Chasing Hope

By: Dana Wayne

Narrated by: John Tanner

Some wounds can't be healed.

Max Logan longs for the joys of home and family he missed growing up in foster care. He fills that emotional void by becoming a kick-ass Marine, and for 18 years, he leads his band of brothers from one hellhole to another. Until the one that nearly destroyed him.

Sixteen months of therapy and rehab put his body back together, but some wounds can’t be seen.

Skylar Ward dreams of a life that includes someone beside her. Someone to share her life and be a father to her young daughter. But if she learned anything from her failed marriage, it was that you don’t rush into a relationship. Only Max Logan sparks her interest. But the handsome, brooding war hero remains aloof.

Seven-year-old Maddie Ward overhears a neighbor telling her mom she needs a male companion and immediately decides Max will do just fine. He needs a family. They need him. She just has to figure out how to make that happen.

Can a precocious child be the catalyst that heals and brings them all together or will ashes of the past bury hope forever?

HEAT LEVEL 4 - Steamy: Steamy scenes and mild swearing, open door. Think R-rated. Deals with Max's thoughts and emotions behind his PTSD in a positive and encouraging manner.

©2019 Dana Wayne (P)2022 Dana Wayne

Critic reviews

2021 Best Indie Book Award - Contemporary Romance

Chasing Hope - Emotions Up and Down throughout this Story

Chasing Hope by Dana Wayne
Narrated by John Tanner
Four Stars

Chasing Hope had me listening long into the night. I just couldn’t put it down. I listened to the whole book in one sitting. Skylar and Max are awesome together. This book had its ups and downs, but kept me listening to find out what would happen next. This is the first audio I have listen by Ms. Wayne, but definitely won’t be the last.
John Tanner is also a newbie to me. I really enjoyed his voice and will watch for his other narrations.

Absolutely loved it!

This was a really fun listen. The characters were all realistic people that we all have experienced. Even the villain resembles someone you have known. It’s small town America at its best. This author will be well known and very soon. Just awesome and five rising stars!

Romance with PTSD

Max Logan was a Marine. After losing so much he returns home, but PTSD recurs in his dreams. Therefore he has given up on having a family. Skyler Ward and her young daughter have moved in next door. Maddie hears all and tells all. She is not afraid to approach Max and starts with her questions. But will she stop there? Will Max let Skyler and Maddie befriend him? Will there be a HEA? This author has written this steamy and fast paced story. Her characters are easy to fall in love with. Maddie may be 7, but she is a typical kid with questions to be asked. While this is a romance story, I think it goes deeper with having PTSD in the story. Second chance is just that second chance at love, second chance at making a better life for all involved. I must say this author has pulled out all the stops in this story. I was hooked before chapter one ended.

Wonderful Story

This was absolutely a wonderful story to listen to. This is the story of 2 people that come together with love and healing.
Max Logan is back home after being wounded in combat. Not only he has battle scars but also his emotional scars that burden him as well, Skylar Ward is a single mom doing her best to make ends meat while caring for her daughter, Maddie. When Max offers to help Skylar with her car, this leads to a friendship at first. As Max slowly breaks down his walls around his heart, he lets Skylar in as well as Maddie.

There are a few twists and turns along the way......that really brought this book together. This is a wonderful, feel good listen. I loved the characters, especially Maddie...I love how the author makes her wise beyond her years...and having Max and Skylar come together to heal each other in their heart and souls. Truly heartwarming.

Easy to listen to and enjoy

Chasing Hope


What a great story.  Max and Skylar fit together so perfectly from the beginning and having precious Maddie there certainly didn't hurt things between them.

I understood a lot of what Skylar was going through as a single mother and her daughter being her first priority.   And she was just amazing even though she let her pride get in the way.

Max has the ghosts of his past and his time in the Corp., but he doesn't allow them to control him most of the time.

The narrator John Tanner had a very soothing voice, almost like a parent reading to his child but also did a great job bringing each and every character to life.

Couldn’t stop listening to this book!

Cutest. Family story. Ever. Oh my gosh! Listen to this book. The narrator has the perfect voice and makes the story come to life. Sky, a single mother who would do anything for her daughter Mattie, lives in a small town and does her best. Max, a veteran who has his own demons, lives next door and does everything he can to take care of everyone. Read this book. It will warm your heart and give you characters to use as role models! Love this! Keeping it in my audio library forever!

Tender Military Romance

Max Logan is a Marine recovering from wounds suffered during his time in the service, physical and mental. Max moved back to the one place he felt was the closest thing he had to home. It was working well for him. He had a steady job, a routine, friends and he was getting better. The only thing missing in his life was something he never thought he would find, love.

Maddy Ward is the very precocious 7 year old daughter of his neighbor and waitress at the local diner. Maddy always says hello, talks, and has questions for him when she sees him. Maddy has determined that her mother needs a boyfriend And, she thinks Max is the perfect choice.

Skylar Ward has been burned by the one man she was supposed to be able to trust, her husband. Since he chose to walk away, Skylar has been everything to her daughter. Now as Maddy is playing matchmaker, Skylar is finding that she might be ready for a relationship again. But it is never that easy. There is so much standing in their way, including past secrets and old flames.

I loved how the story focused on his problems. Yes, Sky had some baggage but she didn’t need to be protected or saved. She needed to be loved, treasured, and respected. Max had to work through his stuff before they could be together. She was rescuing him. Beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed the listen. Excellent story with a little heat.

cute romance

This was a cute romance about two people who didn't know they needed love. Skylar, a single mom to Maddie finds herself in a small town where everybody knows your name. Max is a former Marine who recently moved back after being injured to his hometown. Lol and behold, fate named Maddie brought the two together. This was a simple romance about two people who needed each other and learned to trust again despite things going against them.

Chasing Hope with a great ending

Max Logan was a soldier who had to go to rehab after his duty. He's always wanted a family with love and not loneliness anymore. Skylar is a single mom barely making it by with her daughter Maddie hoping for someone to love. Maddie hears about her mom needing a 'male companion' and thinks Max is the guy. This was a great listen with love, drama, family, and friendship.

I loved little Maddie

Little Maddie was so cute with her matchmaking scheme. Even though she doesn't realize exactly what it meant to "have a male companion" in the context she heard the term, she believes that their next door neighbor Max will make the perfect companion for her mother. Having no filter whatsoever she tells the both of them her thoughts on the matter and gets the ball rolling.

Skylar was once on the path to becoming a nurse, but when she met Maddie's father her dreams changed. Things got rocky between them when Maddie had health issues after birth and they ended up divorcing. Now as a single mother Skylar was doing everything she could to keep a roof over their head and food on their table by working as a waitress at a local diner. Will she find someone who will accept that her daughter is part if the deal when dating her?

Max Logan is back from his long stint as a Marine. He's got battle scars that are both visible and invisible. He isn't looking for a relationship when his beautiful neighbors daughter came barging into his life. Max can't help but be drawn to the intelligent girl and answer all her inquisitive questions. When he hears that he would make the perfect companion to her mother he can't help but start to invision the results. Will he be able to move past some of his demons and open his heart to the possibility of love?