The Long Way Home

ARC provided via NetGalley by Tule Publishing for an honest review.

I honestly cannot find anything wrong with this short story. I wouldn't even call it a novella. It's just a short story. It was very heart-warming from page one. There's really not much to say except yea, it was good. I think Abby was a great character and so was Joe. It's cliche for sure, but cute. I liked it.

I love this story. It's about renewed love and growing up. I liked the fact that Abby came back home to try and make amends and admit to past mistakes.Joe realising that the past was not all her fault was .nice addition as well. . Sometimes as we get older we have to learn to stand and fight for what you want.

I looked on good reads and Amazon and couldn't find this book to write the review.

I loved the book it' was a great read, from past love to present love and everything I between. Trying to rekindle a love that was once lost but never forgotten

4.5 Stars THE LONG WAY HOME is another opportunity to return to Marietta, Montana. This story is about second chance love. What made it special was it was about first love revisited…a chance to get it right. How many people have fantasized about that? You never really forget your first true love, do you? I think it has an impact because you are so young and innocent when it happens, and you believe it will last forever. Sometimes it does – and sometimes circumstances do not allow it to. That is what happened to Joe Carlyle and Abby Foster.

Joe was totally devastated when Abby agreed to marry an older man. She was only eighteen years old and they were in love. How could she do that? He KNEW she didn’t love Blaine Watts. She knew she didn’t either. Joe knew Abby’s father was to blame. Why didn’t she refuse to go through with it? If she really loved him, she would have.

Abby’s father was dying of cancer, and it was his dying wish to leave Abby in the hands of a good man who could take care of her in the same way that he had. He felt that Blain Watts was that man. Abby went along with it because she could not let her father down. He was dying. This is what he wanted. She HAD to do it. Thousands of dollars had been spent on the wedding. As badly as she wanted to back out, she just couldn’t do it. She knew that she was still in love with Joe, but he was a seventeen-year-old kid with nothing substantial to offer her other than his love. She must do what her father wants. It’s his dying wish.

Fast forward eight years. Abby is back in Marietta. She appears like a ghost during the fall homecoming festivities. Joe cannot believe she is actually there. Why? What does she want? He will NOT act happy to see her. He never really stopped loving Abby. He has tried to forget her and has moved forward with his life – dating almost every available woman in his area of the state. No one has really held his interest. He was engaged twice, but could never see it through. He has slowed down on the dating game and is focusing on the ranch and helping his mom with his younger brother Rafe, a seventeen-year-old, going through his “Carlyle Crazies” – a rite of passage for all the Carlyle boys. He absolutely will not get sucked into the drama that is Abby Foster Watts – no matter why she is back in town.

I loved this book. It was short, and sweet. The secondary characters were developed enough to benefit the story. They were true-to-life, with enough emotional intensity to make the story realistic and believable. THE LONG WAY HOME is well-written, nicely paced and holds your attention to the last page. I recommend!

*An advance reading copy was generously provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

_The Long Way Home_ is everything a romance novella should be! It combines three very important elements: good writing, likable characters, and a satisfying storyline. If you're looking for a quick, easy read with little or no angst, this one's for you.

“The Long Way Home” is a novella that reads like a short story with great character development. The story of Abby Foster and Joe Carlyle, “The Long Way Home” is a tale about true love surviving against all odds.

The story unfolds on the eve of Abby Foster’s wedding to another man; her ambivalent feelings foremost on her mind because though only 18, she knew that Joe is the love of her life.

Fast-forward 8 years; Abby has divorced her husband and Joe is still single living in Marietta, Montana. Abby returns to Marietta during Homecoming weekend and she gave herself 72 hours to reclaim her love or just find forgiveness if that is the only thing that Joe can give her.

Poignant, sweet and tugs at your heartstrings, Joe and Abby are unforgettable as lovers.

The Long Way Home is Rated PG 13 due to some high school pranks. There are no sex scenes in this book.

4.5 Stars! I really enjoyed this second-chance novella. It’s a quick, light read without too much emotional angst. All the hurt happened eight years ago, and now it’s about forgiveness and getting to know each other again.

I liked Joe too much for him not to get what he wanted, and the way he went about it was so sweet. This guy is definitely beta rather than alpha, but I like that. You won’t find spite or revenge here, just talk, forgiveness and an adorable HEA.

I really enjoyed this one!! This is a very well written book with excellent characters. This is a story of high school sweethearts tragically torn apart and reunited almost 8 years later. Definitely one to put on the must read list.

At 18 years old Abby Foster found herself having to make the toughest decision of her life. Barely an adult Abby has to decide if she should follow her dying father's wishes and marry the man he's chosen for her, or follow her heart and stay with the boy she loves.

Joe Carlyle was truly in love with Abby, but at 17 he wasn't even an adult and knew that he couldn't provide Abby with the things the older man who's ring she was wearing could. Joe's family never had money like Abby's did, but he hoped his love would be enough.

Sadly, Abby wasn't strong enough to stand up to the pressures and married Mr. Blaine Watts. Now years later, Abby's marriage is over and she heads back to her hometown of Marietta, Montana to win back Joe's love. Joe was shocked to see Abby back in town after eight years, and especially on homecoming weekend. Abby offers Joe a weekend fling, but Joe's never really gotten over Abby, and won't settle for anything less than forever.

The Long Way Home was a very sweet and touching novella about coming home and reclaiming lost love. While the story was short, I was able to read it in sitting, it is a wonder complete story. You really feel the chemistry and emotions between Joe and Abby throughout. While the course of the story is only a few days, the years of history between the two makes their quick reunion believable. I really enjoy the secondary story with Joe's family. All of the characters were very charming and added to the story. I love that this book didn't have any sex scenes, while I certainly enjoy a well written one, this book didn't need it. This was the first work I've read of Kathleen O'Brien and I loved it. I look forward to reading more from her.

Joe Carlyle, one part of the so-called Carlyle crazies, had fallen head over heels in love with Abby Foster at the age of seventeen, although the woman of his dreams was betrothed to another and his dreams started crushing. He said hurtful words about her, his world had crumpled and didn't want anything to do with her after she chose Blaine Watts. People thought Abby married Blaine who was almost twice her ago, because of his enormous wealth. But they didn't know half the truth why she was getting married in the first place.

Eight years later, Abby came back, divorced yet still stunningly beautiful. She went to Joe and told him straight that she had been a free woman for the last two years and that she wanted him back. Joe assumed that she only wanted him to fill her bed at night, since she was only back in Marietta for three days.

And there's the issue about Joe's newfound wealth. He became rich, thanks to his hard work and dedication. Of course, there are rumors swirling again that maybe Abby came back because Joe was no longer the scrawny poor man that he was.

The Long Way Home by Kathleen O’Brien is another beautiful story that left me feeling good. I finished reading it in one sitting and I had good vibes while reading it. I liked how Abby stood her ground after all those years and Joe, being a Carlyle crazie, was understandably mad at first, mad at her for leaving him ... and mad at her for still wanting her even after 8 years. They're really match for each other.

This story was a cute and quick read, light and without too much emotional angst. The main characters, Abby and Joe, were likable and the storyline feasible. It's about second chance love between high school sweethearts. Couldn't put it down!!

This is a sweet reunion romance. Joe and Abby were high school sweethearts but Abby didn't have the maturity or courage to go against her fathers wish for her to marry a mature older man who could give her the live her dying father wanted.

Eight years later, Abby is back in Marrietta to face Joe and ask for one small thing. Joe didn't want to be happy about seeing the girl who broke his heart when he was seventeen. And he sure wasn't going to take up her offer for a hot weekend to make up for all the pain she'd caused him.

I really liked Joe's reaction to seeing Abby again. He was no longer the hotheaded passionate boy who'd wanted her to be miserable and suffer for what she'd done. It was great seeing them get to know each other again and see a little of what drew them together back when they were sweet seventeen.

This was a quiet read, not overly angsty but very sweet and with a nice family and community vibe.

Abby Foster was pressured into marrying the wrong man eight years ago, leaving behind her only love Joe Carlyle. She has returned home divorced and looking to claim the life she should have had with Joe. Can her forgive her? Can they reclaim the love they once had and have the life they dreamed of?

This is a sweet romantic read centered around the second chance at love and forgiveness. I enjoyed it and it's well written.

I was given a copy by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Abby returns home to Marietta after a recent divorce to reunite with her one true love, Joe. But, has Joe moved on in the last eight years and can he forgive Abby. A fun read on a second chance love story.
I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

Summary: When she was 18, Abby Foster married Blaine Watts, an older man chosen for her by her father and left Marietta, although she loved 17-year-old Joe Carlyle. Eight years later, she comes back to find Joe and ask for forgiveness before she starts a new life. Her offer is a hot weekend to make up for all the pain she caused him.

Joe Carlyle, one part of the so-called Carlyle crazies, had fallen head over heels in love with Abby. When she chose Blaine, he said hurtful words to her, his world had crumpled and didn't want anything to do with her.

So when faced with Abby’s offer, Joe assumes that she only wants him to fill her bed at night, since she was staying in Marietta for only three days. It had taken Joe forever to get over Abby, and he knows that if he agrees to this weekend, he will fall for her again only to have to watch her leave again.

The people of Marietta think that Abby chose Blaine because of his wealth and she has come back after her divorce because she knows that Joe is now rich.

This book by Kathleen O’Brien is about how Abby and Joe get to know each other again as level-headed adults and what happens to them in the weekend that Abby stays at Marietta.

My thoughts: This story is about reclaiming lost love.

The chemistry and emotions between Joe and Abby are portrayed well. It did not have unnecessary angst and angry revenge in the main characters that you normally see in such stories.

Although the story happens over a weekend, the years of history between the two makes it believable.
The secondary characters are also enjoyable. I particularly liked Joe’s mother, who is very protective of her boys, and his brother Rafe, who is going through his version of the ‘Carlyle crazies’.

This is a clean, quiet romance, with a nice family and community vibe.

Note: This book was given to me by Tule Publishing in exchange for an honest review. I thank them for that.

I really loved this short story. I love how the emotion through out the whole book and there was a lot of "tension" between the two main characters but a good kind one that keeps the book going. This book took me let an hour to read not because it that short but because it was just that good. If you are looking for a sweet love story to ready this is the one for you.

The Long Way Home is sweet read that is over much too quickly. I always look forward to reading another book set in Marietta, Montana. I enjoyed Abby and Joe's story. I would love to read more stories about the Carlyles.

This was a short, sweet read. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. Though this is a novella it is a well developed book and reads as a full novel. I was pulled in from the beginning (as I am with always with this series) and I was left wanting more when it was done - in a good way!

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.

good story of conquering the mistakes of past actions. After 8 yrs away Abby goes home for homecoming weekend & to see fi there is even a spark left between herself & Joe the love of her life. She married someone else at the bidding of her father, so she would have someone to take care of her & keep her is her present lifestyle. What neither knew was the man she was marrying was looking forward to her inheritance which there was not much of. After yrs of ups & downs the man divorces Abby for greener pastures & she sets off to start life over again. Joe isn't very receptive on her arrival on the surface & refuses Abby's offer of a last weekend together. But homecoming weekend brings their feelings to the surface & creates opportunities to start over. Will they take those opportunities? Can they make a new life together? Definitely will be looking for more in this series. I am also enjoying all the different authors that have created books for this series.

The Long Way Home is a story that will captivate you from the very start. Great Read!

I really liked this book . I would love to read more by her and will be on the lookout for more by her. I love this author !!! cant wait for more.

Abby moved away and married into money at her father's request. But, life didn't work out the way she expected, husband's gone, father died, and now she's back in town. She runs into Joe, the guy she really loved all those years ago--what she wouldn't give for a few days of passion during Homecoming weekend. But, he's not necessarily ready to open his heart again, especially wen he sees his brother about to follow in his form teenage footsteps. But time has a way to find forgiveness and rekindle love.