Staying For Good (Most Likely to, #2)

by Catherine Bybee

A Wall Street Journal bestseller.

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.

• ISBN10: 1503939170
• ISBN13: 9781503939172
• Publish Date: 24 January 2017
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Montlake Romance
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 320
• Language: English

Reviews

[Linda]

Staying For Good is Zoe's story, and her second chance at love was beautiful! I loved both her and Luke, and it was great to see her best friends, JoAnne and Mel again, too.
River Bend is a very small town, but that doesn't mean nothing ever happens there.

[Sam@WLABB]

Staying For Good is the second book in the Most Likely To series, and focuses on Zoe. Back in high school, the year book read:

Zoe Brown: Most likely to never leave River Bend.

Well, not only did Zoe Brown leave River Bend, she also took the world by storm and had risen to fame as a celebrity chef. She thought she had it all and was living the life she always wanted, but after spending time in River Bend for the reunion, she realized that something was missing. At the same time, it was brought to the attention of her high school sweetheart and first love, Luke, that he had not been the same since the reunion either.

You may have been over it, but after the reunion, you stopped being over it.

With encouragement from Wyatt and a ticket in his hand, he set off for Dallas in an effort to get out of this "limbo" and figure out if there is anything left between Zoe and himself.

First, he shows up like fog on the beach, and then he kisses me. Who does that?

I am a fan of Ms. Bybee, having read all the Weekday Bride and Not Quite Perfect books, and I was very excited when I first heard about this series. I really enjoyed Mel's story, and was looking forward to more from this trio. Zoe's was a story I really wanted to read, because I knew it would be a second chance romance. There is just something about the possibility that all is not lost, and that which you loved may be your's again. It's hopeful. I also love second chance romances for all the history that is there. There were a few flashbacks that made me misty, and it was wonderful watching these two re-kindle the flame that was never fully extinguished.

Zoe and Luke getting back together is like Sandy and Danny from Grease. It's epic and wonderful.

Zoe and Luke really were epic together. He worked so hard to show Zoe how much he cared. He supported her, and did not ask her to change her life for him, rather, he was willing to change his life for her. He was not letting her slip through his fingers again. Their time apart had only intensified what they always knew was true - they were made for each other.

You're good for my ego, Miller.

So, great hero and heroine, as always, and can we talk about #squadgoals. This tight knit group of lifelong friends is absolutely enviable. I love how they are different, but similar, and how they balance each other out. They know when to push, and when to hold back. That sort of understanding takes many years of dedication to perfect. I loved that Bybee played up the bromance between Wyatt and Luke in this book. They were quite the pair. I really enjoyed every interaction between the two, and cannot wait to see what develops when a new mister is added to the group. And can we talk about the cameo! It was fun to see a character from the Weekday Brides series showing up at the inn. Nicely done, Ms. Bybee.

Michael Wolfe...action flicks. Totally hot.

As with many of her other books, Bybee includes a suspense element in this book too. There was some serious drama and chaos at one point, and a seed was planted for Jo's book which left me a little worried, but I will not fear, because Bybee always does right by me.

Overall: A wonderful second chance romance filled with love and friendship, which has left me beyond excited for Jo's book.

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