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.

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.