The Road Leads Back by Marci Bolden

3*

Almost 30 years ago, dorky Harry Canton left artsy Kara Martinson after one night of fumbling sex. Twenty-seven years later, he shows up at her art show and discovers he has both a son and a young granddaughter with Down’s Syndrome. Bolden, in the first book of her Stonehill Series, has written an emotionally-wrenching story of betrayal, forgiveness, and a love that can’t be denied. Kara, after a lifetime of running from commitment and the fear of abandonment, has to find the strength to face the past and forgive not just her parents, but herself so that she can embrace the future. It is impossible to read Bolden’s depiction of the incredible damage that parents can do when they put their own selfish needs ahead of their children’s without wanting to crawl into the pages and throttle them. Regrettably, this second-chance romance relies on too many plot devices that stretch plausibility. Kara never outgrows her penchant for running away, Harry pushes too hard and fast for a commitment, son Phil instantly embraces a relationship with Harry and freely criticizes Kara for his nomadic upbringing, and Harry’s mother and Kara’s father refuse to take full responsibility for their cruelty towards their children. As a result, the book is frustrating and somewhat underwhelming. Not the best of the genre, but it will find its audience.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Pink Sand Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.