Title:  Chasing Victory
Series:  The Winters Sisters #1
Author:  Joanne Jaytanie
Genre:  Paranormal Romance
Published:  March 15, 2013
Publisher:  Romance Beckons
My Rating:  4 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Synopsis:

Doctor Doolittle in female form creates X-Men on steroids. Murder, kidnapping, and blackmail follow as world-renowned geneticist Victory Winters is forced to pursue her research on canine DNA.

Victory possesses an unusual innate sense of communication, boarding on telepathic when relating to animals. This unique ability has elevated her status to world renowned genetic research specialist. She is kidnapped and blackmailed with threats to her family, forcing her to work for a rival corporation, Biotec and run by a madman CEO.

Naval officer Tristan Farraday is sent undercover to track Biotec’s experiments. These experiments involve implanting genus canis DNA into humans thereby manipulating their genetic makeup, in hopes to create the perfect soldier.

First suspecting Victory as being associated with Biotec, Tristan later realizes that she has been pulled into this world against her wishes. Victory refuses to divulge the genetic answers Biotec demands. She believes Biotec is looking to exploit her findings, by using them in a destructive manner. Will Tristan be able to rescue her from this madman’s grip and save her family? Can he keep the research Victory discovers away from enemy hands?

Read on for my thoughts on Chasing Victory.  No true spoilers, promise.

Sometimes a novel comes along that just hits all of your “right” buttons.  Chasing Victory was that kind of book for me.  Genetic research is a subject that has always fascinated me – in fiction and nonfiction.  My son has a genetic disease, so there is one reason.  My animals always seem to “know” things before they should – extra sensitive hearing, or who knows why but the fact that animals react to things we mere humans cannot grasp has also been a long area of interest to me.  Combine those two interest into a sci-fi, paranormal, romance, what if kind of book and I am a happy reader.

Since the synopsis has done a very good job of giving us the basics of this one, let me give you my impressions.  First of all, Braxton, the CEO of Biotec is a major scumbag with no redeeming qualities.  It is his intent to create genetically enhanced super soldiers, and Victory’s research is at the heart of his mad scheme.

Victory is one badass lady.  She might be down on occasion, but do not count her out.  Victory’s research is so important to her, but the lives of the men who have been subjected to the madness of Braxton are far more important to her.  She will do whatever she can to help them.

Tristan is just swoon-worthy.  Alpha male, military, special abilities and sexy as all get out.  Where can I find one of my own, please?

Tristan and Victory are extremely leery of each other at first.  In their situation, it’s difficult to know who to trust.  Their chemistry is obvious, and their combined sex appeal is off the charts.  That special connection of being able to use their minds to communicate with each other just adds another level to this couple.

I simply fell into this novel, nothing was a reach, everything made sense in this world because most of it is based on what ifs and that is the first step to believing that anything is possible.  I’d recommend this first novel in the series to anyone who enjoys paranormal or sci-fi – if you can take a what if situation and run with it, you’ll enjoy this novel.  As to the rest, looking for a fast paced, draw you in deep kind of romance?  Then this is your treat as well.

The next novel in the series, Payton’s Pursuit is now available.

*I received an e-ARC of Chasing Victory from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

This novel is available for the Kindle

And in case you’d like to continue on to the next story: