A Bend in the Road is a novel by bestselling author Nicholas Sparks. Two years ago, Miles Ryan lost his wife when she was killed in a hit and run accident. For the first time, Miles begins to date again when he meets his son's second grade teacher, Sarah Andrews. The relationship begins strong, but when Miles learns of new evidence in his wife's death he pushes everyone away. To save him, Sarah must sacrifice someone close to her and risk losing everything. A Bend in the Road is a romantic novel that questions what it means to be a husband, lover, and father.

Miles Ryan's wife died two years ago while jogging. Someone ran her over, killing her instantly. Miles was obsessed for a time with trying to find who killed her, feeling that as both her husband and a sheriff's deputy it is his responsibility. Recently, however, Miles has begun to move beyond his past and look to the future.

When Miles meets Sarah Andrews, his son's second grade teacher and he is immediately interested. However, Miles has never had to date as an adult and finds it difficult to find the words to ask Sarah out. Sarah has recently gone through a complicated divorce and is equally unsure when it comes to dating again. However, Sarah is not willing to allow this chance to pass her by. Sarah ends up asking Miles out.

Miles and Sarah find instant chemistry and date for more than a month before sliding into intimacy. Just when it seems that everything will work out for them, the past comes back to haunt Miles. After arresting a local drunk, Miles is told that a long time enemy of his, Otis Timson, confessed to the murder of his wife. Miles goes crazy, arresting Otis on his own and going back over the investigation to the exclusion of everyone, including Sarah and his son, Jonah. When Miles is suspended from his job for his actions, he refuses to back off of the investigation.

When Sarah tells her brother, Brian, about Miles' obsession and violent threats against Otis Timson, Brian confesses to Sarah that he was the one who hit Missy on that fateful day. Sarah forces Brian to tell Miles the truth. At first Miles becomes enraged, making accusations and attempting to arrest Brian. However, as time passes, Miles comes to realize that it was simply an accident. Miles makes the agonizing decision to let Brian go.