After Emily Main loses her sight, she and Garth work to forge their future in Emily’s new normal. Convincing her well-intentioned but misinformed coworkers that she’s as capable as ever is her biggest challenge…until Connor shows up on her door. Can they heal old wounds and give their fledgling marriage a fresh start?
Meanwhile, tragedy strikes young Zoe, and Emily has a life-changing choice to make.
Follow along as Garth and Emily step out, together, to meet every challenge.
USA Today Bestselling Author Barbara Hinske is an attorney who recently left the practice of law to pursue her career as a full-time novelist. She inherited the fiction gene from her father who wrote mysteries when he retired and told her a story every night of her childhood. Barbara is the bestselling author of the beloved Rosemont series; the acclaimed Guiding Emily series; a collection of murder mystery thrillers in her "Who's There?" collection; and her sweet Christmas novellas The Christmas Club (adapted for the Hallmark Channel in 2019), Paws & Pastries, and No Matter How Far.
She and her husband share their own Rosemont with two adorable and spoiled dogs. She is besotted with decorating, entertaining, cooking and gardening. Now that her novel The Christmas Club has been made into a Hallmark Channel movie, she is completely star-struck and thrilled to have her work on the screen.
I was inspired to write this sequel by the overwhelming response to Guiding Emily, the first book in the Guiding Emily series. I heard from visually-impaired people all over the world that this book accurately and honorably portrays their emotional journey upon losing their vision as adults and that Emily's journey (with Garth at her side) to regain her independent life gave them hope. Gosh--what more could an author want?
Guiding Emily has been transcribed into braille and has replaced The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as a teaching textbook, is being recommended by counselors to their newly-blind patients to give them hope, and an excerpt from the book is used in standardized testing in Missouri--all while being a page-turner with excellent reviews.
My greatest hope is to continue this series with another can't-put-down novel that also shines a light on the extraordinary capabilities of the visually impaired.
Barbara Hinske never disappoints and always leaves the reader feeling as though they with the story could go on and on. Grab this one. You'll be glad you did!
THE UNEXPECTED PATH: The 2nd Novel in The Guiding Emily Series by Barbara Hinske is the perfect illustration showing how life is all about choices. The plot is the continuation of Emily Main’s story. Emily lost her sight in a tragic accident while on her honeymoon. In Book 1, we were introduced to Garth, Emily’s fantastic Black Labrador Retriever Guide Dog. Hinske has written this series with such care and does a great job of of allowing you to see into the day-to-day life of a sight impaired individual. One of the really special twists is she also writes from Garth’s POV, too! He is such a loyal, protector, comforter, loving companion who never wavers from doing his job.
Book 2 continues their story with Emily and Garth moving back into an apartment and Emily returning to her career as a Coder for a Tech Company. Both of those decisions required big choices for Emily to step out of her safety net. She quickly makes huge strides at work, as she learns to adapt because she chose to learn a new program that allows her to hear the code. This was an excellent choice because she can hear glitches in the code faster than she could ever catch them by reading them. There are many other areas of her life where her choices make tremendous impacts on her life — deciding whether or not to get back together with Conner, mending a broken friendship, introducing two friends who seem destined to be together & the most important choice of all was when Zoe’s Grandmother was dying, Emily answered her last request with a resounding, “YES!” That was by far the biggest choice and definitely changed all their lives forever! This novel is so heartwarming!
I was provided a complimentary copy of this novel by the author/publisher. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
Unexpected Path is a compelling, heartwarming story of life after a tragedy, hope, forging new beginnings, making a life-changing decision and learning to live with blindness and emerge out of the dark! Barbara Hinske also tells the story through Emily’s guide dog Garth’s point of view, which gives the reader insight into the independent life the guide dogs provide for their owner. Unexpected Path would make an excellent movie for Hallmark. I give it 5 stars.
Thank you to Barbara Hinske for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own. This is the sequel to Guiding Emily, one of my all-time favorite books. Although you could read the books as stand-alone stories, I highly encourage you to start with Guiding Emily. This book takes place about a year after Guiding Emily. Emily and Garth are living on their own in a studio apartment in Dhruv’s building. It is fascinating to read about all the items available to blind and visually-impaired people to make their lives easier in a sightless world. Collin returns from Tokyo and hopes to rebuild his marriage with Emily. Gina also returns to Emily’s life. Zoe, the young girl who befriended Emily, plays a very important role in this story. I am sure this is not the end of Emily’s story and I hope it isn’t long until book 3 is available!
I had been waiting with baited breath for this book to be released and I wasn't disappointed.
The Unexpected Path continues the story of Emily, a blind young woman and her guide dog, Garth. The characters from the first book, Guiding Emily, are brought to life again. You will love some and cry with others.
Barbara Hinske has again created beautiful characters and places with her descriptions. I hope there is another sequel in the making because I miss these characters already.
I love the way Barbara Hinske alternates between perspectives of Emily and her guide dog Garth, which are both humorous and enlightening. After reading both The Unexpected Path and Guiding Emily I have a greater appreciation for living life with a visual impairment, more challenging after living as a sighted adult. The author is a gifted storyteller providing her characters realistic life experiences.
The second installment of Emily and Garth’s journey. Emily adjusts to her new life being blind and makes decisions about her future. A sweet story with great characters and of course, there is Garth the guide dog who has his own point of view. I really enjoyed this book.
I love this series. Barbara Hinske weaves a story about a young lady, Emily, who loses her sight and her world is turned upside down. With the help of her guide dog Garth, she is able to maintain some of her freedom, return to work and live on her own. But some of her friends and family don't adjust to her new normal as well. This is not one of those happily ever after stories. Emily must face some trials and tribulations like everyone else. Good book and I would definitely recommend it.
Barbara Hinske knows how to tell a story that keeps your interest to the end. I received an ARC of this book and was eager to start reading. If you didn't read the first book, Guiding Emily, you should. Emily Main lost her eyesight in an accident. She has learned a lot in a school for the blind. She is now ready to reenter the working world and start to live independently. This is where our story begins. I was fascinated by the array of gadgets that are available to help a person navigate the world without sight. Emily is doing well until her estranged husband returns wanting to reconcile. Has he changed? Emily runs into her former best friend, Gina. Can they repair their friendship? Then her young friend, Zoe, is dealing with her grandmother's illness. We walk through these things with Emily as she heals and grows into her new reality. Emily is a strong and intelligent young woman that we would all like to know. Pick up this book and enjoy it. You won't be sorry.
Emily is back at work in San Francisco, living in her own apartment with her guide dog Garth. But Connor is in Tokyo. Navigating Emily's new normal has taken its toll on their fledgling marriage even as Emily develops friendships with other blind people and with a little girl named Zoe. Big changes are on the horizon for everyone, though, requiring tough decisions. Will Connor and Emily be able to rebuild their marriage? Will they still want to follow their old dreams, or have they changed too much for that? What does happiness look like, and who do you share it with? These questions and the compelling characters who wrestle with them keep this book moving forward nicely. The author also shows blind people taking the arms or elbows of sighted guides, a more accurate situation than in her first novel. Now it's the guide dog work that's the problem. Guide dogs can learn many commands, and some are intelligent enough to memorize more of these than the average dog. Most guide dog training programs strongly encourage handlers to use their dog's name before each command. The author shows Emily navigating based on her own knowledge of her surroundings, but has her giving Garth many improbable commands to find various locations. Many handlers and their dogs develop highly personal methods of communicating as their teamwork develops over years, but most of us don't just say "Home" or "Work" or "Coffee" to our dogs. Emily's circle of friends includes both blind and sighted people. Hinske's blind characters are well-developed. They tackle challenges like getting lost or apartment-hunting like everybody else. Hinske also shows people who believe in the capabilities of the blind as well as those who discriminate against them. Once again, these merits outweigh the unnatural, information-laden dialogue and improbable coincidences in the plot. I look forward to following Emily through the lives of her friends and family.
Since I loved the first book in this series where Emily Main loses her eyesight and decides to take on a seeing eye dog, I was eager to read this second book in the series. In this extension of the story, Emily navigates living alone with Garth, her seeing eye dog, in a small apartment. Amongst her support team are her mother, little Zoe, and Dhruv, with whom she works. Emily and her mother take on a mothering role with Zoe as Zoe's grandmother/guardian is hospitalized. In this book we also meet Stephanie and her seeing eye dog Biscuit; Emily and Stephanie socialize with one another, and their dogs especially enjoy each other. Emily establishes her amazing computer programming skills at work using her adaptive technology for blind people. A major challenge for Emily is deciding if she and her husband, who has been working in Japan but returns home, can make their marriage work now that Emily has adjusted to her blindness. I learned a lot about special ways that blind people can adjust to a seeing world. Furthermore, I loved how the point of view shifts from time to time to Garth, the guide dog, and gives us his perspective on Emily's world. This is a fascinating as well as heartwarming story!
It is no surprise that Barbara Hinske has another hit novel in "The Unexpected Path". This sequel to "Guiding Emily" is another heartfelt and touching story of Emily Main as she continues her journey. Previously blinded by a tragic accident on her honeymoon, Emily continues to develop her skills on her return to a full life while surmounting obstacles along the way. In "Guiding Emily" she and her husband became estranged. He returns from an overseas position to try to win her back. Will they get back together? What other challenges will Emily encounter and how will she fare?
Ms. Hinske also continues to educate the reader by allowing us a view into the world of the blind - to the problems, challenges, and capabillities of the blind individual. So many that one would not otherwise be aware of. It is wonderful to further learn what a normal and fulfilling life they can live. Seeing much of Emily's world through the eyes of Garth; her guide dog's perspective allows one to see how well-trained these dogs are and how much effort has gone into this training.
Treat yourself to another great read by Ms. Hinske.
Excellent series! I read book one and then this one for a book club. I read the third one in the series and preordered the fourth book! Excellent book. I did Not want to put it down. You can tell how much the author put into learning what it was like To lose your sight and become blind. Excellent detail of the characters in the story. Made me Feel Like they were really apart of my life and like I knew them. Loved the detail of a seeing eye dog and that the author also tried giving the dogs in the story a place I. The story by giving them actual thoughts and letting us know what they were thinking, saying and feeling. So far three of the best books I have read this year. A series for everyone! I also started being a part of a kind of pyramid where one person buys a book and then as other sign up through you, you receive more books. I sent the first book and scene one to each of the people I needed to knowing full well that they will order the third and fourth!!! Don’t miss out on this series!!!!
A very nice follow-up to Hinske's best book, Guiding Emily. Partly narrated by guide dog Garth, we find Emily settling in to independent living, assisted by some amazing gadgets and techniques developed to help the blind. This is a good showcase of the good side of modern technology and a testament to human creativity. Emily is now back to work, excelling at her job, and making new friends. She bumps into old friend and current nemesis Gina while shopping with her mom and adorable orphan Zoe. Husband Connor shows up, wanting to salvage their marriage. Hinske could have made him a one dimensional bad guy, but instead he is depicted as a truly nice guy, human but trying hard to do the right thing. Reads like a cozy mystery, and enjoyed learning more about blindness, but it does beg the question of what would life be like for Emily and others if she didn't live in a large city with so many resources nearby?
A great second book in the series. I really love the love that emily and Zoe share. I was glad that Emily and Gina were able to get back on terms. The chapters from the point of view of garth were also very funny. The characters in the story are un forgettable and all very loving. Will be fitting if Emily and grant get series with Gina marrying Craig as then the two best friends would be sister in laws which would be a lovely fitting outcome given the journey they have been on. It is really touching that Gina treats emily no different and has done her research on what she would be facing. Can’t wait for book three that comes out next month. As a blind person i am grateful that the author has done research rather than just assuming what life is like as a blind person. I really feel like i am on the journey with the characters.
The second book in Barbara Hinske's Guiding Emily series was especially interesting to me because I have known several people who have been involved in training dogs for the blind. The book is written from Emily's perspective and from Garth, her guide dog's perspective. I learned so much!! Emily and Garth have graduated from the school where they both learned how to work together. Emily is becoming more and more confident and we see many of the methods and equipment she uses in her quest to become more independent. Her husband has returned to try to rebuild their marriage and her young friend Zoe who encouraged her to get a guide dog is back as well. In the end, I was completely pleased with the path Emily (and Garth) have chosen.
I listened to the first book in the Guiding Emily series when it was first released. I recently got the second two books on an Audible sale.
In book 2, Emily’s estranged husband, Connor returns from Japan to see if they can heal their marriage. Connor wasn’t a particularly likable character in the first book and it definitely takes some time to warm up to him. No spoilers about how things “end up” between Connor  and Emily.
Zoe is a major character here as she faces a difficult situation and needs Emily’s support. The reader/listener still gets plenty of commentary from Garth, which is enjoyable.
Overall, a sweet story. The narrator change from Julia Whelan to Amanda Lee Cobb took a little getting used to.
I absolutely love this book as much as I did the first one , in the series . ( Guiding Emily). In this book Emily has learned how to live with her blindness. Her and her guide dog , Garth are learning to live together and take care of each other. This book taught me so much about how well a blind person can live. ( even with all the mishaps along the way). I had no idea there were so many tools to help make life easier. And I love Emily's guide dog, Garth. Barbara wrote so that the reader can understand what goes on in his head. I hope we will see a 3rd sequel to these books. I will definitely read it.
This is the second book in Barbara Hinske’s Guiding Emily series. We meet Emily and her guide dog Garth again in their continued adventures and incredible journey to independence with Emily’s sudden blindness. Much of the story is told from Garth’s viewpoint and you can’t help but love him. Several twist and turns (of which Hinske is famous for), disappointments, sadness, joy and triumphs. One of my favorite characters is Dhruv. He’s a marvelous friend and really shines in this story. We all need a friend like him in our corner. Thank you to Barbara Hinske and the publishing company for an advance copy of this book to review.
I love Garth so much. I love hearing what he is thinking. He has made me laugh out loud. I have known seeing eye dogs, and I’m sure this is spot on. This series is so awesome. You may just learn something while enjoying a great story and wonderful characters. Does it get any better than that? I really can’t decide on my favorite character. Emily is so strong, caring and independent. Zoe is so smart and has been through so much, and she handles it all with grace. Dhruv is so special. Emily has been so lucky to have him in her life. I can’t wait to see what is in store next for Emily and Garth.
Fun and well thought out adventure featuring a blind woman, Emily, and her guide dog, Garth. The Unexpected Path is written alternatively from Emily and then Garth's perspective - a novel and fun approach to story telling. Reflecting on Emily and Garth's point of view kept the tale educational as well as entertaining. Author Barbara Hinske has clearly done her research about the ways the blind well adapt to everyday living. Great character development - I won't give away the story, but if you like an uplifting story that includes love, independent women, children and dogs, then you with thoroughly enjoy this story.
When you read a book that is so well written, you become one with the characters and what they’re experiencing. This is that book! This is that author, Barbara Hinske, who set herself apart and immersed herself in the blind community and wrote this remarkable story taking us further into Emily Main’s life. Find out how Emily, visually impaired, with her guide dog, Garth, begins anew yet faces her biggest fears, and finds strength to share her greatest gifts of peace and joy in sadness, encouragement and faith in doubt, and love where it matters most. Once I started reading The Unexpected Path, I couldn’t put it down!
This next part of Emily's story was just as good as the first and tries to wrap up the relationship struggles between Emily and her husband, Connor. I like how realistically it showed Connor's growth as a person and his desire to be the husband that Emily needs him to be. Dhruv is such a unique guy and it was fun to see him have an even more important part in this story and for him to begin the path to happiness in a relationship. As much as this story focuses on Emily and her courage and perseverance, Zoe is just as strong of a person. This little girl has been through so much. I hope the last book in this series brings her the peace and happiness she so deserves.
Me. Hinske has written another great story. Emily and Garth, her leader dog, face new situations in learning to lead an independent life together despite Emily’s blindness. The author has certainly done her research and presented a very realistic plot. Well written with alternate chapters from .Emily and Garth. Very interesting to know the dog’s viewpoint. 4 1/2 stars since it wasn’t quite, but almost, as compelling as “Guiding Emily,” the first book of this series. I definitely would buy a third book!
This is a must read. I have a friend from childhood who was blind from birth. She has always amazed me with her independence. Reading this is so heartwarming and insightful to the awkwardness sighted people feel when first around someone who is blind. We have come a long way but having the details in this story are wonderful! Then there is the story itself which is wonderful and full of good people and delightful characters. And to hear first person from them all is delightful!
I love this series so much because it includes the point of view of the service dog, Garth. The story line is compelling, grabbing the reader from the get-go, keeping interest high and engaging. I look forward to finishing the series so I can read everything else Barbara Hinske has written. I highly recommend the series to dog lovers everywhere, and especially to those wanting to learn more about service dogs and their tremendous value to the vision impaired community.
The Unexpected Path by Barbara Hinski is the second book in the Guiding Emily series. Guiding Emily described life for the newly blind Emily and her guide dog, Garth, as she began to adjust to her new normal. The Unexpected Path is a must read as Emily moves on with her life, connecting with old friends and meeting new ones. The book is filled with moments of joy and humor as well as poignant moments that give insight into the world of the sight impaired. Don’t miss these books!
Not only was this one of the best book sequels I've read, but I learned so much about assistive tools for the blind! I can hardly wait for the next book in this series. And how do I know the story will continue? Barbara never leaves her readers hanging when we know there's more to the story. I'll be first in line to purchase the continuing (or conclusion) of Emily's, Garth's, and Zoe's continuing lives together!