About the Book:
Billy Allman is a hillbilly genius. People in Dogwood, West Virginia, say he was born with a second helping of brains and a gift for playing the mandolin but was cut short on social skills. Though he’d gladly give you the shirt off his back, they were right. Billy longs to use his life as an ode to God, a lyrical, beautiful bluegrass song played with a finely tuned heart. So with spare parts from a lifetime of collecting, he builds a radio station in his own home. People in town laugh. But Billy carries a brutal secret that keeps him from significance and purpose. Things always seem to go wrong for him.
However small his life seems, from a different perspective Billy’s song reaches far beyond the hills and hollers he calls home. Malachi is an angel sent to observe Billy. Though it is not his dream assignment, Malachi follows the man and begins to see the bigger picture of how each painful step Billy takes is a note added to a beautiful symphony that will forever change the lives of those who hear it.
About the Author:
My Review:
When I review books, once in awhile, I come across a book that is so amazingly good that I just have to sit and stare at it when I’m done. Almost Heaven is one of those such books. I have Chris Fabry’s first two books, Junebug and Dogwood sitting on my shelves to be read but haven’t gotten to them yet, even though I’ve heard RAVING reviews of them both! Now, after reading Almost Heaven, I’m kicking myself for not reading Fabry’s books sooner!
This is one book that I just didn’t want to end. As I read Billy’s story, I felt myself being pulled into the story, walking beside Billy in his little backwoods town of Dogwood, WV. Reading this story was so inspiring to me, because no matter what happened to Billy, good or bad, he stayed strong in his faith and lived, albeit hillbilly-ish, his entire life with a purpose for pleasing God, no matter what anyone else thought or said about him, including the angel Malachi, sent to protect him. It was certainly a reminder that every life on earth has a purpose but that it should be to serve God and stay strong in your faith. WOW! I definitely am changing my attitude about life!
One of the many things I loved about this breathtaking novel is that it is told by Chris Fabry in two points of view…Billy’s and his protecting angel, Malachi. Chris did it in a way that, unlike some other authors, doesn’t “bore” the reader. It was touching and heartwarming, and really opened my eyes to a lot of things. I could feel the emotions that both Billy and Malachi felt as if I was the one that Chris was writing about. It really moved me.
Please, if you’ve never read a Chris Fabry novel, start right now, right here with this 5,000 star worthy, 5 star book. When you read it, it’s title will ring true, surrounding you in almost heaven, leaving you smiling, and probably even crying a little….I know I did. This life-changing novel will be forever on my shelf and when I can’t understand why God has let something happen in my life, I’ll go sit down and pull out this gripping novel and take a trip to Dogwood and meet Billy all over again. Then I won’t question life so much and I’ll rejoice in living my life for Him. Well done, Chris!
You can purchase your copy here.
*This book was provided for review by GlassRoads PR*
