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Welcome to Paradise #4
Since You've Been Gone
What happens on the road can follow you all the way home.
Austin Bishop is going home to face some difficult truths, but that doesn’t mean he can’t take the long way home. So rather than hop on a plane, he accepts a photography assignment that requires a cross-country drive.
The road can be a lonely place, though, and when he spots a cute redhead leaning against a broken-down car, he stops to offer the stranded damsel a ride.
Mari Smith has lost her job and her apartment, she’s moving back in with her parents, and now it looks like she’s without a car, too. When a sexy, dark-haired stranger stops to help, she’s utterly grateful. And utterly tempted to explore their sizzling chemistry.
The fresh-faced Mari is so sweet, so smoking hot, so easy to be with, Austin finds himself spilling a shocking secret he’s been holding onto for the past year. But passion doesn’t fix everything. And Austin realizes he has some personal demons to vanquish before he and Mari can hope for a chance at forever.
Warning: This book features a hero who knows exactly what he wants between the sheets and a redhead who isn’t scared to give it to him!
Austin Bishop is going home to face some difficult truths, but that doesn’t mean he can’t take the long way home. So rather than hop on a plane, he accepts a photography assignment that requires a cross-country drive.
The road can be a lonely place, though, and when he spots a cute redhead leaning against a broken-down car, he stops to offer the stranded damsel a ride.
Mari Smith has lost her job and her apartment, she’s moving back in with her parents, and now it looks like she’s without a car, too. When a sexy, dark-haired stranger stops to help, she’s utterly grateful. And utterly tempted to explore their sizzling chemistry.
The fresh-faced Mari is so sweet, so smoking hot, so easy to be with, Austin finds himself spilling a shocking secret he’s been holding onto for the past year. But passion doesn’t fix everything. And Austin realizes he has some personal demons to vanquish before he and Mari can hope for a chance at forever.
Warning: This book features a hero who knows exactly what he wants between the sheets and a redhead who isn’t scared to give it to him!
150 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 22, 2013
8 people are currently reading
1142 people want to read
About the author
Elle Kennedy
187 books89.3k followersA New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.
Elle currently writes for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!
Elle currently writes for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 19, 2015
The story's a bit predictable personally to me, but I enjoyed it anyway. It's kind of relatable and I liked it. Look forward to read another book by Elle Kennedy!
January 8, 2017
I'm not going to lie - I chose this book because of a reading challenge that required a book with a song title.
What a surprise I got! Austin is a freelance photographer avoiding his hometown after a shocking family secret was revealed to him last year. He is taking the long way home for his Mother's 50th birthday and doesn't plan to be there for the party. Mari is moving back home with her parents after losing her job as an art teacher due to budget cuts and no hurry to get there. They meet when Austin stops to help Mari when her cars dies. The two connect right away and decide to spend a few days together as just friends on a road trip....well you know what they say about the best laid plans.
I enjoyed reading this story and may even go back to read the previous ones.
I saw that this is the last book in the series which makes me sad as I was hoping maybe Della and Rice would get a story.
What a surprise I got! Austin is a freelance photographer avoiding his hometown after a shocking family secret was revealed to him last year. He is taking the long way home for his Mother's 50th birthday and doesn't plan to be there for the party. Mari is moving back home with her parents after losing her job as an art teacher due to budget cuts and no hurry to get there. They meet when Austin stops to help Mari when her cars dies. The two connect right away and decide to spend a few days together as just friends on a road trip....well you know what they say about the best laid plans.
I enjoyed reading this story and may even go back to read the previous ones.
I saw that this is the last book in the series which makes me sad as I was hoping maybe Della and Rice would get a story.
November 21, 2013
Rating 3.25 star
September 16, 2021
3.5 Stars. Was going to give it four, but it fell apart in the end.
Minor spoilers ahead:
I normally love Elle Kennedy, but this one was a bit of a mixed bag for me. While I think there is plenty here to enjoy, the last twenty percent or so wasn’t great and ruined some of the good things Kennedy had going in the story.
The blurb caught my attention cause I love road trip romances, and I think that part was great. Yes, some suspension of disbelief is required in order to accept that Mari would choose to go on an impromptu holiday with a stranger, but it’s a romance novel, so I’m not going to complain about that. The meet cute was well done, and the chemistry and banter between the main characters was good, as I found their instant connection genuine and endearing. I loved how they were able to communicate and talk about their feelings in an honest and open way.
The problems started when the pair went to Paradise and the “drama” part of the story started to unfold. I wouldn’t say it was poorly done exactly, but the story suffers from novella syndrome, which is basically authors biting more than they can chew and cramming what could very well be a full length novel into 150 pages. Kennedy’s ideas were good, but she could’ve easily spread them out and written a compelling contemporary romance instead of a rushing through the emotions in order to finish quickly.
Had she focused more on the trip and building Austin and Mari’s connection before delving into the family drama and the emotional core of the story, this could’ve been great. But no, we get insta love and conveniently disappearing trauma instead.
In terms of characters, I will admit that there is more here than in the average novella. Austin and his family were all pretty fleshed out, and their feelings and human failings conveyed in a very realistic way. I felt for Austin, as I thought he was right by thinking they screwed him over, and frankly, his parents were pretty damn selfish and self-serving when it came to making hard decisions. Sadly, all his inner turmoil was quickly swept under the rug at the end to facilitate a “happy” ending, which was a disservice to his character (also, him acting like a complete ass at the end felt rather contrived, like drama for the sake of drama and not because him as a character would actually do what he did, especially considering that up until this point he was pretty mature). If Kennedy had fleshed the conflict out a bit more, I think the problems the family was facing and how each member dealt with it could’ve been a very interesting story.
As for Mari, I think the problem was that she was relegated to be the love interest in her own story. I never got a clear sense of who she was a person, and there isn’t any real character development for her, as she doesn’t really struggle with much of anything throughout the novel. There were some tidbits that could’ve been interesting, such as her relationship with her parents, her work and her future goals, but Kennedy never does anything with it, so Mari ends up being a bit of a non-character. I also didn’t like how she insinuated herself within the Bishop family affairs, as she did it out of interest rather than genuine concern for Austin.
In terms of romance, everything was great until the end, where things felt very rushed like I said.
Maybe if Austin and Mari had known each other previously, then the second part of the story could’ve worked better, as it wouldn’t feel so jarring to have a veritable stranger get mixed up in problems that don’t concern her. (And the family being a ok with it).
I guess what I’m trying to say is that the story is divided in two chunks and said chunks don’t quite fit together properly.
Minor spoilers ahead:
I normally love Elle Kennedy, but this one was a bit of a mixed bag for me. While I think there is plenty here to enjoy, the last twenty percent or so wasn’t great and ruined some of the good things Kennedy had going in the story.
The blurb caught my attention cause I love road trip romances, and I think that part was great. Yes, some suspension of disbelief is required in order to accept that Mari would choose to go on an impromptu holiday with a stranger, but it’s a romance novel, so I’m not going to complain about that. The meet cute was well done, and the chemistry and banter between the main characters was good, as I found their instant connection genuine and endearing. I loved how they were able to communicate and talk about their feelings in an honest and open way.
The problems started when the pair went to Paradise and the “drama” part of the story started to unfold. I wouldn’t say it was poorly done exactly, but the story suffers from novella syndrome, which is basically authors biting more than they can chew and cramming what could very well be a full length novel into 150 pages. Kennedy’s ideas were good, but she could’ve easily spread them out and written a compelling contemporary romance instead of a rushing through the emotions in order to finish quickly.
Had she focused more on the trip and building Austin and Mari’s connection before delving into the family drama and the emotional core of the story, this could’ve been great. But no, we get insta love and conveniently disappearing trauma instead.
In terms of characters, I will admit that there is more here than in the average novella. Austin and his family were all pretty fleshed out, and their feelings and human failings conveyed in a very realistic way. I felt for Austin, as I thought he was right by thinking they screwed him over, and frankly, his parents were pretty damn selfish and self-serving when it came to making hard decisions. Sadly, all his inner turmoil was quickly swept under the rug at the end to facilitate a “happy” ending, which was a disservice to his character (also, him acting like a complete ass at the end felt rather contrived, like drama for the sake of drama and not because him as a character would actually do what he did, especially considering that up until this point he was pretty mature). If Kennedy had fleshed the conflict out a bit more, I think the problems the family was facing and how each member dealt with it could’ve been a very interesting story.
As for Mari, I think the problem was that she was relegated to be the love interest in her own story. I never got a clear sense of who she was a person, and there isn’t any real character development for her, as she doesn’t really struggle with much of anything throughout the novel. There were some tidbits that could’ve been interesting, such as her relationship with her parents, her work and her future goals, but Kennedy never does anything with it, so Mari ends up being a bit of a non-character. I also didn’t like how she insinuated herself within the Bishop family affairs, as she did it out of interest rather than genuine concern for Austin.
In terms of romance, everything was great until the end, where things felt very rushed like I said.
Maybe if Austin and Mari had known each other previously, then the second part of the story could’ve worked better, as it wouldn’t feel so jarring to have a veritable stranger get mixed up in problems that don’t concern her. (And the family being a ok with it).
I guess what I’m trying to say is that the story is divided in two chunks and said chunks don’t quite fit together properly.
December 5, 2021
Love this author!!
January 27, 2014
Slick‘s review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
Review copy provided for an honest review
4.5 STARS
I’m a huge fan of author Elle Kennedy, I’ve loved her Out of Uniform series immensely, and the Paradise series has been good as well. The last book in this series left me a little disappointed so I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this one, but from the first chapter I was hooked. I fell in love with Austin who’s been brooding during the last couple of books and Mari who honestly is like a ray of sunshine. Sometimes you meet people who change your life and for Austin and Mari, their chance meeting not only changed their lives but the lives of his family as well.
Austin Bishop is the youngest of four boys. He was always close to his mother until a year ago when a discovery about his life left him feeling unbalanced and hurt. As a famous photographer, Austin has always traveled but for the last year he’s tried to stay clear of his hometown of Paradise only returning when he must for a family function. His mother’s 50th birthday is around the corner but Austin doesn’t want to be there so he’s dragging out an assignment to try and stay away.
Mari Smith lost her job due to budget cuts and is forced to move from Chicago back to Des Moines to live with her parents. It’s not a move she’s looking forward to; she loves her parents but feels they’ve never understood her. When her car breaks down by the side of road and a sexy guy offers her help she figures what does she have to lose and accepts his help.
This first thing that struck me was as soon as Austin meets Mari his whole demeanor changes, we get a glimpse of the guy he use to be. The fun, prank playing brother that his siblings remember. I found it interesting how after spending the day together they weren’t ready to part ways, as a reader you could feel their connection and it wasn’t just sexual there was a bond forming between them that even they didn’t see. I wasn’t at all surprised when they continued on together or the fact that they eventually gave into their attraction and wow there is no denying these two have chemistry to spare. Hot, hot, hot!
I loved the interaction between these two while on the road and once they arrive in Paradise. It’s easy to see that Austin has come to rely on Mari for support and Mari loves that she can be herself with Austin. I’d like to say that Austin was able to clear the air easily with his family but that’s not the case. I will say that my suspicions from the last book regarding the rift between him and his mother were confirmed. I give Austin credit for trying very hard to accept what has happened, but I also understand how the news affected him as well.
This is a complicated story for a short book and I’m going to say that you will absolutely get more out of this story if you’ve read the previous books in this series. Can you read this one as a standalone?
yes, but I’m not sure you would enjoy it as much. Overall, I’ve enjoyed this series but this book is by far my favorite. I love how this couple met, the fast friendship that formed, the trust given and received, and the love that grew out of it. Since You’ve Been Gone is about discovering that your past doesn’t dictate your future and with a little luck and a lot of love your future can change in an instant.
Review copy provided for an honest review
4.5 STARS
I’m a huge fan of author Elle Kennedy, I’ve loved her Out of Uniform series immensely, and the Paradise series has been good as well. The last book in this series left me a little disappointed so I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this one, but from the first chapter I was hooked. I fell in love with Austin who’s been brooding during the last couple of books and Mari who honestly is like a ray of sunshine. Sometimes you meet people who change your life and for Austin and Mari, their chance meeting not only changed their lives but the lives of his family as well.
Austin Bishop is the youngest of four boys. He was always close to his mother until a year ago when a discovery about his life left him feeling unbalanced and hurt. As a famous photographer, Austin has always traveled but for the last year he’s tried to stay clear of his hometown of Paradise only returning when he must for a family function. His mother’s 50th birthday is around the corner but Austin doesn’t want to be there so he’s dragging out an assignment to try and stay away.
Mari Smith lost her job due to budget cuts and is forced to move from Chicago back to Des Moines to live with her parents. It’s not a move she’s looking forward to; she loves her parents but feels they’ve never understood her. When her car breaks down by the side of road and a sexy guy offers her help she figures what does she have to lose and accepts his help.
This first thing that struck me was as soon as Austin meets Mari his whole demeanor changes, we get a glimpse of the guy he use to be. The fun, prank playing brother that his siblings remember. I found it interesting how after spending the day together they weren’t ready to part ways, as a reader you could feel their connection and it wasn’t just sexual there was a bond forming between them that even they didn’t see. I wasn’t at all surprised when they continued on together or the fact that they eventually gave into their attraction and wow there is no denying these two have chemistry to spare. Hot, hot, hot!
I loved the interaction between these two while on the road and once they arrive in Paradise. It’s easy to see that Austin has come to rely on Mari for support and Mari loves that she can be herself with Austin. I’d like to say that Austin was able to clear the air easily with his family but that’s not the case. I will say that my suspicions from the last book regarding the rift between him and his mother were confirmed. I give Austin credit for trying very hard to accept what has happened, but I also understand how the news affected him as well.
This is a complicated story for a short book and I’m going to say that you will absolutely get more out of this story if you’ve read the previous books in this series. Can you read this one as a standalone?
yes, but I’m not sure you would enjoy it as much. Overall, I’ve enjoyed this series but this book is by far my favorite. I love how this couple met, the fast friendship that formed, the trust given and received, and the love that grew out of it. Since You’ve Been Gone is about discovering that your past doesn’t dictate your future and with a little luck and a lot of love your future can change in an instant.
November 23, 2014
Blue Ribbon Rating: 4 out of 5
Original Review Link
For the past year, Austin Bishop has been trying to avoid his family…and the secret he can’t bear to face. He knows he has to go home to Paradise eventually, but that doesn’t mean the young photojournalist is going to rush to get there. When an assignment comes along to photograph small town Main Streets, he grabs at the excuse to take even longer to come home. Then fate throws a curveball at him in the form of a sexy, stranded redhead. Mari Smith is an out-of-work teacher whose car just died on her in the middle of nowhere. Playing knight to Mari’s damsel-in-distress seems like a good distraction for Austin at first, but it’s not long before their new friendship turns into something more. Mari soothes him in a way no one else ever has, and he’ll need her comforting presence if he’s to face what waits for him at the end of his trip.
The youngest Bishop brother meets his match in the fast-paced, fun and emotional SINCE YOU’VE BEEN GONE. I’ve adored every Bishop brother book in the WELCOME TO PARADISE series and Austin’s is no exception.
Austin had his world turned upside down a year ago when he uncovered a family secret, and it’s been eating at him ever since. He’s always been close to his family, but now he feels like an outsider and he doesn’t take it well. Strangely enough, one of my favorite things about SINCE YOU’VE BEEN GONE is that Austin doesn’t handle his altered view of his family well. Author Elle Kennedy does an excellent job of making Austin a realistic character, and there are plenty of ups and downs for the whole Bishop family as Austin struggles to cope with what he knows. Mari is the catalyst for Austin’s change for the better, and I loved her for it. In fact, there’s pretty much nothing not to love about Mari. Her exuberance and zest for life is infectious, leaping off the page and bringing sunshine to the story. Her relationship with Austin is sexy as hell – as one might expect from an Elle Kennedy book – but more than that, Mari and Austin are simply a great fit. I loved watching these two swiftly fall in love.
SINCE YOU’VE BEEN GONE is the fourth book in the WELCOME TO PARADISE series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. Of course, all your favorite heroes and heroines are back from WELCOME TO PARADISE, TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT and BORN TO BE WILD, and it was lovely to see the whole Bishop family together. Whether you’re an old fan of this series or are just diving in with Austin and Mari’s book, you’re sure to adore SINCE YOU’VE BEEN GONE.
Note: My review was written for Romance Junkies and is cross-posted here courtesy of Romance Junkies.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Original Review Link
For the past year, Austin Bishop has been trying to avoid his family…and the secret he can’t bear to face. He knows he has to go home to Paradise eventually, but that doesn’t mean the young photojournalist is going to rush to get there. When an assignment comes along to photograph small town Main Streets, he grabs at the excuse to take even longer to come home. Then fate throws a curveball at him in the form of a sexy, stranded redhead. Mari Smith is an out-of-work teacher whose car just died on her in the middle of nowhere. Playing knight to Mari’s damsel-in-distress seems like a good distraction for Austin at first, but it’s not long before their new friendship turns into something more. Mari soothes him in a way no one else ever has, and he’ll need her comforting presence if he’s to face what waits for him at the end of his trip.
The youngest Bishop brother meets his match in the fast-paced, fun and emotional SINCE YOU’VE BEEN GONE. I’ve adored every Bishop brother book in the WELCOME TO PARADISE series and Austin’s is no exception.
Austin had his world turned upside down a year ago when he uncovered a family secret, and it’s been eating at him ever since. He’s always been close to his family, but now he feels like an outsider and he doesn’t take it well. Strangely enough, one of my favorite things about SINCE YOU’VE BEEN GONE is that Austin doesn’t handle his altered view of his family well. Author Elle Kennedy does an excellent job of making Austin a realistic character, and there are plenty of ups and downs for the whole Bishop family as Austin struggles to cope with what he knows. Mari is the catalyst for Austin’s change for the better, and I loved her for it. In fact, there’s pretty much nothing not to love about Mari. Her exuberance and zest for life is infectious, leaping off the page and bringing sunshine to the story. Her relationship with Austin is sexy as hell – as one might expect from an Elle Kennedy book – but more than that, Mari and Austin are simply a great fit. I loved watching these two swiftly fall in love.
SINCE YOU’VE BEEN GONE is the fourth book in the WELCOME TO PARADISE series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. Of course, all your favorite heroes and heroines are back from WELCOME TO PARADISE, TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT and BORN TO BE WILD, and it was lovely to see the whole Bishop family together. Whether you’re an old fan of this series or are just diving in with Austin and Mari’s book, you’re sure to adore SINCE YOU’VE BEEN GONE.
Note: My review was written for Romance Junkies and is cross-posted here courtesy of Romance Junkies.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
April 12, 2016
Since You've Been Gone, the fourth book of the Welcome to Paradise series, was my favorite book of the series. And Austin Bishop and Mari Smith were my favorite couple of the series.
Austin had the gorgeous sexy alpha vibe known to the Bishop brothers, but he was also charming, sensitive, intelligent, and artistic. Mari was feisty, funny, intelligent, beautiful and a great match for Austin. Meeting by chance with a broken down vehicle and throwing caution to the wind to travel the small towns across the country led Austin and Mari to a foundation of friendship sparked with chemistry.
I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and with the trek across the country, it allowed Kennedy to fully develop the characters of Austin and Mari. Both the plot and the characters had depth, dimension and substance. Since You've Been Gone was a great way to end the Welcome to Paradise series. As always, I look forward to more from Kennedy.
Austin had the gorgeous sexy alpha vibe known to the Bishop brothers, but he was also charming, sensitive, intelligent, and artistic. Mari was feisty, funny, intelligent, beautiful and a great match for Austin. Meeting by chance with a broken down vehicle and throwing caution to the wind to travel the small towns across the country led Austin and Mari to a foundation of friendship sparked with chemistry.
I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and with the trek across the country, it allowed Kennedy to fully develop the characters of Austin and Mari. Both the plot and the characters had depth, dimension and substance. Since You've Been Gone was a great way to end the Welcome to Paradise series. As always, I look forward to more from Kennedy.
August 19, 2014
What I liked
The growing relationship between Mari and Austin as she really helps overcome his family issues and makes him smile again.
What I didn’t like
Nothing really, good book throughout
Characters
Austin is still reeling from his mother's confession and is lost but when he meets Mari she is a breath of fresh air for him and helps work out what to do with his family.
Overall
Sweet sexy story and loved the chance meeting of the characters and how they fell in love.
The growing relationship between Mari and Austin as she really helps overcome his family issues and makes him smile again.
What I didn’t like
Nothing really, good book throughout
Characters
Austin is still reeling from his mother's confession and is lost but when he meets Mari she is a breath of fresh air for him and helps work out what to do with his family.
Overall
Sweet sexy story and loved the chance meeting of the characters and how they fell in love.
January 1, 2016
I think that this was my favorite of the series.
I really liked Austin, I really liked Mari.
I liked how they met, and how things wrapped up.
I was actually surprised
Now that my mad dash to read more books in 2015 is over, I am going to bed. But yes, I definitely liked how this series ended, and all of them in it.
I really liked Austin, I really liked Mari.
I liked how they met, and how things wrapped up.
I was actually surprised
Now that my mad dash to read more books in 2015 is over, I am going to bed. But yes, I definitely liked how this series ended, and all of them in it.
June 25, 2016
Review Posted on HarlequinJunkie.com
4.5 Stars
In Since You’ve Been Gone (Welcome to Paradise #4) by Elle Kennedy, Mari Smith has no choice but to return to her childhood home and her parents, when her position as an art teacher in Chicago has been eliminated due to the poor economy. She loves all types of art and is a very good sketcher.
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4.5 Stars
In Since You’ve Been Gone (Welcome to Paradise #4) by Elle Kennedy, Mari Smith has no choice but to return to her childhood home and her parents, when her position as an art teacher in Chicago has been eliminated due to the poor economy. She loves all types of art and is a very good sketcher.
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August 29, 2016Elle Kennedy is one of my favourite authors but I couldn't buy into a woman taking off on an impromptu road trip with a strange guy she meets on the side of the road.
October 25, 2013
3.5 Stars
Romance with a bit of family drama added.
Romance with a bit of family drama added.
September 2, 2014
I didn't liked it as much as the other books, but it was enjoyable and I loved meeting the other characters again.
January 27, 2015
Really loved this series. We journey through the lives of four brothers all different but all who love family.
January 27, 2016
this one by far was my favorite because I loved Austin's story and Mari's personality. the ending scene was fabulous
February 24, 2016
ambos sienten que no encajan en su pueblo natal. el destino los une y se ayudan mutuamente con su compañía. Ella le hace ver que el secreto de su familia no significa que no sea parte de ella.
poco
poco
October 29, 2016
Mari brought Austin back home to face his demos. They met in an unexpected way and ended up hitting it off in a cute, sexy way. I really liked them
June 17, 2015
Sweet story. It just dragged a bit.
September 1, 2015
It was a quick read, a bit predictable but not a bad story line at all.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews