This book took me by surprise!! Second chance can be hit or miss for me but this one was REALLY good. I love our FMC and how she stood her ground when it came to what she wanted. I can't wait to go back and ready the other books in this series before the next one comes out.

Seeing You is the fourth book in Samantha Chase’s Sweetbriar Ridge series. This story focuses on eldest Donovan sibling Billie. Before returning to Sweetbriar Ridge, Billie had a very promising career as an investment broker, working and living with her then fiancé Marcus Calloway, also originally from Sweetbriar Ridge. But ten years ago Billie had given it all up, breaking the engagement, to return home to help her family.

Marcus, on the other hand, wants little to do with his father who he blames for his mother’s death. Although he does have a decent relationship with his brother, since his brother doesn’t live in Sweetbriar Ridge, there is little to draw him back, that is until his brother contacts him needing help with their ailing father. Relenting, Marcus plans to return for a week or so to direct getting his dad’s house sold and his dad into assisted living, much against his father’s wishes. Perhaps the changes that are afoot have more to do with Marcus than his dad. And the changes that are actually made have little to do with his dad.

This is a very interesting story about choices, second chances, and unexpected futures. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!

Seeing you Honest ARC Review:

⭐️enemies to lovers
⭐️small town romance
⭐️contemporary romance
⭐️second chance romance


This is the fourth book in a series and is Marcus and Billie’s story. The two were childhood sweethearts. Billie broke Marcus heart ten years ago when she left him to move back home to help her family. Billie was also left heartbroken due to misunderstanding. The two never had closure.

This romantic story is full of redemption, reconciliation and clarity. Characters are complex and have growth throughout the novel. Seeing you is definitely one to add to your TBR list! I look forward to more from this author.

Thank you for sharing this ARC with me.

Spoilers included:

Overall, 3 stars. This is the first book I've read of this series, Samantha Chase did a good job of setting up the book, so I didn't feel lost learning about the side characters. I really like Billie as the FMC and how she was brave enough to leave a relationship and a job that wasn't fulfilling her anymore. Billie's priorities were to her family and her passion of baking rather than status or material things. I didn't care much for Marcus, he was just so shallow and narrowminded throughout the whole book. It was very hard for me to believe that he had such a strong change of heart that he convinced her whole family to help him craft a plan. Hmmm, color me skeptical.

Format: audiobook

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advance audiobook.

3⭐
Genre ~ contemporary romance
Series ~ The Donovans: Sweetbriar Ridge #4
Others in the series ~ the whole series
Setting ~ Virginia
Publication date ~ January 28, 2025
Publisher ~ Dreamscape Media
Est Page Count ~ 300 (16 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 7 hours 51 minutes
Narrator ~ Carly Robins
POV ~ dual 3rd
Featuring ~ small town, enemies to lovers, second chance, no steamage

Billie & Marcus broke up 10 years ago, but now he's back in town to deal with a family issue. He can't believe it when he sees Billie working at Books & Beans. He seems quite appalled by it since he still can't believe she walked away from her high paying job in finance...and him.

Wow, Marcus was a real douche and it takes him practically the whole book to get his douchiness in check. I'm not just talking with Billie, he wasn't great with his family either. He just goes about things in the wrong way IMO. I never warmed up to him one bit, not even with the grand gesture, and was hoping she would never give him a chance.

We're quite familiar with Billie from the previous installments and know she's a real sweetheart that just wants to help take care of her family. But when will it be time for her to settle down and fall in love?

Overall, I wasn't a super big fan because of Marcus mostly, and somewhat of Billie's part in what went down back in the day. I would, however, be super interested in tasting some of Billie's delectable baked goods since everyone raves about them.

Narration notes:
I am a broken record, but I really wish there was a male narrator even though she does a really good job with male tones.

Series notes:
Best to read in order as all siblings are heavily involved in each installment.

Headed back to Sweetbriar Ridge!

I was excited to finally get Billie's story. The eldest sister was ready for her HEA after watching all of her siblings find it. Just as she opens herself up to trying to find her person, Marcus comes back to town. Marcus and Billie were together when they were younger and they both thought that they had their forever, but people change and Billie found out that they weren't headed on similar paths.

When Marcus shows back up, there is a lot of resentment on his part. Billie left him and he never knew why. Watching these two reconnect was frustrating at times because as much as I was rooting for them, I wanted to slap Marcus sometimes. There were times that I thought he finally got it and then nope, still wasn't there. The ending though had me swooning and Marcus FINALLY grew up.

This series has been such a great series and a lot of sweet romances. They are shorter stories with low heat and great small town romance.

Carly's narration was great. She was spot on as she is with all of Samantha's books. I love listening to her.

I adored the FMC and the banter between her siblings. This book was well written. It was definitely not as spicy as majority of books I read but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I enjoy the Donovan family but Billie and Marcus are the most aggravating couple. Marcus is arrogant, condescending and disrespectful. Billie was right to leave him. She deserved better but at the same time she's not completely innocent. Billie used her family as an excuse to run and her stubbornness kept her from having the conversation she needed to move forward. The back and forth between them was exhausting. After a while I just wanted them to go there separate ways.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Seeing you by Samantha Chase

Small town, big romance. This was the 4th installment to The Donovans: Sweetbriar Ridge series featuring Billie and Marcus.

Billie and Marcus were set to be married but the night before the big day, Billie moved out without an explanation. All Marcus was left with was the engagement ring. 10 yrs later, Marcus returns home to care for his ailing father and runs into Billie who works at the local bakery shot. All the feelings rush back to both, love, lust and loss for everything they never had. Can they make it work?

Another installment of The Donovans. YES!
Carly Robins did a phenomenal job narrating this second chance romance.
Billie moved on with her life not looking back as she left Marcus and city life behind to return to her roots. The entire Donovan clan is involved with Billie as their support person.
Samantha Chase could do a prequel on this book and give us the FULL TEA on this couple.
Marcus wanted to be a power couple. Somewhere in his plan what Billie wanted wasn’t considered. Until Marcus returned to their hometown to help his ailing Father.
Visiting the local bakery Books and Beans he walked into Billies new life. Sending Billie into a tailspin.
Can This previously engaged couple turned Friends With Benefits find love again?
Samantha Chase is a must read Author of Romance.

3 ⭐️ This small town, low angst, hallmark movie of a book was super sweet and the narrator's voice was soothing and enjoyable! I did feel like there was a lot of repetition of certain things. For example, I think Marcus explained how great Billie was at finances at least 3 times. Unfortunately, I never got super invested in the characters. It took the MMC way too long to figure his life out, and the FMC really didn't have any growth of her own. Overall though, I flew through this story and if sweet small town romances are your thing, I think you would like this.

Seeing You is the 4th book in The Donovans: Sweetbriar Ridge series. This is a second chance enemies to lovers story. This book is about Marcus Calloway and Billie Donovan and is told from both of their points of view.

Billie and Marcus were set to be married and she took off right before their wedding, to help her family. Now years later Marcus is back in his hometown which he swore he would never return to, and he doesn’t take seeing Billie well.

They still have a ton of feelings for each other, but they also don't want to change their lives for the other. Can Marcus and Billie get their happy ending? Can Marcus realize there is more to life than money?

I liked this book, but there were times Marcus was shallow and I was like dude you’re a grown adult. I feel him talking to others he realized he had a lot of growing to do.

I'm excited to see what happens next in this series.

Oh boy, this is the story I have been waiting for in this series and it does not disappoint! We are finally getting the story behind Billie's prickly stance on men and it's a doozy! A clear case for why communication is not only a key component to relationships, but why solid listening skills are vital to any relationship's ability to thrive! Wonderful weaving of multiple stories into one well thought out plot to make an outstanding romance with a nice slice of spice and a happily ever after to make you swoon! If you haven't started this series, I do recommend that you start at the beginning, so you get more entertainment as well as a solid grasp of the characters. The Sweetbriar series is a spinoff of the Donovan Series which if you haven't read that series is really the best place to start for maximum enjoyment, but not completely necessary to enjoy this spinoff series, but why wouldn't you want to extend your reading pleasure. I will say that if you are an audiobook fan like I am, then you absolutely must listen to this book. The narrator really brings the characters to life, enhancing not only the emotions that the characters feel, but also the events that unfurl in the book. I can't wait to see what happens next in the lives of these characters!!!

Samantha Chase’s Seeing You is a heartfelt and emotionally rich romance that explores the challenges of timing, commitment, and personal growth in relationships. The novel beautifully captures the struggles of two individuals at different points in their journey—one eager to move forward, the other hesitant to take the next step.

What makes this story particularly compelling is its honest portrayal of emotional conflict. Chase does an excellent job of delving into the male protagonist’s perspective, allowing readers to witness his internal battle as he tries to reconcile his fears with his feelings. This adds a refreshing depth to the story, as romance novels often focus more on the female character’s emotional journey.

Beyond the central romance, Seeing You also emphasizes the importance of family, showcasing the strong bonds that shape and support the characters. These family dynamics add warmth and authenticity, making the story even more relatable.

With her signature blend of heartfelt emotion and engaging storytelling, Samantha Chase delivers a romance that feels deeply personal and universally resonant. Readers who have ever struggled with the complexities of love and timing will find Seeing You both touching and unforgettable.

Verdict: A poignant, relatable romance that tugs at the heartstrings while offering a thoughtful exploration of personal growth and commitment. A must-read for contemporary romance fans.

The anticipation of Marcus dropping the ball on Billie a second time was really close, I was rooting for him to figured himself out so they could have a great ending. I am deeply invested in this series, it has the drama and tension I love.

Thank you so much to Dreamscape Media LLC for the ALC via NetGalley! These are my honest thoughts!

I don't know why, but Billie's story made me SO EMOTIONAL. I've loved the Donovans and Sweetbriar Ridge, and this story was such a beautiful cherry on top of the Donovan siblings cake. Billie always felt like a character that was more, and her story did not disappoint!

I loved returning to Sweetbriar Ridge and getting all of the "updates" on the family and friends in this community. Marcus returning to town and maybe hints of a lil spinoff series featuring his brother? Super excited for that!

Billie ended up being so much more than I could have imagined. Her story and her convictions into discovering who she wanted to be and holding to that, despite facing the love of her life coming back to town and wanting her to go with him? Inspiring.

Marcus's character arc was so satisfying. The grand gesture from him at the end speaks VOLUMES.

Read if you love:
- Small town
- Second chance
- Small town girl vs big city guy
- Siblings support and meddling
- Big families
- Family drama
- Caring for a sick parent

4 solid stars!

“I’m not walking away, Billie. Not without a fight. I let you leave once, and I regret that I didn’t come and fight for us.”

I have mixed feelings about this book! Yes, it was cute and the main characters got their HEA but it was lacking for me. I felt like Marcus was so surface level and had no depth to him. I loved Billie, I thought she was so likable! Overall this was a cute audiobook and if you’re looking for a small town romance then you should check this out. This is the 4th book in this series but it can be read as a standalone.

Tropes:
🍪Small Town
🍪Second Chance
🍪Enemies To Lovers
🍪Secret Millionaire

Thank you Net Galley for the advanced copy of this audiobook. The Donovan family series never disappoints. Carly Robins narrates the story so well that you feel a true connection to the family. It’s just a feel good small town big family story vibe. Have to say this one did have me mad at the MMC and wanted the MFC to be stronger but in the end the MMC character development came through. Also caught the lead up for the next book development in the epilogue.

This charming novel will captivate readers who delight in the allure of small-town settings, where the echoes of past loves linger and the possibility of second chances hangs in the air. It is a tale that speaks to the heart, exploring the complexities of relationships and the enduring power of love. As the story unfolds, readers will be drawn into the lives of characters who must confront their past mistakes and learn to forgive, both themselves and others. The journey towards rediscovering love is not always easy, but it is a journey that is ultimately rewarding, reminding us that sometimes, the most beautiful love stories are those that have been given a second chance to bloom. With its heartwarming blend of romance, humor, and emotional depth, this book is a must-read for anyone who believes in the transformative power of love.

This is book 4 in the Donovans: Sweetbriar Ridge series.
This dont have to be read in order but if you dont you will miss the side characters in each the book.

This one follows Billie Donovan which I've always loved her in the other books and her ex comes back to town walked Hudson Callaway. I have never rooted against a loves interest more than this one. I think Billie deserves better and he was not it for me. He was a a** the whole book and wanted it his way and got mad about everything she has done and with his family also. Then you get the 3rd act lets make up. I was rooting for a freak accident. so unfortunately this is my least favorite of the series cause again Billie deserves better!!

Thank you Netgalley for this Audio Arc in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I will be interested in book 5 when that comes out. This all in all is such a cute closed door romance series.