Fearless Heart

by Gail Cauble Gurley

Robert Blair and his small family are stranded in New York City after the market crash of 1929. He walks many blocks to the river docks each day, hoping for enough work to feed his wife Ellen and their four year old son Stephen as well as pay the $8.00 monthly rent for the slum in which they are forced to live. The small family is fortunate to have friends and faith to help them endure their precarious living conditions as they meet and commune with many gentle people in similar situations but with much of the same courage and faith demonstrated by the Blairs.

Robert notices a strange, black limousine in the neighborhood on several occasions as he walks to and from work and is curious as to its presence in the slums of New York. He manages to provide a small Christmas for his family but shortly after Christmas, the company which provides day work leaves the docks to move across town and he is without any hope of employment. He is desperate as he leaves their apartment building to seek work of any kind so as to feed and shelter his family.

He steps aside as the frequently observed mysterious black limousine stops in front of him and he is approached by a stranger who will direct and influence the destiny of the Blairs in a startling and shocking manner. He is swept numbly along, stunned and jolted by events that promise to turn his life asunder, shaking the foundation of the person that he has been for his entire life. He is swept into a world he has never known and given information of which he has never dreamed. Will he be able to accept what he is experiencing or will these opportunities be burdens that he cannot receive or tolerate? Will he be able to marry his life before into this new direction or will he be forced to abandon all possibility of a life so different from any he has ever before experienced? He has the support of his wife and their son as well as many friends as he struggles with the shocking torrent of information and choices he is forced to make.

280 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2011

About the author

Gail is a graduate of UNC-Greensboro with a BA in Psychology and Masters in Education. She is a retired state probation/parole officer and was a sworn law enforcement officer for the cities of High Point, NC and Gibsonville, NC. She is a former Rotarian and current Civitan. She is active in her church and community. She married Ed Gurley in 1971 and they have one beautiful daughter and three equally beautiful grandchildren. Grandson Charlie is serving in the US Marines; Spencer is an honor student in college; and Madison is a high school student. She and Ed have two dogs and a cat. Gail enjoys crocheting, decorating their home built in 1905 by her grandfather, and visiting with family and friends. A best selling author, she is semi-retired from writing and her latest book FEARLESS HEART features people she grew up with as well as stories about the Great Depression told to her by family. She has captured the essence and soul of these gentle people and their struggles during America's darkest hours.

Reviews

[Scribesvalley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stock market has crashed and the United States is plunged into the Great Depression, dragging hard-working individuals to the depths of despair as they struggle to keep their heads above water. Robert Blair knows this first hand as everyday becomes a battle for survival when he loses his NYC dock job. Fighting hopelessness, Robert barely manages to feed his wife Ellen and their four-year-old son Stephen as he combs the city for any type of work. Even at the lowest point, Robert is selfless, continuing to help his family and friends—even at his own well-being’s expense—to survive in the cruel world.

One day, he is approached by a stranger in a black limousine who turns his world upside down, shaking it to its very core. What follows is a story that takes the reader on a roller coaster of emotions: joy, sadness, laughter, sorrow, hopelessness, and most importantly HOPE.

Written in the easy-to-read style that’s a Gail Gurley trademark, this book is hard to put down. It is suitable for just about any age and has a message for anyone who has ever struggled with the hard knocks that life seems to delight in tossing our way. And haven’t we all felt like targets at one time or another?

I've also gotten to know the author and she is one of the nicest and best people I've ever known.

[Kathi Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very heartwarming story of men coming together in times of need.

I love this story and can't thank the author enough for sending it to me. Its a great story of hardship of family and devotions of friendship. Of love and compassion and of unity in times of need. I would recommend this story for anyone who would love a good story.

[Paula D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I HAVE JUST READ THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS OF FEARLESS HEART, AND I FOUND IT TO BE HEART WARMING, AND TOUCHING. THE CHARACTERS ARE REAL AND THE DESCRIPTIONS PUT YOU IN THE HEART OF NEW YORK CITY IN THE DEPRESSION. I HAVE JUST ORDERED THE BOOK AND CANNOT WAIT FOR IT TO ARRIVE.
PAULA D. KENNA

[Brenda Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review after reading. I had no prior knowledge of or association with this author or her work.
This story is very deep and touching. It draws you in by the fully developed wonderful characters and their strong faith in God. It is set during the great depression. Instead of being overwhelmed, withdrawn and brooding over their own circumstances, the characters truly cared about each other. If they had more than someone else, they shared. They reached out to each other and found comfort.
My favorite character is the little Stephen. He is a 4 year old toddler at the beginning of the book and it is a pleasure to watch him growing up within the story.
The story is very uplifting. Despite being set during the depression.
I started the book early on the morning of 7/25 and read as often as possible until I finished mid day on 7/27. I was truly absorbed in the story from the very beginning and did not want to put it down for any length of time.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes faith driven stories as "Fearless Heart" is a very good read.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely read. I'll start by saying that I spent almost the entire first half of this book in tears, the author really captured the desolation people faced. It was a wonderful illustration of how even when people have very little they can still be the most generous of souls. For me this was read in a few short hours but I also didn't really want to have to put it down which is possibly why. Although it is not my typical read (I was given a copy for an honest review) I thoroughly enjoyed it.It was a really great story of triumph over adversity, something a lot of people could possibly learn a thing or two about these days. No matter how much or little they had they were grateful and always aware that just having family and friends is a major blessing. For me the book was about courage and never giving in. Many of the people we meet throughout the book are facing their own difficulties however they still manage to persevere and retain their dignity no matter what. I'll admit that when I started I wasn't totally sure I would enjoy the book but I couldn't have been more wrong a really lovely story.

[Joel Bresler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters in Gail Cauble Gurley's "Fearless Heart" may be living through all the hardships of the Great Depression, but based on their unbelievably positive outlook this would apparently be news to them. Despite the possibilities of freezing, starving and losing their home, they remain smiling and happy like veritable Stepford Wives. The sweetness runs a tad thick here, in a voice which seems most suitable for reading to children. At Sunday School, perhaps.
That said:
There are some readers who go for this sort of feel-good literature in a big way. For this audience, "Fearless Heart" offers a simple, well-written story that will give them plenty to smile about. Those who truly appreciate accentuating the positive will really have something to look forward to in "Fearless Heart".