More than a decade ago, Lily Sommer left home abruptly for college to pursue a career in photography. In her haste to get away, she severed a long term romantic entanglement. When an unexpected death in the family brings Lily back to her small hometown of Sterling Wood, sorting through a lifetime of family belongings proves to be the least of her problems. Back in town for only a couple of weeks, she has to settle the estate of her deceased uncle, skirt around an ex-lover, and deal with the small town rumor mill. To complicate matters, it looks like the death of her uncle Jimmy was a murder, and now somebody wants Lily dead.
Homecoming is a salacious thriller with heavy romantic underpinnings. It is so much fun to see Lily truly live her dream, finding acclaim with her beautiful photographs from around the world. In addition to the unsolved mystery, other smaller themes are examined including racism, infidelity and greed. Charlene Johnson has a comfortable writing style, easily engaging readers with her relaxed manner. The characters at times lack complexity, but the frenetic pace of the story will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Homecoming proves to be a marvelous mystery woven into a steamy romance novel.
