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.

My momma @nannarino loved this one so much! Huge thanks to @chicklitcentral & @bookouture for our gifted review copy!
🎉
“As soon as I started this one, I couldn’t put it down. A Long Walk Home by Ellyn Oaksmith is a story about family and the bonds that tie us together no matter. I love those kinds of stories.

Someone’s love is all about timing. Ten years ago, their romance ended. But, this time around you know it will be different! You’re rooting for the second chance romance couple to make it from the start. You’re rooting for all these characters. This is a wonderful, sweet and heartwarming read.”

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.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

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.

Long Walk Home is a very well written romance. I enjoyed the plot and the character interactions. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you for the advance copy

I didnt realise this book was part of a series, but it can be read as a stand alone, this is a feel good romance book, I felt like I was at the winery, and could feel how the characters felt, this was a really lovely story

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 a series but can definitely be read as a stand-alone.

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.

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.

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.

Hello Everyone! Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying their current read. I have once again signed up for another book tour thanks to Chick Lit Central. I have no idea how I have managed to gain access to their book tours but I am definitely glad that I get this opportunity to take part in them.
The book starts off by meeting Lola who is the youngest sister of the family and has this great idea of building some cabins to attract more people to her family's business. However, her family do not agree with her idea and the story follows Lola as she manages to start getting her way in building these cabins while being surprised with someone from her past. Gus, is someone from Lola's past who ends up being hired through another person to construct Lola's dream cabins and the chemistry between them is so evident that you just want to push them together and make everything work out.

The book continues on however I don't want to ruin the story however we get some glimpses of Lola's and Gus' past while also understanding their present lives and wonder if they will get back together.

I hope that today's review is one that makes you want to search this book up and check it out as it was a nice and quick read and definitely a heart warming one as is written on that cover. Also, this book really made me want to go to a cabin and just stay there for a few days and relax. So be ready to look up some cabin vacation spots once you finish the book.

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?

By now, visiting Chelan feels like a refreshing quick vacation to a memorable location. The Alvarez sisters are still working to save Blue Hills Vineyard, succeeding in little steps.
In this book we get Lola’s story. She’s the youngest, and even though she was in the first two books, this is the first time that I really felt that I got a grasp of who she was.
I’m pretty sure that the author plotted it that way, giving each sister the focus deserved in each of the books. I like how this was done, because it not only gave each of the sisters the spotlight, but it also laid the groundwork for the family drama.
And boy, does that play a part in this one.
Lola has some great ideas to help expand the success of the winery, but as the youngest, she isn’t taken very seriously, especially by Carmen (the oldest).
There’s some typical sibling rivalry here, as well as some stereotypical characterizations. The hard-headed oldest sister, the free spirit younger sister fighting for her voice to be heard…anyone with siblings will recognize the dynamics.
It doesn’t help Lola that her first love, Gus, has come back to town, making it difficult for her to concentrate on her plans to show Carmen how profitable her ideas can be.
As a fan of cooking shows, I especially liked the scenes in the kitchen. Neil was an especially memorable character because he was just like several well-known tv chefs.
Blue Hills Vineyard reminds me of the vineyards in Northern Virginia – I have many fond memories of tastings and overnights there. The descriptions in the book are vivid enough for me to picture the entire layout in spite of being in a different state.
Shout out to Daisy as well. I felt a special affinity for her because I have a dog with one blue eye and one brown eye. So yeah, I related to a dog in the story.
The romance is sweet, the characters are realistic, and the setting is idyllic. Sometimes that’s all you need for the perfect read.

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!

There was some physical lusting, but not too over the top and some great flirtation, but I loved that there was a large focus on Gus and Lola's careers as they were both trying to build that part of their lives while circling around each other!

Being the oldest in my family, it was fun to read a book from the perspective of the baby in the family because it was so out of my experience. I didn't know when I started this book that it was the third in a series, so I definitely want to go back and read book one and two and read more about this family.

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.

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Review by Potatoes and Paperbacks (Instagram)
Thank you to Bookauture, Ellyn Oaksmith, and Netgally for the ARC of this book and including us in your book tour!
4.5 ⭐️
Lola Alvarez is used to being underestimated by her family and being seen as the irresponsible little sister. However, Lola feels ready to make her mark on the family business, Blue Hill Vineyards, by building some tiny cabins that guests can rent on the property. She takes matters into her own hands and secretly begins work on the project, and to make matters even more complicated the foreman on the project is her high school ex-con boyfriend Gus. As construction heats up, so do things between Gus and Lola. Can they overcome their past and build a future together?
💭 Thoughts 💭
I really enjoyed this rom com! Lola was spunky but loveable, and even though she made some questionable choices you were rooting for her all the way through. Gus was also a sympathetic character as we learned his backstory and how hard he worked to overcome his past. Gus and Lola’s connection was undeniable, and there were also some totally laugh out loud moments as well. This is the third book in the Blue Hills series, but is also works well as a stand alone book.
⌛️ Favorite Moment ⌛️
Lola gets in a fight with her sister Carmen about building the tiny cabins and storms away to her car.. only to have to execute a five point turn in order to actually leave. It ended up being the least dramatic, dramatic exit and it totally broke the tension of the moment.

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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.

I enjoyed this book a lot. The characters were very believable and relatable. The setting for the novel was idyllic and made me feel like I was transported to another place.

Really enjoyed reading The Long Walk home. The setting was stunning and they characters with heartwarming. Thank you for the opportunity to read this beautiful story.

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 Carman is standing in her way. Carman 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.