I loved the Donovans in Laurel Bay. I am SO excited for this branch of the family in Sweetbriar. While this is a spin off series, this is definitely an amazing series beginner/ stand alone book!

Levi is so patient and amazing, Jade is a hard working single mother. This story is just pure bliss. The character development is amazing, the town is perfect.

A must read romance book! And the audio version is pretty amazing.

This was my first book by Samantha Chase. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Levi's life took a turn, so he returned to a small town where Jade quite literally fell into his arms. I am not usually a huge fan of love at first sight, but this one was just so sweet. The chemistry between the two is so real and heartwarming.

Jade is a single mom starting a new business and really is just a great person all around. Being from a small town comes with so much judgment and push back when certain people dont know the full story.

I can't wait to now go back and read some of her other books because this one sucked me in.

Wonderfully narrated audio by Carly Robins!

Thank you @samanthachaseromance @netgalley & @valentine_pr_ & @dreamscape_media for the ebook arc and ALC.

This was a sweet, dual POV, single mom, small town romance and the first in a new series featuring the Donovan siblings. Full of complicated family drama and tons of heart, I really enjoyed this one, especially the focus on opening a bookstore/cafe in a small town and trying to help revitalize local businesses. Good on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Laura Pavlov. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Steam level: fade to black/closed door

Book 1 in a new series. Works as a standalone. Series is a spinoff from The Donovans series, which is also a spinoff of Magnolia Sound. A few characters from the prior two series appear, but minor and reading the other series is not necessary.

After being fired, Levi Donovan returns to his home town- and not by choice. He is out of options. He plans on leaving as soon as he can get a new job. Then he runs into single mom and bookshop owner, Jade. As he spends time with Jade, and integrates himself into the community, he starts to think small town life may not be so bad.

Levi is arrogant and insufferable in the beginning. I never got over it. It is a romance, so I knew he'd have some kind of redemption arc, but he was such a jerk in the beginning, I couldn't buy in. It soured the whole book for me.

Carly Robins narrates the audiobook, as she did the previous connected series. She always does a good job.

I received an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Loving You is the first book in Samantha Chase’s new Donovans Sweetbriar Ridge series, a spinoff from the Donovans of Laurel Bay series. Levi, Billie, Chloe, and Ashlyn are the children of Marie and Ronan Donovan. When the kids were young, Ronan left, feeling that would serve the family best, at least that is the message Marie seems to be sending. The kids grow up painting their father as the bad guy, but of course that is only part of the story.

Levi feels he is too much like his father and leaves their small town for college, rarely to return. But when a strange occurrence happens at the marketing firm he works for in Arlington and he is discharged, Levi ultimately seeks refuge in that same small town.

Jade MacKenzie, single mother and book store entrepreneur, has opened Books and Beans in the main section of Sweetbriar Ridge. This is her dream, achieved with the help of her parents, brother, and friends. But it is her son Silas’s vengeful paternal grandmother that seeks to bring her down. Again, all the stories she had been fed were not true.

As Levi tries to figure out his future, Ronan reveals secrets not previously known, setting Levi on a path of personal discovery and far reaching plans to help not only himself but also the town of Sweetbriar Ridge. This is such a good story told with humor and heart. It is populated with delightful characters and carries a lovely message of love and forgiveness. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

A bookstore with coffee. That is Jade's dream and she finally is up and running. Well, at least trying to. It's hard to start a business, and with the help of her best friends, she is trying her hardest. She wants to show her son that you can follow your dreams and be a success. Levi has come back to town. After losing his job, he really has no where else to go. He is regrouping, but in the meantime, he is helping Jade out. His sister has convinced him to help with Jade's marketing to get things moving after she was sabotaged from getting the summer reading sales. But will it be enough? Levi isn't sure, but he also isn't sure he is staying in Sweetbriar Ridge. What will he do there? Can he leave? The longer he stays, the more attached to Jade and her son Silas he becomes. This is a low angst, small town romance, chock full of nosy neighbors, vengeful people and family! It's my second Samantha Chase listen and I am so glad to have started this series. I can feel how good it's going to be with just the first cup of coffee! I am all in.

Carly Robins is the narrator and as always, she is phenomenal. She makes narrating sound easy, with the many voices she creates, the feelings she pours out and the way she brings the scenes to life. I enjoyed this performance of Levi and Jade and hope to hear more.

While the narrator's voice is pleasant, the story itself is just kind of boring and predictable. While all good romance books have a happy ending somewhere, the conflict itself is just she lives in a small town, and though he lost his job, he doesn't want to stay in said small town. I can already tell that is going to be the only conflict in the book. I DNF'd the story, and I know they will fall in love, he will leave, and then in leaving he will figure out he shouldn't have left her behind. There isn't any good conflict, and I predict there will be no plot twists, either, although I could be wrong. Like I said, it is just....boring. The plot and the characters need work.

A new set of Donovans with visits from the original gang interspersed. I am a huge fan of any and all books by Samantha Chase and I knew that this was a must read, not just because she wrote it, but because it had to do with the Donovan family.

This story involves Levi Donovan who moves back to Sweetbriar after getting fired from his advertising job in Alexandria. Levi falls for Jade but doesn’t want to get serious because he can’t imagine staying in his rinks-dink home town.

Thank you Samantha for adding the part about Levi going to Winston-Salem to trade in his Lexus! I live in WS and could relate to this part - just wish it wasn’t a fictional plot with fictional characters!

4 star review of Loving You (The Donovans: Sweetbriar Ridge #1) by Samantha Chase

eBook/Audio:
I was pleased when I heard that Samantha chase was releasing another series. Single parent, friends to lovers’ stories set in small towns are one of my favourite genres to read. This is Jade Mackenzie and Levi Donovan’s story and it was well written and entertaining. I will admit that I had a hard time liking Levi at times, but thankfully he grew on me.
Neither Jade or Levi were looking for love but as their friendship progressed, neither of them could ignore the attraction that sizzles between them. He fact that he has forged a relationship with her son, Silas, just makes it even harder to resist. However, Levi has no plans to stay and Jade is determined to make her new shop an success in Sweetbriar Ridge.
Both Jade and Levi have family drama which puts pressure on their relationship. As always, the dynamic of the Donovan family and their ability to be up in one another’s business added an extra layer to the story.
Carly Robbins narrates Loving You and she did a good job with her performance. Her voice is easy to listen to although I would love it a man narrated the male characters. She brought the angst, romance and passion to the characters and did justice to the story that Ms. Chase wove. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
Will Levi’s feelings for Jade and Silas convince him to stay? One click and find out.

So much to unpack in this story. A new setting, a new set of siblings, family drama dynamics. Let's start with the new setting. I love Sweet Briar. It sounds so quaint. The new siblings are a great foursome. I love when twins are involved as a mom of twins. I also love a good story about a single mom. Both leads have family dynamic drama. With that drama there is also healing. This is just a nice sweet story that I needed right now.

Loving you is a spin off of The Donovans. The Donovan's are a large crazy family and their cousins who are the Donovan's of Sweet Brier. Levi is at a crossroads when he loses his job unexpectedly live changes forever. Jade is what Levi never expected and the story is a treat to listen to. CJ Robbins gives the story an extra layer

Loving You is the newest love story in the Donovan's series, but the first in the Sweetbriar Ridge subseries. Just like other Samantha Chase books it was an absolute delight of a read! This is a book about second chances at life, love and with family. Reading about Levi and Jade finding redemption in each other filled my sappy romance heart up!

Levi Donovan is a successful advertiser, and his work is his life-his entire identity is wrapped up in it. At least until scandal hits and he is fired, leading him to have to go home to Sweetbriar Ridge. A place he never wanted to return to. Where single mom, Jade, immediately falls into his arms, literally and figuratively. Can these two find a way to love each other enough to stay together?

I really enjoyed this book It had all the romance and emotional depth that I have come to love in Samantha Chase books. That said, Levi is not the most lovable character and it was hard to want him to find a HEA. Jade had some mental health/trauma that did not really get addressed. She realizes it and makes moves to fix it, but it could have been more thoroughly addressed. I liked that this was part of her backstory though and it really added another facet to the story that I appreciated.

I love the narrator who reads this series. They always do such a great job bringing a voice to the story. It is part of the reason that I love this series so much.

As usual with these books I am always impressed with how much character development and plot Samantha Chase is able to fit into a relatively short novel. Her stories are always infused with so much emotion, while still bringing all the things I love about romance to the table. I can't wait to see what she writes next!

If you're in the mood for a heartwarming and utterly captivating friends-to-lovers romance, look no further than "Loving You" by the talented Samantha Chase. This book had me enthralled from start to finish with its complicated family dynamics, small-town charm, and well developed characters.

Our story kicks off by introducing us to Jade, a single mom with an unwavering determination to succeed. She's embarked on the challenging journey of opening her very own bookstore and coffee shop, aptly named Books and Beans, in the cozy town of Sweetbriar Ridge. However, her past mistakes have stirred up resistance from certain townsfolk who seem hell-bent on seeing her fail.

Now, meet Levi Donovan, a city-slicker advertising whiz who's forced to return to his hometown after a career meltdown. He ends up bunking with one of his sisters, who happens to work alongside Jade. Destiny brings Levi into Jade's orbit, and she enlists his help in promoting her fledgling store. What starts as a friendship laced with benefits gradually evolves into something deeper, all while navigating the tumultuous waters of family drama and personal history.

I know you want to know what makes "Loving You" truly special. Sweetbriar Ridge comes to life with its heartwarming ambiance, lovable characters, and the tight-knit bonds of community. It's a place readers will yearn to visit and give a hand to help out the locals. Jade's unwavering resilience and Levi's transformation from self-centered to caring add depth to this narrative. Their journey towards growth and love is simply captivating. This story isn't just about romance; it delves into the complexities of family relationships, providing a rich layer of emotional depth. The friendship and witty banter between our protagonists add an endearing touch to their romance. It's not just about love but also about building a strong foundation through friendship. "Loving You" beautifully showcases the dynamics of single-parent romances, incorporating the relationship between Jade and Levi's interactions with her son, Silas. For those who prefer audiobooks, Carly Robins delivers an engaging narration that will keep you hooked.

Samantha Chase's "Loving You" marks a promising start to her spin-off series from "The Donovan's." It's a tale of second chances, the enduring support of a close-knit community, and the transformative power of love. If you're a fan of heartwarming romances with a dash of Hallmark-style magic, this book is a must-read.

I am in LOVE with Loving You!

The first book I've experienced by Samantha Chase, I quickly found myself immersed in the story of single mom Jade, a small bookstore/cafe owner and Levi, a recently down on his luck man who comes back to his small hometown. When these two come together, sparks fly in the most deliciously swoon way.

Generally, I'm much more of a heavy spice reader and where there is some spice in Loving You, much of what occurs is off page. However, unlike other stories with the same amount of spice, I didn't miss it in this book. In fact, I think it was the perfect balance to this beautiful story.

Carly Robins kept me interested with her beautiful narration while Samantha's characters built a wonderful world that I wanted to jump into and become a part of. I can't wait to explore her backlist and think Loving You has turned Samantha Chase into an auto-click author for me!

3.5 ⭐️
Audio Review
Loving you is a small town romance, book one to The Donovans: Sweetbriar Ridge series.

Jade is a single mom who is opening her own book/coffee shop in her small town hoping to not fail. She meets Levi who moves back to his hometown to stay with his sister after being fired from his job. They start off as friends with benefits and have a lot of chemistry. They both have a lot of family drama! It was a fun read and my first book with this author.

Tropes...
Small Town
Friends to Lovers
Single Mom
Cinnamon Roll Hero
Family Drama

The audio was told in a 3rd person POV which I don't always like but this narrator Carly Robins did a great job with this one.
Thanks to NetGallery & Valentine PR for this Audio ARC

I'll be honest, I was pretty disappointed it was a closed door romance when I first started reading, but as I continued to read I was rooting for these characters and falling in love with them. it didn't matter. I really liked Chase's writing style and would read more from them.

A sweet small-town romance to entertain while making you swoon in delight! A single mom struggles to raise her adorable 8 year old son while opening her new bookstore-coffeeshop when a dreamy man with no desire to stay in the small town drops into her life...or should I say she drops into his arms...cue swooning here. The book has ample angst of will they, won't they and while both characters grow and find that everything they thought they knew about their lives might not be completely true. Some of the characters, including the male lead, are introduced in the 5th book of this author's series, The Donovan's. Now you don't have to read the Donovan series to enjoy this book, but you would be missing out on tons of entertainment and a quality foundation that sets the stage for these characters. This is the first book in a spin off series from the Donovan's. I am absolutely hooked and can't wait for more from these characters. This author weaves small town romance like no one else and if you love a good Hallmark romance, well then buckle up and get ready for this sweet ride as you are going to love it! The audiobook is wonderful and the narrator does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life and setting the tone.

I have read quite a few by Samantha Chase and I think this is my favorite so far by her! This is a small town, opposites attract romance between Jade and Levi. Jade is opening Books and Beans, a bookstore + coffee shop in her hometown of Sweetbriar Ridge. Levi Donovan comes back to town to stay with his sister who happens to bake for the coffee shop in Books and Beans. He starts to stop by the shop to see Jade and eventually meets her son, who he also enjoys spending time with.

This story was so sweet and I love when good things happen to characters who have had people against them for a long time! There was some spice but I also loved the relationship that evolved between Levi and Jade's son.

3.5 stars. Loving You is a small town, friends to lovers, opposites attract romance between a single mom heroine and a cinnamon roll hero, with loads of family drama!

Jade is a single mom to her 8-year old son Silas and just opening her own business in her smalltown of Sweetbriar Ridge. Her new store, Books and Beans, is a bookstore and coffee shop and she can use all the help she can get with a town that seems determined to see her fail because of her past. Enter Levi Donovan. Levi is from Sweetbriar Ridge as well, but moved away for his advertising job in the city. But after getting fired, he has no other choice but to come back to his smalltown. He ends up staying with one of his sisters, who happens to work with Jade, and she asks Levi to help out Jade’s new store!

The romance in this starts off as a friends with benefits situation, eventually leading to more. The romance was pretty easy and low angst, but the drama in this story really comes from all the family drama for both Levi and Jade. Levi has complicated feelings toward his dad and that comes to a head, and then Jade has issues with her child’s father and his family. I wasn’t super invested in the characters or the family dramas, but the audiobook narrator Carly Robins did a great job at keeping me entertained to finish this one. I will say the story started off stronger for me. This was my first read from this author and I’d check out more from them in the future!

Thanks so much to Dreamscape for an audio ARC via NetGalley, all thoughts in this review are my own. Loving You has a pub date of September 19, 2023.

I'm so happy that Samantha Chase is writing more books about The Donovans! I love the Donovan family series, and this book series now focuses on the cousins of the Donovans. Levi moved away from his small town to seek a big city life, but things fall apart for him when he loses his job. Because he's unable to find another job, he decides to go back to his small town of Sweetbriar Ridge to live with his sister. While he's at home, he runs into Jade.

Jade is a single mom, and she has just opened up a coffee shop and bookstore. She hasn't dated much since she became a mother, but she is interested in Levi. Levi's sister works at Jade's shop, and they are friends. Levi helps Jade with marketing for her business, and sparks fly. As they become friends, Jade is hesitant to start a relationship with Levi because she knows that he is only staying there temporarily.

Levi really cares for Jade's son, and it is so sweet! This book is sweet and a little bit spicy, and Jade and Levi's connection is so cute! I loved seeing appearances from the Donovans, and we got some updates on how they are all doing.

I listened to the audiobook, and Carly Robins continues to be a great narrator for Samantha Chase's books.

Read this book, if you like:
Small town romance
Friends to lovers
Forced proximity (they work together)
Sweet single mom and a cinnamon roll MMC
A sweet romance with a little bit of spice

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC of this book.