Return Home

by Susan Amond Todd

After a family tragedy, Cynthia Lewis finds herself on an extended stay in England, with no indication of when she might be able to return to her home on St. Simons Island. How can she leave when she knows her brother’s family needs her? To Cynthia, needing to be in England is a sign—her budding relationship with Daniel Benton isn’t meant to be. After all, her heart is still recovering after the loss of her husband, Philip. When she finally returns home, Cynthia expects to fall into her same old life—but when you’re out of touch, people and places change. Her family, her best friend Purvell, her friends on the island, and even Daniel have changed—but she hasn’t. Why can’t she move forward? And why does she keep running away? Once again, tragedy lurks at Cynthia’s doorstep when someone from her past returns to darken her world. Suddenly, Cynthia is forced to face her fears—and her future—head on. Return Home is a heartwarming story of family, friendships, home, and second chances that you won’t want to end.

402 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 26, 2018

About the author

Susan Amond Todd has lived in North Carolina for most of her adult life but was born and raised in Neenah, WI. She has two grown daughters, a grandson and a granddaughter.

Her career has been spent raising her daughters, working in banking, and now her passion, writing.

As a young person she enjoyed writing short stories and poetry, always having the desire to pursue more.

Her writing combines her upbringing and love of Wisconsin with that of the south. White Lake and the sequel Return Home, her first two books, are from the White Lake Series. Life’s Fortune is the first book of four in the Life Series.

Reviews

[Lisa McCombs · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Cynthia Lewis travels to England to visit her brother, she has no idea how her life will change. Just as Cynthia, her brother Arthur and Ann, her sister-in-law are making plans for a whirlwind tour of the English countryside, Ann is involved in a tragic car accident, forcing Cynthia’s trip into a longer than planned vacation to help Arthur with his family as his wife recovers. But, she doesn’t recover. Cynthia rets to the States to find her lonely beach cottage just where she had left it, filled with the ghostly voices of her dead husband. Having left her brief romance with millionaire Daniel Benton at loose ends, Cynthia did not expect to find him waiting to reclaim their passion. Nor did she expect her daughter to be pregnant or her best friend to be anxious to leave an exciting city life as a single career girl to reside in the quaint village of St. Simon’s Island.
Return Home: A Novel by Susan Amond Todd is the long-awaited sequel to White Lake. Although I read it first, there are no spoilers in this second novel, making it a perfect stand-alone read. Susan Todd brings the reader close to the setting with vivid descriptions and magical images of peace and small-town charm. I am not surprised that the characters all want to live on St. Simon’s Island. The casual narrative a believable dialogue gracefully intertwine with the unexpected darker character additions that elevate this story above the traditional romance tale.

[K H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would recommend reading this book after reading White Lake. It’s not required but it does help give a little bit more character background. I would say that the ending was good. The last three chapters made me go oh wow. I saw some of it coming but not everything!

There were a few characters where it was nice to see them back. A few new ones and areas where it was that’s what I thought. It was interesting to see that not all things always go as planned. There were moments where it also made me go nice character but wow why are they together. You also have the ones that make you see how important friendships can be.

My favorite moment was when the baby’s name was explained.

The one thing that got me in the end was how the bride and anyone around her was not listed. I should have known who it was as the author did that when they first started dating in the book. So I did like the end.

I would say the book was exciting.

I would say that there are a lot of new beginnings in this book.

I felt really good after reading this book. I wanted to know what happened after book 1.

[Kay Klemmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved both books. They kept me mesmerized and wanting more? I almost didn't want the first book to end until I found out she had a continuation coming out. I was blessed to be able to read the second book. I couldn't put them down and read each of them in two days!!! Great author and an excellent read!!!?! Her book talks about her home town of Neenah Wisconsin where I live. I could relate to so many places and could actually see myself right there!!!!

[Dee Brinkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just couldn’t put it down. I was out of town when I finished the first book and was so upset I wasn’t able to immediately pick up the sequel.

These books were definitely what I needed to feel again!

Thank you for the stories that you never know which direction they will go in!

Highly recommend both of them!

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!

[Tina Casillas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what I needed to sit by the water and read !! Loved it !

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The characters seems so real and alive. I could place myself in the areas the author wrote about. She writes about Neenah, Wisconsin and other places in Wisconsin which is so cool because I am from Wisconsin. The story also takes place in St. Simons Georgia which sounds beautiful. I have that place on my list to travel to. As soon as I finished Book 1 I immediately started Book 2.