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?
DeeMcGee1
Posted Tue Jul 22 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Once again Julia London fills the page with richly drawn characters and doesn’t shy away from their flaws and their foibles, which only creates a more relatable read.
This is the second book in her Pine River Trilogy and once again when RETURN TO HOMECOMING RANCH opens, we’re welcomed back into town by Leo Kendrick. Leo was a mainstay in the first book in the series, HOMECOMING RANCH, and I must admit, I fell A LOT in love with him. Leo doesn’t disappoint this time around either. He suffers from the terminal illness, motor neuron disease, the same disease which Steven Hawking is afflicted with. While his mind is sharp and he makes us laugh with his shenanigans and his behind-the-scene-string-pulling, our heart breaks a little each time he has another downturn. He fights the incurable disease with dignity and often times, off color humor which usually causes you to laugh out loud when you least expect it.
All that and I haven’t even got to Hot Sam, the hero of this book. Sam is a recovering alcoholic who’s been sober for a few years now. He’s the man of just about everyone’s dream. He’s a deputy that goes out of his way to look after townsfolk who other’s disregard as unworthy or out of the norm and typically shun. He maintains his sobriety by living a quiet life in the mountains and avoids drama, and therefore women, because he knows wild emotions may trigger him to pick up the bottle again.
Libby is our heroine and we met her during the first book. She was the one sister who craved being in a family after she and her two other half-sisters inherited a run-down ranch from their dead beat father. As the story opens Libby is fresh out of a week’s stay at a nearby mental health hospital. She needed the break after her long-term boyfriend dumped her for his ex-wife. That wasn’t the part that sent her off the deep end. The jerk couldn’t just dump Libby, he filed a restraining order against her and refused to let her see the two children she had raised since they were babies because he was now back with his ex-wife, their legal mother.
Libby is an intoxicant to Sam. He’s always had a thing for her corkscrew curls and light blue eyes, and now that she’s in need of help, she’s damn near irresistible. Libby’s freshly back in town and on course to get her life back together and Sam’s just the balm she needs.
More than a few times I felt like I was walking on eggshells while reading scenes between them. I was just waiting for something else to go wrong for this damaged couple. For the chaos of their former lives to derail the happiness they were both so desperately seeking. More than a few times, I reached for a Kleenex and felt my heart breaking, but I must admit, just as many times, I found myself laughing aloud and grinning through happy tears.
I thoroughly enjoyed the second installment of Julia London’s Pine River Trilogy and eagerly await the final book in the series, The Final Homecoming. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars!
Written by Dee McGee – Booze, Bookz, and Bad Boyz
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.dbrown34001
Posted Tue Jul 22 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Libby Tyler is facing a dilemma. She must turn a profit on Homecoming Ranch or face losing her home, the home her father left her and her two sisters in an unbreakable will. Her sisters have left to follow their own dreams, leaving the success of the ranch as a tourist attraction up to her. To add to her woes, Libby’s boyfriend leaves her for his ex-wife. She doesn’t miss him as much as his kids and goes to all lengths to see them. Libby is angry enough to take a golf club to his truck. Unfortunately there are plenty of witnesses. Her outburst lands her in a mental institution for a short while. Sheriff’s deputy Sam Winters is a recovering alcoholic who works hard at maintaining his sobriety. He lives alone and shuns public life to stay sober. Libby holds a special place in his heart, but he’s growing tired of her antics and constant violations of the restraining order her ex-boyfriend maintains to keep her away from his kids. The couple discovers they are more alike than they’ve been willing to admit, a kinship that leads to passion.
In this wonderful drama, Ms. London deals with serious issues while interspersing them with the humor and insight provided by Leo Kendrick’s commentary. His motor neuron condition might be worsening, but Leo’s powers of observation are still keen. The romance of Libby and Sam hits high spots and some lows as they travel the road to their happily ever after; it’s well worth the ride. This book can be read as a standalone, but I suggest reading Homecoming Ranch, the first book in the series, just for the pleasure of the tale. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to see characters that grow as the book progresses. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It’s well worth the read.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.grandmareads102
Posted Tue Jul 22 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Once again we visit Pine River and Homecoming Ranch, this time we learn the story of Libby Tyler. She lost herself when her fiancée, Ryan Spangler, broke their engagement with such cruelty. Libby suffered a breakdown. To find herself she needs to turn away from her dreams and from Ryan's two children that she loves with all her heart. That's easier said than done. Sam Winters, a deputy sheriff who she's known for years, tries to help as a recovering alcoholic he understands the obsession. Can they both find peace and a future? Julia London writes with such deep emotion and such realism as she tells the story of Libby and Sam. This story pulls at your heartstrings. The pain, fears and loss pack such a powerful pull that I was unable to put this book down. Return To Homecoming Ranch is filled with stellar characters and a captivating plot. I liked Leo doing the narrative. He's such an amazing character. This book is a keeper. As always this author deals with difficult topics with skill, insight and understanding. Julia London is a must buy for me.
I was gifted a copy by the author in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.
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Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.GoddessPhD1
Posted Wed Sep 03 00:00:00 EDT 2014
“Homecoming Ranch” is the second book in Julia London’s trilogy. Grant Tyler is the absentee father to three grown women; Madeline, Libby, & Emma - the ‘temporary’ owners of the Homecoming Ranch. “Return to Homecoming Ranch” is Libby’s story. After four years of basically being a babysitter to her boyfriend’s two small children, he dumps her to get back with his ex-wife. When Libby finds out the truth of her dumping she takes a golf club to his truck and spends a week in a behavioral health treatment facility.
To keep Libby away from her ex-boyfriend, Ryan, and family, he files a restraining order against her that Libby violates again and again. Sam Winters is the deputy who gets called to enforce the restraining order, but ends up letting her go with warnings again and again.
I had problems getting through this book – towards the middle, Libby was starting to get on my nerves. I admire London for dealing with two complex characters/issues: Libby and her stint at the behavioral health facility and Sam, a recovering alcoholic, but Libby’s constant immature behavior was not a likeable quality. I wonder why Libby, who the whole town liked and admired before she went pro with a golf club, is now the town pariah. Small town folks don’t forget a person’s character and why would they turn against her when everyone knew her ex-boyfriend was a cheater? Why didn’t her ex-boyfriend ever suffer like Libby did? I admired London’s description of Sam and his everyday battle with alcoholism. She made him and his addiction come alive to me.
Towards the end, I knew there had to be final confrontation between Libby and Ryan’s ex-wife, Gwen. You just knew that’s what had to happen – it was inevitable. Yes, Gwen does freak out when she suspects Libby of kidnapping her children. Ryan does confess to Libby that all he wanted was a babysitter…so, why the eff is Gwen still with him? Ryan and Gwen as villains in this story seemed two-dimensional. They were so easy to despise because of Gwen’s abandonment and Ryan’s cheating.
The minor characters saved this book for me. I continue to love Leo, Luke’s (Hero#1) younger brother, with motor neuron disease and Tony, a war veteran with a prosthetic leg and alcohol/drug problem.
This book taught me how important pacing and balance is – I figured that most of my annoyance over Libby stems from the middle being too long. Libby’s and Sam’s character growth seemed to have been stunted until the last 20% of the novel, which made the ending seem rushed to me. All of a sudden, Libby is training for the 5K and Sam runs after her? London glosses over the results of the 5K fundraiser, when I thought this plot point was one of the ways readers were supposed to know that Libby was going to be okay. As a reader, I needed to know what happened at the 5K to help with Libby’s closure. I’m glad London focused on Libby’s idea of adapting the “Homecoming Ranch” as a veteran retreat. I also would have been more satisfied (as a reader) if Gwen ate some crow, but I’m petty like that.
This is the second book in the Pine River series by Julia London, in this one she brings back the characters from the first one plus some more that you will love or hate. I know I personally disliked Ryan. This story is all about Libby and Sam. Libby had a rough summer and is still reeling from her life being ripped apart. Sam on the other hand has dug his way up from the bottom of the barrel or in this case the bottle. Its a great book that will have you hoping that there is a third one. I am happy that Leo is in this one to, he played such an important role in the first one and he continues that role in this one. You get an update to what Luke and Madeline are up to, and we see Emma again even though you don't find out why
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Posted Tue Aug 05 00:00:00 EDT 2014
This is my second trip into the world of Pine River and the sisters who own the Homecoming Ranch. I am eagerly looking forward to the
next installment as well. In this novel you see how two people that are struggling with their own demons try to find a way to make it
work out for them.
Emma has had her life turned upside down. The man she thought she was going to spend the rest of her life with has turned out to
be a jerk. He unceremoniously dumps her to return to his ex-wife whom he was having an affair with and has cut her out of his kids lives.
She like their mother and now she is left to pick up the pieces, and consumed by grief for the loss of the children. Maybe she went a little
overboard when she took a golf club to his truck, but that does not mean she is crazy. And why does the deputy sheriff Sam keep
lecturing her for her actions. Why can no one understand how she feels and why does her body get all tingly around Sam?
Sam has been a recovering alcoholic for over 3 years. He knows trouble when he sees it and Libby Tyler is TROUBLE. But he can't
stop himself from coming to her rescue time and again. He fears that is he lets her in and she creates havoc in his life he will not be
able to control his sobriety. But try as he might he still keeps going back to Libby like a moth to a flame. In the end he will have to decide
if he is willing to risk his sheltered world and trust Libby with his heart.
Great followup as well on the characters such as Madeline, Luke. and Leo. Definitely a wonderful read and looking forward to returning
to Homecoming Ranch soon.
Book Two in the Homecoming Ranch Series.
Sam is a recovering alcoholic trying to live a quiet life as a deputy. Libby just had a wake-up call from the man she thought loved her. Both are working through their problems with some successes and other losses. When a snow storm traps them together in Sam's house for a night, the sparks fly.
If you're looking for a story of two imperfect people trying to get their lives back on track, this is the book for you.
nindilou
Posted Thu Jul 31 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Leo is at the storytelling again. He narrates what happens to the people of Pine River. He has such a way of telling a story, that you fall in love with him a little! When will he have his own story?
In Return to Homecoming Ranch we have the story of Sam and Libby. Libby was living the dream life, she was engaged to a wonderful man and she inherits his children. She loves the kids and thinks of them as hers. Suddenly, out of nowhere Ryan cheats on her and ends the relationship. The pain of betrayal by the one you love combined with the loss of children you think of as your own is too much for her to bare. She goes so far out of control; she is slapped with a restraining order.
Sam, a recovering alcoholic has known Libby for years and like meets like, obsession for obsession he understands. Sam is two years sober, and as a small town deputy, he is able to save Libby from herself. She will make you crazy at times, but you can always relate to where her pain and actions are coming from. Sam saves Libby from herself, and one night the two of them get snowed in at Sam’s and the heat rises.
Julia London continues to write wonderful stories. This latest contemporary made me a die-hard historical romance reader mad at times, and I had to break out the tissues at others. One thing that is sure, whatever time frame she writes, her books will never let you down.
HannahPilar
Posted Wed Jul 23 00:00:00 EDT 2014
We are back to Pine River, and Leo, who suffers from the same thing as Steven Hawking and a self proclaimed genius because of that, is up to his same ole meddling as usual. It may not seem like it but Leo really does know what he is doing. Libby Tyler has lead a life of disappointments but that has never stopped her before, always the first to volunteer, always willing to help. But when her boyfriend suddenly dumps her for his ex-wife Libby's world falls down around her. In a fit of insomnia fueled anger she smashes his truck with a golf club and earns her self a stay at the Behavioral Center. I can completely understand the pain Libby went through. She raised two kids who were not hers but loved them like they were and when it was over she never got an explanation or a chance to say good bye. With a restraining order against her she can't help but go and see the kids she loves repeatedly violating the restraining order.
Sheriff Sam Winters has swore of alcohol and woman. His first wife was a "free spirit" who slowly drew Sam in her alcohol soaked world. After a close call Sam got clean and when it was obvious his wife wouldn't stop drinking he left her. Now he hides up in his house building birdhouses keeping everyone at a distance. Sam has always admired Libby always found her dark hair and blue eyes beautiful. Libby's almost constant violations keep bring them together. Sam sticks his neck out for her and is the only one who really understands her and listens to her and soon they both realize their is something more there. Both with a truck load of baggage must over come their issues and Libby must get past the town gossip about her being crazy and her asshat ex.
I loved this it was even better than the first book. All the while Libby and Maddie are still trying to figure out how to keep Homecoming Ranch afloat. Libby I can see people might dislike her because of how she comes across, naïve and ditsy but she hopeful to a fault. I love Libby and I can totally sympathize with her. Sam I loved as well more so after... well no spoilers. Gwen, the ex-wife, despite Julia's writing people talking positive about her every time she spoke I wanted to do physical violence to her but not more then I wanted to hurt the ex-boyfriend. I love the way Julia London writes completely pulls you in. I am so emotionally tied to this series and I can't wait for Emma.
gromine49
Posted Tue Jul 22 00:00:00 EDT 2014
What a wonderful read this book was. Two people, who know of one another, but don't know the real story behind each other's problems. Family, breakups, and finding someone who loves you despite your faults. This is a heartwarming story that needs to be savored. Well done Julia!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I love the Denver Broncos so love Leo. I feel if a book makes you so emotional you want to climb into the book and smack someone the author has done his/her job. She did her job well. Love Julia's books
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Overview
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 ...