Product Description

The Broken Road is the story of Ard and West, who have been friends since the second grade. They’ve been through a lot together: 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?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #657908 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 204 pages

Review

CB Potts, editor of Play Ball, writes: Let me tell you a little something. You might think you know Sean Michael. After all, there are Jarheads stories without number. The athletic eroticism of the Going for the Gold Series -- especially Personal Best. All good, all well-written, all reasons why Michael has a loyal and devoted fan base.

You see, there's a certain amount of 'suspension of disbelief' inherent in what we as erotica writers do. Are there happy homo trios of former Marines bouncing around somewhere, enjoying themselves beyond all reason? Probably not too many -- but we let that go, because the Jarheads line is so good. And if a Coach takes an above average interest in his athletes, chances are he's going to be sanctioned, not lauded, by his peers. But it doesn't matter, because we're focused on the relationship aspect of the story. It's one of the tropes that makes erotica work.

And you know what? This story is real. We feel Ardie's heartbreaks, as his family dissolves around him and he's forced to shoulder a load no child should have to bear. We see West struggle to understand his place in a world where he doesn't really fit. We witness the first flickers of mutual attraction.
It's all real, it's concrete, it's the type of writing that sucks you in and keeps you glued to the page. West has a few misadventures along the way, wrong steps and tragedies that actually cause the reader pain -- we suffer along with Ardie, who sees the man he loves in pain and doesn't know what to do to make it better.

These are the best, most complex characters I've seen out of Michael yet. The prose is smoother, the dialog more natural, the complex cast of characters handled deftly. There's a grasp of country stoicism to Ardie that will resonate with anyone who knows real farmers -- and a passion in the bedroom scenes that won't surprise anyone who knows what really happens in all them haylofts.

Customer Reviews

The Broken Road-Joyfully Reviewed
Ardie Bodine and West Moreland are best friends and since second grade they have been inseparable. Through growing up and moving out, West and Ardie have always been there for each other. Ardie realized as a teenager that he liked men, West in particular, but he's never told West. When West starts dating, Ardie wishes he were dating him instead.

Life goes on and Ardie and West are doing their own things. West goes to college, Ardie stays on the farm but they still keep in touch and stay close, so when West is in trouble and needs him, Ardie is by his side in a flash. West needs to come home and Ardie needs his West. Maybe it's time for the men to see what they have been missing all these years.


The Broken Road is a masterfully written love story with a little heartache and a lot of love in it. The foundation of Ardie's and West's relationship is written so well that by the time they are adults you can really feel the depth of the bond they have formed. From their first meeting as little boys to their first kiss as lovers I was captivated. The Broken Road is a breathtaking blend of heartfelt emotions, never ending love and searing passion. It's a truly beautiful story that every fan of M/M romance needs to read.

Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Can love be this blind?
On returning to school for the first day in the second grade, Ardie Bodine spots new boy West being accosted by the school bully and immediately goes to his rescue. So begins a life long friendship. As the relationship grows Ardie recognises he feels more than just friendship for West, but is to shy and afraid of rejection to say, and when West suddenly announces he is dating another boy, he feels it is too late.
West is a bright student, Ardie the practical one, and it's clear that West will go one to college. However when Ardie's father dies he is left as head of the family responsible for not just the farm but also his little brother and sisters, including the wayward and frequently pregnant Aggie. Inevitably the two friends are parted as West moves away to college but they remain in touch and best friends, West now regarding the farm as home.
West has a succession of boy friends while Ardie remains celibate but ever hopeful that West will one day recognise how much he loves him. Then one day, when they are in their thirties, Ardie receives a phone call, West is in hospital and needs him; but will he will he ever know how much?
This is a lovely soppy (in the nicest possible way) story of true love and friendship. The devotion the two boys demonstrate as they grow up is heart warming, their differences in character nicely balanced. I did find the constant pronouncement of "you're my best friend" in the early stages of the novel a bit over the top, and the dialogue at times rather weak. However, that aside it is a good diverting read, and the lengthy steamy descriptions towards the end are well handled, convincingly conveying the ecstatic pleasure of `first time' for someone who has waited for so long now at last being guided by an experienced lover.

Dull & Boring
I am a huge fan of Sean Michael,having read a wide variety of the M/M stories romance, to Jarheads, sci-fi, BDSM, and I am amazed at the skill in which this author can tackle any subject. Perhaps after coming off the high of reading Secrets, Skins and Leather...I found this book lacking in everything! Story, dialogue, interesting characters and of course, sex! The dialogue (especially Ardie's) was so very dull with it's unending conversation with his siblings, being on the farm, etc. The second main character West, simply comes and goes in the story. So unless, West is in the story, we are back to Ardie and his siblings on the farm and endless dialogue with them. Very, very boring. I was actually sick of reading about Ardie, the farm and his siblings and how he had to work the farm, blah, blah, ad nauseum. Not enough was devoted to West and his background. Maybe this would have helped balance the story and add contrast between the two characters. West was kept out of the storyline and only brought in when he contacted Ardie. Then the book got a bit interesting. But of course it was always about Ardie, the farm, his siblings. The sex (or lack of it) was left to the very end and then Sean really just gave us the bare bones. How is this possible when the two characters met when they were in second grade and it is 25 years later!! This is so unlike ANY of the books I have read of Sean Michael in which when there is sex, it is hot! I skimmed the entire book! Even as a 'straight' novel, it is boring!:(