By Julia London
ISBN: 1477823050
Series: Pine River #2
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Publication Date: 7/22/2014
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 4 Stars
Curly-haired Libby Tyler never stops smiling…until her beloved boyfriend suddenly forces her out of their home and away from his adoring kids. When she learns he dumped her for his flighty ex-wife, Libby’s sadness turns to fury—and she very publicly smashes his truck with a golf club, earning herself a trip to a mental health center for some “rest.”
Handsome, hazel-eyed deputy Sam Winters has been sober for two years. Afraid of backsliding, he lives in the mountains and keeps his distance from people. Yet he never forgot Libby, his former colleague at the sheriff’s office whose charm and cheerfulness always warmed his days.
Now Libby’s back, ignoring the townspeople’s whispers (and her ex’s restraining order) while desperately trying to make Homecoming Ranch a successful event destination. She keeps causing trouble for Sam, but he finds her smile more beautiful than ever…and his touch gives her thrills she’s never felt. Could these two lost souls mend each other’s broken hearts?
My Review
A special thank you to Amazon Publishing for a complimentary reading copy in exchange for an honest review. RETURN TO HOMECOMING RANCH (Pine River #2) by Julia London is a contemporary novel of love, addictions, relationships and family. The second book in the Pine River Trilogy, we return to the ranch with some favorite characters and some newfound family members. Libby is one of the sisters we met in Homecoming Ranch and she needs to turn a profit on Homecoming Ranch, or faces losing her home (left by her father to the three step-sisters). Her other two sisters have left to follow their own dreams, leaving the venue for her to market. Libby has lots of issues as her boyfriend leaves her for his ex-wife. She misses his children more than she does him. She is quite the character and does all sorts of things in order to see them, after all she helped raise them. She is quite passionate and emotions all over the board and gets so mad, takes a golf club to his truck, and lands herself in a mental institution. Damaged Sam is back on the scene as the handsome deputy who has been sober for two years, as he is a recovering alcoholic. He works very hard to maintain his sobriety and needs no stress, especially women. He lives in the mountains and does not trust himself to be around the temptation. Libby had been living with Ryan Spangler and taking care of his two children, Alice and Max. Their mother, Gwen, left the children with Ryan when she moved to Colorado Springs to attend dental school. When Gwen shows up to reclaim her family, Ryan boots Libby out and he gets a restraining order against her. This is when she goes a little nuts. Sam has always liked Libby, his former colleague at the sheriff’s office but she drives him nuts with all the drama with her ex. Meanwhile Libby has issues of her own as she is stressed about making Homecoming Ranch a successful event destination and getting back to business after being in a mental institution for a short while. Sam is falling for Libby, but she brings too much baggage with her and he can’t afford to risk his sobriety. Of course, Leo is back in book two which we all love! (Suffers from motor neuron disease –MND) and full of laughs for everyone. He still has a sharp mind with a winning personality and the family and town pull together to help him with equipment needed for his disability. The romance between Libby and Sam is comical and a wild ride, as well as the heartbreaking and funny Leo, which will warm your heart. RETURN TO HOMECOMING RANCH, can be read as a standalone; however, would recommend reading HOMECOMING RANCH (nice read), to how these three sisters came to meet one another for the first time. Glad Libby enlists the help of her California half-sister, Emma to return to Homecoming Ranch to help her and Madeline (the main character in book #1), in a new venture for the ranch, in order to help those who need it the most. Look forward to reading Book #3 in the Pine River series where we hear from the third sister!
