The Long Way Home by Kathleen O'Brien - Review

The Long Way Home
Montana Born Homecoming #4
Kathleen O'Brien
Published: October 1, 2014 
by Tule Publishing

At eighteen, Abby Foster had been the cutest little rich gal in Marietta, Montana. She could make boys do whatever she wanted—especially sweet, wild, penniless Joe Carlyle, who adored her. But a lot’s changed in the eight years since Abby broke Joe’s heart by marrying the rich guy her domineering father chose for her. Her father has died, and the “perfect” husband has bolted, taking all the money. More importantly, Abby’s grown up. She’s vowed to stop listening to other people and follow her own heart instead.

Right now, her heart tells her to return to Marietta. The wildfire she felt in Joe’s arms has haunted her, and, though she doesn’t expect forgiveness, she hopes maybe he, too, would enjoy a brief, no-strings affair. If they can share just the seventy-two hours of Homecoming weekend…well, maybe then they’ll both find it easier to forgive, forget, and move on.

But when she sees him, she realizes how naive that idea was. The years have changed Joe, too…and the passionate, powerful man he’s become isn’t someone she’ll ever forget. This time the heart she breaks may be her own.

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My review:

The Long Way Home is a really sweet romance about a second chance with a first love. Abby and Joe were just teenagers, but they were in love. Abby was a seemingly rich girl who had everything. Joe was "from the wrong side of the tracks." Abby didn't care; she loved him anyway. She didn't want to marry the rich older man her father had picked out for her and even planned to call off the wedding the night before. Abby then finds out her father is dying and wants to leave her in the arms of someone that he thinks can take care of her financially, so Abby goes through with the wedding, breaking Joe's (and her) heart.

Eight years later, Abby's marriage is over, and she's returned to Marietta. She is on her way through for job interviews and wants to spend the weekend with Joe. It took 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.

I really enjoyed this novella. It is a sweet little romance about two people reconnecting and a glimpse at what can happen when someone never really got over their first love. For such a short story, I think the author did a great job of giving us enough information to get to know Abby and Joe plus enough conflict and tension to make us wonder if they would get together for the weekend or not. Great little romance, and I would recommend it.

A copy was provided for an honest review.

About the author:

Since the day Harlequin bought her first novel, Kathleen has published more than 40 titles with them--everything from hot, sexy contemporaries to dark, brooding suspense. Read in more than 30 countries and 29 languages, she's a five-time finalist for the prestigious RWA RITA Award, a winner of the Maggie Award and the Holt Medallion, and a three-time finalist for Romantic Times' Reviewer's Choice.

Kathleen comes from a family of writers, poets, and journalists- though she may be the one shameless romantic in the bunch. A true Cancer, she values home and family above everything and wouldn't dream of ditching a single friend, memory, gift, or love letter.

Consequently, her office is a mess, full of books, colored cut glass, photo albums, Madame Alexander dolls, and a cockatiel who whistles the theme from "The X Files." She's addicted to Mozart and the Beatles, Downton Abbey and The Mentalist, Dorothy Dunnett and Rex Stout novels, and honeycrisp apples. 

Find out more at kobrienonline.com.