Ruth never had a good life until she met Lonnie, her current husband. Her past left much to be desired, which in turn left her with no hope for her future. But since marrying Lonnie and gaining a new, functional and close-knit family, Ruth finally feels loved. Surprisingly, its not her husband, but her mother-in-law, Naomi, with whom she feels the most love from. 

Sickness falls upon her brother-in-law, Mel, who is slowly wasting away in a hospital bed in Las Vegas, Nevada where the family currently lives. Ruth being the dutiful daughter-in law she was, often sat along side Mel with her mother-in law, Naomi. The inevitable happens and Ruth sets out to call her sister-in-law and find her husband.  

Hours later, Ruth finds herself waking up in her own hospitable bed with tragic news not only for herself but for Naomi as well. Soon, both Ruth and Naomi find themselves brought together in the most heartbreaking circumstances that ultimately lead them to discover, their strengths, weaknesses and most of all a place called home. 

THE ROAD HOME, by Tommy Tenney and Mark Andrew Olsen was a book that left you feeling incredibly rewarded. Not only was this a great re-make of the classic biblical story of “Ruth and Naomi”, it surprisingly, held up on its own as the new and contemporary story unfolded. The road trip in the beginning of the story was a bit lengthy but by the time I got to the parallel of the biblical account, I was eager to read on.  I was completely satisfied with the ending, although I could of course predict what it was, but the authors added a twist of betrayal,

love and redemption which put the icing right back on the cake! A sweet, and gratifying read  for those who love both historical and contemporary fiction.

Reviewed by Maisha Walker for The Road to Romance

August 25, 2007