God Bless the Broken Road: A Novel

Written by Jennifer Dornbush

Narrated by Lauren Ezzo

A novelization of the upcoming film from the director of God’s Not Dead, God Bless the Broken Road is a heartwarming story about a grieving army widow who finds her way back to her daughter, her faith, and a new love.

Amber Hill never imagined she would find herself a war widow and single mom. She feels robbed and is angry at God, and she doesn’t know how to help her nine-year-old daughter Bree through her grief. Where, Amber wonders, are the Sunday dinners, the picnics, the bike rides, the time together they should be enjoying as a family? Instead, Amber is left with a folded flag and an empty heart.

Cody Jackson has a death wish. Or at least that is what his manager thinks, as Cody pushes his race car and his luck in every race. Is he hiding something, or just daring God and other racers to end the path of destruction he finds himself on as he rounds the last turn? When Cody encourages Bree to join in a Derby car race for local youth, she finds a way to channel her grief into something good—and she likes that her mom and Cody are starting to become friends—or maybe something more.

Cody invites Amber and Bree to see him race, but as they watch Cody narrowly escape a devastating crash, she realizes she can’t lose another person in her life. It’s better to be alone than feel that type of grief again. But when Amber hits rock-bottom, she cries out to God and asks for help. With her faith, her life, her family, and her heart hanging in the balance, Amber is forced to decide between the broken road she knows so well and trusting that God will provide a new path.

Based on the Rascal Flatts song, God Bless the Broken Road is a moving, heart-stirring story about the power of faith to change a life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Jun 6, 2017
• ISBN: 9781531866518

Jennifer Dornbush

Jennifer Graeser Dornbush works as a screenwriter, author, speaker, and forensic specialist. She has developed film and TV projects, is the author of numerous books, and frequently speaks around the world on crime fiction and forensics. She and her family divide their time between Upper Michigan and Arizona.

[Samantha Elizabeth · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a profound, gut wrenching, gift of a book. A must read.

A key theme here was around the parable of the mustard seed.

This book does not sugar coat realities of grief, of loss, single parenthood, or of the true sacrifices that come with being in a military family. Jennifer does not do the cliche romance, and I am grateful for it. It would have taken focus from the important messages of this story.

To the one struggling today.. Be it with loss, anger, family life, military family life, being widowed or facing the possibility or imminent loss of a loved one.

To the one just looking or a hard hitting, emotional, noteworthy read.

To the one that can only ask, "why me, God"?

..This is for you.

[Debra Brooker · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book touched my soul
As I lost a son

[jfe16 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Amber Hill’s husband, Darren, dies in Afghanistan just days before he is to come home, leaving her to raise their daughter, Bree, alone. Involuntarily thrust into this strange new world, Amber’s never even thought about this possibility, never given it a moment’s consideration.
Devastated and angry, Amber sinks deeper and deeper into a black pit of despair as she obstinately struggles to handle everything on her own, shunning family, friends, and neighbors. Can she find her way through grief and sorrow? Can she return to her faith and learn to look to God for help once again?

Headstrong Cody Jackson arrives in Clarksville to work with Joe Cartier. He’s a race car driver who’s crashed one time too many; he needs to learn a few lessons . . . and Joe is just the man to teach him the skills he really needs to internalize. Can Cody find his way past his know-it-all attitude to become a successful race car driver?

Bree finds a bit of happiness being involved in Cody’s Go-Kart club. She’s planted a mustard seed, named it Matt, and is carefully tending it, watching it grow. The young girl doesn’t know how to deal with her grief over her father’s death and Amber is unable to see past her own pain to help her daughter. But when everything becomes too much for Bree to handle, what will she do?

Short chapters help make this narrative a quick read. The characters are well-developed and realistic, although readers may find themselves rolling their eyes at some of the choices Amber makes. Astute readers will predict the ending early on; however, twists and turns in the plot keep the pages turning as Amber struggles to find her way out of her anguish-filled purgatory while her friends pray for the day she will rediscover her faith and once again reach out to God.

However, there’s a curious conundrum surrounding the telling of this tale. Much of the unfolding story hinges on Amber’s ever-looming financial difficulties. But knowledgeable readers are certain to wonder why she finds herself in such difficulties, why there’s no mention of any continuing veteran’s benefits or of her being counseled regarding them.
Amber explains how she used the Death Gratuity she received, but there’s no mention of the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, which would provide her with a monthly payment. Nor is the Social Security benefit for surviving dependent children, another monthly payment, addressed.
Perhaps the author purposely excluded these in order to place Amber in severe jeopardy and thus strengthen the larger story of Amber’s struggle with her faith. Nevertheless, readers should be aware that the death of service members while on active duty would be highly unlikely to leave their families in such dire straits.
Readers who choose to suspend disbelief regarding Amber’s financial situation should grab a box of tissues; the heartfelt story unfolding in the pages of this book is certain to bring tears to their eyes.

Highly recommended.