Dornbush
crafted this novelization of the movie with the same name. She
participated in writing the screenplay and has done an excellent job
on the novelization.
Amber
is trying to maintain a life for her and her daughter, Bree. Her job
as a waitress is just not enough to make ends meet. She's angry at
God for letting her army husband be killed in Afghanistan. She's
stuck in a world of hurt and anger.
Cody
is a race car driver who has crashed one too many cars. His sponsor
has sent him to work with Joe in his garage, hoping for an attitude
adjustment. Cody has difficulty accepting Joe's sage advice. Cody
meets Amber and attempts the first acts of a fledgling romance.
Bree
was my favorite character by far. She is a sweet little girl with a
faith to move mountains. She forms a bridge between Amber and God and
between Amber and her mother-in-law. Bree is definitely the hero of
the story, even though she has to take some desperate actions that
hurt others to ultimately bring healing.
There
are many aspects of the novel I liked. The characters are well
crafted and the novel was well written. There are many issues
explored in the plot, including being mad at God, distancing one's
self from friends after a tragedy, financial responsibility, healing
grief, and much more.
One
aspect of the novel I found puzzling was that there no mention of
Social Security survivor's benefits for Bree after Darren was killed.
Also not mentioned was the Veteran's Affairs monthly payments for
surviving Amber and Bree since Darren died in active duty. Amber
would have received nearly $1,500 a month in VA benefits for her and
Bree. She would also have medical benefits and the ability to shop at
a base commissary and exchange for life. That is not something that
should have been left out in this novel since a major factor was Amber's financial situation. The novel gives the
impression the military ignores the financial support of surviving
families. That is just not the case.
I
recommend this novel to those who enjoy a well written novel of healing and
restoration when one's life includes a journey down a broken road.
Just be aware of the lack of information regarding how the military
helps surviving families of military killed in action.
The
movie will be released in the Fall of 2017. You can find out more
about it and watch a trailer here.
My
rating: 4/5 stars.
Jennifer
Dornbush is a screenwriter, speaker, and forensic specialist. God
Bless the Broken Road is her first novel. She lives in Los Angeles,
CA. You can find out more at https://www.jenniferdornbush.com/.
Howard
Books, 336 pages.
I
received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My
comments are an independent and honest review.
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