What reviewers are saying

"Detour to Love is a profound and touching exploration of belonging that answers the question: "Where is our true home?" Erica Sams crafts a beautiful, clean romance with relatable characters. The author conveys the nuances of Anna's and Jake's emotions. Sams skillfully engages us with their story, which is simple and complicated at the same time. Self-fulfillment of the main characters influences the development of their relationship, motivating us to seek a balance between our ambitions and our feelings for and ties with those we hold dear. Anna's backstory touches our hearts. Sams reminds us that the hard work of people we consider different is no less important than our own. The author's clear writing style adds to the descriptions, while the dramatic twists keep us on the edge of our seats in anticipation of the outcome."
- Nino Lobiladze for Readers' Favorite


"Detour to Love elegantly explores the conflict between personal ambition and the need for emotional fulfillment. Anyone who has ever faced the crossroads of a career and feelings for a person will enjoy this novel immensely and will be able to relate to the characters. The theme of returning to your roots and making peace with the past is also explored. Erica Sams takes the reader on a journey through beautiful countryside in an engaging manner, which left me with the yearning to visit there. This is a delightful read, with sweet moments readers will enjoy throughout the narrative. The courage of the characters to follow their dreams was inspiring."
--Antoinette Wessels for Readers' Favorite


"Detour to Love by Erica Sams is a really heartwarming and nicely packaged story with a bit of a twist to the traditional cozy romance about reconnecting with one's past, rediscovering lost love, and just how darn difficult adult relationships can be. Sams does a great job of making Anna likable, and I love that she is a reality TV chef. She's built a life for herself, she's capable, and she's no damsel in distress. She just needs a better weatherman. Jake has a softness to him, and the pair are perfectly developed characters with shared history and grounding for what could have been and what might still be. Sams is a skilled writer and an adept storyteller, and the result is tight pacing, authentic dialogue, and a hometown setting that feels nostalgic but also contemporary. The chemistry between Anna and Jake is all there. Overall, this is a totally enjoyable, happy butterflies-in-the-stomach read."
--Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

"This story is great if you're feeling like you'd like to settle into a sweet small town that features a great cast of characters including Putz the cat and some great descriptions of baking. Since it's a debut novel (according to her website), I wasn't sure how it would work, but it totally does. Sams is especially good at creating settings that you feel you want to hear even more about, as she describes what you hear, smell, see, etc. The characters are grounded and real-feeling, people you'd actually meet instead of caricature-ish, as can happen with some romance novels. But Sams' best strength is the real-time unfolding of Anna and Jake's individual thoughts and triggers as they push through what's holding them back; by about halfway through, you realize that they're each growing and being more themselves, and while they're doing it on their own, they're each a great catalyst for the other. The challenges they each have feel real, not contrived, and the conflict is believable and unfolds at a good pace. Coming together by the end, they left me satisfied and intrigued about the next book in the series. Hoping we get to see more of them."

~Amazon confirmed reviewer LLST

"Erica Sams weaves a tapestry of small-town charm with the complexities of returning home after a long absence. The detailed setting of Cedarwood Spring, with its cozy spots and storied past, provides the backdrop for Anna's journey of self-discovery. The dynamic between Anna and Jake evolves from reacquaintance to a deeper, reflective interaction that explores themes of belonging and identity. Detour to Love is a story about self-acceptance and the courage to embrace one's roots while forging a new path. Sams balances the lighthearted elements of romance with moments of introspection, making this book a delightful read for anyone who enjoys stories about personal growth and second chances."
--Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite