This easily just became my favorite Nicole Deese book yet! Between the country music, the road trip west, the sisterhood, the romance, the heroine named Raegan Lynn (my husband’s name is Reagan, and my middle name is Lynn), there was really nothing not to love. There was also so much emphasis on faith and the sovereignty of God without it becoming forced or cheesy. I would highly recommend!

Thank you to Bethany House and NetGalley for the ARC!

The Roads We Follow
Nicole Deese
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Raegan Farrow is the daughter of a country music icon and knows what it is to live in the spotlìght. As an aspiring author, she's looking to escape the weight of fame and find a way to publish her fictional stories under a pen name. But without the star power of the Farrow name, the publishing house isn't willing to take a chance on an unknown author.

When she hears a credible rumor that an anonymous author is writting a tell-all about her family, Raegan hesitantly agrees to write her own version to combat it. Not ready to share the project she's working on, Raegan keeps her work a secret while trying to learn the identity of the author set to publish the tell-all. To further complicate matters, Reagan's mother inserts the son of her recently deceased one time best friend into their lives when they don't know whom they can trust. Raegan quickly discovers Micah Davenport, has a personal agenda of his own involving some old journals belonging to her mother.

This novel was a portrait of a dysfunctional family lacking proper communication. Three sisters who barely functioned as siblings were forcibly, but lovingly, encouraged to embark on a road trip with their mother and an unexpected driver. Predictably, things held in check during their minimal daily interactions become rather explosive while confined in a revamped touring bus.

This journey explores paths they’ve each taken whether through poor choices or avoidance of confrontation. Nicole Deese was able to fully engage us in her story while showing truth and openness bring freedom. We loved the romantic thread between Raegan and Micah, but the part we most loved was the way he challenged her to grow despite how that might change her feelings for him. Micah’s concern was more for Raegan than himself and we found that selflessness inspiring.

We received an advance copy from NetGalley. This is our honest review.

I’ve loved all of Nicole Deese’s books but The Roads We Follow is now my favorite! This book was amazing! It was deeply emotional, fun, and inspiring all at once. It was my kind of book.❤️

First of all, I absolutely loved the main characters in this story from the start!
I liked Raegan from the start. I loved her kind and compassionate character as well as her desire to help those around her. I also found her really relatable! She’s the kind of MC I’d love to be friends with.
And I loved Micah’s character so, so much! He was so kind, patient, and steady. He was just an all-around good guy. I loved that he wasn’t perfect but he was striving to be the best man he could be. He’s honestly one of the best male main characters I’ve read in a while. I loved his desire to see and hear people. It was really interesting reading about a therapist.

The romance was one of the sweetest I have read in a long time! I absolutely loved the deep conversations Raegan and Micah had throughout this book and watching their friendship grow into more. They were perfect for each other. I also loved their banter. I laughed several times throughout this book.❤️

I loved that this book is primarily set in the south! It was really fun to read about a country music star. I also loved all the summer road trip vibes so much!

One of my favorite things in this book was the family dynamics between Raegan and her sisters and mom. This book truly centers around family and friendship which I always enjoy.

The faith in this book was definitely the highlight of this book for me. It was woven in so beautifully and was such an integral part of the story. It was beautiful and inspiring!

In conclusion, I absolutely loved this book! It was so beautiful! Nicole Deese is such a talented writer who writes stories with heart in them. If you’re looking for a book that’ll make you laugh and cry that centers around family and faith, this one was incredible and so worth the read.❤️

*Thank you to the publisher for sending me a complimentary copy! All opinions are my own.

Nicole Deese is one of my very favorite Christian fiction authors and this story showcases exactly why. When Raegan’s embarks on a cross-country road trip on “Old Goldie” the tour bus with her famous singer mother and older sisters, she discovers a lot about herself and those with her. The bus is being driven by her mother’s childhood best friend, Micah, and I couldn’t get enough of the adventures, mishaps, secrets, and romance that were all full of hope and tenderness.

The nuances of the relationships and a slight mystery connecting the present and the past are the glue that holds this beautiful and entertaining story together, but it’s the solid characters, full of realizations and growth, where the foundation is built. Deese is a masterful storyteller and brought these people to life. The slight touch of what ties this book to the Fog Harbor series is enthralling, as this story can stand on its own.

My heart always feels pierced and raw in all the best ways after reading a Nicole Deese book and I’m eagerly awaiting the next one.

Content: mild romance; drinking/divorce/death

Thank you to the author and publisher for my gifted copy!! This book is available now 🥳

🗺️Do you have a few favorite authors whose books just keep getting more and more phenomenal?? Nicole is one of those authors for me! And her newest book is simply stunning 💕

Raegan is an aspiring writer who cannot escape from the family duties of being the daughter of America’s favorite country music legend, Luella Farrow. Ruled by to-do lists, NDAs, and her location tracker, she longs for normalcy with her sisters and mother. But then Luella enlists the help of Micah to drive her whole family on a cross country road trip visiting some sentimental locations along the way. Micah’s connection to the Farrows is more than it seems. And when Raegan and Micah find out the reason for the sentimental road trip, they must dig up some secrets long buried, keep Raegan’s family safe from a scandalous tell all in the works, and learn to trust the feelings growing between them.

🗺️Read for:
-Bookish FMC
-Cinnamon roll MMC & therapist (he’s so swoony!)
-A hilarious meet cute
-Forced Proximity trope
-Dolly Parton type music legend
-Road trip stories

What could go wrong on a cross country tour bus with your family? Mama is a famous country musician leaving on a tour for this family sweet story. This book will leave you in tears crying right along side the characters and then smiling!!! This is the second in the series and such a sweet story.

“But perhaps the road less traveled wasn’t the road meant for me. Perhaps this was always the path I was meant to take. The road that follows a journey my mama paved for me decades before I was born. A road that led me right here to this very moment.”

This is the second in the Fog Harbor series but can be read as a standalone. There are no spoilers from the first book. I really enjoyed the first in the series but Nicole Deese truly hit it out of the park with The Roads We Follow. Maybe this differently for me because it’s partly a story of three sisters, and I am one of three girls in my family. Maybe it is the appeal of a cross country road trip where secrets are revealed along the way. Or maybe it is the blossoming love between two people who only see the best in each other. Whatever it was, I feel hard for this book and it will be one of my top reads of the year.

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
Road trips
Family dynamics
Sweet romance
Inclusion of journal entries and text messages

The Words We Lost was one of my very favorite books last year, so I've been anxiously anticipating this follow up. Unfortunately these characters and this story did not grab me in the way that Words did and I found myself continually setting this book aside in order to pick up another, so sadly I am going to call this a DNF. So many of my trusted reader friends love and adored this book, but it was not the right book for me at this time.

I am a fan of Nicole Deese's writing. In The Roads We Follow, as in her other books, Deese examines the working of interpersonal relationships. In this book she focuses on communication and expectations, and does so with authenticity and without settling for superficiality. Given the variety of personalities, talents, experiences, and interests interacting in a small space as five people take a two-week road trip, there are many opportunities for readers to find a person or circumstance with which to relate. The plot of The Roads We Follow flows smoothly and is very engaging. I highly recommend this novel and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

THIS BOOK!!! I’ve never read a book with tears in my eyes before, but this book—whew! 😮‍💨 It was so so good!

Luella Farrow is a Nashville-dwelling country superstar with over 4 decades in the game. Her career has seen a recent resurgence due to an old song being remixed and she’s set to perform at a huge music festival in Washington. But when Luella suggests that she and her three daughters travel to the festival in her newly renovated former tour bus, they all thinks she’s gone mad.

Each of the sisters has their own woes and each carries unexpressed frustrations that cause tension and strain between them. Two weeks on a tour bus together will be smooth sailing, right?! 🙃

Then there’s Micah. He’s the son of Luella’s former singing partner, Lynn. He’s on a quest for his own answers because of a recently discovered secret and with the recent death of his mother, he believes Luella is the only one with the key. So he volunteers to accompany the Farrow women across the country as their tour bus driver.

Listen, this book has some of everything! Family issues, romance, adventure, trauma, redemption—all the things that make a great story. It’s told from Raegan (the youngest Farrow daughter) and Micah’s POV. It was deep and messy and endearing and full of characters you want to root for.

Those last handful of chapters!?! If you’re a crier, have your tissue box ready. This is my top fiction read so far this year! All the stars—LOVED IT!!

So grateful to Bethany House for providing me with an advanced copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Bethany House and Nicole Deese for this #gifted book!*
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Synopsis: “This certainly isn’t the road less traveled I’d imagined for myself…But perhaps the road less traveled wasn’t the road meant for me. Perhaps this was always the path I was meant to take.” Raegan has always had dreams of becoming a published author, but her country music star mom’s famous name has kept her from pursuing that dream. Nondisclosure agreements, feeling overshadowed, and family drama all add to the impossibility of a writing career. When a secret writing opportunity arises, Raegan is nervous to take it but also knows how much it would benefit her family…and her. But the cross-country road trip her mama planned makes that a secret that’s even harder to keep… especially when she begins to confide in the young handsome bus driver who also has secrets of his own. As Micah and Raegan’s paths intertwine, both are faced with challenges from their pasts and life-changing choices for their futures.

Analysis: I wasn’t sure if I could love one of Nicole’s books more than I loved The Words We Lost, but this sequel in the series rivals it. Nicole writes a beautiful journey of family hardships, personal challenges, and a sweet romance in The Roads We Follow. Her characters are deeply relatable as they struggle with real life issues such as grief, divorce, and health. You’ll laugh and cry alongside the characters and learn and grow with them too. Plus the romance that she writes is real and dreamy. She’ll have you falling in love all over again. But perhaps the thing I love most is that, Nicole always leaves you with timeless spiritual truth and hope and a story that will always hold a special place in your heart.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

What a sweet and comforting read! The family drama was done well, and I just had an overall fun time with this one! Micah was a sweet hero--loved his wisdom and how he shared it with Raegan and her family. Some parts were a bit slower, but seeing how everything played out was worth it!
I'm not even a country music fan and I don't typically go out of my way to read about bands or anything, but The Roads We Follow still pulled me in!

Recommended for fans of women's fiction!

*Thanks to the publisher for a copy to review

This was my first Nicole Deese book, and it won’t be my last! I instantly fell in love with these characters, flaws and all. The way Deese takes everything this group of women is facing, each of them struggling in their own way, and brings them together through these pages was magical.

I get Dolly Parton vibes from Luella (which as a Tennessean, we all love Dolly). I also loved seeing so much of my hometown (Nashville) when they weren't traveling. This is a pull at your heart strings story of finding love, healing, embracing change, and healing family bonds. It was BEAUTIFUL!

Also, one thing that really stood out to me in this story was even though it is a romance each character is going through their own struggles outside of the romance element which adds SO much to the story. There’s a little mystery, some stressful moments, and so much more. But it all comes together SO well.

Pick this one up if you love:

-Family drama
-Sweet, clean summer romance
-Road trips
-Medium faith elements
-Dual POV romance
-Country music stars
-Journal elements

The Roads We Follow by Nicole Deese
(Book 2 Fog Harbor Romance but can be read as a standalone)
4.5 / 5 Stars

Nicole Deese tells a powerful story of love, loss, dreams and family in this road trip novel filled with faith, forgiveness and in depth characters you will LOVE!

I LOVED the ending most of all in this book. I was teary eyed at the beauty depicted in the family reconciliation.

In this book, we follow Raegan Farrow and Micah Davenport - we see how their worlds collide in the "roads they follow" and the answers they find together.

Raegan is the youngest daughter of a country music legend, Luella. Raegan's biggest dream is to publish her small town romance under a pen name, where she doesn't just get her book out there because of who she is. After that dream is shut down, she hears a rumor about a tell-all being written about her family and she isn't sure what to do about it or if she should tell her mother and sisters what she's learned.

Cut to Micah Davenport, who is the son of Lynn, Luella's old country music partner and friend. Lynn passed away and Micah has just come to the realization that his father isn't the man who raised him. He comes in contact with Raegan's mother and realizes she needs a driver for the 2 week road trip across the country with her family.

Micah takes this opportunity to find the answers he seeks from a box of old journals from his mother that could possibly have what he's looking for. Together, they embark on the road trip across the country and he finds more than he expects in a relationship with Raegan along the way.

I really liked how we had the 2 perspectives here of Micah and Raegan. I don't think I would have loved it it as much as I did had I not had his point of view. We really got to see the depth in both characters and what they were going through.

I loved the romance most of all in this book - he was so funny with his quick sayings and references. I also loved how supportive he was of Raegan in her author career as her sister was very uptight about it and saying it was just a hobby, yet Micah really encouraged her to following where God was leading her.

Some of the journal entries I did skim around in, but only because I really just wanted to get back into the relationship with Micah and Raegan :) I loved them together. I did enjoy learning about Lynn and Luella's friendship and past though.

I loved how Raegan seemed to finally come into her own by the end of the story - standing for what she loved to do and really pushing her and her 2 sisters to all come together and reconcile and not let things be left unsettled as they were with Lynn and their mom so many years ago.

I loved the faith content as well in this book, we saw prayers and really relying on God's plan in every aspect of their journey. We saw forgiveness and finding peace among the chaos.

If you love these things, pick this up!
- A cute romance and fun road trip story
- Country music star back stories
- Journal entries about the past
- Reconciliation among family
- Great faith content and character development

Thank you to Bethany House for providing a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts are my own. Highly recommend ya'll.

I will have a full reading vlog for this book on my YouTube channel, BookLoverAmanda, on Monday, April 29th at 7:00 a.m. here: https://youtu.be/2mrwcrncClM (this is the link once it is live!)

Luella Farrow is a country music queen with a career spanning nearly five decades. As you might imagine it is hard to be her daughter and have the desire to write fiction as Raegan does instead of working for the family record label. After losing a former singing partner named Lynn Davenport, Luella resurrects Goldie, her old tour bus, and takes all three of her daughters on a road trip. Lynn's son Micah comes along as bus driver.

This road trip to a music festival in the Northwest closely parallels the trip that Luella and Lynn took in reverse on their way to Nashville in the 1970's in their van Lima Bean. Daughters Adele, Hattie, and Raegan have distractions and conflicts that are unresolved. Bus driver Micah is also on a mission of his own. We read about the road trip in the present as well as past tours in Lima Bean and Goldie via Lynn Davenport's journals. The bus may seem to small to contain all these personalities and their baggage, but God has big plans for these passengers. A new release filled with sisterly love, forgiveness, and new beginnings.

Thank you to Bethany House and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for the ARC and physical copy of The Roads We Follow by Nicole Deese. All opinions are my own.

Last year, I read my first Nicole Deese book, which was The Words We Lost, the first Fog Harbor book. I knew after enjoying that book that I would want to read the next book in the series.

While this book wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, I did really enjoy it.

The Roads We Follow is marketed as a contemporary romance, but I would say that the romance isn’t the focus of the book. With family being the main focus, I would classify it more along the lines of contemporary fiction or women’s fiction.

This story follows Raegan and Micah and is told using dual points of view. I enjoyed reading from both perspectives, and I think that added to the meaningfulness of the story.

One thing that Deese does well is to tell stories in such a beautiful and heartfelt way. I loved how she talked about family, faith, communication, and learning to accept yourself in the way that God sees you instead of focusing on what others want from you.

The Farrow sisters had such an unhealthy relationship with each other, so it was nice to see each sister grow and realize that they didn’t have to be stuck in the choices they had made.

Micah was such a sweet character. I loved how he and Raegan connected quickly and formed a strong friendship. I also liked that Micah helped reconnect the Farrow family members and taught them how to communicate better while also dealing with his own issues. He was so calm and thoughtful, and I liked how he brought out the best in other people.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a slower paced story that’s more about character growth and reuniting with family.

This is a story of redemption and growth. It shows that it’s never too late to change the path you have chosen in life.

The Roads We Follow is the second book in the Fog Harbor series. While the first book was wonderful and one that I would highly recommend, this could be enjoyed as a standalone if you haven't read it.

Nicole Deese is a master storyteller. Every time I pick up one of her books, I know I am in for a story that is beautiful and heartfelt... and this one was absolutely no exception. There is a LOT going on in this story! When the story starts, we meet Raegan, an aspiring author who wants to make it without the aid of her mother's fame. When she learns that a tell all is being written about her mother's life, she wants to learn who is behind it... all while keeping it a secret from her family as they set out on a road trip. Micah is seeking to discover his own family secrets by joining the road trip as a bus driver. Throughout the story, we get to see the history between their mothers through his mother's journals. The romance between these two was absolutely beautifully done and I couldn't get enough of them (and that ending, oh my goodness!), but beyond that it really was a story about family relationships and legacies--- one that had me feeling a roller coaster of emotions. Being a country music fan, I definitely enjoyed that aspect of the story as well.

If you're looking for a beautiful Christian romance, you absolutely won't want to miss this one.

**I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

The Roads We Follow takes place on a cross-country road trip and follows the Farrow women as they begrudgingly do as country star mother demands: take this trip to spend the time to connect, heal and maybe even find love.

Reagan is the peacekeeper of her family. As the youngest she spends a lot of time juggling her families busy schedule, avoiding conflict with her older sisters, and is constantly trying to step out of her families lime light. As a writer she finally has a path out of the spotlight her families legacy casts, but will she take the leap or continue to play it safe?

This book is a dual point of view story. I loved getting Micah's point of view as he tries to figure out a mystery of his own that ultimately leaves him as the "designated driver" for the entirety of the trip. His calming presence and sound mind was exactly what the Farrow sisters needed and I loved the honest way in which he always conducted himself.

This is a story about complex family relationships and hidden secrets...and how we can often act the worst in front of those we love the most. I also enjoyed Reagan's character growth as she learns to speak her mind and stand up for herself. This is a long haul journey but when it finally happens it is all the more sweet.

The romance element was very sweet and was my favorite part of the story. Nicole created some really great moments of interaction that made their love even better. The christianity element was much stronger in this story than her last but I still think it came off as organic and flowed well within the story.

If you love stories that revolved around road trips, celebrity spotlight/back history, family relationships, Christianity, self growth and love...then you'll really enjoy, The Roads We Follow.

Nicole Deese is without a doubt one of my favorite authors. I know with all certainty when I read one of her books I’m going to be totally immersed and in recovery mode for a while due to the incredible way she puts a transformational story together.

The Roads We Follow is book #2 in the Fog Harbor Romance book series with The Words We Lost being book #1. I would say it’s not really necessary to read book #1 first but it’s always fun to have a little background knowledge as an old character pops in. However, it works fine as a stand alone.

I loved this story so much. Multigenerational family history and drama create a layered story riddled with secrets, loss, and love. It has emotion, laughs, and memories. You know this is the kind of story I live for! Throw in a road trip on a tour bus and I. AM. IN.

Nicole Deese knows how to create well rounded, easy to love yet complex characters. I enjoyed getting to know the Farrow family: Louella, the country music star and her daughters: all so different yet yearning for the same things in life and tied together by a deep love for their family. I loved Micah’s character as well, he shed so much light on the dark situations the Farrow family was experiencing despite his own personal quest he was on. He provided stability during a road trip that wasn’t always smooth traveling. I also adored the epilogue so, so much! 🥹 (thank you for writing that sweet scene in!!)

Read if you enjoy:

Stories about family legacy
Emphasis on sisterly relationships
Quests for the truth
Road trips
Family secrets
Country music and a look into the industry
Journeys of self discovery
Messages of faith, forgiveness and healing
Therapist MMC
Aspiring author MFC
Fishing
Rich storytelling
Dual POV
Journal entries
Full cast of dynamic characters
Slow burn love story

Content: no language, closed door.

After the first in the series, The Roads We Follow was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024. Thankfully it wasn’t a disappointment. Quite the contrary.

The basic premise is that Raegan Farrow, the daughter of A list country star Luella Farrow must accompany her mom and two sisters on a two week road trip to where Luella will headline a music festival. Micah Davenport, the son of Luella’s former bandmate volunteers to drive their revamped tour, but he’s got a second, secret mission.

This book has all the feels. Every single one of them. I wrinkled my nose at one of the sisters overbearing personality, but then inhaled the authenticity of that sisterly dynamic. The story features entries from sections from dual timeline gives us a look at Luella’s early days on the road with Micah’s mom and underpins the contemporary dynamics of the story.

Every character grew from the moment they got on the bus and then stepped off at the end. Speaking of the end, Luella wrapped it all up beautifully, but I’m not telling!

I received a copy of The Roads We Follow from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions are all my own.