Finding Heaven
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“She could do this. She was stronger now. This was her chance to prove it.”
Sometimes to find heaven, you have to go through hell…
Sarah appears to have the perfect life—she’s made sure of it. But behind the façade, her respected lawyer husband abuses her, she hates writing the books that have made her a success, and she is tortured by demons from her childhood. When she receives a cancer diagnosis, her carefully constructed lies begin to crumble.
Then she has a chance encounter with Steve, a compassionate humanitarian who is everything she’s never known—selfless, honourable, and supportive. But even though he keeps showing up right when she needs him, she couldn’t possibly deserve the undemanding love he offers. Besides, a good-looking single guy like him must be hiding something, just like everyone else.
Can Sarah be saved, or is it too late for her to find heaven?
Finding Heaven is a standalone gripping emotional page-turner about second chances and redemptive love.
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What Readers Say
“The best novel I’ve read in a long time.”
“One of the most beautifully written books I have read.”
“A riveting, true-to-life tale of love’s power to heal and redeem.”
“The tears are how you know it’s good!”
“This book is a page-turner!”
“A moving and beautiful story of accepting who you are, overcoming the past, and embracing the future.”
“One of the best novels I’ve read in a long time.”
“It’s about unearthing the real you after being under the mudslide for so long. It still tugs at my heartstrings.”
“Masterful.”
“A long read, but I couldn’t put it down—read it in one sitting. A visceral book that settles into your gut and requires ‘book hangover’ time to digest. Recommended.”
“One of those books you stay up late into the night reading, unable to put down. Inspirational and touching.”
“This well-written story touched my heart and kept me turning the pages to the very end.”
“I was on the edge of my seat—unable to put it down. It brought out so many emotions—tears of sorrow, tears of joy, a longing to have a Steve in my life.”
“This book grasped my attention right from the beginning and did not let go at the end. It is extremely well written for the gritty and delicate subjects it covers.”
“Very well written. Kept my interest from the very beginning. Made my heart ache, rage, feel hope, and love.”
“Excellent true to life story about healing from the hurts of so many levels of abuse, about learning to love and accept yourself, about discovering true and unconditional love and discovering purpose for life.”
“A book well worth reading.”
“What an amazing heartfelt book. I couldn’t put it down.”
“If you like a very intense, action-packed, true-to-life book, you will love Finding Heaven. It is now among my favorites. Very well done!!!”
“Very inspiring and honest to real life. Loved this story.”
“Wow! What an encouraging book on how God’s love can transform us.”
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Equivalent movie rating of 18A for sexual & physical assault, verbal & emotional abuse, and moderate profanity, and intense themes such as domestic violence, childhood sexual abuse, and human trafficking.
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“So, what do you do?” Sarah said.
She took a bite of ice cream and held the cold lump against the roof of her mouth.
Steve’s tone was somber. “I help run a shelter for women who want to get out, teaching them viable skills so they have options. Them and their kids, who otherwise run a high risk of being trafficked, also. It’s not easy—the whole system is set up to keep these women there, forever. Most of them are too scared to leave, or they have nowhere else to go.”
He paused, and when he continued, his eyes saw something far beyond the ocean.
“I have seen such unspeakable things in the slums of Mumbai. I had to do something.” His eyes focused on Sarah. “That’s why I’m here—I’m giving a presentation about my work tonight, raising funds to purchase a building for our child care centre.”
Sarah studied Steve, brow furrowed. She had never met anyone like him. He obviously had a lot going for him. And he wasn’t even from India. Why on earth would he be working with prostitutes in Mumbai? Was this guy really all that he seemed?
“Why do you care about them so much?”
Steve’s eyes twinkled mischievously. “Tell you what, neighbour. Why don’t you come to my presentation tonight, and you’ll find out?”
Sarah gulped, then shrugged. “I’ll think about it.”
“I guess that will have to do.” Steve gave her a broad smile and then licked off his spoon with relish.
Sarah cleaned out the last of her ice cream from the cup. She thought about the haunting faces in Steve’s photos, the women—girls!—he fought to free from sexual bondage. Then she thought about the housewives who read the sordid tales that flowed from her word processor, whose favourite escape was a fictional affair. Finally, she thought about the long hours she spent cranking those stories out, inserting names and faces and events around steamy scenes that left her cold as a stone.
“I wish I had even a fraction of your passion for my own work.”
She was slightly embarrassed that she had blurted that out loud, but she knew it was the truth. She had a successful career, a handsome husband, and a comfortable lifestyle, yet she felt dead inside. And this man—who never had Starbucks and worked with prostitutes in a developing country—seemed to find joy in even the smallest things and spread it to everyone he met.
She felt a desperate craving to experience that kind of joy. She had hoped that having a baby would let her do that, but now, the chances seemed slim. The diagnosis she had yet to share with Craig loomed in her mind, overshadowing any hope she’d held onto. She thought sadly of the baby that she would likely never hold—the one chance she would have had to break out of her icy existence.
That’s not what I deserve. Why bother wanting it? The yearning shrivelled before it had even taken root. My life is what it is.
Steve gave her a hard stare.
“It’s never too late to make a change. You know that, right?”
Locked in the grip of those blue eyes, Sarah felt like he could see everything she was thinking at that moment. She wasn’t sure if the thought was terrifying or comforting.
She also knew he was wrong. Sometimes it was too late.
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Using this book as a book club pick? Here are some questions to get your discussion started:
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Genre: Psychological Fiction, Romantic Women’s Fiction, Contemporary Dramatic Fiction, Inspirational Fiction
Length: 163k words; 652 pages (468 print pages)
Reading time: 13 to 14 hours
Listening Time: 18 hours, 15 minutesRelease date: November 14, 2017
Publisher: My Secret Wish Publishing
ISBN (ebook): 978-0-9947364-3-7
ISBN (digitally narrated audiobook): 978-1-9898001-9-5
ISBN (paperback): 978-1-989800-08-9
ISBN (hardcover): 978-1-989800-09-6PRINT DIMENSIONS:
Hardcover: 15.2 x 22.9 x 3.0 cm / 6 x 9 x 1.19 inches
Paperback: 15.2 x 22.9 x 2.7 cm / 6 x 9 x 1.04 inches
About the Audiobook:
This audiobook was created using the digital voices of Deb and Jameson from Elevenlabs for an expressive performance. It was also lovingly and painstakingly edited and quality controlled by the author to ensure an enjoyable and immersive listening experience.
Retailer Links:
Sometimes to find heaven, you have to go through hell.
A gripping emotional page-turner.
“A long read, but I couldn’t put it down—read it in one sitting. A visceral book that settles into your gut and requires ‘book hangover’ time to digest. Recommended.”
Reviews:
“One of the most beautifully written books I have read.”
“A riveting, true-to-life tale of love’s power to heal and redeem.”
Melissa Keaster, author of The Road to Jubilee
“This book is a page-turner!”
Laurie Hodges, Goodreads reviewer
“A moving and beautiful story of accepting who you are, overcoming the past, and embracing the future.”
Kamber Ferriss, Reader
“The tears are how you know it’s good!”
Katrin H., Goodreads reviewer
“The best novel I’ve read in a long time.”
M. Quinn, Amazon Reviewer
Bonus Content
That’s not all!
Get exclusive bonus content for Finding Heaven in the Books and Tea League, including new cover reveals, soundtrack playlists, and more. (You will need to sign up for a free membership.)
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