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THE WILD ROAD HOME
Melissa Payne
Lake Union Publishing
Publication Date: June 18th, 2024
299 Pages
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I loved A Light in the Forest so when this title was up on NetGalley I grabbed my chance to read it and am I ever glad I did. Melissa Payne knows how to write stories that play on your emotions and The Wild Road Home is no different. This story is told from Mack and Brandi’s point of view. Brandi is trying to save her brother from their drug-addicted mother and Mack is trying to save his wife from her reoccurring cancer diagnosis. There is of course much more going on in both their lives but I don’t want to give too much away. The joy of reading this book was found in learning about these characters.
I liked that Mack was missing part of his arm but learned to fish and taught others like him how to as well, it showed that people who are differently abled (like me) can do things and be independent. It was such a descriptive tale of the Wyoming wilderness that I felt like I was there and I enjoyed being back in nature on these cold February days in Canada.
I loved Brandi so much and saw a lot of myself in her, protecting her brother from a mother who is selfish and thinks only of herself first. I related to Mack as he watched someone he loves turn into a stranger and lose them to cancer and Alzheimer’s. There is a lot of heartbreak in this book but there is also a lot of hope and love. Be forewarned that there are many issues in this story…there is child abuse/neglect, drug use and abuse, child death, grief, illegal activities and a few illnesses.
BUT…if you want a book that makes you feel all the feels this is a wonderful way to get them. I felt every emotion imaginable while reading this and I fell in love with Brandi, Mack and Sy. I cheered them on and wanted good things for them and after everything they’d been through I felt they deserved better. I loved the way they tried to help each other and ended up helping themselves along the way and they all formed an unlikely bond. I loved being on this journey with them. All. The. Stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
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