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Brockenridge #1
Long Way Home
From USA Today bestselling Australian author Nicola Marsh comes a warm and winsome rural romance about second chances and belonging.
A prodigal daughter returns to Brockenridge...
Eleven years ago Ruby Aston left Brockenridge - and its small-town gossip - for the anonymity of the big city. Now, a grieving Ruby is forced to come home to the place she loathes. But it also means returning to someone she's always regretted leaving behind...
Connor Delaney is determined to prove himself and not get by on his family name alone. To do this he needs to acquire the local roadhouse. He never anticipated the owner would be the same 'bad girl' who ditched him at the high school ball and was never heard from again.
For Alisha Nathieson, the grief of suddenly losing her dear friend and employer Clara Aston has forced her to examine her choice to stay to support her aging parents. As she battles a growing need to explore her past, temptation wars with duty. And then there are her feelings for handsome chef Harry, who has secrets of his own...
If Ruby follows her heart and saves her mother's legacy, will she lose the one man she's longed for all along?
368 pages, Paperback
Published September 23, 2019
51 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Nicola Marsh
414 books1,443 followersUSA TODAY bestselling and award-winning Australian author Nicola Marsh writes page-turning fiction to keep you up all night.
She has published 86 books across genres, including contemporary romance, women's fiction, domestic suspense, and fantasy.
She's a Waldenbooks, Bookscan, Amazon, iBooks and Barnes & Noble bestseller, a 2013 RBY and National Readers' Choice Award winner, and a multiple finalist for many other awards.
She loves chatting on social media!
She has published 86 books across genres, including contemporary romance, women's fiction, domestic suspense, and fantasy.
She's a Waldenbooks, Bookscan, Amazon, iBooks and Barnes & Noble bestseller, a 2013 RBY and National Readers' Choice Award winner, and a multiple finalist for many other awards.
She loves chatting on social media!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 11, 2020
⭐️4 Stars⭐️
Long Way Home is a fast paced, heartwarming and engaging rural romance that I found really enjoyable. There are some elements of mystery in the story which I found intriguing.
Ruby Aston left her home of Brockenridge eleven years ago, loathing the town with memories of bullying and cruelty from her fellow students and leaving in disgrace.
When Ruby’s mother Clara passes away suddenly at forty nine, Ruby is heartbroken and forced to return to Brockenridge for the funeral and to attend to her mothers affairs.
At the reading of her mother’s will she is shocked to learn of her inheritance which means her plans of returning back home to Melbourne will be delayed.
Connor Delaney is also returning home to Brockenridge to take over his father’s role as CEO at the Delaney Corporation. His family are rich and they are the local property tycoons and largest property developers in Victoria. Connor was a friend of Ruby’s in high school and they almost had a first date at the school graduation dance but Ruby stood Connor up as it was the day she fled Brockenbridge.
When they meet again after eleven years their feelings are reignited but all plans are fraught when Connor wants to acquire Ruby’s mother's land to build a luxury golf resort. This creates tensions and hostility between the couple.
The town people that treated Ruby so badly as a teenager are now showing her their support as they rally round to save her mother’s legacy, the roadhouse.
A second romance is also featured in the story with an older couple, Ruby’s mothers best friend and a chef with a intriguing and mysterious secret.
There is lots happening in this story, the supporting characters are well developed and likeable -well most of them! I really enjoyed the sense of local community particularly the characters of Tash, Alisha and Harry, the trio that worked at the roadhouse that Ruby’s mother managed and they all knew Ruby as a child growing up there.
I have never read any books by Nicola Marsh before and I am amazed to learn that she writes books of different genres. I am going to have to check out a mystery book that she has written next as there are a few new books she has released this year. There is also a follow up book to Long Way Home out now which is Second Chance Lane which features Tash from the roadhouse in this book.
An engaging mix of drama, romance and new beginnings. A recommended read!
Long Way Home is a fast paced, heartwarming and engaging rural romance that I found really enjoyable. There are some elements of mystery in the story which I found intriguing.
Ruby Aston left her home of Brockenridge eleven years ago, loathing the town with memories of bullying and cruelty from her fellow students and leaving in disgrace.
When Ruby’s mother Clara passes away suddenly at forty nine, Ruby is heartbroken and forced to return to Brockenridge for the funeral and to attend to her mothers affairs.
At the reading of her mother’s will she is shocked to learn of her inheritance which means her plans of returning back home to Melbourne will be delayed.
Connor Delaney is also returning home to Brockenridge to take over his father’s role as CEO at the Delaney Corporation. His family are rich and they are the local property tycoons and largest property developers in Victoria. Connor was a friend of Ruby’s in high school and they almost had a first date at the school graduation dance but Ruby stood Connor up as it was the day she fled Brockenbridge.
When they meet again after eleven years their feelings are reignited but all plans are fraught when Connor wants to acquire Ruby’s mother's land to build a luxury golf resort. This creates tensions and hostility between the couple.
The town people that treated Ruby so badly as a teenager are now showing her their support as they rally round to save her mother’s legacy, the roadhouse.
A second romance is also featured in the story with an older couple, Ruby’s mothers best friend and a chef with a intriguing and mysterious secret.
There is lots happening in this story, the supporting characters are well developed and likeable -well most of them! I really enjoyed the sense of local community particularly the characters of Tash, Alisha and Harry, the trio that worked at the roadhouse that Ruby’s mother managed and they all knew Ruby as a child growing up there.
I have never read any books by Nicola Marsh before and I am amazed to learn that she writes books of different genres. I am going to have to check out a mystery book that she has written next as there are a few new books she has released this year. There is also a follow up book to Long Way Home out now which is Second Chance Lane which features Tash from the roadhouse in this book.
An engaging mix of drama, romance and new beginnings. A recommended read!
November 4, 2019
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Long Way Home is the first mainstream rural romance title from Nicola Marsh, a USA Today Bestselling Author. Nicola Marsh certainly makes her mark on the small town Australian contemporary romance scene with her tender hearted novel, which is the first book in the Brockenridge series. Long Way Home is a heartbreaker, but it is also filled with moments of hope and semblance. It is book that will keep you engaged from cover to cover.
Ruby Aston is Nicola Marsh’s appealing heroine. Over a decade ago, Ruby left her home town of Brockenridge in disgrace. The heated opinions of members of this small community drove Ruby away, following a terrible misunderstanding. After forging a new life for herself in the big smoke, Ruby is forced to return home to Brockenridge, following the loss of her mother. This is incredibly hard for Ruby, not only must she confront her grief over the loss of her mother, she must also face up to the truth of her heartbreaking past. A chance to reconnect with a man she loved a decade ago presents itself, but there are plenty of roadblocks for this couple to deal with. For Connor Delaney Ruby’s return to Brockenridge brings both pain and hope. He is torn between his business interests and the girl her once loved. It is a question of love, loyalty, sacrifice and atonement for this couple, along with a number of other key figures in Brockenridge, who have all been impacted by the return of Ruby.
At this late stage of the reading year it is great to discover a new Australian voice in the field of rural romance, one of my favourite reading staples. Nicola Marsh is an author I have not been acquainted with before. I hope to rectify this and I aim to explore more of Marsh’s backlist, especially her domestic suspense novels. A quick view of Nicola Marsh’s website indicated that this popular author enjoys writing ‘feel-good with a twist’. I find this tagline very enticing and based on my reading experience of Long Way Home, I have to agree that this new title from Nicola Marsh is indeed feel good fiction – with a slant!
It was instant love between Ruby Aston, the lead of this story, and myself. I felt a swift connection to this protagonist. I immediately developed a sense of trust, care and sympathy for the heroine of the story. Marsh’s characterisation is rock solid and I feel I developed a good understanding of the key characteristics of Ruby, as well as the supporting cast. Ruby’s story is definitely an emotional one that ignited a few tears, some feet stamping, fist pumps and warm hearted smiles. Ruby’s journey is quite tumultuous, it is defined by moments of grief, loss, misunderstanding, ire, connection, friendship, support, love and loyalty. I really enjoyed the time I spent getting to know Ruby Aston.
The hero of this tale, Connor Delaney, is a genuine and authentically rendered protagonist. I felt Connor’s inner turmoil, his heated moments, the pressure of his decision making and his concerns. Connor is well matched to Ruby, and I feel Marsh explored the concept of a high school romance reignited years later very well. The romance side of things is cultivated to perfection by Marsh, she knows how to spin a good love story. The dialogue presented in Long Way Home is engaging and truthful. It was good to be involved in spot of romantic banter between this couple too.
Connected to Ruby’s story is Alisha Nathieson’s journey, a close friend of Ruby’s late mother Clara. The death of Clara Aston hits Alisha pretty hard, but it also helps Alisha to explore her family roots and look further into connecting with her birth mother. Alisha is such a colourful character, who adds vibrancy to the pages of this novel. Alisha’s emotional pathway is tender, moving and engaging. Alisha’s story will unite readers all over, as her journey is very connective.
Good rural romance novels are able to delve into the small town politics, issues, problems and attitudes of those living in these tight knit quarters. Long Way Home sees the country based township of Brockenridge take centre stage. We bear witness to acts of complete and utter misjudgement, which got under my skin, but it still kept me glued to the story. Meanwhile, there are moments of brilliant community based assistance and support which restored my faith in this community. Marsh has left the close of the novel very clear for another issue of the series. I have a few characters in mind from Long Way Home that deserve some air time!
Long Way Home is sincere and heartfelt novel, with just the right dash of sentiment to reel you in. Rural romance fans will well and truly lap up Long Way Home. Nicola Marsh has definitely gained a new fan!
*I wish to thank Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Long Way Home is book #135 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge
Long Way Home is the first mainstream rural romance title from Nicola Marsh, a USA Today Bestselling Author. Nicola Marsh certainly makes her mark on the small town Australian contemporary romance scene with her tender hearted novel, which is the first book in the Brockenridge series. Long Way Home is a heartbreaker, but it is also filled with moments of hope and semblance. It is book that will keep you engaged from cover to cover.
Ruby Aston is Nicola Marsh’s appealing heroine. Over a decade ago, Ruby left her home town of Brockenridge in disgrace. The heated opinions of members of this small community drove Ruby away, following a terrible misunderstanding. After forging a new life for herself in the big smoke, Ruby is forced to return home to Brockenridge, following the loss of her mother. This is incredibly hard for Ruby, not only must she confront her grief over the loss of her mother, she must also face up to the truth of her heartbreaking past. A chance to reconnect with a man she loved a decade ago presents itself, but there are plenty of roadblocks for this couple to deal with. For Connor Delaney Ruby’s return to Brockenridge brings both pain and hope. He is torn between his business interests and the girl her once loved. It is a question of love, loyalty, sacrifice and atonement for this couple, along with a number of other key figures in Brockenridge, who have all been impacted by the return of Ruby.
At this late stage of the reading year it is great to discover a new Australian voice in the field of rural romance, one of my favourite reading staples. Nicola Marsh is an author I have not been acquainted with before. I hope to rectify this and I aim to explore more of Marsh’s backlist, especially her domestic suspense novels. A quick view of Nicola Marsh’s website indicated that this popular author enjoys writing ‘feel-good with a twist’. I find this tagline very enticing and based on my reading experience of Long Way Home, I have to agree that this new title from Nicola Marsh is indeed feel good fiction – with a slant!
It was instant love between Ruby Aston, the lead of this story, and myself. I felt a swift connection to this protagonist. I immediately developed a sense of trust, care and sympathy for the heroine of the story. Marsh’s characterisation is rock solid and I feel I developed a good understanding of the key characteristics of Ruby, as well as the supporting cast. Ruby’s story is definitely an emotional one that ignited a few tears, some feet stamping, fist pumps and warm hearted smiles. Ruby’s journey is quite tumultuous, it is defined by moments of grief, loss, misunderstanding, ire, connection, friendship, support, love and loyalty. I really enjoyed the time I spent getting to know Ruby Aston.
The hero of this tale, Connor Delaney, is a genuine and authentically rendered protagonist. I felt Connor’s inner turmoil, his heated moments, the pressure of his decision making and his concerns. Connor is well matched to Ruby, and I feel Marsh explored the concept of a high school romance reignited years later very well. The romance side of things is cultivated to perfection by Marsh, she knows how to spin a good love story. The dialogue presented in Long Way Home is engaging and truthful. It was good to be involved in spot of romantic banter between this couple too.
Connected to Ruby’s story is Alisha Nathieson’s journey, a close friend of Ruby’s late mother Clara. The death of Clara Aston hits Alisha pretty hard, but it also helps Alisha to explore her family roots and look further into connecting with her birth mother. Alisha is such a colourful character, who adds vibrancy to the pages of this novel. Alisha’s emotional pathway is tender, moving and engaging. Alisha’s story will unite readers all over, as her journey is very connective.
Good rural romance novels are able to delve into the small town politics, issues, problems and attitudes of those living in these tight knit quarters. Long Way Home sees the country based township of Brockenridge take centre stage. We bear witness to acts of complete and utter misjudgement, which got under my skin, but it still kept me glued to the story. Meanwhile, there are moments of brilliant community based assistance and support which restored my faith in this community. Marsh has left the close of the novel very clear for another issue of the series. I have a few characters in mind from Long Way Home that deserve some air time!
Long Way Home is sincere and heartfelt novel, with just the right dash of sentiment to reel you in. Rural romance fans will well and truly lap up Long Way Home. Nicola Marsh has definitely gained a new fan!
*I wish to thank Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Long Way Home is book #135 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge
September 18, 2019
Long Way Home is the first book of a new rural romance series set in the fictional town of Brockenridge from Nicola Marsh.
After the sudden death of her mother, Ruby Aston reluctantly returns to the small country town of Brockenridge she had fled eleven years earlier. Planning to go back to Melbourne after the funeral, Ruby is stunned to learn that she’s inherited the roadhouse and motel she assumed her mother had simply managed, and when a local developer, Connor Delaney, reveals his plan to tear the place down, Ruby realises she can’t let go of her legacy.
In this (kinda) second-chance romance, Ruby and Connor, who were on the verge of a relationship as teenagers, find that their attraction to one another has endured, but Connor’s plan to acquire and raze The Watering Hole to make way for a resort complicates any thoughts of a reunion. I thought the conflict was realistic, and Marsh handled it well. I enjoyed the flirting between the pair and the eventual resolution.
Long Way Home also features a second romance. With Clara’s death, The Watering Hole’s hostess Alisha, and chef, Harry, begin to consider their plans for the future, and Alisha is contemplating leaving Brockenridge to travel, just as Harry finally seems to express an interest in her. I liked that the author chose to make Alisha a person of colour, which is rare in rural romance, but Alisha’s race is mentioned often enough, that it becomes a little gratuitous.
While I thought it was possibly a bit of a stretch that all of Ruby’s high school nemeses had not fared well during her absence (though it was pretty satisfying), the author ably captured the dynamics of a small country town. I’d guess that single mum Tash, The Watering Hole’s waitress, will be one of the character’s featured next.
Long Way Home is a pleasant and engaging read, sure to satisfy fans of the rural romance genre.
After the sudden death of her mother, Ruby Aston reluctantly returns to the small country town of Brockenridge she had fled eleven years earlier. Planning to go back to Melbourne after the funeral, Ruby is stunned to learn that she’s inherited the roadhouse and motel she assumed her mother had simply managed, and when a local developer, Connor Delaney, reveals his plan to tear the place down, Ruby realises she can’t let go of her legacy.
In this (kinda) second-chance romance, Ruby and Connor, who were on the verge of a relationship as teenagers, find that their attraction to one another has endured, but Connor’s plan to acquire and raze The Watering Hole to make way for a resort complicates any thoughts of a reunion. I thought the conflict was realistic, and Marsh handled it well. I enjoyed the flirting between the pair and the eventual resolution.
Long Way Home also features a second romance. With Clara’s death, The Watering Hole’s hostess Alisha, and chef, Harry, begin to consider their plans for the future, and Alisha is contemplating leaving Brockenridge to travel, just as Harry finally seems to express an interest in her. I liked that the author chose to make Alisha a person of colour, which is rare in rural romance, but Alisha’s race is mentioned often enough, that it becomes a little gratuitous.
While I thought it was possibly a bit of a stretch that all of Ruby’s high school nemeses had not fared well during her absence (though it was pretty satisfying), the author ably captured the dynamics of a small country town. I’d guess that single mum Tash, The Watering Hole’s waitress, will be one of the character’s featured next.
Long Way Home is a pleasant and engaging read, sure to satisfy fans of the rural romance genre.
January 22, 2021
Another Aussie rural romance which I found to be a little underwhelming…
The main romantic plot strictly follows the rural romance rules. The heroine, Ruby, returns to her [fictional] hometown, Brockenridge, when her mother passes away. She’d left for the big city after being bullied and accused of stealing. Upon returning, she finds out she’s inherited a roadhouse from her mother and, of course, meets back up with her old crush, Connor. Their conflict is that Connor’s family wants to buy out and demolish the roadhouse to make way for a golf course and resort.
There’s a secondary romantic plot. It features two of the roadhouse employees, Alisha and Harry. I preferred this pairing as they were older but their plot and conflict were still pretty cliched. (I guessed Harry's secret immediately; I've read many many romances where the hero has kept his distance for the exact same reason.)
Despite having two couples and, therefore, twice the conflict (apparently), Marsh still struggled in this arena. In fact, to be honest, the conflict of both storylines was pretty awful. The characters had arguments about nothing really and everything could have been sorted out in five minutes flat.
Marsh has written many romance novels, so I also expected her to write chemistry and sexual tension better. It was pretty forced between both couples. A bit of show, not tell, would not have gone astray either. Oh boy, there was a lot of repetition of the inner thoughts of the four characters. I did start to skim after reading about Ruby or Alisha being bullied, Connor’s sad family life, or that Ruby should have returned from Melbourne sooner for the umpteemth time.
The Aussie setting was just okay. There were some things which were authentic but others… I must admit I was sort of confused about the roadhouse itself! I didn’t find it a very Australian establishment. A roadhouse to me is an extension of a service station (gas station) where you can grab some fast food and visit the restroom. Marsh had apparently gone on a Patrick Swayze binge somewhere around the time of writing this as it was more like some odd mixture of a pub/club/restaurant.
Anyway, I guess I’ll still give the next book a go, but overall, Long Way Home was pretty disappointing. 2 ½ out of 5
The main romantic plot strictly follows the rural romance rules. The heroine, Ruby, returns to her [fictional] hometown, Brockenridge, when her mother passes away. She’d left for the big city after being bullied and accused of stealing. Upon returning, she finds out she’s inherited a roadhouse from her mother and, of course, meets back up with her old crush, Connor. Their conflict is that Connor’s family wants to buy out and demolish the roadhouse to make way for a golf course and resort.
There’s a secondary romantic plot. It features two of the roadhouse employees, Alisha and Harry. I preferred this pairing as they were older but their plot and conflict were still pretty cliched. (I guessed Harry's secret immediately; I've read many many romances where the hero has kept his distance for the exact same reason.)
Despite having two couples and, therefore, twice the conflict (apparently), Marsh still struggled in this arena. In fact, to be honest, the conflict of both storylines was pretty awful. The characters had arguments about nothing really and everything could have been sorted out in five minutes flat.
Marsh has written many romance novels, so I also expected her to write chemistry and sexual tension better. It was pretty forced between both couples. A bit of show, not tell, would not have gone astray either. Oh boy, there was a lot of repetition of the inner thoughts of the four characters. I did start to skim after reading about Ruby or Alisha being bullied, Connor’s sad family life, or that Ruby should have returned from Melbourne sooner for the umpteemth time.
The Aussie setting was just okay. There were some things which were authentic but others… I must admit I was sort of confused about the roadhouse itself! I didn’t find it a very Australian establishment. A roadhouse to me is an extension of a service station (gas station) where you can grab some fast food and visit the restroom. Marsh had apparently gone on a Patrick Swayze binge somewhere around the time of writing this as it was more like some odd mixture of a pub/club/restaurant.
Anyway, I guess I’ll still give the next book a go, but overall, Long Way Home was pretty disappointing. 2 ½ out of 5
September 27, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this rural romance, there are two romances running in this story, one second chance romance, and one for an older couple that had me turning the pages as I got to know Ruby Aston as she returns home to Brockenridge after running away eleven years before and Alisha Nathieson who gets her well-deserved HEA as well.
Ruby is coming home to the town she ran from years before, her mother Clara has just passed away suddenly and Ruby is heart-broken, she is met by her friends that are more family to her seeing as how there was only ever her and her mother, Harry, Alisha and Tash, but there is also someone else who has returned and that is Connor Delaney the person she had a crush on at school, the person she stood up.
Connor has finally come home to take over the reins of the family business with a big project to get off the ground he hits a brick wall when he discovers that the property he needs to purchase is now owned by Ruby Aston the girl who stood him up eleven years before and discovers his feelings for Ruby have gotten stronger in these years.
Alisha is rocked by losing her best friend Clara and this makes her want more from life she is caring for her elderly parents and the need to travel and to have a family are now stronger than ever and the pull she feels for the chef at the roadhouse Harry are getting stronger, but Harry seems to have some demons from the past that he needs to get over first.
There is a lot going on in this story, it is moving and emotional as all of the characters are working through feelings from the past and need to look to the future to find happiness, the characters are strong and are bought to life on the pages by MS Marsh and I love that it is the first book in a series and we will be back in the lovely country town of Brockenridge for more stories. If you enjoy rural romances then this is one that I very much recommend.
Ruby is coming home to the town she ran from years before, her mother Clara has just passed away suddenly and Ruby is heart-broken, she is met by her friends that are more family to her seeing as how there was only ever her and her mother, Harry, Alisha and Tash, but there is also someone else who has returned and that is Connor Delaney the person she had a crush on at school, the person she stood up.
Connor has finally come home to take over the reins of the family business with a big project to get off the ground he hits a brick wall when he discovers that the property he needs to purchase is now owned by Ruby Aston the girl who stood him up eleven years before and discovers his feelings for Ruby have gotten stronger in these years.
Alisha is rocked by losing her best friend Clara and this makes her want more from life she is caring for her elderly parents and the need to travel and to have a family are now stronger than ever and the pull she feels for the chef at the roadhouse Harry are getting stronger, but Harry seems to have some demons from the past that he needs to get over first.
There is a lot going on in this story, it is moving and emotional as all of the characters are working through feelings from the past and need to look to the future to find happiness, the characters are strong and are bought to life on the pages by MS Marsh and I love that it is the first book in a series and we will be back in the lovely country town of Brockenridge for more stories. If you enjoy rural romances then this is one that I very much recommend.
March 14, 2020
‘This was categorically the best day of Ruby Aston’s life.’
And then it wasn’t. Eleven years ago, Ruby left Brockenridge for the city. She never wanted to return, but then her mother Clara suddenly died. Ruby plans a quick visit, and then she’ll return to the city. Except that things don’t work out that way.
Connor Delaney, ditched by Ruby eleven years earlier, has also returned to Brockenridge. His family is wealthy, with business interests in development. There’s a new development being considered for Brockenridge, and it will bring Connor into contact (and conflict) with Ruby.
Ruby’s mum, Clara, ran the local roadhouse. The employees, Harry, Alisha and Tash are like family to Ruby. When she discovers that her mother owned the roadhouse (instead of just managing it), Ruby has some big decisions to make.
There’s more than one romance in this novel, and a few issues from the past.
I enjoyed this rural romance more than I expected to. There are some interesting characters in the story and while it was largely predictable, there was enough happening to hold my interest. I understand that this is the first in a series, and I’ll be looking out for the second. A good escapist read.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
And then it wasn’t. Eleven years ago, Ruby left Brockenridge for the city. She never wanted to return, but then her mother Clara suddenly died. Ruby plans a quick visit, and then she’ll return to the city. Except that things don’t work out that way.
Connor Delaney, ditched by Ruby eleven years earlier, has also returned to Brockenridge. His family is wealthy, with business interests in development. There’s a new development being considered for Brockenridge, and it will bring Connor into contact (and conflict) with Ruby.
Ruby’s mum, Clara, ran the local roadhouse. The employees, Harry, Alisha and Tash are like family to Ruby. When she discovers that her mother owned the roadhouse (instead of just managing it), Ruby has some big decisions to make.
There’s more than one romance in this novel, and a few issues from the past.
I enjoyed this rural romance more than I expected to. There are some interesting characters in the story and while it was largely predictable, there was enough happening to hold my interest. I understand that this is the first in a series, and I’ll be looking out for the second. A good escapist read.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
May 3, 2022
Growing up with a single mother and living at the local roadhouse meant that Ruby Aston was often the target for bullying and small town gossip. A prank pulled by her tourmenters just before her graduation ball caused Ruby to flee, leaving her mother behind, and disappointing her date, Connor Delaney.
Now, eleven years later, Ruby has returned. With her mother's unexpected passing, Ruby finds herself inheriting the popular roadhouse and reconnecting with her past. All's going well until she receives the news that The Watering Hole is planned to be demolished to make way for a new resort. Even more devestatingly, Ruby's old crush Connor is now the CEO of the company behind the plans.
There's absolutely no way Ruby is giving up without a fight. Even if means risking a possible future with Connor, whom she has fallen in love with. It's a huge task and challenge to revitalise the roadhouse so it has a chance, but Ruby is certainly more than capable for the job.
At the same time, we have the story of Alisha and Harry, two employees who obviously have the hots for one another, but are holding back. Whilst it's a nice subplot, it would've been more suited to a separate book, rather taking the shine off the main story.
There is a lot of potential in this series, and I'm looking forward to reading more of Nicola's books.
🌟🌟🌟🌟💫/5
Now, eleven years later, Ruby has returned. With her mother's unexpected passing, Ruby finds herself inheriting the popular roadhouse and reconnecting with her past. All's going well until she receives the news that The Watering Hole is planned to be demolished to make way for a new resort. Even more devestatingly, Ruby's old crush Connor is now the CEO of the company behind the plans.
There's absolutely no way Ruby is giving up without a fight. Even if means risking a possible future with Connor, whom she has fallen in love with. It's a huge task and challenge to revitalise the roadhouse so it has a chance, but Ruby is certainly more than capable for the job.
At the same time, we have the story of Alisha and Harry, two employees who obviously have the hots for one another, but are holding back. Whilst it's a nice subplot, it would've been more suited to a separate book, rather taking the shine off the main story.
There is a lot of potential in this series, and I'm looking forward to reading more of Nicola's books.
🌟🌟🌟🌟💫/5
October 19, 2019
Rural romance by Australian authors seems to be my go-to reads at the moment as I get to read this book one of a new series by an author I have never read before. This one was set in Victoria in a small town of Brockenridge. I very much enjoyed this read as you go two for the price of one in the romance line a second chance and middle age co-worker romance, but brought many things to this novel. The novel is full of many topics from Mean girls, grief, forgiveness, hope, duty, secrets, betrayal, friendship, acceptance, love, regret but most of a community.
We start this book in this past when Ruby Aston is still in school at Brockenridge. We get a small insight as to the depth of the small-town gossip that makes her leave her home suddenly one night. Eleven years later Ruby will return home for the most difficult days of her young life. She finds the place the same but also so different but still the roadhouse is still full of the people she loves and missed. She soon finds out her mother did more than just work and run the “The Watering Hole” roadhouse she own it and now it is Ruby’s. Will she sell it or keep it?
The day has finally come for Connor Delaney to return to the folds of his family and the family company as the New CEO of his father’s property development company of Delaney Corporation. The first development of the books is one locally, a new golf course and resort to be built just outside Brockenridge. Conner left straight after school to make a name for himself in the development industry without the help of his family’s name to which he has an achieved this goal. He has taken of the company but he is not home for long as this job will have him moving around the country just the way he enjoys it. Home has never been a happy place of Conner as the Delaney name has not been a popular name in the community as his father business grow his company without care and respect for the little people of the world. Conner is happy being on his own but when he finds out the one property that is still needed to the resort to go ahead belongs to the girl that stood him for a high school graduation ball, he may just need to take a different look at this life and business plans.
As both return home, they also remember the ones they left behind when they moved away to start their new lives.
Alisha Nathieson has had a very happy life here in Australia with her adopted parents, but she dreams of travel and finding her birth mother back in India. She feels she must stay to take care of her aging parents and she does enjoy her job at the Roadhouse just out of town. But when her friend and boss passes away it takes her for a surprise and makes her take a good restock of her life and plans. She wanted a husband, kids, to travel the world and to find her birth mother but at 42 years-old a few of these things might already be removed from her list anyway.
Can two women find their dreams at the same time as doing the right thing for everyone?
Will Conner be able to put his business first before anything/anyone else?
Ruby will learn more about her mother as she comes to terms with her death.
Will Alisha finally show her true feelings towards a co-worker or continue to live her life in the shadows?
This was a wonderful story with real characters experiencing real-life events in this great country of ours. The author has done a great job of entertaining us with these characters and at the some time having us wonder how maybe next to tell us their story in the next book of the Brockenridge series. I am hoping we get to read and learn more about single mother Tash in book two.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Australia and Nicola Marsh for the opportunity to read this great book. My review is my honest and voluntary opinion of this book that I have read.
@HarlequinAus #LongWayHome #NetGalley
We start this book in this past when Ruby Aston is still in school at Brockenridge. We get a small insight as to the depth of the small-town gossip that makes her leave her home suddenly one night. Eleven years later Ruby will return home for the most difficult days of her young life. She finds the place the same but also so different but still the roadhouse is still full of the people she loves and missed. She soon finds out her mother did more than just work and run the “The Watering Hole” roadhouse she own it and now it is Ruby’s. Will she sell it or keep it?
The day has finally come for Connor Delaney to return to the folds of his family and the family company as the New CEO of his father’s property development company of Delaney Corporation. The first development of the books is one locally, a new golf course and resort to be built just outside Brockenridge. Conner left straight after school to make a name for himself in the development industry without the help of his family’s name to which he has an achieved this goal. He has taken of the company but he is not home for long as this job will have him moving around the country just the way he enjoys it. Home has never been a happy place of Conner as the Delaney name has not been a popular name in the community as his father business grow his company without care and respect for the little people of the world. Conner is happy being on his own but when he finds out the one property that is still needed to the resort to go ahead belongs to the girl that stood him for a high school graduation ball, he may just need to take a different look at this life and business plans.
As both return home, they also remember the ones they left behind when they moved away to start their new lives.
Alisha Nathieson has had a very happy life here in Australia with her adopted parents, but she dreams of travel and finding her birth mother back in India. She feels she must stay to take care of her aging parents and she does enjoy her job at the Roadhouse just out of town. But when her friend and boss passes away it takes her for a surprise and makes her take a good restock of her life and plans. She wanted a husband, kids, to travel the world and to find her birth mother but at 42 years-old a few of these things might already be removed from her list anyway.
Can two women find their dreams at the same time as doing the right thing for everyone?
Will Conner be able to put his business first before anything/anyone else?
Ruby will learn more about her mother as she comes to terms with her death.
Will Alisha finally show her true feelings towards a co-worker or continue to live her life in the shadows?
This was a wonderful story with real characters experiencing real-life events in this great country of ours. The author has done a great job of entertaining us with these characters and at the some time having us wonder how maybe next to tell us their story in the next book of the Brockenridge series. I am hoping we get to read and learn more about single mother Tash in book two.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Australia and Nicola Marsh for the opportunity to read this great book. My review is my honest and voluntary opinion of this book that I have read.
@HarlequinAus #LongWayHome #NetGalley
September 22, 2019
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Thank you @harlequinaus @romanceanz for sending me a copy of Long Way Home by Nicola Marsh in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you Nicola Marsh for writing this beautiful story. I truly feel that this book was sent to me for a reason. It spoke to me on number of levels.
Nicola Marsh's writing flows beautifully and her characterisation allowed me, as a reader, to immediately connect with the characters. From the first page, I was intrigued and didn't want to put the book down. It is an emotional story that is realistic in its ability to lift the characters from the page, drawing the reader into their world.
Ruby lives in Melbourne, having escaped the small town of Brokenridge as a teenager. When her mother passes unexpectedly she returns to Brockenridge, where she reconnects with those closest to her and where her memories are most vibrant.
Connor, also having escaped Brockenridge, returns to help his father who is struggling to run his business, due to illness.
This novel is a heartfelt rural romance. It is also much more. Ruby feels her grief and her regrets very strongly after the passing of her mum. She attempts to find ways to honour her mum and their relationship. The Roadhouse her mum ran in Brockenridge has great significance in the town. Ruby must come to realise her mum's connection between the roadhouse and her own life. I fell in love with Brockenridge and the roadhouse. I can see myself dancing with the locals.
Ruby's loss and determination to keep her mum's memory and life ambitions alive is admirable. Having recently lost my mum in the same tragic and sudden way, this novel gave me hope. It gave me hope that there will one day be rays of sunshine beaming through the grief felt. One day, I may feel like I can truly honour my mum by living my days in her footsteps and feeling that she is a part of me always. Ruby questions how we can ever 'repay' our mums for their love? My original thoughts were that we do in love, yet also as my mum aged, I would be able to care for her. I didn't realise we had so little time. As Ruby, I hope to repay my mum in my own way. Just as Ruby felt, my mum was 'the best mum ever'.
Another intriguing character for me, is Alisha. Alisha cares for her parents and has had a beautiful upbringing. She was born in India and begins to realise that she should search for her birth mother and return to her country of birth for the answers she seeks. It was lovely to read about her life. This is also another aspect that spoke to me, as my husband and I are going through an adoption process and hope to grow our family via adoption. Stories from adoptees are important, particularly due to realising how our future child may feel in relation to loss, abandonment, family and love.
The romance in this novel was what romance should be; tender, genuine, playful and loving. Ruby and Connor's feelings for oneanother stem from a bond in their teenage years. As their relationship grows, they come to question what is truly important in life. Alisha and Harry's relationship is complicated in the secrets they must learn to share with each other.
Long Way Home is an enjoyable, tender hearted read that I would highly recommend. The novel overall aligns with my opinion as to what romance is. It is tender, genuine, playful and loving. Nicola Marsh is an author who can write and connect with a reader in ways that allow them to enjoy the novel, whilst considering their own world around them. Nicola's words helped me in many ways. Thank you.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you @harlequinaus @romanceanz for sending me a copy of Long Way Home by Nicola Marsh in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you Nicola Marsh for writing this beautiful story. I truly feel that this book was sent to me for a reason. It spoke to me on number of levels.
Nicola Marsh's writing flows beautifully and her characterisation allowed me, as a reader, to immediately connect with the characters. From the first page, I was intrigued and didn't want to put the book down. It is an emotional story that is realistic in its ability to lift the characters from the page, drawing the reader into their world.
Ruby lives in Melbourne, having escaped the small town of Brokenridge as a teenager. When her mother passes unexpectedly she returns to Brockenridge, where she reconnects with those closest to her and where her memories are most vibrant.
Connor, also having escaped Brockenridge, returns to help his father who is struggling to run his business, due to illness.
This novel is a heartfelt rural romance. It is also much more. Ruby feels her grief and her regrets very strongly after the passing of her mum. She attempts to find ways to honour her mum and their relationship. The Roadhouse her mum ran in Brockenridge has great significance in the town. Ruby must come to realise her mum's connection between the roadhouse and her own life. I fell in love with Brockenridge and the roadhouse. I can see myself dancing with the locals.
Ruby's loss and determination to keep her mum's memory and life ambitions alive is admirable. Having recently lost my mum in the same tragic and sudden way, this novel gave me hope. It gave me hope that there will one day be rays of sunshine beaming through the grief felt. One day, I may feel like I can truly honour my mum by living my days in her footsteps and feeling that she is a part of me always. Ruby questions how we can ever 'repay' our mums for their love? My original thoughts were that we do in love, yet also as my mum aged, I would be able to care for her. I didn't realise we had so little time. As Ruby, I hope to repay my mum in my own way. Just as Ruby felt, my mum was 'the best mum ever'.
Another intriguing character for me, is Alisha. Alisha cares for her parents and has had a beautiful upbringing. She was born in India and begins to realise that she should search for her birth mother and return to her country of birth for the answers she seeks. It was lovely to read about her life. This is also another aspect that spoke to me, as my husband and I are going through an adoption process and hope to grow our family via adoption. Stories from adoptees are important, particularly due to realising how our future child may feel in relation to loss, abandonment, family and love.
The romance in this novel was what romance should be; tender, genuine, playful and loving. Ruby and Connor's feelings for oneanother stem from a bond in their teenage years. As their relationship grows, they come to question what is truly important in life. Alisha and Harry's relationship is complicated in the secrets they must learn to share with each other.
Long Way Home is an enjoyable, tender hearted read that I would highly recommend. The novel overall aligns with my opinion as to what romance is. It is tender, genuine, playful and loving. Nicola Marsh is an author who can write and connect with a reader in ways that allow them to enjoy the novel, whilst considering their own world around them. Nicola's words helped me in many ways. Thank you.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
November 8, 2019
This my first Nicola Marsh book that I have read and I would like to say that this rural romance was exceptionally written.
Ruby left Brokenridge 11 years ago on the night of her high graduation ball due the small town gossip. Ruby was bullied by the towns rich girls and got her accused of steeling one thing she didn't. Ruby had bought her dress from the op shop instead buy fuel for her car as her mother could not afford to spend money on a new dress. She asked to go to the ball by the son of the richest family Conner Delaney which stood up. Ruby's mum Clara the local road house where she spent her time after school.
Ruby returns for her mother's furneral and the reading of the will. Her plan is to fix the roadhouse and sell head back home.
Conner Delaney whose family runs a local comstraction company who builds large development properties. Commer also left to make it on his own not live off his dad's name and has never gotten over the embrassment of being Stood up by Ruby leaving explaining to him why and the feelings he has for her. He returns as well to Brokenridge to take over the reins of the family company due to his father's declining health.
Connor also has deal with the way his mother treats his dad by having an affair with the stockman of the family property.
Connor is now in charge of the new development that involved put a eighteen golf course and country club resort which involves the purchase of the roadhouse.
Alisha wiorked for Ruby's mum Clara is rocked by her dear friends death and need to travel to find her birth parents in India but stays at Brokenridge to care for Elderly adoptive parents. She also has hidden feelings for Harry the roadhouse chef.
Harry is loner keeps to himself he is carry a secret about his past that keeps him from starting a relationship with any woman in town. But you get the sense as you are reading that he feels something for Alisha.
Ruby discovers that she can not sell the roadhouse as the people that worked there are like her family Alisha, Harry anf Tash. So she fighs Connor not to sell build around the roadhouse.
The story is full of high emotions between the relationships all in the book of tears, laughter and love. Nicola has done a fantastic job with this rural romance can't wait for book two.
Ruby left Brokenridge 11 years ago on the night of her high graduation ball due the small town gossip. Ruby was bullied by the towns rich girls and got her accused of steeling one thing she didn't. Ruby had bought her dress from the op shop instead buy fuel for her car as her mother could not afford to spend money on a new dress. She asked to go to the ball by the son of the richest family Conner Delaney which stood up. Ruby's mum Clara the local road house where she spent her time after school.
Ruby returns for her mother's furneral and the reading of the will. Her plan is to fix the roadhouse and sell head back home.
Conner Delaney whose family runs a local comstraction company who builds large development properties. Commer also left to make it on his own not live off his dad's name and has never gotten over the embrassment of being Stood up by Ruby leaving explaining to him why and the feelings he has for her. He returns as well to Brokenridge to take over the reins of the family company due to his father's declining health.
Connor also has deal with the way his mother treats his dad by having an affair with the stockman of the family property.
Connor is now in charge of the new development that involved put a eighteen golf course and country club resort which involves the purchase of the roadhouse.
Alisha wiorked for Ruby's mum Clara is rocked by her dear friends death and need to travel to find her birth parents in India but stays at Brokenridge to care for Elderly adoptive parents. She also has hidden feelings for Harry the roadhouse chef.
Harry is loner keeps to himself he is carry a secret about his past that keeps him from starting a relationship with any woman in town. But you get the sense as you are reading that he feels something for Alisha.
Ruby discovers that she can not sell the roadhouse as the people that worked there are like her family Alisha, Harry anf Tash. So she fighs Connor not to sell build around the roadhouse.
The story is full of high emotions between the relationships all in the book of tears, laughter and love. Nicola has done a fantastic job with this rural romance can't wait for book two.
November 1, 2019
Nicola Marsh is a Melbourne based author that I have been aware of for many years, I reviewed one of her titles early on and followed her career from a distance as she published across different formats and genres. She has now published seventy books and is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author.
Long Way Home is a rural romance published by the MIRA imprint and would make a solid start to a series, or a trilogy at least, so I will be sure to keep my eyes open for more stories by Marsh set in Brockenridge.
Ruby is Brockenridge born and bred but the mean girls at school never made it easy for her. She was bullied relentlessly and on the night of her Graduation Ball they took it one step too far and Ruby ran. She ran out on the best day of her life, as she counted down the hours to her date with the most gorgeous guy in school.
That was the final straw for Ruby, she ran to Melbourne and never looked back; never went back. Her relationship with her mother remained as strong but they caught up on the phone and regular catch-ups in Melbourne, Ruby couldn’t bear to return to the town that had caused her so much pain.
Eleven years later Ruby has achieved her goals and is making a life for herself in Melbourne, until the devastating phone call to tell her that her beloved mother had died.
Ruby hasn’t been home but Brockenridge was still her mother’s home so after making arrangements for the funeral from her home in Melbourne she heads to Brockenridge to say her goodbyes, planning a short visit before hightailing it back to Melbourne. She is concerned about what will become of The Watering Hole and her mother’s loyal friends and staff but hopes that the owner will put in a new manager and business will go on as usual.
Connor Delaney is the gorgeous boy Ruby ran from all those years ago, and he too left town as soon as he could; opting to begin his career in Queensland instead of the family business. Connor wanted to make a name for himself instead of trading on the family name, he’s done remarkably well but when his father calls and needs him to come home and prepare to take the reins of the family company he finds he can’t say no.
The money and prestige that come with the family name made it hard for Connor to find true friends, and to avoid the small town gossip. He treasured his friendship with Ruby because it was real, well he thought it was until she up and left town with no more than a single line text. It shook his already rattled view of relationships and left him a no-strings kind of man.
The project Connor returns to oversee, his first for Delaney Corp, is a new golf course with five-star facilities. A resort that will bring much needed jobs to the region. The only catch is that they haven’t quite acquired all the land they need to set the plans in motion.
Long Way Home is very much a contemporary rural romance but it relies heavily on the past for context and momentum. So much relatively recent history is relevant to the way the story unfolds. The history between Ruby and Connor is never far from the surface, neither of them ever really had closure after Ruby ran.
Long Way Home sees Ruby and Connor trying to forge their new futures while reconciling the issues they have with their pasts. Both ran far from Brockenridge, but their return reminds them that through it all, it was still home.
I loved the storylines and all of the characters in Long Way Home, because being a small town there is quite the cast of colourful characters to get to know.
Ruby returns to the town that shunned her, a successful businesswoman who has achieved her goals. On her return she discovers that a lot has changed, the mean girls at school have suffered a run in with the karma bus and none of them are recognisable as the popular, good-looking girls who made Ruby’s life at school a nightmare.
It isn’t just the mean girls that have changed, all the small town gossips who were happy to look down their noses at the hardworking Aston’s and spread gossip about The Watering Hole now feel the loss of Ruby’s mother deeply. Her welcoming nature and hardwork had slowly won over the town and turned The Watering Hole into a community gathering place as much for the town as the truckers and tourists who had always found it a welcoming oasis on their cross country travels.
The unfolding story shows us the differences between The Watering Hole and many of the other roadhouses littering the rural highways of the countryside. I’m sure anyone who has ever travelled rurally in Australia will know the kind of places The Watering Hole comes to be compared to; the ones with skyhigh prices, dusty old stock and tired, weatherworn staff. Compared to places like these The Watering Hole is clean, welcoming, friendly and looked after; and I know there have to be places like this scattered across the countryside.
Marsh has managed to create a small town filled with characters we come to care about, and want to know more about. The central staff of The Watering Hole are like family to Ruby and we become invested in their stories, some of which are explored with some depth in Long Way Home making it a double romance novel and some that will hopefully be explored in books to come.
Long Way Home was engaging and emotional but it also contained an interesting twist or two that I didn’t see coming. I really enjoyed getting to know the people of Brockenridge and I look forward to getting to know them a little better in upcoming books, and of course checking in on those we’ve already gotten to know quite well.
The story unfolds from multiple perspectives with alternating chapters, in the third person, by Ruby, Connor and Alisha. A story of love, loss, regret, new beginnings, second chances, homecomings and fighting for your dreams.
Long Way Home is Marsh’s first foray into mainstream rural romance and I certainly hope it’s not her last. Her style is compassionate, witty and engaging with a diverse character set and a palpable love of the region she has set the story. I look forward to following her rural romance journey and I am interested in chasing down some of her work in other genres.
Thanks to NetGalley and Mira for a digital copy for review.
Long Way Home is well worth a look for lovers of character driven stories and rural romance; chase down a copy, you won’t be disappointed.
Long Way Home is a rural romance published by the MIRA imprint and would make a solid start to a series, or a trilogy at least, so I will be sure to keep my eyes open for more stories by Marsh set in Brockenridge.
Ruby is Brockenridge born and bred but the mean girls at school never made it easy for her. She was bullied relentlessly and on the night of her Graduation Ball they took it one step too far and Ruby ran. She ran out on the best day of her life, as she counted down the hours to her date with the most gorgeous guy in school.
That was the final straw for Ruby, she ran to Melbourne and never looked back; never went back. Her relationship with her mother remained as strong but they caught up on the phone and regular catch-ups in Melbourne, Ruby couldn’t bear to return to the town that had caused her so much pain.
Eleven years later Ruby has achieved her goals and is making a life for herself in Melbourne, until the devastating phone call to tell her that her beloved mother had died.
Ruby hasn’t been home but Brockenridge was still her mother’s home so after making arrangements for the funeral from her home in Melbourne she heads to Brockenridge to say her goodbyes, planning a short visit before hightailing it back to Melbourne. She is concerned about what will become of The Watering Hole and her mother’s loyal friends and staff but hopes that the owner will put in a new manager and business will go on as usual.
Connor Delaney is the gorgeous boy Ruby ran from all those years ago, and he too left town as soon as he could; opting to begin his career in Queensland instead of the family business. Connor wanted to make a name for himself instead of trading on the family name, he’s done remarkably well but when his father calls and needs him to come home and prepare to take the reins of the family company he finds he can’t say no.
The money and prestige that come with the family name made it hard for Connor to find true friends, and to avoid the small town gossip. He treasured his friendship with Ruby because it was real, well he thought it was until she up and left town with no more than a single line text. It shook his already rattled view of relationships and left him a no-strings kind of man.
The project Connor returns to oversee, his first for Delaney Corp, is a new golf course with five-star facilities. A resort that will bring much needed jobs to the region. The only catch is that they haven’t quite acquired all the land they need to set the plans in motion.
Long Way Home is very much a contemporary rural romance but it relies heavily on the past for context and momentum. So much relatively recent history is relevant to the way the story unfolds. The history between Ruby and Connor is never far from the surface, neither of them ever really had closure after Ruby ran.
Long Way Home sees Ruby and Connor trying to forge their new futures while reconciling the issues they have with their pasts. Both ran far from Brockenridge, but their return reminds them that through it all, it was still home.
I loved the storylines and all of the characters in Long Way Home, because being a small town there is quite the cast of colourful characters to get to know.
Ruby returns to the town that shunned her, a successful businesswoman who has achieved her goals. On her return she discovers that a lot has changed, the mean girls at school have suffered a run in with the karma bus and none of them are recognisable as the popular, good-looking girls who made Ruby’s life at school a nightmare.
It isn’t just the mean girls that have changed, all the small town gossips who were happy to look down their noses at the hardworking Aston’s and spread gossip about The Watering Hole now feel the loss of Ruby’s mother deeply. Her welcoming nature and hardwork had slowly won over the town and turned The Watering Hole into a community gathering place as much for the town as the truckers and tourists who had always found it a welcoming oasis on their cross country travels.
The unfolding story shows us the differences between The Watering Hole and many of the other roadhouses littering the rural highways of the countryside. I’m sure anyone who has ever travelled rurally in Australia will know the kind of places The Watering Hole comes to be compared to; the ones with skyhigh prices, dusty old stock and tired, weatherworn staff. Compared to places like these The Watering Hole is clean, welcoming, friendly and looked after; and I know there have to be places like this scattered across the countryside.
Marsh has managed to create a small town filled with characters we come to care about, and want to know more about. The central staff of The Watering Hole are like family to Ruby and we become invested in their stories, some of which are explored with some depth in Long Way Home making it a double romance novel and some that will hopefully be explored in books to come.
Long Way Home was engaging and emotional but it also contained an interesting twist or two that I didn’t see coming. I really enjoyed getting to know the people of Brockenridge and I look forward to getting to know them a little better in upcoming books, and of course checking in on those we’ve already gotten to know quite well.
The story unfolds from multiple perspectives with alternating chapters, in the third person, by Ruby, Connor and Alisha. A story of love, loss, regret, new beginnings, second chances, homecomings and fighting for your dreams.
Long Way Home is Marsh’s first foray into mainstream rural romance and I certainly hope it’s not her last. Her style is compassionate, witty and engaging with a diverse character set and a palpable love of the region she has set the story. I look forward to following her rural romance journey and I am interested in chasing down some of her work in other genres.
Thanks to NetGalley and Mira for a digital copy for review.
Long Way Home is well worth a look for lovers of character driven stories and rural romance; chase down a copy, you won’t be disappointed.
November 13, 2019
This review was first posted on the Beauty and Lace page: http://bookgirl.beautyandlace.net/boo...
What a great, romantic and easy read this one was by Nicola Marsh. I was going through a busy time and this was the perfect book to occupy my brain for 15 minutes before going to bed.
Ruby Aston left Brockenridge as a teenager – fleeing from bullying at school to live in Melbourne. Ruby returns 11 years later under sad circumstances surrounding her Mum, where she reconnects with Connor – her teenage crush (which failed to go anywhere due to her leaving).
Ruby’s plan upon her return is to fix the roadhouse previously managed by her Mum and head back to Melbourne, but Connor’s presence changes things. Connor’s family runs the local, very big and well-known construction company which is tasked with developing an 18-hole golf course – right through the path of the Roadhouse. Ruby and Connor struggle to negotiate their business transaction while old flames start to rekindle.
While we navigate Ruby and Connor’s relationship, there is a simultaneous love story also brewing with two of the Roadhouse staff.
Given the title on Goodreads is Brockenridge #1 – I look forward to seeing what else there is to come.
Thanks to Beauty and Lace and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read and review this book.
What a great, romantic and easy read this one was by Nicola Marsh. I was going through a busy time and this was the perfect book to occupy my brain for 15 minutes before going to bed.
Ruby Aston left Brockenridge as a teenager – fleeing from bullying at school to live in Melbourne. Ruby returns 11 years later under sad circumstances surrounding her Mum, where she reconnects with Connor – her teenage crush (which failed to go anywhere due to her leaving).
Ruby’s plan upon her return is to fix the roadhouse previously managed by her Mum and head back to Melbourne, but Connor’s presence changes things. Connor’s family runs the local, very big and well-known construction company which is tasked with developing an 18-hole golf course – right through the path of the Roadhouse. Ruby and Connor struggle to negotiate their business transaction while old flames start to rekindle.
While we navigate Ruby and Connor’s relationship, there is a simultaneous love story also brewing with two of the Roadhouse staff.
Given the title on Goodreads is Brockenridge #1 – I look forward to seeing what else there is to come.
Thanks to Beauty and Lace and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read and review this book.
June 12, 2020
Long Way Home is Nicola Marsh's first book in what I hope will be a long series about the town of Brockenridge loosely based on the Victorian town of Echuca/Moama.
It tells the story of Ruby whose mother has recently passed away and she has to return home after a long absence to settle her mother's affairs. Ruby was bullied when she lived there by a group of mean girls who humiliated her before the night of her graduation dance. Connor who was the son of a wealthy land owner had asked her to the dance and because of jealousy that he didn't ask one of the popular girls, they set her up to fail and she fled Brockenridge.
On her return she discovers that the roadhouse that her mother works in is actually owned by her mother and she is left to decide what to do with it. She also learns that Connor is now head of a company that wants to buy the roadhouse only to tear it down. She is conflicted because Connor is just as gorgeous as he was back in the day and can't understand why she left in such a hurry all those years ago.
This is a very pleasing story about lost & found loves, friendship & redemption. It definitely lends itself to a sequel and I really enjoyed this novel.
Nicola Marsh is proving what a talented writer she is and I highly recommend it to readers of Rural Fiction, Women's Fiction & Family Sagas.
It tells the story of Ruby whose mother has recently passed away and she has to return home after a long absence to settle her mother's affairs. Ruby was bullied when she lived there by a group of mean girls who humiliated her before the night of her graduation dance. Connor who was the son of a wealthy land owner had asked her to the dance and because of jealousy that he didn't ask one of the popular girls, they set her up to fail and she fled Brockenridge.
On her return she discovers that the roadhouse that her mother works in is actually owned by her mother and she is left to decide what to do with it. She also learns that Connor is now head of a company that wants to buy the roadhouse only to tear it down. She is conflicted because Connor is just as gorgeous as he was back in the day and can't understand why she left in such a hurry all those years ago.
This is a very pleasing story about lost & found loves, friendship & redemption. It definitely lends itself to a sequel and I really enjoyed this novel.
Nicola Marsh is proving what a talented writer she is and I highly recommend it to readers of Rural Fiction, Women's Fiction & Family Sagas.
November 11, 2019
I've not read this author before and what a joy it was. Her writing style flows so smoothly, I felt I had jumped right into the story. I live in Melbourne, so am familiar with the places in this book.
Connor and Ruby have history that goes back to high school. About a decade later they meet up again under tragic circumstances. They're both on different paths so you have to wonder can the author make it work.
The characters in this story were so real, they made the book so entertaining.
Great story, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Connor and Ruby have history that goes back to high school. About a decade later they meet up again under tragic circumstances. They're both on different paths so you have to wonder can the author make it work.
The characters in this story were so real, they made the book so entertaining.
Great story, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
July 8, 2020
Lovely read!!! Looking forward to reading next in series.
June 29, 2024
Easy read, decent plot twists so not as predictable as expected!
March 2, 2020
Great exciting Rural Romance.
February 29, 2020
Omg my first book l have read of this author loved it , I'll be looking for more of her books didn't want to put this book down
January 5, 2021
I'm so glad I listened to my friends @happyvalley_booksread and read Long Way Home first before starting Second Chance Lane, otherwise I would've missed out on such a heartwarming & entertaining second chance romance.
I read #longwayhome almost cover-to-cover. I enjoyed the small town setting and easily connected with the characters thanks to Nicola Marsh's engaging & heartfelt writing.
Marsh really drew me into the lives of Ruby, Connor and Alisha and I was so invested in how they'd each overcome their personal issues and navigate small town politics to find their happiness.
Long Way Home was just what I needed to lift my spirits as I recuperated in bed just before Christmas. I'm hoping to squeeze in Second Chance Lane, the next book in the Brockenridge series, before the year ends.
#NicolaMarsh is a new-to-me author and I'm keen to explore more of her books as she writes in a variety of genres including domestic thrillers, rural & contemporary romance.
I read #longwayhome almost cover-to-cover. I enjoyed the small town setting and easily connected with the characters thanks to Nicola Marsh's engaging & heartfelt writing.
Marsh really drew me into the lives of Ruby, Connor and Alisha and I was so invested in how they'd each overcome their personal issues and navigate small town politics to find their happiness.
Long Way Home was just what I needed to lift my spirits as I recuperated in bed just before Christmas. I'm hoping to squeeze in Second Chance Lane, the next book in the Brockenridge series, before the year ends.
#NicolaMarsh is a new-to-me author and I'm keen to explore more of her books as she writes in a variety of genres including domestic thrillers, rural & contemporary romance.
March 22, 2021
Eleven years ago Connor Delaney was stood up at the school graduation ball by Ruby Aston due to some mean girls setting her up for shop lifting. Ruby was so embarrassed that she left town.
She is now back as her mother has passed away and she has returned for the funeral. Ruby stays to manage the diner that her mother run and is shocked to learn that her mother owned the diner and she has inherited it.
Connor comes back into town to run the family business and needs to acquire the diner for the development he is doing which includes a golf course and resort.
This is a recipe for disaster with Connor and Ruby fighting over the diner. Will these two be able to resolve their differences?
She is now back as her mother has passed away and she has returned for the funeral. Ruby stays to manage the diner that her mother run and is shocked to learn that her mother owned the diner and she has inherited it.
Connor comes back into town to run the family business and needs to acquire the diner for the development he is doing which includes a golf course and resort.
This is a recipe for disaster with Connor and Ruby fighting over the diner. Will these two be able to resolve their differences?
November 22, 2020
Loved this book! Very well written and amazing storyline, I love a good Aussie romance!
June 23, 2022
I really loved this book written by Australian Author Nicola Marsh!!!:)
The entwining stories were wonderful:)
The entwining stories were wonderful:)
September 27, 2019
Set in northern Victoria, Long Way Home showcases all the good things about rural communities. This is very much a David and Goliath story in which Ruby Aston, who has returned home from Melbourne for her mother’s funeral, takes on the powerful and wealthy Delaney Corporation in a battle to save The Watering Hole roadhouse from being demolished to make way for a golf resort.
It’s the characters in this book that made it special for me. Within the roadhouse there are loyal staff members Alisha, Tash and wonder chef Harry, each with their own issues to deal with. Thrown into the mix is Connor Delaney
Connor Delaney, who has also returned home to take over the reins as CEO of Delaney Corporation.
Ruby and Connor have history and the push and pull between these two as the story progresses is one of the things that kept me turning the pages. I also loved the way that the townspeople supported Ruby through the challenges she faced.
I guess the only things that didn’t appeal so much were the that the investors in Delaney Corporation were so utterly vile and that the mean girls from school got quite such stupendous comeuppances when Ruby returned. That all seemed a little contrived. That aside, this was a thoroughly entertaining story.
It’s the characters in this book that made it special for me. Within the roadhouse there are loyal staff members Alisha, Tash and wonder chef Harry, each with their own issues to deal with. Thrown into the mix is Connor Delaney
Connor Delaney, who has also returned home to take over the reins as CEO of Delaney Corporation.
Ruby and Connor have history and the push and pull between these two as the story progresses is one of the things that kept me turning the pages. I also loved the way that the townspeople supported Ruby through the challenges she faced.
I guess the only things that didn’t appeal so much were the that the investors in Delaney Corporation were so utterly vile and that the mean girls from school got quite such stupendous comeuppances when Ruby returned. That all seemed a little contrived. That aside, this was a thoroughly entertaining story.
November 24, 2024
This isn't my usual type of romance book (usually more rom-com style) but the high rating and a very cheap deal had me put it in my cart. I'm glad I did because it hits all the marks. The writing is good - the author keeps the pace, and dialogue is realistic. The characters are well developed, believable, and likeable, and crucially behave in realistic ways (no out of character outbursts).
As an Aussie who has lived in the outback, I was ready to cringe at anything that didn't ring true. Protagonist Ruby is a well developed character whose flaws and history are relatable but don't overwhelm the story. She's surrounded by colourful side characters in the roadhouse, and her relationship with the powerful local family's son, Connor, has the right amount of tension.
The crux of the story is predictable but that doesn't matter because it's more about the characters. It felt like a bit like watching a comforting love-in-the-country TV series and had me wanting to read more in the series. It was a great few hours of escapism that left me with a nice warm feeling.
As an Aussie who has lived in the outback, I was ready to cringe at anything that didn't ring true. Protagonist Ruby is a well developed character whose flaws and history are relatable but don't overwhelm the story. She's surrounded by colourful side characters in the roadhouse, and her relationship with the powerful local family's son, Connor, has the right amount of tension.
The crux of the story is predictable but that doesn't matter because it's more about the characters. It felt like a bit like watching a comforting love-in-the-country TV series and had me wanting to read more in the series. It was a great few hours of escapism that left me with a nice warm feeling.
October 30, 2019
This review was first posted on Beauty & Lace Book Club - http://bookgirl.beautyandlace.net/boo...
I quite enjoyed this story. It was a nice, easy read that kept me engaged throughout so it was finished in only a few days. I really felt for the young Ruby who was bullied & tormented so much that she had to leave her mother & her home just to escape the torment that was being put upon her. And that it so badly affected her that she felt she could never return until it was too late.
I felt that the portrayal of her tormentors 11 years down the track though was a little cliched – how Ruby was the only one to make a success of her life because she escaped the town while the other three ended up having hard lives.
But ignoring that fact, the stories of the other characters from the Roadhouse fit in nicely with the story & balanced it well.
Thank you Beauty & Lace and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read this book.
I quite enjoyed this story. It was a nice, easy read that kept me engaged throughout so it was finished in only a few days. I really felt for the young Ruby who was bullied & tormented so much that she had to leave her mother & her home just to escape the torment that was being put upon her. And that it so badly affected her that she felt she could never return until it was too late.
I felt that the portrayal of her tormentors 11 years down the track though was a little cliched – how Ruby was the only one to make a success of her life because she escaped the town while the other three ended up having hard lives.
But ignoring that fact, the stories of the other characters from the Roadhouse fit in nicely with the story & balanced it well.
Thank you Beauty & Lace and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read this book.
April 19, 2020
This book was centred around Ruby. She grew up in a tiny town, with her Mum, who ran the local road house. Her school mates looked down upon her and her Mum because of this situation. She was bullied mercilessly about this situation. On the eve of the school graduation Ruby is set up in a stealing incident. No one believes her and even though she is going to the ball with the gorgeous Connor she leaves town.
Eleven years later Ruby returns for her Mother’s funeral. She finds she has been left the now prosperous road house which her Mum owned. Ruby and Connor reconnect as he wants to buy the roadhouse and turn the land into a new golf course and villas.
Eleven years later Ruby returns for her Mother’s funeral. She finds she has been left the now prosperous road house which her Mum owned. Ruby and Connor reconnect as he wants to buy the roadhouse and turn the land into a new golf course and villas.
October 5, 2024
2.5 stars. It was a quick read and I enjoyed the story overall but the characters seemed pretty immature as a whole. I also started to get annoyed at the 'let me throw my dreams away' for a relationship that's 2 minutes old thing.
August 28, 2025
A great story! The heart of Australian Romance
Loved this. I loved the multiplie characters story in this. As someone who worked in a roadhouse i understand how awesome they can be. It was great writing, and i cant wait for me!
Loved this. I loved the multiplie characters story in this. As someone who worked in a roadhouse i understand how awesome they can be. It was great writing, and i cant wait for me!
June 18, 2021
Tried so hard but couldn’t finish.
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