The Road to Enchantment

by Kaya McLaren

As a young girl, Willow’s mother left their home in Washington State in a literal blaze of she set the mattress of her cheating husband on fire in her driveway, roasting marshmallow peeps and hot dogs before the fire department arrived. And with that, she and her daughter set off to New Mexico, to a new life, to a world of arroyos and canyons bordering an Apache reservation. Willow was devastated. Her eccentric mother believed in this new life and set about starting a winery and goat ranch. But for Willow, it meant initially being bullied and feeling like an outsider. Today, as a grown woman, Willow much prefers Los Angeles and her job as a studio musician. But things tend to happen in her mother dies, her boyfriend dumps her, and Willow discovers she is pregnant. The DeVine Winery and Goat Ranch is all she has left, even it is in financial straits and unmanageable back taxes. There is something, though, about the call of “home.” She's surprised to find that her Apache best friend Darrel along with the rest of the community seems to think she belongs far more than she ever thought she did. Can Willow redefine what home means for her, and can she make a go of the legacy her mother left behind? Told with Kaya McLaren’s humor and heart, The Road to Enchantment is a story about discovering that the last thing you want is sometimes the one thing you need.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Womens Fiction, Adult Fiction, Literary Fiction, Audiobook, Adult

354 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2017

About the author

In January 2020, my new title will be released, WHAT'S WORTH KEEPING, a story of healing and renewal inspired by but not based on my own experience with breast cancer, treatment, and recovery. My other titles include: THE ROAD TO ENCHANTMENT (Jan. 2017), THE FIRELIGHT GIRLS (2014), HOW I CAME TO SPARKLE AGAIN (2012), ON THE DIVINITY OF SECOND CHANCES (2009), and CHURCH OF THE DOG (2008).

In addition to being an author, I've been an archaeologist, a massage therapist, an art teacher, an elementary teacher. After spending a couple winters in Mexico, I've returned to my roots in Washington, where I'm teaching middle school art.

When I'm not working, I love to play outside-- kayak, telemark ski, cross-country ski, stand-up paddleboard, skate ski, bicycle, ride horses, and attempt to surf. And if I can't be outside, I like to play cello and bass, guitar, and banjo. I enjoy painting, sculpting, and every once in a while I make a quilt or stained glass window. I love to spend time in my garden, too.

My dog, Frida Kahlo, adopted me on the streets of Mexico and has been enriching my life ever since.

Reviews

[Shelby *trains flying monkeys* · Rating 1 out of 5]

This may go spoilery..but if you want to know everything that happened in this book- just read the blurb.

That's all that happens. In hours of reading.

This brought to my mind another book that I absolutely loathed.


Willow is the poor little girl that had to move to the middle of nowhere because her mommy (who is the only person that is remotely interesting in this whole damn book) burned some bridges after daddy cheated. Willow hates life. She hates the new school because girls are mean (Don't expect much here people..not much happens.) She makes friends with a local Apache teenager named Darryl. (Don't get your hopes up either..not enough on him either.)

Anyways, she moves out to LA because you just know Willow is going to make it big time in the music business. She doesn't.
Her mother is accidentally killed and she has to go and settle things so she can go back out to where she belongs.

I hate myself for my stupid little thing of making a promise not to DNF a book this year, because this sucker would have gotten it.
I felt like this character's dang therapist.


And all I wanted to do is punch her in the face.

There was nothing to read about (for me) other than this woman's self-centered bull crap. Then of course she meets the neighbor man and the one thing I didn't think was going to happen started leaning towards happening.


Holy crap people. You don't have to have any dang man in order to 'find yourself.'

I need to stop this review because I'm getting pissed off all over again, I hadn't written the review for this one even though I FINALLY finished it days ago...because what the heck do you say to some hot mess like this?


Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Road to Enchantment by Kaya McLaren is a St. Martin's Press publication.

Excerpt from my review on Night Owl Review:

However, Willow’s character development is fun to watch. Witnessing her growth and self-discovery was rewarding, plus, the secondary characters are eccentric, but very likable, and their contributions are what gives the story a real dash of color.

Overall, this is a pleasant contemporary fiction novel that fans of Women’s Fiction or Chick-lit will enjoy.

To read the full review click on this link:

https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Re...



3.5 stars

[Olivia "So many books--so little time."" · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the story of Willow, whose boyfriend dumps her, she learns that her mother has died, and she travels to New Mexico to wrap up her affairs and finds out she's pregnant. I enjoyed it. I got this book as an advance uncorrected proof.

[CL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Willow moved away as soon as she could from a mother who she did not always understand. Willow’s mother left her father and moved her to the middle of nowhere on the border of the Apache reservation where she did not fit in and was not always welcome. Now her mother has died and she decides to take a leave of absence from her job as a studio musician when her boyfriend decides she is not worth the shared rent. When she arrives in New Mexico she finds her mother was about to lose her ranch and Willow will need to pay off the taxes and the lien if she is to have a future for herself and the baby she has discovered she is carrying. She spent her youth helping her mother plant grapes for a vineyard that never seemed to take off but Willow discovered if she is going to pay off her mother’s debts the wine will be the only way she will be able to do it. As she struggles to find her way she realizes that family is not always defined by blood but can be an accepting community of friends. Great read. I would like to thank the Publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.

[Susanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Road to Enchantment by Kaya McLaren is not all that enchanting.

In this novel, Ms. McLaren tells the story of a young girl Willow, who is torn from her home and uprooted to a farm in New Mexico where she knows no one. It is hot and dirty and it is in the middle of nowhere. And her mother doesn't seem to care that she has destroyed her daughter's life. Willow is bullied at school and wants to disappear, but she makes friends with a neighbor, Darrel, who lives on a bordering apache reservation and he takes Willow under his wing and protects her. Even though she has Darrel by her side, Willow longs for graduation day, when she can get away from her mom and this awful town.

Fast Forward years later, when a single & pregnant Willow returns to the farm (now a winery), to tend to her mother's funeral and save the farm from financial ruin. In doing so, Willow discovers who she truly is and finds out what has been missing from her life all this time.

The author, Kaya McLaren wrote a sweet, endearing novel but unfortunately I found it to be wholly predictable.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Kaya McLaren for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Published on NetGalley and Goodreads 1/29/16.

**Will be Published on Amazon on 1/31/17.

[Sophie "Beware Of The Reader" · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 to 4,5 stars

An ARC has been kindly given by St Martin’s Press via NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.



I did not know this author at all. I had never heard of her via my Goodreads friends or any Amazon recommendation or anything. The book caught my attention with its pretty cover. When I read the blurb I was intrigued. Now I can honestly say I’ve been entranced and I really appreciated this book.

This is a life story. Willow’s story.

You’ll embark on a journey where important choices are made based upon lightning illuminating tainted-glass windows with messaged being delivered through animal shaped clouds and dreams. You’ll make wishes written on kite in the hope of being heard by who or what is “above”.

It’s a magic story filled with Indian’s traditions. It’s about finding a place to really belong. Making peace with the one you loved mourning them. One life is ending while a new one begins.Willow had to undertake this journey to find who she really is and what she wants in life. What makes her content, happy.

Willow is at a turning point in her life. She’s made mistakes and her dreams did not turn out as she had hoped. She’s been dumped by her boyfriend the same day she heard her mother died. She’s been living in Los Angeles for years now and will have to go back to the Reservation and organize her mother funeral. She should sell her mother’s small vineyard. The one they planted together. Her mother’s dream. Her life is in Los Angeles as a musician not in the middle of nowhere among goats, dogs, lama and bulls surrounded by vines. She should…

Returning to the farm Willow reconnects with old Indian friends. Darrel and his family, old teachers. It’s a tight-knit community as Apaches believe in togetherness. The nature sings to her heart, resurrecting old dreams.

Willow has been uprooted as a teen. Her parents divorced and her mother decided to follow her dream to live close to nature moving them from Washington State to the Apache Reservation in New Mexico. Willow’s mom was “something else” tenacious and resourceful. They would be self- sufficient on this small farm. They would grow their vegetables milk the goats, use solar panels and make wine. Willow was angry, so angry with her mother. She was nearly the only white people in her new school, bullied on her first day. All she’s ever wanted was to belong. Really belong and it was not going to happen there.

”I wrote about the injustice of my situation, about how angry I was at my mom for essentially kidnapping me and taking me here and about Dad essentially abandoning me for a new-and-improved kid. I wrote about how much I hated standing out, hated being a blonde on an Indian reservation, about how I hated being poor, about how much I missed delicious food, and my friends, and my grandma, and the way things used to be.”

She planned to escape and go live with her Grandma. But soon enough she’ll meet Darrel. He will protect her welcome her in his family and become her best friend. Thanks to countless horse rides and the Vigil she’ll come to learn her new home and blend in the surroundings.
Another chance encounter with her future cello teacher will also help the young Willow to settle and let go of some of her anger.
“Most people can’t or won’t see me,” I said. “Dad, Mom, almost everyone in my community, Ms. Nunnalee—no one sees me. But you see me. And Darrel sees me. And the Vigils see me. I just don’t want to be with people who can’t or won’t see me anymore.” I felt so weary. Looking deep into my eyes, she said, “I see you. I see you.”

Back and forth we go. Between teenage Willow and the woman she now has grown to be.

This story is about growing up. Slowly, gradually we ease into Willow’s skin, walk into her shoes and have to think about the choices she has to make. What does really matter? What is really important? Is it following the path she was on for years now and go back to Los Angeles without real friends? Or choose a new beginning and stay here in this welcoming community where she can read the clouds as if it‘s common occurrence because these people accept her as she is? Create her own music?

The writing drew me in making me experience this beautiful if lonely land of the Cestero Apache Reservation. I could see the bear shaped clouds, smell the sage bushes, feel the earth and imagine Grandpa Vigil imparting his wisdom sharing his dreams. I really loved reading about the Indian traditions and customs. I found the Indian tradition of the Sacred Clown brilliant! The land sang to me as it sang to Willow.

If you want a book filled with actions, fast paced and go full speed from one adventure to another one this is not your book. Things happen of course but at their own pace. It’s a “gourmet” book, meant to be savored.

My only complaint if you can even call it a complaint? I would have loved one more epilogue because I’m a greedy reader. Some doors are closed. We can guess that some choices have been made but barely suggested. So much more is yet to come with countless possibilities. So here I was thinking I would have loved more but honestly it’s the perfect choice for this story and the author’s style.


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[Deb Omnivorous Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gentle work of fiction is a difficult book to review. The writing is itself enchanting, it is full of humour, introspection, honesty (for the most part) and has moments of genuine magic. The introspection and lyrical descriptions of the land in which it is set are lovely and I found it very easy to read (aside from a few points, made below) because the writing was so lovely.

But. Yes - there were buts.
Wait, in order to explain the 'buts' I need to recap the story as seen on the back cover a little. Willow is a 30-something living in LA, she is a professional Cello musician and she works in a studio that adds music to pop or other recording artists tracks to give them depth and warmth. I loved hearing about this, I didn't know such a profession was possible. One day her boyfriend breaks up with her almost at the same time that she receives a phone call to say her mother has died. Her boyfriend then goes out for Thai dinner with his mates - proving himself a shallow a*hole- and Willow packs her belongings into a car and drives to her mothers place to settle her affairs.

Willow's mother relocated them to New Mexico after her father left them and the rest of the book is peppered with details of Willow's time as a child, stories about her mother and their hard life on the 'farm' together which Willow left never to return the second she could.

This description runs on a little because it is a full book with a lot to it but not heavy on plot or actual events. The plot is really pretty minor to the reading experience, it is the rich scene descriptions, the slow way in which Willow meets her obligations, the writing and the introspection that will make it a love or hate book for the reader.

I loved Willow's complicated relationship with her mother; it was so reminiscent of mine with my mother.
I loved the emotional complications of dealing with her mothers house (which she must sell) while dealing with her feelings for her deceased parent; I had to do that too.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the New Mexico Apache community; there was not much of them,but I get why and I love traveling to new places in the books I read.

A few things I really didn't like at all: There is a strong baby theme which I did not realise when I got this book. A lot of the inner hand wringing of the character is about an unexpected pregnancy which she plans to terminate quietly. She can't do so quietly because the whole community knows about it and keeps congratulating her assuring her that 'it will be ok' and other banalities like 'you are not alone'. Now, let us bear in mind that this is a community she hated living in, that she left as soon as she was done with high school, which she cared for so little she left without ever meaning to come back to. After a while I want to shake this chick until her neck snaps. They are lying to you Willow: Yes, you are alone. The community will not help you roll over in bed when you are too large to sit up on your own. Your mate from high school may want to be an uncle, he may even be there for you the first few weeks when you are exhausted, but then you will have to do it all alone, for years. The school teacher in the laundromat that gives you the warm and fuzzy felling when she says ''the mother earth will provide" - has she escaped a mental care facility? It is unbelievably, exceptionally obvious that this is nonsense of the highest degree. That Mother Earth does not provide is most obvious on many reservations and this novel is based in America with the most appalling welfare system in the first world; as evidenced by Willow's own childhood so the country will also, not provide.

Now I have nothing but respect for single parents, actually I have respect bordering on awe. I would hate to have to do that job on my own, which is why I never did. But at the start Willow is well aware of the difficulties and then she is kind of brainwashed into doing something she knows she has no resources for. Having seen the light about keeping the baby, she then hand wrings for a while about whether she will keep her mothers house and winery and raise her kid there or sell it. This part I was inpatient with; it was obvious she would stay, obvious she had to stay if she was going to have a kid and we could have cut the word count down a bit there.

Some of the morality themes disturbed me a bit. On the one hand you had Willow's mom, a really strong woman of independent character not a great role model financially perhaps, but interesting and independent thinking. On the other you had the baby theme (I know Americans are a bit weird about abortions, kudos to the author for not really going there), at the end it gets a bit God-ish, but that is another thing Americans do a lot of, it was not too bad. However, while Willow is introspecting on pg. 162:
"Did it matter that I didn't save sex for a man who wanted to marry me?Maybe"
Oh yuck! REALLY? In this day and age? This absolutely made me squirm and mentally retch.

However, rants and complaints over with, this was in general a lovely book, very very introspective with a lyrical quality to the writing that made the narrative absolutely enjoyable for almost all of it. If you are wondering how this opinion can make sense with what I wrote about it above here is how: Many other books where the character descended into baby goo, I would have put down and never picked up again. Never did I contemplate doing that to this book. At the end of each reading session (even the annoying bits) I didn't quite want to put it down. The end feeling was satisfaction at having read it, even though the ending itself was a little superficial, obvious and clumsy, it was a full stop and the end of the story.

It is the lovely writing that I recommend it for, above all else and I do recommend it for people who enjoy the beauty of words.

[Dorine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming of age reflection mixes with picking up the pieces after loss in THE ROAD TO ENCHANTMENT by Kaya McLaren, one woman’s growth through a broken childhood to become a healed, well-balanced adult. I loved the isolated setting near an Apache reservation, full of self-reliance ingenuity, which encourages Native American neighbors into action when Willow needs it.

Willow’s childhood was never normal which reflects her mother’s personality and alcohol addiction. Mom sets a mattress on fire and roasts “marshmallow peeps” over it when she finds out her husband cheated. Then she moves them to an off-the-grid farm on the edge of an Apache reservation in New Mexico. Willow’s only way out is music when she learns to play the cello and becomes a studio artist in Los Angeles.

Willow’s adult world seems perfect. She lives with fellow recording artist, Ian, and they have a good life playing music for a living. But Ian suddenly feels the call to become a starving rock star, moves into his buddy’s closet to save money and plays in a band. Willow is left wondering who will pay Ian’s half of the rent. Then her mother dies, leaving Willow the ranch in New Mexico along with her debts to decipher. Willow packs her bags and moves home. To top all that off, she discovers she’s pregnant with Ian’s child.

Who will save the day? Her not-so-stereotypical gay best friend Darrel, who is Apache, wants to help. His parents are very supportive and treat her as their daughter. Can Willow find her way back to music and happiness when everything she knows is gone?

The quirky characters in this novel kept me entertained with their antics and solutions to Willow’s dilemmas. Darrel’s parents become support for Willow, encouraging her to be herself and to be brave. Darrel is a good best friend who has Willow’s best interests in mind, even though he struggles with his own love life. I absolutely loved the animals. They added stress, emotion and interest to Willow’s already complicated situation.

By halfway through the novel, I had cried twice for Willow’s situation. My emotion surprised me but her dilemma moved me. I wasn’t sure Willow would choose the right path, but when she does, everything falls into place as it should, creating a pathway she begins to accept.

There were a couple things that would have made the novel more enjoyable. First, Willow’s love interest is introduced, toyed with for a bit, but then he’s glossed over. I think more time should have been spent nurturing that relationship. I was satisfied with the end of the book, but because it had deep emotional impact early on, the oomph was taken out of the final chapters without more in-depth focus on her future.

It’s a lovely story so I wasn’t disappointed. I just didn’t feel the power behind the resolution as much as I had felt the emotion of the middle. That made it feel like the book climaxed too early and then lingered toward the end. It needs another emotive hook that is more prevailing than the middle to give it that wow factor I expected because the book was so great overall.

My enjoyment was consistent with the quality of the writing and the characters I had come to love. I was encouraged by Willow’s personal growth and found that very satisfying. A good coming of age reflection mixed with women’s fiction, THE ROAD TO ENCHANTMENT is perfect for lovers of off-the-grid ingenuity mixed with the magic of the music business. The two worlds collide, revealing the beauty of a simple life.

Review by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest. Digital advanced reader copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.

[Aoife · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I received a free digital copy from the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Willow is having a bad time of it - her boyfriend dumps her, her mom dies and then she finds out she’s pregnant. While back in New Mexico sorting out her mom’s estate, Willow begins to think about her relationship with her mother while also figuring out what to do with the unexpected pregnancy and realising maybe the place she has been running away from for a long time is actually home after all.

This was a really nice, relaxing book to read and I’m really glad I picked it ip. I was immediately entranced by Willow’s past with her mother - from the way her mom response to her marriage breakdown by roasting marshmallows over a burning mattress to her dragging Willow off to the middle of nowhere for a fresh start. I loved how eccentric her mom was and how normal Willow just wanted to be. I did find some of Willow’s reactions to her mother a bit extreme from focusing on her mother’s alcoholism for ruining her childhood and making it sound like her mom was a mean, angry, abusive drunk (which she wasn’t but did seem to drink a bit too much) and then one point during the grape planting years when she had damaged hands and wanted to lie to a social services worker about her mom being abusive. I found that a bit strange.

Willow herself was an odd enough character and I definitely warmed to the people in her life such as her mom, Darrel and Darrel’s grandparents, rather than Willow herself. I kept forgetting she was 39 year olds as her life seemed so..unorganised for an almost middle-aged woman. She could hardly afford half her rent, seemed shaky in her job and didn’t have great relationships with men or even any close friends in LA and it kept making me think she was in her 20s rather than late 30s (which, apparently, in my mind means people need to have it figured out).

I loved the bits of Apache culture that were put into the book from Willow’s occasional use of the language and then her inclusion in the culture and tradition of the tribe and how she was included in events on the reservation growing up. I loved how this book focused on family and how sometimes family can be all around you without you noticing and that people who aren’t necessarily blood-related can also be as strong family members as those who are. I really enjoyed the ending of it and how Willow’s spirit really seemed to settle and her new affinity with her land and her plans for the future that also included her cello dreams, just slightly new ones. I also liked how Willow’s romance with Mark was hinted at with the clear attraction and spark between the two but nothing was really pushed and/or became inappropriate considering she was newly pregnant with her ex.

Overall, really enjoyed this book. It was a comforting read and I definitely recommend it.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a goodreads first reads winner in the giveaways. Willow is the main character. When she is 13 her mother leaves Willow's father after she found out he was cheating on her. They leave Washington state and end up in New Mexico. Her mother buys a lot of acres and starts up a goat ranch, with chickens and eventually grows grapes to support the family. Willow has to start up at a new school where she is bullied. She does meet a life long friend with Darrel, an Apache Indian.Most of the area they now live in is Canyons and Apache reservation. Fast forward over 20 years later. Willow now lives on California as a cello player. She gets news her mother died in a freak accident when she falls horse back riding. Now Willow must come back to the home she could not wait to leave to decide what to do with the land and bills her mother owes. She has also found out she is pregnant with a baby she is not sure she wants. Part of the book has Willow looking back on her teenage years and the resentment she has for her Father back in Washington who has remarried with a new daughter to raise, and Willow does not like living on the ranch with her mother all those years ago. A pretty good read.

[Faouzia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank NetGalley, the Publisher and Author for this copy.

It is really an enchanting journey with this story. There was something magical in this book, maybe it was the setting, the fascinating character, the music or the mix of it all.
It was the story of self re-discovery, of understanding and learning from the past and of strong ties with places and persons.

It was a great journey i had with this book, i felt transported to this unique atmosphere in New Mexico, close by an Apache reservation, in the Winery and Goat Ranch that Willow's mother bought and worked hard on it. The place that Willow wanted to escape when she was growing up, that represented everything she hated. The same place she had to face when she came back 20 years later to bury her mother and get rid of it for ever.
Only, things are never that simple.

I can't exactly say what really touched my heart in this story, but it definitely caught me. The fact that it was told by Willow helped with that, the author did a great job in painting her fears, hopes, thoughts and decisions. And also in bringing that Winery/Ranch into life, i can almost see it and feel the breeze playing with the Aspen trees when i close my eyes.

It was a a delightful story and i would recommend it.

[Eustacia Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't quite remember why I requested this book (perhaps it's because of the cover), but I found myself enjoying it despite the fact that nothing happens.

The Road to Enchantment starts when Willow receives word that her mother has died, breaks up with her boyfriend, and then finds out she's pregnant (in said order). Having moved back to the home she and her mother lived in, Willow must find a way to pay off her mother's debts and decide what to do with the baby.

The solutions to these problems are actually very simple. Willow sells the wine her mom has been making, and the animals on the farm, and solves the debt problem (more-or-less). The community rallies around her and manages to dissolve her already hesitant decision to abort the baby. The biggest question is whether she will go back to where she was, or stay in New Mexico (and it's pretty obvious to the reader which it is, even if it's not to Willow).

To me, the beauty in this book are the characters and the gradually merging of past and present. First, the characters. The place in New Mexico where Willow grew up borders an Apache reservation and the community is almost all Apache. I really loved how that became part of the story - how the customs and language and people became a part of her life, even if she didn't initially feel like she belonged.

And speaking of characters, both Willow's mom and dad were flawed people. I probably sympathised more with her dad than mom, despite the fact that it would normally be the other way round because I so acutely felt the embarrassment that Willow's mom caused her. Her dad, on the other hand, was largely absent (because her mom moved her to New Mexico) so my impression of him wasn't so bad.

The second: Willow's acceptance of her past. The book alternates between the present day and Willow's memories, and it quickly begins to be clear that how Willow saw and experienced the world back then still affects her. So when she can finally accept her past, her present can start moving into the future.

The only thing that I didn't like about the ending (mild spoilers ahead! Although to be honest there isn't much plot to spoil) is that Willow still ends up with a man in her life. A better man, to be granted, but for a good portion of the book, I thought this would be about the non-romantic type of love and how it can support people. To end with Willow in a relationship seemed to say that in the end, women need a man to be happy.

Apart from that one (fairly large to me) point, I enjoyed this book. Willow's journey isn't dramatic, but she does make a journey and I dare say that she's happier at the end of it.

Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.

This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile

[Dunja *a chain reader* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where do I belong? Where is my home? Where is my future? These are the questions that Willow, a 39-year-old cello player, suddenly faces. In a single day she finds herself in a dire situation: She is dumped by her boyfriend of three years and learns that her mother has died in a riding accident. Both of these events are actually a blessing in disguise for Willow. Homeless and almost penniless, she is forced to go to her mother’s ranch to make funeral arrangements and to try and sell it. Arriving there, she also finds out she is pregnant.

Now Willow must decide quickly what to do with her life and that of her unborn baby. She always thought she did not belong anywhere. First, her mother moved her from Washington to New Mexico, where she was the only blond kid in the whole school. Then, her father remarried and focused on his new family. After that, when she finished high school, she moved to L.A. to pursue her music career, unfortunately without too much success. Nothing went the way she had planned. Suddenly she needs to reexamine her life and decide whether to return to her old and empty life in L.A. or build a new one in New Mexico surrounded by her childhood friends and her mother’s friends.
Full review available at:Bookreporter

[Kaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are someone with a love-hate relationship with your home, wherever it is, you might really enjoy this book. Often, when we return to a place as an adult, we have the ability to appreciate the love that was always there, whether it was in the foreground or the background, love that our teenage selves couldn't see. That's what this book is-- essentially a rediscovery of home, and of recognizing our family, whether biological or chosen. I wrote this book after living and teaching on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation for three years. I felt so lucky to had gotten to experience a part of America that few ever get to see, and I wanted to share that experience with everyone. I wanted you to see my friends and my former students as I do-- in the very best light and with a loving heart. I hope you enjoy your literary journey to a fictional reservation in New Mexico, where Willow returns and is forced to make peace with her past.

[Jen Juenke · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! This was my first book to read by this author. I was super impressed by her storytelling, her vivid descriptions, and the overall story. You can read the synopsis of the book and not get the depth of the book itself.
I sat down to read this book for a few minutes, hours later I had finished the book, I could not put it down .
This book is a love story between a mom and a daughter. Its a story about forgiveness, acceptance, and learning that love can have warts and beauty at the same time. The other lesson from the book, is that family isn't always blood related.
One of my favorite parts of the book is when the mom is telling Willow not to believe in Romance Novels. I feel the same way, romance novels are NOT realistic and won't give you the true way of life.
Overall a GREAT NOVEL!

[Patty Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so good! Even though the description of the book gives you a lot about the story, what really grabbed me was how the main character, Willow, handled her new reality.

I also liked how the author gives the reader a good look on how Willow's relationship with her mother was, and the impact that her mother had on others.

Will definitely read this author again. I would also like to thank Kaya McLaren for gifting me a copy of this book.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off with promise...I loved the idea of a plot mixed with Native American themes and imagery. However, I guessed how the entire book would end within about 20 pages of starting it (which means 320 pages later, I was pretty bummed). Unless you want a super easy and predictable read, I would not recommend this one.

[Anne-Marie Posey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, particularly the spiritual and mystical theme. I found myself cheering for Willow as she navigated heartbreaking and difficult circumstances, and found herself to be surrounded by everyone and all that she needed, sometimes much to her surprise.

[Laura Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read!

[January Gray · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not finish. I tried several times but could not get into it. The characters and plot made me feel like I had read this story before. Too similar to other books I have read.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful and reflective, The Road to Enchantment by Kaya McLaren is a story of loss, healing and new beginnings.

Willow never quite forgave her mom for upending her life after discovering her husband was cheating on her. Starting over near an Apache reservation in a very isolated location in New Mexico, life was a struggle as they barely eked out a living on a goat farm and fledgling vineyard. Willow's friendship with Darrel and his grandparents made life bearable growing up but as soon as she graduated from high school, she moved to Los Angeles to fulfill her dream of becoming a musician. Her relationship with her mom remains contentious and after a particularly unpleasant visit three years earlier, Willow has not returned to visit. This makes her mother's unexpected death even more painful since she was never quite able to repair the rift between them. Returning to the DeVine Winery and Goat Ranch to settle her mom's affairs, Willow tries to make peace with her past while at the same time attempting to figure out what comes next after she discovers she is pregnant.

Willow is quite introspective upon her return to the childhood she has yet to come to terms with. All these years later, she remains resentful of her mother's decision to start over in a new place. She cannot forgive her dad for "replacing" their family with a new wife and child. She is disdainful of her mom's dreams which left them scrambling to make ends meet. Willow hates everything the DeVine Winery and Goat Ranch represents yet as she sorts through her mother's belongings, she begins to understand her a little better. Even more surprising is her altered perspective of her childhood home and the effect this has on her desire to continue pursuing her own dream in the midst of all of the changes that lie ahead of her as she makes a decision about her unplanned pregnancy.

While Willow is a likable and sympathetic character, she is also quite frustrating as she tries to decide her future. The answer is staring her right in the face all along, yet she continues to agonize over making the best choice for herself and her unborn child. She is a little self-absorbed and unforgiving initially but as she sorts through the detritus of her mom's life and her own past, she finally begins to see things from her mom's viewpoint. Willow stubbornly clings to the idea of returning to Los Angeles even as she acknowledges the problems she is facing if she follows through with her plans. Thankfully she finally begins to open her heart and mind to the possibility that resisting change might not be in her best interests. However, whether Willow can completely resolve her issues with her past in order to find happiness remains far from certain.

Although a little slow-paced, The Road to Enchantment is an emotionally compelling journey of self-discovery. This character-driven story is set against the harsh but beautiful New Mexico landscape and Kaya McLaren beautifully incorporates intriguing aspects of Apache heritage into the storyline. An absolutely breathtaking story of coming to terms with a painful past and forging a new path when life takes an unexpected turn that I absolutely loved and highly recommend to fans of the genre.

[Lynn Lutomski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it, made me cry life is so interpretive,

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Road to Enchantment by Kaya McLaren is a story of loss, reflection, forgiveness and personal growth. I received an advance copy of this book from Goodreads giveaway/St Martin’s press in exchange of my honest review. Although this was a predictable story, I really enjoyed this book. It was an entertaining easy read and I definitely recommend it.

It is a story about a 39 year old woman, Willow, who moves back to her mother's New Mexico home in order to handle her mother's last affairs after living as a musician in Los Angeles for her entire adulthood. After Willow’s mom, who marched to the beat of her own drum, leaves her father, she buys a ranch in New Mexico, dragging young Willow along. Starting over near an Apache reservation in a very isolated location in New Mexico was not where Willow wanted to be, as well as be the only Caucasian in a predominantly Apache school. I appreciated that the author incorporated intriguing aspects of Apache heritage into the storyline. Her father isn’t sympathetic, as he had an affair and started another family where Willow feels like the third wheel. Willow did have a brotherly relationship with Darrel and his grandparents and had a great passion for Apache heritage, music and riding horses. This made her life bearable growing up, but as soon as she graduated from high school, she moved to Los Angeles to fulfill her dream of becoming a musician.

Willow never quite forgave her mom for upsetting her life after discovering her husband was cheating on her. This makes her mother's unexpected death even more painful since she was never quite able to repair the tension between them. Willow hated everything the winery and goat ranch represents, yet as she sorts through her mother's belongings to settle her mom’s affairs, she begins to make peace with her past while at the same time attempting to figure out what comes next after she discovers she is pregnant. Revisiting the ranch allows her to reconsider her future. Willow finds that the influence of the small town life where everyone knows your business and where friends are like family, helps her realize that maybe this is where she needed to be at this point in her life. The place she has been running away from for a long time is actually home after all.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful story based on family and friends which gives us a wonderful view into each of the characters emotions, from, their feelings of joy, sadness, their fears and wishes, not only about themselves but also about each other. I felt like there was a lot of insight about life, not only about the characters, but for the reader as well. It made me, stop and think quite often, about what I wanted or how would I react to a situation.
It is also about a struggle between a daughter and mother as they forge a new life after divorce, moving from Washington State to an isolated farm in New Mexico, The DeVine Winery and Goat Ranch , two worlds so vastly different in lifestyle. They move to a small town near an Apache reservation where the daughter (and main Character) Willow, has to reinvent her life as a minority, and just try to find out where she fits into the world she's been put in. She makes a best friend Darrel who is half Apache, Half Samoan, who helps her out a lot on this new journey.
The mom more resourceful or maybe optimistic, adjust to the change much better and starts to incorporate what she love onto their farm, from Goats, horses, wine etc.
There was a piece in the story, talking about Willow and her friend Darrel, that said: We rode in silence, for a long time, a comfortable silence, much like the way a dog doesn't have to speak to be your best friend.” This just made me feel a true sense of connection and trust between the two of them.
The mom also at one point gives her daughter a talk on the birds and the bees which had me laughing so hard. I think we can all look back to a certain age, where we felt a parent was embarrassing, and this story has a few.
It is about trying to find your niche away from where you grew up and to follow a passion, (music in this case) even if it isn't your sole goal.
I had never read anything by this Author before, but I enjoyed this book so much that I will look into what else she has written.
Thank you Netgalley, for the chance to read it.

[Care · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful discovery of self set in a small, ramshackle winery on the edge of an Apache reservation in New Mexico.

Willow is headed home for the first time in many years after her mother passes away, leaving behind the De Vine Winery. She and her mother moved there as a young girl following her mother's dramatic farewell to their Washington State life when she discovered Willow's father was having an affair. Willow grew up in New Mexico feeling unwelcome and uncomfortable, saved only by her best friend Darrel and his grandparents. Now as she comes back on the heels of being dumped, her mother's death, and a surprise pregnancy, she will rediscover herself as she tries to put the struggling property back together.

A beautifully written work that seamlessly interwove past and present scenes into one intricate tale of loss and life and recovery, The Road to Enchantment captures the essence of time's passing and age as less important in the overall search for happiness and meaning. The characters of Willow and her mother are carefully painted in complexity and depth, and the love and care of her community for both women drives the heart of this story. While a romantic interest does make an appearance, his role is secondary and nonessential for Willow's growth.

A masterful coming-of-age-at-any-age piece that is remarkable in its descriptions, storyline and character development.

Thanks to the publisher for an advance digital copy in exchange for a fair review!

[Stephanie A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never been a big Southwestern person -- I like trees and grass and soft dirt and not constantly fearing drought too much -- but I still fell so hard for the rural farm setting here. From the very first page of vivid description, I felt like I was there.

I'm a sucker for a good "woman inherits house" story as much as a "pregnant woman rebuilds her life on her own" one, so having them combined? Amazing. Loved the alternating chapters between the past -- watching adolescent Willow reluctantly accept her new normal in the wake of her parents' divorce, coming of age in the middle of nowhere, going to school where her white skin makes her a minority -- and the present, watching adult Willow step away from the life she's lived in L.A. for 2 decades to settle her late mother's affairs in the place she bolted from the day after graduation, barely looking back.

There is so much about the day-to-day of taking care of a parent's estate, from practical details about picking up their things and feeding their pets, as well as selling off assets to take care of back taxes and other debts, to the more nebulous cocktail of emotions ranging from grief to regret to anger at the mess left behind.

The mother/daughter relationship is fascinating, because I could see both sides of their arguments and where the friction came from. Young Willow didn't want to ripped away from her father, her suburban house and her home state to a completely foreign region and living on the edge of poverty. Her mother wanted a clean break from her cheating husband (though given that his wife was a mean alcoholic who seemed long out of love w/ him, he's not a total villain), and she wanted to prove (and show her daughter) that you don't need to depend on anyone else for survival or happiness. Their adult relationship, while amicable enough and certainly not empty of love, doesn't seem to have ever been an especially warm one, which complicates the grief.

(That said, I can totally respect her mom's dream to run a goat + wine farm. Loved watching her establish it out of sweat equity, and seeing how it later developed once Willow left. And, while crass, at one point her mom gives the most hilariously on the nose speech to her adolescent daughter about how overrated sex is that I've ever seen, which starts with a fantastic dressing-down of both Harlequin romance novels and the hate-to-love trope I can't stand: "This book would have you believe that at first you hate him and then your smoldering hatred becomes passionate love. If you hate somebody, chances are there is a good reason, so don't let your hormones cloud your judgment, because trust me, they can and then one day when the thrill wears off, and it will, you'll wake up to somebody that you hate.")

I also feel like Willow is an unusual age for female book leads -- around 40, older than most book characters who've never had a super-stable relationship, residence or career, but also younger than the typical "middle aged woman starts her Second Act" character, not least because those usually have a divorce and/or children in their wake, and Willow never got to either of those stages. Whatever it was, I identified with her really easily, even though our lives are nothing alike.

Then there's the pregnancy aspect itself, which is always nice when it's part of a fuzzy romance with a devoted partner, but can also be fun when you write the guy out of the picture as a loser from the get-go (albeit a dashing one who makes you see why she originally fell for him), and all the focus is on how a woman feels about her relationship to said pregnancy and her pending future.

There is the expected discussion of abortion, but it never really feels like she'll go through with it, because she represents a viewpoint I don't think we hear enough: someone who is not morally opposed to having one, but also feels like they're forced to do so out of economic necessity more than a real desire to avoid being a mother (the prospect of adoption is dismissed as she fears she'd get too attached at birth to go through with it, then be back to the "no money" problem). She raises some good points about the general lack of a social safety net afforded to mothers in the U.S. versus in other cultures, and while it's very easy for that kind of talk to get preachy and political, here it just sounded like reasonable, realistic musings.

I thought I would be annoyed about having the Obvious Love Interest Best Friend subverted by having the best friend be gay, but he had a pretty enjoyable relationship of his own AND I see u casually giving her a Single Man Neighbor and being coy about their potential, so I am chuffed. Make no mistake, Darrel was wonderful the whole way through -- the most supportive friend one could ask for, and one whose family so thoroughly welcomes her that she's considered part of theirs, despite sharing none of their cultural heritage.

On top of THAT, this book is loaded with animals. Riding horses and dogs and cats in addition to goats, a llama, a donkey (whom we unfortunately hear nothing about, which is weird, because all of my history with donkeys suggests they are pretty friendly little buggers), and a majestic guard bull, rescued from a short life in the matador ring via some illicit border-smuggling.

There were really only minor things I didn't love -- I wanted to care more about her cello lessons and cello teacher than I did (and I usually love musically-oriented characters in books!), and I wasn't big on the "animal shapes in the clouds are omens" divination...but that was about it.

The best part was that I was soooo wrapped up in this story that there were about 5 times where I thought, "I bet this is the end. Which is fine, but I wish I could have a little more," only to turn the page and find to my joy that it was NOT the end, and none of the pages in the back turned out to be book club discussion questions or anything.

Finally, I like the author's note, in which she addresses up front that this book comes from the fact that she lived and taught for three years on a reservation, but is still white, so her perspective is limited and filtered through that. "It was difficult for me to untangle what is mine and what is not mine to write about," she writes. "Apache culture, particularly anything that is sacred, is not mine to write about or profit from. But three years of my life history are mine." That's a wonderful mindset and I wish more people would use it, especially as she takes pains to note that this is intended in good faith, and asks forgiveness for any accidental misrepresentation.

[Oreoandlucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in order to review it. I really enjoyed this story about a single, expectant mother who has to move back to her mother's New Mexico vineyard in order to handle her mother's last affairs after living as a musician in Los Angeles for her entire adulthood. In many ways, this story was very sad. Willow's mother having been an alcoholic before passing and Willow feeling so alone being the only Caucasian in a predominantly Apache school. Even Willow's father can't be of any help as he decided to have an affair and take a second family where Willow feels like the third wheel. There were quite a few happy parts in this book, too. Willow had a wonderful brotherly relationship with Darrel and his grandparents and had a wonderful passion for music and riding horses. There are times when this novel does read a bit slowly but it was otherwise a very nice, hopeful, book and an interesting story. I learned a lot about the rich Apache culture and even a few Apache words! What a wonderful story with beautiful characters so full of life! This would be a great book for readers who enjoy exploring other cultures and like stories with non-traditional families.

[Susan Harper · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Road to Enchantment is the first book I have read by Kaya McLaren. It is a sweet gently read that is like hot chocolate for the soul.
When she was little, Willow witness her mother set fire to the mattress of the marital bed that she had shared with her cheating husband.
Soon after mother and daughter hit the road and head for New Mexico. However as soon as she can Willow leaves and makes a life for herself. When her mother dies Willow takes a break from her jot and returns ‘home’.
It becomes apparent that her mother dies owing money and if a pregnant Willow wants to keep the ranch she will need to raise some serious funds.
Thanks, NetGalley and St Martin’s press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange of my honest review.

[Claire Barfell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads Giveaways. I loved this book!!! It was so heartwarming and had very good life lessons in it. Willow came back to New Mexico after her mother's death and is trying to decide her own future. I really felt like I knew her and shared her questions and problems. Also, my belief that love is what really is important in life was definitely shown here. Kaya McLaren is a very gifted writer, I hope to read more of her books.

[Lillian Donaldson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure the first few pages what to expect, but I was quickly drawn into the narrative, peppered with meaningful flashbacks that help to set Willow's current experience with her past self. You see tremendous character growth, a definition of family that doesn't necessarily fit the norm, and a part of the country that first seems barren, but you quickly appreciate for its diversity. A satisfying read that quickly moved to a favourite and glad I picked up.