Rating: 
Summary: An Enjoyable and Wothwhile Read
Review: There is much to appreciate about this first novel by Allison Johnson.It is a well told and engaging story about family relationships,facing the past, forgiveness, love, and starting over. I laughed, cried, and identified with the characters in this book , especiallly the tough on the outside ,but tender on the inside heroine, Carolyn. Johnson especially excels at creating vivid word pictures evoking all of the harshness and beauty of the desert landscape, and in capturing perfectly the bittersweet relationship between a less than perfect father and a grown daughter who suddenly becomes responsible for caring for him. The characters and this story remain vivid in my mind and heart,despite the fact that it's been over a year since I finished the book. I highly recommend it,and look forward to more of Ms.Johnson's work in the future.
Rating:
Summary: Whirling on Windmills
Review: While reading this book, you feel you are part of the desert community and tantalized with the cowboy/windsmith. I read Allison Johnson's THE WAY HOME over a weekend and wished I had another one of her books to pick up. Her prose conjures up clear pictures of the principal characters and the desert landscape. And, the dilemna facing many baby boomers - whether to put their parents in a nursing home. Johnson writes poignantly of the heroines attempt to connect with her father, who wasn't there for her while she was growing up. I identified with this.
Rating:
Summary: Whirling on Windmills
Review: While reading this book, you feel you are part of the desert community and tantalized with the cowboy/windsmith. I read Allison Johnson's THE WAY HOME over a weekend and wished I had another one of her books to pick up. Her prose conjures up clear pictures of the principal characters and the desert landscape. And, the dilemna facing many baby boomers - whether to put their parents in a nursing home. Johnson writes poignantly of the heroines attempt to connect with her father, who wasn't there for her while she was growing up. I identified with this.
Rating:
Summary: Tugs at the heart of family dynamcis
Review: With a rare glimpse of the non-glitzy side of Southern California living, Allison Johnson invites the reader to the sun-baked deserts of Palm Springs for an incredible journey down one woman's path of self-discovery. Using the familiar but not redundant themes of family responsiblity, career woman struggles, sibling dynamics and frankly a sit-up-and pay attention love story, Allison Johnson's use of topographical prose, humor and well-layered characters makes "The Way Home" a real page-turner.This book is a great summer read with it's inviting and easy material, but snow birds will also find relief in the literally bone-warming descriptions of canyons, patio-side chats and cowboy guided horseback riding trips at sunset. For those struggling with the tough questions about caring for an aging parent - you will find kindred souls and heart-warming dialogue that address this growing branch on the family tree. A real achievement, and I look forward to more work by a writer who clearly understands women, the elderly and life lessons learned on the journey that take us all our own way home.
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