Texas Roads...Review

About the book:
City gal Dani Davis just wants to find a place to call home. 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 the downtown area of 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. Steve Miller is determined to save his dying hometown. When vandalism jeopardizes the downtown restoration project, he can’t help but suspect Dani, whose strange behavior has become fodder for local gossips. Will Steve and Dani be able to call a truce for a higher cause, and help Dani understand the true meaning of home?

Why is it that we're prejudiced against self-published books? Is it because many self-published books aren't as good or as polished as those published in the mainstream? Perhaps. But, as we all know, there are a lot of duds published by large, well-known publishing houses, too.

Texas Roads was a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed the story and the characters. Each time I had to put the book down because of life and children, I kept wanting to get back to the story as soon as I could. Steve and Dani are likeable and people you come to care about. The antics of the small town community were laugh out loud funny at times.

This is an easy read and a nice escape. So far as I can tell, it's also universally well liked. I have yet to see a negative review. That is quite a coup to a new author.

I do admit that I wished for more details. I think that there are a lot of things in a writer's mind, things that make so much sense because the story is spelled out there, so completely. Sometimes, those details are lost in translation and don't get explained on paper. For example, I wanted to know more about Dani's mother. We never know why she is so angry and hateful, especially towards Dani. Oh, the implication is there that she's jealous of her sister and afraid that Dani will discover secrets, but the level of vehemence she displays indicates a deeper issue. I wanted to know what that was. Her turn around at the end was a bit abrupt. I also wanted more information about Mama Beth and her situation, and I wanted more details about Dani and what drove her out of Dallas. So much was left unexplained.

Aside from minor issues that a good editor should have caught, this is a terrific debut novel and I look forward to the next book in the Miller's Creek series. I think that Cathy Bryant will only get better.

Thanks to First Wildcard and Cathy Bryant for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Cathy Bryant here. You can read the first chapter here.  You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 5/10

* * *
3/5 Stars


Comments

  1. Holly, thanks so much for taking the time to read and review Texas Roads. I appreciate your honest review.

    Blessings,
    Cathy =)

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  2. I am following Cathy's blog tour for Texas Roads


    mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

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  3. I appreciate the review, thanks for posting!

    Have you heard of Cathy's Summer Splash contest? Be sure and check out her blog, it is great fun and awesome prizes!!

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  4. I really enjoyed Cathy's leap into the published world! She did a great job. She is promoting the release on her site with her Summer Splash giveaway! You should check it out!

    ~Mimi

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  5. I loved Cathy's book! She is such a sweet lady! If you haven't already please be sure and stop by her Summer Splash and see all the great fun going on right now!

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