All the Befores (Magnolia Sound 3.5) by Samantha Chase-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 10, 2019

Susannah Westbrook never thought she’d find love again.

After a failed marriage, focusing on her children instead of her love life was the best thing to do. Now years later, she’s content with her life. But when she meets Colton Hale, she decides that she wants to be more than just content—she’s ready to take a chance on love once again.

After just a year of being together, Colton is ready to spend forever with Susannah—to give her the happily ever after she deserves. But old insecurities have a way of making a comeback when you least want them to.

Will they be able to get over all their befores for a chance at their happy ever after?

••••••••

REVIEW:ALL THE BEFORES is instalment 3.5 in Samantha Chase’s contemporary, adult MAGNOLIA SOUND romance series focusing on the Westbrook family. This is forty year old contractor Colton Hale, and forty-five year old B&B owner Susannah Westbrook. ALL THE BEFORES can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

SOME BACKGROUND: The late Ezekiel Coleman, one of the original founding members of Magnolia Cove, left each of his heirs something different, a business or business plan, in an effort to bring together his dysfunction family.

Told from several third person perspectives including Susannah and Colton ALL THE BEFORES follows divorcee and single mother of two grown children, Susannah Westbrook, as she struggles moving on with her life. Ezekiel Coleman left the family homestead to Susannah, and our heroine would find purpose in Magnolia Cove turning the homestead into a B&B. Now that her children were falling in love and having babies of their own, Susannah battled memories of the past including the failure of her first marriage, a failure that she continues to blame on herself. Nine months of dating, and having fallen in love, Colton Hale asked Susannah Westbrook for her hand in marriage, but Susannah would panic fearing failing all over again. What ensues is the breakdown of Susannah and Colton’s relationship as Susannah struggles with issues of self-esteem, insecurities, and another possible failure.

The secondary and supporting characters include Susannah’s children Mallory and her fiancé Jake, Sam (and Shelby), as well as their cousin Mason (and Scarlet), and Mason’s mother Georgia Bishop.

ALL THE BEFORES is a quick read; a story of family and friendships, love and happily ever after. Susannah and Colton are a mature couple, having previous relationships that ended in divorce. Colton is hoping to move forward by marrying the woman he loves but Susannah struggles with taking their relationship to the next level and beyond. The premise is heartfelt; the romance is passionate and sweet; the $ex scenes are mostly implied; the characters are energetic and colorful.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Sunkissed Days
Remind Me
A Girl Like You
In case You Didn’t Know

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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New York Times and USA Today Bestseller/contemporary romance writer Samantha Chase released her debut novel, Jordan’s Return, in November 2011. Although she waited until she was in her 40’s to publish for the first time, writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well.

When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in NorthCarolina.