Emmaline Ryan the good girl who helps everyone. She may have has some hangups after an abusive relationship with her ex- husband who left her in debt. She try’s to help her mom and stepdad, who needs back surgery. The town does its best to volunteer at her family’s pet rescue, but what she really needs is a miracle to get all the pups adopted. Enter Garrett Coleman, the Hot, Sexy Vet, internet sensation who is touring vet clinics getting animals adopted with his shirtless videos, and Emma’s childhood best friend.

Garrett met Emmaline, the girl of his dreams, when he was in elementary school, she was his tutor and he spent his time crushing hard on Emma, but never told her. He is only back in Magnolia Sound for the weekend, but he makes plans to run into Emma while on his visit, and plans to ask her out on a date. Then next thing Garrett knows Emma is literally running into him in the grocery store the first night in.

When Garrett and Emma get that date he tells her he leaves first thing next week to tour his pick of new vet clinics, but he’d give anything for these clinics to appreciate how good his veterinary skills are, not just how good he looks without a shirt on. Emma knows she can not ask him to promote Happy Tails after his declaration, and is glad her shyness didn’t get her to ask sooner.

The following Sunday Garrett shows up to Happy Tails just in time for Axel, Emmas favorite rescue dog, Axel, to slip the fence into the new area on the property and the oncoming storm to open up. Running into the barn they find Axel and Garrett kisses Emma! But Axel wanted into the mix too and they stop kissing. Giving Emma the time to question how Garrett wants her. Weeks pass and after a few visits to vet clinics Garrett surprises Emmaline by showing up on her doorstep for a weekend visit. While home for the weekend Garrett unexpectedly runs into the last person he ever expected to see, his father. He drops some very unexpected news which could change Garretts and Emmas plans.

Review: I did request this ARC audiobook from Netgally. I really enjoyed Since you’ve been gone. It is the 8th book in the series, but I was able to keep up with the characters without reading the earlier books. I enjoyed Garrett and Emma’s story, giving this story a solid 4. I do have a special place for a friends to lovers romance as I was friends with my husband before we were married as well, and this story does not disappoint.

Purchase this book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3jmipqA