What do you think?
Rate this book
Blue Hills #3
Long Walk Home
Lola recognized him straight away. After ten long years of telling herself that maybe she hadn't really loved him—there he was. And straight away she knew she wanted him still.
Lola Alvarez loves working in the restaurant of Blue Hills, her family’s winery, looking out over vine-covered slopes down to the crystal-blue waters of the lake. But she is also determined to make her own mark on the business—to show her older sister Carmen that she’s not the same flighty teen she used to be.
Her plan to build gorgeous vacation cabins in the mountain meadow above the winery will be the perfect addition to Blue Hills, even if she has to go behind Carmen’s back to make her dream a reality. When Carmen sees how popular they are she’ll have to come round—right?
But then Gus Weaver comes back to town. Gus was her first love, the bad boy she used to climb out of windows to see. But he’d broken her heart when he left town suddenly, without so much as a goodbye. After that, she’d never seen him again.
Until now. As fate intervenes and they’re forced to work together on Lola’s project, sparks start to fly between them once again. But he’s led her astray before. Can Lola keep her mind on what she truly wants, when her heart—and the way it beats faster every time she looks into Gus’s blue eyes—is telling her something very different?
An utterly romantic feel-good read about being true to yourself and becoming the person you were always meant to be, Long Walk Home will make you laugh, make you cry and show you that true love always finds a way. For fans of Robyn Carr, Carolyn Brown and Mary Ellen Taylor.
Lola Alvarez loves working in the restaurant of Blue Hills, her family’s winery, looking out over vine-covered slopes down to the crystal-blue waters of the lake. But she is also determined to make her own mark on the business—to show her older sister Carmen that she’s not the same flighty teen she used to be.
Her plan to build gorgeous vacation cabins in the mountain meadow above the winery will be the perfect addition to Blue Hills, even if she has to go behind Carmen’s back to make her dream a reality. When Carmen sees how popular they are she’ll have to come round—right?
But then Gus Weaver comes back to town. Gus was her first love, the bad boy she used to climb out of windows to see. But he’d broken her heart when he left town suddenly, without so much as a goodbye. After that, she’d never seen him again.
Until now. As fate intervenes and they’re forced to work together on Lola’s project, sparks start to fly between them once again. But he’s led her astray before. Can Lola keep her mind on what she truly wants, when her heart—and the way it beats faster every time she looks into Gus’s blue eyes—is telling her something very different?
An utterly romantic feel-good read about being true to yourself and becoming the person you were always meant to be, Long Walk Home will make you laugh, make you cry and show you that true love always finds a way. For fans of Robyn Carr, Carolyn Brown and Mary Ellen Taylor.
- GenresRomance
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2021
76 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Ellyn Oaksmith
15 books70 followersEllyn Oaksmith is the USA Today and Kindle bestselling author of the Blue Hills Vineyard Series, featuring the Alvarez family. The books are set in gorgeous Lake Chelan, in the Pacific Northwest. The series includes Summer at Orchard House (July 13th, 2020) and Promises at Indigo Bay, (September 15th, 2020.) In writing her first series, Ellyn chose a real setting with great meaning for her personally and a fictional family like her own, full of smart, independent, funny women and the men who love them.
After Ellyn funded her graduate studies at the American Film Institute by working on fishing boats in Alaska as cook, she began her writing adventure as a screenwriter in Hollywood. Writing, re-writing and pitching movies to producers and navigating the Los Angeles freeways before Google Maps was a challenge. Meeting movies stars was a surreal and fun perk.
After returning to her native Seattle, Ellyn's first romantic comedy in book form was published by Avon/Harper Collins. Four other romantic comedies with whip smart, ambitious heroines followed before Ellyn joined Bookouture to launch her first series.
She lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband and their polydactyl cat, Forest. Ellyn is an avid competitive rower.
Author website: www.EllynOaksmith.com
Facebook: @EllynOaksmith
Instagram: @EllynOaksmith
After Ellyn funded her graduate studies at the American Film Institute by working on fishing boats in Alaska as cook, she began her writing adventure as a screenwriter in Hollywood. Writing, re-writing and pitching movies to producers and navigating the Los Angeles freeways before Google Maps was a challenge. Meeting movies stars was a surreal and fun perk.
After returning to her native Seattle, Ellyn's first romantic comedy in book form was published by Avon/Harper Collins. Four other romantic comedies with whip smart, ambitious heroines followed before Ellyn joined Bookouture to launch her first series.
She lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband and their polydactyl cat, Forest. Ellyn is an avid competitive rower.
Author website: www.EllynOaksmith.com
Facebook: @EllynOaksmith
Instagram: @EllynOaksmith
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
May 9, 2021
4.5 stars.
Up for a second-chance romance in a beautiful Pacific Northwest setting? Here’s one for you: Ellyn Oaksmith's newest book, Long Walk Home .
Ten years ago, Lola and Gus were in love. They were teenagers from different worlds—she was the youngest daughter of the family who owned the Blue Hills winery, he was a bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Then one night Gus made a host of stupid decisions which put Lola in danger and landed him in jail, and pushed him out of her life.
Now, Lola wants to make a bigger impact at the winery but keeps running into resistance from her older sister, Carmen. Lola thinks she’s ready to be the chef for Blue Hills and has so many ideas, but Carmen still treats her like the little sister. So when Lola gets the idea to build some tiny cabins for vacationers on a part of the winery’s property, she has to go behind Carmen’s back to get it done.
The last thing she expected is that the master carpenter assigned to build the cabins is Gus, who has returned home to try and make amends with those he hurt, and hopefully make a fresh start. But Lola’s father threatened him to stay away from her all those years ago—will anyone be able to see him for the man he’s become, not the boy he was?
If you had a second chance with your first love, would you take it? Lola and Gus’ story plays out amidst family struggles, as Lola demands that her ideas for the winery be taken more seriously by her family. All of this takes place against a gorgeous backdrop.
I enjoyed Long Walk Home a great deal. I love second-chance love stories and definitely rooted for Lola and Gus. I did think Lola acted like a brat sometimes, and Carmen was inflexible, but that’s family dynamics for you!
This is the third book in a series but I read it as a stand-alone and didn’t feel like I missed anything. Oaksmith’s imagery made me feel like I was there (and I wished I was), and her descriptions of food made me hungry!!
I was glad to be part of the tour for this book. Bookouture provided me with a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Up for a second-chance romance in a beautiful Pacific Northwest setting? Here’s one for you: Ellyn Oaksmith's newest book, Long Walk Home .
Ten years ago, Lola and Gus were in love. They were teenagers from different worlds—she was the youngest daughter of the family who owned the Blue Hills winery, he was a bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Then one night Gus made a host of stupid decisions which put Lola in danger and landed him in jail, and pushed him out of her life.
Now, Lola wants to make a bigger impact at the winery but keeps running into resistance from her older sister, Carmen. Lola thinks she’s ready to be the chef for Blue Hills and has so many ideas, but Carmen still treats her like the little sister. So when Lola gets the idea to build some tiny cabins for vacationers on a part of the winery’s property, she has to go behind Carmen’s back to get it done.
The last thing she expected is that the master carpenter assigned to build the cabins is Gus, who has returned home to try and make amends with those he hurt, and hopefully make a fresh start. But Lola’s father threatened him to stay away from her all those years ago—will anyone be able to see him for the man he’s become, not the boy he was?
If you had a second chance with your first love, would you take it? Lola and Gus’ story plays out amidst family struggles, as Lola demands that her ideas for the winery be taken more seriously by her family. All of this takes place against a gorgeous backdrop.
I enjoyed Long Walk Home a great deal. I love second-chance love stories and definitely rooted for Lola and Gus. I did think Lola acted like a brat sometimes, and Carmen was inflexible, but that’s family dynamics for you!
This is the third book in a series but I read it as a stand-alone and didn’t feel like I missed anything. Oaksmith’s imagery made me feel like I was there (and I wished I was), and her descriptions of food made me hungry!!
I was glad to be part of the tour for this book. Bookouture provided me with a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
July 16, 2021
Long Walk Home is Book three in the Blue Hills series and this one is all about Lola!!
The youngest of the Alvarez sisters, Lola is fiesty, a rebel who just wants that her share of hardwork put towards making Blue Hills winery and resort a success be acknowledged by her father and middle sister Carmen and she be given more opportunities to prove her mettle. But when Carmen refuses to indulge Lola in latest plan to build a bunch of holiday cabins in her most favourite spot- the mountain meadow above the winery- Lola decides its time to take matters in her own hands even if it means going against Carmen's wishes. If doing things stealth mode wasn't complicated enough enter Gus Weaver, a boy (now a man) from her past who was her first love and who broke her heart and who is now a hired hand to build the cabins. It soon becomes clear to Lola that she will need all her will power to keep this working relationship strictly professional....IF she wants to keep it strictly professional.
This book is all about second-chance romance and since it is one of my favourite romance tropes to read about I will have to say this book is my favourite in the series. It has its share of light moments, emotional moments and laugh out moments. My favourite moments were of Papa Alvarez trying to hook up Lola with potential Mexican suitors when she is always in the middle of her nightmarish chef duty in the resort's kitchen--Papa Alvarez was definitely in his element here 😂. Stella and Paolo's twins and their crying escapades come a close second. I have already fallen in love with the beautiful, charming town of Chelan and it was good to be back 💕. The cover picture is just soothingly beautiful 💖.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and the author Ellyn Oaksmith for the e-Arc of the book.
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
The youngest of the Alvarez sisters, Lola is fiesty, a rebel who just wants that her share of hardwork put towards making Blue Hills winery and resort a success be acknowledged by her father and middle sister Carmen and she be given more opportunities to prove her mettle. But when Carmen refuses to indulge Lola in latest plan to build a bunch of holiday cabins in her most favourite spot- the mountain meadow above the winery- Lola decides its time to take matters in her own hands even if it means going against Carmen's wishes. If doing things stealth mode wasn't complicated enough enter Gus Weaver, a boy (now a man) from her past who was her first love and who broke her heart and who is now a hired hand to build the cabins. It soon becomes clear to Lola that she will need all her will power to keep this working relationship strictly professional....IF she wants to keep it strictly professional.
This book is all about second-chance romance and since it is one of my favourite romance tropes to read about I will have to say this book is my favourite in the series. It has its share of light moments, emotional moments and laugh out moments. My favourite moments were of Papa Alvarez trying to hook up Lola with potential Mexican suitors when she is always in the middle of her nightmarish chef duty in the resort's kitchen--Papa Alvarez was definitely in his element here 😂. Stella and Paolo's twins and their crying escapades come a close second. I have already fallen in love with the beautiful, charming town of Chelan and it was good to be back 💕. The cover picture is just soothingly beautiful 💖.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and the author Ellyn Oaksmith for the e-Arc of the book.
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
September 12, 2021
A beautiful story of second chance love, I enjoyed reading about Lola and Gus, lovers once, but a tower of wrong decisions caused them to break up. Cut to the present situation where Lola was trying to run a business and Gus entered her life again. But would love spark.
Having read many of this author’s books, I knew I was in for some deep and many sweet emotions. The writing was just right for me to lose my heart to. I don’t claim to be a romance reader, but some books just fit in the right space at the right time. This was one of them.
The book had romance, no doubt, but it had family at its core and dynamics of relationships, and that made me enjoy it a lot more. I liked the second chance romance and was happy to see the two get together along with Lola trying to find a foothold for her dreams.
Love and relationships made this a lovely read.
Having read many of this author’s books, I knew I was in for some deep and many sweet emotions. The writing was just right for me to lose my heart to. I don’t claim to be a romance reader, but some books just fit in the right space at the right time. This was one of them.
The book had romance, no doubt, but it had family at its core and dynamics of relationships, and that made me enjoy it a lot more. I liked the second chance romance and was happy to see the two get together along with Lola trying to find a foothold for her dreams.
Love and relationships made this a lovely read.
April 28, 2021
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Long Walk Home' by Ellyn Oaksmith.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Ellyn Oaksmith , Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 30th April 2021.
This is the first book I have read by this author.
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis. It also stated in the synopsis that this book is 'For fans of Robyn Carr, Carolyn Brown and Mary Ellen Taylor'. I am a fan of Robyn Carr so am looking forward to see if it lives up to this. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 24 chapters. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in the USA 🇺🇸.
This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonists being Lola Alvarez and Gus Weaver. The benefits of third person perspective especially with are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
This book is beautifully written and completely absorbs you in the stunning atmosphere of the vineyard and really sucks you in with the vivid descriptions leaving you feel the warmth of the the fire and smell of the vineyard. The synopsis and cover suits the storyline perfectly.
The storyline is authentic and realistic as well as easy to read and heartwarming. I loved reading all the developments at the vineyard, the ups and the downs. There were plenty of events going on throughout and it kept me hooked from start to end, I read it in one sitting. The storyline was filled with a range of emotions and was heartwarming, devastating and had lies, lost and new love, relationships, family, friendship and history all going on in this beautiful atmosphere. It felt like a lovely break away from a rainy Wales!! I loved how the story ended and I would love to read more about the TINY cabins and how much of a success they became. This would make a lovely series.
The characters were all unique with their own realistic traits, strengths and weaknesses. It was intriguing to watch Carmen and Lola's relationship as sisters grow and change throughout the the storyline. I genuinely felt sorry for Lola throughout and felt that Carmen seemed to be on a power trip and personally thought that she was more of a brat than Lola who was perceived to be the spoiled child throughout. It was also intriguing to see how not only Lola and Carmen's relationship change throughout the book but also Lola's relationship with Gus, Hidalgo and her Papi. I enjoyed how all the staff at the vineyard and the prayer group all helped each other out apart from Neil who was just a horrid character. I found Hodalgo's character to be very sweet and gentleman like and Gus to be the very sexy bad boy who pulled at my heartstring. Last but definitely not least is the absolutely gorgeous Daisy!!! Awww bless her, such a cute addition who just loves to stir the pot and cause trouble!! All characters worked perfectly with the storyline and I would love to meet them again and hope to see this made into a series or even a movie!!!
Overall a heart warming page turner which will whisk you away to a gorgeous vineyard and keep you turning the pages.
Genres covered in this book include Romance Novel, Contemporary Fiction and Domestic Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Robyn Carr, Carolyn Brown and Mary Ellen Taylor.
290 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#LongWalkHome #Bookouture #EllynOaksmith #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@EllynOaksmith @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
Review for 'Long Walk Home' by Ellyn Oaksmith.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Ellyn Oaksmith , Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 30th April 2021.
This is the first book I have read by this author.
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis. It also stated in the synopsis that this book is 'For fans of Robyn Carr, Carolyn Brown and Mary Ellen Taylor'. I am a fan of Robyn Carr so am looking forward to see if it lives up to this. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 24 chapters. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in the USA 🇺🇸.
This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonists being Lola Alvarez and Gus Weaver. The benefits of third person perspective especially with are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
This book is beautifully written and completely absorbs you in the stunning atmosphere of the vineyard and really sucks you in with the vivid descriptions leaving you feel the warmth of the the fire and smell of the vineyard. The synopsis and cover suits the storyline perfectly.
The storyline is authentic and realistic as well as easy to read and heartwarming. I loved reading all the developments at the vineyard, the ups and the downs. There were plenty of events going on throughout and it kept me hooked from start to end, I read it in one sitting. The storyline was filled with a range of emotions and was heartwarming, devastating and had lies, lost and new love, relationships, family, friendship and history all going on in this beautiful atmosphere. It felt like a lovely break away from a rainy Wales!! I loved how the story ended and I would love to read more about the TINY cabins and how much of a success they became. This would make a lovely series.
The characters were all unique with their own realistic traits, strengths and weaknesses. It was intriguing to watch Carmen and Lola's relationship as sisters grow and change throughout the the storyline. I genuinely felt sorry for Lola throughout and felt that Carmen seemed to be on a power trip and personally thought that she was more of a brat than Lola who was perceived to be the spoiled child throughout. It was also intriguing to see how not only Lola and Carmen's relationship change throughout the book but also Lola's relationship with Gus, Hidalgo and her Papi. I enjoyed how all the staff at the vineyard and the prayer group all helped each other out apart from Neil who was just a horrid character. I found Hodalgo's character to be very sweet and gentleman like and Gus to be the very sexy bad boy who pulled at my heartstring. Last but definitely not least is the absolutely gorgeous Daisy!!! Awww bless her, such a cute addition who just loves to stir the pot and cause trouble!! All characters worked perfectly with the storyline and I would love to meet them again and hope to see this made into a series or even a movie!!!
Overall a heart warming page turner which will whisk you away to a gorgeous vineyard and keep you turning the pages.
Genres covered in this book include Romance Novel, Contemporary Fiction and Domestic Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Robyn Carr, Carolyn Brown and Mary Ellen Taylor.
290 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#LongWalkHome #Bookouture #EllynOaksmith #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@EllynOaksmith @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
May 4, 2021
Long Walk Home
BY Ellyn Oaksmith
I am so excited to report how much I loved and enjoyed reading LONG WALK HOME by Ellyn Oaksmith, a new author to me. When I read the synopsis, I knew I would enjoy the storyline, as I do enjoy a great second chance at love typ of stories. I also do enjoy stories about sisterhood and the how characters' arc change throughout the story.
I found the book easy to read and with the chapters leaving me wanting for more. So as usual, having started this book much too late in the evening, I found myself staying up through the night swooning and sniffling in this heart-wrenchingly amazing romance.
Ellyn Oaksmith deftly writes a great story in a lovely location with characters that are realistic and relatable. Everyone deserves a second chance, and this book certainly checked off all the boxes for me. Such a satisfying story that I was hooked from the very first page.
BY Ellyn Oaksmith
I am so excited to report how much I loved and enjoyed reading LONG WALK HOME by Ellyn Oaksmith, a new author to me. When I read the synopsis, I knew I would enjoy the storyline, as I do enjoy a great second chance at love typ of stories. I also do enjoy stories about sisterhood and the how characters' arc change throughout the story.
I found the book easy to read and with the chapters leaving me wanting for more. So as usual, having started this book much too late in the evening, I found myself staying up through the night swooning and sniffling in this heart-wrenchingly amazing romance.
Ellyn Oaksmith deftly writes a great story in a lovely location with characters that are realistic and relatable. Everyone deserves a second chance, and this book certainly checked off all the boxes for me. Such a satisfying story that I was hooked from the very first page.
May 3, 2021
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Lola Alvarez is the baby of the family of three sisters and has always been treated like the baby of the family that can't be responsible for a thing when she really wants to contribute to the family vineyard and be in control of one thing or another. While maybe a few of her ideas have flopped, she wishes she could be a contributing member of the family and the vineyard. And Gus Weaver left this small town ten years ago and with it a bad reputation, can he return and repair the relationships that he left and hopefully find his new path in life.
While reading this book, I realized that this trop in this book is one of the ones I love the most, reunited love that can grow and blossom quickly due to a past that is reconnected. I love this because it allows for the story to move fast, but it doesn't feel like instalove because the reader knows that there is a past they are building on and it isn't this instant love and hop in bed situation!
Lola Alvarez is the baby of the family of three sisters and has always been treated like the baby of the family that can't be responsible for a thing when she really wants to contribute to the family vineyard and be in control of one thing or another. While maybe a few of her ideas have flopped, she wishes she could be a contributing member of the family and the vineyard. And Gus Weaver left this small town ten years ago and with it a bad reputation, can he return and repair the relationships that he left and hopefully find his new path in life.
While reading this book, I realized that this trop in this book is one of the ones I love the most, reunited love that can grow and blossom quickly due to a past that is reconnected. I love this because it allows for the story to move fast, but it doesn't feel like instalove because the reader knows that there is a past they are building on and it isn't this instant love and hop in bed situation!
May 1, 2021
I have not reviewed anything else by Ellyn Oaksmith and I was taken in by the cover and synopsis.
After she finds ideas for cabins on Pinterest, Lola Álvarez falls in love with a particular design and dreams that one day they can be built on her family's estate in Mexico.
Lola loves her work at the family restaurant and winery in the spectacular Blue Mountains. I found the restaurant and winery atmosphere fascinating and the scenery is just breathtaking.
There's a conflict between Lola and her sister Carmen about Lola's proposed project. Will Carmen support her sister?
Long Walk Home is an immersive experience in fighting for what you think is right for your family and for what you want no matter what anyone else says.
The aspects of Hispanic culture are very well woven into the plot and I loved the Spanish words peppered here and there. This made the book so authentic.
The book is written in the third person and it works well because I felt like I got to know all the characters. I wanted Lola's project to go well and also for she and Carmen to get along well.
Thanks to Ellyn Oaksmith and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
I would love to review more books by Ellyn Oaksmith.
5 stars.
After she finds ideas for cabins on Pinterest, Lola Álvarez falls in love with a particular design and dreams that one day they can be built on her family's estate in Mexico.
Lola loves her work at the family restaurant and winery in the spectacular Blue Mountains. I found the restaurant and winery atmosphere fascinating and the scenery is just breathtaking.
There's a conflict between Lola and her sister Carmen about Lola's proposed project. Will Carmen support her sister?
Long Walk Home is an immersive experience in fighting for what you think is right for your family and for what you want no matter what anyone else says.
The aspects of Hispanic culture are very well woven into the plot and I loved the Spanish words peppered here and there. This made the book so authentic.
The book is written in the third person and it works well because I felt like I got to know all the characters. I wanted Lola's project to go well and also for she and Carmen to get along well.
Thanks to Ellyn Oaksmith and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
I would love to review more books by Ellyn Oaksmith.
5 stars.
February 3, 2024
Lola Alvarez has a dream. She wants to stand on her own two feet. “Make her mark on the family business.” Step out of the shadow of her older sister, Carmen. One way of doing this is adding tiny cabins to the family’s Blue Hills Winery and restaurant. Throw true love into the mix and she's good to go. But it won’t be easy as past and present collide in this gentle romance about family, forgiveness, and courage.
Standing in the way of Lola’s dream are her overbearing restaurant manager and sister, Carmen. Gordon Ramsay wannabe “Horrible Neil,” Aka: Chef Jerk on Steroids. An overprotective father, Juan, who's in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. And a choice between two men: steady, respectable Hidalgo Ruiz of Ruiz Construction and Gus Weaver, newly released ex-con, master carpenter, and Lola’s high school heart throb.
After his release from a ten-year prison stint, Gus is hired by Hidalgo to build Lola’s tiny cabins. This, while the relationship between Lola and Hidalgo heats up. Catch: Lola hasn’t exactly come clean to anyone about anyone else, the building project, or the tangled web of the past. And when Lola fires Chef Jerk on the eve of Carmen’s wedding, which he was going to cater, and Gus and Hidalgo square off, can disaster be far away?
Set in the stunning beauty of Chelan, Washington in the shadow of the North Cascades, Long Walk Home offers a mouth-watering menu of simmering romantic tension, familial friction, heart break, confusion, and intrepidity in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds. It’s tightly written and reads quickly, with each chapter flowing seamlessly into the next.
Pro tips:
Keep an eye out for Daisy, Lola’s faithful Australian Shepherd mix. Scene stealer!
Don’t read this book when you’re hungry. The descriptions of cooking and meal prep inside the Blue Hills kitchen will have you drooling!
Possible Turn-offs:
Perhaps unwittingly, the author repeats the same phrases, running on redundant. (“Your lack of empathy is stunning,” etc. I got it the first time, okay?)
Carmen’s future in-laws, the Hollisters. Cardboard caricatured much?
The 27 year old Drama Queen thing gets old. Fast.
It could benefit from another proofread.
Even so, Long Walk Home is well-written, expertly paced, and packed with (mostly) memorable characters. This is a sweet and gentle read. If you’re hungry for bright and nimble fiction flavored with romance, forgiveness, rugged natural beauty, delicious food, family, and robust word pictures seasoned with hope and humor, take a bite out of Long Walk Home.
Standing in the way of Lola’s dream are her overbearing restaurant manager and sister, Carmen. Gordon Ramsay wannabe “Horrible Neil,” Aka: Chef Jerk on Steroids. An overprotective father, Juan, who's in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. And a choice between two men: steady, respectable Hidalgo Ruiz of Ruiz Construction and Gus Weaver, newly released ex-con, master carpenter, and Lola’s high school heart throb.
After his release from a ten-year prison stint, Gus is hired by Hidalgo to build Lola’s tiny cabins. This, while the relationship between Lola and Hidalgo heats up. Catch: Lola hasn’t exactly come clean to anyone about anyone else, the building project, or the tangled web of the past. And when Lola fires Chef Jerk on the eve of Carmen’s wedding, which he was going to cater, and Gus and Hidalgo square off, can disaster be far away?
Set in the stunning beauty of Chelan, Washington in the shadow of the North Cascades, Long Walk Home offers a mouth-watering menu of simmering romantic tension, familial friction, heart break, confusion, and intrepidity in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds. It’s tightly written and reads quickly, with each chapter flowing seamlessly into the next.
Pro tips:
Keep an eye out for Daisy, Lola’s faithful Australian Shepherd mix. Scene stealer!
Don’t read this book when you’re hungry. The descriptions of cooking and meal prep inside the Blue Hills kitchen will have you drooling!
Possible Turn-offs:
Perhaps unwittingly, the author repeats the same phrases, running on redundant. (“Your lack of empathy is stunning,” etc. I got it the first time, okay?)
Carmen’s future in-laws, the Hollisters. Cardboard caricatured much?
The 27 year old Drama Queen thing gets old. Fast.
It could benefit from another proofread.
Even so, Long Walk Home is well-written, expertly paced, and packed with (mostly) memorable characters. This is a sweet and gentle read. If you’re hungry for bright and nimble fiction flavored with romance, forgiveness, rugged natural beauty, delicious food, family, and robust word pictures seasoned with hope and humor, take a bite out of Long Walk Home.
March 27, 2021
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Long Walk Home by Ellyn Oaksmith is a second chance romance.
Lola Alvarez was living with her dad and her sister at the Orchard House in Chelan. They owned the Blue Hills Winery. Lola also owned the
Blue Hills Winery Blog where she posted her dreams about the winery and restaurant. As the youngest and most rebellious kid, no one was taking her seriously, especially about her business dreams. She wanted nothing more than to run the kitchen of their restaurant and create the tiny cabins up the hill but her sister Carmen was adamant that it won't be happening anytime soon. That pissed her off so much and when she met the cute contractor she saw it as a sign that this was her chance so she went behind her sister's back to do it. This could make things between her family better or worst but it was a chance she was willing to take.
It's such a heartwarming story with wonderful characters. It's a well-written book, it's told from the third point of view and every chapter has its own self-explanatory title. The plot is so interesting and sweet filled with so many lessons. Half of the book is about family issues and self-worth, and the other half about the romance between Lola and Gus. Also, the story is filled with second chances. The first one was about Lola, who despite her previous bad plans she wanted to prove her worth. The second one about Gus, who wanted to prove he had changed. The third one was about their love story. It's such an inspiring book, it teaches you that no matter what happens you have to get back on your feet and try again. The characters were incredible, especially Lola she was my favorite. She was a girl who wanted to create something on her own and make her family proud. She was so admirable with her passion and her hard work. I liked Gus as well, he tried to fix his life but even though he loved her he didn't push her, he went from a troubled teenager to a gentleman.
In general, this is a book that makes you feel really good when you finish it. I will rate it with 5 stars.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Long Walk Home by Ellyn Oaksmith is a second chance romance.
Lola Alvarez was living with her dad and her sister at the Orchard House in Chelan. They owned the Blue Hills Winery. Lola also owned the
Blue Hills Winery Blog where she posted her dreams about the winery and restaurant. As the youngest and most rebellious kid, no one was taking her seriously, especially about her business dreams. She wanted nothing more than to run the kitchen of their restaurant and create the tiny cabins up the hill but her sister Carmen was adamant that it won't be happening anytime soon. That pissed her off so much and when she met the cute contractor she saw it as a sign that this was her chance so she went behind her sister's back to do it. This could make things between her family better or worst but it was a chance she was willing to take.
It's such a heartwarming story with wonderful characters. It's a well-written book, it's told from the third point of view and every chapter has its own self-explanatory title. The plot is so interesting and sweet filled with so many lessons. Half of the book is about family issues and self-worth, and the other half about the romance between Lola and Gus. Also, the story is filled with second chances. The first one was about Lola, who despite her previous bad plans she wanted to prove her worth. The second one about Gus, who wanted to prove he had changed. The third one was about their love story. It's such an inspiring book, it teaches you that no matter what happens you have to get back on your feet and try again. The characters were incredible, especially Lola she was my favorite. She was a girl who wanted to create something on her own and make her family proud. She was so admirable with her passion and her hard work. I liked Gus as well, he tried to fix his life but even though he loved her he didn't push her, he went from a troubled teenager to a gentleman.
In general, this is a book that makes you feel really good when you finish it. I will rate it with 5 stars.
April 30, 2021
The Blue Hills' doors swing open and guests are in for a treat. Lola Alvarez is the resident cook at her family’s restaurant. Despite the scenic setting, trouble is brewing. Treated as the troublesome youngest daughter, Lola struggles to find her place.
Tension threatens to bubble over as the restaurant’s chef routinely degrades Lola. Having enough of his barbs, she devises a plot to bring guests to stay at the vineyard. While building a new future, she questions her past decisions. Will she emerge triumphant or will her family, like the tiny houses she envisions, continue to make her feel small?
This was my first Ellyn Oaksmith book but I’m looking forward to returning to Blue Hills. Lola’s relationship with her family, scenic Lake Chelan and quirky characters deliver an adventurous staycation.
Thank you to @Bookature for the early edition in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed taking part in Oaksmith’s blog tour. Happy publication day and readers, make sure to check out other Books-on-Tour reviews!
The publisher provided an extract from “Long Walk Home” to stir up your interest!
“Her heart was going a million miles an hour. Gus. Was. Here. His beard, unfairly, made him look even better. He had that whole mountain man thing going for him. As usual, the man wore a pair of Levi’s better than anyone had a right to. Her brain raced to place all the facts in some semblance of order. Half of her wanted to jump up and run to him. To wrap her arms around him, ask what had taken him so long, and to kiss him.
Those kisses. Never in her life had Lola been kissed like that, before or since. Gus kissed every time as if it were their last. The other half of her wanted to slap his face, yell at him for never, ever calling her. Saying he was okay. She didn’t need to get back together back then. Just to know that she’d meant enough that he’d thought enough to call. Say something. Not leave her hanging. It was a death of sorts. She wanted to dash back down to the safety of Orchard House, to give herself time to think. To compose herself and remember that she wasn’t a callous kid. This was a job. Could he really be working here?
Tension threatens to bubble over as the restaurant’s chef routinely degrades Lola. Having enough of his barbs, she devises a plot to bring guests to stay at the vineyard. While building a new future, she questions her past decisions. Will she emerge triumphant or will her family, like the tiny houses she envisions, continue to make her feel small?
This was my first Ellyn Oaksmith book but I’m looking forward to returning to Blue Hills. Lola’s relationship with her family, scenic Lake Chelan and quirky characters deliver an adventurous staycation.
Thank you to @Bookature for the early edition in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed taking part in Oaksmith’s blog tour. Happy publication day and readers, make sure to check out other Books-on-Tour reviews!
The publisher provided an extract from “Long Walk Home” to stir up your interest!
“Her heart was going a million miles an hour. Gus. Was. Here. His beard, unfairly, made him look even better. He had that whole mountain man thing going for him. As usual, the man wore a pair of Levi’s better than anyone had a right to. Her brain raced to place all the facts in some semblance of order. Half of her wanted to jump up and run to him. To wrap her arms around him, ask what had taken him so long, and to kiss him.
Those kisses. Never in her life had Lola been kissed like that, before or since. Gus kissed every time as if it were their last. The other half of her wanted to slap his face, yell at him for never, ever calling her. Saying he was okay. She didn’t need to get back together back then. Just to know that she’d meant enough that he’d thought enough to call. Say something. Not leave her hanging. It was a death of sorts. She wanted to dash back down to the safety of Orchard House, to give herself time to think. To compose herself and remember that she wasn’t a callous kid. This was a job. Could he really be working here?
April 26, 2021
Long Walk Home by Ellyn Oaksmith is a delightful story about sisters and the bonds that connect them through good times and bad.
The descriptions of the setting are phenomenal, putting me quickly into one of the tiny cabins overlooking the vineyard, hearing Daisy bark in playful joy, and feeling the calm waters of the lake lapping against my feet. The novel is set in the Pacific Northwest, near Seattle, and by the author’s descriptions, I can tell it’s a stunning part of the country that deserves the book vacation the story provides.
I loved the interplay between the sisters and the many universal truths contained within those bonds. They fight, they deceive, but through it all, they love each other, and that is always clear. The father of three headstrong young women steps back, as all good fathers would, and trusts that all disagreements will work themselves out unless it comes to one of his daughters needing protection. Then he is a fierce and loyal protector. The family dynamics reminded me of my own, at times, and this warmed my heart and made the book impossible to put down.
Lola is the youngest of the three sisters and is fighting to break out of the mold that her older sister, who runs the family vineyard, is trying to hold her in. Her sister thinks of her as immature and incapable of following through. But she knows she has grown into a much different person and longs for her sister to give her a chance to prove it. I felt a great deal of sympathy for Lola as she picked wrong path after wrong path in her quests to prove herself.
The romance is more in the past than it is in the present but, for the most part, rings authentic and believable. Gus and Lola are unfinished, and that is clear from the very beginning of the book. They need to either finally, after ten years, find closure or rekindle what once was. Their struggle feels contrived at times but ultimately works itself out in a purely natural manner.
Lastly, I want to give a shoutout to Daisy and her two different colored eyes, her love for bacon, and her innate need to find her way home even when it puts her in danger. Who doesn’t love a story with an adorable dog?
Long Walk Home is the perfect read if you are looking for a heartwarming story about the bonds of sisterhood and all of the craziness that goes along with those bonds.
The descriptions of the setting are phenomenal, putting me quickly into one of the tiny cabins overlooking the vineyard, hearing Daisy bark in playful joy, and feeling the calm waters of the lake lapping against my feet. The novel is set in the Pacific Northwest, near Seattle, and by the author’s descriptions, I can tell it’s a stunning part of the country that deserves the book vacation the story provides.
I loved the interplay between the sisters and the many universal truths contained within those bonds. They fight, they deceive, but through it all, they love each other, and that is always clear. The father of three headstrong young women steps back, as all good fathers would, and trusts that all disagreements will work themselves out unless it comes to one of his daughters needing protection. Then he is a fierce and loyal protector. The family dynamics reminded me of my own, at times, and this warmed my heart and made the book impossible to put down.
Lola is the youngest of the three sisters and is fighting to break out of the mold that her older sister, who runs the family vineyard, is trying to hold her in. Her sister thinks of her as immature and incapable of following through. But she knows she has grown into a much different person and longs for her sister to give her a chance to prove it. I felt a great deal of sympathy for Lola as she picked wrong path after wrong path in her quests to prove herself.
The romance is more in the past than it is in the present but, for the most part, rings authentic and believable. Gus and Lola are unfinished, and that is clear from the very beginning of the book. They need to either finally, after ten years, find closure or rekindle what once was. Their struggle feels contrived at times but ultimately works itself out in a purely natural manner.
Lastly, I want to give a shoutout to Daisy and her two different colored eyes, her love for bacon, and her innate need to find her way home even when it puts her in danger. Who doesn’t love a story with an adorable dog?
Long Walk Home is the perfect read if you are looking for a heartwarming story about the bonds of sisterhood and all of the craziness that goes along with those bonds.
April 30, 2021
I received a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is another book where I ignored the synopsis as I was more interested in reading books from across the pond. I am thrilled that I picked this book in order to help scratch that itch.
I finished this book in a single sitting and loved it. The story may have been a little obvious, but there’s a certain enjoyment in assuming how it will end and then reading on, to discover how it reaches that foregone conclusion.
The premise hangs on several relationships that Lola Alvarez has or has had. There’s Gus, her school day ex-boyfriend who was sent to prison. Her strong-minded sister, Carmen, and their father, Juan, who wants to see her settled with a nice man. Then there’s Neil, the misogynistic chef who treats his staff like imbeciles whilst telling them that he’s trying to make them better. Thank goodness for Daisy, the dog who shows Lola pure devotion, most of the time.
Digging deeper into this story reveals a trail of unresolved feelings and poor choices. There’s good reason for Carmen’s treatment of Lola and Juan is well placed to want to see his youngest daughter happy.
A special mention needs to go to Hidalgo Ruiz. He’s a gentle soul who genuinely cares for Lola and reacts kindly, when he discovers that Lola has duped him into constructing her ‘tiny cabins’. It’s easy to see that Lola would be happy and well cared for, if she could find a way to return his interest, but the heart doesn’t always do what is easiest.
This was a lovely escape to a lovely mountainside winery.
This is another book where I ignored the synopsis as I was more interested in reading books from across the pond. I am thrilled that I picked this book in order to help scratch that itch.
I finished this book in a single sitting and loved it. The story may have been a little obvious, but there’s a certain enjoyment in assuming how it will end and then reading on, to discover how it reaches that foregone conclusion.
The premise hangs on several relationships that Lola Alvarez has or has had. There’s Gus, her school day ex-boyfriend who was sent to prison. Her strong-minded sister, Carmen, and their father, Juan, who wants to see her settled with a nice man. Then there’s Neil, the misogynistic chef who treats his staff like imbeciles whilst telling them that he’s trying to make them better. Thank goodness for Daisy, the dog who shows Lola pure devotion, most of the time.
Digging deeper into this story reveals a trail of unresolved feelings and poor choices. There’s good reason for Carmen’s treatment of Lola and Juan is well placed to want to see his youngest daughter happy.
A special mention needs to go to Hidalgo Ruiz. He’s a gentle soul who genuinely cares for Lola and reacts kindly, when he discovers that Lola has duped him into constructing her ‘tiny cabins’. It’s easy to see that Lola would be happy and well cared for, if she could find a way to return his interest, but the heart doesn’t always do what is easiest.
This was a lovely escape to a lovely mountainside winery.
May 2, 2021
This is the third and final installment in the Blue Hills series. This book can be read as part of the series or as a standalone novel. I loved returning back to Blue Hills in the wine country and what an escape it was.
Lola is the youngest daughter in the family and is living at home with her dad and sister in Lake Chelan, Washington. She is a cook in her family’s restaurant but has aspirations for so much more. Lola writes her Blue Hills Winery blog where she posts her dreams and future plans for the family winery and restaurant. She wants to build tiny cabins at the winery, but her older sister Carmen says that will not happen anytime soon. But when her first love, and high school sweetheart Gus, returns to Chelan, after being gone for ten years, her whole world is turned upside down. Gus broke her heart once before, but they have a second chance at their happily ever after. He has a changed a lot in ten years and is not the same person he was when he left. Gus is also a building contractor, is he the one that is that will help Lola achieve her dreams, or will he once again break her heart?
Ellyn Oaksmith is so descriptive in her writing. She describes her characters in such a way that you feel like you know each one personally. This engaging and heart warming story is so inspiring and full of second chances, it is a must read. It will have you flipping through the pages so fast, you will find yourself experiencing all the emotions with this one. This is a fantastic end to a wonderful series.
Lola is the youngest daughter in the family and is living at home with her dad and sister in Lake Chelan, Washington. She is a cook in her family’s restaurant but has aspirations for so much more. Lola writes her Blue Hills Winery blog where she posts her dreams and future plans for the family winery and restaurant. She wants to build tiny cabins at the winery, but her older sister Carmen says that will not happen anytime soon. But when her first love, and high school sweetheart Gus, returns to Chelan, after being gone for ten years, her whole world is turned upside down. Gus broke her heart once before, but they have a second chance at their happily ever after. He has a changed a lot in ten years and is not the same person he was when he left. Gus is also a building contractor, is he the one that is that will help Lola achieve her dreams, or will he once again break her heart?
Ellyn Oaksmith is so descriptive in her writing. She describes her characters in such a way that you feel like you know each one personally. This engaging and heart warming story is so inspiring and full of second chances, it is a must read. It will have you flipping through the pages so fast, you will find yourself experiencing all the emotions with this one. This is a fantastic end to a wonderful series.
May 3, 2021
Originally reviewed for Chick Lit Central (www.chicklitcentral.com)
Long Walk Home had many intense moments, and not only where Gus is concerned. While I very much appreciated the angle between Lola and Gus, the bigger areas that concern Lola’s family, particularly her sister, Carmen, held my attention and denied any chance of allowing me a break from reading. I couldn’t put their story down!
As the synopsis indicates, Lola has had a tough past. There are a lot of reasons for her family to question her motives, yet they can’t seem to see her for who she is, now. The word commonly used within this story is, “pigeon-holed,” and I really felt that for Lola. She has amazing ideas and wants to contribute to the winery, but no one wants to give her a chance, or any of her ideas a chance. I could feel her desperation in trying to get her sister and father to see reason, particularly with the vacation cabin idea, so even though I knew that fraudulently going about building the cabins wasn’t the best choice, it’s obvious that Lola has no other option. She can’t be seen unless she does something to be seen.
I felt frustrated for her, during her conversations with Carmen. And then there’s the contention she has with the head chef in the restaurant kitchen, a man who makes Gordon Ramsey look like an angel. All of it boils down into many explosive scenes, and when Lola takes steps towards independence, I cheered her on!
The true star of Long Walk Home is Lola’s dog, Daisy. It was sweet to read about the temperament and expectation the dog has, not to mention how the dog’s personality is an extension of Lola’s. Like owner, like dog. Gus is a wonderful addition, and I enjoyed his backstory and the underdog fight in him, but it was the familial relationships that really drew me in, a well-deserved five-star experience!
Long Walk Home had many intense moments, and not only where Gus is concerned. While I very much appreciated the angle between Lola and Gus, the bigger areas that concern Lola’s family, particularly her sister, Carmen, held my attention and denied any chance of allowing me a break from reading. I couldn’t put their story down!
As the synopsis indicates, Lola has had a tough past. There are a lot of reasons for her family to question her motives, yet they can’t seem to see her for who she is, now. The word commonly used within this story is, “pigeon-holed,” and I really felt that for Lola. She has amazing ideas and wants to contribute to the winery, but no one wants to give her a chance, or any of her ideas a chance. I could feel her desperation in trying to get her sister and father to see reason, particularly with the vacation cabin idea, so even though I knew that fraudulently going about building the cabins wasn’t the best choice, it’s obvious that Lola has no other option. She can’t be seen unless she does something to be seen.
I felt frustrated for her, during her conversations with Carmen. And then there’s the contention she has with the head chef in the restaurant kitchen, a man who makes Gordon Ramsey look like an angel. All of it boils down into many explosive scenes, and when Lola takes steps towards independence, I cheered her on!
The true star of Long Walk Home is Lola’s dog, Daisy. It was sweet to read about the temperament and expectation the dog has, not to mention how the dog’s personality is an extension of Lola’s. Like owner, like dog. Gus is a wonderful addition, and I enjoyed his backstory and the underdog fight in him, but it was the familial relationships that really drew me in, a well-deserved five-star experience!
May 7, 2021
A feel-good romance set in a small town is the perfect easy read. I enjoyed the setting of the small-town winery run by a family that has drama but truly love each other. Carmen is the typical older sister, the one in charge, and the one who has all the answers. I am the oldest child in my family and could see some of her characteristics in myself and hope that I have never treated my siblings as she treats Lola. Lola is the youngest, a free flying child. She has ideas, some not so great ones, but good or bad they never get heard. Her family does not see that she has so much to give to the winery and that they should give her a chance. I loved how Lola started to stand up for herself and pushed everyone to respect her and her ideas.
The relationship of Gus and Lola was interesting. Their relationship had a bumpy end during their younger days and now that Gus is back the sparks are flying again. Gus is a wonderful character that is just trying to make amends for the mistakes of his past, Lola being one of those mistakes. Lola does not know the whole story, it was kept from her, and when Gus returns she is torn on whether to forgive him or push him away. I like how their story is slow. They do not just jump back together, but they fight their feelings wanting to be sure that no one gets hurt again.
This is the first book by Ellyn Oaksmith that I have read and I will be looking for more of her fun romances.
The relationship of Gus and Lola was interesting. Their relationship had a bumpy end during their younger days and now that Gus is back the sparks are flying again. Gus is a wonderful character that is just trying to make amends for the mistakes of his past, Lola being one of those mistakes. Lola does not know the whole story, it was kept from her, and when Gus returns she is torn on whether to forgive him or push him away. I like how their story is slow. They do not just jump back together, but they fight their feelings wanting to be sure that no one gets hurt again.
This is the first book by Ellyn Oaksmith that I have read and I will be looking for more of her fun romances.
July 21, 2021
Who doesn't love a second chance romance?
Gus and Lola were lovers in high school. Her family owned the Blue Hills winery and she was spoiled. Gus lived in a rundown trailer on the wrong side of the tracks with an alcoholic father. Bad decisions landed him in prison and Lola thought she would never see him again.
Ten years later Lola wants to make more decisions regarding the winery but her sister Carmen reminds her of her failures and refuses any ideas. Lola decides to build 5 tiny houses on the rim of the vineyard without her family's knowledge. She hires Hilgado Construction to build them.
Gus has been released from prison and has worked hard in therapy and has trained to become a master builder. He returns to town To make amends and is hired by Hilgado Construction. When he is told his first job is at Blue Hills Winery, he hopes Lola and her family can forgive him.
Long Walk home had me routing for Gus and Lola. Neither stopped loving the other but alot has happened in ten years. The characters are realistic and I enjoyed watching Lola and Carmen's relationship evolve. This is book three in the series but Ican be read as a standalone If you like second chance and contemporary romance, then you will enjoy this book.
Thank you @ellynoaksmith and @bookouture for giving me an ebook and including me on tour.
Gus and Lola were lovers in high school. Her family owned the Blue Hills winery and she was spoiled. Gus lived in a rundown trailer on the wrong side of the tracks with an alcoholic father. Bad decisions landed him in prison and Lola thought she would never see him again.
Ten years later Lola wants to make more decisions regarding the winery but her sister Carmen reminds her of her failures and refuses any ideas. Lola decides to build 5 tiny houses on the rim of the vineyard without her family's knowledge. She hires Hilgado Construction to build them.
Gus has been released from prison and has worked hard in therapy and has trained to become a master builder. He returns to town To make amends and is hired by Hilgado Construction. When he is told his first job is at Blue Hills Winery, he hopes Lola and her family can forgive him.
Long Walk home had me routing for Gus and Lola. Neither stopped loving the other but alot has happened in ten years. The characters are realistic and I enjoyed watching Lola and Carmen's relationship evolve. This is book three in the series but Ican be read as a standalone If you like second chance and contemporary romance, then you will enjoy this book.
Thank you @ellynoaksmith and @bookouture for giving me an ebook and including me on tour.
May 2, 2021
Note: Read and reviewed this book as a part of the blog tour by Bookouture.
Long Walk Home by Ellyn Oaksmith is a feel good romance that will tug at your heartstrings. The story is simple and well-written as it follows Lola and Gus, the main protagonists.
Lola is the youngest of three and is always treated like the baby of the family. She feels that her opinions and ideas are not considered and she sets out to build tiny cabins in a bid to expand their family business. Having been separated from Gus for more than ten years, Lola doesn't expect to still be in love with him. As the two main characters deal with their personal issues, they also start to rediscover their bonds as they end up spending more time around one another due to Lola's project.
The characters are interesting and well thought out. The author has brought out the interactions between the siblings very well and it is honestly quite relatable. This is a story of second chances, standing up for oneself and making amends. This is a story of finding love and being true to family. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and am sure that you all will too! It is a wonderful choice for a light read that ensures the reader is hooked until the very end. A happy and simple read, this book is full of hope and positive vibes.
Long Walk Home by Ellyn Oaksmith is a feel good romance that will tug at your heartstrings. The story is simple and well-written as it follows Lola and Gus, the main protagonists.
Lola is the youngest of three and is always treated like the baby of the family. She feels that her opinions and ideas are not considered and she sets out to build tiny cabins in a bid to expand their family business. Having been separated from Gus for more than ten years, Lola doesn't expect to still be in love with him. As the two main characters deal with their personal issues, they also start to rediscover their bonds as they end up spending more time around one another due to Lola's project.
The characters are interesting and well thought out. The author has brought out the interactions between the siblings very well and it is honestly quite relatable. This is a story of second chances, standing up for oneself and making amends. This is a story of finding love and being true to family. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and am sure that you all will too! It is a wonderful choice for a light read that ensures the reader is hooked until the very end. A happy and simple read, this book is full of hope and positive vibes.
May 13, 2021
📖 Book Tour! 📖
I was given a copy of Long Walk Home by @ellynoaksmith in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to @bookouture and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this one!
I’ll start with letting you know that this is the third book in a series. It functions as a stand alone story, but I do now wish I had some more of the backstory.
Long Walk Home is a second chance love story, and a story of how challenging family dynamics can be. Lola longs to be taken seriously by her older sister and her father, and acts on a dream of hers to build tiny cabins to create rental properties to supplement the income of her family’s winery. Gus is Lola’s down on his luck ex who is trying to get his life back together by taking on a construction job. It’s no surprise that Lola’s cabins are the job he's signed up for.
I give this one 3.5 stars. It’s a sweet story. It’s frustrating at times. You want to shake Lola. You want to scream at her sister Carmen. You feel for Gus. And you hate the evil Insta-famous chef Carmen hopes can bring publicity to the winery. I do feel that I would have appreciated this one more with more of the back story, but it’s definitely one to pick up for a quick, light, fluffy Sunday afternoon read.
Thanks again for the opportunity to share!
I was given a copy of Long Walk Home by @ellynoaksmith in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to @bookouture and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this one!
I’ll start with letting you know that this is the third book in a series. It functions as a stand alone story, but I do now wish I had some more of the backstory.
Long Walk Home is a second chance love story, and a story of how challenging family dynamics can be. Lola longs to be taken seriously by her older sister and her father, and acts on a dream of hers to build tiny cabins to create rental properties to supplement the income of her family’s winery. Gus is Lola’s down on his luck ex who is trying to get his life back together by taking on a construction job. It’s no surprise that Lola’s cabins are the job he's signed up for.
I give this one 3.5 stars. It’s a sweet story. It’s frustrating at times. You want to shake Lola. You want to scream at her sister Carmen. You feel for Gus. And you hate the evil Insta-famous chef Carmen hopes can bring publicity to the winery. I do feel that I would have appreciated this one more with more of the back story, but it’s definitely one to pick up for a quick, light, fluffy Sunday afternoon read.
Thanks again for the opportunity to share!
March 27, 2021
I kindly received this book from the publisher to read and review through NetGalley.
This is the third book in Ellyn Oaksmith’s series but it stands alone quite strongly.
Lola is the youngest of three sisters. She behaves just like the rebellious youngest too. Her older sister Carmen runs the winery but frustratingly won’t allow Lola to have an opinion at all. Not about the sexist head chef Neil that she hires, about expanding into “tiny home” cottages on the property and her father keeps sending eligible gents into the restaurant kitchen to introduce them to Lola. But Lola has managed to raise the capital to build the tiny homes from angel investors and when she is introduced to Hildago, a builder, she presses ahead and gets him to start building. Only problem is that the building is being done by Gus, Lola’s childhood sweetheart.
The only hard to believe part is that Carmen doesn’t find out about the building until it’s nearly complete. And the end comes together very quickly with everything working out happily for all the characters. Not totally believable but an enjoyable read if you don’t question the believability and rate of forgiveness 😉
This is the third book in Ellyn Oaksmith’s series but it stands alone quite strongly.
Lola is the youngest of three sisters. She behaves just like the rebellious youngest too. Her older sister Carmen runs the winery but frustratingly won’t allow Lola to have an opinion at all. Not about the sexist head chef Neil that she hires, about expanding into “tiny home” cottages on the property and her father keeps sending eligible gents into the restaurant kitchen to introduce them to Lola. But Lola has managed to raise the capital to build the tiny homes from angel investors and when she is introduced to Hildago, a builder, she presses ahead and gets him to start building. Only problem is that the building is being done by Gus, Lola’s childhood sweetheart.
The only hard to believe part is that Carmen doesn’t find out about the building until it’s nearly complete. And the end comes together very quickly with everything working out happily for all the characters. Not totally believable but an enjoyable read if you don’t question the believability and rate of forgiveness 😉
April 27, 2021
4.5 stars This is the story of the youngest Alvarez sister, Lola. Lola has many ideas for the Blue Hills Winery and Restaurant, but her older sister, Carmen, won’t consider any of them. She still treats her like a little kid basically, lol. As we read this book, we get to know these characters and I have to say, I really don’t care that much for Carmen. Thankfully, Lola decides to take one of her ideas and run with it, lol. She gets Carmen to unknowingly sign off on the “tiny” cabins being built. Unknown to Lola, Hidalgo hires ex-con, Gus Weaver, to work on this project. Gus was Lola’s high school sweetheart and they were madly in love, until he left in handcuffs. I won’t leave any spoilers, but I highly recommend this beautifully written, sometimes emotional, story. I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley and Bookouture and this is my voluntary and honest review.
April 23, 2021
Many Second Chances
My first time reading this author, and I enjoyed every word. I plan to go back a read the others as it is part of a series. The book does stand alone. For me, it was a light, easy, romantic read.
Lola loves working at her family's winery and dreams of leaving her mark on its continued success. Her older sister Carmen is standing in her way. Carmen makes all the financial decisions for the business. Lola has made mistakes in the past.
Gus is back in town, and he and Lola have a history. He is no longer the bad boy he was when he left without saying goodbye. He is tasked to work on Lola’s secret project. Will her family take her seriously? Can Gus make amends for his youth? I loved Daisy, Lola’s rescue dog.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy: this is my voluntary review.
My first time reading this author, and I enjoyed every word. I plan to go back a read the others as it is part of a series. The book does stand alone. For me, it was a light, easy, romantic read.
Lola loves working at her family's winery and dreams of leaving her mark on its continued success. Her older sister Carmen is standing in her way. Carmen makes all the financial decisions for the business. Lola has made mistakes in the past.
Gus is back in town, and he and Lola have a history. He is no longer the bad boy he was when he left without saying goodbye. He is tasked to work on Lola’s secret project. Will her family take her seriously? Can Gus make amends for his youth? I loved Daisy, Lola’s rescue dog.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy: this is my voluntary review.
October 17, 2021
I received a complimentary copy of Long Walk Home in exchange for an honest review. I loved the concept of the book and young adults reuniting later in life. Author Oaksmith did a great job setting up the plot and creating the perfect segue into Lola and Gus' meeting. I also really enjoyed Lola and her desire to improve the family business even if it meant destroying her relationship with her sister, It says a lot about a character that isn't afraid to step out of bounds to make something better.
Both characters were amazing, and it was such a feel good romance. Thanks again the opportunity to read Long Walk Home.
Both characters were amazing, and it was such a feel good romance. Thanks again the opportunity to read Long Walk Home.
April 30, 2021
Visiting Chelan feels like a refreshing quick vacation to a memorable location. In this book, we get Lola’s story. Family dynamics play a large part as Lola (the youngest) and Carmen (the oldest) butt heads about further improvements to the family business. Lola also has to deal with an obnoxious chef and the return of her first love. Can she figure it all out and succeed on all fronts? This feel-good comfort read is not to be missed. I love this series. For a full review, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for a digital ARC of the book.
May 4, 2021
Lola is the youngest of three sisters. She works at the family business, under Carmen's straight orders. It's not that she is a rebel, but sometimes Carmen is a bit bossy. And Lola is getting tired.
Gus is coming back home after ten years. His story is not an easy one, but he is ready to make amends with his past. Somehow, he'll find the way.
I liked this book very much. The story is well written and the characters are lovable. I might say I adored Lola's character in particular. It's very energetic and full of life!
It's not my first book from this author and it will not be the last.
Gus is coming back home after ten years. His story is not an easy one, but he is ready to make amends with his past. Somehow, he'll find the way.
I liked this book very much. The story is well written and the characters are lovable. I might say I adored Lola's character in particular. It's very energetic and full of life!
It's not my first book from this author and it will not be the last.
May 4, 2021
Long walk home is about second chance romance, finding your place within a dynamic family and figuring out if a leopard can change its spots.
I absolutely loved this book. The characters were well written with a detailed plot throughout. I loved watching Lola and Carmen’s ( Lola’s sister ) relationship evolve. I wasn’t overly keen on the front cover, but it just goes to show you should never judge a book by its cover. This is book 3 in the Blue Hill series but can definitely be read as a stand-alone.
I absolutely loved this book. The characters were well written with a detailed plot throughout. I loved watching Lola and Carmen’s ( Lola’s sister ) relationship evolve. I wasn’t overly keen on the front cover, but it just goes to show you should never judge a book by its cover. This is book 3 in the Blue Hill series but can definitely be read as a stand-alone.
April 27, 2021
Siblings. If you have siblings, you may see yourself or one of them in this story. The winery setting is beautiful. Chelan sounds like a wonderful small town, whether you’re visiting or calling it home. I loved meeting the Alvarez family and their friends. I think you will too. The story is great and I think you will enjoy it as much as I did. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
May 3, 2021
A second chance romance full of dynamic family relationships, love, hard work and the belief in oneself. When I requested this I didn't realize this was the 3rd book in a series. It reads as a standalone but I am going to find and read the first two books. I think I could have appreciated Carmen, Lola and their relationship dynamics more if I "knew" Carmen better and had followed their story from the beginning.
May 17, 2021
Funny, Heartwarming and Guaranteed to Make Your Mouth Water
The first two books in this series are completely delightful, and Lola’s story does not disappoint. From the dreamy hero to the beautiful setting to the family relationships that feel so real and true, Long Walk Home ticks every box. Not to mention I’ve never wanted to eat fictional food more than I did reading this book. Love love love.
The first two books in this series are completely delightful, and Lola’s story does not disappoint. From the dreamy hero to the beautiful setting to the family relationships that feel so real and true, Long Walk Home ticks every box. Not to mention I’ve never wanted to eat fictional food more than I did reading this book. Love love love.
May 2, 2021
My first book by the author and the third in this series. I really enjoyed this one even without reading the previous two books. I felt it worked ok as a standalone but would like to read the others just to get more of the backstory. Looking forward to more books from the author.
May 3, 2021
This is my first book by this author and I’m reading as part of a blog tour with Chick Lit Central. I enjoyed this so much that I’m getting ready to read the other books in this series, next!
My full thoughts coming soon.
My full thoughts coming soon.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews