The Road Leads Back

The Road Leads Back is a second chance, secret baby romance that took twenty-eight years to happen. In fact, that’s one of my favorite things about this book – these characters are approaching fifty when they get their second chance at love, and contrary to what many think, they’re not much better at traversing that path than anyone else. This story is emotional on so many levels with so much past hurt between Kara and Harry and their families, some of which only comes to light in the present. For a lot of the book, this pair seems to take two steps back for every one step forward, which made it an exercise in frustration at times, but life is so often that way, and frustrated or not, I was completely wrapped up in this family. In the end, the romance is sweet and eventually hopeful, but it’s more than just another romance. This is a story about how deeply past hurts can run, especially when they’re at the hands of those we trust the most, and the long, winding road back to finally letting go and moving on.

This book was so much more than second chances, the author took us on the journey of unraveling the past. I really enjoyed reading the book because of it.
Kara and Harry really liked each other in high school but neither had the courage to tell the other. On graduation night, they met at a party and had sex. Kara became pregnant and when she told her parents they kicker her out and told her never to return. She went to Harry’s parents who decided that they didn’t want their son to know and he went off to college, never knowing Kara was pregnant. They gave her money and paid her to go to a commune for unwed mothers else and sent her money. Kara sent letters to Harry at his mother’s house and even though she didn’t want her son to know he was a father, she read all the letters. She raised her son Phil all alone and she learned the art of bartering for the things she needed.
When Phil was 27, she had a showing at a gallery and Harry was in town and saw that she was also there. He went to the gallery and saw Kara. Standing beside her was a man that looked just like him. Kara told him about his son that he knew nothing about and that he was also a grandfather. His granddaughter, Jess, even having Downs Syndrome was such a beautiful girl, so full of life.
Harry invited his son and granddaughter to come home with him and get to know each other. Kara was invited too but didn’t think she would ever go back home again. But, she decided to go too.
After going home, there were lots of things to sort out and work through. There was always this undercurrent going on. Sometimes it was anger, sometimes it was sliding feelings back down and sometimes it was just struggling on what to do. They knew what they wanted to happen and the author showed us the struggles, the anger, the mistakes, the making progress and in a split second the past comes crashing down upon them.
This book has so much substance, reality, and feeling and it does happen in real life. This gives you an inside look at what really is probably happening when a girl gets pregnant and her parents are in shock and say things that afterward wish they hadn’t. What made me think was people kept asking why didn’t you just go home. When asked by her mother if she hadn’t seen Harry at the gallery, if she would ever come home, Kara replied no. I can understand her reasoning but it is a wake up to think before we speak because the words we speak might be the last one someone hears and takes to heart.
When starting the book I thought it was going to be an easy second chance book but was I pleasantly surprised with where the author took us. Hey, life has mistakes, hardships, and mistakes but like the book, we have to carry on with what we have. like Kara, she bartered her art for the thing she needs. I have a better understanding of things since reading the book, and it is a reminder to reach out to someone because it might be the lifeline they need.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is a book you should read to put on your list of books to read. For me, there was the story but there was also a lot going on underneath and that made this book amazing.

A beautiful and emotional story of a young man and woman whose one-night stand changed their lives forever. Harrison Canton left for college after his one night with Kara Martinson. When she found out that she was pregnant, she wrote to Harry, but never heard from him. Her parents threw her out and she raised her son, Phil, on her own. Years later, Harry noticed Kara’s name at an art showing and was just in time to see her with her son only to find out that Phil was his son. Kara was always a free spirit while Harry was settled in the life he chose, but now he had a twenty-six-year old son and deeply regretted the loss of all those years. The story takes the reader through the regrets, the sorrow, the love lost, and the secrets that kept the two separated. I look forward to reading the rest of this series. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

Very sad, tragic story that is well written. Really shows how one act changes so many lives.

A while back I received a request to review this title. Since it had already been published for a while, I agreed with the understanding that it might take some time to get to it as I had other books waiting in line long before this request came in. I FINALLY had some time to commit to this book, so I dove in. I always go into a book by an author I’ve never read before with half high hopes and half a bit of dread. I love finding new authors and new books I just can fall into and ignore reality for long stretches because I’m SO into them. Unfortunately, I do not always connect to new to me authors and their work. But when I do, I get pretty excited. And let me just say, I’m pretty excited about this book and this author now!

I’m well beyond the new adult age, and while I do love stories of first loves and young love, I was delighted to find that Kara and Harry are very much more my age. And this second chance romance came with a bit of baggage on both their parts. To say it evoked strong emotions would be an understatement.

NICUnurse’s Rating: If you’re looking for more of a lighthearted second chance romance, this book is NOT for you. There are a lot of angsty moments…moments where you aren’t sure these people are going to get their HEA. It’s a constant pushing and pulling, up and down, twisting and turning journey for all of the characters. I think the author did a great job making the reader understand the multifaceted character that Kara is. There are decades of layers to her. Decades of hurts. Decades of avoiding coming to terms with her past. Seriously. There are just so many layers to this story that kept me turning page after page and refusing to stop reading until I reached The End. Someone once said that a 5-star read is one that stays with you long after you’ve finished the last page. The Road Leads Back by Marci Bolden was definitely one of those stories. It’s a 5 out of 5 stars read for me!

Kara and Harry had always liked each other in high school and ultimately had a one night stand at a party after graduation. Harry never had anything more to do with Kara and went off to college, completely unaware that Kara was pregnant with his child. When Kara told her parents, instead of helping, they threw her out of their home. Turning to Harry’s parents resulted in their sending her to a commune on the west coast along with a monthly check. Kara had her son, raising him by means of clever bartering and what little money she made from her artwork. When Kara’s artwork is featured in an art gallery in Seattle, Harry, thirty years older and anxious to see Kara again, turns up at her exhibition. The result is a wonderful story of reunion, forgiveness and love.

This was a well written, heartwarming story which was a true pleasure to read. I strongly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author Marci Bolden, and the publisher Pink Sand Press for the free ARC I received and thoroughly enjoyed. This is my honest opinion.

Kara Martinson’s life turned upside down the one night she spent with Harrison Canton in high school. They both had crushes on each other, and Kara made the first move. The next morning, Kara found herself alone, and later learned from that one night, she was pregnant. Her parents did not take the news well, and ended up with her father throwing her out.

Twenty-seven years later, Kara’s artwork is being shown in a gallery and Harry shows up, so does their son, that Harry knows nothing about.

This is a sweet story about long lost love, and the lies told in an attempt at protecting the futures of two young kids. It’s also about forgiveness and letting go of anger.

I loved that the author incorporated a special needs child into the story. Jessica was endearing. I did find it difficult to accept that Harry had this huge crush on Kara, and compared any female to her, but after getting with his crush, he just left her and never contacted her again. It plays into the story of him never knowing he was a father, but made no sense that he walked away from the girl of his dreams in the first place. I, enjoyed the ending.

I received an ARC by NetGalley via Pink Sand Press and I have voluntarily reviewed this book.

Kara is a strong. Independent woman but comes to realize she is missing something in her life.

Very good Read

Filled with true emotions