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Most Likely To #2
Staying For Good
Zoe Brown may have been voted Most Likely to Never Leave River Bend, but the paper-thin walls and suffocating air of her family’s double-wide trailer were not what she wanted for her life. Other than BFFs Melanie and Jo, the only thing that kept Zoe sane during high school was her boyfriend, Luke.
She didn’t just leave, she escaped—turning her back on the shame of her black-sheep siblings and imprisoned dad. Now a celebrity chef in Dallas, she can afford all the things she never could have growing up. But when she returns to rustic, ruggedly beautiful River Bend, Zoe has to face all that she abandoned—including Luke.
While Luke was a refuge for Zoe in the past, he knows they inhabit totally different worlds now. Anchored by his parents and his job as a mechanic in his father’s shop, Luke never felt the urge to leave River Bend—until Zoe’s return.
But when the two rekindle their old flame, Zoe is forced to make the hardest decision of her life: remain in River Bend and confront her past before it destroys her, or say good-bye to everyone she’s ever loved…again, this time for good.
She didn’t just leave, she escaped—turning her back on the shame of her black-sheep siblings and imprisoned dad. Now a celebrity chef in Dallas, she can afford all the things she never could have growing up. But when she returns to rustic, ruggedly beautiful River Bend, Zoe has to face all that she abandoned—including Luke.
While Luke was a refuge for Zoe in the past, he knows they inhabit totally different worlds now. Anchored by his parents and his job as a mechanic in his father’s shop, Luke never felt the urge to leave River Bend—until Zoe’s return.
But when the two rekindle their old flame, Zoe is forced to make the hardest decision of her life: remain in River Bend and confront her past before it destroys her, or say good-bye to everyone she’s ever loved…again, this time for good.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 24, 2017
3948 people are currently reading
2667 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Bybee
57 books21k followersNew York Times Bestselling Author
USA Today Bestselling Author
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author
Amazon #1 Bestselling Author
#1 IndieReader Bestselling Author
RONE Award Winner 2012
Not Quite Dating
Married by Monday
RONE award Winner 2013
Not Quite Enough
Winner of the More Than Magic Award for Paranormal romance 2011
Silent Vows
Finalist RT Award in Contemporary Romance
Fiance by Friday
New York Times bestselling author Catherine Bybee was raised in Washington State, but after graduating from high school, she moved to Southern California with hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the International Bestselling Not Quite series, the MacCoinnich Time Travel series as well as the Internationally Bestselling Weekday Brides series.
Her books have been translated in over twenty languages.
USA Today Bestselling Author
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author
Amazon #1 Bestselling Author
#1 IndieReader Bestselling Author
RONE Award Winner 2012
Not Quite Dating
Married by Monday
RONE award Winner 2013
Not Quite Enough
Winner of the More Than Magic Award for Paranormal romance 2011
Silent Vows
Finalist RT Award in Contemporary Romance
Fiance by Friday
New York Times bestselling author Catherine Bybee was raised in Washington State, but after graduating from high school, she moved to Southern California with hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the International Bestselling Not Quite series, the MacCoinnich Time Travel series as well as the Internationally Bestselling Weekday Brides series.
Her books have been translated in over twenty languages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 494 reviews
February 7, 2017
4.5 Gripping Stars!
Catherine Bybee is a new author to me. I read one of her books a couple months ago and was completely surprised and frankly, just blown away by how much I loved the book. When I got the opportunity to read another one from her, I had to read it.
I say I was surprised because what I have learned is that she starts her stories out a bit slow. I go in thinking it's going to be one of those low key books that are good, but nothing too exciting. It's like a false since of security before she throws an event or a person in to the story line and I find myself asking where the heck did that come from and I'm sitting on the edge of my seat. Honestly, it makes the story more of a hit for me. I love it when an author surprises me.
When I started this one, I thought maybe this one wouldn't be able to hold up to the last book I read...and then two things happened. First, this is a second chance romance so when Luke decided he was not letting Zoe go the second time, the story started to pick up. I was like, yes, now we are getting somewhere. Then Zoe's dad got out of prison and holy cow! I devoured the rest of the book. Nothing gets my heart pumping more than a bit of danger in a story. You know it's coming but there is so many directions that the author can take it. I was biting my nails waiting to see what her dad was gonna do because you KNOW it's coming. This book went from 0 to 60 and I enjoyed the ride.
It's such a refreshing change for the plot twist to be drama not related to another woman or man trying to break up a couple. Instead you get a plot twist that brings these two closer. I loved it!
This is a standalone but part of a three book series and while Zoe and Luke's story concludes, you get a huge teaser for the next book. And I mean huge! I had to immediately look up when the next book gets released. I CAN NOT WAIT!
ARC provided by NetGalley.
Catherine Bybee is a new author to me. I read one of her books a couple months ago and was completely surprised and frankly, just blown away by how much I loved the book. When I got the opportunity to read another one from her, I had to read it.
I say I was surprised because what I have learned is that she starts her stories out a bit slow. I go in thinking it's going to be one of those low key books that are good, but nothing too exciting. It's like a false since of security before she throws an event or a person in to the story line and I find myself asking where the heck did that come from and I'm sitting on the edge of my seat. Honestly, it makes the story more of a hit for me. I love it when an author surprises me.
When I started this one, I thought maybe this one wouldn't be able to hold up to the last book I read...and then two things happened. First, this is a second chance romance so when Luke decided he was not letting Zoe go the second time, the story started to pick up. I was like, yes, now we are getting somewhere. Then Zoe's dad got out of prison and holy cow! I devoured the rest of the book. Nothing gets my heart pumping more than a bit of danger in a story. You know it's coming but there is so many directions that the author can take it. I was biting my nails waiting to see what her dad was gonna do because you KNOW it's coming. This book went from 0 to 60 and I enjoyed the ride.
It's such a refreshing change for the plot twist to be drama not related to another woman or man trying to break up a couple. Instead you get a plot twist that brings these two closer. I loved it!
This is a standalone but part of a three book series and while Zoe and Luke's story concludes, you get a huge teaser for the next book. And I mean huge! I had to immediately look up when the next book gets released. I CAN NOT WAIT!
ARC provided by NetGalley.
February 7, 2017
4 1/2 "Second Chance" Stars!
I really enjoyed reading Zoe's and Luke's story. This is a second chance romance without the usual extra dramatic reason for there being a second chance in the first place. Basically, they were HS sweethearts that really cared for each other very much. Problem was Zoe had a crappy family life and she was determined to not have the same life as an adult. So she left town to make something of herself. Luke was of course heartbroken by her leaving. Ten years later the sparks are still flying and Zoe's family life is still crappy... but this time, will she stay or will her family have her leaving town again.
This one was very sweet. I absolutely love how mature both Zoe and Luke were. It was a very easy read with characters that are easy to like and cheer for their happy ending; with just a bit of drama that may cause your anger to spike out of control at the bad guy. A practically perfect small-town, second chance romance. Hopefully next up will be Jo's story. Will it be the other small-town sheriff or maybe Mr. No Name from Dallas ;)?... maybe someone completely different? Whoever it will be, I can't wait to find out. Happy reading!!
I really enjoyed reading Zoe's and Luke's story. This is a second chance romance without the usual extra dramatic reason for there being a second chance in the first place. Basically, they were HS sweethearts that really cared for each other very much. Problem was Zoe had a crappy family life and she was determined to not have the same life as an adult. So she left town to make something of herself. Luke was of course heartbroken by her leaving. Ten years later the sparks are still flying and Zoe's family life is still crappy... but this time, will she stay or will her family have her leaving town again.
This one was very sweet. I absolutely love how mature both Zoe and Luke were. It was a very easy read with characters that are easy to like and cheer for their happy ending; with just a bit of drama that may cause your anger to spike out of control at the bad guy. A practically perfect small-town, second chance romance. Hopefully next up will be Jo's story. Will it be the other small-town sheriff or maybe Mr. No Name from Dallas ;)?... maybe someone completely different? Whoever it will be, I can't wait to find out. Happy reading!!
February 10, 2017
Catherine Bybee with Staying for Good, continues the story of three friends. In this #2 in the series the focus is on Zoe Brown, once voted by her school mates as the one most likely to never leave River Bend. Well.... Zoe proved them wrong, she certainly left this little place in Oregon and went out into the big world and became a successful chef. Is she likely to ever return to River Bend and stay for good?
Well her best friend Mel is about to have a big event take place in her life that Zoe will want to be there for. Also Luke Miller, the guy she let go when she left River Bend still loves Zoe and if she won't come to him then he just may be prepared to come to her.
I thoroughly enjoyed the continuing story of these women, meeting up again with Mel, Zoe and Jo the local sheriff. So why did Zoe leave River Bend? Well it turns out she had an abusive father - Ziggy now in jail, a horrible excuse of a human. He made their life a misery when they were all growing up and Zoe also has a lingering worry that if she and Luke become close will it work out?
There is challenge, the facing of old and new wounds, a sense of danger lurks, but through it all love and deep friendship and towns folk who work together. Some hot romance and humor all mixed in together. There is an exploration of an abusive parenthood and husband so if this is a difficult subject for you it may be you'll either want to miss out on it, or embrace and rejoice in it.
It is well paced, plenty of action and I just love the place and the characters.
I most certainly will look forward to Jo's story, looking forward to finding out about a sense of someone watching - and who will be the man of her dreams. I have one hope but we shall see.
Well her best friend Mel is about to have a big event take place in her life that Zoe will want to be there for. Also Luke Miller, the guy she let go when she left River Bend still loves Zoe and if she won't come to him then he just may be prepared to come to her.
I thoroughly enjoyed the continuing story of these women, meeting up again with Mel, Zoe and Jo the local sheriff. So why did Zoe leave River Bend? Well it turns out she had an abusive father - Ziggy now in jail, a horrible excuse of a human. He made their life a misery when they were all growing up and Zoe also has a lingering worry that if she and Luke become close will it work out?
There is challenge, the facing of old and new wounds, a sense of danger lurks, but through it all love and deep friendship and towns folk who work together. Some hot romance and humor all mixed in together. There is an exploration of an abusive parenthood and husband so if this is a difficult subject for you it may be you'll either want to miss out on it, or embrace and rejoice in it.
It is well paced, plenty of action and I just love the place and the characters.
I most certainly will look forward to Jo's story, looking forward to finding out about a sense of someone watching - and who will be the man of her dreams. I have one hope but we shall see.
July 5, 2019
Rating: 3.0/5.0
I don't know if I made a mistake by jumping into this book without reading the first one or not. But I would say the story was decent. Nothing major here. It felt predictable to me most of the time. Basically I was guessing what would happen next and that thing would happen. The protagonists were characters that anyone could relate to them easily. Some of the problems could be common too and many families suffer from.
Basically the story is more related to the second chance romance. The characters decide to give it another chance after many years when their relationship did not work in the past (We get a glimpse from the past to why this happened briefly in the beginning of the book). The writing style is easy to grasp and interesting sometimes but the predictability of how the story was going I feel made things not so interesting for me.
Romance lovers might enjoy this book more than I did.
Note: I won this book by participating in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange of leaving a honest review.
I don't know if I made a mistake by jumping into this book without reading the first one or not. But I would say the story was decent. Nothing major here. It felt predictable to me most of the time. Basically I was guessing what would happen next and that thing would happen. The protagonists were characters that anyone could relate to them easily. Some of the problems could be common too and many families suffer from.
Basically the story is more related to the second chance romance. The characters decide to give it another chance after many years when their relationship did not work in the past (We get a glimpse from the past to why this happened briefly in the beginning of the book). The writing style is easy to grasp and interesting sometimes but the predictability of how the story was going I feel made things not so interesting for me.
Romance lovers might enjoy this book more than I did.
Note: I won this book by participating in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange of leaving a honest review.
April 4, 2017
LOVED this book! It is a wonderful, yummy contemporary romance that succeeds in dealing with really hard situations and subject matter without becoming dark and depressing. It is deftly handled and beautifully written!
September 13, 2017
This is second in a series and you'd probably do better if you read the first before this one. There's enough explanation you probably won't be lost, or anything, but the background details add enough to the story that I think it'd work better to have them.
This was a serviceable romance. I mean, I loved Zoe and Luke. They made a great couple. And their relationship made sense, both past and present. Which is quite an accomplishment, now I think on it. Bybee managed to illustrate why they've been apart all this time, even as their devotion to each other clearly hasn't diminished. Zoe had to leave to escape a truly toxic family situation. And Luke couldn't have left because he was young enough he couldn't see alternatives as viable. That second is hardest because Luke technically could have left with her, but I think Bybee makes it work because following Zoe like a puppy would have provided its own challenges and it's pretty clear that Luke needed to work out his own path to being his best self (and he'd have found it hard to do so in Zoe's shadow). Indeed, Zoe's success (materially, anyway) would put a barrier between them if Luke weren't capable and confident with his place in the world so it's as well that they're working things out now both are coming from a place of stability and confidence.*
This was a pretty solid four-star read on the romance front. Yeah, I liked them as a couple, but they're almost too-good of a fit for there to be much to say. I mean, their conflict is pretty much each figuring out how to compromise based on their current career and home situations. Both have options and both are pretty willing to explore those options. Indeed, their hesitation to start discussing options felt a bit manufactured to me. I mean, when they're talking about clearing out dresser space, it's time to start figuring out long-term solutions for their relationship and stop pretending this thing is even a little bit temporary.
And then the drama started. I hated everything to do with Zoe's family. Okay, that's not entirely true. Her siblings were actually pretty interesting as they have to work out their paths given the same crap upbringing Zoe broke away from so dramatically. But her parents were dead losses. And yeah, we kind of needed to see her mother, but her dad? Yeah, that guy was an evil waste of skin and . I could have put up with the Crystal (her mom) stuff. The Ziggy (her dad) stuff dragged this down a whole star.
A note about Steamy: I lost track of the explicit sex scenes, to be honest. Not that there were a lot. Two or three. So the middle of my steam tolerance. It's just that they were so obviously compatible that having the physical intimacy on-screen didn't really add anything.
* And no, I'm not saying they couldn't have found their stability together if they'd stuck it out back in the day. That just wouldn't have been a romance so much as it would be a relationship-advice story at this point in their lives as they work out the resource imbalance.
This was a serviceable romance. I mean, I loved Zoe and Luke. They made a great couple. And their relationship made sense, both past and present. Which is quite an accomplishment, now I think on it. Bybee managed to illustrate why they've been apart all this time, even as their devotion to each other clearly hasn't diminished. Zoe had to leave to escape a truly toxic family situation. And Luke couldn't have left because he was young enough he couldn't see alternatives as viable. That second is hardest because Luke technically could have left with her, but I think Bybee makes it work because following Zoe like a puppy would have provided its own challenges and it's pretty clear that Luke needed to work out his own path to being his best self (and he'd have found it hard to do so in Zoe's shadow). Indeed, Zoe's success (materially, anyway) would put a barrier between them if Luke weren't capable and confident with his place in the world so it's as well that they're working things out now both are coming from a place of stability and confidence.*
This was a pretty solid four-star read on the romance front. Yeah, I liked them as a couple, but they're almost too-good of a fit for there to be much to say. I mean, their conflict is pretty much each figuring out how to compromise based on their current career and home situations. Both have options and both are pretty willing to explore those options. Indeed, their hesitation to start discussing options felt a bit manufactured to me. I mean, when they're talking about clearing out dresser space, it's time to start figuring out long-term solutions for their relationship and stop pretending this thing is even a little bit temporary.
And then the drama started. I hated everything to do with Zoe's family. Okay, that's not entirely true. Her siblings were actually pretty interesting as they have to work out their paths given the same crap upbringing Zoe broke away from so dramatically. But her parents were dead losses. And yeah, we kind of needed to see her mother, but her dad? Yeah, that guy was an evil waste of skin and . I could have put up with the Crystal (her mom) stuff. The Ziggy (her dad) stuff dragged this down a whole star.
A note about Steamy: I lost track of the explicit sex scenes, to be honest. Not that there were a lot. Two or three. So the middle of my steam tolerance. It's just that they were so obviously compatible that having the physical intimacy on-screen didn't really add anything.
* And no, I'm not saying they couldn't have found their stability together if they'd stuck it out back in the day. That just wouldn't have been a romance so much as it would be a relationship-advice story at this point in their lives as they work out the resource imbalance.
June 25, 2017
What was your most likely to when you were in school?
Zoe Brown’s was most likely to never leave River Bend. But after a bottle of tequila and a nightmare as a teenager she gets out of River Bend. Leaving everything behind. The good, the bad and the ugly.
Eleven years later.
Zoe, Mel and Jo are still as thick as thieves. They have always stuck together and after Mel’s ordeal it is no different. These are the two Zoe shared a bottle of tequila with after graduation.
Zoe Brown chef extraordinaire has cooked her way up to the top. Coming from a trailer park home and always wanting to do better she has managed most of her dreams. She is successful, has a lot going for her but there with all that there is just something missing.
Zoe has had an awful childhood and her father being locked away was a heaven sent. But it still did change anything and she never wanted to go back but her feelings for Luke and the connection that she has with River Bend is growing once again.
After her ten year reunion and seeing her childhood sweetheart she is even more restless.
Luke Miller has had everything in River Bend that he has needed. He’s happy and content always has been. He even understood why Zoe left. But he also feels as if something is missing.
After ten years at their high school reunion they realise that they are both still in limbo. They can’t move forward and yet neither one expected to go back and revisit the past.
Until Wyatt gives Luke a nudge well actually a plane ticket to Texas to go get his girl back as a last ditch effort.
Luke and Zoe are great together. Luke is a rock for Zoe and I liked that Zoe came to realise that you can have so much money and always look for the next big thing because at one time it could all be gone. But in time she comes to realise what is really important and does the right thing.
This is a story of sacrificing something that is already beautiful and going after what you want. That nothing is set in stone and that things people can change but that some things still stay the same. But we all make choices.
I found reading the scenes of how Zoe’s father and I’m using that term very loosely here and what did/does to his own kids/wife sickening.
This book was a lot better IMO then the first one. It was good to begin with but Zoe said or did something I can’t remember what and I thought Oh, Oh this isn’t going to be good but after that time seemed to fly while reading it. And that ending? Well I didn’t see that coming. Saddening, heart breaking yet freeing all at the same time and all the siblings deserved it.
Last but not least I love the hippy Ms. Gina and I’m hoping that Zane will get a book. Just saying Ms. Bybee, he’d make a fantastic Hero.
Review can be found @ http://jerisbookattic-reviewblog.blog...
Zoe Brown’s was most likely to never leave River Bend. But after a bottle of tequila and a nightmare as a teenager she gets out of River Bend. Leaving everything behind. The good, the bad and the ugly.
Eleven years later.
Zoe, Mel and Jo are still as thick as thieves. They have always stuck together and after Mel’s ordeal it is no different. These are the two Zoe shared a bottle of tequila with after graduation.
Zoe Brown chef extraordinaire has cooked her way up to the top. Coming from a trailer park home and always wanting to do better she has managed most of her dreams. She is successful, has a lot going for her but there with all that there is just something missing.
Zoe has had an awful childhood and her father being locked away was a heaven sent. But it still did change anything and she never wanted to go back but her feelings for Luke and the connection that she has with River Bend is growing once again.
After her ten year reunion and seeing her childhood sweetheart she is even more restless.
Luke Miller has had everything in River Bend that he has needed. He’s happy and content always has been. He even understood why Zoe left. But he also feels as if something is missing.
After ten years at their high school reunion they realise that they are both still in limbo. They can’t move forward and yet neither one expected to go back and revisit the past.
Until Wyatt gives Luke a nudge well actually a plane ticket to Texas to go get his girl back as a last ditch effort.
Luke and Zoe are great together. Luke is a rock for Zoe and I liked that Zoe came to realise that you can have so much money and always look for the next big thing because at one time it could all be gone. But in time she comes to realise what is really important and does the right thing.
This is a story of sacrificing something that is already beautiful and going after what you want. That nothing is set in stone and that things people can change but that some things still stay the same. But we all make choices.
I found reading the scenes of how Zoe’s father and I’m using that term very loosely here and what did/does to his own kids/wife sickening.
This book was a lot better IMO then the first one. It was good to begin with but Zoe said or did something I can’t remember what and I thought Oh, Oh this isn’t going to be good but after that time seemed to fly while reading it. And that ending? Well I didn’t see that coming. Saddening, heart breaking yet freeing all at the same time and all the siblings deserved it.
Last but not least I love the hippy Ms. Gina and I’m hoping that Zane will get a book. Just saying Ms. Bybee, he’d make a fantastic Hero.
Review can be found @ http://jerisbookattic-reviewblog.blog...
February 4, 2017
***ARC Provided by the Author and NetGalley***
Catherine Bybee is a go-to author for me when I am in the mood to read a story that pulls at my heart and makes me love the characters.
This was no different. From the second you meet Zoe, you are engaged in the story. She is interesting, you understand where she is coming from, and you are on her side.
And then you meet Luke. And, you like him and wonder why in the world she ever let him. And then you get to know the life she left behind in the small town, and you understand. But then you get to know Luke, and Luke and Zoe together. And, you really want everything to work out for them.
The writing in this book is strong, and there are no points in it that move slowly and I never lost interest in the story. One of the real talents of Catherine Bybee is the human stories she tells in her books, and this one was so great.
There is a note from the author in this one that is compelling as well...and you know, if you didn't already, that this book (like everything she writes) came from the heart. And, knowing that the author's heart is in every one of her books is going to keep me reading the next one she writes, and the one after that.
I recommend this book.
Catherine Bybee is a go-to author for me when I am in the mood to read a story that pulls at my heart and makes me love the characters.
This was no different. From the second you meet Zoe, you are engaged in the story. She is interesting, you understand where she is coming from, and you are on her side.
And then you meet Luke. And, you like him and wonder why in the world she ever let him. And then you get to know the life she left behind in the small town, and you understand. But then you get to know Luke, and Luke and Zoe together. And, you really want everything to work out for them.
The writing in this book is strong, and there are no points in it that move slowly and I never lost interest in the story. One of the real talents of Catherine Bybee is the human stories she tells in her books, and this one was so great.
There is a note from the author in this one that is compelling as well...and you know, if you didn't already, that this book (like everything she writes) came from the heart. And, knowing that the author's heart is in every one of her books is going to keep me reading the next one she writes, and the one after that.
I recommend this book.
February 9, 2017
This review is based on the ARC received from the author and/or the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.
4.5
I fell in love with this author when I stumbled onto the first book of this series. Woman didn't let me down either. I was pretty frustrated with our heroine early on, but she reformed LOL. You don't get the hot sweaty sex scenes in Ms. Bybee's books, but she makes the romance pretty damned tender.
4.5
I fell in love with this author when I stumbled onto the first book of this series. Woman didn't let me down either. I was pretty frustrated with our heroine early on, but she reformed LOL. You don't get the hot sweaty sex scenes in Ms. Bybee's books, but she makes the romance pretty damned tender.
November 27, 2017
3.5
Nachdem mir der erste Teil der River Bend Reihe so gut gefallen hatte, war ich sehr gespannt wie es mit den drei Freundinnen weitergeht.
In "Rückkehr nach River Bend" steht Zoe im Fokus der Geschichte, aber man erfahrt dennoch viel aus dem Leben der anderen Frauen. Das mag ich immer sehr gerne, wenn Paare aus vorherigen Bänden ins Herz geschlossen hat und so erfährt wie es mit ihnen weitergeht.
Die Geschichte war unterhaltsam und gut zu lesen, aber insgesamt war sie für mich ein wenig schwächer als das Vorgängerbuch. Mir lag der Fokus zu sehr auf der Vergangenheit von Zoe und zu wenig auf der Liebesgeschichte. Es war irgendwie selbstverständlich, dass es mit Luke wieder sehr schnell klappt, da fehlt mir so dann aber leider ziemlich das Prickeln. Dies mag vielleicht auch daran liegen, dass es eine "second chance" Geschichte ist und somit das Kennenlernen der Personen fehlt.
Der Schreibstil ist wieder sehr angenehm zu lesen und bin schon sehr gespannt auf den dritten Teil der Reihe.
Nachdem mir der erste Teil der River Bend Reihe so gut gefallen hatte, war ich sehr gespannt wie es mit den drei Freundinnen weitergeht.
In "Rückkehr nach River Bend" steht Zoe im Fokus der Geschichte, aber man erfahrt dennoch viel aus dem Leben der anderen Frauen. Das mag ich immer sehr gerne, wenn Paare aus vorherigen Bänden ins Herz geschlossen hat und so erfährt wie es mit ihnen weitergeht.
Die Geschichte war unterhaltsam und gut zu lesen, aber insgesamt war sie für mich ein wenig schwächer als das Vorgängerbuch. Mir lag der Fokus zu sehr auf der Vergangenheit von Zoe und zu wenig auf der Liebesgeschichte. Es war irgendwie selbstverständlich, dass es mit Luke wieder sehr schnell klappt, da fehlt mir so dann aber leider ziemlich das Prickeln. Dies mag vielleicht auch daran liegen, dass es eine "second chance" Geschichte ist und somit das Kennenlernen der Personen fehlt.
Der Schreibstil ist wieder sehr angenehm zu lesen und bin schon sehr gespannt auf den dritten Teil der Reihe.
May 3, 2018
This series is very strong. The characters each have faced challenges and worked to overcome them. Their struggles feel real. I like best that they look at themselves as young women and don’t let that stop them from growing. Zoe is a very appealing heroine.
November 4, 2020
Zoe is my favorite heroine of the trio. I loved seeing Luke and her get a second chance.
April 28, 2019
4.5 stars.
Great series, really enjoying it.
Great series, really enjoying it.
February 6, 2017
In Staying for Good, the second book in her Most Likely To series, Catherine Bybee continues the stories of the three childhood friends, Zoe, Jo, and Melanie that began in Doing It Over. By the end of the first book, I was not only intrigued by all three women, I was fully invested in their lives and their journeys to happiness and love. For Zoe, the journey takes her back to her hometown and her first love but also to her dysfunctional family and abusive father. When they were young, Zoe's only thought was to escape while Luke couldn't envision a future away from the town, the job, and the family he loved. Both are older now, both are wiser, but until the past is put to rest, they'll have no hope of making their second chance work.
Using themes of friendship, family dysfunction, and second chances (with a first love), Catherine Bybee drew me into this story and left these characters in my mind, and my heart, well after turning the final page. Perhaps it’s because threads of this book are inspired by Bybee’s own childhood that the paths followed by her characters resonate with greater truth and deeper emotion. The author skillfully balances the darkness of the heroine’s family with humor, some quirky secondary characters, a hero I adored, a touch of suspense, a free-spirited woman who has been the maternal influence in all three of the friends' lives, and Jo and Melanie, who always have Zoe's back, no matter what.
If you’re looking for a contemporary romance with women’s fiction overtones, strong bonds of friendship, a love that captures your heart, and a woman who finally finds her voice, her strength, and the life she is meant to live, look no further than Catherine Bybee’s Staying for Good.
While this book stands on its own, for deeper enjoyment and a more complete understanding of the characters, I strongly recommend reading the books in order.
4.5 Stars
Using themes of friendship, family dysfunction, and second chances (with a first love), Catherine Bybee drew me into this story and left these characters in my mind, and my heart, well after turning the final page. Perhaps it’s because threads of this book are inspired by Bybee’s own childhood that the paths followed by her characters resonate with greater truth and deeper emotion. The author skillfully balances the darkness of the heroine’s family with humor, some quirky secondary characters, a hero I adored, a touch of suspense, a free-spirited woman who has been the maternal influence in all three of the friends' lives, and Jo and Melanie, who always have Zoe's back, no matter what.
If you’re looking for a contemporary romance with women’s fiction overtones, strong bonds of friendship, a love that captures your heart, and a woman who finally finds her voice, her strength, and the life she is meant to live, look no further than Catherine Bybee’s Staying for Good.
While this book stands on its own, for deeper enjoyment and a more complete understanding of the characters, I strongly recommend reading the books in order.
4.5 Stars
February 7, 2017
Catherine Bybee has become one of my favorite contemporary authors. When I received an invitation to read Staying for Good, I eagerly accepted. I love that Ms. Bybee writes about REAL people with flawed lives, such a change from many contemporary authors. I received an ARC from the published via Net-Galley.
The pacing of Ms. Bybee’s books is always great and Staying for Good is as well. The characters are engaging and the plot is believable. I normally enjoy second chance romances and this is an excellent one.
Zoe Brown is a wonderful heroine. Determined to rise above her troubled background, she leaves her dysfunctional family in River Bend, her best friends, and her boyfriend to go on to achieve astonishing success as a celebrity chef. I could feel her pain when she realizes that her love for Luke is still as strong as ever when she returns for her friend’s wedding.
I thoroughly enjoyed Luke’s character. He’s one of the good guys, loyal to his family and friends. While he’s not lived as a monk, he has never found a woman that would suit him the way Zoe did. When he sees her at their 10th-year class reunion, she won’t leave his mind. When an opportunity arises to visit her in Texas, he takes it, determined to win her back. I loved his gentle pursuit of her and his patience.
What I like most about Ms. Bybee’s novels is that not only does she give me a great hero and heroine; she gives me an entire cast of characters that I grow to love as well. I can’t wait to read Jo’s story!
If you like small-town romances with a community to love, then you will love Staying for Good as much as I did. I highly recommend this book. It has been Ms. Bybee’s best so far. Happy reading!
The pacing of Ms. Bybee’s books is always great and Staying for Good is as well. The characters are engaging and the plot is believable. I normally enjoy second chance romances and this is an excellent one.
Zoe Brown is a wonderful heroine. Determined to rise above her troubled background, she leaves her dysfunctional family in River Bend, her best friends, and her boyfriend to go on to achieve astonishing success as a celebrity chef. I could feel her pain when she realizes that her love for Luke is still as strong as ever when she returns for her friend’s wedding.
I thoroughly enjoyed Luke’s character. He’s one of the good guys, loyal to his family and friends. While he’s not lived as a monk, he has never found a woman that would suit him the way Zoe did. When he sees her at their 10th-year class reunion, she won’t leave his mind. When an opportunity arises to visit her in Texas, he takes it, determined to win her back. I loved his gentle pursuit of her and his patience.
What I like most about Ms. Bybee’s novels is that not only does she give me a great hero and heroine; she gives me an entire cast of characters that I grow to love as well. I can’t wait to read Jo’s story!
If you like small-town romances with a community to love, then you will love Staying for Good as much as I did. I highly recommend this book. It has been Ms. Bybee’s best so far. Happy reading!
January 11, 2017
This is the second book in the "Most Likely To" series and it is out of this world! We get to learn more about Zoe, her family life and the love she has always felt for Luke. Jo and Mel are back, along with Mel's fiancé, Wyatt, her daughter, Hope, and their friend, Miss Gina. There is plenty of laughter, tears and some fright involved. If you read the first book in the series, you remember that Zoe is a chef, working on TV and in a restaurant in Texas. She left her hometown of River Bend, Oregon, to get away from her family and try to make something of herself. She has done that in spades. However, her friend Mel gets engaged and things start working against her to bring her "back home" more often than she thinks is healthy for her. You see, her father, who is in prison, is up for parole.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
January 8, 2017
As always from this author this is an amazing story with characters that will touch your heart from the very first page. This second installment in the Most Likely To series takes us back to River Bend where we meet Zoe Brown. Voted most likely never to leave in high school, Zoe was determined to prove everyone wrong. She did leave and did very well for herself - Thank you very much. She's back now though and facing everyone again is hard. Especially facing Luke. The one good thing that had been in her prior life and the only man who could get her to consider staying.
Put this one on the must read list! I highly recommend it.
Put this one on the must read list! I highly recommend it.
June 6, 2017
Staying For Good is the second book in the Most Likely To series, and very possibly the best of the three books. Zoe Brown, the chef; and Luke Miller, the auto-repair mechanic of River Bend, small town Oregon, are truly sympathetic characters. I enjoy the fact that this is not your typical tug-and-pull type of romance, but more about 2 people, in love, who are sure about their feelings, and once they’ve decided to be together; they were committed. I liked that very much. I hate when they whine and are unsure, and it goes back and forth. It’s so cliché, and so boring.
Here the thrill factor came from outside the couple’s interaction. Indeed, Zoe’s father is a violent and devious man, and when he’s released from prison after seventeen years, he’s still manipulating her weak-willed mother and the remaining sibling, who have suffered his abuse. It will be up to Zoe and Luke, and their close friends and community to keep this volatile situation in check.
All in all, a very recommendable light romance read.
Here the thrill factor came from outside the couple’s interaction. Indeed, Zoe’s father is a violent and devious man, and when he’s released from prison after seventeen years, he’s still manipulating her weak-willed mother and the remaining sibling, who have suffered his abuse. It will be up to Zoe and Luke, and their close friends and community to keep this volatile situation in check.
All in all, a very recommendable light romance read.
December 18, 2018
I didn't love this as much as the first book in the series, but it was still an enjoyable story.
I borrowed this in audiobook format through Amazon Kindle Unlimited.
I borrowed this in audiobook format through Amazon Kindle Unlimited.
March 8, 2017
I always enjoy Catherine Bybee's stories, but this one I loved. There's plenty of romance and suspense, with characters you're rooting for from the first word. I can't think of anything Bybee could have done to make it better.
January 26, 2017
*This book does contain scenes of domestic violence. *
Staying for Good is the standalone second book in Catherine Bybee’s Most Likely To Series. This is a second chance love story focusing on Zoe Brown and Luke Miller. Zoe and Luke were high school sweethearts who came from opposites worlds. Luke has always been the pride and joy of his parents. His father owns the automotive repair shop in Red River and his mother takes care of the family. Zoe’s father was abusive and went to prison. Her mother worked several jobs and was barely able to take care of the family. Where Luke found comfort and security within his home, Zoe had to look elsewhere. She found safety with Gina, owner of the B&B who became like a second mother to her. She also found a motherly figure in Luke’s mother, who helped cultivate her cooking skills. But above everything else, she found true friendship with Melanie Bartlett, Jo Ward, and Luke Miller.
Everyone assumed Zoe and Luke would get married and have a family of their own. That’s why Zoe was voted most likely to Never Leave Red River. But with Zoe’s abusive upbringing, she refused to have something bad happen to Luke and wake up one morning and find herself living like her mother, with three kids to take care of and living in a trailer that barely kept the cold out. This fear caused Zoe to bolt from Red River right after graduation and only make a handful of sporadic visits.
All of this changes with their ten year high school reunion. Melanie returned, bringing unwanted drama with her. But she also met someone and fell in love. Now, Zoe finds herself returning often to help plan a wedding. She soon discovers that no matter how much she wanted to leave Red River behind, her heart always remained.
Luke spent ten years trying to get over Zoe, but his heart refused to move on. When Zoe returned for the reunion and then kept returning, he knew he had to try to convince Zoe they deserved another chance. As the two start to get closer, Zoe finds herself in family drama. Luke reverts back to being her support system and knows there isn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her, even leave Red River.
Get your tissues ready. Catherine Bybee has written a second chance love story of a love that's never gone away. Staying for Good is also a story of survival and overcoming your past. Of course, Catherine puts in a little suspense, which has you on the edge of your seat. Catherine Bybee is simply a master at what she does.
I’m on pins and needles waiting for the third and final book in the series, Making it Right. The story is surely to answer some questions brought up in Doing it Over.
**Received a copy from the author and voluntarily reviewed the book.**
Staying for Good is the standalone second book in Catherine Bybee’s Most Likely To Series. This is a second chance love story focusing on Zoe Brown and Luke Miller. Zoe and Luke were high school sweethearts who came from opposites worlds. Luke has always been the pride and joy of his parents. His father owns the automotive repair shop in Red River and his mother takes care of the family. Zoe’s father was abusive and went to prison. Her mother worked several jobs and was barely able to take care of the family. Where Luke found comfort and security within his home, Zoe had to look elsewhere. She found safety with Gina, owner of the B&B who became like a second mother to her. She also found a motherly figure in Luke’s mother, who helped cultivate her cooking skills. But above everything else, she found true friendship with Melanie Bartlett, Jo Ward, and Luke Miller.
Everyone assumed Zoe and Luke would get married and have a family of their own. That’s why Zoe was voted most likely to Never Leave Red River. But with Zoe’s abusive upbringing, she refused to have something bad happen to Luke and wake up one morning and find herself living like her mother, with three kids to take care of and living in a trailer that barely kept the cold out. This fear caused Zoe to bolt from Red River right after graduation and only make a handful of sporadic visits.
All of this changes with their ten year high school reunion. Melanie returned, bringing unwanted drama with her. But she also met someone and fell in love. Now, Zoe finds herself returning often to help plan a wedding. She soon discovers that no matter how much she wanted to leave Red River behind, her heart always remained.
Luke spent ten years trying to get over Zoe, but his heart refused to move on. When Zoe returned for the reunion and then kept returning, he knew he had to try to convince Zoe they deserved another chance. As the two start to get closer, Zoe finds herself in family drama. Luke reverts back to being her support system and knows there isn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her, even leave Red River.
Get your tissues ready. Catherine Bybee has written a second chance love story of a love that's never gone away. Staying for Good is also a story of survival and overcoming your past. Of course, Catherine puts in a little suspense, which has you on the edge of your seat. Catherine Bybee is simply a master at what she does.
I’m on pins and needles waiting for the third and final book in the series, Making it Right. The story is surely to answer some questions brought up in Doing it Over.
**Received a copy from the author and voluntarily reviewed the book.**
January 2, 2017
**Advanced copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
You always know when you see Catherine Bybee's name on a book that you are in for a treat. In this second installment of the "Most Likely To" series, we have the chance to revisit River Bend and the wonderful cast of characters who live there and what a great ride it is.
For Zoe Brown, being voted Most Likely to Never Leave River Bend only makes her want to leave her hometown that much faster. Not only does she want to leave the small town she's grown up in to spread her wings and make something of herself, but she also wants to escape her family and the difficulties that they bring to her life. The one thing she never really wanted to leave behind, but felt she had no choice, was Luke, her high school boyfriend and likely the love of her life.
When one of Zoe's best friends, Melanie, gets engaged, it forces Zoe's hand and she has to return to the town she was so desperate to escape and it also means she's going to have to face Luke again. Luke has always been happy in River Bend and never had any aspirations to leave, but when these two former loves come face to face and begin to reconnect, he begins to think that maybe leaving River Bend wouldn't be that bad. But is Zoe beginning to have the opposite thoughts after spending time in her home town again? Both are faced with decisions that are going to change the course of the rest of their lives, but for Zoe the choice is to leave everyone she loves again or to stay for good and it may be the hardest decision she's ever had to make.
Catherine Bybee has a way of sucking you into the world that she's created and she makes you truly care about all of the characters. It was great to see all of our friends from the first book including, Mel, Jo, Ms. Gina and Wyatt, and then getting to meet new ones. I have no doubt that Jo's book, which is the next installment, will be fantastic!
You always know when you see Catherine Bybee's name on a book that you are in for a treat. In this second installment of the "Most Likely To" series, we have the chance to revisit River Bend and the wonderful cast of characters who live there and what a great ride it is.
For Zoe Brown, being voted Most Likely to Never Leave River Bend only makes her want to leave her hometown that much faster. Not only does she want to leave the small town she's grown up in to spread her wings and make something of herself, but she also wants to escape her family and the difficulties that they bring to her life. The one thing she never really wanted to leave behind, but felt she had no choice, was Luke, her high school boyfriend and likely the love of her life.
When one of Zoe's best friends, Melanie, gets engaged, it forces Zoe's hand and she has to return to the town she was so desperate to escape and it also means she's going to have to face Luke again. Luke has always been happy in River Bend and never had any aspirations to leave, but when these two former loves come face to face and begin to reconnect, he begins to think that maybe leaving River Bend wouldn't be that bad. But is Zoe beginning to have the opposite thoughts after spending time in her home town again? Both are faced with decisions that are going to change the course of the rest of their lives, but for Zoe the choice is to leave everyone she loves again or to stay for good and it may be the hardest decision she's ever had to make.
Catherine Bybee has a way of sucking you into the world that she's created and she makes you truly care about all of the characters. It was great to see all of our friends from the first book including, Mel, Jo, Ms. Gina and Wyatt, and then getting to meet new ones. I have no doubt that Jo's book, which is the next installment, will be fantastic!
June 27, 2017
STAYING FOR GOOD, the second book in Catherine Bybee's Most Likely To Series was every bit as good as the first book in the series. Zoe and Luke get their second chance to find out if the love they shared as teens in high school can last in the adult world.
I loved Zoe! Her sassiness, her big heart, her ambition, and her drive to be anything but "the girl most likely to never leave River Bend" were admirable. She loves her family, her friends Mel and Jo, and she still loves her high school boyfriend Luke... but she wanted more than River Bend had to offer and she went for it. Making it big as a celebrity chef and has made a life for herself in Texas. But coming back to visit after ten years and spending time with her friends and Luke again has her rethinking her plans for the future.
Luke is one sexy guy! It broke his heart when Zoe left since he'd planned to spend the rest of his life with his girl, but he understood and let her go. He's been good with the life he has in River Bend, at least until Zoe started coming back for visits. Now he's restless and not sure he's ready to give up on the life he wanted with the woman he wanted when he was just a teen. He's ready to go after his girl!
Great book! Catherine Bybee never fails to write an enjoyable story that keeps me caught up right from the beginning. My emotions are all over the place as she blends in friendship, love and a little suspense. The dialogue is always witty, the storyline thorough and well-written, the fully-developed characters are likable and easy to imagine as being your neighbors or friends. I love her easygoing writing style and look forward to anything she writes. Staying For Good did not disappoint!! 4.5 stars
~Complimentary copy downloaded from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I loved Zoe! Her sassiness, her big heart, her ambition, and her drive to be anything but "the girl most likely to never leave River Bend" were admirable. She loves her family, her friends Mel and Jo, and she still loves her high school boyfriend Luke... but she wanted more than River Bend had to offer and she went for it. Making it big as a celebrity chef and has made a life for herself in Texas. But coming back to visit after ten years and spending time with her friends and Luke again has her rethinking her plans for the future.
Luke is one sexy guy! It broke his heart when Zoe left since he'd planned to spend the rest of his life with his girl, but he understood and let her go. He's been good with the life he has in River Bend, at least until Zoe started coming back for visits. Now he's restless and not sure he's ready to give up on the life he wanted with the woman he wanted when he was just a teen. He's ready to go after his girl!
Great book! Catherine Bybee never fails to write an enjoyable story that keeps me caught up right from the beginning. My emotions are all over the place as she blends in friendship, love and a little suspense. The dialogue is always witty, the storyline thorough and well-written, the fully-developed characters are likable and easy to imagine as being your neighbors or friends. I love her easygoing writing style and look forward to anything she writes. Staying For Good did not disappoint!! 4.5 stars
~Complimentary copy downloaded from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
December 31, 2016
4.5
This review is based on the ARC received from the author exchange for an honest opinion.
I have loved everything I've read from Catherine Bybee. She never disappoints. That said Staying for Good, the second installment in The Mostly Likely Series, took me several tries to get into it and connect with Zoe. About halfway through, something finally clicked and I couldn't put it down.
The story of Zoe and Luke isn't just a great second chance love story just a story about finding yourself and the strength to go after what you love whether its personal or professional. I love the progression of Zoe throughout the book. The girl most likely to never leave had to come to terms with the desire to come back and be with the man she loves while ultimately dealing with her family and her past.
Revisiting River Bend and getting a look into the residents lives' is another plus.I absolutely adore Miss Gina's relationship with Mel, Zoe, and Jo. I can't wait to see what in store for Jo in the next installment!
This review is based on the ARC received from the author exchange for an honest opinion.
I have loved everything I've read from Catherine Bybee. She never disappoints. That said Staying for Good, the second installment in The Mostly Likely Series, took me several tries to get into it and connect with Zoe. About halfway through, something finally clicked and I couldn't put it down.
The story of Zoe and Luke isn't just a great second chance love story just a story about finding yourself and the strength to go after what you love whether its personal or professional. I love the progression of Zoe throughout the book. The girl most likely to never leave had to come to terms with the desire to come back and be with the man she loves while ultimately dealing with her family and her past.
Revisiting River Bend and getting a look into the residents lives' is another plus.I absolutely adore Miss Gina's relationship with Mel, Zoe, and Jo. I can't wait to see what in store for Jo in the next installment!
January 28, 2017
It's good. Not because the lines, I do think some r boring. It's good because the theme behind the story. Telling you that u can't choose where you born, u need to find a way to deal with it, running maynot the best but it's a temporary.
Zoe, Zane, they did.
Family, parents are the core. That's we want parent Mr. & Mrs. M but we finally get Ziggy or parents of Mel. It's not easy to have a family like that, but siblings, father n mother are.... someone u can't say no. Jo, Mel n Zoe they are siblings, n Miss Gina likes their adopt parent, now they are having their family, getting their second chance, Zoe n Luke, Wyatt, Mel n Hope, the next is Jo, being a cop to follow her father's step, facing the nightmare because the killer of her father still out there.
It's hard to say no to the family, but Luke is right, Fred's words are right, even Felix, the gay producer,.... small town story always catching us because we stay too long in a big city n forgetting the human nature.
Zoe, Zane, they did.
Family, parents are the core. That's we want parent Mr. & Mrs. M but we finally get Ziggy or parents of Mel. It's not easy to have a family like that, but siblings, father n mother are.... someone u can't say no. Jo, Mel n Zoe they are siblings, n Miss Gina likes their adopt parent, now they are having their family, getting their second chance, Zoe n Luke, Wyatt, Mel n Hope, the next is Jo, being a cop to follow her father's step, facing the nightmare because the killer of her father still out there.
It's hard to say no to the family, but Luke is right, Fred's words are right, even Felix, the gay producer,.... small town story always catching us because we stay too long in a big city n forgetting the human nature.
February 6, 2017
4.5 Star Review Staying For Good (Most Likely To #2) by Catherine Bybee
This is book 2 in what has come to be one of my favourite series. I had the pleasure of meeting the author, Catherine Bybee in Sydney last year and I was absolutely thrilled.
This is Luke and Zoe's story and is a second chance at love which is fast becoming one of my favourite types of book to read.
This series is like coming home to a family. We were able to catch up with Zoe's best friend Mel, her daughter Hope and Wyatt her fiancee, along with her other best friend Jo. One of my favourite characters from this series is Ms. Gina, the owner of the Bed & Breakfast in River Bend; she makes me laugh.
Zoe has pulled herself up and out of the poor life that she had and is now an established and well known celebrity chef. Luke is the man she left behind, a motor mechanic who has always been content to stay in their home town. Although they have unresolved feelings for each other, neither are prepared to move on. Luke has always and still loves Zoe, but she is too scared to take a chance.
When Mel and Wyatt's upcoming wedding leads to more trips back home, Zoe sees more and more of Luke who is determined to convince Zoe to take a leap of faith in their love and potential future.
I really love the depth of the characters Ms. Bybee writes, they are not one dimensional, there is always that added layer. When trouble in the form of Zoe's ex-felon father returns to River Bend, she will do all she can to keep her family safe from him and his violent temper. Knowing that Luke and Mel and Jo support her her helps Zoe to face the trouble and the strained relationship with her family.
This is a story of friendship and love;I would love to visit River Bend and the awesome group of friends that surround Zoe and Luke.
This was another great book by Catherine Bybee and I look forward to the next book in the series.
This is book 2 in what has come to be one of my favourite series. I had the pleasure of meeting the author, Catherine Bybee in Sydney last year and I was absolutely thrilled.
This is Luke and Zoe's story and is a second chance at love which is fast becoming one of my favourite types of book to read.
This series is like coming home to a family. We were able to catch up with Zoe's best friend Mel, her daughter Hope and Wyatt her fiancee, along with her other best friend Jo. One of my favourite characters from this series is Ms. Gina, the owner of the Bed & Breakfast in River Bend; she makes me laugh.
Zoe has pulled herself up and out of the poor life that she had and is now an established and well known celebrity chef. Luke is the man she left behind, a motor mechanic who has always been content to stay in their home town. Although they have unresolved feelings for each other, neither are prepared to move on. Luke has always and still loves Zoe, but she is too scared to take a chance.
When Mel and Wyatt's upcoming wedding leads to more trips back home, Zoe sees more and more of Luke who is determined to convince Zoe to take a leap of faith in their love and potential future.
I really love the depth of the characters Ms. Bybee writes, they are not one dimensional, there is always that added layer. When trouble in the form of Zoe's ex-felon father returns to River Bend, she will do all she can to keep her family safe from him and his violent temper. Knowing that Luke and Mel and Jo support her her helps Zoe to face the trouble and the strained relationship with her family.
This is a story of friendship and love;I would love to visit River Bend and the awesome group of friends that surround Zoe and Luke.
This was another great book by Catherine Bybee and I look forward to the next book in the series.
February 7, 2017
Originally published at Reading Reality
In a lot of ways, Staying for Good has more in common with yesterday’s book, The Cottage at Firefly Lake, than it does with the first book in its own series, Doing It Over.
These are all small-town romances that have at their heart a sisterly relationship. And it doesn’t matter a bit that the women in Cottage are sisters-by-blood while the women in the Most Likely To series are sisters-of-the-heart. The relationships are equally deep and equally lasting.
Also equally life-changing.
Unlike Doing it Over, the love stories in both The Cottage at Firefly Lake and Staying for Good are second chance romances. And they are second chances of the same type. Just as in Cottage, heroine Zoe Brown in Staying for Good gave up the love of her life when she left her small town after high school, and became a big star in a demanding field.
The causes were similar in both cases. Zoe absolutely had to leave River Bend, while Luke had always planned to stay. They didn’t fall out of love, they just went in completely separate directions. But they broke up before they had a chance to discover whether they could work long-distance, and never got past the loss.
Zoe has become a famous chef, both on TV and in restaurant gigs around the country. She’s come far from her origins in River Bend as the daughter of a violent abusive convict and his co-dependent victim. She came back to River Bend in Doing It Over, and discovered that not nearly enough had changed.
She still felt much too much for Luke, and her birth family was still much too much of a messy drama. She had tried to help as best she could, but her mother seems to be beyond help, and her brother and sister seem set to follow all the bad family patterns.
There’s nothing left in River Bend for Zoe except her sisters-of-the-heart, Jo and Mel, her surrogate mother Gina, and, of course, Luke. Who she shouldn’t want but still does.
Zoe is back again to help plan Mel’s wedding (see Doing it Over for deets) and steps right back into the family mess when her not-so-dear-old-dad gets parole, and immediately returns to his destructive ways.
But Zoe isn’t a child anymore. This time, she fights back. With Luke at her side, every step of the way.
Escape Rating B+: In spite of how many times I mentioned it above, you don’t actually have to read Doing it Over to enjoy Staying for Good. But it’s a terrific story, and if you enjoy small-town romances mixed with stories of deep women’s friendships, it’s a lovely book.
Back to Staying for Good. This is a story with three separate branches. One is, of course, the second chance at love between Zoe and Luke. They’ve spent years avoiding each other, and have both tried to move on. But it has been over 10 years, and neither of them has found anyone to replace the other in their lives. Not only has neither of them even flirted with the idea of a serious relationship with anyone else, but neither of them has found anyone who simply “gets” them the way the other does. They were best friends as well as lovers, and neither of them has found anyone who can fill both pairs of those shoes.
They’ve also both reached crossroads in their lives. Luke has been content in River Bend, running the local car repair garage with his father. But the small town is starting to feel a bit stifling. Or perhaps boring. He’s nearly 30 and hasn’t been anywhere or done much of anything with his life. Whether it’s his feet that are itchy or just his heart is a question he needs to answer.
Zoe, on the other hand, has been at the top of the chef’s world for several years. She can work where she wants, when she wants, and is a frequent guest chef at top restaurants and on big-name TV cooking shows. But she doesn’t really have a life. And while she doesn’t miss her parents much, she is worried about her younger brother and sister and misses her circle of friends a great deal.
She’s ready to put down roots, but not sure where to sink them. And she’s starting to realize that her heart is back in River Bend, even if her work is elsewhere.
Into the middle of Zoe and Luke’s romantic dilemma, Zoe is also in the middle of her own family drama. Her father fits the classic portrait of an abuser. He beat his wife, he beat his kids, he was worse when he drank, and he was just a mean bastard all the way around. He was also an expert manipulator. And when he returns from prisoner, he goes right back to manipulating the family. Since Zoe is not only out, but willing to throw a lifeline to any of her family members who are willing to grab it, he does his level best (and worst) to alienate the family from her. And he nearly succeeds.
(I will say that the way that this part of the story is resolved reminds me a bit too much of Doing it Over. Without spoiling the story, let me say that this particular method of resolution veers into deus ex machina territory when repeated, so I hope that the budding suspense angle in the third book in the series doesn’t resolve quite the same way.)
The final thread to the story, of course, is the sisterly bond between Zoe, Mel and Jo. This isn’t just Zoe’s story, it’s also all of theirs. The portrayal of the friendship between these women is always marvelous. Because all three of these women are fantastic characters, I’m really looking forward to Jo’s story in Making It Right.
In a lot of ways, Staying for Good has more in common with yesterday’s book, The Cottage at Firefly Lake, than it does with the first book in its own series, Doing It Over.
These are all small-town romances that have at their heart a sisterly relationship. And it doesn’t matter a bit that the women in Cottage are sisters-by-blood while the women in the Most Likely To series are sisters-of-the-heart. The relationships are equally deep and equally lasting.
Also equally life-changing.
Unlike Doing it Over, the love stories in both The Cottage at Firefly Lake and Staying for Good are second chance romances. And they are second chances of the same type. Just as in Cottage, heroine Zoe Brown in Staying for Good gave up the love of her life when she left her small town after high school, and became a big star in a demanding field.
The causes were similar in both cases. Zoe absolutely had to leave River Bend, while Luke had always planned to stay. They didn’t fall out of love, they just went in completely separate directions. But they broke up before they had a chance to discover whether they could work long-distance, and never got past the loss.
Zoe has become a famous chef, both on TV and in restaurant gigs around the country. She’s come far from her origins in River Bend as the daughter of a violent abusive convict and his co-dependent victim. She came back to River Bend in Doing It Over, and discovered that not nearly enough had changed.
She still felt much too much for Luke, and her birth family was still much too much of a messy drama. She had tried to help as best she could, but her mother seems to be beyond help, and her brother and sister seem set to follow all the bad family patterns.
There’s nothing left in River Bend for Zoe except her sisters-of-the-heart, Jo and Mel, her surrogate mother Gina, and, of course, Luke. Who she shouldn’t want but still does.
Zoe is back again to help plan Mel’s wedding (see Doing it Over for deets) and steps right back into the family mess when her not-so-dear-old-dad gets parole, and immediately returns to his destructive ways.
But Zoe isn’t a child anymore. This time, she fights back. With Luke at her side, every step of the way.
Escape Rating B+: In spite of how many times I mentioned it above, you don’t actually have to read Doing it Over to enjoy Staying for Good. But it’s a terrific story, and if you enjoy small-town romances mixed with stories of deep women’s friendships, it’s a lovely book.
Back to Staying for Good. This is a story with three separate branches. One is, of course, the second chance at love between Zoe and Luke. They’ve spent years avoiding each other, and have both tried to move on. But it has been over 10 years, and neither of them has found anyone to replace the other in their lives. Not only has neither of them even flirted with the idea of a serious relationship with anyone else, but neither of them has found anyone who simply “gets” them the way the other does. They were best friends as well as lovers, and neither of them has found anyone who can fill both pairs of those shoes.
They’ve also both reached crossroads in their lives. Luke has been content in River Bend, running the local car repair garage with his father. But the small town is starting to feel a bit stifling. Or perhaps boring. He’s nearly 30 and hasn’t been anywhere or done much of anything with his life. Whether it’s his feet that are itchy or just his heart is a question he needs to answer.
Zoe, on the other hand, has been at the top of the chef’s world for several years. She can work where she wants, when she wants, and is a frequent guest chef at top restaurants and on big-name TV cooking shows. But she doesn’t really have a life. And while she doesn’t miss her parents much, she is worried about her younger brother and sister and misses her circle of friends a great deal.
She’s ready to put down roots, but not sure where to sink them. And she’s starting to realize that her heart is back in River Bend, even if her work is elsewhere.
Into the middle of Zoe and Luke’s romantic dilemma, Zoe is also in the middle of her own family drama. Her father fits the classic portrait of an abuser. He beat his wife, he beat his kids, he was worse when he drank, and he was just a mean bastard all the way around. He was also an expert manipulator. And when he returns from prisoner, he goes right back to manipulating the family. Since Zoe is not only out, but willing to throw a lifeline to any of her family members who are willing to grab it, he does his level best (and worst) to alienate the family from her. And he nearly succeeds.
(I will say that the way that this part of the story is resolved reminds me a bit too much of Doing it Over. Without spoiling the story, let me say that this particular method of resolution veers into deus ex machina territory when repeated, so I hope that the budding suspense angle in the third book in the series doesn’t resolve quite the same way.)
The final thread to the story, of course, is the sisterly bond between Zoe, Mel and Jo. This isn’t just Zoe’s story, it’s also all of theirs. The portrayal of the friendship between these women is always marvelous. Because all three of these women are fantastic characters, I’m really looking forward to Jo’s story in Making It Right.
February 4, 2017
Estranged from her family and looked down on by her hometown, Zoe sets out to prove she's more than her screwed up family. She left an outcast and returned a changed woman. The problem with returning home is that the past still hovers in her review mirror. The people she hurt, the town that judged her and the family she left behind all await her. Memories whether painful or happy are hard to outrun. For Zoe mending fences means facing her past. Luke is her biggest regret. Her safe haven, has become her biggest heartbreak. Can a damaged heart help heal a broken one? Staying For Good takes a trek down memory lane to establish a lesson in humility and teach the true meaning of love.
May 25, 2017
I am super happy with that ending. I cannot wait for the next book. I'm not as keen on Jo as the others but then again I was always less keen on the characters when they weren't in focused. So I liked Mel when it was just about her and didn't feel love her during this story & the same goes for Zoe.
January 9, 2017
I was given a chance to read and review this book from NETGALLEY.
Book two in Catherine Bybee's Most Likey to Succeed Series, STAYING FOR GOOD tells the story of teenage sweethearts-turned-grownups Zoe and Luke.
After High school graduation, Zoe left the tiny, suffocating town of RIverBend, Luke, and her family behind. With a father in prison for armed robbery and her memories of being raised in a trailer by a broken mother, Zoe knew she had to leave the sleepy town if she was ever going to do anything worthwhile with her life, esp. after being voted the girl MOSTLY LIKE TO NEVER LEAVE RIVER BEND by her graduating class.
Fast forward ten years and Zoe is a successful cheflebrity living in Texas. She's been back home a few times recently tho, because one of her BFF's is getting married soon. And when she's home she comes face to face more times than she can count with the only man she's ever really loved, Luke.
For his part, Luke has stayed in his hometown, helped run his father's garage and generally been happy. Except for the fact that he misses the love of his life and want's a life with her. Coming up with a way to ensure that is Luke's mission.
I don't like spoilers so I stop the plot there.
This was a good story of coming home, why you should-or shouldn't- and what happens to people you leave behind. Zoe is wracked with guilt and frustration with her family. She knows her mother resents her leaving, just as much as she knows the woman enjoys the money Zoe sends home for her mom to live. With her younger brother and sister looking like they are going to fall into the same trap of teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, and problems with the law as their imprisoned father, she wants them to understand there is more to life than just being trailer-park trash. Unfortunately, the cycle seems to repeat itself without stopping.
If you are a fan of Bybees' - which I am, in spades(!) - you will enjoy this book. Told in rotating points of view, the set up for book 3 Jo's story, MAKING IT RIGHT is firmly rooted and I can't wait for that one to release.
Well worth the read.
Book two in Catherine Bybee's Most Likey to Succeed Series, STAYING FOR GOOD tells the story of teenage sweethearts-turned-grownups Zoe and Luke.
After High school graduation, Zoe left the tiny, suffocating town of RIverBend, Luke, and her family behind. With a father in prison for armed robbery and her memories of being raised in a trailer by a broken mother, Zoe knew she had to leave the sleepy town if she was ever going to do anything worthwhile with her life, esp. after being voted the girl MOSTLY LIKE TO NEVER LEAVE RIVER BEND by her graduating class.
Fast forward ten years and Zoe is a successful cheflebrity living in Texas. She's been back home a few times recently tho, because one of her BFF's is getting married soon. And when she's home she comes face to face more times than she can count with the only man she's ever really loved, Luke.
For his part, Luke has stayed in his hometown, helped run his father's garage and generally been happy. Except for the fact that he misses the love of his life and want's a life with her. Coming up with a way to ensure that is Luke's mission.
I don't like spoilers so I stop the plot there.
This was a good story of coming home, why you should-or shouldn't- and what happens to people you leave behind. Zoe is wracked with guilt and frustration with her family. She knows her mother resents her leaving, just as much as she knows the woman enjoys the money Zoe sends home for her mom to live. With her younger brother and sister looking like they are going to fall into the same trap of teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, and problems with the law as their imprisoned father, she wants them to understand there is more to life than just being trailer-park trash. Unfortunately, the cycle seems to repeat itself without stopping.
If you are a fan of Bybees' - which I am, in spades(!) - you will enjoy this book. Told in rotating points of view, the set up for book 3 Jo's story, MAKING IT RIGHT is firmly rooted and I can't wait for that one to release.
Well worth the read.
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