This was such a great book. I love a good second chance romance. Both characters were amazing and of course the Donovan's family is always so good. The growth of Marcus was so nice to see. I wasn't sure he was going to get there but I'm so glad with how it turned out. I can't wait for the next story.

Seeing You is the fourth romance in The Donovans: Sweetbriar Ridge series. Billie Donovan walked away from her old life in finance and the man she had loved years ago and she hasn’t seen him since. She’s happy with her new life and loved running the bakery portion of Books and Beans, but she’s starting to realize she’s lonely as the rest of her family pairs off and has kids. When Marcus comes back to town the first time since the break up to help with his dad he doesn’t know Billie is back in town. Their reunion doesn’t go well, but their last is too much to let them avoid each other for long. Billie has the perfect life for her, the only thing missing is Marcus. Will he be able to change to make things work or will he stay stuck in his ways?

I have enjoyed the rest of this series and was excited to see Billie finally getting her story. Billie has been a central part in all of the other books, but I was so glad we finally got to see her and learn her backstory. At first I couldn’t stand Marcus and this continued for most of the book, but in the end he is the perfect March for Billie and I liked seeing their story play out. This is a sweet, fast paced romance that gives them a second chance at a happily ever after. If you like second chance romances with an enemies to lovers feel this book is for you!

I have loved every book in this series, and I was super excited about finally getting Billie’s book! It takes a lot of guts to give up your career to do what you are passionate about, and I loved that that’s exactly what she did. Never let a man (or woman) make you feel less than especially when you are chasing your dreams! Make those little people grow up or get out!

Nothing better than falling in love with the one that got away. Billie and Marcus never fell out of love but circumstances kept them apart. Now he is back and although they had a boatload of hurt to overcome, watching them fall in love again was a combination of wonderful storytelling and beautifully portrayed characters. The emotions just dripped off each and every moment and Samantha Chase had the listener locked in from the opening chapters. This was the best in the series!!

3.5/5.
A second chance romance. As a big romance reader, this somehow felt too fake. It didn’t feel realistic at all. It was cute but the third act “breakup” was dumb. And the resolution felt so quick and unrealistic

Billie left Marcus when she realized that they had different goals in life and she just couldn't stand her high pressure job anymore. Besides, her family needed her.

Marcus thrived on the high stress, high rewards lifestyle. He's furious that Billie gave it up to go back to the small town that they grew up in. But now he's back because his father is ill and his brother guilted him into staying for a while to help him.

Billie now is a part owner in a bakery/coffee shop and she loves being home and closer to her family and long-time friends. Billie and Marcus run into each other when he comes into the shop. He's a jerk. No doubt about it. But he's decided to bury the hatchet and ask her out. They have great chemistry and end up in bed. But how will they reconcile the vast differences between them?

I had an e-book and an audio book. The narrator is great.

Samantha Chase is a must buy author for me. I was lucky enough to listen to her latest audiobook. Seeing You is a must listen.

I love a good second chance romance and Seeing You didn't disappoint. I loved reading about Marcus and Billie and their backstory, with the author treating us to glimpses of what went wrong in the past. Marcus seemed a bit immature in his thinking and it was refreshing to see him realize how things could have been different if he'd changed his ways. Thankfully there was a happy ever after and I found myself with a huge grin on my face after reading the epilogue! I am really enjoying this series and can't wait for the next in the series.

3.5 stars. Just a sweet, predictable, but extremely readable romance. Perfect for when you need a feel-good pallet cleanser. The whole series sounds cute but I loved that this could be a standalone.

Billie Donovan had a good life. She runs a bakery, she is spending time with her growing family, and she is in a happy place except she is still single. All her siblings are coupled up and getting married and she realizes she wants that for herself and wonders if it’s too late for her. Enter her ex Marcus, back in town and seeing her for the first time since they broke up years before. The first meeting did not go well and Marcus got a muffin in the face. What fallows is a story that is at times funny, frustrating, and swoony.

I loved Billie, she knows what she wants and goes about making it happen. She is fiercely loyal to her family and the community and she has a lot of qualities that make her special. Marcus was a bit less likable for a good part of this book he seemed to have no ability to have empathy and was so stuck in what he thought was success he couldn’t look at anything from anyone else’s point of view. You slowly learn why they didn’t work out and exactly how they broke up as the book progresses. What I loved about this book is that even when things between them seemed impossible, Marcus kept trying to win her back. When Marcus wasn’t putting his foot in his mouth you really wanted him to see her. Loved this book, it has swoony moments, spice, angst, and a second chance that doesn’t come easy. I also listened to the audio and although the narrator did a good job, it would have benefited from having dual narration. Great story.

Yay! Another Donovan romance marks the final sibling's happy ending, although it was a bit hit or miss. Billie is the glue that holds the Donovans together; she gives every bit of herself to anyone she thinks may need her, leaving hardly anything for herself. When her ex-fiancé, Marcus, walks back into her life, tensions rise. He is the man she left because he wanted something she couldn't give him. He loves his life in the big city, making a lot of money and living a life full of luxury, but he can't grasp that this is not what Billie wants. Even though they have chemistry, their obstacles provide plenty of material for their constant arguments.

I think this book is great and very typical of this series, but I love the sappy romance. It's light-hearted yet touches on serious themes like trust, family, loss, and love. Much like Chase's typical writing style, we get witty banter along with a lot of heart in her stories. Out of all the characters in this series, this one felt like it might not work out, but since it's a romance, we know it will, somehow. Each book in this series is a standalone, but they reference one another, and this one sets up the next book in the series, as it looks like the Florida Donovans are making their way to Sweetbriar Ridge. The narrator, as usual, does a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life. Also, if anyone wants to win me over, bringing me puppies would be a great start!

The author delivers another wonderful story in this series.
Billie Donovan and Marcus Calloway were sweethearts in their youth, and as adults moved to DC to expand their horizons and move ahead in their careers. But when her family needs her, Billie leaves DC and Marcus behind and returns home to help her family.
Years later, her siblings are happy and she is a business woman happy with her life.
But what happens when Marcus is called backed to the town he never wanted to be, so he can help with his father’s care ?
From the moment Marcus enters her bakery, Billie’s life is turned upside down. Feelings on both sides reignite but their goals and hopes for the future are on opposite sides of the spectrum.
Will Marcus finally realize a home with Billie is what really matters and that a job is not going to make him happy at the end of the day?
In the end , will they find closure to the past, or will Marcus realize that home and success is not a place but rather the sweet woman he never forgot?
This audiobook was engaging, with well developed imperfect main characters. It was also delightful to “see” how characters of other stories are doing.
Lastly, Carly Robins did a very good job with the narration.
I was entrusted a copy of this audiobook by Netgalley and Dreamscape. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

I love a good second chance romance. Childhood sweethearts gone wrong finally get the chance to make it right. Billie & Marcus have always loved each other, but life got in their way. They wanted different things and that hasn’t changed, but after spending time together again Marcus finally starts to see that what he wants isn’t what he needs. As he sees everyone else’s happiness he realizes that city life may not be all there is and that he could be happy in a small town with the right person by his side. Their struggle is real, but their love is stronger than all the hurdles they face. Their story is sweet and tugs on all the heartstrings. I love the family support system within the Donovans, their love is always a shining point. At the core this story is all about Marcus showing Billie that he can be someone to count on, that he can be a partner. Once he realized this, all the pieces fall in place.
Narration is read with a smooth candor that is really easy to listen to.

Honestly this was such a sweet read. It truly renewed my love for second chance romance. I had read two this year that made me think it wasn't for me. However, Samantha Chase didn't take half the book for MMC to realize his faults and I loved that. The end made me feel whole and honestly had me tearing up a little. I will definitely be going back and reading book 1-3 and CANNOT wait for book five which I feel will be MMC's brothers story. The narrator was fantastic and will be adding her to my listen list.

This book was very homey and sweet but the MMC, Marcus was making me want to slap him. How many chances is Billie going to give him before he wakes up. In the end, he eventually gets it but man that was somewhat painful to witness. The in between moments were wonderful and I really liked Billie's character and how she stood up for what she wanted and insisted that she was happy even though Marcus was basically telling her otherwise. This is labeled as a second chance romance but it's more like an unlimited chance romance where Billie lets Marcus be an ass half the time (imho).

The audio narration by Carly Robins is done well.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for access to the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first time reading/listening to a Samantha Chase book, but I've been meaning to check her out for awhile. I even have a book checked out on Hoopla at the moment (Irresistible Love) that I'm planning to listen to. I also really like the narrator Carly Robbins (although I think most of her work I've listened to has been under her pseudonym). All of that being said, this book didn't totally work for me and was a bit of a mixed bag, although your mileage may vary.

So some of the elements I liked: Some of the bickering between the former couple was a lot of fun and the side characters were great. I was able to follow this as a stand alone even though this is the fourth book in the series. I bet people who've read all the books up to this one will enjoy all the character updates. And I legitimately laughed out loud during the scene where the FMC and MMC run into each other when she's with her nephew.

As for what didn't work for me: This book both felt rushed and chaotic, but also dragged and was boring. None of the steps forward in the plot felt earned. It sometimes felt nonsensical. Like in one scene they're talking and then in the next scene they're fighting and then in the next scene they're sleeping together, repeat. It didn't feel like there was character growth.

(SPOILER) Also, I did not find the resolution to be remotely romantic and instead found it to be super problematic. I'm sure others will disagree, but I just don't find it romantic when someone buys someone a house that they're previously unaware of. I cannot imagine not playing a role in the decision of where I live. That's insanity. And he renovated the kitchen without her input!!!! A professional baker! Seriously? Not a fan.

Another pet peeve of mine, which I've seen in other books, is how conversations are had. There's so much unnecessary detail that adds nothing to the story and my adhd is not a fan. I don't like hearing every day chit chat in my stories. I want everything to matter. There was literally a conversation at one point about where to go eat and who should drive that added nothing to the story. I don't care that the cafe has good burgers or that one brother should drive over the other because of how their cars are parked.

Carly Robins did a good job with her narration, although I'm also not a fan of one narrator for dual POVs. Hire a dude for the MMC! Still love her though.

Anyway, this is by no means a bad book and others will enjoy it. It's just not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!

🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧

I was provided this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The audio of this book was good. I usually don’t like just one narrator but this one worked fine. The narrator who I rely do enjoy did a great job embodying each character.

This is the 4th book in the Donovan’s series. But it can be read as a standalone. But may being said I am gonna dive into the first 3 now. I love a good small town second chance romance.

Another one from Samantha Chase that you just HAVE TO LOVE!!

Billie Donovan has finally settled into her life. She co-owns Books and Beans and is finally in a happy place in her life!
Although, at times, she still feels a bit sad that she missed out on the happiness that her sisters have found…the love, the life, and the babies. But, she knows that she did find her true love once…in Marcus (not Hudson, as noted in the book blurb…)
She and Marcus met when they were young. They had great plans and dreams! And they were together for a long time… But when Marcus’ Mom got sick, well, his whole life changed…and Billie no longer felt like she was a part of it…

But that was a long time ago, and she really hasn’t seen him since…
So, when he turns up one day at her store, well, tempers flare, and feelings arise that haven’t been felt for quite some time…

As usual, Samantha Chase writes books that make you WANT the main characters to PLEASE…work it out!

As we meet the family members and friends, we come to form a bond with all of them. And, we get a glimpse into the happiness, as well as the craziness, of raising kids…and family life! 😬❤️😉

Can we ever truly get a second chance on love? Can we move on from the past? Check this one out to see the story of Billie and Marcus…and their whole, big, crazy family!

4 big ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

#SeeingYou by #SamanthaChase and narrated nicely by #CarlyRobins!
Of note…this is book #4 in the series, but can be read alone…

*** IT RELEASES TODAY, 1/28/25, SO LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON SHELVES NOW!! ***

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia for an ARC of the audiobook! I was lucky enough to get a copy yesterday as a preview!!

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Oh I adore small town romance and this book was no different. Carly Robins did an amazing job as always bringing the characters to life. There is just something about coming back and reigniting an old lost love that hits differently and Samantha Chase nailed it with this story.

Seeing You turns the heart inside out. Chase pushes the boundaries of emotion while exploring the fragility of life. From the heartbreak of loss to the yearning for something more, Marcus and Billie are an enigma of the soul. Haunting with a side of hope.