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A review by lezreviewbooks
The Road Home by Erin Zak
5.0
I have to say that Erin Zak is slowly but surely coming up in the list of my favourite lesfic authors. I like her writing style, the depth of her characters, and the way she builds chemistry in romance. Having said that, I wasn't going to read this novel as I try to avoid drama as the plague. But my friend Jude from Jude in the stars blog recommended it to me and I'm glad I took the plunge.
Gwendolyn Carter is a struggling actress in LA after leaving a small town in Indiana seventeen years prior. She's never been back since due to a bitter conflict with her mother. When her mum is diagnosed with cancer, she goes back home and finds she has been apparently replaced by Lila Machowicz, a beautiful and caring woman who is her mother's best friend. As they initially clashed, Gwen and Lila will eventually find common ground and an undeniable attraction. But can they trust each other despite the family secrets that surround them?
Even though that this is not an easy read, I'm amazed at how Ms. Zak has created a beautiful romance out of a sad and tragic situation. Unfortunately, the author has the experience of losing her mother to the disease and it's incredibly brave of her (and I assume cathartic too) to write about it. Her descriptions of Gwen's mother's deterioration process were done with gentleness but pulling no punches.
All characters feel authentic in their successes and shortcomings, they all seem human and real. The chemistry between the main characters is built slowly but surely and their emotional and romantic connection is a pleasure to read. My only criticism is a last-minute plot twist that didn't feel organic to the story though it's a minor issue and other readers might not care about it.
Overall, a very good romance / drama story dealing with difficult issues around love, death, and family. 4.5 stars.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
Gwendolyn Carter is a struggling actress in LA after leaving a small town in Indiana seventeen years prior. She's never been back since due to a bitter conflict with her mother. When her mum is diagnosed with cancer, she goes back home and finds she has been apparently replaced by Lila Machowicz, a beautiful and caring woman who is her mother's best friend. As they initially clashed, Gwen and Lila will eventually find common ground and an undeniable attraction. But can they trust each other despite the family secrets that surround them?
Even though that this is not an easy read, I'm amazed at how Ms. Zak has created a beautiful romance out of a sad and tragic situation. Unfortunately, the author has the experience of losing her mother to the disease and it's incredibly brave of her (and I assume cathartic too) to write about it. Her descriptions of Gwen's mother's deterioration process were done with gentleness but pulling no punches.
All characters feel authentic in their successes and shortcomings, they all seem human and real. The chemistry between the main characters is built slowly but surely and their emotional and romantic connection is a pleasure to read. My only criticism is a last-minute plot twist that didn't feel organic to the story though it's a minor issue and other readers might not care about it.
Overall, a very good romance / drama story dealing with difficult issues around love, death, and family. 4.5 stars.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com