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Published: Aug. 28, 2011
Words: 41308 (approximate)
Language: English
Short description
Dale had everything—dream job, dream girl, dream life. He never planned on returning to the Indiana farm where he grew up. Yet, one phone call from his ex-fiance brings him back to face the brothers he abandoned and the consequences of the choices he made in pursuit of those dreams. Can a father's last wish reunite a family torn apart? Or will he lose everything driving to BelAir?Extended description
Dale had it all--a prominent career with a Manhattan ad agency, a luxury car, a beautiful, rich girlfriend--but when his ex-fiancé calls to tell him that his father has died, Dale's world crashes around him. What he thought would be a quick trip home for a funeral turns into a week-long road trip to scatter his father's ashes at the BelAir Resort in Florida. Trapped in a cantankerous old car with his two quarrelsome brothers, his still-bitter ex-fiancé, and his increasingly high-maintenance girlfriend, practically everything that can go wrong does.Will a father's last wish be the key to reuniting a family torn apart by tragedy? Or will Dale lose everything while driving to BelAir.
Tags
fiction, drama, generalAvailable ebook reading formats
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Reviews
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Review by:
Margaret (Literary Chanteuse)
on March 10, 2012 :
This is without a doubt one of the best road trip books ever. The road trip from hell. It has emotion, action, and humor. If you think you know what crazy moment will happen next you are in for a surprise. Great characters wrapped up in a really good story. Once I sat down to read it I could not stop. This is one of my favorite books this year so far.
(reviewed long after purchase)
Review by:
Sue Owen -Paper Mustang
on March 03, 2012 :
For a short story this had a lot of emotion. The author depicted pefectly the emotions surrounding losing someone from all aspects. He was also able to analyze what goes into a relationships and how to bring it back from the brink of destruction.
This was one of those books that makes you look at your own life, how you handled your losses and relationships and could find you lacking the understanding you should have had. At times it was hard to read because I could see my own thoughts reflected on those pages.
Overall it was a good book to read but not a casual read. In order to get the most from this book it has to be studied and not just read. I think the author did a good job tearing apart then repositioning the human emotions surrounding loss and family feelings. I recommend it.
(reviewed long after purchase)
Review by:
Helmy Kusuma
on Jan. 03, 2012 :
Awesome journey, mentally and scenically.
(reviewed long after purchase)
Review by:
Amanda
on Nov. 13, 2011 :
I laughed and I cried. No, I really did. This novella packs a big punch.
Dale ran fast and far from an abusive father and the family farm. Three years later, he’s back with a spoiled girlfriend and her little dog, too. To fulfill his father’s last wishes, he is supposed to make a trip from Indiana to Florida to scatter Dad’s ashes in the ocean. The catch is that he has to go with his brothers. One has just a little problem with marijuana, and the other is nursing a huge grudge against Dale for leaving home.
Can they make it all the way without killing each other? Or leaving someone on the side of the road? Maybe. But whatever happens along the way, you’ll laugh out loud. You might even shed a tear or two. It’s all worth it.
I got this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)
Review by:
Shannon Gambino
on Nov. 08, 2011 :
Driving to BelAir was a lively testosterone-laden made for Hallmark novella. As three brothers make their way to Florida to fulfill their father's last request to scatter his ashes in the ocean breeze, the men have to not only deal with their own internal demons but their feelings toward each other. Watching the emotional drama unfold from a man's perspective was quite refreshing in this novella. This story would be a great made-for-TV movie!
(reviewed long after purchase)
Review by:
Ricki Wilson
on Oct. 20, 2011 :
I always enjoy a good story that reminds us that EVERYONE has a family! Entertaining read!
(reviewed within a week of purchase)
Review by:
Nicole Storey
on Oct. 05, 2011 :
4.5 stars!
I didn’t know what to expect when I downloaded this book to read. As you all know, I am more of a fantasy/paranormal type of girl and I must say, I was skeptical; not that this was going to be a boring book, but that it wouldn’t be the right book for me. Boy, was I wrong!
Picture this: You are on a long car trip with your two brothers; one is a drug addict, but is sweet and innocent and needs someone to take him in, care for him, teach him how to be a man and stand on his own; the other is an alcoholic who has held a secret grudge against you for many years. Oh, and let’s throw in an ex-fiance and your new girlfriend into this crazy train wreck, too! Along the way, any thing that can go wrong, does, and you wind up in situations that you never dreamed you’d ever end up in. That is what happens to the main character, Dale, in this story.
As for the characters themselves, I started out feeling one way about them and by the end of the story, I saw them in a totally different light. Each one had a past; something that happened in their lives that made me feel compassion for them, but I also couldn’t stand a few of them to begin with, including the main character. By the end of this story, most of the characters do a complete 180 and only one stays the same. I like it when I think I have a character all figured out, only to discover that my perceptions were all wrong! To me, that takes a lot of skill on the author’s part and William G. Jones handled it as easily as a magician waving a wand and saying “Presto!”
I also enjoyed the way he captured the emotions of this dysfunctional family. The characters go through many ups and downs and he paints a picture that makes it clear to the reader why they feel and act the way they do. You may not agree with a character’s actions or emotions, but you still get the ‘why’. This book is one of those “the grass is always greener on the other side” types, but by the end, you are left wondering…is it really? Jones ends this book well, too. There are no loose ends and it doesn’t leave you wondering, “Well, what happened to so-and-so?!” If I could sum this book up in one word, it would be DRAMA. I would also like to tell Mr. Jones that if he were to submit this to someone that does movies for the Lifetime network, it would be a major success!
I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5. Now wait! The only reason I say that is because I really wish the ending had just a little more information about the characters’ feelings then. You are told what happens to them, but I was left wanting a little more information about their feelings towards one other after all was said and done. You get a little of this, but it is only from the main character’s point of view. I think that taking some of the other characters and maybe doing a short novella about each of them would be a great idea. They are all interesting and I think readers would love to learn more about them. Hint, hint, William! LOL!
I really enjoyed this book and I can say without a doubt that others will, too. Take this from someone who normally doesn’t read these types of stories; if it held my attention (and yes, I read it all the way through with hardly any breaks because I couldn’t stand to put it down) then it will surely hold yours! I can’t wait to read more from William G. Jones and I am proud to say that it is authors like him who have made me realize that there are more genres out there to be enjoyed!
(reviewed long after purchase)
Review by:
j bees
on Sep. 28, 2011 :
I will have to write a review later I have been very ill and I been ordered bed rest and I will get to it ASAP then I will need a lot of books to read then, from what I did rfead efore my sickness I know I will enjoy it.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)
Review by:
Donna Lawrence
on Sep. 27, 2011 :
Driving to Bel-Air is a book full of wonderful characters. Real characters, people the reader can understand, sympathize with, feel anger towards and finally, accept. This book would make a great TV movie--hear that LIFETIME?
Dale left behind his dysfunctional family for a better life in , where else but New York City. After the death of his father, he returns to the family he left behind. His father requested the family bring his ashes to Bel Air.. Dale is slowly persuaded to take the journey. What a journey. I don't want to give away spoilers. The journey is a time of growth for everyone. Dad is probably watching from heaven saying 'about time'.
Read this book. It's a quick read and an enjoyable one.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)
Review by:
Ray Hockamin
on Sep. 10, 2011 :
I laughed so hard my sides hurt. Good book. Recommend!
(reviewed the day of purchase)
Review by:
Pam Bainbridge-Cowan
on Sep. 10, 2011 :
What a terrific read! Driving to BelAir is filled with characters who think and act like real people. I laughed and cried, became frustrated, annoyed and completely and wonderfully engaged. This is the story of a man who left his dysfunctional family behind to strike out on his own and become successful. When his father dies, leaving a request that his children deliver his ashes to the old BelAir resort, his initial reaction is to resist. Inevitably of course he is persuaded to take the journey. Along the way he examines his own role in his family, looks at his mistakes and learns what success really means. I can't share all the funny, stupid, brilliant, and oh so possible events that take place in this book without leaving spoilers. Let me just say that if you don't read Driving to BelAir you are missing one really great road trip.
(reviewed within a week of purchase)