Books, Reviews, Short Stories, Authors, Publicity, a little poetry, music to complement...and other stuff including politics, about life... "Books, Cats: Life is Sweet..."
I would not have minded looking like and being called "Toy"
I would not have minded looking like and being called "Einstein"
I wouldn't even have minded being called "Wookie"
Or even "Tiger"
But, why or why, is my name "Cat"?!!!
Mom, dad, baby, and a little boy named Tad went to an
animal shelter one day,
And to little Tad, dad did say,
"Look at all those dogs running about,
Now you need to pick one out."
After looking all around
At all the dogs playing on the ground,
Tad said, "I like this one the best,"
As he held a little dog next to his chest.
"We have to give him a name," said dad,
As he looked at little Tad.
That's when the baby pointed to the dog and said, "cat."
Mom and dad laughed and thought it would be cute if they
named the little dog that,
And that's what they did. They named the dog Cat.
~~~
A Dog Named Cat
By Anne Toole
Illustrated by Richa Kinra
Names are important aren't they? Most of us are quite pleased to claim the name we are given until they fit quite nicely. That's what happened when a cute little dog was adopted by a wonderful family. But when they began to think of a name, the little baby of the family pointed to him and said CAT!
Well, Cat didn't know anything was strange about a dog being named Cat, until he met a little mouse running around the house. Cat didn't frighten the mouse so he asked what his name was...
"My name is Cat," the dog did say,
As he looked at the mouse that was small and gray/
The mouse looked surprised,
When he looked into the dog's eyes.
"But you are not a cat," the mouse said,
As he shook its little head...
~~~
Answered the dog, "My name is Cat." The bird said, "I can't believe that. No, you are not a cat! I know that for a fact. You don't look, act, or sound like a cat, Thank goodness for that!" ~~~
Well, you might say that the mouse "let the cat out of the bag" because he told Cat that he wasn't a cat because if he was, he'd be chasing the mouse all around the house.
Dog thought about it and the question quickly came: If he wasn't a cat, why was he named Cat?
Later that day, Cat saw that a new goldfish had joined the family. Again the goldfish asked what his name was and the dog said Cat.
The goldfish laughed, he said he wasn't a cat, even he knew that!
And the same thing happened when Cat met a bird, who quickly proclaimed that he was not a Cat!
But one thing, he did say as he pointed over to a tree..."There's
a cat, then the bird quickly flew away.
Now Cat was really upset, all of those who could be his friends had denied his name was Cat--yet it was. And even worse, he didn't want to hurt any of those friends, like they all said a cat would do...What's up with that? And as he looked at that cat, he decided he didn't like him...and he had the urge to chase that silly cat! "Why did he feel like that?"
Well Cat started trying to tell his family, but they just began to worry about his barking all the time...
Do you think Cat will ever be happy? OK, I'm a cat lady myself but I sure wouldn't want to be named Cat, just because I love them...What's a dog named Cat gonna do? Poor...Cat...
The book is totally in rhyme with full pages of rhyme across from the beautiful scene to complement the story line. Kudos to Richa Kinra for her artistic contribution!
The book is, of course, aimed at children, but it is so cute to read, following the rhyming words, that I can picture parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, sharing this darling book within their family or to friends. The story is not complex, but helps children to learn about the lives of both cats and dogs and their natural "enemies." We all know that most family animals do not always prowl, but sometimes they do...so that can be explained or taught as the children grow older and read the book over and over...
The theme of the story is something like a child's version of The Boy Named Sue, which some of you may remember...I can almost guarantee this book will be a favorite--it's silly, it's fun, yet teaches in the easiest way possible...rhyming words to tell the tale of woe of a little dog who was named...Cat...
With his mother, Michelle, and his father named Nick.
And he had three sisters, Beth, Lola and Mary,
As well as three brothers, Fred, Bobby and Harry.
They were as happy as one can be –
A harmonious, loving family.
~~~
When Robin the Pig
met Lily the Chick:
A Love Story in Rhymes
By Matal
Sometime reading a new style of book, together with a storyline that is different for several reasons, I stop to question myself. In this case, I even went out to read the other reviews, which I rarely do. My issue is about age appropriateness. It is listed as a children's book, but doesn't have an age range that I could find.
Talking about love and marriage and diversity seemed beyond the scope of a children's book, in my opinion. Yet the style and writing is undoubtedly intended for young children.
The characters are simply drawn and engaging to children as individuals. There is none of the normal full-page color stories that we have come to expect. That is not my point, though. It is true that the children will engage with each character as we meet them. But will they understand what the story is about? Sure, if the book is read to them, perhaps the parents can explain that the story is about Mommy and Daddy and how they met... that is, if mommy is a chicken and daddy is a pig. Because the whole reason behind the book is that the pig and chicken are different...
Bottom line though is how old is a child when they are ready to talk about love and marriage? Without the added issue of diversity?
When a child may become interested in growing up and being married--well, that's pretend, isn't it? Do we really want to bring in vibes of family negativism and hate between diverse animals (forget about the biology at the moment) to spoil children's dreams?
I believe this story line is for older children into teens...and should not be represented in a child's format, for young children, 2-8 or 9. However, the format is not appropriate for a tween or teen book...
The whole farm will say you are crazy as hell,*
You’ll bring sorrow to us, more than we can tell.”
Thus spoke his father and mother as well,
And his brothers and sisters cried out with a yell:
“Oh brother, dear brother, what have you done?
If you don’t leave her, you’d better be gone.”
But Robin said: “If you speak as one voice,
Against my love, against my free choice,
Against my angel that heaven sent,
I will leave you forever!” And off he went.
~~~
*crazy as hell" using slang like this is inappropriate in a child's story...
Note that the characters themselves are old enough to go out on their own...and they are old enough to fall in love and consider getting married and having a family. By the way, if the child is old enough to be in those situations, they would know enough about biology that negates the ending as presented... I believe that's correct from my school years...
The chicken's story runs along the same story, so I didn't repeat...
I was disappointed with the book, not because it is not a fairly good story, but that, in my opinion, older related content is being substituted in what is being sold as children's books. Are we no longer trying to preserve the innocence of the young? This is one reader speaking out for keeping those days of when dreaming of being married meant dressing up in high heel shoes with curtains around our shoulders...and dreaming happily of when we would be old enough to be like mommy and daddy...soooo many years from now... and never, never, about getting into fights with family about who we are supposed to love.
You decide...but I can't recommend... And do, please, let me know if you disagree with my recommendation.
GABixlerReviews
Hello,
The guy on the picture above is me. My real name is Alex Matis. From an early age I have conceived and illustrated numerous children’s stories and comics for a private audience. Besides working in the biotech and health care industry his love for drawing cartoons and creating children’s books has always remained an important part of my life. Under the pen name MATAL, I have started writing and illustrating my own children’s stories for a wider audience mid-2015. Having lived in Germany and the United Kingdom I am currently living with my wife and three children in Vienna, Austria. My first book “Ollie the Owl” has been published as ebook and paperback in English and German. My second book titled “When Robin the Pig met Lily the Chick – A Love Story in Rhymes” was launched in August 2016. Further books are currently in the making and will be published on an ongoing basis. I hope you enjoy my stories and have fun.
Agua Prieta, Mexico, 1925 She stared at her reflection for a long time. Her bloodied hands cupped together as she splashed water on the open wounds on her face and arms. The coolness lasted only a few seconds and did little to revive her senses. Though she’d spent a few hours safely inside the dilapidated house, she still struggled to grasp reality. Crawling. Stumbling. Digging her way through the desert for hours had been more than a physical test of endurance. Her five-foot-three, one-hundred-pound frame was broken in other ways. By the time she stumbled into town, she wasn’t sure where she was or how she ended up there.
She gazed into the mirror at her ragged clothes and bony cheeks. Her eyes, once fiery with determination, were now sunken and empty. Dried blood caked her filthy hands. Proof that what happened was real. She ran her fingers through her sweaty, blondish-brown hair, which was normally a perfectly styled bob. She desperately wanted to scream. Her signature voice had garnered the world’s stage with a booming tone that pronounced every syllable with passion and conviction. Now that passion and conviction had devolved into survival and anguish. Glimpses of what happened flashed in her mind. Her body shook and she squeezed her eyes so tightly she could see the blood pulse with every heartbeat. She longed to rid herself— not of the woman, Alice, who called her Sister— but of the man known as Adler.
The pounding in her chest intensified as she slowed her breathing. She dug her face into her palms and whispered under her breath, “God give me strength.”
Barefoot, she shuffled across the wood floor toward the edge of the bed. It was as far as she could go as she slumped face down on the mattress. Nicotine seeped from the covers, floorboards, walls, and curtains — suffocating her in the darkness as she warned herself of what was ahead. You will not return an adulterer but as God’s messenger. A heavy fog seemed to engulf the room as she closed her eyes and found herself in a familiar place in the backseat of a Pontiac Coupe driving alone through every town and ghetto from New York to California. She stepped from the Pontiac and found herself on a street corner surrounded by hundreds of onlookers. Dozens of coffins lined the sidewalk. She stood as God’s chosen messenger amidst an epidemic that swept through the nation. Her words were light amidst the darkness. She believed and held on to them as her refrain, her passion, her driving force, and her pulpit.
Fearlessly, she reached out her hand and prayed. A blind man stepped forward and laughed with excitement as vibrant colors illuminated all around him. A woman jumped for joy as she listened to the man’s laughter, her world of silence forever changed. A mother wheeled her boy into the center of the crowd. With one touch, the boy jumped to his feet and walked. Cheers from the crowds grew louder in each town until there were thousands who followed, believing they had found their salvation. She turned from the crowd and found herself knee-deep in the Mississippi River. Thousands stood along the banks ready to be baptized.
Another flash and she was inside a tent surrounded by coloreds. Her voice rang with gospel lyrics as she played bluesy chords on a piano. All eyes watched as she turned her attention toward a young deaf girl. The music faded and the anticipation thickened. She casually walked up to the girl and whispered in her ear. The crowd gasped as the girl began to sing. Her angelic voice cut through the humid night and engulfed them. Hundreds stepped forward, weeping with eyes fixed toward the heavens. The young girl sang softly as God’s messenger gazed out on the faces of her followers. Then she turned her attention to a man who was brought forward. “Brother, rise upon His promise now!” Her words were loud enough for all to hear. The man nodded as she rested her hands on him. A surge of energy shot through the crowd like lightning. Instantly, the man stood from his wheelchair and walked across the stage, tears rolling down his cheeks. She wasted no time as she turned and lifted another woman out of a chair. CRACK... CRACK... CRACK... Bones snapped into place as the woman’s curved spine straightened. Voices rose even louder as the young girl’s singing was drowned out by a burst of celebration and applause.
When she opened her eyes she expected to see the multitudes that flooded the tent. Instead, she was alone in the room. Her vivid memories of the Pontiac, the wooden pulpit, the evangelistic meetings, and the street-corner sermons with megaphone in hand seemed like a lifetime ago. She had shouted the salvation message to the drunks outside the bars. She stood alongside the Negroes in the cotton fields and sang with them during her revivals. She embraced the undesirables. Black and white immersed as one. No segregation. No condemnation. Only a message of hope, love, and unity. Proclaiming the Good News was her way to fight against the demons that lurked in the deep corners of her faith. But pursuing her calling came with a heavy price. A ray of light pierced the gap between the curtains as the sun rose on the horizon. She rolled slowly from the bed and winced in pain. She mustered up enough strength from the prayers she poured out on the lost, broken, and hurting.
Then she breathed in deep and sensed the Holy Spirit energize her being. Quietly, she walked down the hall from the bedroom toward the front door. In that moment she was eager to return home, to continue her calling, and to leave the events of the last thirty days behind. She squinted as the morning flooded through the doorway where a shadow waited patiently.
~~~
Waking Lazarus
A Guardian Novel
By D. J. Williams
Wow! With the first book, Disillusioned, in the Guardian series, I shared mostly about the Family Drama that encompassed the storyline. But, Waking Lazarus immediately demands readers' involvement with the mystery and suspense that has been prevalent in both books. I'm excited to have met this new author and his Guardian novels. The books speak to me from all parts of my life--about the world issues I'm concerned about with what is happening to our children--and by my need to encompass the presence of God within those important topics. This time, however, there is an unexpected twist which presents a thought-provoking angle... That, readers will discover later in the book!
The main character is a down-on-his-luck writer who is struggling with his family life, drinking, and trying to hold onto a job. He had just been contacted by a friend of his father's who asked him to immediately start on writing his memoir. With nothing holding him back, he moved into a residence on the man's property and was anxious to get started.
Dr. Warren, on the other hand, immediately served breakfast and started what could only be called reminiscing... Jake Harris was wondering whether this was going to work out because Dr. Warren had immediately started talking about an evangelist from the 20s who had disappeared...
“You have something that doesn’t belong to you.”
Doc turned cautiously away from his bedroom window towards the voice and stared directly at a man standing in the corner of the room. Peppered hair. Slender build. Piercing dark eyes. “I’m afraid you’re mistaken,” Doc said. “I’m an old man with nothing more than memories.”
“Return what belongs to them, and I will make this quick.”
“What if it is not here?”
“Then tell me where it is, or you will not be the only one who dies today.”
He had made himself right with God, so he wasn’t as afraid as he thought he would be. He was going to die, but he refused to allow anyone else to endure the same fate, especially Jake Harris. He exhaled slowly. What was life like on the other side? A brilliant light? Endless darkness? He feared this day would come. Pandora’s Box had been opened, and he held the key.
His greatest regret was failing to tell the others who he had found. “It’s in a safe,” Doc said. “Downstairs in the study.”
“Combination?” “I must have your word this will end here.”
“You are in no position to negotiate.”
“I have told no one. There is no evidence. Do you understand?”
“Give me the combination.” Doc paused for a moment and then surrendered. “Twenty-three... thirty-two... nine.”
“On your knees.” Silence brought a few more seconds of peace. He knew there was no way to save himself. Perhaps he’d known since the beginning. He only hoped Jake would find the truth. He closed his eyes and quietly prayed. The woman in the alley flashed in his mind as he felt the silencer pressed against his skull.
~~~
As the clock neared midnight, reality sunk in. I was headed back to where my childhood memories were locked away from my consciousness, where I remembered being raised by strangers, and where I promised I’d never return. Now it was the only place I had left to go. ~~~
Harris listened and discussed the need to go back that far, but Dr. Warren was adamant--noting that it was the "Genesis" of it all! And went on to say that it all started with the "Ghosts of the Flaming Cross... And he shared part of a poem that the evangelist had written and went on with more stories... One in particular was about the KKK--ok I admit it was partly because our presidential candidate recently indicated he didn't know much about them(!). Anyway, they had come to support Evelyn Shaw and told her they felt they believed in the same things...and they even came in full dress to one of her meetings and stood in all the aisles... Oh, I would have loved to hear her speak to them... Because she was gaining enemies from all sides: To the religious bullhorns, she was a fraud and a hoax. To the Klan, she was a symbol of their twisted ideology who betrayed them after they publicly pledged their allegiance to her cause. To Cohen and the West Coast mob, she was a viable threat as she converted criminals faster than they were being recruited. To the gypsies, she was a healer who saved the life of their beloved King. And to the Angelenos, she was a beacon of light, a messenger of hope, and a carrier of salvation. No doubt she was fearless...
~~~
While Dr. Warren continued to go over the past, Harris had started to go through all the boxes he'd moved to the pool house and, in particular, Evelyn Shaw's diary... and had fallen asleep...
God’s guardians on the earth of new and old
Protect a secret more powerful than altars of gold
A power unleashed through a covenant of light
Defends a faith that will not go gently into the fight
Blind unbelief ushers in trouble, war, and fear
A battle of profound love offers courage to all who hear
Yet when the skies are filled with smoke and fire
The end draws near, and faith becomes dire
~~~
And when he returned, he heard a sound, hid, and watched while somebody entered the room and broke into a safe. After he'd left Harris went looking for Doc Webber and found what he was afraid of finding. Doc Webber had been murdered...
After I dialed 911, I was struck by flashes of blurred visions so intense they caused me to drop to my knees and shake uncontrollably. It lasted less than a minute, but it scared me as much as seeing Doc’s lifeless body. As usual, they dissipated, leaving confusion in their wake...
While the murder is being investigated, readers are swept over to China where the election of the new CEO is forthcoming.
It is at this point that the novel becomes more complex as readers move back and forth between the investigation of Webber, with, of course, Jake Harris, as the main suspect, while we begin to see the criminal negotiations behind the election to ensure the right person wins...
It is always intriguing to me when an author massages and twists subplots to ultimate wind up with two divergent stories molding into one climatic ending. One of the key characters not yet introduced is Jake's father, who works with the government at times. Jake has not been involved with his father for years and rightly so since Jake had a part of his life missing and knew nothing about his mother...and his father refused to explain... But now that Jake was a suspect, he went home and asked his father to allow him to stay, since he had no other place to live. His father agreed, but noted that he was already scheduled to leave the country and he could stay as long as he wanted.
Soon the action begins in triple speed...Jake is placed with Kate, an FBI agent, as his protector, and they begin to follow the trail searching for who had killed Doc Webber. What follows gets involved with secret societies, the Triad who now hire a group of assassins, known as the Brethren, to be their bodyguards, and the Guardians... The novel is more a trail of, and revealing of secrets as opposed to a true action adventure, so if you've enjoyed movies where the search actually becomes the adventure, then this novel is definitely for you!
This is the type of novel I hate to stop talking about, but the surprises coming up are not so much staggering as indicative of the world in which we live...and it's both dangerous and amazingly corruptws...at least in this book, LOL... But the story is exciting and the author has provided sufficient clues for the careful reader to begin to unravel some what is happening... and where the story is headed.
While I couldn't include all of the soundtrack with my review, I did want to share the ending...For those interested you can find the soundtrack on UTube and on many other music listening sites. Look for it under the title and the composer's name.
I've had a wonderful time experimenting with this new concept...background soundtrack accompanying a novel. I found the music as composed complemented the story dramatically and with a specific title on each segment, readers are able to see the correlation. Time-wise, they don't always match, but, still, it was a worthwhile and a fantastic look at what might become popular in the future! Kudos to both the author and composer for conceptually starting this process! And thanks so much for allowing Book Readers Heaven to pass this exciting option to readers!
D. J. Williams was an easy add to my Favorite authors and I highly recommend the first two novels in The Guardian series.
GABixlerReviews
With the DNA of a world traveler, D.J. Williams was born and raised in Hong Kong, has ventured into the jungles of the Amazon, the bush of Africa, and the slums of the Far East. His global travels have engrossed him in a myriad of cultures, and provided him with a unique perspective that has fueled his creativity over the course of an eighteen year career in both the entertainment industry and nonprofit sector.
His debut novel, The Disillusioned, has garnered praise from Hollywood’s elite such as Judith McCreary, Co-Executive Producer, Law & Order: SVU, Criminal Minds, & CSI, who said, “The Disillusioned is a fast-paced mystery…you won’t put it down until you’ve unlocked the secrets and lies to find the truth.”
Currently based out of Los Angeles, Williams continues to add to his producing and directing credits of more than 300 episodes of broadcast TV syndicated worldwide by developing new projects for television, film and print.
I agree along with the author that this is the first time that a soundtrack has been set to music... It should be noted that the track does not come within the book itself, but is readily available across the Internet...I will be including parts within my review coming next...
As all of you know, music has been a part of my reviews for several years now...So I was excited and intrigued to participate and use the soundtrack as background to Waking Lazarus!
However, since the soundtrack is not an integral part of the book itself, I will be including segments of the track but will not, of course, consider this as part of my review of the book itself...BTW, I'm reading it right now and am finding it hard to break away from it to do anything else!
It's page-to-page tension and forced page turning for me!
Can't wait to share it with you! On the other hand, the Soundtrack, alone, is simply magnificent! Thanks to Jene' Nicole Johnson!
The end is near but I don’t feel a thing. I thought I would. Remorse, regret, fear of breaking God’s law, but nothing. The voices tell me to hurry. Under my breath I whisper, “Lord you are my shepherd. You lead me beside the still waters. You restore my soul. Lead me toward the path of righteousness.” I don’t dare look back as I cross Green Street.
!!!
I'm an old woman, sick and tired of the voices rattling in my head. I am ready for this day, my final hours before I disappear into the hereafter. I didn't always live in this white walled room, away from those I love, watched twenty four hours a day by a Filipino nurse down the hall. Once, life was filled with adventure and purpose. At least that's what everyone has told me. My days have grown faded, blurry, run together in an endless sea of confusion. It's hard to distinguish what is real anymore. There are only a few things I still recognize as reality, things I will take to the grave. My husband, John, is one. The day after we were married he began building a church in the fields of the Lone Star State. He was a preacher who spoke with fire in his soul. A few years after the church was finished he decided it was time to move west. He was convinced it was God’s will, so I followed. In the summer of 1981 we piled everything we owned into the back of our Ford pickup and headed towards California. From the moment we arrived our lives were filled with hopes and dreams. John poured himself into building another church in Newport Beach. Soon life found a rhythm. I never imagined what would happen in the years that followed. The church grew by the thousands. People flocked to hear John preach. We enjoyed the success in our ministry, along with the unexpected perks: popularity, money, and influence. John wrote a book that skyrocketed to the top of the bestseller list. The church phone rang off the hook with speaking opportunities. We believed it was all part of God’s plan. Ten years later I had my hands full with two young boys while John was busy traveling the world. I went with him on occasion, but for the most part I stayed home and watched my babies grow into young men. At times it was as if I were a single parent. I could’ve spoken up. I could’ve objected to the sacrifices we made in the name of God. Maybe I should have, but I didn’t. Instead I enjoyed the comforts of being a wife, our beachfront home, a private jet leased by the church, a cabin in Lake Isabella, John’s seven figure salary, as well as his book royalties. A bonus was the respect given to us whenever we entered a room by those who didn’t know us. It was flattering, and addicting. This isn’t my life anymore. I’ve been locked up here for one thousand and ninety five days. I’ve had time to think about the choices I’ve made. I’ve thought about what is best for everyone. I’ve become a burden. I know it. I feel it. I hate it. The whispers inside tell me there’s only one decision to make, undoubtedly the hardest one of all. It goes against everything I’ve believed. But nothing is the same as it once was. God forgive me. A year ago John was killed. I was set free from this place long enough to bury my best friend, the one who left me here to be cured, only days after seeing one son marry the love of his life. You see, these voices rattling in my mind caused great concern for my family. I woke up one fall morning, around five-thirty, walked out the front door and down to the pier where I jumped into the ocean. The voices convinced me it was the only way to be free from the secrets that have torn at my soul. Secrets I’m afraid will destroy my boys. Of course, to hear John tell the story, two angels pulled me from the water and saved my life for a God ordained purpose. Wasn’t it suicide? I guess it was. Another illustration John used to inspire others to greatness and convince the lost of their need to be found. In the end no matter what he tried, he couldn’t save me. How easily we preach about faith yet struggle with the demons within. Too often the answer is to write a book about God healing the depressed, preach a sermon on miracles, or stand before the influential of society proclaiming victory as these secrets linger just below the surface. I’ve watched as rooms filled with doctors, psychiatrists and therapists offered one diagnosis after another for my misfortune. From the pulpit John simply referred to it as a chemical imbalance. The controversy over my plunge into the ocean spread throughout the religious circles, which resulted in more books sold for John. It seemed pain and agony were as marketable as success and fame. I know John loved me, but he buried himself in his work and over time we grew apart. He pushed himself harder than ever before, perhaps it was the only way he could justify a spouse who was in lockdown. He drove up from Newport to Pasadena every Thursday to be with me. He did what he thought was right. God placed a calling on his life, who was I to stop him? All of us made sacrifices, including my two sons, so that John could fulfill his vision. In the end he lost his boys, and I lost my mind. Now I sit here in a wheelchair and wonder how it all went wrong. I’ve failed those I love. They’ve failed me too. For many years I’ve kept secrets that have ripped my soul into pieces. I’m tired. I don’t want to live any longer surrounded by strangers. The voices have assured me this time angels will not save me. I know what I need to do to set those I love free, but I will miss my boys.
~~~
The Disillusioned:
A Guardian Novel
By D. J. Williams
I did a little negotiation to get to read this book. The author had asked that I review his latest book, Waking Lazarus, but I wound up with both... Did God know I needed to read this book? This series? I don't know yet. But as soon as I saw the book trailer and then read the fist chapter (above), I was hooked.
I was never suicidal from my clinical depression, but I was left with disillusion...I'm still dealing with it. So was Carole Armstrong. But she had so much more to have caused her the pain and suffering. Mine was merely job burnout and the results of that. Carole Armstrong's entire life was shattered by the secrets she learned...
Then, too, was the way her husband and her sons reacted to her disease--yes, it does result in a permanent chemical imbalance. John even used what had happened to her as a lesson in a sermon...I would have been mortified...many wives would have been. Nevertheless, Carole did attempt suicide and have been confined.
Her husband had died during her time in the hospital and she was freed only for his memorial service... When she asked one of her sons to take her home, he turned his back on her and left her there, standing, hoping...
Carole succeeded in suicide on the second try...
He left me to pick up the mess. I never realized the secrets he kept to keep his ministry out of scandal but now I do. ~~~
I discovered early in my life that, while many people put church leaders on a pedestal, that they were really just--and only--people. John Armstrong had started out in faith and built a steadily growing church. Soon the money flowed, the church expanded and John was traveling across the world in a missionary and financial support activity. But something had happened... And Carole had learned of one of those secrets... In her death, she knew that she must break open that secret... She wrote her will with a contingency plan that, if not accomplished, would deny any inheritance to her two sons. I must admit that I wondered whether part of her actions was based upon a bit of revenge... Both of the boys had pulled away from the church. The oldest, Danny, had been the heir-apparent to the lead pastor position, but that was not his plan for his life. He was happily married, but had still not found what the future held for him.
Danny tried to suck it up. He tried to trust God. Somewhere in the midst of it all he was lost in a culture he didn’t understand and a faith that was rooted in power and position rather than mercy and love.
Sam had gone into the music industry and was doing quite well as a producer. But when he learned of his mother's suicide, he remembered back to the day that she'd asked him to take her home...and the guilt he'd felt when he left her came roaring back... But then he'd always run away from things he didn't want to handle... And when, having learned of the special clause in his mother's will, and Danny had asked that he work with him to fulfill the requirements, Sam had once again hid behind the commitments he'd made to the job and refused to go...
It dawned on Sam, as he stared at the ceiling fan above, that very little of the night's conversation had to do with remembering the great things about their mom. There were no tears or laughter, only the back room politics they had all grown to hate. Even after all these years the battle between self ambition and God's calling seemed to be as strong as ever. He closed his eyes, his body relaxed, and the night grew still.
For me, the background family drama is the major part of the book. Without it--the slow dissolution of this Christian family as it struggled within the later power and corruption that came as the church got stronger and stronger--
And then, as Danny and his wife and Sam were struggling with the loss of their mother, and the secret quest she had demanded for the boys, they were confronted by the church that there was evidence that their father had stolen $5M! Danny left without Sam and went to discover a woman, somewhere in Africa, as demanded by their mother. But, nobody could have imagined what was waiting for him... The rest of the book is undoubtedly an enthralling suspense thriller that kept me up reading, only to wake up early and continue... You see, when Danny followed his investigation, he wound up in the clutches of an African war lord with a child army, most of whom had been captured, torn from their homes and parents...
Plan on graphic violence...but then you should be aware of the problem on human trafficking leading to millions of dead children around the world. Other books have told this important story...but this one is the first that placed God right in the middle. That made it the top personal favorite, so far, for 2016 for me... I believe that God has a plan for each of us, but I also believe that if we stray from that, God revises accordingly...but He never leaves us... Surely, this book is an inspired plan by the author, showing exactly what can come out of lives that have been disillusioned by this world... This book is relevant, disgusting in detail, and yet miraculous in outcome. I believe the author was totally inspired by God as he wrote the book. I think that may be the only or one of the very few about which I have said that in all my reading years. Because... I felt His presence as I read...
Let us pray for this author and support him in this new work. Talk about his book and share about it after, hopefully, you've read it... I consider this one a must-read for all who want a better future for all God's children...
GABixlerReviews
With the DNA of a world traveler, D.J. Williams was born and raised in Hong Kong, has ventured into the jungles of the Amazon, the bush of Africa, and the slums of the Far East. His global travels have engrossed him in a myriad of cultures, and provided him with a unique perspective that has fueled his creativity over the course of an eighteen year career in both the entertainment industry and nonprofit sector.
His debut novel, The Disillusioned, has garnered praise from Hollywood’s elite such as Judith McCreary, Co-Executive Producer, Law & Order: SVU, Criminal Minds, & CSI, who said, “The Disillusioned is a fast-paced mystery…you won’t put it down until you’ve unlocked the secrets and lies to find the truth.”
Currently based out of Los Angeles, Williams continues to add to his producing and directing credits of more than 300 episodes of broadcast TV syndicated worldwide by developing new projects for television, film and print.
