A broken man. A twist of fate. A second chance. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Mistletoe Promise and The Walk comes the first novel in a riveting new trilogy that explores the tantalizing question: What if you could start over? Chicago celebrity, Charles James can’t shake the nightmare that wakes him each night. He sees himself walking down a long, broken highway the sides … himself walking down a long, broken highway the sides of which are lit in flames. Where is he going? Why is he walking? What is the wailing he hears around him?
By day, he wonders why he’s so haunted and unhappy when he has all he ever wanted-fame, fans and fortune and the lavish lifestyle it affords him. Coming from a childhood of poverty and pain, this is what he’s dreamed of. But now, at the pinnacle of his career, he’s started to wonder if he’s wanted the wrong things. His wealth has come legally, but questionably, from the power of his personality, seducing people out of their hard-earned money. When he learns that one of his customers has committed suicide because of financial ruin, Charles is shaken. The cracks in his facade start to break down spurring him to question everything: his choices, his relationships, his future and the type of man he’s become.
Then a twist of fate changes everything. Charles is granted something very remarkable: a second chance. The question is: What will he do with it?
The Broken Road is the first book in a much-anticipated new trilogy by beloved storyteller Richard Paul Evans. It is an engrossing, contemplative story of redemption and grace and the power of second chances. It is an epic journey you won’t soon forget.more
I loved this entire series by Richard Paul Evans. No only is the main character on a walk, but he’s on a journey to rediscover his purpose in life. Very well done and quite inspirational.
I will read anything Richard Paul Evans writes…and like it!
“I thought I was chasing success when all along I’d really just been running from failure.”
We have all heard a story like this before. What is the definition of success? What happens when priorities get skewed? What would you change if you could start from scratch again? Richard Paul Evans’s storytelling allows this life lesson to feel fresh again, at least it did for me. But this particular character’s story is very familiar to the men in my family so I felt incredibly invested and engaged… which made the cliffhanger ending all the more frustrating. I knew this was a trilogy though, right? But unlike Mr. Evans’ other collections, Broken Road isn’t a collection of standalones. It’s a continuation, and one that I will be following. Check it out.
My favorite quote:
“There are some who would gladly put you through hell under the auspices of saving you from it.”
This series is positively addicting. I immediately started reading the sequel upon completing this, the first in a three part series. The main character is very likeable, despite his all too human flaws. And, who hasn’t where other life choices might have led us?
After having read the authors The Walk series, I was looking forward to reading this new 3 book series of an individual who walked the famous route 66 from Chicago to California.
(“What if we could start over”) is the concept, then premise of this story, loosely based on a friend of the authors, but also about some of the authors own experiences, and fiction. It is a story of redemption it makes one look at their own lives and their own moral compass.
From growing up in abuse and poverty, Charles James, set out on his own to find success, but to what expense, as he becomes a hugely popular speaker, seducing people out of their hard earned money with the promises of wealth and success. He was constantly plagued by a reoccurring nightmare and also having messed up his own life. When all of a sudden something happened to enabled him to decide in which direction he wanted to make changes in his life.
The second book follows him on the first part of his journey on route 66, and this part was a bit slow for me as it seemed more descriptions of the roads and the attractions, and not much about the people he met.
The third book caught my attention again as we follow Charles on the rest of his journey to California, and to his goal of finding his ex wife. This part of the story was full of great encounters with different people, who of course could use a better life.
It was fun to see where these encounters went after he reaches his goal and to see what he has learned through this whole experience.
This is only a summery, as the trilogy is packed with interesting characters and life situations, which make the main character really think about the choices he made, and how he can help now after his second chance at life.
There were a few sections that were really slow but the story is good and makes you think about your own life and all the choices we make.
Great book, can’t wait for the next one
Can’t wait for the next chapter. I think Richard Paul Evans writes a thought provoking book & this one is no different.
The main character, Charles James, is not a very likable person but there is hope and my hope is that the next book is just as spellbinding. Wish RPE could write the books faster.
Another great start to another great series by Richard Paul Evans
I would recommend reading this but would just say that it is my least favorite of Evans books. I don’t like that the books don’t stand alone, and want to know how the story ends, but how many books do I need to buy to find out? The story is good but the nature of his journey makes the whole thing a little boring.
I read this in two days and felt like I was reading a true story. I read fast to know the ending, and now eager to read book two.
I didn’t know he had written this book or I would’ve already read it. I have read nearly every Richard Paul Evans novel and loved them all. There was just one I couldn’t seem to get into, and I gave up for the time being and will try it again another time. This was right up there with his usual lovely best. If you liked The Walk series you will like this one! I recently read The Unlikely Pilgrimmage of Harold Fry (I know, I know, this isn’t your typical review. Mine never are. I never want to tell you a thing about what the book is about, bc I myself never want to know what the books are about. I love going in blind. I just want to tell you how good a book is in my reviews) and googled “Books about walking” and I don’t know why this one didn’t come up, but I guess I do know why. This is before all the walking. Kind of. Yet not. Read it, and you won’t be disappointed as you meet the main character and somehow never ever really feel like he’s the bad guy, or a bad guy at all. And then have the second one handy, “The Forgotten Road,” bc you will pick it up the instant you finish this one. I can’t wait to keep reading it now and see how it goes.
I usually love RPE’s stories. I did not like this one much at all. I gave it 3 stars because it was not written badly, just not for me.
I have enjoyed many of Richard Paul Evans books, including this one. The only problem with this book is I have to wait til the Spring 2018 for the sequel. It is such a good book and well worth reading, it’s hard to put it down.
I loved this book. I love all of Richard Paul Evans books. I especially loved The Walk series. This author keeps me wanting more. You don’t know and can’t wait to see what happens. Now I greatly anticipate the next book coming in the Spring of 2018. That’s a whole year to wait for The Firgoten Road. I hate waiting!