What a wonderful, emotionally charged story!
Can you really go back home?
When you run from your family twenty plus years ago, and then finds that you need to go back to your "village"; how will you be received?
Jewel has been taking care of her best friend and now desperately needs some help. Can she return and leave old feelings behind?
Forgiving family, bringing her son back to her childhood home is not easy when he is trying to spread his wings and Jewel is trying to accept this.

This is definitely a story that most will love as they dive in to the chapters and begin to know these characters.
*I forewarn you that tissues are needed for this novel!*

Thank you to @NetGalley and to @Lake Union Publishing for this ARC and allowing me to provide my own review after reading.

In Barbara O’Neal’s NO PLACE LIKE HOME, home is Pueblo, Colorado, a carefully constructed Catholic Italian-American family enclave, from which Jewel ran away at the age of seventeen. Now she is forty years old, and the guy she ran away with is dead, leaving her with a seventeen year old son, possessing musical talent like his father, and their best friend, another member of the band, who is in the final stages of his battle with AIDS. Despite having a successful catering business, her life in New York City is becoming unsustainable.

Just as the building they live in is sold, she inherits her aunt’s property. The only catch: she will have to move back home and face the real music, all the restrictions and expectations she tried to escape so many years before. She will have to resolve her painful relationship with her father, who has disowned her. But the riches and benefits of being back in the bosom of her big family outweigh the exciting freedom she had sought as a teenager.

So much more can be said as this was a hefty novel. I chose it on NetGalley because it was described as General Fiction (Adult)/Women’s Fiction. I may misunderstand the categories but this is clearly a romance, which I did not expect. Jewel is a bad girl with a heart of gold, a Size 14 sex goddess, with image problems alternating with healthy self-acceptance. And she’s got a taste for bad boys with mushy interiors. No stinting on physical descriptions of said bad boys, or the passion they arouse in her.

I would not have chosen this book, had I known how much it would veer into the romance genre. But I stuck with it and eventually I was rooting for happy outcomes and regardless if whatever happened was good and bad, I was crying with the best of them!

I enjoyed the Pueblo setting, the family interactions, and especially the recipes sprinkled throughout.

With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Beautifully written with flowery prose, this book had me feeling all the feels. If you like stories of found family, true friendships & coming back from a fall from grace, this book is for you!

O'Neal is a recognized name as an author of heartfelt books. This book is a re-release, but I never read it back in 2014. I enjoyed the mother-son aspect of the story. Overall, I give it three stars. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Oh my goodness, this book. Jewel Sabatino is coming home, a home that years ago she climbed on the back of a motorcycle and left, leaving a huge family behind. Now she has returned, bringing her 17 year old son, and her very best friend who is dying from AIDS. Her journey is to reconnect with her family, especially to reconnect with her father, to reunite her friend Michael with his brother Malachi, and their father. But most of all to reconnect to herself. What a wonderful ride it is to take this trip with her. Barbara O’Neal is one of my favorite writers, and I think this book moves to one of my favorites. Thank you NetGalley for letting me read an early copy. Five wonderful stars.

Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book.

Jewel ran away from home to be with the bad boy in a band. 20 years later she has to return home to help take care of a sick friend. She bakes pies and inherits a house. Then her best friend’s brother comes into town. I felt like this book was your average romance. There were a few cringe moments when she was ogling the brother. Or other times when she was being really overly thankful for the body she has. Like touching and thanking every body part. It seemed ludicrous. I’m a 38 year old woman and have never done this. This woman is only 40 years old. That is not even close to old. The way she is conveyed in this story makes it seem like she is this chubby old lady. I look at the cover and this perfectly gorgeous woman is on it. It just didn’t add up. This book has a lot of elements that make it a good story but it was too focused on the romance for my taste.

Originally published in 2014, Barbara O’Neal’s No Place Like Home, Jewel returns home to Pueblo, Colorado after over a decade away after leaving on the back of a motorcycle one day with her first love. After being left her aunt’s home and land, she brings her teenage son who she is trying to keep on the path of a long life (unlike his father) and her dying soulmate, Michael, to find redemption with her father and closure with what caused him to disown her years ago. Add to the mix Michael’s younger brother, Malachi, who works around the world but comes to spend time with him before he dies. It doesn’t make Jewel’s life too difficult when she feels the sing of electricity when her eyes land on Malachi and the energy hits all the right parts of her.

This is my first novel by O’Neal to read and I know it won’t be my last. So many different feels with this one: sadness, rebirth, rediscovery, healing - the list can go on. Jewel, while understanding how her choices have out her where she is today, is a strong protagonist who isn’t afraid to be her own worst enemy or the best friend Michael and her sisters could have. Her Sicilian roots bring her easily back into the female fold of her family, but the small town opinions of those male Italian restauranteurs in her hometown won’t let her forget what she did to be banished from her father’s heart. Jewel is a master of multitasking whether it is raising her son, handling the pain of Michael’s illness, or allowing her heart to blossom under the tutelage of Malachi’s guidance and masculinity. The uniqueness of the supporting cast: her three sisters, her mother, and her Nana give a clear view of where she is centered. This one had me in tears at the end. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book is set for republication on April 9, 2024.

#netgalley #arc #bookstagram #BarbaraONeal #NoPlaceLikeHome #LakeUnionPublishing

I have always been a huge Barbara O'Neal fan. Her books always are emotional and build relationships between the characters so well. Typically, the relationships are between female characters, but this book focused on the male relationships for the main female character. Despite this difference, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There were definitely points where it was a bit slow, but overall I would highly recommend it.

***This book was originally published in 2001 under Barbara Samuel, which will allow parts of the plot to make more sense.

Barbara O’Neal is really good at writing about characters, relationships, and vivid settings! I really enjoyed This Place of Wonder. Her most recent book, No Place Like Home, is being re-released this year from 2014, and it did not feel as strong to me as her more recent books; it felt slow and a bit contrived for me. It was just OK!

Thank you very much to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Sometimes a book creeps into your soul and lives there for a time - this is one of those books for me.

For me, No Place Like Home started a bit sluggish, but given that Barbara O'Neal has written some of my all-time favorite books, it was nothing to hang in there with her; I am so glad I did.

Coming home is never easy, coming home after being cut off from your family for twenty years is unimaginable, and that's exactly how Jewel felt when she packed up her life in New York, along with her 17-year-old son and her best friend Michael, whom she was caring for through the end of AIDS battle. Now living in her great-aunt's house in Pueblo, Jewel is starting again; widowed, broke, and the pariah of her family, according to her father. But all bets are off once Michael's 6-6 brother Malachi shows up on his motorcycle. Be still my heart.

The storyline is good, but the book's meat is Jewel's love story. Anyone who has ever felt less than what they used to (bigger hips, thicker thighs, wrinkles, saggy boobs, flabby belly) will relate to how Jewel overcomes her own perceptions and allows herself to once again fall in love with herself, her life, her family, and a man.

Originally published in 2002, the simmering heat is unlike O'Neal's later novels and it took me by surprise, but in such a good way [she says with a wink]. And like any good love story, No Place Like Home left me in tears, twice.

I will relish this book's hangover.

No Place like Home by Barbara O'Neal, published by Lake Union Publishing is a full length novel that gives all the feels.
Jewel left her home 21 years ago and never looked back. Now is the single mom run out of options - except going home.
An highly emotional read, well written, beautifully thought out and beautifully told.

As a fan of Starfish sisters by Barbara O' Neil, I looked forward to reading her next debut novel and it sure didn't disappoint. O'Neil's upcoming novel, No Place Like Home is a beautiful touching story that is not short of emotions, family ties, love, desperation and unbinding faith and hope. The author vividly tells the unforgettable story of a family bound together by traditional viewpoints and the emotional journey manifested by an estranged daughter risking everything for a second chance at life and love. O'Neil really hits hard at the heartstrings with this novel. Highly recommend.

The main character Jewel comes back home to Colorado with her seventeen year old son and her best friend Michael who has a terminal illness. Jewel has a large Italian family and she has been seen as the "bad girl". Her father has not spoken to her in nearly 20 years. As the end draws near for Michael, his brother Malachi comes to stay with them. This is really a beautiful story about family and forgiveness. The author writes in such a rich and descriptive way. The story draws you in and you feel as if you are a part of it. I have read many books by Barbara O'Neal and they are all great.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a copy of this book for review.

This book was an emotional, heartfelt journey centered around love, loss and family; however, I did not experience any real feelings until about the halfway point. The first half of the book was extremely slow and overly descriptive, not like the author's typical writing at all. It felt like the main focus of the book was on scenery instead of the characters themselves. I came very close to throwing in the towel but I'm glad that I stuck with it. The second half redeemed itself in true O'Neal fashion and told a beautiful, heart wrenching story that will stay with me for a long time. If most of the unnecessary descriptions were removed and there were a few more chapters focusing on Michael, this would have been a 5-star read for me. It was still a great story and I definitely recommend it. I just wish I enjoyed it more than I did.

Thank you to the author, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for granting me digital access in exchange for my honest review!

Barbara O'Neal is an auto read author for me and this book only solidifies it! I highly recommend - especially for book clubs!

This is a very good heartfelt book, thank you for the opportunity to read this on NetGalley!! This is the second Barbara O’Neil book I’ve read and I can’t wait to read more!

Whenever I start a Barbara O'Neal book, I expect to read a family drama, with lots of drama and turmoil, and she delivered with that expectation. Did I love it? No, but it was a nice book.

The characters were well-developed, and the setting was vividly described, but I found the pacing a bit slow for my taste. However, O'Neal's writing style is always engaging, and she has a way of drawing you into the lives of her characters. Despite not loving this particular book, I appreciate the depth of emotion and the complex relationships that O'Neal portrays. I look forward to diving into her next novel and experiencing the captivating storytelling that she is known for.

As a previous reader of most of Barbara's books I was so excited to see this title and start reading it. Much like Barbara's other books this one contained a lot of family issues, romance, and drama. IN this novel Jewel has finally returned to Pueblo CO. which she ran off from as a young girl of 17 when young musician Billy swept her off of her feet for a life of travel, music and excitement.
Many years later now after Billy has passed away she is living with her best friend Michael (Who is ill from AIDS related illness) and her 17 year old son Shane. After inheriting her Aunt Syliva's home and land the three move there so Jewel can try to make amends with her family after leaving, and Michael can enjoy the warmer weather.
I felt the characters mentioned were well developed as was Michael's brother Milakai who comes to stay with them after being a tour guide all over the world.
As Jewel tries to develop her pie and cooking business, Shane tries to broaden his musical horizons, and feelings develop between Malakai and Jewel a lot of past issues come to head. I enjoyed reading about the characters and liked the ending of the book as the main characters grew a lot both mentally and emotionally.

No Place Like Home is the latest novel by Barbara O'Neal. I"ve read all of her books, and I've enjoyed them a great deal. This book, in particular drew me in because just a couple of years ago, we moved to Colorado Springs, (Pueblo is only about 45 minutes away.) I found myself continually looking up bits of history and information she added to her novel, and they were true! So, I had all kinds of interesting bits about the areas.

This story is about a young woman who left home when she was just 18 to follow a band/rock star, for a new life (something many 18 year olds wish they could do.) She becomes best friends with another member of the band, and this friendship spans their entire lives. Michael is now ill, and as fate would have it, she is left a home in her former community, which will put her right back in the middle of her estranged family.

She is especially estranged from her father, whom she hasn't spoken to in 20 years. She hopes for a reconciliation, but that brings fear of opening her heart as well.

Another interesting bit is that the author said that, in Pueblo (which I knew only for their chilis!), there was a large Italian community. Jewel, the main character, is part of a large Sicilian family, with all the love, chaos, and history that comes with Italian families.

This was a wonderful book with chapters set around food...who wouldn't love that? I highly recommend this novel, whether this is your first, or one of many, books by the author.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

#NoPlaceLikeHome #NetGalley

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read No Place Like Home by Barbara O'Neal who never disappoints and always leaves me feeling satisfied, content, and at peace. Five stars plus.