The Long Way Home - Inspirational Travel Memoir & Adventure Book for Road Trips, Camping & Outdoor Enthusiasts

The Long Way Home by D.L. Norris is a historical fiction novel that takes readers back into the 1950s on a journey of nostalgia with the main character Maggie, her daughter Jenna, and the townspeople of Tilden, Nebraska. Maggie runs a bed-and-breakfast out of the old manor that she owns, and she houses some transitory clientele here and there and one individual who honestly acts like paying is a pain that he just can't bear. This book is a comforting journey into the past with characters that you will enjoy reading about and tragedies that will break your heart. But this book will truly make you feel like you are there with the characters and living in the moments with them.The Long Way Home is the first book that I have read by D.L. Norris and this book captivated not just my attention but my heart as well. As I was reading this book I felt like I was there in the moment with the characters. The heartwarming moments that they shared with each other captured my attention and pulled me into the story. Maggie is such a soft-hearted character and she is so endearing and make this story enjoyable. I have to say that Lee is probably my favorite character in the whole story. While she is Maggie's neighbor down the lane she frequents the manor on a daily basis and is practically a fixture there. Lee is not afraid to voice her opinion and I can't help but applaud her for it. Now, Maggie comes off as soft and uncertain at times, but when she gets her feathers ruffled she does not shy away from speaking her mind.These characters are so true to life you can literally imagine being there in the moment with them. I love that the author gives readers a couple of characters to just really not like at all. I loved to hate Fred. I just couldn't understand that man whatsoever, and I despised him constantly taking advantage of Maggie. Now, this book does have some downfalls. There are moments where the story slows down and gets a bit bogged down, but the author manages to work through it. There are some moments where I wanted the scene to play out, but the author passes over it and I couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. A prime example of this is the scene with Anna and Fred when she checks him out of the bed-and-breakfast. I wanted to hear/read the interaction of that scene, but the author instead shifts to Maggie and Lee going outside to the porch to sit.At the end of the day, this book is truly beautiful. I am rating it 4.5 out of 5 stars. The author captures my attention in the beginning with a beautiful family moment, that is broken by tragedy and then leads me forward in time to learn more about the characters and the things that they have been through since that moment in time. There are ups and downs, humor, angst, drama, and more. This book is a whole package and brought me immense enjoyment throughout its pages. If you like true-to-life characters, and a storyline that will make you feel like you are there then this is a good book to pick up.