2010 December 07

Book Review: A Path Less Traveled by Cathy Bryant

Title: A Path Less Traveled
Author: Cathy Bryant
Publisher: WordVessel Press
Publication Date: October 18, 2010
Paperback: 312 pages
ISBN: 978-0984431120
Genre: Fiction, Christian Fiction

Book Synopsis:

Trish James is tired of being rescued. When a spooked horse claims her husband’s life, she’s determined to blaze a path for herself and her traumatized son without outside help. But will that mean leaving the place etched on her heart?

Andy Tyler has had to struggle for everything, and starting a new law practice in Miller’s Creek, Texas is no different. Though prepared for business challenges, he’s not prepared for falling in love–especially with yet another woman who will probably abandon him for her career.

Will Andy and Trish be able to see past their limited human understanding to take a path less traveled?

My Review:

An absolutely delightful and heart warming book, A Path Less Traveled by Cathy Bryant is a wonderful feel good book perfect for curling up with on a cold snowy afternoon. A Path Less Traveled is the second book in Bryant’s Miller’s Creek series, yet easily stands alone on its own merits. I believe once the reader reads about Miller’s Creek, the reader will want to read the previous book, Texas Roads. Once again Bryant brings the reader into the charming town of Miller’s Creek, Texas and this time the reader meets Trish James and her son Little Bo as well as Andy Tyler, both having endured a lot in their young lives. Bryant weaves their stories in such a manner the reader feels as though they know Trish and Andy personally making A Path Less Traveled a moving read. As with Bryant’s previous book, Texas Roads, Bryant’s use of vivid details, beautiful prose and a wonderful array of characters easily draw the reader into the story and hold the readers attention until the very end. While this is a work of Christian fiction, it is not preachy and those who tend to shy away from Christian fiction I do recommend giving this book a look. I would recommend A Path Less Traveled to anyone who is looking for a clean and endearing book of triumphs of adversity, relationships, and faith. A Path Less Traveled as well as Texas Roads would both make wonderful Christmas gifts.

To learn about the author, more about the novel, other writings and much more, please visit her website and book blog.
View the book trailer or read the first chapter.

I received a complimentary copy of A Path Less Traveled by Cathy Bryant from the author for review. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

Book Review and Tour: Talion by Mary Maddox

Title: Talion
Author: Mary Maddox
Publisher: Cantraip Press
Publication Date: March 27, 2010
Paperback: 296 pages
ISBN: 978-0984428106
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Thriller, Suspense

Book Synopsis:

The dying body has a thousand voices, and all of them speak to Conrad (Rad) Sanders. Fifteen-year-old Lisa Duncan has no idea she has attracted Rad’s interest. At a mountain resort in Utah, he watches as vivacious Lisa begins an unlikely friendship with Lu Jakes, the strange and introverted daughter of employees there. Lu enters his fantasies as well. He learns she is being abused by her stepmother and toys with the notion of freeing her from her sad life and keeping her awhile as his captive. Lu seems like an easy conquest who could be persuaded to act out his fantasy by turning against her new friend.

But someone else is watching over Lu.

Talion appears to Lu as an angelic vision. He offers her love and counsel, the courage to defend herself from bullies at school and a way to free herself from her stepmother’s violence. He seems to know beforehand what will happen. But Talion’s true nature is unclear. His guidance leads Lu into dark places, moving her inevitably closer to the world inhabited by Rad. When she and Lisa are thrust into that darkness, will Talion come to her aid? Or will he become the killer’s ally?

My Review:

Talion by Mary Maddox contains an intriguing premise with diverse characters such as Rad (Conrad Sanders), a serial killer posing as a guest at the Hidden Creek Lodge where Lisa Duncan is currently visiting her Aunt Debbie and Uncle Hank, the owners of Hidden Creek Lodge, due to a misunderstanding with her parents. While visiting, Lisa meets Lu, an unusual girl who is severely abused by her stepmother, Noreen, and her father Duane does not protect her from Noreen’s abuse. Talion is narrated by most of the characters and does not run in a linear timeline. Parts of the book read as though it is about teen angst and at other times it is an intriguing thriller, but unfortunately the book did not truly come together for me until near the end. Talion does not fit easily into just one genre. I think it is too graphic to classify as a young adult novel, yet it is primarily told through the eyes of two 15-year-olds, one rich and spoiled, the other poor, abused and who has three imaginary protectors; Black Claw a vampire type female, Delatar a male shape shifter of sorts, and Talion Lu’s hero. Considering these three beings take up a large part of Lu’s identity, the book is also part fantasy and then there are the gruesome acts performed by Rad along with some strong adult content that I would not personally deem appropriate for young teens. Ignoring the genre, Maddox creates several different story lines, rich in detail and imagery and cleverly intertwines them. The book could use some polishing yet it holds a lot of promise. I would recommend Talion to adults who enjoy the genres of young adult, fantasy, and thriller.

About the Author:

Mary Maddox grew up in Utah and California. A graduate of Knox College and the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop, she now teaches composition and literature at Eastern Illinois University.

She lives in Charleston, Illinois with her husband, film scholar Joe Heumann. Her interests include riding her horse, Tucker, and playing club and tournament Scrabble. Mary’s short stories have appeared in a number of magazines including Farmer’s Market, Yellow Silk, and The Scream Online. Her writing has been honored with awards from the Illinois Arts Council.

For more information please visit Mary Maddox at her website or her blog.

Mary Maddox’s TALION VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘10 officially began on November 1 and will end on December 17 ‘10. here during the months of November and December to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of Talion by Mary Maddox from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.