Cover Image: My Way To You

My Way To You

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Member Reviews

There is no research better than first hand experience. From the beginning, the horrendous descriptions of the damage caused by first the massive fire & then the floods & mudslides felt personal. As you find out at the end of the story, the author lived through scenes similar to these. Only a brave & strong person could do it basically on their own. Parker was just such a woman. From having to leave college to come home & raise her brother & sister to doing everything she could to rescue their property, she never gave up.

Colin was sent in to devise & execute a plan to keep the inevitable mudslides & torrential rain from washing everything that survived the fire away. It was his first time being in charge & he couldn’t believe his boss was handicapping him before he even started. Then he saw Parker. The attraction was instantaneous & overwhelming. He had to work slow to gain her trust & respect.

This was a highly emotional, well written story. The author infused the heroine with such strength & character, she’s someone I’d love to know in real life. Every time something else happened, she’d get through it one minute, one hour, one day at a time. Those that didn’t listen to her because of her age, didn’t realize she’d been forced to mature beyond her years. Her beauty & personality shows through the mud & despair. Colin had to learn that she’d had only herself to depend on for years so it would take time for her to realize she had help. This isn’t strictly a romance but it’s more than just woman’s fiction.

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Extremely good book. It was as if it was happening in reality as the main character deals with a wildfire, almost taking her home and property. It reminded me of the fires in the West. Parker has had enough dealing with the grief of losing her parents and taking on the task of raising her siblings. A public works gentleman tries to help her but she throws up fences wanting to do it all herself. Will she finally give in and realize she can't do it all alone and allow Colin into her life? I wish to thank NetGalley for giving me access to an ARC . I enjoyed this book very much.

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I loved this book. Parker is a very strong and determined woman. She has been through so much in her life. She was going to school and living her life when her world as she new it came crumbling down around her. She goes home to take care of her brother and sister and then disaster strikes again. Through it all she stands tall and strong trying her hardest to keep everything together. Then Colin comes into her life. He was everything she needed even if she did not realize it right away. I love how Catherine Bybee wrote this story. I love the depth in which she wrote the characters. I could not put this book down once I picked it up. I am really looking forward to the next book in this series. Thanks Net Galley. I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an honest review.

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This is the first book in a new series by Catherine Bybee - and she really writes great series! I’m a big fan of her writing though this book had a different feel from the usual series, with more of the focus on the setting of the California wildfires which had a character of it’s own. I did slightly miss the ‘sizzling romance’ being the main part of the book but the story felt more realistic for this and was a more mature read.
Saying that, I still loved the book and, as usual, the characters were brilliantly written. I can’t wait for the rest of the series, especially Erin’s story.

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Bybee does it again by creating a story with both heart and passion. With wildfires currently raging in California, this book is particularly timely. Parker Sinclair takes over running the family home and raise her siblings after the death of her parents. This book is about the heroism of first responders as much as it is about the love of family and relationships.

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I received an advanced reader copy to leave an honest review of this book. I have read most of Catherine's most recent works and have been pleased with all of them. She has a great writing style, does her research and does a great job keeping the reader enjoyed. I've always loved the plot lines and how she mixes a real story or drama with the romance.

This book follows Parker, a 26 year old down who is the sole caretaker of her two siblings and a 5 acre property, and Colin, a county public works supervisor. Parker's put her life on hold after her parents died to care for her two older siblings; she also has to care for the house they all live in left by their parents. When a California wildfire wipes out all the vegetation in the canyon around her house, her land becomes the only place the county can use to try to keep the rain and mudslides from taking out her neighbors farther down the wash. In enters Colin, a young supervisor for the county who is overseeing the job of fixing the problem caused by the wildfires. Slowly a relationship blooms between the two even though Parker is a bit oblivious at first. The biggest obstacle they have is Colin wants Parker to trust and rely on him right away but Parker has been on her own and controlling everything for so long she doesn't know how to do that. Once the rain starts to fall and the real action starts, they'll have to work together to save other homes, rely on each other and figure out how to make everything work.

Overall this was a great read. I will say that I really enjoyed the book but at times I did have a hard time picturing how the property was laid out and how the culverts, wash, basins, etc. utilized by the county to stop the mudslides all looked. Some things got a little confusing for me with that aspect as I just couldn't picture how it all worked. But I really enjoyed the story and how everyone dealt with the aftermath of such a huge event.

I also recommend reading the acknowledgment after the story. It is really interesting to read how this affected the author and really puts in to perspective that even though this is a work of fiction, it mimics real life very closely.

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So before I start my review I wanted to state that I live in Ventura County California and the date here is November 3, 2019. We just had two sets of Santa Anas blow in sometimes with gusts of 80 mph and right now The Maria fire is still blazing and not very far from my home.

In the last few years this area has surved the Thomas fire and the Woolsey fire, both huge California fires that were very devestating, people lost lives and homes and it was just devestating. Because of those fires we now have power outages (not mentioned in this book because its a newer thing) before the fires for sometimes 4-7 days. Its absolutely horrible and so reading this story as the fire department is putting out the Maria fire is very painful for me to read but I felt the author did an amazing job in portaying the pain and fear and misery of your home being potentially gone for ever and also if you are blessed with a home that survives the clean up required to make it liveable again.

And mudslides are a HUGE fear. I have seen homes slide down mountains and people die, this is the reality in Ventura and Santa Barbara County, so I felt absolutely fascinated with how they can help protect homes from mudslides. This book was not just awesome in that the author wrote a wonderful story but also she shared all this info I had no idea about and she also wove in an exciting romance that I loved. This is probably one of the most original stories I have ever read before. Now more about this story...

This story centers on Parker who at the prologue of the story is just 24 and in college, she has a job and a boyfriend and is loving college but has no idea what she wants to do with her life. Until she gets a call that changes her life forever.

The story then picks up 2 years later and she is now a sister/mom to her high school senior brother and 3rd year college student sister and she takes care of their estate and their lives. She is very much a loner and she is pretty much hanging around at a crappy job while waiting for her brother and sister to graduate so she can go back to school and figure out what she wants to do with her life.

And that is when the fire comes. She is one of the lucky ones, her home is still standing if a little charred and we get to watch her fight for her home and neighbors homes. She is one tough cookie and I absolutely loved her story.

After the fires comes, Colin, who works for the county and he wants to protect the neighborhood from potential mudslides and so starts Colin and Parker's romance and relationship. This was an amazing story and I absolutely loved it. The relationship between Colin and Parker was fun, sweet and romantic and they both are very strong characters who found something amazing in the other.

There are some wonderful supporting characters and I hope as this series goes on I get to see their romances as well. I absolutely loved this story so much and will be recommending to my friends.

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A relevant and scary look into the California wildfires!

Parker Sinclair is forced into growing up when her parents unexpectedly die, leaving her in charge of her teenaged siblings and the family home.

She’s barely hanging on when a wildfire rips through the hills behind her house, threatening everything they own. Thankfully, the fire crews manage to get it under control, but the hillside is compromised now that the trees are gone. If a flood were to occur, it would wash away their home.

In steps public works supervisor Colin Hudson with a plan to fortify the embankment and build two buildings to house the rainwater and stop a potential mudslide- if only he weren’t so attracted to the homeowner.

Throw in a mysterious renter who jumps at every noise, and you have the setup for a page-turning story of strength, determination, and willpower.

Favorite Lines
Southern California was in its seventh year of a severe drought. The hillsides were nothing but dense vegetation, too starved for water to even scream anymore.

My Way to You- Catherine Bybee

Band-Aid on a hemorrhage. Water rushed off the mountain like anxious kids on a slip-and-slide.

My Way to You- Catherine Bybee

This story was written as a way for the author to show her appreciation for all the people who protect, serve, and care for those in the way of these destructive acts of nature.

I give My Way to You 5 lovely kisses- an eye-opening read!

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Loved this book. Great characters, easy read, uplifting, funny, romantic and charming. A really nice story that is the perfect escapist read.

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This book was more than just a love story - it was a reminder of what people go through in their lives and how they come out stronger. I felt I experienced just a bit of what those in California go through during wildfires. Her first book in the Canyon Creek series centers on Parker Sinclair and Colin Hudson. Parker’s life was turned upside down yet I admired her working day and night to keep her family together and save her home, putting me in her corner, cheering her on as she showed the strongest courage each day.
Colin seemingly rode in on his “white horse” to help Parker but it was a while before she could trust him. That he stayed with her throughout the fires, commitment was there. As a read each page, I knew Parker would see him as he was, her knight in shining armor.
Catherine Bybee has a way of introducing us to her characters and we become, through her writing, friends.

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I love Catherine Bybee's work, and she has done a good job with the first book in this series. It's refreshing to move away from the bride and first wives series to a book about the aftermath of forest fires. My Way to You gives us the love story of Colin and Parker and also shares with us some in-depth knowledge of how public works employees attempt to control mudslides after forest fires ravage an area. It was a little light on the love story, but I really liked learning about mudslide control. As far as the love story, Colin is an absolute gem with a good dose of patience to handle the unlimited independence Parker has.

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This was different than what I'm used to from Catherine Bybee. It's important to not why she wrote the book, how much is true to life, the truly appreciate everything laid out in My Way To You. This story takes you far beyond a romance and gives you a peak inside the torment sufferers of mother nature long after the news crews are gone.

Interesting, thought provoking, and a sweet romance.

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An absorbing story about natural disasters – wildfires, mudslides and flooding -, and how regular people face this kind of adversities, featuring a surprisingly tough young woman and a charming, dimpled hero who has a heart of gold.
Parker is an admirable, determined woman, not without flaws or doubts, but steadily doing what she feels is needed when faced with tragedy rather than wallowing in self-pity. Her courage, maturity and resilience is an example.
Colin is the right man at the right place and time: solid, hard-working, honest and protective.
Their romance is as compelling as the background of siblings dealing with grief, natural disasters and its aftermath and how a young woman has to become an instant responsible adult.
As much as I found the author’s descriptions gripping and relevant to current hot topics in fields like climate change, I felt the plot sometimes took a back seat to these issues and the technical procedures.
A cast of great secondary characters, including the elusive Erin and Matt – a blossoming romance, perhaps the next story? -, and a crisp writing style make "My Way to You", by Catherine Bybee (Montlake Romance), a wonderful story.

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The more I read, the more I find I love stories about actual people so much more engaging and wonderful than those about billionaire playboys and royals. I don't need a Cinderella story - I need stories where the hero is supportive of the heroine and the heroine can save her own damn self. If you like that too - this book is for you.

Parker's life as a young adult went way off the rails when her parents were killed in an accident. With two younger siblings to support - she had to grow up quickly and be both parents and sister to her teenage sister and brother. Just as the family is starting to come out of that terrible time, their house is almost destroyed in an awful wildfire. After all the vegetation is burned away - what is left is a perfect place for water to flow and mud to rush. In comes the county to try and address the situation - led by Colin Hudson and his team. Colin is a few years older than Parker - but is Tall, Dark, and Handsome. And one of the good ones. He and Parker immediately find a connection and the story progresses from there.

The focus of this book is the struggle Parker and her family face of dealing with the damage from the fire and the following weather related disasters - but the relationships built and strengthened in that time are what really shine.

Parker really does shine as an Annie Oakley - takes no sh*t woman who can fix her own damn pipes. And Colin is amazing - he is a dream guy, truly.

This book is a great read - and I really look forward to reading more about this family. I received an ARC from NetGalley for this book, but these opinions are my own!

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Any book by Catherine Bybee will give you a great read. “MY WAY TO YOU” is no exception! I have read several books by Bybee and when NetGalley offered the opportunity to read this one, I jumped at the chance.

As a Midwesterner, news reports of California wildfires and California mudslides are distant events to which I cannot relate. In my world, tornados are rare and even rarer in the urban sprawl in which I live. But in “MY WAY TO YOU” I was drawn into the visceral reality of having ones entire world threatened to go up in smoke. I also learned the close connection between wildfires and mudslides. For that part of the story alone, I am grateful to Bybee!

In this story we are introduced to a family of three adult children whose parents were killed in a freak accident. One is a teen, one is in college, and the oldest is a sister/surrogate mother-father to her younger siblings. When everything was stable, Parker is in over her head, but with the wildfire that just missed destroying her home, she is swamped.

To the rescue comes Colin, a TDH (tall, dark, and handsome) county engineer whose job is to prepare the canyon for the inevitable mudslides and floods that will wreck further havoc. In classic Catherine Bybee fashion, a romance develops between Colin and Parker. It is not without its obstacles, but from past experience with this author I was always confident that things would work out in the end.

I was given this book by NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review. I am thrilled that I had the chance to do so!

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One of the few authors today whose titles I immediately pick up. Over the years with Ms. Bybee' s books, I have found a strong connection with her characters. Her different series are always interesting with a knack with words that place you with the characters, feeling what they are feeling. I get totally engrossed in her stories. I continue to admire Ms. Bybee and look forward to reading more from her. I received an e-book Uncorrected Proof from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read one of my favourite authors.

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Loved loved loved! Couldn’t put this one down. Loved the characters, loved the story ... it flowed so beautifully from beginning to end. Can’t wait for the next one!! Highly recommend.

Thank you #netgalley and #montlakeromance for the eARC.

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My Way To You was an incredible story. It felt so real. Written so beautifully that it made me feel like I was there. Parker, Mallory and Austin have been through so much, and now they have to defend their home against Mother Nature. It was very intense at times. I can’t imagine having to go through all of that myself. Colin was like a knight in shining armor for Parker. I loved how he helped her stay strong when she felt weak, but also he encouraged her independence and was in awe of her for it. She has done everything on her own for so long, it was hard for her to accept help. I thought she did a lot of growing throughout this story. I really loved the supporting characters, especially Matt and Erin. I hope to see a story for them soon.

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Catherine Bybee’s books usually concern strong heroines who face unusual life challenges, face them head on, and who usually find a love interest along the way. Her newest book, My Way To You, is no exception to that formula.

Parker Sinclair has faced a lot in her 25 years. Her parents died leaving her the guardian for her younger sister and brother; although she attended college, she never graduated and has no real marketable skills. Managing to keep the three of them in the house they grew up in and raise two siblings when she was no more than a child herself was arduous. But Parker’s not the type to weep and fall apart in a crisis. The newest issue in their lives is a fast moving destructive fire that comes dangerously close to their home. And after the fire, before the land can renew itself, the floods and mud arrive. It’s a desperate attempt to keep mother nature at bay and the Sinclair home safe.

Into this crisis comes Colin Hudson, a Public Works supervisor, charged with clearing the land and preparing for the flood. His attraction to Parker is instant, and follows through the book to the end.

This is the first Bybee book I’ve read that wasn’t part of a series, so the characters were all new and unknown. I had no difficulty with the hero and heroine. They are written well and have perfect arcs for a lifetime together in their HEA.

The difficulty I had was the never ending descriptions of the weather, the damage it wrought, and the constant pages of description of keeping the damage at bay. In the afterward of the book, Bybee describes her own experience with the tragic California fires in 2016/17, almost losing her own home to it, and then the subsequent flooding, so she has more than enough research to base this book on, there is no doubt of that.

In the end, this is another well written story, classified as general fiction and romance, although I felt the fiction element was the more pervasive part of that description than the romance. There was no real conflict between the hero and heroine, other than a throwaway line about future children.

Thanks to Netgalley and Montlake for a sneak peek at one of my favorite authors’ new books. The opinion is mine alone.

3.5 -4 stars.

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