weight to every interaction between him and Romy. The possessive protectiveness that surfaces, especially in small, quiet moments, was pure swoon. When he rests his hand on her belly and says, “Mine,” the moment hits with overwhelming intensity, vulnerability, and longing.
“But this…” I take his hand and put it on my stomach. “This makes us family. We are a family.”
Romy remains the emotional anchor of the story—strong, resilient, tender, and determined to stand her ground. I loved that she doesn’t make things easy, that she expects honesty and consistency, and that she protects her heart without closing it off completely. Their slow-burn tension is realistic, raw, and deeply addictive, built on shared history, unresolved feelings, and the undeniable pull between them.
“I know you struggle with your demons, but I want to be the one who proves to you that you’re worthy of love. But in order to do that, you have to promise not to run off or push away when you’re overwhelmed.”
The Plain Daisy Ranch family once again adds so much heart to the story. The found-family energy, small-town warmth, and constant background support elevate every emotional beat. These side characters make the entire world feel lived-in and loved, and they add the perfect balance to the intensity between Zander and Romy. And Beau remains an absolute standout with his humor and steady presence.
This is hands down my favorite in the series so far. It has small-town charm, country-music chaos, accidental pregnancy, forced proximity, guarded hearts, and an emotional depth that completely pulled me in. I laughed, I swooned, I held my breath through the tension, and I truly didn’t want to leave this world when I reached the last page.
Piper Rayne continues to raise the bar with every installment, and Chasing Home is a powerful reminder that sometimes the hardest place to return to is the one that feels most like home.
Release Date: December 9th, 2025
Thank you to Piper Rayne and Valentine PR & Literary Management for the ARC read!