“A great pick for your book club this summer.” —Working MotherCrushed by guilt over the car accident that killed her father and sister, and torn apart by her mother’s resentment, Darcy Goodridge fled her family estate eight years ago and hasn’t looked back. Now an unexpected phone call threatens to upend what little serenity she’s found. Her nephew, Emerson, who was just a baby when his mother … a baby when his mother died, has gone missing. Darcy must return home and face her past in order to save him.
Once back in Ohio, Darcy realizes there’s more to Emerson’s disappearance—and to the sudden retirement of her mother, Rosalind—than meets the eye. As she works to make inroads with Rosalind, Darcy begins to unravel a decades-old secret that devastated her family and forced a wedge between her and Michael Varano, the man she left heartbroken when she vanished after the funeral. After carrying the scars of that fateful night for almost a decade, Darcy is determined to find closure, healing, and maybe even love where she lost them all in the first place—right back home where she belongs.
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I can always count on Christine Nolfi’s books holding my interest. This one was fabulous! What a great book about love, friendship and devotion. I adored it! I didn’t want it to end!
MAGNETIC!
Christine Nolfi’s latest novel, THE ROAD SHE LEFT BEHIND, is MAGNETIC! Magnets both attract and repel and that is exactly what happens in between the characters in THE ROAD SHE LEFT BEHIND. This is an excellent book that will keep your attention from beginning to end! This may be Nolfi’s best novel to date! Her characters are complex, her story is realistic and as a reader, you will become entangled in all of it! Three women from two different families have been friends for a lifetime. Their friendship should have continued this way instead of one person barely speaking to the one of the others, two badly broken hearts and one person hating everyone else. Attracting and Repelling – Love and Hate. All of this from deeply buried dark secrets that have changed the course of all their lives. Can they possibly restore all the broken pieces of their hearts, lives and relationships? What would it take to make them WANT to make a change? I was provided an ARC of this book by Lake Union Publishers and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
The Road She Left Behind is the most recent offering from author Christine Nolfi. It is the story of finding one’s way home after loss, harsh words, and family division. Darcy Goodridge has not allowed herself to become close to anyone or to stay in one place longer than a year since the fateful night following the joint funerals of her father, Dr. Jack Goodridge, and her younger sister, Elizabeth. A freak traffic accident took them both on the stormy night they came to assist Darcy with a flat tire and both she and her mother blame Darcy.
Darcy and her mother, Judge Rosalind Goodridge, had never been close. This terrible accident sealed their estrangement, leaving Darcy to wander on her own and her mother to raise Elizabeth’s baby son, Emerson. The precocious nine year old is far more wise than the adults that surround him. Smart and savvy as an outdoorsman, Emerson stages a disappearance with the hopes that family housekeeper Latrice will contact his Aunt Darcy and that she will finally return home. Latrice has not only kept up with Darcy at their annual Christmas conversations, but has also told Emerson all about her. Emerson has detected cues that make him worry for the future and he has decided it is time to unite his family so he is secure in the days that come.
This is an interesting story of the slights and sorrows that follow the remaining Goodridge family members, including the lies and secrets have fueled their estrangement and the apparent feud with the neighboring Varanos family. Although Darcy has vowed to never return to her mother’s home in Ohio, she finds herself there once again with Samson Dray, a young man who has been released from the foster system and has attached himself to her. And although there is a tenuous truce formed between mother and daughter, it takes a life and death matter to start the family healing.
This is a well told and emotional story with rich characters and detailed settings. Ms. Nolfi has once again proven herself as a storyteller. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it.
When I pick up a book by Christine Nolfi I know I’m in for a great ride. She writes southern fiction/women’s fiction like no one else. Her books are always a treat and so worth reading.
The Road She Left Behind is the perfect title for this awesome book. I started it and had such a hard time putting it down. I fell for the characters like they were long lost friends. There were a couple that I didn’t like, Jack, Darcy’s dad. He was a jerk of the worst kind. I also didn’t like Rosalind, Darcy’s mother. I did learn to like her and understand some of why she was the way she was. By the end I came to like her a lot and have lots of respect for her also.
My favorite character was Michael. He seemed to be such a kind and gentle person who loved Darcy with all his heart. Also all of his life. He was the kind of man all women need.
Emerson, Darcy’s nephew was one smart kid. His look at things was so refreshing. He is one smart kid too. He was a very kind child and had a way of making everyone fall in love with him. I certainly did.
Samson, Darcy’s young friend who insisted on coming back home with her. He was recently aged out of the foster system and looked up to Darcy completely. He would tell her like it was at times too. He was a great kid and didn’t take his friendship with Darcy lightly. He would stand up to anyone for her. I really did like him. He was someone that you would love to know for sure. Smart, kind and loving.. Samson is on his way to a great life.
Tippi and Nella are the next door neighbors and Nella was Rosalind’s best friend until a betrayal ended that. Nella, Michael’s mother, lived a life of guilt and would give anything to turn back time and do things differently. Tippi, Nella’s mother and Michael’s grandmother was a feisty woman who loved flirting and playing poker. She loved to cook and cause a bit of mischief when she would.
Darcy…. She was the strong young woman this whole story is about. She’s way stronger than she thinks and has lived her life in so much pain and guilt for the last eight years. She blames herself for her dad and sister dying. She feels like it is completely her fault and her mother didn’t help with that at all. Blaming one child for what another does is not fair. It’s a total shame for any mother to do so. Darcy’s coming back home made more wonderful things happen than she could have ever dreamed possible.
This book is so good. It will make you laugh, cry, think, hold your breath, cringe in parts, scream, laugh again and cry lots of tears. It’s so well written and will definitely tug at your heartstrings. It’s one that you won’t want to put down until the end and then you’ll want more. I highly recommend this book to everyone I know who loves reading.
I have to thank #NetGalley and #Lake Union publishers for this copy of a wonderful book for my honest review..
It’s another huge 5 stars from me. You can’t go wrong with a Christine Nolfi book.
Real. Raw. Thought Provoking. This is a tale of secrets destroying lives – and the redemptive power of seeing people as they truly are. The backstories are tragic and understandable in a very real way. The actual story of the book even moreso. Maybe not a beach read unless you want to get sunburned – once you get in to the meat of the story, you’re not going to want to put it down long enough to apply sun screen or even leave the room if at all possible. Very much recommended.
Looking back isn’t always easy and for Darcy Goodridge it isn’t anything she wants or plans to do. The past is too difficult to contemplate and, even worse, thinking about going back to an angry and unloving mother Darcy prefers to never have anything to do with again, is not an option. There’s too much heartache and pain to ever want to return. “If you’re going to roam the earth like the prodigal daughter, there are details you’ll miss.” This is where the story takes a turn and Darcy is faced with the decision of having to meet her past head on.
This story took me along the difficult journey Darcy has to maneuver through. I felt myself digging in with her to find the right path to do what was necessary and what was right. It’s a story of finding forgiveness, not only for others but for herself. That can be the most difficult kind of forgiveness to accept.
The characters in this book are exceptional and so likeable. Well for the most part! There’s always the one or two that have to “grow” on you. I especially fell in love with Darcy’s young nephew, Emerson. He’s a very independent little boy and is in tune with his surroundings and environment. He’s not one anyone can put things past. Then there’s Samson, the young foster system product who just wants to be loved and accepted. He’s so wise in his young years and a true friend to Darcy. He says, “I feel sorry for you. My childhood was bad-all the moving around from one foster home to the next. Your childhood was lousy too.”
The characters are woven in throughout this story in a way that made me feel I knew them in a personal way. Each one is tied to the others so that I was able to connect the relationships as the story progressed. There is suspense, some mystery, tensions that spill over, heartache, friendships both tentative and bonded. There are laugh-out-loud passages and others that break your heart. Then there is the story of Darcy and Michael….this in itself had me turning the pages! “Granted, no one sensible reignited a romance that had ended badly the first time. But forever was a long time.”
Ms. Nolfi crafted a wonderful book that has healing, love, forgiveness and hope if there is a heart to open up for them to come into.
I am so grateful to Lake Union, Ms. Nolfi and Netgalley for the wonderful honor of reading this book. It’s a five star novel for me. Thank you!
I enjoyed this book so very much.
3.5 stars
This book is about redemption, second chances and finding lost love. The characters bring the story to life and provide understanding to who they once were.
Christine Nolfi has hit another one out of the ballpark. A beautiful story of family hurts, fears and denials all coming to light and finding redemption and forgiveness as Darcy returns home to Ohio after running away eight years before. Endearing characters tell a story of hope and love as Darcy discovers family and so much more. I’m thinking a sequel is in order, the characters are too vivid to reside in only one book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Christine Nolfi for sharing this beautiful ARC with me!
In order to not share any spoilers, I will share that this book is one that will prevent you from accomplishing any housework, so be prepared to hunker down in your favorite reading spot with your largest glass of sweet tea and dive right in and unravel the secrets and tragedy that have molded the broken Goodridge family for years….
When you leave that way you can never come home…but sometimes, going home is exactly where you have to go to face the pain that you’ve been running from.
You won’t be disappointed!
Darcy has a secret that she has been hiding, one that has had her on the move, never staying anywhere longer than a year, never letting anyone get close to her. It all changes when she is ready to pick up and move yet again….always on the anniversary of the deaths of her father and sister; her way of remembering and of not allowing herself to experience joy. She gets word that her nephew, Emerson, has gone missing from his home where he lives with his grandmother, Darcy’s mother, in Ohio. Darcy makes the tough decision to return home, fighting her demons, to help find Emerson. She knows this is entering into a situation, seeing and confronting her mother again, after 8 years of estrangement, opening up wounds and feelings that she has not allowed herself to face may prove to be too much. Once back, Darcy uncovers the reason she was called back to Ohio and along the way, perhaps allows herself to finally grieve and heal from the devastation that rocked her family.
Thank you, Christine Nolfi and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
“Pride, Nella mused, is an exceptional hardship. Like carrying a block of cement on your back for all your natural-born days.”
The road Darcy Goodwin left behind has come back around to where she started as she is forced to return home to deal with what she ran from 8 years before. After the frightful accident that killed her father and her sister,Darcy left for anywhere other than Chagrin Falls, her hometown. Now, eight years later she returns to what’s left of her family to deal with present reality whether she wants to or not. Her mother and her 8 year old nephew need her.
Rosalind Goodwin is ill, but no one knows how badly she’s faring. A leave of absence from the bench has become a forced retirement and left her bereft. Her grandson Emerson knows something is wrong, but although he is wise beyond his years, he’s still a kid. Darcy promised his mother, her sister, that she’s care for him, but her departure nullified that …
Can she be mature enough to re-glue the family together and guide them into the future? It may be a road less traveled in the past, but Christine Nolfi helps us make sense of the backstory and gives us hope for the future. Read this knowing you’ll need tissues as you will laugh, cry and care for all the characters in this lovely story of courage, change and loss. Highly Recommended 5/5
[ I received this book from the author and voluntarily reviewed it]
1/2 stars
Secrets, betrayal, hope, redemption. This book has it all. Ms. Nolfi writes such great characters and this book is full of them! Colorful, disagreeable, lovable, realistic.
A horrific accident leaves 2 dead and a third wracked with guilt. On her way to a new job, Darcy gets a frantic phone call that her nephew is missing. She ran out on a promise she made to her sister years ago, but she dreads coming back home to her Mother, estranged for 8 years. With her special friend in tow, she makes a decision that will change her life and lead her where she needs to be for total forgiveness.
This book will have you smiling one minute and tearing up the next. Ms. Nolfi reveals details a little at a time to keep you turning the pages. I’ve been a fan of this author for a while, and this book didn’t disappoint!
I received an ARC of this book. Opinion is my own!
THE ROAD SHE LEFT BEHIND by Christine Nolfi is a beautifully-written and moving story of family, love and second chances. Riddled by guilt over a tragic accident that claimed the lives of her father and sister, Darcy Goodridge fled from her family home and her resentful and overly-critical mother, leaving behind everything she knew including a budding romantic relationship with her childhood friend and neighbor, Michael Varano. Darcy lives a solitary life, moving from city to city, never allowing anyone to get close to her. After eight years, she receives an unexpected phone call that calls her back home to face her mother, the young son of her sister and the past that has always haunted her. Back at home, Darcy is determined to figure out what happened that fateful night and what drove her family apart. As she tries to unravel the past, she exposes long-held secrets and old betrayals that help explain the rift between her family and Michael’s. Slowly, the characters begin the process of forgiveness and healing that brings them the closure they all desperately need to move on. The characters are expertly portrayed and so relatable. I enjoyed this engaging story of family, love, loss and redemption and highly recommend it! Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.
Christine Nolfi has done it again! The Road She Left Behind is another book by Nolfi that I just couldn’t put down. I loved how the story unfolded, learning about Darcy’s difficult past along the way. It was cool to see Darcy bring Sampson with her on her journey back to her family. I could feel the struggles that Darcy had with her difficult mother while forming a trusting relationship with her nephew, Emerson. The characters were well-written and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I highly recommend this book!
I’ve read (and loved) several of Christine Nolfi’s books and this book was no different! She has a gift for creating truly special characters that you don’t want to let go of at the end of the book (seriously, I was so sad when the book ended – I wanted more!!) While I enjoyed all of the characters, I especially loved Emerson and Samson – Emerson is an 8 year old boy who is mature WAY beyond his years, taking dental floss with him when he escapes to the woods on an impromptu solo camping trip. Samson is an 18 year old young man who appears much younger than he is, but he’s a devoted friend to Darcy, even when she tries to push him away as she tries to continue her nomadic way of life.
I thought Nolfi did a great job unfolding the story and slowly revealing why Darcy has lived the way she has for the past 8 years, revealing enough to pique your curiosity and keep you reading on. Once I started, this book was hard to put down!
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing, NetGalley, and Christine Nolfi for providing a copy for review.
The Road She Left Behind by Christine Nolfi portrays two families ripped apart by tragedy and deeply buried secrets of the past. This book depicts a beautiful and touching story filled with strong themes of forgiveness, love, and betrayal between family and friends. The story revolves around Darcy who returns back home to Ohio after many years away to face the guilt of her past and find the closure she has been seeking. You can always count on Christine Nolfi to write books and develop characters that everyone can relate to in some way.
This is another wonderful book written by Christine Nolfi that deals with some complicated family dynamics and shows how important love is in pulling things back together in order to move forward. The characters all seem so real and you are pulled into the story right to the end.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me early access to this book ! I loved this book ! If you are a fan of Christine Nolfi, you will NOT be disappointed. This is a beautiful book about family, love, grief, secrets and lies. Truly , has it all. As always, beautifully written. You laugh, you cry as you get lost in this novel hoping everyone sees the error of their ways and come to a new understanding. I truly hope this is going to end up being another series because I would love to see where she takes all of these characters. They are a quirky bunch and the differences in each of them make their relationships that much more interesting ! This is a must read for anyone who enjoys a good book ! #buythebook
I absolutely loved “The Road She Left Behind” by Christine Nolfi. I did not want to put this book down once I started reading. This is a heartwarming story of guilt, secrets, family, betrayal, resentment and forgiveness. The characters are relatable and well defined. Each character has their own unique personality. I laughed and cried and chuckled out loud, and did not want this book to end. The descriptions made you feel like you were there living with the characters, you could smell the turkey cooking, taste the cookies, feel the rain on your face Nolfi is a gifted writer, I am so glad I read this book. You will be touched by all the emotions in this book. It is wonderfully written and a delight to read. I highly recommend this novel to readers that enjoy Women’s Fiction. Christine Nolfi is a must read author.
I had the pleasure of receiving an e-book ARC of The Road She Left Behind in exchange for my honest review. I finished the book last night and I have to say, I absolutely loved it. Christine Nolfi has written a tender and compelling family drama that easily drew me in. The story centers around Darcy, who has been estranged from her mother, nephew, and an old flame in Ohio since a tragic accident there changed the terrain of her family 8 years prior to the book’s opening. In that season of estrangement, she’s moved around the country working temp jobs for a year each before moving on. She doesn’t form attachments in any of these cities- until she lands in Charleston, SC, and meets a young man, Sampson, who recently aged out of the foster care system and thinks of her as a big sister. When circumstances beckon her back to Ohio, she must face her past head-on, and in doing so, finds that running from her problems hasn’t made anything better, and she still has personal demons to face in order to embrace the life she wants with the people she’s always loved.
Darcy is a delightful protagonist. She’s been beaten down,(mostly by her own sense of guilt) but possesses a resiliency that, I think, even surprises her at times. When she realizes that she’s needed back in Ohio, she goes even though it’s the last place she wants to be. She faces her critical mother head-on and builds a relationship with the nephew she hasn’t seen since he was a baby. She opens up to her former boyfriend and discovers the power of forgiveness- from others and also from herself.
The story is very much about Darcy, but each of the characters are compelling. You’ll find yourself wanting to spend more time with Latrice, Michael, Tippi, Sampson, Nella, Emerson, and, yes, even Rosalind by the time you reach the last page. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy family dramas that aren’t too, too heavy, that have a touch of romance, and a whole lot of self-discovery. The book will be released on June 11, so go put it on your wish list now!