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The Journey Home
Fate has a way of stepping in and righting itself when we least expect it.
Maddison Powers has been regretting the biggest mistake of her life when she walked away from the only man who has ever sparked something deep inside her. After comparing every guy she dates to Cale Blackwood, she finally gives up all hope of ever finding him.
One dare by Maddison throws Cale back into her life...and into the arms of her best friend.
Cale Blackwood thought he had found the woman of his dreams, until she walked away from him one night and didn't look back. Attempting to find love again, Cale finds himself in a relationship built on one lie after another. Forced to take on the biggest challenge of his life, Cale must seek help from the woman who walked away from him and broke his heart.
Sometimes it takes more than one journey in life to truly be home.
Maddison Powers has been regretting the biggest mistake of her life when she walked away from the only man who has ever sparked something deep inside her. After comparing every guy she dates to Cale Blackwood, she finally gives up all hope of ever finding him.
One dare by Maddison throws Cale back into her life...and into the arms of her best friend.
Cale Blackwood thought he had found the woman of his dreams, until she walked away from him one night and didn't look back. Attempting to find love again, Cale finds himself in a relationship built on one lie after another. Forced to take on the biggest challenge of his life, Cale must seek help from the woman who walked away from him and broke his heart.
Sometimes it takes more than one journey in life to truly be home.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 25, 2014
186 people are currently reading
1604 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Elliott
110 books6,508 followersKelly Elliott is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling contemporary romance author. Since finishing her bestselling Wanted series, Kelly continues to spread her wings while remaining true to her roots and giving readers stories rich with hot protective men, strong women and beautiful surroundings.
Her bestselling works include, Wanted, Broken, Without You, and Unconditional Love, to name just a few.
Kelly has been passionate about writing since she was fifteen. After years of filling journals with stories, she finally followed her dream and published her first novel, Wanted, in November of 2012.
Kelly lives in central Texas with her husband, daughter, and two pups. When she’s not writing, Kelly enjoys reading and spending time with her family. She is down to earth and very in touch with her readers, both on social media and at signings.
To find out more about Kelly and her books, you can find her through her website.
www.kellyelliottauthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
May 2, 2016
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick
The Journey Home is the first book that I have read by Kelly Elliott, but I was really drawn in after reading the blurb for this book. I knew that this book would be angsty and filled with drama, but I was honestly unprepared for the amount of it in this story. While this book had a lot that I really liked, it was also a bit too much for me and I found myself shaking my head or rolling my eyes quite often.
After a night of passion unlike anything they have known before, Maddie walks away and leaves Cale behind. Two years later they both often think of each other. Maddie knows it was the biggest mistake of her life, and Cale looks for her everywhere he goes. But when a bet suddenly brings them back together, Cale is dating one of Maddie's friends. When Cale finds himself in a tough situation, he starts to rely on Maddie's help. Despite everything that has happened, Maddie and Cale's feelings and connection has never changed. But can they get past everything that has happened and finally try something between them?
I liked Cale and Maddie, but they both made a lot of mistakes. Maddie had a tendency to run and push others away, especially when she found herself really caring about them. I didn't understand why she acted this way at all, as it wasn't like she had been through anything rough or that would have made her that way. She was scared and acted immaturely, and it seemed as though her actions were those of a much younger person. Cale had searched for Maddie and never gave up on her, until she was right in front of his face. He didn't ever stop to really think about what it must have been like to be in Maddie's shoes, and that really irritated me. At that point Maddie had tried to move on as best she could, and he treated her horribly. I didn't understand it, and frankly it made me like his character a lot less. I could see the connection between Cale and Maddie, and they definitely had attraction and chemistry. But I honestly thought that they both had some real issues that were pretty much never addressed.
I also hated how blind both Maddie and Cale were when it came to Zoey. She did nothing but manipulate and scheme, and she really didn't hide it well at all. But yet both Maddie and Cale continued to say and think that she was so far above that. I don't understand the blind faith they had in her when it was so obvious, but it made them come off as extremely naive and a bit ridiculous. I hated Zoey instantly and knew she was no good, just as their friends Jack and Monica did, and I was just waiting for her to get what she deserved. I really think that Cale and Maddie belonged together and I did like a lot of how things went for them after they got past some of the obstacles in their way. I felt like they had their sweet moments, and their connection only got stronger with everything that happened. But to me, there was just too much drama and things were over the top. It was a bit soap operaish to me, and pretty much every cliche and predictable source of drama that could happen did. It just was too much in my opinion, and unfortunately dimmed all the good moments for me. I think that a lot of readers will enjoy this book, especially if you are looking for something with a lot of angst and drama. This one just wasn't for me though, and I am not sure if I would read more from Kelly Elliott in the future.
**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**
The Journey Home is the first book that I have read by Kelly Elliott, but I was really drawn in after reading the blurb for this book. I knew that this book would be angsty and filled with drama, but I was honestly unprepared for the amount of it in this story. While this book had a lot that I really liked, it was also a bit too much for me and I found myself shaking my head or rolling my eyes quite often.
After a night of passion unlike anything they have known before, Maddie walks away and leaves Cale behind. Two years later they both often think of each other. Maddie knows it was the biggest mistake of her life, and Cale looks for her everywhere he goes. But when a bet suddenly brings them back together, Cale is dating one of Maddie's friends. When Cale finds himself in a tough situation, he starts to rely on Maddie's help. Despite everything that has happened, Maddie and Cale's feelings and connection has never changed. But can they get past everything that has happened and finally try something between them?
I liked Cale and Maddie, but they both made a lot of mistakes. Maddie had a tendency to run and push others away, especially when she found herself really caring about them. I didn't understand why she acted this way at all, as it wasn't like she had been through anything rough or that would have made her that way. She was scared and acted immaturely, and it seemed as though her actions were those of a much younger person. Cale had searched for Maddie and never gave up on her, until she was right in front of his face. He didn't ever stop to really think about what it must have been like to be in Maddie's shoes, and that really irritated me. At that point Maddie had tried to move on as best she could, and he treated her horribly. I didn't understand it, and frankly it made me like his character a lot less. I could see the connection between Cale and Maddie, and they definitely had attraction and chemistry. But I honestly thought that they both had some real issues that were pretty much never addressed.
I also hated how blind both Maddie and Cale were when it came to Zoey. She did nothing but manipulate and scheme, and she really didn't hide it well at all. But yet both Maddie and Cale continued to say and think that she was so far above that. I don't understand the blind faith they had in her when it was so obvious, but it made them come off as extremely naive and a bit ridiculous. I hated Zoey instantly and knew she was no good, just as their friends Jack and Monica did, and I was just waiting for her to get what she deserved. I really think that Cale and Maddie belonged together and I did like a lot of how things went for them after they got past some of the obstacles in their way. I felt like they had their sweet moments, and their connection only got stronger with everything that happened. But to me, there was just too much drama and things were over the top. It was a bit soap operaish to me, and pretty much every cliche and predictable source of drama that could happen did. It just was too much in my opinion, and unfortunately dimmed all the good moments for me. I think that a lot of readers will enjoy this book, especially if you are looking for something with a lot of angst and drama. This one just wasn't for me though, and I am not sure if I would read more from Kelly Elliott in the future.
**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**
October 22, 2020
I pick up Kelly Elliott books because of the over the top drama and crazy storyline. This one was no different. The thing that turned me off was the lackluster sex scenes every five pages. Maddie the heroine was, I suppose, to come across as selfless. I thought she was a doormat who was too dumb to see what her “friend” was doing to her until it was too late. The hero was cut from any other alpha in the bedroom book you’ve read before, but he was a weepy thing at times. The other thing that turned me off was the baby fest. Everyone is only happy when they have a baby or three. Something was definitely in the water at Beaver Lake.
Such potential with a good edit and rewrite. The Zoey story line should have lasted longer than 25% of the book, IMHO.
It could have been epic!
Such potential with a good edit and rewrite. The Zoey story line should have lasted longer than 25% of the book, IMHO.
It could have been epic!
Read
August 30, 2023I won't rate because I skimmed, but hot damn there is a lot thrown into this book. We have the conniving bff, clueless martyr H and h, fake pregnancy followed by drunk no protection hook up which results in a real pregnancy, guilted into marriage and then dying during childbirth and that's all in the first 35%😅
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2016
I was lucky enough to win an ARC of The Journey Home. I am a huge Kelly Elliott fan and I was really interested in this novel as it was going to be out of her norm. Um.....can I say that only a little bit in and I was upside down, inside out of myself with the way things were happening. This book comes out of the gate striking your literary mind. You get to a point where you feel good but then in any great book you start to wonder but in true Kelly fashion she gave me what I needed. As for Cale and Maddie, OMG #SWOON for Cale. They have that epic love and are put through such obstacles and these obstacles will have you making thoughts about some characters that will play tug-a-war with your heart. The iBooks version released on November 11th, all other venues will be releasing November 25th. Go and #ReadOn
December 2, 2014
I've read all of Kelly Elliott's other books and her Wanted serious is one of my favorites. This one was a bit disappointing to me. It just seemed like the focus was sex. I'm all good for a trashy novel but the other stuff just didn't really seem to go anywhere once they got together.
** spoiler alert ***
Like when Andre just showed up then that was it. What was the point in even saying he showed up?
Other than the main characters saying "I love you" there really wasn't a discussion about anything else that happened. It just felt like more could have been said to give it more substance before going right back into bed.
Not my favorite of hers, which was a bit disappointing considering how much I like her other books.
** spoiler alert ***
Like when Andre just showed up then that was it. What was the point in even saying he showed up?
Other than the main characters saying "I love you" there really wasn't a discussion about anything else that happened. It just felt like more could have been said to give it more substance before going right back into bed.
Not my favorite of hers, which was a bit disappointing considering how much I like her other books.
April 9, 2019
The Journey
This had it all, for me. I cried, cringed, laughed so hard I 'snorted'! Got mad because the h was soooo clueless ( Helooo! Zoey was a b****!)! This really Does take you on a Journey. From the beginning, thru the Very Messy middle, to a very Happy ending. A Journey!
This had it all, for me. I cried, cringed, laughed so hard I 'snorted'! Got mad because the h was soooo clueless ( Helooo! Zoey was a b****!)! This really Does take you on a Journey. From the beginning, thru the Very Messy middle, to a very Happy ending. A Journey!
December 23, 2014
4 stars!!!
I loooooooove the story, I love the drama, I love the characters, the writing style, EVERYTHING!!!
This is the reason why I love Kelly Elliott's novel, it's been awhile since I've been thoroughly satisfied with her novels, the last few were okay but it wasn't as dramatic as WANTED and SAVED.
I like the pain, the hatred towards a certain characters, and that character totally deserves to die!!! I was hanging on to each and every word!
Around 50% of the story, everything was starting to get better and the drama kind of lessened a bit yet it's still interesting. I would have loved it if there were more complications on the second half.
It was a very satisfying novel, and it ended with me laughing!!
Can't wait to read more from Miss K!
I loooooooove the story, I love the drama, I love the characters, the writing style, EVERYTHING!!!
This is the reason why I love Kelly Elliott's novel, it's been awhile since I've been thoroughly satisfied with her novels, the last few were okay but it wasn't as dramatic as WANTED and SAVED.
I like the pain, the hatred towards a certain characters, and that character totally deserves to die!!! I was hanging on to each and every word!
Around 50% of the story, everything was starting to get better and the drama kind of lessened a bit yet it's still interesting. I would have loved it if there were more complications on the second half.
It was a very satisfying novel, and it ended with me laughing!!
Can't wait to read more from Miss K!
October 23, 2023
Hay momentos en que veo las calificaciones de GR y me pregunto: ¿Cómo chucha es posible que tenga tan buenas reseñas?. Este libro es muy, muy malo. Una teleserie con mal guión y escrito de manera mediocre.
January 14, 2015
Maddie & Cale
Captivating!
I use that word a lot but this book really grabs you right from the start and doesn't let go until the fiasco is over.
I loved it.
You can always count on Kelly Elliott to leave you a sappy mess!
Guaranteed to always have the ultimate gentleman...
Zoey is such a bitch! Hate her!
One can't help but understand where Maddie is coming from when she is finally pregnant with her ow child. She loves Lily but I guess it's just not the same.
Captivating!
I use that word a lot but this book really grabs you right from the start and doesn't let go until the fiasco is over.
I loved it.
You can always count on Kelly Elliott to leave you a sappy mess!
Guaranteed to always have the ultimate gentleman...
Zoey is such a bitch! Hate her!
One can't help but understand where Maddie is coming from when she is finally pregnant with her ow child. She loves Lily but I guess it's just not the same.
November 4, 2014
Kelly Elliott, I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!! I won't give any spoilers. BUT, I will say that the journey of live is always an easy journey, there's sometimes a lot of sh*t you have too go through at times. But for Cale Blackwood and Maddison Powers it was all worth it.
I think Cale has moved too my number 2 spot on my book boyfriend list....Kelly you did an amazing job
I think Cale has moved too my number 2 spot on my book boyfriend list....Kelly you did an amazing job
December 1, 2014
Such a great story!! It had just the right amount of love, betrayal and friendship to hook me!!!
March 23, 2016
This book was fantastic. Kelly Elliot is one of my favourite authors.
December 3, 2014
I love a good story and a swoon worthy leading man. Maddison was annoying at times but still a fine person.
June 8, 2015
Loved! Loved! Loved! I especially liked the story line which kept me turning the pages in record time. This is a beautiful heartwarming story that is a must read for romance readers. :D
February 22, 2015
I have officially read all Kelly Elliott books. Can't wait to read more....
October 17, 2022
I have got SO Many mixed feelings about this story! It really brought out intense feelings for me. I was up and down multiple times. I actually hated characters. In fact I almost stopped listening. Not sure if this is what the author was going for but this one pushed buttons. I am not a fan of cheating…even unintentional cheating. Weirdly that is one of my Zero tolerance rules.
Cheating and Moving On happens in real life..I want my fictional characters to be true to each other once they have been together…even if they are not together at the moment. This one was too close to reality for me.
On that note… I did LoVE the secondary characters Monica and Jackson. They helped enrich the story. Then near the end they were both so adorable I could not stand it! Also the humor between Jackson and Cale. Priceless! The epilogue was just lovely and left me with a smile on my face.
This does show how wonderful the friendship is between these characters and their besties. Everyone aspires to be friends like what I read in here.
Overall a good story but not sure i will listen to it again. I did listen to this on audio. Christian Black and Laurie West did a super job emulating these characters.
Cheating and Moving On happens in real life..I want my fictional characters to be true to each other once they have been together…even if they are not together at the moment. This one was too close to reality for me.
On that note… I did LoVE the secondary characters Monica and Jackson. They helped enrich the story. Then near the end they were both so adorable I could not stand it! Also the humor between Jackson and Cale. Priceless! The epilogue was just lovely and left me with a smile on my face.
This does show how wonderful the friendship is between these characters and their besties. Everyone aspires to be friends like what I read in here.
Overall a good story but not sure i will listen to it again. I did listen to this on audio. Christian Black and Laurie West did a super job emulating these characters.
February 8, 2025
DNF.
Heroine has ONS with hero then she ghosts him.
He doesn’t know her name and looks for her for two years.
She has a psycho girlfriend that finds the hero because she wants what the heroine wants.
Hero doesn’t think two minutes before having sex with her, so much for being to attracted to the heroine.
He and ow get together and he gets her pregnant.
He sees the heroine again but booohoo he can’t be with her since he’s with his preggo ow but he’s jealous of om that the heroine dates.
He keeps having a lot of amazing sex with ow though.
Ow dies in childbirth and hero blames himself even though she was severely sick and anyway she would have died.
But the book is an amass of contradictions and inconsistencies, so suck it up.
Heroine goes to help the hero with his newborn, while he blames himself instead of being happy that evil ow is dead.
Even though they had proof that she’s a psycho and planned the entire seduction and planned to dump the heroine to steal her new boyfriend, this detail is completely ignored by both hero and heroine and they both mourn ow and blame themselves.
I stopped when the heroine dates brings home another woman to have sex with her while the heroine was playing nanny for his and ows child.
Bye.
In the bin.
Heroine has ONS with hero then she ghosts him.
He doesn’t know her name and looks for her for two years.
She has a psycho girlfriend that finds the hero because she wants what the heroine wants.
Hero doesn’t think two minutes before having sex with her, so much for being to attracted to the heroine.
He and ow get together and he gets her pregnant.
He sees the heroine again but booohoo he can’t be with her since he’s with his preggo ow but he’s jealous of om that the heroine dates.
He keeps having a lot of amazing sex with ow though.
Ow dies in childbirth and hero blames himself even though she was severely sick and anyway she would have died.
But the book is an amass of contradictions and inconsistencies, so suck it up.
Heroine goes to help the hero with his newborn, while he blames himself instead of being happy that evil ow is dead.
Even though they had proof that she’s a psycho and planned the entire seduction and planned to dump the heroine to steal her new boyfriend, this detail is completely ignored by both hero and heroine and they both mourn ow and blame themselves.
I stopped when the heroine dates brings home another woman to have sex with her while the heroine was playing nanny for his and ows child.
Bye.
In the bin.
November 23, 2014
4.5 stars
"But when two hearts combine, and they travel that road together, it leads to something even greater. It leads to home. To a love so great it makes your heart burst."
First of all, this is hard to write without spoilers but I am going to try my best to keep it vague. I had kind of mixed feelings about this book...well, at least I had a hard time in the beginning because things happened very quickly and there was so much angst...just so much. There were so many missed chances and opportunities, miscommunication, secrets, lies, and missteps. The characters frustrated me with some of their decisions. There were toxic people that grated on me, and every time they did something else it made me so angry I wanted to throw my Kindle. Rachel and I were actually messaging during the first chunk of the book commiserating over all the things that were surprising us or just driving us crazy. It was a total rollercoaster of drama for at least the first third of the book. And I know some people thrive on this, but sometimes I just do not deal with constant angst.
But then it started to level off and I got to see another side of the characters as they started to figure things out. And from that point on I really began to like the book and the characters really grew on me. Once they started to get it together and were on the same page, it became easier to identify with them and become invested in their outcome. Not only the main characters Maddie and Cale, but also their very best friends, Monica and Jack .
Cale and Maddie started out so intense and it left a mark on them that neither of them could replace. For years, in the background they kept looking for each other, but never connected and could never find anyone else comparable. But that becomes part of the perpetual drama. I really liked Cale in the beginning, especially how he really couldn't get over Maddie. But then there was a point that even he was just making me furious with some of his choices and behavior. He was a good guy, and he was smart, and loving. But he ended up in a bad situation that quickly got out of control. And how he handled it wasn't always favorable in my eyes. When he was unhappy, he tended to say things that he wished he could take back. But when he was happy, he was wonderful and devoted and loving, and I really liked him.
Now Maddie was a runner. She's the girl who when things get too hot to handle, it's easier for her to take off or shut down. And because of that, it causes problems with them for years. But she was also a very caring, feisty, smart woman too. And when she felt comfortable in situations, she was all in. But when she felt insecure or was not sure of other people's intentions, then she could be very skittish and she could also strike out. But many of their problems could be traced back to her initial choices.
So we had two characters that had a hard time letting go of feelings for each other, but also had situations that were largely out of their control that kept them apart. So that was where a lot of the frustration and drama came from. And even when the situation allowed for more communication between them, it was still difficult due to past pain, hurt feelings, and insecurities. But as a couple when they really were together they had a volatile chemistry, a deep connection, and no one could ever replace the other one. And even when they were getting things figured out, that didn't mean the drama for them was over. It just meant that they got to deal with it together. But I knew that more challenges had to be coming since there was still quite a bit of book left.
I also loved the side characters of Jack and Monica and seeing the situations they went through as well. They were humorous, supportive, and devoted to their friends. I felt very attached to them all along and they were an important part of this story as well.
Now there were a few people that I absolutely detested. They made me so incredibly angry I couldn't see straight. Zoey was probably my most hated character in any Kelly Elliott book. And there were a few others that made me angry or just repelled me. But these antagonists definitely added layers of uneasiness, tension, and drama.
This book had me feeling all kinds of emotions. I went from being angry, frustrated and disappointed to happy, laughing, and swooning and even shed a few tears. I have already mentioned that I struggled in the beginning and was not sure where this was going and if I wanted to go there. I had some issues with the characters at first, but somewhere along the way I ended up falling for Cale and Maddie and Jack and Monica. And by the end, I definitely felt like I had been on a long and twisting journey with these characters, but I was glad I took it.
Overall this is a book about soul mates, fate, hope and the power of love. It's about grabbing on to the people that truly do care about you and the importance of family and friends. It was definitely a wild ride and at times it was almost too much for me. But part of the sweetness of getting to a place where you can say that you're finally found your true home is realizing that you made it despite unexpected paths and detours to get there. Perhaps if something didn't happen the way it did then it would've had repercussions in other areas and then the final outcome might have changed. I was really happy to see an epilogue. This is supposed to be a stand alone story so I felt like it definitely gave you their beginning, middle, and end.
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.
"But when two hearts combine, and they travel that road together, it leads to something even greater. It leads to home. To a love so great it makes your heart burst."
First of all, this is hard to write without spoilers but I am going to try my best to keep it vague. I had kind of mixed feelings about this book...well, at least I had a hard time in the beginning because things happened very quickly and there was so much angst...just so much. There were so many missed chances and opportunities, miscommunication, secrets, lies, and missteps. The characters frustrated me with some of their decisions. There were toxic people that grated on me, and every time they did something else it made me so angry I wanted to throw my Kindle. Rachel and I were actually messaging during the first chunk of the book commiserating over all the things that were surprising us or just driving us crazy. It was a total rollercoaster of drama for at least the first third of the book. And I know some people thrive on this, but sometimes I just do not deal with constant angst.
But then it started to level off and I got to see another side of the characters as they started to figure things out. And from that point on I really began to like the book and the characters really grew on me. Once they started to get it together and were on the same page, it became easier to identify with them and become invested in their outcome. Not only the main characters Maddie and Cale, but also their very best friends, Monica and Jack .
Cale and Maddie started out so intense and it left a mark on them that neither of them could replace. For years, in the background they kept looking for each other, but never connected and could never find anyone else comparable. But that becomes part of the perpetual drama. I really liked Cale in the beginning, especially how he really couldn't get over Maddie. But then there was a point that even he was just making me furious with some of his choices and behavior. He was a good guy, and he was smart, and loving. But he ended up in a bad situation that quickly got out of control. And how he handled it wasn't always favorable in my eyes. When he was unhappy, he tended to say things that he wished he could take back. But when he was happy, he was wonderful and devoted and loving, and I really liked him.
Now Maddie was a runner. She's the girl who when things get too hot to handle, it's easier for her to take off or shut down. And because of that, it causes problems with them for years. But she was also a very caring, feisty, smart woman too. And when she felt comfortable in situations, she was all in. But when she felt insecure or was not sure of other people's intentions, then she could be very skittish and she could also strike out. But many of their problems could be traced back to her initial choices.
So we had two characters that had a hard time letting go of feelings for each other, but also had situations that were largely out of their control that kept them apart. So that was where a lot of the frustration and drama came from. And even when the situation allowed for more communication between them, it was still difficult due to past pain, hurt feelings, and insecurities. But as a couple when they really were together they had a volatile chemistry, a deep connection, and no one could ever replace the other one. And even when they were getting things figured out, that didn't mean the drama for them was over. It just meant that they got to deal with it together. But I knew that more challenges had to be coming since there was still quite a bit of book left.
I also loved the side characters of Jack and Monica and seeing the situations they went through as well. They were humorous, supportive, and devoted to their friends. I felt very attached to them all along and they were an important part of this story as well.
Now there were a few people that I absolutely detested. They made me so incredibly angry I couldn't see straight. Zoey was probably my most hated character in any Kelly Elliott book. And there were a few others that made me angry or just repelled me. But these antagonists definitely added layers of uneasiness, tension, and drama.
This book had me feeling all kinds of emotions. I went from being angry, frustrated and disappointed to happy, laughing, and swooning and even shed a few tears. I have already mentioned that I struggled in the beginning and was not sure where this was going and if I wanted to go there. I had some issues with the characters at first, but somewhere along the way I ended up falling for Cale and Maddie and Jack and Monica. And by the end, I definitely felt like I had been on a long and twisting journey with these characters, but I was glad I took it.
Overall this is a book about soul mates, fate, hope and the power of love. It's about grabbing on to the people that truly do care about you and the importance of family and friends. It was definitely a wild ride and at times it was almost too much for me. But part of the sweetness of getting to a place where you can say that you're finally found your true home is realizing that you made it despite unexpected paths and detours to get there. Perhaps if something didn't happen the way it did then it would've had repercussions in other areas and then the final outcome might have changed. I was really happy to see an epilogue. This is supposed to be a stand alone story so I felt like it definitely gave you their beginning, middle, and end.
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2025
There are some books you read once and just know they’ll be stories you return to time and time again—and The Journey Home by Kelly Elliott is exactly that kind of book. From the very first page, I knew this wasn’t just a read, it was an experience.
This story carries a slightly rawer, edgier feel than Elliott’s usual romance style, yet she delivers it with absolute perfection. It’s moving, it’s heart-wrenching, and it’s beautifully unforgettable.
Maddison Powers and Cale Blackwood’s second-chance love story will steal your heart, break it in all the best ways, and then piece it back together with hope and healing. Their journey is one I’ll carry with me for a long time to come.
This story carries a slightly rawer, edgier feel than Elliott’s usual romance style, yet she delivers it with absolute perfection. It’s moving, it’s heart-wrenching, and it’s beautifully unforgettable.
Maddison Powers and Cale Blackwood’s second-chance love story will steal your heart, break it in all the best ways, and then piece it back together with hope and healing. Their journey is one I’ll carry with me for a long time to come.
December 23, 2018
Love truly is a journey
What a roller coaster ride Maddie and Cale had. From one night of meeting on the beach through many trials and tribulations to a beautiful happy ending. I enjoyed reading and getting to know not only Cale and Maddie, but also their best friends Jack and Monica. You will hate Zoey, I promise you that. She was a horrible, manipulative person. But in the end, she was part of their journey to their forever. Great overall story, but the level of action Cale has, was a bit unreal and excessive in some chapters, hence my 4 stars.
What a roller coaster ride Maddie and Cale had. From one night of meeting on the beach through many trials and tribulations to a beautiful happy ending. I enjoyed reading and getting to know not only Cale and Maddie, but also their best friends Jack and Monica. You will hate Zoey, I promise you that. She was a horrible, manipulative person. But in the end, she was part of their journey to their forever. Great overall story, but the level of action Cale has, was a bit unreal and excessive in some chapters, hence my 4 stars.
September 7, 2019
Maddie and Cale amazing story
The Journey Home is amazing. It will have you crying and mad over what some people will do when they are jealous of you. Maddie and Cale met at a party one night and they both instantly fell hard for each other. But Maddie got scared and ran away. Will they be able to find their way back to each other or will it be to late for them? This is a definite must read. The Journey Home pulls out all the stops make sure to one click.
The Journey Home is amazing. It will have you crying and mad over what some people will do when they are jealous of you. Maddie and Cale met at a party one night and they both instantly fell hard for each other. But Maddie got scared and ran away. Will they be able to find their way back to each other or will it be to late for them? This is a definite must read. The Journey Home pulls out all the stops make sure to one click.
April 21, 2015
Overall Rating: 9.8
Warning : Spoilers
Let me just say first, I am a HUGE fan o Kelly Elliott. She is my favorite author and she is amazing a it. I have read all of her Wanted Series books and Unconditional Love, and I am waiting to read the Love Wanted in Texas series. SO, while I was looking for a Good read, I came across this book on her good reads profile and decided to read it. The reason I anted to read it was because I like reading the books where one of the characters have to watch in agony as the one they love is with someone else that the love. You have no choice but to be happy for them. My heart broke for Maddie, who had to watch the love of her life, her soul mate (even though I don't believe in that B.S.) be with her best friend. She had to watch as he had a baby with her best friend. I was crying the whole time. I could definitely connect with her on some deep, emotional level. It as heart wrenching. I also knew how it felt for Cale. He was trying to be honorable yet true to his heart at the same time. He was torn: he knew it was killing Maddie to have her watch him with Zoey, especially with the lies she had been spouting to Maddie, but he also knew he had to go right by the mother of his child, and his unborn child. This story was powerful and heartbreakingly beautiful. I found myself laughing and crying at the same time during the whole ride. there were so many ups and downs to this story it was incredible.
I usually don't have a violent streak, but I really wanted to punch Zoey in he face. She was a self absorbed, sick bitch. And that's being blunt. She was horrible. I don't know how something like that could control a person. I don't care that she is sick, but she was a horrible person and everyone was just too blinded by her tragedy to see past the sick and twisted person she was. Zoey used her story to lure everyone into her game. She was being controlled by the jealousy and envy she had in her mind and it made her do unthinkable things. But, everyone refused to believe that she was really the puppet master behind the whole scam. When the truth was revealed, I was shocked at how deep she went to get what she wanted, but not surprised that this was all a ploy. I hate that everyone had to hurt when they found out just the kind of person she was. But, it seems to run in her family because her mother is equally as bitchy. She was horrible to disown and abandon her own daughter, and they lay claim on her granddaughter when she hadn't even seen her face after a year! They didn't tell you why she suddenly wanted Lily back into her life, so that still remain a mystery. I can't believe her mother had the nerve to do something like that.
My dislike for Andre is about the same, but I just didn't like him. Period. He was arrogant and greedy and he didn't know how to treat a woman properly. I can't believe he actually thought that he could just tale Maddie back into his life. Was he that desperate? Seriously. Every time they had a scene where he was in it, I just rolled my eyes and gagged. Blegh.
I loved Monica! I loved how she was such a free spirit and not afraid to speak her mind, stand up for what she knew and thought was right. She stood by Maddie the whole ride through and I was so relieved an thankful when Jack came waltzing into her life. She needed someone to lean on that wasn't Maddie. I was so happy that they found each other. The love between them is undeniable and I wish they had shown more of their story! I really hope that Kelly Elliott decides to make a book about their story.
Jack was a character that I didn't really get to know very well, but I still loved him. He was exactly what Monica needed. they think the same way and they are both erratic and crazy and fun. It was kind of hard to understand their relationship at first because he went from player to love in a matter of minutes, and It was hard to understand because the story focused mainly on Maddie and Cale.
Cale was such a gentleman. He was kind an caring and he it was so sweet to watch him with Lily. How much he loved her, and didn't resent her for her mother. Maddie was strong-willed, independent and loving. I loved her character, but I still love Monica more. The love between Cale and Maddie was unconditional and there was no doubt that they would die for each other. The sensuality and passion that sparked between them was amazing and it truly made for an emotional roller coaster ride between them. I felt Maddie's heart break when Cale got into the boat accident and she thought she would lose him once again, but this time, permanently. Their story was a roller coaster of heartbreak, passion, love, truths and honesty. I am so glad that they found their way back to each, not in the best way, but they were still reunited.
Like any other book, I do have one complaint. It isn't anything major, just a minor suggestion. I found this book to drag along a bit, and the summary didn't exactly put together the whole book. Half of it made truth, but the rest was the happily ever after for Cale and Maddie, so I would have made two separate books, to show the two different parts to the story: the struggle to find their love, and their happily ever after.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone, no matter what kind of book you like to read.
February 26, 2019
I don’t even know what I just read
Not well-written whatsoever. The h and H were shallow and barely developed, the plot all but non-existent at the half way mark. It was like one long epilogue that was shallow and predictable.
Not well-written whatsoever. The h and H were shallow and barely developed, the plot all but non-existent at the half way mark. It was like one long epilogue that was shallow and predictable.
February 1, 2022
not my favorite
Let me start by saying Kelly Elliott is my favorite writer. But this is not my favorite book. This story is about everybody else. Very little to do with Maddison& Cale. But so much about zoey and cale.
Let me start by saying Kelly Elliott is my favorite writer. But this is not my favorite book. This story is about everybody else. Very little to do with Maddison& Cale. But so much about zoey and cale.
November 3, 2022
Wow. This book is so emotional I cried so much. With a complex relationship that has anger and spite it was great to see a positive outcome for the main characters. A brilliant performance from Laurie and Christian.
November 28, 2023
Truth or Dare - sometimes the dares are more important than the truths. In the case of Maddison and Cale, the relationship was one dare after another for him while only truths for her, but what brings them together makes this story a joy to read.
March 13, 2015
One night of unexpected and unexplainable passion at a friend’s beach house party leaves Cale Blackwood and Maddison Powers love-struck and pining for each other for two years, unbeknownst to the other. When Maddie returns from her semester abroad, nothing stops her from seeking out Cale, and Cale continues to “see” her everywhere he goes, only to be disappointed to find his mind playing cruel tricks. With their friends’ encouragement, they decide it’s best to try to forget the ghost of the other and date other people.
That same week, Zoey, Maddie’s friend, asks the hottest guy in Starbuck’s to dance with her in the middle of the coffee shop on a remote bet from Maddie. In an ironic twist of events, he introduces himself as Cale Blackwood, and Zoey couldn’t be more excited to claim him as her own and finally “one up” her perfect friend, Maddie. After a month of dating and exhilarating sex, Zoey forces Maddie and Monica, Maddie’s best friend, to “meet” this mystery boyfriend. Shocked and horrified by the site of Zoey cuddled up next to Cale in the restaurant, remembering everything Zoey told her about their dirty and frequent sex life, Maddie can barely contain her emotions. So when Zoey announces that they’re pregnant, Maddie, and everyone at the table, including Cale, are in complete shock.
Convinced that Zoey didn’t know about the strong bond between her and Cale, Maddie ignores Cale’s attempts to talk to her, and she becomes more concerned with Zoey’s health, since she is dying from an autoimmune disease, and the stress of a baby could likely kill her much faster than the five to 20 years her doctor estimated she had left to live. As Cale suffers from his decision to do the right thing and marry Zoey, a woman he will never love, Maddie attempts to move on and starts dating Andrè, a sexy Italian who whisks her away on trips every chance he gets.
Kelly Elliot’s The Journey Home is a visceral and romantic whirlwind. The love and passion between Maddie and Cale permeates every page, and the perspective switches between the two characters adds clear insight into both personalities. The reader, invested in their story, will laugh, cry, and tear with happiness.
My only criticism is that the story is quite long--it almost could have been combined into two books since there were so many conflicts and plots. However, there were several scenes that didn't help to further the story and could have been omitted.
The struggles Maddie and Cale face make them real and believable, and fans will be just as emotional as they are.
That same week, Zoey, Maddie’s friend, asks the hottest guy in Starbuck’s to dance with her in the middle of the coffee shop on a remote bet from Maddie. In an ironic twist of events, he introduces himself as Cale Blackwood, and Zoey couldn’t be more excited to claim him as her own and finally “one up” her perfect friend, Maddie. After a month of dating and exhilarating sex, Zoey forces Maddie and Monica, Maddie’s best friend, to “meet” this mystery boyfriend. Shocked and horrified by the site of Zoey cuddled up next to Cale in the restaurant, remembering everything Zoey told her about their dirty and frequent sex life, Maddie can barely contain her emotions. So when Zoey announces that they’re pregnant, Maddie, and everyone at the table, including Cale, are in complete shock.
Convinced that Zoey didn’t know about the strong bond between her and Cale, Maddie ignores Cale’s attempts to talk to her, and she becomes more concerned with Zoey’s health, since she is dying from an autoimmune disease, and the stress of a baby could likely kill her much faster than the five to 20 years her doctor estimated she had left to live. As Cale suffers from his decision to do the right thing and marry Zoey, a woman he will never love, Maddie attempts to move on and starts dating Andrè, a sexy Italian who whisks her away on trips every chance he gets.
Kelly Elliot’s The Journey Home is a visceral and romantic whirlwind. The love and passion between Maddie and Cale permeates every page, and the perspective switches between the two characters adds clear insight into both personalities. The reader, invested in their story, will laugh, cry, and tear with happiness.
My only criticism is that the story is quite long--it almost could have been combined into two books since there were so many conflicts and plots. However, there were several scenes that didn't help to further the story and could have been omitted.
The struggles Maddie and Cale face make them real and believable, and fans will be just as emotional as they are.
June 27, 2017
~ 3.5 Stars ~
June 12, 2018
Loved
I have read several of u r series. I loved them all, but I just finished journey home and oh my I think was my favorite so much emotions in it.
I have read several of u r series. I loved them all, but I just finished journey home and oh my I think was my favorite so much emotions in it.
February 17, 2019
Nothing hit from Kelly. It has all the feels a love story needs.
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