Toward Home

by Carolyne Aarsen

All her life, the only place that represented the loving home Melanie Visser always yearned for was a stately, gingerbread Victorian in the town she grew up in. Moving back home, Melanie discovers that her dream house is for sale. And though the long-neglected manor needs some loving care, its embittered owner needs God's healing touch - and Melanie's kindness - even more.

Genres: Romance, Love Inspired, Christian, Contemporary, Christian Fiction, Adult

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 2003

About the author

Even with over 1.5 million copies of my books in print, I still feel like I haven’t written the perfect story. From my office in the woods of Northern Alberta, I’ll keep trying. Inspired by spectacular sunrises, breathtaking Northern Lights and long walks through wooded trails, the stories keep coming. To find out more about my life and my writing, check out my website at www.carolyneaarsen.com

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming story about loss, grief, guilt, heartache, faith, healing, new beginnings, and second chances.

Melanie, a home health nurse, had returned to Millars Crossing because it was the closest place to feeling like home that she had ever been. She finds herself on a job assignment in the home of her former best friend. She had always loved visiting the home and the family that owned it. She reconnects with Adam, son of the woman she’s hired to care for and the current owner of the house, and whom she knew briefly in high school.

Adam is a widower with a young daughter. He’s back in town briefly to care for his mother and get her ready to move once she’s physically able to do so. He didn’t intend to stay in town long. The more time he spends with Melanie, the more his feelings start to change regarding her, his faith, his feelings about his current job, and what he wants for his future.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The burden of guilt has separated Adam from family, friends and God. Melanie is returning to the place where she had been the happiest. As a home health nurse, she is assigned to work with Helen, Adam’s mother, following surgery. Coincidence, fate or God’s leading has Adam as the owner of the house that Melanie has loved since she was a teenager. Carolyn Aarsen has done a wonderful job portraying Adam’s feeling of guilt over his wife’s death, Melanie’s guilt over being drawn to Adam, Helen’s desire to stay in her home and Tiffany’s search her for place in her father’s life. I love how Melanie depends of being lead by God and how she and Helen gently bring Adam back to God. A really good book.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

free ebook

she was all alone after her parents died. she loved the house in a small town she used to live in. her friends lived there and were such a happy family. now she is a visiting nurse and went to the house for a old lady who was the mom of a boy she went to school with there. his wife died when she had the baby which is a 3 yr old girl now. he blamed himself for moving them so far from the hospital but it turned out she wasnt taking care of her diabetes and thats why she died. he didnt know that

they ended up in love and getting married and they lived in the house she loved and built a smaller house for his mom in the yard.

[Joan Arning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carolyne Aarsen has written a sweet story of a home health nurse and the guy she had a crush on back in high school. Nurse Melanie is a strong character who has dreamed of having a happy home and family. Adam is now a widower with a young child, a mother who is recovering from a fall, and a load of guilt over his wife's death. You will enjoy this touching story of recovery and love. I recommend Toward Home to others. I received a complimentary e-book from the author. This is my honest opinion.

[SJ Garrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet story. Adam, a widower taking care of his daughter and Mom, with grief of the past making him bitter and full of anger at God. Melanie all alone remembering a dream she and her late Mother had, of putting down roots in a small town. These two people once met as teens now help each other put their lives on a path for a good life. I so enjoyed all these characters, Helen, Adam, Melanie and little Tiffany. I could picture each one going about their day, hoping for things that only God could make happen. I highly recommend "Toward Home" if you like sweet clean stories with heart.

[Ana Lopez · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
I enjoyed reading this book from a new to me author.
The reason why I gave this book a lower rating is that there were somethings that I didn’t agree with.
The main thing I didn’t like was that even though Melanie is a Christian girl she should have had better control of her emotions and feelings for Adam, she shouldn’t have admitted to those feelings while Adam was not wanting anything to do with God and she certainly shouldn’t have let him kiss her before he came back to Christ.
What I did like about the book was how the characters developed throughout.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!
Melanie and Adam met years ago, when she lived in the same town for awhile. Then, she returns, years later, as a Nurse, visiting his mother for home health care follow-up. She recognizes the house as the one she had always felt was “a Home.” So, she hears it is for sale, and wants to purchase it. Find out what happens, and how their definition of “home” changes for them both. After finishing this book, I closed it with a contented sigh!

[Jean Holtof · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story that is well written and very easy to read. I love Carolyne Aarsen's writing style and her way with words. This story highlights the courage it takes to pursue a dream, Melanie's dream of a house and family. Adam can't wait to sell up and move back to the safety of the city. With God's guidance Melanie gently weaves her way into the family drama of Adam, Tiffany and Helen. I thoroughly enjoyed the unfolding of Adam's story within the story. Beautifully done Carolyne Aarsen.

[MaryEllen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story
The main characters met in high school, fourteen years ago.
Now he's a guilt-ridden widower that has turned from the faith of his youth.
She is the home health nurse visiting his mom in the house he bought for his wife... the former house of her school friend and the only place she's ever felt of as “home.”

Their friendship and romance seemed to grow naturally.

[Denyse Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story about Melanie who had had a hard upbringing. Then Adam who owned a large home where Melanie had lived years ago.
Will Melanie and Adam work out their differences? One stumbling block for Melanie was that Adam was not. Christian.
Really enjoyed reading it with all the twists and turns…

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. The characters were great. I enjoyed watching them develop as the story went on. I love it when I find an Arthur that writes clean romance stories. I can't wait to read Carolyne Aarsen's next book.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story!I found the characters realistic. I loved that Melanie had such a clear vision of what she wanted for her life, including wanting a truly Christian husband. But is what she wanted what she got?

[Louise Pledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I received an offer to read this, I had never heard of Carolyne Aarsen, but I enjoyed this heart warming, clean read enough to be interested in another of her books. The toddler, Tiffany, has the soul of the story for me. What a sweetheart!

[Heidi Morrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic Contemporary Christian fiction book! The characters were believable and heartwarming. I loved discovering at the end that a real house was part of the author's inspiration for the story!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this true-to-life story. The author has a way of depicting the real life struggles of Christians and those who have turned from God.
The characters are real and authentic and the story is compelling.

[The Endless Unread · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice story but a few contradictions in the writing

[Lillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, Christian second-chance romance and story of overcoming grief and guilt

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sweet Christian romance is well written. The characters are lovable and the story is entertaining as well as uplifting.

[Cindy Rhodes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story of Adam and Melanie and overcoming guilt and sorrow. The story was a little long to me but kept my interest for the most part.

[Angel Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet, inspirational read.

[Vicki or Dennis Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well my first reading of this book was in June, 2019 and I thoroughly enjoyed this very touching story. Melanie and Adam knew each other in high school, but his mind hasn't grasped that straw yet. As for Melanie she has brought her life back to the town she loved and now is preparing to set her feet solidly by buying her own home. This story has multiple layers of the characters lives that are touched upon and is a beautiful story that is encased with second chances and the all encompassing forgiveness and love of an Almighty God. I truly enjoy this author's works and this book does not disappoint.

I received a free copy of this book, but this is my voluntary and honest review.
VICKI FROM WYOMING

[Dorry Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun story of a nurse who always wanted to go back to the town she grew up in. When she moves back she discovers her dream house from her past is for sale. The people selling it was a woman who had health issues so in comes the nurse. The woman lived with her son and granddaughter. He being a widow wants no part of this house with its memories. Melanie the nurse goes forth to buy the house but in the end loss of job forces her to give up the idea. Of course in the end she gets it but without many problems.

[Sharon Heaverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book that I have read by this author.
I do like the Christian fiction and this was a very good story about Adam and Melanie. Adam had to find his way back to God after losing his wife. Melanie is just a very pleasant, friendly and God inspired home health nurse.
I really liked the way this story progressed. I would recommend this book to those that like to read Christian fiction and who also like clean romances stories.
I look forward to reading more by this author.

[Deborah Vespo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these "Love Inspired" books. They're a Christian series of romances that are heartwarming reads. I've acquired several of these books to my personal collection. I love it when I find one I haven't read.

[Cws]

YAI-Aar

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Childhood crush on each other and a home...separated by years of pain for both...God finally joins all three in a family filled with love! Great, heart-warming book!

[Jan Mcleod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second reading 2/1/18. Still liked the book and would not change the rating.

[Margaret Fraleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book.

Love reading about Melanie and Adam's journey to healing and love.

[Gina]

A heartfelt story of a nurse returning to her home town and praying for a family and a home and a widower with a child. But he needs to move forward from his guilt and bitterness before they can have a happily ever after. This story reminds us we have a forgiving God who can heal us if we let him.