Returning To Ravens Ridge

by DJ Lavely

He was the town punk. She was his best friend's little sister. Together they were magnetic—until she discovered it was all a lie.

Ravens Ridge used to be Ashton’s favorite place in the world, and she’s spent the last six years swearing she’ll never go back. But now’s she’s inherited her grandmother's house and has no choice but to return home one last time and face the nightmares she’s been running from since she left…including Gabriel Abbott.

As the president of the Ravens Ridge Riders, Gabe answers to no one—except the ghost of what could have been. Now, Ash is back, and he can’t seem to stop himself from bulldozing into her life to play a role that’s no longer his. Ash is the sun, and he’s never been able to escape her orbit.

In a town where secrets never stay hidden, Ash and Gabe must decide whether the past will define them, or if this time they’ll choose each other.

Genres: Second Chance, Romance, Found Family, Surprise Pregnancy, Contemporary, Brothers Best Friend, Audiobook

394 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 15, 2026

About the author

DJ is a midwestern mom and wife who loves books so much she sat down and wrote one. Born with a wild imagination, that lives on through the words and worlds she’s created. In her spare time she likes to read, roller-skate, and yap, and can be seen telling anyone who’ll listen about her current read. She’s messy and chaotic, but life’s too short to be bored.
She grew up loving shows like One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl, and Greek. So, to say she loves drama would be an understatement. She loves a book with juicy drama, heart stopping romance, and edge of your seat yearning. That’s what she aims to do with her books.

Reviews

[elle]

i hated this book, but i guess i hate myself more, because i forced myself to finish it despite its issues 🤡

- the OWD bugged me. the MMC was fucking the OW before he met the FMC, he stopped while he and the FMC were together, and then he went back to the OW (and others) during the years that he was separated from the FMC. the FMC’s BEST FRIEND even said she wished that the MMC and OW would just get married already. we were also treated to on page fucking after the FMC was back in the MMC’s life. pure romance 💘

- in most second chance romances, particularly ones in which the MMC fucked things up entirely on their own, i generally hope to see a MMC who is desperate to have the FMC back in his life. there was no such desperation here. until maybe the last ~20% of the book, the MMC really didn’t seem to give a shit about getting back together with the FMC at all.

- similarly, in second chance romances, i need to see some groveling. the MMC dumped the FMC when she was in the hospital recovering from a BULLET WOUND, told her that she meant nothing to him and that he never loved her, and ignored/blocked her when she was desperately trying to contact him to tell him that she was pregnant. the grovel was practically nonexistent.

- the pacing was weird. the majority of the book was a bunch of essentially meaningless interactions between the MMC and FMC (with the MMC banging his fuck buddy on the side) that didn’t even really seem to move their relationship forward at all. the part of the book where they actually fixed things and decided to be together felt rushed and unsatisfying.

[Samm]

OKAY BUT THIS WAS SO GOOD.

I saw a TikTok from the author comparing this book to One Tree Hill and SOA and who would I be to have not downloaded it immediately?

Let me tell you. I am so glad I did.

I love the characters. I connected a lot with Ashton.

Really excited to continue this series! Highly recommend - also is available on kindle unlimited so that’s always a bonus!

[Nicole]

It was fine…

This is kind of a rant, but I’m not into seeing the other woman continuously thought out the book. Not a huge fan that Lily has been around since the beginning fucking the mmc. She’s giving me the ick. He’s still banging lily at 40% when his internal monologue states Ashton is the love of his life and he wants to still be with her… yaaaa okay. Totally shows it when you can’t keep your dick in your pants 🙄 He knows Ash was jealous of her before so if he truly loved Ash why even go there again.

Honestly after reading what Gabe said and did to Ash, he didn’t grovel enough. I don’t care if he had good intentions or not. There was a better way.

Honestly why is Lily always around… I’m tired of seeing her mentioned. It’s so unnecessary. Like every time we turn around there she is. We almost see lily and gabe together as much as we see Gabe with Ashton. Did the author want them together? You can’t make me like that girl.

Also I feel like we barely see Gabe and Ashton get to know each other again and considering all the happened in the book. I’m not sure I’ll continue with the series to be honest.

[Bookish.Midnight. and. black]

a lot of drama for nothing. also, she fell in love with her husband moths after the love of her life dumped her ? also, the whole kid dynamic was off.

Lily, the ow making friends with the h.. really ? nobody wants to read about that. ever !

[Katy Fann]

A second chance romance will get me every time and this one was done so well! I loved the blend of past and present timelines. I’m so invested in these characters and can’t wait to read more books in the series!

[Keith]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5

Returning to Ravens Ridge is a BANGER of a debut novel! DJ Lavely knows how to write emotions that pull on your heartstrings, and this absolutely did not disappoint.

The story follows Ashton and Gabriel through both the past and present. I’m sometimes hesitant with books that jump between timelines, but I was able to follow along perfectly without ever feeling confused. If anything, the flashbacks added so much more depth to these characters and helped me understand the choices they made.

Ashton is going through a divorce, preparing to become a single mother, and on top of all that, she has to return to Ravens Ridge to go through her Gran’s house and belongings.

But returning home isn’t going to be easy because Gabe is still there.

It’s been six years, but the wounds from leaving Ravens Ridge and Gabe the first time are still very much there.

Ashton isn’t only juggling her divorce and coming face-to-face with her ex-boyfriend again. She’s also dealing with her brother, Shane, who struggles with addiction, while carrying plenty of trauma surrounding her mother and father as well. There is A LOT emotionally happening within this family, and I loved getting to slowly unpack it.

Then there’s Gabe.

Gabe runs the MC, but there is so much more beneath the surface of his character. The flashbacks really give you a glimpse into his upbringing, what was expected of him, and some of the decisions he’s had to learn to live with—even the ones he regrets.

And Shane… As frustrating as he can be, I still found myself rooting for him. I KNOW there is more underneath everything we’ve seen from him, and I cannot wait to dig deeper into his story and understand him better.

DJ did a fantastic job with her debut novel, and I highly recommend giving this one a listen/read!

I will say, if you’re going into this expecting a super dark MC romance, I personally consider this one light MC. There are some moments of action, but the MC side of the story stays pretty light. I would LOVE to see DJ lean even more into that world in the next book because I’m definitely ready for more Ravens Ridge!

And I absolutely cannot wait to listen to the next one. 🖤

🏍️ Second Chance Romance
🖤 Brother’s Best Friend
🏍️ Light Motorcycle Club
💔 Family Trauma

[HolleeJane]

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Returning to Ravens Ridge by DJ Lavely

This was an emotional second-chance romance featuring a small-town setting, a motorcycle club, best friend’s little sister, and a secret-child storyline. I enjoyed the history between Ashton and Gabe, especially the glimpses of their younger relationship. You could feel that they never fully moved on from one another.

Unfortunately, some parts didn’t completely work for me. The story didn’t have as much of an MC-romance feel as I expected, and several important developments felt rushed or added too late. I also struggled with how long Ashton kept such a life-changing secret from Gabe. I understood that she was hurt and afraid, but the explanations started to feel repetitive.

The pacing was uneven, with certain sections dragging before everything came together very quickly near the end. I also wanted more groveling and a stronger emotional reconciliation after everything Ashton and Gabe had been through.

Overall, this was an enjoyable beginning to the Ravens Ridge Riders series with plenty of emotion, drama, and complicated history. It didn’t fully deliver what I wanted from the romance or motorcycle-club elements, but I’m still interested in seeing where the series goes next.

[Rachel Paton]

All the emotions!

Well if this wasn't the cutest book! Ever wanted to read a book where you're physically grinning? Well this is it!

I swear this book had me feeling every emotion under the sun!

[Marki Henricksen]

Uhhhh if you like Jax Teller from sons of anarchy you’ll love this MMC 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️ this was so good and I enjoyed it sooo much. Their chemistry was so good

[dj&books]

First of all, I’m blown the fuck away that this is a debut because this is hands down my favorite second chance romance that I’ve ever read. This was not at all what I was expecting. This was a rough, messy and painful journey but also so fucking healing. I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. I couldn’t get enough.

Ashton and Gabe’s story is heartbreakingly beautiful and after chapter 33 I thought it was over and I could not pull my shit together. There is such a perfect amount of flashback and present chapters that makes this story flow perfectly. Dj has a way of making you feel that you are right there in the story. Literally so fucking good.

What an amazing start to a series that I know is going to have me in completely chokehold. I love the world, the side characters and everything in between! I can not waaait for the next book. Nik and Shane are about to rock my fuckin world and I’m so fucking ready for it!

Dj thank you for giving me this opportunity to ARC read this gem. I can’t wait for you guys to read it! 🖤

[Jojobean_reads]

The audiobook took what was originally a 4 star for me, up to a 5star. Austin Stone and Savannah Thomas did a fantastic jobs!!

I really enjoyed this story. I think DJ did a phenomenal job given that this is her debut.
The relationship between the 2 characters was deep and they go through a lot. I am glad they didnt hop skip and jump into getting back together.

I do wish there was more of a backstory from the perspective of the MC and Ash & Shane's relationship with their parents vecause I think adding more details into that would have taken this storyline further.

[Jennifer DuPriest]

It was good but it had all my least favorite tropes: second chance, long separation, surprise baby, addiction, miscommunication, and gratuitous OW scene. Not cheating since they weren’t technically together but he slept with the OW (without a condom mentioned, yikes!) before he dates the FMC and had a friends with benefits relationship after they broke up. He was a whore pretty much 80% of the book even though he “loved” her. Also he didn’t grovel enough for my taste.

[Stevie Black]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️

This was another Netgalley audiobook and it was a damn good one at that. The narration was great and the male narrator had so much emotion he had me crying at times. The story is one that I loved. You have teenage love, brother's best friend, motorcycle club, heated moments and utter devastation. It is mistakes and the years apart. It was a love that could never fade but a choice that wasted years. Lies, truths and an inevitable HEA. I loved all the characters and I am excited for when book two is in audio. I want that story something fierce.
♥️♥️♥️

As always check TW's and proceed.

Xoxo,
Your Fairy Smutmother 💋

[Patty Betancourt]

Thank so much to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity of receiving the ALC. this audiobook was a 4⭐️ because it automatically play a movie in my head, it gave me mayans show vibes. One thing I enjoyed what watching the characters find their way back to eachother and figuring out what they really wanted.
If you love an emotional romance and some moment that pull at ur heart strings because it had me saying one more chapter then I highly recommend you add this amazing small town romance to your tbr.

[Rachel Dane]

Oh yaaaaa im so here for this. Truly does give SOA X OTH vibes. (Thats sons of anarchy vs one tree hill vibes for those lacking pop culture).

There was SO much laughing and hurt and Gabe? Freaking swoon. JT? love him. Maggie? Perfection. Casey? Get bent.

“Don’t act like you don’t fucking know, Ash. I’m not asking you to forgive me or for anything to change but cut the bullshit for tonight. Don’t pretend that you don’t know I’m so in love with you I don’t see anyone else in this room.”

Im so ready for book 2.

[Brittany Harville]

Wow! I devoured this!! I am a huge fan of SOA and this gave all those vibes! The MC, the leader bad boy, the second chance romance. All the BA side characters, violence and drama had me flying through this! Ash is the sweet girl who is also Gabe’s best friends little sister and should be off limits. After some crazy things go down she leaves for 6 years….. is that enough time to get over each other? Ah the secrets and uncovered truths! A must read!

[Angel BOOK_ADDICTANGEL]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
RTC
An emotional dark romance ,second chance.
Gabe and Ash are soulmates 💔… separated by circumstances, but reunited by fate !
So many secrets, guilt and heartbreak, before they are able to let their feelings speak again 😭

[Jill S]

This isn't really an MC book, since he spends most of his time in his truck.

Lily as a character is written differently from most OW-types.

Could benefit from significant editing. For example, in one scene he rode his bike to her house but then got in his truck to leave.

[Cait]

Classic goodreads "it was ok" 2 stars. Not overly memorable, but not mad I read it.

[Desiree Richey]

loved it!

This book got me out of my reading slump! I cld not put it down … sometimes I don’t love when second chance goes back to past and now , but this one was 😍

[Allie Davis]

Such a cute book!

I actually really enjoyed this book. For it being DJ’s debut book, it’s way better than I was expecting. I can’t wait for the next one!!

[Soma]

I liked it, the main characters have great chemistry.

[Kelsey Spicer]

This book, boy the things I can say about this book, 1 I have been DYING to read it for awhile now so when I was given the opportunity you best believe I jumped on it and let me tell you WORTH THE WAIT!!!! Ash and Gabe whewwwww, there is the perfect amount of throw back chapters and present day chapters that give you all the knowledge you need to know about what's going on. Also if you love a good freaking plot twist then this one is 100% for you because I sure as hell did NOT see it coming! And before your write Gabe off and declare him a no good scum in the beginning I promise you won't once you finish the book. There are a few trigger scenes for some ,but they are outlined before you even start reading. Thank you again DJ for the opportunity to read this amazing book I absolutely can not WAIT for the rest of the series!

[Caitlin Mccarthy]

It was very meh… took me ages to get through a tiny book because it didn’t hold my attention. There could have been so much more to the story. A lot of drama for a very poorly structured plot. FMC was a bore in my opinion

[Amber Reese]

I really enjoyed this book. It gave me a very romanticized Sons of Anarchy kind of vibe, not necessarily because it’s an MC romance, but because of the atmosphere, the loyalty dynamics, the emotional messiness, and the intensity between the characters. I’ve read a lot of MC books, and very few actually gave me that feeling.

The emotional side of this story was definitely its strongest point. Gabe and Ash had chemistry, history, tension, and years of unresolved feelings that made their reconnection genuinely compelling. The writing was immersive and emotionally engaging enough that even when I had issues with certain plot choices, I still wanted to keep reading and was fully invested in the story.

That said, I do think the book had some noticeable weaknesses.

My biggest issue was how the story handled Gabe and Lily’s relationship. The book tries to frame it as mostly convenient sex, but it absolutely did not read that way. They had been sleeping together for years, emotionally leaning on each other, supporting each other, and honestly behaving like a couple in many ways. Other characters even acknowledge that Lily fit him perfectly and understood him better than most people. So brushing that relationship aside as if it carried little emotional weight felt dishonest to what the actual writing was showing. Especially compared to how Ash and Caleb’s relationship was treated with much more emotional honesty and importance. I know there’s another book going deeper in their relationship, I don’t think Im gonna read it because it will made me mad, it will undermine gabe and ash’s story, I already saw some comments reflecting that but who knows Im not be able to resist.

I also struggled a bit with Ash’s characterization during both major breakups in the story. Throughout most of the book she’s witty, strong-minded, and emotionally sharp, but when it came to Gabe and especially Caleb ending relationshipa she became overly desperate and pleading in ways that didn’t fully match the personality the book had built. I could understand it more with Gabe because he was her first heartbreak, but with Caleb, after everything she had already lived through, it felt inconsistent.

Another thing I really didn’t like was the reveal that Maggie was Gabe’s daughter. The book genuinely did not need that twist. The emotional core between Gabe and Ash was already strong enough on its own, and instead of adding depth, the reveal felt more like unnecessary melodrama. It also distracted from the actual redemption and rebuilding of their relationship, which was the most interesting part of the story in the first place.

Despite those issues, I still had a great time reading this book. The atmosphere, emotional tension, and character dynamics carried it for me, and I was invested from start to finish. And honestly? The ending setup for Nick and Shane’s story absolutely worked on me because now I desperately want book two 😭

[BiblioDarling]

Returning to Ravens Ridge
The Ravens Ridge Riders Book #1
DJ Lavely

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating System (as of 4.8.26):
⭐: DNF/Almost DNF
⭐⭐: Had Potential. Fell Short.
⭐⭐⭐: Good. Something Was Missing.
⭐⭐⭐⭐: Great Book. Strong Overall Story.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Loved. Reread Worthy. Recommend.

One Sentence Summary/Review:
She's back in town, secrets will be revealed and he can't stay away.
—-------------------
Tropes/Vibes:
💕MC Romance
💕Angst
💕Second Chance
💕Single Parent
💕Part of a Series (Book #1)
💕Brother's Best Friend
💕Touch Her and Die
💕Young Love/Heartbroken
💕Betrayal
💕Cheating (Not MMC/FMC)

Triggers:
🚩Violence
🚩Death of Grandparent
🚩Mention of Child Abuse
🚩Mention of Sexual Assault
🚩Drug Addiction

Emotion Impact Rating: 🤯
😢Crying/Heartbroken 🤯Shocked/Mind-blowing
😠Frustrated/Angry 💞Emotionally Invested/Obsessed
😍In Love/Swooning 😊Comfort/Cozy

Spice Level (as of 4.8.26): 🔥🔥🔥
🔥: Clean
🔥🔥: Mild
🔥🔥🔥: Spicy
🔥🔥🔥🔥: Very Spicy
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥: Explicit/Kink-Heavy
—----------------------
Quote From Book:
HIs words come out clipped this time when he says, "This town is my business. Why are you here?"

Writing Style Rating: Simple
Simple: Flows Quickly/Easy Reading
Descriptive: Lots of Imagery/Detailed
Lyrical: Feels Poetic/Pretty Sentences
Heavy: Dense/May Have to Reread Sentences

Pace Rating: ⚖
🐢: Slow/Takes Time to Build
⚖: Medium Pacing/Things Move Steadily
🚀: Fast/Things Happen Quickly
—-------------------------
Summary:
FMC and MMC were young and in love. A tragic event occurs. The MMC dumps the FMC by text. Years later, FMC is back in town. She has inherited her grandmother's estate. Eventual HEA.

Full Review:
I really liked this book. It engaged me from the start. I was trying to figure out what happened to separate the FMC and MMC. For some the back and forth in time may be a lot. I felt it set the stage for me. I loved how the FMC grew into her character. The MMC really tried to stay away from her. He couldn't. When they finally do talk...loved it. I look forward to more books in this series.

Want to read this for yourself? Grab your copy here:
Kindle: https://amzn.to/4dfkMYe
Paperback: https://amzn.to/494pG7Y
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Join the community and read with me: https://bibliodarling.substack.com

[Nathalie DeSousa]

4.5/5

This book was a great companion to my day. I loved the narrators, it made it so enjoyable to just listen and follow the story so easily.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance ALC. This is a second chance MC story, but lends more into the romance than the MC usual tropes. Ashton and Gabe were their first everything, first kiss, first love, first breakup, and first trauma. They met when she came to live with her grandma in Raven's Ridge, She and her brother unfortunately were the result of an abusive father, and a mother who let it happen. She grew up with men always leaving her, not wanting her. When her brother (who was badly damaged by her father) starts a friendship with the son of the town's MC so does his drug abuse and her proximity to Gabe, I love how the story goes back and forward giving glimpses of how they started, turned into friends, then lovers, to the ultimate break that left her severely hurt. She left, grew up, became a wife and mom never looking back at the town.

6 years after, her marriage fails, and her grandma passes away leaving her the entire estate. She has to come back to settle it and deal with her feelings, secrets, and the damage that was left behind. I am not going to give the rest of the story, but it deals with some heavy topics such as drugs, sex, death, jail, abuse, the MC politics, cheating, but underneath it all there are love stories, friendships and the ultimate family bond

Now, as for the Audio book. The FMC was so great, I love how she was able to bring young live to young and mature Ashton. Made her so real, so believable, it was a delight. Gabe's narrator was also great and deliver the angst of the character beautifully

A great listen!

[SeekzieReads]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶

When I first seen the preview on TikTok, I knew I MUST read this. I have been DYINGGGGGGG TO READ THIS, so firstly THANK YOUUUUUUUUUU!

This is 200% WORTH THE WAIT!

In D.J. Lavely’s debut novel, “Returning to Ravens Ridge”, we have a second chance emotional roller coaster with Gabe & Ashton. This is the start of a new series, and I frankly can’t wait to read the second one either.

From having a starcrossed summer falling in love only to have it ripped away from you at the end, Ashton has gone through the ringer. Nonetheless, so has Gabe. I will admit, I did want to smack Gabe when I got to the point of why they were separated but I understood.

Let me just say - I did NOT see that plot twist coming and I’m usually good at figuring that stuff out.

The emotions that D.J. puts you through, I promise you that you will feel it. I had allll the feels. Ash’s anger, Gabe’s loneliness, both of their anguish, MAN. *whew*

I PROMISE you, Gabe has a redemption so PLEASE don’t write him off as a jacka$$. He had good i intentions and while I don’t want to spoil it, there is some stuff I could say about one of Ash’s decisions. The dynamic of being in love with you brother’s best friend, then having some stuff happen to sour it then having to stay strong but also support said brother in his struggle? Yeesh.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you!

Tropes:
#SecondChance
#MC
#HEA
#BrothersBestFriend

[Mariah]

The buildup for this book was such a tease! I could not wait to get my hands on it. Just reading the snippets that were shared had me feral with anticipation, so when it finally hit my Kindle, I literally squealed!
And I can happily say it delivered exactly how I needed it to.

Ashton... she was a girl after my own heart. Falling for a boy at fifteen and knowing, even then, that he was the love of your life? Heartbreakingly beautiful.
Their journey was anything but smooth. It was messy, painful, and so real that I found myself clutching my sweatshirt, completely wrecked over what these two endured.

What hit me the hardest was Ashton's fear of never being truly chosen. That quiet, aching insecurity. I cried more than once because I didn't just read her emotions..l felt them. But watching her backbone strengthen as the story unfolded? That growth was everything.

And Gabe... whew. He surprised me. There were moments I was furious with him. Honest to goodness MAD. But when the layers started peeling back and I saw the depth of who he really was, I hated that I ever doubted him. He gave me major Jax Teller vibes, and I loved every single second of it!

And that surprise?!

My jaw was on the floor. I did not see it coming. Not even a little. But once it happened, it was so perfectly placed and suddenly so obvious in hindsight. Those are my favorite twists; the ones that shock you but make complete sense!

This new series is going to be epic!! I can feel it.
And Nik? Oh, she is going to own book two. I feel it in my bones!

I cannot wait!

[Jennifer Dunn]

Returning to Ravens Ridge was a strong start to this series, especially for readers who enjoy emotional, character-driven romance with a darker edge.

This one does take a bit to get going, but even with the slower start, I found myself consistently pulled into the story. Once the emotional stakes really started to build, I was fully invested.

The standout for me was definitely the characters. The MMC brings that protective, morally gray, slightly chaotic energy that I always gravitate toward—and while he made a few frustrating decisions that could have easily been solved with communication, I still found myself loving him overall.

The FMC felt relatable and grounded, which balanced the intensity of the story really well. Their dynamic carried a lot of the emotional weight, and that’s where this book really shines.

The plot itself leans a bit predictable, but in a way that still feels satisfying rather than repetitive. I wasn’t surprised by where things were going, but I still wanted to see how it all played out.

If I had one critique, I would have loved a bit more clarity and development around the past relationship dynamics—particularly with the ex—as well as a clearer timeline. That piece felt slightly underdeveloped compared to the rest of the story.

Overall, this was an emotionally engaging read with strong characters and enough tension to keep me invested. I’ll definitely be continuing the series.