What do you think?
Rate this book
The Last Christmas Ride: A Novella
The Last Christmas Ride"" is an inspiring story of a woman who overcomes heartbreak and adversity through faith and family and emerges stronger than ever. It reminds us that all of us have obstacles on our life journey, and we must try to experience and share the joy of life along the way. The story begins with the four Blackburn children in an idyllic setting on a northern Alabama farm. Their days are filled with horse riding, wild adventures, elaborate fantasies, and climbing to the top of a nearby Indian mound to dream about their futures. They can hardly anticipate what will happen to them. Despite the most overwhelming tragedies, ""The Last Christmas Ride"" is an uplifting story based on actual people and events.""
188 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2007
About the author
Edie Hand
23 books6 followersEdie Hand is a businesswoman, speaker, media personality, filmmaker, international author, and Mom. She has authored or been a part of authoring over twenty-five books.
The Edie Hand Foundation’s brand “Women of True Grit” encourages women to share their stories and passion from the trials they face to their triumphs. Edie has partnered with Sinclair Broadcasting of Birmingham, Alabama to share Women of True Grit Vignettes in 2022.
She also comes from a wonderful family heritage of songwriting, acting, and music from the Hood-Hacker-Presley Family. Her legendary cousin was Elvis Presley and she learned first-hand about paying life forward through charities in One’s community.
The Edie Hand Foundation’s brand “Women of True Grit” encourages women to share their stories and passion from the trials they face to their triumphs. Edie has partnered with Sinclair Broadcasting of Birmingham, Alabama to share Women of True Grit Vignettes in 2022.
She also comes from a wonderful family heritage of songwriting, acting, and music from the Hood-Hacker-Presley Family. Her legendary cousin was Elvis Presley and she learned first-hand about paying life forward through charities in One’s community.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 3, 2014
2.5 stars. This storyline isn't terrible, but it isn't well written. The writing feels very repetitive. The story is heartfelt about love, loss, life's struggles and disappointments. A quick read.
November 17, 2017
I find it rather challenging to review a book, or in this case a novella, based on a true story. Your gut instinct would be if you absolutely loved the life or lives being shared to give it a five. And alternately much lower if you didn't like one of the individuals in the story (with this story I was not a fan of mother Blackburn, at all...I never saw somebody shirk on their duties so much or place blame on a blame-free recipient so cruelly).
So my rating will not be based on how I feel about the lives being shared, instead it will be about the writing and how I felt after reading the story.
Writing: What really stood out to me was when a major life event such as a birth, marriage or divorce occurred it was entered into the story so casually that you had to wonder if you missed a chapter! Now I know this is a novella however I have read plenty of short stories and this has never happened to me before.
I also like how all the bad events (I will just say "overwhelming tragedies ") were brought to the reader's attention in the very beginning. I normally don't like knowing how a book is going to end but in this case it wasn't about the ending it was about the road to the ending.
Feels: I thought this was a most beautiful book. Both inside and outside (did you see that cover!?).
This book, as I mentioned based on a true story, should have been incredibly sad. But with the emphasis on faith, love, family and responsibilities it saves itself. This is the type of stuff that makes an individual say to themselves I have it pretty good. Why do I complain so much? My trials and tribulations are nothing compared to that of the Blackburn family.
I really think this would be a book for the masses. It is a truly easy read yet it is so impactful. As I mentioned this book (the narrator/writer) heavily relies on faith – in this narrator's case: faith in God. With that being said I don't think you necessarily need to have faith in God to get this book or it's message. You just got to have faith (like George Michael sings).
"We have no control over life's events but we do have control over how we respond to them"
4.25/4.5 Stars
So my rating will not be based on how I feel about the lives being shared, instead it will be about the writing and how I felt after reading the story.
Writing: What really stood out to me was when a major life event such as a birth, marriage or divorce occurred it was entered into the story so casually that you had to wonder if you missed a chapter! Now I know this is a novella however I have read plenty of short stories and this has never happened to me before.
I also like how all the bad events (I will just say "overwhelming tragedies ") were brought to the reader's attention in the very beginning. I normally don't like knowing how a book is going to end but in this case it wasn't about the ending it was about the road to the ending.
Feels: I thought this was a most beautiful book. Both inside and outside (did you see that cover!?).
This book, as I mentioned based on a true story, should have been incredibly sad. But with the emphasis on faith, love, family and responsibilities it saves itself. This is the type of stuff that makes an individual say to themselves I have it pretty good. Why do I complain so much? My trials and tribulations are nothing compared to that of the Blackburn family.
I really think this would be a book for the masses. It is a truly easy read yet it is so impactful. As I mentioned this book (the narrator/writer) heavily relies on faith – in this narrator's case: faith in God. With that being said I don't think you necessarily need to have faith in God to get this book or it's message. You just got to have faith (like George Michael sings).
"We have no control over life's events but we do have control over how we respond to them"
4.25/4.5 Stars
December 29, 2023
I have to be honest here ... I'm not typically emotionally moved by a book, but I was with this one. You can't help but feel passion for the author as she recounts the deaths of her three brothers. She is a wonderful writer and you can picture everything that is going on. It's also an excellent holiday book.
January 9, 2021
This is a family story. Happy memories are shared as well as times of tragedy. As events unfold, the author learns from them, accepts them, and learns to go on. She supports her brother in fulfilling the final moments of his life.
January 24, 2023
5 children grow up in Alabama on a farm. They do everything together and then grow up and go their own way. 2 brothers are killed in different auto accidents, 1 develops a brain tumor and sisters Edie and Kim help him take one last ride. A good story.
February 12, 2023
Heartwarming story of a sister's love .
December 20, 2023
Too sad for Christmas.
January 22, 2024
Only read a couple of chapters and then put it down because it was not my cup of tea
February 23, 2017
I am not exactly sure how I got this book. I think one of my children brought it home from school. I chose to read this book because it is a local author. Very well detailed, and an interesting biography of local people.
December 4, 2008
Family is more important than things. Edie sacrificed most of her life for her brothers, more than most people would. In spite of that, she received fotune and fame. She is a special, wonderful, example of Christian giving and excellence.
December 30, 2014
Wow, has this woman been through a lot! Losing her 3 brothers and having cancer 3 times. Sheesh! :( The story was interesting, even though I don't buy into the idea of "god's plan" and bad things happening for a reason.
November 8, 2014
not exactly what i thought it was going to be but a nice story about love and enduring our trials.
December 4, 2008
She feels a bit sorry for herself and I don't agree with her Theology
June 20, 2009
This is a novella that was a great little find. Thought provoking about life, relationships, death, and God's eternal plan. This is based on true events in the author's life. Check this one out.
February 16, 2016
It's a good book.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews