I want to start off stating that if you love romantic books this is one to check out. The narrator of the book really made you feel like you were listening to several people speaking even though it was just one person. I felt the real connection between characters and felt compelled to keep listening to see what ends up happening.

With small town folks there is always lots of people who know what is going on. With the love story of Billy and Marcus that was an understatement.
When Billy decides to leave Marcus on their wedding day, to go back home to try to find her happiness, you never imagined Marcus ever returning to their small town. Marcus is so fool of himself and arrogant that he can't understand how Billy can leave their more extravagant life in DC for this small town place.

Things start changing when he spends more time there and with her and just maybe he isn't as happy as he thinks. I felt that the author must have written this book off of a true store because it felt like this could have happened in real life. Samantha had me laughing and angry at times during readying this book because of how real the characters felt.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️

I have never wanted to barter an MMC over the head so much in my life. I have a feeling this man was based off most of the fellas in my life because they too listen but don’t actually HEAR ME!! 🤬🤬🤬

The fact that Marcus seriously thought she hid a CHILD from him, oh that had me fumming!

Even with all that, this is so much fun. The remediation on Marcus part had me swooning for him. And the names he picked for the dogs 🥹 stop it.

Marcus and Billy have been broken up for 10 years but when Marcus farther needs help around the house, he return to the small town he said he would never set foot in again.

Billy, finance expert turned baker, has had trouble finding the big love since her split from Marcus, but when Marcus waltzed into Books and Beans, Billy not quite sure she got the closer she always wanted.

So what happens when these two swear they can’t be together but they can’t stay away!

Such an amazing book.

Absolutely Banger

DNF at 80%. Which is very unlike me because at this point you may as well just finish the book, right?
I found myself drifting out of focus with this one, and while it's not a bad book, it just didn't grip me. I didn't love the MMC, and was actually hoping they didn't end up back together.
The narration was one of the best parts of this, and what kept me listening for as long as I did

Was this romance realistic? Absolutely not. Did it help me escape the problems of the world for a little bit? Sure. This is exactly the type of book I like to listen to before bed. It’s cozy, and it helps me relax and calm down for the night. There is some sexual tension, but it fades to black.

Billie and Marcus were high school sweethearts who wanted different things in life. Billie left Marcus the day before their wedding. Ten years later, Marcus returns to town and he wants answers. The unrealistic part? He hasn’t changed AT ALL. They STILL want/value different things. He suddenly has this epiphany where he realizes he may have been placing value in all the wrong places(This is a big pet peeve of mine. I call it the “late bloomer” trope, where the MMC doesn’t mature until it’s too late or almost too late. Why are we always expected to wait for them to get their shit together? Ugh!)

I’m not the biggest fan of second chance romance, as you can probably tell. There needs to be some extreme groveling OR the mistaken party needs to do their self reflecting/ working on themselves BEFORE they show back up. That was my biggest qualm with this book. I don’t feel like he actually resolved his issues. And then their relationship progressed SO FAST after that. I visibly rolled my eyes, and said “of course” at the ending. I haven’t read the other books in this series, but based on their tropes, I think I would enjoy them better. Second chances are not my thing.

Tropes: small town, second chance, fade to black, he values work and money/she values family and community

Audiobook review: Carly Robins can do no wrong. She is a perfect, go-to, romance narrator

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

This was a very touching love story and I really enjoyed all the characters! I think it would have been an amazing duel narration with a male voice but the narrator did a great job. I can't wait to dive into the rest of this series.

This was so incredibly angsty.
Billie & Marcus have an emotional past, and have both changed, but they both still have unresolved feelings. So when Marcus comes back to town, the opportunity for closure seems to be needed.
There are a lot of emotions, a lot of angst & frustrations, hurt feelings, and self reflection.

A second chance, small-town romance between selfless Billie and red flag Marcus. A strong FMC who will not settle for a man and life that isn’t right for her, which we LOVE. Marcus needs to work on himself (and maybe go to therapy), but of course came around in the end. This was a cute little romance with a strong family theme throughout. Even as the 4th book in the series it can be read as a stand alone. Very enjoyable, lighthearted read.

If you like characters that come back in a series, this is for you - I haven’t read the previous books in this series and managed without. The cast was large! With audio, it was a bit tough to keep track of the dialogue at times but overall easy read.

Marcus and Billie struggle with seeing each other again after a long gap, there is tension and unaligned values that are a huge barrier to being together. The back and forth between the main characters became a bit tedious for me, I was rooting for them most of the way but at one point, was rolling my eyes at the MC.

Narration was good! I’m not sure I would have liked dual narration in this one. Thanks for the sneak peak NetGalley!

This is the 4th in the series and can be read as a standalone. This is a small town second chance romance between Billie and Marcus.

We have Billie who helps with Books and Beans as their baker and Marcus, an ex that hasn't been back in town in 10 years. We see how they are still so drawn to each other not the main rub is Marcus does not want
To stay in this hick town.

We learn more about their past as well as Marcus' reason for staying away. I was rooting for them and wanted to knock some sense into Marcus with his attitude about his home town.

The supporting characters added depth to the story and I was happy for their HEA. Now I need to go and read the rest of the series.

Carly Robins did a great job on pacing and narration and bringing the story to life.

Thank you @dreamscape_media for a copy of the audiobook.

I was looking for a light easy listen and this book and narrator delivered. It was very easy to listen to and I enjoyed the characters story. There wasn’t to much to this book but sometimes that’s just what you need! There is some character growth, although predictable. This would be a good book to listen to while walking or laying in the sun.

Okay, so I started this audiobook and honestly, I was so mad at first. The characters were making all the wrong moves, and I was just sitting there thinking, "Why are you doing this to yourselves?!" But then, as the story picked up, something clicked. Watching them both grow and actually start dealing with their baggage—made me realize why they deserved that second chance. The way they started opening up to each other? It was so real and raw.

By the end, I was totally hooked. The chemistry between them was chef’s kiss and honestly, I was a little bit melted. It’s crazy how a good second-chance romance can make you feel all the feels. They weren’t perfect, but that’s what made it even better. It was like watching them learn to trust each other again, and that felt pretty amazing.

First book I read in this series and works well as a standalone, but you get "updates" on people/couples you don't know ;)
Baking and second chances romance in a smalltown with spice and lot's of banter.
I liked how she moved to a smalltown AND did'nt fel in love with some handsome guy. But instead the past came knocking and with that, so did the second chance of love.
The story was nicely done and I enjoyed the maincharcters.
A cozy audiobook and a sweet story.

Seeing You by Samantha Chase
Narrated by Carly Robins

Audio Review

This is the third installment in The Donovans: Sweetbriar Ridge Series that I have had the pleasure of reviewing, but, regrettably, I found this story less enjoyable than the previous ones.

Ten years ago, Billie Donovan made the heart-wrenching decision to leave Marcus Callaway and their vibrant city life behind, choosing the comfort of her family over the dreams they once shared. Since that fateful day, she has come to accept the reality that a happy ending—like the ones her siblings have discovered—might never be in her own future.

When Marcus unexpectedly returns to Sweetbriar Ridge, he is taken aback to find Billie working in a charming bakery nestled in their hometown—a place he had eagerly escaped after completing school. The question looms: Can they confront the ghosts of their past, or will the lingering chemistry still spark between them?

Throughout their interactions, Marcus exhibits troubling behaviour, often criticizing Billie’s life choices, despite her heartfelt attempts to explain her path. In contrast, I found Billie’s character to be genuinely endearing and sweet, bringing warmth to the narrative.

Although I generally appreciated the narrator's performance, I felt that Marcus's dialogue was delivered with an overly harsh and angry tone, which made it challenging for the listener to forge a connection with his character.

This was my first Samantha Chase book or audiobook so I had no idea what to expect. That being said, I absolutely enjoyed it! This was such a cute, second chance romance.

tropes:
small town
second chance
closed door
grumpy x sunshine
HEA
family drama

This book follows Billie and Marcus a decade after she left him the day before their wedding. He returns to their hometown to take care of his dad following an injury only to run into his ex fiance thriving and running the business of her dreams. When Billie and Marcus run into eachother, sparks immediately fly but so does the arguing.
Thank you so much to the production company, the publisher and the author for giving me the opportunity to listen to this ALC in exchange for an honest review!

This second chance romance had me hooked from page one so much that when I finished reading it I grabbed the audio version and listened to it!

Billie Donovan left her established life, her work and love life, the day before she was to leave for Hawaii to get married and returned to her hometown. Yeah, the hometown she wanted to leave and never move back to. Now she has built a new life and is part owner in a bakery and in demand for all her baked goods from cupcakes to cookies to her wedding cakes. She has also used her investing knowledge for good and invested in all her siblings businesses along with some of the other businesses around town.

Marcus returns to Sweetbriar Ridge to visit his father and when he stops in the bakery he is greeted with a cupcake to the face. Obviously Billie was not happy to see him after 10 years. He has so many questions and after a dinner out they, of course, have a disagreement. After returning home his father has a fall and his brother asks him to come back to help with his care. This time back Marcus and Billie finally have the time to reunite. Will he finally get his head out of arse (so to speak) and they find their way?

I highly recommend this book in whatever form you choose.

Billie was living the life she though she wanted as she had a career in finance and was about to marry the man she loved until she realized she wanted to return to her hometown so that she can be near her family. She now is a partner in a bakery with her friend and is happy but what she would really like is a man to share her life with.

Marcus thought that he and Billie were living the dream until she ended their relationship and returned to their hometown. Family obligations have brought him back, but he has no interest in staying. When he sees Billie again, they are forced to face the feelings they have always had for each other but with their very different views of the future will this be their second chance or are they destined for heartbreak once again.

At times you can’t help but feel for what Marcus is going through and at times he will frustrate you until he realized what truly matters which is family, friends and love even if he created some turmoil for himself and Billie before that happened. The narration by Carly Robbins was heartfelt and she did a wonderful job with the characters of Billie and Marcus

I really was disappointed with this book because it had such great reviews! I have never read a book by this author before. I found the dialogue to be dull and even the fabulous CJ Bloom could not enhance it! Overall, the storyline was generic and it lacked spice, angst, banter, and the characters were one dimensional. If it had been like Helena Hunting’s, Kiss My Cupcake, I would have given it five stars!

A second chance, small town story about love, an invasive mostly from a place of love, but very controlling and a bit annoying family who know no boundaries, and only keep secrets when it suits them. So I have two very different thoughts/opinions of this book. As a continuation of the series, it is on brand with a lovely happily ever after we knew was coming. Billie Donovan was a financial wizard, living a big city life with the man she wanted to have a family and grow old with. That is until he ceased to hear a word she uttered and always thought he knew better. He made unilateral decisions about their life without a single concern about what she wanted. When she realized this would be the rest of her life and it went against everything she held close to her heart and mind, she packed up and left. While she is living her best life with her family, friends and is finally happy in her career, she longs for her own family and all it entails. When years later, Hudson goes home to help his family he shockingly bumps into her in her place of business. Rather than leaving or at the very least, saying hello and being a decent human being, he lets her have it by verbally attacking her with all of the years of rage he built up having blamed her for in his words, giving up on his version of success and living a pitiful​, less than life. He mocks everything about her while trying to add a healthy dose of shame for what she gave up. So of course they get together and do the yes/no thing again and again until she grows a spine and decides enough is enough and he hasn’t changed a bit regardless of his words. And then cut to the chase, voila, HEA. So here is my other issue as mentioned above. In the story, for the most part Hudson is doing what he did seemed sweet and aawww. And her family and friends being in on it, again in a fake world, for most, awww. I absorbed it differently. To me, he did not change at all, the spine she grew disintegrated and everyone else was in charge of her life and she just went along with it. Seemed contrary to everything she left him for. This gave me a big case of the “icks”. I was hoping it would of course lead to a happy ending, but with her having a say in it. She didn't, hence my rating. Pretty sure I’m in the minority, but for me, this isn’t the sweet story it professes to be. HEA should be about both people getting what they want and need in equal measure. Partnership. The only thing that changed about Hudson was his location. Everything else was all about him. Depending on your POV is what will determine whether this will be for you. I enjoyed it if I didn’t think too hard about the inequality in their relationship. That may just be me though.

I didn't know it was the 4th book in the series so I read it as a standalone. it didn't seem to matter that I hadn’t read the other books. I enjoyed the narrator in the audio version and the plot was entertaining and sweet. Overall it was an enjoyable romance read.

Thank you to Samantha Chase, Dreamscape Audio and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a very cute, easy listen small town second chance romance. The connection between Billie and Marcus was undeniable and I loved seeing their relationship evolve and "re-bloom" over the course of the story. The MMC (Marcus) was slightly harsh and selfish but his love for Billie combined with fear of getting hurt again was behind his every action. Seeing his character arc throughout the story was really nice to see!

Even though this book was part of a 4 book series, it was very easy to follow (this was the first book in the series I read/listened to). I look forward to going back and reading the other three in the series!

A solid 3 star from me :)