Customer Reviews

A Path Less Traveled

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Like the first book in the Miller's Creek series, Texas Roads, I enjoyed this story. It's engaging and each time I set it down, I wanted to get back to it. I liked Trish, but found myself annoyed at times with her pride and stubborn, pathological refusal to accept help from anyone. Andy is a sweetheart and has a troubled past and I wished for more details about him. In fact, I wished for more details about everyone. Things are said or instances happen and then we're kind of left hanging at times, waiting for some closure, which isn't always important, but can be niggling.

This is a story about faith and finding oneself and understanding the role God not only plays in our lives, but how he directs our paths. A thoughtful, engaging read and one I can recommend.

A Path Less Traveled is a sequel to Texas Roads, and follows Steve's sister Trish. While the story stands alone, it is helpful to have read the first book, just for the background on the characters. I look forward to more from the Miller's Creek series.

This book was totally and completely enjoyable to read. I received the book on Friday and finished reading it on Sunday. I could hardly put it down. The storyline is very well written and grabbed my attention in the first chapter and never let me go. I wish it could go on and on. The two main characters have both been hurt in life and are kind of afraid to trust someone again. Trish has a son called Little Bo and I just wanted to grab him up and give him a great big hug. He was totally adorable.


One of my favorite lines in the book is this: "God doesn't waste any hurt you endure, Trish. What he allows into your life--even something as painful as Doc's death--He'll use for the days ahead..." I believe this is so true and have seen it played out in my life. I love it when I can read a really good fiction book and learn more about my relationship with Christ. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a good story to read. I can't wait until Book 3 in the series comes out next year.


Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the author and these thoughts and opinions are my own and I am not required to to give a positive review.

Proverbs 3:5-6 are some of my favorite verses, and I really appreciated the point Cathy Bryant was trying to get across - we should trust in the Lord. When we take matters into our own hands and refuse to trust God to take us through our hard times, what an awful mess we make of everything ~ including our personal relationships.

This is the first book I have read from Cathy Bryant, but it certainly won't be my last. The dramatic tension in this book was riveting and readers are kept guessing until the end what decision Trish will make. This book provokes a lot of important questions (which would make it great for a book club) such as: when is it too soon to move on after mourning? Why do women sometimes see asking for help as a personal weakness? How do you help someone who is in pain when they only want to isolate themselves in their grief? Can you truly love again and with the same fervency? The threads of discussion for this book are endless.

Trish is an incredibly independent, stubborn, and driven woman who struggles with her pride and allowing people close to her in moments of weakness. Trish has to learn to rely on God and remember through Him, all things are possible. I saw myself mirrored in many of Trish's thoughts, which may be why I grew so frustrated with her at times-I was seeing my own annoying flaws reflected in her character! Like Trish, I recently had a very important decision about my future to make and I had to learn that I cannot lean on my own understanding when God's plans are so much greater than I can conceive. I feel that this is a lesson that Trish also had to learn through her time of mourning, financial uncertainty, and motherhood insecurities.

Andy's is a perfect hero with an imperfect past. He has risen from the ashes of his childhood and become a great man of God with a heart for people with broken spirits. I wish we could have learned a little more about Andy's background and childhood and how he did not become a victim of his past. I love how Andy doesn't try to fix Trish and force her into doing what he thinks is right-he waits for to find healing in God's love and offers her support and encouragement along the way.

Rating: 8/10


**Thank you to the author for generously providing me with a review copy**

First reviewed here: [...]

A beautiful book with a beautiful message, A Path Less Traveled is an enjoyable story! The pieces of the plot come together to form a touching picture of the release that comes with trusting God and seeking His path.

While it's difficult and a bit frustrating at times to read about these characters' inner and outer struggles, overall Trish, Andy, and Little Bo (along with the whole cast of characters from Miller's Creek) won my heart. Their issues with pride, independence, fear, and longing are all too familiar, making it easy for the reader to relate with the hero and heroine. The various settings are also familiar in a comfortable sort of way, but are described engagingly, with lots of sensory details involved.

I really enjoyed my time in Miller's Creek, as well as the opportunity to meet these characters and be reminded along with them of the sovereignty and trustworthiness of God. A Path Less Traveled is a sweet journey, indeed!

*With thanks to author Cathy Bryant for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Trish James is determined to get along all by herself. Her goal is to prove to family and friends that she can provide for her five year old son Bo and herself. Problem is, she's recently widowed, and is not just struggling emotionally, but is having a hard time paying the bills. As much as she hates to do it, she may have to leave her lifelong home in Miller's Creek and move to Austin, TX for a better paying job.

Trish's first meeting with Andy Tyler, the new lawyer in town, gets off to a rocky start. Naturally she can't even think of a relationship so soon after the death of her husband. But why does Andy seem to be so in tune with her needs? As if she doesn't have enough things trying to rattle her cage.

Andy, on the other hand, is battling his own set of inner challenges, and is looking forward to a simpler life in Miller's Creek. He can't deny his attraction to Trish, and is willing to be patient till she sorts out her life. He and Bo connect almost immediately, something that complicates matters further.

A good story must have conflict, and A Path Less Traveled delivers and then some. The tension between Trish and Andy escalates while both wrestle with the direction they feel God's leading them. I always wonder if the second book in a series will be as good as the first. In this case, it is. Cathy doesn't disappoint her readers. Her characters are genuine, engaging the reader from the start. I give A Path Less Traveled two thumbs up!

You know those books that you get really sucked into and so you stay up way, way, WAY too late reading them??? Yepp, this was one of those books! In fact I stayed up much too late two nights in a row and finished it in just a couple of days, haha. Cathy does a wonderful job of really drawing you into the story and making you get engaged in the characters. I wanted to shake Trish a couple of times in the book and tell her to stop being dumb! I think the fact I was getting mad at her shows that I was pretty invested in the story! I really enjoyed Cathy's writing and felt that I was able to understand the entire story line even though it's the second book in the series-it definitely worked well as a "stand alone" book. I would really like to read the rest of the series now! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes Christian Romance Novels--it is definitely worth (staying up late) reading!

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the author and these thoughts and opinions are my own and I am not required to to give a positive review.

This is a story about a struggling young widow who wants to make it on her own. Trish seems to think that if she takes any help from family or friends she will be seen as weak and unable to care for her young son. She is also drowning in guilt for the accident that killed her husband and almost killed her son; he was kicked in the head by a horse that startled when young Bo ran to his father and the horse. She now lives in a world devoid of what she used to love including horseback riding and her painting. She was - and still is - a very talented artist. She now lives only to take care of Bo, but is she truly helping him?

As Trish is doing the design for her brother's wedding she meets Andy, a friend of her soon to be sister in law. Andy sees something special in Trish but knows she is not ready for a relationship. He also cares deeply for little Bo. He is also struggling with some personal problems and is not happy with his life in Dallas. He makes the decision to move to the small town where Trish lives for a number of reasons, but mostly to help Trish and Bo.

There are a number of other smaller stories that tie into the major romance but they all come together in the end. All in all I enjoyed the book - it was a strong tale of faith and love. I did find Trish's stubbornness a little annoying. I was about screaming at the book, at her, to just chill already. She seemed to refuse to accept the simplest of help and I found that hard to believe. But overall I did enjoy the book and the story.

This book is just what I needed right now. After a few "not so great" books, I needed a really awesome one. I definitely got that with A Path Less Traveled. I absolutely LOVED it!! This is the first book I've read by Cathy Bryant, but Lord willing, it won't be the last. Cathy has officially made it on my "author list. " I have full intentions of reading Texas Roads, the first book in the Miller Creek series, and The Way of Grace, the third book.

The scene with Little Bo walking in with his Veggie Tales pajamas on and a book tucked under his arm brought tears to my eyes. It was so sweet!! For awhile after that scene, there's a lot of emotional issues dealt with, so I had to keep a tissue next to me. The character's emotions were brought to life through the author's words. The fact that I could actually feel the character's hurt shows Cathy's talent as a writer!

It was wonderful to read about just everyday life and struggles for "regular" people. I don't think I've ever read a book that contained a garage sale. I love yard sales! LOVE them! So it warmed my heart to see something so common in a book. It also deals with some tough issues like a mom and child losing their husband/dad, and many of the problems that come afterward, including financial problems. There's lots of Christian lessons to be found throughout the pages, too. It amazes me how so many different aspects were brought into this story. In addition to everything else, it's also got the fun, "chick-lit" type of thing going on. And Andy is the perfect leading man! :)

I thrilled that I can, with my whole heart, recommend this book! I'm so glad I got the chance to read it!

*I was provided a review copy by the author. This is my honest opinion!! I was not required to give a positive review.

Set in modern times, the characters and their daily lives seem very true to life, especially when it comes to their struggles. Both Trish and Andy have suffered heartache, but for Trish, the damage from that seems to hit home on so many levels. She has trouble trusting, she has become both prideful and fearful. She learned the hard way that she needed to truly let go and trust God instead of trying to do it all on her own - something that is hard for most of us.

This was a truly inspiring story of how when we let go of our stubborn independence and allow God to direct our paths, we will end up in a much better place.