Heaven Help Heidi

Sometimes as a book reader/reviewer you come across a novel that is written so well, it doesn't feel like you're reading a story, it feels like you're a part of it. Sally John is one such writer. This is a first for me reading any of her books and now I know, I have quite a few to add to my to-be-read pile from her. In Heaven Help Heidi, we see life not only through the eyes of the main character Heidi Hathaway, but from the secondary characters as well that intersect her life in profound ways.

Heidi was living an ordinary life until the accident changed everything. Once strong willed, athletic, determined and successful, completely independent from anyone, she would now how to re-evaluate her life. This was a divine calling in her life, one she won't see played out in greater detail until more time passes, but now she will have to give up some of her independence and learn to rely on the family she has as well as the people God so graciously brings into her life. Knowing she can't live in her high rise condo any longer while she is recovering from a car accident that should have claimed her life, she meets Piper Keyes who takes her to Casa de Vida where a small 1927 cottage is available completely furnished just waiting for her. It's perfect and there seems to be an unexplained peace coming from just being inside the 12 foot high walls that keeps this sanctuary a secret from the outside world.

It is here that everything will change for Heidi. She will learn what is means to have friends that will go above and beyond for you. She'll experience that the childhood friends she once had are changing now that Heidi is living at Casa de Vida. The business she helped create is about to undergo a transformation that will change everyone who is part of it. Like a carefully orchestrated complex piece of music, by the time you get to the end of the novel, you can see how God masterfully created great things to come from the trials everyone had to face. It will show you that while you may not see what is going on, just knowing God is in control of it all is something worth being a part of. I love the relationships Heidi develops not only with Piper, but with her childhood friend Adam, her twin brother Hudson, and the motherly wise angel Olivia who dispenses love as freely as she does prayer to those who need it the most.

I received Heaven Help Heidi by Sally John compliments of Harvest House Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This is such a beautiful novel that illustrates the importance of faith, family and friends in our life and makes me wish I lived at Casa de Vida. This is such a wonderful and heartwarming novel about adversity, second chances and making the most of what you have in life and for that I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars. This is second novel in the Family of the Heart Series and includes a Reader Discussion Guide at the conclusion of this novel.

For more information about Heaven Help Heidi, Sally John or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Heaven Help Heidi by Sally John

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To read more reviews on Heaven Help Heidi, please visit Harvest House Publisher's website. 

Heart Echoes

When a massive earthquake rocks the city of Los Angeles, it brings to the surface some things that Teal Morgan-Adams has kept buried for years. At the thought of almost losing her daughter Maiya and her new husband River, she is faced with a challenge to return home and confront the past she has tried to forget.

When Maiya begins to act out against her parents wishes and begins seeing a boy name Jake, her parents are at a dead end with how to deal with her. At 16 she has been forbidden to date anyone until she finishes with high school, but since Jake showed up at her house to help with yardwork, she thinks she has fallen in love. When he shows up on campus, the school is immediately placed in a lock down mode until they find him. Now Maiya faces a 5 week school suspension, even though she claims, she didn't invite him to come see her.

When tragic news arrives from home in Cedar Pointe, Oregon, Teal is faced with a decision to return home to face her past or will she once again simply close that door and try to forget that was ever her home?

In the novel, Heart Echoes by Sally John, the reader is immediately invested in the story through a tragic circumstance surrounding the earthquake that makes everyone question their own mortality. Even though River has tried to become a great father figure for Maiya, her mother Teal refuses to provide her with any information regarding her father, simply saying he didn't want anything to do with Maiya or Teal once she told him she was pregnant, but for Maiya it's a piece of her life she is desperate to know about but her mom won't budge, until the call from Cedar Pointe comes and perhaps God is answering her prayer after all.

I received this novel compliments of Tyndale House Publishers for my honest review and think this one opens the readers eyes on what hiding the truth can do even though it may be hard to admit it. As always God is the central focus and shows the characters how trust and honesty are the bases for a good family foundation that will only grow in the years ahead. It also showcases the struggles of step parenting from a unique perspective and one I personally feel the author did a great job at. It isn't an easy role at all at times. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and know you'll enjoy this heart-warming story.

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

Heart Echoes by Sally John

Desert Gift

Jillian Galloway was on top of the world. A successful radio host of Recipes for Marriage, an author about to start her first book tour for She Said, He Heard, as well as a wife and mom. What she didn't expect as her and husband, Jack, were planning to get ready to leave on her first debut whirl wind book tour, was an announcement from Jack asking for a divorce.

How could this happen? She had devoted her life to making sure everything in Dr. Jack Galloway's life flowed smoothly from running the house, paying the bills, and being what she thought was the perfect wife. She thought their communication was excellent since Jack was her source of inspiration for helping other married couples through their difficulties. How can she possibly move forward in her career as a marriage expert when her own was falling apart?

In the book, Desert Gift by Sally John, Jillian is faced with a choice between fighting for her career or her marriage. Yet how do you fight for your marriage when your husband won't talk to you, tells you that he doesn't love you any more and has moved out? Jillian is struggling with these decisions while her agent Gretchen keeps her working on her book tour as she becomes more sad and depressed as she discovers more about herself than she would have imagined through a series of encounters with the most delightful cast of characters.

Faced with blunt honesty at times, Jillian is forced to face the reality that God has bigger plans for her, and the more she resists Him, the longer her road to recovery will take. This book is a great way to look at how marriages will come to a crossroads at a midway point that most call a mid-life crisis. The things that Jillian will learn along her way will help us look deep within our own marriages and see them through a new pair of eyes.

I received this book compliments of Tyndale House Publishers for my honest review and can honestly say, there were a few areas within my own marriage I was able to give a hard look at to make sure we keep our foundation strong. Desert Gift rates a 5 out of 5 stars and a must read for any marriage. This book is available in paperback and eBook formats.

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

Desert Gift by Sally John

You can also visit her at her website by clicking here.