4.5 stars. Stubborn, unyielding and proud Noah Gage possesses more of his father's undesirable character traits than he realizes or would care to admit. His family's a mess, but he seems to have made a commitment to caring for and protecting his mother and siblings from his abusive father for a lifetime at the expense of his relationship with his fiancé, Emma Candler. Emma is fed up with Noah's guarded reserve, and the way he puts his family's needs ahead of hers. This is the last straw, so after an altercation involving Noah's father and some members of her family, Emma leaves Bliss, TN without Noah. Fast forward four years and Emma is back in Bliss to make repairs to her deceased grandmother's house, which has been left to her. Now that she's back, will Noah and Emma bury the hatchet and rekindle the flame that may still burn within them for each other?

This sweet romance kept me engaged and in the end warmed my heart. The setting was very appealing since I am familiar with the beautiful Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. I relished the descriptions of the scenery, and enjoyed wondering how Noah and Emma would mend their broken relationship. The secondary characters were interesting and added flavor to the story. Overall I thought Now She's Back was a gratifying read and I recommend it to those looking for a sweet, satisfying romance book. ( )