Today it is my pleasure to be a stop on the blog tour for Maxine Morrey’s latest novel, No Place Like Home.

Two hearts. One home?

Eleanor Laing has a very good reason to want to stay single: her last relationship put her in danger.  And she’s worried that while the physical scars will heal, the emotional ones never can. So, travelling to Kansas for her best friend Sandy’s wedding, Eleanor’s in need of some time alone.  And Sandy’s brother Ben’s rural and idyllic ranch seems like the perfect place for it.

Ben comes with his own baggage – a failed marriage in his past, and a big question mark over his future – and he knows the feelings he had for Eleanor belong firmly in the history books.  But, sitting on his porch with her, he’s never felt more at home.

Both of them swore they were better off alone…yet is it possible that two broken hearts could come together to heal?

I could not have been happier to have been asked to take part in this blog tour.  I really love Maxine Morrey’s novels, and in particular the new direction she has taken (I love her light hearted romance novels, but I am really loving her newer, grittier novels – check out my review of Second Chance at the Ranch)

If i’m honest, i’m not sure the blurb really does this novel justice.  There is a darker side to this novel which is not really covered there, but it explores the after effects of domestic abuse and how it can affect someones future.  Ellie Laing is such a strong character, but this novel really highlights how the strongest of people can be broken, even when there are no longer any physical signs of pain.  I loved the character of Ellie.  She is beautiful and resilient, fighting against the things that have happened to her in the hope that she can build herself a normal life.  In order to do so, she works hard whilst surrounding herself with her closest friends, Sandy, Kate and Zak.

Ben is a highly successful musician who also happens to be Sandy’s older brother.  Sandy and Ellie were so close, next door neighbours who were relied on each other and each others families as they grew up together.  Even when Ellie and her family returned to England, their bond remained.  As a result, so did Ben and Ellie’s.  Their easy closeness, like family, pulls them together at such important times in their lives when they really need each other.

The characters in this novel are so well thought out.  Maxine has really brought them to life, particularly by bringing their internal pain to the forefront.  We are often not defined by our happy times, but by how we cope with pain and suffering and I feel that she captures this within her novel perfectly.  Ben and Ellie’s budding romance is beautifully flawed by indecision, lack of confidence and concern about how things will change.  Its realistically imperfect, just how all relationships are.

I loved this novel, and am more than happy to recommend it to you all.  If you haven’t already discovered Maxine Morrey, then this is your chance!

Rating: 📖 📖 📖 📖 📕

Thank you to Maxine Morrey and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour, and for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel.

Author Bio

Maxine has wanted to be a writer for as long as she can remember and wrote her first (very short) book for school when she was ten.

As time went by, she continued to write, but ‘normal’ work often got in the way.  She has written articles on a variety of subjects, as well as a local history book on Brighton.  However, novels are her first love.

In August 2015, she won Harper Collins/Carina UK’s ‘Write Christmas’ competition with her first romantic comedy, ‘Winter’s Fairytale’.

Maxine lives on the south coast of England, and when not wrangling with words loves to read, sew and listen to podcasts.  Being a fan of tea and cake, she can (should!) also be found doing something vaguely physical at the gym.

Follow Maxine Morrey

Website: http://www.scribblermaxi.co.uk

Twitter: @Scribbler_Maxi

Instagram: @scribbler_maxi

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MaxineMorreyAuthor