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Where the Road Bends
As Norah King surveys her family land in Iowa in 1880, she is acutely aware that it is all she has left, and she will do everything in her power to save it--even if that means marrying a man she hardly knows. Days before her wedding, Norah discovers an injured man on her property. Her sense of duty compels her to take him in and nurse him back to health. Little does she realize just how much this act of kindness will complicate her life and threaten the future she's planned.
Norah's care does more than aid Quincy Barnes's recovery--it awakens his heart to possibilities. Penniless and homeless, he knows the most honorable thing he can do is head on down the road and leave Norah to marry her intended. But walking away from the first person to believe in him proves much harder than he imagined.
Rachel Fordham invites you to experience the strength and beauty of love forged in the crucible of hardship in this heartwarming story.
Norah's care does more than aid Quincy Barnes's recovery--it awakens his heart to possibilities. Penniless and homeless, he knows the most honorable thing he can do is head on down the road and leave Norah to marry her intended. But walking away from the first person to believe in him proves much harder than he imagined.
Rachel Fordham invites you to experience the strength and beauty of love forged in the crucible of hardship in this heartwarming story.
336 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2022
75 people are currently reading
5207 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Fordham
8 books1,365 followersRachel Fordham is the author of The Letter Tree, Where the Road Bends, A Lady in Attendance, A Life Once Dreamed, The Hope of Azure Springs, and Yours Truly, Thomas. Fans expect stories with heart and she delivers, diving deep into the human experience and tugging at reader emotions. She loves connecting with people, traveling to new places, and daydreaming about future projects that will have sigh-worthy endings and memorable characters. She is a busy mom, raising both biological and foster children (a cause she feels passionate about). She lives with her husband and children on an island in the state of Washington. Learn more at
www.rachelfordham.com.
www.rachelfordham.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 407 reviews
March 5, 2023
Totally unexpected! I LOVED this story and the romance.
This follows Norah who is betrothed to be married after her father dies and she is left to tend the land, but has no money to do so. Then she saves Quincy, a street fighter who is left to die after a bad fight.
We follow them bonding and the aftermath of her letting him stay in her house while he recovers.
This is set in the 1800s and I didn't mind one bit. It is very character focused, which I prefer. Norah and Quincy are adorable and I loved watching them become friends and more. It was a joy to watch them interact. So many funny moments between them.
The side characters were also very endearing and I loved them. Normally I only have eyes for the main characters, but there was a little boy named Nels who stole my heart, and Alice and Sam were a highlight as well.
There's some tougher topics present as well. Prostitution, brothels, saloons, drunkenness, and abuse are mentioned but not in graphic details.
This felt very reminiscent to Redeeming Love and The Lady's Mine by Francine Rivers. I think if you like those books, you would like this one and vice versa.
Definitely want to read more from this author!
This follows Norah who is betrothed to be married after her father dies and she is left to tend the land, but has no money to do so. Then she saves Quincy, a street fighter who is left to die after a bad fight.
We follow them bonding and the aftermath of her letting him stay in her house while he recovers.
This is set in the 1800s and I didn't mind one bit. It is very character focused, which I prefer. Norah and Quincy are adorable and I loved watching them become friends and more. It was a joy to watch them interact. So many funny moments between them.
The side characters were also very endearing and I loved them. Normally I only have eyes for the main characters, but there was a little boy named Nels who stole my heart, and Alice and Sam were a highlight as well.
There's some tougher topics present as well. Prostitution, brothels, saloons, drunkenness, and abuse are mentioned but not in graphic details.
This felt very reminiscent to Redeeming Love and The Lady's Mine by Francine Rivers. I think if you like those books, you would like this one and vice versa.
Definitely want to read more from this author!
June 3, 2022
Rachel Fordham has written a beautifully, heart warming romantic historical fiction. I loved this book from the very first chapter. It is such a beautiful story, full of forgiveness, hope, new beginnings, love and new friendships.
The book opens with a quote from Jane Austen's Persuasion - "You pierce my sole, I am half agony, half hope, I have loved none but you" This for me set the tone to a well researched, and thought provoking novel.
Nora is a hard working young woman who works the farm that was left to her by her parents. She is behind in mortgage repayments, and local man Jake has made her a reasonable offer to pay the bank the money owing in repayments in return for her hand in marriage. Nora accepts this practical deal as she is 22 years of age, has no other marriage prospects or means to pay the debt owing on the bank. She is not hopeful of a love match so she feels this is a practical and sensible solution to her problems.
Whilst having a dip in the lake on her property, and just 1 week prior to her intended marriage, Nora discovers a man on her property who is unconscious, he is covered in blood, has bruises all over his face and body, his hair is matted and stuck to his face. Nora uses all her strength to drag this man, Quincy, back to her house and nurses him back to health. Nora feels comfortable around Quincy, even though he is stranger, and finds him easy to talk to, and makes her laugh, like she has never laughed before. There are sparks between the two of them, but neither Quincy or Nora acknowledge them as Nora is due to be married in less then 1 week. Within a couple of days Quincy leaves Nora's home and hospitality and goes upon his own path, as it is not good for Nora to have a strange man staying in her house, especially as she is unwed.
Quincy has had a rough life, he was on his own since the age of fourteen, to try and make ends meet he was boxing for cash. Nora has also had it quite difficult, her parents dying young, loosing her brothers at a very young age, and having to work the farm on her own. Both of them having difficult beginnings, but have both made the best of their circumstances.
After leaving Nora's property, Quincy ends up doing quite well for himself and becomes a business man, he purchases a run down hotel, and works hard to bring it back to life. With the profits from the Hotel he then goes on to purchase the local cafe and the supermarket, not to make profit but to support the previous owners who needed some help at the time. Due to his successes in business, Quincy would like to repay back Nora for her kindness and hospitality and writes a letter to Nora and posts her some cash with it. When the letter is returned to Quincy as undeliverable, Quincy sets out to find Nora and to find out why his letter was not accepted.
What Quincy finds, when he returns to Norah's hometown, everything is not as he expected.
“Nothing in my life has gone how I thought it would, but it’s all getting me to where I want to be. I’d live it all again. It was my road to you.”
Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Audio for this audio book. This book was available to purchase from 7 June, 2022
5 Stars: It was amazing. It was compelling, well-researched, entertaining and/or moving and often complex. I will definitely want to read more books by this author.
Please visit my Facebook page and blog to see all of my past and future book reviews.
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https://kyliesbookaddictreviews.blogs...
The book opens with a quote from Jane Austen's Persuasion - "You pierce my sole, I am half agony, half hope, I have loved none but you" This for me set the tone to a well researched, and thought provoking novel.
Nora is a hard working young woman who works the farm that was left to her by her parents. She is behind in mortgage repayments, and local man Jake has made her a reasonable offer to pay the bank the money owing in repayments in return for her hand in marriage. Nora accepts this practical deal as she is 22 years of age, has no other marriage prospects or means to pay the debt owing on the bank. She is not hopeful of a love match so she feels this is a practical and sensible solution to her problems.
Whilst having a dip in the lake on her property, and just 1 week prior to her intended marriage, Nora discovers a man on her property who is unconscious, he is covered in blood, has bruises all over his face and body, his hair is matted and stuck to his face. Nora uses all her strength to drag this man, Quincy, back to her house and nurses him back to health. Nora feels comfortable around Quincy, even though he is stranger, and finds him easy to talk to, and makes her laugh, like she has never laughed before. There are sparks between the two of them, but neither Quincy or Nora acknowledge them as Nora is due to be married in less then 1 week. Within a couple of days Quincy leaves Nora's home and hospitality and goes upon his own path, as it is not good for Nora to have a strange man staying in her house, especially as she is unwed.
Quincy has had a rough life, he was on his own since the age of fourteen, to try and make ends meet he was boxing for cash. Nora has also had it quite difficult, her parents dying young, loosing her brothers at a very young age, and having to work the farm on her own. Both of them having difficult beginnings, but have both made the best of their circumstances.
After leaving Nora's property, Quincy ends up doing quite well for himself and becomes a business man, he purchases a run down hotel, and works hard to bring it back to life. With the profits from the Hotel he then goes on to purchase the local cafe and the supermarket, not to make profit but to support the previous owners who needed some help at the time. Due to his successes in business, Quincy would like to repay back Nora for her kindness and hospitality and writes a letter to Nora and posts her some cash with it. When the letter is returned to Quincy as undeliverable, Quincy sets out to find Nora and to find out why his letter was not accepted.
What Quincy finds, when he returns to Norah's hometown, everything is not as he expected.
“Nothing in my life has gone how I thought it would, but it’s all getting me to where I want to be. I’d live it all again. It was my road to you.”
Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Audio for this audio book. This book was available to purchase from 7 June, 2022
5 Stars: It was amazing. It was compelling, well-researched, entertaining and/or moving and often complex. I will definitely want to read more books by this author.
Please visit my Facebook page and blog to see all of my past and future book reviews.
https://www.facebook.com/kyliesbookad...
https://kyliesbookaddictreviews.blogs...
June 25, 2022
3.5 stars!
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Characters: I struggled to connect with Norah and Quincy. At the beginning of the book, Norah was overly trusting and seemed younger than twenty-two. As the story developed, she did mature. Quincy went from a street boxer to a business owner basically overnight after a skip in the story. After his transformation, he seemed to switch back and forth between "unrefined" and business professional. Maybe I just missed it, but it would've been more believable if I'd seen his growth.
Language: Clean
Moral/Theme: This book included themes of second chances, honesty, the importance of keeping promises, and family. Although this book had good themes, it didn't include a lot of Christian content. Norah prayed some, but when she should have been depending on God, she looked solely to her friends and those around her for strength and support.
Plot: Although this book had a pretty typical historical fiction plot, it was still enjoyable and included some moments of action.
Romance: Clean. Just a few kisses.
Writing: Rachel Fordham has a simple writing style that's easy to follow and understand.
Overall: Where the Road Bends was an entertaining read, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy Christian fiction and historical romance.
** Review written with the assistance of the Typo Queen. **
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Characters: I struggled to connect with Norah and Quincy. At the beginning of the book, Norah was overly trusting and seemed younger than twenty-two. As the story developed, she did mature. Quincy went from a street boxer to a business owner basically overnight after a skip in the story. After his transformation, he seemed to switch back and forth between "unrefined" and business professional. Maybe I just missed it, but it would've been more believable if I'd seen his growth.
Language: Clean
Moral/Theme: This book included themes of second chances, honesty, the importance of keeping promises, and family. Although this book had good themes, it didn't include a lot of Christian content. Norah prayed some, but when she should have been depending on God, she looked solely to her friends and those around her for strength and support.
Plot: Although this book had a pretty typical historical fiction plot, it was still enjoyable and included some moments of action.
Romance: Clean. Just a few kisses.
Writing: Rachel Fordham has a simple writing style that's easy to follow and understand.
Overall: Where the Road Bends was an entertaining read, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy Christian fiction and historical romance.
** Review written with the assistance of the Typo Queen. **
June 17, 2022
What an absolutely incredibly eye opening book.
I am loving that it takes place in Iowa as well. (My daughter lives there.)
This book is about hope,dreams,forgiveness,strength,compassion,understanding and faith.
We seem to all start out with dreams and so many times things don't go as we plan and we give up.
Dreams here go astray as well and our main characters, whom I just love by the way are flexible and change with their dreams. Their relationship is strong, nurtured by faith,love,compassion,strength and really listening to what each other as to say and adjusting the relationship with this.
Dreams change and need to be nurtured. What was important at one time may no longer as important but we give love and respect to new dreams coming in.
I absolutely loved seeing the child in this book going from a street urchin to a well behaved,secure in his surroundings, part of a family person.
The growth we see in the characters is fantastic. Heartwarming book. I do believe this is my favorite the author has written. It's a very strong story.
Pub Date 07 Jun 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
I am loving that it takes place in Iowa as well. (My daughter lives there.)
This book is about hope,dreams,forgiveness,strength,compassion,understanding and faith.
We seem to all start out with dreams and so many times things don't go as we plan and we give up.
Dreams here go astray as well and our main characters, whom I just love by the way are flexible and change with their dreams. Their relationship is strong, nurtured by faith,love,compassion,strength and really listening to what each other as to say and adjusting the relationship with this.
Dreams change and need to be nurtured. What was important at one time may no longer as important but we give love and respect to new dreams coming in.
I absolutely loved seeing the child in this book going from a street urchin to a well behaved,secure in his surroundings, part of a family person.
The growth we see in the characters is fantastic. Heartwarming book. I do believe this is my favorite the author has written. It's a very strong story.
Pub Date 07 Jun 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
January 29, 2025
Rachel always writes the sweetest, most wholesome stories! Filled with love, and acceptance, grace, and forgiveness. Just all the wonderful Christian qualities we should be striving for daily.
Norah and Quincy were just the sweetest couple. I loved their first meeting and how it shaped their story moving forward even after life took some rather unexpected twists.
Their courage and tenacity to make their situation better, while not holding onto the past too tightly was encouraging!
It had all the charm of a typical historical American small town Christian fiction novel, while also bringing in Rachel’s sweet storytelling!
I really enjoyed the story! It was a quick, easy read that reminded me why historical romances are always a great choice.
4/5 stars
*I received this book from the author**All opinions are my own*
Norah and Quincy were just the sweetest couple. I loved their first meeting and how it shaped their story moving forward even after life took some rather unexpected twists.
Their courage and tenacity to make their situation better, while not holding onto the past too tightly was encouraging!
It had all the charm of a typical historical American small town Christian fiction novel, while also bringing in Rachel’s sweet storytelling!
I really enjoyed the story! It was a quick, easy read that reminded me why historical romances are always a great choice.
4/5 stars
*I received this book from the author**All opinions are my own*
May 25, 2022
“Nothing in my life has gone how I thought it would, but it’s all getting me to where I want to be. I’d live it all again. It was my road to you.”
Loved this story! Rachel Fordham has such a brilliant way of creating characters who pull you in and don’t let go. There were so many things that touched me about this story; the way the characters rescue each other, their perseverance and faith, and finding hope in life’s challenging circumstances. The references to Jane Austen’s Persuasion also added much appreciated enjoyment to the book.
Set in 1880’s Iowa, Norah didn’t know what she was getting into when she rescues a man she finds on her property near the brink of death. She’s made up her mind to marry a man she doesn’t love in order to save her family farm. But as she nurses Quincy, a battered and bruised ex-fighter, their fast friendship and the ease in which they communicate makes her long for something more. Norah’s sunny disposition and sweet personality capture Quincy’s heart. His teasing, forthright, rough-around-the-edges personality allows Norah to be herself and she has no problem opening up and sharing her dreams with him. He wishes circumstances were different and he could offer her more.
Though Quincy’s not quite healed, he leaves in order to prevent problems with Norah’s much older fiancé. When the two part ways, both are determined to make the best out of life. In the two years since, life’s twists and turns have led to very different circumstances. Can these two find happiness and a second chance at love?
This story had so many unexpected twists. I loved the way Quincy changes himself and his life because of Norah. I love how Norah learns to not let her fears overcome her. She’s such a strong character and I enjoyed seeing her willingness to forgive and learning to trust in the friendship and love of others. Quincy is such a lovable “rogue” as Norah calls him. He wants to do everything to fulfill Norah’s dreams and I was impressed by the ways he uses his wealth to help others. There are several memorable side characters who really add a lot of depth and richness to the story, including a young boy who Quincy takes in. I enjoyed this little scamp and his hard working personality. There’s also a nasty villain who causes some difficult problems for Norah and Quincy.
It’s a hard to put down story with great messages of love, hope, and triumph over life’s difficult circumstances. Highly recommend to fans of historical Christian fiction, and historical romance. Thanks to the author and publisher for the complimentary advanced copy. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.
Loved this story! Rachel Fordham has such a brilliant way of creating characters who pull you in and don’t let go. There were so many things that touched me about this story; the way the characters rescue each other, their perseverance and faith, and finding hope in life’s challenging circumstances. The references to Jane Austen’s Persuasion also added much appreciated enjoyment to the book.
Set in 1880’s Iowa, Norah didn’t know what she was getting into when she rescues a man she finds on her property near the brink of death. She’s made up her mind to marry a man she doesn’t love in order to save her family farm. But as she nurses Quincy, a battered and bruised ex-fighter, their fast friendship and the ease in which they communicate makes her long for something more. Norah’s sunny disposition and sweet personality capture Quincy’s heart. His teasing, forthright, rough-around-the-edges personality allows Norah to be herself and she has no problem opening up and sharing her dreams with him. He wishes circumstances were different and he could offer her more.
Though Quincy’s not quite healed, he leaves in order to prevent problems with Norah’s much older fiancé. When the two part ways, both are determined to make the best out of life. In the two years since, life’s twists and turns have led to very different circumstances. Can these two find happiness and a second chance at love?
This story had so many unexpected twists. I loved the way Quincy changes himself and his life because of Norah. I love how Norah learns to not let her fears overcome her. She’s such a strong character and I enjoyed seeing her willingness to forgive and learning to trust in the friendship and love of others. Quincy is such a lovable “rogue” as Norah calls him. He wants to do everything to fulfill Norah’s dreams and I was impressed by the ways he uses his wealth to help others. There are several memorable side characters who really add a lot of depth and richness to the story, including a young boy who Quincy takes in. I enjoyed this little scamp and his hard working personality. There’s also a nasty villain who causes some difficult problems for Norah and Quincy.
It’s a hard to put down story with great messages of love, hope, and triumph over life’s difficult circumstances. Highly recommend to fans of historical Christian fiction, and historical romance. Thanks to the author and publisher for the complimentary advanced copy. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.
June 27, 2022
About this book:
“As Norah King surveys her family land in Iowa in 1880, she is acutely aware that it is all she has left, and she will do everything in her power to save it--even if that means marrying a man she hardly knows. Days before her wedding, Norah discovers an injured man on her property. Her sense of duty compels her to take him in and nurse him back to health. Little does she realize just how much this act of kindness will complicate her life and threaten the future she's planned.
Norah's care does more than aid Quincy Barnes's recovery--it awakens his heart to possibilities. Penniless and homeless, he knows the most honorable thing he can do is head on down the road and leave Norah to marry her intended. But walking away from the first person to believe in him proves much harder than he imagined.”
Series: No, a stand-alone. (Does mention a couple of the characters from the author’s other books in passing, no spoilers.)
Spiritual Content- A few prayers; A couple talks about God; ‘H’s are not capitalized when referring to God; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers, praying, & thanking God; Mentions of churches, church going, pastors, & sermons; A few mentions of a Bible & Bible reading; A few mentions of Heaven; A mention of a godsend;
*Note: A few mentions of evil men; A couple mentions of a rooster being called a “devil bird” or a “devil rooster”; A mention of the demons tormenting a person.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blast it all’, an ‘idiot’, a ‘what in tarnation’, and two ‘blast/blast you’s; Mentions of curses (some by Quincy, said, not written or cut-off); A bit of eye rolling; Being shot, pain, passing out, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Hitting, Fighting, Fights, Pain, Passing out, Injuries, & Blood/Bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Quincy was a fighter (fighting people for money); Many mentions of deaths, bodies, pain, passing out, injuries, blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of fights, fighting, beatings, & injuries (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of thinking that you’re going to be killed & a woman being badly bruised by a man (Norah); Mentions of a drunk man with a gun & him shooting someone (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of potentially dead or injured animals & vultures attacking carcasses or humans (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of stealing & a thief; Mentions of jail & criminals; Mentions of gambling, betting, & debts; Mentions of alcohol, drunks, & saloons; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of children being beaten in fights to get the crowd excited; A few mentions of nightmares; A few mentions of jealousy/envy; A few mentions of tobacco & smoking; A few mentions of killing animals for food; A couple mentions of women/girls running away from abusive situations; A couple mentions of a mother leaving her family & then the father leaving as well; A couple mentions of a father telling his young son that he’ll never amount to anything & that he doesn’t want him; A mention of a girl being beaten by her uncle;
*Note: A mention of Nora’s siblings dying when they were babies.
Sexual Content- Five fingers/hand kisses, two nose kisses, six cheek kisses, four forehead kisses, a head/hair kiss, two not-detailed kisses, two barely-above-not-detailed kisses, a border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kiss, and two border-line semi-detailed // detailed kisses; Wanting to kiss someone & Staring at another’s lips (barely-above-not-detailed); Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Nearness, Smelling, Warmth, & Shivers (up to semi-detailed); Wanting to touch & embrace (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing & Staring (including Nora noticing his muscles a bit when doctoring Quincy up (which he later teases her about), barely-above-not-detailed); A woman at a saloon leans into Quincy & he is uneasy about it; Many mentions of women being forced to resort to “unseemly means” to feed themselves, places of ill repute/brothels/bawdy houses, saloon girls/prostitutes, men wanting to with Norah and bidding for her, women leading men upstairs, the horrors the women go through there, & the man who owns the saloon trying to convince Norah to do more than just serve drinks and him hurting her (it’s said that he locked her in a room, slapped and kicked her, and told her he’d break her); Mentions of wedding night jitters, that it’s inevitable if you want children, & that Norah is trying not to dwell on the idea of the wedding night (Quincy adds that “with the right man, I would assume it’d be even exciting” and says that some matronly woman could give her advice to ease her fears); Mentions of kisses, kissing, & stealing kisses/stolen kisses; Mentions of blushes, flirting, & swooning; A few mentions of loose/tainted women; A few mentions of gossip & rumors about Norah being tainted after a man stayed in her home alone with her (another happened, but rumors were still spread); A few mentions of reputations; A couple mentions of an uncle dropping off his niece at a brothel; A couple mentions of not being sure if a man did “you know what” to a woman & that he’s a beast; A mention of a couple that is courting waiting to do the things that married couples do (until they’re married); A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of if you win a fight, you can have your choice of a girl from the saloon; A mention of a man making untoward comments towards a woman; A mention of list of dreams (things to do) that an engaged woman says is for her husband’s eye only; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: Norah is engaged to a man 20 years her senior; A mention of Norah’s curves (by her).
-Norah King, age 22 then 24
-Quincy Barnes, age 25 then 27
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1880 (first four chapters), 1882 (rest of the book), & 1883 (Epilogue)
310 pages
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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star
Older High School Teens- Two Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars
{Ratings are lowered due to many mentions of prostitution and men abusing women.}
I wanted to like this novel because I’ve enjoyed all the author’s other books, but I struggled with this one for multiple reasons.
The story moves very fast, but especially at the beginning. The back-cover description only covers the first four chapters. The emotions between Norah and Quincy felt awfully fast, but then we have a time-skip and things have dramatically changed for both of them.
I had four things I wasn’t a fan of and three things I enjoyed, so let’s break them down.
Disliked: Honestly? Quincy. He was very focused on making Norah’s dreams come true, which is sweet in a way, but I wish there was more of a focus on trusting God for that. I really don’t like that he kept a very important secret from Norah and that it dragged out for the majority of the book. If you would just be honest to her, everything would be solved!
This leads into another element I disliked: I wasn’t thrilled with is how Quincy would get advice from others, but only like hearing it if it matched what he was thinking—1.) you should be going to the Lord before you do anything important, buddy. 2.) why are you looking for others’ approval for your thoughts? See point one and go to the Lord.
Disliked: I wish there had been more faith content. It was very light and I thought there were many parts that more discussions or faith-filled moments could have happened.
Disliked: While it’s a real topic in history and in today’s world, I really don’t like reading about men abusing women or prostitution. I wish the back-cover had alluded to this content being in the book so I could have mentally prepared myself a bit better. Of course, while nothing was detailed in those parts, I didn’t like the hints to such content, personally. This is the major reason the ratings for all ages are lowered.
The positives—which are why I’m giving it a personal rating of two stars:
Liked: There were a few mentions of characters and places from the author’s other books and I like when authors include Easter eggs like that.
Liked: As a baseball fan, I though all the baseball parts were fun.
Liked: I really liked Nels, I think it would be neat to see him in his own story (kind of like Bane in Elizabeth Camden’s The Lady of Bolton Hill and Against the Tide.)
So while I was disappointed in this new book, I do plan to continue reading this author’s books as they release, though I don’t know if one will ever top her debut book for me.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Revell) for this honest review.
“As Norah King surveys her family land in Iowa in 1880, she is acutely aware that it is all she has left, and she will do everything in her power to save it--even if that means marrying a man she hardly knows. Days before her wedding, Norah discovers an injured man on her property. Her sense of duty compels her to take him in and nurse him back to health. Little does she realize just how much this act of kindness will complicate her life and threaten the future she's planned.
Norah's care does more than aid Quincy Barnes's recovery--it awakens his heart to possibilities. Penniless and homeless, he knows the most honorable thing he can do is head on down the road and leave Norah to marry her intended. But walking away from the first person to believe in him proves much harder than he imagined.”
Series: No, a stand-alone. (Does mention a couple of the characters from the author’s other books in passing, no spoilers.)
Spiritual Content- A few prayers; A couple talks about God; ‘H’s are not capitalized when referring to God; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers, praying, & thanking God; Mentions of churches, church going, pastors, & sermons; A few mentions of a Bible & Bible reading; A few mentions of Heaven; A mention of a godsend;
*Note: A few mentions of evil men; A couple mentions of a rooster being called a “devil bird” or a “devil rooster”; A mention of the demons tormenting a person.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blast it all’, an ‘idiot’, a ‘what in tarnation’, and two ‘blast/blast you’s; Mentions of curses (some by Quincy, said, not written or cut-off); A bit of eye rolling; Being shot, pain, passing out, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Hitting, Fighting, Fights, Pain, Passing out, Injuries, & Blood/Bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Quincy was a fighter (fighting people for money); Many mentions of deaths, bodies, pain, passing out, injuries, blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of fights, fighting, beatings, & injuries (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of thinking that you’re going to be killed & a woman being badly bruised by a man (Norah); Mentions of a drunk man with a gun & him shooting someone (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of potentially dead or injured animals & vultures attacking carcasses or humans (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of stealing & a thief; Mentions of jail & criminals; Mentions of gambling, betting, & debts; Mentions of alcohol, drunks, & saloons; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of children being beaten in fights to get the crowd excited; A few mentions of nightmares; A few mentions of jealousy/envy; A few mentions of tobacco & smoking; A few mentions of killing animals for food; A couple mentions of women/girls running away from abusive situations; A couple mentions of a mother leaving her family & then the father leaving as well; A couple mentions of a father telling his young son that he’ll never amount to anything & that he doesn’t want him; A mention of a girl being beaten by her uncle;
*Note: A mention of Nora’s siblings dying when they were babies.
Sexual Content- Five fingers/hand kisses, two nose kisses, six cheek kisses, four forehead kisses, a head/hair kiss, two not-detailed kisses, two barely-above-not-detailed kisses, a border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kiss, and two border-line semi-detailed // detailed kisses; Wanting to kiss someone & Staring at another’s lips (barely-above-not-detailed); Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Nearness, Smelling, Warmth, & Shivers (up to semi-detailed); Wanting to touch & embrace (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing & Staring (including Nora noticing his muscles a bit when doctoring Quincy up (which he later teases her about), barely-above-not-detailed); A woman at a saloon leans into Quincy & he is uneasy about it; Many mentions of women being forced to resort to “unseemly means” to feed themselves, places of ill repute/brothels/bawdy houses, saloon girls/prostitutes, men wanting to with Norah and bidding for her, women leading men upstairs, the horrors the women go through there, & the man who owns the saloon trying to convince Norah to do more than just serve drinks and him hurting her (it’s said that he locked her in a room, slapped and kicked her, and told her he’d break her); Mentions of wedding night jitters, that it’s inevitable if you want children, & that Norah is trying not to dwell on the idea of the wedding night (Quincy adds that “with the right man, I would assume it’d be even exciting” and says that some matronly woman could give her advice to ease her fears); Mentions of kisses, kissing, & stealing kisses/stolen kisses; Mentions of blushes, flirting, & swooning; A few mentions of loose/tainted women; A few mentions of gossip & rumors about Norah being tainted after a man stayed in her home alone with her (another happened, but rumors were still spread); A few mentions of reputations; A couple mentions of an uncle dropping off his niece at a brothel; A couple mentions of not being sure if a man did “you know what” to a woman & that he’s a beast; A mention of a couple that is courting waiting to do the things that married couples do (until they’re married); A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of if you win a fight, you can have your choice of a girl from the saloon; A mention of a man making untoward comments towards a woman; A mention of list of dreams (things to do) that an engaged woman says is for her husband’s eye only; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: Norah is engaged to a man 20 years her senior; A mention of Norah’s curves (by her).
-Norah King, age 22 then 24
-Quincy Barnes, age 25 then 27
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1880 (first four chapters), 1882 (rest of the book), & 1883 (Epilogue)
310 pages
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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star
Older High School Teens- Two Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars
{Ratings are lowered due to many mentions of prostitution and men abusing women.}
I wanted to like this novel because I’ve enjoyed all the author’s other books, but I struggled with this one for multiple reasons.
The story moves very fast, but especially at the beginning. The back-cover description only covers the first four chapters. The emotions between Norah and Quincy felt awfully fast, but then we have a time-skip and things have dramatically changed for both of them.
I had four things I wasn’t a fan of and three things I enjoyed, so let’s break them down.
Disliked: Honestly? Quincy. He was very focused on making Norah’s dreams come true, which is sweet in a way, but I wish there was more of a focus on trusting God for that. I really don’t like that he kept a very important secret from Norah and that it dragged out for the majority of the book. If you would just be honest to her, everything would be solved!
This leads into another element I disliked: I wasn’t thrilled with is how Quincy would get advice from others, but only like hearing it if it matched what he was thinking—1.) you should be going to the Lord before you do anything important, buddy. 2.) why are you looking for others’ approval for your thoughts? See point one and go to the Lord.
Disliked: I wish there had been more faith content. It was very light and I thought there were many parts that more discussions or faith-filled moments could have happened.
Disliked: While it’s a real topic in history and in today’s world, I really don’t like reading about men abusing women or prostitution. I wish the back-cover had alluded to this content being in the book so I could have mentally prepared myself a bit better. Of course, while nothing was detailed in those parts, I didn’t like the hints to such content, personally. This is the major reason the ratings for all ages are lowered.
The positives—which are why I’m giving it a personal rating of two stars:
Liked: There were a few mentions of characters and places from the author’s other books and I like when authors include Easter eggs like that.
Liked: As a baseball fan, I though all the baseball parts were fun.
Liked: I really liked Nels, I think it would be neat to see him in his own story (kind of like Bane in Elizabeth Camden’s The Lady of Bolton Hill and Against the Tide.)
So while I was disappointed in this new book, I do plan to continue reading this author’s books as they release, though I don’t know if one will ever top her debut book for me.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Revell) for this honest review.
May 28, 2022
A redemption story that takes Norah and Quincy on a long, winding road. This is a story about dreams. They can be dashed, postponed, changed or fulfilled. “Some dreams take time.”
I like Norah because one of her dreams is to sit on the porch snd read a whole stack of books. She is a kindred spirit. She believes in God and believes He can take the worst experiences and turn them for good. God can take light and dispel the darkness.
Quincy is not perfect but learns that with God, he can turn his life around. He longs to make dreams come true for Norah.
This was a sweet, sometimes harsh story. But in the end it showed how God can use people for His purpose. Ms. Fordham writes beautiful prose and infuses her story with hope and forgiveness.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through a giveaway on Library Thing. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
I like Norah because one of her dreams is to sit on the porch snd read a whole stack of books. She is a kindred spirit. She believes in God and believes He can take the worst experiences and turn them for good. God can take light and dispel the darkness.
Quincy is not perfect but learns that with God, he can turn his life around. He longs to make dreams come true for Norah.
This was a sweet, sometimes harsh story. But in the end it showed how God can use people for His purpose. Ms. Fordham writes beautiful prose and infuses her story with hope and forgiveness.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through a giveaway on Library Thing. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
dnf
May 8, 2023Y'all... I'm learning so much about myself as a reader; my likes and dislikes, my preferences pertaining to tropes and themes and writing styles, etc., and I've finally come to realize that I really need a nice long break from Christian romance. I don't mean Christian historical fiction or Christian fiction in general, I just mean Christian ROMANCE. I've come to realize I don't really like romance as a genre in and of itself. What I DO like is HISTORICAL fiction (Christian or not) with a romance SUB-plot. (I'm very picky lol). And this book is definitely ROMANCE set against a historical 19th century American backdrop. This is just my personal preference and nothing against the book or author!! There are so many books I want to read and so many genres I love that I can't keep slogging through things I'm not enjoying just for the sake of it. :)
June 10, 2022
1880-1882 Iowa
Sweet historical romance novel.
In the initial chapter I thought I knew where the story was headed. I was pleasantly surprised in chapter 2 to find I was completely wrong.
I love reading about underdog characters like Norah and Quincy. And the cover...lovely.
Sweet historical romance novel.
In the initial chapter I thought I knew where the story was headed. I was pleasantly surprised in chapter 2 to find I was completely wrong.
I love reading about underdog characters like Norah and Quincy. And the cover...lovely.
April 10, 2022
So good! 😍
October 29, 2023
“I think you should hold on to that desire and follow where the road bends. You can have a different life.”
“Make him a list.
A list? Of what?
Of your dreams”
“Knowing what’s in your heart, that’s more valuable than any tangible gift, don’t you think?”
“She found his determination admirable, his resilience inspiring, and his tender heart endearing.”
“She looked more closely and smiled. Before her in the glass was a woman about to start over. Be brave, she instructed herself, be brave.”
“Tell the vultures they can’t have you.”
“The strongest love is formed in the crucible of hardship.” ❤️
“Make him a list.
A list? Of what?
Of your dreams”
“Knowing what’s in your heart, that’s more valuable than any tangible gift, don’t you think?”
“She found his determination admirable, his resilience inspiring, and his tender heart endearing.”
“She looked more closely and smiled. Before her in the glass was a woman about to start over. Be brave, she instructed herself, be brave.”
“Tell the vultures they can’t have you.”
“The strongest love is formed in the crucible of hardship.” ❤️
June 19, 2024
I was drawn to Norah as soon as I met her. Norah is engaged to be married to someone quite a bit older than her and someone she isn't in love with all to save her family farm. She finds Quincy injured in a field and brings him back to her place and cares for him while he heals. A friendship begins, but life circumstances separate them. There is a time jump a few chapters in, and I verbally reacted with shock. Once I processed my shock, I was fully invested in these two characters and had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. I did not want to put the book down. I loved seeing friendships grow and romances develop. The side characters added to the enjoyment of the story. I was smiling at the end.
February 17, 2023
This is such a precious book. I wasn't sure what to expect from the cover(I hardly ever read book blurbs), but it wasn't really what I got. It was even better than what I thought it might be. The romance was just soooo cute and sweet and romantic. It gave me Anne of Green Gables vibes at times with all the talks of dreams and all the quirky characters. Some of the topics are very heavy, so don't go into this expecting it to be all sweetness. This book has made me want to read all of Rachel Fordham's books.
July 13, 2022
Rachel is the sweetest human so I’m glad I finally read one of her books!
This book is set in the late 1800s America. It is about a woman who saves a man in need and the fallout of those decisions.
When a man turns up bloody and beaten on Norah’s family property, she decides to take him in and nurse him back to health for a second chance at life.
This is a dual perspective story and I loved that a majority of the story is told through Quinceys eyes. I loved seeing his growth and the overcoming of his past. This is a sweet Christian romance with characters who connect easily and their romance is highly believable in their interactions.
I enjoyed the themes of being more than your past and not letting others define your future and what you deserve.
I would have liked a little more background into Norah’s story and the middle got a little redundant in some areas for me. But my complaints are light and it was overall a wonderful story. I will go on to read more of Rachel in the future.
This book is set in the late 1800s America. It is about a woman who saves a man in need and the fallout of those decisions.
When a man turns up bloody and beaten on Norah’s family property, she decides to take him in and nurse him back to health for a second chance at life.
This is a dual perspective story and I loved that a majority of the story is told through Quinceys eyes. I loved seeing his growth and the overcoming of his past. This is a sweet Christian romance with characters who connect easily and their romance is highly believable in their interactions.
I enjoyed the themes of being more than your past and not letting others define your future and what you deserve.
I would have liked a little more background into Norah’s story and the middle got a little redundant in some areas for me. But my complaints are light and it was overall a wonderful story. I will go on to read more of Rachel in the future.
June 7, 2022
Don’t make the same mistake and pass on this novel because it’s set in the 1880s! Thank goodness for the wonderful people at Revell who took a chance on me the day before publication and offered me a chance to read this spectacular book.
Rachel Fordham’s Christian historical romance is full of swoon-worthy moments and is a stellar example of an author who expertly writes budding romance and tension-filled chemistry between her characters!
The novel opens with Norah King engaged to a man she doesn’t know very well, but one she respects, in order to save her family’s land. After her parents died she struggled to keep the farm and this man, 20 years her senior, is the answer to her problems. A couple of weeks before the wedding she finds an injured man on her property and decides to bring him back to her farmhouse to tend to his wounds. Norah’s decision to help him is just one of several bends in the road!
A new author to me, Rachel Fordham impressed me with her deep dive into the 1880s. I was expecting wagons, bonnets and farming, but Fordham shows readers that the Midwest at this time was full of so much more - they were enamoured with baseball! Fordham’s rich character development and descriptive prose enabled me to be transported back to Iowa and allowed me to feel as though I was interacting with the book’s characters myself! I loved Norah. This strong protagonist seemed to be always fighting an uphill battle, but I cheered her on as she was always willing to do what was necessary to get things done. The developing relationship hooked me and I enjoyed seeing the couple’s strengths and honesty play out. This book has nestled in between my heartstrings and I’m not quite ready to let the characters go. I hope the author hasn’t finished with them yet and we get to see them in another book! Fordham’s exploration of second chances, forgiveness and redemption is a 5-star read that romance and historical fiction lovers will want to put on the top of their list.
I was gifted this advance copy by Rachel Fordham, Revell, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Rachel Fordham’s Christian historical romance is full of swoon-worthy moments and is a stellar example of an author who expertly writes budding romance and tension-filled chemistry between her characters!
The novel opens with Norah King engaged to a man she doesn’t know very well, but one she respects, in order to save her family’s land. After her parents died she struggled to keep the farm and this man, 20 years her senior, is the answer to her problems. A couple of weeks before the wedding she finds an injured man on her property and decides to bring him back to her farmhouse to tend to his wounds. Norah’s decision to help him is just one of several bends in the road!
A new author to me, Rachel Fordham impressed me with her deep dive into the 1880s. I was expecting wagons, bonnets and farming, but Fordham shows readers that the Midwest at this time was full of so much more - they were enamoured with baseball! Fordham’s rich character development and descriptive prose enabled me to be transported back to Iowa and allowed me to feel as though I was interacting with the book’s characters myself! I loved Norah. This strong protagonist seemed to be always fighting an uphill battle, but I cheered her on as she was always willing to do what was necessary to get things done. The developing relationship hooked me and I enjoyed seeing the couple’s strengths and honesty play out. This book has nestled in between my heartstrings and I’m not quite ready to let the characters go. I hope the author hasn’t finished with them yet and we get to see them in another book! Fordham’s exploration of second chances, forgiveness and redemption is a 5-star read that romance and historical fiction lovers will want to put on the top of their list.
I was gifted this advance copy by Rachel Fordham, Revell, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
September 27, 2022
Iowa, 1880s
Two main characters
Norah King: Woman about to marry to save her farm
Quincy Barnes: Found by Norah after a beating, nearly dead
Norah and Quincy are two people who seem to keep saving each other from near death or dire circumstances.
There is a faith element throughout, albeit generic regarding God and improving oneself. Not specifically Christian, although it may be labeled that.
Heartwarming and very clean story about a need for forgiveness and about a deep love.
Two main characters
Norah King: Woman about to marry to save her farm
Quincy Barnes: Found by Norah after a beating, nearly dead
Norah and Quincy are two people who seem to keep saving each other from near death or dire circumstances.
There is a faith element throughout, albeit generic regarding God and improving oneself. Not specifically Christian, although it may be labeled that.
Heartwarming and very clean story about a need for forgiveness and about a deep love.
June 12, 2022
Sweet book about love and redemption. Would make a nice episode for a TV series.
June 28, 2022
“I told you once I dreamed of dancing. I still dream of that, but now I think I’d like that dance to be with you.”
This book was so beautiful! It was everything I hoped it would be and more. This book has the same charm each of Rachel Fordham’s stories has and I absolutely loved every minute reading it!
The characters captured my heart from the start. Norah inspired me with her determination to see the best in things and Quincy with his desire to be a better person, start a better life. My heart hurt for the things Norah had to go through and it rejoiced whenever she found healing. As for Quincy, he was such a great male lead! He’s not perfect, a little rough around the edges, but it just makes him more lovable. He made me sigh quite a few times because of how romantic he could be. 🥰
I loved the side characters too! I loved getting to see Sam from A Life Once Dreamed again! It was so much fun getting his love story in here too.❤️ He and Alice were such a cute couple! And I loved Nels! I love having kids in the story. Mrs. Dover was wonderful!! She was such a fun mother-figure to these characters. She reminded me of Margeret from Azure Springs. Loved her!!
I really loved watching Quincy and Norah’s friendship grow into something more. Their love story made my heart sigh. I loved them together! Their banter kept me amused and the honesty about their feelings was refreshing.
I really enjoyed so many little things in this book! The letters, the Persuasion references, the charming small town setting, the old fashioned baseball games, the friendships, the list of dreams… loved it!
I loved the faith content woven throughout. Rachel Fordham always weaves such hope and encouragement in her stories. When I’ve finished them, I feel so inspired! That’s exactly how I want to feel after I finish a good book.
This book was a good balance of lighthearted moments as well as the deep and sad moments. It deals with some tougher topics like physical abuse and women being mistreated. Nothing is graphically described and it is handled well. There is hope and healing found in the end.
In conclusion, this story was so beautifully written! So many lines stuck with me. It was a story of healing and hope, of forgiveness and fresh starts. It was romantic, inspiring, and wholesome. I loved it! I recommend to anyone who loves wholesome, heartfelt historical stories that will make you smile and cry.
*Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for a review! All opinions are my own.
This book was so beautiful! It was everything I hoped it would be and more. This book has the same charm each of Rachel Fordham’s stories has and I absolutely loved every minute reading it!
The characters captured my heart from the start. Norah inspired me with her determination to see the best in things and Quincy with his desire to be a better person, start a better life. My heart hurt for the things Norah had to go through and it rejoiced whenever she found healing. As for Quincy, he was such a great male lead! He’s not perfect, a little rough around the edges, but it just makes him more lovable. He made me sigh quite a few times because of how romantic he could be. 🥰
I loved the side characters too! I loved getting to see Sam from A Life Once Dreamed again! It was so much fun getting his love story in here too.❤️ He and Alice were such a cute couple! And I loved Nels! I love having kids in the story. Mrs. Dover was wonderful!! She was such a fun mother-figure to these characters. She reminded me of Margeret from Azure Springs. Loved her!!
I really loved watching Quincy and Norah’s friendship grow into something more. Their love story made my heart sigh. I loved them together! Their banter kept me amused and the honesty about their feelings was refreshing.
I really enjoyed so many little things in this book! The letters, the Persuasion references, the charming small town setting, the old fashioned baseball games, the friendships, the list of dreams… loved it!
I loved the faith content woven throughout. Rachel Fordham always weaves such hope and encouragement in her stories. When I’ve finished them, I feel so inspired! That’s exactly how I want to feel after I finish a good book.
This book was a good balance of lighthearted moments as well as the deep and sad moments. It deals with some tougher topics like physical abuse and women being mistreated. Nothing is graphically described and it is handled well. There is hope and healing found in the end.
In conclusion, this story was so beautifully written! So many lines stuck with me. It was a story of healing and hope, of forgiveness and fresh starts. It was romantic, inspiring, and wholesome. I loved it! I recommend to anyone who loves wholesome, heartfelt historical stories that will make you smile and cry.
*Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for a review! All opinions are my own.
June 29, 2022
Where the Road Bends was my first Rachel Fordham read and it was a beautiful historical romance that will stay with me in my heart. The setting, characters and story pulled me in and didn’t let go. I was transported to 1880 Iowa right there with Quincy and Norah and loved every moment of their journey together. This is a story of forgiveness, new beginnings, dreams, and God’s redeeming love. A beautiful 5 star read that will have you in tears by the end, leaving you with a full heart.
This story begins with Norah King working on her farmland left to her by her parents. She is unable to make her mortgage payments on the property and risks losing her land unless she can marry Jake, a man who has offered to pay for the land in exchange for her agreement to marry him. Norah believes this is the only way she can keep her land and agrees. However, everything takes a turn when she finds a man, Quincy Barnes, on her land unconscious and bruised, in need of healing. She takes him in her home and works to heal him and restore his health. They have an instant connection together, but they don’t act on it due to her scheduled marriage to Jake soon. Quincy leaves after he starts to feel better, afraid of the reputation that could follow Norah if everyone learns of his presence in her home.
After he leaves Norah’s home, the story cuts to two years later --- Quincy has started a new life in a new town as a successful businessman, after a long young life struggling to make ends meet, boxing for money. However, upon his new start, he finds something he needs to return to Norah and tries to do so. When his letter goes undelivered, he goes to visit her and what he finds is unexpected. The story takes off from there as Quincy sets out to find Norah.
Quincy and Norah each have been through many hardships in their lives, but the Lord has prevailed as they work through them. You can see the characters in the story are Christian and God’s redeeming love is there. I think there could have been a smidge more discussion on the Lord, but I appreciated the discussions that were had, and it didn’t take away from the story not having additional faith discussions.
The ending to this was amazing and I was in tears. I love Quincy and Norah’s story so much and can’t wait to discuss this on my YouTube channel in my June wrap up!
Overall, a beautiful 5 star read! I can’t wait to read more of Rachel’s books in the future. Thank you to Revell and NetGalley for providing me with a free advanced reader copy to honestly read and review.
This story begins with Norah King working on her farmland left to her by her parents. She is unable to make her mortgage payments on the property and risks losing her land unless she can marry Jake, a man who has offered to pay for the land in exchange for her agreement to marry him. Norah believes this is the only way she can keep her land and agrees. However, everything takes a turn when she finds a man, Quincy Barnes, on her land unconscious and bruised, in need of healing. She takes him in her home and works to heal him and restore his health. They have an instant connection together, but they don’t act on it due to her scheduled marriage to Jake soon. Quincy leaves after he starts to feel better, afraid of the reputation that could follow Norah if everyone learns of his presence in her home.
After he leaves Norah’s home, the story cuts to two years later --- Quincy has started a new life in a new town as a successful businessman, after a long young life struggling to make ends meet, boxing for money. However, upon his new start, he finds something he needs to return to Norah and tries to do so. When his letter goes undelivered, he goes to visit her and what he finds is unexpected. The story takes off from there as Quincy sets out to find Norah.
Quincy and Norah each have been through many hardships in their lives, but the Lord has prevailed as they work through them. You can see the characters in the story are Christian and God’s redeeming love is there. I think there could have been a smidge more discussion on the Lord, but I appreciated the discussions that were had, and it didn’t take away from the story not having additional faith discussions.
The ending to this was amazing and I was in tears. I love Quincy and Norah’s story so much and can’t wait to discuss this on my YouTube channel in my June wrap up!
Overall, a beautiful 5 star read! I can’t wait to read more of Rachel’s books in the future. Thank you to Revell and NetGalley for providing me with a free advanced reader copy to honestly read and review.
June 20, 2023
3.5⭐This story is about forgiveness, restoration, healing, and dreams, but some dreams take time. as the gospel shines through.
Nora King is engaged to be married, living on her family's farm finds herself rescuing and nursing a badly beaten stranger, Quincy Barnes is given a second chance in life, becoming a very successful businessman, Nora King is strong, caring, and very hopeful, but things do not go her way. Tables turn, and Quincy Barnes becomes her rescuer one day.
I really have trouble rating this book, internal dialog is repetitive. I am not fun of a lot of inner thoughts to move a story along, I would like to see a bit more concrete details about Nora’s life after Quincy left the farm, better character development, and that special something that I just didn’t see.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
Nora King is engaged to be married, living on her family's farm finds herself rescuing and nursing a badly beaten stranger, Quincy Barnes is given a second chance in life, becoming a very successful businessman, Nora King is strong, caring, and very hopeful, but things do not go her way. Tables turn, and Quincy Barnes becomes her rescuer one day.
I really have trouble rating this book, internal dialog is repetitive. I am not fun of a lot of inner thoughts to move a story along, I would like to see a bit more concrete details about Nora’s life after Quincy left the farm, better character development, and that special something that I just didn’t see.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
May 27, 2022
Norah King, engaged to be married, living on her family's farm finds a man beaten up in the field, without a hope in the world. Nursed back to health, Quincy is given a second chance in life, and by the grace of God he takes it. His business becomes successful, and he uses the resources he has to help the broken that come his way start a new life, the same way Norah did for him.
An unexpected turn of events finds them together again, but secrets and threats will shake their world. Forgiveness and restoration are themes at the forefront of this story as the gospel shines through.
I really enjoyed this novel! It's the first one I've read by the author and highly recommend it!
*A big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review!
An unexpected turn of events finds them together again, but secrets and threats will shake their world. Forgiveness and restoration are themes at the forefront of this story as the gospel shines through.
I really enjoyed this novel! It's the first one I've read by the author and highly recommend it!
*A big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review!
July 3, 2022
What a thoroughly engaging romance! Once again, author Rachel Fordham has created a poignantly romantic tale of hope. Against a backdrop of the American Midwest in 1880, the story captures the spirit of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, as Quincy Barnes and Norah King are like star-crossed lovers, each scarred by the past and mourning a love too easily surrendered. Yet as fate has drawn the two apart, only Providence can reunite them in this compelling, emotionally gripping novel of faith, forgiveness, and a second chance at happiness. Christian historical fiction fans are going to love Fordham's newest!
September 19, 2022
Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
Thank you to Revell for sending me this FREE ARC COPY to review for them a few months ago!! This is the 3rd Novel ive read by Rachel and i can honestly say she is NOW MY FAVORITE HISTORICAL ROMANCE AUTHOR!!
The Characters were so interesting to read about. Norah and Quincy were my favorites from Page 1 and Chapter 1. I shipped them from the start cause of their connection to each other and their backstories seemed so interesting.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in 1880s Iowa while reading.
Overall a Phenomenal Historical Romance Standalone by Rachel!! Can't wait to read more by her in the future!!
Review:
Thank you to Revell for sending me this FREE ARC COPY to review for them a few months ago!! This is the 3rd Novel ive read by Rachel and i can honestly say she is NOW MY FAVORITE HISTORICAL ROMANCE AUTHOR!!
The Characters were so interesting to read about. Norah and Quincy were my favorites from Page 1 and Chapter 1. I shipped them from the start cause of their connection to each other and their backstories seemed so interesting.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in 1880s Iowa while reading.
Overall a Phenomenal Historical Romance Standalone by Rachel!! Can't wait to read more by her in the future!!
May 26, 2022
Rachel Fordham has penned another sweet romance that will tug at your heartstrings! Where the Road Bends is inspirational and swoony—I loved Quincy and Norah’s relationship. Norah’s reaction to the trauma in her past was portrayed well, but I wouldn’t have minded a bit more concrete details about her life between her first meeting with Quincy and where their story picks up. I will admit, it took awhile for me to get hooked on the story, but once I did I didn’t put it down. I was very excited to see Sam (from Fordham’s novel A Life Once Dreamed) again—he definitely deserved his happy ending! Part of me felt like the ending was a bit rushed, but it was very sweet and satisfying. Fans of historical romance should definitely add Fordham’s books to their TBR! 3.5/5 stars
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 14, 2022
I have read a few books by Rachel Fordham and really enjoyed them but I have to say this by far was my favorite. This book had all the elements and made you feel all the emotions. This story is all about redemption, faith and coming to realize that sometimes what we hope for and dream of may be not be in the same path that God has for us. Our characters definitely realize this especially Norah. I absolutely loved her. She was so innocent and coy. I loved that happiness to her is being on her land, wading in her creek and reading a stack of books. Her faith in God is strong and she portrays that as she takes in Quincy who is in her land and injured.
Oh goodness Quincy... be still my heart he is SO swoon-worthy!! From the very beginning as he lets her babble on he is just the sweetest. I loved how his life turned around and the way it happened. I will not divulge more because then I would give the story away and I don't want to do that. But let's just say you the love story aspect of this story was on point and Rachel Fordham did an excellent job with it.
I can't stop writing about characters until I mention Mrs. Dover, she was a delight and definitely one of those characters that every story needs in order to put things to right. She was like the glue of the plot line. I know you will love her as much as I did!
The story does deal with a rather tough issue of abuse and prostitution but the author does a great job at handling it. It reminded me a bit of the story Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. It was well handled and definitely added a whole new emotion to the story. One that I wasn't expecting but welcomed.
If you are looking for a new Christian Historical Romance I definitely suggest you grab this one. It was a beautiful story and I know you will enjoy it.
I received a copy of this book through the publisher Revell. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Oh goodness Quincy... be still my heart he is SO swoon-worthy!! From the very beginning as he lets her babble on he is just the sweetest. I loved how his life turned around and the way it happened. I will not divulge more because then I would give the story away and I don't want to do that. But let's just say you the love story aspect of this story was on point and Rachel Fordham did an excellent job with it.
I can't stop writing about characters until I mention Mrs. Dover, she was a delight and definitely one of those characters that every story needs in order to put things to right. She was like the glue of the plot line. I know you will love her as much as I did!
The story does deal with a rather tough issue of abuse and prostitution but the author does a great job at handling it. It reminded me a bit of the story Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. It was well handled and definitely added a whole new emotion to the story. One that I wasn't expecting but welcomed.
If you are looking for a new Christian Historical Romance I definitely suggest you grab this one. It was a beautiful story and I know you will enjoy it.
I received a copy of this book through the publisher Revell. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
June 6, 2022
I can't tell you all how much I loved this book, my heart is still so full of joy after reading it. I finished it in 24hrs and could not put it down. The characters and setting were so beautifully written. Where the Road Bends is a story of redemption, God's love for us and how our past mistakes don't dictate our future because there is forgiveness and healing.
Our hero Quincy could possibly be my favorite hero in a book so far, I loved hearing about his past mistakes and how he really wanted to change after meeting Norah. His perserverance and faith stood out to me as he pursued his dreams, and tried his hardest. Even though he made some mistakes along the way to get to his future, it was all worth it in the end.
I felt so close to our main character Norah, a lover of books and a list maker (like myself). She had such a kind heart to bring a broken man into her life to help heal him both physically and spiritually. I loved her and Quincy's relationship and how they grew from friendship into something more.
I am definitely not going to stop talking about this book, it was on my most Anticipated Release list, and it will be going on my favorites of all time list.
Our hero Quincy could possibly be my favorite hero in a book so far, I loved hearing about his past mistakes and how he really wanted to change after meeting Norah. His perserverance and faith stood out to me as he pursued his dreams, and tried his hardest. Even though he made some mistakes along the way to get to his future, it was all worth it in the end.
I felt so close to our main character Norah, a lover of books and a list maker (like myself). She had such a kind heart to bring a broken man into her life to help heal him both physically and spiritually. I loved her and Quincy's relationship and how they grew from friendship into something more.
I am definitely not going to stop talking about this book, it was on my most Anticipated Release list, and it will be going on my favorites of all time list.
March 15, 2023
3.5 stars ✨
I had this one on my tbr for too long and finally got a chance to read it. It's a sweet historical romance exactly like the kind of book I've come to expect from Rachel Fordham. It has some heavier topics but is light on the details so I have no problem letting my younger sister read this one (which she did, and loved, btw).
I had this one on my tbr for too long and finally got a chance to read it. It's a sweet historical romance exactly like the kind of book I've come to expect from Rachel Fordham. It has some heavier topics but is light on the details so I have no problem letting my younger sister read this one (which she did, and loved, btw).
June 10, 2022
This book was such a sweet and tender story of two people with dreams, broken dreams, struggles, sorrows, disappointment, joys, hope and friendship. It was very touching. I loved how much the hope shone through. As well as the possibility of redemption, forgiveness, healing, family and love.
Life doesn't always happen as we dream it will and these two characters definitely knew that very well. Norah has been left on her own due to the passing of her parents. She's struggling and trying so very hard to keep her family farm running. She loves her land and will do anything to keep it thriving. Even marry someone whom she doesn't love. But then Quincy comes into the picture. He's broken, unconscious, hurt and alone. In rescuing him, they forge a friendship and bond that was very touching. Both end up on different paths than they thought would happen. Both of them rescue each other throughout the book in different ways than they could have ever imagined. Both of them have had ups and downs.
I loved the strength and goodness both Norah and Quincy show. Their goodness and help towards others. Their selflessness was very touching. I love when characters can show that inner strength and goodness after suffering themselves.
I really enjoyed reading and listening to this book and seeing how these two were able to help, sacrifice, forgive, rescue, offer hopes and dreams, and allow love and healing to bloom.
Content: Clean. This is a Christian fiction book and has themes of hope and redemption. There is discussion of some hard topics but nothing overly graphic or that would make this book unclean. Very well written and addressed.
I received a copy from the publisher, Revell, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
Life doesn't always happen as we dream it will and these two characters definitely knew that very well. Norah has been left on her own due to the passing of her parents. She's struggling and trying so very hard to keep her family farm running. She loves her land and will do anything to keep it thriving. Even marry someone whom she doesn't love. But then Quincy comes into the picture. He's broken, unconscious, hurt and alone. In rescuing him, they forge a friendship and bond that was very touching. Both end up on different paths than they thought would happen. Both of them rescue each other throughout the book in different ways than they could have ever imagined. Both of them have had ups and downs.
I loved the strength and goodness both Norah and Quincy show. Their goodness and help towards others. Their selflessness was very touching. I love when characters can show that inner strength and goodness after suffering themselves.
I really enjoyed reading and listening to this book and seeing how these two were able to help, sacrifice, forgive, rescue, offer hopes and dreams, and allow love and healing to bloom.
Content: Clean. This is a Christian fiction book and has themes of hope and redemption. There is discussion of some hard topics but nothing overly graphic or that would make this book unclean. Very well written and addressed.
I received a copy from the publisher, Revell, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
July 11, 2022
When I first heard about this novel, I thought that I knew what path this story might follow. The idea of what I thought the book would be sounded interesting, so I eagerly began reading. A few chapters in, I realized that it was not going to go in the direction I thought it was and so I anticipated that it would follow another path, also a storyline that intrigued me even more, and so I kept reading. Imagine my surprise when the story took a completely different path for these two characters. And although the other two storylines that I imagined the book could have followed would have been intriguing reads, Where the Road Bends was a captivating story in its own right.
This novel is all about second chances and about being able to change from the person you once were, leaving the circumstances of your past behind you to embrace your dreams. I loved the way Norah and Quincy connected right from the start. It was clear that these two belonged together and even though their path to a future together did not take an easy route, they were made stronger by their journey. I loved the way the author wove the reading of Persuasion by Jane Austen into this book. It was a sweet addition to the story.
This novel also had some great side characters, such as Nels, the orphan boy, as well as Annie, and Sam, who some readers will recognize from a previous story. This novel was a slow build to happiness and even though there were troubles that the characters faced at times, I felt very comforted and hopeful while reading it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
This novel is all about second chances and about being able to change from the person you once were, leaving the circumstances of your past behind you to embrace your dreams. I loved the way Norah and Quincy connected right from the start. It was clear that these two belonged together and even though their path to a future together did not take an easy route, they were made stronger by their journey. I loved the way the author wove the reading of Persuasion by Jane Austen into this book. It was a sweet addition to the story.
This novel also had some great side characters, such as Nels, the orphan boy, as well as Annie, and Sam, who some readers will recognize from a previous story. This novel was a slow build to happiness and even though there were troubles that the characters faced at times, I felt very comforted and hopeful while reading it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
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