ABANDONED. Heroine with abusive stepfather starts new life..?

[Mia_j]

Hey everyone! I've been looking for this book for awhile, but I can't remember neither the author nor the title. (There were actually two books, because there was a sequel). It's a romance book I read a couple of years ago.
It was about this girl who runs away from home after she's been beaten by her stepfather and decides to go to where her father used to live. Her father left when she was 8 (I think) promising her on her birthday that he would come back for her. Her father actually died shortly after and she finds out that he owns a bar in the small city he lived in. She starts working in the bar and building relationships with her father best friend and his son; but then she meets the guy and start dating but then he leaves (don't remember why).
I know it's pretty confusing, but I don't remember much.
Thank you for you help.
MIA

[Kris]

Mia_j, what year did you read this book? I find "a couple of years ago" can mean different things in this large group.

Location - U.S./Italy/country, region, big city/small town?

[Mia_j]

Hi, I think I've read it in 2015 but it was written a couple of years before if I don't remember wrong.
The location, U.S. a small town but I don't remember the region honestly. But I think east coast.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Mia_j, are you still looking for this or did you find it?

[Kris]

No response, moving to Abandoned folder.

Mia_j (OP) was last active on the site in March 2020.