I love the Donovan family and Ashlynn was a great FMC. She is struggling in her work and personal life but when Reid comes back into her life, things start to look up. The knew each other in school and had an embarrassing encounter, but once Ashlynn was able to get past that, they really grew into a great couple. Reid did not exactly give her the support that she wanted during the arson investigation, but he was dealing with his own struggles of not feeling trusted in his role. I loved their romance and the arson case cave a fun storyline as well.

Teasing you by Samantha Chase takes us on another fun romance ride with the Donovan clan!

Ashlynn’s life is going up in flames. Reid has come back to town as a fire fighter. Can he help her put out the flames?

Small town life, a salon up in flames, fire fighters, steam, and all your favorite Donovans! (Don’t worry, if you have not read the other books, this one will still be fantastic- but also, you should eventually read the other books 😘)

This was exactly the fun, wholesome, summer romance I have come to expect from Samantha Chase. I will say I was a bit annoyed at the continuation of the mother storyline, she refuses to accept how her actions affected her kids and I would honestly just rather she stop popping up entirely.

The Donovan family just keeps spreading the love! First in the original series and now in the Sweetbriar Ridge series. This time we see Ashlynn and Reid get a second chance at making a love connection after a teenage flop left him as a hated nemesis. Unfortunately, things are not smooth sailing as Reid is trying to get his career as a firefighter off the ground and Ashlyn finds herself as the target of an arson investigation. I think the thing that resonates the most about these books are the characters. They are extremely well written and fleshed out so that you can instantly connect to them and understand their thoughts, feelings and emotions. The plots are always well crafted to bring a bit of fun, a bit of angst, a bit of drama and a whole lot of entertainment to the reader. The narrator selected to bring the book to life does an amazing job of taking the wonderful characters and plot that the author created for us and breathes life into them so that we feel like we are living in the moment with the characters rather than just listening to a story. I absolutely can't wait for the next book to be available in this series!

3.75⭐
Genre ~ contemporary romance
Series ~ The Donovans: Sweetbriar Ridge, #2
Others in the series ~ Loving You
Setting ~ Virginia
Publication date ~ March 26, 2024
Est page Count ~ 300 (16 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 7 hours 52 minutes
Narrator ~ Carly Robins
POV ~ dual 3rd
Featuring ~ hair stylist, firefighter, small town, close proximity, neighbors to lovers, no steamage

Ashlynn & Reid went to high school together, but meet again at their best friends's engagement party years later. She's not too thrilled to see him, but perhaps he can charm his way into her life again.

As you can read from the blurb there's some drama when she's accused of arson, which doesn't bode well for Reid as the newbie at the fire department. Does he handle it well? Initially yes, but then nope. Does he eventually redeem himself in a hilarious manner? Sure does.

Overall, I enjoyed this one. Reid's a pretty sweet guy. Ashlynn was fine, but I'm not feeling the added drama with her parents, which I have a feeling with continue to carry over into the rest of the series.

Series notes:
This series follows siblings, so I suggest reading them in order so that you can familiarize yourself with the family and know who's who and what's what. If you want to go above and beyond read The Donovans: Laurel Bay series first since this series is a spin off from that one.

Narration notes:
Carly does a great job, but it's not a shocker that I'd like a male narrator too.

Enjoyable easy read. FMC is a bit annoying at times but not so much that you can't enjoy the story. MMC is determined to win the FCM over after a couple of embarrassing moments. It's easy to figure out what's going to happen and who the real culprit is but for me it didn't takeaway from wanting to see it all play out. Would recommend for anyone looking for an easy read with a little angst, small-town drama and likeable characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscapes Media for the opportunity to listen to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All options expressed are completely my own.

Now, before we jump into the tale, let me tell you that I'm rating this book a solid 4 stars. It's definitely a sweet treat you won't want to miss out on. Especially If you're a fan of small-town romances with a bit of humor and plenty of heart, then this book will feel like it was made just for you.

In "Teasing You," we reunite with Ashlynn Donovan, sister to Levi from the first book in the series, "Loving You." Ashlynn's life takes a tumble when she finds herself jobless after being fired from the only salon in town and accidentally flashing the town's hot new firefighter, Reid Baylor... For the second time in her life. At least this time her panties were better! But talk about an embarrassing encounter! But Reid isn't ready to let Ashlynn slip away again, and he's determined to prove that he's the man for her, he's been crushing on her since his school days after all.

Now, let's talk about our protagonists. Ashlynn is a firecracker of a character, with a spunky attitude to match. She is also one to hold a grudge! And Reid? He always felt like Sweetbriar Ridge was home even though he moved a lot as a kid. Now hes back and has a plan for his life, to climb the ladder at the local fire station. He's not afraid of commitment, both in his career goals and in his persistence in pursuing Ashlynn. It is downright swoon-worthy. Together, they make quite the pair, and I found myself rooting for their happily ever after from the very first page.

Our girl Ashlynn finds herself suspected of arson and Reid's dream job hangs in the balance as he is her alibi! Multiple people are telling him to take a step back or risk his career. Will they overcome the obstacles in their path and find their way to each other's hearts? Well friends, you'll have to read the book to find out! I can't give it all away, now can I?

One other thing my friends, you know I like some spice in my romance books. While "Teasing You" might not be the spiciest romance out there, it more than makes up for it with its captivating storyline and endearing characters. Sure, I would've loved a bit more heat, but I was too invested in Ashlynn and Reid's journey to notice the lack of it until the end of the story.

So, if you're in the mood for a charming romance set in a small town, then "Teasing You" is the perfect pick for your next read or listen. Samantha Chase delivers a delightful story filled with laughter, love, and just a hint of drama that'll leave you with a smile on your face. The narrator Carly Robins did a wonderful job giving life to this novel. You won't regret giving it a listen.

This one was cute and sweet, but ultimately not my jam. The characters were fun and relatable at times, but it all felt pretty surface level.

Ashlynn and Reid are both kinda portrayed as big-city dropouts who return to their small hometown to settle. I love found-family and the concept of finding solace in home and the comforts it has to offer, but this sort of felt like they both came home after not having anywhere else to go.

While our MC’s both had baggage and I don't really need to know the whole story, they were dropping “i love you” and jumping in with both feet relatively quickly and it all seemed very surface level. I love a swoony romance and a grand gesture and Reid delivered on that front. Ultimately Ashlynn and Reid made for a charming story, I just wish we got a little more grit and steam from them.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

I feel like if you like one of Samantha Chase’s books you will like them all. They all have a similar vibe. It is like watching a tv series where they talk about a few main characters each season and you will see some of the previous main characters as side characters. I enjoy her books. I like the crossovers. I like getting to know the family members and following their stories. This plot was a unique storyline and also had me a little nervous for the characters. I was very invested.

Expressing my thoughts on 'Teasing You' by Samantha Chase is a bit challenging, as the book, in my opinion, wasn't inherently bad, but it left me with a been there/done that vibe.

The plot and characters lacked a certain imaginative spark, and the romantic elements felt underdeveloped, lacking the chemistry needed to make the connection between the main characters compelling. Despite a quick evolution in their relationship, the lack of substantial development left me struggling to stay engaged and invested in their love story.

Predictability made the plot less enticing. As soon as the main conflict presented itself, the trajectory of the story became glaringly obvious. This, paired with my interest in the main characters depleting as they became more annoying than compelling, left everything feeling a little lacklustre.

When the MCs are first reintroduced, the FMCs response to the situation felt like an overreaction to an ironic and what should have been a humourous moment.

Overall, the book was fine.

As for the narration, Carly Robins performed well. However, in today's competitive landscape, particularly with dual-POV books, the absence of a second narrator for the male perspective felt like a missed opportunity. Listening to entire chapters from the MMCs POV narrated in a female voice, despite the industry trend of employing dual narrators, took me out of the book on several occasions causing a lack of focus on the story.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Super cute story with a tiny dash of suspense/mystery. Reed and Ash were fun and flirty. The small town characters were just as good.

After reading and not liking the first book of this series, I thought I would give this author one more shot before giving up. Unfortunately, this author is not for me. I ended up DNF'ing this at the 40% mark. I found the characters, especially the FMC, to be petty and immature. The relationship between the FMC AND MMC was shallow but made to appear deep after one conversation after they had become intimate. All of a sudden, they were "making love," but just days before, they were fighting, and she basically hated him for not taking things further than a kiss. It was insta-lovey and just all over the place. I didn't care for the narration, and within 6 minutes into the book, the f-bomb was already dropped. I usually don't mind language, but it just felt tacky. From the point of DNF'ing, there was one sexual scene. It was not closed door, but it also wasn't explicitly described. I can not attest to anything after the 40% mark.
Thank you NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen and review this advanced copy.

Quick Summary: An old flame, new burn romance

My Review: Teasing You by Samantha Chase is book #2 in The Donovans: Sweetbriar Ridge series. This story is filled with family drama, unresolved struggles per character, humor, and more.

About the Book: A firefighter (Reid Baylor) and his old crush (Ashlynn Donovan) reunite after years apart. When they finally have the courage to express how they feel about each other and decide to move their relationship to the next step, a devastating event, an accusation, and town gossip rock them to the core.

About the Narration: Carly Robins did a wonderful job with narration. From the moment the audio started, her movement and inflections made the story colorful and entertaining.

My Final Say: I love the Donovans. They have quite the story behind them. This installment picks up easily from book one and doesn't miss a beat. I cannot wait to see what happens with Chloe and the visiting lawyer. I also look forward to seeing what happens with the parents. I appreciate the dangling threads and the teases, regarding what's coming down the line.

Other: Readers who enjoy small town romances, second chance love stories, and/or family rich reads will like this book. I recommend reading both the Laurel Bay series, as well as this one.

Rating: 3.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Series: Yes
Status/Level: Quick burn ( 🌶️)
Format: Audiobook

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Dreamscape Media), and to NetGalley. Thank you for providing access to this title in exchange for an honest review. I am grateful for the opportunity to read/listen to this work of fiction.