Coming Home for Fall

by Sage Parker

I didn’t realize empty nesting would feel so… empty.


66-year-old Callie Ward sits alone in her big Victorian house. With her children grown and her husband often away, it's become empty and quiet. So when her local charity asks if she can sponsor a young mother in need, she quickly agrees.

Soon the house is alive again with laughter and baby giggles. But just as Callie grows close to Sasha and baby Dot, her youngest daughter Mallory shows up unannounced—jobless, heartbroken, and convinced the new houseguest is hiding something.

Sasha pushes back by asking questions that could expose a secret Callie and her husband have been hiding for twenty years..

Now, with the whole family coming home for Thanksgiving, one wrong conversation could unravel everything.


This is Book 2 of 6 in the Ferndale Secrets series. A warm and hopeful story of second chances and the complicated ties that hold families together.

81 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2025

Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mallory arrives at her family home to have the door answered by a young woman with a baby on her hip. Callie hasn't told her grown children that her and David have taken in this woman from the shelter to help her get back on her feet. Mallory is full of questions and she goes outside with her mother to try to find out just exactly what is going on here. She doesn't get anywhere with her mother so she goes to her dad to try and find out the story of this girl whose name is Sasha. Mallory has lost her job and gave up her apartment so she can have a fresh start again, apparently this is a pattern with her. David doesn't seem to know the story of Sasha either, he told Mallory that it is all her mother's doing. At dinner Mallory starts questioning Sasha to try and get some answers. She just seems to be upsetting her more than anything and her mother asks her to help with the dishes to stop her. Next Mallory borrows her dad's car and goes to meet up with her sister and discuss this with her to see how she feels. Ariel doesn't seem to be too fizzed by it, and thinks her parents just find the house lonely and that's why they took Sasha and the baby in. When Mallory gets back from seeing her sister, Sasha is the only one home and they start to have a nice talk until Mallory starts bombarding Sasha with questions about the shelter she stayed in, and Sasha is vey vague about it and Mallory starts to get more angry and then Sasha says you think I have secrets? And Mallory agrees then Sasha comes out with well maybe your parents are the ones with the secrets! After that remark Mallory goes into her dads office the bedroom she is sleeping in and finally gets into his computer and before she gets very far searching she spills coffee in the laptop. She panics because her parents will probably be home soon so she calls a tech repair place and a guy comes over quite soon after and apparently it is someone that Mallory knows from her past! I can't wait for book 3 to see what happens next!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t realize empty nesting would feel so… empty.

66-year-old Callie Ward sits alone in her big Victorian house. Not long ago, she could hardly hear herself think. Now, with her children grown and husband often away, the chaos is gone—and the quiet feels too big for one person.

So when her local charity asks if she can sponsor a young mother in need, she quickly agrees.

Soon, the house is alive again with laughter and baby giggles. But just as Callie grows close to Sasha and baby Dot, her youngest daughter, Mallory, shows up unannounced: jobless, heartbroken, and convinced the new houseguest is hiding something.

Sasha pushes back by asking questions that could expose a secret Callie and her husband have been hiding for twenty years...

Now, with the whole family coming home for Thanksgiving, one wrong conversation could unravel everything.

This contemporary starting over, second chance, clean and wholesome, later-in-life, women's fiction Christian inspirational small town romance is page-turning with exceptional world-building in Ferndale, and characters who are resilient, heartbroken, lonely, captivating, and realistic. Their journey is enthralling with coming home for Fall, Thanksgiving family drama/chaos, heartfelt emotions/emotional depth that will leave readers needing Kleenex/Puffs, love and loss, heartwarming and hopeful story of second chances and the complicated ties that hold families together, one conversation could unravel everything with Ferndale secrets, empty nesting, intrigue, suspense that will leave readers on the edge of their seats with twists/turns, action, adventure, and more. I recommend reading this book by an extraordinary author who knows how to captivate her readers' hearts and attention with coming home for fall and a second chance romance that is sure to transport readers into a world of love/loss, intrigue, second chances, hope, friendships, and more that is mysterious, inspirational, and unforgettable.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mallory lost her job & her apartment, as usual she shows up at her mom & dad’s house to stay for awhile & hide out. However Mallory is the one that is in for a surprise! The door is open by a young woman with a baby on her hip that Mallory has no idea who it is & gets defensive! Her mom & Dad hadn’t told any of their grown children anything about anyone moving into their house, but here they are.Mallory is suddenly on the defensive & lets her mother know she does not approve. She doesn’t understand why her parents would take in this mother & baby from the local shelter into her home to live in their home. To make it even worse, her mother gave them her room! WOW! What a shocker! Mallory can’t seem to get any straight answers from her mom or dad, so she tries questioning Sasha. That gets her nowhere either. She goes behind her mother’s back, against her dad’s advice & drives to meet up with her sister, which she didn’t get the reaction she wanted. When she gets back home, Sasha & baby are the only ones home so she starts questioning Sasha again about her life & the shelter she stayed in. However Sasha’s answers were very vague with answers. Mallory is pulling out all the stops to get the answers she wants, but doesn’t seem to be getting very far. Not sure Mallory will get the answers she wants. So ready for book

Booksprout sent me this ARC book to read for free & am giving my review for free, in my own words without any help from the author or publisher.

[June Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

First mystery solved, maybe, when Callie finally arrives at the front door to see her daughter Mallory there confronting Sasha, their house guest, who had answered the door when Mallory unexpectedly arrived. Callie explains the situation to Mallory but refuses to answer her many questions, which raises more questions in Mallory’s mind and leads to her telling her sister and brother there are strange things going on at their parents home. Mallory in intent on finding answers to her questions and starts secretly searching using her Dad’s laptop, without his knowledge and accidentally spills a cup of coffee on it causing it to crash. What can she do? Every attempt at seeking answers just leads to more questions and problems.

This author, Sage Parker, has a fantastic way of making the reader feel present in the story. That and the way she builds each character into a person whose presence you feel you know and the way she leaves you excited to read the next book in the series is why I love being a member of her ARC team and getting to review before the actual release.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you grow up in a small town, it's inevitable you run into folks who once thought they knew you.

the deputy giving you a warning about speeding is the guy you once tutored in Geometry, or was someone you didn't recognize in a store - bifocals since my twenties and crazy glasses all thru school.

in your fifties, folks are more generous about the vision - but if you missed out on the interim back stories - look out!

what stories might pop up with a mysterious and somewhat defensive single mom crosses attitudes with a forty something looking for a reboot?

feels like there could be more than one boy in the mix.

Fun and intriguing reading.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming Home for Fall Book 2 starts out with Mallory coming home and she has lots of questions about who Sasha is and how much her mother really knows about her. When Mallory asks questions, she finds out that her mother seems to be unable to tell her much. This is when she knows that there is a lot of secrets and when she tries to find answers all she gets is more questions. I can not wait to read the next book to maybe be able to piece together who Sasha really is and why is she living with Mallory’s parents.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carmela Dimattia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mallory is surely giving Sasha the third degree but Sasha is not forthcoming with any information on her life. Why is she being mysterious and also why are Mallory’s parents being very mysterious about the reasoning for Sasha coming to live with them? We finally understand more about why Mallory decided to come home and wonder if those reasons could cause her some distress in the future. Not everything is adding up and I wonder who the mysterious visitor is at her door? So much questions to be answered but I am loving the story and cannot wait for the next book.

I received an arc copy via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[PW · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters are starting to show cracks in their personalities. Callie isn’t as clueless as she appears. Her desperation to feel useful has her making a rash decision. Sasha and her daughter Dorthy(Dot) are staying with Callie and her husband, David. There is something just a little off about how this came about. When Callie’s children find out they got on my nerves trying to manage their parents home. They seem to have forgotten that it is their home from their youth BUT it is their parents house. Now I’m anxious to see what happens in the next book.

This Booksprout ARC is ramping up!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book #2 in the Ferndale Secrets series by Sage Parker.

Mallory surprises Callie with her unexpected homecoming and she isn’t pleased when a stranger answers the door. I understand why Mallory would be concerned about the lack of knowledge her parents have regarding taking Sasha in, but the way she goes about it is very immature. I can’t say I’m a big fan of Mallory’s with her behavior. I am intrigued to see what plays out after the way this book ended and to learn what Sasha meant.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vicki Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming Home For Fall, Book Two, continues the story of Callie and David, and their son and two daughters with emphasis on Mallory. As Sasha and Dot continue to stay with the family, Mallory is more and more suspicious of Sasha as the homeless woman remains evasive about her young life. But, while being questioned about her life Sasha gives Mallory something to think about other than her. The book ends in a cliffhanger.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tami Willard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Must read in order.
Everyone is keeping secrets.
Parents who seem to live separate lives most of the time
A single mother who sidesteps questions about herself
A daughter back home early and indefinitely
A daughter whose mannerisms has changed
A son scared to reveal test results
Whose secrets are innocent and whose isn't.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Roslyn Simonin Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mallory finally meets Sasha.But, in talking to her Mom, she learns she knows nothing about her, except she was from a homeless shelter and had a 9 month old daughter named Dot. No shelter name, nothing else. Her Dad knew less, and said "Your Mother handled everything",as he plans his climbing trip and his trip to Dubai.
What was going on in this house.
Great read Sage.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debdutch · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Coming Home for Fall: Book 2” by Sage Parker

-This story is filled with tension, secrets, and a slowly unraveling puzzle of family dynamics. I received a free copy and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.
Mallory returns home and quickly senses something isn’t right with her family. Everyone seems to be hiding something, and questions only lead to more mysteries.


A gripping second book in the series that leaves the reader eager for answers in the next installment.

[Dianne Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family secrets

Family secrets create tension and uncertainty that seems to be growing throughout the story.  Mallory is torn in what to believe as she communicates her fears to her family.  Then, her former boss throws her for a loop. The many layers of this story are fascinating and I thoroughly am enjoying this series.

I read this book as part of an advance reader team. I am voluntarily writing this review.

[Berta Greenleaf Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Book 2 of Ferndale Secrets. There seems to be a bunch of secrets in this family. Sasha is keeping her own while throwing David and Callie under the bus. Mallory now is looking into all the secrets. What will she find and will she regret it? I highly recommend this book to all women's fiction readers.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warm and heartfelt story about second chances. Becoming an empty nester can be difficult when you're all alone. So if an opportunity opens up you're happy to take it but there could be complications with it as well. There are some secrets that are better left alone but may come to the surface. Like the characters and the flow of the story. Good read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Megann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dang I forgot to enter this review. I have to go back and check what else I forgot to send and catch up over Thanksgiving on all the stories I have read.

Oh man, Mallory has decided that since no one seems concerned she will find out all she can about this strange woman and her child living with her parents. True to form she is on her dad’s computer and spills liquid on it. She realizes she can’t fix it so calls a repair guy. No our cliff hanger is who is this guy to Mallory because he definitely knows her… On to book three.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barb Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mallory arrives at her parents' home after losing her job again. She is shocked to see a young woman with a baby living there. Sasha is not very open to answering questions about her past and Mallory's parents are equally closed mouthed. What is the story? I received an advanced reader copy of this book from BookSprout, and this is my honest review.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Callie and David took in Sasha and her baby. They were not expecting their daughter, Mallory to come back home. Mallory is full of questions about Sasha. Mallory is unease about the Sasha situation. What is Sasha hiding?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book two and Mallory has questions, so many questions. Like why would her mother take in a single mother and her baby? Why will this single mother not answer any questions and why oh why are there so many secrets? Once again the author draws us in with this well written mystery that has us rounding up more pieces of this puzzle now onto the next book!

[Vicki Carson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are people really hiding serets?

Grown kids, married as well as single , maybe even their parents are looking for answers! Sometimes more trouble gets stirred up when answers aren't forthcoming! So the only thing left to do is start as, and dig into places that don't belong to you! More trouble awaits!
Who was at the door at the end of this book? Read it!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as arc.

Mallory has lots of questions for Sasha and her parents. Her mom does not want her to ask Sasha questions. Her dad just seems to be going with whatever her mom wants. Secrets are being hidden by everyone.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't figure out what is going on. It is confusing since the woman is constantly wondering what is happening with her parents.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[B E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Callie and David have been hiding something from their family. They are empty nesters and open their home to a young mother in need. When their daughter returns home, she doesn’t trust Sasha.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jacqueline Johnston Cotton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is wonderful, entertaining reading you won't want to miss! The victorian house is filling up with questions and drama that are starting to pile up. No one seems to know much about Sasha either. Great writing keeps the pages turning. Ready for book 3 to see what happens next!.

[Jeanne Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a lot of books written by Sage Parker; she is one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of her books.

This is the second book in the Ferndale Secrets Series; the story continues from the previous book and needs to be read in order.

[Raylene Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when she finally talks to Sasha about where she came from? But she said that her parents have a secret from her about what will happen.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[NicoleReadsRomance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the build up in this one. More secrets were hinted at. There are even more questions I need answers to. Overall it was a quick, enjoyable read. I'm so happy I have the ARC for book 3. Going to dive in right away.

[Cheryl McCrork · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very Good Book 📖

The characters were very fun and very kind. There is some good humor in the book too. Also the life experience is easy to relate with. I enjoyed this book 📖 from start to finish.

[D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving this next part in Callie's story. I cannot put this down as I am getting to know Callie more and more. She has got to figure out what is going on.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.