The Way Home

by Megan Chance

Eliza Beaudry was determined to get out in the big, wide world—even if it meant trading a few kisses for her freedom. When she met travelling gambler Cole Wallace, she thought her fantasies had come true. But Cole's daydreams didn't include Eliza Beaudry. He was a man used to taking what he wanted, so he took what Eliza offered—and neither of them thought about what might happen later.

Penniless and pregnant, Eliza found a savior in Cole's shy brother, Aaron, who fell for her instantly. He surely wasn't the man of her dreams, but could her dreams change?

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Westerns, Marriage Of Convenience, Historical Fiction, Western Romance

464 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 1997

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Megan Chance is the bestselling, critically acclaimed author of several novels. Booklist calls her writing “Provocative and haunting.” Her books have been chosen by Amazon's Book of the Month, Borders Original Voices and IndieNext. A former television news photographer with a BA from Western Washington University, Megan Chance lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband. Visit her at www.meganchance.com

Reviews

[Seon Ji (Dawn) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story on the whole was good. As a romance, it was lacking for my personal tastes.

The h, Eliza, was naïve, realistic and accurate, but it didn't make for good romance, IMHO.

I didn't care for her pinning after Cole, who was an unlikable character. It bothered me that she was pregnant with his child. I also felt Cole should have had more justice served upon him for being so cruel.

I wanted to see more between Eliza and Aaron, more of a build up to his being in love with her.

Eliza's fickleness between Cole and Aaron was off-putting. It was hard to believe she loved Aaron when she was having so many thoughts about Cole (even after she married Aaron)!

The plot was not very original and I felt there could have been more added to make it stand out among the other books with this theme.the pregnant heroine finding someone to marry her that accepts the child as his own troupe.

The epilogue was done well and helped to tie things up. It was interesting that it was done through Cole's child's eyes. She thinks of Cole as her uncle and Aaron as her father.

Overall the writing was good, the pace steady. There was decent conflict and a lot of angst. The characters were well developed and stayed true to their nature. I just didn't "feel it," not caring as much as I should have.

Anyway, it was good, but I wouldn't recommend it.

Content concerns:

Hero-Virgin. First last only with heroine
Heroine - Experienced.
Cheating-No
OM/OW-No OW, and Cole was in h's thoughts for a long while but she never did anything with him after marrying Aaron.
Adultery-No
Love triangle-Yes
Cursing-Maybe. Don't remember
Sex-Yes. In the end with Aaron and with Cole in the beginning. Detailed, nicely done, nothing crazy
Violence, abuse, torture-No
HEA=Yes
ILY's-Yes at the very end
Baby-Yes. Coles and Aaron's

[Lyuda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story with very complex characters. An illiterate daughter of poor Texan sharecropper and his half Indian wife, Eliza Beaudry, dreamed of escaping the confines of her home and traveling gambler, Cole Wallace, with all his charm and pretty words seemed to be the ticket. But even though Cole liked Eliza's smiles and easy loving, he didn't think of her anymore than a detour to his real ambition to marry a rich Dallas girl whom he fancied in love. When the detour resulted in Eliza's pregnancy, Cole under pressure from her father to marry the ruined daughter, devised a plan. He would ask his younger brother Aaron to marry Eliza. Shy and quiet Aaron, Cole felt sure, would step up and save him as usual. Aaron, burdened by responsibilities of taken care of a big farm and invalid father, as well as traumas of the past, finds escape only with books and poetry writing at the end of hard workday. He wanted to escape all these responsibilities and live them behind. He saw Cole's proposal to marry Eliza as a chain that would keep him in place. But as always his father's blaming words of something that happened in the past defeated Aaron and he agreed to marry the ruined girl. The author did an incredible job of portraying the marriage, the uneasy road to happiness when it seems the characters moved two steps forward ,one backward in their relationship. There was exquisite realism to the story, none of the characters were painted black or white. Even during some parts of the book where I though "oh, that black guard!" the story would twist and the character would do something so unexpectedly good that it would change my mind about him. Truly original story.

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Megan Chance knows how to play with a reader's emotions. For me, she often tips the scales on which character I like most. She never makes the choice an easy one.

The Way Home was about two brothers; the older one, Cole, lived for the moment. He was a handsome gambler and never had to worry about attracting women. His 'goal', if you want to call it that, was to marry the pretty Jenny from Dallas, Texas. She came from money and was the pampered only daughter of a distinguished family.

The younger sibling, Aaron, wrote poetry while, loosely, running a farm. He was emotionally scarred. He took care of their elderly father, the victim of a stroke. Both brothers had a love/hate relationship with their sire leaning towards the hate side. This story almost read like a character study.

Eliza Mae Beaudry wanted out. Away from her parents, a dirt-farmer and her half-Comanche mother. Out of the cramped dirty shoddy they called home and the boring town they lived near. She was a like-able but naive young woman; she reminded me of one of Pamela Morsi's heroines: unsophisticated, sweet yet gullible. The phrase 'looking through rose tinted glasses' comes to mind.

Long story short, Cole took Eliza's virginity, made her pregnant and induced/persuaded Aaron to marry her. The remainder of the romance concerned the actions/non-actions of the two men and their influence on Eliza.

[Nabilah]

Stopped at 10%. Ms Chance is an excellent writer, but her books have a sombre and an oppressive atmosphere to them. They can be quite depressing. I am under the weather and simply not in the right headspace for this type of book. Will get back to it when I'm in a proper mood.

[scarr · Rating 4 out of 5]

He recited Kubla Khan from memory to her!

[Jacqueline J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It pulled me right in. The heroine, Eliza, was not your typical romance heroine or at least she doesn't make typical choices for a heroine. They are typical choices though for a young naive woman in real life, both then 1870s and now unfortunately. She thinks she can get and/or hold a man by having sex with him. Doesn't always work real well as many a knocked up girl has found out.

I liked that her parents were neither all good or all bad but they were ultimately behind her. I enjoyed how she tried to make the best of her situation. Aaron, the hero, who married the girl his brother knocked up even when he didn't want to was an interesting character but was quite melodramatic. He had two distinct and different problems which seemed a bit like over kill. Either one would have been enough on its own.

I liked that Cole, the man who knocked her up but wouldn't marry her, was many shades of grey.

The ending was pretty rushed and didn't seem real finished which pulled the book down. One of the things that most strongly stole that last star for me was He was born with a lazy eye and everyone thought he was a demon/evil child. They never stopped thinking this. Granted he was shy and wouldn't talk to people in town but it was just unrealistic to think that everyone would have run from him or refused to talk to him. It's also unrealistic to think that everyone in town would have immediately known who Eliza was when she first went to town. Especially since the first person to see and react to her was a child who ran screaming in fear. He hadn't even been to town in 5 years. How would she even been aware of him much less his new wife whom no one had ever met? Just a pretty dumb scene that just kept getting more unrealistic. These townspeople acted like the man was a convicted rapist. But still well worth the read.

[O · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read The Portrait by the same author and it didn't grab my attention, but I really liked her writing style, so I tried this book instead. The summary instantly hooked me in- a heroine who is jilted by the hero's brother, ends up being pregnant with his child. The brother abandons her and the hero steps in to take responsibility. What the what? I was weirded out but I really wanted to see how that'd work. And it was handled surprisingly well.

Aaron was a a refreshing change from all the super dominant alpha heroes populated everywhere. He was painfully shy (and I mean painfully) I was wincing at how long he took to finally act on his feelings, but he was okay otherwise.

I was annoyed by Eliza's naïvete at times, especially in the beginning, but her actions and thoughts mirrored those of a small town girl who had little experience in men and had a sheltered view of the word. In that regard the decisions made by her character felt realistic. And it was endearing how she tries to make the best of the situation she found herself in.

Cloe was an absolute asshole till the very end, but the set down he received from Jenny, the lover he left Eliza for, was absolutely brilliant. Jenny thought him beneath her station, she used and discarded him just like he did to Eliza and it was so satisfying to see karma coming back to hit him in the face.

All in all, it wasn’t as bad as I thought. There are some similarities to Annie's Song but I liked this better.

[Lori ◡̈ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really liked this book! This is one of the first books, in a long time, that I really had no idea what was going to happen. Not your typical historical romance format. I would start guessing the story would go in one direction... nope. All of the characters had their issues, but it was written so well that it kept me interested. I live in Arizona, and I hate our heat here and I have often wondered how people ever survived living in this heat 150 years ago without air conditioning... so I had sympathy while reading about the heat in this book. For this book to have been a 5-star book for me, I would have loved to see way more of ELiza and Aaron falling in love, to see Aaron's shields falling down more in depth. More Aaron time, and less Cole time.

[SuperWendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, THIS BOOK!!!!! I was choking back tears while I was reading it on my lunch break at work. Seriously. So emotional, and I loved the slow unfolding of the romance between the hero and heroine. I loved watching how the heroine grows over the course of the story (oh man, she's so naive in the beginning - you just want to smack her!). I loved the shy, awkward hero. I loved that the hero's brother and father had depth to them and weren't painted as vile villains. It was sweet, it was tender, and I inhaled the 450 pages in a couple of sittings. So, so good.

[Heathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is actually 3 love stories in one. Eliza, the daughter of a farmer, falls in love with Cole (a "love 'em and leave 'em" type), but he has no interest in her. His eyes are set on a rich girl in another town. Without spoiling the story, let's just say that Eliza is introduced to Cole's brother Aaron.

Aaron is one of my favorite "heroes". He is a virgin, which is rare for a romance novel. He is also the "tortured hero", so he has past trauma he needs to deal with.

Even though the book has several plot lines unfolding at one time, it's very easy to follow. Megan Chance writes beautifully and you really feel a connection with the characters.

[Olnega · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, immersive read but after the strong emotional impact of “Falling from Grace” I expected something more, especially as “The Way Home” is rated much higher.
Overall, after finishing this book I felt like something was missing, the whole narrative felt like a slow build up to something big happening but it never really came.
With all of this said, I still enjoyed the book, mainly because of the wonderful cast of flawed but oddly loveable characters; rakish gambler Cole, Aaron, probably the most passive beta hero I ever encountered and of course Eliza, ambitious but charming simpleton with the heart of gold.

3.5 stars

[May ّمي · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let's say its 2.5

It's way too realistic and really sad when the characters are sad
The Hero is so so shy
Heroine nahh
too much too much misunderstanding

its hot this and hot that, hot, hot ,hot I started to feel hot even though its autumn

[Su · Rating 3 out of 5]

Non of the characters in this book is likable but as someone else said they are all human and redeemable, except may be the father who were so demonic in his game of playing both his sons against each other.

[N.W. Moors · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was recommended as featuring a shy hero in an American Western setting. I'm not sure I'd say Aaron was shy; more like circumstances forced him to isolate himself. When his brother Cole gets sharecropper daughter Eliza pregnant, Cole decides the solution is to marry her off to Aaron. As you might guess, this presents some difficulties.
I liked the characters. Aaron, Eliza, and Cole are all presented with realistic human characteristics and fallibilities. What I didn't get was the worldbuilding and setting. Despite living on a farm, neither Aaron nor Eliza seem to work much (that was also true when she was living at home in her father's place). Aaron's family seems to have money, but I never understood how this happened. There's a town nearby, but it seemed disassociated and vague. It kept taking me out of the story as it didn't seem real for the time. Cole's story was better with its depiction of Dallas society.
It's an okay and quick read.

[BumbleDee · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Show don’t tell”. This book was all telling.

Aaron was painfully shy. Not the kind, gentle beta heroes that steal your heart with their kindness. This one was almost autistically awkward…
I can count the number of words that were passed on between Eliza and Aaron. Their love fell flat to me, it didn’t grow gradually it was sudden and anticlimactic.

And cole? Douche bag. The only thing I LOVED in this book was the subtle epilogue. Loved how it was written and how it wrapped everything up. Now THAT was showing, not telling.

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eliza Beaudry is a sharecropper's daughter and half-Comanche and she's looking for any chance she can get to get out of town and become a lady. So when she spots sophisticated gambler, Cole Wallace, she decides he's her only chance. She sort of seduces him, despite warnings from her mother that she's being naive, and ends up pregnant. When Cole is pressured to marry her, he panics and returns to his family's ranch, where he hasn't been in years. There, he begs his younger brother, Aaron, to take up his mistake and marry Eliza. Aaron, a poet who has stuck around the ranch caring for their insensitive, crippled father and who has dreamt of the day he gets to escape the ranch (Dad's death), reluctantly agrees, but all he sees are the walls closing in on him. Eliza, for that matter, half in love with Cole, is heart-broken when she learns she'll be marrying his brother, but holds out hope, since Cole remains flirtatious. When Cole leaves her with Aaron and her married life begins, Eliza loses hope and struggles to adapt to her new life. Especially her new husband, who is painfully shy (he's a virgin) and has no idea how to relate to her. Eliza also soon realizes that she won't be making friends in town, who fear Aaron, nor will she have a chance to be the "lady" she wanted to be. But, a friendship does start up with Aaron, and she soon learns that loving him is all she needs, if she can be what he wants. But will that change when Cole comes back?

This was a pretty great story. It's a bit long, and at times difficult to get through, but what really allows this book to stand out are the characters. I guarantee there is not a single Mary-Sue in this story. Each of the characters has positives and negatives - no one individual, even Eliza, is wholly good or wholly bad. Cole, who we should despise for his actions, at times feels sympathetic as he realizes too late what he's lost. Eliza seems sweet and innocent, but there are times when she comes across as selfish in wanting her dreams at any cost and feeling ashamed of her family. It's even in the way she treats Aaron, in not realizing that he's trying. I could go on. It was interesting to see so many facets to these characters. And of course, I love a virgin hero, and Aaron most certainly is. He's perfectly geeky and awkward, but sometimes so frustrating in his shyness. Instead of standing up for what he wants, he's more likely to stand back and feel sorry for himself. He's definitely a beta hero.

Eliza was not my favorite heroine. She's not one I could identify with and stand up and route for. IMHO, this is Aaron's book.

[Renae · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not much of a romance. The hero and heroine don't meet until 33% into the book; they don't have a conversation until 42% into the book. Throughout, the heroine is "in love" with the hero's brother (father of her baby), and she never disavows that love, even when she learns to love the hero as well.

Poor writing, shallow characterization, unsatisfying emotional arc.

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[Jendela Tryst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably one of the books that inspired me to become a romance novelist. Seriously. I had no idea romance novels could be so "outside-the-box." A shy poet as your dashing hero? An illiterate sharecropper's daughter with crooked teeth as your heroine? It was incredible, poignant, and so multi-faceted. Even minor characters were crafted with a fine, detailed brush. Megan Chance raises the bar for all romance writers. I whole-heartedly approve.

[Parparak Pink · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great emotional tale, from the very start to the end was very well written and I really could feel it and enjoy it. The characters perfectly are drawn and I really loved them all. There was not even a word that wasn't needed in the story. A beautiful love triangle and all I can say is BEAUTIFUL, LOVED IT, LOVED IT. AND RECOMMENDED TO EVERYONE.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A kitchen sink plot full of characters so stupid and unlikable I wanted to slap them all (except the Mexican farmhands, they were all right). Why did I keep reading? Not sure. I thought about stopping a few times. Maybe for the same reasons people watched Dallas. Every now and then there was a decent scene.

[Nishtha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. Review to come in blog. Will post the link soon.

[Paula · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh DNF

[Jerry Jares · Rating 3 out of 5]

My main complaint about this story was the fact that it dragged; it was obvious where the author was taking the reader well before the character actually got there.  This story is 450 pages and could have left out at least 75 of them.

Eliza Beaudry is a poor sharecropper's daughter who wants more from life.  She's willing to share her charms to get what she wants.  Cole Wallace is a traveling gambler who wants what Eliza is offering, but not the 'ever after.'  After sampling Eliza's offerings, he leaves the area -- he's not interested in commitment.  When Eliza turns up pregnant, her dad goes out looking for Cole -- with a shotgun.  However, Cole makes the strangest offer; he will return soon and Eliza will have a husband.

In the meantime, Cole goes home and asks his younger brother, Aaron, to marry Eliza.  We also meet the patriarch, Judge Wallace, now a stroke-victim without speech.  The old man seems to hate each son equally.  There is a very complex relationship between the three.  When Eliza arrives, she changes the dynamic between the men.  Eliza grows up and becomes a positive force in the family.

Aaron has some serious issues of his own.  Cole gets his brother and Eliza to wed and then he leaves for greener pastures.  Only, the pastures aren't nearly as green as he thought. 3.5 stars

[Alex McFarlane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have given the book more stars but I found the miscommunication/will they-won’t they bit ran on too long and the ending felt rushed. The book is from 1997 and it’s showing it’s age or maybe I am, as I like to see more scenes of domestic bliss or when the characters are falling for each other than angst. I did enjoy the MCs though and really felt for both of them. They got their HEA - I just wanted to see more of it!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

The characters’ internal feelings oscillated too much for my liking. Some parts were a bit melodramatic but I think that’s the author’s style. There are 3 main characters: the FMC, MMC, and the “OM” sort of. The FMC’s naivety was kinda annoying. The OM is a POS like is he such a dick because it is part of his character or is it for the plot?? The MMC is ok I guess although idk, can you really opt out of your farming duties to write poetry under a tree??

[S franke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

I really enjoyed this story. In the beginning I felt frustration as I thought Eliza was a little naive or even slow but she develops
In the story to a sensitive complex soul. I enjoyed the rivalry between the brothers. Totally believable and after many Megan Chance books -this is one of her best.

[Lynnie Kingaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely book.. Good work Megan X

[Natalie F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I really enjoyed this well written book. It was not predictable. Not the story I expected, in a good way.

[Emyoe ♡. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg am so surprised. This book was so good, and I love Eliza she's so funny and human. I don't expect that. And the Ending was so beautiful.

[Matilde Damkier · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars