Title: Where the Road Ends
Author: Kathryn Beck
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Romance
Book Blurb:
Bartender Mara Sawyer has sixty days to turn her life around. If she can't, she’ll lose the chance to regain custody of her daughter. Never having envisioned her life as a living, breathing, public service announcement for the Wyoming judicial system, Mara embraces the judge’s harsh admonishment. Finding a steady job will be easy, finishing school will be easy. Eluding the distraction of the new swaggering Texan, Luke Whitten, will be anything but easy.
With all her cards on the table, Luke and Mara build a strong friendship and along the way, she gives herself permission to fall in love again. When Mara’s ex offers up full custody in exchange for betraying Luke, Mara must choose -- her daughter's happiness, or her own.
My Review:
“We’re quite the damaged, excess-baggage pair.”
Take one single mom perilously close to losing custody of her daughter. Add one handsome Texan, with an estranged relationship with his father. Stir in one vengeful mother-in-law and an evil stepmother. Voila! You have a tremendous story of love, resiliency, and belief in one’s self.
Where the Road Ends is a compelling story of how two imperfect people can help each other despite their own flaws and problems.
Mara Sawyer, bartender-turned-registered nurse, suffers from self-doubt and low self-esteem brought on by a weight issue and a verbally abusive ex-husband. When we meet her, she’s in danger of losing custody of her daughter, Charlie, if she doesn’t turn her life around.
Luke Whitten is running from his father who has terminated their relationship (via his stepmom) and, well, life in general. He’s only passing through the Wyoming town of Rock Springs. He happens into the bar where Mara works.
This is a delicious slow-burn romance. It’s also a feel-good story about determined people building a better life for themselves.
While the plot is splendid, Where the Road Ends is a character-driven novel. And the characters are remarkably well-written. Fully three-dimensional, the people in this story came to life in front of my eyes.
There were the characters I loved. I related to Mara immediately. She has all the doubts and worries just about every woman has. And I fell for Luke way too fast. And then there’s Charlie, Mara’s adorable daughter, who lights up a room.
There were the characters I loved to hate. Chase, Mara’s ex, tops the list. So does his mother Vivian. I can’t tell you how many times I sat on the edge of my seat, worrying they would do something unthinkable to hurt Mara’s chances of getting custody of Charlie. And don’t get me started on Luke’s stepmother, Evelyn, and his dad, Ward.
Where the Road Ends weaves family ties, romantic love, and loyalty (sometimes misplaced) into an achingly realistic love story, bursting with amazing highs, and heartbreaking lows. This is a three-tissue read. You’ll want to have them handy throughout the story, but as the book comes to a close, make sure you’re fully stocked. I read the last pages through teary eyes.
My Rating: 5+ stars
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Author Biography:
Kathryn is a transplanted Canadian who now calls Texas home. She loves writing strong, morally gray women tackling complex relationships and their messy lives. Kathryn enjoys road trips, spa weekend getaways, and spending time with family and friends.
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Reviewed by: Terry