Pretty predictable, but still an enjoyable, quick read ( )

The One That Got Away is a delightfully charming debut novel by Bethany Chase. It is a sweet, funny and poignant story that I absolutely LOVED and highly recommend to fans of contemporary romances.

At long last, Sarina Mahler has her life together. Her architect business is beginning to taking off and she is almost engaged to her boyfriend of four years, Noah, who is a lawyer currently working on a project in Argentina. She is finally ready to face her roommate's best friend Eamon Roy for the first time since he walked out her without explanation after a brief fling seven years earlier. Although she wants to limit contact with the man who broke her heart, she agrees to work for him when he needs an architect to renovate his fixer upper. Sarina is dismayed to discover she is still drawn to Eamon, but with picture perfect Noah ready to take their relationship to the next level, which man will she choose?

Sarina is a vivacious, witty thirty something who has a lot going for her. She has a great network of friends who are supportive while at the same time, they are brutally honest with her when she needs advice. Although her mom passed away years earlier, she is still very close to her stepfather. Sarina's relationship with Noah is comfortable and safe but they are beginning to feel the strain of their yearlong separation. Sarina is a little surprised at how easily and quickly she and Eamon pick up their friendship despite the hurt feelings she still nurses from their abrupt break up. The spend a lot more time together than she planned, but she enjoys his company too much to give up. When her relationship with Noah hits a major snag, she is torn between staying with the safe choice or risking her heart again.

In Eamon's defense, he was young and still in college when he unceremoniously dumped Sarina. He was intensely focused on his training for the Olympics and he had some tough choices to make about his future. During the intervening years, Eamon matured, overcame a horrific accident and achieved his dream of becoming a gold medal Olympic swimmer. He is now retired and beginning the next phase of his life and he is ready to put down roots. He is rather enigmatic about what he wants from Sarina so it is understandable that she has doubts about his intentions. He tries to be patient as she sorts through her options, but Eamon also pushes her to get off the fence about what (and who) she wants.

The relationship between Eamon and Sarina is slow building but there is no denying the chemistry between them. They both respect Sarina's relationship with Noah but Eamon and Sarina definitely enjoy one another's company. They eventually sort out what went wrong the first time they dated but Sarina remains committed to Noah despite the doubts that are starting to creep in about her future with him. Sarina comes to a crossroads after a tragic loss and while this clarifies what she needs to do next, she still has doubts about following through with her decision. This leads to a misunderstanding that could have been avoided if she had been more honest.

The One That Got Away is an engaging novel with a wonderful cast of likable characters. Bethany Chase puts a unique and refreshing spin on a familiar plot and the resulting story is absolutely marvelous. An overall warm and witty debut that leaves me impatiently awaiting her next release! ( )

I'm not quite sure what it is about this book, but I just found it incredibly difficult to get invested in the storyline or characters. There was absolutely nothing that grabbed my attention. I've made numerous attempts to read this book and always wind up setting it down after a few pages. Guess this just isn't the book for me.

I really enjoyed this book. I am not sure what the main character's issue was mid read but it was a pretty good book. I will look for others by the author. ( )

There's plenty of sexual attraction in this tale of renewed romance. At least Sarina breaks things off with her boyfriend before she finally gets together with her long lost love. I liked Sarina as a strong, capable woman and the grief that she experiences in connection with her parents rings true. ( )