The Broken Road

by Sean Michael

The Broken Road is the story of Ard and West, who have been friends since the second grade. They’ve been through a lot homework, broken bones, the death of a parent, and dreading high school dances. Through Ardie working the family farm and taking care of his siblings, and West chasing his college boy dreams, their friendship never falters, even with the gap of years and lifestyles. When the bottom falls out for West, there's only one person he thinks to call. Ardie is there for him when he does. Will these two best friends ever realize there might be more between them than just friendship?

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Friends To Lovers, Erotica, Gay, Westerns

204 pages, Paperback

First published June 16, 2006

About the author

Often referred to as "Space Cowboy" and "Gangsta of Love" while still striving for the moniker of "Maurice," Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organizing his immense gourd collection and fantasizing about one day retiring on a small secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-bomb and persuing the kama sutra by channeling the long lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with the soundtrack to "Chicago."

A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.

Barring any of that? He'll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.

Reviews

[Daisiemae · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Broken Road is a bittersweet love story between two best friends. The book spans from when the heroes meet in 2nd grade, become best friends, and then evolves over the next 25 years. It was a test of patience for me. There were times when I wanted to throw in the towel on this one. Not because the book was badly written, or I didn’t care about the characters, because I did, but there is a definite element of sadness within the story, that I wasn’t prepared for.

Now don’t get me wrong, there is a very happy ending, and watching Ardie and West come to grips with their feelings for one another was a beautiful thing to see. It’s just a long process getting there, and when it does happen it made the wait worthwhile.

From the day they met in 2nd grade Ardie and West have been best friends. Ardie is the responsible one, while West is the dreamer. They’re inseparable throughout their childhood, and they overcome many obstacles together. Ardie knows he’s in love with West, but is afraid to let his feeling show for fear of losing him. Plus, they live in a small community where homosexuality is not readily acceptable.

As soon as he is able, West moves away, going to college and working to fulfill his dream of being a writer. As much as it pains Ardie to watch West leave, he knows his place is on the farm, taking care of his siblings and watching over his family. Ever since his parents has passed, they need him, so it was never a choice for him to give up his dream of being with West because taking care of his family is the right thing to do.

Through out the years, West and Ardie still remain close friends. When West comes out of the closet to Ardie, and brings his boyfriend over during one visit, Ardie is happy that West has found someone to love him like he thinks he deserves. Ardie never confesses his feelings toward West, so watching Ardie being around West and his boyfriends was not only torture for him, but for me as well.

When West’s life is put into danger, Ardie immediately drops everything and goes to him to protect and help him. As adults, they haven’t been able to spend as much time together because of their busy lives. Now, because West’s life is in danger, Ardie and West are together more, and it’s harder for Ardie to fight his attraction to his best friend. And when West finally realizes that he too is attracted to Ardie, the book became impossible for me to put down. I was so thrilled when they finally give into their feelings for one another; I finished it in one setting.

I really did love this book. As I stated it does take time for them to come together, but it was well worth the wait! There were times I thought that West was insensitive, but in all fairness, he was unaware of Ardie’s feelings toward him, so it really wasn’t his fault. Believe me, I did want to shake both of them at times and tell them to get a clue!

I think Sean Michael is a very versatile writer. The man can write everything from paranormal, contemporaries, cowboys, BDSM and just about everything in-between. Reading The Broken Road, reminded me exactly how much I love his writings. I hope y’all will give this one a shot. It’s worth the wait.

[Marco · Rating 1 out of 5]

The 2 heroes are probably the densest pair I've read in M/M romantic fiction. I expected a better, if not realistic, resolution but no, I got a fairy-tale version of it. I much preferred if it went like this:
(I'm sorry, I'm oblivious for 25 years that that you're gay and that you love me not just as a best friend even though it's painfully obvious since you didn't have any liaisons since we're teenagers and maybe I took it for granted that you are also human with needs and maybe you're really a saint or your love are bigger than your needs or something, but sorry.

-It's okay although it pained me for every boy you paraded in my face. Actually I should be the one who's sorry because I didn't say anything to you. Yeah I'm a fricking saint Vatican didn't canonize because I'm gay. It's not your fault, really . It's mine.

-Ok, let's kiss and make-up.

-OK.)

Nuff said.

[Camilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

So yeah, I'm pretty sure the prologue killed me..

Because of that call in the prologue, we knew we had a meeting in a hospital to look forward too, so everything that went before that, just nearly killed me.

We started from freaking 2nd grade and had to endure poor (but stupid) Ard, seeing his best friend (and love of his life) come and go with new boyfriends, loving everybody but him.. Omg.. That was just rough, I just wanted to get to the "good parts" where they ended up together like they should..

And lucky, for a sappy HEA-loving girl like me, they did, and ohh.. it was so good to finally get there.. I'm sure Ard is pretty happy about that too..

I thought this was an OK book.. Its not full of hot sex, but its about the saying "You have to set it free, and if its meant to be, it will come back home"

And West did! Ard just had to wait 25 years..

[Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite m/m books. The story of Ardie and Wes gives us a feeling how two best friends becoming lovers at the end, even when one of them dated other men. The two are so close to each other that even Brian--Wes' beloved lover--saw it. "Nobody cares for you more than Ardie," he said.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ard and West grow up as best friends in a rural area. West is eager to get out as soon as possible, while Ard both loves farm life, and is stuck supporting his family after the death of his father and the breakdown of his mother. West comes out, and goes through a series of unsuitable boyfriends before finding true love--only to be destroyed when his lover is killed. Meanwhile, Ard watches helplessly over the years, too terrified to confess his love. When they finally do get together, their bond is more than either of them could have imagined.

The writing is weak and stilted at times, particularly in the first half of the book, but does improve as the book goes on. Some good sex scenes in the latter part of the book.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was unprepared for all of the heart wrenching, tear stained pages (can you say that having read the book on an iPad?) that The Broken Road asks of its readers. At any given time I was either crying for Ardie and West, or throwing my hands up in frustration over their inability to make that leap from BFFs to lovers. This is a very well written book and I highly recommend it, but please, don't attempt to read it without a box of kleenex close by. You're going to need them.

I give The Broken Road four stars.

[Jimmy Hanson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite Sean Michael story of all time, that's for sure. Most of the novel was taken up by scenes from their life, from childhood to adulthood, leaving the reader in suspense, waiting to find out what had happened that was so bad that West would call up, crying for Ardie's help.
For all that it seemed to be going well, the fact that West went through one lover after another, feeling for Ardie as he did but never giving it a hope or chance, even after so many years, became an annoyance for me instead of an artful sort of tragedy. Then comes the perfect man in West's life, which I couldn't help but feel West was constantly comparing Ardie to when they DID get together.
By the end I was kind of just glad it was over.

[Raevyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a tough read for me because I wanted to yell at West at least every other page. He had everything he needed in front of him and he kept searching for something more. I understand the path he had to take to find his home, but it didn't make it any less frustrating.

Ardie was such a peaceful soul, but I had a hard time believing that he waited so long to have any form of sexual experience. It seemed strange to me that there wasn't even any internal dialogue about his physical needs.

Even with my struggles, this book was well worth the read. I fell in love with all of the characters and would love to read more about them.

[Ashley♥Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I literally spent the whole time reading this book in tears. Ardie was just so damn sweet. I loved the way this story was told and I especially loved the build up to their relationship. I actually wanted Ardie to hook up with that guy at the bar and then West would reach his epiphany about Ardie being his forever. I guess it added less drama happening the way it was written. Lol I also thought the book could have ended rather nicely after the first time they "had sex." I actually thought the book was over and then realized I was only at 80% I'm really happy it didn't end there because I was happy to see closure with the supporting characters.

[Purplegirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I was expecting a regular Sean Michael book with a lot of sex going on but this was different. When the sex did come, it was appropriate and not overbearing. This was a sweet story and made me feel for the characters. A great read.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the best Sean Michael book I have read. The MCs are very sympathetic. And it has a wonderful sense of story and atmosphere without any repetitiveness.

[Teddies · Rating 5 out of 5]

My all time favorite from Sean Michael. I would recommend to newbies of the M/M genre.

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ardie and West have been best friends since the first day of grade two. Through all the highs and lows, the laughter and tears that life brings the men remain friends – the bond formed on that first day never wavering. And when West eventually calls as his life shatters, Ardie doesn’t hesitate, leaving behind his farm and siblings to be there to help pick up the pieces, to remind West of the simple family love that’s been constant throughout each of their lives.

This is an absolutely amazing story. Readers who love a long, slow drop into love, particularly those “friends to lovers” style of story should find – as I did – that this one is just perfect. A little over the first half of this book shows Ardie and West’s friendship, life and love from the beginning. At first I was a bit nervous, worried the background would bog down the story – but I feel the author did a really amazing job managing to balance this side to the story.

The pace moved fast enough that I didn’t feel in a hurry to get to the present day – where West calls Ardie for help – but instead this helped show the rock-solid foundation of friendship and life that the two men had together. It showed them growing up from boys into men and led us on the paths their lives each took. Woven throughout all this was the friendship – and love – that carried the men through the usual highs and lows of a lifetime. I particularly loved how there wasn’t drama merely for the sake of it – Ardie and West’s lives each held plenty of peaks and troughs and this was ample conflict, plot and tension, the solidness of their friendship, the unwavering love and support didn’t need mis-communications or drama or angst to make it interesting and vibrant and I am so very glad the author kept away from those kinds of tropes.

While the first half of the book focused on how the boys became men and reached their early thirties in life, this slow romantic pace felt just right for such a lovely full length novel. It gave me as the reader time to really relax and enjoy and get hooked on each man. This is the first book in a very long time – months for sure, if not the whole year – that had me reading long into the night and finishing it in one sitting. It was addictive in the most wonderful sense and I simply couldn’t stop and put it down to go to sleep. When West finally reaches rock bottom and calls Ardie, the second half of the story shines even brighter than the first. I was particularly pleased the two men – after a lifetime of being there for each other, supporting and helping one another and loving each other – didn’t simply fall into bed. Their pace increased, sure, but it was still natural, logical and so realistic I wish I knew them for real because it was just a beautiful, wonderful story.

Readers looking for something kinky or crammed full of sex won’t find that here. This book is one of those rare gems that, sure has some smoking hot M/M sex, but is full of all the other wonderful aspects of a solid romance. There’s a large and strong cast of secondary characters, primarily Ardie’s family and a few important people coming and going in West’s life. There is the wonderful road of two lives – similar but different and inextricably woven together forever. There is laughter and tears and so much joy and love it makes me want to burst and go right back to the start immediately and re-experience it all over again.

This is a wonderful, heartfelt and amazing story, one that is absolutely going onto my keeper shelf and one I can most strongly recommend.

[Jessica A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal book imo. If you want to read something happy and hopeful and something that makes you joyful and light inside, this is the book for you.

I'll give a brief idea of the story: West and Ard have been best friends since second grade. They're very different people (Ard is a farmer who has the responsibility of taking care of his entire family on his shoulders and West is a really intelligent book-smart kid) but somehow they get along really really well. They always make each other laugh. The book gives you a sneak peek into the future in the prologue, but chapter 1 begins with them being kids. Briefly, the book gives you snippets of their entire lives, until it reaches them being around thirty years old. There's some angsty moments in there when West goes on to pursue his career out in the real world but well, Ard's home is West's home and it's always what you need to cure sadness.

Anyway, if you want to just feel extremely happy, check out this book. You won't be disappointed.

[Garth Mailman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Broken Road
by Sean Michael

The pair have more than their share of vicissitudes. Still working out where this prairie seeming locale would be. It would seem to be Texas Panhandle Ardie is a big for his age farmboy with 3 sisters and a baby brother. West is small and thin, a nerd, single child with a drinking father who travels and an understanding mother. The pair meet in grade two when Ardie comes to the new boy’s aid against the grade four bully. The unlikely pair become bosom buddies. When Ardie’s father is killed in a threshing machine accident Ardie becomes the man of the house and takes over the farm. He keeps up with schooling as always with West’s help. They become separated when West goes off to college.

The book begins with a call to Ardie from the adult West in hospital, then jumps back to grade two. This is another tale of two gay friends who don’t seem to be able to come out to one another though West dates at College. When they finally do get it on we have a lengthy descriptions of their coupling.

[Dewi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book which follows the lives of two friends from their schooldays to their 40's. Ard has had a hard life having to take responsibility for his family and farm following his fathers early death. Ard has loved West from his school days but has never expressed this to West.
West life whilst materially successful he has several failed relationship but he finds the love but this leads to a tragedy. Of course Ard who is the constant in his life rescues him from an abusive relationship. Whilst helping West they visit a gay dance club and to save Ard from unwanted attention from another guy West kisses him and this sparks a revelation particularly to West.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tale at times happy, funny, sad, and downright tragic. We travel through the years and follow two childhood friends as their lives unfold with farming, friends, babies, and lovers. Along the way we celebrate happy reunions, tragic loss, and all those life's lessons. A nice read, now and then a little rambling but never boring.

[Katy Beth Mckee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet story of two men who have been best friends since forever. They story starts at a crisis point. Then we get to watch the two of them grow up in each other’s lives until we get back to the crisis. Over the years they have been circling around each other. I love the way the ending of this story wraps it all up

[Robbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The longest courtship ever

Years. It was painful to read as the missed opportunities rolled past, as well as incredibly sweet and romantic. The drama at the end and the HEA make up for everything they both endured.

[Kobie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this long meandering story. Sweet characters and interesting things happening, plus well written.

[Ana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sweet and romantic but also overly long and complicated. There was absolutely no need for this story to be told in so many pages. Absolutely no need for me to read so many chapters about their younger years, then some more about puberty, then their 20's...I felt like a lot of this was just to fill some pre-established word count and just plain unnecessary. Also made the story incredibly ansgty for no good reason. The thing with Brian and Lee? Another aspect that didn't do much for the plot because Brian died and after an enourmous amount of angst West ended up confessing he had never felt as good with Brian as he did with Ardie so why putting him in the story at all? So we could see Ardie whining about it? And Lee? Another unnecessary aspect I suspect is only present for shock like Brian. So basically...a more simplistic plot would've been greatly appreciated. This just made my head hurt.

[Kavisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was depressing. I found myself skimming through some of the paragraphs because i just wanted to read about when they got together. And while I was so glad that it FINALLY happened, there wasnt enough impact in that scene and I think it could have been written better.

[Indigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best have a kleenex box handy... at least I needed one

[Alli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was both heart wrenchingly sad for the choices that had to made and just so touching and heart warming, it has become one of my favorite Sean Micheal books

[Jayded · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was such a sweet sad story with a nice HEA at the end.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The anticipation was SO great in this book! Good story, interesting characters. I'd recommend this book.

[Kumar naorem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very mind capturing and moving M/M romance by Sean Michael. Makes you wish to have Ardie as your best friend and as lover. Simply gorgeous. Hats off to Sean Michael.

[Elci · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

[Dan Dexter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awww! sweeter than I usually expect from this author, but sugar's what daddy likes :) A honey of a story.