An enriching and deeply moving novel about love and loss, the bonds of family and friends, and coming home by the USA Today bestselling author of When We Believed in Mermaids.
Life didn’t turn out the way Jewel Sabatino planned. However long she’s been gone, home is waiting.
At seventeen, Jewel fled Colorado for New York City and didn’t look back. Now she’s raising a teenage son alone and is a loving caretaker to her one true friend when she receives a surprising inheritance: her aunt’s Pueblo farm and one hundred acres of land. After decades, it’s time for Jewel to reconnect with everyone and everything she left behind.
Her seventeen-year-old son, Shane, is finally meeting his relatives. Jewel’s soulmate, Michael, has a serene haven for his final days. And Jewel’s welcome back is one of a strong community embracing rich Sicilian traditions, three ebullient sisters preparing for a summer wedding, and a tearful and anxious mother with open arms. But for Jewel, it also means facing her father, who has never forgiven his favorite child for betraying him. And he may never forgive her.
As Jewel’s emotional journey begins, an estranged visitor turns her life around again and could heal her wary heart in ways she never expected.
Revised edition: This edition of No Place Like Home includes editorial revisions.
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"If one does not wish to receive raised eyebrows (but no verbal comments, that would be unseemly) when one is riding on the Central Line on the London Underground, then one should NOT read the ending of a Barbara Samuel novel. For one will have tears streaming down one's cheeks at the heartfelt emotion, gorgeous language, and sense of joyful yet painful catharsis. Trust me, I know."
— CB (5 out of 5 stars)
" A sweet story about love, loss, and going home. I was impressed, I expected a much more "romance-y" feel to the writing. What I got was a not only plausible but poignant tale of a woman caring for a dying friend and her son. A good book to curl up with. "
— Maggie, 2/20/2014" I love this author. I haven't read a bad one from her yet!! She also writes under the name Barbara O'Neal. "
— Sue, 2/18/2014" This was a touching book about love, loss, acceptance, and letting go. I really enjoyed it. "
— Tracy, 2/12/2014" At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book. But then the family dynamic made me think of my family. No matter what you do they will always love you and be there when you need them most. "
— Kris, 2/12/2014" The bridesmaid dress part was halirious. Could have done without the sex. "
— Mary, 1/27/2014" I believe this is an earlier book by Samuel who also writes as Barbara O'Neal. I enjoyed this, but felt some good editing would have been in order - she tends to overuse some adjectives wa-a-ay too much. It is a sweet story - kinda racy though!! "
— Toni, 1/15/2014" Good writing, funny, poignant. "
— Cindy, 1/15/2014" some tears were shed but I enjoyed it all the way through. "
— Anne, 12/26/2013" I believe this was her debut novel, and it hooked me completely. Her characters are warm, loveable, and flawed. The book's language is lovely. Samuel clearly knows how to turn a phrase. I now have a list of her books in my Kindle queue awaiting my attention! "
— Deb, 12/21/2013" Another great book by this author. I fear the day that I run out of her work to read. "
— Emily, 12/21/2013" I love how this book had recipes from the family in the book!! Great book about family relationships! "
— Deanne, 12/16/2013" I love her writing. There is no place like home, but sometimes getting there is half the battle. "
— Kim, 12/15/2013" A real tear jerker. "
— Erin, 11/18/2013" Yes yes yes yes "
— Halah, 11/15/2013" I loved this book. I basically sobbed during the last 50 pages. A good kind of crying. Yes, it hit my buttons but was cathartic and beautifully written and oh so heartfelt. I have really enjoyed some of Barbara's other works but this is by far the best, so far at any rate. "
— Jann, 10/23/2013" A girl goes back to her hometown of Pueblo to let her friend die of Aids. Meets brother. She bakes pie in the morning. "
— Vikki, 10/22/2013" At first I was not too taken back by the book but after chapter 3 I fell in love with this Italian-American Family. "
— Dora, 5/23/2013" Great family drama very poignant story. "
— Patan, 4/22/2013" I checked this out from the library thinking it would just be a cheesy love book (which I do secretly love) but it was much more. It was poignant and sweet and the characters are so completely developed, you just fall in love with all of them. "
— Tif, 3/10/2013" Another beautiful story by a fabulous author, Barbara Samuel. I was drawn into the story and felt at home. The characters come to life and are so wonderfully written. I laughed, I cried, I even made scones from scratch while listening. "
— Melissa, 2/27/2013" Excellent! Couldn't put it down. Barbara sucks you into her characters and her description of the countryside makes you want to be there. The sex scenes are magic and her relationship with her son and best friend brought me to tears. "
— Lisa, 12/14/2012" This was an excellent book. It was about family, self, choices, letting go, and acceptance. I liked all of the characters and all of the relationships. It was an enjoyable and satisfying story. "
— Tressa, 10/1/2012" Definitely chic-lit-ish, but had potential. It also had some inappropriate parts that I chose to skip so I can't really recommend it "
— Lyndy, 7/16/2012" I adored this book. Kept me interested the entire time. "
— Adrienne, 4/22/2012" I read this book years ago, but I can still remember that it had a lovely recipe for gingersnap apple pie. I had to make it after I read the book! "
— Amy, 4/4/2012" I could read this a couple more times! "
— Traci, 3/13/2012" Loved this book. It had everything I enjoy. <br/> <br/>Food <br/>Family <br/>Comfort <br/>Good friends <br/>Amends <br/>Tears <br/>Love <br/> <br/> "
— Staci, 4/8/2011" Really liked this book about forgiveness, redemption, acceptance and moving on. "
— Dawn, 12/12/2010" A sweet story about love, loss, and going home. I was impressed, I expected a much more "romance-y" feel to the writing. What I got was a not only plausible but poignant tale of a woman caring for a dying friend and her son. A good book to curl up with. "
— Maggie, 12/6/2010" I adored this book. Kept me interested the entire time. "
— Adrienne, 11/2/2010" some tears were shed but I enjoyed it all the way through. "
— Anne, 7/28/2010" The firs Barbara Samuel book I ever read, one of few books to make me cry. <br/> <br/>Made me glom her entire backlist and put her on my favourite author list. "
— Nicola, 7/19/2010" A girl goes back to her hometown of Pueblo to let her friend die of Aids. Meets brother. She bakes pie in the morning. "
— Vikki, 3/5/2010" Great family drama very poignant story. "
— Patan, 10/21/2009" I don't know what exactly about her books that I love so much, but I do love them! <br/> <br/>Just a sucker for romance I guess.... "
— Jeffrey, 4/3/2009" I believe this is an earlier book by Samuel who also writes as Barbara O'Neal. I enjoyed this, but felt some good editing would have been in order - she tends to overuse some adjectives wa-a-ay too much. It is a sweet story - kinda racy though!! "
— Toni, 3/27/2009" I checked this out from the library thinking it would just be a cheesy love book (which I do secretly love) but it was much more. It was poignant and sweet and the characters are so completely developed, you just fall in love with all of them. "
— Tif, 3/20/2009" Excellent! Couldn't put it down. Barbara sucks you into her characters and her description of the countryside makes you want to be there. The sex scenes are magic and her relationship with her son and best friend brought me to tears. "
— Lisa, 8/22/2008" I love her writing. There is no place like home, but sometimes getting there is half the battle. "
— Kim, 7/19/2008" At first I was not too taken back by the book but after chapter 3 I fell in love with this Italian-American Family. "
— Dora, 7/16/2008" I love how this book had recipes from the family in the book!! Great book about family relationships! "
— Deanne, 4/21/2008Barbara Samuel is an award-winning author and lives in Pueblo, Colorado with her husband and two sons.
Barbara O’Neal is the author of novels of general fiction, mystery, and romance novels, also published under the names Barbara Samuel and Ruth Wind. She has won a plethora of awards, including two Colorado Book Awards and six prestigious RITAs, including one for The Lost Recipe for Happiness. Her novels have been widely published in Europe and Australia, and she travels all over the world and presenting workshops.