Book Tour of The Last Drive by John W. Howell

Introduction

Today, I’m pleased to be joined by writer/blogger John Howell, featuring the release of his newest book, The Last Drive. After meeting John about three years ago, I was immediately intrigued because I realized my path was similar to his in that we both had long careers in other fields before we began writing. Besides being a talented writer, John blogs daily at Fiction Favorites. https://johnwhowell.com/,where you can find his regular features. His Top Ten Lists are always entertaining, as are his adventures with his two dogs, Lucy and Twiggy. My favorite regular segment is his Friday JohnKu when John writes an uplifting news story.

Since I read Eternal Road previously, I was excited to learn that John had decided to write a sequel called The Last Drive. I recently read that novel, and as expected, I was not disappointed. (Read my review below) Rather than taking up more space with a long introduction, I’d like to turn things over to John so he can tell you more about his latest novel.

I am so pleased to be guesting with you today, Pete. You have the honor of kicking off the
tour supporting The Last Drive, my latest fiction offering. This book is a sequel to Eternal Road– The Final Stop, and I must confess I had not intended to write a sequel. However, I was convinced to do so by well-meaning friends. They pretty much said to get back to the writing table and produce another book using Sam and James as the protagonists. Your background as a teacher and helping kids learn can help you understand that I could not ignore the request. Well, I did write the sequel. I might add that for those who have not read Eternal Road; there is no reason to do so to enjoy The Last Drive. The settings are different, and the antagonist, Lucifer, needs no introduction. 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

Captain Ryan Sanders could not miss the sickening sound of metal hitting metal, which
brought back a memory of a frightening hailstorm at his grandparent’s farm. The hailstorm had only made a lot of noise on the tin roof of the farmhouse. Unlike the hail, this isn’t a frightening but a benign memory of the repeated staccato of the ice—a single piece of metal striking his craft. The audible thump, and its physical manifestation, signals damage. When a person hears this kind of sound while driving a car, a quick maneuver to the shoulder is in order. When you hear it while piloting a supersonic F18, you want to look for a safe place to land. Also, you’d better pay close attention to the instruments and flight controls’ attributes.

A Link to the Trailer

Book Trailer of The Last Drive

Pete’s Review of The Last Drive

Having read two other novels by John Howell, Circumstances of Childhood and Eternal Road, I was sure to get an engaging story when I picked up The Last Drive. While this story is an excellent stand-alone, I’d recommend reading its predecessor, The Eternal Road, to get the full flavor of this novel.

Sam and James, two main characters from Howell’s previous book, are sent on a mission to find two lost souls. Ryan Sanders, an Air Force captain, died trying to protect others in a courageous act of selflessness. Eddie Rickenbacker, a well-known American fighter pilot who Sanders has always idolized, is assigned to find Ryan and help guide the captain as he decides on his Eternal Home.

Lucifer renews his rivalry with Sam and James and offers many temptations in exchange for Ryan’s soul. Part of the devil’s plan is to get any of their group to try and alter history, thus creating a whole series of chaotic world events. Lucifer sends the four to many memorable historical places and events to lead them astray. Howell’s substantial research shows in each of these scenes. One of the first stops on The Eternal Road is Super Bowl 1, but it only escalates from there when Lucifer continually challenges the characters by putting them in difficult circumstances.

This story of good vs. evil has some disturbing scenes, but considering Lucifer is one of the primary characters, I understand why Howell made these choices. Readers will find plenty of suspense, mystery, time travel, and even moments of humor within the story. Car enthusiasts may find delight in learning that the primary means of transportation throughout is a 1956 Buick Oldsmobile. I suspect anyone who likes a combination of world history and suspense will enjoy this novel.

Buy Links

The Last Drive is available in paper and Kindle editions on Amazon. Here are the universal links. The Kindle edition is on sale for 99¢ through mid-February.
Kindle https://mybook.to/FYmkKr
Paper https://mybook.to/BCsWV

Author John W. Howell

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