Cover Image: Where the Road Bends

Where the Road Bends

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Member Reviews

1880 Iowa. Historical fiction. Norah is engaged, having done so that she wouldn't lose her farm. She sees some buzzards circling in her field and finds a badly hurt man. Then both of their lives change. Things don't go as you might expect but that's what makes the story interesting. A story full of struggle and love, people finding a safe haven and given the chance to make things right, start a new way and reach out to others to help them have a good life too. Great read.

I received this book free from the author, publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
#NetGalley #WhereTheRoadBends #RachelFordham #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #ChristianHistoricalFiction #FiveStarNovel

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This was a fascinating story of compassion, empathy, redemption, and forgiveness. Everyone has a past, it's what you do about it that matters. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highlighted so many poignant lines.

This was a sweet read, I'd rate PG for mentions of fallen women and minor allusions to hard lives, topics the author handled well.

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This is a wonderful historical fiction story. I loved Norah and Quincy. I loved that both characters had to work through their problems before they could be together. I loved the narrator of this audiobook. I love books set in the 1800s. I loved the romance in this story. I received a copy of this audiobook from Netgalley for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

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To save her farm she is willing to marry to save the farm, but she meets an injured man and she helps him recover. After recovering, he leaves thinking she will marry and forget him. Does she marry and forget him, and what happens to him after he leaves?

I loved this book. I am glad it ended with a happy ending!

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This story was so sweet and wholesome yet full of twists as well! I absolutely loved it. It took me a while to get into it for some reason, but once I was, I was hooked. This is exactly the type of historical fiction I love to read. I felt myself so perfectly immersed into the world of times gone by. I loved Quincey's honesty and integrity and the way he grew and matured throughout the story. And Norah was so endearing and relatable. Overall this one might be my favorite of Fordham's!

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Norah loves and appreciates the land she's been left from her father's estate. She'll do anything, including marrying a land-grabbing, but deep pockets man (Jake) to keep it. A couple weeks before the wedding, she finds a stranger literally lying in her field and she nurses him back to health. He recovers enough to leave before Jake finds him as he, Quincy, doesn't want to interfere with the wedding.
Fast forward two years as we find Quincy settled into a new town where he lends a hand to those who are down-and-out. It is time for him to make things right with Norah.

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"I am grateful," he said in a softer, more serious voice. "Being here, away from the city, with you. I find a growing desire to live ... differently than I had been living. I want to look forward to tomorrow and whatever is down the road. I'm grateful you scared them birds away."
"I think you should hold on to that desire and follow where the road bends. You can have a different life."

Nora has many hopes and dreams. When her life does not go as planned, she makes some desperate choices. Can she find a way to listen to her own advice to start over? Will she recover and trust again?

This is a book about helping others to get a fresh start. I really appreciated the emphasis on grace by moving on from where we were to where we could be. While it is not necessarily suspenseful, there definitely was some tension due to certain situations. The plot definitely had some twists and turns. I would classify the book as historical fiction with a bit of romance.

I really enjoyed this stand-alone title by Rachel Fordham. (While it is a separate story, I do think that there are characters that the reader might recognize from some of her other titles.) As for the audio portion, I thought overall that the narrator did a good job. She did change her voice to match the characters, but a few times she seemed to mix them up. Overall, the audiobook worked. Her voice is definitely pleasing to the ear.

Although I received a copy through Netgalley, I ended up waiting for this book to release because I had more time to listen to this book. Then I checked it out from the library. (It was a wonderful motivator for me to work outside!) I requested to read this title as I have read several of the author's other books and had enjoyed them. All opinions in this review are my own.

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This book Where the Road Bends by Rachel Fordham is a delightful story that kept me engrossed from the start. I enjoyed reading and learning about the characters in this book. Throughout the story line, there is courage, bravery, forgiveness, wholesomeness, and love. If you like reading sweet and historically romantic stories then you will love this one too!




*Thank you to NetGalley & Baker Publishing Group for an e-book copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

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I adore Rachel Fordham stories. They have the prefect amount of balance between mystery, romance, friendship,

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I did not find this book compelling, though I did push through it to the end. The characters were so flawed as to be unbelievable (or unpleasant, at the least). Primarily a romance, the two main characters are fighting to hide secrets of their past. There is little to show the characters working through the fallout of their pasts, but a sense of miraculous “oh, it’s all okay” that leaves me hoping they actually worked things out.

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Another great work by Rachel Fordham, Where the Road Bends is certainly a tale worth reading again and again!

This is a beautiful story filled with love and heartbreak, sin and redemption, and so much more. You simply can't help but fall in love with the town, its people, and the process of watching all their life stories unfold!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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I love Rachel Fordham’s books. Her writing has a gentleness that I haven't found with other authors.

This is the story of Quincy and Norah. It defintely took an unexpected twist and had a sadness that was palpable, but true to her writing, Ms. Fordham delivers a heartwarming and solid happily ever after.

Her secondary characters added greatly to the story and as always she brought in great Christian truths.

A must read for those who love Christian historical romance!

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You can't go wrong with a book by Rachel Fordham! I've read them all and they're all so great! I love historical fiction and Rachel's books just draw you right in and you never want to leave. I love the theme of redemption that we see with Quincy and Norah and the compassion they show towards others...especially with NeIs.

In my eyes, this book is a winner!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Published 7 June 2022

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I loved this book! It was not at all what I excepted, and I mean that in the best way possible. A beautiful story of God taking the brokenness of this world and redeeming it.

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This is a sweet, well-written piece of historical romance set on the western frontier.

The importance of honesty and forgiveness are prominent themes here.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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Loved it! This story was unique and enjoyable. This book was an emotional one that left me thinking about the morality of Quincy's decisions. Initially I believed if I were in Norah's position I would find Quincy's mistake to be unforgiving, but he really redeemed himself. I loved the second chances theme.

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When I first started reading this book I was sure I had read it before. I'm not sure why I felt this way, but either this is a re-write or really similar to another book.
I enjoyed the story and it was well written. It is a Christian book that is not preachy but does show the importance of honesty.
The characters were well developed and the editing was fine.
I was given a copy of this book through NetGalley and this review is totally my own opinion.

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This is probably my favorite book that Mrs. Fordham has wrote so far! The characters are excellent, the romance is sweet and clean, and the theme of second chances is wonderfully written. You can always count on her for an impeccably tasteful story.

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Where the Road Bends by Rachel Fordham was a page-turning historical romance. About halfway through the book, I kept thinking the story reminded me of the classic Les Misérables, but it became so much more—even without the singing. Still, in the author notes, Rachel mentions that the Victor Hugo classic tale of redemption inspired her.

The brief synopsis: Norah King’s only way to save her family farm is to marry a total stranger. From nowhere she finds a badly injured man, Quincy Barnes and she drags his body into her home and inadvertently into her life. Her act of charity gives the “fiancé of convenience” an out and she is left homeless.

Quincy and Norah trade roles and—I can’t say any more because it would give away this beautiful story.

This is my first Rachel Fordham novel but most certainly will not be my last. Looking forward to more from this author.

Highly recommended for readers of inspirational historical romance, and stories unafraid to address the unsavory part of human nature.

Thanks to the publisher, Revell for an advanced eBook copy of #wheretheroadbends through #NetGalley for my honest review.

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Have been unable to review due to illness, but greatly looking forward to this novel! It seems like a western version of "Persuasion", and what could be better than that? Rachel Fordham is a very good writer, and I have recommended her books before, so I know I will be in for a treat!

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