This book was a great surprise for me to read. The author is new to me so I was excited to see how she wrote! This book reminded me a lot of Katie Ganshert's Wildflowers from Winter but with it's own unique twist. The plot is similar, Dakota returns to her hometown and tries to avoid a man from her past. Meanwhile, she is running from a mysterious someone who the reader does not completely understand "who" until the last part of the book. I really enjoyed the setting and the characters. I thought the romance was a bit rushed but I loved how I didn't know what was really going on with Dakota's past.
The book is very well written and I highly recommend!! I am excited to read more from this author.
Fans of Katie Ganshert will enjoy this book.
A BRIDGE UNBROKEN
Character Interview (& Giveaway!)
Chance: (finger to lips) Shhhh! Don't tell Cathy. She's
supposed to arrive here in a sec to interview me and Dakota. What she doesn't
know is that we're gonna turn the interview around and put her in the hot seat
for a change. After all, she's put us through the ringer in writing A Bridge Unbroken. It's only fair
that we return the favor. Right? Oops, here she comes. (returns to seat and
acts all nonchalant)
Cathy: (enters and moves to seat) Hey, you two. Y'all
ready to get this interview underway?
Chance: (with a smirk and a sideways glance exchanged
with Dakota) Of course. Why wouldn't we be?
Dakota: (her green eyes shooting daggers) Yeah, it's not
like we have anything else to do with our time, thanks to you.
Cathy: (shifting in her chair uncomfortably) Uh...what
do you mean?
Dakota: Renovate a farmhouse, rebuild a farm, fix a
bridge, work on our relationship, get away from the antagonist, all while
dealing with an unexpected gift of farm animals and a dog? I mean, really,
couldn't you just send us to outer space in a defunct space shuttle or
something?
Chance: (reaches over and pats Dakota's arm) Easy,
honey, your Irish temper is showing.
Dakota: (doesn't answer, but continues to shoot daggers
at Cathy)
Cathy: (swallows hard and glances down at her notes)
Um, sorry. First question: Why did you two introduce yourselves to me with such
major problems to overcome?
Chance: Ha! That's not the way I see it. You're the one
who created us, not the other way around. Why'd you make us with such problems
to overcome?
Cathy: Because I wanted to explore the topic of
forgiveness. It's such a huge part of our faith, but all believers tend to
struggle with it, especially when the offender seems unconcerned and determined
to destroy us, you know?
Dakota: (nods, now her eyes hold understanding) What
makes it even harder is when our own actions hurt others. We can't go back and
undo what's been done. It's especially difficult when we have trouble forgiving
ourselves. And then when the other party accepts no responsibility... (her
words trail off, and she glances at Chance)
Chance: (frowning) Haven't we discussed this enough
already? Yeah, so maybe I have a hard time seeing the speck in my eye--
Dakota: Speck?
Chance: Okay, so maybe it's a little bigger than that.
Cathy: Little?
Chance: You, too?
(Cathy and Dakota share
a knowing look.)
Chance: (with an exasperated sigh) Okay, beam. You happy
now?
(Both Cathy and Dakota
smile and nod.)
Cathy: (staring at the clock) Wow, time really does fly
fast when you're having fun. Better move on to question two. Dakota, why do you
have the tendency to run away?
Dakota: (crosses arms, a glare on her face) Well, as I
recall, you gave me a pretty tough childhood. (inserts sarcasm) Let me express
my undying gratitude.
Cathy: (smiling) You're very welcome. Anything to help
the story.
Chance: Yeah, speaking of that, why do you put the story
above your own characters? Don't we deserve some gratitude for bowing to your
commands?
Cathy: Um, first of all, you are the story; the
story is you. That's just the way it works. And as for bowing to my
commands? Well, let's just say that both of you are two of the most unruly
characters I've ever written. You took over on more than one occasion and told
the story for me.
Dakota: I would think you'd be grateful.
Cathy: If I wrote by the seat of my pants, maybe. But I
like knowing what you guys are gonna do before I ever start writing the story.
(Chance and Dakota look
at each other.)
Dakota: Great. Our author has OCD.
Chance: Big time. But at least it explains why she put
us through so much.
Cathy: Enough about me. Chance, would you explain to my
reader friends how you got those scars on your face?
(Chance blushes and
squirms in his seat.)
Dakota: (still looking at Chance, with a compassionate
expression) Uh, I'll take responsibility for that. Sorry, Chance.
Chance: (smiling tenderly at Dakota) It's over and done
with. Besides, I gave you a few scars as well.
Dakota: (smiling back) Yeah, not all scars are visible.
But I think we've done pretty well in moving past our scars. (She takes his
hand.)
Chance: (brings her hand to his lips and plants a soft
kiss there) Agreed. (He stands and pulls Dakota up with him.) Interview over.
Cathy: (her face incredulous) What? But I'm not
through.
Chance: Oh yes, you are. (He and Dakota turn and move
away.)
Dakota: (glancing back over her shoulder) Seriously,
Cathy, how can you expect to write a romance and not give your hero and heroine
some alone time? I mean, really.
Cathy: (watches them walk away, then produces a
sheepish grin) Sorry. Did I mention that these two characters don't always do
what I say? (sighs and waves good-bye) Thanks for coming to the interview.
*
* *
A BRIDGE UNBROKEN
Letting go to build a bridge…
A frightened runaway wants her painful past to disappear. A plan
to start afresh is derailed when she co-inherits her late grandfather’s farm
with the man responsible for the scars on her heart. But he isn’t the only
ghost from the past. Someone else is out to get her and will stop at nothing to
get what he wants. Will Chance and Dakota lay aside their grudges to restore
the old farmhouse and bridge, or will evil forces sabotage their attempt at
forgiveness?
The Other Miller’s Creek Novels
“Miller’s Creek, Texas…where folks are friendly,
the iced tea is sweet, and Mama Beth’s front porch beckons…”
* * *
A
Texas gal by birth, Cathy enjoys spinning tales set in the fictional town of
Miller's Creek, Texas, where the folks are friendly, the iced tea is sweet, and
Mama Beth's front porch beckons. When she's not writing the Miller's Creek
Novels, you'll find her rummaging through thrift stores or up to her elbows in
yet another home improvement project in the mountain cabin she shares with her
minister husband of over thirty years. You can find out more about Cathy and
her books at www.CatBryant.com or at
her Facebook author page at https://www.facebook.com/Cathy.Bryant.Author
Here
are a few other places to meet up with Cathy in cyberspace:
Reader friends on Facebook may want to visit the following groups, the first for book
bargains and the second to discuss all things Miller’s Creek.
* * *
About the $100 Visa Card Giveaway/Launch Party
Cathy is celebrating the new addition to the Miller’s Creek family
by making several prizes available to reader friends, including a $100 Visa
Card Giveaway. Winners will be announced at the interactive Facebook Launch
Party on May 22, 2014.
Other prizes include: t-shirts, coffee mugs, tote bags, bookmarks,
eBooks, print books and Amazon Gift cards.
Enter the grand prize drawing for the $100 Visa Card now by
clicking one of the links below. But hurry, because the contest ends May 22,
2014. (NOTE: Some contest tasks can be completed daily for extra chances to
win.) The grand prize winner
will be announced at the A Bridge Unbroken
Facebook launch party on May 22.
Don’t miss the fun! See you at the party!