Sixteen years ago, a tragic accident cost Emma Metz her two best friends one human and one equine. Now, following her father s death, Emma has reluctantly returned to the Maryland hometown she d left under a cloud of guilt.Sorting through her father s affairs, Emma uncovers a history of lies tying her broken family to the one place she thought she could never return her girlhood sanctuary, … sanctuary, Jumping Frog Farm.
Emma finds herself drawn back to the stable after all these years. It s easy to win forgiveness from a horse, but less so from her former friend Jillian, their once strong bond destroyed by secrets and betrayals. But despite Jillian s cold reception, for the first time in years, Emma feels at home.
To exorcise the past, Emma will have to release her guilt, embrace an uncertain future, and trust again in the healing power of horses.
Orly Konig’s The Distance Home is a powerful and sparkling women’s fiction debut novel of second chances, friendship, and healing.
At the Publisher’s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
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THE DISTANCE HOME is a beautifully written debut novel by Orly Konig, and covers issues that involve horses, loss, love, family, courage, selflessness, mistakes that were made to protect ones we love and forgiveness. Most of all, everyone deserves second chances and hope.
The reader meets Emma and Jillian at young ages and alternates the story between their childhood and the present. Both girls have family issues which affect their relationship. Jillian lives with her grandparents, Rena and Simon, who own a horse farm where riders are given lessons and a therapeutic program is administered. Emma’s father is a career-driven psychiatrist, and her mother has mental health issues that were hidden from her. Tension develops in the girls’ young lives and continues into their young adulthood. An accident occurs that causes a rift between them which causes Emma to be sent to boarding school. Emma has a good head on her shoulders, but after the accident, she’s left to deal with so many emotions for sixteen years. She finally returns home and confronts what she needs to. In the end, it comes down to both women needing the same thing – love and acceptance.
Konig creates a warm and inviting environment when she’s describing the horses, stable and the grounds. There’s a definite distinction in the way she describes Emma’s and Jillian’s home life and childhood. Best of all are her character descriptions and the raw emotions they deal with in their day-to-day lives which really grabs the reader. My own emotions were drawn into this story, and if an author does that to me, then they’ve done a wonderful job. This novel is so well-written, and I highly recommend it. Comments and opinions are purely my own.
When I began reading this novel, the beautiful writing wrapped a warm blanket around me and tucked me into the pages of a truly heartwarming story. It’s not a page-turner in the typical sense, but something to be savored and enjoyed page by page.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story, loved the way the author wove distinct descriptions of horse ownership into it. I could tell she has experience with horses.
Between opportunities to read, I found myself smiling subtly in anticipation–not the heart-racing anticipation of a “can’t-put-this-down” novel, because you can put this one down, but more like revisiting an old friend you haven’t seen in a while. It’s comforting. It’s heartwarming. It’s beautifully written. It’s one I found to be as comforting as a warm blanket on a cold winter day.
Kudos to Ms. Konig for a fabulous debut!
Loved it. Loved the coming together of 3 very different sisters and their ability to overcome life changing experiences while growing stronger and more capable. Great read!
Great Read!! Enjoyed the book from the beginning to the very end.
“I’m not the only one who’s found their second chance in the healing power of horses.”
I often find myself drawn to horse related themes and Orly Konig has written an exquisitely articulated and deeply resonating novel that will travel with me for a long time after I’ve read the last line.
She shares so many deep themes in this novel – friendship, second chances, guilt, fear, freedom, and the power to heal through horses. I wanted to jump into this book in my boots and breeches, smell the barn, and run my hands through Jack’s mane.
When Emma’s distant father dies she is left with clear instructions on how to proceed. She finds herself back at Jumping Frog Farm and every part of her childhood she so desperately tried to escape. Emma’s journey of truth is heartwarming and emotional.
I love that Orly has given us such beautifully flawed and life-like characters. I adored Jack, Wally, and Ben, and loved seeing the impact of therapeutic riding in this novel.
Her debut is brilliant if I could give it 10 stars I would. I cannot wait for Carousel Beach!!
Awesome debut! Couldn’t put it down! Loved this book and looking forward to many more! Kudos, Orly!