John Herrick (1)

A bit of a departure from the author's usual fair, which actually had me worried initially with some of the language and content, but by book's end, it was a Hollywood affair of the heart to remember.

We've the aging leading man seeking to make it one last time, delivered that chance by the long gone hands of someone very close to his heart. It seems a perfect match...but sometimes what seems perfect at the start is anything but when the final curtain is called. There's a choice to be made with repercussions unforeseen and much further reaching than his party of one...and some of those efforts could be lethal. What would you do if fame and fortune were at your door if it meant forsaking the life (gone or not) of another? What indeed...

Author John Herrick brings us the glitz and glamour of Hollywood while beseeching us to look beneath the veneer and discover the truth at heart. It doesn't matter how big a marquee our name is displayed upon...if at the end of the day (or our days, for that matter), we can't honestly say we did all we could to leave a positive mark on the world around us, reached out to those seeking a open ear or kindred heart, or spent our time with a heart full of love versus envy and greed...what was it all for?

Recommended for the author's current fan base as well as those seeking a new "voice" to add to their reading repertoire.

**copy received for review… (meer)

I really enjoyed the opening chapters, and meeting the leads for the first time. I loved how he saw such beauty through her pain. I adored the pedestal he placed her on, and yet it wasn't set at an unattainable height. When Lily discovered herself EVERYWHERE, I could only imagine how disconcerting that had to feel, but the emotions it stirred were enough to set in motion events that may not otherwise have come to pass, allowing her to discover not just the artist behind the art, but the beauty of her own character in ways she hadn't previously viewed herself. Oh and hats off for the nonconventional life, or rather career choice the author gave her.

Now, I will admit to being a bit concerned for our artistically rendered Mona Lisa as she reached a crossroads or two and things could have gone so many ways my head was spinning! Regardless of the outcome, I was content in the knowledge of one thing...it was gonna be one heck of a trip. With his high level emotions and her feistiness, there were bound to be some fireworks. The only issue I had was the lynchpin that seemed ready to potentially tear their whole world apart. I had to really place myself in the story and view it through their eyes to feel its full force.

Like any work of artistry, in the end, it had its ups and downs, but its true beauty shined through. Fans of the author's previous works will not be disappointed, nor will those just being inducted into his fan club. This is definitely one novel that is its own unique work of art.


**copy received for review; opinions are my own… (meer)

Goodreads Synopsis: "If I were to disappear, would anybody notice?"

Each of us has asked that question in dark, honest moments.

In his first nonfiction book, 8 REASONS YOUR LIFE MATTERS, bestselling author John Herrick combines personal struggles with biblical insight. Injecting eight chapters with humor, memoir moments, and a postmodern perspective on life, Herrick shares eight reasons your life matters:

Your Life is More Permanent than Your Struggles
God Sees You Differently than You See Yourself
You Have a Destiny
You are Remembered, not Forgotten
You Were Someone’s First Pick
Your Absence Would Leave a Permanent Hole
People Need to See You Overcome
You are Loved and Valued

Eight solid reasons to give life one more chance. Eight reasons your life matters.

Join John Herrick, author of the novels From The Dead and The Landing, and discover fresh purpose for your life.

My Review: When I downloaded this book, I didn't realize how Christian this book really was. I thought I would be able to just ignore it, because I'm not religious. But nope, this book was full of 'inspiration' that wasn't really inspiration for me. I thought it was going to make me feel better after I read it, and all I really felt when I was finished was boredom. It was boring. The whole book was bible quotes, and even though the intro claimed that people who didn't believe in god would find inspiration, what wasn't bible quotes and stories, was him talking about experiences he had with the bible, and with god. It was annoying. I don't like this book. That's all I have to say about that. Thanks for reading!

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