Not in the Heart

Jul 17, 2012 Marianne rated it 5 of 5 stars

The quote from Tom Stoppard “Life is a gamble, at terrible odds – if it was a bet, you wouldn't take it” starts off this latest novel by Chris Fabry.
Truman comes across as a very selfish man, caring for himself rather than for his wife who is the sole caregiver for their son, Aiden, who was born with congenital heart disease, and at the age of eighteen years old is on the list for a heart transplant and their daughter Abigail. I had a hard time connecting with Truman for this reason. In contras...more

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Mar 23, 2012 Linda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Chris Fabry is a gifted author. His books are not always easy to read because they deal with the issues and struggles of imperfect people; in short, they are authentic books about real life! But they are also compelling books, and I always find myself drawn into the story. Not in the Heart is just such a book. To be honest, Truman Wiley is not a very likable character. Poor choices and a gambling addiction define his life, and circumstances seem like they can't get much worse. Fortunately, God h...more

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Mar 05, 2012 Lisa Johnson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Title: Not in the Heart
Author: Chris Fabry (www.chrisfabry.com)
Pages: 432
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers Inc.
Year: 2012
Note: I received a complimentary copy from B & B Media Group, Inc. Other reviews can be read at
http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspo....
What options are there for one with overwhelming gambling debts, a failing marriage, and a distant relationship with your kids? What if you wanted to hide yet had this feeling that not only were you being followed, but threatened too?...more Title: Not in the Heart
Author: Chris Fabry (www.chrisfabry.com)
Pages: 432
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers Inc.
Year: 2012
Note: I received a complimentary copy from B & B Media Group, Inc. Other reviews can be read at
http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspo....
What options are there for one with overwhelming gambling debts, a failing marriage, and a distant relationship with your kids? What if you wanted to hide yet had this feeling that not only were you being followed, but threatened too? How would you cope with a son so close to death because a heart donor can’t be found? Then, when a donor is found, he is in jail!
Not in the Heart has many issues, themes, subplots and a riveting, page turning story. Truman is a man who once knew the height of success as a reporter, now the only thing he knows better is casinos. Ellen believes in God, and Truman’s ability to tell the truth of a story even though he left her holding the burden of the family. Aiden, Ellen and Truman’s son, is on life support. Will he be able to live long enough to get a heart donor? Abigail, his older sister, is like her father, but not like her father. The family unit is divided in many ways, torn between love and anger, fear and peace, life or death.
It is more than a story of a physical heart; it is a story of the heart that God wants to inhabit as well as give the gift of eternal life to those who turn to him. Everywhere Truman turns people are either talking or praying to God; however, the flip side of his life is that there are those who want their money or him dead. Interwoven with all this, is a man who has political clout and doesn’t care about anything but pursuing his vested interests. Is he the only one?
On top of all this, there is a book to write, a story to tell. There are those who want it to be published for a variety of reasons. Truman is good at what he does. He tells the truth of a story no matter where it leads. He has witnessed some awful things, but how much of it is he willing to deal with? Is this God he sees his wife and son pray to for real or just a crutch? Trying to see and understand the reality of this God amidst the backdrop of his life leads Truman on a path that brings about an ending that will stir your heart.
Real life issues are brought up within the pages of the story. Issues that not only impact the here and now, but the then and there. It rates a 5+ star from me for it is one of the best novels I have read within this genre. Once you start this book, there will be no stopping until you read to the end, so make a space in your calendar to read Not in the Heart. You will be more than glad you did!
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Mar 03, 2012 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Truman had the motivation to become important in the journalism field. He wrote for top notch publishers, while his wife Ellen and their 2 children Abby and Aidan took the back burner. Rarely around to celebrate family events, often on a mission to gain the next big story, Truman missed out on much of what could have been. Born with a congenital heart defect, Aidan has suffered for years with the recurring surgeries to keep him alive. Now it has come down to his needing a transplant to make it t...more Truman had the motivation to become important in the journalism field. He wrote for top notch publishers, while his wife Ellen and their 2 children Abby and Aidan took the back burner. Rarely around to celebrate family events, often on a mission to gain the next big story, Truman missed out on much of what could have been. Born with a congenital heart defect, Aidan has suffered for years with the recurring surgeries to keep him alive. Now it has come down to his needing a transplant to make it through his 18th year of life.
There is an inmate on death row, Terrelle whose wife Oleta has gotten to know Ellen. As she shares Aidan's story with Terrelle, he decides to give his heart to Aidan after the execution. Terrelle however is innocent and retains that till the end. The courts had an open and closed case. Terrelle was a drunk on the street, a no good loser that a murder was easy to peg on. In a drunken stupor how could he remember if he killed Diana or not?
Ellen draws a now outcast Truman, living alone, out of work, out of money into their lives once again in hopes of reconcilliation by asking Truman to write Terrelle's story.

Chris Fabry has done an remarkable job of allowing us to see deeply into these characters. He lets us deep into the lives of Truman and his lack-luster life. Of the things that could have been, and the mistakes Truman has made with his gambling addiction. An addiction that has left him without family or job. We get into the mind of Ellen, hurt repeatedly by Truman, but with her new faith in Christ is unable to give up on the man she once loved. Some books are big into describing the scenery, making you feel whisked away. Aidan spends much of his time in the hospital, and to most of us we are familiar with that. This is the kind of book that gets to the heart of the matter. It is about growth, about relationships and about repentance.
Genuine example of how God can change lives.

I didn't want to put this book down. It drew me in from the beginning as I got deeper and deeper into this family's story. It deals with issues such as the death penalty, gambling and alcoholism. Not a light reading at all. More of a story that makes you search your own heart, and consider what others around you are going through.

I received a copy of this book from B&B Media in exchange for an honest review(less)

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Feb 21, 2012 Clockstein Lockstein rated it 5 of 5 stars

Not in the Heart by Chris Fabry is an indescribable story of a father forced to make an agonizing decision about truth and what is right. Truman Wiley has excelled at being a failure for the last several years. He lost his position as a network newsman, abandoned the family he had only been minimally attached to, and gambled himself not only into bankruptcy but also into the debt of a dangerous loan shark. His life has little purpose left when he is given an unusual offer. Terrell Conley is sche...more Not in the Heart by Chris Fabry is an indescribable story of a father forced to make an agonizing decision about truth and what is right. Truman Wiley has excelled at being a failure for the last several years. He lost his position as a network newsman, abandoned the family he had only been minimally attached to, and gambled himself not only into bankruptcy but also into the debt of a dangerous loan shark. His life has little purpose left when he is given an unusual offer. Terrell Conley is scheduled to be executed for the murder of a young woman, Diana, several years ago, but while in prison, he found Christ and wants to make something good out of his death by volunteering to donate his heart to Truman's son, Aiden, who has been battling a congenital condition for much of his life. Terrell's wife, Oleta, had befriended Truman's wife, Ellen, in church, and the two women came up with a plan to help both of their wayward husbands. Truman takes the job, mostly to get his hands on the cash being offered, but soon finds himself pulled into the tragic story of Diana's life that raises questions about what really happened to her. Sometimes it's hard to review a book, because it's difficult to find interesting things to say about it. It's not that the book may be bad, it's just that it's so similar to a million other books published each year. Not with this story. Not in the Heart is unlike any other book I've ever read. It's impossible to sum up the plot easily; it's not a romance or a murder mystery; it's not suspense or typical Christian fiction. What it is is incredibly written. The pages simply fly by. Fabry doesn't waste time on superfluous descriptions; he sticks to deeply insightful interactions and actions. Truman is truly an unlikable character, which normally turns me off in a book, but he wins over readers, as he does with his embattled wife, with his quick wit and deprecating humor, as well as his truth-telling, even when it hurts. When his daughter or Oleta call him on the carpet, he reads even deeper attacks in their subtext, and as he recognizes the truth in each word and hates himself for it, I couldn't help but ache for him and the and the man he could be. There were times when Truman blew $15,000 at the casino, stole his daughter's savings bonds, and other sins that I wanted to say "Really" and punch him. Every time I started to warm up to him, he gave into his fear and addictions and ran from his family again. And yet, over time Truman begins to regain his humanity, and that is the real story here, of a man turning from complete selfishness and dissolution to finding his heart and strength. Fabry's writing is superb. I found myself thinking about the characters when I wasn't reading the book; I couldn't get them out of my head, and now that the story is over, I'm a bit sad. The ending is perfect, exactly what it needs to be. It's only February, but Chris Fabry may well have written the best book of 2012. (less)

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Feb 20, 2012 Christian Fiction Addiction rated it 4 of 5 stars

Truman is trying to hide away from the world in his cottage by the sea, when a phone call lures him from his retreat and back to the land of hospital bills, a dying son, an estranged wife, and very real threats from dangerous criminals seeking to collect their debt by any means necessary. Truman was once a successful journalist who has lost his job, and his life seems to be falling apart when his wife connects him to a man on death row who wants him to write a book about his life and the police...more Truman is trying to hide away from the world in his cottage by the sea, when a phone call lures him from his retreat and back to the land of hospital bills, a dying son, an estranged wife, and very real threats from dangerous criminals seeking to collect their debt by any means necessary. Truman was once a successful journalist who has lost his job, and his life seems to be falling apart when his wife connects him to a man on death row who wants him to write a book about his life and the police case that resulted in his conviction and sentence to await the death penalty. Truman's decision to accept the job leads him down a path not only to uncovering the truth of a crime, but one of self-discovery as well.

I loved the first sentence of this book, when Chris Fabry writes "The trouble with my wife began when she needed Jesus and I needed a cat". I instantly knew I was going to be treated to a book with characters who had a good sense of humor and who would star in an engaging book, and I turned out to be right! Fabry's writing seems effortless and is truly a joy to read for the sheer manner in which it is written. He excels at his characterization, and brings Truman to life with his sarcastic humor, his tendency to avoid his responsibilities (something we can all relate to on occasion), his addiction to gambling, all wrapped up in a well-meaning heart.

I must admit that this strong characterization actually turned out to be a problem for me in this case. Fabry's writing is so solid that he elicited strong feelings from me, particularly disgust at some of Truman's actions, and the end result is that as much as I tried, I never really grew to like Truman all that much, and agreed with his family that he certainly was a poor example of a husband and a father. Although the story ends with an act of selflessness and in a manner that seeks to redeem him as a character, I just never could connect with Truman as a person. That said, I know a writer has succeeded at bringing a story to life when I can get that worked up about a story! The story is still entertaining and a worthy read, one that lives up to Fabry's excellent reputation. I just didn't enjoy it as much as his previous books Almost Heaven or June Bug.

As I was reading this book, I considered who is the "Truman" in my own life, someone who has struggled with addiction issues themselves and for whom my heart has broken in prayer. Although I won't share his name, there is someone who is close to my family who struggled with addiction to cocaine for many years, until God broke through and set him free. The road to freedom was long, with many stops and starts, but this person has lived addiction free for over two years. Much like in Truman's life, God did the impossible, reminding me that "nothing is impossible for God!". If you have someone in your life who isn't being the husband or father or wife or mother or sister or brother that they could be, someone caught up in a cycle of addiction, don't give up hope but cling to God in prayer. God is listening!

Overall, I give this book a solid recommendation and give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Book provided courtesy of the publisher, B&B Media, and FIRST Wildcard tours for the purposes of this unbiased review.

Jeremy (less)

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Feb 14, 2012 Abbie Riddle rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is one of those books that you pick up thinking you will get a heart warming story all neatly tied up. However, this story is one that resonates in the human spirit in such a way that it is sure to make a deep impact on you - leaving you contemplating the redemptive love of Christ.

Truman Wiley is a conflicted, sarcastic, deeply troubled man that is plagued with an addictive past that has held him bondage and has ultimately led to the loss of things he once held dear. This hard-nosed reporte...more This is one of those books that you pick up thinking you will get a heart warming story all neatly tied up. However, this story is one that resonates in the human spirit in such a way that it is sure to make a deep impact on you - leaving you contemplating the redemptive love of Christ.

Truman Wiley is a conflicted, sarcastic, deeply troubled man that is plagued with an addictive past that has held him bondage and has ultimately led to the loss of things he once held dear. This hard-nosed reporter who had once been on the mountain top of success now lived hiding from creditors and other more dangerous and notorious men. His love of the casino has wreaked havoc on his life. I could not help while reading this man's story to contemplate the truth of the scripture 1 Corinthians 6:12 (...All things are permissible for me but I will not be mastered by anything.) for this man truly has become mastered by many things. This very fact has locked him into a pessimistic outlook on life.

Truman is living an existence of sadness and remorse covered by a hard shell of sarcasm. His daughter has little or nothing to do with him. His wife has walked away after years of trying to pull him through his addictive behaviors and pessimistic attitude. His son lays dying of a congenital heart defect in a nearby hospital. His life is a perfect picture of defeat and despair. It is difficult to feel too much sympathy for him as it is the human nature to look on the outside of a man and say "You made your bed" or "just change". However, to truly understand one must realize the power of the enemy over people in bondage. Though the door of freedom is set open before them - they must take the first step. What we see in Truman is a man defeated by his past mistakes, unable to forgive himself for his failures as a man, father, husband, friend, reporter her avoids all responsibility. Unable to accept his son's illness or the fact that he is powerless in correcting it he avoids it - somehow - I believe attributing his own failures and sins to the illness of his son and bearing this responsibility deeply in his heart.

When his ex-wife calls with a proposal for him Truman agrees. He will cover a story of a convicted death row felon. He will put into print this man's story and how he is giving his heart upon execution to Truman's son who has suffered from a deadly heart defect since birth. Little does he know that God has set into motion a plan to "call heaven and earth as a witness against [Truman], that He has set before him blessings and cursing" and is asking him to "choose life, that [he] and [his] children may live" (Duet. 30:19). This story will offer the road of redemption that Truman has long sought after but been too afraid to walk.

Truman quickly discovers that this is no simple story to right. What do you do when the man on death row - tried, convicted and sentenced by the court of law - is really innocent? What more do you do when that man's desire is not to prove his innocence but to speak a more powerful truth of love, forgiveness and redemption through Christ? For Truman the least likely of people is about to show him the greatest character of all - forgiveness. This man that has lived on death row for so many years is about to start Truman out on the pathway of self-discovery where man comes face to face with who he truly is in the presence of a righteous God. There in that place he is faced with the ultimate question - will he step through the door of the prison he has lived so long in and accept the freedom he has been given? Will he take this chance to redeem that which was lost through the power of Christ's forgiveness?

I can honestly say I appreciate the author's portrayal of Truman. In most of the book he is completely unlikeable in a way that is so real to life. In fact the reader can probably think of someone very much like Truman. In this aspect of failing, falling, stumbling blindly, pushing away angrily, grasping at hope eagerly, praying earnestly, and begging for forgiveness - one can easily fall into the story. The reader can relate personally to the tight ropes of bondage, the heavy burden of self-conviction.

This journey opens into something that changes the lives of everyone involved and God's redemptive love ultimately shines through. Each of us has been in bondage - albeit to varying degrees - and each of us has sought the road to redemption. This book explores how difficult this road can be at times but ultimately how rewarding it is in the end.

Many would venture to say that they do not know any person with an addiction. However, I would challenge each person to look beyond the addiction of gambling presented here, or drugs and alcohol. There are so many more things that people can be addicted to or driven by - that one thing they can not let go of. In the ministry I have seen the devastating effects of many kinds of addictions. Though the truth of freedom is set before their eyes it seems that letting go of the addiction is overwhelming - the fear that they have strayed too far to come back. This story is excellent. Be blessed reading it.

Thank you for this beautifully written story. Praying that it touches many lives and that those in deep bondages of addiction find that the truth of Christ will set you free.

Thanks to B&B Communications for this review copy.(less)

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Feb 14, 2012 Linda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Truman Wiley is a man lost–out of work as a reporter; out of touch with his family; drowning in gambling, hospital and school debts; loss of his small house; car repossessed; neglectful father and husband; and most importantly, out of touch with God. His son, Aiden, is slowly dying from a heart ailment, and is desperately in need of a heart transplant to survive.

Truman’s estranged wife, Ellen, gets him a job writing a book about Terrence Conley, a death row inmate accused of murder, who is willi...more Truman Wiley is a man lost–out of work as a reporter; out of touch with his family; drowning in gambling, hospital and school debts; loss of his small house; car repossessed; neglectful father and husband; and most importantly, out of touch with God. His son, Aiden, is slowly dying from a heart ailment, and is desperately in need of a heart transplant to survive.

Truman’s estranged wife, Ellen, gets him a job writing a book about Terrence Conley, a death row inmate accused of murder, who is willing to donate his heart for Aiden, an impossible feat in itself without intervention. Terrence and his estranged wife, Oleta, are friends of Ellen from church, and they just want his side of the story told before his execution. As most death row inmates, he claims his innocence.

After receiving the retainer money on the book, Truman immediately goes and gambles it away instead of visiting his son and paying off bills. His daughter, Abigail (Abby) ends up finding him and working with him on the book, since he neglected to pay her college bills so she could graduate.

In his book, Not in the Heart, Chris Fabry methodically creates a real-to-life story that is heart-wrenching in terms of Truman’s estrangement from himself, God and his family. One sees into the disturbing devastation of gambling, a peek into the realms of evil, Godless men, and the anguish of his love-starved family. Truman’s circumstances, his attitude towards God, and his comments directly spoken to you, the reader, opens wide a space for him in your heart–what a great point of view insertion that gets your attention! You sense the futility of his life without God, stumbling around, trying to stay ahead of the loan sharks and bill collectors. Your heart is truly caught up in Truman’s life and relationships, and he seems to stay on your mind as someone you know. The book also touches on those on death row who maybe shouldn’t be there–a hot topic today.

The investigative, suspenseful part of the story is woven in amongst the continuing family issues. You’ll find this to be a book of superb suspense with multiple plots, and a sensitive, heart-warming book of hope for family relationships. Without the prayers of the those who knew the Lord, things wouldn’t have happened as they did.

This book was provided by Audra Jennings of The B&B Media Group, Inc, in exchange for my honest review. No monetary compensation was exchanged.

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Feb 02, 2012 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fiction, christian-suspense, b-b-media, inspirational, review-books, tyndale, arc-couldn-t-pass-in

WOW! WOW! WOW! This is a fantastic book! I’ve never read Chris Fabry but I’ll have to be seeing if I can find his other books because this book had me captured from the first page. I read this book in just over one day, it was that good. I felt so drawn to the life of Truman, his mistakes, his doubt and the life of his children and his wife. Having to choose between doing the right thing and saving his son’s life, the ending isn’t what you’ll think and it’s a good thing.

One thing the author, Chr...more

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Feb 01, 2012 Vera Godley rated it 5 of 5 stars

“I’ve found the only thing I can control is how well I tell the story and follow the truth. . . . The truth will always lead you to a good place.”--Truman Wiley, lead character in "Not In The Heart"

Welcome to the world of a gifted, out-of-work investigative reporter and writer who is estranged from his family that needs him desperately and which he needs desperately. A world of devastating illness, addiction, crime, love, trust, distrust, societal struggles with organ donation, and the world of...more

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Jan 31, 2012 Brenda Casto rated it 4 of 5 stars

As a journalist Truman Wiley traveled the world reporting on the latest headline, while his home life was falling apart. He was rarely there for his wife and children. Now he is unemployed and is sinking fast in gambling debts, but nothing worries him more than his eighteen year old son Aiden's failing heart. Truman is given the opportunity to write the story of Terrelle Conley a death row inmate who is due to be executed in thirty days who wants to donate his heart to Aiden. As Truman investig...more

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Jan 29, 2012 Kathleen (Kat) Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-action-adventure, christian-fiction, christian-suspense-fiction, christian-inspirational-fiction, contemporary-fiction, supense-thriller-fiction

What would you do to save the life of your child? For most of us parents, the answer is an easy one. There isn't anything we wouldn't do. However for a man like Truman Wiley that answer has been a struggle. A difficult internal struggle at that. Being married to Ellen and having two children, Aiden and Abigail, he has spent his whole life trying to measure up to what he believes they expect and want from a husband and father. When he comes up short, he turns to his only addiction, gambling. Whet...more What would you do to save the life of your child? For most of us parents, the answer is an easy one. There isn't anything we wouldn't do. However for a man like Truman Wiley that answer has been a struggle. A difficult internal struggle at that. Being married to Ellen and having two children, Aiden and Abigail, he has spent his whole life trying to measure up to what he believes they expect and want from a husband and father. When he comes up short, he turns to his only addiction, gambling. Whether it's online or visiting a local casino or horsetrack, Truman finds that when he wins, he feels like he's on top of the world, able to meet the obligations to his family he feels they are owed, but when he loses as is often the case, he turns and runs. Runs away from the very thing he swore to protect and love, his family. This is where we find Truman as Not In The Heart begins by Chris Fabry.

Truman Wiley was once at the top of his game in journalism, over turning rocks to bring to light the slime of the world's worst whether they were in politics or in the lime light. He felt it was his true talent to not be afraid of the truth and be willing to report it, no matter how often his life was threatened. Until no one wanted to work or hire Truman any longer. Then he found that gambling provided the control he needed to maintain in his life. His personal life was a wreck.

His only son Aiden since he was young was diagnosed with a heart defect that would place their family under enormous financial and physical pressure. Not knowing from one day to the next if this was in fact their last time with Aiden, they lived on the edge. Ellen maintained the burden of caring for the children and family while Truman tried to find a way to make ends meet. When he failed, he ran. Ran away from the family that needed a husband and father more than a paycheck, but he couldn't see past that. He felt like a failure and until he could rise above once again, he would stay away. Better to do that than show himself to be a failure to those whose opinions mattered the most.

When Truman learns that there might be a way to save Aiden through an heart transplant of a man waiting on death row, he is curious how he could possibly help. When Ellen explains the wife, Helen Wright has one request that he write her husband's story of transformation from murder to reformed man since finding God in his life and is willing to pay him to do it, Truman takes the bait. What he learns in working through the evidence on the case, is that an innocent man may in fact be put to death. How can he is good conscience report the truth if it means his son may die if he doesn't get this heart transplant?

I received Not In The Heart by Chris Fabry compliments of B & B Media Group for my honest review and found it difficult not to relate to the characters Chris brings to life within the pages of his novel. From the internal struggle happening within Truman, it's easy to see how a man can judge his worth by what he brings to the table and how often he finds it's easier to give up rather than push forward when the challenge becomes to hard. Truman is forced to come to terms with all his past mistakes and it's hard to watch how often he will turn away from his family to work towards the goal of saving his son, but in the process is missing opportunity to connect with him while he wants to spend time with his dad.

I have known my own Truman in my personal life, with addictions to jobs. I can see how easy it would be to justify working long hours and missing personal time with your family for the reward of a paycheck because you think it justifies the time being away. It has taken me years to see that in life, there is a cost to everything, and not everything is worth the cost it takes on your personal life and family, we just need to see it. For this reason, this book will speak to hearts everywhere and shine the light of truth inside us all and for that, I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars. Chris Fabry's writing style will touch your heart in ways you never thought imaginable and I can't wait to read the next one!(less)

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Jan 26, 2012 Maureen Timerman rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Truman Wiley is a World famous reporter. He is down on his luck by his own doing, his demon is gambling. He is at this point having his home repossessed and his car is soon to follow. Also his life is on the line due to the loan shark.
He ends up going home to his wife and family. They consist of his wife Ellen, College daughter Abigail, and extremely ill son Aiden. Once home his wife wants to have him find the Lord, who has helped her so much. She also knows he has talent and asks him to help he...more

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Dec 04, 2011 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-netgalley

Truman Wiley, journalist, has been out of touch with his estranged wife Ellen, their two children and the Lord. He has been out of work for quite some time. His son Aiden is in desperate need of a heart and Truman's pain of seeing his son lying in the hospital pushes fear to the forefront of his mind. Truman is asked to write the story of Terrelle Conley, a death row inmate convicted of murder, who unselfishly wants to be an organ donor for Aiden. When Abigail their daughter asks to assist her f...more

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Nov 05, 2011 Ellen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fiction, from-publisher

What does a condemned man on death row
and a dying teenager have in common?

One man...

Truman Wiley

Truman Wiley was an award-winning journalist known the world over for his top news stories. Yet, he has a dark side which has shattered his family. His family is in shambles... his daughter Abigail had to drop of out school due to nonpayment, and his son Aiden is dying.

a man with no job, no contact with his family, and no place to live

He receives an offer to write the biography of Terrelle Conley,...more

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Feb 21, 2012 Jen W. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Intriguing! Interesting! Though Provoking! These are the words that come to my mind when describing Not in the Heart by Chris Fabry. This is a book that is so different than others I have read. It is not romance, historical, or even really suspense, I am no sure what genre I would put it in. This is truly an excellent book that left me thinking. The book deals with the death penalty and an inmate who the word thinks is guilty but he know he is innocent but has accepted he is going to die and tru...more

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Dec 31, 2011 Jennifer Jensen rated it 5 of 5 stars

The trouble with my wife began when she needed Jesus and I needed a cat. That is the first line of this story, and once you read it, you cannot help but fall in. The book is compelling and good, and the whole time you are reading it, you pretty much know what the outcome has to be – but you are rooting for there to be a twist somewhere that makes it not so painful to finish.

Truman Wiley is the main character, and as a journalist whose life has imploded, he has few options for doing anything wort...more

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Nov 06, 2011 Casey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-kindle

Some novels have a voice that feels as though they are speaking directly to you. Not so much because you have experienced what the characters are going through, but because the wordsmithing pulls you into the story until you can’t help but feel the book is aimed at you.

Truman has a first person voice in “Not in the Heart” that is witty, dry, honest, sometimes condescending and desperate. Some of the things he said had me snorting in humor, but most had me drawn to this man who couldn’t seem to c...more

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Apr 26, 2012 Linda rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved the first sentence of this book, when Chris Fabry writes "The trouble with my wife began when she needed Jesus and I needed a cat". I instantly knew I was going to be treated to a book with characters who had a good sense of humor and who would star in an engaging book, and I turned out to be right! This is another "must read" by Chris Fabry. He excels at his characterization, and brings Truman to life with his sarcastic humor, his tendency to avoid his responsibilities (something we can...more

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Feb 19, 2012 Andi Newberry ~Tubbs rated it 5 of 5 stars

Truman Wiley is a man at the end of his rope. He has no job, he's lost his home, his car, his marriage is falling apart, if all of that isn't bad enough his son, Aiden is dying from an heart ailment and is in desperate need of a heart transplant.
His wife, Ellen throws him a life line when she comes to him and tells him that Oleta the wife of Terrance Conley who is a death row inmate wants him to write a book about his life, his execution is forth coming and he wants to give their son his heart....more

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Nov 09, 2012 Janice rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, paperback, fiction

I picked up this book because I like Chris Fabry's writing, but at first I had my doubts. The protagonist is such a jerk. Seemingly unredeemable. But the story drew me in and soon also wooed me into sympathizing with the protag. I love the wit and sarcasm that fills the dialogue as well as the narrative. The author has captured the bones of a winning story: connections and timing. The characters' lives are intertwined in many ways and the time bomb is waiting to explode. The protag's heart is to...more

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Aug 11, 2012 Lyndi rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is my first book by this author. I have had some of his on my to read list, this book was on the Tyndale house summer reading program list. Wow! Lots of questions that would be great to discuss in a group so I am probably going to pick for a book club book. As usual, I don't like reviews that give you what the back of the book can tell you, if you want that, read the back of the book! These reviews are for your opinion of the book. This book poses questions that does make you think and giv...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Andee Mae rated it 4 of 5 stars

Don't give up!
Honestly, i wanted to stop reading after the first couple of chapters. I didn't like Truman (except that he loved cats!) and I really didn't think I would enjoy the story. Thankfully, I kept reading. Truman is a self-absorbed writer, who gambles, drinks, and seems to care little for his family. Even though his son is dying, Truman still doesn't really want to be involved with his family. However, a book deal brings him home and forces him to face his own life and family. The twist...more

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Jun 11, 2012 Jan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: family-drama, favorites

Truman Wiley is a gifted world reporter but an unlikeable character who's a lousy father and an even worse husband. He's abandoned his wife, his daughter and a son who needs a heart transplant. He has enough bills to choke the proverbial horse and if that weren't enough, a gambling addiction to end all. Out of the blue, he's offered money to write a book about an innocent man on death row by the man's wife, a friend of his own wife. This is also the same convict who wants to donate his matched h...more

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Jun 16, 2012 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

I absolutely loved this book. Most of it was written in first person POV from the character of Truman. He is a bit of a low life; gambling debts, estranged from his wife and son, etc. But I fell for his humor and his opinions on things.

When I started this book, I figured that there were only several different outcomes when I started reading. I was wrong about every one of them!

I look forward to checking out his other adult books soon! Have them at the library and I keep eying them every time I s...more

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Oct 21, 2012 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was. not what I expected and I read it reluctantly but once I started I couldn't put if down and finished in a morning and an afternoon. While there was some religious overtones it was not preachy and keep me turning the pages to see how it would end and was not what I expected. As a parent do you find out the truth or save your child's life? A moral delemma faced by the main character along with his gambling addiction and failure to be there when his family needs him. Should make an intere...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Suzanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a captivating story. Truman Wiley is a down-and-out worldwide reporter who not only is destitute, but alienated from his wife and two children. He agrees to write a book about a death row inmate charged of murder in exchange for the accused’s heart upon execution. Truman feels he can gain restitution by trading the book for the heart for his dying son. The twists and turns of the continuing story is engrossing enough to keep interest until the surprising ending. Chris Fabry’s writing is...more

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Feb 05, 2012 Holly (2 Kids and Tired) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow. Simply, wow. I have loved everything I've read by Chris Fabry. Seriously. But, Not in the Heart has to be the best. Truman is a fantastic, real, flawed character. He loves his family, but struggles with his demons and his addiction to gambling has led him away from those he loves. His family loves him, but doesn't know how to help him. As his life spirals away, he is given one last chance at redemption: the chance to write the story of the man on death row. A man destined to die. A man who...more Wow. Simply, wow. I have loved everything I've read by Chris Fabry. Seriously. But, Not in the Heart has to be the best. Truman is a fantastic, real, flawed character. He loves his family, but struggles with his demons and his addiction to gambling has led him away from those he loves. His family loves him, but doesn't know how to help him. As his life spirals away, he is given one last chance at redemption: the chance to write the story of the man on death row. A man destined to die. A man who wishes to donate his heart to Truman's son. As Truman returns and tries to reconnect with his family, he discovers that his wife is exhausted from caring for their son and dealing with it all on her own. He learns that his daughter is bright and an able assistant in his writing. And he learns that his son is patient and long-suffering and simply wants to know his dad.

As Truman and his daughter begin writing Terrelle Conley's story, they uncover evidence that may prove Terrelle's innocence. Evidence that also puts their lives in danger. As Terrelle's execution date draws near, Truman's investigation also begins to show him that God indeed has a plan and knows who he is.

This isn't necessarily an easy story to read, but it is a story that has the power to touch the reader on so many levels. Perhaps you know someone who struggles or who has struggled with addiction. Perhaps you know someone who has needed or received an organ transplant. Our personal experiences color our perspectives and how we interpret what we read. I think we all know a Truman.

I, on the other hand, know what it's like to have a son with a heart condition. I know what it's like to wonder if my son will live or die. Fortunately, his congenital heart defect was correctable with surgery that was performed when he was 6 days old. His future is bright and we don't anticipate any further problems. However, because of that, my husband and I and most members of our extended family are organ donors. And, before we knew whether our son would live or die, we determined that, if it were possible, we would donate any of his other healthy organs that we could, if we knew he wouldn't live. That another child could have lived, because of our son, was very important to us. It still is. That another life could be saved from our own organ donation upon our own deaths, is very important to us.

I would hope that if you have not considered organ donation before, that you do so now. Life is too precious.
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Feb 22, 2012 Christy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Chris Fabry has penned another winner with his latest book, Not in the Heart. From the back cover description, I thought I had prepared myself for what would be between the front and back cover, but honestly, I was not prepared for the emotional journey that I took through this story.

I imagine most folks know a "Truman" in their circle of friends. Me? Yeah, I have one, too, and he struggles with an addiction that only God can heal at this point. It's difficult to watch someone I love succumb to...more Chris Fabry has penned another winner with his latest book, Not in the Heart. From the back cover description, I thought I had prepared myself for what would be between the front and back cover, but honestly, I was not prepared for the emotional journey that I took through this story.

I imagine most folks know a "Truman" in their circle of friends. Me? Yeah, I have one, too, and he struggles with an addiction that only God can heal at this point. It's difficult to watch someone I love succumb to fleshly desires, and sometimes I can't help but wonder, "If only..." "If only he hadn't made this decision," "If only he hadn't met this person," "If only he hadn't gone down this road," yada, yada, yada... But when I feel overwhelmed with those questions, I can do nothing but lay my concerns at the foot of the cross, and pray for his deliverance.

I guess in some way it was easy for me to identify with Ellen, Truman's wife, as well. She had been let down so many times over the years because of Truman's actions, decisions, and absence in their family. After awhile, it became human nature to think that nothing would ever change. But somehow, she concocted a plan with the wife of a death-row inmate to lure Truman back into her heart and life, and more importantly, back to their son who was struggling to hold on just a few more days for a heart transplant that could save his life.

I also connected on a small level with Terrell who was on death row for murder, yet still maintained his innocence. Before he landed in jail, he was nothing more than a no-good drunk and beggar, trying to bum a dollar from any Tom, Dick, or Harry that had it to spare. But once he got to jail, he found the Lord, and before too long, the death sentence that he was facing in 30 short days meant that he was that much closer to seeing Jesus face to face.

Now, some may think that a jail conversion is just a ploy for some inmates to butter up their family members or friends, but truly, many of them are genuine. While I was reading this book, it was on my calendar to re-certify as a volunteer at a local prison. Once a year, some of the inmates get together and host a banquet for all the volunteers that have taken time to come and minister to them at the prison. During the banquet, several of them stood and shared their testimonies of how they were on the wrong path when they got there. One guy in particular shared his story of being in a gang, and when he got to jail, he didn't want to have anything to do with some fellow inmates that were trying to witness to him. But they, as well as a couple of the chaplains, kept working on him, and before too long, he gave his life to the Lord. Now, he's a completely changed person. When new inmates come in, some of them that he knows personally from his old life, he continues the cycle by being a witness to them. He makes it a priority to go to the chapel services that are held throughout the week, mostly run by volunteers, so he can continue to learn more about God. That was just one of many testimonies shared, and it's so encouraging to know that a difference is being made in the hearts of so many, most of whom society has ignored and forgotten. It made Terrell's story believable, and while I've never personally met someone on death row, I could identify with his honesty and sincerity as he shared his story with Truman.

Once again, Chris has found a way to create such a unique story that is bound to penetrate the hearts of several readers. I can attest that it has penetrated mine. And there's something for everyone here, too...a little drama, a little mystery, a little sadness, and even a touch of humor that I never expected. So, if you're already a fan of Chris Fabry, then I have no doubt that you'll enjoy his latest. It's already earned it's place on my keeper shelf. :o)(less)

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Aug 03, 2012 Denise rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-christian-fiction

This was an awesome book. I really liked how the author used characters that were believable and fallible. It was frustrating at times when Truman the main character in the story would revert back to bad behaviors but it seemed a very real situation for what addicted gamblers go through. I have read other Chris Fabry books but this one is by far my favorite. I liked the ending too and I liked how suspenseful the author kept it.

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