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

About the Book:

With her vision and his know-how, this thing just might work . . .

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, but he also seems determined to complicate her present as well.

In order to avoid forcing a buyout of Leah's building, Jon will have to strike a compromise. Can the two of them work together? Or will their troubled past set the tone for their future?

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My Thoughts:

Since You’ve Been Gone took a while to win me over. Having read previous stories by Tari Faris, I wasn’t surprised by the dual romances unfolding, but I didn’t appreciate Madison and Colby’s narrative interrupting Leah and Jon’s narrative. Somewhere around halfway through, I started to genuinely enjoy both stories. Leah and Jon remained my favorite couple in part due to their relationship history. Sometimes Leah’s drama and angst made me cringe, but I liked how she matured and learned life lessons. The concept of not letting a parent’s abandonment dictate your choices and beliefs about others resonated with me personally.

Since You’ve Been Gone lands as book three in the Restoring Heritage series by Tari Faris. A year or more ago, I read the prequel and book one (You Belong With Me), but I completely missed book two. As such, I struggled to keep all the side characters straight. I recommend reading the novels in order to avoid confusion, even though the story itself could be a stand-alone novel.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

First Line Fridays: Until I Met You by Tari Faris

Happy Friday! 

First Line Fridays is hosted by Hoarding Books and participants share the first line from a nearby book.

Today, I'm sharing the first line from Until I Met You by Tari Faris:

"Today was a new start, and this time running back home wasn't an option.."

Have you read Until I Met You? Book blurb below and you can read an excerpt on Revell's website.

What are you reading this weekend? I'd love for you to share your book's first line!

Happy reading!

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About the Book:

Welcome back to Heritage, Michigan--the small town with a big heart.

When she hears that the town of Heritage is looking for a new librarian, Libby Kingsley jumps at the opportunity. Little did she know the library is barely more than a basement room stuffed with dusty, outdated books. What the community really needs is a new building. But the only funds available are those being channeled into the new town square, and the landscape architect in charge of the project wants nothing to do with her plans.

All Austin Williams wants to do is get the town square project finished, and he hopes it is enough to save the family business. Then he can extricate himself from the town that reveres the brother who cost him so much. But the local media and the town's new librarian seem to be conspiring against him at every turn. Will the determined bookworm find her way into his blueprints--and possibly even his heart?

First Line Fridays: You Belong With Me by Tari Faris

Happy Friday!

First Line Fridays is hosted by Hoarding Books and participants share the first line from a nearby book.

Today I'm sharing the first lines from You Belong With Me by Tari Faris:

"Was she really the only one left who cared about this town?"

This book releases September 3, 2019, but I got an advanced reader copy as part of the launch team. Read my review here.

What are you reading this weekend?

Have a great weekend! Happy reading!


About the Book:

Realtor Hannah Thornton has many talents. Unfortunately, selling houses in the town where her family name is practically poison isn't one of them. When a business tycoon determines to raze historic homes in the small town of Heritage, Michigan, and replace them with a strip mall, Hannah resolves to stop him. She sets about helping Heritage win a restoration grant that will put the town back on the map--and hopefully finally repay the financial debt Hannah's mother caused the town. But at first no one supports her efforts--not even her best friend, Luke.

Luke Johnson may have grown up in Heritage, but as a foster kid he never truly felt as if he belonged. Now he has a chance to score a job as assistant fire chief and earn his place in the town. But when the interview process and Hannah's restoration project start unearthing things from his past, Luke must decide if belonging is worth the pain of being honest about who he is--and who he was.

Book Review: You Belong With Me by Tari Faris

About the Book:

Realtor Hannah Thornton has many talents. 
Unfortunately, selling houses isn't one of them. 

When a business tycoon determines to raze historic homes in the small town of Heritage, Michigan, and replace them with a strip mall, Hannah resolves to stop him. She sets about helping Heritage win a restoration grant that will put the town back on the map--and hopefully restore her disgraced family name. But she'll need help to do it.

As a foster kid, Luke Johnson never truly felt he belonged. Now he has a chance to earn his place in his hometown. But he doesn't anticipate how his relationship with Hannah will set into motion events that reveal the truth about who he is--and who he was.


My Thoughts:

You Belong With Me by Tari Faris caught my attention immediately with its engaging story and romantic tension. As I traveled through the plot twists and romantic developments, I didn't want to put the novel down. I was pleasantly surprised by the second love story and enjoyed it just as much as Hannah and Luke's story.

While the novel was a quick read and sometimes humorous, it also dealt with serious issues. I personally connected with the theme of brokenness. Little nuggets of wisdom drew attention to this theme and I found myself rereading sections to ponder the statements.

You Belong With Me is the first full-length installment in the Restoring Heritage series by Tari Faris. I love stories of restoration whether it's people, towns, or objects, so I expect to enjoy the restoration of the town being spread out over the series. Four stars for this inspirational contemporary romance!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided an ARC copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

June and July Reads

My June Reads:

Today I'm sharing a bit about what I've been reading and what I hope to read. In June, I finished:

1. P.S. Goodbye by Tari Faris.
2. The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White. - Read my review.
3. A Light on the Hill by Connilyn Cossette.
4. Shelter of the Most High by Connilyn Cossette
5. The King's Mercy by Lori Benton.
6. Daughter of Northern Shores by Joanne Bischof. - Read my Review.
7. Return to Dignity by Marilyn Skinner.
8. You Belong With Me by Tari Faris - Review coming soon.
9. Sunshine of Joy by Helen Steiner Rice. - I thoroughly enjoyed this poetry collection. I didn't agree with every idea, but the poetry is beautiful and much of it has been inspiring.

I enjoyed nearly all of these books. However, I felt that one of them was truly outstanding and it was.... The King's Mercy by Lori Benton. Read my review here.

Expected July Reads:

In July, I expect to read:

1. The Baggage Handler by David Rawlings. - My local book club chose this as our July selection.

2. A Touch of Gold by Annie Sullivan. - I don't read many YA novels, but this one sounds so good.

3. Until the Mountains Fall by Connilyn Cossette - Love, love, love her books! I just reread A Light on the Hill and read Shelter of the Most High for the first time to prep for reading this new release. Can't wait for it to arrive!

4. Woe Is I by Patricia T O'Connor - This book has been sitting on my Goodreads "currently reading" list for so long. I'll read it routinely for several days and then not pick it up for months.  Ugh. I need to finish it.

5. A Book of Blessings by Helen Steiner Rice - More of her poetry!

6. Love and Other Mistakes by Jessica Kate - This book has been on my radar for some time and I'm excited to give it a try!

 What will you read this month?