Return to Homecoming Ranch

Pine River

By: Julia London

Narrated by: Tanya Eby

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?

©2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved. (P)2014 Dinah Dinwiddie

Not A Bad Follow-up

This time the sister in the spotlight is Libby. Having been unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend when his ex-wife returns to Pine River. So she attacks his pickup with a golf club when she finds out that the two of them were schtuping each other while she was watching their kids. Then there is the little matter of the restraining order that Ryan slapped her with after the destruction of all the glass in his truck. An RO that doesn't seem to mean too much to Libby; given that she violates it on a regular basis. Deputy Sam Martin seems to be quite intent on seeing her through this difficult time. The fact that he has a major thing for Libby seems to be apparent to everyone but her. I'll stop with the overall plot right there to avoid spoiling the ending for anyone. Though given that this was a romance novel we already know the ending.
There is one point that I want to jump up on my soapbox about. Libby's attitude towards Ryan's children is understandable on an emotional level but as far as behavior goes I found it to be self serving and irresponsible. I understand the pull that she's feeling I've been there and felt the pain that comes from giving up someone that you love and who loves you. There are times that you actually do feel as though someone ripped out a couple of your vital organs without the benefit of anesthetic. The bottom line is that the feelings of the adult aren't what matters in this situation; it what's best for the child that's important. Her need to hang on to them is merely a way to make the inevitable end of said relationship a longer more difficult one. This factor lowered the enjoyment I took from the book and lowered the rating I gave it as well.

Horrible story line

There were so many things wrong with this story that I don’t know where to begin. I disliked the main characters not because they had issues more so because the author took too long to resolve them. Just bad writing.

Worst of the Homecoming Ranch Trilogy

I had read this book previously and didn’t remember Libby and Sam characters as being so irritating. I could not wait for this book to be over. I listen to books while I exercise or do art and listen to a lot of books more than once. This will not be one of them. Libby and Sam characters have a lot of issues, mental and addictive respectively and repetitive bad decisions by Libby and Sam keep them apart. Until the end, but if these two were actual people, I would not bet on their detende to last long. Madeline’s story was more enjoyable but Emma the third in the trilogy was by far the most interesting story and character.

Leo

I love every character and Leo is my favorite. I wish I had that outlook in life. I will try to become as smart as him. Good readings!!

welcome Home

what a sassy funny and witty book . I was hooked from the first chapter. It was full of crazy stuff but the message was clean that everyone needs to find their best life and a place to be happy doing things . a clean wholesome contemporary romance. Highly recommend this book.

Great book.

You will enjoy this sweet story. Lots of drama and romance and some conflict along the way.

Good story but/mental health is treated very badly

There might be spoilers here.

I'm enjoying the story, but I am truly disgusted with the way mental health is being treated in this book. It is treated in the worst way possible, the people who have had issues have giant stigmas against them. It's disgraceful.

Even Libby speaks about the Mental health place as though it is for crazy people. Mental health issues are real illnesses, if you have diabetes and it's out of control, you will be hospitalized, if you have a heart problem you will be hospitalized, people need to understand that mental health issues are not something people can just shake off, that they are real illnesses that need to be treated just like any other disease needs to be treated.

Then absolutely NO-ONE gives Libby a break, that is truly unrealistic. She feels as though she needs to apologize to everyone. Every single person in that town should apologize to her too. Gwen is an absolute bitch and is being let off way too easily. Her husband is a pig and everyone knows it, but Libby is being treated as though it's all her fault. It's ridiculous. Sam has his issues, but his behavior towards Libby is horrible, seriously? If he loves her, why doesn't he give her the benefit of the doubt. From the beginning he believes that she is in the wrong. Even Madeline isn't in her corner.
Looks like I'm not enjoying the story, but the story line is good and Libby is a survivor despite the crappy way she is being treated. I'm frustrated that she can't stand up for herself, but she has not been given the chance, and that's not ok.

just ok

I just had difficulty connecting with Libby because she wanted to go back to someone who cheated on her and used her, throughout most of the book. it just kept making me angry at her blindness. I do like her books so it wasn't all bad, but just frustrating.

Unbelievable

Would you try another book from Julia London and/or Tanya Eby?

Yes

What was most disappointing about Julia London’s story?

This story was not believable to me. Outrageous emotions based on too little evidence to evoke such reactions.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Tanya Eby is not one of my favorite narrators. Her sentences tend to end with her voice lilting up, which gets annoying after awhile.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

I always like the continuation of characters.

Loved the twists, turns, and valleys

I read Pine River #1 some time ago, and it wasn't my favorite Julia London book, so I missed the release of this book. I enjoyed, "Return to Homecoming Ranch," much more than, "Homecoming Ranch." I felt like there was much more depth to this book than the first. Many similar books are very predictable, but I am not ashamed to say that I did not predict most of the twists, turns, and valleys of this one. If I were to list the biggest disappointment of the book, it would be the lack of description for the ***Spoiler Alert*** Turkey Trot. I also missed further development of Marisol's character, but loved the additional insight into Danny.