Where the Road Bends by Rachel Fordham

Where the Road Bends by Rachel Fordham

ISBN-13: 9780800739744
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: June 1st 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Amazon:
As Norah King surveys her family land in Iowa in 1880, she is acutely aware that it is all she has left, and she will do everything in her power to save it--even if that means marrying a man she hardly knows. Days before her wedding, Norah discovers an injured man on her property. Her sense of duty compels her to take him in and nurse him back to health. Little does she realize just how much this act of kindness will complicate her life and threaten the future she's planned.

Penniless and homeless, Quincy Barnes knows the most honorable thing he can do is head on down the road and leave Norah to marry her intended. He vows to start over and help others like Norah helped him, but he can never forget her or the wrong he did to her, the one person who belived in him.


My Review:
Where the Road Bends is a Christian romance set mainly in 1882 in Iowa. Norah saved Quincy in the prologue, and they got along well, like old friends who could open up about their worries and past. When they realized that Quincy's presence threatened Norah's reputation, he left so she could marry her betrothed and save her beloved farm. He struggled to find a steady job, so when he discovered some money in the old clothes that Norah gave to him, he decided he needed it more than her. He bought a hotel, made it profitable, and helped others start anew. Yet he can't get rid of the guilt of taking her money. When he tries to repay it, he discovers that his actions hurt Norah more than he could have guessed. He does all he can to make things right and help her heal from what she's suffered.

The characters were likable, complex, and acted realistically. Their actions had serious consequences but their courage to stand for forgiveness and God's grace could change a whole (small) town. Historical and setting details were woven in and immersed me in the story. Quincy was determined to make Norah's dreams come true (from doing nothing but relaxing and reading books for a week to her bigger dreams) to show his love for her. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this enjoyable romance.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.