‘The Winding Road Home’ by Sally John

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‘The Winding Road Home’ by Sally John. A review of the contemporary novel from Harvest House Publishers. Text © Rissi JC

STORY: Kate Kilpatrick has plans. She is going to complete her stint at the small town Valley Oaks Times and then head off for bigger and better prospects at a larger outlet. Her plans are complicated by fellow Riverton classmate Tanner Carlucci who is now a substitute history teacher at Valley Oaks and skilled pilot. Kate’s drive intimidates Tanner somewhat: he is twelve years out of high school and still without a career… and when he begins to entertain ideas of Kate in his life for good, things get even more confusing – for the both of them.  

Kate’s land lady Adele Chandler is a single mom who focused all her attentions on being a good mother. Now, she has been in a semi-serious relationship with a “safe” bet – serious-minded businessman, Will for six months. Then she meets Graham quite
by chance. He stirs her heart like Will has never but that means her life will be upset, something she isn’t sure she is willing to allow for – nor is it something she ever expected after years of creating a stable environment to raise her daughter in.   


The Winding Road Home, by Sally John | Book Review


Review: OK, so, anything so-so, ho-hum I may have said about this series is wiped clean; I absolutely loved this, the fourth and
final novel in the “Other Way Home” series. It is humorous, touching, romantic and, although more subtle, there is a beautiful message of faith as seen through Kate winning Tanner to the Lord. Despite him being a non-Christian, I enjoyed Tanner’s character a lot. He lives life to its fullest – he’s a risk-taker, and though he needs someone to show him God’s love, he’s still an ideal leading man. Sally develops a wonderful relationship between him and Kate. I love how it’s based off of an easy-going friendship but blossoms into something even sweeter. It’s in their scenes together that we feel quite at ease getting to “know” these characters. They laugh and tease, cry and comfort, and everything “feels” so familiar to our own daily lives.  

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Predictability is at the center of secondary character Adele’s life. She is dealing with raising a teenager on her own, and enjoying a “no strings attached” relationship with a divorced businessman (who is trying to ever-so-subtly change her; we all now that isn’t
going to last)… until she meets Graham. Contrasting Kate and Tanner’s relationship, Adele and Graham instantly connect. There is an almost instantaneous unspoken knowledge between them. They are both at a loss as to what to do with the relationship both being such mature, responsible adults and having been hurt in the past, but they also are “careful” in their relationship. I liked how well Sally weaves this story into something the reader doesn’t expect. Call me silly for having missed it, but the bit of mystery that begins to take shape halfway through the book makes the reader really want to finish the novel – even if we finally do “get” where its going.  

For me, this novel was the best of the four. When Sally set out to write this, she creates a kind of “homey” novel that is beautiful in its simplicity. It has heart and humor and faith… and an easy, comfortable wittiness in the characters relationships. Very well-written – the series makes me curious to read her latest set of novels.

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About the book:

Author: Sally John Publisher:
Harvest House Publication
Date: 2008 (re-release), 2003 (first printing)
Add the book: Goodreads
Find the Review Elsewhere: Goodreads
Series: The Other Way Home – Book 4
Rating: 4.5 out of 5  

About Rissi JC

amateur graphic designer. confirmed bookaholic. bubbl’r enthusiast. critical thinker. miswesterner. social media coordinator. writer.

2 comments

  1. It is good, Rebekah! The entire series (which is posted here BTW) is a very down-to-earth set of novels – and that makes it easy to relate to the characters as the reader. Hope you like the book if/when you read it. =)

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