Texas Roads

5 Stars

"If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching, my father will love him, and We will make Our Home with him."

-John 14:23

Cathy Bryant brings us a contemporary romance, but it's also about two people who find strength from their faith in God to overcome obstacles set in their path to eternal happiness.

Book Cover

One secret kept, another uncovered...

Dani Davis just wants a place to call home. With quirky residents, quaint country charm, and loads of business potential, Miller's Creek, Texas seems like the perfect place to start over...except for the cowboy who gives her a ride into town. Dani secretly finances renovations to downtown Miller’s Creek, but malicious rumors force her to choose between keeping her involvement a secret and the home for which she’s always longed. Then a devastating discovery propels her down a road she never expected to travel.

Steve Miller is determined to rescue his dying hometown. When vandals jeopardize the renovation, he can’t help but suspect Dani, whose strange behavior has become fodder for local gossips. Can Steve and Dani call a truce for a higher cause, and in the process help Dani recognize the true meaning of home?

My Review

We are introduced to Dani Davis who I found somewhat exasperating at first, but as I got to know her I found what a truly wonderful, young woman she was.  As the story opens Dani is on spring break from her teaching job in Dallas and is headed to Miller Creek to reconnect with her aunt.  She has a complicated and distant relationship with her mother and what she really wants is to find someone she can connect with.  It has been a stressful year for her with the unexpected death of her father and a few moths later having her husband killed in an auto accident. 

Steve Miller's family owns the biggest ranch in Miller Creek and when not fulfilling his job as the town mayor, he's working on the ranch.  He has experienced tragedy at a young age which has shaped him into the man he is today.  At present he's dealing with his mother's rapid decline in health and trying to figure out how to save his hometown after the down turn of the economy.  He has a strong faith in the Lord and depends on his strength and guidance on a daily basis.

Needless to say when Steve sees a driver stranded on the side of a back country road his first inclination is to help, but with Dani's attitude he couldn't find much about her to like. Dani was so frustrated with her running out of gas, being late to aunt Mona's house, and basically with life in general.  Their first meeting couldn't have gone worse and Dani knows she owes Steve an apology and a thank you.  Assumptions, we all make them and 9 times out of 10 they are wrong.  We see what we want to see and not always what is actually there.  When Dani finds out Steve is a close friend of her aunt Mona and she will be seeing a lot of him she tries to apologize and make him understand her behavior, misleading as it might have been, was only a show of frustration.  As they become better acquainted and a friendship develops so does the physical attraction. 

Dani is on a journey.  Unlike most of us she has never felt she has had a home, a place with complete acceptance for who she is and love.  Growing up with her wealthy parents she never felt that she measured up to their standards, then with a marriage that was far from ideal has left her with not only trust issues but a longing for something she has always wanted. 

Steve considers Dani a good friend, but suddenly when he realizes that his feelings are much deeper than friendship he knows he's in trouble.  Oh Dani is beautiful and a very compassionate person who he has a lot in common with, but she is also heading back to Dallas where her life in the city is.  Steve also knows that he doesn't want to have a relationship with anyone unless they have the same faith in God. 

Is Miller Creek the home Dani has been longing for? Does she want to put her heart at risk again for Steve?  More importantly, does she or can she find the answers and  put her faith in God.?

This is a contemporary romance that flows easily and will pull the reader in quickly.  Both characters are strong and well developed.  The author brings out the issues of trust and faith in many situations, but always shows God's enduring love.  I would recommend this book to anyone. 

In celebration of the release of her 5th book, A Bridge Unbroken,  in the Miller Creek series, Cathy Bryant is having a launch party on Facebook and a giveaway.  

https://www.facebook.com/events/315502748601792/

Meet the Author

Cathy's desire is to write heart-stirring stories about God's life-changing grace. Her first novel, Texas Roads, was a 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers' Genesis finalist. Since then she's added A Path Less Traveled, The Way of Grace, and Pilgrimage of Promise to the Miller's Creek Novels. A Bridge Unbroken is scheduled to release in the spring of 2014. A native Texan, Cathy currently resides in the beautiful Sangre de Cristo mountains of northern New Mexico with her minister husband of over thirty years.
Cathy has written devotions for The Upper Room devotional magazine, two devotional books, and for online sites. In addition to her writing, she enjoys romping in the great outdoors and thrift store shopping, and is hooked on a few reality TV shows. To learn more about Cathy and her books, visit her website at www.CatBryant.com.

Cathy's front porch is the perfect place to sit for awhile.  She enjoys talking about her books and most of all her faith.  If you would like to contact her

http://www.catbryant.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Cathy.Bryant.Author

https://twitter.com/Cathy_Bryant

http://www.pinterest.com/cathyjbryant/

http://www.amazon.com/Cathy-Bryant/e/B002SKQCDO/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1