The One I Left Behind by Piper Rayne Series: Plain Daisy Ranch
Published by Self on 5/14/24
Genres: Contemporary Romance
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It's the classic storyboy goes off into the world to fulfill his dreams and leaves the girl behind.
Not every boy returns home, and I wish Ben Noughton wouldn't have come back to our small ranching town at all after he retired from playing professional football.
I figure it's a quick layover for him. He always wanted out of this town and off his family's ranch. I just have to bide my time until he turns his back on all of us again.
Then he takes on the coaching position for the high school football team and starts milling around too much, bulldozing the protective walls I've built around myself. But he goes too far when he takes my son under his wing to help him be the best player he can be. Leaving me to protect not only my own heart but my son's too.
Because I promised myself a long time ago that I'd never be the girl in the rearview mirror again.
I have loved reading/listening to Piper Rayne’s book for a long time now and books like The One I Left Behind is the reason why. I love second chance romances so much and this one pulled me right in from the start. Narrated by Robert Hatchet and CJ Bloom, they truly brought Ben and Gillian’s second chance romance to life for me. High school sweethearts that loved each other and dreamed of a future together, however, life does not always work out as intended. Now years later, Ben is back and everything is different.
Ben is a retired NFL player who is back to help his family, but it is short term, right? He has never forgotten Gillian or his love for her, so it’s the last place he wants to be. I loved how caring and protective he was. Gillian loved Ben so much, but also wanted him to live his dream. Now she is a single mom working towards becoming a lawyer and planning her future. She has no place for Ben in her life. Now they are running into each other and trying to deny the pull they still feel. And it does not help when everyone is pulling for them.
I devoured their story and just loved all the characters. Ben’s brothers and Clayton, Gillian’s son, were amazing and Ben and Gillian were everything. Their journey was a bit angsty, emotional, touching and sweet. Ben and Gillian truly belonged together, but life got in the way. Now he is coaching her son and determined to win her back. Can they truly find their way back together again? Such a sweet and charming small town second chance romance and I am so excited to see what is next in the series.
