The Long Road Box Set by Alicia Hope is a three-book omnibus of the author's contemporary western romance series of the same name. All three stories take place in rural Australia and are read as stand-alone novels. Book one, The Long Road to Loving Grayson, follows Maggie and Grayson, a professional pairing that has sparks flying from the moment they meet in the tiny shire of Cloncurry. Neither has had luck in their respective marriages but both are committed to their work. However, the challenges faced as they trek along the Outback forge a deep personal bond, and Maggie, who is not free to love Grayson, must come to terms with what she wants in her own heart, as well as the warm heart of Australia. Book two, The Long Road to Loving Jackson, revolves around Abbey, a former trick rider with a series of dumpster fires dressed up as relationships, and her recent inheritance of her deceased uncle's ranch. Here, Abbey is forced to navigate a new life and make genuinely difficult choices, all while in the midst of a founded air of doubt regarding the nature of her uncle's death and a dishy squatter named Jackson. Book three, The Long Road to Loving Mitchell, follows the tenacious Libby who is searching for the enduring love found between her parents. She is swept off her feet by a man offering exactly that, but ulterior motives, pain, natural and unnatural disasters, and loss clip at Libby's heels, tempered only by a lifelong friendship.

There's a lot to unpack with The Long Road Home series, which is surprisingly not always the case when it comes to three-in-one book sets. Alicia Hope makes it feel easy and it is a testament to her skill as a writer and storyteller. She is a seasoned author whose evolution we are able to witness as each progressive book in the series comes to life, getting even better with a depth of plot and character development with each novel. The landscape depictions are frequently cinematic and rural Australia almost becomes a character itself. As a mother, I loved that Maggie, Abbey, and Libby are women with backbone that are put to the test as a litany of hurdles aren't only placed on the road in front of them, but are practically thrown at them in rapid succession. Also as a mother—and I know this is not likely to be the popular opinion—I did find that Maggie clutching to her marriage vows felt outdated and regrettable. Libby and MJ in The Long Road to Loving Mitchell were my absolute favorites both as characters and with the book's plot. She stands out as a woman who is not afraid of forging her own path and getting back up on that horse, regardless of how broken and battered her heart is; no pun intended! The writing is clean and the pacing is absolute perfection, and I'd give these three novels a whole bucket full of stars if I could.

The Long Road Box Set: Books 1-3 in the LONG ROAD series by Alicia Hope is a collection of romance novels with women at the center of them. In The Long Road to Loving Grayson, we follow the story of Maggie and Grayson as they fight against the odds for a chance at love. In The Long Road to Loving Jackson, the story follows Abbey as she learns to trust herself, and her abilities and gives love a chance while also turning her life around. Finally, in The Long Road to Mitchell, Libby is a solo farmer who has huge expectations of herself, but that all changes when Mitchell arrives in her life. Suddenly, there is more to live for than just her farm. Will these three couples give love a chance? Or will they let it slip away?

I love a story where the female protagonist is not a damsel in distress but an equal partner. Alicia Hope has masterfully developed and crafted three very realistically strong and genuine female protagonists who make you cheer for them. While Mitchell, Jackson, and Grayson are all phenomenal characters, the stars of this series are Libby, Abbey, and Maggie. Perhaps I found little pieces of myself in all of them or maybe because I want to be as strong as them, but I connected pretty quickly with them. I love the fact that this is a romance series, but it is so much more than that. Each novel is unique. The pace is fast without giving readers whiplash, the characters are given a chance to develop properly, and the plot is interesting to make me keep turning pages. I love how the feelings develop gradually and not in a flash! Alicia Hope has crafted a masterpiece.