This is a good book. The two main characters are Jade and Levi. Jade is a mother and newly bookstore owner. Levi has just lost his job and moved back to his hometown and family. They have an instant attraction. They meet in Jade’s bookstore where Levi’s sister works. Levi volunteers to help Jade with her social media with her bookstore. They start dating. They fall in love.

i'm a sucker for small town romances that genuinely feel real. you were inclined to root for the main characters love story all throughout the book. great pacing and fun plot. would recommend

Jane is embarking on a new venture, opening her bookstore and coffee shop, Books & Beans, in Sweetbriar Ridge. Despite challenges from her son's father's family, Jane remains determined to succeed. With the help of Levi, who brings fresh ideas, her business begins to thrive. Meanwhile, Levi, returning to his hometown after losing his advertising job, assists Jane at her store. As their relationship evolves from friends with benefits to something more, they navigate family dramas and personal issues. While the romance is low-angst, the story is driven by the complexities of family dynamics. Although not deeply invested in the characters, the audiobook narration keeps the reader engaged. Overall, this debut from the author shows promise, and I would consider reading more of their work in the future.

Samantha Chase is a new to me author, that I have heard a lot about on Goodreads and Instagram so I was excited for the chase to read her newest book.

This is Book 1 in "The Donovans: Sweetbriar Ridge" series.

Single mom Jade is in the process of opening her new business Books and Beans, a bookstore/coffee shop, in her home town of Sweetbriar. As she is climbing down a ladder, Levi, just happens to catch her. Levi is back home after recently being fire from his big corporate job in DC when they discover he was having a relationship with a client, who happens to be married to his bosses nephew, oops! Sweetbriar Ridge is the LAST place he wants to be.

Romance develops along with some obstacles along the way.

This was a light, sweet romance. I personally prefer a bit more spice. This can be read as a stand alone as well.

Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

Wow, someone really had it out for Levi but it turns out to be the best thing for him when he returns to his hometown and meets Jade. Through helping her promote her new business, he starts to fall for her but of course has no plans to stay when he can finally get another big town job offer.

I always wish that there could be some payback for the terrible treatment that some characters get and yes, if he wasn't fired, he wouldn't have gone home and met Jade. But I am always wanting some retribution!

Cute romance as they have to work out how Levi can have a romance with Jade and if he is willing to stay. Love the journey as they get to their HEA.

Loving You is the first book in the spin off series about the Donovans. This time it involves the cousins that live in Sweetbriar about 3 hours away. We first met them in the last Donovan series and now its Levi's turn to fall in love. The book is a sweet, closed door romance about a single mom and a man down on his luck moving back in with his sister in the small town. It was very cute, and the romance was believable. It is very heavy on family drama in both main characters, and it definitely setup the next three in the series where the drama I assume will impact all of their lives and ability to love. It was a nice start to the series.

Samantha Chase's contemporary romance novels are wonderful! Loved Levi and Jade's story. A nice slow burn.

This was one I was looking forward to and I happened to enjoy it. It met all my expectations and I couldn’t stop reading it. I am already planning on rereading it again sometime soon. I just love books that make you feel things and this one gave me all the feel. I need more

great read and it was all that for me. Loved it all and I can't wait for the next story in this series. they had great banter as a couple. must read.

A new Donovans series! Samantha Chase is branching out the previous Donovans series. We move from Laurel Bay to Sweetbriar Ridge. And from the Donovan brothers and sisters there, we go to another part of the family Donovan. Therefore, you can read this as a perfectly standalone.

Although it is fun to meet Patrick and Marissa throughout this story. Same as the other Donovan stories, this one is cute, funny and cozy. These are just the best stories for reading in front of the fire with a hot cup of cocoa. So, sit down, relax and enjoy!

Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

I whole heartedly wanted to love this. The cover, title, and synopsis all intrigued me because I thought this series would be similar to Elsie Silver's Chestnut Spring series or Lauren Asher's writing style.

My expectations were very wrong, so maybe that plays into why this didn't work for me. This writing style felt like a wattpad story to me, and the storyline was very reminiscent of Sweet Bliss, Jennifer Bardsley's Harper Landing series (which I felt extremely similar about.)

I think if you enjoy reading wattpad stories or authors such as or similar to Jennifer Bardsley, then this could really work for you. I also think you may enjoy this if you like a cheesy romance with the single parent trope. This just wasn't the love story for me. Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this early in exchange for my honest opinion.

The female protagonist is living out every bookworms dream. Opening a book and coffee shop! That alone makes this book a star.

Easy to read, small town, single mum romance. It is fun, flirty and has some important messages.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Publication date: September 19, 2023

Loving You is the first book in the Donovan Sweetbriar Ridge series by Samantha Chase. This is my first novel by this author although I have since discovered she has many and her books have been made into Hallmark movies!

Jade McKenzie has lived her whole life in the small town of Sweetbriar Ridge. As single mother, she’s used to small minded folks judging her and making her life complicated at times. Especially her exes parents. Jade has always been content with her small group of friends, family and son and isn’t really looking for love or a relationship.

Levi Donovan didn’t walk away from Sweetbriar Ridge, he ran! Small town life just wasn’t for him so as soon as he could, he escaped to the big city with big city dreams and ad executive job. Everything is just as he imagined, until it isn’t! Levi loses his job and is forced to moved back home to the town he desperately wanted to leave.

There is definitely attraction between Jade and Levi but he knows he’s not hanging around. When they come to an agreement to have a short lived two week affair while Jade’s son is away at summer camp, they both agree it will work. No strings attached.

But two weeks isn’t enough. Jade has developed feelings for Levi and suddenly small town life doesn’t seem so bad. Will it be enough to keep him home? And will Jade be able to give up some of her independence to let a man permanently in her life?

This was a 4 star read for me! I enjoyed Jade and Levi’s story. This is a mostly closed sort romance - a little spice but mostly closed door. I will be adding this authors other books to my list!

#NetGalley #lovingyou #samanthachase

This was such a sweet little love story. Jade is trying to get by with her 8 year old son, and Levi is forced to move back to his hometown of Sweet Briar Ridge. When Levi offers his expertise in helping Jade get her new coffee shop/bookstore off the ground running they form a friendship that steadily evolves into something more.

There's family drama galore in this book and some of it I enjoyed; while some of it I could have lived without. However, overall this is a super quick and heartwarming read, and I'll definitely be continuing the rest of the Donovan Series.

Tropes:
-Single Mom
-Small Town
-Friends-to-Lovers
-Closed Door Romance
-Family Drama

The Donovans of Sweetbriar Ridge are cousins of the Donovans of Laural Bay, this was such a great way to start a new small town series, I love how strong jade is and how levi loved her for everything she was, Levi and Jade are soo overly cute i love how he really is there for her and love how Jade is a independent single mom shes adorable.

(3.5⭐️s) This may have minor SPOILERS so be warned🚩

Loving You- Levi and Jade’s Story

After reading Patrick and Marissa’s story (Kiss Me), I had to get my hands on Levi’s book. There was something about Levi and his sisters that I fell for. Plus, I’m nosy and wanted to know the family drama when it came to their parents and the real reason why his father left them. I’m kinda bummed we only get a little part of them talking about it, but boy is it a doozy. I’m not gonna lie though, I wasn’t liking the H mother in the end. She made me soo mad acting like the victim, when she’s NOT!! Hopefully everything will get cleared up in the next book.
Sorry…moving on.
Levi and Jades story was soo freakin cute, I just love them. I knew he was going to be an awesome H. And I’m happy to say the h is a strong, single mama. No doormats here. She has no problems standing up for herself especially when it came to her ex’s mother.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. I’m excited for the next book but also a little nervous since Ashlynn isn’t my favorite sister. I’m sorry, but her attitude stinks and she came off way too bitchy. Hopefully in her book she’ll have toned it down a bit but we’ll see.

Happy Reading🤓


Oh and I received an ARC from NetGalley but this review is 100% all me.

4.25stars--LOVING YOU is the first instalment in Samantha Chase’s contemporary, adult THE DONOVANS: SWEETBRIAR RIDGE romance series-a spin off from the author’s THE DONOVANS series. This is advertising executive Levi Donovan, and café /book store owner, and single mother Jade Mackenzie’s story line.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Levi and Jade) LOVING YOU follows the building romance and relationship between advertising executive Levi Donovan, and café /book store owner, and single mother Jade Mackenzie. Years earlier, Levi Donovan left Sweetbriar Ridge looking for something bigger and better but the sudden loss of his job brought Levi back with his proverbial tail tucked between his legs, struggling to accept where everything went wrong. Meeting café/book store owner Jade Mackenzie gave Levi pause but Levi had no plans to remain in Sweetbriar Ridge, and at present no offers for a future job. As Levi and Jade’s relationship slowly turns into something more, Levi will discover Jade is struggling with sins of the past, sins that are determined to tear her down. As a single mother to an eight year old son, Jade battles between head and heart when the past reveals a series of secrets and lies but Levi’s own life is continuing to spiral out of control, and the dysfunctional family values begin to take their toll. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Jade and Levi, and the potential fall-out as pride and stubbornness threaten to destroy their building love.

The world building focuses on the small town of Sweetbriar Ridge: its’ people, its’ businesses, its’ secrets and its’ life. Samantha Chase brings together the Donovans of Laurel Bay with the Donovans of Sweetbriar Ridge, a family tied together by Levi’s father Ronan.

The relationship between Levi and Jade is one of immediate attraction: an accidental meeting in which Levi sees an opportunity for friendship, where Jade is hoping for something more. There are no $ex scenes, everything fades to black or is implied.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including all of Levi’s sisters: Billie, Chloe, and Ashlyn: their mother; Jade’s parents, her son Silas; Silas’ grandparent Victoria and Thomas Nelson, as well as several locals.

LOVING YOU is a story of betrayal and vengeance, secrets and lies, forgiveness and acceptance, understanding and love. The premise is sweet, engaging and delightful; the romance is flirty; the characters are sassy and lively.



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Jade is a single mom, and has just opened her own business, Books and Beans. She needs all the help possible to succeed since there are a few people in town who would love to see her fail.
Levi is an advertising guru, back in Sweetbriar Ridge after being fired from his job. He is staying with his sister, who is working for Jade. And at her intervention, he starts helping her advertise her shop.
The attraction is pretty much instant between Levi and Jade, but the romance starts as friends with benefits before turning more.
Levi comes across as a little egotistical at the start of the book but he really redeemed himself as the book progressed. Jade was a wonderful heroine, and a wonderful mother to her son. This book has small town charm, wonderful family and friends, witty banter and a sweet romance. Overall a very cute read !

This book has potential and I can understand why someone would enjoy it. It's set in a small town, alternating POVs with Jade, single mom and owner of the new bookstore/coffee shop, and Levi, temporarily returning to his hometown from the city. Unfortunately, this was not the book for me and I DNF at 36%.

Jade is a single mom opening a business in her beloved small town. She's putting everything into this business yet seems to be completely oblivious to how to run a business. That's where Levi comes in. Levi is a marketing genius recently fired from his big city job, due to some unfortunate circumstances. We're to believe that he can't get hired anywhere else and has no savings account so he has to stay with his family in his small hometown until he gets back on his feet. He and Jade end up working together to come up with a marketing plan for her business.

I may go back to finish it in between books, but I'm having difficulty buying into the characters. The writing style just isn't for me and I haven't been too invested in the storyline.

Loving You is book one in The Donovans: Sweetbriar Ridge series by the amazing Samantha Chase.
I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to read some of her previous titles. And I’m here to say she doesn’t disappoint!
I’ve loved reading The Donovans series so I’m so happy to see a new series about TD.
I loved being in Sweetbriar Ridge and I can’t wait to return!
The characters are appealing, the romance sizzles and the connection between Jade and Levi is genuine.
Sweet, humorous, heartfelt, and delightful, this unforgettable story is the definition of charming!
Looking forward to the next book in the series

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Valentine PR for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!