“The Last Drive” by John Howell Book Tour

Today’s my day to host John Howell and rave about his new paranormal thriller, The Last Drive. John is one of my colleagues at Story Empire where he shares his knowledge about the craft of writing. If you’ve visited his active blog, you already know he writes flash fiction, shares the goings-on in his neighborhood, as well as good news from around the world. He’s also the dad of two adorable pups: Lucy and Twiggy.

I’ve read and reviewed ALL of John’s fiction including this one, which I snagged as soon as it came out. My review is below, but before we go there: Here’s John:

****

I am so pleased to be with you today, Diana. Thank you for helping spread the word about The Last Drive. You are such an accomplished author, and I have to tell you The Necromancer’s Daughter was one of the best books I have read. I’m not usually a fantasy reader but the blurb for your book had me hooked. You also read and review an impressive number of books which causes me to wonder when you have time to write. By the way, your review of The Last drive put a smile on my face and a spring in my step, and I appreciate your lovely words. Needless to say, I’m a big fan of yours, but I guess I should be talking about the book now.!

Here is the blurb and then we can get to a short excerpt from the book.

The Blurb

In the sequel to Eternal Road – The final stop, Sam and James are reunited to look for two souls, Ryan and Eddie. Ryan was killed in Afghanistan, trying to avoid a schoolyard with his crippled plane. Eddie Rickenbacker, Ryan’s hero, is to guide Ryan to his Eternal Home, and now both are missing.

The higher-ups believe that there has been some interference in Ryan and Eddie’s journey by Lucifer, so Sam and James have the task of finding Ryan and Eddie to get them back on the road despite the evil interference. Unfortunately, the machinations designed to prevent Ryan and Eddy from completing their journey take the pair to horrifying testing grounds. The places visited represent the best work of the Devil. They are the trenches of World War I in France, gladiators at the Roman Coliseum, the sinking Titanic in 1912, Hiroshima 45 minutes before the bomb, and the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1943.

This book is for you if you like plenty of action, strong characters, time travel, and a touch of spiritual and historical fiction. So, join Sam and James as they try to find the missing souls while staying one step ahead of the Prince of Darkness, who is determined to destroy all that is good.

An Excerpt

“Ah, shit. Now you’ve gone and ruined my fun.”

Sam takes a couple of steps toward Buddy. “Who are you?”

“A servant of the devil.”

Sam glowers. “What are you doing here?”

Buddy raises his hand in an affable manner. “Well, I heard you two were out hunting for a couple of lost souls, and I thought it would be a lot of fun to see if I could cause some mayhem.”

“We certainly don’t need that, and I don’t believe you for one minute. Show yourself.”

Buddy frowns. “Don’t say that.”

Sam shrugs. “Why not?”

“Because when you say that, I have to show myself, and I don’t want to.”

“Show yourself.”

The form of Buddy Holly fades, and a curtain of vapor rises to obscure the illusion. The fog dissipates and reveals a hunched troll. James waves the rest of the steam away and bends his knees to look the apparition in the eyes. 

The creature demands, “What are you looking at?”

James laughs. “I see a little silhouette of a man.”

“Sing me a song, why don’t you.” 

James spreads his arms and turns his palms up. “Okay,

I give. Who are you?”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“Nope. No kidding.”

Sam touches James’s shoulder. “I believe this is a messenger of the devil.”

The figure brightens. “Hey, sweetheart, you got a brain in that beautiful head of yours.”

James turns to Sam. “Is this a joke?”

Sam nods. “In a way. This is a human-like form. You know-who likes to pull little tricks. Remember when I said there was a spirit about? It’s this little squirt.”

The figure stamps his foot. “Who you calling a squirt, bitch?”

“My, my, he has the tongue of the devil.”

James grabs the troll by the shirt. The creature touches James, and a strong shock knocks him to the floor.

James scrambles to his feet. “Try that again, squirt.”

“Be happy to. Just come a little closer.”

Sam puts herself between the two. “Okay, let’s knock it off. What is it you want here?”

“I only have one thing to do, and then I’m free. Would you like to go out later?”

Sam shakes her head. “What do you have to do?”

“Deliver a message from His Lordship.”

“Deliver away.”

“His Lordship would like you to join him for dinner tonight.”

James pulls at Sam’s arm. “Here we go again.”

Sam shrugs James’s hand away. “What James is trying to say is we’ve been through this song and dance before. Go tell your boss we’re not interested in anything he has to say.”

Trailer

Universal Buy Links

The Last Drive is available in paper and Kindle editions on Amazon.

The Kindle edition is on sale for 99¢ through mid-February.

Kindle  https://mybook.to/FYmkKr

Paperback https://mybook.to/BCsWV

Diana’s Review

This book follows the adventures of Sam and James of The Eternal Road, but it stands alone perfectly well with the same level of imagination and detail. Spirits James and Sam return to the Eternal Road to search for Ryan, a recently deceased pilot, and his guide Eddie. The two men have gone off track while looking for Ryan’s eternal home. Lucifer has his fingerprints all over this book as he’s determined to have Ryan “join his team.”

Similar to the first book, the search takes Sam and James, and eventually Ryan and Eddie, to quite a few major events in time including the first Super Bowl, the California gold rush, 9/11, the sinking of the Titanic, and the horrors of Auschwitz. Some places they travel to on their own, but in most cases, Lucifer sends them there, wanting them to trade Ryan’s soul for a reprieve.

In some ways, Sam and James are on a quest, tasked with challenges they need to puzzle out as they operate in the past without changing the future. The directive not to fiddle with the future generates some heartbreaking scenes and tough moral decisions. Howell’s research into the tragedies of the past is notable, and there are some brutal scenes including sexual abuse.

Any heaviness in the book is initially countered by Lucifer. He’s sarcastic, snarky, and completely without verbal restraint, at the very least. His banter, particularly with Sam, was entertaining, though it became easier and easier to completely dislike him toward the end. The plot doesn’t follow a straight line, nor is it always logical, but it’s highly imaginative and recommended for fans of fantastical stories about the afterlife.

Author Bio

John is an award-winning author who after an extensive business career began writing full time in 2012. His specialty is thriller fiction novels, but John also writes poetry and short stories. He has written Six other books that are on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.

John lives in Lakeway, Texas with his wife and their spoiled rescue pets.

Author Links

Blog Fiction Favorites, http://johnwhowell.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/john.howell.98229241

Twitter –https://www.twitter.com/HowellWave

Goodreads –https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7751796.John_W_Howell

Amazon Author’s page –https://www.amazon.com/author/johnwhowell

BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/profile/john-w-howell

Eternal Road Buy links

Kindle Universal link  mybook.to/EternalRoad

Paper universal link mybook.to/Eternalroadpaper

211 thoughts on ““The Last Drive” by John Howell Book Tour

  1. Congratulations John, what a fabulous review Diana, and such a creative author. I can’t wait to dive into this one! Thanks for sharing Diana! Hugs, C

    Liked by 2 people

  2. Dalo 2013 says:

    Great review, Diana. I’ve been a fan of John’s blog for a while, and this review is such a great opportunity to learn a bit more about him and also his writing. The big hooks for me with books: time travel and a touch of spiritual and historical fiction 🙂 So this looks right up my alley.

    Liked by 2 people

    • John has a wonderful imagination, Randall, and he pulls together a rather complex story with just the right amount of tragedy, history, adventure, and humor. Not an easy feat! It’s been a pleasure to host him and spread the word about his book. Thanks for dropping by! 😀

      Like

  3. I can see why you’re skipping, John- fantastic review! I’ve enjoyed the excerpts you’ve shared and am curious about the trailer. Are you the creator?

    Liked by 3 people

  4. markbierman says:

    Just purchased Eternal Road and The Last Drive . . . I’ve got a bit of catching up to do. Thanks for sharing this great review, Diana! Congratulations, John, I look forward to reading this series.

    Liked by 3 people

  5. Gret review, Diana! Congrats on the release of this book John!

    Liked by 3 people

  6. I love the review and look forward to reading John’s book! The spiritual aspects are speaking to me. 😊

    Liked by 3 people

  7. Hi Diana, it’s great to see John here. I enjoyed your review and I’m glad you also enjoyed the dark humour.

    Liked by 3 people

  8. What a great tour this has been for John and his fabulous book, Diana! Thanks for your wonderful review and another fun stop! Congrats again to John! ❤️

    Liked by 3 people

  9. Toni Pike says:

    Wonderful to see John here – what a great excerpt and trailer, and what a brilliant concept. Toni x

    Liked by 3 people

  10. Jan Sikes says:

    This has been a fun tour, John. I wish you much success with this series. You have given us much to ponder about the afterlife. Diana, thank you for hosting and I enjoyed your review!

    Liked by 3 people

  11. acflory says:

    Great review, Diana, and congratulations on the new book, John!

    Liked by 3 people

  12. Teri Polen says:

    Congrats on another outstanding review, John! I tried to share this, but Twitter says I’m over the daily limit of 500 tweets. Which I find kind of odd since I’ve only tweeted once today. Stupid social media.

    Liked by 3 people

  13. Such a great review of John’s book and the word on the block from the ones I gifted it to is it strands alone and is very entertaining, just like yours Diana! As for me it sits amongst my TBR pile. I’m making some strides so you gotta cut me a little slack. 😂
    Nicely done!!! 💞

    Liked by 3 people

  14. Resa says:

    Diana,

    I can hardly wait to read this! It’s on deck.
    I read the first instalment, which is why I’m looking forward to reading this sequel.
    Of course … you know I’ll find some gowns to draw, and that adds to my excitement.
    Everyone’s so cool in this writers world.

    For John – 🐂🐂🐂🐂

    Liked by 3 people

  15. balroop2013 says:

    John’s tour is phenomenal! Congratulations! I like this excerpt, it exhibits his terrific skills. Thanks for sharing your insightful review Diana.

    Liked by 3 people

  16. Thank you both for the great introduction and review of this intriguing book. It was a pleasure to read. Congratulations to John on his release.

    Liked by 3 people

  17. Diana’s place is the perfect place to end a very successful blog tour! Thanks for hosting, Diana. Congratulations, John, on another excellent review and a very successful tour. It was a pleasure to come along for the ride!

    Liked by 3 people

  18. Congratulations on your latest book, John. I bet it’s a page turner just like all the others.

    Liked by 3 people

  19. petespringerauthor says:

    Wow! Quite a tour for John. His book tour started on my blog on Jan. 3rd and is finishing here today, Diana, with daily stops along the way. I commend him for staying on top of it all. The Last Drive could have been a stand-alone, but I was already invested in some of the characters, which added to my enjoyment.

    Liked by 3 people

  20. Excellent review, Diana, and it’s good to see John’s terrific novel getting such fine reviews and being aired by such good people. Congratulations, John, on another great review from a talented and accomplished writer.

    Liked by 3 people

  21. Such a wonderful review of John Howell’s book. I’m a huge fan of “fantastical” and this sounds like a great book. John is a favorite writer of mine. I enjoyed the interview and the review. You’re the best ❤️

    Liked by 3 people

  22. D.L. Finn, Author says:

    I agree about Necromancer Daughter, John. Another great post and excerpt for another great story.

    Thanks for hosting, Diana 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

  23. Wonderful, pithy review (as usual). I wish John all the best with this launch. Every time I see that cover, with that road, I want to travel it. Sigh.

    Liked by 3 people

  24. Layla Todd says:

    Love this look at The Last Drive and the way the title builds off the previous book. I enjoy that this book blends strong characters with historical fiction elements, as it sounds like a fine read! ❤

    Liked by 3 people

  25. Wonderful review of the amazing book by John, Diana. I enjoyed reading the review. Thanks a lot

    Liked by 3 people

  26. Well, the blurg caught my attention which is a surprise because I don’t usually like this theme. But your book sounds fun & interesting John. And what a wonderful intro Diana, clearly you two enjoy each other’s writing.

    Liked by 3 people

  27. noelleg44 says:

    The perfect person with whom to end John’s tour. The Eternal Road absolutely deserved a follow-up, and what a splendid job John did with it!

    Liked by 3 people

  28. Good excerpt, John, and good review, Diana. I’ve read The Last Drive, and I enjoyed it. That ending had me crying!

    Liked by 3 people

  29. That was a fun excerpt, John! Thanks for sharing his book with us, Diana!

    Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
    http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com

    Liked by 3 people

  30. Both books are on my TBR list. Also, I think my husband would like them, too. We are both fans of The Dresden Files and Supernatural. The Eternal Road and The Last Drive would make an excellent series. I will be waiting…

    Liked by 3 people

  31. Thanks for hosting our friend, Diana! John is a terrific writer. I enjoyed your wonderful review! xo

    Liked by 3 people

  32. Thank you for helping spread the word on The Last Drive, Diana. Yours is the last stop on the tour, and I’m grateful for your support. Your review is breathtaking and does validate that the right choice was to do a sequel to Eternal Road. I appreciate you. 😁

    Liked by 2 people

  33. Another great tour stop, and that’s a great review.

    Liked by 3 people

  34. Dale says:

    This is a fabulous review, Diana. You have perfectly captured the essence of this wonderful book without giving anything away.

    Liked by 3 people

  35. GP says:

    Thank you for being part of John’s book tour, Diana.

    Liked by 3 people

  36. Lady Tessa says:

    Thank you for sharing this wonderful sounding story, Diana. And congrats to John on the release of his new book!

    Liked by 3 people

  37. Staci Troilo says:

    Thanks for hosting, Diana. You wrote an excellent (and well deserved) review. All the best to John.

    Liked by 3 people

  38. Joan Hall says:

    Great review, Diana, and I’ll add my recommendation for this book. A huge congrats to John.

    Liked by 3 people

  39. Dan Antion says:

    Thanks for hosting the last stop on the Last Drive tour, Diana. I love your review, and I have enjoyed this latest book from John.

    Liked by 3 people

  40. Mae Clair says:

    Another great tour stop for an excellent book. Congratulations to John on his release and that wonderful review. I thoroughly enjoyed this tale, too!

    Liked by 3 people

  41. […] am on the last stop of The Last Drive tour. I’m so pleased to be with Diana Peach. You can go HERE to connect to her […]

    Liked by 1 person

  42. The Eternal Road really was in need of a follow up. So many thanks to John for offering it now. Thank for reviewing, Diana. Now i can better follow the line. Best wishes, Michael

    Liked by 3 people

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