Sydney Collins, respectable but madcap daughter of Dr. Collins, left Rose Bend in the Berkshires eight years ago. Now she’s coming back, the ink wet on her divorce, and she’s brought a surprise. THE ROAD TO ROSE BEND has twists and turns that Sydney didn’t see coming. Having arrived home, she finds there are still issues to face.

The first person Sydney meets is mayor Coltrane Dennison, Cole as she knew him. This ‘Rose Bend’ new series is a rich blend of cultures and gets a lot of gossip out in the open air. Sydney and her ex are African-American, as is the lovely lady doctor, Dr. Kelly Prioleau. Cole is from a Puerto Rican family, though Rose Bend is his hometown, and he has lost his wife two years previously. Cole is determined in his grief, and does not much else but legal work. He’s pleased to see Sydney, who of course is grieving in her own way from the breakup and as scared as any first-time mom. Sydney’s folks are even less happy with the situation. Divorced and expecting, without means of support, isn’t respectable.  

The cover looks melt-in-your-mouth wholesome, but there’s a lot of strong language and adult references. So the contemporary romance tale won’t be for every romance reader. I felt the added depth of mourning caused by Sydney’s constant mulling over her sister’s death at a young age, to be too much for one story. Cancer is awful, and it was tragic, but it was a dozen years ago. Perhaps this is made fresher in her mind by coming home, seeing her parents again and the familiar locations. I’m also puzzled as to why everyone accepts that Cole can accompany this woman he barely knows anymore to her scan. Either she would go by herself, or some lady would be a more fitting companion, in my mind. Maybe it could have been a bonding experience with her own mom.  

What I like – greatly – is how Sydney finds an application for her expertise as a grant writer. I don’t know a lot about this, but readers will learn through Sydney’s proficiency and her assurance that she can do good. This may be the ultimate message of Naima Simone’s story – that doing good for others takes you out of your own worries. I also love the motorcycle festival! Not everyone in town is sweet, by the way. Small towns are like that. THE ROAD TO ROSE BEND brings happiness but also envy and antipathy. You’ve got to come through the storm to smell the roses.