The Journey Home

By: Hope Kesler

Narrated by: Julie Lancelot

Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

In the eyes of the community, Birdie Miller is a loyal daughter and a church member in good standing.

Birdie knows this is a lie.

Soured to the faith by an unhappy childhood, she made the difficult decision to leave her home and not make final vows to the church. But when a terrible accident injures her mother, Birdie is forced to return home, where her father's act of deceit results in her vowing to follow a path she'd planned to reject.

Caleb Troyer is as certain in his commitment to the Amish path as any young man can be. He's mapped out his future and those plans include marriage, a home, and possibly church leadership.

When the woman he loves derails those plans by choosing another, he decides to start fresh in a new community, so he takes a position left vacant by the young farrier killed in the same accident that injured Birdie's mother.

For Birdie, the arrival of a handsome single man of marriageable age does not interest her. For how can a man of such deep and certain faith find common ground with a young woman who feels every inch a prodigal fraud?

As Caleb grows to understand Birdie, he longs to help her. But can a man of faith reach the heart of a spiritually wounded young woman with a reputation for rebellion? Is the spiritual path home lost to Birdie forever, or can love's light guide the way?

©2014 Blushing Books Publications/Lazy Day (P)2015 Blushing Books Publications/Lazy Day

The Journey Home

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."


A good clean Amish novel, with a bit of romance, a bit of understanding of choices and coming to terms of who the female protagonist is and

wants to be.


The narration was had a sweet quality to it.

Short and Good

I don’t usually read many books from this genre, but I really enjoyed this one. The narration brought the story to life and held my interest throughout. The story was well thought out, complete and will keep you listening. I will definitely be watching for this author in the future.

* I was provided a free copy of this book from AudioBookBlast for review.

good book

"I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot com."

very well written and narrated. it was a good listen

The Journey Home

I enjoyed this book, but wasn't super impressed at the same time. I love books of this genre, but felt this book was almost incomplete. If this book had been longer, maybe the story and character could have been more developed, but having said that, the book was still a joy to listen to, even if the narrator fell short of brining the writing to life.

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast.

Great Sweet Romance-A Nice Break From Contemporary

Birdie left the Amish community and is enjoying her life with the English world.… however, all of this must be put on hold when she learned that her mother is gravely injured in a buggy versus auto crash. It's the same buggy carrying the young man with a promising career as black smith. Unfortunately, the young man succumbed to his critical injury and passed away.

The second Birdie gets home, she learned that her father told everyone that she was away visiting relatives. A terrible lie, especially coming from the Deacon church. At the hospital her father tells her mother that Birdie had rejoined the church. Just to give Birdie's mother the strength and hope she needs to recover as best she can.

The Amish town is without a blacksmith now they put the word out that one was needed. All the way up in Ontario is a young man, named Caleb, who is a great blacksmith. But he is has been in the same community from birth until now. He thinks that it would be a good change for him and an asset to the community (Birdie's community) so he puts out the effort and get a job.

Birdie and Caleb begin talking to one another and the story begins...

This is a clever little book and my only complaint is that I wish it were long. The ending of the book especially.

The narration was good or near perfect. Great job telling me the story and allowing me to watch it in my mind without distraction. Very few narrators have that ability. Good job by Julie Lancelot.

Note: This is a lovely and interesting book about an Amish relationship.

I would not hesitate to recommend this book to any of my friends. *I was given this book in exchange for my review.


⚘ - Thanks for reading my thoughts on this ~ I find that reviews help me in deciding whether or not to purchase a books, especially new authors or performers. If you found this review helpful would you take a moment and select 'YES' below the next paragraph? Feel free to follow me on Audible.

Authors & narrators, feel free to take my review to any other media that you would like. Please include "review from DK via Audible" and link back to this site. Thanks!

Sweet story read by my favorite narrator.

Would you consider the audio edition of The Journey Home to be better than the print version?

The narrator of this beautiful has a perfect voice. Calming, clear, distinct and kind. I could listen to any book that she reads.

What did you like best about this story?

The world that this book describes is really foreign to me, and so that was very interesting. And then there is love. What more could you ask?

What does Julie Lancelot bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Listening to Julie Lancelot read this book is like listening to one of my best friend tell me a story. I welcome her into my home, in to my car, into my life. I'm really not exaggerating. A reader whose voice I don't like can ruin a book that is beautiful. Julie is a voice that I can listen to always

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The emotions of this young girl in many moments affected me.