The Road Home {Review}

When Lena Rose's parents are killed in a tragic accident, she finds her family divided.  All ten siblings much be placed with families, along with her precious little brother, Chris.  At eighteen years old, Lena Rose sets off to find work, but soon realizes that her only hope is to leave the state and live with distant relatives.  Once away from home, her heart longs for the day she can reunite with her siblings.  Living away from home provides some tough lessons for Lena Rose... missing family, grieving her parents, and trying to sustain a long distance relationship... will she find the courage to embrace this season of life and invest in her new home... temporary or not?

Pros:

• The Road Home is a book with strong family values and solid role models.  I especially loved Mimi who is always full of motherly wisdom.
• There's a whole host of characters with Lena Rose coming from a large family.  But for the most part, they are easily distinguishable and developed.
• This story is well written and flows fluidly.

Cons:

There was only one real con to this story and that was the lost opportunity to explore Lena Rose's grief.  Here we have a main character that's lost both her parents, seen her nine siblings farmed out to various homes, and moved to a different state to make a livelihood.  And the author misses the opportunity to explore the issues of grief and healing.  Except for a few rare instances, Lena Rose rarely speaks about her pain, leaving her a bit one dimensional. 

All in all, The Road Home was an enjoyable read, mostly based on the close family relationships explored within the context of the book.  While not Beverely Lewis' finest work, the story is still sweet, endearing and perfect for leisurely summer reading.  

*Disclaimer: A free copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.