Home At Last

by Jan Sikes, Donna Osborn Clark (Illustrator), Dr Bob Rich (Editor)

With empty pockets and a heart full of dreams Luke Stone leaves behind the nightmare of fifteen long years in Leavenworth prison, not giving it a backward glance. Eyes firmly on the future, he boards a Greyhound bus bound for Texas...for freedom...for the one who holds his heart. The unjust conviction no longer matters and revenge haunts him no more. Darlina Flowers, the woman who takes his breath away, waits ahead and with her by his side, nothing can stop him. He is headed HOME AT LAST.

314 pages, Paperback

First published June 19, 2015

About the author

Follow Jan on BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jan-s...

Jan Sikes writes compelling and creative stories from the heart.
She openly admits that she never set out in life to be an author. But she had a story to tell. Not just any story, but a true story that rivals any fiction creation. The entertaining true story comes to life through fictitious characters in an intricately woven tale that encompasses four books.

And now, this author can’t find a way to put down the pen. She continues to write fiction and has published numerous award-winning short stories. She published her debut paranormal romance novel, Ghostly Interference, Book 1 in The White Rune Series, in 2020, which won a bronze medal award from Reader’s Favorite. Jagged Feathers releases January 31, 2022, as Book 2 of that series, and Saddled Hearts will release later in 2022.

She is an active blogger, an avid fan of Texas music, and a grandmother of five. She resides in North Texas.

Reviews

[Linda Broday · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Home at Last! Country music singer Luke Stone has been to hell and back and has the scars to show. After being locked away for fifteen long miserable years, he's free at last. He only wants to focus on his beautiful Darlina who never lost faith in him. By the time he steps off the bus and into her arms, the wedding has already been planned. There were many moving scenes in this story but the wedding was very touching. They wrote their own vows and spoke from the heart. I had tears welling up my eyes.

An engrossing story full of depth and heart! Even though Luke was out of prison, hard times weren't over. Without a job and having to live on the little money Darlina had saved, they struggled to put food on the table by picking up pecans that had fallen from trees that no one owned. But the scene where Luke sold his guitar, the one thing that kept him from giving up in prison and the one constant in his life, so their pitiful little Christmas tree would have a few gifts for his girls under it deeply touched my heart. That showed the depth of his love for his family in such a huge way. I was overcome with emotion.

This book isn't full of sadness and gloom. There are plenty of lighthearted moments. Every success was met with joy and love. It's a story of family ties, a love that refuses to die, and a life well-lived. Jan Sikes does an outstanding job in telling this true story of hers and Rick Sikes' amazing life together. Theirs was a lasting love that defied all odds.

[Sally Cronin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read the previous two books in this series I had come to the conclusion that Luke Stone and Darlene Flowers fell right into the category of star crossed lovers. Their passionate love for each other has been tested from almost the first time they laid eyes on each other, and across the early years it seemed every conceivable hurdle to their relationship flourishing, threw itself at them.

Despite this there is no denying the strength of their love and despite the life sentence Luke receives for something he was not guilty of, this love still permeates every aspect of their lives. Following this devastating sentence however, Darlene makes a fateful decision to move on which leads to a marriage doomed from the start, but after failing leaves her with two beautiful daughters.

In this book Luke, after a desperate 15 years is finally released on parole and returns to Texas where he reunites and marries Darlene. We share the challenges they both face as Luke tries to pick up the pieces of his life and provide for his new family, with two daughters who call him Dad. His resolve to provide for them leads to working a number of jobs and shutting out the other love of his life…his music.

Over the years this resourceful and determined couple both work endlessly to build a home and loving environment. There are struggles with money and health which will do their best to break their spirit, but through it all their love and passion provide the strength to keep moving forward.

The characters will touch your heart, not just Luke and Darlene but the family members and friends who come into their lives to share, not just the hardships, but the determination to succeed. The author writes from the heart as this is a personal story and the intensity and connection she has experienced in her life comes across in every word.

If you are a romantic and a believer in second chances this book and the others in the series are for you. It is a tribute to the power of the human spirit and true love.

[Sharon Chance · Rating 5 out of 5]

With her first book, "Flowers and Stone," Texas author Jan Sikes introduced her readers to honky-tonk musician Luke Stone and the love of his life, Darlina Flowers. Now, Sikes brings more to the adventurous life of this couple with a beautiful continuation in her latest book, "Home At Last."

Luke Stone and Darlina have been through so much - including the stressful period in which Luke was imprisoned for reasons unjust and unreal. But now Luke is home with his family and friends and is determined to make a new life for himself, Darlina and their children. The road is rough and rocky, but with love on his side, Luke can make it through anything life throws at him!

Jan Sikes writes from real experience when it comes to this Texas romance - she's lived the story and she truly brings her loving heart and blessed soul to the writing. She bravely tells this heart-wrenching tale, including all the rough and rowdiness, plus the warm faith in the power of love and forgiveness.

If you enjoy stories that grip your heart as well as your mind - this is the book for you! I highly recommend all of Jan's books in this series, "Flowers and Stone," The Convict and The Rose, and this latest, "Home At Last." And coming soon, "Til Death Do Us Part."

[Yvonne Wohlfeil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Texas at last

Luke is released from prison after 15 long years. Back in Texas and into the loving arms of Darlina. It's not a walk in the park for these two they will struggle through finance and health issues. Their love for each other keep them facing their hurdles with their heads held high.

[Mae Clair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing the saga of Rick Stone and Darlina Flowers, Home at Last shares fifteen years of this couples’ life after Rick is released from prison. We see him trying to settle in and make a home for his new family which includes Darlina and the two little girls he cherishes as his own.

There are ups and downs along the way including a health scare and issues with extended family, but through all, the love of Rick and Darlina is center stage. That is what this series is about…two souls who remain steadfast and loyal to each other through thick and thin with love foremost in their hearts. This is more of a quiet read than the last book in the series but it is every bit as well written and is clearly told from the heart.

[Cricket · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jan Sikes has written many books, but I did not know about her until I became a fan of her sister, Linda Broday. However, after reading her autobiographical series with Luke and Darlina Stone, I feel I now know her so well. The books in the series are “Flowers and Stone”, “The Convict and the Rose”, “Home at Last”, and
“Till Death Do Us Part”.

I wanted to write a review for each book but there was no way I could single out any one book. This series is a love story of the truest kind of love, the kind that continues after death. For Luke (aka Rick Sikes) and Darlina (aka Jan Sikes) there was only one person for each of them. Their love survived prison, starting over several times, severe illness and finally, death. They were both great fighters and survivors, but death comes to all of us and when it was time, Luke knew. But reading their story from the beginning to the end, showed me a couple that were at peace with themselves, who knew who they were and what they wanted and the love that would sustain them through anything. I cannot recommend this series highly enough. I would give it 10 stars if I could. If you want to read a true love story, read this series. You will not regret it.

Jan Sikes, thank you for having the courage and the love to write these books. I have never read a true story like this one anywhere else, not one that moved me to my very core. I cried, I laughed, and I lived your life with you. All that you went through for love but what you received in return from love. I feel your loss, but I also feel your joy. Wonderful series.

[KittyRoyseCity · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book in a series of four - love endures all; it never gives up, it holds all hope, it covers all situations. At this point in the story of the lives of Luke & Darlina, you read how they never gave up in all circumstances! They’ve grown to navigate the struggles and hardships as a couple. It’s the stuff many only dream of! Overcoming a past and building on a future with determination and gratitude. *There is one reference in this book to Rick’s true name rather than the character’s name Luke. I caught that and wondered if it was a deliberate “slip” to emphasize a father’s love for his daughter? Whether it was or not, it did just that!

Book four will go fast and, like the others, end too soon I’m sure! Through reading this series of the “true story” books, I feel as though I know this couple personally. I’ve been blessed to have met Jan at music fests and treasure her uncanny ability to make everyone instantly feel as though they’re long time friends! I wish I could have known her beloved Rick as well. Their story is one worth reading and when Jan hopes it inspires to touch hearts in a positive way; I can attest that it has mine!

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the elements that makes Jan Sikes’ novels compelling is that they’re autobiographical. I was so moved by her second book, The Convict and the Rose, that I knew the third book in the trilogy would prove equally poignant.

Luke Stone is finally released after spending 15 grueling years behind bars for something he didn’t do. Darlina Flowers meets him at the bus station, filled with anticipation and hope for the life together that was denied them when Luke was imprisoned. With little money and no home of their own, their deep and resolute love determines to imbue their lives -- and the lives of Darlina’s 2 young daughters -- with joy and meaning.

Austerity greets them head-on, but Luke and Darlina never fail to ride the waves with conviction. They remain focused on carving out a better future and seldom look back on past obstacles or tragedies. Damaged and awkward family relationships in need of renewal are handled with warmth, hope, determination, and a sprinkling of raw veracity. When problems threaten to sabotage their happiness or undermine their stability, their solid love for one another always helps them prevail. The adversity they’re forced to deal with would crush a less immutable nature. But Luke and Darlina’s firm resolve, tenacity, and enduring love see them through the hard times as well as embellish the joyful times.

This review might read like that of a fairy tale, but the characters depicted are real people, and this is their story. It’s both tragic and triumphant. It exhibits the depth the human spirit can reach in order not only to survive, but also to thrive. And it exemplifies the long-held truth that believing makes it so. Energy follows thought. And Luke and Darlina show us how to manifest our heart’s desire.

[Colleen Chesebro · Rating 5 out of 5]

After fifteen years, Luke is finally home with his beloved Darlina in his arms. Both divorced, they can marry quickly. Now the hard work begins for them as a couple and a family. Darlina and Will’s daughters call Luke “Daddy,” and with that comes the responsibility of being a father to his stepdaughters and also to his own children. This is a second change at a new life—or is it?

The couple is homeless until Luke’s mom helps them buy a trailer. Jobs are few and the family struggles to survive. It’s just them, one couple against the world. Luke has much to atone for and he struggles to connect with his children.

Luke and Darlina face many of life’s challenges head-on with a courage and love not seen in many marriages. Somehow, through it all, they conquer their demons and live.

I identified with the times and many of the situations presented in the book. Most of all, I connected with the book’s impact as a true love story told with honesty.

[D.L. Finn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story continues for Darlina and Luke after he is released from 15 years in prison. It is their happily ever after in this fictionalized true-story, but with reality thrown in. It shows Luke’s adjustment to being back home, along with their financial struggles. But, it’s more than that. It is the weaving together of a new family, a new chance at life, and what is the single most important aspect of this story--a timeless love. It’s a tale that shows the reader what is important in life, and this couple focuses on that no matter what life throws at them. They are survivors. “Home at Last” is well-written, full of insight and emotions. I’m continuing the journey with the next book, “‘Til Death do us Part”. I highly recommend this series.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although not as intense a story as the previous books, this addition to the saga of Darlina and Luke gave me a warm, comforting feeling. It takes the reader through their early married years after Luke was released from prison. Their love was strong enough to help them through financial and health problems--things that could have torn many couples apart. All through it, you'll cheer the couple on, hoping they can overcome all that life throws in their way, since both have suffered enough adversity. It was time for them to enjoy the pleasures of life.

[Gwendolyn Plano · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tender, beautifully written account of love challenged to the extremes of life itself. The depth of the protagonist's hope breaks through one obstacle after another and eventually leads to the uniting of the protagonist with her one true love.

This is a story that belongs on the Hallmark Channel. It defies logic and instead, draws the reader into his or her own heart. There is magic in this autobiographical novel, magic that you need to experience.

[John W. Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I bought Home at Last, I did so with the expectation that I would be reading a story about a couple who had endured some trials together and that this would be a chronicle of these times. I can say the book delivers fully on this expectation, but that is not what I want to comment on in this review. I was unprepared for the deepness of the love that Darlina and Luke had for each other. Of course, the reader would expect the couple to love each other but not with the intensity and passion that comes through the writing of this book.

The characters of Home at Last are fictitious, yet the story is true. A true story with fictional characters is a very unusual way to position a book, and I have to say it works. The reader gets involved in a page-turning narrative and can almost lose sight of the fact that the situations happened. The fictitiousness allows the reader to concentrate on the action and not be overly concerned about the eventual outcome. The fact that the author Jan Sikes and her husband Rick Sikes lived all the ups and downs of this tale gets lost in the magic of the action.

The writing is clear, crisp and from a third party of view. The third party view allows the reader to be aware of what the characters are doing and in the case of Luke Stone what the character is thinking. Luke has a lot of life to make up after fifteen years in prison, and his thoughts are some of the most interesting parts of the book. He struggles with self-worth, and the reader is a witness to this fight. Ms. Sikes has done a masterful job in this regard. The other area that has the master’s touch is how the couple relates to each other physically. The descriptions are some of the best in that they project the deeper feeling of two people truly in love. It would be an easy matter to simply describe the physical properties of making love. The author chose to go the extra mile and give the reader a sense of the passion.

Home at Last is not a book about one man’s struggle. It is a book about two people deeply committed to each other finding the best path forward to a happy life. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading a story of true love and how to make the best of difficult situations.

[Joy Lo-Bamijoko · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are love stories, and there are romances. After this read, I have been able to differentiate between the two types. The difference is this, as I see it, in romance, you feel all the bodily, and emotional excitements that come mostly from touching, and making love. In love stories, you feel a wholesomeness that comes from a deep feeling of knowing that what you feel for the other is equally reciprocated. In love stories, you don’t need too much touching or love making, to feel loved, although touching and love making can seal that deep feeling of being loved.

This is what this story is all about. The love between Darlina and Luke is what I have describe as a love story. It is a love that made them feel like they are one person. If anything happens to one, the other suffers, and so the two walk in such perfect harmony that they rarely disagree. To disagree is like to disagree with oneself.

I enjoyed this story, of the type of love I will call precious. The only set back for me, was in the style of flash backs that was used throughout the story. Flashbacks, for me, are okay when used sparingly.

[Joyce Shaughnessy · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE TRIUMPHS EVERYTHING
By Joyce Shaughnessy

Home at Last is a wonderful title for this book. It tells the love story of a man released from prison after 15 years and the love he shares with the woman who has waited for him. Through good and troubled times, they struggle together, supporting each other the entire time. The story brings together a family separated and brought together by the love they share. The fact that this is a true story makes it even better

[Tonya Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The constant North Star of their undying love had carried them over insurmountable obstacles." It will again!
After 15 years in prison, Luke Stone is Home At Last.
Although Luke's transition back into civilian life wasn't easy for him, Darlina, and their two girls, they never gave up believing in second chances and living life to the fullest through all their hard work and endeavors. Many heartaches, losses, and struggles met them head on, but for Luke and Darlina there wasn't any mountain to high for them to scale.
Come take a journey into The Stone's life after they were finally re-united as a family.
Jan Sikes, Home At Last is touching, gripping, and will leave you knowing that true love does conquer all.

[Beth Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Home At Last tells us about Luke and Darlina as they try to move forward with their lives. Luke has been released from prison, but the struggle is far from over. They refuse to keep looking back at the mistakes of the past and instead push forward, never giving up on their love for each other. It's a touching tale that showcases a forever kind of love.

I enjoyed this book. The writer engaged my emotions from the beginning, and I was rooting for Luke and Darlina until the end. Once I started reading, I didn't want to put it down. Jan Sikes knows how to weave a wonderful story.

[Robert Fear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very readable book
This ‘love story’ about Luke and Darlina, based on truth, is an insight into two lives that truly captivated me. Jan Sikes has an extremely fluent writing style that draws you in and encourages you to carry on and discover what will happen next. The struggles that Luke and Darlina endured rose from the page and involved me in a world far from my normal life. There are twists are turns along the way that drew out my emotions and made me wonder how I would have coped. This very readable book is highly recommended.

[Karen Ingalls · Rating 5 out of 5]

A love story of two people whose love for one another gets them through the toughest of times. He is a musician who spends 15 years in prison for bank robbery; his love, Darlina waits for him and they marry upon his release. She is his constant support, encourager, and best friend. He vows to change his life for the better and becomes a true father to her two daughter and regains love and trust from his biological kids.
A touching story about how unconditional love can overcome any adversity.

[Zara-jo Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's difficult to say which book in this series is the best. - I've loved them all. - I hope Jan Sikes goes in writing.