Giant George

In 2006, Dave and Christie Nasser decided that they wanted to expand their family, but not in the way most of us would think. They decided to adopt a puppy since they were moving to Tucson, Arizona and buying a new home. It was what Christie needed to make the jump from living in California near her family and friends and moving to where Dave wanted. This was their compromise.

While researching breed types for the perfect type, they knew they both wanted a large dog. They settled on a Great Dane, but after searching thoroughly in the state of Arizona, they couldn't find any that would be ready to adopt right now. They did locate a breeder in Oregon who had some ready to go, and after careful selection from talking on the phone with her and email correspondence, they settle on a runt of the litter, a blue male dog they would name George.

The only problem facing the Nasser's now was finding a home soon enough and so they managed to hide George from the apartment managers and nosy neighbors until he got too large to hide. It was with great luck, they found a suitable fixer-upper thanks to Dave's job in Real Estate. They would soon discover that their problems would only continue to grow at such an alarming rate that what they dreamed of, would be much bigger than they could handle. Much bigger!



In the novel, Giant George, Life with the World's Biggest Dog by Dave Nasser with Lynne Barrett-Lee, the reader is in for the ride of their life, when they see just what happens when the Nasser's adopt the runt of the litter, only to have it turn out to literally be, the World's Largest Dog, EVER! It's a delightful story into the joys of raising George, and all the problems that go hand in hand with raising a large breed dog, who truly believes he is one of the family. I mean how do you manage a 245 pound dog?

I received Giant George compliments of Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review. This is a must read for dog lovers everywhere and for those of you that dream of owning a large breed dog, you might just want to check this one out first to make sure you know what you're getting yourself in for. I rate this one a GIANT 5 out of 5 stars and think this one is going to make you smile all the way through it.

For more information on Giant George, Dave Nasser and Lynne Barrett-Lee, or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Giant George: Life with the World's Biggest Dog by Dave Nasser with Lynne Barrett-Lee

You can also find Giant George on Facebook by clicking here or on his webpage by clicking here.

Unbridled Grace

When Dr. Michael J. Normal answered an ad in the newspaper for a part-time chiropractor, he believed it was the answer to a prayer. Trying to find a way to supplement his current income in his private practice so his wife could stay home as a full-time mom and wife, he believed God had answered his prayers.

However sometimes we are in such a rush to take advantage of what seems to be a good thing, we miss all the tale-tell signs that are simply too good to be true. What enviably happened was that his current employers were using Dr. Norman's part time business working for them as a front in a Russian-Mafia scheme and since his name was listed as the primary doctor, they were also listed on all the business paperwork. It would be the ultimate cost to him and his family in finding a way out. It's not like he could just quit his job when confronted by insurance lawyers and facing federal indictment charges, now his family was at risk once his employers knew that their cover was blown.

How far would they be willing to go to make sure Dr. Norman kept his mouth shut? Would they threaten his current practice and family? Would God be able to provide a way out?

In the novel, Unbridled Grace, Dr. Michael J. Norman takes his readers on a remarkable journey into one man's nightmare and how God taught him valuable lessons he might have not learned any other way, through this true story about the power of our choices. In this book, Dr. Norman educates his readers through the retelling of his own personal crisis, exactly how God was with him every step of the way, and how many times He tried to intervene but since the choice remained with Dr. Norman, unfortunately not every choice is the right one to take and God is not to blame.

I found the book compelling to show readers how simple it is to blame God for everything that doesn't go right in our lives and sometimes it takes a turbulent storm to bring us back to the realization that we need to change direction and head for calmer waters. I received this book compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review and easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars. Sometimes we learn our best lessons through going through the fires and trials of life and in the end, God really does bring out goodness from the dark.

For more information on this book, the author and even where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the link below:

Unbridled Grace by Dr. Michael J Norman

The Coming Revolution

This book comes at the perfect time for me teaching my 7th grade daughter about the American Revolution in History! We know that history bears lessons of both success and failures of what we've gone through as a country and just where we have fallen short even now. What this leads me to believe is that our country is sitting on the cusp of another Revolution in America.

Just how have we missed the mark? The things that are happening now are becoming the new accepted norm, redefinition of marriage, our educational system is failing and we're dumbing down our standards for our children, as well as accepting things our founding fathers would be appalled over. The 2010 election was a watershed. It was in effect a firewall against further encroachments and further legislative destruction from the Left. It was a good start, but it was just a start. Those who would like to undermine our form of government, our traditional values and beliefs, and our way of life haven't gone away. They're just waiting for the opportunity to strike again. That's one of the reasons why author, Dr. Richard G. Lee has written the book, The Coming Revolution, as a warning and a wake-up call to every citizen to stand up, speak up, and become engaged in the contest for America's future.

Make no mistake; we are in a contest to see what this nation will be for the next two hundred years. Will we uphold the values of the Founders, who were dedicated to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Will we defend the moral and ethical values our forefathers fought and died for? Or will we stand by silently, like the dazed and defeated citizens of a half-dozen fallen empires of the past, and watch this nation sink into the swamp of socialism, totalitarianism, and anarchy, ultimately leading to collapse? This is choice we have to make, and it is one contest we can't afford to lose.

We live in a significant time of change. But the change Washington imagined - and promised - has failed; leaving many Americans disenchanted, disappointed, and angry. With the masses stirring restlessly under the current leadership, the potential for a revolution is great. But what, exactly, would God have us do?

I received the book The Coming Revolution by Dr. Richard G. Lee, compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers for my honest review. I personally think this is a book every single person who lives in the United States should read. Lee examines with conviction and mastery the social and religious elements that propelled American into the First American Revolution and opens discussion for the idea that this generation may also be seeking "a new freedom" is startlingly similar ways as our ancestors. This book will encourage readers to find their voice and join the countless men and women who are taking a stand against the direction America's leaders are taking them. Lee challenges us to follow our deeply held convictions and the promptings of faith to lead once again to new personal and national freedoms. This one rates a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion!

Fore more information on this book, the author and where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the link below:

The Coming Revolution by Dr. Richard G. Lee

KBL - Kill Bin Laden: A Novel Based On True Events

Moving from the political battlefields of Washington, D.C., and the secure, seventh-floor suite of the CIA director in Langley, Virginia, to the dusty streets of Peshawar, Lahore, and Abbottabad, Pakistan, to the rough Afghan interior, to the Middle East and western Europe, this fictional narrative brings to life the drama behind SEAL Team 6’s breathtaking raid in which Bin Laden—a.k.a. Crankshaft, a.k.a. al Mas (the Diamond), the ghost, the wraith, the grail for counterterrorists for more than a decade—met his fate.

Filled with pulse-pounding excitement and the tactics, intelligence tradecraft, and operational sources and methods used in real-world CIA and special-operations missions, KBL: KILL BIN LADEN is a thrill-a-minute dramatization that sets the standard for adventure novels as it brilliantly imagines the action, intrigue, and suspense of this real-life event and offers a glimpse of the new face of warfare.

My Review:

This is a book based on the events surrounding the plot to kill Usama Bin Laden and the men whose mission it was to see that it was carried out. This book probes the hearts and minds of America's secret warriors, revealing what the job means to them and the toll it takes. Here are the Navy SEALS who can never admit what unit they work for; the CIA paramilitary operators who risk their lives among the enemy, putting themselves in harm's way knowing their existence will be denied if they are killed or captured; and the elite cadre of gritty leaders who bravely put country and security above politics.

This book is not like the Hollywood productions of Jason Bourne or Ethan Hunt, but truly gives the readers an inside view on what it takes to put your live on the line to bring a terrorist to justice and secure the safety of the country they love and serve. I was captivated by this story because I love movies like Mission Impossible but from a true sense of where the actual stories come from. Having know friends involved with Black Ops, I know how real and intense their stories can be, although they can never share the information with anyone.

This is a must read for anyone who loves stories involving true life events told from all the perspectives of those involved and to see just how difficult it is to bring criminals to justice when they lie outside our countries borders and people will do anything to make sure they are never found.

I received this book, KBL: Kill Bin Laden by John Weisman compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review and LOVED every single page of this compelling novel. It's hard to believe that the book you are reading isn't a fictional story but one that actually happened. For that reason alone, this one rates a hands down 5 out of 5 stars! For more information on this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the link below:

KBL: Kill Bin Laden: A Novel Based On True Events by John Weisman

High Treason - Review and Giveaway

I am so excited to share an interesting twist to your suspense fiction as well as your typical Amish storyline combined into one exciting novel, High Treason by Samuel Oakes.

This is NOT your typical Amish fiction story where everything is perfect and leaves you with a general feel good stories that paint the Amish people in a good light. This one shows such conflict, it often leaves the reader with their mouth hanging wide open when you realize what your getting. Let me first share the premise of the novel to give you a birds-eye view of just what you're getting yourself into.

The future is here for a bankrupt nation gripped in the throes of the plague, and the corrupt government is in charge of the vaccine. Young Amishman Enos Yoder faces the greatest crisis of his life when his father refuses to accept the compromises the Bishop has made, and his mother lies on her deathbed. Will the family survive, or will they all be consumed by his father's stubbornness?

Regina Owens, the liberal minister in town, is having her normal world rocked to the core by what is happening. She watches a woman fleeing the helping hand of the government, and wonders why a man would lift his own hand against what is most precious in life. And who is blowing up the government buildings?

Trouble seems to never stop, as it ever moves closer. Will Enos recover from the brutal shock when his girlfriend is taken from him? Will his faith, backed by five hundred years of teaching against violence, survive the hate rising in his heart?



This is a story of love, of bitterness, and of treason, rising up in the heart of a man and in the highest corridors of government. So as you can see this book has a little bit of everything geared to virtually every genre that readers LOVE! Now you can see where my excitement level stems from. This is such a unique style of book because at it's core is a virus that is killing people faster than they can manufacture a vaccine to fight it, leaving people exposed with nothing to fight it. Once you agree to accept receiving the vaccine, then you are pledging yourself to become part of the war effort and in a sense volunteering your services to be immunized. The only downside is if you pass on receiving it and come down with the plague, the hospitals are authorized by the government to refuse to treat you, leaving you with the option of dying a horribly, painful death in a matter of hours.

Now you can see where the triangle of story lines intersects with an Amish family refusing help from the English even though their Bishop has authorized that individual families can choose whatever course they deem beneficial to help fight against the plague, but Enos' father refuses to allow anyone in his household to receive it. Meanwhile Regina Owens, is struggling with finding a way to help people within the ministry while people are dying literally by the second, making desperate attempts to seek medical assistance even if it means breaking the law. All this while the government attempts to keep the lid on the media and being exposed for what is really going on and just who is ultimately responsible.

I received this book compliments of Samuel Oakes for my honest review and LOVED it! Once I started, I could not put it down. It's a thrill-ride a minute in trying to figure things out and wonder just what will happen next. It will leave you completely breathless and wanting more. Samuel Oakes has an amazing talent to hook his readers and keep them entertained and engaged til the very end. Hands down 5 out of 5 stars!!

For more information on the book, the author and where to purchase a copy of this amazing book, please click on the links below:

High Treason by Samuel Oakes

You can also follow Samuel Oakes by clicking here.

Thanks to the generosity of Samuel Oakes, he is providing a giveaway copy to one lucky reader of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here's your guidelines to enter:

1. Be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart.

2. Be a resident of the US or have a US shipping address. Please No P.O. Boxes.

3. "Like" my Reviews From The Heart Facebook page and leave me a comment.

4. Leave me a comment here telling me why you would LOVE to win a copy of this book, along with your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

The giveaway will end on November 15th and I will notify the winner at that time.

An Invisible Thread

"An invisible thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, and circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle. But it will never break." ~ Ancient Chinese Proverb

"Excuse me, lady, do you have any spare change?"

This was the first thing he said to me, on 56th Street in New York City, right around the corner from Broadway, on a sunny September day.

And when I heard him, I didn't really hear him. His words were part of the clatter, like a car horn or someone yelling from a cab. They were, you could say, just noise - the kind of nuisance New Yorkers learn to tune out. So I walked right by him, as if he wasn't there.

But then - and I'm not sure why I did this - I came back.

I came back and I looked at him, and I realized he was just a boy. Earlier, out of the corner of my eye, I had noticed he was young. But now, looking at him, I saw that he was a child - tiny body, sticks for arms, big round eyes. He wore a burgundy sweater that was smudged and frayed and ratty burgundy sweatpants to match. He had scuffed white sneakers with untied laces, and his fingernails were dirty. But his eyes were bright and there was a general sweetness about him. He was, I would soon learn, eleven years old.

He stretched his palm toward me, and he asked again, "Excuse me, lady, do you have any spare change? I am hungry."

What I said in response may have surprised him, but it really shocked me.

"If you're hungry," I said, "I'll take you to McDonald's and buy you lunch."

"Can I have a cheeseburger?" he asked.

"Yes," I said.

"How about a Big Mac?"

"That's okay, too."

"How about a Diet Coke?"

"Yes, that's okay."

"Well, how about a thick chocolate shake and French fries?"

I told him he could have anything he wanted. And then I asked if I could join him for lunch.

He thought about it for a second.

"Sure," he finally said.

We had lunch together that day, at McDonald's.

And after that, we got together every Monday. For the next 150 Mondays.

His name is Maurice, and he changed my life.

Thus begins a life changing adventure not only in Maurice's life, but also in Laura Schroff's as well. How one day when you make a small step towards doing something different in your routine, it will alter your life and take you on a different path that will make you a better person than you ever dreamed.

An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski is the true story of 11-year-old panhandler, Maurice, and a busy sales executive, Laura Schroff and their unlikely meeting with destiny that fateful day. Much like the movies, The Blind Side, this novel takes the reader into the journey of what that one encounter did for both of their lives to enhance it and make it more than they ever imagined. It also shows us just how similar their lives were in how they grew up and how it made Laura more empathetic to the situation Maurice was in.

Forced into making a living for himself since his mom and family were hooked on drugs and in selling them as well, they didn't have time to look after Maurice. This is where Laura finds him that Monday afternoon, looking for some spare change to get enough to eat and a warm place to kill time before he heads back home in the welfare apartments that he shares at times with twelve other family members.

Laura is a successful ad executive now working the USA today and is single. All she does is spend time working and finding more clients to purchase ads for the newspaper. It isn't until that one Monday that she realizes that there is more to life than simply putting all her time and effort into her job. There is a life outside just waiting and she will at least change one life, one day at a time through her meetings with Maurice on Mondays.

I received this book compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review and LOVED this warm story of hope being revived in both of their lives. Laura doesn't want to rescue Maurice and become his family, she simply wants to make sure that Maurice understands a different view of the world than what he has seen. She takes the time to really know Maurice and in return shares a part of her life that she hasn't shared with anyone, not even close family or friends. They compliment one another very well and the reader is in for a very memorable ride and an opportunity to see that there are no "chance" encounters! Hands down a wonderful 5 out of 5 stars that will restore our faith in humanity again!

For more information about this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski

Kisses From Katie

The average, eighteen-year old girl, when she graduates from high school begins to plan her future. When she has a wonderful boy she's in love with, graduated at the top of her class and her parents have told her she can attend any college she wishes, that is the perfect stepping off point towards her adult life.

Yet for Katie Davis, she leaves it all behind. ALL OF IT! Breaks up with her boyfriend, packs up enough personal belongings and leaves for Uganda, Africa. No college plans, no getting married, just leaves for a missionary life helping out in the orphanages in Uganda.

It started off as a year long project with promises to her family she would return and begin college, yet Katie could leave behind the new friends and children who truly needed her. Even though she was only one person, sometimes that's all it takes to get the process moving. To quote Katie in her own words:

"Sometimes working in a Third World country makes me feel like I am emptying the ocean with an eyedropper. And just when I have about a half a cup full of water, it rains: More orphaned children from the north migrate to where I live, more abandoned and dead babies are found, more people are infected with HIV. It is enough to discourage even the most enthusiastic and passionate person. And yet the discouragement lasts only a moment and God tells me to keep going. That He loves me. That He loves these people. That He will never leave or forsake any of us, not one. That my work is important to him. That love is the reason I just keep filling up my little eyedropper, keep filling it up and emptying my ocean one drop at a time. I'm not here to eliminate poverty, to eradicate disease, to put a stop to people abandoning babies. I'm just here to love. "



In the novel, Kisses From Katie by Katie Davis and Beth Clark, we see how one person is making a difference in the lives of children, one child at a time. This is the story of Katie Davis and how she is telling the story through this book of how God is changing lives through her hands and heart. She is showing people who can't communicate with her, the love of God and Jesus, and it shows in every single page. While at times she gets frustrated with efforts to not be able to help fast enough or big enough, Katie teaches us all through this book, we can all work towards helping to put an end to starving, orphaned children. God does provide enough, we simply have to ALL be willing to do our part to help.

I received this book compliments of Simon and Schuster for my honest review and was so deeply touched by Katie's story. How could you not? Katie's message is very clear. We may not all have a call of being a missionary on our lives, but we can all help. We can all begin today to make a difference in the lives of people all around us, we simply need to be willing. Once God finds a willing heart, watch out for the amazing things He will be able to do! I rate this novel a 5 out of 5 stars and if your interested in more about Katie Davis, the novel or where you can purchase this book, click on the links below:

Kisses From Katie by Katie Davis and Beth Clark

You can also follow Katie on her blog by clicking here.
If you want to help out to support the people in Uganda and Amazima Ministries, click here.

From The Garden To The City

Ever wonder if technology is becoming too powerful in our daily lives? Besides noticing how people rarely meet face to face these days in light of access to social media sites and the benefits of instant messaging and text messaging, even the average phone call is almost becoming obsolete. So is technology really helping us or hurting us?

In the recent book, From The Garden to the City by John Dyer, he discusses the benefits of the redeeming and corrupting power of technology in our lives. From early childhood most of us older adults remember how we spent our time before the invention of the mobile phone and the computers. We spent our time out with friends, usually playing all kinds of games from hide and seek or using our imagination and pretending we lived in other worlds or times.

Now this generation doesn't have to pretend with the internet. They can play role playing games on line with users from all over the world, or even just by themselves. Hooked up to headphones, wireless devices and high speed internet, they can get lost in virtual worlds we could only dream of so long ago. So is this benefiting us or harming us?

"Technology in the last century has had more advances than in the last thousand years. Abe Lincoln and Abraham from the Bible have more in common than anyone born in the 1900's. They were both separated by some 3800 years. Abraham's father raised cattle, and Mr. Lincoln planted pumpkins. We spend most of our time indoors working at desks with little knowledge of the natural world. Both men attended small religious gatherings with people they knew from the surrounding areas. We drive several miles to sit in huge auditoriums and watch screens with thousands of people, many of whom are strangers. Their water supply and bathrooms were outside; ours are inside. They lived in small, one-bedroom dwellings lit by candles; we live in comparatively enormous homes equipped with electricity, phone, cable and Internet lines. They wrote letters and spoke in person; we write electronically and speak through devices. They weathered the seasons; we control the weather with air-conditioning. "(pg 21-22).

It all depends on the perspective in how it's being used, some people are waiting for the advancement of medical technology so we can live even longer if not forever, but God has a definitive time line. This world, will not, last forever despite what technology claims it can do.

I received this book compliments of Kregel Publishers for my honest review and LOVED seeing things from a completely different perspective in addition to what references the Bible makes in regards to technology. I think John's research into the areas of how far we have advanced in technology and some of the dangers that exist for people to use it for their personal gains is insightful and one every Christian should read. It even shows how some well-meaning uses of technology in the church can also have a destructive effect in how people view the services and the Bible as well. I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it to any parent who tells their kids to stop spending so much time texting!

For more information on this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

From The Garden To The City by John Dyer

Following Atticus

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Middle-aged, and overweight, Tom Ryan and miniature schnauzer Atticus M. Finch are an unlikely pair of mountaineers, but after a close friend dies of cancer, the two pay tribute to her by attempting to climb all forty-eight of New Hampshire's four-thousand-foot peaks twice in one winter while raising money for charity.

In a rare test of endurance, Tom and Atticus set out on an adventure of a lifetime that takes them across hundreds of miles and deep into an enchanting but dangerous winter wonderland. Little did, they know that their most difficult test would lie ahead, after they returned home...

At the heart of this remarkable journey is an extraordinary relationship that blurs the line between man and dog, an indelible bond that began when Tom, following the advice on Atticus' breeder, carried the pup wherever he went for the first month of their life together.

In his debut novel, Following Atticus, by Tom Ryan, is ultimately a story of transformation: how a five-pound puppy pierced the heart of a tough-as-nails newspaperman, opening his eyes to the world's beauty and it's possibilities. It was a change that led to a new life among the mountains; an unforgettable saga of adventure, friendship, and the unlikeliest of family; and an inspiring tale of finding love and discovering your true self. Tom would be completely transformed from the person he started out with to the person he would become in the time he spent with Atticus. Atticus would teach he all he needed to know to see things from a completely different perspective and in turn would make Tom a better person in the end.

I received this novel compliments of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review and for anyone who has a deep admiration for pets and the remarkable chemistry that comes out when you are with your pet, you will find nothing but pure, unconditional love between Tom and Atticus. This just goes to show us all that nothing is impossible, it just needs to be attempted. He shows us all the unique ability of communication we have with the pets we love goes well beyond words we can understand, they have to be felt! I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information on this book, the author and where you can pick up this book at your local retailer, click on the links below:

Following Atticus by Tom Ryan

You can follow Tom and Atticus on their blog, by clicking here.