Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: After reading "Cloud Nine" I was hoping that this book would be just as good but it was better. It is so wonderfully written. Julia was a beautiful child and you could just feel the love that Diane and Alan had for her. While it would be so easy to dislike Tim because he did not have to courage to face up to his responsibilities,my dislike for him was tempered by my admiration for Alan, for he took over for his brother. While there were many times that I cried, there were just as many times that I smiled and felt good. What made this book even more wonderful was the last chapter where Julia speaks to the audience. What a beautiful child she is.
Rating: 
Summary: ENJOYABLE FICTION
Review: Dianne Robbins is a single mother, her daughter, Julia, is disabled and while doing her best to raise her, she struggles with the thought that she is not a good enough mother.Dianne's story begins with her marriage to fisherman, Tim McIntosh, falling apart. Tim's brother, pediatrician, Alan, has a fondness for Dianne and her daughter Julia, and will do anything to right the wrongs inflicted by Tim, as well as win the heart of Dianne. The relationship of these two adults will be brought to light by, Amy Brooks, a young girl looking for love and affection. Amy Brooks is the young girl who lives with her mother, and her mother's bad-tempered boyfriend, while NOT wanting to leave her mother alone, but at the same time needing an escape from her horrible home life, she finds solace in her friendship with her pediatrician, Alan. Alan realizes the best thing for Amy, and also for Dianne and Julia, would be for the young girl to help Dianne with Julia. As the story unfolds, Dianne will become a mother figure to Amy, and she will have to face the fact that she married the wrong McIntosh. "Follow The Stars Home" is a wonderful novel by the bestselling author Luanne Rice. The novel opens up with a present day tragedy, and then flashes back to tell the story of the main characters, bringing it full circle to it's conclusion. Fans of page-turning fiction about family, relationship's, and the power of love will enjoy this book. Luanne Rice can be compared to the likes of Anne Tyler, Pat Conroy, Danielle Steel, and Lavyrle Spencer...her novels are that good. Nick Gonnella
Rating:
Summary: Better than average novel, with good characters
Review: Dianne Robbins loved both of the McIntosh brothers, but married the wrong one. Abandoned before she gave birth to a daughter with many birth defects, Dianne struggles to raise Julia and to understand why Tim left her. Though she swears she will never give her heart to anyone, ever again, she still harbors feelings for the other McIntosh brother, Alan, who is Julia's doctor. Her life is changed by Amy, a bright twelve-year-old whose own heart hides many scars and pain. When an accident leaves Dianne and Amy hospitalized, Tim begins to believe he has a second chance with her, while Alan feels that maybe the time has come to reveal the longing he has felt for Dianne for many years. Rice has created characters with depth and personality, ones that you can relate to in their flaws and feelings. The plot is very basic: will she fall back into Tim's arms, or will she give her heart to Alan? Or neither? What of Amy, from an abusive home and unsure where she belongs? What drives the book is Rice's bold writing and excellent narrative, strengthened by believable characters and situations. One develops instant attachments to the characters, even Tim; Rice doesn't want the reader to grow too fond of him, but he's not a complete jerk, and he's given more development than one would expect. Dianne's fragility and strength are contrasting parts of her character, and Rice uses them appropriately in the proper situations; plus, in Dianne, we find a heroine whose flaws and failings are refreshingly normal and easy to understand. Dianne loves her daughter Julia, but one gets the impression that a small part of her sees in Amy the 'normal' child she wants. Character motivations and behaviors are consistent throughout; no one does anything that seems out of character. Alan's feelings for Dianne seem sincere, and Amy's crush on Alan makes for some amusing and touching moments. Tim's motivations in both leaving Dianne and trying to make up with her are integral to his character; one may not like him, but one can see and (maybe) understand why he did what he did. The supporting characters (Malachy, Lucinda, Buddy, Tess, more) are also well-realized. Brisk pacing and dialogue help move the book along, with few dull moments. There's some foul language, and some sexual content, but not in excessive amounts. Some people would see this as a 'chick book,' but it's far deeper than the potboilers that often populate the stands. Rice has brought us a wonderful story, full of good characters one can enjoy and love.
Rating:
Summary: Another Great Book by Luanne Rice!
Review: Follow The Stars Home is another excellent love story from Luanne Rice. This book will tug at your heartstrings and pull you into the characters from the very start. Ms. Rice is one of those rare authors who paint an incredibly accurate portrait of her characters, in which the reader feels that they are right there. The entire story is believable and I especially love her portrayal of young adults. She seems to have the minutest detail down pat, including their fears, frustrations and mannerisms! It is very hard to put down a Luanne Rice book once you get started. This was one such book! I have read Cloud Nine and Home Fires by this author and recommend them highly as well. The story follows Diane Robbins and her handicapped daughter, Julia, as Diane struggles as a single parent to raise Julia. Her husband abandoned her after finding out their daughter was "not perfect", yet her husband's brother, Dr. Alan McIntosh, continues to stay by her and Julia's side and never abandons them. It is through the friendliness of Amy Brooks, a lost and troubled girl, which helps Diane see, experience, and find the love that has been missing from her life, but has really been there all the time! Definite soap opera material, but written with such sensitivity and tenderness that makes it believable and not mushy-gushy. The reader sees love and hope bloom in several of the character's lives as their lives intertwine and they begin to open up and care for one another. A good tearjerker of a story! Ms. Rice once again portrays her heroines as strong women experiencing several of life's greater challenges, yet preserving and not losing hope. I would love to see a sequel to this story! Wonderful story of love and hope! Highly recommend this book!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Vanessa had it right!
Review: I agree totally with an earlier reviewer, Vanessa's point. Like this author, didn't like this book. The beginning held promise. The story in between was pages and pages of predictable developments. The denouement wasn't worth the read. The good seed, the bad, The altruistic, the selfish. All contrast,no shading.
Rating: 
Summary: Romantic and Sad
Review: I am not a big romance story fan, but this book is quite good. The characterization is extremely well done. And different than most stories of the genre, this one has a handicapped child as one of the main characters. As a reader we learn to love and respect this tragic girl and I came to realize that no matter how many obstacles a human being has to overcome in their lives, they are valuable members of our society. We need to take the time to get to know and understand them.
Rating: 
Summary: Not her best work
Review: I didn't like this book. Unlike Summer Light & Dream Country, I could not get involved with the characters and I finally just put the book down. I was surprised as I love all of her other books.
I highly recommend all of her other work. This one, I just didn't like.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Characters, Great Story.... But...
Review: I fell in love with these Characters! Dianne Robbins was an honest, warm person and unafraid to admit her feeling for her crippled daughter. I loved Alan and hated Tim. The only problems I had with this book were how Dianne held on to her grudge and hatred for Tim for 12 YEARS and held Alan accountable for his brother's sins. Then all of a sudden she forgives Tim and sees Alan as the love of her life. Like a switch was flipped. I also felt Luanne Rice left the ending hanging. Dianne is very hurt, her daughter sick and Tim doesn't pay for his sins. Book finished. Very frustrating.
Rating:
Summary: Better than the Movie!
Review: I had bought this book to take on vacation, but had such a great time on vacation that I never got around to reading it. I came home to see an add that this Hallmark made-for-tv movie was going to be playing in a week, so I started reading. I loved the book! The movie was "okay", but I was disappointed how much the movie left out and how it twisted the relationship of Dianne and her ex-husband. That's Hollywood for you! The book is a wonderful story of a mother with the ultimate love for her handicapped daughter, but still has so much love to give a neglected girl who befriends her daughter. I enjoyed reading how the relationship between Dianne and her brother-in-law, a pediatrician, develops as he cares for his neice and is always there for Dianne after his brother desserts them. A heart warming story.
Rating:
Summary: TRUE MEANING THE WORD "LOVE"
Review: I have read stories of people turning a truly bad life situation into an inspiration for us all, but Luanne Rice has accomplished the ultimate with this book. This was a first Rice book for me, but I am here to purchase more. Her ability to weave the lives of her various characters and mingle their individual personalities, weaknesses, and most of all strengths is struly inspiring. Her love for her disabled child, and I question that word disabled when it comes to Julia, and her ability to include another "well in body, not spirit in child" into her life made me reevaluate what it means to be a mother. Dianne is the epitome of what I consider the word mother and also daughter to mean. Alan was what all fathers should be defined as. Rice is a genius with story and words.
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