Blog Tour & Review: NOVEMBER ROAD by Lou Berney

Thank you so much to William Morrow for providing my free copy – all opinions are my own.Ā 

ā€œWith every decision we create a new future,ā€ Leo said. ā€œWe destroy all other futures.ā€

Description:Ā 

Frank Guidry, a loyal street lieutenant to New Orleansā€™ mob boss Carlos Marcello, Guidry has learned that everybody is expendable. But now itā€™s his turnā€”he knows too much about the crime of the century: the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Within hours of JFKā€™s murder, everyone with ties to Marcello is turning up dead, and Guidry suspects heā€™s next: he was in Dallas on an errand for the boss less than two weeks before the president was shot. With few good options, Guidry hits the road to Las Vegas, to see an old associateā€”a dangerous man who hates Marcello enough to help Guidry vanish. Guidry knows that the first rule of running is “donā€™t stop,” but when he sees a beautiful housewife on the side of the road with a broken-down car, two little daughters and a dog in the back seat, he sees the perfect disguise to cover his tracks from the hit men on his tail. Posing as an insurance man, Guidry offers to help Charlotte reach her destination, California. If she accompanies him to Vegas, he can help her get a new car. For her, itā€™s more than a carā€” itā€™s an escape. Sheā€™s on the run too, from a stifling existence in small-town Oklahoma and a kindly husband whoā€™s a hopeless drunk.

Itā€™s an American story: two strangers meet to share the open road west, a dream, a hopeā€”and find each other on the way.

“Frank Guidry paused at the corner of Toulouse to bask in the neon furnace glow. Heā€™d lived in New Orleans, the better part of his thirty-seven years on earth, but the dirty glitter and sizzle of the French Quarter still hit his bloodstream like a drug.”

My Review:Ā 

This historical fiction novel will appeal to every type of reader as itā€™s intelligently written with an excellent plot and fantastic characters.Ā 

Set in 1963, within the backdrop of the JFK assassination, Frank Guidry is a lieutenant for mob boss Carlos Marcello, who is clearly instructing Frank to tie up loose ends regarding the assassination. Frank is invaluable or so he thinks but what if he too becomes a loose end? He goes on the run and inadvertently meets up with Charlotte Roy and her two daughters. Charlotte just escaped a life with her alcoholic husband but her car has stalled on the side of the road. Just when she thinks her plan to escape will fail, along comes Frank, bringing mystery and adventure into her life.Ā 

NOVEMBER ROAD is addicting as the chapters alternate between the perspectives of Frank and Charlotte. I am very impressed and it is quite refreshing that the charactersā€™ dialogue is incredibly realistic. Frank and Charlotte are flawed but likable characters which are my favorite kinds. And even if you donā€™t agree with their actions, you find yourself rooting for them throughout the entire story. Also, there is a bit of cat-and-mouse in this story as Frank is being chased by a notorious mob. I absolutely loved the Route 66 setting with the true events of the JFK assassination and the subsequent conspiracy theories looming large in the background. The theme of redemption, reinvention, and the thrill of starting over, makes for a compelling and exciting read. There is something for everyone here and if you like historical fiction with a little kick, youā€™ll love this one!Ā 

My rating is 4 out of 5 stars!

Click here to purchase on Amazon.Ā 

Comments

22 responses to “Blog Tour & Review: NOVEMBER ROAD by Lou Berney”

  1. Amber Avatar

    I got this last month from BOTM! I need to read it soon. Iā€™m a sucker for anything Kennedy related.

  2. Amber Avatar

    Forgot my IG handle is @iowaamberreads

  3. Leah Avatar
    Leah

    @perfectperusals

  4. Emily Avatar
    Emily

    Iā€™m so happy to hear you liked it! Itā€™s in my TBR list, and Iā€™ve heard differing opinions. I love historical fiction though, and even characters who make decisions I donā€™t always agree with – like you mentioned. It brings an element of realness to those characters. Kind of like these differing reviews, we donā€™t all see everything through the same lens.
    @lily_jo_books

  5. BiblioKyra Avatar

    Love your IG & just started following your blog. Iā€™m excited to read my copy of this one. Glad you liked it. My IG handle is @bibliokyra. Thanks for the chance!

  6. Michele Jaeger Avatar
    Michele Jaeger

    Hi! Following your blog now! My ig handle is @theoxfordcommamomma

  7. readingbetweenwines Avatar

    I subscribed to your email, but I think I’m already following you?!? Apparently your blog is confusing lol. @reading.between.wines

  8. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    IG handle is amy_lynn_05

  9. swoab Avatar
    swoab

    @secretworldofabook Instagram account,

    This sounds like a fab book šŸ™‚
    šŸ¤žšŸ»šŸ¤žšŸ»

  10. Terry P. Avatar
    Terry P.

    Thanks for the chance, Janelle. Iā€™m signed up ( though I think I already subscribed)
    @hippiechickreads

  11. swoab Avatar
    swoab

    Following your blog now šŸ™‚
    @secretworldofabook

  12. Trisha Avatar
    Trisha

    Following your blog! IG @neverland.and.narnia

    This one sounds like a great read!

  13. Trisha Avatar
    Trisha

    Following your blog! @neverland.and.narnia

    This one sounds like a great read!

  14. SofĆ­a (bookssi Avatar
    SofĆ­a (bookssi

    I just started following your IG and I really love it! Thank you so much for the chancešŸŽŠšŸŽŠšŸŽŠ my IG is @bookssintheside

  15. Adriana Palma Avatar

    hey im following now , i came from ig my handle is thegirlonfire95 :3

  16. litobsessed76 Avatar

    Hi, Janelle!
    Following you here!
    My ig: @lit.obsessed.mom Loved your Dutton debut! Your šŸ± stole the show! Lol!! šŸ’˜šŸ’˜

  17. Dana Avatar
    Dana

    Following your awesome blog! @danish_mustard

  18. Candy Avatar
    Candy

    Sounds like a good read! Following blog and on IG @purpleshadowhunter

  19. The tales of Margo Avatar
    The tales of Margo

    Your reviews are very helpful. Just subscribed on your blog (ig: @thetalesofmargo)

  20. Katie Augustine Avatar
    Katie Augustine

    Following the blog now šŸ˜€. Love your reviews! Iā€™ve been curious about this one.

  21. maybethisisgemma Avatar

    My ig is @maybethisisgemma

  22. Brianna Avatar
    Brianna

    Following! My ig is @briannabeezy

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