Hero's Tribute by Graham Garrison

Hero's Tribute: A Novel by Graham Garrison

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Wes is your ordinary everyday run-of-the-mill reporter. Michael is a decorated war hero who is losing his battle with cancer.  Michael finalizes his wishes and chooses Wes, a man he's never met, to deliver his eulogy. Just how would one go about doing that when they knew nothing of this person short of the newspaper articles on him. Michael made it easy though. He left Wes a list of names of people to interview to make the perfect eulogy.

Through a series of unforeseen twists and turns, debut author Graham Garrison tells a tale of a hometown hero that might be found anywhere. How are heroes glorified? Are they proud of what is said about them? What if truths are covered up in the event that the hero will no longer be the hero everyone thinks he/she is?

I read this book in just under 6 hours. I found it very hard to put down!! I will caution readers to have tissues handy as the first chapter grips your heart and never lets go...even to the very end! This is a beautiful tribute to all soldiers on the war battle field as well as those fighting the cancer battlefield. It is important to include the families of these warriors as well. If you are reading this and you are a warrior/family of a warrior, THANK YOU!

I highly recommend this read for all. I'll be taking this one to school and recommending to my students!

Many thanks to Kregel Publishing and Mr. Garrison for providing a copy for review!



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My Birthday Wish

Today is my 33rd birthday and I want, more than a lot of things, for my children to have their grandparents and parents around for many, many years. If you feel so inclined, please donate $33 to my Relay for Life team. The button is in the top right hand corner of my sidebar. Together, we can all make a difference in the lives of others. My children currently have one grandparent, their PaPa, who has Leukemia. So far, my parents are cancer free. It does run in both sides of the family though.

Each month, I do a review of books I've read for the month (my December review will be posted soon!). I then donate $5 per book that I have read to my Relay team. We are trying to raise $2000 as a team but won't stop there if we can help it!!

I have a strong passion for cancer research. I've had far too many family members and close friends who have lost their battle to this horrible disease. I post this in memory of my grandmother, Wilma Robinson; my dear friend Jean; a co-worker, Crystal and all the others who are no longer here. I hope that through research that my friend and co-worker Mike, my boss Tony, my supervisor Larry and his wife Joyce, my father-in-law John, and others may live long, full lives!

Thank you for your support!

The Secret Life of Joy by Melissa Senate

The Secret of Joy by Melissa Senate



He was telling you he wasn't leaving you all alone in this world, that you didn't have to marry Michael. ~Maggie

Rebecca Strand has a wonderful divorce-lawyer boyfriend, Michael, a job in his firm as a paralegal, and a dad dying of pancreatic cancer. As if that's not enough stress! While visiting her dad in the hospital, Daniel Strand makes a stunning deathbed confession...Rebecca did have the sister she always wanted. That begins her quest to find Joy Jayhawk.

Michael is not at all happy that Rebecca wants to make this quest to find her half-sister and to possibly give away half of her inheritance. He does everything he can to knock some sense into her thick skull. Rebecca goes anyway and finds the sister she's always wanted...only to find out that she's not wanted as this sister. Will she ever be able to find happiness and Joy in her life?

I really loved this book and didn't want to see it end!! I was afraid of how it would end but I'm very happy with how Melissa Senate chose to end this book. There were so many characters I could identify with throughout this book but I see myself identifying more with Joy. I have known my dad and he's been in my life since the beginning. However, paralleling this situation with others in my life, I could be Joy. I also really like the character of Theo. He would be my hero in the "real life".

I highly recommend this read to lovers of chick lit and for those looking for a lite refreshing read. I received this book from the Publisher as a part of the Pump Up Your Book Promotional Blog Tour.

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If you are so moved to do so, please feel free to make a donation to my Relay for Life team by using the button in the top right hand corner of my blog. This book touches briefly on pancreatic cancer, one of the many types of cancer that are virtually uncurable at this point in time. Cancer has touched my life far too many times. I'm doing my part by Relaying, spreading the word, and making my own personal monthly donations based on the number of books I'm reading. I would love for you to join in the fight!