The Journey Home

Joseph, a man in his late thirties, awakens disoriented and uneasy in a place he doesn't recognize. Several people are near him when he opens his eyes, all strangers. All of them seem perfectly friendly, but none of them can explain to him how he got there. They offer him a delicious meal and pleasant conversation in a beautifully decorated room. This would be a very nice experience if not for one thing: Joseph doesn't know where he is and he has no way to contact his wife, who he is sure is worried sick over him. Thanking the people for their hospitality, he leaves to make his way back home. The only problem is that whatever happened to him has stripped him of most of his memories. He knows he needs to get back to his wife, but he doesn't know how to find her. He sets out on a journey to find his home with no sense of where he's going and only the precious, indelible vision of the woman he loves to guide him.Antoinette is an elderly woman in an assisted living facility. She’s spent the last six years there since her husband died, and most of those years have been happy. She enjoys the company of others in her situation and her son comes to visit often. But in recent months, she’s had a tougher and tougher time leaving her room. Her friends seem different to her and the world seems increasingly confusing. She spends an escalating amount of time on a journey inside her head. There, her body and mind haven’t betrayed her. There, she’s a young newlywed with a husband who dotes on her and an entire life of dreams to live. There, she is truly home.Warren, Antoinette’s son, is a man in his early forties going through the toughest year of his life. His marriage ended, he lost his job, and in the past few months, his mother has gone from hale to increasingly hazy. Having trouble finding work, he spends more and more time by his mother’s bedside. But her lack of lucidity both frustrates and frightens him. With far too much time on his hands, he decides to try to recreate his memories of home by attempting to cook his mother’s greatest dishes using the rudimentary appliances available in her room. He finds the challenge surprisingly rewarding, especially because the only time he feels his mother is truly with him anymore is when she is eating the meals he prepares for her. Joseph, Antoinette, and Warren are three people on different searches for home. How they find it, and how they connect with one another at this critical stage in each of their lives, is the foundation for a profound and deeply moving story. Review"This is a great family drama with a delightful spiritual twist. Readers will want to join the cast on aptly title Journey Home to learn how the diverse subplots connect the dots." --Genre Go Round Reviews"Mr. Baron treks the reader through an unforgettable contemporary romance. Hauntingly poignant and beautifully moving, this well-written piece takes the reader on their own journey. This is a touchingly tender story full of emotions that I will definitely recommend to family and friends." --Coffee Time Romance"A story that is real and will touch you in many different facets. Michael Baron has a gift. He has penned such an emotional and memorable tale that will stay with you long after the last page. Simply beautiful." --Minding Spot"Michael Baron has a way with families - though this book is only 176 pages, the characters danced in my head and the story jumped off the page and into my soul. The Journey Home is a main dish of love, with a side of laughter, a pinch of kindness, and a dash of hope. It left me reliving moments in my life I had long since forgotten about, revealing a love story that I witnessed while growing up, a love story I had forgotten, and for that, Michael Baron has my sincere thanks!" --Book Crazy"Nicholas Sparks fans will love this heartwarming read." --Book Loons"The Journey Home is a main dish of love, with a side of laughter, a pinch of kindness, and a dash of hope. It left me reliving moments in my life I had long since forgotten about, revealing a love story that I witnessed while growing up, a love story I had forgotten, and for that, Michael Baron has my sincere thanks!" --Book Crazy"The Journey Home touches the heart in so many ways. The joys, sorrows, hopes, fears, and gentle living make it a compelling story that reminds one that there is a time and a season for all things. GOOD READING!" --Long and Short Reviews"I didn't think he could get any better after reading When You Went Away but I was wrong. Michael Baron has gone on my list as a favorite author. You will fall in love with all of the characters in this story, just as I did.... The Journey Home will make you long for home. The ending will have you in awe." --Cheryl's Book Nook"Michael Baron delivers again !! Another heart tugging, thought provoking, tender and emotional story written only the way Michael Baron can." --CMash Loves to Read"Great read. A keeper." --Between the Pages About the AuthorMichael Baron is the pseudonym for a successful nonfiction writer. He is the author of two previous novels, When You Went Away (Story Plant, October 2009) and Crossing the Bridge (Story Plant, January 2010). His next novel, Leaves will come in the fall of 2010. A more extensive bio from the author is available at his site, www.MichaelBaronBooks.com.