No Place Like Home by Barbara O'Neal is a revised edition and I’m so glad I was able to read such a stunning story.
Barbara sucks you into her characters and her descriptions making you want to stay there with them and connect to them.
The pages of this book are filled with love; loss and the bonds of family and friends.
O'Neal described each characters so well.
The story is very well written and will keep you engrossed in its pages without even realizing where the time has gone when you finish reading it.
Overall, this was a wonderful, very engrossing story,
It is an uplifting, satisfying book, and I’m glad I finally got to read it!

Thank You NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Jewell Sabatino returns home after 20 plus years with a teenage son and her ailing best friend in tow, Home is Pueblo Colorado a tight knit Sicilian community where everyone knows your name. This prodigal daughter left her large Italian family at 17 by jumping on the back of her musician boyfriend’s motorcycle and heading to New York City. Scandals are not easily forgotten or forgiven and that sets up a lot Jewells emotional journey. How do you return and still be true to yourself?
Barbara O’Neal writes women’s fiction well and I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Forgiveness and second chances play heavily here along with a major dose of new found love. This is a reissue of an older book and so glad I had the opportunity to read it. Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing.

From the first lines of Barbara O'Neal's NO PLACE LIKE HOME, my heart was drawn into the tight-knit family and life of Jewel Sabatino, long gone from the family business and the land of Pueblo, Colorado, where her Sicilian ancestors settled and built a new life. As always, O'Neal's dialogue is spot on, her descriptions enticing (I'm craving blueberry pie), and her characters fully dimensional, totally believable individuals. I deeply enjoyed this story of returning to place where you started with your child and a dear friend and making it your home once again. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Not my favorite Barbara O'Neal by a mile - I found it very hard to swallow the circumstances that still found the MC estranged from her father and the commentary on the life of the sister about to be married and it made me not want to read the book - but in the end, it was still readable.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

At face value, this is a book about friendship and family. I wasn’t counting on how slow it would be for me to get through. Or that it’s a re-release, originally published in 2002. The romance part of the plot was the least appealing to me. From the minute Jewel meets Malachi, she just wants to have sex with him. Includes several descriptive scenes which I skipped over. Some of their conversations were cringe worthy.

The best part of the book is the friendship Jewel has with Michael, who is a gay man dying from AIDS. Jewel takes him in to care for him during his last days. Michael is also Malachi’s brother. I’m sad to say that I just didn’t enjoy this book. It seems to have been popular through the years though. I don’t know what parts are original. This version includes some recipes. I buddy read this book with my friend Lindsey, and she tried one of the recipes and her family enjoyed it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advance electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much while reading a book! This story really brought out all the emotions in me. Barbara O’Neal is quickly working her way on to my favorite authors list. No Place Like Home is the story of Jewel Sabatino. She’s the oldest daughter of 4 girls in a very large Italian Catholic family. She breaks all the traditional rules by running off with a young musician named Billy during her last year of high school. Because of this she has brought shame to her father Romeo and he will have nothing to do with her. It’s Billy’s band mate Michael who becomes her best friend and confidant in life. After Billy’s drug related death, Michael, who has already lost his gay partner, becomes sick with AIDS. Jewel along with Michael and her teenage son Shane return to Pueblo, Colorado to live in a house that she’s inherited from her deceased Aunt. It’s there that she tries to rebuild her life by making amends with her family and starting her own pie baking business. She does this all while taking care of her sick friend Michael and keeping her wayward son on the straight and narrow. It’s then that Malachi, Michael’s younger and very hunky brother enters the picture. He has come to spend time with Michael during his last days here on Earth. This was a wonderful story of friendship, of finding forgiveness, and of finding true and lasting love. It’s a book I don’t think I’ll ever forget reading because it really touched my heart! I’d like to thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the arc that I obtained off the Read Now section. This was a beautiful story, one I truly enjoyed reading and highly recommend. I’m giving it a much deserved 5 star rating and am looking forward to reading more books by Barbara O’Neal very soon!

I loved this book.
It was beautifully written. The characters plus setting were well-rounded.
The whole theme of the book was, to me, homecoming and acceptance and family.
There were times I had to put the book down as there were too many tears to see clearly.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book.

It's always a pleasure to read Barbara O'Neal's books. It's like sitting on a porch overlooking the beach with an iced coffee and enjoying the breeze. The stories are always smooth, natural, and easy to relate to.

This novel features Jewel, who hasn't been home in years after a falling out with some family members. She returns for an inheritance and learns what it means to have a home and family that loves her.

The novel was more of a standard romance than I realized it would be, although it tries to combine that with a sentimental story about sickness and healing and seem more serious. I found it hard to root for Jewel. She doesn't seem to have learned too much in her time away, and she's obsessed with a new man in town. That's where it veers from romantic to very detailed intimacy scenes, which isn't really my vibe.

Fans of the author will love this book, as will fans of this general genre.

I would give 3 stars for the plot, and 4 stars for the author's excellent writing style, which I'll average out to 3.5 rounded up to 4.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advanced copy for review.

This is a reissue of a novel originally published in 2002 and I wonder if I would have enjoyed it more had I read it then. It's mostly a tale of family and it did engage me but it didn't pull at my heartstrings the way it has affected others. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I was excited to see this book. I read Barbara O’Neils last two books and really enjoyed them. I was disappointed to find out that it is a re-release of a title originally published in 2014.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK:
The storyline is good. Jewel has returned home to Colorado after estrangement for 20 years. She had burned some family bridges with her departure. Now she has returned to family.

There are recipes between some chapters. One is for an apple pie with crushed ginger snaps as the crust. It sounds delicious.

It is April, we celebrate Earth Day. I love that Jewel has a garden and grows her herbs for cooking. She has a wonderful garden that she inherited from her aunt.

The writing style is good. There are passages describing Jewel's hometown in spring and summer. The descriptions evoked pictures in my mind. It also shows that the author is on the right road and that she is capable. The previous two books I read prove that.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK:
It has a lot of fluffy romance in it. I don’t want a couple of pages detailing a make-out session. And, I don't want to read about Jewel's constant lusty thoughts.

Jewel is very self-deprecating about herself, constantly. She has no self-confidence. I prefer a stronger woman as a lead character.

Instead of a recipe, a Devotional (Homily) from Pope Saint Gregory appeared between 2 chapters. WTF? I have no idea if it was relevant to the storyline. I didn't read it even though it was only a page long.

MY SUMMARY:
Not every book is for every reader. If you don't mind pages of a make-out session, and many mentions of lusting, then it might be the book for you. I liked the family aspect of the story. I liked the setting of the story. And the descriptive writing was good.

But, sadly, this book was not for this reader. A disappointment after looking forward to it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

No Place Like Home
Barbara O’Neal
April 09, 2024

This is an incredible story of Jewel Sabatino,the Italian, Catholic daughter who left home at seventeen on a day when her beloved Billy picked her up from school. Her father has never forgiven her for leaving her family, her mother was heartbroken. Billy took off on his motorcycle with her.They traveled while he and friends performed in a band. Jewel became pregnant and after giving birth to Shane, she and Billy led a life without her family in Colorado.
No Place Like Home will be published on April 09, 2024 by Lake Union Publishing. I was able to read the ARC via NetGalley. I appreciate Lake Union allowing me to read and review O’Neal’s latest edition of No Place LIke Home. It is a fabulous tale of her return to live in her Aunt Sylvia’s home in Pueblo. When she inherited the farm after her auntie’s passing, Jewel packed up Shane, her best friend,Michael and took the train to relocate. It’s a journey into the incredible cast of family characters that influence and love her back into the family. It’s excellent, don’t pass this one by. Enjoy!

"Barbara Neal's 'No Place Like Home' is a heartwarming journey that envelops readers in a warm embrace of nostalgia and hope. Through vivid storytelling and relatable characters, Neal effortlessly transports us to a world where love, family, and the meaning of 'home' take center stage. With every turn of the page, I found myself drawn deeper into the lives of the characters, rooting for their triumphs and empathizing with their struggles. Neal's writing is both tender and uplifting, reminding us that amidst life's uncertainties, the bonds of family and the comforts of home are constants we can always rely on. 'No Place Like Home' is a delightful read that leaves a lasting impression, reminding us all that indeed, there's truly no place like home."

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is a story of love and loss. It’s a bit of an emotional story that will have you reaching for the Kleenex. I really like this author’s book but this one just wasn’t my favorite
Thanks to the author and Netgalley for the early copy

This was a bit difficult to get into at first, I found the mix of characters and names a bit complicated and difficult to get right in my head. However, once I got it all sorted, it was really good and had me with tears running down my face, so emotional.

I had some trouble with the pacing, but as with all Barbara O’Neal books, the writing was beautiful! I will definitely buy it once it’s available for purchase; I’m curious how much it will change.

I’d recommend this book.

This one had me feeling all the romantic feels! The story was so good and well written. I liked all of the characters and really felt for them. I like a book that has a good story behind the romance and this one really delivered. It has family situations, dealing with illness and a strong female lead that brings this whole story together. Great read!

Barbara O'Neal is so fantastic. Beautifully written, strong and easy to adore characters, this was such a sweet read with a wonderful ending. I have such a strong feeling on home and it what it means and we believe the same. I discovered so much about the characters and myself. I absolutely devoured this book.

I LOVED this book!! The characters, story and writing style- so pretty much everything. I was hooked right from the beginning. It was so emotional. I laughed and cried. I lame the tears on Michael. The funeral and the night before just got me. It was everyone gathering at Jewel's house and her request for a pallbearer. I want to be part of the Sabatino family. They have their ups and downs, but they are always there for each other. Loved the scene at the bridal shop while Jewel and Jordan tried on their atrocious dresses. The sisters couldn't stop laughing about being stuffed in the unflattering dresses. It wasn't their fault the dresses were too small. Who orders dresses without measuring the bridesmaids first? Jewel was destined to to go to the state fair to meet Michael. She may have fell in love with Billy, but it was Michael who was her soulmate. They were best friends and would do anything for each other. I loved their relationship. He was her family when she was estranged from her own. I loved how Jewel's family embraced Michael as their own. They were so welcoming to him. The best thing for Jewel was when she returned home. Romeo's silent treatment of his daughter was a bit extreme, especially after so many years. He didn't allow the anger her felt towards his daughter to affect his relationship with his grandson. Jewel loved me. How do I know? She could not stop talking about it. I don't think a page went by with out Jewel talking about her lust. I'm not actually sure how Jewel and Malachi fit in the pantry.

Definitely recommend the book. It was about family, friends, love, loss, forgiveness and so much more. I was sad to see the book end. I loved reading about the Sabatino family. Loved the ending with Jewel, I was hoping that would happen. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Rating

Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Writing: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Character development: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Recommended for readers of:

General Fiction



Review:

A nice story the plot flows well. The Characters are complex and it takes a bit of time to get into the story to fully understand all the layers of the different personalities and their relations to each other, once you do the story really captures you and doesn’t let go until the end The characters and the family dynamics are portrayed in great detail this gave it a realistic feel. Once you do the story captures you and doesn’t let go until the end. A enjoyable read with a good ending.

Review copy provided through Netgalley at no cost to me

I have read several Barbara O'Neal books, and this had all the key components. There's a large, dysfunctional family that doesn't always get along, but has always been available. There's a female main character going through a bit of a mid-life crisis, in a charming and non-plussed way. And there's a gorgeous environment woven into every aspect of the story. This one was a little spicier than her newest books, but the plot still focused on Jewel and her family unit as a whole.
I really enjoyed the unique plot. Jewel is currently living with her best friend of 20 years, Michael, and her son Shane. There's a lot of emotional moments, family healing, and dealing with the loss of loved ones. O'Neal is a master of blending the sad moments in with the mundane, adding in humor and drama to create a story that feels real from the first to last page.