Coming of age reflection mixes with picking up the pieces after loss in THE ROAD TO ENCHANTMENT by Kaya McLaren, one woman’s growth through a broken childhood to become a healed, well-balanced adult. I loved the isolated setting near an Apache reservation, full of self-reliance ingenuity, which encourages Native American neighbors into action when Willow needs it.

Willow’s childhood was never normal which reflects her mother’s personality and alcohol addiction. Mom sets a mattress on fire and roasts “marshmallow peeps” over it when she finds out her husband cheated. Then she moves them to an off-the-grid farm on the edge of an Apache reservation in New Mexico. Willow’s only way out is music when she learns to play the cello and becomes a studio artist in Los Angeles.

Willow’s adult world seems perfect. She lives with fellow recording artist, Ian, and they have a good life playing music for a living. But Ian suddenly feels the call to become a starving rock star, moves into his buddy’s closet to save money and plays in a band. Willow is left wondering who will pay Ian’s half of the rent. Then her mother dies, leaving Willow the ranch in New Mexico along with her debts to decipher. Willow packs her bags and moves home. To top all that off, she discovers she’s pregnant with Ian’s child.

Who will save the day? Her not-so-stereotypical gay best friend Darrel, who is Apache, wants to help. His parents are very supportive and treat her as their daughter. Can Willow find her way back to music and happiness when everything she knows is gone?

The quirky characters in this novel kept me entertained with their antics and solutions to Willow’s dilemmas. Darrel’s parents become support for Willow, encouraging her to be herself and to be brave. Darrel is a good best friend who has Willow’s best interests in mind, even though he struggles with his own love life. I absolutely loved the animals. They added stress, emotion and interest to Willow’s already complicated situation.

By halfway through the novel, I had cried twice for Willow’s situation. My emotion surprised me but her dilemma moved me. I wasn’t sure Willow would choose the right path, but when she does, everything falls into place as it should, creating a pathway she begins to accept.

There were a couple things that would have made the novel more enjoyable. First, Willow’s love interest is introduced, toyed with for a bit, but then he’s glossed over. I think more time should have been spent nurturing that relationship. I was satisfied with the end of the book, but because it had deep emotional impact early on, the oomph was taken out of the final chapters without more in-depth focus on her future.

It’s a lovely story so I wasn’t disappointed. I just didn’t feel the power behind the resolution as much as I had felt the emotion of the middle. That made it feel like the book climaxed too early and then lingered toward the end. It needs another emotive hook that is more prevailing than the middle to give it that wow factor I expected because the book was so great overall.

My enjoyment was consistent with the quality of the writing and the characters I had come to love. I was encouraged by Willow’s personal growth and found that very satisfying. A good coming of age reflection mixed with women’s fiction, THE ROAD TO ENCHANTMENT is perfect for lovers of off-the-grid ingenuity mixed with the magic of the music business. The two worlds collide, revealing the beauty of a simple life.

Review by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest.

How do you describe this book?
It is the journey of Willow. Taken to the middle of nowhere by her mother when she splits from her father ,it is the exploration of how what you feel shapes you and your dreams are questioned by a major life event.
The death of her mother,the split with her boyfriend and finally an unplanned pregnancy encourage a reexamination of the things that Willow felt had constrained her and shaped her future.
Revisiting the ranch brings so much more than she could imagine but also allows her to re examine her life,the influence of the Apache reservation and its occupants and small town life when everyone knows your business.
The Apache insight is enlightening and adds some depth to both Willows character and that of her mother. This is a journey of self discovery, regret,reinvention and acceptance. This book makes you reflect and gives you a warm hug. A read I would recommend.

This was a wonderful story based on family and friends which gives us a wonderful view into each of the characters emotions, from, their feelings of joy, sadness, their fears and wishes, not only about themselves but also about each other. I felt like there was a lot of insight about life, not only about the characters, but for the reader as well. It made me, stop and think quite often, about what I wanted or how would I react to a situation.
It is also about a struggle between a daughter and mother as they forge a new life after divorce, moving from Washington State to an isolated farm in New Mexico, The DeVine Winery and Goat Ranch , two worlds so vastly different in lifestyle. They move to a small town near an Apache reservation where the daughter (and main Character) Willow, has to reinvent her life as a minority, and just try to find out where she fits into the world she's been put in. She makes a best friend Darrel who is half Apache, Half Samoan, who helps her out a lot on this new journey.
The mom more resourceful or maybe optimistic, adjust to the change much better and starts to incorporate what she love onto their farm, from Goats, horses, wine etc.
There was a piece in the story, talking about Willow and her friend Darrel, that said: We rode in silence, for a long time, a comfortable silence, much like the way a dog doesn't have to speak to be your best friend.” This just made me feel a true sense of connection and trust between the two of them.
The mom also at one point gives her daughter a talk on the birds and the bees which had me laughing so hard. I think we can all look back to a certain age, where we felt a parent was embarrassing, and this story has a few.
It is about trying to find your niche away from where you grew up and to follow a passion, (music in this case) even if it isn't your sole goal.
I had never read anything by this Author before, but I enjoyed this book so much that I will look into what else she has written.
Thank you NetGalley, for the chance to read it.

I enjoyed this a great deal. Ms. McLauren brought us interesting characters I enjoyed spending time with, and would enjoy revisiting in the future.

I thought this was really well written and its the first book I've read by this author however I will be reading more.

The story held me the whole time. I like the growth that Willow went through and I liked the back and forth from present to past. It was a real journey through life of love, loss, feeling alone and feeling as if you've hit rock bottom to only finally see some light as you grow. I also enjoyed the description of all the countryside and felt that I could see it clearly in my mind. It was a nice touch including the Apache connection and just gave the story something more.

My only negative thing is that it ended too quick. We went on this journey with Willow but it wound up in one last chapter with the baby born. There was no story regarding the birth.....I was waiting to see if she ended up with a conventional birth in a hospital or at home assisted by her Apache family. I would have like another chapter or two to wind that up.

A little bit of a slow start, but well worth it. Lots of depth in many different areas.

A beautiful discovery of self set in a small, ramshackle winery on the edge of an Apache reservation in New Mexico.

Willow is headed home for the first time in many years after her mother passes away, leaving behind the De Vine Winery. She and her mother moved there as a young girl following her mother's dramatic farewell to their Washington State life when she discovered Willow's father was having an affair. Willow grew up in New Mexico feeling unwelcome and uncomfortable, saved only by her best friend Darrel and his grandparents. Now as she comes back on the heels of being dumped, her mother's death, and a surprise pregnancy, she will rediscover herself as she tries to put the struggling property back together.

A beautifully written work that seamlessly interwove past and present scenes into one intricate tale of loss and life and recovery, The Road to Enchantment captures the essence of time's passing and age as less important in the overall search for happiness and meaning. The characters of Willow and her mother are carefully painted in complexity and depth, and the love and care of her community for both women drives the heart of this story. While a male romantic interest does make an appearance, his role is secondary and nonessential for Willow's growth.

A masterful coming-of-age-at-any-age piece that is remarkable in its descriptions, storyline and character development.

Thanks to the publisher for an advance digital copy in exchange for a fair review!