"Where the Road Bends" has wonderful elements of perseverance in the face of adversity, a person's ability to change for the better, and the freedom of forgiveness. The hero of the story (Quincy) is likeable and the author's little bits of humor and romance are peppered throughout the story to make for a fun read. I wish the book's climax sorted itself out in a different way and in my opinion, the underlying conflict alluded to within the novel that threatens to tear the two apart also seems to fizzle really fast.

It would have been nice to have a little more character development for some of the other side characters in the novel before they reappear in the Epilogue OR even the hope of an additional romance within this town for the other characters who get together in the very end.

To my delight, this heartwarming story took some unexpected turns. The characters had challenges and were flawed, but the way they responded to these and worked to become better people was inspiring. The narrative reflected the bumps in the road they trod, and the values they embraced became the driving force for the moral of the story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

Where the Road Bends is a heartwarming, and sometimes heartbreaking, story of changed lives triumphing over difficult circumstances. Set in 1880s Iowa, this character-driven saga centers around homesteader Norah King and ex-fighter Quincy Barnes and their journey towards love and restoration. Ms. Fordham, with her impressive storytelling skill, has a knack for putting you at the scene to experience the story with her characters. A well-paced plot, superb characterization, sweet romance, and an encouraging faith thread combine to make this an emotionally rich, enjoyable read. I highly recommend this book especially for fans of historical romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I apologize for the delayed review.
Review posted via. Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59090244-where-the-road-bends?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=EGgX1HZkbT&rank=2


Really enjoyed.
Iowa 1880. Norah King has lost every but the land her family-owned. Not having the resources to keep up the farm. Norah has only one option left. Marriage. Quincy Barnes is running away from his past. When Norah finds Quincy injured and near death, she houses and nurses him without her fiance's knowledge. two years later Quincy is now a thriving businessman in a new town. Only the guilt from something he did to Norah stays with him. After the letter he sent explaining what he did is never delivered, Quincy sets out to find Norah and make things right.

I really enjoyed this book.
It is a story about hope and never giving up. Norah and Quincy go through many trials and pain but continue to fight for each other throughout the novel. I would absolutely recommend this book to family and friends.

First, I'm going to define a trope: A trope in literary terms is a plot device or character attribute that is used so commonly in the genre that it's seen as commonplace or conventional. Rachel Fordham used many tropes in her newest novel, so much so that I felt I'd read the book before.

Here are some of the tropes Rachel used in Where the Road Bends:

Norah King finds a man on her farm who has been beaten within an inch of his life and abandoned there. She drags him back to her house and nurses him back to health.

Norah is engaged to a man who promises to help save her farm, but he breaks it off right before the wedding because she helped to nurse the man she found on her farm.

Two years later, the man, Quincy Barnes, finds a street urchin and takes him in, hoping to give the boy a better life than the one he had growing up. At the same time that Quincy finds the boy, he also finds Norah in less than optimal circumstances and rescues her as well.

The man who was mistreating Norah comes back for her and Quincy again rescues her from his clutches.

When my mother was a teacher, she taught in a small school district that put on a junior and a senior play every year. Usually the plays were melodramas with bad guys, good guys, damsels in distress, and a few throw-away characters. In some ways this book reminded me of those plays. That is not to say the book wasn't enjoyable. It was. I could engage with the characters, the humor that is woven into the plot is subtle and understated. It seemed that everyone in the town where the majority of the story takes place is somewhat of a match-maker. That just added to the fun of the book. If the novel wasn't so trope-heavy, it would be a five-star book. Four Stars.

Revell Publishing provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

I'm sure I am a minority on this book, but I had a hard time getting into it. The conversations felt stilted, the situations felt forced and the engagement seemed ridiculous. I did not make it through the whole book, so it may improve, but I felt that it was more work to read.

thank you to NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Author Rachel Fordham has written a lovely historical Christian romance with her soon to be released Where the Road Bends. This captivating novel had me turning pages until I devoured this masterpiece in one sitting. It is engaging, emotional, and has timeless life lessons. There were twists I thought would happen but did not. Other things surprised me. I really loved this. It is my favorite one by author Fordham, and I have read all of her books.

Set in 1880 Iowa, this is the story of Norah King. The book begins with her engaged to an older man in order to save her family farm. Her parents have died, and with just Norah to maintain it, the bank is threatening foreclosure.

It is also the tale of Quincy Barnes. He stumbles into Norah’s life battered and bleeding. She is determined to nurse him back to life, but what will her fiancé say or the townspeople? This is a gritty story of redemption, forgiveness, truth, and second chances. It is a love story about true love.

Author Fordham has carefully crafted a multi-layered story with characters that stole my heart. They were realistic with quirks and flaws. The hero, tall, handsome, and caring who wants to make his sweetheart’s dreams come true, is my new literary crush. The villain is despicable. A young scamp is adorable, and an elderly matron is perfect as a substitute mother.

Author Fordham is a master wordsmith. She takes words and exquisitely weaves them into a beautiful tapestry of an engaging, captivating story. Her story is filled with many things to ponder and is still lingering in my mind. It is well researched, organized, and easy to follow. At the end are Discussion Questions for those in a reading group or wanting to dig deeper.

I highly recommend this novel. It receives a 5 star rating from this reader. A copy was provided by NetGalley, but these are my honest words.

Where the Road Bends speaks largely of redemption, love, and finding your way home again.

In 1880s Iowa, Norah King is single-handedly working her family farm when she discovers a badly injured man, Quincy Barnes, and nurses him back to health. Left with few choices and desperate to keep her home, she’s engaged to a man whose main interest is not love, but land, a bargain she’s willing to make. While caring for Quincy, a closeness quickly develops between them, yet because of her decision to marry for stability and the reality of Quincy’s empty pockets and few prospects, they part ways.

The book abruptly jumps two years into the future, with Quincy’s life having taken a complete about face, largely due to a secret he’s not proud of. He’s made a prosperous life for himself as a business owner, and has found true friends among the townspeople. To his shock, Norah’s and his paths cross again, with Norah now needing his help healing both physically and emotionally. Their feelings haven’t changed, but secrets kept and multiple ’wounds’ stand in the way of their future.

While I appreciated the nod to my favorite Jane Austen novel (Persuasion) and the cast of characters, this was ultimately too light a read for me. It’s sweet and on the fairy tale-ish side, with a lack of substance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Where the Road Bends is an excellent and clean story that gets your attention from the very beginning and keeps it until the very end. Norah is happy and overworked on her farm where she lives and works alone. She has agreed to marry Jake, even though she doesn't love him, so that she will have help working the farm,but also to keep it from being taken away by the bank. Until one day she notices buzzards flying over her land, and she wonders what they have found. When she looks to see what it is, she finds an injured man. She manages to carry him home and tend his wounds, He takes a few weeks to heal, and they develop a friendship. They discover how easily they talk with one another, and he leaves, determined to be a better man than he has been. Quincy has been a fighter for years, but he has determined to turn his life around for the better. Two years later, he finds out that a letter he had sent to her never reached her, so he goes to find her and discovers life has not been kind to her. Because he stayed with her, Jake wouldn't marry her, she loses the farm and has to find work to survive. When he meets up with her again, he must rescue her from terrible circumstances and takes her to his new hometown to care for her. Great and exciting story I absolutely loved!

Where The Road Bends is such a sweet historical romance. The hero and heroine are very likeable as well as the whole cast of characters. The book is clean and would be appropriate for teenagers on up.
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
3.5 stars

What a unique and titillating plot script! This is a plot that will keep you guessing and one that the reader has not read before.

Norah, the main character extends her genuine compassion as she takes care of a complete stranger. As the events of life unfold, she finds her life tuned upside down and the complete stranger rescues her. A true reaping and sowing of sorts.

As Quincy tries to make right all of his wrongs, he ends up falling in love with Norah. A true love story and a unique plot!

This book is suitable for teenagers. I was given a free copy in exchange for this review.

I absolutely love this new book by Rachel Fordham. She easily brings the subjects of redemption and forgiveness to light among her characters. I fully devoured every word of this lovely story. I was so happy to watch the characters get just what they deserved in the end.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed reading this book but found I spent much of the time dreading what would have to come next. I knew the conflict would be unpleasant and didn't look forward to it. But I was happy with the resolve in the end. I loved that Quincy did everything he could to help those in need. He knew what it was like to be stuck in a corner. And I liked that Norah, though also cornered, did everything she could to prevent the worst from happening. She wasn't totally helpless even if she felt she was.

One could think of this story as a sweet little romance but the circumstances in which this story happens really happened to people. And unfortunately still does. Women are used and abused and forced into horrible circumstances. So, sweet this story may be but not everyone gets their happily ever after like Norah and Quincy do. I loved that they did get theirs though.

Sex: innuendo (brothel)
Language: no
Violence: yes
*I received a complimentary ARC through NetGalley and voluntarily chose to review it.

I just started reading Rachel Fordham a few months ago and I can not get enough of her very talented writing. I was so excited for Where The Road Ends to be released. It was what I expected and more. Rachel has a very special way of using her words to take you right into the setting of her story. After a few pages you are right there with all of her amusing and or hurting characters. This author has a special way of bringing light out of the darkness. If you are anything like me, have tissues handy.
I want to thank Revell and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this delightful book. The opinions in this review are strictly my own.

A moving book about second chances. Although predictable at times, the story is heart warming. Love the characters, especially Nels, the liitle scamp, who just needed to be loved. Loved the way the town stood with Nora and Quincy. True matters as this story emphasises. Recommended.

Thank you to Revell and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

This is a well-written historical romance with likable characters. Norah King and Quincy Barnes meet under unusual circumstances, but never forget each other. Even though they go their separate ways, they are destined to meet again. In spite of the hardships in their lives, they find love. I enjoyed it!

Where the Road Bends is a heartwarming story about second chances and overcoming the worst of situations life can throw at you.

Where The Road Bends didn’t unfold in the way I expected and the story was all the richer for it. While the characters are faced with horrible circumstances and trials, it makes them finding the good in life all the sweeter.

When Norah finds a man injured in her land, she takes him in to help heal him, even if she knows her fiancé, a man she has agreed to marry to keep her family’s land, might question her. Quincey is rescued by Norah and vows to do everything he can to change his ways. He can’t stand in the way of her upcoming marriage, he has nothing to offer her and no way to save her land, but he can become a man worthy of being saved by her. The book picks up two years later and we learn that Quincey, once again unexpectedly blessed and saved by Norah, has made something of himself and seeks to help as many others as he can. He has always wanted to thank Norah for her help. When a letter to her returns unopened, he sets out to see her, but is devastated that the secure future he imagined for her is not the case. Quincey will stop at nothing to rescue her and make right his mistakes from the past.

Norah and Quincey’s journey is not always a happy one. When they first meet, they have both suffered great loss and have both made hard decisions to stay alive. When they are reunited two years later, things are even worse. Yet, despite everything they’ve lost or how hurt they've been, they find great joy in simple conversations, sunshine and each other’s company. It’s this joy that the author brings into focus.

Where The Road Bends is a historical novel that proves that happiness can be found even after great pain.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

This was a beautiful story about second chances and appreciating the bends in the road if they get you to a desired end result. This book follows Norah King, who accepted an engagement to Jake Granger in order to save her land. When she finds a man beaten and left for dead on her land, she makes the controversial decision to care for him herself, even though it may mar her reputation to have a man in her home. After being nursed back to health by Norah, Quincy Barnes promises her that he will become a better person and goes on his way before anyone else could find out about his presence in Norah's home. When their paths cross again a couple of years later, they are both in different circumstances.

I enjoyed the story-line of this book as well as the characters and their development and the subtle faith thread. I enjoyed the witty banter between Norah and Quincy, and also enjoyed seeing Sam (from A Life Once Dreamed) finally get his happy ending as well. If you haven't read A Life Once Dreamed, you won't be lost as enough of his back-story from that book is provided, but for fans of the author's prior works, this was an added bonus! This book was lacking some of the mystery element that the author has included in her other books and so I didn't enjoy this one QUITE as well as some of her others as I prefer mystery over romance, but it was still enjoyable with the character development and sweet romance. If you enjoy a good character-driven historical romance, this is one I'd definitely recommend.

Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

I'm new to Rachel Fordham, but when I saw sneak peek's of this one I was intrigued. I'm so glad I read this one! I was hooked from the first chapter. The characters are irresistible, and you just want to love them with all you've got. Where The Road Bends is a little bit heartbreaking and a lot a bit beautiful. This won't be my last Fordham novel.

Norah is in danger of losing her beloved home and land. To save it she enters into an engagement to be married, hoping one day to learn to love her soon to be husband.

She finds a wounded man on her property and brings him into her home to nurse him back to health. Feelings grow between her and Quincy, but he’s penniless and knows he has nothing to offer. So he eventually leaves, hoping to save her reputation.

Things change for both of them, each having had need for rescue and redemption. When their paths cross again their roles are reversed. Will their hardships and secrets get in the way of their dreams?

This is a great story of new beginnings,, repentance, forgiveness, healing and love. The author has expertly woven these themes throughout the story helping us to understand the feelings of the characters and how it is possible to overcome our circumstances and change our lives.