How to Read the Broken Roads Series
The Broken Roads series is a contemporary small-town romance series written by New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown. Set in rural Oklahoma, the series focuses on themes of trust, forgiveness, second chances, and the healing power of love.
While the books feature standalone stories focusing on different romantic couples, reading them in order is highly recommended. The lives of the characters in Buckhorn overlap, and major background storylines, local gossip, and character developments progress chronologically across the novels.
Broken Roads Books in Publication Order
Here is the recommended reading order, which follows the original publication sequence:
- To Trust (2007) - Dee Hooper returns to Buckhorn after her marriage ends and finds unexpected romance with her childhood friend, Jack Brewer.
- To Commit (2008) - Stella Brannon inherits her grandmother's inn in Sulphur, Oklahoma, and meets rugged rancher Rance Harper.
- To Believe (2008) - Follows the emotional path to trust and love as characters navigate past hurts to find a new beginning.
- To Dream (2009) - City girl Greta Fields is forced into community service in Sulphur after a car crash and clashes with local deputy Kyle Parsons.
- To Hope (2009) - The final entry in the series, tying up the overarching themes of second chances and hope in the community.
Chronological Order and Caveats
The chronological order of the series matches the publication order exactly. Because characters from previous books frequently make guest appearances or are mentioned by the town's tight-knit community, starting with To Trust and proceeding through to To Hope offers the most satisfying narrative flow. If you skip around, you will still enjoy the individual romance plots, but you might spoil minor character resolutions or relationship milestones from earlier books.