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The Way Back Home
As a teenager, Anna Fitzgerald fled an impossible situation, only to discover that life on the streets w as worse than she could have imagined. Now, as a woman, she lived with the threat that the secrets of her past would com e back to haunt her. '
Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1993
16 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Emilie Richards
188 books945 followersI'm the author of seventy-something novels, including romance, women's fiction and mystery. When We Were Sisters debuted in June 2016, a stand alone novel about two foster sisters traveling back into their past together. I loved writing it and love the cover my publisher chose.
I'm also excited about my recent series, Goddesses Anonymous, which started with One Mountain Away and was followed by Somewhere Between Luck and Trust. The third book in the series, A River Too Wide, came out in July 2014. The Color of Light debuted in August 2015. Will there be more? We'll see.
I'm also putting up my newly edited romance backlist and love re-reading and updating them a bit.
Last year my husband and I moved from Virginia, to Osprey, Florida, the state where both of us were raised, met, and married. In the summer we live in Chautauqua, New York. I'm a quilter, knitter, kayaker, and the mother of four children, whom I regard as my greatest creative endeavors. And now there are four wonderful grandchildren to spoil.
Visit me at my web site, emilierichards.com, and my blog, www.emilierichards.com/blog. You can also find me at Twitter and on my Facebook reader page.
I'm also excited about my recent series, Goddesses Anonymous, which started with One Mountain Away and was followed by Somewhere Between Luck and Trust. The third book in the series, A River Too Wide, came out in July 2014. The Color of Light debuted in August 2015. Will there be more? We'll see.
I'm also putting up my newly edited romance backlist and love re-reading and updating them a bit.
Last year my husband and I moved from Virginia, to Osprey, Florida, the state where both of us were raised, met, and married. In the summer we live in Chautauqua, New York. I'm a quilter, knitter, kayaker, and the mother of four children, whom I regard as my greatest creative endeavors. And now there are four wonderful grandchildren to spoil.
Visit me at my web site, emilierichards.com, and my blog, www.emilierichards.com/blog. You can also find me at Twitter and on my Facebook reader page.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 15, 2018
I enjoyed this one and it is actually part of a connected book series of which I have read the last book Fugitive. Our 22-year-old heroine and mother of a four year old was a teenage runaway. Her stepfather's advances made her take to the streets and in the hand of a bad man. But she somehow survived with the help of her baby's father and now years later is helping other runaways. To her her past and who she was is dead. Our hero is engaged to be married and is running for State's attorney. He has very distinctive views about drug dealers and meets the heroine because some of the people that come and stay at their facility are suspected. The heroine kind of gives him a dressing down and shows him a different perspective that everyone's life isn't rosy and secure that they have a choice. At first I was a bit concerned the hero being engaged and all, but I felt he and his fiancee came to see that they weren't for each other triggered in part due to how the heroine shook him up and made him feel. I liked how the heroine told the hero that her experiences on the street had been awful and told him that she wouldn't stand well with his constituents. I felt both of them were good for each other. The hero made her see that she had nothing to be ashamed about, she had been blaming herself for years but she had been a 15-year-old victim. We also see the heroine confront her past. I loved how supportive the hero was with her throughout despite her fears and doubts.
October 1, 2020
The Way Back Home is the second in the trilogy by Emilie Richards - Homecoming. In the first book we met Krista looking for her sister Rosie, a runaway. Krista felt really ashamed that in the moment Rosie needed her she let her down.
Now in The Way Back Home we meet the lovely Anna Fitzgerald, a staff member at First Day, a place that takes in runaways and offers them the chance of taking a new start in life, and even if they don't take up that offer, a roof and a bed in the meantime. The runaways are tough, yet Anna is tough herself. Having been on the streets for a number of years, she knows the tricks of the trade. Not much gets past her. She has a wonderful four year old - Ryan and they live in a very small apartment.
And so of course we come to Rosie's story. I don't think it takes much deduction for the reader to work out who Anna was in her past. We learned in book one why Anna left home and now we learn of her heartbreaking years on the street. We see her partially back together but not fully healed.
As the story progresses there are a number of twists and turns. Anna is going to find the going challenging, the invitation to take more steps right there. Of course there is a love interest. This is a romance, but a romance with taste of women's fiction and some suspense.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and look forward to the final in the trilogy. In this book I met characters I loved and cheered for and a story I wanted to keep on reading. While this is a republication of a book written back some time ago, I think readers will find it stands up well to 2020 reading.
Now in The Way Back Home we meet the lovely Anna Fitzgerald, a staff member at First Day, a place that takes in runaways and offers them the chance of taking a new start in life, and even if they don't take up that offer, a roof and a bed in the meantime. The runaways are tough, yet Anna is tough herself. Having been on the streets for a number of years, she knows the tricks of the trade. Not much gets past her. She has a wonderful four year old - Ryan and they live in a very small apartment.
And so of course we come to Rosie's story. I don't think it takes much deduction for the reader to work out who Anna was in her past. We learned in book one why Anna left home and now we learn of her heartbreaking years on the street. We see her partially back together but not fully healed.
As the story progresses there are a number of twists and turns. Anna is going to find the going challenging, the invitation to take more steps right there. Of course there is a love interest. This is a romance, but a romance with taste of women's fiction and some suspense.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and look forward to the final in the trilogy. In this book I met characters I loved and cheered for and a story I wanted to keep on reading. While this is a republication of a book written back some time ago, I think readers will find it stands up well to 2020 reading.
October 1, 2020
“The Way Back Home” by Emilie Richards
October 1, 2020
274 pages
Romantic Suspense
Rosie Jensen ran away from an abusive stepfather six years ago. Though she confided in her older sister, Krista did not believe the fifteen-year-old and told her to go back home where she belonged. But Rosie fled and became one of many teens who live on the street. It’s a tough life for anyone, but more so for a young person, and one related to a well-known political figure as is Rosie’s case. Subjected to additional horror being homeless and having to fight to survive, Rosie gets her act together. Changing her name to Anna Fitzgerald, she settles in Point Reynaldo, Florida where now at age twenty-two she is the assistant director at First Day, a shelter for runaways. No one knows of her past, except Tom Schneider, her boss, though she did not tell him the whole story or her actual identity.
Anna is well-suited for her position having been a runaway herself, and she is able to understand those in her care. Her empathy and history allow her to relate to these kids like no other. Everyone in residence respects her, though some are bitter and hard to get close to. One is a young boy named Wesley who had faced a difficult childhood after his parents died and he was shuffled from one foster home to another. With an understandable chip on his shoulders, Anna tries hard to earn his trust, but when he gets in a fight with another resident, she comes face-to-face with Grady Clayton, the county’s Acting State Attorney. She is concerned by what he witnesses and hopes to prove to him things are under control.
Grady is there to visit Tom believing a few residents are involved with drugs. Anna joins the meeting, defending Wesley and alerting Grady they are helping reform him. A former resident and alleged friend of Wesley has a reputation for selling drugs, and Grady wants to catch him and whoever is working with him. Anna decides to help by talking to Wesley, who has recently been seen with this other boy.
Grady is intrigued by Anna, finding her feisty manner and stubbornness delightful. Though he is engaged to another, something about Anna draws him to her. He wants to get inside her head and learn all about her, but Anna isn’t forthcoming. She is mainly concerned about caring for her precocious four-year-old son, Ryan, and doing her job well, while also remaining reclusive. But Grady is smitten and more so by Ryan after meeting him. Though his schedule is busy running his election campaign, he takes Ryan and Anna to his cabin for a day of fishing, getting more and more attached to them.
Anna's feelings for Grady deepen, but he’s out of her league, and after dealing with her politician stepfather, she wants nothing to do with him, but Grady is relentless and realizes his upcoming marriage is a farce. His finance sees Grady’s actions around Anna breaks their engagement knowing they’re not right for each other. While Grady pursues Anna, she pushes him away, saying it’s for his own good. How can he get elected if he hooks up with a woman known to have lived in the streets doing whatever necessary to survive?
Though Grady insists he and Anna have a future, she knows when she discloses her past, he’ll run away from her quickly. She confesses what she’s been through, and rather than reject her, he is in awe of how brave and strong she is, insisting his love is true.
But, will her past come back and haunt her? First Day is due to hold a conference and workshops and Anna learns a well-known author named, Jess Cantrell is to be the key speaker. She met him many years ago when she still lived under her stepfather’s roof and understands he could recognize her, so she needs to escape. This doesn’t happen and she becomes frightened when she realizes Jess knows who she is. To make matters more complicated, she learns Jess is married to her sister, Krista. When they meet face to face, Anna is angry at Krista for abandoning her, but Krista informs her she has been looking for her for a long time. She insists she believes the accusations Anna’s made against their stepfather and wants them to reunite.
This is hard for Anna to contemplate, but Grady helps her reconnect with Krista knowing she’s really been missed. However, she still feels she needs to get out of Grady’s life because of his public status. He disagrees and when Anna has a surprise visitor one night, she thinks her life is over.
Book #2 in the Homecoming series portrays Anna’s angst and sadness, as well as her finding joy and gaining self-esteem. The prime characters are plausible and well defined, and though this book can stand alone, it would benefit reading the first issue, “The Runaway” for the full impact of this captivating series.
October 1, 2020
274 pages
Romantic Suspense
Rosie Jensen ran away from an abusive stepfather six years ago. Though she confided in her older sister, Krista did not believe the fifteen-year-old and told her to go back home where she belonged. But Rosie fled and became one of many teens who live on the street. It’s a tough life for anyone, but more so for a young person, and one related to a well-known political figure as is Rosie’s case. Subjected to additional horror being homeless and having to fight to survive, Rosie gets her act together. Changing her name to Anna Fitzgerald, she settles in Point Reynaldo, Florida where now at age twenty-two she is the assistant director at First Day, a shelter for runaways. No one knows of her past, except Tom Schneider, her boss, though she did not tell him the whole story or her actual identity.
Anna is well-suited for her position having been a runaway herself, and she is able to understand those in her care. Her empathy and history allow her to relate to these kids like no other. Everyone in residence respects her, though some are bitter and hard to get close to. One is a young boy named Wesley who had faced a difficult childhood after his parents died and he was shuffled from one foster home to another. With an understandable chip on his shoulders, Anna tries hard to earn his trust, but when he gets in a fight with another resident, she comes face-to-face with Grady Clayton, the county’s Acting State Attorney. She is concerned by what he witnesses and hopes to prove to him things are under control.
Grady is there to visit Tom believing a few residents are involved with drugs. Anna joins the meeting, defending Wesley and alerting Grady they are helping reform him. A former resident and alleged friend of Wesley has a reputation for selling drugs, and Grady wants to catch him and whoever is working with him. Anna decides to help by talking to Wesley, who has recently been seen with this other boy.
Grady is intrigued by Anna, finding her feisty manner and stubbornness delightful. Though he is engaged to another, something about Anna draws him to her. He wants to get inside her head and learn all about her, but Anna isn’t forthcoming. She is mainly concerned about caring for her precocious four-year-old son, Ryan, and doing her job well, while also remaining reclusive. But Grady is smitten and more so by Ryan after meeting him. Though his schedule is busy running his election campaign, he takes Ryan and Anna to his cabin for a day of fishing, getting more and more attached to them.
Anna's feelings for Grady deepen, but he’s out of her league, and after dealing with her politician stepfather, she wants nothing to do with him, but Grady is relentless and realizes his upcoming marriage is a farce. His finance sees Grady’s actions around Anna breaks their engagement knowing they’re not right for each other. While Grady pursues Anna, she pushes him away, saying it’s for his own good. How can he get elected if he hooks up with a woman known to have lived in the streets doing whatever necessary to survive?
Though Grady insists he and Anna have a future, she knows when she discloses her past, he’ll run away from her quickly. She confesses what she’s been through, and rather than reject her, he is in awe of how brave and strong she is, insisting his love is true.
But, will her past come back and haunt her? First Day is due to hold a conference and workshops and Anna learns a well-known author named, Jess Cantrell is to be the key speaker. She met him many years ago when she still lived under her stepfather’s roof and understands he could recognize her, so she needs to escape. This doesn’t happen and she becomes frightened when she realizes Jess knows who she is. To make matters more complicated, she learns Jess is married to her sister, Krista. When they meet face to face, Anna is angry at Krista for abandoning her, but Krista informs her she has been looking for her for a long time. She insists she believes the accusations Anna’s made against their stepfather and wants them to reunite.
This is hard for Anna to contemplate, but Grady helps her reconnect with Krista knowing she’s really been missed. However, she still feels she needs to get out of Grady’s life because of his public status. He disagrees and when Anna has a surprise visitor one night, she thinks her life is over.
Book #2 in the Homecoming series portrays Anna’s angst and sadness, as well as her finding joy and gaining self-esteem. The prime characters are plausible and well defined, and though this book can stand alone, it would benefit reading the first issue, “The Runaway” for the full impact of this captivating series.
October 1, 2020
Anna Fitzgerald is the assistant director of First Day, a runaway shelter, and a former runaway. Grady Clayton is a county prosecutor and acting State Attorney. Mr. Clayton makes a visit to First Day and arrives just as Anna is breaking up a fight between two of the residents. He doesn’t take her seriously until he sees her work with some of the kids. There is an allegation that one of the residents, albeit a part time resident, is dealing drugs. He asks Anna to help him investigate. Anna has secrets. The secrets she hides make it difficult for her to confide in Grady. The director of First Day asked Anna to coordinate a conference about Runaways. Two days before the conference the keynote speaker cancelled but the director was able to get Jess Cantrell as a replacement. Jess had written the book most often referred to in working with runaways. Anna met Jess once, back before she had been on the streets. She does not want to see him again but can’t explain herself to the director.
This is book two in the Homecoming series. As there is a continuation of characters, it would be best to have read book one but could be read as a standalone. This is an excellent series and would highly recommend it.
This is book two in the Homecoming series. As there is a continuation of characters, it would be best to have read book one but could be read as a standalone. This is an excellent series and would highly recommend it.
March 23, 2021
Terrific Story, well told.
Having read so many books written by Emilie Richards I've come to expect well defined characters, an intelligent plot and a thoroughly captivating reading experience. When I pick up an Emilie Richards book I know I will learn something. Reading The Way Back Home certainly fulfilled all my expectations. Emilie Richards is a master storyteller.
Before beginning The Way Back Home I already cared about Anna because I'd learned about her in the first Homecoming book. I was anxious to discover where she'd been since running from home, who she'd become and what her future would hold. In telling Anna's story we learn about life on the streets, trust, love, hope, honor and how they grows as well as a glimpse into the life of an immigrant family and what they endure.
If you've never read one of Emilie Richards' books I highly recommend both books in this series . Once you have i know you will want to read more of her work. Her Shenandoah series and her Goddess series are two of my favorites.
Having read so many books written by Emilie Richards I've come to expect well defined characters, an intelligent plot and a thoroughly captivating reading experience. When I pick up an Emilie Richards book I know I will learn something. Reading The Way Back Home certainly fulfilled all my expectations. Emilie Richards is a master storyteller.
Before beginning The Way Back Home I already cared about Anna because I'd learned about her in the first Homecoming book. I was anxious to discover where she'd been since running from home, who she'd become and what her future would hold. In telling Anna's story we learn about life on the streets, trust, love, hope, honor and how they grows as well as a glimpse into the life of an immigrant family and what they endure.
If you've never read one of Emilie Richards' books I highly recommend both books in this series . Once you have i know you will want to read more of her work. Her Shenandoah series and her Goddess series are two of my favorites.
February 4, 2021
The Way Back Home
Anna is a single mom, working at a shelter for homeless teens. Grady is a rising political star. They meet at the shelter where Anna is the Assistant Director. Anna is suppose to show Grady around, but she isn’t what he expects. It all sounds like the start of a formula romance novel, but Anna has secrets that she doesn’t want anyone to know, and they are much more complicated than the usual formula romance.
As the story unfolds, Anna must face her past, in order to get on with her life. The story of her past may put her in danger and harm Grady’s political career.
Emilie Richards is not afraid to write about nasty social issues. This book gives an insight into the reasons why young people leave home, and who they are. The answers to those questions are not easy or pleasant.
I always enjoy Emilie Richards’ writing and this one, as usual, shows her talent as a teller of women’s stories.
Anna is a single mom, working at a shelter for homeless teens. Grady is a rising political star. They meet at the shelter where Anna is the Assistant Director. Anna is suppose to show Grady around, but she isn’t what he expects. It all sounds like the start of a formula romance novel, but Anna has secrets that she doesn’t want anyone to know, and they are much more complicated than the usual formula romance.
As the story unfolds, Anna must face her past, in order to get on with her life. The story of her past may put her in danger and harm Grady’s political career.
Emilie Richards is not afraid to write about nasty social issues. This book gives an insight into the reasons why young people leave home, and who they are. The answers to those questions are not easy or pleasant.
I always enjoy Emilie Richards’ writing and this one, as usual, shows her talent as a teller of women’s stories.
October 7, 2020
This story is a timely one. So many runaways on the streets. This story is a peek into their dilemma.
Anna is a runaway, desperate, determined, and hopeful. Knowing that "we all need each other" She has found a place to hide in her own community and is building a future for herself. In the meantime; she is also helping other runaways prepare for a legitimate future. She is savvy and knows what they are up against. She comes up against a politician running for office and sets him straight. She is then discovered and everything changes. The characters are vivid and relatable. The story is real and I enjoyed this second book in the series.
Anna is a runaway, desperate, determined, and hopeful. Knowing that "we all need each other" She has found a place to hide in her own community and is building a future for herself. In the meantime; she is also helping other runaways prepare for a legitimate future. She is savvy and knows what they are up against. She comes up against a politician running for office and sets him straight. She is then discovered and everything changes. The characters are vivid and relatable. The story is real and I enjoyed this second book in the series.
October 1, 2020
This book is as good as the first in the series (Runaway) was. Richards storytelling skills are incredible.
In this story, Anna, is still in hiding at the age of 22 after running away as a teenager. She’s running from a very powerful man and trying hard to protect what is most important to her. When she meets a man she could trust and maybe even love, her survival instinct fights her all the way. She’s as determined to not get involved with him as he is determined to win her over and get her to trust him.
Anna has a very difficult decision to make when more people she cares about are dragged into her mess of a life. Things in her past weren’t all the way she thought they were. Can she trust them, put herself out there and recover her life as it should be? There’s danger involved to all those she cares about, but if she goes after the man who caused her to leave her life to start with she just might be able to find her way back home.
This is a revamp of an older book. It is a little dated, but the excellent writing holds up.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
In this story, Anna, is still in hiding at the age of 22 after running away as a teenager. She’s running from a very powerful man and trying hard to protect what is most important to her. When she meets a man she could trust and maybe even love, her survival instinct fights her all the way. She’s as determined to not get involved with him as he is determined to win her over and get her to trust him.
Anna has a very difficult decision to make when more people she cares about are dragged into her mess of a life. Things in her past weren’t all the way she thought they were. Can she trust them, put herself out there and recover her life as it should be? There’s danger involved to all those she cares about, but if she goes after the man who caused her to leave her life to start with she just might be able to find her way back home.
This is a revamp of an older book. It is a little dated, but the excellent writing holds up.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
October 11, 2020
Excellent
This second book in this series is so good that I read it all today. I did not want to put it down. Will be looking forward to the third book.
This second book in this series is so good that I read it all today. I did not want to put it down. Will be looking forward to the third book.
October 1, 2020
This continuation of the Homecoming series, which follows Runaway is fantastic. It is full of secrets, hard times, political corruption, hidden identities, anger, and mistrust of self and others. Full of action, it has a lot of energy, making it a book that can’t be put down. The main character is Anna Fitzgerald, who is the assistant director of First Day, a temporary home for runaways. Grady Clayton, another important character, is running for the Sun County, Florida’s State’s Attorney position, a position that has been held by crooks. I loved the interactions between Anna and the runaways, her friend Isabella, and her four-year-old son, Ryan. Her life is a secret which holds her back from a calm future. Grady is a strong compassionate man and knows what he wants. I loved this book and look forward to reading the last book in this series, Fugitive.
October 1, 2020
Emilie Richards has done it again with The Way Back Home, a sensitive, thought-provoking and rich love story that overcomes daunting obstacles. The story begins in her book Runaway which details the life of a sister desperately searching for her younger sister who ran away and lived on the streets. In The Way Back Home we meet the younger sister and secrets are revealed as she makes her way back from the unthinkable. Along the difficult path, she meets and falls in love with an upcoming politician. Truth and love conquers all the challenges and danger she faces. I highly recommend this book!
Peggy Halford
Peggy Halford
October 1, 2020
A great read! Book 2 finds Rosie, now going by “Anna”, living in Florida With her young son. Working at a shelter for runaways, she is shocked to find out that the speaker for an upcoming conference she is arranging is none other than Jess Cantrell! The investigative reporter and her sister Krista have never stopped looking for her. Meanwhile she has developed feelings for the Acting State Attorney Grady Clayton, who had visited the shelter a short time before. They finally convince Anna to go public about her life on the streets and the reason she left home, but not before some interesting twists and turns to keep you turning the pages!
October 1, 2020
“You trusted her to love you. She did. The problem is, you also trusted her to be perfect, and she wasn’t.”
A wonderful read. Kept me entranced. Interesting to see a runaway’s perspective, especially after she has left the streets and counsels runaways. This story is more of relationship driven with the runaway story woven in. It’s about learning to trust, forgive, letting go of fear and rage, and learning to have faith.
This is book 2 of a three-book series. The books do not end in cliffhangers, but each book expands the storyline.
*Originally published by Silhouette Books September 1993, which stands the test of time and does not read as 1990’s book.
A wonderful read. Kept me entranced. Interesting to see a runaway’s perspective, especially after she has left the streets and counsels runaways. This story is more of relationship driven with the runaway story woven in. It’s about learning to trust, forgive, letting go of fear and rage, and learning to have faith.
This is book 2 of a three-book series. The books do not end in cliffhangers, but each book expands the storyline.
*Originally published by Silhouette Books September 1993, which stands the test of time and does not read as 1990’s book.
October 1, 2020
A stand alone novel, but it is more interesting if one reads the first book in the series to get the background. The tantalizing end of Runaway is not a cliffhanger but did leave me waiting impatiently for The Way Back Home, and it absolutely lived up to the anticipation. These are wonderful, strong, vibrant characters who make you want to know their whole story. Anna’s character, in particular, is wonderfully written. I was pulled into the story immediately, and it is a book I didn’t want to put down until I finished it. Highly recommend it as women’s fiction, not just romance, at its finest.
October 1, 2020
After reading Runaway, the first book in this series, I could not wait to read The Way Back Home. It was worth the wait! It is a story of a young lady who had to rebuild her life after running away from a difficult family situation. She had to learn how to trust again. It is not easy when life becomes unpredictable and old fears creep back in. What an exciting book. I enjoyed getting to know each character, and I felt like I was there living beside them as the story unfolded. I highly recommend this book!
October 1, 2020
Anna works at the assistant director at a shelter for runaway teens. Anna is uniquely qualified for this job because she was a runaway herself who turned up at the shelter pregnant and alone. Anna’s past and present are about to collide when Jess Cantrell is scheduled to be a speaker at the retreat Anna is planning.
The Way Back Home is the second of three books in the Homecoming series which is being re-issued by the author. I loved Anna’s story about overcoming your past so you can live for your future.
The Way Back Home is the second of three books in the Homecoming series which is being re-issued by the author. I loved Anna’s story about overcoming your past so you can live for your future.
October 1, 2020
What a wonderful continuation of Runaway. This is a re-release with small updates and I loved Grady and Anna's story. I don't want to give away any spoilers, so I won't list anything that happens. This could be read as a stand alone book, but there are characters in Runaway that make an appearance and play a part in the second part of the book. I was thrilled at the conclusion, everything happened just as I wanted it to!
I received this book as a gift from the author, Emilie Richards.
I received this book as a gift from the author, Emilie Richards.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews