The greatest fire in state history ripped through the valley and incinerated almost everything and also detonated a passion between two friends that is as explosive as the fire itself. In the ensuing aftermath, Jocelyn Jantz is left all alone… and pregnant with Ben Rydell’s baby. She realizes that Ben will despise her, and himself, to the end of their days. Their actions snatched their honor, … actions snatched their honor, something he always took the most pride in. When he disappears without a word, she’s convinced he is lost to her forever.
Without a word to anyone, Ben runs east, crossing several states, trying to escape the loss he refuses to accept. But his actions only compound the tragedy. He has betrayed the woman he was first committed to, but in disappearing, he leaves behind the woman who deserves his concern now. All that he can see is that his future is ruined and all by his own hand.
But then one day, his father finds him.
And with that discovery is the revelation of the only thing that could draw him back to his former, but altered life, and that is the existence of the baby girl he never meant to father, but that is already born. He must come home to re-build everything that was lost… but the thing is? He has no idea how to even start. But when he meets his daughter, he realizes that her existence is now the only thing that matters…
Binge read this contemporary, western romance series, full of hot cowboys and family entanglements that is based around the Rydell River Ranch brought to you by small-town romance author Leanne Davis…
Recommended Reading Order for River’s End Series:
River’s End
River’s Escape
River’s Return
River Road
River on Fire
River’s Lost
River of Change
River’s Destiny
River’s Rescue
River’s Winter
Dive into the next generation of River’s End with The Rydell River Ranch Series:
River in Darkness
River in Light
River in the Mountains
River at the Ranch
River to the Ocean
River from the City
River Through the Valley
Each book is a standalone with a happily-ever after but the journey getting there? Never easy and always epic! You’ll get to check in with beloved characters in this interconnected standalone series.
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Man, can this family possibly ensure any more loss and pain? The decks are stacked against Ben and Jocelyn from the beginning, yet somehow they attempt to cross the divide between them to find much deserved happiness.
After reading this one I had to have all the River’s End books & now Leanne Davis is one of my favorite authors!
This is more of a 3.5 star review. I just didn’t feel the connection between Ben and Jocelyn. Ben was a jerk for most of this book. He only redeemed himself after he stepped up. Of course this was after his dad put the fear of God into him. I get that he was grieving for Marcy and the ranch but that’s no reason for him to act as cold as he did. Him and Jocelyn had a moment of passion that neither expected to happen. Jocelyn, I loved. She owned up to her mistake and took a lot of beatings in this book. The townspeople weren’t nice to her at all. She was a harlot in their judgemental eyes. Thankfully the Rydell family took her in and stood up for her. She knew what had to be done and did. She knew nothing about being a mom but knew she was all her daughter had. With the help of the Rydell women, she learned a lot. She was strong and gave Ben an earful when he needed a kick in the butt, which was often. This book was just ok for me. I do hope the next one is better.
I really love Ben and Jocelyn story …after the fire Ben runs always wile he away she find out she pregnant ..she all alone thru pregnancy then She she in need of help so she call Jack for help and he deliver his grand daughter….Jack on mission to find Ben will and will be able to convince him to come back for his daughter..
Get this book you wil love it …hurry buy this book you won’t regret
Ben Rydell married Marcy right out of high school and the marriage was nothing like he thought it would be. When Marcy dies in a wildfire Ben blames himself for his own actions that night and lives with the guilt that he killed Marcy. Ben escapes the Valley and leaves without saying goodbye to his family.
Jocelyn Jantz worked for the Rydell’s and always had a crush on Ben but her heart broke when he chose Marcy over her. When the two got together one night Jocelyn never imagined what would happen next and the consequences of that night and the devastation from the fire.
When Ben’s dad Jack comes to get him and bring him home the two see how much each of them have changed in the past year. When Ben realizes what else his actions that night created will he agree to come home or will he run further?
As Ben and Jocelyn come to terms with everything that has happened from their night together will they be able to figure out a way to move on together? Can they put their guilt behind them and appreciate what they have been given?
Will the Rydell’s be able to put the fire behind them and figure out a way to begin again?
This was such a good book from start to finish and definitely one of my favorites in the series.
I understood why Ben ran but I was still disappointed in him for doing it. I was shocked at what he had turned to when he was gone and definitely upset with the way he treated his dad when he arrived to let him know everything that had gone on. When he finally arrives home I understood Jocelyn’s frustration with how he was with Lillian.
I really liked Jocelyn and my heart was broken for her as you knew how much she cared about Ben and when you learn what she went through as a teenager it is more devastating. I hated that she was so alone through so much stuff until she called Jack and Erin out of desperation and I was glad they took her in after that.
Both Jocelyn and Ben lost so much the night of the fire but they coped so differently. Ben had no idea what was going on after he left and I am sad that he just didn’t care enough to reach out at all.
I loved that Jocelyn called Ben out part way through the book and that shook him up and made even Jack realize what he had been doing wrong as well with coming to terms with everything.
I hated how Jocelyn was treated around town and it was cruel of so many people. I loved that Ben found Jocelyn a dance instructor!!
The end was absolutely awesome and I loved Ben’s suggestion which brought all of the strengths of the family together with a plan for the future.
I am super excited for the next book to see everything come together and how Ben’s plans have worked out!
I absolutely loved this book! I’ve read all the River’s End series. Ben and Jocelyn’s story is one of my favorites. Ben and Marcy had been married for about a year and both were unhappy. Marcy was unhappy with her marriage to Ben and would cheat on him constantly. Then the fire killed Marcy and Jeff, at the same time Ben was cheating on Marcy with Jocelyn. But after what he with Jocelyn, Ben knew he had feelings for her but didn’t know exactly what they were at the time or how to process what they did together because they were best friends. When he found out that Marcy had been killed in the fire and all the guilt he had over what he and Jocelyn did Ben took off for almost a year not knowing that Jocelyn was pregnant. Ben had to learn to live with the guilt he felt over Marcy’s death and Jocelyn getting pregnant.
I was a little peeved at how the town of River’s End treated Jocelyn. It was so backwards and very old fashioned. But at least the rest of the Rydell’s were there for Ben and Jocelyn and they got the support that they needed.
This was a well written story that was the aftermath of the fire from the last book. At the beginning there is so much tragic moments that Ben Rydell decides it’s time to leave the only town he knows and runs away. Leaving behind the women he loves who just happens to be his best friend Jocelyn. Through all this Jocelyn is struggling with her own issues and a surprise she doesn’t see coming and that’s becoming pregnant. This book is good and sad but even with the sad moments this book is such a great read and I loved this series so much.
Wow is all i can say. This isn’t a pretty story. This has tragedy in it from the start. Ben runs away from all the grief and heartache in his home town. Ben is lost. He looses himself in drugs and alchohol. He is mourning his wife and his town. His dad cones and find him to give him news. This story really gets you. Watching everything unfold, i was in awe. This doesn’t just take us on Ben journey but everyones story on how they cope with the loss.
love, guilt,bitterness, cowardice, friendships that turn to hatred, lives wrecked by the overwhelming fires which consume them. Sweet and urgent sexy read, compounded by anger, guilt, lives ended. Tragic, and wonderful. Recommended adult.
The Rydells saga continues and in this story the family and friends and community is reeling from the worst fire disaster in their state’s history. So many have lost so much including property and lives. Ben Rydell has lost his wife Marcy. But worse than that he has lost his self respect and sense of honor and probably his best friend Jocelyn.
Jocelyn has secretly loved Ben since they were kids and suffered through the years of watching him fall in love and eventually marry Marcy. Once her friend who became a vicious enemy as they grew older, Marcy was all wrong for him and everyone around them knew it. On the night everything burned, Marcy ran off and Ben turned to Jocelyn for comfort. One night of unrequited passion on the same night his wife is burned alive and their lives will never be the same.
While the family is trying to pick up the pieces and rebuild, Ben has disappeared, running from the past, present and an uncertain future. But his dad will go to the ends of the earth to drag him back to face reality or make right a wrong. Ben and Jocelyn will have to come to terms with the consequences of their actions in the form of their baby girl. Can they reconcile what they once had or will their guilt be too much to even remain friends?
The subject of this story is probably difficult for most readers as many still consider infidelity a taboo subject. But I applaud a writer that can bring light to real life. These things happen. I don’t condone it but I can’t ignore it and pretend it doesn’t happen. I also can’t judge someone until I have read their story. This is part of Ben’s story. You cannot leave it out and pretend it didn’t happen. You can’t understand his struggle without his story being told.
Ben and Jocelyn’s story have become my favorite in the series. There were lots of obstacles that stood in their way. People and their judgemental comments were only the beginning. Change and loss can damage a person it’s how we overcome that makes a difference.
Just the absolute best story. Everything I like to read about and more. Such a great story I will read again and again. A keeper!!
This is one of those stories where your like really. Tears and hurt . A fire that takes about all of his family ranch and also his wife, he turns to trouble and then he tries to get away but life has a way of slapping when your down and makes you wake up. This is what happens , lots of twists and turns great story will keep you reading.
Lost but amazing
Leanne Davis has written another amazing book in this series. Ben’s story definitely has multiple surprises along the way. It is one you won’t want t put down.
I’ve loved every book in this series. This story of love then everything the whole family lost. How they all handled it differently. This is an amazing series that everyone needs to read.
I have enjoyed each book in this series even more than the one before it. The story of Ben and Joycelyn might be my favorite one yet. This series has been one of my favorite contemporary series, the characters all have their flaws and seem so human and real, this and a fantastic story line make this book almost impossible to sit down. It is worth your time to give Leanne Davis’s books a try!
This is ben & Jocelyn’s story and their story breaks my heart! You find out why Ben runs away and there’s a pregnancy… ugh oh!!! This book made me cry! Will Jocelyn bring Ben back?
A father and son spirits are broken by tragedy. Jack Rydell, the strong patriarch leading his brothers and his son’s, falls after losing his ranch to fire and losing his son emotionally over grief and guilt.
This was not a pretty story. Ben Rydell got married very young and realized it was a mistake and ended up in his best friend Jocelyn’s arms while his wife burned to death in the fire that took out the whole valley of River’s End. Unable to live with the guilt of him having the best experience of his life while his wife was dying he runs away from River’s End and ends up using drugs and alcohol to quite his demons. He always expected his father to come and find him and drag him back to his responsibilities. That didnt happen for 9 months and when his father finally did show up he was more broken than Ben was. But the news he came with – that he was now a father – couldnt have shocked him more.
Jack’s book was the first in the series. He was forced to become guardian to his brothers when their parents died and also to be a single parent to his 2 sons when his wife also died. He was such a strong willed man in that book – family and the Ranch were everything to him. Seeing what losing the Ranch and Ben did to him was very hard to take. This wasn’t just Ben and Jocelyn’s story. It was the whole Rydell’s clan basically switching roles in leadership and stepping up to take up the slack when Jack no longer wanted the responsibilities.
There is a lot more that happens through this book and I am leaving out Jocelyn’s side but by the end of this book the Rydell’s who were almost beaten by the tragedies that befell them rise up from the ashes as new people with a whole new business adventure along with the having the love that binds them together.