Book reviews – Detour on the Eternal Road and The Treacle People: Still Sticky #bookreviews #fiction #reading community

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My review of two very different but equally entertaining books.

Detour on the Eternal Road by John W. Howell

Picture caption: Book cover of Detour on the Eternal Road showing an old-fashioned car on a dilapidated highway

My Review

Detour on the Eternal Road, the third book in this series, is Sam and James’ most challenging adventure yet. Two souls, Billy Ray Chitwood, a national car racing champion, and his guide, Dale Earnhardt, have gone missing on the Eternal Road and Sam and James are tasked with locating them and getting the pair back on track with finding Billy Ray’s eternal home. Naturally, their disappearance was orchestrated by none other than Lucifer on his eternal quest to derail souls and his lesser obsession to befriend Sam and make her his queen.

While this book retains its fascinating historical aspects with a visit to the ‘Wild West’ and Hitler’s bunker during WW2, it also has a new and interesting futuristic angle. Events have been put in motion that will result in WW3 and the destruction of civilization. Howell depicts a dark and devastated post WW3 world reminiscent of Nevil Shute’s On the Beach, and quickly invests the reader in this quest for human survival.

This book delves into human nature and emotions such as anger, love, and disappointment as it plunges the characters into situations involving manipulation, deception, and determination to grasp power and wealth at any cost. The darkness of the plotline and themes are, however, off set by Howell’s sense of humour which provide reprieves and laughs for the reader.

A highly entertaining paranormal adventure with a strong Christian undertone akin to CS Lewis in The Screwtape Letters and The Great Divorce. Highly recommended.

Purchase Detour on the Eternal Road by John W. Howell from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DT4Q1FBR

The Treacle People: Still Sticky

Picture caption: Book cover for The Treacle People: Still Sticky depicting a fantasy landscape

My Review

I reviewed this book in my capacity as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team. If you would like your book reviewed, you can contact Rosie Amber here: http://rosieamber.wordpress.com/.

Picture caption: Rosie’s Book Review Team logo

The Treacle People is an entertaining and imaginative read for people of all ages. The treacle mines in Sabden which produce half of Britain’s treacle have run dry and the village people are in dire situation. Where can they find a new source of treacle to save their golden syrup, ginger beer and parkin cake business and keep the people of Britain in traditional treats?

Just as despair settles over the villages, hope arrives in the form of a note in a bottle setting out the location of the Professors treacle tracker as well as instructions to King Habbakuk fabled mines, an enormous source of treacle. The villagers set off on the adventure of a lifetime, facing manipulative and deceptive boggarts and all sorts of dangers including Moby Duck, a Great White Mallard which patrols the Molasso Sea. The ingenious characters and settings will delight children and adults alike.

Written and presented as an audio adventure, the sound effects and cast of characters were excellent. It reminded me of my childhood favourite Sparky audio series including Sparky’s Magic Piano and Sparky and the Talking Train. A delightful new family entertainment that will teach younger children to use their imaginations and to sit and listen instead of being supplied with a visual.

Highly recommended.

Purchase The Treacle People: Still Sticky from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0F1NMZYDN

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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

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75 thoughts on “Book reviews – Detour on the Eternal Road and The Treacle People: Still Sticky #bookreviews #fiction #reading community”

  2. Hi, Robbie. Congrats to John and to Johathan. “The Treacle People” sounds adorable.

    I agree that John Howell’s humor is the perfect offset to the seriousness of Detour on the Eternal Road. He’s a true master of the writing craft. Hugs all around.

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  8. Thank you for this outstanding review, Robbie. I’m so pleased you enjoyed the story and grateful that you took time from your busy life to tell others as well. I’m so thrilled and humbled by your beautiful words.

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  11. I love your review of John’s latest. I agree that it was the toughest challenge for the characters so far. And besides the historical content, the very human part appealed to me as well. Thank you for sharing, Robbie, and a big congratulations to John!

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    1. Hi Janet, in my opinion, British and American writers produce very different works of fiction. I only really read American authors after I started blogging and I see the different style clearly. Reading is such an adventure.

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