Maxine is always a go to writer for me and this glorious romance was truly wonderful. Highly recommended

I was genuinely shocked, when I looked up this book in order to write the review, to discover it’s being published by a Harlequin imprint, because in my experience of late, Harlequin books are really well edited, and this is frankly a hot mess of head-hopping, confusing time skips and way too many side characters. And that's if you can get past the almost-fatal domestic assault perpetrated on the heroine right at the start of the book.

Was it really necessary, for example, for us to find out the first name of the doctor who treats the hero's brother-in-law for a serious head injury, who only appears in one scene? And was it REALLY necessary to slip into said doctor's point of view for one page, solely so that the doctor can think about how cute the main couple look together?

All this came at the expense of character building such that at the end of the book I could tell you little about the heroine other than that she was some sort of artist. There were plot holes galore, like the heroine’s parents not being invited to the wedding of her best friend, who was ‘like a second daughter’ to them, but instead the heroine brought Kate, a random female friend whose sole purpose was to hook up with Tyler, the hero's friend who was there to… actually, I don't think there was any point to Tyler at all apart from adding to the word count.

There might have been a good story in here somewhere, but it needs a ruthless editor with a red pen to cut out all the extraneous filler to find it, and it would probably be barely half as long afterwards. Two stars.

4☆ Survival and Finding Love!

​No Place Like Home is a Heartwarming and poignant read about survival, the effects of domestic abuse, starting over, learning to trust again, finding love, heartbreak, family and friendship.

The blurb pretty much sums up what this beautifully compelling book is about.
So I won't go into any more detail.

I really loved Ellie and Ben's characters.
Ellie has gone through so much after being in such an abusive relationship. It was so wonderful to watch her grow stronger as she slowly learns to trust again and find happiness.

Ben is Ellie's best friend Sandy's brother.
The two become even closer when Ellie and Sandy move into his Ranch for the wedding.
Ben has his flaws and insecurities but watching how he cares for Ellie was so touching it melted my heart.

The two have an obvious connection.
But after being so badly hurt in the past, can they ever let their guard down and move their friendship to the next level?
They both so deserve to be happy.

There are some sensitive subjects such as domestic abuse and violence but Maxine handles them with the right amount of sensitivity and relevance to the story.

No Place Like Home  is a compelling and heart warming story about two friends that learn to love again after so much heartache and pain.
The story is told over several years, which makes for a slower but emotive read, it's perfectly paced.
The Characters are well thought out and developed, deeply flawed yet strong and relatable, I was rooting for them to find their Happy Ever After together.
I really enjoyed watching the relationship aspect blossom.
I applaud Maxine for taking a difficult and sensitive subject and highlighting the mental and physical effects and scars abuse leaves behind, and how hard it is to rebuild and trust again.

Overall I highly recommend No Place Like Home if you enjoy contemporary romances with a western twist, that makes for a compulsive and emotive read.

Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This is the book to escape into and proved to be a lovely weekend read. The characters are all likeable and credible, especially Eleanor and Ben. It is very much a 'will they, won't they? ' sort of a story as most of the other characters can see their mutual attraction.

Although it is essentially a romance, there are some harsh issues hiding in the background. Domestic violence is a tricky subject to include, but the author incorporates it in such a way to add depth to her characters. The stunning setting makes you wish you were there and it is how people react towards the environment which gives you a hint about their character. This is a great examination of people who are learning to take a second chance and to take a risk after deep hurts. Set over a few years, you see the best and worse of human behaviour.

In short: Learning to love again.

Thanks to the author for a copy of the book.

Maxine's ability to weave a blissful story of romance seems to go from strength to strength. I was caught up in this beautiful tale and couldn't tear my eyes away from the page.

The sweeping story whisks you away to the stunning location of Kansas creating the perfect location to set this story on. The narrative was romantically charged and filled to the brim with emotional moments.....and yes the tissues were called upon several times. The story line didn't shy away from difficult topics but bravely dived head first into deep issues that were both moving and emotive.

Ellie is a character your heart could easily break for but her tower of strength and determination is inspirational. Her 'will they, won't they' relationship with Ben had me silently screaming in frustration at my Kindle but it all worked perfectly to weave a stunning and compelling tale.

No Place Like Home is a beautifully crafted story of courage and love. Learning to love and trust again is a tremendously brave act and this book portrays that struggle in all its fragile and emotional ability. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this book and couldn't recommend it enough.

Eleanor Laing finds herself in a situation where she needs to find a place to stay. She needs to leave her live in boyfriend or she will not be around any longer to be able to live a happy healthy life. Her best friend and boss, Zak has suggested that she go to stay with her best friend in the United States for a while to recover and get back on her feet. Eleanor’s family lived in the Kansas for a few years where she met Sandy and her family. They became best friends and still keep in touch regularly. Eleanor’s family moved back to England when she was a teen, but the connection between Eleanor and Sandy was too strong to end. Eleanor always looked at Sandy’s family as her second family and felt that she would be able to heal being surrounded by them. Not only does tragedy strike Eleanor at home, but her best friend Sandy goes through a tragic time as well, and Eleanor goes back to Kansas to be there for Sandy.

Ben, Sandy’s older brother was always around when the girls were younger and they both always looked up to him. He is a kindhearted man who even now that he is in a famous country band, is still kind and down to earth. Eleanor and Ben will put in a situation where their friendship starts to change. Ben has his own relationship issues, and is not in the market for a new relationship.

This was a story of two people who have to overcome issues to find their true future and happily ever after. Their paths will cross multiple times before they figure out that they are meant to be. Even with the rough parts of relationships that they encounter, this is a sweet story of two people who move from friendship to love.

I liked the book. This was my first book by Maxine Morrey. I found the story to be a wordy and hard to keep interested at times. It seemed to have a long stretch of time before the couple found themselves together. They spent years away from each other but there didn’t seem to be much about what they were doing during that time. I give the book a 3.5-star review and would recommend it to readers who enjoy sweet contemporary romance, although there is a little darkness in the beginning.

A beautifully written contemporary romance that is perfect for curling up with and indulging in, No Place Like Home is another winner from Maxine Morrey’s immensely gifted pen.

Romance is strictly off the cards for Ellie Laing. After her last relationship had ended acrimoniously and put her in danger, Ellie has vowed to keep emotions at bay and her heart firmly under lock and key. Staying single for the foreseeable is the number one priority for Ellie – a fact she remembers daily as she is forever haunted by painful memories of her past relationships that she simply cannot shake off. In desperate need for some time alone time to lick her wounds, a trip to Kansas for her friend Sandy’s wedding is just what the doctor ordered. A ranch far away from civilization and worlds away from her daily life is just what she needs, yet little does Ellie realise that in Kansas she is going to find a second chance at happiness…

When his sister’s friend Ellie arrives on his ranch in Kansas, Ben is not exactly in the best place emotionally and mentally. Like Ellie he has his own baggage and problems to contend with – and feelings for Ellie which have never really gone away despite the passage of time. With the break-up of his marriage, Ben has also consigned relationships to the past and besides, he has plenty of other things to worry about. However, nothing has felt more right than sitting on the porch with Ellie by his side. As his feelings for her develop and intensify, Ben finds himself falling for Ellie all over again, but with her life being far away from his, can he convince her to stay with him…for the rest of their lives?

Both Ellie and Ben had sworn off relationships and thought they were better off alone. But with this unexpected chance at happiness having coming their way, will they admit the truth about the depths of their feelings for one another? Or will they continue to be held hostage by fear?

Maxine Morrey continues to get better with every book she writes and No Place Like Home is an enchanting, enjoyable and engrossing romance that made me smile and had me reaching for the tissues. A breath-taking tale about renewal, second chances and the healing power of love, No Place Like Home is a must-read for romantics everywhere who are sure to fall madly in love with gorgeous, intelligent and kind-hearted Ben while cheering on Ellie to get the happy ending which she rightfully deserves.

Maxine Morrey has written another winner with No Place Like Home and I await with bated breath the next outstanding tale from this wonderful storyteller.

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)

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!

I'm going to start by saying if domestic violence is a trigger for you, be aware that this story starts with a dramatic abusive confrontation that results in the heroine being rescued by the police and her attacker being taken into custody. There is no further violence in the story though it does share just what the long term impact of being the victim of such abuse can be.

After such a dramatic start, what a delightful contemporary romance this proved to be - I loved it! Eleanor (aka Ellie) had spent many years of her childhood and teens living next door to her best friend, Sandy, before returning back to London. They've always kept in touch and their families are all close. It is to them that Ellie goes after escaping an abusive relationship, battered both physically and mentally. There, she can't believe the attraction she feels to Sandy's caring older brother, country star Ben . . . . Ben can't get over the sight of his sister's best friend, Ellie, looking so battered, bruised and fragile and just wants to protect her. However, he's married to someone else so can't possibly act on the attraction seeing her again generates . . . .Both put each other firmly in the friends box and go their separate ways again.

Now Sandy is getting married and Ellie - and her friend, Kate - are going to stay at Ben's ranch for three weeks on holiday and attending the wedding. Ben's marriage has ended. Is this the second chance for the two to find true love together or will the past hurts and fears keep them apart?

This is a lovely, heartwarming story, with the beautiful Kansas countryside brought to life in the setting for many of the events. It deals sensitively with the impacts of betrayal and abusive relationships and is a story of strong friendships, supportive families and love for not just one but for three different couples. It is a great story to escape into with characters it is easy to relate to, plenty of surprises and some dramatic twists to keep you turning the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and have no hesitation in highly recommending it to anyone who enjoys contemporary friends to lovers romances where the events take place over an extended time period.

I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.

Writing Style
The writing style is actually very similar to Second Chance at the Ranch, which I realised as I wrote that is pretty obvious. I mean it's the same author, why did I expect anything different?
Anyway, the main thing I liked about her descriptions of the location was the way that she wrote about the Kansas landscape. I love those quiet country landscapes and just being able to sit back, relax and enjoy a glass of wine (or two...).
But really, you can totally lose yourself in your imagination of these places and the emotions going through the characters. It was mesmerising and I actually found myself for once wanting more descriptions of the landscape rather than what was happening between the characters.
But she also keeps you totally engaged and hooked on whats happening between the characters all the way through. And she even addresses the topic of domestic violence in what I feel to be a great way. It's raw, it feels honest and it addresses the aftereffects that victims experience.

Initial Thoughts
Pretty much straight off the bat I was a bit concerned about the topic of domestic violence being perpetrated with no context or meaning. That didn't really sit well with me because it's a topic often portrayed in a way that glorifies it.
But we quickly progressed to her being saved by the cops and moving in with a friend. And then we fast forward through time a little bit.

Final Thoughts
Overall I really enjoyed this one. It was mostly calming, and when my mind is whirling with my projects at work and the assignments I need to get done. I really needed that balance.
The fact that this story was told over a period of a few years, with the characters not knowing how to move forwards from friendship. Or if they even should. Felt really real to me.
The speed at which they came together didn't really feel real. But then again, I'm not really the type to jump so fully into something like that so maybe it's just me.

Before we get into my review of No Place Like Home by Maxine Morrey, I want to warn you this book contains scenes of domestic violence, and while it is a very small part of the book, it is important to the storyline. So if you do not want to read about domestic violence, then this book is not for you.

***
This is the first Maxine Morrey book I have ever read, but she had been recommended to me by several of my friends from home (England), so I thought that I would jump at the chance to read her latest book. Now rather than get into the synopsis of the story, I’m just going to tell you about my personal feelings.

No Place Like Home starts in an absolutely horrific way, with domestic violence, and I have to admit that it was a complete shock for me to read it. But once I got past that first chapter, I could see where it fit into the book, but my heart definitely broke for the female lead character Ellie, and I felt blessed for her that she had such amazing friends like Zak and Sandy! Then there is Ben, Sandy’s brother and the male lead in the book, and his story is heartbreaking too, though in a completely different way.

I will also say that I’m so happy that the secondary characters also had such a big impact on this story. Though to tell you the truth, I could have totally done without seeing Cyndi ever again.

No Place Like Home was an absolute joy to read, and Maxine Morrey has definitely been added to my auto-buy like, as her writing is absolutely magical!