I wanted to like this one a lot more than I did. The premise is awesome and I love how much the main character wrestled with faith and ultimately how all the events caused him to think seller and further about it. However, there were several parts that just didn’t hold my interest and felt too long. It also felt like it was overdoing the point sometimes too.

Thank you Open Road Press | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks for allowing me to read and review The Persistent Road on NetGalley.

Published: 02/01/24

Narrator: Kim Rasmussen

Stars: 3.5

A multipurpose novel that is Christian fiction. The main character faces death of his spouse, job loss, financial distress, personal turmoil while wondering his purpose. He decides to bike ride in America and during his adventures is faced with his past and how he handled situations.

His decision-making skills have been poor throughout his life. In this story, he meets Christians during his travels. There are some offers of prayer, encouragement is freely given, and opportunities for him to ask questions. Here he is invited to understand God and the role he places in the lives of those he meets.

Nothing is over the top. These are simple interactions with people who live with their problems given to God. Staying realistic and positive on a straight path through likeminded people and understanding bad things happen to good people is every day life. What does Doug do?

I liked the 60+ year old man taking up cycling. I liked that no one he encountered was pushy. Around the ten hour mark I was ready for the ending. I started having focus issues and found myself getting frustrated. The story touches on a lot of current heavy social problems that I found well written into the story. After thirteen plus hours I was done.

I loved the narrator, five solid stars for Kim Rasmussen.

I would recommend this for young readers, both male and female, as a clean healthy read. In addition, seasoned Christian readers may enjoy this as well.

Looking forward to exploring future reads by the author and narrator.

The Persistent Road is an interesting book. I listened to the audiobook and did not like the narrator at all. I wanted to quit this audiobook many times, not because the story is bad, but because of the voice of the narrator and the voice used for the women characters. It is really bad. I think readying this book would be much more enjoyable.

The story is about a man who discovers himself after the death of his wife. His wife is a lovely woman who loved him and cared for him even after her death. Doug is a loose cannon for a long time after her death. It seems like a good idea to go for a long bike ride since that is the only relief he gets from thinking about the lose of his wife and job. Every time I thought he was going to learn from his mistakes, it seemed like he just made more.

God and the demon fight for the soul of Doug.

This isn't my usual genre but I wanted to try something different. I am spiritual and felt the story had some substance in the heart feelings and therefore enjoyed the message however it was a little slow for me possibly due to my usual reads being different areas but it just didnt quite grab my attention or reel me in. In regards the narration i felt this made it a little difficult to fully engage and was a little lost at times with characters as the voices weren't of significant differences for 1 or 2 of the characters in particular i found myself getting a little confused at times. I appreciate the opportunity to listen to this and try something a little different.

thanks to netgalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to this audio book. i was disappointed .to discover the book was christian based. which is not a theme i read but the fault was all mine for overlooking that detail. the story line is a favorite of mine. armchair adventure. doug's life falls apart, he takes his bike to the roads. there he encounters everything imaginable, including himself. he and lauren befriend one another. then comes fred. and brother jim and his wife maggie. the scenery between L.A. and montana is worth the read. while the narrator spoke with lots of emotion, i found his female voices to be squeaky and artificial and grating. disappointing.

I had never read anything by this author. I listened to the audio version, outstanding narrator. This story was an emotional roller coaster. This author’s style makes the reader feel the intense emotions experienced by the characters. This is a book I will reread. The synopsis is perfect. High faith content, and very gentle in that regard. There are definitely surprises along the way. Many reminders of life lessons, for example don’t jump to conclusions. I plan to read his previous works. I was blessed with a free ARC, and I’m voluntarily leaving my review. Highly recommend, you won’t be the same.

🎧 The Persistent Road by Tim Bishop, narrated by Kim Rasmussen. Doug has lost just about everything- his job, wife, and purpose for living- when he sets off on a cross country adventure on a bicycle. He struggles with feelings of grief, self-doubt, guilt, and anger which lead to very vocal suicidal thoughts. Doug must set aside his own pride and stubborn prior experiences to discover God’s plan over his life and accept the forgiveness that his wife always told him was waiting for him. This story is beautiful and uplifting. I received this advanced copy audiobook in exchange for my honest review. I have to say, I didn’t love the narrator. I honestly think I would have enjoyed it more on print or ebook. The audiobook published on February 9, 2024. Thank you, NetGalley, Open Road Press, IBPA, and Members' Audiobooks, for this advanced copy.

Honestly, I picked this up on a whim to pass some time, but it took me by suprise. I really enjoyed this heartwarming story of healing, forgiveness, and faith! I found myself getting emotional and crying a few times. It just truly touched my heart. The narration was great. I liked that the narrator was also mature, as was the main character. Although this was a first encounter with this author and narrator, I am looking forward to more from them in the future.
Thank you, NetGalley, Open Road Press, IBPA, and Members' Audiobooks, for the opportunity to listen and review this advanced copy.

This was a story that caught me off guard and that I will likely be unpacking for a while. This book tackles trials of many types in multiple characters-it seems it hit on nearly every trial you could imagine-and highlights not only our need for God but how He is the only one who can redeem us. I found myself feeling like this book was a bit like Safely Home by Alcorn, though very different as well. I listened to the book as an audiobook and while I can’t say I loved the narrator, I didn’t hate him either. He brought the characters to life and the story was told well through him. All in all a powerful book and a good read.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Audiobook Title: The Persistent Road
Series: The Bicycle Adventure #1
Author: Tim Bishop
Format: 🎧
Audiobook Narrator: Kim Rasmussen
Publisher: Open Road Press/ Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks
Audio Pub Date was: February 2, 2024
Star Rating: 3
Pages: 402

Story starts with Doug Zimmer, visiting his wife Ruth at the hospital. Ruth is dying of ovarian cancer. Doug is sixty and Ruth is three years older.
However, shortly before Christmas, Doug loses his job of thirty years and on Christmas Eve Ruth dies.
He and Ruth had planned to take a trip from California to Montana and before Ruth dies she tells Doug she wants him to go on that trip.
In fact, Ruth created a sort of scavenger hunt, and writes notes in cards for Doug to open on his trip. She wants Doug to know she is with him on this journey.

Doug meets several travelers on his trip. Lauren Baumgartner turns out to be a special person. She has a gentle way of being inspirational without being overbearing.
I was sure I was going to love this and I did like it - I just didn’t love the narrator.

Want to thank NetGalley and Open Road Press/ Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks for granting me this audiobook.
Audiobook Publishing Date was February 2, 2024.

The cover and prompt intrigued me, but the story drew me in and kept me reading. This is a beautiful story of emerging faith, heartache, choices, love, loss and found family. I feel in love with each character as the story progressed. I love the writing style and how God and scripture and the need for Christ was woven in the story beautifully. My only complaint is I didn't love the narrator. I highly recommend this read!
Thank you netgalley and the books publishers for the advanced copy of the book in audio format in exchange for my honest review.

The Persistent Road is a nice little story about an older man who is at the lowest point of his life. Nothing is going well and he is contemplating suicide. Through a meandering plot, he meets a few influential people who turn him to Christ. It is a good read to pick up your spirit and to give you some encouragement. As far as Christian fiction goes, this one wasn't horribly cheesy (still cheesy... just not unbearably cheesy). I liked it and I hope others will give it a try.

Well, I can honestly say, I did NOT see this one coming!!

I will start by saying that this is heavily based in Christianity, which is fine with me!
I will also say that this begins with a rather harsh pill to swallow...the death of a loved one...
Additionally, Doug, the main male character, loses his job under very cloudy circumstances...

So, Doug is very sad, angry, and in need of guidance...but he wants none of it.
He has a very supportive sister, who is religious, and so he tries to avoid seeing her, because he does not want to hear it! After all, what kind of an all loving, good God would ever take someone like Ruth? He has nothing left to live for...and he is now in debt up to his eyeballs...

He comes upon a letter that Ruth told him about before her death...several months after. Upon opening it, he finds that she has left him a map to what he should do with his life, after she is gone. She suggests that he go cycling (on his bicycle) to many of the places that they once held dear...as well as to many new places. He thinks she is insane!! But then, what else does he have to do? So he does some research, prepares himself, and leaves...without telling anyone where he is going, or what he is up to.

On the way he meets many people, and faces MANY challenges too!

But, the people, places and things that happen along the way are what makes this one so special!

We find Doug doubting himself, and his path, as well as his past...on many occasions.
We find him facing thoughts of suicide too...

But God has other plans for him, and he comes to realize that God has his own book...with everything charted out for us in it....

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #OpenRoadPress for an ARC of the audiobook which was released in February (so is available now!)

#ThePersistentRoad by #TimBishop and narrated beautifully by #KimRasmussen.

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Thanks so much for reading!📚⭐️

The Persistent Road is a heartwarming tale of loss, faith, and survival! Doug loses his wife to cancer and struggles with deep depression. Discovering letters his wife has left him, he sets out on a bicycle trip through multiple states. Through his journey he deals with his loss as well as questioning his non-existing faith. A great Christian fiction read!

YouTube review to come: 03/27/24
YouTube Handle: KeenCat

Many thanks to NetGalley and Open Road Press for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. This is narrated by Kim Rasmussen who does a great job. I recommend the audio version if that is of interest to you.

This was not the story that I expected with cliche references to religion...its an excellent story of a man's drive to live life after great disappointment, only to find salvation and God's peace at his lowest point. This is very well written and an engaging story!

Doug loses his wife to cancer, his job to greed, and his material things to debt, all in one season. So he heads out on a treasure hunt led by his late wife's parting letters while riding on his bike across the west coast. This character driven novel is told by Doug as he is put through the paces on his bicycle journey. When he arrives in Missoula, Montana, he pairs up with some other riders that play parts in his journey.

Highly recommend!