Long Way Gone

Long Way Gone
Charles Martin
(Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson)
ISBN: 978-0718084714
October 2016/320 pages/$25.00/$12.99 Hardcover/ebook
“No matter where you go, no matter whether you succeed or fail, stand or fall, no gone is too far gone. You can always come home.”


Cooper O’Connor was a long way from home—both geographically and from the damage he caused. Now that he’s back, is healing possible?

At the age of eighteen, musician and songwriter Cooper O’Connor took everything his father held dear and drove 1,200 miles from home to Nashville, his life riding on a six-string guitar and the bold wager that he had talent. But his wager soon proved foolish.

Five years after losing everything, he falls in love with Daley Cross, an angelic voice in need of a song. But just as he realizes his love for Daley, Cooper faces a tragedy that threatens his life as well as his career. With nowhere else to go, he returns home to the remote Colorado mountains, searching for answers about his father and his faith.

When Daley shows up on his street corner twenty years later, he wonders if it’s too late to tell her the truth about his past—and if he is ready to face it himself.

A radical retelling of the prodigal son story, Long Way Gone takes us from tent revivals to the Ryman Auditorium to the tender relationship between a broken man and the father who never stopped calling him home.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Charles Martin is the New York Times bestselling author of 12 novels. He and his wife, Christy, live in Jacksonville, Florida. Learn more about him at his website: charlesmartinbooks.com,
Facebook: Author.Charles.Martin, or
Twitter: @storiedcareer.

MY THOUGHTS

Charles Martin is a master storyteller, as his multiple bestseller status proves, and I know I will be captivated when I begin one of his novels. Long Way Gone, however, exceeded all of my expectations. As someone old enough to remember going to tent revivals as a child, as well as a lover of music, I connected with the setting of this story. Yet it is the unforgettable characters that have stayed with me long after I turned the final page. While the story is told in first person from Cooper's perspective, the steadfast love of his father makes this story shine. I'd suggest keeping a tissue or two handy as you read. And don't miss the afterword. An exceptional novel with an important message, Long Way Gone is a must-read and would make a great gift.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a digital copy of this book free from Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson for a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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