The Long Road Home is a novel by Danielle Steel. It tells the story of Gabriella Harrison, the daughter of New York aristocrats, who experiences an abused and terrifying childhood. From her secret perch at the top of the stairs, seven-year-old Gabriella watches the guests arrive at her parents' lavish Manhattan home. Her world is a confusing blend of terror, betrayal, and pain. When her parents' marriage collapses, her father disappears and her mother abandons her to a convent, where Gabriella's battered body and soul begin to mend amid the quiet safety and hushed rituals of the nuns. As she grows into womanhood, young Father Joe Connors comes into her life. Like Gabriella, Joe is haunted by the pain of his childhood, and with her he takes the first steps towards healing. However, their relationship leads to disaster as Joe must choose between the priesthood and Gabriella. She struggles to survive on her own in New York, where she seeks escape through her writing, until eventually she is able to find forgiveness, freedom from guilt, and healing from abuse. This novel is a work of courage, hope, and love, offering a vivid portrait of an abused child's broken world. It is a paperback edition with 480 pages and is the 1st Corgi Edition.