When Sydney Collins left home after her sister's death, she decided she was never returning. But when she learns she is pregnant after a recent divorce, Sydney knows she wants her child to grow up in a place like Rose Bend. Cole Dennison, the town mayor, is a widower who lost a wife and son and is still grieving when he bumps into Sydney. Following their encounter, Cole finds himself drawn to help the single mom never knowing it might lead to something more.
This is not my first Naima Simone read and I can honestly say that one thing you can expect is a well-written read. And, in The Road to Rose Bend, that is what you get. I was drawn in from the first page, and the secondary characters were well-written. I love small town reads because you get to see the relationship with family and Naima Simone brought it in that department. The parents!! Loved them. On both sides.
I loved Sydney and I was rooting for her character to develop but I found myself drawn to Cole. I understood them and because of Naima Simone's talented storytelling, I always felt as if I was right there with them.
I loved it and I can't wait for more from this talented author.

MS Simone was a able to capture how grief can become a a silent companion. She was able to capture how both main characters continue to live their lives but grief is always a quiet companion in the background. For Cole the grief of the death of his wife and child is always in a quiet part of his mind and heart. He was not ready for love but love does not give you a choice sometimes Sydney comes back to the town she ran from all those years ago due to the death of her sister. She is pregnant with her ex husband child and want to give the child a great life and she knows Rose bend is good place to raise a child. The pace of the story was excited it dealt with their grief and how to damaged soul can come together and heal each other, Can wait to share with my customers and friends. Also I think I feel a little in love with Wolf.

There’s a saying that you can’t go home, well that is exactly what Sydney does, she returns home to Rose Bend. From the moment Sydney crests the ridge into Rose Bend and sees the beauty of her home town until the very end, Sydney encounters a long, winding, and twisted road.

Pregnant, divorced, and returning home, Sydney seeks the comfort of coming how, to raise her baby in the small town she was raised in. To her estranged family and her friend Leo and Leo’s welcoming family. All except for Cole, Coltrane Dennison, her friends brother.

Cole and Sydney have both suffered losses, and feel the burden of failure, but somehow they form a bond together for the benefit of Sydney’s baby...... and eventually they heal through their connections, their chemistry, and learning to be brave and let go of pasts hurts in order to accept new love. Not a replacement love, but a new and growing love.

A must read, it reminds all of us that you can go home... things may change and be different than you remember, but where there is love, there is ‘home’.

Sometimes you need a well written book, regardless if it's your "type". This book combines the themes of accepting grief and accepting yourself. Fast paced and angsty, it was a great afternoon diversion.

I was received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sydney is just AMAZING, Cole is pretty awesome (although he needed a slap with the hug I wanted to give him), and the side characters were mostly incredible, too. I loved their story, even as it broke my heart and put it back together again. I cannot wait to read more about this town!