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Jessie’s mother did everything right, but never felt good enough. She loved God, but never felt she measured up. And now Jessie, orphaned, graduated from college, and determined, plans to continue her mother’s job, to honor or mend her memory.

In a small American 1960s mill town, lives and jobs are depended on salaries paid by the owner. But a new owner, with a big house to maintain, might not have enough left over to offer a raise. When livelihoods are threatened, tempers begin to boil over and trouble brews.

“We don’t want a union,” the townspeople say, determined that no one but they should give orders, yet afraid that neighboring people might take their jobs. They do want change, and they do want action. And Jessie does want to get away. But she’s the niece of one worker, and falling in love with another, and time’s running out.

Author Brandilyn Collins contrasts small town poverty with large-world questions of peace, war and violence, bringing characters on all sides of the divide to life, and offering a convincing view of Christian faith in a very real world – faith that’s frequently flawed, but powerful just the same. With a blend of first and third-person narration, honest dialog, and fascinating relationships, she offers a story of genuine emotion, real scares, and honest Christianity. It’s a really good read.

Disclosure: I bought a copy after hearing the author speak, and I offer my honest review. ( )

I was very pleased with this book. The characters were very well developed, the story flowed smoothly. It was a good, Christian fiction. No sexual content. Nice and clean. The story kept me riveted to the book. It is a real page turner. You really don't know what she will choose to do. The one thing I did not like was the ending. I felt it should have gone just a little further. I can't say much about this as it will give away the ending, but it stopped short for my taste. But, other than that, it was very well worth the read. You won't be disappointed. One thing that makes or breaks a book for me is the editing. This book is very well edited also. This book was given to me in exchange for my honest review. ( )

This is the second book that I have read by Brandilyn Collins and I am hooked! I love how she grabs you from the very first page. She has you feeling like you are right there with each of her characters. I must admit that I lost time while reading this one, I just couldn't stop reading.
Jessie Carlton is orphaned after loosing her mother in a car accident. Her mother was a Christian women who gave everything she had to God and her community. She had to leave Cincinnati to go live with her Aunt Eva and Uncle Frank in Bradleyville until college. She came back after finishing college for a few months, until August because she accepted a job at The Hope Center in Cincinnati where her mother had worked. Her dreams are about to come true by being able to carry on where her mother left off helping others. But God may have more in store for her than she could ever imagine. Everything is topsy turvy due to a looming strike at the mill,protecting her family, and a tall handsome man named Lee Harding. What will Jessie do? Follow her dreams or her heart???
I recieved this book from The BookClub Network for an honest review. ( )

This is an excellent book! I had almost given up on finding good Christian fiction before reading Cast a Road Before Me. Set in a small, charming Kentucky town, Bradleyville, in the 1960s, this is the story of a young woman named Jessie who has her life planned out and yet begins to feel the call of God in her life pointing her in the opposite direction. The author creates compelling tension as we watch Jessie resist God's wooing through the people and circumstances of her life. I really appreciated the depth of thought and Biblical insight that the author incorporated into the story. Although it includes romance (as most Christian fiction does), the story of God's work in lives definitely supersedes the romantic elements, which is much appreciated!I listened to the audio book version and I must say that the reader was probably the best I have ever heard. She really made the story come alive! ( )