Long Journey Home

Marsh Point #1

by Ashley Farley

From beyond the grave, Ashton’s mother leaves a mysterious legacy that upends her world. Eileen Darby, the heiress to the Merriweather fortune, has entrusted her oldest daughter with the family's waterfront estate on Catawba Sound in South Carolina's Lowcountry, bequeathing virtually nothing to her other three children. This lavish bequest is more than a gift; it's a cryptic message, a puzzle interlaced with the troubled history of their dysfunctional family. As Ashton embarks on renovating the old home, she finds herself haunted by secrets lurking in the shadows of her memory. What is her mother trying to communicate, and what will she uncover as she delves into the murkiest corners of the memories she can't recall?"

Ashton’s husband is a proclaimed financial wizard, a mastermind who claims to have turned her recent investment into a fortune. Yet, he refuses to provide the account statements to verify it. With their marriage teetering on the brink, Ashton's dwindling trust gives way to mounting suspicions. Is he genuinely the financial virtuoso he purports to be, or is there a more sinister game afoot? As her marital bonds unravel, Ashton finds herself ensnared in a tangled web of deception. Each thread she tugs unravels a path leading her ever closer to a truth she may not be ready to confront. When she loses her way, she looks to a friend from her past to help her find herself again.

In this thrilling journey of discovery and deceit, Ashton must confront the ghosts of her past and the demons of her present. Long Journey Home is a twisted labyrinth of mystery and betrayal, where every corner holds another clue and every path leads Ashton deeper into uncertainty.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Womens Fiction, Family

280 pages, Paperback

Published October 26, 2023

About the author

⭐️USA Today Bestseller⭐️
Ashley Farley writes heartfelt stories about women navigating life’s challenges. Her characters—mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives—face real-life struggles with resilience and grace. Best known for her Sweeney Sisters series, Ashley’s books have touched the hearts of readers far and wide.

A wife and mother of two young adults, for more than two decades, Ashley has split her time between Richmond and the Northern Neck of Virginia. Yet, a piece of her heart will always belong to the South Carolina Lowcountry, where she draws inspiration from the moss-draped oaks, coastal cuisine, and the warm, welcoming spirit of its people.

Ashley loves to hear from her readers.
Visit her website @ http://www.ashleyfarley.com
Sign up for her newsletter @ https://ashleyfarley.com/newsletter-s...
Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshleyFarley...

Reviews

[Lisa G. Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A THRILLING FAMILY DRAMA!

Ashley Farley has released the first book in her new Marsh Point Series and it isthrilling family drama! If Long Journey Home indicates what we can expect from the rest of the Series, I wish I could pre-order the rest of the set now! Farley has written a masterful plot starting with the reading of the deceased Mother’s Will, wherein she leaves all of her jewelry (some of which has been in her family for generations and is worth a small fortune) and Marsh Point to one child while leaving only small pittances for her other two children. This starts cracking the small fissusres that were already running through the family. She weaves a story of family drama overflowing with repressed memories of nightmarish childhoods, growing up with an alcoholic mother who also turned to drugs and was abusive, an absentee father, siblings who seem to have nothing in common, a family friend who helped the children navigate their way for most of their lives, old friends, new friends, lost love, mayhem, intrigue, greed, deceit, and attempted murder. Be forewarned: This is a page-turner and will keep you intrigued from beginning to end!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you like books with dysfunctional family drama, lots of family baggage then this book is definitely one you need to read!
This is the first book by Ashley Farley in her new Marsh Point Series. No one does family drama better than Ashley Farley.
Eileen Darby has passed away and the reading of her Will continues to split this family further apart.
Secrets, deception, greed, intrigue, friends old and new, alcoholism, and so much more.
This book is a page turner and I could not put it down once I started!

[Lori Walton (Personal) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new series by Ashley Farley?!? Yes please!!!!

One thing you can count on with Ashley is she will give you someone to hate and wish all bad things to happen to them!! In this opener, it’s Owen!!

I loved this book because it was about a woman in her 50s as I am. My life is nowhere near as dramatic as Ashton’s as she juggles a career and a widowed father and a husband whom she just did not trust. But I love how Ashton was finding she enjoyed solitude as I feel that way myself. I crave alone time. I understood her and I felt for her.

Mimi is a character you will love as we all need a Mimi to look out for us!! Mimi was her mom’s non-judgmental and very supportive best friend.

Lots of twists and turns and lots to look forward to in upcoming installments!

Thank you Ashley for the ARC!!

[Carla Suto · Rating 5 out of 5]

LONG JOURNEY HOME is Book One in the exciting new Marsh Point series by Ashley Farley. I love this author’s books and I was thrilled to see she was starting a new series. Set in a fictional town in the South Carolina lowcountry, this story is full of family secrets, drama and intrigue and I could not put it down. Ashton Darby is no stranger to family dysfunction. Her mother, heiress Eileen Merriweather Darby, was an alcoholic and her father was mostly absent from the children’s lives, leaving Ashton to care for her two sisters and her brother. When Eileen dies and her will is read, the family is stunned by its contents. Most notably, Eileen has left Ashton the Merriweather family waterfront estate on Catawba Sound and the rest of her siblings got nearly nothing. This bombshell from beyond the grave ruptures whatever was left of this broken family. Why would Eileen purposefully set them on this destructive path? As Ashton begins renovating the home, secrets begin to be revealed that shatter everything Ashton once believed to be true about her life and her family. You won’t want to miss how this gripping story unfolds. LONG JOURNEY HOME hooked me from the get-go and I can’t wait to see what comes next in this series! Thank you to the author for the chance to read and review an early copy.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I read a new Ashley Farley book, it becomes my new favorite. A new LowCountry series and I love this first one. The characters are great and I could feel and see in my mind the marsh and the relaxing on the veranda. The main character is turning 50 and so many life changes are taking place with her and her family. I loved the character of her dad and his new life as well. Ashley writes books you can feel all the emotions and characters that stay with you. I highly recommend any one of her books. Thanks to the author for allowing me to read an early copy. All comments are my own.

[Phyllis Jones Pisanelli Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Ashley Farley did not disappoint me. Long Journey home is the first book in a new series she is calling Marsh Point. If this is the first book, I can’t wait to read the rest of the series! 

Most of you know that I stumbled upon Ms. Farley’s books and enjoyed them so much, I found myself looking her up and begging to be on her review team. I have not looked back once. She is one of those authors that I don’t need to know what the book is about before I read it. I have enjoyed the characters and storylines in every single book so far.

This book is about a family that has grown up with a lot of adversity in their lives. The mother is an alcoholic and the father couldn’t always deal with her and the kids. There are four kids, three girls and a boy who are adults now and dealing with the hurts of their childhood.

As you can imagine, they are dealing with abandonment issues and trying to figure out how they are going to put the past behind them. Ashton is the oldest sister and she inherits the family estate. You all know how much the death of a parent can tear the family apart. Someone always gets hurt. The mother had her reasons. Their father is still alive and is a big part of the story.

I loved Ashton and all that she had to go through to pick up the pieces of all of their lives including her own. I didn’t care for her sister. Her brother was ok but he was the one who would not seek help to sort out his past. Their father was someone I wanted to put my arms around. He was hurting and at other times he brought the story to life.

Long Journey Home was a book I had a hard time putting down. I loved the book and didn’t want to see it come to an end. This is going to be her best series yet. I can’t wait to read more. If you love a good family saga, one that you can sink your teeth into then this is a great series to add to your TBR. I think you will love it as much as I do. Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to leave a review and the opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long Journey Home is the first book in a new series by Ashley Farley. You can always depend on an addictive and unputdownable story when you start one of Ashley's books and her plan for a new series is exciting for her many readers. She writes books about women for women. Her characters are mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives facing real-life issues.

This new book takes us to the low country of South Carolina. Eileen Darby, the heiress to the Merriweather fortune has died and her will is being read to her three children. Surprisingly, only one child is taken care of. Ashton is bequeathed her family's waterfront estate and the family money and jewelry while the other two children are left with only small gifts. Because Ashton's marriage is in trouble, she decides to renovate the family home. As she renovates the house, memories return to her that had long been buried and secrets are revealed. At the same time, she also begins to realize that her husband, who has long handled the finances including her trust fund is not as honest and loving as he claimed to be. So Ashton is facing unsettling secrets from her past while she deals with secrets kept by husband during their marriage. Her relationship with her siblings is fractured, her husband has been less than honest and at 50 years old she is dealing with the feelings that were created growing up with an alcoholic mother and an absentee father. In other worlds, her life is a total mess and she needs to work hard to find peace and happiness. Will renovating the house and uncovering family secrets help her deal with the issues in her life? This first book of the Marsh Point series has everything I enjoy in a book - a strong older woman facing problems in her life, family dysfunction, betrayal and secrets. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story packed with dysfunction,mystery, drama, suspense and people that I loved.
Oh Wait... I take that back- I disliked one character or rather despised him so much I wanted to pull him from the pages of the book!
Marsh Point is given to Ashton by her now deceased mom who had more than her share of troubles in life. She was not the best parent to her four children causing so many memories, not good.

Ashton knows she has the finances to fix this old home as her husband is a financial wizard and has her monies invested.
She just needs to create plans, and hire the right people to do the job.
Should she repair this old home and sell it and then share with her siblings who have received nothing of value from their mother's estate?
Many decisions to figure out!

This is the first in the "Marsh Point" series and I am excited to see what comes next.
Thank you to Ashley Farley for allowing me to read and provide my own review.
A definite read for everyone! It has it all!

[Heart DeCoupeville · Rating 2 out of 5]

Acquired Kindle edition when offered free on Amazon.

I dislike novels written in present tense. One star off for that right away. Otherwise the writing was tolerable if not quite solid. A far cry from brilliant.

In terms of the story itself, I thought it was overdone. So. Much. Drama! Attempted rape! Attempted murder! Attempted suicide! Another attempted murder! Embezzlement! That's a bit much, especially for a bunch of extremely shallow characters. And putting down anyone who wasn't of Ashton's elite social standing -- Tom the mere teacher, for example -- rubbed me the wrong way.

There's a big difference between not liking a character and actively disliking them. I disliked every single character in this tale, including the two little girls.

If you like the emotional trials and tribulations of rich white Southern martyrs, this might appeal. I was just glad to get through it as part of a group activity.

So it gets two stars, but really only one and a half. Not recommended at all.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first in the Marsh Point series and it was a wonderful read! That’s not surprising with Ashley Farley. She is truly a gifted storyteller.

Ashton is one of four of Eileen’s children. Eileen died months ago and at the reading of her will, she has entrusted the family home to Ashton. Ashton’s marriage is failing and she is drawn to Marsh Point, its home for her. Her husband ends up being a complete jerk and thief. So she decides to redo the family home and while doing renovations stay at the guest house on the property. Through many hardships her love for the land is pure and gets her through it all.

I loved this story! I always love Ashley’s settings in her books, the details and the way these places make her characters feel is genius. Her books are so easy to read and can be read in one sitting. I loved how Ashton overcame everything as well as her love for her “home”. Home is truly where our family and heart is, where our memories – good and bad, lay. Four stars all the way.

[Beth Moylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love everything Ashley Farley writes. This is my new favorite of hers. I love the characters in her books and Long Journey Home is one of those books. This is the first book in the Marsh Point Series. This has everything you want in a great book including romance, dysfunctional family drama, broken relationships, secrets, misplaced trust and so much more. Marsh Point was given to the oldest daughter, Ashton, after her mother dies and the will is read. Ashton knows she has the money to remodel it but soon learns her husband the financial genius is not who she thought he was. Also Ashton is trying to calm the waters with her siblings that are not happy about the will and what was left to them. Many things to figure out and try to keep the family close. I can't wait to read the rest of this series. Thank you Ashley for the ARC.

[Susan (The Book Bag) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long Journey Home has it all—family love, family dysfunction, greed, dishonesty, personal discovery and growth, betrayal, secrets, old friends, redemption—I could go on and on but you get the idea. Once again Ashley has created a world full of emotion, drama, and wonderfully memorable characters. I love everything about it!

This is book one in what I know is going to be a great series. Long Journey Home kicks off the series splendidly and I can't wait to see where these characters go from here. Book two, Echoes of the Past is scheduled to be released on January 23, 2024 and I am so excited!

I highly recommend Long Journey Home. Read it now so you're ready for book two. I have read and loved all of Ashley's stories so be sure to check out more of her books.

[Pennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew that I was going to love this book as soon as I saw the title. I went in thinking it would be like one of those hallmark historical fictional movies. It turned out to be so much better. Being from the south myself, I automatically love books that set in the Old South era. The Darby family kind of reminds me of my own family, except the wealth part. The part was a death in the family changing how people act and causing an uproar. It was much like that when my grandmother passed away. I hope that we will see more in this series!


I won this ebook through a Goodreads giveaway. My review is my own honest opinion.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ashton has inherited the family home in Marsh Point from her alcoholic mother, earning the anger of her sister and brother who received very little from the estate. Her aging father moves out of the crumbling home right away, but doesn’t do well at the assisted living place he decided to move to. Her husband spends all his time on the golf course and at the club and is acting very cagey about her brokerage account that he’s managing. Their marriage has devolved into a habit rather than any real connection. Ashton becomes very focused on the long overdue remodeling of the Marsh Point property, and she’s looking g forward to moving there, but her husband has made it clear that he won’t be joining her there. With her family relationships breaking down and her marriage failing, Ashton is over stressed.

All the subplots of the novel come together at the end of this novel, but the ending seems rushed and incomplete. Her husband’s motivations are never explained…

[Nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book of Ashley's new Marsh Point series, and it grabbed my attention from the first page, and I didn't stop until I finished it. It is definitely a page turner. Ashton has her hands full, and realizing things aren't what she thought they were.
I have read all of Ashley Farley's books and each time I say this is her best one yet. Yes, this was her best one yet. She reels you in and takes you along on the journey.
I received an ARC from Ashley Farley.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long Journey Home had me hooked from the first chapter. Ashley Farley has created another series full of strong characters who face some tough challenges but find their inner strength in the process. I so enjoy the settings and writing of Ashley's books. Looking forward to reading the next book in this series!

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. This is my honest review.

[Cathy Garrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long Journey Home brought a rush of emotions right from the start. No family is perfect even if to some it appears that way from the outside. The Darby family is no exception and facing the ghosts of the past is never easy. This is a beautifully written story of a southern family and remembering mistakes made in the past and how that can form children and influence their adulthood. Now on to Book 2!

[pamela drake · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring and simplistic writing

Not much happens for most of the book except for showers, washing dishes and spending gobs of money. Then suddenly rape attempts, murder threats, tragedies and of course, spending gobs of money. The writing could use an occasional adjective or descriptive phrase, character development or something beyond a plot concocted by 7th graders. Oh and it's the beggining of a series. Geez, did I pay for this?

[Cathy Cottrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!! Just when I think Ashley has written the best novel, this one comes out! Lies, heartbreak, death, drugs, alcohol and love all define the Merriweather/Darby family. The twists and turns are incredible, and this is definitely my new favorite novel of Ashley's. Thanks for allowing me the chance to read this as an ARC, Ashley. Well done, well done!

[Melissa Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family drama, broken relationships, secrets, misplaced trust, and more make this story one that was hard to put down. From learning the truth about loved ones and learning to make tough decisions, the main character deals with heartache and surprising outcomes while grieving. Great story. I received a complimentary copy of the book. No review was required.

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting start to the first book in this new series. I have read everyone of Ashley Farley’s books and she NEVER disappoints. Family drama, loyalty, deception and secrets all come to light with unexpected twist and turns that keep you turning the pages. A Long Journey Home is a must read. I can’t wait for the series to continue.

[Paulette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family drama, secrets, baggage, deception and betrayal is all in this wonderful new series. Author, Ashley Farley has written another emotional story. More than a story, a journey of one woman who from childhood has been trying to hold onto her life and that of her family. Enjoy the journey along with Ashton, as I did. Thank you for the ARC of this enthralling new series.

[Sydney Hopke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Family drama is going strong in great new story by a favorite author! A will sends a family in turmoil and uncovers secrets and lost memories. There's so much going on with this family and I love that the main character is older! With all that's going on you have a story that will have you glued to the pages to find out what happens!

[Beatrice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long Journey Home by Ashley Farley


I received an ARC for my honest opinion.

This is the first in the series.


The characters in this book are Ashton , Will, May May and Ernest the father.


Just a wonderful story about hard times danger suspense and love
You really enjoy the series. I have read the first and the second book of the series and they’re both just wonderful stories.

[Mary Sue Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Good Read

I enjoyed this book. It flowed, never getting boring. I was bothered by a few details. The four children had a horrible childhood with an alcoholic, abusive woman. The father never did anything about it. his children seem okay with him. I feel this is A bit unrealistic.

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, yes, yes!!! This is such a great read. Very different from Ashley Farley’s other books. This is a great suspenseful family drama! So excited for the the next one!!! Way to go Ashley Farley!!!

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and meeting all the new characters in this series. It has everything...a strong woma1n, mystery, a bad guy, a few good guys, unhappiness, tragedy, love and hate. Need I say more? I think you will love this book!

[Buns · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Usual - A Perfect 10

Couldn’t put Long Journey Home down. Anxiously awaiting book 2 in January. Please tell me this will be a similar series to the Sweeney Sisters. I miss those ladies. Thanks Ashley for providing me hour of quiet enjoyment.

[Karen Sheldon · Rating 4 out of 5]

family drama at its best

This is a very good start to what should be a good family saga. Ashton, Carri, and Will also have a sister who disappeared years before. After the death of their mom, family secrets start coming to light. Look forward to next book in the series.

[Sue Librandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashley Farley has never disappoints! This story confirms the fact that every family is dysfunctional in some way. Ashton's story has a lot of drama and things that I didn't expect. I cannot wait to start the second story.