Book Review: Since You’ve Been Gone by Tari Faris

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What is this book about?

Leah Williams is back in the quaint town of Heritage, Michigan, and ready to try again to make her business a success. But blank slates are hard to come by, and a piece of her past is waiting for her there. Heir to the Heritage Fruits Company, Jonathan Kensington is the guy who not only made Leah’s past difficult, he also seems determined to complicate her present as well.

Jon is trying to prove to the Heritage Fruits board that he, not his manipulative uncle, should be running the business. The board insists Jon find a new owner for the building that will house Leah’s business. To avoid forcing a buyout of Leah’s part of the building, Jon strikes a compromise with Leah, and the two go into business together. With her vision and his know-how, it might work. And Leah might realize he’s loved her since high school. If only he didn’t keep on shooting himself in the foot by boxing her out of important decisions.

Sparks fly in this romantic story of two people who must learn to trust both each other and the one who called them to this journey.

My review:

There was lots of chemistry between Jon and Leah making for a nice romance. Then there was a bonus of even more chemistry between two secondary characters. Lots of romance to go around in the little town of Heritage, Michigan. For those following the series, we also learn the secret of Otis the traveling Hippo. 🙂

I loved Jon right from the start. He was a stand-up guy and completely misunderstood by Leah from the very beginning. I thought he was extremely patient with her. Much more so than I would have been.

Leah was a struggle for me to like. At first I could understand her cautiousness about Jon but as time went on, I just wanted to shake some sense into her. At the end I wasn’t sure if I believed that there would be a happy ever after for them because she would have to do some major growing up to get there.

The best part of this story, for me, was actually the secondary romance between Colby and Madison. There was great chemistry between them. I also loved Madison’s journey to redemption. This was a wonderful lesson in God’s undeserved love for us.

What I enjoyed most about this book:

Madison and Colby’s romance.

What I didn’t like about this book:

Leah’s quickness to give up when the going got tough.

Would I recommend this book to others? Yes. Very nice redemption thread and clean, yet steamy romance between the characters. This is the third book in the series. It can be read as a standalone, but this book includes the spoiler of the traveling hippo.

Note: I received this book complimentary as a participant in the Revell blog tour. I was not required to give a positive review. All of the opinions I have expressed here are my own.

Where can I learn more about this author and their books?

Tari Faris, author website

-Loraine Nunley

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