The Roads We Follow by Nicole Deese is a Christian romance with the themes of forgiveness, reconciliation and familial loyalty whilst find yourself and your purpose in life. As the title suggests, this is a journey of discovery. It started a little slow but progressed in a warm pace and ended on a gentle and joyful note. Thank you, Netgalley and Bethany House Publishers for giving me the ARC in exchange for my honest review

I had never read a Nicole Deese book before picking up "The Roads We Follow" and just WOW! She is such a great storyteller. The characters and the story kept me engaged. I definitely plan to go back and read her other books. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a well-written and emotional read!

I loved the first book in the Fog Harbor series by Nicole Deese and I was really excited for this one. When I say I loved THE WORDS WE LOST, I mean it was one of my top books of 2023. While I didn't enjoy this book as much I enjoyed this one, I did like it. The story was well written and very thought-provoking.

My only qualm was: I had a difficult time connecting with the main character. Some of the things she complained about hit me as, well, a little whiney. I did like her, but I didn't love her and connect with her like I did the MC in THE WORDS WE LOST. However, I did find her arc very well done. It had a clear path and a hopeful destination (no pun intended :) )

The love interest in this book was great. He was finding his way as much as the MC, and their paths do cross. It was finding out how they lined up that was so exciting. I liked how he blended with her family.

The story of the family was almost more important than any other plot line, and I loved that about this book. It focused on family that we're given and the family that we found. And I'm a sucker for a found family story!!

Overall, I will definitely be reading more from Deese, especially the next book in this series.

This is the second book in Nicole Deese’s Fog Harbor Romance Series and features another peek into the publishing world.

Raegan Farrow is the youngest of three daughters who’ve grown up in the shadow of their mother’s music career. Reeling from poor choices and seemingly satisfied to sell herself short, Raegan sees herself as a Cinderella, hesitating to dream big. Suddenly, a secret is revealed that results in the future of the Farrow legacy resting on Raegan’s writing ability and the astute foresight of Fog Harbor’s Acquisition Editor, Chip Stanton.

Micah Davenport’s mom and Raegan’s mom were best friends and performing partners up until her death, so it’s easy to understand why Micah offers to chauffeur the Farrow family on an epic road trip. What they don’t know is that Micah's got ulterior motives; he is on a quest to know more about his history and believes Luella Farrow can help him.

I enjoyed Deese’s message about:

💜speaking the truth
💜peacekeeping vs peacemaking
💜the definition of ‘fine’
💜not selling ourselves short because we’re afraid to lean in to something new
💜a prayer garden
💜the gift of hindsight
💜what hate reveals about us
💜the gift of compassion
💜freedom and peace working in tandem
💜leaving a legacy
💜unresolved resentments

Deese has the perfect combination of sibling/family drama, mystery, and faith. Her writing pulled me in and I felt that I had a seat in Old Goldie and was privy to the heartache and surprises along the road less traveled. I was completely absorbed in Deese’s fantastic story about a journey paved decades previously that led her main characters to the paths they were meant to take.

I can’t wait for the third and final installment in this series!

I was gifted this copy by Baker Publishing Group, Bethany House and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

The Roads We Follow and its trip across the US kept me interested throughout. This family drama is dressed up with a sweet Christian romance, which made it all the more appealing to me.

Raegan Farrow, daughter of country music legend Luella Farrow, takes to the road with her mom and her two sisters in the tour bus their mother crossed the country in during the 1990s. Micah Davenport, son of Luella’s recently deceased but long-estranged best friend/singing partner, who’s searching for answers about his paternity, serves as their bus driver.

I thoroughly enjoyed this family drama/contemporary Christian romance. Nicole Deese is one of my favorites, and this story of reconciliation, family communication, and using your God-given talents hits all the right marks.

I loved the appreciation of natural beauty throughout this book, and this is my favorite line:
"There's a divine intimacy in nature that can't be duplicated."

I always wanted to take a road trip in a big bus or RV so when Luella convinces her daughters to go on a road trip with her, I was down for it. The dynamics in this family are crazy but I'm sure some of that comes with fame and the unique pressures that brings. The three sisters, mom, and even their bus driver all have secrets they're keeping.

Even though their situations are very different, I found all the main characters to be relatable. They felt real with real problems. I enjoyed watching them take steps to real healing. There were a few mysteries to be solved, a lot of secrets to be revealed, and a few big twists. It was written well and I'd highly recommend it.

Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

“I’m so thankful the answer was you.”

Y’all. I was so proud of myself for not bawling all the way through The Roads We Follow like I did through The Words We Lost. In fact, while I was just as profoundly moved by this story as I was by its predecessor, I thought I was actually going to make it to the end without crying this time. And then… those seven words had all the tears I’d apparently been storing up since page one spilling down my face. The scene it’s part of, the journey these characters have been on, the masterful plot layers culminating in that moment… all of it just touched my heart so deeply. Because just like The Words We Lost (and maybe even more so), Deese’s new Fog Harbor Romance – The Roads We Follow – exquisitely captures the intersection between complicated human relationships and the complete healing that can only be found in Jesus.

Each of the main characters in The Roads We Follow has pain they’re trying to handle on their own, pain that spans the gamut from broken relationships to life-changing secrets and other high-pressure struggles that come with being part of a famous family. And while the ‘forced proximity’ trope works so deliciously in romance because the constantly-shared space makes it nearly impossible to continue suppressing passionate feelings, it also quite nicely does the same thing with family drama. In this book, that comes in the form of an impromptu road trip across the USA that country music legend Luella Farrow springs on her three daughters (including the story’s heroine Raegan) and includes an impromptu bus driver (whose mother helped launch Luella’s career) on a quest of his own. I felt the palpable tension as the Farrow women’s avoided conversations pile up along with the miles, and I loved the character development that Deese weaves throughout this story. Nobody is the same after this road trip, including the reader.

I also loved the relationship that blooms between Micah and Raegan – not only because the chemistry they share is positively swoony but also because of the sweet way they affirm each other. Micah is truly a good sport whose personality I fell in love with immediately – he’s an absolute gentleman in the way he treats Raegan, yes, but also in the way he treats her mother and sisters … and even in the way he honors the memory of his own mother. And let me tell you, I was completely engrossed in her journals that he and Raegan get to read during the trip, journals that tell a beautiful and at times heartbreaking story of a different kind of sisterhood. I thought this was a brilliant plot device on the author’s part because it served as a poignant parallel to the dichotomy between closeness and distance in the current sisterhood and because it also made Micah’s mom an important supporting character, even in her physical absence.

Bottom Line: The Roads We Follow by Nicole Deese takes readers on a gorgeously-rendered journey through a heap of complex family dynamics to grace-propelled authenticity and healing. At the same time, it also treats us to a sweet-and-swoony romance between two dynamic characters with lots to lose but even more to gain. The characters sent me into a range of emotional reactions – laughter, tears, grins, frustration, contemplation, fanning – and Deese once again proves how talented she is at crafting such vivid characters with such layered stories. And only she could take country music, a road trip, a stack of journals, a tell-all manuscript, yurts, Goo-Goo cluster pjs, and The Wizard of Oz … and turn them into an unputdownable and beautiful reflection of Jesus. Move this one to the top of your TBR list right now – it can be read just fine as a standalone so there’s no reason to delay!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

I am in awe—simply in awe of Nicole Deese and the depth of which she writes her characters. Characters who grab a hold of your heart from the very beginning and remain with you long after the last page. And in this story, characters whose memories, quests for truth, hope for reconciliation, and tears all feel as if they are your own. Characters who not only speak words of grace and wisdom to each other, but to your own heart as well.

The Roads We Follow is not only a beautifully woven story of faith, fame, family, and friendship, but a story that unveils the intricate layers of loving others while healing and seeking restoration. It is a story that whispers sweet reminders of God’s steadfast love and the peace we receive when we surrender our hearts to Jesus.

It is a story that I loved, that made me laugh and cry, and one that I hope you will read.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bethany House, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have never met a Nicole Deese book I didn’t love until this one and I’m so sad about it. I adored last years book, but I just couldn’t get into this one. The characters weren’t my favorite and I was forcing myself to pick it up, which is never a good sign. I know this is a me issue and not the book, and I will still continue to be an avid reader of her work.

4.5 ⭐️

The Roads We Follow, the second book in the Fog Harbor Romance Series, transports readers to a summer roadtrip where three sisters, their mother, and a handsome driver embark on a journey of healing relational wounds, learning the importance of honesty and the consequences of secrets, and finding love.

Deese has a way of captivating you from the first page to the last, and while the first book in the series, The Words We Lost, will forever have my heart, this book was such an enjoyable and moving read.

“Hard days only stay hard if you allow them to.”

“Don’t sell yourself short just because you’re afraid to lean in to something new.”

Nicole Deese is one of my all-time favorite contemporary romance authors! This book is just as lovely as The Words We Lost, and I enjoyed it so much!

QOTD: Where was your last road trip destination?

Raegan Farrow wants to establish an identity that isn’t “daughter of a country music star” and publish small-town romances. She and her sisters embark on a two-week road trip at their mother’s behest as she works to determine who is writing a scandalous tell-all memoir about their mother.

Micah works his way into their road trip as the driver with his own intentions. He has a mystery of his own to solve involving his and Raegan’s mothers and an old box of journals.

Read for:
- A tender kisses-only romance
- Road trip
- Dual POV
- Family tension
- Seamless integration of faith content
- Hidden secrets
- FMC who’s an author

Thank you to @bethanyhousefiction for a #gifted copy! All thoughts are my own.

I loved this book and though this was my first book by Nicole Deese, it will not be the last.

I was captivated right from the beginning and did not want to stop listening. The dual POV between Reagan and Micah was perfect and I loved both narrators.

The family dynamics at play in this book are so well written and tug at your heart strings. I loved the interwoven plots of both main characters and how they coincided but also moved in their own lanes.

The romance was fantastic and felt genuine and honest. The faith elements read honest and felt so integral to the story, without ever feeling overdone or forced (which I’ve noticed can sometimes happen with Christian fiction).

I just absolutely adored the writing style, the story, the characters, their faith, all of it! I’m

This was SUCH a good book!!

I was so thankful for a lengthy flight soon after I started reading this; it allowed for uninterrupted time to read the book, guilt-free--not to mention I just had to find out what happened next, and now I could!

While this is the second book in a series, only a couple names/references carry over from the first, and you could easily read out of order without spoilers or confusion. (Which was good for me, because it's been just long enough since I read the first--and I've read a few books in between, heh--that I'd forgotten most of the details.)

_The Roads We Follow_ is a wonderful summertime read, especially with its road-trip theme. (It made me want to take one myself ... but maybe not in a Lima Bean-esque equivalent! I'll take a normal car, thank you very much.) :) The climax caught me entirely by surprise, in a good way, and just illustrated Deese's talent as an author to weave so many moving parts together and keep the reader guessing. And the characters' growth and story arcs were amazing, above and beyond the standard or expected tropes. Quite a few one-lined zingers hit their mark, for sure!

Very well done, and I hope to see more in the series soon.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙨 ♡
•Goldie
•Graceland
•dual POV
•the jump seat
•family drama
•sisterly bonds
•secrets
•strangers to more
•country music
•redemption and forgiveness

"𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩."

I really enjoyed this sweet romance! It had so many twists and turns with Micah trying to find out who his real father is. There is a lot of family drama along the way, but where this book really shines is in the character growth. I loved how Raegan was determined to make a name for herself without using her family’s fame. The romance between Micah and Raegan was such a sweet slow burn and I love how they really got to know each other during the road trip. I loved the subtle connection to Fog Harbor and that ending…WHAT?!

Thank you to Bethany House for a gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.

4-4.5 stars

Country star legend Luella Farrow finds herself and "her daughters three" a much needed road trip to bring love back into their lives again. Raegan, is the youngest of the crew, with a writer's heart and a secret scheme to save her family's reputation in the music industry. This journey starts with a mysterious bus driver, Micah Davenport, a man with ties to her family and secrets of his own.

Oh how I love road trips! Nicole always shines with her love of this country setting, especially the PNW! This adventure was full of fun excursions, family bickering, and of course a swoony romance. I loved all the details and stops across the country, especially those I have been to!

The family aspect was well done. Enjoyed the faith elements as well. And though I don't have sisters, the family drama was totally relatable. Micah and Raegan have such a sweet romance. It's adorable. That fishing scene though 😍

Brief thoughts: I struggled a little with the pacing, some slow parts to me. I also had a hard time with one of the sisters. She needed a better redemption arc in my opinion.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this one! I love this series and can't wait to see what comes next!

Thank you Bethany House Publishing and the author for my gifted copy! All thoughts are my own.

The Roads We Follow by Nicole Deese is part of her Fog Harbor series, but I believe it can be a stand-alone novel. Reagan Farrow is the youngest daughter of a country music legend, and is trying to find her place in the family. Her dream is to write books and be her own person. Her mom decides they all need to take a bus trip to her next concert, and Micah Davenport is chosen to drive. He is trying to put the pieces together of his life through some old journals of his moms discovered on the renovated bus. So much can happen on a road trip.

This is my first Nicole Deese book, but it will not be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed this richly woven love and redemptive story. The characters were so well developed that I felt like I was sitting on the bus with them. The mystery surrounding Micah’s mom and Raegan’s mom past made the story so interesting. I was reminded that everyone has a story and the importance of listening closely to discover it. I was sad when the story ended.

This beautifully written story was filled with sweet romance, beautiful redemptive themes, great settings and great adventures. The story touched my heart deeply and I look forward to reading more by the author. I highly recommend The Roads We Follow by Nicole Deese.
I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

WOW! Nicole Deese is a new-to-me author, and I was not disappointed! This heartwarming tale of family dynamics, love, loss and healing swept me in from page one. I laughed, I cried, and I was challenged to look at my own life as I flipped pages long after bedtime. Raegan Farrow, the youngest of three sisters, longs to establish herself as a writer but being the daughter of a country music legend makes that nearly impossible. When Luella, otherwise known as Mama, plans a road trip for Raegan and her sisters, Hattie and Adele, things spin out of control. Four women, a remodeled RV, a bus driver with his own agenda - what could go wrong? As the trip progresses, years of heartache, hurt and misunderstandings surface along with Luella's own desires for her daughters. When things come to a head, can truth triumph and a new course for the family be chartered? Come away with these southern ladies and one very northern gentleman and see what transpires!

I was gifted a copy of this novel by the publisher through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are completely my own. Thank you, Bethany House, and NetGalley.

A heartfelt family road trip story that sees three estranged sisters, their famous country singer mother and a man seeking the truth about his paternity all embarking on a two week bus adventure where secrets and past hurts will come to light and be healed with a bit of romance thrown in too. While this is a Christian imprint, the faith content wasn't too overpowering, the family dynamics were relatable and the kissing only romance delightful. I also liked the mild Cinderella references and the fact that the main character was an aspiring author trying to make a name for herself outside the shadow of her mother's fame. Great on audio too. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This is loosely part of a series but definitely can be read as a standalone.

CW: drug addiction, sexual assault (rape)

Such a good book!!
My favorite thing about this was the characters.
Real people facing incredibly difficult circumstances, and I loved seeing their growth and how it all played out.
Nicole Deese has extraordinary talent when it comes to writing people and issues, life challenges we can all relate to in some way.
This story especially deals with family relationship issues, and various things that go along with that.
It is all woven together in a beautiful way, and had me hooked from the beginning.
I enjoyed reading and getting to know these wonderful people, and seeing them find some measure of resolution.
If you are looking for a book that makes you think, then give this one a try!

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

The Roads We Follow by Nichole Deese

Celebrity Christian fiction with family secrets and hidden agendas.

Luella Farrow, a country music legend, decides to drag her three grown daughters on a road trip before her last big performance. This story is told from the points of view of her youngest daughter Reagan and the very handsome bus driver Micah.

Ever since the death of her father, the Farrow’s have been splitting at the seams. Built up resentment and untold secrets do not make for harmonious relationships. Over the course of this story we witness vulnerability and the healing that comes with it. The personal growth is truly beautiful as well.

The romance is instant attraction but watching it turn into love was so sweet and satisfying. Micah and Reagan hit it off right away but they put in the work to make it something real.

While there were things that didn’t work for me, I think this book will be a hit for many!

Deese’s writing is remarkable and it shows.