Long Journey Home

by Sharlene MacLaren

After divorcing her abusive husband, single mother Callie May is still nursing the scars of a
painful past. The last thing she needs in her life is another man, so she’s less than thrilled
when a handsome but brooding stranger moves into the apartment across the hall.
Dan Mattson may be attractive, but his circumstances certainly aren’ a former church
pastor, he abandoned his flock in Michigan and fled to the Chicago suburbs after the death
of his beloved wife and baby daughter in a tragic automobile accident. Embittered by his
loss, Dan turns his back on God.

Callie mistrusts men, and the angry Dan often gives her good reason to. Both are weighed
down by the scars and disappointment in their pasts. When Callie’s ex–husband shows up to
wreak more havoc in her life, Dan finds himself coming to her defense—and facing his own
demons in the process. Will Dan and Callie be able to get past their baggage and give love
another chance? Can they come to see life’s apparent tragedies as part of God’s perfect plan?
Can the power of God change their hearts and mend their hurts?

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction

768 pages, Paperback

First published June 6, 2008

About the author

After 31 years of teaching second and fourth grades, Shar decided to say, "Bye-bye, Students!" and "Hello, Writing World!" and it's been an interesting, exciting, challenging, and inspiring adventure. One thing she knows for certain—God dropped a seed of passion for writing in her heart back in the summer of 2000, and He's been growing it ever since. She signed on with Whitaker House Publishers in early 2006 and in December of that same year released Through Every Storm, a general fiction title that finaled in the American Christian Fiction Writers Book-of-the-Year. Another general fiction title, Long Journey Home, hit shelves in 2008. (It is her pleasure to announce that both of these titles are also available in SPANISH.)

Sharlene’s beloved, bestselling “Little Hickman Creek Series” released in 2007-08. This 3-book series set in 1895 KENTUCKY won the “Road to Romance” Reviewers’ Choice Award and a third place standing in the Inspirational Readers’ Choice Contest in 2008 and 2009. Also, in 2009, her historical series, “The Daughters of Jacob Kane”, began hitting bookshelves in stores countrywide. In late summer of 2010, Tender Vow, another general fiction stand-alone, will release, and following that, a 1920s 3-book set called “River of Hope”. The first in that series, River Song, should become available in the spring of 2011. Yep, you guessed it – Shar is BUSY!!!

Shar has done numerous book-signings across the country, appeared on many national television and radio shows, and participated in countless interviews. She has been married to the love of her life since December of 1975, has two wonderful daughters and two handsome sons-in-law. The joys of her life, however, are her adorable grandchildren. Besides her involvement in music at her local church, Shar has been a speaker for the local MOPS organization, is involved in KIDS’ HOPE, USA, a mentoring program for at-risk children, counsels young women in the international APPLES OF GOLD program, and attends two bi-weekly Bible studies. She and her darling husband, Cecil, live in Spring Lake, Michigan with Peyton, their loveable collie, and Mocha, their big, lazy cat.

Reviews

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story about a single mother and small child is very slow at first, but soon a new neighbor starts to show interest. Her neighbor has lost his wife and child in a car accident and has left his church where he was a minister. They fall in love and the rest is history.

[ABookAddictHere · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars

Callie finally gets rid of her abusive husband when she gets pregnant and the baby is a few months old , she ends up being a pastors neighbor when he moves in and starts making a lot of racket with his furniture. He's in a new city and a new church hoping to escape his past.

Callie and the pastor Dan can't keep not running into each other. Dan loves her baby and how smiley and bubbly she is and all the while Callie is annoyed he keeps popping up where she is.

I am not far into it, but already I love the story.

Throughout the story, Callie and Dan forms a sort of relationship and slowly each let their old telationships hurt and heartache go, allowing a new kind of love to form for each other. Dan plays body guard to her crazy ex and defends her , all the whole Callie loses more of her heart .

The ending was sweet and it was a very good book.

[ANNETTE · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story, a little long

[Amy Roelant]

Pass the time on an older CF book.

[Jewel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharlene MacLaren easily draws me into the bitter complicated lives of Callie May, a newly divorced mother of one and recently singled neighbor Reverend Dan Matteson. Dan doesn't understand why God allowed an unthinkable tragedy to come his way and is convinced there is no reason to continue to serve in pastoral care. Callie believes her mistake of falling for someone who abused and abandoned her is enough to keep her from ever experiencing true love.

MacLaren exemplifies how the immense pain of domestic violence, divorce, and sudden family loss, which knows no boundaries, can undergo the healing forces of biblical truths when embraced. Long Journey Home is an encouraging resource for the hurting Christian heart.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her: A single mother of an infant, recently divorced from an abusive husband. She is trying to start over, with God at the center of her life.
Him: A minister who left his church after his wife and baby daughter were killed in a car accident. He is running from the pain and from God.
Setting: The apartment building in which they both live.
Resolution: Wouldn't that be a spoiler?
The Author: Tells a good story but succombs to the temptation to sermonize.

[V.K. Sansone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book and the characters are like real people that you get to know and learn to care for. A really good read when you are sitting by the fireplace on a long winters night or curled on the couch wrapped in a throw and reading Shar's good books! Get them and enjoy! :)

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like Dan fell in love too quickly. I mean in one sentence he's mourning his wife and the next sentence he's oogling Callie but who knows I'm not a guys so maybe that happens. Other than that it was a good read.

[Elaine]

759
710
749/674

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read, spiritually based. I personally enjoyed the characters and how they overcame their past while keeping their faith.

[Lacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.8
Loved the story and the characters. There was a little too much scripture and such for my liking however, good book!

[Lynnea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! It was a little slow at the very beginning but then really picked up pace and I couldn't put it down!

[Kw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice story. Very predictable, however, and a little hard to believe that Dan would have been so aggressive and almost hostile so early on. Several things didn't ring true . . .

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story. So well written and came to feel like I knew the characters so well.A great read!

[Rachel S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long Journey Home is a Christian Romance story of unlikely love. It's a real page turner I finished it in a day and a half.

[Carman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful! I liked this book alot. I've only read a few things by this author but I really love them.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

New to me author. This was good, plot was believable & the scripture references were perfect.

[Rosibel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best Christian fiction that I have read in a long time , love the story.