Teasing You (The Donovans: Sweetbriar Ridge 2) by Samantha Chase

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 26, 2024

Ashlynn Donovan’s life just hit rock bottom. She lost her job, there are no prospects on the horizon, and she just unknowingly flashed the hot new firefighter in town. This isn’t the first time she’s embarrassed herself in front of him, but she was prepared to react the same way she did years ago – by running away. But Reid’s persistent and isn’t ready to let her get away a second time.

Reid Baylor always hoped to return to Sweetbriar Ridge—the only place he’s felt a connection to after a lifetime spent moving from place to place. When he learns of an opening in the fire department, he jumps at the chance to return to the small town he wants to call home again. And just when he thinks life can’t get any better, he runs into the one girl he’s never been able to forget. But reminding Ashlynn of their embarrassing first meeting might not have been the best move, especially when he wants to prove that he’s the man for her.

When Ashlynn is suspected of arson for the fire at her former workplace, Reid’s dream of becoming a fire inspector is on the line—and so is any chance he had with Ashlynn. Will his chance at getting both his dream job and the girl of his dreams go up in flames?

••••••

REVIEW:TEASING YOU is the second instalment in Samantha Chase’s contemporary, adult THE DONOVANS: SWEETBRIAR RIDGE romance series-a spin off from the author’s THE DONOVANS series. This is hair stylist Ashlyn Donovan, and firefighter Reid Baylor’s story line. TEASING YOU can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information form the previous story line or series is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Reid and Ashlyn) TEASING YOU follows the building relationship between our story line couple. Reid Baylor has crushed on Ashlyn Donovan for as long as he can remember but when he family moved away from Sweetbriar Ridge, Reid never expected to see Ashlyn again. Fast forward to present day, Reid is returning Sweetbriar Ridge as a firefighter but a friend’s engagement brings Reid up close and personal with our story line heroine. Ashlyn Donovan is struggling in the wake of losing her job but a suspicious fire at her former place of employment points a finger at Ashlyn Donovan, and a new relationship with Reid Baylor threatens any and all hopes for a unbiased investigation. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Reid and Ashlyn, and the potential fall-out as the investigation into the fire pushes Reid out of Ashlyn’s life, as Ashlyn struggles to prove she is not the guilty party.

The world building focuses on second-chances, of a sort. Reid and Ashley’s high school friendship was tumultuous at best, and his return to Sweetbriar Ridge only adds insult to injury when everything begins to spiral out of control. Someone is pointing fingers at our story line heroine, and her relationship with Reid is collapsing in response. There are no $ex scenes-everything is implied.

Once again, there is a large ensemble cast of familiar secondary and supporting characters including many of whom we met in the previous series. We are introduced to Ashlyn’s twin Chloe, their old sister Billie, as well as the return of their brother Levi and his girlfriend Jade.

TEASING YOU is a story of betrayal, jealousy and vengeance, secrets and lies, family and friendships, relationships and love. The premise is spirited ; the characters re animated and determined; the romance is passionate.

click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one LOVING YOU

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Reviewed by Sandy

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Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance that’s hotter than sweet, sweeter than hot. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than seventy titles under her belt – including THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE which was a Hallmark Christmas movie in 2017! She’s a Disney enthusiast who still happily listens to 80’s rock. When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 30 years and their two sons in Wake Forest, North Carolina.