The Road She Left Behind

By: Christine Nolfi

Narrated by: Megan Tusing

Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

“A great pick for your book club this summer.” - Working Mother

Crushed by guilt over the car accident that killed her father and sister, and torn apart by her mother’s resentment, Darcy Goodridge fled her family estate eight years ago and hasn’t looked back. Now an unexpected phone call threatens to upend what little serenity she’s found. Her nephew, Emerson, who was just a baby when his mother died, has gone missing. Darcy must return home and face her past in order to save him.

Once back in Ohio, Darcy realizes there’s more to Emerson’s disappearance - and to the sudden retirement of her mother, Rosalind - than meets the eye. As she works to make inroads with Rosalind, Darcy begins to unravel a decades-old secret that devastated her family and forced a wedge between her and Michael Varano, the man she left heartbroken when she vanished after the funeral. After carrying the scars of that fateful night for almost a decade, Darcy is determined to find closure, healing, and maybe even love where she lost them all in the first place - right back home where she belongs.

©2019 by Christine Nolfi. (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“A dreaded homecoming leads to personal discovery and forgiveness of past grievances. Christine Nolfi’s cast of irresistible characters drew me in and held me captive. Her attention to detail brings her lovely setting to life. A novel of familial love you won’t soon forget.” --Ashley Farley, author of the bestselling Sweet Tea Tuesdays and Magnolia Nights

“Nolfi creates a beautiful, touching story with compelling characters reminiscent of the deep love and friendship found in Steel Magnolias…At the very heart of The Road She Left Behind are the powerful lessons of humanity: forgiveness, healing, and letting go, all woven together with the threads that bind family and friends. You will laugh, you will cry, you will root these characters on, and miss them profusely when they’re gone. I know I do.” --USA Today bestselling author Rochelle Weinstein

“Christine Nolfi has outdone herself this time. The Road She Left Behind masterfully knits together the past and present, showing us a fractured family, grave misunderstandings, and heart-wrenching betrayals. I connected with the flawed but lovable characters, and found myself enthralled from the first page to the last. Bravo!” --Karen McQuestion, bestselling author of Hello Love

Enjoyable

The book kept me engaged and wanting to know more as the story progressed. Overall, a pleasant read with not an overwhelming amount of depth, but just enough to enjoy.

The Road She Left Behind

I Most enjoyable book about a young woman who left home after the deaths of her father and sister. The Way she is brought back and the reasons that unfold weave a Story of lives torn apart by lies and assumptions. Our author weaves a lovely tale of the characters and how they come together. Very good read.

The Road She Left Behind

I found this to be a nice summer read. The characters were enjoyable, likable, and believable. I would recommend the book to anyone who is looking for a well-written book for a light read.

heartwarming

This family drama was engaging with just the amount of romance. The writing was exceptional as well as the audio performance

Adored this book

The characters were well written and believable. I loved the complexity of their relationships . I really hated for this book to end.
The narrator did a fabulous job!

I enjoyed this book

I wasn't sure if I would like this although it sounded interesting however I'm glad I read it. I enjoyed the characters and I felt the family secrets unfolded at the right times. The book does leave you wanting a bit more for closure, however I wasn't too disappointed by the end.

Just O.K.

Severity of mother seemed unrealistic. Other characters equally unbelievable and plot predictable. The whole following a star theme disappointing. Why are they relying on the creation and not the Creator to guide their lives? So many lost souls in this story that are so misguided by new age junk that leads them away from the true source of Truth and abundant life.

at first its slow, but then it gets going

Wow, The story keeps getting better. Definetly a page turner. love the characters and storyline.

Great book!

Heartwarming story of love, loss & redemption. I didn’t want this book to end. I’m glad I read it & will look for more books by this author.

No Excuse to be Hateful

This is the story of a judge, married to a doctor in a small town, where everybody knows what’s going on. Everyone except for the couple’s two young daughters. They are the collateral damage. Two educated, hard working adults, who care more for their careers and for themselves than their children. And that, my friends, is the bottom line of this sad tale. Of course, there’s more to it. There always is. But there’s still no excuse for the hateful and neglectful way their daughters were treated. But it makes for a dramatic tale. I almost stopped listening at the beginning, but I was intrigued by Samson, Darcy’s friend who had aged out of the foster care system, and was the sweetest young man one could meet. A study in contrasts for sure. Two rich, privileged parents wrapped up in themselves versus a mixed-race young man sporting dreadlocks who was looking for his North Star. If one can suspend belief just a bit, the story becomes more enjoyable. The people in Darcy’s hometown are wonderful. Her housekeeper/nanny, Latrice, and their neighbors, Tippi, Nella and Michael make the story. Just too bad that the book has to revolve around Rosalind, and her abusive tongue. Darcy’s nephew, Emerson is smart, sassy and downright adorable through and through. I ended up liking the book much more than I thought possible, but you need to go into it knowing that some of the tale is fluff.