Susan's Review of Since You've Been Gone By Samantha Chase-Magnolia Sound #8

Emmaline Ryan has always been the smart, shy girl who plays it safe. But all that’s gotten her is a divorce and a mountain of debt to pay off courtesy of her ex-husband. Needless to say, she’s stopped believing in miracles and fairy tales a long time ago. Except now she’s in desperate need of one those miracles if she wants to save her family’s animal rescue. Emmaline knows just where to go for help, but that means putting her faith in the hands of the man who once broke her heart without even realizing it.

Garrett Coleman met the girl of his dreams when he was just eight years old – only, he never told her. But that was years ago. Now, Garrett has become a reluctant social media star – the shirtless #HotDoc and #SexyVet who saves scared and helpless animals. Sure, it’s been great for business, but he’d give anything for people to see the real him, preferably with a shirt on. When a visit home to Magnolia Sound has him running into the shy girl he left behind, he sees his chance at the future he never thought he deserved.

Unfortunately, he’s not the only one back in town, and wooing Emmaline just became a lot more complicated. A lot has changed since he’s been gone and Garrett is going to have to prove that he’s up to the challenge. Emmaline might still be the sweet and quiet girl he left behind, but he’s not sure she willing to wait.

Since You’ve been Gone is the eighth book in Samantha Chase’s Magnolia Sound series. Loved this second chance romance featuring Emma Ryan and Garrett Coleman.

Emma and Garrett approach situations differently. Emma is a problem solver; she’s survived a messy divorce, she’s figured out how to pay down her ex-husband’s credit card debt and she enjoys her family and career as a speech therapist. She has one problem that she can’t solve—continued funding for her family’s animal shelter.

Emma comments on an Instagram video featuring her childhood friend veterinarian Garrett Coleman. The video has gone viral as it features a shirtless Garrett working at an animal shelter. Garrett reads the comment and stresses out—should he comment back? Call her? He’s had feelings for Emma since high school and has never acted on it. I loved that Garrett had a hard time making decisions—he is overly cautious and over thinks everything. Every. Single. Thing. Even though, he’s a media sensation with the hashtag #sexyvet; he lacks self-confidence.

Loved the relationship between Garrett and his brother Austin. Samantha Chase excels at creating “brother banter” and the conversations between Garrett and Austin add a lot of laughter and insight to the story. The brothers understand each other and challenge each other. The secondary characters of Austin, Mia, Ryder, Grace and Dominic add humor and drama to the novel and are significant to the plot.

Samantha Chase adds an additional layer to the story line when a character returns to Magnolia Sound, stirs up trouble and disappears without a trace. This plot choice added a lot of intrigue to the story and provides an additional story ARC for several characters in future books. I can’t wait to read the next books in the series!!!

Samantha Chase has created a wonderful second chance story for two star crossed lovers. Emma and Garrett’s past drew me into the story. Garrett’s indecision concerning his feelings towards Emma have haunted him for years. Emma wondered if they could have been more than friends, too. These feelings make this novel relatable. Who hasn’t wondered what could have been…..

I highly recommend Since You’ve been Gone! Emma and Garrett’s path to their HEA will pull at your heartstrings and make you believe in second chances. Settle in with a glass of wine and enjoy every word of this fabulous novel!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

Book purchased through Amazon