Reid shows up in Thistle Hill to apologize to Parker. There are some things that are forgivable. Can Parker find it in her heart to forgive the unforgivable?

Reid’s suffering is well done. I can understand why he wanted to meet Parker and apologize for her husband’s death. His journey from wanting to give her money to becoming a part of her life made sense. I do have to say the timeframe was a bit too small in my opinion for them to be in love but it’s that type of book. I enjoyed seeing how Reid became part of Thistle Hill. I would be interested in knowing what happens once Reid moves there permanently but the author cut off the story before revealing that. Parker was stuck in place after losing her husband. I like that she was trying to make everything around her work and refused to see that she was losing the battle. Her journey to learning to accept help and ultimately open her heart again was good. Parker’s daughter Nat was a good addition to the story and helped to move the story forward. I liked the side characters and the side story of Euginia and Harris working on their relationship.

I have two issues with the story. First, Parker and Reid falling in love is a statistical impossibility. There was no moment when I thought that it made perfect sense. Honestly, Reid is just taking over for Tim. It felt a little creepy to me. Second, this is going to be forgettable. In fact, to write this review I had to go back through the book. Why can’t I remember the details? I don’t know except that nothing hit with big emotions as I was reading.

This is a contemporary small-town romance. It involves themes of forgiveness and chosen family. I will read more from this author in the future because I generally like her books. This one just wasn’t for me.

Another romance that I loved. Forgiveness, working together, and healing. This book has all the best pieces and was a delight to read!

Parker and Reid. This smalltown military romance is a slow burn that’s tender and poignant as Parker learns to forgive the soldier who was accidentally responsible for her husband’s death. Reid is looking for redemption and finds his place with Parker and her daughter, Nat. It’s a hard road for all of them.

I loved this and especially the joy and detail of smalltown life in Thistle Hill. There are side characters, especially Harris and Eugenia who are vivid and kind and I cared as much about them and their journey as I did for Parker and Reid.

Loved the greenhouses, the flowers, the muffins, Nat’s sass and her sportiness, and her affection for Reid. Recommended!

Thanks to NetGalley and Kathy Altman for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

★★★★☆ (4 stars)

This was a totally charming read that felt a little bit like a warm hug in book form!

Reid & Parker are compelling and well-developed characters, and I naturally found myself rooting for their spark to blossom into something more. The side characters are super endearing too, and the setting of Thistle Hill offers a beautiful, immersive landscape for their story to unfold.

The overarching themes of grief and forgiveness were handled with grace, and Altman’s smooth writing style kept the characters playing on my mind long after I’d finished the novel. Thanks to a healthy touch of wit and sarcasm, I regularly found myself smiling alongside the characters as they navigated the uncomfortable, alien situation before them.

My only slight grievance with The Long Way Home is that the latter 25% felt slightly underdeveloped. I was intensely hooked by the tension and conflict between Reid and Parker in the initial ⅔ of the book, but felt this fizzled out further in, giving way to a sort-of too easy / neatly wrapped ending. A happy ending is great, but I felt the story could have benefitted from being a good 50-100 pages longer, with some additional inner turmoil and tension as the characters face life after their relationship transforms. I suppose it’s a good sign when the main complaint about a book is that I'd have liked more of it!

The Long Way Home was a delight to read, and if you happen to have a thing for soldiers, then you’re most definitely in for a treat!

I tried very hard to get into this one. I love single parent romance stories and I love soldiers. Unfortunately, I simply could not get into this one. I couldn’t connect with either character so I eventually gave up and do not finish the story about 53%.

Parker is widowed and she meets the man who killed her husband. It was a mistake. An accident. I can understand his guilt and I can understand her anger..

This might be the story for someone else - just not me.

This was a great book. I really enjoyed the female main character. And the character development was very well done. I enjoyed the writing style very much.

This was such a beautiful romance. I loved the single mom aspect and how the main charyis coming back from his own inner demonals as well. I will be sharing much more on this title soon. I highly enjoyed it and will be checking out more form this author again in the future