Blinded by bitterness, Paul Cameron leaves his church and flees to a logging camp deep in the north woods of Wisconsin. There he wrestles with his loss-unable to get Corrine out of his mind and unbilling to make peace with God.
FROM THE PUBLISHER: Lori Wick is known as one of the most versatile Christian fiction writers on the market today. From pioneer fiction to a series set in Victorian England to a contemporary novel, Lori's books (over 5 million in print) continue to delight readers and top the Christian bestselling fiction list. Lori and her husband, Bob, live in Wisconsin with "the three coolest kids in the world."
Book 3 in the A Place Called Home series continues the saga of the Cameron family focusing on Paul the youngest of the brothers. Paul lost his wife shortly after their marriage to a illness she had fought since childhood. As a pastor, Paul should have been able to handle this; but he turns to anger with God and man separates from his family and heads to Canada to work as a lumberjack. He suffers a serious accident while felling a tree and breaks an arm and both legs. Abigail Finlayson, a young widowed nurse, is sent by his family to help him recuperate.
Paul had such a strong faith, and I really lost patience with him as he fought against God and everyone else. He became grouchy and rude. Abigail was the perfect nurse for him. Faith-filled, strong, and determined, in his presence, she let the ugly things he said and did go over her head even though they were often hurtful. The Beckett family were a wonderful support system for her as she tried to get Paul back on his feet. The theme of forgiveness and understanding pervaded Wick's always strong faith thread. This book moved a little more slowly than the first two, but was still enjoyable.
This book takes place in the late 1800's and is a Christian novel. A widower meets up with a young widow who nurses him back to heath after an accident. It is a sweet story.....not exiting but a good read.
Paul Cameron is excited to start preaching in his new church home. He’s also excited to find a woman to share in his calling. Corinne is everything he ever wanted in a woman and she will make an exceptional pastor’s wife. Even though Corinne is sickly Paul feels that the Lord will grant healing for her and they can serve Him together for the rest of their lives. When that doesn’t happen Paul is heart-broken and angry and decides to walk away from his God.
Abby’s husband Ian has just been killed. Running from a father-in-law that blames her for his son’s death Abby arrives in Baxter to be with her aunt, a nurse who works for Mark Cameron. Abby arrives just in time for the Cameron family to hear news of Paul. The family is devastated at Paul’s bitterness and desire to separate himself from the family. When Paul is injured in a logging accident they send Abby to care for him.
When Abby comes in to move Paul from his bunkhouse all he can see is her red hair. Lost in pain and bitterness Paul is less than nice to Abby. Abby is attracted to Paul, but her heart is still healing from her husband’s death. Paul is fighting his attraction to Abby so he treats her even worse because he resents her being there and not Corinne. Can these two hurting souls help each other heal and possibly find love and purpose and forgiveness?
I love The Long Road Home! It is such an encouragement to me to read a story about God’s faithfulness in wooing one of His wayward children back to Himself. It makes me thankful to know that I serve a God that is patient and full of loving kindness. The author showed how bitter and low Paul had gone and how God was right there with him when he repented, ready to bring comfort and forgiveness. I think this book is my favorite of this series.
Here is my standard blurb for a book that I've read to my wife: Another book that I read to Diana. We can't do much anymore after her stroke, so I read to her to spend time together. Diana has always loved to have someone to read to her - and I like to do just that.
We saw the outcome coming very early in the book, we only had to finish the book in order to determine how it would happen. Not a bad book, not a great one either. When asked "how many stars", Diana held up three fingers. It was entertaining, but not deep.
Pastor Paul has turned bitter toward God, his family and friends. When an accident happens, Pastor Paul finds himself helpless and alone. Through this situation he realizes that God will not leave us alone, but rather is waiting with love and open arms.
Such a good book. The main characters took such different roads one chose to grab onto God and one chose to run! I loved seeing God's faithfulness and love thru difficult times. Being reminded that God's always there waiting when we stubble down the wrong path!
“You see, abby, and I are old friends. And right now you’re sure if you never let yourself get close to anyone again then you’ll never be hurt again. It won’t work. Believe me, I know.” p. 37
At times our sinful actions are so loud people can’t hear what we are saying about God. p. 127
I chose this book because I wanted to read a little of the gentle kindnesses of the romance genre, as opposed to the violence of the cozy mysteries I frequently read. I suppose I'm tired of the cruelties in them, even if the main characters often express kindnesses towards each other while solving them. My mom thought this is one of the better romances she's read lately, and so I decided to try it.
There are kindnesses in this book, the most noteworthy being the kindness of the profession of nursing.
I also like the trajectory of the story, of facing the bitterness that comes from unanswered prayer - not a trivial topic for a fictional book. The discussions around the topic are realistic and well done, a much needed theme for today's times.
Two of the characters grieve spouses who have passed away.
Several reviewers mentioned the theme of God wooing his wayward children home and how it encouraged them.
I enjoyed how the Christianity blended into the lives of the characters. The verse that most stood out to me from it is "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." - Romans 12:1
I like how the pastor's church forgave him.
I would have been more wary of Paul than Abby is. He had hurt her once, and bruised her arm. I probably would not have allowed him a second chance. It's just far too dangerous, even if it is just during his disillusioned state.
I also thought that even though Abby thought Ross knew that she isn't interested in him, she shouldn't have gone with him on the picnic, which may have allowed his feelings for her to deepen. I realize much good came from that picnic, but perhaps the timing would've been better elsewhere.
One reviewer thought that the main couple went from antagonism to falling in love too quickly. It did seem abrupt to me, too, like a few chapters were missing.
Another reviewer referenced the "fat shaming" in this book, and yes, it existed, and caused one of the characters internal turmoil and heartache. It is not in the story as an example to be emulated, but as an example of how far away the speaker had gotten from God.
Favorite quotes: "I'll do anything I can to see you restored to fellowship with God, a heavenly Father we both know can salve every hurt with His unconditional healing love." "It's been so awful." "I know, but His arms are always opened wide."
"At times our sinful actions are so loud people can’t hear what we are saying about God."
This book is completely unrealistic and the worst one in the series I read so far. The following will contain a few spoilers. The story of Paul is ridiculous. To walk out after his wife's death, not even attend a funeral, not reach out to his family, and in a nanosecond completely turn his heart against god and become a polar opposite of what he was 10 minutes before is not realistic. The fat shaming is also ridiculous. Going over the top saying his first wife was then and willowy, and what was to become his second wife eventually being called a fat redhead was horrible! It makes no sense that someone just weeks before who was acting as a perfect pastor would speak this way. And then a little while later. Oh never mind. Just more buxom and round, but she must be pleasing because when he held her wrist he noticed that she had small bones and he could snap her wrist easily if he had wanted to! Excuse me?! She's able to put his ridiculous behavior behind her also in a nanosecond and fall into his arms and they write off into the sunset together. I am sorry but these kind of vile words sting, for a lifetime. I just don't buy the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The 3rd book in this series and other than being shorter I felt is was better than the last one. It is so nice to read a book about family that are always there for each other have have so much love in their faith. Scriptures from the Bible and how they’re used in day to day living have brought me closer in my faith as they had examples and explain how God scriptures help situation both good and bad in a way to understand. I already have met 4th and last one of the series downloaded from the library just waiting for me. Don’t know what I’ll do once the series is completed
~ 2.5 stars ~ I'm conflicted, because I really liked the very beginning of this book and the last 25ish pages. But the rest of it was just not very good. It was just lacking the development it needed for Paul and Abby to go from two people who could hardly stand each other to being deeply in love with one another. Also, I found Paul's faith journey to be a tad bit unrealistic. Overall though, I think that Paul and Abby are my favorite couple so far. Only one more book in this series!
This is my least favourite in the series so far. I enjoyed the start of the book, but then I think it went a bit downhill. Paul seamed to lose his faith, but it seamed like he developed a personality transplant!!! It did redeem itself towards the end, and it was a good story of how the Father draws us back to him. I just felt it was a bit too unbelievable to be honest. I own this on kindle, I'm looking forward to reading the next book.
I loved this whole series. I liked how there was some suspense and mystery, but it wasn't overdone and not the main theme to the story. I think the romance were believable and not over dramatic. By far my favorite thing though was the inclusion of the entire Cameron family throughout the whole series. You were still hearing about Luke and Christine and able to follow what has been going on in their lives in the final book. I actually teared up at the end of the final book just because it was over and I was going to miss this family. Wonderful.
A Young preacher leaves the church after his wife of just a few weeks dies. He flees to a logging camp where a falling tree crushes his legs. A nurse is sent by his family to care for him. Lots of problems for both as she has lost someone too.
Loved this book. The author has a way of being very realistic in meeting heartaches head on , and handling them through faith in Jesus’ power. Very sweet story.