Where Love Leads

This is a story about four women, all-dealing with their personal issues.

Sarah O’Shaughnessy a high school counselor still dealing with the lose of her wife. Lauren Emerson running from her abusive husband, her teenage daughter Kat distressed after a horrendous bullying experience and Bridget with her pink tipped hair and her passion to help others.

...I thought the way the author dealt with the two different relationships, how they developed and the pace was well handled.

...Where Love Leads is an enjoyable book, the characters well developed and the contrast between the fast and furious young love of Kat and Bridget and the slow smoldering mature looks of affection and understanding between Sarah and Lauren was wonderful.

Reviewed by Yorkie Boi

This debut novel by Ms. McKenzie is a very sweet romance. From the very first chapter, I was hooked on this book. Although the plot was predictable, I enjoyed reading something with a “happily ever after” story.

There are four main characters in this book. Sarah O’Shaughnessy, Lauren Emerson and her teen daughter, Kat, and Bridget. Lauren and Kat leave Alabama and settle in upstate New York where Lauren grew up. They first meet Sarah when Kat is starting her first day of school. Sarah is a counselor at the school and arranges for Kat to be escorted around school by Bridget. Lauren has left her abusive husband. Sarah’s wife died several years ago and Sarah has found it difficult to move on with her life.

Lauren is drawn to Sarah and uncovers latent feelings towards women. Over the school year, Lauren and Sarah work on their relationship. Kat has experienced a great deal of bullying and abuse from students from her old school. Bridget helps Kat to work through trust concerns and young love blossoms.

There are many issues addressed in this book and they are handled quite delicately. Most readers have experienced at least one of the situations addressed in this book.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a romance with a happy ending. I rate this book 4-1/2 stars out of 5.

Reviewed by Patty Anderson

I wrote a tweet after finishing this book, saying “My notes for my latest book review include “yes,” “YAAAAAY,” And “saaame.””

I could leave it there, but I won’t.

This book. Oh man. So many feelings. I read most of it on a long bus ride, where I felt everything from heartbreak to smitten to, well, hot and bothered. Not gonna lie. Oops!

In June’s Top of the Stack post, I wrote that I was hopeful for this book because there aren’t many out there like it - about older women finding love. I’m happy to say my feelings were right. I loved it.

We learn a little bit about the main characters, Sarah and Lauren, before their paths cross in a unique way - at Lauren’s daughter Kat’s high school - where they both used to go. Sarah is her counselor, who introduces her to a punky and optimistic girl Bridget. The two become fast friends.

Meanwhile, Sarah finds herself trying to deny her growing feelings for Lauren. Not only does she find it in bad taste because of her relationship with Kat, but she’s still dealing with the death of her wife. Not many books deal with something like this, so it was nice to see in a sad way.

We also learn why Lauren and Kat moved back to Lauren’s hometown in New York, and it broke my heart. Lauren’s parents died soon after she graduated high school, so she moved to Alabama with her high school sweetheart, Trent. They married after she got pregnant with Kat, but things got worse when he began to emotionally abuse the two. After Trent wrongly accuses Kat of starting a controversy to impact some athletes, Lauren decides she’s had enough.

Later on, after a panic attack, we learn Kat was raped. It was tough but I loved her scenes about it with Bridget (because surprise! They get together!). Kat eventually gets the strength to say the word rape (shoutout to therapy!). “I need to talk about it so you’ll know,” she tells Bridget. “Nothing about that experience comes to mind when I’m with you. Everything about you makes me feel safe, happy, and loved. … Together we have to let it go, you know?” As a survivor of sexual assault myself, with a partner who makes me equally as happy, those scenes hit home.

But let’s get to my favorite thing about the book - all of the flipping cuteness. At times it seemed like Lauren and Kat were living the same life; both were trying to hide their feelings for their eventual partners but eventually giving them some of the overabundance of love they have. There are also some sex scenes in the book that were very descriptive…in a good way. ;)...

I hope Erin McKenzie keeps writing. If it’s anything like this important but adorable debut novel, she’ll go places.

Reviewed by Elyse "El" Springer

Where Love Leads is one of those sweet and slow romance novels for those of you looking for something a bit tamer. That's not saying there isn't any intensity. The author deftly knows how to build intensity between Lauren and Sarah who also face choices on how to pursue their relationship because Sarah is also Lauren's daughter's school counselor. What I liked most about this book was the characters and how they slowly built and expanded their family while also healing from traumatic events. I really got to like and care about these people and their family. Give them a chance and you might, too.

Reviewed by Cathie Williamson

Loved this story. Fate does seem to happen when you least expect it. Kate and her mom move to NY to get away from the bullying at her old school and find a better understanding of themselves.

Reviewed by Brenda Freeman