by Tari Faris

Since You’ve Been Gone, oh glory. This is a wonderful book. As an aspiring novelist, I read a LOT. The books that I love the most are the ones that pull me in and make me care.

The lovely town of Heritage is playing host to two former residents. Failed business owner Leah, and the man who tormented her in High School, retired pro basketball star, Jon. The two are forced into opening a new store together as Leah works to get her life back on track. Jon wants to prove he can take over the company his father left him, but can he earn the board’s trust?

As the two team up, what Leah realizes is Jon wasn’t poking fun at her all those years ago, he was trying to pay sincere compliments. And the feelings that prompted the attention have only grown. Now she must decide if she can trust a man with the power to destroy her heart.

Meanwhile, Maddie, who sees herself as the black sheep of the family has come back to town. She needs to restore and sell her father’s house. And she’s haunted by the memories of an abusive childhood while coming to terms with an unplanned pregnancy. Christian music star Colby has come to lay low in Heritage. He’s handling a scandal that wasn’t of his making, but tainted his career. Can he rebuild while falling in love with an unmarried mother?

Otis revealed

As with the previous Heritage books (highly recommended), I cared about the characters so quickly that I had to go back and look at how Faris works as a writer. Her use of setting, dialogue and characterization are spot on, and I find myself wishing I were part of this group of friends. The town is as charming as ever, and brace yourselves, the mystery of Otis is finally revealed. Let’s be honest, now, even if the rest of the story wasn’t fabulous (it is), the secret behind the brass hippo – that’s worth picking the book up for, right there!