My Way to You

Creek Canyon #1

by Catherine Bybee, Ariela Crow (Narrator)

A woman’s journey through tragedy leads to the discovery of love in a novel about hope and survival by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Bybee.

When a wildfire nearly destroys Parker Sinclair’s family home, it’s just one more disaster to add to her mountain of stress. For the past two years, she has shouldered the responsibility of raising her younger brother and sister after their parents’ untimely deaths. Forced to leave college for a crappy job that barely pays the bills, Parker manages her family property, which consumes every aspect of her life. Now winter is coming and the forecast isn’t spreading sunshine on the dark cloud over her head. The last thing Parker needs is a mudslide destroying everything she has worked so hard to maintain.

Colin Hudson’s job as a public works supervisor is to protect Parker’s property and neighborhood from further damage. But it’s a little hard when the owner of the land is a control freak who tries to do everything herself. The hardworking, attractive young woman is far from the “hot mess” she claims to be. In fact, her tight grip of control is one of the things that attract him the most. It’s also the hardest to crack. Now Colin’s working overtime to help Parker open up her heart, trust him, and let him in.

As Parker and Colin work together to keep her home and neighborhood safe, they may be in for another disaster. Or they may just realize that sometimes it takes destruction to create something new.


RUNNING TIME ➜ 10hrs. and 28mins.

©2020 Catherine Bybee (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Audiobook, Chick Lit, Adult

Audible Audio

First published March 10, 2020

About the author

New York Times Bestselling Author
USA Today Bestselling Author
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author
Amazon #1 Bestselling Author
#1 IndieReader Bestselling Author

RONE Award Winner 2012
Not Quite Dating
Married by Monday

RONE award Winner 2013
Not Quite Enough

Winner of the More Than Magic Award for Paranormal romance 2011
Silent Vows

Finalist RT Award in Contemporary Romance
Fiance by Friday

New York Times bestselling author Catherine Bybee was raised in Washington State, but after graduating from high school, she moved to Southern California with hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the International Bestselling Not Quite series, the MacCoinnich Time Travel series as well as the Internationally Bestselling Weekday Brides series.

Her books have been translated in over twenty languages.

Reviews

["Avonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com

MY WAY TO YOU (Canyon Creek Series Book #1) by Catherine Bybee is the first book in a new contemporary romance series that is a powerful and engaging emotional read. I have enjoyed many books by this author, but this one grabbed me and would not let go.

Parker Sinclair had to grow up fast. Her parents were killed in an accident which meant she had to drop out of college and return home to finish raising her two younger siblings. After two years of a job that barely pays the bills, Parker is managing to keep the family property up in Canyon Creek, but it takes everything out of her.

When a wildfire strikes and burns all of the outbuildings and vegetation on the surrounding hills, Parker knows she is lucky to have had the house survive, but now with the rainy season coming Parker has to worry about mudslides that can destroy everything she has worked hard to save.

Colin Hudson is the county public works supervisor sent to evaluate Parker’s property for mud slides. He is struck by the tenacious and strong young woman shouldering such a large burden. Colin and Parker butt heads due to Parker not willing to give up control, but Colin is the is willing to work hard for Parker’s trust.

Can Parker and Colin work together to save her home and neighborhood?

I absolutely fell in love with Colin and the way he treated Parker. I know how hard it is to give up control even when you feel like you are drowning and I could relate with Parker. Ms. Bybee gave the couple witty banter and realistic dialogue. The sex scenes were explicit, but not gratuitous and did not overshadow the tenderness of the romance. I will be thinking of these two H/h’s for a long time to come. This story also has a third major character in Mother Nature and the destruction that she can bring. All the secondary characters are fully fleshed and are completely believable.

I highly recommend this emotional contemporary romance! I am now anxiously waiting for more books in this series.

[Syndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do like this book. I always drawn into small town romance. It provides soothing swoony and romantic story. My Way to You is no exception. It is a romance in the background of small town ranch where natural disaster loke fire and flood as a background.

Colin is the perfect boyfriend. He is strong, loyal and gentleman as ever. Boy do I love him. Parker is a kick ass heroine. Despite her shitty shit life, she chooses doing the right thing for her family. She ks fierce and independent.

I listen to this audiobook amid the stay at home on my home area. It is a cure of my boredom

4 stars

[Mindy Lou's Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine Bybee has well earned her spot on my favorite authors-to-read list. I crave more to a story than just the couple getting together, and she delivers every time. There was so much heart in My Way to You. I just fell in love with all of these characters and the struggles they were going through.

Parker Sinclair is one tough chic. I want to be her when I grow up. Everything that she and her siblings have gone through would test the toughest of characters and she shined. After reading this book, I feel incredibly lazy compared to her. I feel like I need to get up and get to work because I admired her tenacity and her work ethic. She was just an incredible heroine and I can't say enough about her.

Collin Hudson is the type of guy any woman would be lucky to have in their life. His parents taught him right on how to treat others. He was a mature, responsible man who just wanted to take care of those he loved. He was exactly the right guy for Parker. They may have butted heads a bit but it was just the right amount to show that these characters were flawed like the rest of us, but not too much to turn you off as a reader.

There were also some pretty amazing side characters that I'm going to assume will eventually have their own book in the series. All I can say is, I can't wait! I loved this book and will be counting down the days for the next book in the series.

[Carvanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I mean, WOW!!! I was aware of the struggles this author went through after the fact, and before reading this book, and was in awe at her strength. Going into this story, I was unaware that her experiences were the backdrop for this particular book, though I knew one was in the making. Throughout this reading and especially at its completion, I was left speechless. Yes, this is a work of fiction, wonderful romance, and I’m sure a bit of added drama. That doesn’t negate the journey Ms. Bybee and by extension, the heroine of this story, endured to reach a happy ending.





After the death of Parker’s parents, her life is put on hold as she takes on the responsibility of raising her siblings. When their home is at risk of destruction by fire, it’s all she can do to hold on. The destruction left behind the fire along with years of drought, and the threat of a wet winter which would bring floods and mudslides, almost bring her to her knees as she regroups, determined to save their home.





Man, Parker was one fierce heroine! She had strength I could only gape at. When kicked to the ground, she got back up...fighting stronger than before. It’s that tough girl, take no prisoner, characteristic that first attracts Colin to her. Watching her slowly give way to a place where she yielded to his help was especially sweet and emotional.

”I have an AK, an AR, a shotgun, a nine-eleven, and a forty Glock, and I’m a really good shot. I’m responsible for my teenage brother and college-aged sister. The only time that gate opens at two in the morning is if someone is sneaking in or sneaking out. You will call me if you’re coming in.”





Colin was the best kind of hero. He was strong and protective, but so sweet and caring. His ability to make Parker laugh had me falling in love with him. Despite wanting to take over and protect her, he gave her the freedom she was accustomed to, even if it went against his very nature.

’The image of him picking her up and tossing her over his shoulder was the perfect amount of Neanderthal for him. Something told him she might not be into the over-the-shoulder toss.

Yet.’





This is filled with lots of drama brought on by that brutal secondary character, Mother Nature. But at the heart of the story is the relationship developing between Parker and Colin. They were perfect together. Their banter was fun and witty, making me laugh along with them. And when things took a darker turn, my heart hurt with them as well.





This has a wonderful pace to it, plenty of humor to lighten the more intense moments, interesting additional characters I hope to see more of (Can’t wait for Erin’s story!), and chemistry between this hero and heroine that was absolutely searing. This was an exceptional read that will stay in my heart for a long time to come.

Here is a link to the author’s personal video highlighting her own struggle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOvaR...

#BybeeStrong

Dual POV
Safe no ow/om drama; h not a virgin; H not a manwhore
Triggers no apparent triggers

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is clear that while reading this book that it is personal a close to the heart project for the author. And CB is an exceptional writer as I have read some of her previous works and loved and liked them, but this just didn't work for me. It is clearly ME and NOT the book.

After Parker's parent’s fatal accident, she drops out of college to care for her younger sister and brother. It isn't easy. She has a lot on her plate and things are about to increase. Living in California you have two main things to worry about (for those from California please correct me if I am wrong) fires and flooding, droughts count as well as mudslides. It is hard for me to fathom this but then again, I leave near a dormant volcano which is also kind of crazy. Anyway, moving on.

I have mixed feelings on this book, the beginning is strong, and I understand Parker's predicament and that she seems to be hanging on by a thread but IMO I didn't get enough character development from Parker. #sorry

The book is tagged as Women's General Fiction which fits as with contemporary romance there wasn't a lot of shenanigans between these two.

Colin is just an amazing Hero. Can't really say more on that. Actually, one flaw would have been nice *lol*

The plot of mother nature taking over was interesting however the balance was tipped in how much to show and explain to rather not showing enough or what the outcome is of several things.

I know I'm being a right mare about the book but what kind of epilogue is that?

Matt and Erin seem to be more up my alley.

It is clearly ME and NOT the book.

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wish I hadn't left this so long to review. It was good, but a little frustrating. I was drawn into Parker right from the start because she has had to step up for her siblings when their life crashes down with the death of their parents. She has had to do a lot of really hard things and become self-reliant to a fault.

I loved Colin right from the start. His care and kindness, not just for Parker, but for his job and the men he oversees, was outstanding. I particularly loved all the little ways he found to show Parker that he cared for her.

Dragging this down, a lot, was Parker's inability to trust or let go and her hesitance to bring Colin into their lives at all. Indeed, it got to the point that I started thinking of his patience as a detriment and I became mystified about why he'd stick around at all. After the third time she shows that she can't (or won't) turn to him to even ask for help she clearly needed I was so exasperated I nearly quit. I mean, at that point she might as well slap him straight-up just to be clear about how little place he holds in her consideration, let alone heart.

But I stuck it out anyway, and ended up happy enough. This is three stars because Colin was outstanding but offset by Parker being so hard-of-learning. The other characters did a lot to extend that engagement, actually, so in all not a bad read.

A note about Steamy: Bybee elides a lot of their intimacy and at first I thought this was going to clock in as chaste. Only then we get enough explicit sex that it deserves the steam tag, though at the lowest level as I believe it was only the once.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Way To You by Catherine Bybee is the first novel in her Canyon Creek series. It is also my first novel by this author and I am eagerly awaiting the second.
Based on a true story (her own personal experience) involving fire, floods and mudslides.
I love the author's perception of courage, strength, love and the importance of family.
It's a great love story too!

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

[Pikolina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Esperaba mucho más de ésta historia, y aunque ha sido agradable leerla, no me ha terminado de convencer ... no se explicar los peros, quizás principalmente que me ha parecido q el romance es sosete o como muy pasado de refilón, me ha parecido que se le da más importancia a como se explican todos los trabajos que se realizan en la zona para grandes catastrofes ...
Pensaba que sería otra cosa.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Way to You is the first book in the new Creek Canyon series. This is a contemporary romance and it's my first book by this author.

I really enjoyed this book. But truthfully it was not what I was expecting. This book was so much more emotional than I was anticipating. I love books that make me smile and cry in the same story. And this one did!

The story takes place in 2016 in Creek Canyon, California (Southern California).

This book has both a male and female POV. The female is Parker (24). The male narrator is Colin (33). She works at the local elementary school. He works for the LA County Public Works Department.

Both are 3rd person POVs. However they are written so well that you almost don't even notice. Very often I cannot connect to characters when they are written in the third person. But I did not have that problem at all in this book.

The book starts out with a prologue set two years before the rest of the book. It was emotional and moving and it really sets the tone for the rest of the story.

The first chapters also deal with some scary stuff. I love books that make me feel. But I was definitely caught off guard (in a good way) by how much was happening in the first chapters.

The beginning of this book was very strong. I was definitely invested in these characters. The romance was a very slow burn. I liked this story a lot.

Much of the book is focused on the house and the weather. These things were super interesting. But I think that I would have liked a bit more to happen.

The romance was very strong. I was expecting the book to be super sexy (which it wasn't). But I wish that the words used in the sex scenes had been less graphic. The romance was so sweet. The story was charming. To me these scenes (only 2 or 3) did not go with the tone of the rest of the book.

I really liked some of the supporting characters. I adored Colin's mom (I loved her so much). I also really liked Erin (who became a friend to Parker) and could not wait to find out more about her secrets.

The story was sweet, but also serious. I really liked both narrators so much. And I cannot wait to get Erin's story in book two. I was also very interested to see how much of what happened is based on true events in the author's life.



Thanks to netgalley and Montlake romance for allowing me to read this book.

[Timitra · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Way To You is my first book by this author but it won't be my last. I enjoyed this book especially the heroine's strength, that nothing seemed to really phase her. I loved that the hero complemented her. My Way To You is a sweet and wonderful read with awesome characters both main and secondary. I look forward to the next book in the series.


Copy provided by publisher through Net Galley

[Antonella · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was such a wholesome and sweet story!!

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Catherine Bybee’s new series, book one has given us a powerful story of one woman who has to keep her life together in the face of many challenges that come her way.

Parker Sinclair has been living life that any one in their early ‘s would be doing, until tragedy struck and she was charged with raising her two younger siblings, giving up her education and finding a job that was not really to her liking but she had to put food on the table and pay the bills. She was doing okay until a new disaster struck and she tries to hold everything together. She is not one for asking for help, but sometimes you have to bit the bullet and let some in, or someone’s in. Parker is very strong willed, but County worker Colin Hudson is a fixer, and he tries his best to help Parker with all the challenges she is facing at the hand of Mother Nature. You can’t fight Mother Nature without help, but Parker is doing her best not to reply on the people who love her.

Colin Hudson wants nothing more than to take the burdens from Parker Sinclair, but she fights him every step of the way. As they both struggle with their own challenges, the Hudson family comes into help. From Colin’s mom Nora to the new renter Erin of the guesthouse that Parker needed to help out with expenses, to the crew who work for Colin. As Parker struggles to be independent and not rely on others, especially Colin, all of these people who help, become special to Parker and Colin in particular. She finds that he gives her strength and how much she needs him to be her rock and show her that she can still be in charge of her life, but with the help of people who love her, she finds that she can still be the strong person she is, but that help is always around her from the man that will keep her safe from fires and floods no matter what because while Mother Nature rages outside, she is busy making sure that the powerful feelings that Parker and Colin have will result in love and a future together.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review this wonderful first book in this new series.

I could not put this book down and I know the fans of Catherine Bybee are going to love it. I can’t wait to for the next book. Bring it on!!!

[Anne OK · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mixed bag of emotions found within the pages of the first book in Bybee's new "Creek Canyon" series. I loved the storyline and the characters, but the writing style left a void -- one I'm not exactly sure how to explain. Somehow it felt cold and monotonous at times -- and maybe that's a little too severe, but I just didn't feel a whole lot of warmth or depth in the relationship building. Too many details on the pipes, the alarms, the gates, the cars, and on and on -- especially the mud, mud, mud. I would much rather have had more interaction between all the characters, and especially between Parker and Colin, who were both kind, strong and smart and lovable.

Realizing that this story is centered on tragedy and the daily pressures of mother nature and monetary struggles, I was filled with the sympathetic and heartbreaking emotions that go along with watching as people do their very best to survive and conquer. Only admiration filled my thoughts towards Parker, Colin and their families and friends. Although I had some issues, I did enjoy reading this book and am certainly looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Nerdy Dirty & Flirty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love can happen anytime…

I had no expectations as I began this story and didn’t realize how personal a story it was…

Parker was in the middle of a disaster and her focus, as it had been for a while, was keeping her family safe and their home in one piece. She’d barely been keeping things together as it was so this was. Faced with so many challenges, when Mother Nature threatened both, she did what she had learned to do. She dug deep to find the strength and will to do what needed to be done…

Colin was an unexpectedly helpful hand in all the chaos. He had the expertise and the personality to make things happen, whether dealing with uncooperative residents or bosses. When he met Parker, he was pleasantly surprised to find someone more than capable of dealing with anything thrown her way. She was stubborn but smart, beautiful yet practical. She was a bright light in the chaos…

Their romance was a slow burn, at times almost hidden behind the tension and drama that surrounded them. Given the turmoil, the moments of love and intimacy seemed even sweeter. Their characters were down to earth, very likable and had me feeling each up and down right along with them.

I didn’t realize how close this story was to the author until the end but given the vividness of the storytelling I shouldn’t have been surprised. It felt like a front row - though thankfully safe - seat.

With a brother and sister still fighting their demons, I look forward to more…

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting. Very impactful for me as I am a former 30-year resident of Los Angeles. I have had up close and personal experience with earthquakes (1994 Northridge Earthquake had a building fall on top of me, trapping me and losing everything I owned), mudslides (barely escaped with my life on Sepulveda Boulevard when the earth came sliding down the hillside right beside my traffic stopped car), flooding roads (on Benedict Canyon with water rising half-way up my car door driving home from work), riots (took me 8 hours to drive 6 miles home from work with people fighting all around me) and fires (on 405 Freeway through canyons at the Getty Center point while watching fires on the Bel Air hillside jump 12 lanes of freeway in front of me to ignite the Getty Center side). Yes, Southern California isn't all sunshine and beach babes. From reading the detailed descriptions of the fires and mudslides described by Catherine Bybee in this book, it was obvious to me that she had the same frightening first-hand experience. It truly is beyond terror to experience this. Big time kudos to the author for positively channeling her frightening experience into this book.

Strong female lead character, flaws and all, with a struggling but strong family, a nice little romance along with those gut-wrenching fires, floods and mudslide descriptions, made for a solid story line. I will be looking forward to the next book in this series.

[Jo - •.★Reading Is My Bliss★.• · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parker is tougher than the average 24 year old. She has already been through more tragedy and tough times than most people do their whole lifetime. Instead of sinking under the weight of the responsibilities she has had to endure, she has risen to the challenge to keep on going.

Parker is the sole caregiver of her brother and sister, one in high school, one in college and with this comes the responsibility of the financial expectations for not just that but the family home they all live in. Her part time job keeps her head above water, just and she has had to sacrifice all of her own dreams to make sure her younger siblings can pursue theirs.

Speaking of water, that is the biggest threat to her daily life. Their property sits at the base of a mountain that is susceptible to bringing flood waters and all the forest waste racing down towards hers and her neighbours homes when mother nature. Fortunately she does not need to deal with this problem on her own, her local county are very aware of the problems she faces each year when Winter is approaching. They appoint a public works supervisor to assist her through what will most likely be a challenging few months ahead.

Colin is surprised to find out that Parker is the property owner. Apart from her being obviously gorgeous, she is an incredibly hard working and independent woman. She has so much going on in her life but handles it all with so much maturity, when other people would crumble under the pressure.

Parker is so used to being independent that accepting any sort of help almost feels like an insult, like Colin doesn’t think she can handle things on her own. However, she soon realises that he is genuinely wanting to make things easier on them all. Things are shifting between them and attraction is growing. Parker begins to accept that Colin just wants to protect her and it’s kind of nice to have someone in her life doing that for her when she has spent the last few years doing it for everyone else.

There is a lot happening in this story, more than just the things I’ve touched on. Underpinning it all is a love story that happens so naturally and sweetly that it felt like these two had known each other all their lives. There are really interesting secondary characters, one with a mysterious background story, that will surely be explored in the second story in this series. I look forward to reading more in the Creek Canyon series.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

[*The Angry Reader* · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is an odd thing to dislike - I feel nitpicky - but the book was too realistic. It was sweet. It was nice. It felt like someone telling me how their accountant and vet tech fell in love. And there was fire.
I’ve not read a book by Ms Bybee before. I am aware that there are romance authors who write this sort of gentle fiction. But I’ve not read much of it. And whether it is the global situation or just me - I apparently need some drama. Some intensity. Some hulking muscles or humor or something over the top.
I would read this author again. For sure. Heck, I was happy to read this rather than the ARC That Must Not Be Named. I’ll just know next time that this is the protein shake of romance. Filling but not delicious.

[Geo Just Reading My Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

O poveste incitantă, un dans pe muchie de cuțit având drept partener pericolul. Cam așa am putea defini această carte.
Totul debutează cu un accident și moartea a două persoane. Efectele apar imediat: Parker renunță la colegiu pentru a putea avea grijă de frații ei mai mici, Mallory și Austin.
Cei trei frați Sinclair locuiesc în Creek Canyon, în California, o zonă afectată de secetă și incendii sau de ploi torențiale și inundații.
Acțiunea romanului are loc în 2016, an în care California a fost afectată de un incendiu de proporții care a distrus 130 de kilometri de vegetație și construcții.
După incendiu, când se apucă de reparații, Parker îl cunoaște pe Colin, angajat al Departamentului de Lucrări Publice, însărcinat cu ridicarea a două construcții menite să protejeze zona de alunecările de teren din sezonul inundațiilor.
Ușor, ușor, pătrundem în sufletul lui Parker și îi descoperim durerile, rănile și suferințele, dar și temerile în ceea ce privește viitorul, în care ea trebuie să fie adult cu normă înteeagă.
Pe lângă gândurile cu privire la viitorul fraților de care este responsabilă încă de când i-au decedat părinți, Parker este responsabilă cu întreținerea și păstrarea proprietății.
Contactul dintre ea și Colin este din ce în ce mai substanțial pe măsură ce trec zilele, cei doi evoluând de la stadiul de prieteni la cel de iubiți, pe măsură ce fac față problemelor apărute în calea lor.
Se văd nevoiți să muncească cot la cot, să securizeze casa și terenul aflat în proprietatea tinerei, să facă față pierderii serviciului tinerei, al plecării surorii mai mici din casa în care au crescut, secretelor ascunse de prietena și chiriașa ei, dar și relației fulgerătoare și plină de pasiune dintre ea și Colin.
"Calea spre inima ta" este o lecție despre sacrificii, dăruire și iubire adevărată.
O poveste romantică care îți oferă încredere în forțele proprii.

[Jacquie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[SynergyQuest · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I enjoyed this Bybee read. She is a talented author and that shines through here. It was haunting/devastating to learn, from a first-hand account, how ravaging the wild fires we hear about on the news are for the people living through them. I’m an east coast girl, so hurricanes, not wild fires are what I’ve seen and lived through. That being said, IMO this is a bit more women’s fiction than it is romance. I don’t generally like women’s fiction, I like a lot more romance and sexy times in my “for entertainment” reading. Also, I live a women’s fiction sort of life everyday so why read about it. I would recommend My Way to You to readers who enjoy women’s fiction and/or prefer a 90:10 story to romance ratio.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kristal · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Way to You is a wonderful new series from Catherine Bybee. The book starts out with a family going through a terrible tragedy followed by some huge obstacles to endure and overcome. They make it through stronger and happy. I’ve never considered what a family goes through after wildfires and mudslides but I now have a very good understanding and totally feel for them.

[Pina Thiedmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leider diesmal nur 2,8 ⭐️ 🥺 Ich glaub die Geschwindigkeit beim Hörbuch hoch zu drehen, war keine gute Idee. Ich habe kaum eine Verbindung zu den Protas bekommen. 🥺 Aber ich bleibe trotzdem am Ball, sobald es Band 2 & 3 als Hörbuch verfügbar ist. 😊

[Rose Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

As reviewed at Roses Are Blue: https://wp.me/p3QRh4-1af

Two years ago, Parker Sinclair was enjoying a privileged life, attending college, and still trying to decide what course her future should take. The sudden death of her parents changed everything. She had to become the adult to take care of her two younger siblings, one of them still in high school. With a tight financial situation, Parker dropped out of college so that there would be sufficient funds for her brother and sister to attend. Now, as they are finally starting to recover, disaster strikes again, this time in the form of a wildfire in their area. Though their home is spared, all around them is dead vegetation, ash, and no plant growth to keep the land in place. If the drought ends, and there is sufficient rain, they are now in danger of becoming a victim of a mudslide.

Colin Hudson is a supervisor at LA County Public Works, and one of his new assignments will be to shore up the fire devastated area in order to prevent another catastrophe when the rains start. As he surveys the area, he realizes that he’s going to need access to Parker’s land. It’s going to be for a substantial amount of time, and it’s not going to be pretty. Colin spies Parker during his initial assessment, and decides to approach her unofficially before she’s called in to the office by the bigwigs.

In the past two years, and especially since the fire, Parker has grown very cautious about her somewhat secluded location. She has a security fence, and a gun, and is not afraid to warn trespassers away from her property. While initially suspicious of Colin, she soon realizes that he’s on the level, and potentially agrees to allow the crew onto her land, with some specific conditions. Colin is impressed with the way she holds her ground at the office meeting, and later by the way she treats his crew, and how she’s managed to take care of her home and siblings.

Parker and Colin see a lot of each other, and it’s obvious that they’re very attracted. Soon Parker goes out on her first date in what seems like forever. Colin is so smitten with Parker, and he’s constantly coming up with ways to try to help her. While Parker accepts some help, she stubbornly refuses on certain things, determined to handle them by herself. Otherwise, this couple seems ideally suited for each other, and they begin a genuine relationship with plenty of steam and fun.

MY WAY TO YOU is a contemporary love story with two strong, caring, but determined people. Aside from the romance and the family issues, there is a lot of detail involving what actually happens in California with the fires, droughts, rains, and mudslides – some of it technical. (This is a true part of the author’s life, so I understand her passionate interest.) While Parker and Colin appear about to embark on a truly committed relationship, it seems that they have a difference of opinion in what they want for their own futures, and it’s a significant goal, one with the potential to tear them apart. I truly liked this couple, as well as admired them, and I was rooting for them to find a way to make a future together. MY WAY TO YOU makes for a compelling read. The great characters and their strength in continually battling the setbacks they encounter makes it a hard book to put down.

[Erin Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Star Review My Way To You (Creek Canyon #1) by Catherine Bybee
I was excited when I learnt that Catherine Bybee had a new series releasing and although this book is a bit of a departure from previous books I have read by her, as always the heroine of the story Parker Sinclair is a strong and resilient women.
Parker’s life has not been easy, having to look after her younger siblings when her parents died, she never got to graduate college and has no real skills. To say that their lives have been difficult is a massive understatement and when faced with the latest blow, a fire that almost destroyed their home and a mudslide that might, she is at her wits end. Colin Hudson’s job as a public works supervisor is to protect property from further damage. His job is made harder by Parker who refuses to relinquish control.
Colin is attracted to Parker, a woman he knows has been through so much and yet is determined not to give in. All he wants to do is help and protect her but it is hard going. My Way To You is a heartfelt story that is emotional and at times gut wrenching. It is also a sweet story about love and overcoming obstacles that life puts in your path and in doing so allowing oneself to open up to the possibility of finding love and happiness.
This book was well written, with characters who have flaws and are not afraid to show them, this story will get to you in many ways.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Emmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the characters (both the leads and supporting characters, which were obviously being set up for future books), and I loved how naturally and normally Parker and Colin's relationship developed. They met and were attracted, went on dates, were dating, decided to be a couple, etc. It was just very normal and relatable. And Colin was a pretty perfect guy.

What slowed this down for me was the amount of time spent on property maintenance. I understand the book was about a couple that met due to a wildfire and the subsequent attempts by the county to prevent mudslides and was based on an actual wildfire and mudslide that happened to Catherine Bybee's home in CA in 2014, but it just went on so long and was so detailed. The descriptions of the property and the work being down to create basins and washes was not something I am familiar with so it was hard for me to picture, but the prospect was giving my homeownership anxiety :| (I did look up video and photos of wildfires and mudslides and do not understand why people live in these areas!) I mean, Parker's attempts to just maintain her house and property felt like a full time job. All I could think was that no house was worth this much time and energy. So if those parts could have been cut down a bit this could have been a 4.

[Natasha is a Book Junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm sure you've heard me raving about Catherine Bybee's books countless times in the past, so it will come as no suprise to anyone that her new series is everything I hoped it would be, and more. A riveting tale of human endurance, courage, sacrifice, and hope, this is the story of a young woman who, after losing both parents in an accident, finds herself not only responsible for her two younger siblings, but also carrying the weight of their family property on her shoulders through a devastating wildfire, and then the subsequent floods and mudslides. Bybee weaves a tender, slow burning romance through it all between the heroine and the sexy public works supervisor in charge of protecting her property from further damage, juxtaposing tragedy with hope and love. I couldn't put this book down, enthralled by the realness and rawness of the entire scenario (based on the author's real life ordeal), and living every single emotion with the characters.

[Yvonne Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This first book of the series, is also the first book I would be reading by this author, and thus was intrigued.
The story centers around Parker Sinclair and Colin Hudson.
Parker has had to deal with a lot in her young life, primarily taking care of her younger siblings , even if her dreams turned to dust.
When mudslides threaten all her hard work, she meets Colin.
Colin is public works supervisor attracted to this complicated woman.
As they work together we also get a chance to meet secondary characters that bring some interest to the story.
It was a sweet and touching story. More of a women’s fiction book than a full fledge romance.
Still, one you will enjoy the complex characters that will touch your hearts.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Talie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For someone who lives in California, and who has seen family and friends impacted by wildfires, this was a meaningful book for me. I enjoyed the deep dive into what it is like to have a fire literally up to your doorstep. And then the horror that that is just one stage of a much larger disaster.

On the romance front this one is pretty much a typical romance. Not too steamy but not without spark either.

What I really enjoyed in the book was the sense of family and the various characters in the book.

[TJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5.0

This book should probably come with a disclaimer for Ms. Bybee's fans. It isn't the anticipated romance that she is so gifted and famous for. Although there is some romance in it, the story fits much more closely in the women's fiction genre. The reason is that the plot revolves around one woman's plight with saving her house, and her family against the fires and floods that hit her area and her home.

It's an extremely enlightening look at a subject that very few get the opportunity to be educated on but so many (especially in California) experience. The writing is engaging and flows nicely with the author's lovely stamp of skill and warmth. Because so much is focused on the disasters, preparing for, warding against and cleaning up after, however, the story tends to plod along at a slow pace at times. At time, there really isn't a whole lot of plot outside of this focus which, while interesting, creates an educational feel rather than a novel vibe.

Still, Ms. Bybee's gift comes through in her characters, wraps the reader into their lives and keeps one rooting for their success until that last page is turned with a sigh and a smile.