Every Waking Moment

Treha Langsam has a unique ability and one that works well where she is employed. She can connect with those who seem lost within themselves, victims of such illnesses like Dementia and Alzheimer's who rob not only the family members from being able to communicate with their loved ones but often times the loved ones who remained trapped within prisons of their own body. Treha can relate because she too is different. Judged by outside appearances of eye movements she can not control, often time society has a label of "different" that they place on her instead of simply getting to know the real person behind what the skin hides.

Perhaps this is the very reason she can connect with those elderly loved ones she helps in the Desert Garden Home. Unlike most retirement and hospice centers, the director Miriam Howard sees more that just providing a place for the elderly to live out whatever remains of their life. She believes in treating them like family and the center more like a real home. One in which they find love and acceptance and not abandonment and loneliness and Treha provides that connection to draw them out where they remained locked inside their body.

Now if only someone can find the key in which to unlock the past that remains hidden even to Treha, one that will provide to her the answers which she seeks, who she is, does she have a family out there somewhere and can someone help her physically to get better. It seems that the answers lie within one elderly patient Dr. Crenshaw who finds that sharing riddles, puzzles and word clues with Treha's unparalleled ability to solve them in record time holds the key that will unlock the door to her hidden life.

I received Every Waking Moment by Chris Fabry compliments of Tyndale House Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed are strictly my own. I LOVE Chris Fabry's novels because hidden within the pages of each one is a treasure waiting to be found. I don't even have to read the book premise any longer when I know he has written another new novel because I know I will enjoy it like eating my favorite meal. It is meant to be savored because you don't get them that often so you LOVE to enjoy every single moment. This one was no exception. I love how Chris chose to incorporate a retirement home and the telling of the stories the elderly hold is exceptional and often taken for granted the stories that each one holds inside. We get a glimpse of some of those and it gives us wisdom if we are willing to listen and take the time to hear them. I rate this novel a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Every Waking Moment, Chris Fabry or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Every Waking Moment by Chris Fabry

You can find Chris Fabry on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on Every Waking Moment, consider stopping at Tyndale House Publisher's website.

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers (August 16, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414348630
• ISBN-13: 978-1414348636
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1 inches

Not In The Heart

What would you do to save the life of your child? For most of us parents, the answer is an easy one. There isn't anything we wouldn't do. However for a man like Truman Wiley that answer has been a struggle. A difficult internal struggle at that. Being married to Ellen and having two children, Aiden and Abigail, he has spent his whole life trying to measure up to what he believes they expect and want from a husband and father. When he comes up short, he turns to his only addiction, gambling. Whether it's online or visiting a local casino or horsetrack, Truman finds that when he wins, he feels like he's on top of the world, able to meet the obligations to his family he feels they are owed, but when he loses as is often the case, he turns and runs. Runs away from the very thing he swore to protect and love, his family. This is where we find Truman as Not In The Heart begins by Chris Fabry.

Truman Wiley was once at the top of his game in journalism, over turning rocks to bring to light the slime of the world's worst whether they were in politics or in the lime light. He felt it was his true talent to not be afraid of the truth and be willing to report it, no matter how often his life was threatened. Until no one wanted to work or hire Truman any longer. Then he found that gambling provided the control he needed to maintain in his life. His personal life was a wreck.

His only son Aiden since he was young was diagnosed with a heart defect that would place their family under enormous financial and physical pressure. Not knowing from one day to the next if this was in fact their last time with Aiden, they lived on the edge. Ellen maintained the burden of caring for the children and family while Truman tried to find a way to make ends meet. When he failed, he ran. Ran away from the family that needed a husband and father more than a paycheck, but he couldn't see past that. He felt like a failure and until he could rise above once again, he would stay away. Better to do that than show himself to be a failure to those whose opinions mattered the most.

When Truman learns that there might be a way to save Aiden through an heart transplant of a man waiting on death row, he is curious how he could possibly help. When Ellen explains the wife, Helen Wright has one request that he write her husband's story of transformation from murder to reformed man since finding God in his life and is willing to pay him to do it, Truman takes the bait. What he learns in working through the evidence on the case, is that an innocent man may in fact be put to death. How can he is good conscience report the truth if it means his son may die if he doesn't get this heart transplant?

I received Not In The Heart by Chris Fabry compliments of B & B Media Group for my honest review and found it difficult not to relate to the characters Chris brings to life within the pages of his novel. From the internal struggle happening within Truman, it's easy to see how a man can judge his worth by what he brings to the table and how often he finds it's easier to give up rather than push forward when the challenge becomes to hard. Truman is forced to come to terms with all his past mistakes and it's hard to watch how often he will turn away from his family to work towards the goal of saving his son, but in the process is missing opportunity to connect with him while he wants to spend time with his dad.

I have known my own Truman in my personal life, with addictions to jobs. I can see how easy it would be to justify working long hours and missing personal time with your family for the reward of a paycheck because you think it justifies the time being away. It has taken me years to see that in life, there is a cost to everything, and not everything is worth the cost it takes on your personal life and family, we just need to see it. For this reason, this book will speak to hearts everywhere and shine the light of truth inside us all and for that, I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars. Chris Fabry's writing style will touch your heart in ways you never thought imaginable and I can't wait to read the next one!

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

Not In My Heart by Chris Fabry

You can also find Chris on Facebook by clicking here.

A Marriage Carol

Here's a beautiful twist on the classic story of The Christmas Carol that offers hope to any relationship but essentially one of a troubled marriage.

Marlee and Jacob are spending their 20 year anniversary together only not the way most would expected a married couple to. Jacob and Marlee are headed to a lawyer's office to sign the divorce papers. Only they are headed out on a snowy evening leaving behind their three children in the care of their oldest Becca. Worried on what they should tell them and when, an argument ensures in the car. When traffic begins to slow to a crawl, Jacob decides to take a short cut on a less traveled road headed through the mountains.

As the arguments between the troubled couple continues, Marlee cautions Jacob about the road conditions and the speed at which they are traveling. Oncoming headlights suddenly appear on the dark road before they and as Jacob tries to apply the brakes, their car is broadsided and crashes over the side of the mountain.

When Marlee awakens, she finds herself alone in the car believing that Jacob has gone for help. Trying to escape the cold, she wanders into the snow and comes across a small home in the woods where she finds shelter from the weather and a kind old man who provides her with a unique opportunity to change her life.



In the novel, A Marriage Carol, by Gary Chapman and Chris Fabry, the reader is taken on a magical journey to rediscover the secrets of snow and how to find the hope to see her marriage in a different light. Some of my favorite parts of the book are:

"Love beckons you outside in a snowstorm, in a shaking, wobbling globe where there is no control, where you stand naked in a bitter wind searching for what has been covered. You cannot plan for love. You cannot choose against it once it has come. True loves doesn't end once another steps away. "

"You've seen fake snow in movies. You can tell it every time you see it. The stuff blows around. Won't stick. But real snow does. And that's what the world hungers for, something that sticks. Not something that's tossed by the wind."

I received this book compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Moody Publishers for my honest review. This is a beautiful story that I highly recommend to all my readers! This one will not only bring you love and warmth during the Christmas Season, but a way to see your circumstances in a new light! Hands down this one rates 5 out of 5 stars and in my opinion is one of the best Christmas books that I have read this year. It's definitely one, my family will make part of our Christmas traditions to read every year.

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

A Marriage Carol by Chris Fabry and Gary Chapman

Almost Heaven - Giveaway and Review

"I suppose you can sum up a man's life with a few words, but I need to put this story down to fill in the missing pieces. Or perhaps I can convince the people who know me as a hermit that there was some reason for it all. But this is not really for those outside looking in. This is for me.

Some people say Billy Allman has a heart of gold. Others say he's a bit odd. The truth is, they're all right. He's a hillbilly genius - a collector, a radio whiz - and he can make the mandolin sing. Though he dreams of making an impact on the world beyond the hills and hollers of Dogwood, West Virginia, things just always seem to go wrong.

But however insignificant Billy's life seems, it had not gone unnoticed. Malachi is an angel sent to observe and protect Billy. Though it's not his dream assignment, Malachi always follows orders. And as Billy's story unfolds, Malachi slowly begins to see the bigger picture - that each step Billy takes is a note added to a beautiful song that will forever change the lives of those who hear it." - (Excerpt from back cover).

My Review:

I absolutely adored this heartwarming story of the life of a man who lives life to the fullest in helping others the way Jesus would have instructed us all to live ours. Holding on to his childlike faith along the way when life hands him difficulties that most would run from, Billy instead turns to the One who can see further down the road than he can. This book is the story about Billy's life and the lives of those that are woven into his through being a part of his family, living next door or simply loving him. We get an opportunity to witness a different side as well through the eyes of an angel called Malachi whose duty at the moment is to protect Billy. In his views, we get a glimpse into the unseen world and the spiritual battle that takes place each and every day.

I loved this book, Almost Heaven by Chris Fabry, and since it comes during the holidays, I thought I would offer this as a giveaway from one lucky reader of my blog. This really takes you into the choices that each of us face everyday and show us the good and bad sides to them as well. I received this book, compliments of Glass Road Publications for my honest review and say I loved it. This one rates a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. For more information on this book, the author and where to purchase a copy click on the title below:

Almost Heaven by Chris Fabry

For those of you interested in the giveaway, here are your guidelines:

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

2. Must be a resident of the US and No P.O. Boxes please.

3. I must have a way to contact you so please include your email address along with your comment. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

4. Leave me a comment and tell me why you'd love to win a copy of this book. The giveaway will end on November 16th.