Steamy, sweet, and Lovey-dovey. Loved this read!

Ryleigh is working at her family restaurant when she gets ambushed with one of the worst blind dates she's ever been on. Before she knows it she is fighting with her mom and storming out. Unfortunately she left something pretty important inside, her keys. When she begins debating walking back in or calling for a ride the town bad boy who happens to be a mega flirt walks up and offers her a ride. Before long they are spending time together and seeing if they can convince her mom to give her a break.

The one thing I wanted from this book was more interactions between Ryleigh and Ryker before the fake dating began. They reference it a lot and how much he flirted but we don't see that in this book. That being said I did learn that this is one in a series so maybe it was in the other books and I just didn't know that.

I recommend this to anyone who likes a sweet steamy read as well as any fans of the fake dating trope. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story!

I’ve finally finished both listening and reading Save Me and I’m happy to report that either way, the story was pure delight!!

However, not all plot points in this story/series are delightful and that makes me very sad. Full disclosure … I never finished the second book in this series because, reasons, so I cannot say definitively that this is a recurring aspect in the stories but it was prevalent in the first and now third book in the series and for consistency purposes, I’m betting it was very much prevalent. That being said, I’d like to say that if I was given the opportunity, I’d throat punch most of the Donovan clan and not even feel a little bit bad about it. I have zero clue why the author made the choice to make their personalities SO MUCH, but in my world, family is supposed to lift you up and support you not … (I’m stopping there because I don’t want to rant lol)

When I say that Save Me was pure delight, that’s more in reference to the journey of Ryleigh and Ryker. They gave me joy and put a huge smile on my face at every turn. Again, I emphasize they because it’s important to me that anyone reading this review understands that although this is Ryleigh and Ryker’s story, there are subplots that made me #twitchy but I blocked them out and decided they weren’t going to ruin the joy that these two people brought to me. Do with that information what you will :)

🎧 Carly Robins is one of my favorite narrators for third person single POV stories and she did a very good job with this one!

I'm giving this story 4 stars because half stars are not a thing on vendor sites but if I could, I'd rate it a solid 3.5 stars.

It has been a few years since I read a Samantha Chase book, so when I started this audiobook it was almost like greeting an old friend that I haven’t seen in a while. Her writing style is so cozy, but always relatable. As an author she is not afraid to lean into the romance, while not being overly erotic.

Save Me has two very real and likable main characters, Ryleigh and Ryker. There story was so believable and you wanted to root for them. I will say that there are moments in this book that you wonder why Ryker is so enamored with Ryleigh, because she is not always the most lovable and she makes some questionable decisions. The only complaint I really have is the mother. She is the worst! The author tries to redeem her, but it just doesn’t work for me.

If you don’t like angst or a slow burn, this may not be the book for you. Also, it definitely leans hard into the fake dating trope, so if you are not a fan of that then it may not be the book for you. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it is such a comfortable read/listen. The audiobook is really well done and easy to listen to. I think that any lover of the romance genre should give this book a try.

I just LOVE the connection Ryleigh and Ryker! (Perfect names for a couple - #RyRy- just my opinion 😉)!
All the steps of their slow-burn journey to a fiery romance are perfect! 🔥
AND an extra special thank you to @DreamscapeMedia & @NetGalley for my early #audiobook copy to listen to!

This is the third book in The Donovans series and I absolutely loved this one! I’m so glad I continued on this series and I hope we see more of the Donovan family.

Thoughts:
-Ryker and Ryleigh were both fun characters to read. Ryleigh, the spunky girl just trying to get out of her families prying hands and Ryker, the towns quiet “bad boy.” Their dynamic and chemistry was so fun to read
-I’m turning into a big fake-dating trope fan and this was right up that alley
-This is my second Donovan book and I still don’t like the mom, but I think Chase showed the difficult dynamic mothers and daughters often have well
-The Donovan family dynamic is wild and loud and makes you wish you were part of the chaos
-I love that we got to see more of Jamie and I hope he eventually gets his own book
-Ryker’s dinner with Ryleigh’s family was a little over the top and cringe in a second hand embarrassment way, but I do love how protective he is over her
-I love that even when she tried to push him away he never gave up on her because he knew they should be together
-They both pushed each other in their careers. Unraveling Ryker through the book to find out his past and his secretive career was sweet

If you’re looking for a warm and cozy quick-read, give this small-town romance a shot!

Thank you Netgalley, Samantha Chase and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to review this book!

Third book in the Donovan series, but works as a standalone. I’m starting in reverse but have the first two on the way to me!

Ryleigh Donovan has had just about enough of her mom trying to set her up with every guy in town. So, she decides to shut her and everyone else up and makes a deal with the one guy no one will question- Ryker Masella. He’s tried multiple times to ask her out but she shot him down over and over again. When she grabs him and kisses him in front of her family he thinks, finally- this is his chance. They decide to create a fake relationship but will Ryleigh come to see how Ryker really feels?

I was gifted the audio and it was a quick and fun read zipping through it in one afternoon. You’ll love it especially if you like the he falls first, small town, or fake dating tropes.

Carly Robins narrated and she was so easy to listen to, especially when Ryleigh was being naughty!

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my early review copy!

YES! I have been waiting for this one and it was not a disappointment. Ryleigh has been set up for dates by her mother and she is done with it and when she finally confronts her mother and storms out she leaves her keys in the kitchen. Who is outside but Ryker to the rescue to give her a ride home and when her mother sees them together it is the perfect time for her to strike a little revenge and kiss him. This sets off a "fake dating" scheme that can only turn around and bite them both because Ryker has fallen for her a long time ago and, of course, it is only a matter of time before Ryleigh is soon to catch up. What will happen when the rest of the family weighs in, as they always do, both in person and in their group text. This book was both charming and had all the feels and left me wanting the next one in the series immediately. I love these Donovan siblings!

Save Me by Samantha Chase was my first romance by this author. It's a small town romance with some fake-dating, and the guy totally falls first. He's tattooed and everything she has never liked in a man, but when she gets tired of all the terrible dates her mom sets her up on, Ryleigh and Ryker embark on a fake relationship to get her some breathing room. But what she doesn't know is that there's nothing fake about how he feels. And before too long, she starts to fall too.

I liked the balance between the seggsy tension and fade-to-black. There was enough detail to be interesting (insert eyebrow waggle here) without being over the top.

The narrators did a great job bringing the characters to life through their performances.

Save Me by Samantha Chase

This is book #3 in the Donovan's series. Ryleigh has reached a breaking point with her mother when she sets her up with a date as she arrives at the pub the family owns. She is convinced that the only way to deter her is by pretending to be in a relationship with Ryker who offered to be the man for the job.

Ryker has been attracted to Ryleigh from the moment he saw her which has resulted in him being a frequent visitor to the pub. He has asked her out numerous times with no success but when she needs a pretend boyfriend he is more than willing to use that time to show her that they are meant to be.

Ryker we find out is a tattoo artist and Ryleigh is a website design artist. The chemistry is hot between the two and will the fake dating scheme they decided to partake in backfire on them? You need to read this installment of the series. I agree with others this is the best installment in the series.

Narrated by Carly Robins she does a good job in this fake dating romance novel. If you are a fan of fake dating romance novels this is for you. I promise this one will not disappoint. This is a quick read and I could not get enough of Ryleigh and Ryker's relationship.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for a free audio copy of Save Me for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Samantha Chase had created a wonderful series of the Donovan siblings. Save Me is the love story of Ryder and Rylie. Even more potent than the combustable chemistry between Rylie and Ryder is the underlying theme of acceptance. Ryder was finding his way, and Rylie was struggling with her relationship with her mother. Families are messy even when you are loved fiercely. I absolutely adored the story in 360 view of life and love. The narrator added another element to this story just made it a treat to devour.

4.5⭐ rounded up

Book 3 in The Donovans series ~ yes a standalone, but best to read in order because the whole Donovan clan is heavily involved. This is my favorite of the series thus far. We really had the set up for these two since book 1 and I've been patiently waiting.

Featuring ~ dual 3rd person POV, meddling mother, fake dating, opposites attract, he falls first, small town, no steamage

Ryleigh & Ryker
Meddling mother, Kate, is back and setting Ryleigh up on dates, which leads Ryleigh to begin fake dating Ryker. Kate is a little more tolerable in this one, still a bit of a pill though.

Ryleigh has been declining dates from Ryker for months because he wasn't her type, but he's thrilled to finally be able to have a chance to show her who he really is. She totally was judging a book by it's cover, but as they begin spending more time with each other she sees him in a whole different light. He was the sweetest 'bad boy' you'll ever meet.

I was lucky enough to have a kindle and audio copy. Narrated by Carly Robins for 7 hours and 3 minutes. She did a fine job, but, as always, I wish there was a male narrator.

Overall, a delightful quick read with a sweet ending. I believe we have our set up for the next book in the series and I'm ready for it.

Save Me is the fourth novel in Samantha Chase’s The Donovans series. In this story eldest daughter Ryleigh is the focus. Ryleigh’s mother has been relentlessly setting her up with men she deems appropriate and Ryleigh has had it. This last one is the final straw when the periodontist tries to inspect her gums at dinner at the family pub. Ryleigh marches into the kitchen to have it out with her mom, then storms out. When she gets to her car, Ryleigh realizes she has dropped her keys in the kitchen and her frustration reaches overload when Ryker, the buff, tattooed, bearded man who has asked her out several times, asks how he can help. Though Ryleigh had turned him down for dates, she did take him up on his offer to help by driving her home to get her spare set of keys. Trouble is her house key is also on the key ring. Luckily for Ryleigh, Ryker is a man of many talents and picks her lock, then is upset that Ryleigh doesn’t have better security.
Upon arrival back at the pub, Ryleigh’s mom comes into the parking lot and sees Ryleigh with Ryker. When she realizes her mom is there, Ryleigh grabs Ryker kissing him with all her might. A few little white lies, and now Ryker has been identified as Ryleigh’s new boyfriend.
Starting out as a ruse, and causing a rift in the family dynamics when Ryleigh decides to take a break from all the interfering, especially with her mother, somewhere along the line things change. As the ruse continues and Ryleigh gets to know Ryker as they date to make it look good, both have confessions to each other.
This is a lovely addition to this family based series. I very much enjoyed this book and do recommend it.

Sweet romance, not too much angst, some sexy times, but not very detailed. I'm more into erotica so this was a little disappointing, but if you don't need all of the down & dirty details, this will definitely work for you. I haven't read any of the previous Donavan books, but you really don't need to. I wasn't lost as to who was who, but the mother was pretty irritating but she did redeem herself in the end! Thanks to #Netgalley for a free preview for an honest review!

Samantha chase is a talented author, that's no doubt. Unfortunately this book just was not for me. I do not enjoy third person, closed-door romance with no angst.

This was a fake dating romance between Ryliegh and Ryker. Ryker has been pursuing Ryliegh for a while despite being turned down multiple times. We find out he's a famous tattoo artist. Ryliegh is the spunky daughter of the Donovan family, whose mom has been relentless trying to set up.

What didn't work for me

• Ryliegh. She was selfish/obnoxious and felt like a caricature. She didn't have much of a personality other than bickering with her mom and judging Ryker for his appearance one way or another.
• I didn't buy the chemistry. Why was this man so gone for her? What about her exactly did he love so much?
• The mom was just absolutely outrageous.


Things that did work for me

• Ryker being an awesome tattoo artist
• The close knit family as a whole


Overall I would be interested to see what else Samantha Chase has to offer! Thank you to #netgalley for providing me with this arc!

Samantha Chase - one of my very favourite romance authors! I’m always excited to pick up a new book from her, and most especially a series I love.

Save Me, the third full-length in The Donovans series, was nothing like I expected going in. Yes, I read the blurb and knew a bit about younger sister Ryleigh from the earlier books… but her behavior and the entire character of Ryker really shocked and just totally blew me away - in absolutely the best possible way!

This is a total opposites attract, fake dating turns real, bad boy isn’t a bad boy type of storyline that had everything a romance reader needs in their books. The resistance to her whole family meddling, and especially her mom trying to set her up on a string of terrible dates (we learn later in the book the mom’s whole backstory about that and it’s sweet and heartbreaking at the same time), shows Ryleigh as being a very strong character. Ryker is a softy even though he has the tough looking exterior (wears black, long hair and beard, covered in tattoos), and has been in love with her from afar long before she begs him to fake date to get her mom off her case.

I really loved Ryker and his hidden story, as well as their whole dynamic - fantastic chemistry. Their conflict, when it comes up, luckily isn’t too hard to get through (like some books out there that completely tear your heart out). The steam level was pretty low with some fade-to-black, so I could have asked for more on that end, but overall another top read from Chase! Highly recommend it.

I had both the ebook and audio - audio was brilliantly narrated by one of my very favourites, Carly Robinson. She did a perfect job, as always… but when a book is told from both male and female POV, I do believe it is much better to have both male and female narrators (it’s just easier to separate things in my brain when the POV is split apart that way, and know we’ve switched. Personal preference, but I know the majority of audio listeners share it). The ebook actually continued beyond the audio, with a few chapters from two of her other books in the series, so that would be my only reason to suggest the ebook over the audio (and I always say audio over e!!). I can’t wait for Jamie and Fallon’s story next, after their sneak peek!

I received an advance listen and review copy from NetGalley and Chasing Romance, Inc., and Dreamscape Media, and this is my honest feedback.

Save Me by Samantha Chase is a cute romance story with the fake dating trope. Even though I haven't read the prior stories in the series, I was able to follow along just fine. However, this story isn't what I look for in this genre. I was annoyed because the romance is barely PG-13, (very clean and boring) and only spoke of the parts leading up to and the afterglow of intimacy, so I wasn't able to be distracted by the outlandish parts of the book. The relationship is also very boring because the drama is too obvious and quite petty. I rate Save Me 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 because I am aware that I am not the intended audience.

Carly Robins was a great narrator.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for providing me with an ALC.

This was a good read about a girl with tons of pressure rom her family to find, not only the one, but the right one as dictated by her mother. To dodge her mother’s setups, she finds the local bad boy, full of tattoos to start a fake relationship with, one she knows her mom will disapprove of. Ryker may be tattooed, but he’s got a heart of gold and has had a thing for Ryleigh for quite some time. I really enjoyed this story, it was lighthearted and an easy read.

Ryleigh Donovan is constantly being set up on dates by her well-meaning mother. Her last date tried to put his fingers in her mouth. Even though he is a periodontist that doesn’t mean he can stick his fingers wherever he wants. This date was Ryleigh’s last straw and she did something spontaneous and unexpected, she kissed tattooed and recently transplanted Ryker in the parking lot. She convinced Ryker to be her fake boyfriend so her mom would stop setting up dates. Ryker’s in 1,000% but Ryleigh doesn’t realize what she has agreed to. Through a lot of Donovan family up’s and down’s, the truth about who Ryker is, and a conference, Ryleigh may figure out what she truly wants in life and if Ryker will be a part of it.

This is the third in a series of books. I didn’t read/listen to the other books and this one is a good stand alone. There is enough background information to get the idea of what happened in the other books. This is not sappy sweet but a nice warm romance. If you like romance without the spicy details this book is for you.

I started the first chapter at normal speed and then went up to 2.0. The narrator was good, easy to listen to and follow

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for allowing me to listen to this book for free in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this book ok. Ryleigh got on my nerves a lot because anytime something happened or someone seemed to try to help her out in some way, she seemed to get mad or whiney. I did enjoy Ryker's patience throughout Ryleigh's mad spells and with her. It really showed the love he had for her. In the end, it all works out of course, and I love a happy romance ending.

This was a fun love story between Ryker and Riley! I loved how Ryker fell first and fell hard. The way that he continued to pursue her was amazingly beautiful.

Riley on the other hand frustrated me so much. The way she kept undermining their relationship made me want to throw my kindle.

In the end, they got their HEA and it was awesome. But seriously, where can I find me a Ryker?