One strength of family sagas like this one by Deborah Raney is the chance to zoom in on one family within the family while still catching up with characters we met before. Two Roads Home shows us Corinne and Jesse Pennington, who are living the dream. Sort of. (Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book through Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my review.)
With three girls and a beautiful house, Corinne is satisfied with her life as a stay-at-home mom, even as chaotic as it can be. Jesse has a good job that provides for his family, but he’s been harboring a dream and he’s afraid to tell his wife because it will mean drastic change. Then he’s hit with harassment charges by a co-worker with a grudge, and the Penningtons are forced to act to save their family and protect their daughters.
Meanwhile, parents Grant and Audrey Whitman face trials with the inn they’ve dreamed of operating. With an empty nest, they, too, are living a dream, but wrestle with maintaining a balance between work and family.
Two Roads Home is the second book in the Chicory Inn series. To read about the first story, Home to Chicory Lane, click here.
I know you’ll love the Whitman family with all their problems. Raney weaves real-life annoyances and major setbacks into these families’ lives making them all the more real. (I’m not personally a fan of the TV show Parenthood, but I think if you liked that show, you’d like these books and this family.)
This story in particular resonated in my life as the whole topic of dreams and major changes is one I’ve been thinking about. This quote stuck out:
There’s never a perfect time for change. Sometimes you just have to do it.
I look forward to the next installment of this family’s drama and I’m so glad to have finally discovered Raney’s writing.