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The Way Back Home
In the small California town of River Rock, the river is always there—sometimes unpredictable and wild, sometimes a source of comfort, always a part of life. Bestselling author Barbara Freethy will capture your heart with an emotional story about love, family . . . and fighting for what matters most.
Ex-Marine Gabe Ryder is fulfilling the last request of his best friend, Rob, who was killed in a firefight during their final days of service. He promised to help Rob’s family— especially Rob’s twin sister, Alicia—with their struggling river rafting business. Gabe has a hidden past with Alicia, though. She’s the woman who taught him that love might exist, yet he walked away from her.
Alicia has more than enough on her plate with her brother’s death, her father’s injury from a tragic rafting accident, the entire town turning against them, and a series of dangerous attacks on her business. She doesn’t need this rugged loner who broke her heart. But passion flares between them, and this time, they can’t walk away. Alicia can’t help wondering: did Rob really send Gabe to watch over her—or did he want her to show Gabe the way home?
Ex-Marine Gabe Ryder is fulfilling the last request of his best friend, Rob, who was killed in a firefight during their final days of service. He promised to help Rob’s family— especially Rob’s twin sister, Alicia—with their struggling river rafting business. Gabe has a hidden past with Alicia, though. She’s the woman who taught him that love might exist, yet he walked away from her.
Alicia has more than enough on her plate with her brother’s death, her father’s injury from a tragic rafting accident, the entire town turning against them, and a series of dangerous attacks on her business. She doesn’t need this rugged loner who broke her heart. But passion flares between them, and this time, they can’t walk away. Alicia can’t help wondering: did Rob really send Gabe to watch over her—or did he want her to show Gabe the way home?
371 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 29, 2012
314 people are currently reading
812 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Freethy
155 books2,696 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 89 reviews
November 14, 2022
Awesome read!
Never disappointed with a Barbara Freight book. She mixes just the right amount of everything life has to offer and spins it into a wonderful and well written reading experience.
Never disappointed with a Barbara Freight book. She mixes just the right amount of everything life has to offer and spins it into a wonderful and well written reading experience.
February 5, 2013
Another wonderful romance from B Freethy. I Loved the characters especially Gabe and Alicia and the secondary characters Jared and Kelly. It was romantic, the plot had its interesting twists and it was Laugh out loud funny at times. If u like this author do not hesitate you will like this one. Makes me want to reread my Angel Bay series.
June 21, 2016
I find it difficult to read books where the main characters are really judgmental with a highschoolish mien. She blames Gabe for her brother's death, in front of her son even, with no thought to how he must be feeling. ironically, her ex-best friend apparently does exactly the same thing to her over the death of her fiancé. I couldn't read the book.
May 1, 2021
At least the descriptions are limited
At least, after the first sexual encounter. Still, if you're like me and don't like sex manuals in your romance books, this is a heads up.
Other than that, it's a good plotline. A man has twins to a wife who isn't into living in a remote rural town and competing with the river for her husband's time. When the twins are very young, she hightails it out and leaves the 3 of them to their own devices.
The father's business has been handed down through several generations. The twins were on the river from a young age - learning rapids, learning to be guides. At a young age, the girl twin, from whose point of view the story is told, hooks up with a musician, gets pregnant, & after around 2 years, he leaves, always promising to do something with his son but never showing up. Her twin brother wants more than rafting so he joins the USMC, and befriends a guy who joined up at 18 just to get a family of sorts, a guaranteed roof over his head, & a guaranteed 3 meals a day. The twin kind of adopts the guy, even bringing him home for Christmas once. Six days before his tour was up, he was on a classified mission and was killed in action. He refuses to die until his friend agrees to take the keys to his house and take care of his family since he can't, and so he shows up. At first, the female twin is angry at him, but realizes she is being unfair.
The female twin was running a bachelor party high risk level white water rafting trip with her dad. The rules were, no booze, no drugs, nothing that might impair the ability to focus. Just before the worst part of the rapids, which were a little higher than normal, they stopped for lunch and some hiked around the trails. The rapids were still safe to shoot if the rafts were OK and everyone was focused. The guy for whom the expedition was being held was the woman's best friend's fiance. The woman was his guide on the river. They hit a spot where first her dad's raft flipped, then hers did, and pretty much everyone was in the water. Someone got her dad back in the raft, but he was badly injured. They got out and realized the groom to be wasn't with them. They all hoped, as search and rescue looked, that he had simply gone further down the river, since he was experienced, but he had gone over the falls and died. It has destroyed her friendship and has resulted in threats, a town divided between those who believe it was a tragic accident and those who believe it was incompetence and that the girl virtually murdered the groom. Someone cuts her car's gas line, and it is a surprise who. Then someone burns down their office, which was close enough to their 2 houses to have caused more fires. Then her son and his friend go missing. While others hunt on land, the Marine and the woman use the river. They find the boys and use the emergency radio (no cell service) to let others know. Throughout the story, things happen that start mending the broken friendship. The perpetrator of setting the boys loose in the woods, and the arsonist, are both a surprise.
The Marine and the woman hooked up that Christmas when the twin brought his buddy home, and the buddy still reupped after that...later, she discovers he stayed to protect her twin. The Marine's life living in foster care or with friends and sometimes family who didn't want him make him disbelieve he can have a stable life...but he is great with the kids. Still, he is not used to real family life. The boyfriend the woman had been dating and she decide they're not really a good fit, but they remain friends since their boys are so tight. But will the woman and the Marine have a happy ending?
At least, after the first sexual encounter. Still, if you're like me and don't like sex manuals in your romance books, this is a heads up.
Other than that, it's a good plotline. A man has twins to a wife who isn't into living in a remote rural town and competing with the river for her husband's time. When the twins are very young, she hightails it out and leaves the 3 of them to their own devices.
The father's business has been handed down through several generations. The twins were on the river from a young age - learning rapids, learning to be guides. At a young age, the girl twin, from whose point of view the story is told, hooks up with a musician, gets pregnant, & after around 2 years, he leaves, always promising to do something with his son but never showing up. Her twin brother wants more than rafting so he joins the USMC, and befriends a guy who joined up at 18 just to get a family of sorts, a guaranteed roof over his head, & a guaranteed 3 meals a day. The twin kind of adopts the guy, even bringing him home for Christmas once. Six days before his tour was up, he was on a classified mission and was killed in action. He refuses to die until his friend agrees to take the keys to his house and take care of his family since he can't, and so he shows up. At first, the female twin is angry at him, but realizes she is being unfair.
The female twin was running a bachelor party high risk level white water rafting trip with her dad. The rules were, no booze, no drugs, nothing that might impair the ability to focus. Just before the worst part of the rapids, which were a little higher than normal, they stopped for lunch and some hiked around the trails. The rapids were still safe to shoot if the rafts were OK and everyone was focused. The guy for whom the expedition was being held was the woman's best friend's fiance. The woman was his guide on the river. They hit a spot where first her dad's raft flipped, then hers did, and pretty much everyone was in the water. Someone got her dad back in the raft, but he was badly injured. They got out and realized the groom to be wasn't with them. They all hoped, as search and rescue looked, that he had simply gone further down the river, since he was experienced, but he had gone over the falls and died. It has destroyed her friendship and has resulted in threats, a town divided between those who believe it was a tragic accident and those who believe it was incompetence and that the girl virtually murdered the groom. Someone cuts her car's gas line, and it is a surprise who. Then someone burns down their office, which was close enough to their 2 houses to have caused more fires. Then her son and his friend go missing. While others hunt on land, the Marine and the woman use the river. They find the boys and use the emergency radio (no cell service) to let others know. Throughout the story, things happen that start mending the broken friendship. The perpetrator of setting the boys loose in the woods, and the arsonist, are both a surprise.
The Marine and the woman hooked up that Christmas when the twin brought his buddy home, and the buddy still reupped after that...later, she discovers he stayed to protect her twin. The Marine's life living in foster care or with friends and sometimes family who didn't want him make him disbelieve he can have a stable life...but he is great with the kids. Still, he is not used to real family life. The boyfriend the woman had been dating and she decide they're not really a good fit, but they remain friends since their boys are so tight. But will the woman and the Marine have a happy ending?
September 14, 2017
Author: Barbara Freethy
First published: 2012
Length: 373 pages, 4462 kindle locations
Setting: Contemporary. River Rock, California.
Sex: Explicit-ish. Infrequent.
Hero: Marine
Heroine: River Guide
The town is full of a$$holes.
Her best friend is a b$tch.
Her boyfriend has no clue and doesn’t really care about her.
And while she’s dating him, she gets together with Gabe…
I *like* Alicia and Gabe. I enjoy their story. But I loathe the background characters and can’t work out why she has put up with it all, and continues to (according to the epilogue).
2.5 stars rounded down. Because the surrounding personalities grated.
Angel’s Bay:
Book 1 Suddenly One Summer (2009) - Jenna Davies and Reid Tanner
Book 2 On Shadow Beach (2010) - Lauren Jamison and Shane Murray
Book 3 In Shelter Cove (2010) - Brianna Kane and Jason Marlow
Book 4 At Hidden Falls (2011) - Isabella Silviera and Nick Hartley
Book 5 Garden of Secrets (2011) - Charlotte Adams and Joe Silviera or Andrew Schilling
Spin off:
The Way Back Home - Gabe Ryder and Alicia
References:
Author's website: http://www.barbarafreethy.com/contemp...
(ISBN 9781451636550)
-CR-
First published: 2012
Length: 373 pages, 4462 kindle locations
Setting: Contemporary. River Rock, California.
Sex: Explicit-ish. Infrequent.
Hero: Marine
Heroine: River Guide
The town is full of a$$holes.
Her best friend is a b$tch.
Her boyfriend has no clue and doesn’t really care about her.
And while she’s dating him, she gets together with Gabe…
I *like* Alicia and Gabe. I enjoy their story. But I loathe the background characters and can’t work out why she has put up with it all, and continues to (according to the epilogue).
2.5 stars rounded down. Because the surrounding personalities grated.
Angel’s Bay:
Book 1 Suddenly One Summer (2009) - Jenna Davies and Reid Tanner
Book 2 On Shadow Beach (2010) - Lauren Jamison and Shane Murray
Book 3 In Shelter Cove (2010) - Brianna Kane and Jason Marlow
Book 4 At Hidden Falls (2011) - Isabella Silviera and Nick Hartley
Book 5 Garden of Secrets (2011) - Charlotte Adams and Joe Silviera or Andrew Schilling
Spin off:
The Way Back Home - Gabe Ryder and Alicia
References:
Author's website: http://www.barbarafreethy.com/contemp...
(ISBN 9781451636550)
-CR-
March 4, 2021
Set in the fictional small town of River Rock, much of the action revolves around white water river rafting. Fun, yet dangerous, and unusual in a romance setting.
I liked that: Alicia was a single mom, and that she already had a very nice, if boring, boyfriend, when Gabe came back into her life. Gabe is just out of the military, and both are damaged humans, most recently by the death of Rob, Alicia's twin, and Gabe's best friend. All these things made me like these characters, and to root for them to get together.
I had a hard time with the town of River Rock having become so hostile to Alicia and her father, for an accident that wasn't their fault. Kind of spoils the appeal of the whole small town charm, even if the townspeople did seem to come around. How long would it be until they turned on them again? And the kids... cute, but also, never underfoot when it would be inconvenient. It's a good story, but I never really lost myself in it, the way I'd hoped.
I liked that: Alicia was a single mom, and that she already had a very nice, if boring, boyfriend, when Gabe came back into her life. Gabe is just out of the military, and both are damaged humans, most recently by the death of Rob, Alicia's twin, and Gabe's best friend. All these things made me like these characters, and to root for them to get together.
I had a hard time with the town of River Rock having become so hostile to Alicia and her father, for an accident that wasn't their fault. Kind of spoils the appeal of the whole small town charm, even if the townspeople did seem to come around. How long would it be until they turned on them again? And the kids... cute, but also, never underfoot when it would be inconvenient. It's a good story, but I never really lost myself in it, the way I'd hoped.
March 7, 2021
Another great book by Barbara Freethy and this one is about river rafting and losing the ones you love. Gabe Ryder came to River rock to make sure his best friend’s twin sister and father were ok since Rob’s death while in the Marines. There had been an accident while rafting and Alicia’s best friend’s fiancé was killed and half the town blamed Alicia and her father. Things start to get dangerous about the time rafting season is getting ready to start and it takes Gabe and Alicia to get to the bottom of the accident. Good suspense book.
February 21, 2021
Lovely introduction to Ms. Barbara Freethy. I look forward to more of her novels.
This story felt fully fleshed out and realistic. There were some moments of tension and drama, but the relationships progressed and evolved reasonably - even the non-romantic ones.
Even though there had to be a death to spur the rest of the story, I’m glad all who were left eventually found somewhat happy endings.
This story felt fully fleshed out and realistic. There were some moments of tension and drama, but the relationships progressed and evolved reasonably - even the non-romantic ones.
Even though there had to be a death to spur the rest of the story, I’m glad all who were left eventually found somewhat happy endings.
July 9, 2021
Goodness
Family loss, a town split, second chance romance and intrigue as someone can’t let go of the past. This is a good romantic suspense in a small town with a military touch. The river tours are interesting and the balance of friendship, romance and action was fun. Sweet characters and a good storyline made this an enjoyable read!
Family loss, a town split, second chance romance and intrigue as someone can’t let go of the past. This is a good romantic suspense in a small town with a military touch. The river tours are interesting and the balance of friendship, romance and action was fun. Sweet characters and a good storyline made this an enjoyable read!
January 7, 2026
Such a good story! There was some mystery, some small town feel and lots of romance. The story centers on a family struggling to keep their rapid water rafting business afloat after an accident almost closed the business down. A single Mom tries to raise her son and keep their rapid water business afloat. Ending was predictable but does a nice job pulling it all together!
March 13, 2018
Enjoy reading how a loner learns how to change
I enjoyed reading how a tough marine mellows through love and understanding....so many obstacles to overcome. A story of trials and tribulations .....this novel is an insight into perseverance.....read and enjoy.
I enjoyed reading how a tough marine mellows through love and understanding....so many obstacles to overcome. A story of trials and tribulations .....this novel is an insight into perseverance.....read and enjoy.
May 3, 2019
Challenge: Summer Romance Bingo 2018 (belated) - Sports/River rafting (14). Courage, wisdom, patience, perseverance, and sacrifice lead many of this books characters back to lost friendships, honest relationships, and love for each other and the river that sustains them.
June 4, 2021
A Homecoming
I really enjoyed this book. Barbara Freethy never disappoints. A great story with very likable characters. I have read many of her books but luckily I have quite a few to read.
I really enjoyed this book. Barbara Freethy never disappoints. A great story with very likable characters. I have read many of her books but luckily I have quite a few to read.
October 13, 2022
Love and Trust
I enjoyed this romance and all the hurdles faced by the characters. I will say I am not a fan of long held grudges or anger, especially between people who'd enjoyed a long friendship. Still, it was a enjoyable read.
I enjoyed this romance and all the hurdles faced by the characters. I will say I am not a fan of long held grudges or anger, especially between people who'd enjoyed a long friendship. Still, it was a enjoyable read.
December 20, 2023
I really enjoyed this book, its plot, conflict, characters, etc. However, the pacing of the end was very abrupt and I was disappointed that more time wasn’t taken to really give this book a solid finish.
September 15, 2017
I liked it. Not the best of her work but it had exciting moments and I still didn't figure out whodunit before the reveal.
October 26, 2017
Not my cup of tea. Doesn't mean it's not someone elses.
June 11, 2019
Out of all the characters, I liked Jared the most. He seemed funny and quirky and an all around nice guy. It wasn’t my favorite chick flick but it was a good book.
December 31, 2019
Great story
Love Barbara's writing and this is no exception. There are so many angles to this story and they all come together beautifully
Love Barbara's writing and this is no exception. There are so many angles to this story and they all come together beautifully
June 6, 2020
Had It - Read It - 2012
October 7, 2020
Nice full story, didn't need to skip through any intmate
Scenes.
Scenes.
November 10, 2020
Good read. Enjoyed it.
May 3, 2021
Another wonderful book by Ms. Freethy. Stayed up into the night until I read the last page.
January 28, 2022
Charming read, likable characters. The plot device was so/so, the romance sweet. Enjoyable overall.
February 1, 2022
This was a good book.
June 6, 2022
3.5/5; grabbed when culling contemporary romance and going to bring back; good not great, enjoyed the small town aspect
September 11, 2022
I enjoyed most of the book but parts were not well written about the tragedy that triggered the animosity and the impact of commercial competition.
January 24, 2023
A wonderful read!
February 8, 2023
This was the second book I read by Barbara Freethy and I thought it was really good. Will be reading more from Barbara Freethy.
March 17, 2023
Second chance romance with a suspenseful timeline . In some ways reminded me of Nicholas sparks books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews