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Almost Home
Recently fled from a "perfect" life in California, Katerine Whitfield meets a fetching but troubling cowboy whose hand is as gentle on her as it on the bridle of a horse. Original.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
754 people are currently reading
567 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Freethy
155 books2,698 followersBarbara's love of writing developed out of a love of reading. Growing up in an all-boy neighborhood, she spent quite a bit of time reading through her mother's large library, many of which were romantic novels. After graduating from the University of California at Santa Barbara, she went into Public Relations, but soon discovered that writing was her true passion.
Barbara was traditionally published for many years, then formed her own publishing company FOG CITY PUBLISHING in 2011 and has since sold over 10 million books! She has published 75 novels ranging from mystery thrillers to romantic suspense and contemporary romance.
Her book SUMMER SECRETS was a #1 New York Times bestseller! And twenty-five other novels have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Lists. She is currently writing two ongoing series, a contemporary romance series set in Whisper Lake and a romantic suspense series: Off The Grid: FBI Series. She is also known for her bestselling Callaway Family Series, which offers up fourteen books and two novellas.
When Barbara isn't writing or publishing, which isn't very often these days, she is playing tennis, hanging out with friends and family in beautiful Lake Tahoe or reading books!
For a complete list of her books, visit her website!
Barbara was traditionally published for many years, then formed her own publishing company FOG CITY PUBLISHING in 2011 and has since sold over 10 million books! She has published 75 novels ranging from mystery thrillers to romantic suspense and contemporary romance.
Her book SUMMER SECRETS was a #1 New York Times bestseller! And twenty-five other novels have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Lists. She is currently writing two ongoing series, a contemporary romance series set in Whisper Lake and a romantic suspense series: Off The Grid: FBI Series. She is also known for her bestselling Callaway Family Series, which offers up fourteen books and two novellas.
When Barbara isn't writing or publishing, which isn't very often these days, she is playing tennis, hanging out with friends and family in beautiful Lake Tahoe or reading books!
For a complete list of her books, visit her website!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
July 26, 2017
Original rating: 3 stars
Originally read 2012 (approximately)
I read this book way back in 2012, shortly after I read another one of this author's novels. Back then I wasn't too impressed with this book but I didn't dislike it either.
Well, I found it again and thought a reread would be interesting (I also reread the other Barbara Freethy novel, The Sweetest Thing. Btw I will be making a lot of comparisons between the two books). Like my reread of The Sweetest Thing, a lot of my opinions have changed. And unfortunately my opinion now is less complementary than it was.
I just don't click with Freethy's female protagonists for some reason. Katherine annoyed the hell out of me. She came across as naive and irritating. She is on a search for her father, because her mother never told her who he was. Okay, that makes sense. But then Katherine immediately assumes that her father will be a good man and will want a relationship with her, but she never considers the idea of her father being married and having another family. Seriously, it doesn't occur to her that he might not want to get to know her. Someone brings up this possibility and she is shocked. *face palm* Really? it seemed fucking obvious to me, even when I was 12. In the end, he turns out to be a good guy but still.
You know what irks me about Katherine? She come across as childish. She is supposed to be in her mid twenties but she's so naive and she sounds so young.
Zach is alright, but he's also very moody and wishy washy. He flip flops between opening up to Katherine and shutting her out and I wanted him to make up his fucking mind. *headdesk*
Another thing that pisses me off about this book is the fucking cliches. Katherine, like Faith, is your quintessential hopeless romantic, who despite a neglectful and lonely childhood still believes in true love. And Zach, like Alex, is your typical bad boy with a traumatizing childhood and shit parents. His neglectful/abusive childhood combined with his first love breaking his heart makes him cynical about love. Until he meets "the one", of course. *gag* (seriously did I just describe Alex or Zach??)
The protagonists of this novel and of The Sweetest Thing are almost indistinguishable. They're so similar in backstory and voice it's not even funny. It's fucking annoying. It's so cliche and stereotypical. Bad boy cynic meets good girl romantic- literally that's been done hundreds of times. Fuck off.
And maybe I could forgive it if it was well done but nope. The romance was rushed and sloppy. From the moment they meet they want to get it on, and they jump into bed (metaphorically) after knowing each other for barely a week. Sleeping with someone you don't know that well is fine, I don't see anything wrong with it, but don't try and paint it as some great love story. And then they get married after knowing each other for, what, a few weeks tops? Stop it! What the actual fuck is wrong with you?
Side characters were boring af, and I didn't care about any of them. The plot twist about Katherine's mother was kind of convoluted and required a bit of suspension of disbelief. And for the identity of Katherine's father, there's a lot of red herrings and it's supposed to be a mystery but also at some point I just gave up caring.
Let's talk about Jackson (Zach's shitty deadbeat dad). He serves absolutely no purpose to the story. Maybe as part of Zach's backstory, but not in the present action. He's just there to add some suspense (as if we need any more!) It's an attempt at conflict that never really pans out.
Also I think I noticed a typo with a side character's last name. The character's name is Sam Jordan but at one point his last name is stated to be Jamison. So...yeah. That was something I felt needed addressing.
Tl;dr version- I can't think of anything redeeming about this book and absolutely would not recommend it. This author is not for me it seems.
Originally read 2012 (approximately)
I read this book way back in 2012, shortly after I read another one of this author's novels. Back then I wasn't too impressed with this book but I didn't dislike it either.
Well, I found it again and thought a reread would be interesting (I also reread the other Barbara Freethy novel, The Sweetest Thing. Btw I will be making a lot of comparisons between the two books). Like my reread of The Sweetest Thing, a lot of my opinions have changed. And unfortunately my opinion now is less complementary than it was.
I just don't click with Freethy's female protagonists for some reason. Katherine annoyed the hell out of me. She came across as naive and irritating. She is on a search for her father, because her mother never told her who he was. Okay, that makes sense. But then Katherine immediately assumes that her father will be a good man and will want a relationship with her, but she never considers the idea of her father being married and having another family. Seriously, it doesn't occur to her that he might not want to get to know her. Someone brings up this possibility and she is shocked. *face palm* Really? it seemed fucking obvious to me, even when I was 12. In the end, he turns out to be a good guy but still.
You know what irks me about Katherine? She come across as childish. She is supposed to be in her mid twenties but she's so naive and she sounds so young.
Zach is alright, but he's also very moody and wishy washy. He flip flops between opening up to Katherine and shutting her out and I wanted him to make up his fucking mind. *headdesk*
Another thing that pisses me off about this book is the fucking cliches. Katherine, like Faith, is your quintessential hopeless romantic, who despite a neglectful and lonely childhood still believes in true love. And Zach, like Alex, is your typical bad boy with a traumatizing childhood and shit parents. His neglectful/abusive childhood combined with his first love breaking his heart makes him cynical about love. Until he meets "the one", of course. *gag* (seriously did I just describe Alex or Zach??)
The protagonists of this novel and of The Sweetest Thing are almost indistinguishable. They're so similar in backstory and voice it's not even funny. It's fucking annoying. It's so cliche and stereotypical. Bad boy cynic meets good girl romantic- literally that's been done hundreds of times. Fuck off.
And maybe I could forgive it if it was well done but nope. The romance was rushed and sloppy. From the moment they meet they want to get it on, and they jump into bed (metaphorically) after knowing each other for barely a week. Sleeping with someone you don't know that well is fine, I don't see anything wrong with it, but don't try and paint it as some great love story. And then they get married after knowing each other for, what, a few weeks tops? Stop it! What the actual fuck is wrong with you?
Side characters were boring af, and I didn't care about any of them. The plot twist about Katherine's mother was kind of convoluted and required a bit of suspension of disbelief. And for the identity of Katherine's father, there's a lot of red herrings and it's supposed to be a mystery but also at some point I just gave up caring.
Let's talk about Jackson (Zach's shitty deadbeat dad). He serves absolutely no purpose to the story. Maybe as part of Zach's backstory, but not in the present action. He's just there to add some suspense (as if we need any more!) It's an attempt at conflict that never really pans out.
Also I think I noticed a typo with a side character's last name. The character's name is Sam Jordan but at one point his last name is stated to be Jamison. So...yeah. That was something I felt needed addressing.
Tl;dr version- I can't think of anything redeeming about this book and absolutely would not recommend it. This author is not for me it seems.
February 17, 2011
Katherine Whitfield never knew her father and lost her mother when she was only twelve. She longs for family ties, for roots, and most importantly for love. When she finds her mother's old trunk and discovers a letter that hints at the location of her father she drops everything and heads straight for Kentucky.
Katherine is searching for a map when she nearly collides with a trailer and meets a very unfriendly Zach Taylor. Zach is furious at Katherine's reckless driving and gives her an earful. The trailer she nearly hit contains his horse, Midnight Rogue, who he believes will win the Kentucky Derby. Despite his anger he stays with her until a tow-truck arrives.
Their attraction is immediate but a relationship seems to be an impossibility because Zach refuses to risk his heart after he was left at the altar by a woman he loved. He has no room in his life for a woman, he stubbornly insists. He only wants to win the Derby, own his own stud farm and live a quiet simple life without all of the complications that love is sure to bring along. Lucky for us he falls hard and fast for Katherine.
I tend to favor relationship driven novels about people who genuinely care for one another as opposed to those books where the couple spend the book calling each other nasty names and then immediately hop in the sack. That's why I enjoyed "Almost Home" so much. The relationship between Zach and Katherine begins with a lusty attraction that gradually deepens into a friendship and eventually develops into love. It's clear to see that these two down-to-earth people genuinely "like" each other and aren't mistaking infatuation with love. The end result is an intensely satisfying love story.
If you're in the mood for a slower-paced, feel good romance that isn't plagued by the unnecessary subplots that are far too common in contemporary romances give this one a try.
Katherine is searching for a map when she nearly collides with a trailer and meets a very unfriendly Zach Taylor. Zach is furious at Katherine's reckless driving and gives her an earful. The trailer she nearly hit contains his horse, Midnight Rogue, who he believes will win the Kentucky Derby. Despite his anger he stays with her until a tow-truck arrives.
Their attraction is immediate but a relationship seems to be an impossibility because Zach refuses to risk his heart after he was left at the altar by a woman he loved. He has no room in his life for a woman, he stubbornly insists. He only wants to win the Derby, own his own stud farm and live a quiet simple life without all of the complications that love is sure to bring along. Lucky for us he falls hard and fast for Katherine.
I tend to favor relationship driven novels about people who genuinely care for one another as opposed to those books where the couple spend the book calling each other nasty names and then immediately hop in the sack. That's why I enjoyed "Almost Home" so much. The relationship between Zach and Katherine begins with a lusty attraction that gradually deepens into a friendship and eventually develops into love. It's clear to see that these two down-to-earth people genuinely "like" each other and aren't mistaking infatuation with love. The end result is an intensely satisfying love story.
If you're in the mood for a slower-paced, feel good romance that isn't plagued by the unnecessary subplots that are far too common in contemporary romances give this one a try.
September 4, 2013
Ended up skimming.
I don't like things that don't make sense. The heroine, who doesn't know who her biological father is, finds a clue to his home town and his first initial - J. She travels into a deeply conservative small town and announces to strangers that she is there to find her father.
She is totally convinced that he will be thrilled to meet her and will instantly love her. She does not give any thought to the possibility that an illegitimate daughter appearing out of the blue may come as a shock and shatter people's lives.
Surely, anyone with any intelligence would first have tried to figure out who her father is and approach him in private, instead of stirring up gossip and speculation?
Also, it seems contrived that almost every male in town is around fifty (the right age to be her father) and their names begin with J.
The heroine has strong clues to her mother's past but she does nothing to follow them up, just keeps asking questions about the men she suspects of being her father. Why does she not show a photo of her mother to anyone? Surely, that would have been the obvious thing to do - but of course, it would have led her to the truth too soon.
Another thing that bothered me was the hero's character. He is all over the place, going from disliking the heroine, to lusting after her, wanting her gone, not being able to resist her, not wanting to get involved because she'll want marriage and babies, being madly in lust, wanting to push her away, being in love, hating her because she deceived him, to forgiving her and loving her and wanting to marry her, all in the space of less than a week.
It's too head spinning, particularly as the hero isn't progressing from stage to stage but they seem to run parallel, without enough time to move from one frame of mind to another.
I don't like things that don't make sense. The heroine, who doesn't know who her biological father is, finds a clue to his home town and his first initial - J. She travels into a deeply conservative small town and announces to strangers that she is there to find her father.
She is totally convinced that he will be thrilled to meet her and will instantly love her. She does not give any thought to the possibility that an illegitimate daughter appearing out of the blue may come as a shock and shatter people's lives.
Surely, anyone with any intelligence would first have tried to figure out who her father is and approach him in private, instead of stirring up gossip and speculation?
Also, it seems contrived that almost every male in town is around fifty (the right age to be her father) and their names begin with J.
The heroine has strong clues to her mother's past but she does nothing to follow them up, just keeps asking questions about the men she suspects of being her father. Why does she not show a photo of her mother to anyone? Surely, that would have been the obvious thing to do - but of course, it would have led her to the truth too soon.
Another thing that bothered me was the hero's character. He is all over the place, going from disliking the heroine, to lusting after her, wanting her gone, not being able to resist her, not wanting to get involved because she'll want marriage and babies, being madly in lust, wanting to push her away, being in love, hating her because she deceived him, to forgiving her and loving her and wanting to marry her, all in the space of less than a week.
It's too head spinning, particularly as the hero isn't progressing from stage to stage but they seem to run parallel, without enough time to move from one frame of mind to another.
May 2, 2019
Must read
Surprise! Ending definitely surprised me! Everybody should read th uhh s story. Lots of drama, second chances and loose family! I think everyone should read this !
Surprise! Ending definitely surprised me! Everybody should read th uhh s story. Lots of drama, second chances and loose family! I think everyone should read this !
January 24, 2014
A perfectly stupid book. Unbelievable characters, dialogue, and mist especially situations. Really - who gets married in a couple of weeks to a perfect stranger?
February 16, 2022
1 main criticism: why didn't this girl have a freaking picture of her mom?
I didn't finish the book (because it was making be gag) so maybe this was addressed but I doubt it.
I didn't finish the book (because it was making be gag) so maybe this was addressed but I doubt it.
May 8, 2018
Katherine Whitfield flew from California to Paradise, Kentucky looking for her father. Her mother died in a car wreck when Katherine was 12, and her step-father raised her as she had no other family. Katherine never felt a part of the family, especially after her step-father remarried. Katherine finds a hope chest of her mother’s in the attic with items she has never seen along with a letter to her father telling him about his daughter. Unfortunately she only uses the initial J for her father’s name. The letter was never sent to her father so he knows nothing about her.
When she reaches Paradise she almost runs into Zach Taylor and his horse, but is able to turn the car and runs into a ditch. Zach is furious with her as his horse is his ticket to win the Kentucky Derby. Katherine runs into Zach in town and they end up seeing each other. She tells him about looking for her father. He warns her that she may not want to know and may open a can of worms. The community is very snooty and thinks about blood lines and horses. Zach is on the outside since his father scammed many of the people in town, and are making Zach pay for his father’s sins. The Stanton’s though believed in him when he was 16 and took him in. He is the manager of their horse farm. He is also bitter because years ago his fiancé left him standing at the alter. He feels he only needs his horse.
Katherine stirs up a lot of secrets couples have kept from each other for a long time. A lot of people seem to be nice to Katherine, but there is an undercurrent in their comments. I felt bad that Katherine didn’t feel like she belonged anywhere, and when she found out how much her mother had lied to her. I loved Katherine and Zach together. She was so optimistic and he was so pessimistic that they evened each other out. I was happy how everything turned out. I loved the book and strongly encourage you to read the book. I was given a copy of this book and voluntarily read it and reviewed the book.
When she reaches Paradise she almost runs into Zach Taylor and his horse, but is able to turn the car and runs into a ditch. Zach is furious with her as his horse is his ticket to win the Kentucky Derby. Katherine runs into Zach in town and they end up seeing each other. She tells him about looking for her father. He warns her that she may not want to know and may open a can of worms. The community is very snooty and thinks about blood lines and horses. Zach is on the outside since his father scammed many of the people in town, and are making Zach pay for his father’s sins. The Stanton’s though believed in him when he was 16 and took him in. He is the manager of their horse farm. He is also bitter because years ago his fiancé left him standing at the alter. He feels he only needs his horse.
Katherine stirs up a lot of secrets couples have kept from each other for a long time. A lot of people seem to be nice to Katherine, but there is an undercurrent in their comments. I felt bad that Katherine didn’t feel like she belonged anywhere, and when she found out how much her mother had lied to her. I loved Katherine and Zach together. She was so optimistic and he was so pessimistic that they evened each other out. I was happy how everything turned out. I loved the book and strongly encourage you to read the book. I was given a copy of this book and voluntarily read it and reviewed the book.
September 21, 2021
This was a great book full of romance, families and dreams. Katherine Whitfield went looking for her father but found a lot more. Her mother died when she was twelve and Katherine was left with her stepfather and then when he remarried,Nashe felt left out without any family. She had found a chest in the attic that she knew belonged to her mother with clues to a small town in Kentucky where Katherine believed her father might have lived. Leaving her job with her stepfather in California and traveling that far was a very big step for Katherine. The journey she took is what makes this story so good. Sometimes things need to be stirred up before changes can be made and steps forward can be accomplished.
June 9, 2020
Just finished reading. This is about a young woman, who lost her mother at the age of 12, never knowing anything about her Mother's past.
She is raised by a stepfather. She finds a chest in the attic that belong to her mother filled with a quilt and things from a small town in Kentucky where the Kentucky Derby is.
This is a romance/mystery. She goes to find her biological father and finds out who her mother was.
She is raised by a stepfather. She finds a chest in the attic that belong to her mother filled with a quilt and things from a small town in Kentucky where the Kentucky Derby is.
This is a romance/mystery. She goes to find her biological father and finds out who her mother was.
August 16, 2018
Zach and Katherine both led amazing lives, and that was before they met. When her determination went up against his stubborn pride they incinerated. She found what she wanted most and in the end so did he. Again Barbara Freethy weaves the reader under her spell in a most unlikely set of mysteries. And what a delicious spell it was!
August 18, 2018
This book kept me up last night! Katherine wants to find her father, so she heads to Kentucky to follow some clues. An accident sets off a chain of events. Zach, coincidences, the Derby, and SO MANY secrets lead Katherine to the truth – and what a twist! Barbara Freethy has done it again. And who knew so many names started with the same letter?!!
May 30, 2022
What a dramatic, emotional and wonderful storyline! This book literally had me gripping the book, constantly reaching for another chapter, and absolutely needing to reach The End. I had to know who was who; I needed to know who is the father; and I wanted to know who won the Derby. It’s an amazing story with excellent writing. Thanks for a great book!
April 12, 2018
Wonderful suspenseful mystery that keeps you guessing who the main characters father is until the end. Sweet romance included in story. Great characters and great plot. Another book that by Barbara Freethy that is hard to put down so it is a quick read.
October 13, 2019
A wonderful story by Barbara Freethy.
Barbara writes stories about characters and situations that capture your interest from beginning til the end. I would recommend her books to everyone who enjoys romance, friends and family.
Barbara writes stories about characters and situations that capture your interest from beginning til the end. I would recommend her books to everyone who enjoys romance, friends and family.
April 1, 2021
Reunion complete
Enjoyed seeing Katherine finding true love with Zac and they both found happiness in each other's company. They both shared a difficult life growing up but found happiness in each other's company. It was a win win for both of them. It was a happy ending.
Enjoyed seeing Katherine finding true love with Zac and they both found happiness in each other's company. They both shared a difficult life growing up but found happiness in each other's company. It was a win win for both of them. It was a happy ending.
April 26, 2021
I loved, loved the book, read it in one sitting. I love all of Barbara Freethys books. I love the
Combination of romance and mystery. Ive read most of her books and loved each & every one.
Her characters are perfect.
Combination of romance and mystery. Ive read most of her books and loved each & every one.
Her characters are perfect.
December 2, 2023
This. was a wonderful read. At times I found my self going back to check characters, difficult on my reader. Much Love hinged around the Kentucky Derby, which the horse Rogue won. A lot of interesting information, too.
December 4, 2023
One of Barbara's best so far, characters exciting, hard to follow many times, up to the end. Kentucky Derby shed light on interesting details. Ending points out that true love is more important than anything!!
July 31, 2017
Easy read
May 10, 2018
Great read somehow missed this one as I have read and loved so many of Barbara's books. A really page turner. Lots of surprises.
May 25, 2018
Good book. It brought back some memories. Even though I haven’t been to the derby like Zac and Katherine I used to go to the race track here in town with my family.
October 19, 2018
Good ,easy ,interesting fast read . Held your interest throughout . Hope to enjoy many more of her books .
February 1, 2019
Phenomenal book!!!
I love Barbara’s books, she is one of my favourite authors.
I loved this book from start to finish.
I love the characters and the story.
I love Barbara’s books, she is one of my favourite authors.
I loved this book from start to finish.
I love the characters and the story.
February 17, 2019
With a few items in a chest, she found after her mother died.She comes to Paradise to maybe find her father. According to the letter, he never knew anything about her. She is warned not to ask questions, this town of Paradise knew only about winning, and the horses involved. Zach knew about trouble from his dad, and what the people of the town thought of him, and also the son. He was out to prove them wrong. With callous hands, an a tough attitude he intrigues her. Will either of them find the answers they want or need. Good story of families.
May 16, 2019
Good book
Story and characters were good, sometimes the story dragged, but I really enjoyed it. Barbara Freethy is a very good author.
Story and characters were good, sometimes the story dragged, but I really enjoyed it. Barbara Freethy is a very good author.
October 5, 2019
Quintessentially a romance with some terrific twists and surprises. Did not disappoint and will not disappoint.
October 16, 2019
Delightful, best of books ! I wish I could afford to read more !!! Awesome
October 16, 2019
4 Stars
4 stars for the story of Katherine and Zach. How they meet and their individual quests to find family and the place they can call home. A fun read.
4 stars for the story of Katherine and Zach. How they meet and their individual quests to find family and the place they can call home. A fun read.
October 29, 2019
Good
This is a book that shows how people can tell a child that they aren't welcome in there own home .
This is a book that shows how people can tell a child that they aren't welcome in there own home .
November 3, 2019
The plot twist in this book genuinely surprised me. I fell in love with the characters and even though it started out slow I'd rate it a 7/10.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews