Chasing the Dollar

By: Ellie Ashe

Narrated by: Teri Schnaubelt

Length: 7 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's Summary

Miranda Vaughn has spent the last year and a half fighting for her freedom. Arrested for a fraud scheme involving her supervisors, she's lost her job at a prestigious investment firm, her fiancé, and her reputation. She walks out of the courtroom a free woman, only to find that life has a few more curve balls to throw her way. The jury may have found her not guilty, but Miranda is broke, in debt to her beloved aunt, and can't find a job because of the cloud of suspicion still swirling around her. She's not going to be able to move forward with her life until she finds out who set her up.

Buried in the evidence against her, Miranda finds a larger scheme, one involving far more money than the $37 million her boss fleeced from unsuspecting investors. Determined to uncover the truth, Miranda begins her own investigation - leading her to Macau and Belize, and into the arms of one sexy FBI agent, who may or may not prove to be trustworthy. When the danger heats up, Miranda finds herself in a race against time to find the person behind it all. Before he finds her....

©2014 Ellie Ashe (P)2015 Ellie Ashe

Really entertaining

I really enjoyed this book. This was full of bad guys, wild chases, and funny situations. I really enjoyed each of the characters and the story itself. I laughed out loud when Miranda got caught under the office desk by Jake Barnes. This was a wonderful little cozy mystery. I loved all the twists and turns. This was just a really nice, easy read. It was entertaining and engaging. This was the first book in this series and the first by this author. I really look forward to reading more from this author.

The narrator was also very good. She really brought the story to life. Her character voices were awesome.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Terrific New Series!

Narration - Teri Schnaubelt - Fabulous!

Really a terrific job of narration. Great Pace. Great Character voicing. Believable males. No distractions what so ever. Just sit back and listen to a great story being told by a great storyteller!

The story begins in court and we're hearing the verdict of the fraud case against Miranda Vaughn. She may be declared 'not guilty' by a jury of her peers, but that doesn't mean she's innocent in the eyes of the public. Broke, reputation ruined and radioactive (as far as potential employers are concerned) she embarks on a journey to vindicate herself, find out exactly who framed her and hopefully get some of the money back for the investors who lost their life savings.

This was really a terrific book. Lots of mystery and intrigue with a tiny bit of romance in the mix. Well written, superbly narrated, believable characters and a believable story line that keeps you on your toes trying to figure out who did what and what's going to happen next.

I'm totally going to read/listen to the next installment in this series! Highly recommend!
Hoping the series will continue with the same narrator as well.

Received a copy of this audiobook free of charge from audiobookblast in exchange for an unbiased review

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

What an adventure!! Couldn't stop listening!

Can't wait for the next audiobook in this series! This book from start to finish was outright fun! The character of Miranda was very easy to relate to, a normal everyday employee. With her luck, she was set up by her fellow employees for fraud. This takes her on an adventure to clear her name, and what an adventure it is. Her partner in all of this turns out to be Jake, the FBI agent that initially arrested her. Great chemistry between the two of them, enjoying the banter between the two,the situations they end up being in and how they get out of them.

Miranda's ex....well, I can't say enough bad about him...from the first time meeting him in the book, he was a character you just love to hate.

Teri Schnaubelt brought this great mystery to life. Her rendition of each character fit the story, moved the book along and made it totally enjoyable(as per her usual narration, she is awesome!)

**I was given this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Wrongly accused

If you could sum up Chasing the Dollar in three words, what would they be?

action, romance, surprises

Who was your favorite character and why?

Miranda was willing to go to great lengths to clear her name.

What about Teri Schnaubelt’s performance did you like?

Teri brings life to the characters.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Being able to buy back a cabin that had meant so much to her.

Any additional comments?

I had forgotten that I had read this book. It was familiar as it progressed, but I could not recall the villain and the details. Even more enjoyable the second time around. I do so enjoy listening to books, especially action-filled ones.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

LOVE this! More Miranda, please!

This is a terrific book: good characters, good plot, a bit of romance without being overboard, and a terrific reader. Not really a cozy (lots of action) but I have been known to love a number of non-cozy books (I just prefer that horrible and grisly things don't happen to good people in the body of the book - so sue me!)

Ellie Ashe is a terrific author, and Teri Schnaubelt is pitch-perfect as narrator. Hope for more from them both, the sooner the better!.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Stellar Start to a Series

5★ Audiobook⎮Some things come into your life when you need them most. Chasing the Dollar found its way to me (via Ellie Ashe) at the exact right moment. I was suffering from an overdose of Horror titles and had just been nearly traumatized by The Walking Dead season premiere. This cozy mystery was the perfect remedy. If you’re looking for a cozier version of Mike Wells’ Lust, Money and Murder, look no further.

Everything about Chasing the Dollar was executed in stellar fashion. It was incredibly fun to listen to and easy to follow along with. Ellie Ashe’s writing style is fantastic. She paints vibrant and vivid imagery with her words and transports the listener across the globe with Miranda.

Miranda Vaughn is an excellent protagonist. I felt almost immediate empathy for her since her situation could happen to anyone. I found her both relatable and admirable. I never wavered in rooting for her. She was very well-written and came across as a multifaceted character. None of the characters in Chasing the Dollar were “over-the-top”.

An issue I often have with cozy mysteries is that they are prone to cheesiness. An author has to work for my suspension of disbelief. I don’t just hand it over automatically. Ashe’s character development is subtle and intertwined with the gradually intensifying plot. I became wrapped up in the story without even realizing it. That is skilled storytelling.

Furthermore, the romance in Chasing the Dollar also wins my approval. That’s an honor few literary romances get to hold. Its slow and natural progression made it very believable and kept the focus on the larger plot. I will, without a doubt, be continuing on with this series and I have high hopes for its remaining installments.

Narration review: Teri Schnaubelt’s narration is new to me, but I won’t soon forget it. The narration was almost as enjoyable as the story. Her voice has a beautiful timbre. Teri’s performance gave the narration a very natural and pleasing rhythm. She showed excellent judgment in timing and her voice exuded emotion appropriate to every scene. I hope to hear more from her soon. ♣︎

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Fabulous Action Pack Thriller

Fabulous Action Pack Thriller

Firstly you should now that this book ends on a cliff hanger of sort. The romantic liaison between the two main characters remains unresolved. This book is outside of the genre I usually listen and I feel like I need to expand my horizons. I was originally interested because I am a Belizean American and it mentioned it was partially set in my beloved Belize. What an exciting story. I stayed up an extra 3 hours to listen to listen. This was a good one. It is very engaging and action packed to the very end.

The protagonist Amanda has had a very difficult life but he got herself through college and had a good job at a bank. At the start of the story, we see that she has been found not guilty of all the charges related to her embezzlement charges brought on by the Federal Government. She soon finds that she is 'radioactive' material in the financial business and is having trouble finding a job. You can't help but love her because is smart, witty and ‘rainman’ good with numbers. She has a lot of spunk and character. She has in her possession all the computer files for her defense so she set out to find out who framed her. We get to come along for the ride. It is a thrilling journey with many twist and turns that leave you stunned as gasping for more.

The narrator Teri Schnaubelt was fabulous. She does fantastic voices and you are able to forget about her and enjoy the story. She made it an easy listen. There are mentions of banks, money and financial activities. This is normally not my cup of tea but it did not bother me too much in this story.

Now for the bad news. I know this is a work of fiction and the author has a right to traverse the truth. Belize is an English speaking country. Why all the Spanish speaking characters with Spanish sounding names? They would definitely speak English at the bank and the airport. There were mentions of four lane highways and merging into traffic. I had a good laugh at those scenes. At one point Miranda was in an alley with really tall building. Seriously, this does not fit the persona of Belize City. The most irritating of all was to have her eat a tamales that was in a husk. I can't guarantee it but most Belizean tamales will be in a plantain leaf or just plain foil paper. A flight from San Pedro to Miami? So as a native Belizean, the scenes and description didn’t feel authentic.

The writing in general was superb! This is credit worthy and a very good listen.

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Follow the Money excitment

Would you consider the audio edition of Chasing the Dollar to be better than the print version?

Yes, it creates more of a movie of the mind with drama and suspense.

What other book might you compare Chasing the Dollar to and why?

It sort of reminds me of some of Janet Evanovich's books. Both her Stephanie Plum and O'Hare and Fox series. Also it was every bit as good Evanovich's novels.

The heroine was gritty, spunky, witty and intelligent, a lot like Stephanie Plum and Kate O'Hare.

What does Teri Schnaubelt bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She did a fantastic job of narration. It sounded very natural and she really gave the characters personality.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No extreme reactions other than I was personally ready to strangle the slime ball ex-boy friend Dillion.

Any additional comments?

This was a fun, exciting roller coaster listen. Good girl gets set up and then goes about to exonerate her name and gets into a lot of trouble in the process. Enter sexy FBI guy, the same FBI guy who arrested her. Is he now foe or ally?


“I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot come”

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Can't wait for Book #2

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was able to complete housework, walk the dogs, etc. all while listening to a delightful story! The narrator was wonderful and the story pulls you right in and you feel Miranda’s frustration at being wrongfully accused of fraud and then even though she is found not guilty, she can’t get another job in the area that she spent years getting her degree for and not only that the investors are trying to recoup their money in a civil suit – the injustice of it all!!! I couldn’t wait to find out what happens and I can’t wait to continue reading more in the next installment. Everything doesn’t wind up in a pretty bow in this book, but that’s okay by me, because that just means the story will continue in another book!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Entertaining

Where does Chasing the Dollar rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I have listened to audiobooks that I rated 5 stars (this one four) but I did find it very entertaining and engaging.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The author created a just right tension that keep me listening. Although some parts were somewhat predictable there was enough unknown that I stayed engaged. Where was the relationship between Miranda and Jake going? Was she going to clear her name? The action scenes were also compelling.

Which scene was your favorite?

Romance is one aspect of this story. Although I can't point out a specific scene I really liked how the author developed this relationship. I kept expecting, like so many other books, that the relationship would be fully developed in a chapter or two. Ashe cleverly did not allow that to happen in this book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Without providing any spoilers the part when Miranda left the hospital.

Any additional comments?

This audiobook was provided by the author at no cost for an honest review. This story would make a great movie!!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful