The Bridal Chase by Robert Downs

3 Stars

156 Pages
Publisher: Black Opal Books, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members’ Titles
Release Date: May 12, 2018

Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Kidnapping, Wedding

Ronnie Washington is a gambler. He owes $10,000. Instead of payment, two goons take him hostage. The original plan was to take Elisha Crimson, his fiancée. Elisha is in hot pursuit when the truck she is driving collides with an SUV. She is taken to the hospital where she meets Laine. The two women take off in a car without a clear plan to rescue Ronnie.

The book has a fast pace, the characters are not developed, and it is written in the third person point of view. If the book was longer, the characters may have been more developed. This was a quick read that felt like Thelma and Louise.

This book starts out promising, but the story never really took off for me. I also had trouble sympathizing with the characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and Black Opal Books for the copy.

Don't waste your time , it's a few hours in life you can never get back. This is the craziest thing I've ever read. It makes absolutely no sense what so ever. I felt like I was sucked into a hillbilly twilight zone .

If you like brides who spit, this might be the book for you. I didn't care for that at all. Not only is she going to ruin her gown, her teeth, and her life, but just gross. It's a short story, thankfully. The language is awful. I didn't care for this book at all.

My copy came from Net Galley, and I appreciate them, just not this particular book. My review is my own, left of my own free will.

A well written story. I enjoyed reading this book. Thanks to Netgalley for this free copy . My opinion was my own. ☆☆☆☆☆

While reading the first part of this book, I was constantly reminded of the fast, furious, and funny movie "Smokey and the Bandit" that starred Burt Reynolds and Sally Fields. Don't get me wrong, this is not a funny story in and of itself, but the image of a bride driving down the roads of West Virginia, wedding gown billowing, while hocking up a glob of chewing tobacco induced spit is not a scene you see every day.

Robert Downs leaves little to the imagination in his descriptions of the actions of the bride, and the groom, after the groom is kidnapped while reaching for his bride's hand at the altar. Their thoughts are full of chaotic determination; their actions are dangerous. As you read on, you will find out the whys and wherefores of the situation.

This is a rollercoaster ride that will leave you breathless.

This story was simply amazing. I could not put the book down. I was so invested in it, that I neglected to do housework for a day. I cannot wait to read more from this author

I think this story had the opportunity to be great. However, the story didn't seem to move from rehashing the hardships they've experienced over and over. Had to put it down a third into the story, could not hang on till the end.

This books starts out great but becomes a tad boring and repetative. I wanted to love but ended up thinking is ok and sorta glad it was short.

THE BRIDAL CHASE by Robert Downs, is not your average (left at the alter type of story) but instead a kidnapping with the bride in pursuit of the groom. Ready to take on what-ever, will she succeed in getting him, or die trying? Or will both wind up dead? Dare-devil characters! Action-filled! Suspense-filled! Along with great vivid details! Great title with a great story! High intense intrigue. This read will leave you wanting more.

The book is just the lenth of a novella and still it was a DNF for me, I stopped reading halfway in.

The bridegroom is snatched from the wedding before he has the chance to say yes and the bride to be takes up the pursuit.
He's thrown into the boot of a car and then his kidnappers take off.
As the story progresses we hear why this is happening and how the chase continues..

I found both characters pretty non-sympathetic and the story never really took off.
Endlessly we get to hear, how the poor guy is bouncing along in the boot of the car, feeling claustrophic, and how his fiancee is chewing tobacco and spitting away.
The whole story is just going round in circles like an endless road.
It just didn't grip me at all.

Fair. Easy beach read. Fast paced and unrealistic but fun. Thanks to Black Opal Books and NetGalley for providing me a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A bride on pursuit after her fiancé gets abducted by two thugs during their wedding ceremony.


I was really excited to read this novel after I read the description, but unfortunately it wasn't as good as I expected it to be. I had to force myself to finish the book so that I can give this review.

I lost interest as I thought it went really slow at the beginning to the middle and the ending was really quick -didn't get much details about the "can these two unlikely heroes save the day" part. Was Ronnie supposed to be the other hero, or was it Elisha's new friend?


I received this as an ARC. Thank you NetGalley, Robert Downs and Black Opal Books for allowing me to share my thoughts!

He, after a night of partying at a West Virginia casino, is kidnapped at their wedding ceremony. She, Elisha, the bride, goes after him. Each chapter deals with one side of the kidnapping. It is short and relatively direct. All in all, a not bad way to spend a rainy afternoon. Thanks to Net Galley and Black Opal Books for an ARC for an honest review.

A mediocre read. The Bridal Chase did absolutely nothing for me, I was bored with the book. I am giving it three stars because it might just be me that feels this way.

2 stars

Oh, Yawn! So glad this was a short story.

A tobacco chewing bride gets left at the altar because two men kidnap her husband-to-be. She “steals” her brother’s car and pursues them. (Give me a break.) The husband-to-be is a whiner, and the bride can’t seem to stop spitting. Add in the foul language, and you’ve got a major loser book here.

I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t get into this book. I did not finish it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Black Opal Books/Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Members’ Titles for forwarding a copy of this…um…book…to me so that I can review it.

On a day an artist began to paint. Why, you may ask? Well, because that is what artists do.

Self-expression are the forms and imagination, the brush that dips the paint. The canvas is all together something else.

To paint by numbers is to paint without self-expression and without imagination.

A Porsche and a Mercedes are still four wheels. Doggone amateurs are still the order of the day.

A hot mess this is, like an ill-fitted hired tuxedo. You either wear it all, or you don't.

So pop the trunk and let me out. Embrace the vast emptiness and simply let go.

The bride and groom's wedding ceremony is rudely interrupted by two men who grab the groom, and push him to the trunk of their car. The bride courageously, in her white wedding gown, grabs her brother's car and starts chasing them.

That is where I lost interest. The bride chews tobacco and every two sentences she is spitting the nasty stuff into a dish that is already overflowing.

When the book goes back to the groom, he's complaining .. to himself ... that the trunk of this car is too small for his large body. He is also claustrophobic, so several pages is spent on that subject.

The bad language seems to be gratuitous ... every other word seems to be yelled out for no good reason that I can see.

This is a short story / novella ... I was expecting a short, interesting story. I was greatly disappointed. To be honest, I didn't find anything here worthwhile.

Thanks to the author / Black Opal Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of THE BRIDAL CHASE. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

There she was, the nervous bride, coming down the aisle to her waiting groom, only a few steps left and BAM, Elisha’s man is unceremoniously abducted by two sinister looking thugs. Not to be denied her husband, Elisha begins what will become a madcap chase as she hightails out after the black sedan with Ronnie in the trunk. What the heck? What is going on? Spitting her chew into a cup, still dressed in her gown, Elisha is on a mission, but where is that sedan going? Why did they take Ronnie? Will Elisha get her man? Can she do it on her own? Will Ronnie still be alive? And let’s revisit why?

THE BRIDAL CHASE by Robert Downs is chaotic mayhem, from the bride’s thoughts to the groom’s claustrophobia or his newfound position as a punching bag? Crazy fast, comical and certainly a furious feat of imagination from Robert Downs, either Ronnie is the most loved man ever or he may be safer in the hands of the thugs…A quick read that will leave saying: What???

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Black Opal Books and Robert Downs!

Publisher: Black Opal Books (May 12, 2018)
Publication Date: May 12, 2018
Genre: Mystery | Thriller
Page Count: 155
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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This is a short story that hits the ground running, literally. The premise is great, captures me right off the bat, but then loses a little momentum.
The bride is so thrilled and excited for her wedding, as is the groom. The scene from each of their perspectives is of anticipation and a little awe they have managed to get themselves this far.
Then it it all goes to shit, and fast. The remainder of the story is a car chase, with the bride chasing after her kidnapped groom. Excellent driving skills.....
Fun, fast read and my favorite take away, the blue shoes.