The House Along the Way
Elysa Summers
Published: May 14, 2026
Publisher: Bitten Fruit Books
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Small Town Romance
Blurb:
Everyone
feared him; she feared nothing.
The
house off the single road between the edge of the village and the
nearest town belongs to the last of the McIntosh brothers. For years,
the McIntosh family have been rumoured to be violent and possibly
psychotic. Possibly murderers. And Kenneth – now a complete recluse
– has not escaped the whispered stories that have veiled his kin
for generations.
Ella Tennant is loved and looked after by
her whole village, for she was born with a rare genetic condition
that means she cannot feel fear. Her free-spirited, optimistic nature
and her obsessive need to sketch everything she sees have carried her
through her challenges.
"Stay away from that house
along the way," she's always been told. But her curiosity has
finally snared her – it’s the one thing in her village she's
never sketched. Pen and paper in hand, Ella strides towards the
forbidden...
When a terrifying man and a woman who can
never know terror meet, a fuse is lit and sparks fly. In each other
lies the understanding that has always been out of reach.
But
the villagers aren't ready to hear a different story. And for the
first time, Ella's sunny disposition may not be enough to win them
over.
Touching
and beautifully told, this is a romance like no other.
My Review:
The House Along the Way captivated me from the very first page and held my attention throughout. Elysa Summers has a remarkable ability to craft narratives that make you truly connect with all the characters. You begin to feel like you are woven into their tale in some manner, or at least make you feel as if you were. They come across as familiar companions right from the start.
Ella was born with a unique genetic condition that leaves her completely fearless. She adores painting and dreams of attending college, but fears her parents may not support her aspirations.
The people in her hometown are always looking out for Ella, trying to keep her out of harm's way, particularly Ian. Ian has been in love with Ella for quite some time, or at least he believes he is. Ella, however, doubts his feelings for her.
All Ella desires is to be left to her painting, but Ian has different ideas, insisting on walking her home, and her mother, of course, gives her approval. Ella tries to make it clear to Ian that she wants nothing to do with him, but he refuses to heed her words.
In a moment of frustration, Ella escapes from him, heading straight to the one house that everyone is too afraid to approach, due to the man who resides there. Ella encounters Kenneth the moment their eyes lock, and you sense that something extraordinary is blossoming between them. It marks the beginning of a beautiful bond.
The House Along the Way is a tale that leaves you with a comforting, warm sensation, a narrative you will want to revisit time and again.
I urge anyone who appreciates a delightful romantic, cozy love story to pick up a copy of The House Along the Way today!
